in fabulous history, a celebrated Centaur, son of Ixion and a Cloud. He offered violence to Dejanira, whom Hercules had intrusted to his care, with orders to carry her across the river Evenus. Hercules saw the distress of his wife from the opposite shore of the river, and immediately he let fly one of his poisoned arrows, which struck the Centaur to the heart. Nessus, as he expired, gave the tunic he then wore to Dejanira, assuring her that from the poisoned blood which had flowed from his wounds, it had received the power of calling a husband away from unlawful loves. Dejanira received it with pleasure, and this mournful present caused the death of Hercules.—A river which separates Thrace from Macedonia. It is also called Neftir, Neftor, and Neftus.