noble

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   having or showing or indicative of high or elevated character

   a noble spirit

2. 2
   adj

   of or belonging to or constituting the hereditary aristocracy especially as derived from feudal times

   of noble birth

3. 3
   adj

   chemically inert, especially toward oxygen

   Helium and neon are noble gases.

4. 4
   noun

   An aristocrat; one of aristocratic blood.

   This country house was occupied by nobles in the 16th century.

5. 5
   noun

   A medieval gold coin of England in the 14th and 15th centuries, usually valued at 6s 8d.

   I lyked no thynge his playe, / For yf I had not quyckely fledde the touche, / He had plucte oute the nobles of my pouche.

6. 6
   adj

   Having honorable qualities; having moral eminence and freedom from anything petty, mean or dubious in conduct and character.

   He made a noble effort.

7. 7
   adj

   Grand; stately; magnificent; splendid.

   a noble edifice

8. 8
   adj

   Of exalted rank; of or relating to the nobility; distinguished from the masses by birth, station, or title; highborn.

   noble blood; a noble personage

Etymology

From Middle English noble, from Old French noble, borrowed from Latin nōbilis (“knowable, known, well-known, famous, celebrated, high-born, of noble birth, excellent”), from nōscere, gnōscere (“to know”). False cognate of Arabic نبيل (nabīl). Displaced native Middle English athel, from Old English æþele.