in the Jewish customs, is used to signify "separated or excommunicated." This, according to some, was to be understood of the lesser sort of excommunication in use among the Hebrews. He that had incurred it was to withdraw himself from his relations, at least to the distance of four cubits: it commonly continued a month. If it was not taken off in that time, it might be prolonged for 60 or even 90 days: but if, within this term, the excommunicated person did not give satisfaction, he fell into the cherem, which was a second sort of excommunication; and thence into the third sort, called shammata or shematta, the most terrible of all. But Selden has proved that there were only two kinds of excommunication, viz. the greater and less; and that these three terms were used indifferently.

NIDUS, among naturalists, signifies a nest or proper repository for the eggs of birds, insects, &c., where the young of these animals are hatched and nurfed.