nimble

nimble
nimble (adj.) "agile, light-footed," c.1300, nemel, from O.E. næmel "quick to grasp" (attested only once), related to niman "to take," from P.Gmc. *nemanan (Cf. O.S., O.Du., Goth. niman, O.N. nema, O.Fris. nima, Ger. nehmen "to take"), from PIE root *nem- "to divide, distribute, allot," also "to take" (Cf. Gk. nemein "to deal out," nemesis "just indignation," L. numerus "number," Lith. nuoma "rent, interest," M.Ir. nos "custom, usage"). With excrescent -b- from c.1500 (Cf. LIMB (Cf. limb) (n.1)). Related: Nimbleness. In 17c., English had nimblechaps "talkative fellow."

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Nimble — may refer to: HMS Nimble, the name of several Royal Navy vessels RMAS Nimble (A222), a British naval auxiliary ship USS Nimble, the name of two US Navy vessels Castle Nimble, a castle in Wales Nimble (bread), a brand of bread owned by Hovis Camp… …   Wikipedia

  • Nimble — Nim ble (n[i^]m b l), a. [Compar. {Nimbler} (n[i^]m bl[ e]r); superl. {Nimblest} (n[i^]m bl[e^]st).] [OE. nimel, prob. orig., quick at seizing, fr. nimen to take, AS. niman; akin to D. nemen, G. nehmen, OHG. neman, Icel. nema, Goth. nima, and… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • nimble — [nim′bəl] adj. nimbler, nimblest [with intrusive b < ME nimmel < OE numol < niman, to take (see NIM): basic sense “capable of taking”] 1. mentally quick; quick witted; alert [a nimble mind] 2. Rare showing mental quickness [a nimble… …   English World dictionary

  • nimble — index alert (agile), deft, rapid Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • nimble — *agile, brisk, spry Analogous words: sprightly, *lively, animated: alert, wide awake, vigilant, *watchful: *supple, limber, lithe …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • nimble — [adj] dexterous, smart active, adept, adroit, agile, alert, bright, brisk, clever, deft, handy, light, lissome, lithe, lively, proficient, prompt, quick, quick witted, ready, skillful, sprightly, spry, swift, vigilant, wide awake; concepts… …   New thesaurus

  • nimble — ► ADJECTIVE (nimbler, nimblest) ▪ quick and agile in movement, action, or thought. DERIVATIVES nimbly adverb. ORIGIN Old English …   English terms dictionary

  • nimble — [[t]nɪ̱mb(ə)l[/t]] nimbler, nimblest 1) ADJ GRADED Someone who is nimble is able to move their fingers, hands, or legs quickly and easily. Everything had been stitched by Molly s nimble fingers... Val, who was light and nimble on her feet, learnt …   English dictionary

  • nimble — adjective 1 able to move quickly and easily with light neat movements: a nimble climber | nimble fingers 2 a nimble mind/brain/wit an ability to think quickly or understand things easily: They liked his nimble mind his ability to come up with… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • nimble — adjective (nimbler; nimblest) Etymology: Middle English nimel, from Old English numol holding much, from niman to take; akin to Old High German neman to take, Greek nemein to distribute, manage, nomos pasture, nomos usage, custom, law Date: 14th… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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