nice

nice [nīs]

adj.

nicer, nicest [ME, strange, lazy, foolish < OFr nice, nisce, stupid, foolish < L nescius, ignorant, not knowing < nescire, to be ignorant < ne-, not (see NO¹) + scire, to know: see SCIENCE]

1. difficult to please; fastidious; refined

2. delicate; precise; discriminative; subtle [a nice distinction]

3. calling for great care, accuracy, tact, etc., as in handling or discrimination [a nice problem]

4.

a) able to make fine or delicate distinctions; delicately skillful; finely discriminating

b) minutely accurate, as an instrument

5. having high standards of conduct; scrupulous

6. a generalized term of approval meaning variously:

a) agreeable; pleasant; delightful

b) attractive; pretty

c) courteous and considerate

d) conforming to approved social standards; respectable

e) in good taste

f) good; excellent

7. Obs.

a) ignorant; foolish

b) wanton

c) coy; shy

adv.

nicer, nicest

well, pleasingly, attractively, etc.: variously regarded as substandard, dialectal, or informal

SYN.- DAINTY

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make nice

Informal to try to be friendly or cooperative: often with with

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nice and

Informal altogether, in a pleasing way [likes his tea nice and hot]

nicely

adv.

niceness

n.