No"ble, n. 1. A
person of rank above a commoner; a nobleman; a peer.
2. An English money of account, and,
formerly, a gold coin, of the value of 6 s. 8 d. sterling, or about
$1.61.
3. (Zoöl.) A European fish; the
lyrie.
No"ble (?), a.
[Compar. Nobler (?);
superl. Noblest (?).] [F. noble, fr.
L. nobilis that can be or is known, well known, famous,
highborn, noble, fr. noscere to know. See know.]
1. Possessing eminence, elevation, dignity,
etc.; above whatever is low, mean, degrading, or dishonorable;
magnanimous; as, a noble nature or action; a noble
heart.
Statues, with winding ivy crowned, belong
To nobler poets for a nobler song.
Dryden.
2. Grand; stately; magnificent; splendid; as,
a noble edifice.
3. Of exalted rank; of or pertaining to the
nobility; distinguished from the masses by birth, station, or title;
highborn; as, noble blood; a noble personage.
☞ Noble is used in the formation of self-explaining
compounds; as, noble-born, noble-hearted, noble-
minded.
Noble metals (Chem.), silver, gold,
and platinum; -- so called from their freedom from oxidation and
permanence in air. Copper, mercury, aluminium, palladium, rhodium,
iridium, and osmium are sometimes included.
Syn. -- Honorable; worthy; dignified; elevated; exalted;
superior; sublime; great; eminent; illustrious; renowned; stately;
splendid; magnificent; grand; magnanimous; generous; liberal;
free.
No"ble, v. t. To make noble; to
ennoble. [Obs.]
Thou nobledest so far forth our
nature.
Chaucer.