I. ˈnimbəl adjective
( nim·bler -b(ə)lə(r) ; nim·blest -b(ə)lə̇st)
Etymology: Middle English nymel, nemel, from Old English numol holding much, quick at grasping, nǣmel receptive, both from niman to take; akin to Old High German neman to take, Old Norse nema, Gothic niman, Latin numerus number, Greek nemein to distribute, pasture, manage, nomos pasture, district, nomos usage, custom, law, Avestan nəmah loan; basic meaning: to assign
1.
a. : marked by quick light movement : moving easily or dexterously : agile , lively
nimble fingers
a nimble rabbit
a nimble leap
a nimble climber
a nimble well-schooled colt with a smooth, powerful effortless stride — G.F.T.Ryall
a nimble , fast-moving shovel — Steel
b. of money : circulating rapidly
nimble shilling
a nimble sixpence is better than a slow shilling — North Carolina Folklore
2.
a. : marked by quick, alert, clever conception, comprehension, or resourcefulness
nimble mind
nimble tongue
her lines combine the closest observation and the nimblest imagination — Louis Untermeyer
the amiability of these Italians, aided by their sharp and nimble wits, caused them to overflow with plausible suggestions — Nathaniel Hawthorne
writes nimble dialogue — Bernard Hollowood
b. : marked by ready sensitive responsiveness
a nimble listener
nothing like playacting to make you nimble in your feelings — Mary Austin
disinclination of every nimble spirit to bruise itself against walls — Nation
Synonyms: see agile
II. intransitive verb
( nimbled ; nimbled ; nimbling -b(ə)liŋ ; nimbles )
archaic : to move or act nimbly