Emily Dickinson Lexicon

NARD, n. [L. nardus, nardum; Gr. ναρδος; from the Arabic, Phenician, Syriac or Persian, probably the latter.]

1. A plant usually called spikenard, spica nardi; highly valued by the ancients, both as an article of luxury and of medicine. It is odorous or aromatic.
2. An unguent prepared from the plant.

NARD'INE, a.

Pertaining to nard; having the qualities of spikenard. Asiat. Res.

NARE, n. [L. naris.]

The nostril. [Not used.] Hudibras.

NAR'RA-BLE, a. [L. narrabilis. See Narrate.]

That may be related, told or narrated. [Not used.]

NARRATE, v.t. [L. narro; It. narrare; Sp. narrar; Fr. narrer. Class Nr, No. 2, 5, 6.]

1. To tell, rehearse or recite, as a story; to relate the particulars of any event or transaction, or any series of incidents.
2. To write, as the particulars of a story or history. We never say, to narrate a sentence, a sermon or an oration, but we narrate a story, or the particular events which have fallen under our observation, or which we have heard related.

NAR'RA-TED, pp.

Related; told.

NAR'RA-TING, ppr.

Relating; telling; reciting:

NAR-RA'TION, n. [L. narratio.]

1. The act of telling or relating the particulars of an event; rehearsal; recital.
2. Relation; story; history; the relation in words or writing, of the particulars of any transaction or event, or of any series of transactions or events.
3. In oratory, that part of a discourse which recites the time, manner or consequences of an action, or simply states the facts connected with the subject.

NAR'RA-TIVE, a. [Fr. narratif.]

1. Relating the particulars of an event or transaction; giving a particular or continued account.
2. Apt or inclined to relate stories, or to tell particulars of events; story-telling. But wise through time and narrative with age. Pope.

NAR'RA-TIVE, n.

The recital of a story, or a continued account of the particulars of an event or transaction; story. Cynthio was much taken with my narrative. Tatler.

NAR'RA-TIVE-LY, adv.

By way of narration, story or recital. Ayliffe.

NAR-RA'TOR, n.

One that narrates; one that relates a series of events or transactions. Watts.

NAR'RA-TO-RY, a.

Giving an account of events. Howell.

NAR'ROW, a. [Sax. neara, nearo, nearu, nearew. I suspect this word and near to be contracted by the loss of g, W. nig, narrow, strait; nigiaw, to narrow; for the D. has naauw, narrow, close, G. genau, with a prefix. In this case, the word belongs to the root of nigh; D. naaken, to approach.]

1. Of little breadth; not wide or broad; having distance from side to side; as, a narrow board; a narrow street; a narrow sea; a narrow hem or border. It is only or chiefly applied to the surface of flat or level bodies.
2. Of little extent; very limited; as, a narrow space or compass.
3. Covetous; not liberal or bountiful; as, a narrow heart.
4. Contracted; of confined views or sentiments; very limited. The greatest understanding is narrow. Grew. In this sense and the former, it is often prefixed to mind or soul, &c.; as, narrow-minded; narrow-souled; narrow-hearted.
5. Near; within a small distance. Dryden.
6. Close; near; accurate; scrutinizing; as, a narrow search; narrow inspection.
7. Near; barely sufficient to avoid evil; as, a narrow escape.

NAR'ROW, or NAR'ROWS, n.

A strait; a narrow passage through a mountain, or a narrow channel of water between one sea or lake and another; a sound. It is usually in the plural, but sometimes in the singular. Washington. Mitford.

NAR'ROW, v.i.

1. To become less broad; to contract in breadth. At that place, the sea narrows into a strait,
2. In horsemanship, a horse is said to narrow, when he does not take ground enough, or bear out enough to the one hand or the other. Far. Dict.
3. To contract the size of a stocking by taking two stitches into one.

NAR'ROW, v.t.

1. To lessen the breadth of; to contract. A government, by alienating the affections of the people, may be said to narrow its bottom. Temple.
2. To contract in extent; as, to narrow one's influence; to narrow the faculties or capacity.
3. To draw into a smaller compass; to contract; to limit; to confine; as, to narrow our views or knowledge; to narrow a question in discussion.
4. In knitting, to contract the size of a stocking by taking two stitches into one.

NAR'ROW-ED, pp.

Contracted; made less wide.

NAR'ROW-ER, n.

He or that which narrows or contracts.

NAR'ROW-ING, ppr.

Contracting; making less broad.

NAR'ROW-INGS, n.

The part of a stocking which is narrowed.

NAR'ROW-LY, adv.

1. With little breadth.
2. Contractedly; without much extent.
3. Closely; accurately; with minute scrutiny; as, to look, or watch narrowly; to search narrowly.
4. Nearly; within a little; by a small distance; as, he narrowly escaped.
5. Sparingly.

NAR'ROW-MIND-ED, a.

Illiberal; mean spirited; of confined views or sentiments.

NAR'ROW-NESS, n.

1. Smallness of breadth or distance from side to side; as, the narrowness of cloth, of a street or highway, of a stream or sea.
2. Smallness of extent; contractedness; as, the narrowness of capacity or comprehension; narrowness of knowledge or attainments.
3. Smallness of estate or means of living; poverty; as, the narrowness of fortune or of circumstances. South.
4. Contractedness; penuriousness; covetousness; as, narrowness of heart.
5. Illiberality; want of generous, enlarged or charitable views or sentiments; as, narrowness of mind or views.

NAR'ROW-SIGHT-ED, a.

Having a narrow sight.