nona

¹ American  

[noh-nuh] / ˈnoʊ nə /

noun

Pathology.

1. sleeping sickness.

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nona- ² American  

1. a combining form meaning “nine, ninth,” used in the formation of compound words.

   nonagon.

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nona- British  

combining form

1. nine

   nonagon

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Usage

What does nona- mean? Nona- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “nine” or “ninth.” It is used in a number of scientific and other technical terms. In chemistry, nona- is specifically used to indicate nine atoms or nine groups of atoms in compounds, e.g., nonapeptide. Nona- comes from the Latin nōnus, meaning “ninth.” The word noon also derives from the Latin nōna hōra, the “ninth hour” from sunrise. That means 12 o’clock noon was originally 3 p.m!The Greek word for “nine” is ennéa, source of the combining form ennea-, which you can learn more about in our Words That Use article for the form. What are variants of nona-?When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, nona- becomes non-, as in nonyl alcohol. However, in a great many more instances, the letters non- at the beginning of a word are the prefix non-, meaning "not," as in nonabrasive or nonacademic.

Etymology

Origin of nona

< Latin nōna ( hōra ) ninth (hour); i.e., late stage in life of patient

Example Sentences

At the time work by Mr. Cattelan — later notorious for his 1999 sculpture of Pope John Paul II struck by a meteorite, “La nona ora” — was selling for a few hundred dollars.

From New York Times • Sep. 7, 2010

Hoi aku la o Halaaniani, a kokoke i ka manawa i kauo haia nona, alaila, ala mai la oia a halawai me kona kaikuahine.

From The Hawaiian Romance Of Laieikawai by Beckwith, Martha Warren

We may cite as an example an Italian system whose spheres were as follows:—Terra, Aqua, Aria, Fuoco, Luna, Mercurio, Venus, Sol, Marte, Giove, Saturno, Stelle fixe, Sfera nona, Cielo empyreo.

From Astronomical Myths Based on Flammarions's History of the Heavens by Blake, John F.

Hora fere nona quasi signo dato Clodiani nostros consputare coeperunt.

From The Common People of Ancient Rome Studies of Roman Life and Literature by Abbott, Frank Frost

Fiorenza dentro dalla cerchia antica, Ond'ella toglie ancora e terza e nona, Si stava in pace sobria e pudica.

From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 20, No. 118, August, 1867 by Various