Noble (meanings)
The word noble, which is common both as an adjective and as a noun, has several degrees and shades of meaning, some depending on delicate social judgement. There are also several specialized meanings in various academic subjects.
- The original root is the Latin nobilis, from noscere (earlier gnoscere, cognate with know) 'to know': it means 'well known', 'famous'. In the military world of Rome, this was primarily a matter of success in the field (of battle): 'heroic', 'renowned [for feats of arms]'
- It then became a matter more of rank, particularly as conferred by the monarch and most commonly earned by birth, or inheritance from one who had earned it by virtue of military exploits. In the UK, the ranks of the nobility (the peers entitled to sit in the House of Lords) are Duke, Marquess, Earl, Viscount and Baron ; minor nobility include Baronets and Knights (styled as Sir), an d gentlemen (entitled to bear arms, and in Scotland Lairds.
- More recently (since the Middle Ages), the [[[adjective]] noble has come to signify the qualities ideally to be found among the nobility: in early times 'dis, and later 'showing the best qualities', 'having splendour', 'making a fine show', and later 'having the best [most virtuous] qualities'.
OED classical Latin nÅbilis (adjective) generally known, renowned, illustrious, well-born, heroic, majestic, grand, (noun) person of noble rank, in post-classical Latin also (adjective) valuable (c1125 of stone, c1235 of metal, both in British sources), (noun) gold coin (from c1339 in British sources) < nÅscere , gnÅscere to know
noble gas
noble metal
noble art
(of a part of the body) important, essential to life (c1250 in a British source),
nobility
noblesse oblige de l'epée de la robe
noble savage
noble rot
