nerving

Verb

nerve (third-person singular simple present nerves, present participle nerving, simple past and past participle nerved)

1. (transitive) To give courage.
   • May their example nerve us to face the enemy.

   Synonyms:

   nerve up

2. (transitive) To give strength; to supply energy or vigour.
   • The liquor nerved up several of the men after their icy march.

   Synonyms:

   nerve up, anneal, brace, consolidate, build up, confirm, corroborate, enstrengthen, fortify, harden

3. (informal, transitive) To perform a neurectomy on (someone or something).
   • She has been trying everything (wedge pads, bar shoes, etc.) and he is still dead lame. Someone has suggested nerving him, which (I believe - correct me if I am wrong!) involves cutting the main nerve in his foot so he can be ridden without pain.1993 January 8, Penny E. Breyer, “Net wisdom needed on nerving”, in rec.equestrian (Usenet), archived from the original on 21 Aug 2025
4. (informal, rare, transitive) To get on (someone’s) nerves; to annoy, irritate, or bother (someone).
   • I guess, my previous message never came in the net..so again: (hope, i don't nerve anyone) We want to combine different LAN's via fiberoptic cable (Monomode) to the Internet.1996 July 1, Tuennes, “FDDI or Ethernet or what?”, in comp.dcom.lans.ethernet (Usenet), archived from the original on 21 Aug 2025
5. (informal, intransitive, rare) To be nervous.
   • Mathias slowly leads his hand down to the holster... yeah, cool steel... his fingers wrap around the grip of his Smith & Wesson's, dragging it out, aiming and... In other words: Stop nerving, damiac14!1997 May 8, Mathias Schiffer, “Damiac14's Page Updated, and improved!”, in comp.lang.basic.visual.misc (Usenet), archived from the original on 21 Aug 2025

See all 15 meanings of nerve