Noble \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.
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Statues, with winding ivy crowned, belong
To nobler poets for a nobler song. --Dryden.
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2. Grand; stately; magnificent; splendid; as, a noble
edifice.
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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.
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Note: Noble is used in the formation of self-explaining
compounds; as, noble-born, noble-hearted, noble-minded.
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Noble gas (Chem.), a gaseous element belonging to group
VIII of the periodic table of elements, not combining with
other elements under normal reaction conditions;
specifically, helium, neon, argon, krypton,
xenon, or radon; also called inert gas.
Noble metals (Chem.), silver, gold, and platinum; -- so
called from their resistance to oxidation by air and to
dissolution by acids. Copper, mercury, aluminium,
palladium, rhodium, iridium, and osmium are sometimes
included.
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Syn: Honorable; worthy; dignified; elevated; exalted;
superior; sublime; great; eminent; illustrious;
renowned; stately; splendid; magnificent; grand;
magnanimous; generous; liberal; free.
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Argon \Ar"gon\, n. [NL., fr. Gr. ?, neut. of ? inactive; ? priv.
+ ? work.] (Chem.)
A colorless, odorless gas occurring in the air (of which it
constitutes 0.93 per cent by volume), in volcanic gases,
etc.; -- so named on account of its inertness by Rayleigh and
Ramsay, who prepared and examined it in 1894-95. Symbol, A;
at. wt., 39.9. Argon is condensible to a colorless liquid
boiling at -186.1[deg] C. and to a solid melting at
-189.6[deg] C. It has a characteristic spectrum. No compounds
of it are known, but there is physical evidence that its
molecule is monatomic. Weight of one liter at 0[deg] C. and
760 mm., 1.7828 g.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
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