nix

¹

[niks]

noun

1. nothing.

verb (used with object)

1. to veto; refuse to agree to; prohibit.

   The VP of Publishing nixed the project.

adverb

1. no.

interjection

1. Archaic.,  (used as an exclamation, especially of warning).

   Nix, the cops!

nix

²

[niks]

noun

plural

nixes 

1. (in Germanic folklore) a water spirit that draws its victims into its underwater home.

nix

¹

/ nɪks /

1. another word for no 1

2. be careful! watch out!

noun

1. a rejection or refusal

2. nothing at all

verb

1. (tr) to veto, deny, reject, or forbid (plans, suggestions, etc)

nix

²

/ nɪks /

noun

1. German myth a male water sprite, usually unfriendly to humans

Word History and Origins

Origin of nix¹

First recorded in 1780–90; from German, variant of nichts “nothing”

Origin of nix²

1825–35; < German Nix, Old High German nihhus; cognate with Old English nicor water monster, Old Norse nykr, Norwegian nøkk, Swedish näck; compare Sanskrit nenekti (he) washes

Word History and Origins

Origin of nix¹

C18: from German, colloquial form of nichts nothing

Origin of nix²

C19: from German Nixe nymph or water spirit, from Old High German nihhus; related to Old English nicor sea monster

Example Sentences

The cuts, however, swept far more broadly, leaving cities puzzled at times as to why their programs were frozen or nixed.

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The city cut the department’s Bureau of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and also nixed the LAFD’s emergency incident technicians, who help coordinate responses to fires.

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Sen. John Kennedy, a conservative from Louisiana, sought to nix the owl-killing plan via the Congressional Review Act, which can be used to overturn recent rules by federal agencies.

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Some logging advocates are afraid nixing the plan will slow down timber harvesting.

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Washington also nixed a planned stopover in New York in August by Taiwan’s president.

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