Nobel

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A prestigious honor named after a famous Swedish inventor, awarded to individuals or groups for exceptional contributions to peace, science, or literature
2. A renowned international prize for achievements in science, peace, or literature that commemorates a Swedish inventor who created and funded these awards
3. A globally recognized prize given annually to honor outstanding achievements in fields such as peace, literature, and science

Etymology: Alfred Nobel never coined the word "nobel" for anything, yet his name now appears in lowercase in dictionaries because of a spelling mix-up. The entry here is really a misspelling of "noble," which came into Middle English from Old French "noble," borrowed from Latin "nobilis," meaning "well-known, famous, or of high birth." That Latin word grew from "nosce," "to know," so the original sense of nobility was closer to being recognisably distinguished than to moral goodness. The name's real puzzle is a false friend. The Arabic "nabil" looks and sounds similar, but it is unrelated, and the resemblance is pure coincidence. English had its own native word for the idea, "athel," from Old English "æþele," which the Latin-derived "noble" eventually pushed aside.