Hypertext Webster Gateway: "nerve"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Nerve \Nerve\, n. [OE. nerfe, F. nerf, L. nervus, akin to Gr. ?
sinew, nerve; cf. ? string, bowstring; perh. akin to E.
needle. Cf. {Neuralgia}.]
1. (Anat.) One of the whitish and elastic bundles of fibers,
with the accompanying tissues, which transmit nervous
impulses between nerve centers and various parts of the
animal body.

Note: An ordinary nerve is made up of several bundles of
nerve fibers, each bundle inclosed in a special sheath
(the perineurium) and all bound together in a
connective tissue sheath and framework (the epineurium)
containing blood vessels and lymphatics.

2. A sinew or a tendon. --Pope.

3. Physical force or steadiness; muscular power and control;
constitutional vigor.

he led me on to mightiest deeds, Above the nerve of
mortal arm. --Milton.

4. Steadiness and firmness of mind; self-command in personal
danger, or under suffering; unshaken courage and
endurance; coolness; pluck; resolution.

5. Audacity; assurance. [Slang]

6. (Bot.) One of the principal fibrovascular bundles or ribs
of a leaf, especially when these extend straight from the
base or the midrib of the leaf.

7. (Zo["o]l.) One of the nervures, or veins, in the wings of
insects.

{Nerve cell} (Anat.), one of the nucleated cells with which
nerve fibers are connected; a ganglion cell.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Nerve \Nerve\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Nerved}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Nerving}.]
To give strength or vigor to; to supply with force; as, fear
nerved his arm.

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

nerve
n 1: any bundle of nerve fibers running to various organs and
tissues of the body [syn: {nervus}]
2: the courage to carry on: "he kept fighting on pure spunk";
"you haven't got the heart for baseball" [syn: {heart}, {mettle},
{spunk}]
3: impudent aggressiveness; "I couldn't believe her boldness";
"he had the effrontery to question my honesty" [syn: {boldness},
{brass}, {face}, {cheek}]
v : get ready for something difficult or unpleasant [syn: {steel}]


Additional Hypertext Webster Gateway Lookup

Enter word here:
Exact Approx


dict.stokkie.net
Gateway by dict@stokkie.net
stock only wrote the gateway and does not have any control over the contents; see the Webster Gateway FAQ, and also the Back-end/database links and credits.