nerve
Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary
Contents |
[edit] English
[edit] Etymology
Recorded since c 1374, from Mediaeval Latin nervus (“‘nerve’”), from Latin nervus (“‘sinew’”), a metathesis of pre-Latin *neuros, from PIE *(s)neu-; cognates include Greek (neuros)
[edit] Pronunciation
- Audio (US)help, file
- Rhymes: -ɜː(r)v
[edit] Noun
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Singular |
Plural |
nerve (plural nerves)
- (zoology) A bundle of neurons with their connective tissue sheaths, blood vessels and lymphatics.
- (nonstandard, colloquial) A neuron.
- (botany) A vein in a leaf; a grain in wood
- Courage, boldness.
- Patience.
- Stamina, endurance, fortitude.
- Audacity, gall.
- He had the nerve to enter my house uninvited.
- (in plural) Agitation caused by fear, stress or other negative emotion.
[edit] Hyponyms
- See also Wikisaurus:nerve
[edit] Derived terms
Terms derived from the noun "nerve"
[edit] Related terms
[edit] Translations
bundle of neurons
(colloquial) neuron
(botany) vain; grain in wood
courage
patience
stamina
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audacity
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.
Translations to be checked
[edit] Verb
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Infinitive |
Third person singular |
Simple past |
Past participle |
Present participle |
to nerve (third-person singular simple present nerves, present participle nerving, simple past and past participle nerved)
- (transitive) To give courage; sometimes with "up".
- May their example nerve us to face the enemy.
- (transitive) To give strength
- The liquor nerved up several of the men after their icy march.
[edit] Translations
encourage — see encourage
strengthen — see strengthen
[edit] Dutch
[edit] Etymology
Germanic, from Middle Dutch nerwe, nerve
[edit] Noun
nerve (plural nerven, diminutive nerfje, diminutive plural nerfjes)
[edit] French
[edit] Verb form
nerve
- imperative and singular present imperfect forms of nerver

