Nice

(ns), a. [Compar. Nicer (n"sr); superl. Nicest.] [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.] 1. Foolish; silly; simple; ignorant; also, weak; effeminate. [Obs.] Gower.
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But say that we ben wise and nothing nice.

Chaucer.
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2. Of trifling moment; unimportant; trivial. [Obs.]
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The letter was not nice, but full of charge
Of dear import.

Shak.
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3. Overscrupulous or exacting; hard to please or satisfy; fastidious in small matters.
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Curious not knowing, not exact but nice.

Pope.
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And to taste
Think not I shall be nice.

Milton.
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4. Delicate; refined; dainty; pure.
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Dear love, continue nice and chaste.

Donne.
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A nice and subtile happiness.

Milton.
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5. Apprehending slight differences or delicate distinctions; distinguishing accurately or minutely; carefully discriminating; as, a nice taste or judgment. "Our author happy in a judge so nice." Pope. "Nice verbal criticism." Coleridge.
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6. 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.
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The difference is too nice
Where ends the virtue, or begins the vice.

Pope.
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7. Pleasing; agreeable; gratifying; delightful; good; as, a nice party; a nice excursion; a nice day; a nice sauce, etc. [Loosely & Colloquially]
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8. Pleasant; kind; as, a nice person.
[PJC]

9. Hence: 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.

Song.

To make nice of, to be scrupulous about. [Obs.] Shak.
[1913 Webster]

Syn. -- Dainty; delicate; exquisite; fine; accurate; exact; correct; precise; particular; pleasant; kind; scrupulous; punctilious; fastidious; squeamish; finical; effeminate; silly; well-mannered; well-behaved.
[1913 Webster]

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Thu 21st February 2019