Nice

• POS: Adjective, Noun

CIDE DICTIONARY

Nice, a. [OE., foolish, fr. OF. nice ignorant, fool, fr. L. nescius ignorant; ne not + scius knowing, scire to know. Perhaps influenced by E. nesh delicate, soft. See No, and Science.].

•  Foolish; silly; simple; ignorant; also, weak; effeminate.  Gower.  [1913 Webster]

  "But say that we ben wise and nothing nice."  [1913 Webster]
•  Of trifling moment; unimportant; trivial.  [1913 Webster]

  "The letter was not nice, but full of charge
  Of dear import."  [1913 Webster]
•  Overscrupulous or exacting; hard to please or satisfy; fastidious in small matters.  [1913 Webster]

  "Curious not knowing, not exact but nice."  [1913 Webster]

  "And to taste
  Think not I shall be nice."  [1913 Webster]
•  Delicate; refined; dainty; pure.  [1913 Webster]

  "Dear love, continue nice and chaste."  [1913 Webster]

  "A nice and subtile happiness."  [1913 Webster]
•  Apprehending slight differences or delicate distinctions; distinguishing accurately or minutely; carefully discriminating; as, a nice taste or judgment.  [1913 Webster]
•  Done or made with careful labor; suited to excite admiration on account of exactness; evidencing great skill; exact; fine; finished; as, nice proportions, nice workmanship, a nice application; exactly or fastidiously discriminated; requiring close discrimination; as, a nice point of law, a nice distinction in philosophy.  [1913 Webster]

  "The difference is too nice
  Where ends the virtue, or begins the vice."  [1913 Webster]
•  Pleasing; agreeable; gratifying; delightful; good; as, a nice party; a nice excursion; a nice day; a nice sauce, etc.  [1913 Webster]
•  Pleasant; kind; as, a nice person.  [PJC]
•  Well-mannered; well-behaved; as, nice children.  [PJC]

  "He's making a list, checking it twice.
  Gonna find out who's naughty or nice
  Santa Claus is coming to town."

To make nice of, to be scrupulous about. [Obs.] Shak.

Syn. -- Dainty; delicate; exquisite; fine; accurate; exact; correct; precise; particular; pleasant; kind; scrupulous; punctilious; fastidious; squeamish; finical; effeminate; silly; well-mannered; well-behaved.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Nice, adj.
1 pleasant, agreeable, satisfactory.
2 (of a person) kind, good-natured.
3 iron. bad or awkward (a nice mess you've made).
4 a fine or subtle (a nice distinction). b requiring careful thought or attention (a nice problem).
5 fastidious; delicately sensitive.
6 punctilious, scrupulous (were not too nice about their methods).
7 (foll. by an adj., often with and) satisfactory or adequate in terms of the quality described (a nice long time; nice and warm).

Idiom

nice work a task well done.

Derivative

nicely adv. niceness n. nicish adj. (also niceish).

Etymology

ME, = stupid, wanton f. OF, = silly, simple f. L nescius ignorant (as nescience: see NESCIENT)

