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The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary: Letters M, N & O
February, 1999 [Etext #665]
The Project Gutenberg Etext of The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary
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M.
M (&ebreve;m). 1. M, the thirteenth
letter of the English alphabet, is a vocal consonant, and from the
manner of its formation, is called the labio-nasal consonant.
See Guide to Pronunciation, §§ 178-180,
242.
The letter M came into English from the Greek, through the
Latin, the form of the Greek letter being further derived from the
Phœnician, and ultimately, it is believed, from the Egyptian.
Etymologically M is related to n, in lime,
linden; emmet, ant; also to b.
M is readily followed by b and p. the position
of the lips in the formation of both letters being the same. The
relation of b and m is the same as that of d and
t to n. and that of g and k to
ng.
2. As a numeral, M stands for one thousand,
both in English and Latin.
M, n. 1.
(Print.) A quadrat, the face or top of which is a perfect
square; also, the size of such a square in any given size of type,
used as the unit of measurement for that type: 500 m's of pica would
be a piece of matter whose length and breadth in pica m's multiplied
together produce that number. [Written also em.]
2. (law) A brand or stigma, having the
shape of an M, formerly impressed on one convicted of manslaughter
and admitted to the benefit of clergy.
M roof (Arch.), a kind of roof formed
by the junction of two common roofs with a valley between them, so
that the section resembles the letter M.
Ma (mä), n. [Cf. Mamma.]
1. A child's word for mother.
2. [Hind.] In Oriental countries, a
respectful form of address given to a woman; mother. Balfour
(Cyc. of India).
||Ma, conj. [It.] (Mus.)
But; -- used in cautionary phrases; as, "Vivace, ma non
troppo presto" (i. e., lively, but not too quick).
Moore (Encyc. of Music).
Maa (?), n. [See New a gull.]
(Zoöl.) The common European gull (Larus
canus); -- called also mar. See New, a
gull.
Maad (?), obs. p. p. of Make.
Made. Chaucer.
Maa"lin (?), n. (Zoöl.)
(a) The sparrow hawk. (b)
The kestrel.
Ma'am (?), n. Madam; my lady; -- a
colloquial contraction of madam often used in direct address,
and sometimes as an appellation.
Ma"a*ra shell` (?). (Zoöl.) A large,
pearly, spiral, marine shell (Turbo margaritaceus), from the
Pacific Islands. It is used as an ornament.
||Ma*ash"a (?), n. An East Indian
coin, of about one tenth of the weight of a rupee.
Maat (?), a. [See Mate,
a.] Dejected; sorrowful; downcast.
[Obs.] "So piteous and so maat." Chaucer.
Mab (măb), n. [Cf. W. mad
a male child, a boy.]
1. A slattern. [Prov. Eng.]
2. The name of a female fairy, esp. the queen
of the fairies; and hence, sometimes, any fairy.
Shak.
Mab"ble (?), v. t. To wrap
up. [Obs.]
Mab"by (?), n. A spirituous liquor
or drink distilled from potatoes; -- used in the Barbadoes.
||Ma*bo"lo (?), n. (Bot.) A
kind of persimmon tree (Diospyros discolor) from the
Philippine Islands, now introduced into the East and West Indies. It
bears an edible fruit as large as a quince.
Mac (?). [Gael., son.] A prefix, in names of Scotch
origin, signifying son.
||Ma*ca"co (?), n. [Cf. Pg.
macaco.] (Zoöl.) Any one of several species
of lemurs, as the ruffed lemur (Lemur macaco), and the ring-
tailed lemur (L. catta).
||Ma*ca"cus (?), n. [NL., a word of
African origin. Cf. Macaco, Macaque.]
(Zoöl.) A genus of monkeys, found in Asia and the
East Indies. They have short tails and prominent eyebrows.
Mac*ad`am*i*za"tion (?), n. The
process or act of macadamizing.
Mac*ad"am*ize (?), v. t. [imp.
& p. p. Macadamized (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Macadamizing.] [From John Loudon McAdam,
who introduced the process into Great Britain in 1816.] To
cover, as a road, or street, with small, broken stones, so as to form
a smooth, hard, convex surface.
Mac*ad"am road` (?). [See Macadamize.] A
macadamized road.
Ma*ca"o (?), n. (Zoöl.)
A macaw.
||Ma`caque" (?), n. [F. See
Macacus.] (Zoöl.) Any one of several species
of short-tailed monkeys of the genus Macacus; as, M.
maurus, the moor macaque of the East Indies.
Mac`a*ran"ga gum` (?). A gum of a crimson color,
obtained from a tree (Macaranga Indica) that grows in the East
Indies. It is used in taking impressions of coins, medallions, etc.,
and sometimes as a medicine. Balfour (Cyc. of
India).
Mac"a*rize, v. t. [Gr. &?; to bless.]
To congratulate. [Oxford Univ. Cant] Whately.
Mac`a*ro"ni (?), n.; pl.
Macaronis (#), or Macaronies.
[Prov. It. macaroni, It. maccheroni, fr. Gr. &?;
happiness, later, a funeral feast, fr. &?; blessed, happy. Prob. so
called because eaten at such feasts in honor of the dead; cf. Gr. &?;
blessed, i. e., dead. Cf. Macaroon.] 1.
Long slender tubes made of a paste chiefly of wheat flour, and
used as an article of food; Italian or Genoese paste.
&fist; A paste similarly prepared is largely used as food in
Persia, India, and China, but is not commonly made tubular like the
Italian macaroni. Balfour (Cyc. of India).
2. A medley; something droll or
extravagant.
3. A sort of droll or fool. [Obs.]
Addison.
4. A finical person; a fop; -- applied
especially to English fops of about 1775.
Goldsmith.
5. pl. (U. S. Hist.) The
designation of a body of Maryland soldiers in the Revolutionary War,
distinguished by a rich uniform. W. Irving.
{ Mac`a*ro"ni*an (?), Mac`a*ron"ic (?), }
a. [Cf. It. maccheronico, F.
macaronique.] 1. Pertaining to, or like,
macaroni (originally a dish of mixed food); hence, mixed; confused;
jumbled.
2. Of or pertaining to the burlesque
composition called macaronic; as, macaronic poetry.
Mac`a*ron"ic (?), n. 1.
A heap of thing confusedly mixed together; a jumble.
2. A kind of burlesque composition, in which
the vernacular words of one or more modern languages are intermixed
with genuine Latin words, and with hybrid formed by adding Latin
terminations to other roots.
Mac`a*roon" (?), n. [F. macaron,
It. maccherone. See Macaroni.] 1.
A small cake, composed chiefly of the white of eggs, almonds,
and sugar.
2. A finical fellow, or macaroni.
[Obs.]
Ma*cart"ney (?), n. [From Lord
Macartney.] (Zoöl.) A fire-backed pheasant.
See Fireback.
Ma*cas`sar oil" (?). A kind of oil formerly used in
dressing the hair; -- so called because originally obtained from
Macassar, a district of the Island of Celebes. Also, an
imitation of the same, of perfumed castor oil and olive
oil.
||Ma*cau"co (?), n. (Zoöl.)
Any one of several species of small lemurs, as Lemur
murinus, which resembles a rat in size.
||Ma`ca*va"hu (?), n.
(Zoöl.) A small Brazilian monkey (Callithrix
torquatus), -- called also collared teetee.
Ma*caw" (?), n. [From the native name
in the Antilles.] (Zoöl.) Any parrot of the genus
Sittace, or Macrocercus. About eighteen species are
known, all of them American. They are large and have a very long
tail, a strong hooked bill, and a naked space around the eyes. The
voice is harsh, and the colors are brilliant and strongly
contrasted.
Macaw bush (Bot.), a West Indian name
for a prickly kind of nightshade (Solanum mammosum). --
Macaw palm, Macaw tree
(Bot.), a tropical American palm (Acrocomia
fusiformis and other species) having a prickly stem and pinnately
divided leaves. Its nut yields a yellow butter, with the perfume of
violets, which is used in making violet soap. Called also grugru
palm.
Mac`ca*be"an (?), a. Of or
pertaining to Judas Maccabeus or to the Maccabees; as, the
Maccabean princes; Maccabean times.
Mac"ca*bees (?), n. pl.
1. The name given in later times to the
Asmonæans, a family of Jewish patriots, who headed a religious
revolt in the reign of Antiochus IV., 168-161 B. C., which led
to a period of freedom for Israel. Schaff-Herzog.
2. The name of two ancient historical books,
which give accounts of Jewish affairs in or about the time of the
Maccabean princes, and which are received as canonical books in the
Roman Catholic Church, but are included in the Apocrypha by
Protestants. Also applied to three books, two of which are found in
some MSS. of the Septuagint.
{ Mac"ca*boy (?), Mac"co*boy (?), }
n. [From a district in the Island of Martinique
where it is made: cf. F. macouba.] A kind of
snuff.
Mac"co (?), n. A gambling game in
vogue in the eighteenth century. Thackeray.
Mace (?), n. [Jav. & Malay.
mās, fr. Skr. māsha a bean.] A money
of account in China equal to one tenth of a tael; also, a weight of
57.98 grains. S. W. Williams.
Mace (?), n. [F. macis, L.
macis, macir, Gr. &?;; cf. Skr. makaranda the
nectar or honey of a flower, a fragrant mango.] (Bot.) A
kind of spice; the aril which partly covers nutmegs. See
Nutmeg.
&fist; Red mace is the aril of Myristica tingens,
and white mace that of M. Otoba, -- East Indian trees
of the same genus with the nutmeg tree.
Mace, n. [OF. mace, F.
masse, from (assumed) L. matea, of which the dim.
mateola a kind of mallet or beetle, is found.]
1. A heavy staff or club of metal; a spiked
club; -- used as weapon in war before the general use of firearms,
especially in the Middle Ages, for breaking metal armor.
Chaucer.
Death with his mace petrific . . .
smote.
Milton.
2. Hence: A staff borne by, or carried
before, a magistrate as an ensign of his authority. "Swayed the
royal mace." Wordsworth.
3. An officer who carries a mace as an emblem
of authority. Macaulay.
4. A knobbed mallet used by curriers in
dressing leather to make it supple.
5. (Billiards) A rod for playing
billiards, having one end suited to resting on the table and pushed
with one hand.
Mace bearer, an officer who carries a mace
before persons in authority.
Mac`e*do"ni*an (?), a. [L.
Macedonius, Gr. &?;.] (Geog.) Belonging, or
relating, to Macedonia. -- n. A native
or inhabitant of Macedonia.
Mac`e*do"ni*an, n. (Eccl. Hist.)
One of a certain religious sect, followers of Macedonius,
Bishop of Constantinople, in the fourth century, who held that the
Holy Ghost was a creature, like the angels, and a servant of the
Father and the Son.
Mac`e*do"ni*an*ism (?), n. The
doctrines of Macedonius.
Ma"cer (?), n. [F. massier. See
Mace staff.] A mace bearer; an officer of a court.
P. Plowman.
Mac"er*ate (?), v. t. [imp. &
p. p. Macerated (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Macerating.] [L. maceratus, p. p. of
macerare to make soft, weaken, enervate; cf. Gr. &?; to
knead.] 1. To make lean; to cause to waste
away. [Obs. or R.] Harvey.
2. To subdue the appetites of by poor and
scanty diet; to mortify. Baker.
3. To soften by steeping in a liquid, with or
without heat; to wear away or separate the parts of by steeping; as,
to macerate animal or vegetable fiber.
Mac"er*a`ter (?), n. One who, or
that which, macerates; an apparatus for converting paper or fibrous
matter into pulp.
Mac`er*a"tion (?), n. [L.
maceratio: cf. F. macération.] The act or
process of macerating.
{ ||Ma*chæ"ro*dus
(m&adot;*kē"r&osl;*dŭs), ||Ma*chai"ro*dus
(m&adot;*kī"r&osl;*dŭs), } n. [NL.,
fr. Gr. ma`chaira dagger + 'odoy`s tooth.]
(Paleon.) A genus of extinct mammals allied to the cats,
and having in the upper jaw canine teeth of remarkable size and
strength; -- hence called saber-toothed tigers.
||Ma*che"te (m&adot;*chā"t&asl;),
n. [Sp.] A large heavy knife resembling a
broadsword, often two or three feet in length, -- used by the
inhabitants of Spanish America as a hatchet to cut their way through
thickets, and for various other purposes. J.
Stevens.
Mach`i*a*vel"ian (?), a. [From
Machiavel, an Italian writer, secretary and historiographer to
the republic of Florence.] Of or pertaining to Machiavel, or to
his supposed principles; politically cunning; characterized by
duplicity or bad faith; crafty.
Mach`i*a*vel"ian, n. One who
adopts the principles of Machiavel; a cunning and unprincipled
politician.
{ Mach"i*a*vel*ism (?), Mach`i*a*vel"ian*ism
(?), } n. [Cf. F. machiavélisme; It.
machiavellismo.] The supposed principles of Machiavel, or
practice in conformity to them; political artifice, intended to favor
arbitrary power.
Ma*chic"o*la`ted (?), a. [LL.
machicolatus, p. p. of machicolare,
machicollare. See Machicolation.] Having
machicolations. "Machicolated turrets." C.
Kingsley.
Mach`i*co*la"tion (?), n. [Cf. LL.
machicolamentum, machacolladura, F.
mâchicolis, mâchecoulis; perh. fr. F.
mèche match, combustible matter + OF. coulis,
couleis, flowing, fr. OF. & F. couler to flow. Cf.
Match for making fire, and Cullis.]
1. (Mil. Arch.) An opening between the
corbels which support a projecting parapet, or in the floor of a
gallery or the roof of a portal, for shooting or dropping missiles
upon assailants attacking the base of the walls. Also, the
construction of such defenses, in general, when of this character.
See Illusts. of Battlement and Castle.
2. The act of discharging missiles or pouring
burning or melted substances upon assailants through such
apertures.
||Ma`chi`cou`lis" (?), n. [F.
mâchicoulis.] (Mil. Arch.) Same as
Machicolation.
Ma*chin"al (?), a. [L.
machinalis: cf. F. machinal.] Of or pertaining to
machines.
Mach"i*nate (?), v. i. [imp. &
p. p. Machinated (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Machinating (?).] [L. machinatus, p. p. of
machinari to devise, plot. See Machine.] To plan;
to contrive; esp., to form a scheme with the purpose of doing harm;
to contrive artfully; to plot. "How long will you
machinate!" Sandys.
Mach"i*nate (?), v. t. To
contrive, as a plot; to plot; as, to machinate evil.
Mach`i*na"tion (?), n. [L.
machinatio: cf. F. machination.] 1.
The act of machinating. Shak.
2. That which is devised; a device; a hostile
or treacherous scheme; an artful design or plot.
Devilish machinations come to
naught.
Milton.
His ingenious machinations had
failed.
Macaulay.
Mach"i*na`tor (?), n. [L.] One who
machinates, or forms a scheme with evil designs; a plotter or artful
schemer. Glanvill. Sir W. Scott.
Ma*chine" (m&adot;*shēn"), n.
[F., fr. L. machina machine, engine, device, trick, Gr. &?;,
from &?; means, expedient. Cf. Mechanic.] 1.
In general, any combination of bodies so connected that their
relative motions are constrained, and by means of which force and
motion may be transmitted and modified, as a screw and its nut, or a
lever arranged to turn about a fulcrum or a pulley about its pivot,
etc.; especially, a construction, more or less complex, consisting of
a combination of moving parts, or simple mechanical elements, as
wheels, levers, cams, etc., with their supports and connecting
framework, calculated to constitute a prime mover, or to receive
force and motion from a prime mover or from another machine, and
transmit, modify, and apply them to the production of some desired
mechanical effect or work, as weaving by a loom, or the excitation of
electricity by an electrical machine.
&fist; The term machine is most commonly applied to such
pieces of mechanism as are used in the industrial arts, for
mechanically shaping, dressing, and combining materials for various
purposes, as in the manufacture of cloth, etc. Where the effect is
chemical, or other than mechanical, the contrivance is usually
denominated an apparatus, not a machine; as, a bleaching
apparatus. Many large, powerful, or specially important pieces of
mechanism are called engines; as, a steam engine,
fire engine, graduating engine, etc. Although there is
no well-settled distinction between the terms engine and
machine among practical men, there is a tendency to restrict the
application of the former to contrivances in which the operating part
is not distinct from the motor.
2. Any mechanical contrivance, as the wooden
horse with which the Greeks entered Troy; a coach; a bicycle.
Dryden. Southey. Thackeray.
3. A person who acts mechanically or at the
will of another.
4. A combination of persons acting together
for a common purpose, with the agencies which they use; as, the
social machine.
The whole machine of government ought not to
bear upon the people with a weight so heavy and
oppressive.
Landor.
5. A political organization arranged and
controlled by one or more leaders for selfish, private or partisan
ends. [Political Cant]
6. Supernatural agency in a poem, or a
superhuman being introduced to perform some exploit.
Addison.
Elementary machine, a name sometimes given
to one of the simple mechanical powers. See under
Mechanical. -- Infernal machine.
See under Infernal. -- Machine
gun.See under Gun. -- Machine
screw, a screw or bolt adapted for screwing into metal,
in distinction from one which is designed especially to be screwed
into wood. -- Machine shop, a workshop
where machines are made, or where metal is shaped by cutting, filing,
turning, etc. -- Machine tool, a machine
for cutting or shaping wood, metal, etc., by means of a tool;
especially, a machine, as a lathe, planer, drilling machine, etc.,
designed for a more or less general use in a machine shop, in
distinction from a machine for producing a special article as in
manufacturing. -- Machine twist, silken
thread especially adapted for use in a sewing machine. --
Machine work, work done by a machine, in
contradistinction to that done by hand labor.
Ma*chine", v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Machined (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Machining.] To subject to the action of machinery; to
effect by aid of machinery; to print with a printing
machine.
Ma*chin"er (?), n. One who or
operates a machine; a machinist. [R.]
Ma*chin"er*y (?), n. [From
Machine: cf. F. machinerie.] 1.
Machines, in general, or collectively.
2. The working parts of a machine, engine, or
instrument; as, the machinery of a watch.
3. The supernatural means by which the action
of a poetic or fictitious work is carried on and brought to a
catastrophe; in an extended sense, the contrivances by which the
crises and conclusion of a fictitious narrative, in prose or verse,
are effected.
The machinery, madam, is a term invented by the
critics, to signify that part which the deities, angels, or demons,
are made to act in a poem.
Pope.
4. The means and appliances by which anything
is kept in action or a desired result is obtained; a complex system
of parts adapted to a purpose.
An indispensable part of the machinery of
state.
Macaulay.
The delicate inflexional machinery of the Aryan
languages.
I. Taylor (The Alphabet).
Ma*chin"ing, a. Of or pertaining
to the machinery of a poem; acting or used as a machine. [Obs.]
Dryden.
Ma*chin"ist, n. [Cf. F.
machiniste.] 1. A constrictor of machines
and engines; one versed in the principles of machines.
2. One skilled in the use of machine
tools.
3. A person employed to shift scenery in a
theater.
Ma"cho (?), n. [Sp.]
(Zoöl.) The striped mullet of California (Mugil
cephalus, or Mexicanus).
Mac"i*len*cy (?), n. [See
Macilent.] Leanness. [Obs.] Sandys.
Mac"i*lent (?), a. [L.
macilentus, fr. macies leanness, macere to be
lean.] Lean; thin. [Obs.] Bailey.
Mac"in*tosh (?), n. Same as
Mackintosh.
Mack"er*el (?), n. [OF.
maquerel, F. maquereau, fr. D. makelaar
mediator, agent, fr. makelen to act as agent.] A pimp;
also, a bawd. [Obs.] Halliwell.
Mack`er*el (?), n. [OF.
maquerel, F. maquereau (LL. macarellus), prob.
for maclereau, fr. L. macula a spot, in allusion to the
markings on the fish. See Mail armor.] (Zoöl.)
Any species of the genus Scomber, and of several related
genera. They are finely formed and very active oceanic fishes. Most
of them are highly prized for food.
&fist; The common mackerel (Scomber scombrus), which
inhabits both sides of the North Atlantic, is one of the most
important food fishes. It is mottled with green and blue. The Spanish
mackerel (Scomberomorus maculatus), of the American coast, is
covered with bright yellow circular spots.
Bull mackerel, Chub mackerel.
(Zoöl.) See under Chub. --
Frigate mackerel. See under
Frigate. -- Horse mackerel . See
under Horse. -- Mackerel bird
(Zoöl.), the wryneck; -- so called because it arrives
in England at the time when mackerel are in season. --
Mackerel cock (Zoöl.), the Manx
shearwater; -- so called because it precedes the appearance of the
mackerel on the east coast of Ireland. -- Mackerel
guide. (Zoöl.) See Garfish
(a). -- Mackerel gull
(Zoöl.) any one of several species of gull which feed
upon or follow mackerel, as the kittiwake. -- Mackerel
midge (Zoöl.), a very small oceanic gadoid
fish of the North Atlantic. It is about an inch and a half long and
has four barbels on the upper jaw. It is now considered the young of
the genus Onos, or Motella. -- Mackerel
plow, an instrument for creasing the sides of lean
mackerel to improve their appearance. Knight. --
Mackerel shark (Zoöl.), the
porbeagle. -- Mackerel sky, or
Mackerel-back sky, a sky flecked with small
white clouds; a cirro-cumulus. See Cloud.
Mackerel sky and mare's-tails
Make tall ships carry low sails.
Old Rhyme.
{ Mack"i*naw blan"ket (?), Mack"i*naw. }[From
Mackinac, the State of Michigan, where blankets and other
stores were distributed to the Indians.] A thick blanket
formerly in common use in the western part of the United
States.
Mack"in*tosh (?), n. A waterproof
outer garment; -- so called from the name of the inventor.
Mac"kle (?), n. [See Macle.]
Same as Macule.
Mac"kle, v. t. & i. To blur, or be
blurred, in printing, as if there were a double impression.
Ma"cle (?), n. [L. macula a
spot: cf. F. macle. Cf. Mackle, Mascle.]
(Min.) (a) Chiastolite; -- so called from
the tessellated appearance of a cross section. See
Chiastolite. (b) A crystal having a
similar tessellated appearance. (c) A twin
crystal.
Ma"cled (?), a. 1.
(Min.) (a) Marked like macle
(chiastolite). (b) Having a twin
structure. See Twin, a.
2. See Mascled.
||Ma*clu"re*a (?), n. [NL. Named from
William Maclure, the geologist.] (Paleon.) A genus
of spiral gastropod shells, often of large size, characteristic of
the lower Silurian rocks.
Ma*clu"rin (?), n. (Chem.)
See Morintannic.
Mac"ra*me lace" (?). A coarse lace made of twine,
used especially in decorating furniture.
{ Mac`ren*ce*phal"ic (?), Mac`ren*ceph"a*lous
(?), } a. [Macro + encephalic,
encephalous.] Having a large brain.
Mac"ro- (?). [Gr. makro`s, adj.] A
combining form signifying long, large, great; as
macrodiagonal, macrospore.
Mac`ro*bi*ot"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?; long-
lived; makro`s long + &?; life: cf. F.
macrobiotique.] Long-lived. Dunglison.
Mac`ro*bi*ot"ics (?), n.
(Physiol.) The art of prolonging life.
Mac`ro*ceph"a*lous (?), a.
[Macro + Gr. kefalh` the head.] 1.
Having a large head.
2. (Bot.) Having the cotyledons of a
dicotyledonous embryo confluent, and forming a large mass compared
with the rest of the body. Henslow.
Mac`ro-chem"is*try (?), n. [Macro-
+ chemistry.] (Chem.) The science which
treats of the chemical properties, actions or relations of substances
in quantity; -- distinguished from micro-chemistry.
||Mac`ro*chi"res (?), n. pl. [NL., fr.
Gr. makro`s long + &?; hand.] (Zoöl.) A
division of birds including the swifts and humming birds. So called
from the length of the distal part of the wing.
Mac"ro*cosm (?), n. [Macro- +
Gr. &?; the world: cf. F. macrocosme.] The great world;
that part of the universe which is exterior to man; -- contrasted
with microcosm, or man. See Microcosm.
Mac`ro*cos"mic (?), a. Of or
pertaining to the macrocosm. Tylor.
||Mac`ro*cys"tis (?), n. [NL. See
Macro-, and Cyst.] (Bot.) An immensely long
blackish seaweed of the Pacific (Macrocystis pyrifera), having
numerous almond-shaped air vessels.
Mac`ro*dac"tyl (măk`r&osl;*dăk"t&ibreve;l),
n. [Gr. makroda`ktylos long-fingered;
makro`s long + da`ktylos finger: cf. F.
macrodactyle.] (Zoöl.) One of a group of
wading birds (Macrodactyli) having very long toes.
[Written also macrodactyle.]
{ Mac`ro*dac*tyl"ic (?), Mac`ro*dac"tyl*ous (?),
} a. (Zoöl.) Having long
toes.
Mac`ro*di*ag"o*nal (?), n. [Macro-
+ diagonal.] (Crystallog.) The longer of two
diagonals, as of a rhombic prism. See
Crystallization.
Mac"ro*dome (?), n. [Macro- +
dome.] (Crystallog.) A dome parallel to the longer
lateral axis of an orthorhombic crystal. See Dome,
n., 4.
Mac"ro*dont, a. [Macro- + Gr.
'odoy`s, 'odo`ntos, a tooth.]
(Zoöl.) Having large teeth. --
n. A macrodont animal.
Mac"ro*far`ad (?), n. [Macro- +
farad.] (Elec.) See Megafarad.
[R.]
||Mac`ro*glos"si*a (?), n. [NL. See
Macro-, and Glossa.] (Med.) Enlargement or
hypertrophy of the tongue.
Mac`rog*nath"ic (?), a. [Macro-
+ gnathic.] (Anthropol.) Long-jawed.
Huxley.
Ma*crol"o*gy (?), n. [L.
macrologia, Gr. &?;; &?; long + lo`gos discourse:
cf. F. macrologie.] Long and tedious talk without much
substance; superfluity of words.
Ma*crom"e*ter (?), n. [Macro- +
-meter.] An instrument for determining the size or
distance of inaccessible objects by means of two reflectors on a
common sextant.
Ma"cron (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;
long.] (Pron.) A short, straight, horizontal mark [-],
placed over vowels to denote that they are to be pronounced with a
long sound; as, ā, in dāme; ē,
in sēam, etc.
Mac`ro*pet"al*ous (?), a. [Macro-
+ petal.] (Bot.) Having long or large
petals.
Ma*croph"yl*lous (?), a. [Macro-
+ Gr. &?; a leaf.] (Bot.) Having long or large
leaves.
Mac`ro*pin"a*coid (?), n. [Macro-
+ pinacoid.] (Crystallog.) One of the two
planes of an orthorhombic crystal which are parallel to the vertical
and longer lateral (macrodiagonal) axes.
Mac"ro*pod (?), n. [Macro- +
-pod.] (Zoöl.) Any one of a group of maioid
crabs remarkable for the length of their legs; -- called also
spider crab.
Ma*crop"o*dal (?), a. Having long
or large feet, or a long stem.
Mac`ro*po"di*an (?), n. A
macropod.
Ma*crop"o*dous (?), a.
(Zoöl.) Having long legs or feet.
Mac"ro*prism (?), n. [Macro- +
prism.] (Crystallog.) A prism of an orthorhombic
crystal between the macropinacoid and the unit prism; the
corresponding pyramids are called macropyramids.
||Ma*crop"te*res (?), n. pl. [NL., fr.
Gr. &?; long + &?; feather, wing.] (Zoöl.) A
division of birds; the Longipennes.
Ma*crop"ter*ous (?), a. [See
Macropteres.] (Zoöl.) Having long
wings.
||Mac"ro*pus (?), n. [NL. See
Macropod.] (Zoöl.) A genus of marsupials
including the common kangaroo.
Mac`ro*pyr"a*mid (?), n. [Macro-
+ pyramid.] (Crystallog.) See
Macroprism.
{ Mac`ro*scop"ic (?), Mac`ro*scop"ic*al (?), }
a. [Macro- + Gr. &?; to view.] Visible
to the unassisted eye; -- as opposed to microscopic. --
Mac`ro*scop"ic*al*ly, adv.
||Mac`ro*spo*ran"gi*um (?), n. [NL. See
Macro-, and Sporangium.] (Bot.) A
sporangium or conceptacle containing only large spores; -- opposed to
microsporangium. Both are found in the genera
Selaginella, Isoctes, and Marsilia, plants
remotely allied to ferns.
Mac"ro*spore (?), n. [Macro- +
spore.] (Bot.) One of the specially large spores
of certain flowerless plants, as Selaginella, etc.
Mac`ro*spor"ic (?), a. (Bot.)
Of or pertaining to macrospores.
Mac"ro*tone (?), n. [Gr. &?; stretched
out. See Macro-, and Tone.] (Pron.) Same as
Macron.
Ma*cro"tous (?), a. [Macro- +
Gr. o"y^s, gen. 'wto`s, the ear.]
(Zoöl.) Large-eared.
||Ma*crou"ra (?), n. pl.,
Ma*crou"ral (&?;), a., etc.
(Zoöl.) Same as Macrura, Macrural,
etc.
Mac`ro*zo"ö*spore (?), n.
[Macro- + zoöspore.] (Bot.) A large
motile spore having four vibratile cilia; -- found in certain green
algæ.
||Ma*cru"ra (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr.
&?; long + &?; tail.] (Zoöl.) A subdivision of
decapod Crustacea, having the abdomen largely developed. It includes
the lobster, prawn, shrimp, and many similar forms. Cf.
Decapoda.
Ma*cru"ral (?), a. (Zoöl.)
Same as Macrurous.
Ma*cru"ran (?), n. (Zoöl.)
One of the Macrura.
Ma*cru"roid (?), a. [Macrura +
-oid.] (Zoöl.) Like or pertaining to the
Macrura.
Ma*cru"rous (?), a. (Zoöl.)
Of or pertaining to the Macrura; having a long tail.
