nerve

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Noun 1.3.1 Hyponyms 1.3.2 Derived terms 1.3.3 Related terms 1.3.4 Translations 1.4 Verb 1.4.1 Translations 2 Dutch 2.1 Etymology 2.2 Noun 3 French 3.1 Verb form

[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

nerve (plural nerves)

1. (zoology) A bundle of neurons with their connective tissue sheaths, blood vessels and lymphatics.
2. (nonstandard, colloquial) A neuron.
3. (botany) A vein in a leaf; a grain in wood
4. Courage, boldness.
5. Patience.
6. Stamina, endurance, fortitude.
7. Audacity, gall.

   He had the nerve to enter my house uninvited.

8. (in plural) Agitation caused by fear, stress or other negative emotion.

[edit] Hyponyms

• See also Wikisaurus:nerve

[edit] Derived terms

[edit] Related terms

[edit] Translations

[edit] Verb

to nerve (third-person singular simple present nerves, present participle nerving, simple past and past participle nerved)

1. (transitive) To give courage; sometimes with "up".

   May their example nerve us to face the enemy.

2. (transitive) To give strength

   The liquor nerved up several of the men after their icy march.

[edit] Translations

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[edit] Dutch

[edit] Etymology

Germanic, from Middle Dutch nerwe, nerve

[edit] Noun

nerve (plural nerven, diminutive nerfje, diminutive plural nerfjes)

1. (obsolete) Alternative form of nerf. (senses marking etc.)

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[edit] French

[edit] Verb form

nerve

1. imperative and singular present imperfect forms of nerver