THESAURUS

Nice

Christian, Christlike, Christly, according to Hoyle, accurate, acute, advantageous, advertent, affable, affectionate, agog, agreeable, agreeably, alert, all ears, all eyes, ambrosial, amiable, amicable, appreciative, appropriate, assiduous, attentive, attractive, auspicious, aware, becoming, befitting, beneficial, benevolent, benign, benignant, blissful, bon, bonny, braw, brotherly, bueno, capital, careful, charming, cheerful, choicy, choosy, civilized, close, cogent, comfortably, commendable, compassionate, compatible, complaisant, complex, complicated, concentrated, condign, congenial, conscientious, conscious, constant, cordial, correct, courteous, critical, cultivated, cultured, dainty, dangerous, decent, decorous, delectable, delicat, delicate, delicious, delightful, delightfully, demanding, desirable, detailed, differential, diligent, direct, discerning, discriminate, discriminating, discriminative, distinctive, distinguishing, due, dulcet, earnest, elegant, en rapport, enjoyable, enjoyably, estimable, even, exact, exacting, excellent, exigent, expedient, express, exquisite, fair, fair and pleasant, faithful, famous, fastidious, faultless, favorable, felicific, felicitous, fine, finespun, finical, finicking, finicky, fit, fitting, flawless, fraternal, friendly, full, fussy, genial, gentlemanly, good, good to eat, good-tasting, goodly, graceful, gracile, gracious, grand, grateful, gratifying, gratifyingly, gustable, gusty, hair-splitting, hairline, hairsplitting, hairy, harmonious, healthy, heart-warming, heedful, helpful, honeyed, human, humane, inerrable, inerrant, infallible, intense, intent, intentive, intricate, judicious, juicy, keen, kind, kindhearted, kindly, kindly-disposed, kosher, ladylike, laudable, likable, likeable, loving, luscious, lush, mathematical, mellifluous, mellow, meticulous, micrometrically precise, microscopic, mindful, minute, narrow, neat, nectareous, nectarous, niggling, noble, normal, normative, observant, observing, of gourmet quality, old-maidish, old-womanish, on the ball, on the job, open-eared, open-eyed, openmouthed, outgoing, overconscientious, overparticular, overscrupulous, palatable, particular, penetrating, perceptive, perilous, pernickety, persnickety, picayune, picky, pinpoint, pleasant, pleasing, pleasingly, pleasurable, pleasure-giving, pleasureful, polished, polite, precarious, precious, precise, precisianistic, precisionistic, profitable, proper, punctilious, punctual, queasy, rare, refined, regal, regardful, religious, religiously exact, rewarding, right, right and proper, righteous, rightful, rigid, rigorous, royal, sage, sapid, sapient, satisfactory, satisfying, satisfyingly, savorous, savory, scientific, scientifically exact, scrumptious, scrupulous, scrutinizing, seemly, selective, sensitive, severe, sharp, skillful, slight, small, softhearted, sophisticated, sound, special, specific, splendid, square, squeamish, strict, stringent, subtle, succulent, suitable, superb, superior, sweet, sympathetic, sympathizing, tactful, tasty, tender, tender-conscienced, tenderhearted, ticklish, tidy, toothsome, trim, undeviating, unerring, useful, valid, very good, virtuous, warm, warm-hearted, warmhearted, watchful, welcome, winsome, wise, worthwhile, worthy, yummy

ROGET THESAURUS

Nice

Goodness

N goodness, excellence, merit, virtue, value, worth, price, super-excellence, supereminence, superiority, perfection, coup de maitre, masterpiece, chef d'ouvre, prime, flower, cream, elite, pick, A, nonesuch, nonpareil, creme de la creme, flower of the flock, cock of the roost, salt of the earth, champion, prodigy, tidbit, gem, gem of the first water, bijou, precious stone, jewel, pearl, diamond, ruby, brilliant, treasure, good thing, rara avis, one in a thousand, beneficence, good man, harmless, hurtless, unobnoxious, innocuous, innocent, inoffensive, beneficial, valuable, of value, serviceable, advantageous, edifying, profitable, salutary, favorable, propitious fair, good, good as gold, excellent, better, superior, above par, nice, fine, genuine, best, choice, select, picked, elect, recherche, rare, priceless, unparagoned, unparalleled, superlatively, good, bully, crackajack, giltedged, superfine, superexcellent, of the first water, first-rate, first-class, high- wrought, exquisite, very best, crack, prime, tiptop, capital, cardinal, standard, inimitable, admirable, estimable, praiseworthy, pleasing, couleur de rose, precious, of great price, costly, worth its weight in gold, worth a Jew's eye, priceless, invaluable, inestimable, precious as the apple of the eye, tolerable, up to the mark, unexceptionable, unobjectionable, satisfactory, tidy, in good condition, in fair condition, fresh, sound, beneficially, well, Jewels five words long, long may such goodness live!, the luxury of doing good.

