nuisant

English

Etymology

From Middle English nusant, nuysande, from Middle French nuisant, present participle of nuire (“to harm”).^[1]

Adjective

nuisant (comparative more nuisant, superlative most nuisant)

(rare) Harmful; of the nature of a nuisance.
- 1794, Timothy Dwight [IV], “Part VII. The Vision.”, in Greenfield Hill: A Poem, in Seven Parts. […], New York, N.Y.: […] Childs and Swaine, →OCLC, page 153, lines 136–138:
  See the wide realm in equal ſhares poſſeſs’d! / How few the rich, or poor! how many bleſs’d! / O happy ſtate! the ſtate, by Heaven deſign’d / To rein, protect, employ, and bleſs mankind; / […] / Where none are ſlaves, or lords; but all are men: / No nuiſant drones purloin the earner’s food; / But each man’s labour ſwells the common good.
- 1821, William Liddle, “Luxury, oppression and poverty contrasted”, in Poems on Different Occasions, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect, Edinburgh: […], →OCLC, page 104:
  One cannot help being sour awee, / And often to a g—t degree, / When sees those nuisant useless drones, / That lordly stalk like petty kings; / Who view poor servile wretches toiling, / For a poor wage, scarce keeps them breathing, / Protracts their life in mis’ry pining, / Those men can’t help themselves from grieving, / When cannot mend their way of living.
- 1849 May 8, James W[addel] Alexander, “Letters while Pastor of Duane Street Church, New York. 1844—1849.”, in John Hall, editor, Forty Years’ Familiar Letters of James W. Alexander, D.D. […], volume II, New York, N.Y.: Charles Scribner, […]; London: Sampson Low, Son & Company, published 1860, →OCLC, page 96:
  We have two good trees at the door, a wide street, free sweep of winds, no neighbour on the west, and exemption from all objects of nuisant aspect.
- 1993 May, Chris Ahlemann, chapter 32, in James Van Treese, editor, The Call, Salt Lake City, Ut.: Northwest Publishing Inc., →ISBN, page 155:
  With a groan Livingston prepared to repair the damage. Lord, but he wished Daniel was here. Not only did he need his help, he wanted to settle this thing about Mr. Fudd. But Daniel was out helping the street crew this morning. Ah well, after tomorrow Daniel’s four days of service would be up. Then they’d decide the fate of that nuisant old man.