Nerve
Pronunciation
- Rhymes: -ÉœË(r)v
Origin
Recorded since circa 1374, from Medieval Latin nervus ("nerve"), from Latin nervus ("sinew").
Full definition of nerve
Noun
nerve
(plural nerves)- (zoology) A bundle of neurons with their connective tissue sheaths, blood vessels and lymphatics.The nerves can be seen through the skin.''
- (nonstandard, colloquial) A neuron.
- (botany) A vein in a leaf; a grain in wood''Some plants have ornamental value because of their contrasting nerves
- Courage, boldness.He hasn't the nerve to tell her he likes her, what a wimp!
- 2013, Daniel Taylor, Jack Wilshere scores twice to ease Arsenal to victory over Marseille (in The Guardian, 26 November 2013)http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/nov/26/arsenal-marseille-match-report-champions-leagueA trip to the whistling, fire-cracking Stadio San Paolo is always a test of nerve but Wenger's men have already outplayed the Italians once.
- Patience.
- Stamina, endurance, fortitude.
- MiltonHe led me on to mightiest deeds,
Above the nerve of mortal arm. - Audacity, gall.He had the nerve to enter my house uninvited.
- Wodehouse Offing|XVIII|“Oh?†she said. “So you have decided to revise my guest list for me? You have the nerve, the – the –†I saw she needed helping out. “Audacity,†I said, throwing her the line. “The audacity to dictate to me who I shall have in my house.†It should have been “whomâ€, but I let it go. “You have the –†“Crust.†“– the immortal rind,†she amended, and I had to admit it was stronger, “to tell me whom†– she got it right that time – “I may entertain at Brinkley Court and who†– wrong again – “I may not.â€
- (in the plural) Agitation caused by fear, stress or other negative emotion.Ellie had a bad case of nerves before the big test.
- (obsolete) Sinew, tendon.
- 1610, , by William Shakespeare, act 1 scene 2Come on; obey:
Thy nerves are in their infancy again,
And have no vigour in them.