noble

[ noh-buh l ]

/ ˈnoʊ bəl /

adjective, no·bler, no·blest.

distinguished by rank or title.

pertaining to persons so distinguished.

of, belonging to, or constituting a hereditary class that has special social or political status in a country or state; of or pertaining to the aristocracy.

of an exalted moral or mental character or excellence: a noble thought.

admirable in dignity of conception, manner of expression, execution, or composition: a noble poem.

very impressive or imposing in appearance: a noble monument.

of an admirably high quality; notably superior; excellent.

famous; illustrious; renowned.

Chemistry. inert; chemically inactive.

Falconry. (of a hawk) having excellent qualities or abilities.

noun

a person of noble birth or rank; nobleman or noblewoman.

a former gold coin of England, first issued in 1346 by Edward III, equal to half a mark or 6s. 8d., replaced in 1464 under Edward IV by the rose noble.

(in Britain) a peer.

Words nearby noble

nobelium, nobile, nobiliary, nobiliary particle, nobility, noble, noble art, noble fir, noble gas, noble metal, noble opal

Origin of noble

1175–1225; Middle English < Old French < Latin (g)nōbilis ‘notable, of high rank’, equivalent to (g)nō-, base of (g)nōscere ‘to get to know, find out’ (see know¹) + -bilis -ble

OTHER WORDS FROM noble

no·ble·ness, nounnon·no·ble, adjectiveo·ver·no·ble, adjectiveo·ver·no·ble·ness, noun

o·ver·no·b·ly, adverbpseu·do·no·ble, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH noble

Nobel noble

synonym study for noble

4. Noble, high-minded, magnanimous agree in referring to lofty principles and loftiness of mind or spirit. Noble implies a loftiness of character or spirit that scorns the petty, mean, base, or dishonorable: a noble deed. High-minded implies having elevated principles and consistently adhering to them: a high-minded pursuit of legal reforms. Magnanimous suggests greatness of mind or soul, especially as manifested in generosity or in overlooking injuries: magnanimous toward his former enemies.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for noblest

Our noblest people paid with their souls so that we can build a country where we can live in freedom, justice, and dignity.
Egyptians to John Kerry: Stop Backing Dictators|Gameela Ismail|March 9, 2013|DAILY BEAST
If a fortune is truly yours to make, it can only be had on your noblest terms.
Horoscopes for June 12-18, 2011|Starsky + Cox|June 12, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Washington, unbending in his role as the noblest republican of them all, administered a severe blow to imperial pride.
Washington in Victory|Piers Brendon|October 10, 2008|DAILY BEAST
The noblest leaven in them is love of France and of liberty.
French Classics|William Cleaver Wilkinson

The greatest and noblest figure in legislative life of the nineteenth century had passed away from earth.
Famous Men and Great Events of the Nineteenth Century|Charles Morris
"Damn the stocks," began Mr. Stirn, plunging right in medias res, and by a fine use of one of the noblest figures of rhetoric.
The International Magazine, Volume 2, No. 2, January, 1851|Various
For every day they are not meet, Or for a careless tone; They are for rarest, and most sweet, And noblest use alone.
Legends and Lyrics: First Series|Adelaide Anne Procter
A good healthy conscience is the noblest point in the character of that noblest work of creation—an honest man.
Punch - Volume 25 (Jul-Dec 1853)|Various

British Dictionary definitions for noblest

noble

/ (ˈnəʊbəl) /

adjective

of or relating to a hereditary class with special social or political status, often derived from a feudal period

of or characterized by high moral qualities; magnanimousa noble deed

having dignity or eminence; illustrious

grand or imposing; magnificenta noble avenue of trees

of superior quality or kind; excellenta noble strain of horses

chem

(of certain elements) chemically unreactive
(of certain metals, esp copper, silver, and gold) resisting oxidation

falconry

designating long-winged falcons that capture their quarry by stooping on it from aboveCompare ignoble
designating the type of quarry appropriate to a particular species of falcon

noun

a person belonging to a privileged social or political class whose status is usually indicated by a title conferred by sovereign authority or descent

(in the British Isles) a person holding the title of duke, marquess, earl, viscount, or baron, or a feminine equivalent

a former Brit gold coin having the value of one third of a pound

Derived forms of noble

nobleness, nounnobly, adverb

Word Origin for noble

C13: via Old French from Latin nōbilis, originally, capable of being known, hence well-known, noble, from noscere to know

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noble

adjective, no·bler, no·blest.

noun

Words related to noble

Words nearby noble

Origin of noble

OTHER WORDS FROM noble

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH noble

synonym study for noble

Examples from the Web for noblest

British Dictionary definitions for noblest

adjective

noun

Derived forms of noble

Word Origin for noble