nerve ( nûrv) n. 1. Any of the cordlike bundles of fibers made up of neurons through which sensory stimuli and motor impulses pass between the brain or other parts of the central nervous system and the eyes, glands, muscles, and other parts of the body. Nerves form a network of pathways for conducting information throughout the body. 2. The sensitive tissue in the pulp of a tooth. 3. A sore point or sensitive subject: The criticism touched a nerve. 4. a. Courage and control under pressure: lost his nerve at the last minute. b. Fortitude; stamina. c. Forceful quality; boldness. d. Brazen boldness; effrontery: had the nerve to deny it. See note at temerity . 5. nerves Nervous agitation caused by fear, anxiety, or stress: an attack of nerves. 6. A vein or rib in the wing of an insect. 7. The midrib and larger veins in a leaf. v. tr. nerved nerv·ing nerves 1. To give strength or courage to.

Idioms: get on (someone's) nerves 1. To irritate or exasperate. strain every nerve 1. To make every effort. [Middle English sinew, nerve from Old French nerf from Medieval Latin nervus from Latin; See (s)ne …u- in Indo-European Roots.]

(s)ne …u-. Important derivatives are: neuron nerve Tendon, sinew. I. Extension of (s)n ¶-. 1. Suffixed form *(s)ne …w-—-, with further suffixes. a. *neu-r-o- . NEURO- , NEURON ; APONEUROSIS , from Greek neuron , sinew; b. metathesized form *nerwo- . NERVE ; ENERVATE , from Latin nervus , sinew. [ Pokorny sn ¶u- 977. ]

re·put·ed ( r¹-py›"t¹d) adj. 1. Generally supposed to be such. See note at supposed . re·put "ed·ly adv.

re·pute ( r¹-py›t") v. tr. re·put·ed re·put·ing re·putes 1. To ascribe a particular fact or characteristic to. 2. To consider; suppose. n. 1. Reputation. 2. A good reputation. [Middle English reputen from Old French reputer from Latin reput³re to think over re- re- put³re to think over; See peu- in Indo-European Roots.]

haunt ( hônt, h ¼nt) v. haunt·ed haunt·ing haunts v. tr. 1. To inhabit, visit, or appear to in the form of a ghost or other supernatural being. 2. To visit often; frequent: haunted the movie theaters. 3. To come to mind continually; obsess: a riddle that haunted me all morning. 4. To be continually present in; pervade: the melancholy that haunts the composer's music. v. intr. 1. To recur or visit often, especially as a ghost. n. 1. A place much frequented. 2. ( h²nt) Chiefly Southern U.S. A ghost or other supernatural being. [Middle English haunten to frequent from Old French hanter; See tkei- in Indo-European Roots.] haunt "er n.