Mac*ta"tion (?), n. [L.
mactatio, fr. macture to slay, sacrifice.] The act
of killing a victim for sacrifice. [Obs.]
||Mac"tra (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;
kneading trough, fr. &?; to knead.] (Zoöl.) Any
marine bivalve shell of the genus Mactra, and allied genera.
Many species are known. Some of them are used as food, as Mactra
stultorum, of Europe. See Surf clam, under
Surf.
||Mac"u*la (?), n.; pl.
Maculæ (#). [L., spot, stain, blot. See
Mail armor, and cf. Mackle, Macule.]
1. A spot, as on the skin, or on the surface of
the sun or of some other luminous orb.
2. (Zoöl.) A rather large spot or
blotch of color.
Mac"u*late (?), v. t. [L.
maculatus, p. p. of maculare to spot. See
Macula, and cf. Macule, v.] To
spot; to stain; to blur.
Maculate the honor of their
people.
Sir T. Elyot.
Mac"u*late (?), a. [L.
maculatus, p. p.] Marked with spots or maculæ;
blotched; hence, defiled; impure; as, most maculate
thoughts. Shak.
Mac"u*la`ted (?), a. Having spots
or blotches; maculate.
Mac"u*la"tion (?), n. [L.
maculatio.] The act of spotting; a spot; a blemish.
Shak.
Mac"u*la*to*ry (?), a. Causing a
spot or stain. T. Adams.
Mac"u*la*ture (?), n. Blotting
paper. [Obs.]
Mac"ule (?), n. [F. macule. See
Macula.] 1. A spot. [Obs.]
2. (Print.) A blur, or an appearance
of a double impression, as when the paper slips a little; a
mackle.
Mac"ule, v. t. [Cf. F. maculer.
See Maculate, v.] To blur; especially
(Print.), to blur or double an impression from type. See
Mackle.
Mac"u*lose` (?), a. [L.
maculosus.] Of or pertaining to spots upon a surface;
spotted; maculate.
Mad (?), obs. p. p. of
Made. Chaucer.
Mad (?), a. [Compar.
Madder (?); superl. Maddest (?).]
[AS. gem&?;d, gemād, mad; akin to OS.
gem&?;d foolish, OHG. gameit, Icel. mei&?;a to
hurt, Goth. gamáids weak, broken. &?;.]
1. Disordered in intellect; crazy;
insane.
I have heard my grandsire say full oft,
Extremity of griefs would make men mad.
Shak.
2. Excited beyond self-control or the
restraint of reason; inflamed by violent or uncontrollable desire,
passion, or appetite; as, to be mad with terror, lust, or
hatred; mad against political reform.
It is the land of graven images, and they are
mad upon their idols.
Jer. 1. 88.
And being exceedingly mad against them, I
persecuted them even unto strange cities.
Acts xxvi.
11.
3. Proceeding from, or indicating, madness;
expressing distraction; prompted by infatuation, fury, or extreme
rashness. "Mad demeanor." Milton.
Mad wars destroy in one year the works of many
years of peace.
Franklin.
The mad promise of Cleon was
fulfilled.
Jowett (Thucyd.).
4. Extravagant; immoderate. "Be
mad and merry." Shak. "Fetching mad bounds."
Shak.
5. Furious with rage, terror, or disease; --
said of the lower animals; as, a mad bull; esp., having
hydrophobia; rabid; as, a mad dog.
6. Angry; out of patience; vexed; as, to get
mad at a person. [Colloq.]
7. Having impaired polarity; -- applied to a
compass needle. [Colloq.]
Like mad, like a mad person; in a furious
manner; as, to run like mad. L'Estrange. --
To run mad. (a) To become wild
with excitement. (b) To run wildly about
under the influence of hydrophobia; to become affected with
hydrophobia. -- To run mad after, to
pursue under the influence of infatuation or immoderate desire.
"The world is running mad after farce." Dryden.
Mad, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Madded; p. pr. & vb. n.
Madding.] To make mad or furious; to madden.
Had I but seen thy picture in this plight,
It would have madded me.
Shak.
Mad, v. i. To be mad; to go mad;
to rave. See Madding. [Archaic] Chaucer.
Festus said with great voice, Paul thou
maddest.
Wyclif (Acts).
Mad, n. [AS. ma&?;a; akin to D.
& G. made, Goth. mapa, and prob. to E. moth.]
(Zoöl.) An earthworm. [Written also
made.]
Mad"am (?), n.; pl.
Madams, or Mesdames (#). [See
Madame.] A gentlewoman; -- an appellation or courteous
form of address given to a lady, especially an elderly or a married
lady; -- much used in the address, at the beginning of a letter, to a
woman. The corresponding word in addressing a man is
Sir.
||Ma`dame" (?), n.; pl.
Mesdames (#). [F., fr. ma my (L. mea)
+ dame dame. See Dame, and cf. Madonna.] My
lady; -- a French title formerly given to ladies of quality; now, in
France, given to all married women. Chaucer.
Mad"-ap`ple (?), n. (Bot.)
See Eggplant.
Mad"brain` (?), a. Hot-headed;
rash. Shak. -- n. A rash or hot-
headed person.
Mad"brained` (?), a. Disordered in
mind; hot-headed. Shak.
Mad"cap` (?), a. 1.
Inclined to wild sports; delighting in rash, absurd, or
dangerous amusements. "The merry madcap lord."
Shak.
2. Wild; reckless. "Madcap
follies" Beau. & Fl.
Mad"cap`, n. A person of wild
behavior; an excitable, rash, violent person. Shak.
Mad"den (?), v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Maddened (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Maddening.] To make mad; to drive to madness; to craze;
to excite violently with passion; to make very angry; to
enrage.
Mad"den, v. i. To become mad; to
act as if mad.
They rave, recite, and madden round the
land.
Pope.
Mad"der (măd"d&etilde;r), n.
[OE. mader, AS. mædere; akin to Icel.
maðra.] (Bot.) A plant of the genus
Rubia (R. tinctorum). The root is much used in dyeing
red, and formerly was used in medicine. It is cultivated in France
and Holland. See Rubiaceous.
&fist; Madder is sometimes used in forming pigments, as lakes,
etc., which receive their names from their colors; as. madder
yellow.
Field madder, an annual European weed
(Sherardia arvensis) resembling madder. -- Indian
madder , the East Indian Rubia cordifolia, used
in the East for dyeing; -- called also munjeet. --
Wild madder, Rubia peregrina of Europe;
also the Galium Mollugo, a kind of bedstraw.
Mad"der*wort` (?), n. (Bot.)
A name proposed for any plant of the same natural order
(Rubiaceæ) as the madder.
Mad"ding (?), a. Affected with
madness; raging; furious. -- Mad"ding*ly,
adv. [Archaic]
Far from the madding crowd's ignoble
strife.
Gray.
The madding wheels
Of brazen chariots raged.
Milton.
Mad"dish (?), a. Somewhat
mad. Beau. & Fl.
Made (?), n. (Zoöl.)
See Mad, n.
Made (?), imp. & p. p. of
Make.
Made, a. Artificially produced;
pieced together; formed by filling in; as, made ground; a
made mast, in distinction from one consisting of a single
spar.
Made up. (a) Complete;
perfect. "A made up villain." Shak.
(b) Falsely devised; fabricated; as, a made
up story. (c) Artificial; as, a made
up figure or complexion.
{ Mad"e*cass (?), Mad`e*cas"see (?), }
n. A native or inhabitant of Madagascar, or
Madecassee; the language of the natives of Madagascar. See
Malagasy.
Mad`e*cas"see, a. Of or pertaining
to Madagascar or its inhabitants.
{ Mad`e*fac"tion (?), Mad`e*fi*ca"tion (?), }
n. [L. madefacere to make wet; madere
to be wet + facere to make: cf. F. madéfaction.]
The act of madefying, or making wet; the state of that which is
made wet. [R.] Bacon.
Mad"e*fy (?), v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Madefied (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Madefying (?).] [Cf. F. madéfier, L.
madefacere. See Madefaction.] To make wet or
moist. [R.]
Mad`e*gas"sy (?), n. & a. See
Madecassee.
Ma*dei"ra (?), n. [Pg., the Island
Madeira, properly, wood, fr. L. materia stuff, wood. The
island was so called because well wooded. See Matter.] A
rich wine made on the Island of Madeira.
A cup of Madeira, and a cold capon's
leg.
Shak.
Madeira nut (Bot.), the European
walnut; the nut of the Juglans regia.
||Ma`de*moi`selle" (?), n.; pl.
Mesdemoiselles (#). [F., fr. ma my, f. of
mon + demoiselle young lady. See Damsel.]
1. A French title of courtesy given to a girl or
an unmarried lady, equivalent to the English Miss.
Goldsmith.
2. (Zoöl.) A marine food fish
(Sciæna chrysura), of the Southern United States; --
called also yellowtail, and silver perch.
Madge, n. [Cf. OF. & Prov. F.
machette.] (Zoöl.) (a) The
barn owl. (b) The magpie.
Mad"-head`ed (?), a. Wild; crack-
brained.
Mad"house` (?), n. A house where
insane persons are confined; an insane asylum; a bedlam.
||Ma"di*a (?), n. [NL., fr. Sp.
madi, fr. Chilian madi, the native name.] (Bot.)
A genus of composite plants, of which one species (Madia
sativa) is cultivated for the oil yielded from its seeds by
pressure. This oil is sometimes used instead of olive oil for the
table.
Mad"id (?), a. [L. madidus, fr.
madere to be wet.] Wet; moist; as, a madid
eye. [R.] Beaconsfield.
||Mad`is*te"ri*um (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr.
&?;.] (Surg.) An instrument to extract hairs.
||Mad"joun (?), n. [Hind., fr. Ar.
ma'j&?;n.] An intoxicating confection from the hemp
plant; -- used by the Turks and Hindoos. [Written also
majoun.]
Mad"ly (?), adv. [From Mad,
a.] In a mad manner; without reason or
understanding; wildly.
Mad"man (?), n.; pl.
Madmen (&?;). A man who is mad; lunatic; a
crazy person.
When a man mistakes his thoughts for person and
things, he is mad. A madman is properly so
defined.
Coleridge.
Mad"nep (?), n. (Bot.) The
masterwort (Peucedanum Ostruthium).
Mad"ness, n. [From Mad,
a.] 1. The condition of being
mad; insanity; lunacy.
2. Frenzy; ungovernable rage; extreme
folly.
Syn. -- Insanity; distraction; derangement; craziness;
lunacy; mania; frenzy; franticness; rage; aberration; alienation;
monomania. See Insanity.
Ma*don"na (?), n. [It. madonna
my lady. See Dame, Donna, and cf. Madame,
Monkey.] 1. My lady; -- a term of address
in Italian formerly used as the equivalent of Madame, but for
which Signora is now substituted. Sometimes introduced into
English. Shak.
2. [pl. Madonnas (n&adot;z).] A
picture of the Virgin Mary (usually with the babe).
The Italian painters are noted for drawing the
Madonnas by their own wives or mistresses.
Rymer.
||Ma"do*qua (?), n. (Zoöl.)
A small Abyssinian antelope (Neotragus Saltiana), about
the size of a hare.
||Ma`drague" (?), n. [R.] A large
fish pound used for the capture of the tunny in the Mediterranean;
also applied to the seines used for the same purpose.
Ma"dre*perl (?), n. [It.
madreperla.] Mother-of-pearl.
||Mad`re*po"ra (măd`r&esl;*pō"r&adot;),
n. [NL. See Madrepore.] (Zoöl.)
A genus of reef corals abundant in tropical seas. It includes
than one hundred and fifty species, most of which are elegantly
branched. -- Mad`re*po"ral (#),
a.
||Mad`re*po*ra"ri*a (?), n. pl. [NL.
See Madrepore.] (Zoöl.) An extensive division
of Anthozoa, including most of the species that produce stony corals.
See Illust. of Anthozoa. --
Mad`re*po*ra"ri*an (#), a. & n.
Mad"re*pore (?), n. [F.
madrepore, perh. fr. madré spotted, fr. OF.
madre, mazre, a kind of knotty wood with brown spots,
fr. OHG. masar a knot, grain, or vein in wood, a speck, G.
maser + pore (see Pore); or perh. F.
madrépore is rather from It. madrepora, and this
perh. fr. It. madre mother (see Mother) + Gr. &?; a
soft stone.] (Zoöl.) Any coral of the genus
Madrepora; formerly, often applied to any stony coral.
{ Mad`re*po"ri*an (?), Mad`re*po"ric (?), }
a. (Zoöl.) Resembling, or
pertaining to, the genus Madrepora.
Madreporic plate (Zoöl.), a
perforated plate in echinoderms, through which water is admitted to
the ambulacral tubes; -- called also madreporic
tubercule.
Mad`re*po"ri*form (?), a.
[Madrepore + -form.] (Zoöl.)
Resembling a madreporian coral in form or structure.
Mad"re*po*rite (?), n. [Cf. F.
madréporite] 1. (Paleon.) A
fossil coral.
2. (Zoöl.) The madreporic plate
of echinoderms.
Ma*drier" (?), n. [F., from Sp.
madero, or Pg. madeiro, fr. Sp. madera wood for
building, timber, Pg. madeira, L. materia stuff,
materials, lumber. See Matter.] A thick plank, used for
several mechanical purposes; especially: (a)
A plank to receive the mouth of a petard, with which it is
applied to anything intended to be broken down.
(b) A plank or beam used for supporting the
earth in mines or fortifications.
Mad"ri*gal (măd"r&ibreve;*gal),
n. [It. madrigale, OIt. madriale,
mandriale (cf. LL. matriale); of uncertain origin,
possibly fr. It mandra flock, L. mandra stall, herd of
cattle, Gr. ma`ndra fold, stable; hence, madrigal,
originally, a pastoral song.] 1. A little
amorous poem, sometimes called a pastoral poem, containing
some tender and delicate, though simple, thought.
Whose artful strains have oft delayed
The huddling brook to hear his madrigal.
Milton.
2. (Mus.) An unaccompanied polyphonic
song, in four, five, or more parts, set to secular words, but full of
counterpoint and imitation, and adhering to the old church modes.
Unlike the freer glee, it is best sung with several voices on a part.
See Glee.
Mad"ri*gal*er (?), n. A
madrigalist.
Mad"ri*gal*ist, n. A composer of
madrigals.
Mad`ri*le"ni*an (?), a. [Sp.
Madrileño.] Of or pertaining to Madrid in Spain,
or to its inhabitants. -- n. A native or
inhabitant of Madrid.
||Ma*dri"na (?), n. [Sp., prop., a
godmother.] An animal (usually an old mare), wearing a bell and
acting as the leader of a troop of pack mules. [S. America]
Ma*dro"ña (?), n. [Sp.
madroño.] (Bot.) A small evergreen tree or
shrub (Arbutus Menziesii), of California, having a smooth
bark, thick shining leaves, and edible red berries, which are often
called madroña apples. [Written also
madroño.]
Mad"wort` (?), n. (Bot.) A
genus of cruciferous plants (Alyssum) with white or yellow
flowers and rounded pods. A. maritimum is the commonly
cultivated sweet alyssum, a fragrant white-flowered annual.
{ Mæg"bote`, Mag"bote` } (?),
n. [AS. m&aemacr;g kinsman +
bōt compensation.] (Anglo-Saxon Law)
Compensation for the injury done by slaying a kinsman.
Spelman.
Mael"strom (?), n. [Norw., a
whirlpool.] 1. A celebrated whirlpool on the
coast of Norway.
2. Also Fig. ; as, a maelstrom of
vice.
||Mæ"nad (?), n. [L.
Maenas, -adis, Gr. &?;, &?;, fr. &?; to rave.]
1. A Bacchante; a priestess or votary of
Bacchus.
2. A frantic or frenzied woman.
||Ma`es*to"so (?), a. & adv. [It.]
(Mus.) Majestic or majestically; -- a direction to
perform a passage or piece of music in a dignified manner.
Maes"tricht mon"i*tor (?). [So called from
Maestricht, a town in Holland.] (Paleon.) The
Mosasaurus Hofmanni. See Mosasaurus.
||Ma*es"tro (?), n. [It., fr. L.
magister. See Master.] A master in any art,
especially in music; a composer.
Maf"fle (?), v. i. [Akin to OD.
maffelen to stammer. Cf. Muffle to mumble.] To
stammer. [Obs.]
Maf"fler (?), n. A
stammerer. [Obs.]
Mag`a*zine" (?), n. [F. magasin,
It. magazzino, or Sp. magacen, almagacen; all
fr. Ar. makhzan, almakhzan, a storehouse, granary, or
cellar.]
1. A receptacle in which anything is stored,
especially military stores, as ammunition, arms, provisions,
etc. "Armories and magazines." Milton.
2. The building or room in which the supply
of powder is kept in a fortification or a ship.
3. A chamber in a gun for holding a number of
cartridges to be fed automatically to the piece.
4. A pamphlet published periodically
containing miscellaneous papers or compositions.
Magazine dress, clothing made chiefly of
woolen, without anything metallic about it, to be worn in a powder
magazine. -- Magazine gun, a portable
firearm, as a rifle, with a chamber carrying cartridges which are
brought automatically into position for firing. --
Magazine stove, a stove having a chamber for
holding fuel which is supplied to the fire by some self-feeding
process, as in the common base-burner.
Mag`a*zine" (?), v. t. [imp. &
p. p. Magazined (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Magazining.] To store in, or as in, a
magazine; to store up for use.
Mag`a*zin"er (?), n. One who edits
or writes for a magazine. [R.] Goldsmith.
Mag`a*zin"ing, n. The act of
editing, or writing for, a magazine. [Colloq.]
Byron.
Mag`a*zin"ist, n. One who edits or
writes for a magazine. [R.]
Mag"bote` (?), n. See
Mægbote.
Mag"da*la (?), a. Designating an
orange-red dyestuff obtained from naphthylamine, and called
magdala red, naphthalene red, etc.
Mag"da*len (?), n. [From Mary
Magdalene, traditionally reported to have been the repentant
sinner forgiven by Christ. See Luke vii. 36.] A reformed
prostitute.
Mag*da"le*on (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;
crumb of bread, fr. &?; to knead.] (Med.) A medicine in
the form of a roll, a esp. a roll of plaster.
Mag"de*burg (?), n. A city of
Saxony.
Magdeburg centuries, Magdeburg
hemispheres. See under Century, and
Hemisphere.
Mage (?), n. [F. mage. See
Magi.] A magician. [Archaic] Spenser.
Tennyson.
Mag`el*lan"ic (?), a. Of or
pertaining to, or named from, Magellan, the
navigator.
Magellenic clouds (Astron.), three
conspicuous nebulæ near the south pole, resembling thin white
clouds.
Ma*gen"ta (?), n. (Chem.)
An aniline dye obtained as an amorphous substance having a green
bronze surface color, which dissolves to a shade of red; also, the
color; -- so called from Magenta, in Italy, in allusion to the
battle fought there about the time the dye was discovered. Called
also fuchsine, roseïne, etc.
Magged (?), a. (Naut.)
Worn; fretted; as, a magged brace. Ham. Nav.
Encyc.
||Mag`gio"re (?), a. [It., from L.
major, compar. of magnus great. See Major.]
(Mus.) Greater, in respect to scales, intervals, etc.,
when used in opposition to minor; major. Moore
(Encyc. of Music).
Mag"got (?), n. [W. macai, pl.
maceiod, magiod, a worn or grub; cf. magu to
bread.] 1. (Zoöl.) The footless
larva of any fly. See Larval.
2. A whim; an odd fancy. Hudibras.
Tennyson.
Mag"got*i*ness (?), n. State of
being maggoty.
Mag"got*ish, a. Full of whims or
fancies; maggoty.
Mag"got-pie` (?), n. A
magpie. [Obs.] Shak.
Mag"got*y (?), a. 1.
Infested with maggots.
2. Full of whims; capricious.
Norris.
Ma"ghet (?), n. [Cf. Fl. maghet
maid.] (Bot.) A name for daisies and camomiles of several
kinds.
||Ma"gi (?), n. pl. [L., pl. of
Magus, Gr. &?;; of Per. origin. Cf. Mage,
Magic.] A caste of priests, philosophers, and magicians,
among the ancient Persians; hence, any holy men or sages of the
East.
The inspired Magi from the Orient
came.
Sandys.
Ma"gi*an (?), a. Of or pertaining
to the Magi.
Ma"gi*an, n. One of the Magi, or
priests of the Zoroastrian religion in Persia; an adherent of the
Zoroastrian religion. -- Ma"gi*an*ism (#),
n.
Mag"ic (?), n. [OE. magique, L.
magice, Gr. &?; (sc. &?;), fr. &?;. See Magic,
a., and Magi.] A comprehensive name for
all of the pretended arts which claim to produce effects by the
assistance of supernatural beings, or departed spirits, or by a
mastery of secret forces in nature attained by a study of occult
science, including enchantment, conjuration, witchcraft, sorcery,
necromancy, incantation, etc.
An appearance made by some magic.
Chaucer.
Celestial magic, a supposed supernatural
power which gave to spirits a kind of dominion over the planets, and
to the planets an influence over men. -- Natural
magic, the art of employing the powers of nature to
produce effects apparently supernatural. --
Superstitious, or Geotic,
magic, the invocation of devils or demons,
involving the supposition of some tacit or express agreement between
them and human beings.
Syn. -- Sorcery; witchcraft; necromancy; conjuration;
enchantment.
{ Mag"ic (?), Mag"ic*al (?), }
a. [L. magicus, Gr. &?;, fr. &?;: cf. F.
magique. See Magi.] 1. Pertaining
to the hidden wisdom supposed to be possessed by the Magi; relating
to the occult powers of nature, and the producing of effects by their
agency.
2. Performed by, or proceeding from, occult
and superhuman agencies; done by, or seemingly done by, enchantment
or sorcery. Hence: Seemingly requiring more than human power;
imposing or startling in performance; producing effects which seem
supernatural or very extraordinary; having extraordinary properties;
as, a magic lantern; a magic square or
circle.
The painter's magic skill.
Cowper.
&fist; Although with certain words magic is used more than
magical, -- as, magic circle, magic square,
magic wand, -- we may in general say magic or
magical; as, a magic or magical effect; a
magic or magical influence, etc. But when the adjective
is predicative, magical, and not magic, is used; as,
the effect was magical.
Magic circle, a series of concentric circles
containing the numbers 12 to 75 in eight radii, and having somewhat
similar properties to the magic square. -- Magic humming
bird (Zoöl.), a Mexican humming bird
(Iache magica) , having white downy thing tufts. --
Magic lantern. See Lantern. --
Magic square, numbers so disposed in parallel
and equal rows in the form of a square, that each row, taken
vertically, horizontally, or diagonally, shall give the same sum, the
same product, or an harmonical series, according as the numbers taken
are in arithmetical, geometrical, or harmonical progression. --
Magic wand, a wand used by a magician in
performing feats of magic.
Mag"ic*al*ly (?), adv. In a
magical manner; by magic, or as if by magic.
Ma*gi"cian (?), n. [F. magicien.
See Magic, n.] One skilled in magic;
one who practices the black art; an enchanter; a necromancer; a
sorcerer or sorceress; a conjurer.
{ Ma*gilp" (?), Ma*gilph" (?), }
n. (Paint.) See
Megilp.
||Ma*gis"ter (?), n. [L. See
Master.] Master; sir; -- a title of the Middle Ages,
given to a person in authority, or to one having a license from a
university to teach philosophy and the liberal arts.
Mag`is*te"ri*al (?), a. [L.
magisterius magisterial. See Master.]
1. Of or pertaining to a master or magistrate,
or one in authority; having the manner of a magister; official;
commanding; authoritative. Hence: Overbearing; dictatorial;
dogmatic.
When magisterial duties from his home
Her father called.
Glover.
We are not magisterial in opinions, nor,
dictator-like, obtrude our notions on any man.
Sir T.
Browne.
Pretenses go a great way with men that take fair words
and magisterial looks for current payment.
L'Estrange.
2. (Alchem. & Old Chem.) Pertaining
to, produced by, or of the nature of, magistery. See
Magistery, 2.
Syn. -- Authoritative; stately; august; pompous; dignified;
lofty; commanding; imperious; lordly; proud; haughty; domineering;
despotic; dogmatical; arrogant. -- Magisterial,
Dogmatical, Arrogant. One who is magisterial
assumes the air of a master toward his pupils; one who is
dogmatical lays down his positions in a tone of authority or
dictation; one who is arrogant in sults others by an undue
assumption of superiority. Those who have long been teachers
sometimes acquire, unconsciously, a manner which borders too much on
the magisterial, and may be unjustly construed as
dogmatical, or even arrogant.
Mag`is*te`ri*al"i*ty (?), n.
Magisterialness; authoritativeness. [R.]
Fuller.
Mag`is*te"ri*al*ly (?), adv. In a
magisterial manner.
Mag`is*te"ri*al*ness, n. The
quality or state of being magisterial.
Mag"is*ter*y (?), n. [L.
magisterium the office of a chief, president, director, tutor.
See Magistrate.] 1. Mastery; powerful
medical influence; renowned efficacy; a sovereign remedy.
[Obs.] Holland.
2. A magisterial injunction. [R.]
Brougham.
3. (Chem.) A precipitate; a fine
substance deposited by precipitation; -- applied in old chemistry to
certain white precipitates from metallic solutions; as,
magistery of bismuth. Ure.
Mag"is*tra*cy (?), n.; pl.
Magistracies (#). [From Magistrate.]
1. The office or dignity of a magistrate.
Blackstone.
2. The collective body of
magistrates.
Mag"is*tral (?), a. [L.
magistralis: cf. F. magistral. See Magistrate.]
1. Pertaining to a master; magisterial;
authoritative; dogmatic.
2. Commanded or prescribed by a magister,
esp. by a doctor; hence, effectual; sovereign; as, a magistral
sirup. "Some magistral opiate." Bacon.
3. (Pharmacy) Formulated
extemporaneously, or for a special case; -- opposed to
officinal, and said of prescriptions and medicines.
Dunglison.
Magistral line (Fort.), the guiding
line, or outline, by which the form of the work is determined. It is
usually the crest line of the parapet in fieldworks, or the top line
of the escarp in permanent fortifications.
Mag"is*tral, n. 1.
(Med.) A sovereign medicine or remedy. [Obs.]
Burton.
2. (Fort.) A magistral line.
3. (Metal.) Powdered copper pyrites
used in the amalgamation of ores of silver, as at the Spanish mines
of Mexico and South America.
Mag`is*tral"i*ty (?), n.; pl.
-ties (&?;). Magisterialness; arbitrary
dogmatism. Bacon.
Mag"is*tral*ly (?), adv. In a
magistral manner. Abp. Bramhall.
Mag"is*trate (?), n. [L.
magistratus, fr. magister master: cf. F.
magistrat. See Master.] A person clothed with
power as a public civil officer; a public civil officer invested with
the executive government, or some branch of it. "All Christian
rulers and magistrates." Book of Com. Prayer.
Of magistrates some also are supreme, in whom
the sovereign power of the state resides; others are
subordinate.
Blackstone.
{ Mag`is*trat"ic (?), Mag`is*trat"ic*al (?), }
a. Of, pertaining to, or proceeding from, a
magistrate; having the authority of a magistrate. Jer.
Taylor.
Mag"is*tra`ture (?), n. [Cf. F.
magistrature.] Magistracy. [Obs.]
||Mag"ma (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. &?;, fr.
&?; to squeeze, knead.] 1. Any crude mixture of
mineral or organic matters in the state of a thin paste.
Ure.
2. (Med.) (a) A thick
residuum obtained from certain substances after the fluid parts are
expressed from them; the grounds which remain after treating a
substance with any menstruum, as water or alcohol.
(b) A salve or confection of thick
consistency. Dunglison.
3. (Geol.) (a) The
molten matter within the earth, the source of the material of lava
flows, dikes of eruptive rocks, etc. (b)
The glassy base of an eruptive rock.
4. (Chem.) The amorphous or homogenous
matrix or ground mass, as distinguished from well-defined crystals;
as, the magma of porphyry.
||Mag"na Char"ta (?). [L., great charter.]
1. The great Charter, so called, obtained by the
English barons from King John, A. D. 1215. This name is also
given to the charter granted to the people of England in the ninth
year of Henry III., and confirmed by Edward I.
2. Hence, a fundamental constitution which
guaranties rights and privileges.
Mag*nal"i*ty (?), n. [L.
magnalis mighty, fr. magnus great.] A great act or
event; a great attainment. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
Mag`na*nim"i*ty (?), n. [F.
magnanimité, L. magnanimitas.] The quality
of being magnanimous; greatness of mind; elevation or dignity of
soul; that quality or combination of qualities, in character, which
enables one to encounter danger and trouble with tranquility and
firmness, to disdain injustice, meanness and revenge, and to act and
sacrifice for noble objects.
Mag*nan"i*mous (?), a.[L.
magnanimus; magnus great + animus mind. See
Magnate, and Animus.] 1. Great of
mind; elevated in soul or in sentiment; raised above what is low,
mean, or ungenerous; of lofty and courageous spirit; as, a
magnanimous character; a magnanimous
conqueror.
Be magnanimous in the enterprise.
Shak.
To give a kingdom hath been thought
Greater and nobler done, and to lay down
Far more magnanimous than to assume.
Milton.
2. Dictated by or exhibiting nobleness of
soul; honorable; noble; not selfish.
Both strived for death; magnanimous
debate.
Stirling.
There is an indissoluble union between a
magnanimous policy and the solid rewards of public prosperity
and felicity.
Washington.
Mag*nan"i*mous*ly, adv. In a
magnanimous manner; with greatness of mind.
Mag"nase black` (?). (Paint.) A black pigment
which dries rapidly when mixed with oil, and is of intense
body. Fairholt.
Mag"nate (?), [F. magnat, L. (pl.)
magnates, magnati, fr. magnus great. See
Master.] 1. A person of rank; a noble or
grandee; a person of influence or distinction in any sphere.
Macaulay.
