nimble

From Middle English nymyl, nemel, nemyll, nymell (“agile, quick, ready, able, capable”), merger of Old English nǣmel (“receptive, quick to grasp”) and Old English numol (“able to take, capable of holding”), both from niman (“to take”) + -el, -ol (associative suffix), corresponding to nim +‎ -le. Compare German nehmen, Gothic 𐌽𐌹𐌼𐌰𐌽 (niman), Old Norse nema (“to take”). More at nim.

• IPA^(key): /ˈnɪmbl̩/
• Rhymes: -ɪmbəl

nimble (comparative nimbler, superlative nimblest)

1. Quick and light in movement or action.

   He was too nimble for the assailant and easily escaped his grasp.

2. Quick-witted and alert.

   She has a nimble mind and can improvise in any situation.

• milneb