NONPAREIL • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Nonpareil

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noun

Nonpareil n.

Something of unequaled excellence; a peerless thing or person; a nonesuch; often used as a name.

(Print.) A size of type next smaller than minion and next larger than agate (or ruby). Note: This line is printed in the type called nonpareil.

(Zool.)

(a)

A beautifully colored finch (Passerina ciris), native of the Southern United States. The male has the head and neck deep blue, rump and under parts bright red, back and wings golden green, and the tail bluish purple. Called also painted bunting and painted finch.

(b)

Any other similar bird of the same genus.

(Cookery) A small sphere, less than 1 mm diamter, of colored sugar, used to decorate confections; usually used in the plural as though the name of a substance; as, sprinkled with nonpareils.

pl. A type of candy chocolate consisting of a small flat disk of chocolate, less than one inch diameter, having nonpareils (4) sprinkled on the top; as, she ate a box of nonpareils at the movie.

adjective

Nonpareil adj. Having no equal; peerless.

See images of 'Nonpareil'

Etymology of 'Nonpareil'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Nonpareil" Quotes from Famous Books

... for example, where under the initiative the ballot which I hold in my hand was submitted to the people at the recent election. This ballot is 7 feet long and 14 inches wide, and it is crowded with reading matter set in nonpareil type. Upon this ballot there are submitted for the consideration of the people six legislative propositions. Four of them are short and comparatively simple. But here is one referring to the people a law ...

— Elements of Debating • Leverett S. Lyon

... as I. Burn but his books. He has brave[427-18] utensils,—for so he calls them,— Which, when he has a house, he'll deck't withal: And that most deeply to consider is The beauty of his daughter; he himself Calls her a nonpareil: I ne'er saw woman, But only Sycorax my dam and she; But she as far surpasseth ...

— Journeys Through Bookland, Vol. 8 • Charles H. Sylvester

... Welsh said gallantly. "I'll put you wise. An 'Only' is a nonpareil, the feller that does one kind of a turn better'n any other ...

— Moon-Face and Other Stories • Jack London

... encouraging. Two nonpareil columns had to be filled, and I was getting along. Presently, when things began to look dismal again, a desperado killed a man in a saloon and joy returned once more. I never was so glad over any mere trifle before in my life. I said to ...

— Innocents abroad • Mark Twain

... and sophisticated man of the world. He informed the clerk that he would remain three or four days, inquired concerning the sailing of European steamships, and sank into the blissful inanition of the nonpareil hotel with the contented air of a traveller ...

— The Voice of the City • O. Henry

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