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nirvana n. (nur VAHN uh) a state of spiritual enlightenment or bliss. The achieve nirvana, Mary meditated faithfully for two hours every day.

nocturnal adj. (nok TURN ul) active at the night.

Skunks are, for the most part, nocturnal animals, at least when human beings are around.

nonchalant adj. (non shuh LAUNT) cool and indif­ferent. You'd never guess he had just won an Acad­emy Award by his nonchalant attitude.

nostalgia n. (nuh STAL juh) a longing for the past; sentimental feelings toward the past. Also, homesick­ness. Whenever I think of my boyhood, my heart aches with nostalgia.

notorious adj. (no TOR ee us) infamous; known for something bad. I wouldn't buy that car if I were you; it's notorious for breaking down in cold weather.

novice n. (NOV is) a beginner; a neophyte. Snow- boarding isn't easy; if you're a novice, we suggest you try one of our bunny trails.

noxious adj. (NOK shus) harmful. The noxious fumes spewing from the bus made us gag.

nuance n. (NOO ahns) a subtle distinction, differ­ence, or variation. This gemstone has a particular nuance that makes it less valuable than the others.

nullify vb. (NULL uh fye) to cancel out; to make null and void. Although it's difficult to nullify a judge's ruling, we can appeal to a higher court.

obfuscate vb. (OB fuh skayt) to make confusing or impossible to comprehend. Critics contend that poli­ticians sometimes obfuscate the issue of tax hikes in order to prevent an uproar.

objective adj. (ob JEK tiv) uninvolved and unbi­ased. It's impossible to be objective when reviewing your own writing; you need a disinterested second party to give you feedback.

oblivion n. (uh BLIV ee un) the state of being utterly forgotten or lost. Save for a few classics, many of the popular novels of the 19th century have faded into oblivion.

obnoxious adj. (ub NOK shus) offensive, unpleas­ant, revolting. Everyone was glaring at the street thugs for their obnoxious behavior.

obsequious adj. (ub SEE kwee us) overly compliant and servile. I need an assistant who will do as I ask, but that doesn't mean I require you to be obsequious.

officious adj. (uh FISH us) meddlesome or offer­ing suggestions or directions when none are wanted. Many backseat drivers are as officious outside of a car as they are in one.

olive branch n. a peace offering. After arguing with my spouse all day, I offered her an olive branch by asking her out to dinner.

ominous adj. (OM un us) foreboding; indicative of impending disaster. When sailing in the middle of the ocean, dark clouds on the horizon are particularly ominous.

omnipotent adj. (om NIP uh tent) all-powerful.