2. One of the nobility, or certain high
officers of state belonging to the noble estate in the national
representation of Hungary, and formerly of Poland.
Mag"nes (?), n. [L.] Magnet.
[Obs.] Spenser.
Mag*ne"si*a (?; 277), n. [L.
Magnesia, fem. of Magnesius of the country Magnesia,
Gr. h` Magnhsi`a li`qos a magnet. Cf. Magnet.]
(Chem.) A light earthy white substance, consisting of
magnesium oxide, and obtained by heating magnesium hydrate or
carbonate, or by burning magnesium. It has a slightly alkaline
reaction, and is used in medicine as a mild antacid laxative. See
Magnesium.
Magnesia alba [L.] (Med. Chem.), a
bulky white amorphous substance, consisting of a hydrous basic
carbonate of magnesium, and used as a mild cathartic.
Mag*ne"sian (?), a. Pertaining to,
characterized by, or containing, magnesia or magnesium.
Magnesian limestone. (Min.) See
Dolomite.
Mag*ne"sic (?), a. (Chem.)
Pertaining to, or containing, magnesium; as, magnesic
oxide.
Mag"ne*site (?), n. [Cf. F.
magnésite.] (Min.) Native magnesium
carbonate occurring in white compact or granular masses, and also in
rhombohedral crystals.
Mag*ne"si*um (?), n. [NL. & F. See
Magnesia.] (Chem.) A light silver-white metallic
element, malleable and ductile, quite permanent in dry air but
tarnishing in moist air. It burns, forming (the oxide) magnesia, with
the production of a blinding light (the so-called magnesium
light) which is used in signaling, in pyrotechny, or in
photography where a strong actinic illuminant is required. Its
compounds occur abundantly, as in dolomite, talc, meerschaum, etc.
Symbol Mg. Atomic weight, 24.4. Specific gravity, 1.75.
Magnesium sulphate. (Chem.) Same as
Epsom salts.
Mag"net (măg"n&ebreve;t), n.
[OE. magnete, OF. magnete, L. magnes, -
etis, Gr. Magnh^tis li`qos a magnet, metal that looked
like silver, prop., Magnesian stone, fr. Gr. Magnhsi`a, a
country in Thessaly. Cf. Magnesia, Manganese.]
1. The loadstone; a species of iron ore (the
ferrosoferric or magnetic ore, Fe3O4) which has
the property of attracting iron and some of its ores, and, when
freely suspended, of pointing to the poles; -- called also natural
magnet.
Dinocrates began to make the arched roof of the temple
of Arsinoë all of magnet, or this loadstone.
Holland.
Two magnets, heaven and earth, allure to
bliss,
The larger loadstone that, the nearer this.
Dryden.
2. (Physics) A bar or mass of steel or
iron to which the peculiar properties of the loadstone have been
imparted; -- called, in distinction from the loadstone, an
artificial magnet.
&fist; An artificial magnet, produced by the action of a voltaic
or electrical battery, is called an electro-magnet.
Field magnet (Physics & Elec.), a
magnet used for producing and maintaining a magnetic field; -- used
especially of the stationary or exciting magnet of a dynamo or
electromotor in distinction from that of the moving portion or
armature.
{ Mag*net"ic (?), Mag*net"ic*al (?), }
a. [L. magneticus: cf. F.
magnétique.] 1. Pertaining to the
magnet; possessing the properties of the magnet, or corresponding
properties; as, a magnetic bar of iron; a magnetic
needle.
2. Of or pertaining to, or characterized by,
the earth's magnetism; as, the magnetic north; the
magnetic meridian.
3. Capable of becoming a magnet; susceptible
to magnetism; as, the magnetic metals.
4. Endowed with extraordinary personal power
to excite the feelings and to win the affections; attractive;
inducing attachment.
She that had all magnetic force
alone.
Donne.
5. Having, susceptible to, or induced by,
animal magnetism, so called; as, a magnetic sleep. See
Magnetism.
Magnetic amplitude,
attraction, dip,
induction, etc. See under Amplitude,
Attraction, etc. -- Magnetic battery,
a combination of bar or horseshoe magnets with the like poles
adjacent, so as to act together with great power. --
Magnetic compensator, a contrivance connected
with a ship's compass for compensating or neutralizing the effect of
the iron of the ship upon the needle. -- Magnetic
curves, curves indicating lines of magnetic force, as
in the arrangement of iron filings between the poles of a powerful
magnet. -- Magnetic elements.
(a) (Chem. Physics) Those elements, as
iron, nickel, cobalt, chromium, manganese, etc., which are capable or
becoming magnetic. (b) (Physics) In
respect to terrestrial magnetism, the declination, inclination, and
intensity. (c) See under
Element. -- Magnetic equator, the
line around the equatorial parts of the earth at which there is no
dip, the dipping needle being horizontal. -- Magnetic
field, or Field of magnetic force,
any space through which a magnet exerts its influence. --
Magnetic fluid, the hypothetical fluid whose
existence was formerly assumed in the explanations of the phenomena
of magnetism. -- Magnetic iron, or
Magnetic iron ore. (Min.) Same as
Magnetite. -- Magnetic needle, a
slender bar of steel, magnetized and suspended at its center on a
sharp-pointed pivot, or by a delicate fiber, so that it may take
freely the direction of the magnetic meridian. It constitutes the
essential part of a compass, such as the mariner's and the
surveyor's. -- Magnetic poles, the two
points in the opposite polar regions of the earth at which the
direction of the dipping needle is vertical. -- Magnetic
pyrites. See Pyrrhotite. --
Magnetic storm (Terrestrial Physics), a
disturbance of the earth's magnetic force characterized by great and
sudden changes. -- Magnetic telegraph, a
telegraph acting by means of a magnet. See Telegraph.
Mag*net"ic (?), n. 1.
A magnet. [Obs.]
As the magnetic hardest iron
draws.
Milton.
2. Any metal, as iron, nickel, cobalt, etc.,
which may receive, by any means, the properties of the loadstone, and
which then, when suspended, fixes itself in the direction of a
magnetic meridian.
Mag*net"ic*al*ly, adv. By or as
by, magnetism.
Mag*net"ic*al*ness, n. Quality of
being magnetic.
Mag`ne*ti"cian (?), n. One versed
in the science of magnetism; a magnetist.
Mag*net"ic*ness, n.
Magneticalness. [Obs.]
Mag*net"ics (?), n. The science of
magnetism.
Mag`net*if"er*ous (?), a. [L.
magnes, -etis + -ferous.] Producing or
conducting magnetism.
Mag"net*ism (?), n. [Cf. F.
magnétisme.] The property, quality, or state, of
being magnetic; the manifestation of the force in nature which is
seen in a magnet.
2. The science which treats of magnetic
phenomena.
3. Power of attraction; power to excite the
feelings and to gain the affections. "By the magnetism
of interest our affections are irresistibly attracted."
Glanvill.
Animal magnetism, a force, more or less
analogous to magnetism, which, it has been alleged, is produced in
animal tissues, and passes from one body to another with or without
actual contact. The existence of such a force, and its potentiality
for the cure of disease, were asserted by Mesmer in 1775. His
theories and methods were afterwards called mesmerism, a name
which has been popularly applied to theories and claims not put
forward by Mesmer himself. See Mesmerism, Biology,
Od, Hypnotism. -- Terrestrial
magnetism, the magnetic force exerted by the earth, and
recognized by its effect upon magnetized needles and bars.
Mag"net*ist, n. One versed in
magnetism.
Mag"net*ite (?), n. (Min.)
An oxide of iron (Fe3O4) occurring in
isometric crystals, also massive, of a black color and metallic
luster. It is readily attracted by a magnet and sometimes possesses
polarity, being then called loadstone. It is an important iron
ore. Called also magnetic iron.
Mag"net*i`za*ble (?), a. Capable
of being magnetized.
Mag`net*i*za"tion (?), n. The act
of magnetizing, or the state of being magnetized.
Mag"net*ize (?), v. t. [imp. &
p. p. Magnetized (?); prep. & adv.
Magnetizing (?).] [Cf. F. magnétiser.]
1. To communicate magnetic properties to; as, to
magnetize a needle.
2. To attract as a magnet attracts, or like a
magnet; to move; to influence.
Fascinated, magnetized, as it were, by his
character.
Motley.
3. To bring under the influence of animal
magnetism.
Mag`net*i*zee" (?), n. A person
subjected to the influence of animal magnetism. [R.]
Mag"net*i`zer (?), n. One who, or
that which, imparts magnetism.
Mag"net*o- (?). [See Magnet.] A prefix
meaning pertaining to, produced by, or in some way
connected with, magnetism.
{ Mag`net*o-e*lec"tric (?), Mag`net*o-
e*lec"tric*al (?), } a. (Physics)
Pertaining to, or characterized by, electricity by the action of
magnets; as, magneto-electric induction.
Magneto-electric machine, a form of dynamo-
electric machine in which the field is maintained by permanent steel
magnets instead of electro-magnets.
Mag`net*o-e`lec*tric"i*ty (?), n.
1. Electricity evolved by the action of
magnets.
2. (Physics) That branch of science
which treats of the development of electricity by the action of
magnets; -- the counterpart of electro-magnetism.
Mag*net"o*graph (?), n. [Magneto-
+ -graph.] (Physics) An automatic instrument
for registering, by photography or otherwise, the states and
variations of any of the terrestrial magnetic elements.
Mag`net*om"e*ter (?), n. [Magneto-
+ -meter: cf. F. magnétomètre.]
(Physics) An instrument for measuring the intensity of
magnetic forces; also, less frequently, an instrument for determining
any of the terrestrial magnetic elements, as the dip and
declination.
Mag`net*o*met"ric (?), a.
Pertaining to, or employed in, the measurement of magnetic
forces; obtained by means of a magnetometer; as, magnetometric
instruments; magnetometric measurements.
Mag`net*o*mo"tor (?), n. A voltaic
series of two or more large plates, producing a great quantity of
electricity of low tension, and hence adapted to the exhibition of
electro-magnetic phenomena. [R.]
Mag`net*o*ther"a*py (?), n.
(Med.) The treatment of disease by the application of
magnets to the surface of the body.
Mag"ni*fi`a*ble, a. [From
Magnify.] Such as can be magnified, or
extolled.
{ Mag*nif"ic (?), Mag*nif"ic*al (?), }
a. [L. magnificus; magnus great +
facere to make: cf. F. magnifique. See
Magnitude, Fact. and cf. Magnificent.]
Grand; splendid; illustrious; magnificent. [Obs.] 1
Chron. xxii. 5. "Thy magnific deeds." Milton. --
Mag*nif"ic*al*ly, adv. [Obs.]
||Mag*nif"i*cat (?), n. [L., it
magnifies.] The song of the Virgin Mary, Luke i. 46; --
so called because it commences with this word in the
Vulgate.
Mag*nif"i*cate (?), v. t. [L.
magnificatus, p. p. of magnificare.] To magnify or
extol. [Obs.] Marston.
Mag`ni*fi*ca"tion (?), n. The act
of magnifying; enlargement; exaggeration. [R.]
Mag*nif"i*cence (?), n. [F.
magnificence, L. magnificentia. See Magnific.]
The act of doing what is magnificent; the state or quality of
being magnificent. Acts xix. 27. "Then cometh
magnificence." Chaucer.
And, for the heaven's wide circuit, let it speak
The Maker's high magnificence, who built
so spacious.
Milton.
The noblest monuments of Roman
magnificence.
Eustace.
Mag*nif"i*cent (?), a. [See
Magnificence.] 1. Doing grand things;
admirable in action; displaying great power or opulence, especially
in building, way of living, and munificence.
A prince is never so magnificent
As when he's sparing to enrich a few
With the injuries of many.
Massinger.
2. Grand in appearance; exhibiting grandeur
or splendor; splendid; pompous.
When Rome's exalted beauties I descry
Magnificent in piles of ruin lie.
Addison.
Syn. -- Glorious; majestic; sublime. See Grand.
Mag*nif"i*cent*ly, adv. In a
Magnificent manner.
Mag*nif"i*co (?), n.; pl.
Magnificoes (#). [It. See Magnific.]
1. A grandee or nobleman of Venice; -- so called
in courtesy. Shak.
2. A rector of a German university.
Mag"ni*fi`er (?), n. One who, or
that which, magnifies.
Mag"ni*fy (?), v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Magnified (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Magnifying (?).] [OE. magnifien, F. magnifier,
L. magnificare. See Magnific.] 1.
To make great, or greater; to increase the dimensions of; to
amplify; to enlarge, either in fact or in appearance; as, the
microscope magnifies the object by a thousand
diameters.
The least error in a small quantity . . . will in a
great one . . . be proportionately magnified.
Grew.
2. To increase the importance of; to augment
the esteem or respect in which one is held.
On that day the Lord magnified Joshua in the
sight of all Israel.
Joshua iv. 14.
3. To praise highly; to laud; to extol.
[Archaic]
O, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt
his name together.
Ps. xxxiv. 3.
4. To exaggerate; as, to magnify a
loss or a difficulty.
To magnify one's self (Script.), to
exhibit pride and haughtiness; to boast. -- To magnify
one's self against (Script.), to oppose with
pride.
Mag"ni*fy, v. i. 1.
To have the power of causing objects to appear larger than they
really are; to increase the apparent dimensions of objects; as, some
lenses magnify but little.
2. To have effect; to be of importance or
significance. [Cant & Obs.] Spectator.
Magnifying glass, a lens which magnifies the
apparent dimensions of objects seen through it.
Mag*nil"o*quence (?), n. [L.
magniloquentia.] The quality of being magniloquent;
pompous discourse; grandiloquence.
Mag*nil"o*quent (?), a. [L.
magnus great + loquens, -entis, p. pr. of
loqui to speak. See Magnitude, Loquacious.]
Speaking pompously; using swelling discourse; bombastic; tumid
in style; grandiloquent. -- Mag*nil"o*quent*ly,
adv.
Mag*nil"o*quous (?), a. [L.
magniloquus.] Magniloquent. [Obs.]
Mag"ni*tude (?), n. [L.
magnitudo, from magnus great. See Master, and
cf. Maxim.] 1. Extent of dimensions;
size; -- applied to things that have length, breadth, and
thickness.
Conceive those particles of bodies to be so disposed
amongst themselves, that the intervals of empty spaces between them
may be equal in magnitude to them all.
Sir I.
Newton.
2. (Geom.) That which has one or more
of the three dimensions, length, breadth, and thickness.
3. Anything of which greater or less can be
predicated, as time, weight, force, and the like.
4. Greatness; grandeur. "With plain,
heroic magnitude of mind." Milton.
5. Greatness, in reference to influence or
effect; importance; as, an affair of magnitude.
The magnitude of his designs.
Bp. Horsley.
Apparent magnitude (Opt.), the
angular breadth of an object viewed as measured by the angle which it
subtends at the eye of the observer; -- called also apparent
diameter. -- Magnitude of a star
(Astron.), the rank of a star with respect to brightness.
About twenty very bright stars are said to be of first magnitude, the
stars of the sixth magnitude being just visible to the naked eye.
Telescopic stars are classified down to the twelfth magnitude or
lower. The scale of the magnitudes is quite arbitrary, but by means
of photometers, the classification has been made to tenths of a
magnitude.
Mag*no"li*a (?), n. [NL. Named after
Pierre Magnol, professor of botany at Montpellier, France, in
the 17th century.] (Bot.) A genus of American and Asiatic
trees, with aromatic bark and large sweet-scented whitish or reddish
flowers.
&fist; Magnolia grandiflora has coriaceous shining leaves
and very fragrant blossoms. It is common from North Carolina to
Florida and Texas, and is one of the most magnificent trees of the
American forest. The sweet bay (M. glauca)is a small tree
found sparingly as far north as Cape Ann. Other American species are
M. Umbrella, M. macrophylla, M. Fraseri, M.
acuminata, and M. cordata. M. conspicua and M.
purpurea are cultivated shrubs or trees from Eastern Asia. M.
Campbellii, of India, has rose-colored or crimson flowers.
Magnolia warbler (Zoöl.), a
beautiful North American wood warbler (Dendroica maculosa).
The rump and under parts are bright yellow; the breast and belly are
spotted with black; the under tail coverts are white; the crown is
ash.
Mag*no`li*a"ceous (?), a. (Bot.)
Pertaining to a natural order (Magnoliaceæ) of
trees of which the magnolia, the tulip tree, and the star anise are
examples.
||Mag"num (?), n. [Neut. sing. of L.
magnus great.] 1. A large wine
bottle.
They passed the magnum to one another
freely.
Sir W. Scott.
2. (Anat.) A bone of the carpus at the
base of the third metacarpal bone.
Mag"ot (?), n. [F.] (Zoöl.)
The Barbary ape.
Mag"ot-pie` (?), n. A
magpie. [Obs.] Shak.
Mag"pie (?), n. [OE. & Prov. E.
magot pie, maggoty pie, fr. Mag, Maggot,
equiv. to Margaret, and fr. F. Marquerite, and common
name of the magpie. Marguerite is fr. L. margarita
pearl, Gr. &?;, prob. of Eastern origin. See Pie magpie, and
cf. the analogous names Tomtit, and Jackdaw.]
(Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of the genus
Pica and related genera, allied to the jays, but having a long
graduated tail.
&fist; The common European magpie (Pica pica, or P.
caudata) is a black and white noisy and mischievous bird. It can
be taught to speak. The American magpie (P. Hudsonica) is very
similar. The yellow-belled magpie (P. Nuttalli) inhabits
California. The blue magpie (Cyanopolius Cooki) inhabits
Spain. Other allied species are found in Asia. The Tasmanian and
Australian magpies are crow shrikes, as the white magpie
(Gymnorhina organicum), the black magpie (Strepera
fuliginosa), and the Australian magpie (Cracticus
picatus).
Magpie lark (Zoöl.), a common
Australian bird (Grallina picata), conspicuously marked with
black and white; -- called also little magpie. --
Magpie moth (Zoöl.), a black and
white European geometrid moth (Abraxas grossulariata); the
harlequin moth. Its larva feeds on currant and gooseberry
bushes.
||Ma`gua*ri" (?), n. [From native name:
cf. Pg. magoari.] (Zoöl.) A South American
stork (Euxenara maguari), having a forked tail.
Mag"uey (?), n. [Sp. maguey,
Mexican maguei and metl.] (Bot.) The
century plant, a species of Agave (A. Americana). See
Agave.
Mag"yar (măg"yär; Hung.
m&obreve;d"y&obreve;r), n. [Hung.]
1. (Ethnol.) One of the dominant people
of Hungary, allied to the Finns; a Hungarian.
2. The language of the Magyars.
||Ma"ha (?), n. (Zoöl.)
A kind of baboon; the wanderoo.
{ ||Ma*ha*ba"ra*ta (?), ||Ma*ha*bha"ra*tam (?),
} n. [Skr. mahābhārata.] A
celebrated epic poem of the Hindus. It is of great length, and is
chiefly devoted to the history of a civil war between two dynasties
of ancient India.
||Ma*ha"led (?), n.[Ar. mahled.]
(Bot.) A cherry tree (Prunus Mahaleb) of Southern
Europe. The wood is prized by cabinetmakers, the twigs are used for
pipe stems, the flowers and leaves yield a perfume, and from the
fruit a violet dye and a fermented liquor (like kirschwasser) are
prepared.
||Ma*ha*ra"jah (?), n. [Skr.
mahārāja; mahat great + rāja
king.] A sovereign prince in India; -- a title given also to
other persons of high rank.
||Ma`ha*rif" (?), n.
(Zoöl.) An African antelope (Hippotragus
Bakeri). Its face is striped with black and white.
||Ma*har"mah (?), n. A muslin
wrapper for the head and the lower part of the face, worn by Turkish
and Armenian women when they go abroad.
Mah"di (?), n. [Ar., guide, leader.]
Among Mohammedans, the last imam or leader of the
faithful. The Sunni, the largest sect of the Mohammedans, believe
that he is yet to appear.
&fist; The title has been taken by several persons in countries
where Mohammedanism prevails, -- notably by Mohammad Ahmed, who
overran the Egyptian Sudan, and in 1885 captured Khartum, his
soldiers killing General Gordon, an Englishman, who was then the
Egyptian governor of the region.
Mahl"-stick` (?), n. See Maul-
stick.
Ma"hoe (?), n. (Bot.) A
name given to several malvaceous trees (species of Hibiscus,
Ochroma, etc.), and to their strong fibrous inner bark, which
is used for strings and cordage.
Ma*hog"a*ny (?), n. [From the South
American name.] 1. (Bot.) A large tree of
the genus Swietenia (S. Mahogoni), found in tropical
America.
&fist; Several other trees, with wood more or less like mahogany,
are called by this name; as, African mahogany (Khaya
Senegalensis), Australian mahogany (Eucalyptus
marginatus), Bastard mahogany (Batonia apetala of the West
Indies), Indian mahogany (Cedrela Toona of Bengal, and trees
of the genera Soymida and Chukrassia), Madeira mahogany
(Persea Indica), Mountain mahogany, the black or cherry birch
(Betula lenta), also the several species of Cercocarpus
of California and the Rocky Mountains.
2. The wood of the Swietenia Mahogoni.
It is of a reddish brown color, beautifully veined, very hard, and
susceptible of a fine polish. It is used in the manufacture of
furniture.
3. A table made of mahogany wood.
[Colloq.]
To be under the mahogany, to be so drunk as
to have fallen under the table. [Eng.] -- To put one's
legs under some one's mahogany, to dine with him.
[Slang]
||Ma*ho"li (?), n. (Zoöl.)
A South African lemur (Galago maholi), having very large
ears. [Written also moholi.]
{ Ma*hom"ed*an (?), Ma*hom"et*an (?), }
n. See Mohammedan.
Ma*hom"et*an*ism (?), n. See
Mohammedanism.
Ma*hom"et*an*ize (?), v. t.
[imp. & p. p. Mahometanized (?); p.
pr. & vb. n. Mahometanizing (?).] To convert to
the religion of Mohammed; to Mohammedanize.
Ma*hom"et*ism (?), n. See
Mohammedanism.
Ma*hom"et*ist, n. A
Mohammedan. [R.]
Ma*hom"et*ry (?), n.
Mohammedanism. [Obs.]
Ma*hone" (?), n. A large Turkish
ship. Crabb.
Ma*ho"ni*a (?), n. [Named after Bernard
McMahon.] (Bot.) The Oregon grape, a species of
barberry (Berberis Aquifolium), often cultivated for its
hollylike foliage.
Ma*hon" stock` (?). (Bot.) An annual
cruciferous plant with reddish purple or white flowers (Malcolmia
maritima). It is called in England Virginia stock, but the
plant comes from the Mediterranean.
||Ma*hoo"hoo (?), n.
(Zoöl.) The African white two-horned rhinoceros
(Atelodus simus).
Ma"ho*ri (?), n. [Native name. Cf.
Maori.] (Ethnol.) One of the dark race inhabiting
principally the islands of Eastern Polynesia. Also used
adjectively.
Ma`hound (?), n. A contemptuous
name for Mohammed; hence, an evil spirit; a devil. [Obs.]
Who's this, my mahound cousin ?
Beau. & Fl.
||Ma*hout" (?), n. [Hind.
mahāwat, Skr. mahāmātra; mahat
great + mātrā measure.] The keeper and driver
of an elephant. [East Indies]
Ma*ho"vo (?), n. (Mach.) A
device for saving power in stopping and starting a railroad car, by
means of a heavy fly wheel.
Mah*rat"i (?), n. The language of
the Mahrattas; the language spoken in the Deccan and Concan.
[Written also Marathi.]
Mah*rat"ta (?), n. [Hind.
Marhatā, Marhāttā, the name of a
famous Hindoo race, from the old Skr. name Mahā-
rāshtra.] One of a numerous people inhabiting the
southwestern part of India. Also, the language of the Mahrattas;
Mahrati. It is closely allied to Sanskrit. --
a. Of or pertaining to the Mahrattas.
[Written also Maratha.]
{ Ma*hu"met*an (?), Ma*hu"met*an*ism (?),
n. } See Mohammedan,
Mohammedanism.
Mah"wa tree` (?). (Bot.) An East Indian
sapotaceous tree (Bassia latifolia, and also B.
butyracea), whose timber is used for wagon wheels, and the
flowers for food and in preparing an intoxicating drink. It is one of
the butter trees. The oil, known as mahwa and yallah,
is obtained from the kernels of the fruit.
||Ma"i*a (?), n. [From L. Maia,
a goddess.] (Zoöl.) (a) A genus of
spider crabs, including the common European species (Maia
squinado). (b) A beautiful American
bombycid moth (Eucronia maia).
Ma"ian (?), n. (Zoöl.)
Any spider crab of the genus Maia, or family
Maiadæ.
Maid (?), n. [Shortened from
maiden. &?;. See Maiden.] 1.
An unmarried woman; usually, a young unmarried woman; esp., a
girl; a virgin; a maiden.
Would I had died a maid,
And never seen thee, never borne thee son.
Shak.
Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her
attire? Yet my people have forgotten me.
Jer. ii.
32.
2. A man who has not had sexual
intercourse. [Obs.]
Christ was a maid and shapen as a
man.
Chaucer.
3. A female servant.
Spinning amongst her maids.
Shak.
&fist; Maid is used either adjectively or in composition,
signifying female, as in maid child,
maidservant.
4. (Zoöl.) The female of a ray or
skate, esp. of the gray skate (Raia batis), and of the
thornback (R. clavata). [Prov. Eng.]
Fair maid. (Zoöl.) See under
Fair, a. -- Maid of
honor, a female attendant of a queen or royal princess;
-- usually of noble family, and having to perform only nominal or
honorary duties. -- Old maid. See under
Old.
Maid"en (?), n. [OE. maiden,
meiden, AS. mægden, dim. of AS.
mæg&?;, fr. mago son, servant; akin to G.
magd, mädchen, maid, OHG. magad, Icel.
mögr son, Goth. magus boy, child, magaps
virgin, and perh. to Zend. magu youth. Cf. Maid a
virgin.] 1. An unmarried woman; a girl or woman
who has not experienced sexual intercourse; a virgin; a
maid.
She employed the residue of her life to repairing of
highways, building of bridges, and endowing of
maidens.
Carew.
A maiden of our century, yet most
meek.
Tennyson.
2. A female servant. [Obs.]
3. An instrument resembling the guillotine,
formerly used in Scotland for beheading criminals.
Wharton.
4. A machine for washing linen.
Maid"en, a. 1. Of
or pertaining to a maiden, or to maidens; suitable to, or
characteristic of, a virgin; as, maiden innocence. "Amid
the maiden throng." Addison.
Have you no modesty, no maiden shame
?
Shak.
2. Never having been married; not having had
sexual intercourse; virgin; -- said usually of the woman, but
sometimes of the man; as, a maiden aunt. "A surprising
old maiden lady." Thackeray.
3. Fresh; innocent; unpolluted; pure;
hitherto unused. "Maiden flowers." Shak.
Full bravely hast thou fleshed
Thy maiden sword.
Shak.
4. Used of a fortress, signifying that it has
never been captured, or violated. T. Warton.
Macaulay.
Maiden assize (Eng. Law), an assize
which there is no criminal prosecution; an assize which is unpolluted
with blood. It was usual, at such an assize, for the sheriff to
present the judge with a pair of white gloves. Smart. --
Maiden name, the surname of a woman before her
marriage. -- Maiden pink. (Bot.)
See under Pink. -- Maiden plum
(Bot.), a West Indian tree (Comocladia
integrifolia) with purplish drupes. The sap of the tree is
glutinous, and gives a persistent black stain. -- Maiden
speech, the first speech made by a person, esp. by a
new member in a public body. -- Maiden tower,
the tower most capable of resisting an enemy.
Maid"en, v. t. To act coyly like a
maiden; -- with it as an indefinite object.
For had I maiden'd it, as many use.
Loath for to grant, but loather to refuse.
Bp.
Hall.
Maid"en*hair` (?), n. (Bot.)
A fern of the genus Adiantum (A. pedatum), having
very slender graceful stalks. It is common in the United States, and
is sometimes used in medicine. The name is also applied to other
species of the same genus, as to the Venus-hair.
Maiden grass, the smaller quaking
grass. -- Maiden tree. See
Ginkgo.
Maid"en*head (?), n. [See
Maidenhood.] 1. The state of being a
maiden; maidenhood; virginity. Shak.
2. The state of being unused or
uncontaminated; freshness; purity. [Obs.]
The maidenhead of their credit.
Sir H. Wotton.
3. The hymen, or virginal membrane.
Maid"en*hood (?), n. [AS.
mægdenhād. See Maid, and -hood.]
1. The state of being a maid or a virgin;
virginity. Shak.
2. Newness; freshness; uncontaminated
state.
The maidenhood
Of thy fight.
Shak.
Maid"en*like` (?), a. Like a
maiden; modest; coy.
Maid"en*li*ness (?), n. The
quality of being maidenly; the behavior that becomes a maid; modesty;
gentleness.
Maid"en*ly, a. Like a maid;
suiting a maid; maiden-like; gentle, modest, reserved.
Must you be blushing ? . . .
What a maidenly man-at-arms are you become !
Shak.
Maid"en*ly, adv. In a maidenlike
manner. "Maidenly demure." Skelton.
Maid"en*ship, n. Maidenhood.
[Obs.] Fuller.
Maid"hood (?), n. [AS.
mægðhād. See Maid, and -hood.]
Maidenhood. Shak.
Maid`ma"ri*an (?), n. [Maid +
Marian, relating to Mary, or the Virgin Mary.]
1. The lady of the May games; one of the
characters in a morris dance; a May queen. Afterward, a grotesque
character personated in sports and buffoonery by a man in woman's
clothes.
2. A kind of dance. Sir W.
Temple.
Maid"pale` (?), a. Pale, like a
sick girl. Shak.
Maid"serv`ant (?), n. A female
servant.
Maid's" hair` (?). (Bot.) The yellow bedstraw
(Galium verum).
