The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (1727 page)

(Jap., probably ‘words stated with awe’). In
Shinto
, sacred words and prayers expressed in elegant ancient Japanese and addressed to the
kami
in Shinto worship. The use of norito is related to the traditional belief in spiritual power residing in beautiful and correctly spoken words (
koto-dama
). The earliest norito texts are in
Engi-shiki
, a law book compiled in the 10th cent. CE. Typical norito give praise of the kami, make reference to the origin of the specific rite or festival, express thanksgiving to the kami, report to or petition the kami, enumerate the offerings presented, identify the persons on whose behalf the prayers are recited and the priests who are reciting them, and finally add some parting words of respect and awe.

 
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North end
.

The end of the communion table from which in some Anglican churches the priest celebrates the
eucharist
, eliminating any hint that the celebrant is a sacrificing
priest
.

 
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Northern Kingdom
:

see
ISRAEL
.

 
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see
SOUTHERN AND NORTHERN SCHOOLS
.

 
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Notarikon
.

System of exegetical abbreviation used by Jews. Either each letter in a word is thought to stand for a whole word, or a word is divided into shorter components with separate meanings.

 
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see
AN
G
MIN
.

 
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