NATION • DICCIONARIO INGLES.COM • Definition of Nation

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/nˈeɪʃən/ Listen

noun

Nation n.

(Ethnol.) A part, or division, of the people of the earth, distinguished from the rest by common descent, language, or institutions; a race; a stock. "All nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues."

The body of inhabitants of a country, united under an independent government of their own. "A nation is the unity of a people." "Praise the power that hath made and preserved us a nation."

Family; lineage. (Obs.)

(a)

One of the divisions of university students in a classification according to nativity, formerly common in Europe.

(b)

(Scotch Universities) One of the four divisions (named from the parts of Scotland) in which students were classified according to their nativity.

A great number; a great deal; by way of emphasis; as, a nation of herbs.

Five nations. See under Five.

Law of nations. See International law, under International, and Law.

Synonyms: people; race. See People.

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Etymology of 'Nation'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Nation" Quotes from Famous Books

... Family Calas were about to be executed unjustly, with the consent of all the lawyers and statesmen in France, one man in a nation saw the error, and fought for the innocent, and saved them; and that one wise man in a nation of fools ...

— A Terrible Temptation - A Story of To-Day • Charles Reade

... became a nation, it has been our habit to congratulate ourselves upon the democratic character of our American system of education. In the early days, neither poverty nor social position was a bar to the child who loved his books. The daughter of ...

— The Story of Wellesley • Florence Converse

... manhood. We have tried our wit and ability. To-day we could enter the lists of trade with foreign nations, but our ports have been closed. England dictates how much and how little we shall do. We are not a nation of slaves, but brethren with them over the seas. We are not to be kept in the ...

— A Little Girl in Old Philadelphia • Amanda Minnie Douglas

... of WASHINGTON that "Providence made him childless, that the nation might call him father?" Somebody ought to say of Lady MACBETH that she was made childless, that no one might call her mother-in-law. Neat thing that! Somebody ought to send it to PUNCHINELLO. By Jove! ...

— Punchinello, Vol.1, No. 4, April 23, 1870 • Various

... resting place in memoirs. There were other lives which made far more exciting reading. English sea-men were penetrating every ocean, and bringing back wonderful tales. English soldiers were aiding the Dutch nation towards freedom, and coming back full of stories of heroic deeds. At home great political, religious, and scientific movements engaged the attention of the more serious readers and thinkers. It is not strange, therefore, that the writers of plays, whose {2} most exciting incidents were tavern ...

— An Introduction to Shakespeare • H. N. MacCracken

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