{ Ma*ieu"tic (m&asl;*ū"t&ibreve;k),
Ma*ieu"tic*al (-t&ibreve;*kal), }
a. [Gr. maieytiko`s, fr.
mai^a midwife.] 1. Serving to assist
childbirth. Cudworth.
2. Fig. : Aiding, or tending to, the
definition and interpretation of thoughts or language.
Payne.
Ma*ieu"tics (?), n. The art of
giving birth (i. e., clearness and conviction) to ideas, which
are conceived as struggling for birth. Payne.
Mai"ger (?), n. (Zoöl.)
The meagre.
Mai"gre (?), a. [F. See Meager.]
Belonging to a fast day or fast; as, a maigre day.
Walpole.
Maigre food (R. C. Ch.), food allowed
to be eaten on fast days.
Mai"hem (mā"h&ebreve;m), n.
See Maim, and Mayhem.
||Mai*kel" (mä&ibreve;*k&asl;l"),
n. (Zoöl.) A South American
carnivore of the genus Conepatus, allied to the skunk, but
larger, and having a longer snout. The tail is not bushy.
||Mai*kong" (?), n. (Zoöl.)
A South American wild dog (Canis cancrivorus); the crab-
eating dog.
Mail (māl), n. A spot.
[Obs.]
Mail, n. [F. maille, OF. also
maaille, LL. medalia. See Medal.]
1. A small piece of money; especially, an
English silver half-penny of the time of Henry V. [Obs.]
[Written also maile, and maille.]
2. Rent; tribute. [Obs., except in
certain compounds and phrases, as blackmail, mails and duties,
etc.]
Mail and duties (Scots Law), the
rents of an estate, in whatever form paid.
Mail, n. [OE. maile,
maille, F. maille a ring of mail, mesh, network, a coat
of mail, fr. L. macula spot, a mesh of a net. Cf.
Macle, Macula, Mascle.] 1.
A flexible fabric made of metal rings interlinked. It was used
especially for defensive armor. Chaucer.
Chain mail, Coat of mail.
See under Chain, and Coat.
2. Hence generally, armor, or any defensive
covering.
3. (Naut.) A contrivance of
interlinked rings, for rubbing off the loose hemp on lines and white
cordage.
4. (Zoöl.) Any hard protective
covering of an animal, as the scales and plates of reptiles, shell of
a lobster, etc.
We . . . strip the lobster of his scarlet
mail.
Gay.
Mail, v. t. 1. To
arm with mail.
2. To pinion. [Obs.]
Mail, n. [OE. male bag, OF.
male, F. malle bag, trunk, mail, OHG. malaha,
malha, wallet; akin to D. maal, male; cf. Gael.
& Ir. mala, Gr. molgo`s hide, skin.]
1. A bag; a wallet. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
2. The bag or bags with the letters, papers,
or other matter contained therein, conveyed under public authority
from one post office to another; the whole system of appliances used
by government in the conveyance and delivery of mail
matter.
There is a mail come in to-day, with letters
dated Hague.
Tatler.
3. That which comes in the mail; letters,
etc., received through the post office.
4. A trunk, box, or bag, in which clothing,
etc., may be carried. [Obs.] Sir W. Scott.
Mail bag, a bag in which mailed matter is
conveyed under public authority. -- Mail boat,
a boat that carries the mail. -- Mail
catcher, an iron rod, or other contrivance, attached to
a railroad car for catching a mail bag while the train is in
motion. -- Mail guard, an officer whose
duty it is to guard the public mails. [Eng.] -- Mail
train, a railroad train carrying the mail.
Mail, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Mailed (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Mailing.] To deliver into the custody of the postoffice
officials, or place in a government letter box, for transmission by
mail; to post; as, to mail a letter. [U. S.]
&fist; In the United States to mail and to post are
both in common use; as, to mail or post a letter. In
England post is the commoner usage.
Mail"a*ble (?), a. Admissible
lawfully into the mail. [U.S.]
Mail"clad` (?), a. Protected by a
coat of mail; clad in armor. Sir W. Scott.
Mailed (?), a. (Zoöl.)
Protected by an external coat, or covering, of scales or
plates.
Mailed, a. [See 1st Mail.]
Spotted; speckled.
Mail"ing (?), n. [Scot., fr.
mail tribute, rent. See 2d Mail.] A farm.
[Scot.] Sir W. Scott.
Mail"-shell` (?), n.
(Zoöl.) A chiton.
Maim (mām), v. t. [imp. &
p. p. Maimed (māmd);p. pr. & vb.
n. Maiming.] [OE. maimen, OF.
mahaignier, mehaignier, meshaignier, cf. It.
magagnare, LL. mahemiare, mahennare; perh. of
Celtic origin; cf. Armor. mac'haña to mutilate,
māc'ha to crowd, press; or cf. OHG. mangōn
to lack, perh. akin to E. mangle to lacerate. Cf.
Mayhem.] 1. To deprive of the use of a
limb, so as to render a person in fighting less able either to defend
himself or to annoy his adversary.
By the ancient law of England he that maimed
any man whereby he lost any part of his body, was sentenced to lose
the like part.
Blackstone.
2. To mutilate; to cripple; to injure; to
disable; to impair.
My late maimed limbs lack wonted
might.
Spenser.
You maimed the jurisdiction of all
bishops.
Shak.
Syn. -- To mutilate; mangle; cripple.
Maim, n. [Written in law language
maihem, and mayhem.] [OF. mehaing. See
Maim, v.] 1. The
privation of the use of a limb or member of the body, by which one is
rendered less able to defend himself or to annoy his
adversary.
2. The privation of any necessary part; a
crippling; mutilation; injury; deprivation of something essential.
See Mayhem.
Surely there is more cause to fear lest the want there
of be a maim than the use of it a blemish.
Hooker.
A noble author esteems it to be a maim in
history that the acts of Parliament should not be
recited.
Hayward.
Maim"ed*ly (?), adv. In a maimed
manner.
Maim"ed*ness, n. State of being
maimed. Bolton.
Main (?), n. [F. main hand, L.
manus. See Manual.] 1. A hand or
match at dice. Prior. Thackeray.
2. A stake played for at dice. [Obs.]
Shak.
3. The largest throw in a match at dice; a
throw at dice within given limits, as in the game of
hazard.
4. A match at cockfighting. "My lord
would ride twenty miles . . . to see a main fought."
Thackeray.
5. A main-hamper. [Obs.]
Ainsworth.
Main, n. [AS. mægen
strength, power, force; akin to OHG. magan, Icel.
megin, and to E. may, v. &?;. See May,
v.] 1. Strength; force; might;
violent effort. [Obs., except in certain phrases.]
There were in this battle of most might and
main.
R. of Gl.
He 'gan advance,
With huge force, and with importable main.
Spenser.
2. The chief or principal part; the main or
most important thing. [Obs., except in special uses.]
Resolved to rest upon the title of Lancaster as the
main, and to use the other two . . . but as
supporters.
Bacon.
3. Specifically: (a) The
great sea, as distinguished from an arm, bay, etc. ; the high sea;
the ocean. "Struggling in the main." Dryden.
(b) The continent, as distinguished from an
island; the mainland. "Invaded the main of Spain."
Bacon. (c) principal duct or pipe, as
distinguished from lesser ones; esp. (Engin.), a principal
pipe leading to or from a reservoir; as, a fire
main.
Forcing main, the delivery pipe of a
pump. -- For the main, or In the
main, for the most part; in the greatest part. --
With might and main, or With all one's
might and main, with all one's strength; with violent
effort.
With might and main they chased the murderous
fox.
Dryden.
Main (?), a. [From Main
strength, possibly influenced by OF. maine, magne,
great, L. magnus. Cf. Magnate.] 1.
Very or extremely strong. [Obs.]
That current with main fury ran.
Daniel.
2. Vast; huge. [Obs.] "The main
abyss." Milton.
3. Unqualified; absolute; entire;
sheer. [Obs.] "It's a man untruth." Sir W.
Scott.
4. Principal; chief; first in size, rank,
importance, etc.
Our main interest is to be happy as we
can.
Tillotson.
5. Important; necessary. [Obs.]
That which thou aright
Believest so main to our success, I bring.
Milton.
By main force, by mere force or sheer force;
by violent effort; as, to subdue insurrection by main
force.
That Maine which by main force Warwick did
win.
Shak.
--
By main strength, by sheer strength; as,
to lift a heavy weight by main strength. -- Main
beam (Steam Engine), working beam. --
Main boom (Naut.), the boom which
extends the foot of the mainsail in a fore and aft vessel. --
Main brace. (a) (Mech.)
The brace which resists the chief strain. Cf. Counter
brace. (b) (Naut.) The brace
attached to the main yard. -- Main center
(Steam Engine), a shaft upon which a working beam or side
lever swings. -- Main chance. See under
Chance. -- Main couple (Arch.),
the principal truss in a roof. -- Main
deck (Naut.), the deck next below the spar deck;
the principal deck. -- Main keel
(Naut.), the principal or true keel of a vessel, as
distinguished from the false keel.
Syn. -- Principal; chief; leading; cardinal; capital.
Main, adv. [See Main,
a.] Very; extremely; as, main
heavy. "I'm main dry." Foote. [Obs. or Low]
Maine (?), n. One of the New
England States.
Maine law, any law prohibiting the
manufacture and sale of intoxicating beverages, esp. one resembling
that enacted in the State of Maine.
Main`-gauche" (măN`gōsh"),
n. [F., the left hand.] (Ancient Armor)
The dagger held in the left hand, while the rapier is held in
the right; -- used to parry thrusts of the adversary's
rapier.
Main"-ham`per (?), n. [F. main
hand (see Main a hand at dice) + E. hamper.] A
hamper to be carried in the hand; a hand basket used in carrying
grapes to the press.
Main"land` (?), n. The continent;
the principal land; -- opposed to island, or
peninsula. Dryden.
After the two wayfarers had crossed from the peninsula
to the mainland.
Hawthorne.
Main"ly (?), adv. [From main
strong. See Main strength.] Very strongly; mightily; to a
great degree. [Obs.] Bacon. Shak.
Main"ly, adv. [From main
principal, chief.] Principally; chiefly.
Main"mast` (?), n. (Naut.)
The principal mast in a ship or other vessel.
Main"or (?), n. [Anglo-Norm.
meinoure, OF. manuevre. See Maneuver.] (O.
Eng. Law) A thing stolen found on the person of the
thief.
&fist; A thief was said to be "taken with the mainor," when
he was taken with the thing stolen upon him, that is, in his
hands. Wharton. Bouvier.
Main"per*na*ble (?), a. [OF.
main hand + pernable, for prenable, that may be
taken, pregnable. See Mainpernor.] (Law) Capable
of being admitted to give surety by mainpernors; able to be
mainprised.
Main"per*nor (?), n. [OF. main
hand + pernor, for preneor, a taker, F. preneur,
fr. prendre to take.] (Law) A surety, under the
old writ of mainprise, for a prisoner's appearance in court at a
day.
&fist; Mainpernors differ from bail in that a man's
bail may imprison or surrender him before the stipulated day
of appearance; mainpernors can do neither; they are bound to
produce him to answer all charges whatsoever. Blackstone.
Main"pin (?), n. (Vehicles)
A kingbolt.
Main"prise (?), n. [F. main hand
+ prise a taking, fr. prendre, p. p. pris to
take, fr. L. prehendere, prehensum.] (Law)
(a) A writ directed to the sheriff, commanding
him to take sureties, called mainpernors, for the prisoner's
appearance, and to let him go at large. This writ is now
obsolete. Wharton. (b) Deliverance
of a prisoner on security for his appearance at a day.
Main"prise, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Mainprised (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Mainprising.] (Law) To suffer to go
at large, on his finding sureties, or mainpernors, for his appearance
at a day; -- said of a prisoner.
Mains (mānz), n. [Scot. See
Manse.] The farm attached to a mansion house.
[Scot.]
Main"sail` (mān"sāl`), n.
(Naut.) The principal sail in a ship or other
vessel.
[They] hoised up the mainsail to the
wind.
Acts xxvii. 40.
&fist; The mainsail of a ship is extended upon a yard
attached to the mainmast, and that of a sloop or schooner upon the
boom.
Main"sheet` (?), n. (Naut.)
One of the ropes by which the mainsail is hauled aft and
trimmed.
Main"spring` (?), n. The principal
or most important spring in a piece of mechanism, especially the
moving spring of a watch or clock or the spring in a gunlock which
impels the hammer. Hence: The chief or most powerful motive; the
efficient cause of action.
Main"stay` (?), n. 1.
(Naut.) The stay extending from the foot of the foremast
to the maintop.
2. Main support; principal
dependence.
The great mainstay of the Church.
Buckle.
Main"swear` (?), v. i. [AS.
mānswerian to forswear; mān sin, crime +
swerian to swear.] To swear falsely. [Obs.]
Blount.
Main*tain (?), v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Maintained (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Maintaining.] [OE. maintenen, F. maintenir,
properly, to hold by the hand; main hand (L. manus) +
F. tenir to hold (L. tenere). See Manual, and
Tenable.] 1. To hold or keep in any particular
state or condition; to support; to sustain; to uphold; to keep up;
not to suffer to fail or decline; as, to maintain a certain
degree of heat in a furnace; to maintain a fence or a
railroad; to maintain the digestive process or powers of the
stomach; to maintain the fertility of soil; to maintain
present reputation.
2. To keep possession of; to hold and defend;
not to surrender or relinquish.
God values . . . every one as he maintains his
post.
Grew.
3. To continue; not to suffer to cease or
fail.
Maintain talk with the duke.
Shak.
4. To bear the expense of; to support; to
keep up; to supply with what is needed.
Glad, by his labor, to maintain his
life.
Stirling.
What maintains one vice would bring up two
children.
Franklin.
5. To affirm; to support or defend by
argument.
It is hard to maintain the truth, but much
harder to be maintained by it.
South.
Syn. -- To assert; vindicate; allege. See
Assert.
Main*tain"a*ble (?), a. That may
be maintained.
Main*tain"er (?), n. One who
maintains.
Main*tain"or (?), n. [OF.
mainteneor, F. mainteneur.] (Crim. Law) One
who, not being interested, maintains a cause depending between
others, by furnishing money, etc., to either party.
Bouvier. Wharton.
Main"te*nance (?), n. [OF.
maintenance. See Maintain.] 1. The
act of maintaining; sustenance; support; defense;
vindication.
Whatsoever is granted to the church for God's honor
and the maintenance of his service, is granted to
God.
South.
2. That which maintains or supports; means of
sustenance; supply of necessaries and conveniences.
Those of better fortune not making learning their
maintenance.
Swift.
3. (Crim. Law) An officious or
unlawful intermeddling in a cause depending between others, by
assisting either party with money or means to carry it on. See
Champerty. Wharton.
Cap of maintenance. See under
Cap.
Main"top` (?), n. (Naut.)
The platform about the head of the mainmast in square-rigged
vessels.
Main" yard` (?). (Naut.) The yard on which
the mainsail is extended, supported by the mainmast.
Mai"oid (?), a. [Maia + -
oid.] (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the genus
Maia, or family Maiadeæ.
Mais"ter (?), n. Master.
[Obs.] Chaucer. Spenser.
Mais"ter, a. Principal;
chief. [Obs.] Chaucer.
{ Mais"tre (?), Mais"trie, Mais"try (?)
}, n. Mastery; superiority; art. See
Mastery. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Mais"tress (?), n. Mistress.
[Obs.] Chaucer.
Mai"thes (?), n. (Bot.)
Same as Maghet.
Maize (?), n. [Sp. maiz. fr.
mahiz or mahis, is the language of the Island of
Hayti.] (Bot.) A large species of American grass of the
genus Zea (Z. Mays), widely cultivated as a forage and
food plant; Indian corn. Also, its seed, growing on cobs, and used
as food for men and animals.
Maize eater (Zoöl.), a South
American bird of the genus Pseudoleistes, allied to the
troupials. -- Maize yellow, a delicate
pale yellow.
{ Maj`es*tat"ic (?), Maj`es*tat"*al (?), }
a. Majestic. [Obs.] E. Pocock.
Dr. J. Scott.
Ma*jes"tic (?), a. [From
Majesty.] Possessing or exhibiting majesty; of august
dignity, stateliness, or imposing grandeur; lofty; noble;
grand. "The majestic world." Shak. "Tethys' grave
majestic pace." Milton.
The least portions must be of the epic kind; all must
be grave, majestic, and sublime.
Dryden.
Syn. -- August; splendid; grand; sublime; magnificent;
imperial; regal; pompous; stately; lofty; dignified; elevated.
Ma*jes"tic*al (?), a.
Majestic. Cowley.
An older architecture, greater, cunninger, more
majestical.
M. Arnold.
-- Ma*jes"tic*al*ly, adv. --
Ma*jes"tic*al*ness, n.
Ma*jes"tic*ness (?), n. The
quality or state of being majestic. Oldenburg.
Maj"es*ty (?), n.; pl.
Majesties (#). [OE. magestee, F.
majesté, L. majestas, fr. an old compar. of
magnus great. See Major, Master.] The
dignity and authority of sovereign power; quality or state which
inspires awe or reverence; grandeur; exalted dignity, whether
proceeding from rank, character, or bearing; imposing loftiness;
stateliness; -- usually applied to the rank and dignity of
sovereigns.
The Lord reigneth; he is clothed with
majesty.
Ps. xciii. 1.
No sovereign has ever represented the majesty
of a great state with more dignity and grace.
Macaulay.
2. Hence, used with the possessive pronoun,
the title of an emperor, king or queen; -- in this sense taking a
plural; as, their majesties attended the concert.
In all the public writs which he [Emperor Charles V.]
now issued as King of Spain, he assumed the title of Majesty,
and required it from his subjects as a mark of respect. Before that
time all the monarchs of Europe were satisfied with the appellation
of Highness or Grace.
Robertson.
3. Dignity; elevation of manner or
style. Dryden.
Ma*jol"i*ca (?), n. [It.] A kind
of pottery, with opaque glazing and showy decoration, which reached
its greatest perfection in Italy in the 16th century.
&fist; The term is said to be derived from Majorca, which was an
early seat of this manufacture. Heyse.
Ma"jor (?), [L. major, compar. of magnus great:
cf. F. majeur. Cf. Master, Mayor,
Magnitude, More, a.]
1. Greater in number, quantity, or extent; as,
the major part of the assembly; the major part of the
revenue; the major part of the territory.
2. Of greater dignity; more important.
Shak.
3. Of full legal age. [Obs.]
4. (Mus.) Greater by a semitone,
either in interval or in difference of pitch from another
tone.
Major axis (Geom.), the greater axis.
See Focus, n., 2. -- Major
key (Mus.), a key in which one and two, two and
three, four and five, five and six and seven, make major seconds, and
three and four, and seven and eight, make minor seconds. --
Major offense (Law), an offense of a
greater degree which contains a lesser offense, as murder and robbery
include assault. -- Major premise
(Logic), that premise of a syllogism which contains the
major term. -- Major scale (Mus.),
the natural diatonic scale, which has semitones between the third
and fourth, and seventh and fourth, and seventh and eighth degrees;
the scale of the major mode, of which the third is major. See
Scale, and Diatonic. -- Major
second (Mus.), a second between whose tones is a
difference in pitch of a step. -- Major sixth
(Mus.), a sixth of four steps and a half step. In major
keys the third and sixth from the key tone are major. Major keys and
intervals, as distinguished from minors, are more cheerful. --
Major term (Logic), that term of a
syllogism which forms the predicate of the conclusion. --
Major third (Mus.), a third of two
steps.
Ma"jor, n. [F. major. See
Major, a.] 1. (Mil.)
An officer next in rank above a captain and next below a
lieutenant colonel; the lowest field officer.
2. (Law) A person of full
age.
3. (Logic) That premise which contains
the major term. It its the first proposition of a regular syllogism;
as: No unholy person is qualified for happiness in heaven [the
major]. Every man in his natural state is unholy [minor]. Therefore,
no man in his natural state is qualified for happiness in heaven
[conclusion or inference].
&fist; In hypothetical syllogisms, the hypothetical premise is
called the major.
4. [LL. See Major.] A mayor.
[Obs.] Bacon.
||Ma`jo`rat" (?), n. [F.
majorat, LL. majoratus. See Major,
a., and cf. Majorate.] 1.
The right of succession to property according to age; -- so
termed in some of the countries of continental Europe.
2. (French Law) Property, landed or
funded, so attached to a title of honor as to descend with
it.
Ma"jor*ate (?), n. The office or
rank of a major.
Ma"jor*ate (?), v. t. [LL.
majorare to augment. See Major, a.]
To augment; to increase. [Obs.] Howell.
Ma`jor*a"tion (?), n. Increase;
enlargement. [Obs.] Bacon.
Ma*jor"can (?), a. Of or
pertaining to Majorca. -- n. A native or
inhabitant of Majorca.
Ma`jor-do"mo (?), n. [Sp.
mayordomo, or It. maggiordomo; both fr. LL.
majordomus; L. major greater + domus house.]
A man who has authority to act, within certain limits, as master
of the house; a steward; also, a chief minister or officer.
Ma"jor gen"er*al (?). An officer of the army holding
a rank next above that of brigadier general and next below that of
lieutenant general, and who usually commands a division or a
corps.
Ma*jor"i*ty (?), n.; pl.
Majorities (#). [F. majorité. See
Major.] 1. The quality or condition of
being major or greater; superiority. Specifically:
(a) The military rank of a major.
(b) The condition of being of full age, or
authorized by law to manage one's own affairs.
2. The greater number; more than half; as, a
majority of mankind; a majority of the votes
cast.
3. [Cf. L. majores.] Ancestors;
ancestry. [Obs.]
4. The amount or number by which one
aggregate exceeds all other aggregates with which it is contrasted;
especially, the number by which the votes for a successful candidate
exceed those for all other candidates; as, he is elected by a
majority of five hundred votes. See
Plurality.
To go over to, or To join, the
majority, to die.
Ma"jor*ship (?), n. The office of
major.
Maj"oun (?), n. See
Madjoun.
||Ma*jus"cu*læ (?), n. pl. [L.,
fem. pl. fr. majusculus somewhat greater or great, dim. of
major, majus. See Major.]
(Palæography) Capital letters, as found in
manuscripts of the sixth century and earlier.
Ma*jus"cule (?), n. [Cf. F.
majuscule. See Majusculæ.] A capital letter;
especially, one used in ancient manuscripts. See
Majusculæ.
Majuscule writing, writing composed wholly
of capital letters, especially the style which prevailed in Europe
from the third to the sixth century.
Mak"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being
made.
Mak"a*ron (?), n. See
Macaroon, 2. [Obs.]
Make (?), n. [AS. maca,
gemaca. See Match.] A companion; a mate; often, a
husband or a wife. [Obs.]
For in this world no woman is
Worthy to be my make.
Chaucer.
Make, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Made (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Making.] [OE. maken, makien, AS. macian;
akin to OS. mak&?;n, OFries. makia, D. maken, G.
machen, OHG. mahh&?;n to join, fit, prepare, make, Dan.
mage. Cf. Match an equal.] 1. To
cause to exist; to bring into being; to form; to produce; to frame;
to fashion; to create. Hence, in various specific uses or
applications: (a) To form of materials; to cause
to exist in a certain form; to construct; to fabricate.
He . . . fashioned it with a graving tool, after he
had made it a molten calf.
Ex. xxxii.
4.
(b) To produce, as something artificial,
unnatural, or false; -- often with up; as, to make up a
story.
And Art, with her contending, doth aspire
To excel the natural with made delights.
Spenser.
(c) To bring about; to bring forward; to be
the cause or agent of; to effect, do, perform, or execute; -- often
used with a noun to form a phrase equivalent to the simple verb that
corresponds to such noun; as, to make complaint, for to
complain; to make record of, for to record; to make
abode, for to abide, etc.
Call for Samson, that he may make us
sport.
Judg. xvi. 25.
Wealth maketh many friends.
Prov. xix. 4.
I will neither plead my age nor sickness in excuse of
the faults which I have made.
Dryden.
(d) To execute with the requisite
formalities; as, to make a bill, note, will, deed, etc.
(e) To gain, as the result of one's efforts; to
get, as profit; to make acquisition of; to have accrue or happen to
one; as, to make a large profit; to make an error; to
make a loss; to make money.
He accuseth Neptune unjustly who makes
shipwreck a second time.
Bacon.
(f) To find, as the result of calculation or
computation; to ascertain by enumeration; to find the number or
amount of, by reckoning, weighing, measurement, and the like; as, he
made the distance of; to travel over; as, the ship
makes ten knots an hour; he made the distance in one
day. (h) To put in a desired or desirable
condition; to cause to thrive.
Who makes or ruins with a smile or
frown.
Dryden.
2. To cause to be or become; to put into a
given state verb, or adjective; to constitute; as, to make
known; to make public; to make fast.
Who made thee a prince and a judge over
us?
Ex. ii. 14.
See, I have made thee a god to
Pharaoh.
Ex. vii. 1.
&fist; When used reflexively with an adjective, the reflexive
pronoun is often omitted; as, to make merry; to make
bold; to make free, etc.
3. To cause to appear to be; to constitute
subjectively; to esteem, suppose, or represent.
He is not that goose and ass that Valla would
make him.
Baker.
4. To require; to constrain; to compel; to
force; to cause; to occasion; -- followed by a noun or pronoun and
infinitive.
&fist; In the active voice the to of the infinitive is
usually omitted.
I will make them hear my words.
Deut. iv. 10.
They should be made to rise at their early
hour.
Locke.
5. To become; to be, or to be capable of
being, changed or fashioned into; to do the part or office of; to
furnish the material for; as, he will make a good musician;
sweet cider makes sour vinegar; wool makes warm
clothing.
And old cloak makes a new jerkin.
Shak.
6. To compose, as parts, ingredients, or
materials; to constitute; to form; to amount to.
The heaven, the air, the earth, and boundless sea,
Make but one temple for the Deity.
Waller.
7. To be engaged or concerned in.
[Obs.]
Gomez, what makest thou here, with a whole
brotherhood of city bailiffs?
Dryden.
8. To reach; to attain; to arrive at or in
sight of. "And make the Libyan shores."
Dryden.
They that sail in the middle can make no land
of either side.
Sir T. Browne.
To make a bed, to prepare a bed for being
slept on, or to put it in order. -- To make a
card (Card Playing), to take a trick with
it. -- To make account. See under
Account, n. -- To make account
of, to esteem; to regard. -- To make
away. (a) To put out of the way; to
kill; to destroy. [Obs.]
If a child were crooked or deformed in body or mind,
they made him away.
Burton.
(b) To alienate; to transfer; to make
over. [Obs.] Waller. --
To make
believe, to pretend; to feign; to simulate. --
To make bold, to take the liberty; to
venture. -- To make the cards (Card
Playing), to shuffle the pack. -- To make choice
of, to take by way of preference; to choose. --
To make danger, to make experiment. [Obs.]
Beau. & Fl. -- To make default (Law),
to fail to appear or answer. -- To make the
doors, to shut the door. [Obs.]
Make the doors upon a woman's wit, and it will
out at the casement.
Shak.
-
To make free with. See under Free,
a. -- To make good. See
under Good. -- To make head, to
make headway. -- To make light of. See
under Light, a. -- To make
little of. (a) To belittle.
(b) To accomplish easily. -- To make
love to. See under Love,
n. -- To make meat, to
cure meat in the open air. [Colloq. Western U. S.] -- To
make merry, to feast; to be joyful or jovial. --
To make much of, to treat with much
consideration,, attention, or fondness; to value highly. --
To make no bones. See under Bone,
n. -- To make no difference,
to have no weight or influence; to be a matter of
indifference. -- To make no doubt, to have
no doubt. -- To make no matter, to have no
weight or importance; to make no difference. -- To make
oath (Law), to swear, as to the truth of
something, in a prescribed form of law. -- To make
of. (a) To understand or think
concerning; as, not to know what to make of the news.
(b) To pay attention to; to cherish; to esteem;
to account. "Makes she no more of me than
of a slave." Dryden. -- To make one's
law (Old Law), to adduce proof to clear one's
self of a charge. -- To make out.
(a) To find out; to discover; to decipher; as,
to make out the meaning of a letter. (b)
To prove; to establish; as, the plaintiff was unable to
make out his case. (c) To make complete
or exact; as, he was not able to make out the money. --
To make over, to transfer the title of; to
convey; to alienate; as, he made over his estate in trust or
in fee. -- To make sail. (Naut.)
(a) To increase the quantity of sail already
extended. (b) To set sail. --
To make shift, to manage by expedients; as,
they made shift to do without it. [Colloq.]. --
To make sternway, to move with the stern
foremost; to go or drift backward. -- To make
strange, to act in an unfriendly manner or as if
surprised; to treat as strange; as, to make strange of a
request or suggestion. -- To make suit to,
to endeavor to gain the favor of; to court. -- To
make sure. See under Sure. -- To
make up. (a) To collect into a sum or
mass; as, to make up the amount of rent; to make up a
bundle or package. (b) To reconcile; to
compose; as, to make up a difference or quarrel.
(c) To supply what is wanting in; to complete;
as, a dollar is wanted to make up the stipulated sum.
(d) To compose, as from ingredients or parts; to
shape, prepare, or fabricate; as, to make up a mass into
pills; to make up a story.
He was all made up of love and
charms!
Addison.
(e) To compensate; to make good; as, to
make up a loss. (f) To adjust, or to
arrange for settlement; as, to make up accounts.
(g) To dress and paint for a part, as an actor;
as, he was well made up. --
To make up a
face, to distort the face as an expression of pain or
derision. -- To make up one's mind, to
reach a mental determination; to resolve. -- To make
water. (a) (Naut.) To leak.
(b) To urinate. -- To make
way, or To make one's way.
(a) To make progress; to advance.
(b) To open a passage; to clear the way. --
To make words, to multiply words.
Make (?), v. i. 1.
To act in a certain manner; to have to do; to manage; to
interfere; to be active; -- often in the phrase to meddle or
make. [Obs.]
A scurvy, jack-a-nape priest to meddle or
make.