Pleasurableness

N pleasurableness, pleasantness, agreeableness, pleasure giving, jucundity, delectability, amusement, attraction, attractiveness, attractability, invitingness, harm, fascination, enchantment, witchery, seduction, winning ways, amenity, amiability, winsomeness, loveliness, sunny side, bright side, sweets, goodness, manna in the wilderness, land flowing with milk and honey, bittersweet, fair weather, treat, regale, dainty, titbit, tidbit, nuts, sauce piquante, causing pleasure, laetificant, pleasure-giving, pleasing, pleasant, pleasurable, agreeable, grateful, gratifying, leef, lief, acceptable, welcome, welcome as the roses in May, welcomed, favorite, to one's taste, to one's mind, to one's liking, satisfactory, refreshing, comfortable, cordial, genial, glad, gladsome, sweet, delectable, nice, dainty, delicate, delicious, dulcet, luscious, palatable, luxurious, voluptuous, sensual, attractive, inviting, prepossessing, engaging, winning, winsome, taking, fascinating, captivating, killing, seducing, seductive, heart-robbing, alluring, enticing, appetizing, cheering, bewitching, enchanting, entrancing, enravishing, charming, delightful, felicitous, exquisite, lovely, ravishing, rapturous, heartfelt, thrilling, ecstatic, beatic, beatific, seraphic, empyrean, elysian, palmy, halcyon, Saturnian, decies repetita placebit, charms strike the sight but merit wins the soul, sweetness and light, beauty is only skin deep.

Fastidiousness

N fastidiousness, nicety, hypercriticism, difficulty in being pleased, friandise, epicurism, omnia suspendens naso, epicure, gourmet, prudery, fastidious, nice, delicate, delicat, finical, finicky, demanding, meticulous, exacting, strict, anal, difficult, dainty, lickerish, squeamish, thin-skinned, squeasy, queasy, hard to please, difficult to please, querulous, particular, straitlaced, scrupulous, censorious, hypercritical, overcritical, noli me tangere.

Probity

N probity, integrity, rectitude, uprightness, honesty, faith, honor, bonne foi, good faith, bona fides, purity, clean hands, fairness, fair play, justice, equity, impartiality, principle, even-handedness, grace, constancy, faithfulness, fidelity, loyalty, incorruption, incorruptibility, trustworthiness, truth, candor, singleness of heart, veracity, tender conscience, punctilio, delicacy, nicety, scrupulosity, scrupulousness, scruple, point, point of honor, punctuality, dignity, (repute), respectability, respectableness, gentilhomme, gentleman, man of honor, man of his word, fidus Achates, preux chevalier, galantuomo, truepenny, trump, brick, true Briton, white man, court of honor, a fair field and no favor, argumentum ad verecundiam, upright, honest, honest as daylight, veracious, virtuous, honorable, fair, right, just, equitable, impartial, evenhanded, square, fair and aboveboard, open and aboveboard, white, constant, constant as the northern star, faithful, loyal, staunch, true, true blue, true to one's colors, true to the core, true as the needle to the pole, marble-constant, true- hearted, trusty, trustworthy, as good as one's word, to be depended on, incorruptible, straightforward, frank, candid, open-hearted, conscientious, tender-conscienced, right-minded, high-principled, high-minded, scrupulous, religious, strict, nice, punctilious, correct, punctual, respectable, reputable, gentlemanlike, inviolable, inviolate, unviolated, unbroken, unbetrayed, unbought, unbribed, innocent, pure, stainless, unstained, untarnished, unsullied, untainted, unperjured, uncorrupt, uncorrupted, undefiled, undepraved, undebauched, integer vitae scelerisque purus, justus et tenax propositi, chivalrous, jealous of honor, sans peur et sans reproche, high-spirited, supramundane, unworldly, other-worldly, overscrupulous, honorable, bona fide, on the square, in good faith, honor bright, foro conscientiae, with clean hands, a face untaught to feign, bene qui latuit bene vixit, mens sibi conscia recti, probitas laudatur et alget, fidelis ad urnam, his heart as far from fraud as heaven from earth, loyaute m'oblige, loyaute n'a honte, what stronger breastplate than a heart untainted?.

