N the fourteenth letter of English alphabet, is a vocal consonent, and, in allusion to its mode of formation, is called the dentinasal or linguanasal consonent. Its commoner sound is that heard in ran, done; but when immediately followed in the same word by the sound of g hard or k (as in single, sink, conquer), it usually represents the same sound as the digraph ng in sing, bring, etc. This is a simple but related sound, and is called the gutturo-nasal consonent. See Guide to Pronunciation, §§ 243-246.
Note: The letter N came into English through the Latin and Greek from the Phoenician, which probably derived it from the Egyptian as the ultimate origin. It is etymologically most closely related to M. See M.
N, n. Print. A measure of space equal to half an M (or em); an en.
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Val·iant a.
1. Vigorous in body; strong; powerful; as, a valiant fencer. [Obs.]
2. Intrepid in danger; courageous; brave.
A valiant and most expert gentleman. --Shak.
And Saul said to David . . . be thou valiant for me, and fight the Lord's battles. --1 Sam. xviii. 17.
3. Performed with valor or bravery; heroic. “Thou bearest the highest name for valiant acts.”
[The saints] have made such valiant confessions. --J. H. Newman.
-- Val*iant*ly, adv. -- Val*iant*ness, n.
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N
n 1: (of a solution) concentration expressed in gram equivalents
of solute per liter [syn: normality]
2: a common nonmetallic element that is normally a colorless
odorless tasteless inert diatomic gas; constitutes 78
percent of the atmosphere by volume; a constituent of all
living tissues [syn: nitrogen, atomic number 7]
3: the cardinal compass point that is at 0 or 360 degrees [syn:
north, due north]
4: a unit of force equal to the force that imparts an
acceleration of 1 m/sec/sec to a mass of 1 kilogram; equal
to 100,000 dynes [syn: newton]
5: the 14th letter of the Roman alphabet