Shak.
2. To proceed; to tend; to move; to go; as,
he made toward home; the tiger made at the
sportsmen.
&fist; Formerly, authors used to make on, to make
forth, to make about; but these phrases are obsolete. We
now say, to make at, to make away, to make for,
to make off, to make toward, etc.
3. To tend; to contribute; to have effect; --
with for or against; as, it makes for his
advantage. M. Arnold.
Follow after the things which make for
peace.
Rom. xiv. 19.
Considerations infinite
Do make against it.
Shak.
4. To increase; to augment; to
accrue.
5. To compose verses; to write poetry; to
versify. [Archaic] Chaucer. Tennyson.
To solace him some time, as I do when I
make.
P. Plowman.
To make as if, or To make as
though, to pretend that; to make show that; to make
believe (see under Make, v. t.).
Joshua and all Israel made as if they were
beaten before them, and fled.
Josh. viii. 15.
My lord of London maketh as though he were
greatly displeased with me.
Latimer.
--
To make at, to go toward hastily, or in a
hostile manner; to attack. -- To make away
with. (a) To carry off.
(b) To transfer or alienate; hence, to spend; to
dissipate. (c) To kill; to destroy. --
To make off, to go away suddenly. --
To make out, to succeed; to be able at last; to
make shift; as, he made out to reconcile the contending
parties. -- To make up, to become
reconciled or friendly. -- To make up for,
to compensate for; to supply an equivalent for. --
To make up to. (a) To approach;
as, a suspicious boat made up to us. (b)
To pay addresses to; to make love to. -- To make up
with, to become reconciled to. [Colloq.] --
To make with, to concur or agree with.
Hooker.
Make, n. Structure, texture,
constitution of parts; construction; shape; form.
It our perfection of so frail a make
As every plot can undermine and shake?
Dryden.
On the make,bent upon making great profits;
greedy of gain. [Low, U. S.]
Make"bate` (?), n. [Make, v. +
bate a quarrel.] One who excites contentions and
quarrels. [Obs.]
Make"-be*lief` (?), n. A feigning
to believe; make believe. J. H. Newman.
Make"-be*lieve` (?), n. A feigning
to believe, as in the play of children; a mere pretense; a fiction;
an invention. "Childlike make-believe."
Tylor.
To forswear self-delusion and make-
believe.
M. Arnold.
Make"-be*lieve`, a. Feigned;
insincere. "Make-believe reverence." G.
Eliot.
Mak"ed (?), obs. p. p. of Make.
Made. Chaucer.
Make"-game` (?), n. An object of
ridicule; a butt. Godwin.
Make"less, a. [See 1st Make, and
cf. Matchless, Mateless.] 1.
Matchless. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. Without a mate. Shak.
Make"-peace` (-pēs`), n. A
peacemaker. [R.] Shak.
Mak"er (māk"&etilde;r), n.
1. One who makes, forms, or molds; a
manufacturer; specifically, the Creator.
The universal Maker we may praise.
Milton.
2. (Law) The person who makes a
promissory note.
3. One who writes verses; a poet.
[Obs.]
&fist; "The Greeks named the poet poihth`s, which name,
as the most excellent, hath gone through other languages. It cometh
of this word poiei^n, make; wherein, I know not
whether by luck or wisdom, we Englishmen have met well the Greeks in
calling him a maker." Sir P. Sidney.
Make"shift` (māk"sh&ibreve;ft`),
n. That with which one makes shift; a
temporary expedient. James Mill.
I am not a model clergyman, only a decent
makeshift.
G. Eliot.
Make"-up` (?), n. The way in which
the parts of anything are put together; often, the way in which an
actor is dressed, painted, etc., in personating a
character.
The unthinking masses are necessarily teleological in
their mental make-up.
L. F. Ward.
Make"weight` (&?;), n. That which
is thrown into a scale to make weight; something of little account
added to supply a deficiency or fill a gap.
||Ma"ki (?), n. [F., from native name.]
(Zoöl.) A lemur. See Lemur.
Mak"ing (?), n. 1.
The act of one who makes; workmanship; fabrication;
construction; as, this is cloth of your own making; the
making of peace or war was in his power.
2. Composition, or structure.
3. a poem. [Obs.] Sir J.
Davies.
4. That which establishes or places in a
desirable state or condition; the material of which something may be
made; as, early misfortune was the making of him.
5. External appearance; from. [Obs.]
Shak.
Mak"ing-i`ron (?), n. A tool
somewhat like a chisel with a groove in it, used by calkers of ships
to finish the seams after the oakum has been driven in.
Mak"ing-up` (?), n. 1.
The act of bringing spirits to a certain degree of strength,
called proof.
2. The act of becoming reconciled or
friendly.
Mal- (măl-). A prefix in composition denoting
ill, or evil, F. male, adv., fr. malus, bad,
ill. In some words it has the form male-, as in
malediction, malevolent. See Malice.
&fist; The form male- is chiefly used in cases where the
e, either alone or with other letters, is pronounced as a
separate syllable, as in malediction, malefactor,
maleficent, etc. Where this is not the case, as in
malfeasance or male-feasance, malformation or
male-formation, etc., as also where the word to which it is
prefixed commences with a vowel, as in maladministration,
etc., the form mal is to be preferred, and is the one commonly
employed.
||Ma"la (?), n.; pl. of
Malum. [L.] Evils; wrongs; offenses
against right and law.
Mala in se [L.] (Law), offenses which
are such from their own nature, at common law, irrespective of
statute. -- Mala prohibita [L.] (Law),
offenses prohibited by statute, as distinguished from mala in
se, which are offenses at common law.
Mal"a*bar` (?), n. A region in the
western part of the Peninsula of India, between the mountains and the
sea.
Malabar nut (Bot.), the seed of an
East Indian acanthaceous shrub, the Adhatoda Vasica, sometimes
used medicinally.
Mal`a*ca*tune" (?), n. See
Melocoton.
Ma*lac"ca (?), n. A town and
district upon the seacoast of the Malay Peninsula.
Malacca cane (Bot.), a cane obtained
from a species of palm of the genus Calamus (C.
Scipionum), and of a brown color, often mottled. The plant is a
native of Cochin China, Sumatra, and Malays.
Mal"a*chite (?), n. [Fr. Gr. &?; a
mallow, from its resembling the green color of the leaf of mallows:
cf. F. malachite. Cf. Mallow.] (Min.)
Native hydrous carbonate of copper, usually occurring in green
mammillary masses with concentric fibrous structure.
&fist; Green malachite, or malachite proper, admits of a
high polish, and is sometimes used for ornamental work. Blue
malachite, or azurite, is a related species of a deep blue
color.
Malachite green. See Emerald green,
under Green, n.
Mal`a*cis"sant (?), a. [See
Malacissation.] Softening; relaxing. [Obs.]
Mal`a*cis*sa"tion (?), n. [L.
malacissare to make soft, Gr. &?;.] The act of making
soft or supple. [Obs.] Bacon.
||Mal`a*cob*del"la (?), n. [NL., fr.
Gr. &?; soft + &?; a leech.] (Zoöl.) A genus of
nemertean worms, parasitic in the gill cavity of clams and other
bivalves. They have a large posterior sucker, like that of a leech.
See Illust. of Bdellomorpha.
Mal"a*co*derm (?), n. [Gr. &?; soft +
&?; skin.] (Zoöl.) One of a tribe of beetles
(Malacodermata), with a soft and flexible body, as the
fireflies.
Mal"a*co*lite (?), n. [Gr. &?; soft +
-lite.] (Min.) A variety of pyroxene.
Mal`a*col"o*gist (?), n. One
versed in the science of malacology.
Mal`a*col"o*gy (?), n. [Gr. &?; soft +
-logy: cf. F. malacologie.] The science which
relates to the structure and habits of mollusks.
||Mal`a*cop"o*da (?), n. pl. [NL., fr.
Gr. &?; soft + -poda.] (Zoöl.) A class of
air-breathing Arthropoda; -- called also Protracheata, and
Onychophora.
&fist; They somewhat resemble myriapods, and have from seventeen
to thirty-three pairs of short, imperfectly jointed legs, two pairs
of simple jaws, and a pair of antennæ. The trancheæ are
connected with numerous spiracles scattered over the surface of the
body. Peripatus is the only known genus. See
Peripatus.
Mal`a*cop`ter*yg"i*an (?), n. [Cf. F.
malacoptérygien.] (Zoöl.) One of the
Malacopterygii.
||Mal`a*cop`te*ryg"i*i (?), n. pl.
[NL., fr. Gr. &?; soft + &?; wing, fin, fr. &?; feather.]
(Zoöl.) An order of fishes in which the fin rays,
except the anterior ray of the pectoral and dorsal fins, are closely
jointed, and not spiny. It includes the carp, pike, salmon, shad,
etc. Called also Malacopteri.
Mal`a*cop`ter*yg"i*ous (?), a.
(Zoöl.) Belonging to the Malacopterygii.
Mal`a*cos"te*on (?), n. [NL., Gr. fr.
&?; soft + &?; bone.] (Med.) A peculiar disease of the
bones, in consequence of which they become softened and capable of
being bent without breaking.
Mal`a*cos"to*mous (?), a. [Gr. &?; soft
+ &?; mouth.] (Zoöl.) Having soft jaws without
teeth, as certain fishes.
||Mal`a*cos"tra*ca (?), n. pl. [NL.,
from Gr. &?; soft + &?; shell of a testacean.] (Zoöl.)
A subclass of Crustacea, including Arthrostraca and
Thoracostraca, or all those higher than the Entomostraca.
Mal`a*cos"tra*can (?), n.
(Zoöl.) One of the Malacostraca.
Mal`a*cos`tra*col"o*gy (?), n.
[Malacostracan + -logy.] That branch of
zoölogical science which relates to the crustaceans; -- called
also carcinology.
Mal`a*cos"tra*cous (?), a.
(Zoöl.) Belonging to the Malacostraca.
Mal`a*co*toon" (?), n. (Bot.)
See Melocoton.
||Mal`a*co*zo"a (?), n. pl. [NL., fr.
Gr. &?; soft + zo^,on an animal.] (Zoöl.)
An extensive group of Invertebrata, including the Mollusca,
Brachiopoda, and Bryozoa. Called also Malacozoaria.
Mal`a*co*zo"ic (?), a.
(Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the Malacozoa.
Mal`ad*dress" (?), n. [Mal- +
address.] Bad address; an awkward, tactless, or offensive
way of accosting one or talking with one. W. D.
Howells.
Mal`ad*just"ment (?), n. [Mal- +
adjustment.] A bad adjustment.
Mal`ad*min`is*tra"tion (?), n. [Mal-
+ administration.] Bad administration; bad
management of any business, especially of public affairs.
[Written also maleadministration.]
Mal`a*droit" (?), a. [F. See
Malice, and Adroit.] Of a quality opposed to
adroitness; clumsy; awkward; unskillful. --
Mal"a*droit`ly, adv. --
Mal`a*droit"ness, n.
Mal"a*dy (?), n.; pl.
Maladies (#). [F. maladie, fr. malade
ill, sick, OF. also, malabde, fr. L. male habitus, i.
e., ill-kept, not in good condition. See Malice, and
Habit.] 1. Any disease of the human body;
a distemper, disorder, or indisposition, proceeding from impaired,
defective, or morbid organic functions; especially, a lingering or
deep-seated disorder.
The maladies of the body may prove medicines to
the mind.
Buckminster.
2. A moral or mental defect or
disorder.
Love's a malady without a cure.
Dryden.
Syn. -- Disorder; distemper; sickness; ailment; disease;
illness. See Disease.
Mal"a*ga (?), n. A city and a
province of Spain, on the Mediterranean. Hence, Malaga
grapes, Malaga raisins, Malaga wines.
||Mal`a*gash" (?), n. Same as
Malagasy.
Mal`a*gas"y (?), n. sing. & pl. A
native or natives of Madagascar; also (sing.), the
language.
||Ma`laise" (?), n. [F., fr. mal
ill + aise ease.] (Med.) An indefinite feeling of
uneasiness, or of being sick or ill at ease.
Ma*lam"ate (?), n. (Chem.)
A salt of malamic acid.
||Ma*lam"bo (?), n. [Pg.] A
yellowish aromatic bark, used in medicine and perfumery, said to be
from the South American shrub Croton Malambo.
Mal`am*eth"ane (?), n. [Malamic
+ ethane.] (Chem.) A white crystalline substance
forming the ethyl salt of malamic acid.
Ma*lam"ic (?), a. [Malic +
amic.] (Chem.) Of or designating an acid
intermediate between malic acid and malamide, and known only by its
salts.
Ma*lam"ide (?), n. [Malic +
amide.] (Chem.) The acid amide derived from malic
acid, as a white crystalline substance metameric with
asparagine.
Mal"an*ders (?), n. pl. [F.
malandres, fr. L. malandria blisters or pustules on the
neck, especially in horses.] (Far.) A scurfy eruption in
the bend of the knee of the fore leg of a horse. See
Sallenders. [Written also mallenders.]
Mal"a*pert (?), a. [OF. malapert
unskillful, ill-taught, ill-bred; mal ill + apert open,
adroit, intelligent, L. apertus, p. p. of aperire to
open. See Malice, and Aperient.] Bold; forward;
impudent; saucy; pert. Shak. -- n.
A malapert person.
Are you growing malapert! Will you force me
to make use of my authority ?
Dryden.
-- Mal"a*pert`ly, adv. --
Mal"a*pert`ness, n.
Mal"a*prop*ism (?), n. [From Mrs.
Malaprop, a character in Sheridan's drama, " The Rivals," who
makes amusing blunders in her use of words. See Malapropos.]
A grotesque misuse of a word; a word so used.
Mal*ap"ro*pos` (?), a. & adv. [F.
mal à propos; mal evil + à propos
to the purpose.] Unseasonable or unseasonably; unsuitable or
unsuitably.
||Mal*ap`te*ru"rus
(măl*ăp`t&esl;*r&udd;"rŭs), n.
[NL., from Gr. malako`s soft + ptero`n wing +
o'yra` tail.] (Zoöl.) A genus of African
siluroid fishes, including the electric catfishes. See Electric
cat, under Electric.
Ma"lar (?), a. [L. mala the
cheek: cf. F. malaire.] (Anat.) Of or pertaining
to the region of the cheek bone, or to the malar bone;
jugal.
Ma"lar (?), n. (Anat.) The
cheek bone, which forms a part of the lower edge of the
orbit.
Ma*la"ri*a (?), n. [It., contr. fr.
malaaria bad air. See Malice, and Air.]
1. Air infected with some noxious substance
capable of engendering disease; esp., an unhealthy exhalation from
certain soils, as marshy or wet lands, producing fevers;
miasma.
&fist; The morbific agent in malaria is supposed by some to be a
vegetable microbe or its spores, and by others to be a very minute
animal blood parasite (an infusorian).
2. (Med.) A morbid condition produced
by exhalations from decaying vegetable matter in contact with
moisture, giving rise to fever and ague and many other symptoms
characterized by their tendency to recur at definite and usually
uniform intervals.
{ Ma*la"ri*al (?), Ma*la"ri*an (?),
Ma*la"ri*ous (?) }, a. Of or
pertaining, to or infected by, malaria.
Malarial fever (Med.), a fever
produced by malaria, and characterized by the occurrence of chills,
fever, and sweating in distinct paroxysms, At intervals of definite
and often uniform duration, in which these symptoms are wholly absent
(intermittent fever), or only partially so (remittent
fever); fever and ague; chills and fever.
Ma`la*sha"ga*nay (?), n. [Indian name.]
(Zoöl.) The fresh-water drumfish (Haploidonotus
grunniens).
Mal`as*sim`i*la"tion (?), n. [Mal-
+ assimilation.] (Physiol.) (a)
Imperfect digestion of the several leading constituents of the
food. (b) An imperfect elaboration by the
tissues of the materials brought to them by the blood.
Ma"late (?), n. [L. malum apple:
cf. F. malate. See Malic.] (Chem.) A salt
of malic acid.
{ Ma"lax (?), Ma*lax"ate (?), } v.
t. [L. malaxare, malaxatum, cf. Gr. &?;, fr.
&?; soft: cf. F. malaxer.] To soften by kneading or
stirring with some thinner substance. [R.]
Mal`ax*a"tion (?), n. [L.
malaxatio: cf. F. malaxation.] The act of
softening by mixing with a thinner substance; the formation of
ingredients into a mass for pills or plasters. [R.]
Mal"ax*a`tor (?), n. One who, or
that which, malaxates; esp., a machine for grinding, kneading, or
stirring into a pasty or doughy mass. [R.]
Ma*lay" (?), n. One of a race of a
brown or copper complexion in the Malay Peninsula and the western
islands of the Indian Archipelago.
{ Ma*lay" (?), Ma*lay"an (?), }
a. Of or pertaining to the Malays or their
country. -- n. The Malay
language.
Malay apple (Bot.), a myrtaceous tree
(Eugenia Malaccensis) common in India; also, its applelike
fruit.
Ma"la*ya"lam (?), n. The name
given to one the cultivated Dravidian languages, closely related to
the Tamil. Yule.
||Mal"brouck (?), n. [F.]
(Zoöl.) A West African arboreal monkey
(Cercopithecus cynosurus).
Mal*con`for*ma"tion (?), n. [Mal-
+ conformation.] Imperfect, disproportionate, or
abnormal formation; ill form; disproportion of parts.
Mal"con*tent` (?), a. [F., fr.
mal ill + content. See Malice, Content.]
discontented; uneasy; dissatisfied; especially, dissatisfied
with the government. [Written also malecontent.]
The famous malcontent earl of
Leicester.
Milner.
Mal"con*tent`, n. [F.
malcontent.] One who discontented; especially, a
discontented subject of a government; one who expresses his
discontent by words or overt acts. Spenser.
Berkeley.
Mal`con*tent"ed (?), a.
Malcontent. -- Mal`con*tent"ed*ly,
adv. -- Mal`con*tent"ed*ness,
n.
Mal*da"ni*an (?), n.
(Zoöl.) Any species of marine annelids of the genus
Maldane, or family Maldanidæ. They have a
slender, round body, and make tubes in the sand or mud.
Male- (măl- or măl&esl;-). See
Mal-.
Male (māl), a. [L. malus.
See Malice.] Evil; wicked; bad. [Obs.]
Marston.
Male, n. Same as Mail, a
bag. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Male, a. [F. mâle, OF.
masle, mascle, fr. L. masculus male, masculine,
dim. of mas a male; possibly akin to E. man. Cf.
Masculine, Marry, v. t.]
1. Of or pertaining to the sex that begets or
procreates young, or (in a wider sense) to the sex that produces
spermatozoa, by which the ova are fertilized; not female; as,
male organs.
2. (Bot.) Capable of producing
fertilization, but not of bearing fruit; -- said of stamens and
antheridia, and of the plants, or parts of plants, which bear
them.
3. Suitable to the male sex; characteristic
or suggestive of a male; masculine; as, male
courage.
4. Consisting of males; as, a male
choir.
5. (Mech.) Adapted for entering
another corresponding piece (the female piece) which is hollow
and which it fits; as, a male gauge, for gauging the size or
shape of a hole; a male screw, etc.
Male berry (Bot.), a kind of coffee.
See Pea berry. -- Male fern
(Bot.), a fern of the genus Aspidium (A.
Filixmas), used in medicine as an anthelmintic, esp. against the
tapeworm. Aspidium marginale in America, and A.
athamanticum in South Africa, are used as good substitutes for
the male fern in medical practice. See Female fern, under
Female. -- Male rhyme, a rhyme in
which only the last syllables agree, as laid, afraid,
dismayed. See Female rhyme, under Female. -
- Male screw (Mech.), a screw having
threads upon its exterior which enter the grooves upon the inside of
a corresponding nut or female screw. -- Male
thread, the thread of a male screw.
Male, n. 1. An
animal of the male sex.
2. (Bot.) A plant bearing only
staminate flowers.
Male`ad*min`is*tra"tion
(măl`ăd*m&ibreve;n`&ibreve;s*trā"shŭn),
n. Maladministration.
Ma*le"ate (?), n. A salt of maleic
acid.
Male*branch"ism (?), n. The
philosophical system of Malebranche, an eminent French metaphysician.
The fundamental doctrine of his system is that the mind can not have
knowledge of anything external to itself except in its relation to
God.
Male*con`for*ma"tion (?), n.
Malconformation.
Male"con*tent` (?), a.
Malcontent.
Mal`e*di"cen*cy (?), n. [L.
maledicentia. See Maledicent.] Evil
speaking. [Obs.] Atterbury.
Mal`e*di"cent (?), a. [L.
maledicens, p. pr. of maledicere to speak ill;
male ill + dicere to say, speak. See Malice, and
Diction.] Speaking reproachfully; slanderous.
[Obs.] Sir E. Sandys.
Mal"e*dict (?), a. [L.
maledictus, p. p. of maledicere.] Accursed;
abominable. [R.]
Mal`e*dic"tion, n. [L.
maledictio: cf. F. malédiction. See
Maledicent.] A proclaiming of evil against some one; a
cursing; imprecation; a curse or execration; -- opposed to
benediction.
No malediction falls from his
tongue.
Longfellow.
Syn. -- Cursing; curse; execration; imprecation;
denunciation; anathema. -- Malediction, Curse,
Imprecation, Execration. Malediction is the most
general term, denoting bitter reproach, or wishes and predictions of
evil. Curse implies the desire or threat of evil, declared
upon oath or in the most solemn manner. Imprecation is
literally the praying down of evil upon a person. Execration
is literally a putting under the ban of excommunication, a curse
which excludes from the kingdom of God. In ordinary usage, the last
three words describe profane swearing, execration being the
strongest.
Mal`e*fac"tion (?), n. [See
Malefactor.] A crime; an offense; an evil deed.
[R.] Shak.
Mal`e*fac"tor (?), n. [L., fr.
malefacere to do evil; male ill, evil + facere
to do. See Malice, and Fact.] 1.
An evil doer; one who commits a crime; one subject to public
prosecution and punishment; a criminal.
2. One who does wrong by injuring another,
although not a criminal. [Obs.] H. Brooke. Fuller.
Syn. -- Evil doer; criminal; culprit; felon; convict.
Mal`e*fac"tress (?), n. A female
malefactor. Hawthorne.
Male*fea"sance (?), n. See
Malfeasance.
Ma*lef"ic (?), a. [L. maleficus:
cf. F. maléfique. See Malefaction.] Doing
mischief; causing harm or evil; nefarious; hurtful. [R.]
Chaucer.
Mal"e*fice (?), n. [L.
maleficium: cf. F. maléfice. See
Malefactor.] An evil deed; artifice; enchantment.
[Obs.]
Ma*lef"i*cence (?), n. [L.
maleficentia. Cf. Malfeasance.] Evil doing, esp.
to others.
Ma*lef"i*cent (?), a. [See
Malefic.] Doing evil to others; harmful;
mischievous.
Mal`e*fi"cial (?), a.
Injurious. Fuller.
Mal`e*fi"ci*ate (?), v. t. [LL.
maleficiatus, p. p. of maleficiare to bewitch, fr. L.
maleficium. See Malefice.] To bewitch; to
harm. [Obs.] Burton.
Mal`e*fi`ci*a"tion (?), n. A
bewitching. [Obs.]
Mal`e*fi"cience (?), n. [See
Maleficence.] The doing of evil, harm, or
mischief.
Mal`e*fi"cient (?), a. [See
Maleficent.] Doing evil, harm, or mischief.
Male`for*ma"tion (?), n. See
Malformation.
Ma*le"ic (?), a. [Cf. F.
maléique. See Malic.] (Chem.)
Pertaining to, or designating, an acid of the ethylene series,
metameric with fumaric acid and obtained by heating malic
acid.
Ma*len"gine (?), n. [OF.
malengin; L. malus bad, evil + ingenium natural
capacity. See Engine.] Evil machination; guile;
deceit. [Obs.] Gower.
Ma"le*o (?), n. [From its native name.]
(Zoöl.) A bird of Celebes (megacephalon
maleo), allied to the brush turkey. It makes mounds in which to
lay its eggs.
Male-o"dor (?), n. See
Malodor.
Male*prac"tice (?), n. See
Malpractice.
Male"-spir`it*ed (?), a. Having
the spirit of a male; vigorous; courageous. [R.] B.
Jonson.
Mal"et (?), n. [F. mallette,
dim. of malle. See Mail a bag.] A little bag or
budget. [Obs.] Shelton.
Male*treat" (?), v. t. See
Maltreat.
Ma*lev"o*lence (?), n. [L.
malevolentia. See Malevolent.] The quality or
state of being malevolent; evil disposition toward another;
inclination to injure others; ill will. See Synonym of
Malice.
Ma*lev"o*lent (?), a. [L.
malevolens, -entis; male ill + volens, p.
pr. of velle to be willing or disposed, to wish. See
Malice, and Voluntary.] Wishing evil; disposed to
injure others; rejoicing in another's misfortune.
Syn. -- Ill-disposed; envious; mischievous; evil-minded;
spiteful; malicious; malignant; rancorous.
Ma*lev"o*lent*ly, adv. In a
malevolent manner.
Ma*lev"o*lous (?), a. [L.
malevolus; fr. male ill + velle to be disposed.]
Malevolent. [Obs.] Bp. Warburton.
Mal*ex`e*cu"tion (?), n. [Mal- +
execution.] Bad execution. D. Webster.
Ma*le"yl (?), n. [Maleic + -
yl.] (Chem.) A hypothetical radical derived from
maleic acid.
Mal*fea"sance (?), n. [F.
malfaisance, fr. malfaisant injurious, doing ill;
mal ill, evil + faisant doing, p. pr. of faire
to do. See Malice, Feasible, and cf.
Maleficence.] (Law) The doing of an act which a
person ought not to do; evil conduct; an illegal deed. [Written
also malefeasance.]
Mal`for*ma"tion (?), n. [Mal- +
formation.] Ill formation; irregular or anomalous
formation; abnormal or wrong conformation or structure.
Mal*gra"cious (?), a. [F.
malgracieux.] Not graceful; displeasing. [Obs.]
Gower.
Mal"gre (?), prep. See
Mauger.
Ma"lic (?), a. [L. malum an
apple: cf. F. malique.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or
obtained from, apples; as, malic acid.
Malic acid, a hydroxy acid obtained as a
substance which is sirupy or crystallized with difficulty, and has a
strong but pleasant sour taste. It occurs in many fruits, as in green
apples, currants, etc. It is levorotatory or dextrorotatory according
to the temperature and concentration. An artificial variety is a
derivative of succinic acid, but has no action on polarized light,
and thus malic acid is a remarkable case of physical isomerism.
Mal"ice (măl"&ibreve;s), n. [F.
malice, fr. L. malitia, from malus bad, ill,
evil, prob. orig., dirty, black; cf. Gr. me`las black,
Skr. mala dirt. Cf. Mauger.] 1.
Enmity of heart; malevolence; ill will; a spirit delighting in
harm or misfortune to another; a disposition to injure another; a
malignant design of evil. "Nor set down aught in
malice." Shak.
Envy, hatred, and malice are three distinct
passions of the mind.
Ld. Holt.
2. (Law) Any wicked or mischievous
intention of the mind; a depraved inclination to mischief; an
intention to vex, annoy, or injure another person, or to do a
wrongful act without just cause or cause or excuse; a wanton
disregard of the rights or safety of others; willfulness.
Malice aforethought or
prepense, malice previously and deliberately
entertained.
Syn. -- Spite; ill will; malevolence; grudge; pique;
bitterness; animosity; malignity; maliciousness; rancor; virulence.
See Spite. -- Malevolence, Malignity,
Malignancy. Malice is a stronger word than
malevolence, which may imply only a desire that evil may
befall another, while malice desires, and perhaps intends, to
bring it about. Malignity is intense and deepseated
malice. It implies a natural delight in hating and wronging
others. One who is malignant must be both malevolent
and malicious; but a man may be malicious without being
malignant.
Proud tyrants who maliciously destroy
And ride o'er ruins with malignant joy.
Somerville.
in some connections, malignity seems rather
more pertinently applied to a radical depravity of nature, and
malignancy to indications of this depravity, in temper and
conduct in particular instances.
Cogan.
Mal"ice, v. t. To regard with
extreme ill will. [Obs.]
Mal"i*cho (?), n. [Sp. malhecho;
mal bad + hecho deed, L. factum. See
Fact.] Mischief. [Obs.] Shak.
Ma*li"cious (?), a. [Of.
malicius, F. malicieux, fr. L. malitiosus. See
Malice.] 1. Indulging or exercising
malice; harboring ill will or enmity.
I grant him bloody, . . .
Sudden, malicious, smacking of every sin
That has a name.
Shak.
2. Proceeding from hatred or ill will;
dictated by malice; as, a malicious report; malicious
mischief.
3. (Law) With wicked or mischievous
intentions or motives; wrongful and done intentionally without just
cause or excuse; as, a malicious act.
Malicious abandonment, the desertion of a
wife or husband without just cause. Burrill. --
Malicious mischief (Law), malicious
injury to the property of another; -- an offense at common law.
Wharton. -- Malicious prosecution or
arrest (Law), a wanton prosecution or
arrest, by regular process in a civil or criminal proceeding, without
probable cause. Bouvier.
Syn. -- Ill-disposed; evil-minded; mischievous; envious;
malevolent; invidious; spiteful; bitter; malignant; rancorous;
malign.
-- Ma*li"cious*ly, adv. --
Ma*li"cious*ness, n.
Ma*lign" (?), a. [L. malignus,
for maligenus, i. e., of a bad kind or nature; malus
bad + the root of genus birth, race, kind: cf. F.
malin, masc., maligne, fem. See Malice,
Gender, and cf. Benign, Malignant.]
1. Having an evil disposition toward others;
harboring violent enmity; malevolent; malicious; spiteful; -- opposed
to benign.
Witchcraft may be by operation of malign
spirits.
Bacon.
2. Unfavorable; unpropitious; pernicious;
tending to injure; as, a malign aspect of planets.