Savoriness

N savoriness, good taste, deliciousness, delectability, relish, zest, appetizer, tidbit, titbit, dainty, delicacy, tasty morsel, appetizer, hors d'ouvres, ambrosia, nectar, bonne-bouche, game, turtle, venison, delicatessen, savory, delicious, tasty, well-tasted, to one's taste, good, palatable, nice, dainty, delectable, toothful, toothsome, gustful, appetizing, lickerish, delicate, exquisite, rich, luscious, ambrosial, scrumptious, delightful, per amusare la bocca, cela se laisse manger.

Discrimination

N discrimination, distinction, differentiation, diagnosis, diorism, nice perception, perception of difference, appreciation of difference, estimation, nicety, refinement, taste, critique, judgment, tact, discernment, acuteness, penetration, nuances, dope, past performances, discriminating, dioristic, discriminative, distinctive, nice, il y a fagots et fagots, rem acu tetigisti, la critique est aisee et l'art est difficile, miles apart, a distinction without a difference.

Truth

N truth, fact, reality, plain fact, plain matter of fact, nature, truth, verity, gospel, gospel truth, God's honest truth, orthodoxy, authenticity, veracity, correctness, correctitude, accuracy, exactitude, exactness, preciseness, precision, delicacy, rigor, mathematical precision, punctuality, clockwork precision, conformity to rule, nicety, orthology, ipsissima verba, realism, plain truth, honest truth, sober truth, naked truth, unalloyed truth, unqualified truth, stern truth, exact truth, intrinsic truth, nuda veritas, the very thing, not an illusion, real Simon Pure, unvarnished tale, unvarnished truth, the truth the whole truth and nothing but the trut, just the thing, real, actual, veritable, true, right, correct, certain, substantially true, categorically true, definitively true, true to the letter, true as gospel, unimpeachable, veracious, unreconfuted, unconfuted, unideal, unimagined, realistic, exact, accurate, definite, precise, well-defined, just, just so, so, strict, severe, close, literal, rigid, rigorous, scrupulous, religiously exact, punctual, mathematical, scientific, faithful, constant, unerring, curious, particular, nice, delicate, fine, clean-cut, clear-cut, verified, empirically true, experimentally verified, substantiated, proven (demonstrated), rigorously true, unquestionably true, true by definition, genuine, authentic, legitimate, orthodox, official, ex officio, pure, natural, sound, sterling, unsophisticated, unadulterated, unvarnished, unalloyed, uncolored, in its true colors, pukka, well-grounded, well founded, solid, substantial, tangible, valid, undistorted, undisguised, unaffected, unexaggerated, unromantic, unflattering, truly, verily, indeed, really, in reality, with truth, certainly, actually, in effect, exactly, ad amussim, verbatim, verbatim et literatim, word for word, literally, literatim, totidem vervis, sic, to the letter, chapter and verse, ipsissimis verbis, ad unguem, to an inch, to a nicety, to a hair, to a tittle, to a turn, to a T, au pied de la lettre, neither more nor less, in every respect, in all respects, sous tous les rapports, at any rate, at all events, strictly speaking, the truth is, the fact is, rem acu tetigisti, en suivant la verite, ex facto jus oritur, la verita e figlia del empo, locos y ninos dicen la verdad, crazy people and children tell the truth, nihil est veritatis luce dulcius, veritas nunquam perit, veritatem dies aperit, the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, just the facts, ma'am, just the facts.