|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries: |
Research categories | Follow us on Twitter |
Research categories
View all topics in the newsView all reference sources at Encyclopedia.com |
|||
nine
nine in medieval angelology there were traditionally nine orders to the celestial hierarchy; cats proverbially have nine lives; nine days or nights is the period during which a novelty is supposed to attract attention.
Nine Days' Queen a name for Lady Jane Grey (1537–54), Queen of England for nine days following the death of Edward VI. She was quickly deposed by forces loyal to Edward's (Catholic) sister Mary, who had popular support, and executed the following year. nine days' wonder a person who or thing which is briefly famous. nine-eleven (written 9/11, in American usage) refers to the terrorist action of 11 September 2001, in which hijacked passenger planes were flown into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and a fourth hijacked plane crashed near Pittsburgh. nine men's morris a game, also known as merrill, played on a board between two players, each with an equal number of pebbles, discs of wood or metal, pegs, or pins. nine tailors make a man proverbial saying, early 17th century; the literal meaning is that a gentleman must select his attire from various sources. It is now also associated with bell-ringing: tailors = tellers = strokes, the number of strokes on the passing bell indicating the sex of the deceased. nine times out of ten on nearly every occasion. nine-to-five used in reference to typical office hours, often to express an idea of predictable routine. Nine Worthies nine famous personages of ancient Jewish and classical and medieval Christian history and legend ( Joshua, David, and Judas Maccabaeus; Hector, Alexander, and Julius Caesar; and King Arthur, Charlemagne, and Godfrey of Bouillon). to the nines to a great or elaborate extent (now often in dressed up to the nines). The origin is unclear: it could refer to the number just below the highest point in a scale of 1 to 10, or to the nine Muses. It has also been suggested that it could represent a misdivision of an unrecorded medieval phrase ‘to the eyne [eyes]’. The later association with dress may have been influenced by the 19th-century sartorial reputation of the 99th Wiltshire Regiment. See also cat o' nine tails, on cloud nine, the whole nine yards. |
|
|
Cite this article
ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "nine." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "nine." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-nine.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "nine." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-nine.html |
|
Nine
Nine (1982), a musical play by Arthur Kopit (book), Maury Yeston (music, lyrics). [46th Street Theatre, 732 perf.; Tony Award.] Having reached a point in life where he feels he is both creatively and emotionally exhausted, the great Italian film director, Guido Contini ( Raul Julia), attempts to recruit his strengths by reexamining his past, especially his relationships with the many women in his life, including his mother ( Taina Elg); Saraghina ( Kathi Moss), who first taught him about sex; Liliane LaFleur ( Liliane Montevecchi), his producer; Luisa ( Karen Akers), his unhappy wife; and Carla ( Anita Morris), his mistress. His retrospections lead to acceptance by his nine‐year‐old self and a resolution of sorts. Notable songs: My Husband Makes Movies; Be Italian; Only with You. Based on Federico Fellini's 1963 film, 8 1/2, this pleasantly melodic, lightweight musical was enhanced by Tommy Tune's imaginative staging and outstanding production values. The musical was successfully revived on Broadway in 2003.
|
|
|
Cite this article
Gerald Bordman and Thomas S. Hischak. "Nine." The Oxford Companion to American Theatre. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. Gerald Bordman and Thomas S. Hischak. "Nine." The Oxford Companion to American Theatre. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O149-Nine.html Gerald Bordman and Thomas S. Hischak. "Nine." The Oxford Companion to American Theatre. 2004. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O149-Nine.html |
|
nine
nine / nīn/ • cardinal number equivalent to the product of three and three; one more than eight, or one less than ten; 9: all nine justices agreed that the law could not stand | nine of the twelve members. (Roman numeral: ix or IX.) ∎ a group or unit of nine individuals. ∎ nine years old: I was only nine. ∎ nine o'clock: it's ten to nine. ∎ a size of garment or other merchandise denoted by nine. ∎ a playing card with nine pips. ∎ (the Nine) Greek Mythol. the nine Muses. PHRASES: dressed to the nines see dress. nine times out of ten on nearly every occasion; almost always. |
|
|
Cite this article
"nine." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "nine." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-nine.html "nine." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-nine.html |
|
nine
nine OE. nigon = OS. nigun, -on (Du. negen) :- *niʒun, var. of Gmc. *niwun (repr. by OHG. niun, G. neun, ON. níu, Goth. niun) :- IE. *(e)newn, repr. by L. novem, Gr. ennéa, OIr. nói(n), OSl. devętī, Lith. devyni, Skr. náva-.
So nineteen OE. nigontȳne = OS. nigentein (Du. negentien), OHG. niunzehan (G. neunzehn), ON. nitján. nineteenth OE. nigontēoða. ninth ME. nizonþe (XII), a new formation superseding OE. nigoða = OS. niguðo, MLG. negede. ninety OE. nigontiġ. ninepins XVI. |
|
|
Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "nine." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "nine." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-nine.html T. F. HOAD. "nine." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-nine.html |
|
Nine
Ninea set of nine persons, players, etc.; a baseball team, 1866; the nine muses, 1600. |
|
|
Cite this article
"Nine." Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. 1985. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Nine." Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. 1985. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2505301022.html "Nine." Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. 1985. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2505301022.html |
|
nine
nine •align, assign, benign, brine, chine, cline, combine, condign, confine, consign, dine, divine, dyne, enshrine, entwine, fine, frontline, hardline, interline, intertwine, kine, Klein, line, Main, malign, mine, moline, nine, on-line, opine, outshine, pine, Rhein, Rhine, shine, shrine, sign, sine, spine, spline, stein, Strine, swine, syne, thine, tine, trine, twine, Tyne, underline, undermine, vine, whine, wine
•Sabine • carbine • Holbein • woodbine
•concubine • columbine • turbine
•sardine • Aldine • muscadine
•celandine • anodyne • androgyne
|
|
|
Cite this article
"nine." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "nine." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-nine.html "nine." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-nine.html |
|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries:
HighBeam™ Research, Inc. © Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.
The Encyclopedia.com advertising network includes:
![Nine - Official Trailer [HD]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/y_5_lzags3I/0.jpg "Nine - Official Trailer [HD]")