3. Malignant; as, a malign
ulcer. [R.] Bacon.
Ma*lign", v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Maligned (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Maligning.] [Cf. L. malignare. See Malign,
a.] To treat with malice; to show hatred
toward; to abuse; to wrong; to injure. [Obs.]
The people practice what mischiefs and villainies they
will against private men, whom they malign by stealing their
goods, or murdering them.
Spenser.
2. To speak great evil of; to traduce; to
defame; to slander; to vilify; to asperse.
To be envied and shot at; to be maligned
standing, and to be despised falling.
South.
Ma*lign", v. i. To entertain
malice. [Obs.]
{ Ma*lig"nance (?), Ma*lig"nan*cy , }
n. [See Malignant.] 1.
The state or quality of being malignant; extreme malevolence;
bitter enmity; malice; as, malignancy of heart.
2. Unfavorableness; evil nature.
The malignancy of my fate might perhaps
distemner yours.
Shak.
3. (Med.) Virulence; tendency to a
fatal issue; as, the malignancy of an ulcer or of a
fever.
4. The state of being a malignant.
Syn. -- Malice; malevolence; malignity. See
Malice.
Ma*lig"nant (?), a. [L.
malignans, -antis, p. pr. of malignare,
malignari, to do or make maliciously. See Malign, and
cf. Benignant.] 1. Disposed to do harm,
inflict suffering, or cause distress; actuated by extreme malevolence
or enmity; virulently inimical; bent on evil; malicious.
A malignant and a turbaned Turk.
Shak.
2. Characterized or caused by evil
intentions; pernicious. "Malignant care."
Macaulay.
Some malignant power upon my life.
Shak.
Something deleterious and malignant as his
touch.
Hawthorne.
3. (Med.) Tending to produce death;
threatening a fatal issue; virulent; as, malignant
diphtheria.
Malignant pustule (Med.), a very
contagious disease, transmitted to man from animals, characterized by
the formation, at the point of reception of the virus, of a vesicle
or pustule which first enlarges and then breaks down into an
unhealthy ulcer. It is marked by profound exhaustion and usually
fatal. Called also charbon, and sometimes, improperly,
anthrax.
Ma*lig"nant (?), n. 1.
A man of extreme enmity or evil intentions.
Hooker.
2. (Eng. Hist.) One of the adherents
of Charles I. or Charles II.; -- so called by the opposite
party.
Ma*lig"nant*ly, adv. In a
malignant manner.
Ma*lign"er (?), n. One who
maligns.
Ma*lig"ni*fy (?), v. t. [imp. &
p. p. Malignified (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Malignifying (?).] [L. malignus malign +
-fy.] To make malign or malignant. [R.] "A strong
faith malignified." Southey.
Ma*lig"ni*ty (?), n. [F.
malignité, L. malignitas.] 1.
The state or quality of being malignant; disposition to do evil;
virulent enmity; malignancy; malice; spite.
2. Virulence; deadly quality.
His physicians discerned an invincible
malignity in his disease.
Hayward.
3. Extreme evilness of nature or influence;
perniciousness; heinousness; as, the malignity of fraud.
[R.]
Syn. -- See Malice.
Ma*lign"ly (?), adv. In a malign
manner; with malignity.
Ma*lin"ger (?), v. i. [imp. &
p. p. MAlingered (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Malingering.] To act the part of a
malingerer; to feign illness or inability.
Ma*lin"ger*er (?), n. [F.
malingre sickly, weakly, prob. from mal ill + OF.
heingre, haingre, thin, lean, infirm, fr. L.
aeger.] In the army, a soldier who feigns himself sick,
or who induces or protracts an illness, in order to avoid doing his
duty; hence, in general, one who shirks his duty by pretending
illness or inability.
Ma*lin"ger*y (?), n. The spirit or
practices of a malingerer; malingering.
Mal"i*son (?), n. [OF. maleicon,
L. maledictio. See Malediction, and cf.
Benison.] Malediction; curse; execration.
[Poetic]
God's malison on his head who this
gainsays.
Sir W. Scott.
Mal"kin (?), n. [Dim. of Maud,
the proper name. Cf. Grimalkin.] [Written also
maukin.] 1. Originally, a kitchenmaid; a
slattern. Chaucer.
2. A mop made of clouts, used by the kitchen
servant.
3. A scarecrow. [Prov. Eng.]
4. (Mil.) A mop or sponge attached to
a jointed staff for swabbing out a cannon.
Mall (m&add;l; 277), n. [Written also
maul.] [OE. malle, F. mail, L. malleus.
Cf. Malleus.] 1. A large heavy wooden
beetle; a mallet for driving anything with force; a maul.
Addison.
2. A heavy blow. [Obs.]
Spenser.
3. An old game played with malls or
mallets and balls. See Pall-mall. Cotton.
4. A place where the game of mall was
played. Hence: A public walk; a level shaded walk.
Part of the area was laid out in gravel walks, and
planted with elms; and these convenient and frequented walks obtained
the name of the City Mall.
Southey.
Mall (m&add;l), v. t. [imp. &
p. p. Malled (m&add;ld); p. pr. & vb.
n. Malling.] [Cf. OF. mailler. See
Mall beetle, and cf. Malleate.] To beat with a
mall; to beat with something heavy; to bruise; to maul.
Mall (măl), n. [LL.
mallum a public assembly; cf. OHG. mahal assembly,
transaction; akin to AS. mæðel, meðel,
assembly, m&aemacr;lan to speak, Goth. maþl
market place.] Formerly, among Teutonic nations, a meeting of
the notables of a state for the transaction of public business, such
meeting being a modification of the ancient popular assembly.
Hence: (a) A court of justice.
(b) A place where justice is administered.
(c) A place where public meetings are
held.
Councils, which had been as frequent as diets or
malls, ceased.
Milman.
Mal"lard (?), n. [F. malari,fr.
mâle male + -art =-ard. See Male,
a., and -ard.] 1.
(Zoöl.) A drake; the male of Anas
boschas.
2. (Zoöl.) A large wild duck
(Anas boschas) inhabiting both America and Europe. The
domestic duck has descended from this species. Called also
greenhead.
Mal"le*a*bil"i*ty (?), n. [CF. F.
malléabilité.] The quality or state of
being malleable; -- opposed to friability and
brittleness. Locke.
Mal"le*a*ble (?), a. [F.
malléable, fr. LL. malleare to hammer. See
Malleate.] Capable of being extended or shaped by beating
with a hammer, or by the pressure of rollers; -- applied to
metals.
Malleable iron, iron that is capable of
extension or of being shaped under the hammer; decarbonized cast
iron. See under Iron. -- Malleable iron
castings, articles cast from pig iron and made
malleable by heating then for several days in the presence of some
substance, as hematite, which deprives the cast iron of some of its
carbon.
Mal"le*a*ble*ize (?), v. t. To
make malleable.
Mal"le*a*ble*ness, n. Quality of
being malleable.
Mal"le*al (?), a. (Anat.)
Pertaining to the malleus.
Mal"le*ate (?), v. t. [imp. &
p. p. Malleated (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Malleating (?).] [L. malleatus hammered,
fr. malleus a hammer. See Mall, v.
t.] To hammer; to beat into a plate or leaf.
Mal`le*a"tion (?), n. [LL.
malleatio: cf. OF. malléation.] The act or
process of beating into a plate, sheet, or leaf, as a metal;
extension by beating.
Mal"le*cho (?), n. Same as
Malicho.
Mal*lee" bird` (?). (Zoöl.) [From native
name.] The leipoa. See Leipoa.
{ Mal"le*mock (?), Mal"le*moke (?), }
n. (Zoöl.) See
Mollemoke.
Mal"len*ders (?), n. pl. (Far.)
Same as Malanders.
Mal*le"o*lar (?), a. [See
Malleolus.] (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the
malleolus; in the region of the malleoli of the ankle
joint.
||Mal*le"*o*lus (?), n.; pl.
Malleoli (#). [L., dim. of malleus hammer.]
1. (Anat.) A projection at the distal end
of each bone of the leg at the ankle joint. The malleolus of the
tibia is the internal projection, that of the fibula the
external.
2. " A layer, " a shoot partly buried in the
ground, and there cut halfway through.
Mal"let (?), n. [F. maillet,
dim. of mail. See Mall a beetle.] A small maul
with a short handle, -- used esp. for driving a tool, as a chisel or
the like; also, a light beetle with a long handle, -- used in playing
croquet.
||Mal"le*us (?), n.; pl.
Mallei (#). [L., hammer. See Mall a beetle.]
1. (Anat.) The outermost of the three
small auditory bones, ossicles; the hammer. It is attached to the
tympanic membrane by a long process, the handle or manubrium. See
Illust. of Far.
2. (Zoöl.) One of the hard
lateral pieces of the mastax of Rotifera. See
Mastax.
3. (Zoöl.) A genus of bivalve
shells; the hammer shell.
||Mal*loph"a*ga (măl*l&obreve;f"&adot;*g&adot;),
n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. mallo`s a lock of
wool + fagei^n to eat.] (Zoöl.) An
extensive group of insects which are parasitic on birds and mammals,
and feed on the feathers and hair; -- called also bird lice.
See Bird louse, under Bird.
||Mal*lo"tus (?), n. [NL., fr Gr. &?;
fleecy.] (Zoöl.) A genus of small Arctic fishes. One
American species, the capelin (Mallotus villosus), is
extensively used as bait for cod.
{ Mal"low (?), Mal"lows (?), }
n. [OE. malwe, AS. mealwe, fr. L.
malva, akin to Gr. mala`chh; cf.
mala`ssein to soften, malako`s soft. Named
either from its softening or relaxing properties, or from its soft
downy leaves. Cf. Mauve, Malachite.] (Bot.)
A genus of plants (Malva) having mucilaginous qualities.
See Malvaceous.
&fist; The flowers of the common mallow (M. sylvestris) are
used in medicine. The dwarf mallow (M. rotundifolia) is a
common weed, and its flattened, dick-shaped fruits are called
cheeses by children. Tree mallow (M. Mauritiana and
Lavatera arborea), musk mallow (M. moschata), rose
mallow or hollyhock, and curled mallow (M. crispa), are less
commonly seen.
Indian mallow. See Abutilon. --
Jew's mallow, a plant (Corchorus
olitorius) used as a pot herb by the Jews of Egypt and
Syria. -- Marsh mallow. See under
Marsh.
Mal"low*wort` (măl"l&osl;*wûrt),
n. (Bot.) Any plant of the order
Malvaceæ.
{ Malm (?), Malm"brick` (?), }
n. [Cf. AS. mealm sand.] A kind of
brick of a light brown or yellowish color, made of sand, clay, and
chalk.
Mal"ma (?), n. (Zoöl.)
A spotted trout (Salvelinus malma), inhabiting Northern
America, west of the Rocky Mountains; -- called also Dolly Varden
trout, bull trout, red-spotted trout, and
golet.
||Mal"mag (?), n. [F., from native name
in Madagascar.] (Zoöl.) The tarsius, or spectral
lemur.
Malm"sey (?), n. [OE. malvesie,
F. malvoisie, It. malvasia, malavagia, fr.
Malvasia, or Napoli di Malvasia, in the Morea.] A
kind of sweet wine from Crete, the Canary Islands, etc.
Shak.
Mal`nu*tri"tion (?), n. [Mal- +
nutrition.] (Physiol.) Faulty or imperfect
nutrition.
Mal*ob`ser*va"tion (?), n. [Mal-
+ observation.] Erroneous observation. J. S
Mill.
Mal*o"dor (?), n. An offensive
odor.
[1913 Webster]
Mal*o"dor*ous (?), a. Offensive to
the sense of smell; ill-smelling. --
Mal*o"dor*ous*ness. n.
Carlyle.
[1913 Webster]
Mal"o*nate (?), a. (Chem.)
A salt of malonic acid.
Ma*lon"ic (?), a. (Chem.)
Pertaining to, or designating, an acid produced artifically as a
white crystalline substance,
CH2.(CO2H)2, and so called because
obtained by the oxidation of malic acid.
Mal"o*nyl (?), n. [Malonic +
-yl.] (Chem.) A hydrocarbon radical,
CH2.(CO)2, from malonic acid.
||Mal*pi"ghi*a (?), n. [NL. See
Malpighian.] (Bot.) A genus of tropical American
shrubs with opposite leaves and small white or reddish flowers. The
drupes of Malpighia urens are eaten under the name of
Barbadoes cherries.
Mal*pi`ghi*a"ceous (?), a.
(Bot.) Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a natural order
of tropical trees and shrubs (Malpighiaceæ), some of
them climbing plants, and their stems forming many of the curious
lianes of South American forests.
Mal*pi"ghi*an (?), a. (Anat.)
Of, pertaining to, or discovered by, Marcello Malpighi, an
Italian anatomist of the 17th century.
Malpighian capsules or
corpuscles, the globular dilatations, containing the
glomeruli or Malpighian tufts, at the extremities of the urinary
tubules of the kidney. -- Malpighian corpuscles of the
spleen, masses of adenoid tissue connected with
branches of the splenic artery.
Mal`po*si"tion (?), n. [Mal- +
position.] A wrong position.
Mal*prac"tice (?), n. [Mal- +
practice.] Evil practice; illegal or immoral conduct;
practice contrary to established rules; specifically, the treatment
of a case by a surgeon or physician in a manner which is contrary to
accepted rules and productive of unfavorable results. [Written
also malepractice.]
Malt (?), n. [AS. mealt; akin to
D. mout, G. malz, Icel., Sw., & Dan. malt, and
E. melt. √108. See Melt.] Barley or other
grain, steeped in water and dried in a kiln, thus forcing germination
until the saccharine principle has been evolved. It is used in
brewing and in the distillation of whisky.
Malt, a. Relating to, containing,
or made with, malt.
Malt liquor, an alcoholic liquor, as beer,
ale, porter, etc., prepared by fermenting an infusion of malt. -
- Malt dust, fine particles of malt, or of the
grain used in making malt; -- used as a fertilizer. " Malt
dust consists chiefly of the infant radicle separated from the
grain." Sir H. Davy. -- Malt floor, a
floor for drying malt. -- Malt house, or
Malthouse, a house in which malt is made.
-- Malt kiln, a heated chamber for drying
malt.
Malt, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Malted: p. pr. & vb. n.
Malting.] To make into malt; as, to malt
barley.
Malt, v. i. To become malt; also,
to make grain into malt. Mortimer.
Mal"ta*lent (?), n. [F. See
Malice, and Talent.] Ill will; malice.
[Obs.] Rom. of R. Spenser.
Mal*tese" (?), a. Of or pertaining
to Malta or to its inhabitants. -- n. sing. &
pl. A native or inhabitant of Malta; the people of
Malta.
Maltese cat (Zoöl.), a mouse-
colored variety of the domestic cat. -- Maltese
cross. See Illust. 5, of Cross. --
Maltese dog (Zoöl.), a breed of
small terriers, having long silky white hair. The breed originated in
Malta.
||Mal"tha (măl"th&adot;), n.
[L., fr. Gr. ma`lqa.] 1. A variety of
bitumen, viscid and tenacious, like pitch, unctuous to the touch, and
exhaling a bituminous odor.
2. Mortar. [Obs.] Holland.
Mal*thu"sian (?), a. Of or
pertaining to the political economist, the Rev. T. R. Malthus,
or conforming to his views; as, Malthusian theories.
&fist; Malthus held that population tends to increase faster than
its means of subsistence can be made to do, and hence that the lower
classes must necessarily suffer more or less from lack of food,
unless an increase of population be checked by prudential restraint
or otherwise.
Mal*thu"sian, n. A follower of
Malthus.
Mal*thu"sian*ism (?), n. The
system of Malthusian doctrines relating to population.
{ Malt"in (?), Malt"ine (?), }
n. (Physiol. Chem.) The fermentative
principle of malt; malt diastase; also, a name given to various
medicinal preparations made from or containing malt.
Malt"ing (?), n. The process of
making, or of becoming malt.
Malt"man (?), n.; pl.
Maltmen (&?;). A man whose occupation is to
make malt.
Mal*ton"ic (?), a. (Chem.)
Of, pertaining to, or derived from, maltose; specif.,
designating an acid called also gluconic or dextronic
acid. See Gluconic.
Malt"ose` (m&add;lt"ōs`), n.
[From Malt.] (Physiol. Chem.) A crystalline sugar
formed from starch by the action of diastase of malt, and the
amylolytic ferment of saliva and pancreatic juice. It resembles
dextrose, but rotates the plane of polarized light further to the
right and possesses a lower cupric oxide reducing power.
Mal*treat" (?), v. t. [imp. &
p. p. Maltreated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Maltreating.] [Mal- + treat: cf. F.
maltraiter.] To treat ill; to abuse; to treat
roughly.
Mal*treat"ment (?), n.; [Cf. F.
maltraitement.] Ill treatment; ill usage;
abuse.
Malt"ster (?), n. A maltman.
Swift.
Malt"worm` (?), n. A
tippler. [R.] Shak.
Malt"y (?), a. Containing, or
like, malt. Dickens.
||Ma"lum (?), n.; pl.
Mala (#). [L.] An evil. See
Mala.
Mal*va"ceous (?), a. [L.
malvaceus, from malva mallows. See Mallow.]
(Bot.) Pertaining to, or resembling, a natural order of
plants (Malvaceæ), of which the mallow is the type. The
cotton plant, hollyhock, and abutilon are of this order, and the
baobab and the silk-cotton trees are now referred to it.
Mal`ver*sa"tion (?), n. [F., fr.
malverser to be corrupt in office, fr. L. male ill +
versari to move about, to occupy one's self, vertere to
turn. See Malice, and Verse.] Evil conduct;
fraudulent practices; misbehavior, corruption, or extortion in
office.
Mal"ve*sie (?), n. Malmsey wine.
See Malmsey. " A jub of malvesye."
Chaucer.
Mam (măm), n. [Abbrev. fr.
mamma.] Mamma.
Ma*ma" (?), n. See
Mamma.
Mam"a*luke (?), n. Same as
Mameluke.
||Mam"e*lon (?), n. [F.] A rounded
hillock; a rounded elevation or protuberance. Westmin.
Rev.
||Mam`e*lu"co (?), n. [Pg.] A
child born of a white father and Indian mother. [S. Amer.]
Mam"e*luke (?), n. [F. mamelouk,
cf. Sp. mameluco, It. mammalucco; all fr. Ar.
maml&?;k a purchased slave or captive; lit., possessed or in
one's power, p. p. of malaka to possesses.] One of a body
of mounted soldiers recruited from slaves converted to Mohammedanism,
who, during several centuries, had more or less control of the
government of Egypt, until exterminated or dispersed by Mehemet Ali
in 1811.
Mam"il*la`ted (?), a. See
Mammillated.
Mam*ma" (?), n. [Reduplicated from the
infantine word ma, influenced in spelling by L. mamma.]
Mother; -- word of tenderness and familiarity. [Written
also mama.]
Tell tales papa and mamma.
Swift.
Mam"ma (?), n.; pl.
Mammæ (#). [L. mamma breast.]
(Anat.) A glandular organ for secreting milk,
characteristic of all mammals, but usually rudimentary in the male; a
mammary gland; a breast; udder; bag.
Mam"mal (?), n.; pl.
Mammals (#). [L. mammalis belonging to the
breast, fr. mamma the breast or pap: cf. F. mammal.]
(Zoöl.) One of the Mammalia.
Age of mammals. See under Age,
n., 8.
||Mam*ma"li*a (?), n. pl. [NL., from L.
mammalis. See Mammal.] (Zoöl.) The
highest class of Vertebrata. The young are nourished for a time by
milk, or an analogous fluid, secreted by the mammary glands of the
mother.
&fist; Mammalia are divided into three subclasses; --
I. Placentalia. This subclass embraces all the higher
orders, including man. In these the fetus is attached to the uterus
by a placenta.
II. Marsupialia. In these no placenta is formed, and the
young, which are born at an early state of development, are carried
for a time attached to the teats, and usually protected by a
marsupial pouch. The opossum, kangaroo, wombat, and koala are
examples.
III. Monotremata. In this group, which includes the genera
Echidna and Ornithorhynchus, the female lays large eggs
resembling those of a bird or lizard, and the young, which are
hatched like those of birds, are nourished by a watery secretion from
the imperfectly developed mammæ.
Mam*ma"li*an (?), a. Of or
pertaining to the Mammalia or mammals.
Mam`ma*lif"er*ous (?), a.
[Mammal + -ferous.] (Geol.) Containing
mammalian remains; -- said of certain strata.
Mam`ma*log"ic*al (?), a. Of or
pertaining to mammalogy.
Mam*mal"o*gist (?), n. [Cf. F.
mammalogiste.] One versed in mammalogy.
Mam*mal"o*gy (?), n. [Mamma
breast + -logy: cf. f. mammalogie.] The science
which relates to mammals or the Mammalia. See
Mammalia.
Mam"ma*ry (?), a. [Cf. F.
mammaire.] (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the
mammæ or breasts; as, the mammary arteries and
veins.
Mam*mee" (?), n. [Haytian
mamey.] (Bot.) A fruit tree of tropical America,
belonging to the genus Mammea (M. Americana); also, its
fruit. The latter is large, covered with a thick, tough ring, and
contains a bright yellow pulp of a pleasant taste and fragrant scent.
It is often called mammee apple.
Mam"mer (?), v. i. [Cf. G. memme
coward, poltroon.] To hesitate; to mutter doubtfully.
[Obs.]
Mam"met (?), n. [See Mawmet.]
An idol; a puppet; a doll. [Obs.] Selden.
Shak.
Mam"met*ry (?), n. See
Mawmetry. [Obs.]
Mam"mi*fer (?), n. [NL. See
Mammiferous.] (Zoöl.) A mammal. See
Mammalia.
Mam*mif"er*ous (?), a. [Mamma
breast + -ferous: cf. F. mammifère.] Having
breasts; of, pertaining to, or derived from, the Mammalia.
Mam"mi*form (?), a. [Mamma
breast + -form: cf. F. mammiforme.] Having the
form of a mamma (breast) or mammæ.
||Mam*mil"la (?), n.; pl.
Mammilæ (#). [L., dim. of mamma a
breast.] (Anat.) The nipple.
Mam"mil*la*ry (?), a. [Cf. F.
mammilaire. See Mammilla.] 1. Of
or pertaining to the mammilla, or nipple, or to the breast;
resembling a mammilla; mammilloid.
2. (Min.) Composed of convex convex
concretions, somewhat resembling the breasts in form; studded with
small mammiform protuberances.
{ Mam"mil*late (?), Mam"mil*la`ted (?), }
a. [See Mammilla.] 1.
Having small nipples, or small protuberances like nipples or
mammæ.
2. (Zoöl.) Bounded like a nipple;
-- said of the apex of some shells.
Mam*mil"li*form (?), a.
[Mammilla + -form.] Having the form of a
mammilla.
Mam"mil*loid (?), a. [Mammilla +
-oid.] Like a mammilla or nipple; mammilliform.
Mam"mock (?), n. [Ir. & Gael.
mam a round hill + -ock.] A shapeless piece; a
fragment. [Obs.]
Mam"mock, v. t. To tear to
pieces. [Obs.] Milton.
Mam"mo*dis (?), n. [F. mamoudis,
fr. Hind. mahmūdī a muslin.] Coarse plain
India muslins.
Mam*mol"o*gy (?), n. [Mamma +
-logy.] Mastology. See Mammalogy.
Mam"mon (?), n. [L. mammona, Gr.
&?; riches, Syr. mam&?;nā; cf. Heb. matm&?;n a
hiding place, subterranean storehouse, treasury, fr.
tāman to hide.] Riches; wealth; the god of riches;
riches, personified.
Ye can not serve God and Mammon.
Matt. vi. 24.
Mam"mon*ish, a. Actuated or
prompted by a devotion to money getting or the service of
Mammon. Carlyle.
Mam"mon*ism (?), n. Devotion to
the pursuit of wealth; worldliness. Carlyle.
Mam"mon*ist, n. A
mammonite.
Mam"mon*ite (?), n. One devoted to
the acquisition of wealth or the service of Mammon. C.
Kingsley.
Mam`mon*i*za"tion (?), n. The
process of making mammonish; the state of being under the influence
of mammonism.
Mam"mon*ize (?), v. t. To make
mammonish.
Mam*mose" (?), a. [L. mammosus
having large breasts, mamma breast.] (Bot.) Having
the form of the breast; breast-shaped.
Mam"moth (?), n. [Russ.
mâmont, mámant, fr. Tartar mamma
the earth. Certain Tartar races, the Tungooses and Yakoots, believed
that the mammoth worked its way in the earth like a mole.]
(Zoöl.) An extinct, hairy, maned elephant
(Elephas primigenius), of enormous size, remains of which are
found in the northern parts of both continents. The last of the race,
in Europe, were coeval with prehistoric man.
&fist; Several specimens have been found in Siberia preserved
entire, with the flesh and hair remaining. They were imbedded in the
ice cliffs at a remote period, and became exposed by the melting of
the ice.
Mam"moth (?), a. Resembling the
mammoth in size; very large; gigantic; as, a mammoth
ox.
Mam"mo*thrept (?), n. [Gr. &?;; &?;
grandmother + &?; to nourish.] A child brought up by its
grandmother; a spoiled child. [R.]
O, you are a more mammothrept in
judgment.
B. Jonson.
Mam"my (?), n.; pl.
Mammies (&?;). A child's name for
mamma, mother.
||Mam"zer (?), n. [Heb.
mámz&?;r.] A person born of relations between whom
marriage was forbidden by the Mosaic law; a bastard. Deut.
xxiii. 2 (Douay version).
Man (măn), n.; pl.
Men (m&ebreve;n). [AS. mann, man,
monn, mon; akin to OS., D., & OHG. man, G.
mann, Icel. maðr, for mannr, Dan.
Mand, Sw. man, Goth. manna, Skr. manu,
manus, and perh. to Skr. man to think, and E.
mind. √104. Cf. Minx a pert girl.]
1. A human being; -- opposed to
beast.
These men went about wide, and man found
they none,
But fair country, and wild beast many [a] one.
R. of
Glouc.
The king is but a man, as I am; the violet
smells to him as it doth to me.
Shak.
2. Especially: An adult male person; a grown-
up male person, as distinguished from a woman or a child.
When I became a man, I put away childish
things.
I Cor. xiii. 11.
Ceneus, a woman once, and once a
man.
Dryden.
3. The human race; mankind.
And God said, Let us make man in our image,
after our likeness, and let them have dominion.
Gen.
i. 26.
The proper study of mankind is
man.
Pope.
4. The male portion of the human
race.
Woman has, in general, much stronger propensity than
man to the discharge of parental duties.
Cowper.
5. One possessing in a high degree the
distinctive qualities of manhood; one having manly excellence of any
kind. Shak.
This was the noblest Roman of them all . . . the
elements
So mixed in him that Nature might stand up
And say to all the world "This was a man!"
Shak.
6. An adult male servant; also, a vassal; a
subject.
Like master, like man.
Old
Proverb.
The vassal, or tenant, kneeling, ungirt, uncovered,
and holding up his hands between those of his lord, professed that he
did become his man from that day forth, of life, limb, and
earthly honor.
Blackstone.
7. A term of familiar address often implying
on the part of the speaker some degree of authority, impatience, or
haste; as, Come, man, we 've no time to lose!
8. A married man; a husband; -- correlative
to wife.
I pronounce that they are man and
wife.
Book of Com. Prayer.
every wife ought to answer for her
man.
Addison.
9. One, or any one, indefinitely; -- a
modified survival of the Saxon use of man, or mon, as
an indefinite pronoun.
A man can not make him laugh.
Shak.
A man would expect to find some antiquities;
but all they have to show of this nature is an old rostrum of a Roman
ship.
Addison.
10. One of the piece with which certain
games, as chess or draughts, are played.
&fist; Man is often used as a prefix in composition, or as
a separate adjective, its sense being usually self-explaining; as,
man child, man eater or maneater, man-
eating, man hater or manhater, man-hating,
manhunter, man-hunting, mankiller, man-
killing, man midwife, man pleaser, man
servant, man-shaped, manslayer, manstealer,
man-stealing, manthief, man worship, etc.
Man is also used as a suffix to denote a person of the male
sex having a business which pertains to the thing spoken of in the
qualifying part of the compound; ashman, butterman,
laundryman, lumberman, milkman, fireman,
showman, waterman, woodman. Where the
combination is not familiar, or where some specific meaning of the
compound is to be avoided, man is used as a separate
substantive in the foregoing sense; as, apple man, cloth
man, coal man, hardware man, wood man (as
distinguished from woodman).
Man ape (Zoöl.), a anthropoid
ape, as the gorilla. -- Man at arms, a
designation of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries for a soldier
fully armed. -- Man engine, a mechanical
lift for raising or lowering people through considerable distances;
specifically (Mining), a contrivance by which miners ascend or
descend in a shaft. It consists of a series of landings in the shaft
and an equal number of shelves on a vertical rod which has an up and
down motion equal to the distance between the successive landings. A
man steps from a landing to a shelf and is lifted or lowered to the
next landing, upon which he them steps, and so on, traveling by
successive stages. -- Man Friday, a person
wholly subservient to the will of another, like Robinson Crusoe's
servant Friday. -- Man of straw, a puppet;
one who is controlled by others; also, one who is not responsible
pecuniarily. -- Man-of-the earth
(Bot.), a twining plant (Ipomœa pandurata)
with leaves and flowers much like those of the morning-glory, but
having an immense tuberous farinaceous root. -- Man of
war. (a) A warrior; a soldier.
Shak. (b) (Naut.) See in the
Vocabulary. -- To be one's own man, to
have command of one's self; not to be subject to another.
Man (?), v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Manned (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Manning.] 1. To supply with men; to
furnish with a sufficient force or complement of men, as for
management, service, defense, or the like; to guard; as, to
man a ship, boat, or fort.
See how the surly Warwick mans the wall
!
Shak.
They man their boats, and all their young men
arm.
Waller.
