nix

¹ American  

[niks] / nɪks /

noun

1. nothing.

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verb (used with object)

1. to veto; refuse to agree to; prohibit.

   The VP of Publishing nixed the project.

adverb

1. no.

interjection

1. Archaic. (used as an exclamation, especially of warning).

   Nix, the cops!

nix ² American  

[niks] / nɪks /

noun

plural

nixes

1. (in Germanic folklore) a water spirit that draws its victims into its underwater home.

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nix ¹ British  

/ nɪks /

1. another word for no 1

2. be careful! watch out!

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noun

1. a rejection or refusal

2. nothing at all

verb

1. (tr) to veto, deny, reject, or forbid (plans, suggestions, etc)

nix ² British  

/ nɪks /

noun

1. German myth a male water sprite, usually unfriendly to humans

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Etymology

Origin of nix¹

First recorded in 1780–90; from German, variant of nichts “nothing”

Origin of nix²

1825–35; < German Nix, Old High German nihhus; cognate with Old English nicor water monster, Old Norse nykr, Norwegian nøkk, Swedish näck; compare Sanskrit nenekti (he) washes

Example Sentences

Bottom-liners had also nixed Gehry’s original design for a more gracious lobby with a cafe out front, not the gloomy one installed against his will.

From Los Angeles Times

This has resulted in the FDA moving trial standards and nixing drugs for arbitrary reasons.

From The Wall Street Journal

Will he bow to US pressure to nix a project to link China and Chile across the Pacific via an undersea fiber optic cable?

From Barron's

After nixing a blockbuster with the Las Vegas Raiders, the Baltimore Ravens sprang into action and landed one of the biggest stars available in free agency instead.

From The Wall Street Journal

He highlighted their work with a rundown of the best jokes he nixed during his hosting run.

From Salon