noble
Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
noble/ˈnəʊbl/
▶adjective (nobler, noblest)
- 1 belonging by rank, title, or birth to the aristocracy.
- 2 having fine personal qualities or high moral principles.
- 3 imposing; magnificent.
- 1 (especially in former times) a person of noble rank or birth.
- 2 historical a former English gold coin.
– phrases
the noble art (or science) (of self-defence) chiefly archaic boxing.
the noble art (or science) (of self-defence) chiefly archaic boxing.
– derivatives
nobleness noun,
nobly adverb.
nobleness noun,
nobly adverb.
– origin ME: from OFr., from L. (g)nobilis ‘noted, high-born’.
'noble' also found in these Oxford entries:
argon
- aristocracy
- Aryan
- beau geste
- birth
- blue blood
- burgrave
- chamberlain
- Childe
- cognizance
- cousin
- cup-bearer
- distinguished
- edelweiss
- ennoble
- equerry
- exalt
- exalted
- fool
- franklin
- generous
- gentle
- gentlefolk
- gentlewoman
- grand
- great-hearted
- helium
- high-born
- housecarl
- ignoble
- inert gas
- ingenuous
- jarl
- krypton
- lineage
- lofty
- lord
- neon
- nobiliary
- nobility
- noble gas
- noble metal
- noble rot
- noble savage
- patrician
- patriciate
- piano nobile
- radon
- rangatira
