News

NeWS /nee'wis/, /n[y]oo'is/ or /nyooz/ n.

[acronym; the `Network Window System'] The road not taken in window systems, an elegant PostScript-based environment that would almost certainly have won the standards war with X if it hadn't been proprietary to Sun Microsystems. There is a lesson here that too many software vendors haven't yet heeded. Many hackers insist on the two-syllable pronunciations above as a way of distinguishing NeWS from Usenet news (the netnews software).

--The Jargon File version 4.3.1, ed. ESR, autonoded by rescdsk.

News (?), n [From New; cf. F. nounelles. News s plural in form, but is commonly used with a singular verb.]

1.

A report of recent occurences; information of something that has lately taken place, or of something before unknown; fresh tindings; recent intelligence.

Evil news rides post, while good news baits. Milton.

2.

Something strange or newly happened.

It is no news for the weak and poor to be a prey to the strong and rich. L'Estrange.

3.

A bearer of news; a courier; a newspaper.

There cometh a news thither with his horse. Pepys.

© Webster 1913.