*noble*

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Ennobled p. pr. & vb. n. Ennobling ] [ Pref. en- + noble: cf. F. ennoblir. ] 1. To make noble; to elevate in degree, qualities, or excellence; to dignify. “Ennobling all that he touches.” Trench. [ 1913 Webster ]

What can ennoble sots, or slaves, or cowards?
Alas! not all the blood of all the Howards. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To raise to the rank of nobility; as, to ennoble a commoner.

Syn. -- To raise; dignify; exalt; elevate; aggrandize. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act of making noble, or of exalting, dignifying, or advancing to nobility. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which ennobles; excellence; dignity. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who ennobles. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ So called from the image of St. George on it. ] A gold noble of the time of Henry VIII. See Noble, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. ignobilis; pref. in- not + nobilis noble: cf. F. ignoble. See In- not, and Noble, a. ] 1. Of low birth or family; not noble; not illustrious; plebeian; common; humble. [ 1913 Webster ]

I was not ignoble of descent. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Her royal stock graft with ignoble plants. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Not honorable, elevated, or generous; base. [ 1913 Webster ]

'T is but a base, ignoble mind,
That mounts no higher than a bird can soar. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife. Gray. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Zool.) Not a true or noble falcon; -- said of certain hawks, as the goshawk.

Syn. -- Degenerate; degraded; mean; base; dishonorable; reproachful; disgraceful; shameful; scandalous; infamous. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To make ignoble. [ Obs. ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. State or quality of being ignoble. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Statues, with winding ivy crowned, belong
To nobler poets for a nobler song. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Grand; stately; magnificent; splendid; as, a noble edifice. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Noble is used in the formation of self-explaining compounds; as, noble-born, noble-hearted, noble-minded. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Honorable; worthy; dignified; elevated; exalted; superior; sublime; great; eminent; illustrious; renowned; stately; splendid; magnificent; grand; magnanimous; generous; liberal; free. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A person of rank above a commoner; a nobleman; a peer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An English money of account, and, formerly, a gold coin, of the value of 6 s. 8 d. sterling, or about $1.61 (in 1913). [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Zool.) A European fish; the lyrie. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To make noble; to ennoble. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Thou nobledest so far forth our nature. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Noblemen One of the nobility; a noble; a peer; one who enjoys rank above a commoner, either by virtue of birth, by office, or by patent. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having a noble mind; of high moral or intellectual character; honorable; magnanimous. -- No"ble-mind`ed*ness, n.
Syn. -- exalted, high-flown, high-minded, lofty, idealistic. [1913 Webster]

n. elevated ideals or conduct.
Syn. -- high-mindedness, idealism. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. The quality or state of being noble; greatness; dignity; magnanimity; elevation of mind, character, or station; nobility; grandeur; stateliness. [ 1913 Webster ]

His purposes are full honesty, nobleness, and integrity. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. [ F. noblesse. See Noble. ] 1. Dignity; greatness; noble birth or condition. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. Spenser. B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The nobility; persons of noble rank collectively, including males and females. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Noblewomen A female of noble rank; a peeress. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. nobleie. ] 1. The body of nobles; the nobility. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Noble birth; nobility; dignity. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Ignoble. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]