2. To furnish with strength for action; to
prepare for efficiency; to fortify. "Theodosius having
manned his soul with proper reflections." Addison.
3. To tame, as a hawk. [R.]
Shak.
4. To furnish with a servant or
servants. [Obs.] Shak.
5. To wait on as a manservant. [Obs.]
Shak.
&fist; In "Othello," V. ii. 270, the meaning is uncertain, being,
perhaps: To point, to aim, or to manage.
To man a yard (Naut.), to send men
upon a yard, as for furling or reefing a sail. -- To man
the yards (Naut.), to station men on the yards
as a salute or mark of respect.
Man"a*ble (?), a.
Marriageable. [Obs.]
Man"ace (?), n. & v. Same as
Menace. [Obs.]
Man"a*cle (?), n. [OE. manicle,
OF. manicle, F. manicle sort glove, manacle, L.
manicula a little hand, dim. of manus hand; cf. L.
manica sleeve, manacle, fr. manus. See Manual.]
A handcuff; a shackle for the hand or wrist; -- usually in the
plural.
Doctrine unto fools is as fetters on the feet, and
like manacles on the right hand.
Ecclus. xxi.
19.
Man"a*cle, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Manacled (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Manacling (?).] To put handcuffs or other fastening upon,
for confining the hands; to shackle; to confine; to restrain from the
use of the limbs or natural powers.
Is it thus you use this monarch, to manacle and
shackle him hand and foot ?
Arbuthnot.
Man"age (?), n. [F.
manège, It. maneggio, fr. maneggiare to
manage, fr. L. manushand. Perhaps somewhat influenced by F.
ménage housekeeping, OF. mesnage, akin to E.
mansion. See Manual, and cf. Manege.] The
handling or government of anything, but esp. of a horse; management;
administration. See Manege. [Obs.]
Young men, in the conduct and manage of
actions, embrace more than they can hold.
Bacon.
Down, down I come; like glistering Phaëthon
Wanting the manage of unruly jades.
Shak.
The unlucky manage of this fatal
brawl.
Shak.
&fist; This word, in its limited sense of management of a horse,
has been displaced by manege; in its more general meaning, by
management.
Man"age (?), v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Managed (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Managing (?).] [From Manage, n.]
1. To have under control and direction; to
conduct; to guide; to administer; to treat; to handle.
Long tubes are cumbersome, and scarce to be easily
managed.
Sir I. Newton.
What wars Imanage, and what wreaths I
gain.
Prior.
2. Hence: Esp., to guide by careful or
delicate treatment; to wield with address; to make subservient by
artful conduct; to bring around cunningly to one's plans.
It was so much his interest to manage his
Protestant subjects.
Addison.
It was not her humor to manage those over whom
she had gained an ascendant.
Bp. Hurd.
3. To train in the manege, as a horse; to
exercise in graceful or artful action.
4. To treat with care; to husband.
Dryden.
5. To bring about; to contrive.
Shak.
Syn. -- To direct; govern; control; wield; order; contrive;
concert; conduct; transact.
Man"age, v. i. To direct affairs;
to carry on business or affairs; to administer.
Leave them to manage for thee.
Dryden.
Man`age*a*bil"i*ty (?), n. The
state or quality of being manageable; manageableness.
Man"age*a*ble (?), a. Such as can
be managed or used; suffering control; governable; tractable;
subservient; as, a manageable horse.
Syn. -- Governable; tractable; controllable; docile.
-- Man"age*a*ble*ness, n. --
Man"age*a*bly, adv.
Man"age*less, a.
Unmanageable. [R.]
Man"age*ment (?), n. [From
Manage, v.] 1. The act
or art of managing; the manner of treating, directing, carrying on,
or using, for a purpose; conduct; administration; guidance; control;
as, the management of a family or of a farm; the
management of state affairs. "The management of
the voice." E. Porter.
2. Business dealing; negotiation;
arrangement.
He had great managements with
ecclesiastics.
Addison.
3. Judicious use of means to accomplish an
end; conduct directed by art or address; skillful treatment; cunning
practice; -- often in a bad sense.
Mark with what management their tribes
divide
Some stick to you, and some to t'other side.
Dryden.
4. The collective body of those who manage or
direct any enterprise or interest; the board of managers.
Syn. -- Conduct; administration; government; direction;
guidance; care; charge; contrivance; intrigue.
Man"a*ger (?), n. 1.
One who manages; a conductor or director; as, the manager
of a theater.
A skillful manager of the rabble.
South.
2. A person who conducts business or
household affairs with economy and frugality; a good
economist.
A prince of great aspiring thoughts; in the main, a
manager of his treasure.
Sir W.
Temple.
3. A contriver; an intriguer.
Shak.
Man`a*ge"ri*al (?), a. Of or
pertaining to management or a manager; as, managerial
qualities. "Managerial responsibility." C.
Bronté.
Man"a*ger*ship (?), n. The office
or position of a manager.
Man"age*ry (?), n. [Cf. OF.
menagerie, mesnagerie. See Manage,
n., and cf. Menagerie.] 1.
Management; manner of using; conduct; direction.
2. Husbandry; economy; frugality.
Bp. Burnet.
Man"a*kin (?), n. [Cf. F. & G.
manakin; prob. the native name.] (Zoöl.) Any
one of numerous small birds belonging to Pipra,
Manacus, and other genera of the family Pipridæ.
They are mostly natives of Central and South America. Some are
bright-colored, and others have the wings and tail curiously
ornamented. The name is sometimes applied to related birds of other
families.
Man"a*kin, n. A dwarf. See
Manikin. Shak.
Man`a*tee" (?), n. [Sp.
manatí, from the native name in Hayti. Cf.
Lamantin.] (Zoöl.) Any species of
Trichechus, a genus of sirenians; -- called also sea
cow. [Written also manaty, manati.]
&fist; One species (Trichechus Senegalensis) inhabits the
west coast of Africa; another (T. Americanus) inhabits the
east coast of South America, and the West-Indies. The Florida manatee
(T. latirostris) is by some considered a distinct species, by
others it is thought to be a variety of T. Americanus. It
sometimes becomes fifteen feet or more in length, and lives both in
fresh and salt water. It is hunted for its oil and flesh.
Ma*na"tion (?), n.[L. manatio,
fr. manare to flow.] The act of issuing or flowing
out. [Obs.]
Man"bote` (?), n. [AS. man man,
vassal + bōt recompense.] (Anglo-Saxon Law)
A sum paid to a lord as a pecuniary compensation for killing his
man (that is, his vassal, servant, or tenant).
Spelman.
Man"ca (?), n. [LL.] See
Mancus.
Manche (?), n. [Also maunch.]
[F. manche, fr. L. manica. See Manacle.] A
sleeve. [Obs.]
Man"chet (?), n. Fine white bread;
a loaf of fine bread. [Archaic] Bacon. Tennyson.
Man`chi*neel" (?), n. [Sp.
manzanillo, fr. manzana an apple, fr. L. malum
Matianum a kind of apple. So called from its apple-like fruit.]
(Bot.) A euphorbiaceous tree (Hippomane
Mancinella) of tropical America, having a poisonous and
blistering milky juice, and poisonous acrid fruit somewhat resembling
an apple.
Bastard manchineel, a tree (Cameraria
latifolia) of the East Indies, having similar poisonous
properties. Lindley.
Man*chu" (?), a. [Written also
Manchoo, Mantchoo, etc.] Of or pertaining to
Manchuria or its inhabitants. -- n. A
native or inhabitant of Manchuria; also, the language spoken by the
Manchus.
Man"ci*pate (?), v. t. [L.
mancipatus, p. p. of mancipare to sell. Cf.
Emancipate.] To enslave; to bind; to restrict.
[Obs.] Sir M. Hale.
Man`ci*pa"tion (?), n. [L.
mancipatio a transfer.] Slavery; involuntary
servitude. [Obs.] Johnson.
Man"ci*ple (?), n. [From OF.
mancipe slave, servant (with l inserted, as in
participle), fr. L. mancipium. See Mancipate.]
A steward; a purveyor, particularly of a college or Inn of
Court. Chaucer.
Man*co"na bark` (?). See Sassy
bark.
Man"cus (?), n. [AS.] An old Anglo
Saxon coin both of gold and silver, and of variously estimated
values. The silver mancus was equal to about one shilling of
modern English money.
-man`cy (?). [Gr. &?; divination: cf. F. -mancie.]
A combining form denoting divination; as,
aleuromancy, chiromancy, necromancy,
etc.
Mand (?), n. A demand.
[Obs.] See Demand.
||Man*da"mus (?), n. [L., we command,
fr. mandare to command.] (Law) A writ issued by a
superior court and directed to some inferior tribunal, or to some
corporation or person exercising authority, commanding the
performance of some specified duty.
Man`da*rin" (?), n. [Pg.
mandarim, from Malay mantrī minister of state,
prop. a Hind. word, fr. Skr. mantrin a counselor,
manira a counsel, man to think.] 1.
A Chinese public officer or nobleman; a civil or military
official in China and Annam.
2. (Bot.) A small orange, with easily
separable rind. It is thought to be of Chinese origin, and is counted
a distinct species (Citrus nobilis).
Mandarin duck (Zoöl.), a
beautiful Asiatic duck (Dendronessa galericulata), often
domesticated, and regarded by the Chinese as an emblem of conjugal
affection. -- Mandarin language, the
spoken or colloquial language of educated people in China. --
Mandarin yellow (Chem.), an artificial
aniline dyestuff used for coloring silk and wool, and regarded as a
complex derivative of quinoline.
Man`da*rin"ate (?), n. The
collective body of officials or persons of rank in China.
S. W. Williams.
Man`da*rin"ic (?), a. Appropriate
or peculiar to a mandarin.
Man`da*rin"ing, n. (Dyeing)
The process of giving an orange color to goods formed of animal
tissue, as silk or wool, not by coloring matter, but by producing a
certain change in the fiber by the action of dilute nitric
acid. Tomlinson.
Man`da*rin"ism (?), n. A
government mandarins; character or spirit of the mandarins.
F. Lieder.
Man"da*ta*ry (?), n. [L. mandatarius,
fr. mandatum a charge, commission, order: cf. F.
mandataire. See Mandate.] 1. One
to whom a command or charge is given; hence, specifically, a person
to whom the pope has, by his prerogative, given a mandate or order
for his benefice. Ayliffe.
2. (Law) One who undertakes to
discharge a specific business commission; a mandatory.
Wharton.
Man"date (?), n. [L. mandatum,
fr. mandare to commit to one's charge, order, orig., to put
into one's hand; manus hand + dare to give: cf. F.
mandat. See Manual, Date a time, and cf.
Commend, Maundy Thursday.] 1. An
official or authoritative command; an order or injunction; a
commission; a judicial precept.
This dream all-powerful Juno; I bear
Her mighty mandates, and her words you hear.
Dryden.
2. (Canon Law) A rescript of the pope,
commanding an ordinary collator to put the person therein named in
possession of the first vacant benefice in his collation.
3. (Scots Law) A contract by which one
employs another to manage any business for him. By the Roman law, it
must have been gratuitous. Erskine.
||Man*da"tor (?), n. [L.]
1. A director; one who gives a mandate or
order. Ayliffe.
2. (Rom. Law) The person who employs
another to perform a mandate. Bouvier.
Man"da*to*ry (?), a. [L.
mandatorius.] Containing a command; preceptive;
directory.
Man"da*to*ry, n. Same as
Mandatary.
Man"del*ate (?), n. (Chem.)
A salt of mandelic acid.
Man*del"ic (?), a. [G. mandel
almond.] (Chem.) Pertaining to an acid first obtained
from benzoic aldehyde (oil of better almonds), as a white crystalline
substance; -- called also phenyl glycolic acid.
Man"der (?), v. t. & i. See
Maunder.
Man"der*il (?), n. A
mandrel.
Man"di*ble (?), n. [L.
mandibula, mandibulum, fr. mandere to chew. Cf.
Manger.] 1. (Anat.) The bone, or
principal bone, of the lower jaw; the inferior maxilla; -- also
applied to either the upper or the lower jaw in the beak of
birds.
2. (Zoöl.) The anterior pair of
mouth organs of insects, crustaceaus, and related animals, whether
adapted for biting or not. See Illust. of
Diptera.
Man*dib"u*lar (?), a. [Cf. F.
mandibulaire.] Of or pertaining to a mandible; like a
mandible. -- n. The principal mandibular
bone; the mandible.
Mandibular arch (Anat.), the most
anterior visceral arch, -- that in which the mandible is
developed.
{ Man*dib"u*late (?), Man*dib"u*la`ted (?), }
a. (Zoöl.) Provided with mandibles
adapted for biting, as many insects.
Man*dib"u*late (?), n.
(Zoöl.) An insect having mandibles.
Man`di*bu"li*form (?), a.
(Zoöl.) Having the form of a mandible; -- said
especially of the maxillæ of an insect when hard and adapted
for biting.
Man*dib`u*lo*hy"oid (?), a.
(Anat.) Pertaining both to the mandibular and the hyoid
arch, or situated between them.
Man"dil (măn"d&ibreve;l), n.
[OF. mandil; cf. Sp. & Pg. mandil a coarse apron, a
haircloth; all from Ar. mandil tablecloth, handkerchief,
mantle, fr. LGr. mandh`lion, fr. L. mantile,
mantele. See Mantle.] A loose outer garment worn
the 16th and 17th centuries.
Man*dil"ion (?), n. See
Mandil. Chapman.
Man*din"gos (?), n. pl. sing.
Mandingo. (Ethnol.) An extensive
and powerful tribe of West African negroes.
{ Man"di*oc (?), ||Man`di*o"ca (?), }
n. (Bot.) See Manioc.
Man"dle*stone` (?), n. [G.
mandelstein almond stone.] (Min.)
Amygdaloid.
Mand"ment (?), n.
Commandment. [Obs.]
{ Man"do*lin, Man"do*line } (?),
n. [F. mandoline, It. mandolino, dim.
of mandola, fr. L. pandura. See Bandore.]
(Mus.) A small and beautifully shaped instrument
resembling the lute.
Man"dore (?), n. [See Mandolin,
and Bandore.] (Mus.) A kind of four-stringed
lute.
Man*drag"o*ra (?), n. [L.,
mandragoras the mandrake.] (Bot.) A genus of
plants; the mandrake. See Mandrake, 1.
Man*drag"o*rite (?), n. One who
habitually intoxicates himself with a narcotic obtained from
mandrake.
Man"drake (măn"drāk), n.
[AS. mandragora, L. mandragoras, fr. Gr.
mandrago`ras: cf. F. mandragore.]
1. (Bot.) A low plant (Mandragora
officinarum) of the Nightshade family, having a fleshy root,
often forked, and supposed to resemble a man. It was therefore
supposed to have animal life, and to cry out when pulled up. All
parts of the plant are strongly narcotic. It is found in the
Mediterranean region.
And shrieks like mandrakes, torn out of the
earth,
That living mortals, hearing them, run mad.
Shak.
&fist; The mandrake of Scripture was perhaps the same plant, but
proof is wanting.
2. (Bot.) The May apple
(Podophyllum peltatum). See May apple under May,
and Podophyllum. [U.S.]
Man"drel (?), n. [F. mandrin,
prob. through (assumed) LL. mamphurinum, fr. L. mamphur
a bow drill.] (Mach.) (a) A bar of metal
inserted in the work to shape it, or to hold it, as in a lathe,
during the process of manufacture; an arbor.
(b) The live spindle of a turning lathe; the
revolving arbor of a circular saw. It is usually driven by a
pulley. [Written also manderil.]
Mandrel lathe, a lathe with a stout spindle,
adapted esp. for chucking, as for forming hollow articles by turning
or spinning.
Man"drill (-dr&ibreve;l), n. [Cf. F.
mandrille, Sp. mandril, It. mandrillo; prob. the
native name in Africa. Cf. Drill an ape.] (Zoöl.)
A large West African baboon (Cynocephalus, or Papio,
mormon). The adult male has, on the sides of the nose, large,
naked, grooved swellings, conspicuously striped with blue and
red.
Man"du*ca*ble (?), a. [Cf. F.
manducable. See Manducate.] Such as can be chewed;
fit to be eaten. [R.]
Any manducable creature.
Sir T.
Herbert.
Man"du*cate (?), v. t. [imp. &
p. p. Manducated (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Manducating (?).] [L. manducatus, p. p. of
manducare to chew. See Manger.] To masticate; to
chew; to eat. [R.] Jer. Taylor.
Man`du*ca"tion (?), n. [L.
manducatio: cf. F. manducation.] The act of
chewing. [R.] Jer. Taylor.
Man"du*ca*to*ry (?), a. Pertaining
to, or employed in, chewing.
||Man*du"cus (?), n. [L., fr.
manducare to chew.] (Gr. & Rom. Antiq.) A
grotesque mask, representing a person chewing or grimacing, worn in
processions and by comic actors on the stage.
Mane (mān), n. [AS. manu;
akin to OD. mane, D. maan, G. mähne, OHG.
mana, Icel. mön, Dan. & Sw. man, AS.
mene necklace, Icel. men, L. monile, Gr. &?;,
&?;, Skr. manyā neck muscles. √275.]
1. The long and heavy hair growing on the upper
side of, or about, the neck of some quadrupedal animals, as the
horse, the lion, etc. See Illust. of Horse.
2. The hair growing on a person's head,
especially hair that is long and thick; -- usually used
humorously. [jocose]
[PJC]
Man"-eat`er (?), n. (Zoöl.)
One who, or that which, has an appetite for human flesh;
specifically, one of certain large sharks (esp. Carcharodon
Rondeleti); also, a lion or a tiger which has acquired the habit
of feeding upon human flesh.
Maned (?), a. Having a
mane.
Maned seal (Zoöl.), the sea
lion. -- Maned sheep (Zoöl.),
the aoudad.
Ma*nege" (?; 277), n. [F.
manège. See Manage, n.]
1. Art of horsemanship, or of training
horses.
2. A school for teaching horsemanship, and
for training horses. Chesterfield.
||Ma"neh (?), n. [Heb.
māneh.] A Hebrew weight for gold or silver, being
one hundred shekels of gold and sixty shekels of silver.
Ezek. xlv. 12.
Mane"less (?), a. Having no
mane.
Maneless lion (Zoöl.), a variety
of the lion having a short, inconspicuous mane. It inhabits Arabia
and adjacent countries.
Man"e*quin (?), n. [See
Manikin.] An artist's model of wood or other
material.
Ma*ne"ri*al (?), a. See
Manorial.
||Ma"nes (?), n. pl. [L.] (Rom.
Antiq.) The benevolent spirits of the dead, especially of
dead ancestors, regarded as family deities and protectors.
Hail, O ye holy manes!
Dryden.
Mane"sheet` (?), n. A covering
placed over the upper part of a horse's head.
{ Ma*neu"ver, Ma*nœu"vre } (?),
n. [F. manœuvre, OF. manuevre,
LL. manopera, lit., hand work, manual labor; L. manus
hand + opera, fr. opus work. See Manual,
Operate, and cf. Mainor, Manure.]
1. Management; dexterous movement; specif., a
military or naval evolution, movement, or change of
position.
2. Management with address or artful design;
adroit proceeding; stratagem.
{ Ma*neu"ver, Ma*nœu"vre, } v.
i. [imp. & p. p. Maneuvered (#) or
Manœuvred; p. pr. & vb. n.
Maneuvering (&?;), or Manœuvring (&?;).] [Cf. F.
manœuvrer. See Maneuver, n.]
1. To perform a movement or movements in
military or naval tactics; to make changes in position with reference
to getting advantage in attack or defense.
2. To manage with address or art; to
scheme.
{ Ma*neu"ver, Ma*nœu"vre, } v.
t. To change the positions of, as of troops of
ships.
{ Ma*neu"ver*er (?), Ma*nœu"vrer (?), }
n. One who maneuvers.
This charming widow Beaumont is a
nanœuvrer. We can't well make an English word of
it.
Miss Edgeworth.
Man"ful (?), a. Showing manliness,
or manly spirit; hence, brave, courageous, resolute, noble. "
Manful hardiness." Chaucer. -- Man"ful*ly,
adv. -- Man"ful*ness,
n.
Man"ga*bey (?), n. [So called by Buffon
from Mangaby, in Madagascar, where he erroneously supposed
them be native.] (Zoöl.) Any one of several African
monkeys of the genus Cercocebus, as the sooty mangabey (C.
fuliginosus), which is sooty black. [Also written
mangaby.]
Man"gan (?), n. See
Mangonel.
Man"ga*nate (?), n. [Cf. F.
manganate.] (Chem.) A salt of manganic
acid.
&fist; The manganates are usually green, and are well-known
compounds, though derived from a hypothetical acid.
Man`ga*ne"sate (?), n. (Chem.)
A manganate. [Obs.]
Man`ga*nese" (?), n. [F.
manganèse, It. manganese, sasso magnesio;
prob. corrupted from L. magnes, because of its resemblance to
the magnet. See Magnet, and cf. Magnesia.]
(Chem.) An element obtained by reduction of its oxide, as
a hard, grayish white metal, fusible with difficulty, but easily
oxidized. Its ores occur abundantly in nature as the minerals
pyrolusite, manganite, etc. Symbol Mn. Atomic weight 54.8.
&fist; An alloy of manganese with iron (called
ferromanganese) is used to increase the density and hardness
of steel.
Black oxide of manganese, Manganese
dioxide or peroxide, or Black
manganese (Chem.), a heavy black powder
MnO2, occurring native as the mineral pyrolusite, and
valuable as a strong oxidizer; -- called also familiarly
manganese. It colors glass violet, and is used as a
decolorizer to remove the green tint of impure glass. --
Manganese bronze, an alloy made by adding from
one to two per cent of manganese to the copper and zinc used in
brass.
Man`ga*ne"sian (?), a. [Cf. F.
manganésien.] (Chem.) Manganic.
[R.]
Man`ga*ne"sic (?), a. [Cf. F.
manganésique.] (Chem.) Manganic.
[Obs.]
Man`ga*ne"sious (?), a. (Chem.)
Manganous.
Man`ga*ne"si*um (?), n. [NL.]
Manganese.
Man`ga*ne"sous (?), a. (Chem.)
Manganous.
Man`gan"ic (?), a. [Cf. F.
manganique.] (Chem.) Of, pertaining to resembling,
or containing, manganese; specif., designating compounds in which
manganese has a higher valence as contrasted with manganous
compounds. Cf. Manganous.
Manganic acid, an acid,
H2MnO4, formed from manganese, analogous to
sulphuric acid.
Man`ga*nif"er*ous (?), a.
[Manganese + -ferous.] Containing
manganese.
Man"ga*nite (?), n. 1.
(Min.) One of the oxides of manganese; -- called also
gray manganese ore. It occurs in brilliant steel-gray or iron-
black crystals, also massive.
2. (Chem.) A compound of manganese
dioxide with a metallic oxide; so called as though derived from the
hypothetical manganous acid.
Man*ga"ni*um (?), n. [NL.]
Manganese.
Man"ga*nous (?), a. (Chem.)
Of, pertaining to, designating, those compounds of manganese in
which the element has a lower valence as contrasted with
manganic compounds; as, manganous oxide.
Manganous acid, a hypothetical compound
analogous to sulphurous acid, and forming the so-called
manganites.
Mang"corn` (?), n. [OE. mengen
to mix. See Mingle, and Corn.] A mixture of wheat
and rye, or other species of grain. [Prov Eng.]
Mange (?), n. [See Mangy.]
(Vet.) The scab or itch in cattle, dogs, and other
beasts.
Mange insect (Zoöl.), any one of
several species of small parasitic mites, which burrow in the skin of
cattle. horses, dogs, and other animals, causing the mange. The mange
insect of the horse (Psoroptes, or Dermatodectes, equi), and
that of cattle (Symbiotes, or Dermatophagys, bovis) are the
most important species. See Acarina.
Man"gel-wur`zel (?), n. [G., corrupted
fr. mangoldwurzel; mangold beet + wurzel root.]
(Bot.) A kind of large field beet (B. macrorhiza),
used as food for cattle, -- by some considered a mere variety of the
ordinary beet. See Beet. [Written also mangold-
wurzel.]
Man"ger (?), n. [F. mangeoire,
fr. manger to eat, fr. L. manducare, fr. mandere
to chew. Cf. Mandible, Manducate.] 1.
A trough or open box in which fodder is placed for horses or
cattle to eat.
2. (Naut.) The fore part of the deck,
having a bulkhead athwart ships high enough to prevent water which
enters the hawse holes from running over it.
Man"gi*ly (?), adv. In a mangy
manner; scabbily.
Man"gi*ness, n. [From Mangy.]
The condition or quality of being mangy.
Man"gle (?), v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Mangled (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Mangling (?).] [A frequentative fr. OE. manken to main,
AS. mancian, in bemancian to mutilate, fr. L.
mancus maimed; perh. akin to G. mangeln to be wanting.]
1. To cut or bruise with repeated blows or
strokes, making a ragged or torn wound, or covering with wounds; to
tear in cutting; to cut in a bungling manner; to lacerate; to
mutilate.
Mangled with ghastly wounds through plate and
mail.
Milton.
2. To mutilate or injure, in making, doing,
or performing; as, to mangle a piece of music or a
recitation.
To mangle a play or a novel.
Swift.
Man"gle, n. [D. mangel, fr. OE.
mangonel a machine for throwing stones, LL. manganum,
Gr. &?; a machine for defending fortifications, axis of a pulley.
Cf. Mangonel.] A machine for smoothing linen or cotton
cloth, as sheets, tablecloths, napkins, and clothing, by roller
pressure.
Mangle rack (Mach.), a contrivance
for converting continuous circular motion into reciprocating
rectilinear motion, by means of a rack and pinion, as in the mangle.
The pinion is held to the rack by a groove in such a manner that it
passes alternately from one side of the rack to the other, and thus
gives motion to it in opposite directions, according to the side in
which its teeth are engaged. -- Mangle wheel,
a wheel in which the teeth, or pins, on its face, are interrupted
on one side, and the pinion, working in them, passes from inside to
outside of the teeth alternately, thus converting the continuous
circular motion of the pinion into a reciprocating circular motion of
the wheel.
Man"gle (?), v. t. [Cf. D.
mangelen. See Mangle, n.] To
smooth with a mangle, as damp linen or cloth.
Man"gler (?), n. [See 1st
Mangle.] One who mangles or tears in cutting; one who
mutilates any work in doing it.
Man"gler, n. [See 3d Mangle.]
One who smooths with a mangle.
Man"go (?), n.; pl.
Mangoes (#). [Pg. manga, fr. Tamil
mānkāy.] 1. The fruit of the
mango tree. It is rather larger than an apple, and of an ovoid shape.
Some varieties are fleshy and luscious, and others tough and tasting
of turpentine. The green fruit is pickled for market.
2. A green muskmelon stuffed and
pickled.
Mango bird (Zoöl.), an oriole
(Oriolus kundoo), native of India. -- Mango
fish (Zoöl.), a fish of the Ganges
(Polynemus risua), highly esteemed for food. It has several
long, slender filaments below the pectoral fins. It appears about the
same time with the mango fruit, in April and May, whence the
name. -- Mango tree (Bot.), an East
Indian tree of the genus Mangifera (M. Indica), related
to the cashew and the sumac. It grows to a large size, and produces
the mango of commerce. It is now cultivated in tropical
America.
Man"gold*wur`zel (?), n. [G.]
(Bot.) See Mangel-wurzel.
Man"go*nel (?), n. [OF.
mangonel, LL. manganellus, manganum, fr. Gr. &?;
See Mangle, n.] A military engine
formerly used for throwing stones and javelins.
Man"go*nism (?), n. The art of
mangonizing, or setting off to advantage. [Obs.]
Man"go*nist (?), n. 1.
One who mangonizes. [Obs.]
2. A slave dealer; also, a strumpet.
[Obs.]
Man"go*nize (?), v. t. [L.
mangonizare, fr. mango a dealer in slaves or wares, to
which he tries to give an appearance of greater value by decking them
out or furbishing them up.] To furbish up for sale; to set off
to advantage. [Obs. or R.] B. Jonson.
{ Man"go*steen (?), Man"go*stan (?), }
n. [Malay mangusta, mangis.]
(Bot.) A tree of the East Indies of the genus
Garcinia (G. Mangostana). The tree grows to the height
of eighteen feet, and bears fruit also called mangosteen, of
the size of a small apple, the pulp of which is very delicious
food.
Man"grove (?), n. [Malay manggi-
manggi.] 1. (Bot.) The name of one or
two trees of the genus Rhizophora (R. Mangle, and R.
mucronata, the last doubtfully distinct) inhabiting muddy shores
of tropical regions, where they spread by emitting aërial roots,
which fasten in the saline mire and eventually become new stems. The
seeds also send down a strong root while yet attached to the parent
plant.
&fist; The fruit has a ruddy brown shell, and a delicate white
pulp which is sweet and eatable. The bark is astringent, and is used
for tanning leather. The black and the white mangrove (Avicennia
nitida and A. tomentosa) have much the same habit.
2. (Zoöl.) The mango
fish.
||Mangue (?), n. [F.]
(Zoöl.) The kusimanse.
Man"gy (?), a.
[Compar. Mangier (?);
superl. Mangiest.] [F. mangé,
p. p. of manger to eat. See Manger.] Infected with
the mange; scabby.
Man*ha"den (?), n. See
Menhaden.
Man"head (?), n. Manhood.
[Obs.] Chaucer.
Man"hole` (?), n. A hole through
which a man may descend or creep into a drain, sewer, steam boiler,
parts of machinery, etc., for cleaning or repairing.
Man"hood, n. [Man- + -
hood.] 1. The state of being man as a human
being, or man as distinguished from a child or a woman.
2. Manly quality; courage; bravery;
resolution.
I am ashamed
That thou hast power to shake my manhood thus.
Shak.
Ma"ni*a (?), n. [L. mania, Gr.
&?;, fr. &?; to rage; cf. OE. manie, F. manie. Cf.
Mind, n., Necromancy.]
1. Violent derangement of mind; madness;
insanity. Cf. Delirium.
2. Excessive or unreasonable desire; insane
passion affecting one or many people; as, the tulip
mania.
Mania a potu [L.], madness from drinking;
delirium tremens.
Syn. -- Insanity; derangement; madness; lunacy; alienation;
aberration; delirium; frenzy. See Insanity.
Man"i*a*ble (?), a. [F., fr.
manier to manage, fr. L. manus hand.]
Manageable. [Obs.] Bacon.
Ma"ni*ac (?), a. [F. maniaque.
See Mania.] Raving with madness; raging with disordered
intellect; affected with mania; mad.
Ma"ni*ac (?), n. A raving lunatic;
a madman.
Ma*ni"a*cal (?), a. Affected with,
or characterized by, madness; maniac. --
Ma*ni"a*cal*ly, adv.
Man"i*cate (?), a. [L. manicatus
sleeved, fr. manica a sleeve.] (Bot.) Covered with
hairs or pubescence so platted together and interwoven as to form a
mass easily removed.
{ Man`i*chæ"an (?), Man`i*che"an,
Man"i*chee (?) }, n. [LL.
Manichaeus: cf. F. manichéen.] A believer
in the doctrines of Manes, a Persian of the third century A. D., who
taught a dualism in which Light is regarded as the source of Good,
and Darkness as the source of Evil.
The Manichæans stand as representatives
of dualism pushed to its utmost development.
Tylor.
{ Man`i*chæ"an, Man`i*che"an (?) },
a. Of or pertaining to the
Manichæans.
{ Man"i*chæ*ism, Man"i*che*ism (?) },
n. [Cf. F. manichéisme.] The
doctrines taught, or system of principles maintained, by the
Manichæans.
Man"i*che*ist, n. [Cf. F.
manichéiste.] Manichæan.
{ Man"i*chord (?), Man`i*chor"don (?), } [L.
monochordon, Gr. &?;; -- so called because it orig. had only
one string. See Monochord.] (Mus.) The clavichord
or clarichord; -- called also dumb spinet.
Man"i*cure (?), n. [F., fr. L.
manus hand + curare to cure.] A person who makes a
business of taking care of people's hands, especially their
nails.
[Men] who had taken good care of their hands by
wearing gloves and availing themselves of the services of a
manicure.
Pop. Sci. Monthly.
Ma"nid (?), n. (Zoöl.)
Any species of the genus Manis, or family
Manidæ.
Ma`nie" (?), n. [F. See Mania.]
Mania; insanity. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Man"i*fest (?), a. [F.
manifeste, L. manifestus, lit., struck by the hand,
hence, palpable; manus hand + fendere (in comp.) to
strike. See Manual, and Defend.] 1.
Evident to the senses, esp. to the sight; apparent; distinctly
perceived; hence, obvious to the understanding; apparent to the mind;
easily apprehensible; plain; not obscure or hidden.
Neither is there any creature that is not
manifest in his sight.
Heb. iv. 13.
That which may be known of God is manifest in
them.
Rom. i. 19.
Thus manifest to sight the god
appeared.
Dryden.
2. Detected; convicted; -- with
of. [R.]
Calistho there stood manifest of
shame.
Dryden.
Syn. -- Open; clear; apparent; evident; visible;
conspicuous; plain; obvious. -- Manifest, Clear,
Plain, Obvious, Evident. What is clear
can be seen readily; what is obvious lies directly in our way,
and necessarily arrests our attention; what is evident is seen
so clearly as to remove doubt; what is manifest is very
distinctly evident.
So clear, so shining, and so
evident,
That it will glimmer through a blind man's eye.
Shak.
Entertained with solitude,
Where obvious duty erewhile appeared unsought.
Milton.
I saw, I saw him manifest in view,
His voice, his figure, and his gesture knew.
Dryden.
Man"i*fest, n.; pl.
Manifests (#). [Cf. F. manifeste. See
Manifest, a., and cf. Manifesto.]
1. A public declaration; an open statement; a
manifesto. See Manifesto. [Obs.]
2. A list or invoice of a ship's cargo,
containing a description by marks, numbers, etc., of each package of
goods, to be exhibited at the customhouse. Bouvier.
Man"i*fest, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Manifested (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Manifesting.] 1. To show plainly; to make
to appear distinctly, -- usually to the mind; to put beyond question
or doubt; to display; to exhibit.
There is nothing hid which shall not be
manifested.
Mark iv. 22.
Thy life did manifest thou lovedst me
not.
Shak.
2. To exhibit the manifests or prepared
invoices of; to declare at the customhouse.
Syn. -- To reveal; declare; evince; make known; disclose;
discover; display.
Man"i*fest`a*ble (?), a. Such as
can be manifested.
Man`i*fes*ta"tion (?), n. [L.
manifestatio: cf. F. manifestation.] The act of
manifesting or disclosing, or the state of being manifested;
discovery to the eye or to the understanding; also, that which
manifests; exhibition; display; revelation; as, the
manifestation of God's power in creation.
The secret manner in which acts of mercy ought to be
performed, requires this public manifestation of them at the
great day.
Atterbury.
Man"i*fest`i*ble (?), a.
Manifestable.
Man"i*fest*ly (?), adv. In a
manifest manner.
Man"i*fest*ness, n. The quality or
state of being manifest; obviousness.
Man`i*fes"to (?), n.; pl.
Manifestoes (#). [It. manifesto. See
Manifest, n. & a.] A public
declaration, usually of a prince, sovereign, or other person claiming
large powers, showing his intentions, or proclaiming his opinions and
motives in reference to some act done or contemplated by him; as, a
manifesto declaring the purpose of a prince to begin war, and
explaining his motives. Bouvier.
it was proposed to draw up a manifesto, setting
forth the grounds and motives of our taking arms.
Addison.
Frederick, in a public manifesto, appealed to
the Empire against the insolent pretensions of the pope.
Milman.
Man"i*fold (?), a. [AS.
manigfeald. See Many, and Fold.]
1. Various in kind or quality; many in number;
numerous; multiplied; complicated.
O Lord, how manifold are thy
works!
Ps. civ. 24.
I know your manifold
transgressions.
Amos v. 12.
2. Exhibited at divers times or in various
ways; -- used to qualify nouns in the singular number. "The
manifold wisdom of God." Eph. iii. 10. "The
manifold grace of God." 1 Pet. iv. 10.
Manifold writing, a process or method by
which several copies, as of a letter, are simultaneously made, sheets
of coloring paper being infolded with thin sheets of plain paper upon
which the marks made by a stylus or a type-writer are
transferred.
Man"i*fold (?), n. 1.
A copy of a writing made by the manifold process.
2. (Mech.) A cylindrical pipe fitting,
having a number of lateral outlets, for connecting one pipe with
several others.
3. pl. The third stomach of a ruminant
animal. [Local, U.S.]
Man"i*fold, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Manifolded (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Manifolding.] To take copies of by the process of
manifold writing; as, to manifold a letter.
Man"i*fold`ed, a. Having many
folds, layers, or plates; as, a manifolded shield.
[Obs.]
Man"i*fold`ly, adv. In a manifold
manner.
Man"i*fold`ness, n. 1.
Multiplicity. Sherwood.
2. (Math.) A generalized concept of
magnitude.
Man"i*form (?), a. [L. manus
hand + -form.] Shaped like the hand.
Ma*ni"glion (m&adot;*n&ibreve;l"yŭn),
n. [It. maniglio, maniglia, bracelet,
handle. Cf. Manilio.] (Gun.) Either one of two
handles on the back of a piece of ordnance.
{ Man"i*hoc (?), Man"i*hot (?), }
n. See Manioc.
Man"i*kin (?), n. [OD. manneken,
dim. of man man. See Man, and -kin.]
1. A little man; a dwarf; a pygmy; a
manakin.
2. A model of the human body, made of papier-
mache or other material, commonly in detachable pieces, for
exhibiting the different parts and organs, their relative position,
etc.
{ Ma*nil"a (?), Ma*nil"la },
a. Of or pertaining to Manila or Manilla, the
capital of the Philippine Islands; made in, or exported from, that
city.
Manila cheroot or cigar, a
cheroot or cigar made of tobacco grown in the Philippine
Islands. -- Manila hemp, a fibrous
material obtained from the Musa textilis, a plant allied to
the banana, growing in the Philippine and other East India islands; -
- called also by the native name abaca. From it matting,
canvas, ropes, and cables are made. -- Manila
paper, a durable brown or buff paper made of Manila
hemp, used as a wrapping paper, and as a cheap printing and writing
paper. The name is also given to inferior papers, made of other
fiber.
Ma*nil"io (?), n. See
Manilla, 1. Sir T. Herbert.
Ma*nil"la (?), n. [Sp. manilla;
cf. It. maniglio, maniglia; F. manille; Pg.
manilha; all fr. L. manus hand, and formed after the
analogy of L. monile, pl. monilia, necklace: cf. F.
manille.] 1. A ring worn upon the arm or
leg as an ornament, especially among the tribes of Africa.
2. A piece of copper of the shape of a
horseshoe, used as money by certain tribes of the west coast of
Africa. Simmonds.
Ma*nil"la, a. Same as
Manila.
||Ma*nille" (?), n. [F.] See 1st
Manilla, 1.
Ma"ni*oc (?), n. [Pg. mandioca,
fr. Braz.] (Bot.) The tropical plants (Manihot
utilissima, and M. Aipi), from which cassava and tapioca
are prepared; also, cassava. [Written also mandioc,
manihoc, manihot.]
Man"i*ple (?), n. [L. manipulus,
maniplus, a handful, a certain number of soldiers;
manus hand + root of plere to fill, plenus full:
cf. F. maniple. See Manual, and Full,
a.] 1. A handful. [R.]
B. Jonson.
2. A division of the Roman army numbering
sixty men exclusive of officers; any small body of soldiers; a
company. Milton.
3. Originally, a napkin; later, an ornamental
band or scarf worn upon the left arm as a part of the vestments of a
priest in the Roman Catholic Church. It is sometimes worn in the
English Church service.
Ma*nip"u*lar (?), a. [L.
manipularis: cf. F. manipulaire.] 1.
Of or pertaining to the maniple, or company.
2. Manipulatory; as, manipular
operations.
Ma*nip"u*late (?), v. t. [imp.
& p. p. Manipulated (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Manipulating (?).] [LL. manipulatus, p. p.
of manipulare to lead by the hand, fr. L. manipulus.
See Maniple.] 1. To treat, work, or
operate with the hands, especially when knowledge and dexterity are
required; to manage in hand work; to handle; as, to manipulate
scientific apparatus.
2. To control the action of, by management;
as, to manipulate a convention of delegates; to
manipulate the stock market; also, to manage artfully or
fraudulently; as, to manipulate accounts, or election
returns.
Ma*nip"u*late, v. i. To use the
hands in dexterous operations; to do hand work; specifically, to
manage the apparatus or instruments used in scientific work, or in
artistic or mechanical processes; also, specifically, to use the hand
in mesmeric operations.
Ma*nip`u*la"tion (?), n. [Cf. F.
manipulation.] 1. The act or process of
manipulating, or the state of being manipulated; the act of handling
work by hand; use of the hands, in an artistic or skillful manner, in
science or art.
Manipulation is to the chemist like the
external senses to the mind.
Whewell.
2. The use of the hands in mesmeric
operations.
3. Artful management; as, the
manipulation of political bodies; sometimes, a management or
treatment for purposes of deception or fraud.
Ma*nip"u*la*tive (?), a. Of or
pertaining to manipulation; performed by manipulation.
Ma*nip"u*la`tor (?), n. One who
manipulates.
Ma*nip"u*la*to*ry
(m&adot;*n&ibreve;p"&usl;*l&adot;*t&osl;*r&ybreve;),
a. Of or pertaining to manipulation.
||Ma"nis (mā"n&ibreve;s), n.
[NL., fr. L. manes the ghosts or shades of the dead. So called
from its dismal appearance, and because it seeks for its food by
night.] (Zoöl.) A genus of edentates, covered with
large, hard, triangular scales, with sharp edges that overlap each
other like tiles on a roof. They inhabit the warmest parts of Asia
and Africa, and feed on ants. Called also Scaly anteater. See
Pangolin.
{ Man"i*to (?), Man"i*tou (?), Man"i*tu
(?) }, n. A name given by tribes of American
Indians to a great spirit, whether good or evil, or to any object of
worship. Tylor.
Gitche Manito the mighty,
The Great Spirit, the creator,
Smiled upon his helpless children!
Longfellow.
Mitche Manito the mighty,
He the dreadful Spirit of Evil,
As a serpent was depicted.
Longfellow.
Man"i*trunk (?), n. [L. manus
hand + E. trunk.] (Zoöl.) The anterior
segment of the thorax in insects. See Insect.
Man`kind" (?), n. [AS. mancynn.
See Kin kindred, Kind, n.]
1. The human race; man, taken
collectively.
The proper study of mankind is
man.
Pore.
2. Men, as distinguished from women; the male
portion of human race. Lev. xviii. 22.
3. Human feelings; humanity. [Obs]
B. Jonson.
Man"kind` (?), a. Manlike; not
womanly; masculine; bold; cruel. [Obs]
Are women grown so mankind? Must they be
wooing?
Beau. & Fl.
Be not too mankind against your
wife.
Chapman.
Manks (mă&nsm;ks), prop. a.
Of or pertaining to the language or people of the Isle of
Man. -- n. The language spoken in the
Isle of Man. See Manx.
Man"less (?), a. 1.
Destitute of men. Bakon.
2. Unmanly; inhuman. [Obs.]
Chapman.
Man"less*ly, adv. Inhumanly.
[Obs.]
Man"like` (?), a. [Man +
like. Cf. Manly.] Like man, or like a man, in form
or nature; having the qualities of a man, esp. the nobler qualities;
manly. " Gentle, manlike speech." Testament of
Love. " A right manlike man." Sir P. Sidney.
In glaring Chloe's manlike taste and
mien.
Shenstone.
Man"li*ness (?), n. The quality or
state of being manly.
Man"ling (?), n. A little
man. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
Man"ly, a. [Compar.
Manlier (?); superl. Manliest.]
[Man + -ly. Cf. Manlike.] Having qualities
becoming to a man; not childish or womanish; manlike, esp. brave,
courageous, resolute, noble.
Let's briefly put on manly
readiness.
Shak.
Serene and manly, hardened to sustain
The load of life.
Dryden.
Syn. -- Bold; daring; brave; courageous; firm; undaunted;
hardy; dignified; stately.
Man"ly, adv. In a manly manner;
with the courage and fortitude of a manly man; as, to act
manly.
Man"na (măn"n&adot;), n. [L.,
fr. Gr. ma`nna, Heb. mān; cf. Ar.
mann, properly, gift (of heaven).] 1.
(Script.) The food supplied to the Israelites in their
journey through the wilderness of Arabia; hence, divinely supplied
food. Ex. xvi. 15.
2. (Bot.) A name given to lichens of
the genus Lecanora, sometimes blown into heaps in the deserts
of Arabia and Africa, and gathered and used as food.
3. (Bot. & Med.) A sweetish exudation
in the form of pale yellow friable flakes, coming from several trees
and shrubs and used in medicine as a gentle laxative, as the
secretion of Fraxinus Ornus, and F. rotundifolia, the
manna ashes of Southern Europe.
&fist; Persian manna is the secretion of the camel's thorn
(see Camel's thorn, under Camel); Tamarisk
manna, that of the Tamarisk mannifera, a shrub of Western
Asia; Australian, manna, that of certain species of
eucalyptus; Briançon manna, that of the European
larch.
Manna grass (Bot.), a name of several
tall slender grasses of the genus Glyceria. they have long
loose panicles, and grow in moist places. Nerved manna grass
is Glyceria nervata, and Floating manna grass is G.
fluitans. -- Manna insect
(Zoöl), a scale insect (Gossyparia mannipara),
which causes the exudation of manna from the Tamarix tree in
Arabia.
Man"na croup` (kr&oomac;p`). [Manna + Russ. & Pol.
krupa groats, grits.] 1. The portions of
hard wheat kernels not ground into flour by the millstones: a kind of
semolina prepared in Russia and used for puddings, soups, etc. --
called also manna groats.
2. The husked grains of manna
grass.
Man"ner (?), n. [OE. manere, F.
manière, from OF. manier, adj., manual,
skillful, handy, fr. (assumed) LL. manarius, for L.
manuarius belonging to the hand, fr. manus the hand.
See Manual.] 1. Mode of action; way of
performing or effecting anything; method; style; form;
fashion.
The nations which thou hast removed, and placed in the
cities of Samaria, know not the manner of the God of the
land.
2 Kings xvii. 26.
The temptations of prosperity insinuate themselves
after a gentle, but very powerful, manner.
Atterbury.
2. Characteristic mode of acting, conducting,
carrying one's self, or the like; bearing; habitual style.
Specifically: (a) Customary method of acting;
habit.
Paul, as his manner was, went in unto
them.
Acts xvii. 2.
Air and manner are more expressive than
words.
Richardson.
(b) pl. Carriage; behavior;
deportment; also, becoming behavior; well-bred carriage and
address.
Good manners are made up of petty
sacrifices.
Emerson.
(c) The style of writing or thought of an
author; characteristic peculiarity of an artist.
3. Certain degree or measure; as, it is in a
manner done already.
The bread is in a manner common.
1 Sam. xxi.5.
4. Sort; kind; style; -- in this application
sometimes having the sense of a plural, sorts or kinds.
Ye tithe mint, and rue, and all manner of
herbs.
Luke xi. 42.
I bid thee say,
What manner of man art thou?
Coleridge.
&fist; In old usage, of was often omitted after
manner, when employed in this sense. "A manner Latin
corrupt was her speech." Chaucer.
By any manner of means, in any way possible;
by any sort of means. -- To be taken
in, or with the manner. [A
corruption of to be taken in the mainor. See Mainor.]
To be taken in the very act. [Obs.] See Mainor. --
To make one's manners, to make a bow or
courtesy; to offer salutation. -- Manners bit,
a portion left in a dish for the sake of good manners.
Hallwell.
Syn. -- Method; mode; custom; habit; fashion; air; look;
mien; aspect; appearance. See Method.
Man"nered (?), a. 1.
Having a certain way, esp. a polite way, of carrying and
conducting one's self.
Give her princely training, that she may be
Mannered as she is born.
Shak.
2. Affected with mannerism; marked by excess
of some characteristic peculiarity.
His style is in some degree mannered and
confined.
Hazlitt.
Man"ner*ism (?), n. [Cf. F.
maniérisme.] Adherence to a peculiar style or
manner; a characteristic mode of action, bearing, or treatment,
carried to excess, especially in literature or art.
Mannerism is pardonable,and is sometimes even
agreeable, when the manner, though vicious, is natural . . . . But a
mannerism which does not sit easy on the mannerist, which has
been adopted on principle, and which can be sustained only by
constant effort, is always offensive.
Macaulay.
Man"ner*ist, n. [Cf. F.
maniériste.] One addicted to mannerism; a person
who, in action, bearing, or treatment, carries characteristic
peculiarities to excess. See citation under
Mannerism.
Man"ner*li*ness (?), n. The
quality or state of being mannerly; civility; complaisance.
Sir M. Hale.
Man"ner*ly, a. Showing good
manners; civil; respectful; complaisant.
What thou thinkest meet, and is most
mannerly.
Shak.
Man"ner*ly, adv. With good
manners. Shak.
Mann"heim gold" (?). [From Mannheim in Germany,
where much of it was made.] A kind of brass made in imitation of
gold. It contains eighty per cent of copper and twenty of zinc.
Ure.
Man"nide (?), n. [Mannite +
anhydride.] (Chem.) A white amorphous or
crystalline substance, obtained by dehydration of mannite, and
distinct from, but convertible into, mannitan.
Man"nish (?), a. [Man + -
ish: cf. AS. mennisc, menisc.] 1.
Resembling a human being in form or nature; human.
Chaucer.
But yet it was a figure
Most like to mannish creature.
Gower.
2. Resembling, suitable to, or characteristic
of, a man, manlike, masculine. Chaucer.
A woman impudent and mannish
grown.
Shak.
3. Fond of men; -- said of a woman.
[Obs.] Chaucer.
-- Man"nish*ly (#),adv. --
Man"nish*ness, n.
Man"ni*tan (?), n. [Mannite +
anhydrite.] (Chem.) A white amorphous or
crystalline substance obtained by the partial dehydration of
mannite.
Man"ni*tate (?), n. (Chem.)
A salt of mannitic acid.
Man"nite (?), n. [Cf. F.
mannite.] 1. (Chem.) A white
crystalline substance of a sweet taste obtained from a so-called
manna, the dried sap of the flowering ash (Fraxinus
ornus); -- called also mannitol, and hydroxy
hexane. Cf. Dulcite.
2. (Bot.) A sweet white efflorescence
from dried fronds of kelp, especially from those of the Laminaria
saccharina, or devil's apron.
Man*nit"ic (?), a. (Chem.)
Of, pertaining to, resembling, or derived from,
mannite.
Mannitic acid (Chem.), a white
amorphous substance, intermediate between saccharic acid and mannite,
and obtained by the partial oxidation of the latter.
Man"ni*tol (?), n. [Mannite +
-ol.] (Chem.) The technical name of mannite. See
Mannite.
Man"ni*tose` (?), n. (Chem.)
A variety of sugar obtained by the partial oxidation of mannite,
and closely resembling levulose.
Ma*nœu"vre (?), n. & v. See
Maneuver.
Man`-of-war" (?), n; pl.
Men-of-war. A government vessel employed for
the purposes of war, esp. one of large size; a ship of war.
Man-of-war bird (Zoöl.), The
frigate bird; also applied to the skua gulls, and to the wandering
albatross. -- Man-of-war hawk
(Zoöl.), the frigate bird. -- Man-of-
war's man, a sailor serving in a ship of war. --
Portuguese man-of-war (Zoöl.), any
species of the genus Physalia. See Physalia.
Ma*nom"e*ter (?), n. [Gr. &?; thin,
rare + -meter: cf. F. manomètre.] An
instrument for measuring the tension or elastic force of gases,
steam, etc., constructed usually on the principle of allowing the gas
to exert its elastic force in raising a column of mercury in an open
tube, or in compressing a portion of air or other gas in a closed
tube with mercury or other liquid intervening, or in bending a
metallic or other spring so as to set in motion an index; a pressure
gauge. See Pressure, and Illust. of Air
pump.
{ Man`o*met"ric (?), Man`o*met"ric*al (?), }
a. [Cf. F. manométrique.] Of or
pertaining to the manometer; made by the manometer.
Man"or (?), n. [OE. maner, OF.
maneir habitation, village, F. manoir manor, prop. the
OF. inf. maneir to stay, remain, dwell, L. manere, and
so called because it was the permanent residence of the lord and of
his tenants. See Mansion, and cf. Remain.]
1. (Eng. Law) The land belonging to a
lord or nobleman, or so much land as a lord or great personage kept
in his own hands, for the use and subsistence of his
family.
My manors, rents, revenues, l
forego.
Shak.
&fist; In these days, a manor rather signifies the
jurisdiction and royalty incorporeal, than the land or site, for a
man may have a manor in gross, as the law terms it, that is, the
right and interest of a court-baron, with the perquisites thereto
belonging.
2. (American Law) A tract of land
occupied by tenants who pay a free-farm rent to the proprietor,
sometimes in kind, and sometimes by performing certain stipulated
services. Burrill.
Manor house, or Manor seat,
the house belonging to a manor.
Ma*no"ri*al (?), a. Of or
pertaining to a manor. " Manorial claims."
Paley.
Man"o*scope (?), n. [Gr. &?; thin, rare
+ -scope.] Same as Manometer.
Ma*nos"co*py (?), n. The science
of the determination of the density of vapors and gases.
Ma*no"ver*y (?), n. [See
Maneuver.] (Eng. Law) A contrivance or maneuvering
to catch game illegally.
Man"quell`er (?), n. A killer of
men; a manslayer. [Obs.] Carew.
{ Man"red (?), Man"rent` (?), }
n. Homage or service rendered to a superior,
as to a lord; vassalage. [Obs. or Scots Law]
Jamieson.
Man"rope` (?), n. (Naut.)
One of the side ropes to the gangway of a ship.
Totten.
Man"sard roof" (?). [So called from its inventor,
François Mansard, or Mansart, a distinguished
French architect, who died in 1666.] (Arch.) A hipped
curb roof; that is, a roof having on all sides two slopes, the lower
one being steeper than the upper one.
Manse (?), n. [LL. mansa,
mansus, mansum, a farm, fr. L. manere,
mansum, to stay, dwell. See Mansion, Manor.]
1. A dwelling house, generally with land
attached.
2. The parsonage; a clergyman's house.
[Scot.]
Capital manse, the manor house, or lord's
court.
Man"serv`ant (?), n. A male
servant.
Man"sion (?), n. [OF. mansion,
F. maison, fr. L. mansio a staying, remaining, a
dwelling, habitation, fr. manere, mansum, to stay,
dwell; akin to Gr. &?;. Cf. Manse, Manor,
Menagerie, Menial, Permanent.]
1. A dwelling place, -- whether a part or whole
of a house or other shelter. [Obs.]
In my Father's house are many
mansions.
John xiv. 2.
These poets near our princes sleep,
And in one grave their mansions keep.
Den&?;am.
2. The house of the lord of a manor; a manor
house; hence: Any house of considerable size or pretension.
3. (Astrol.) A twelfth part of the
heavens; a house. See 1st House, 8. Chaucer.
4. The place in the heavens occupied each day
by the moon in its monthly revolution. [Obs.]
The eight and twenty mansions
That longen to the moon.
Chaucer.
Mansion house, the house in which one
resides; specifically, in London and some other cities, the official
residence of the Lord Mayor. Blackstone.
Man"sion, v. i. To dwell; to
reside. [Obs.] Mede.
Man"sion*a*ry (?), a. Resident;
residentiary; as, mansionary canons.
Man"sion*ry (?), n. The state of
dwelling or residing; occupancy as a dwelling place. [Obs.]
Shak.
Man"slaugh`ter (?), n.
1. The slaying of a human being; destruction of
men. Milton.
2. (Law) The unlawful killing of a
man, either in negligence or incidentally to the commission of some
unlawful act, but without specific malice, or upon a sudden
excitement of anger.
Man"slay`er (?), n. One who kills
a human being; one who commits manslaughter.
Man"steal`er (?), n. A person who
steals or kidnaps a human being or beings.
Man"steal`ing, n. The act or
business of stealing or kidnaping human beings, especially with a
view to e&?;slave them.
Man"suete (?), a. [L. mansuetus,
p. p. of mansuescere to tame; manus hand +
suescere to accustom: cf. F. mansuet.] Tame;
gentle; kind. [Obs.] Ray.
Man"sue*tude (?), n. [L.
mansuetudo: cf. F. mansuétude.] Tameness;
gentleness; mildness. [Archaic]
Man"swear` (?), v. i. To swear
falsely. Same as Mainswear.
||Man"ta (?), n. [From the native
name.] (Zoöl.) See Cephaloptera and Sea
devil.
Mant*choo" (?), a. & n. Same as
Manchu.
||Man`teau" (?), n.; pl. F.
Manteaux (#), E. Manteaus (#).
[F. See Mantle, n.] 1.
A woman's cloak or mantle.
2. A gown worn by women. [Obs.]
Man"tel (?), n. [The same word as
mantle a garment; cf. F. manteau de cheminée.
See Mantle.] (Arch.) The finish around a
fireplace, covering the chimney-breast in front and sometimes on both
sides; especially, a shelf above the fireplace, and its
supports. [Written also mantle.]
Man"tel*et (?), n. [F., dim. of
manteau, OF. mantel. See Mantle.]
1. (a) A short cloak formerly
worn by knights. (b) A short cloak or
mantle worn by women.
A mantelet upon his shoulders
hanging.
Chaucer.
2. (Fort.) A musket-proof shield of
rope, wood, or metal, which is sometimes used for the protection of
sappers or riflemen while attacking a fortress, or of gunners at
embrasures; -- now commonly written mantlet.
Man"tel*piece` (?), n. Same as
Mantel.
Man"tel*shelf` (?), n. The shelf
of a mantel.
Man"tel*tree` (?), n. (Arch.)
The lintel of a fireplace when of wood, as frequently in early
houses.
Man"tic (?), a. [Gr. &?; prophetic.]
Of or pertaining to divination, or to the condition of one
inspired, or supposed to be inspired, by a deity; prophetic.
[R.] "Mantic fury." Trench.
Man*til"la (?), n. [Sp. See
Mantle.] 1. A lady's light cloak of cape
of silk, velvet, lace, or the like.
2. A kind of veil, covering the head and
falling down upon the shoulders; -- worn in Spain, Mexico,
etc.
||Man"tis (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; a
prophet.] (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of
voracious orthopterous insects of the genus Mantis, and allied
genera. They are remarkable for their slender grotesque forms, and
for holding their stout anterior legs in a manner suggesting hands
folded in prayer. The common American species is M.
Carolina.
Mantis shrimp. (Zoöl.) See
Sguilla.
Man*tis"pid (?), n. (Zoöl.)
Any neuropterous insect of the genus Mantispa, and allied
genera. The larvæ feed on plant lice. Also used adjectively.
See Illust. under Neuroptera.
Man*tis*sa (?), n. [L., an addition,
makeweight; of Tuscan origin.] (Math.) The decimal part
of a logarithm, as distinguished from the integral part, or
characteristic.
Man"tle (?), n. [OE. mantel, OF.
mantel, F. manteau, fr. L. mantellum,
mantelum, a cloth, napkin, cloak, mantle (cf. mantele,
mantile, towel, napkin); prob. from manus hand + the
root of tela cloth. See Manual, Textile, and cf.
Mandil, Mantel, Mantilla.]
1. A loose garment to be worn over other
garments; an enveloping robe; a cloak. Hence, figuratively, a
covering or concealing envelope.
[The] children are clothed with mantles of
satin.
Bacon.
The green mantle of the standing
pool.
Shak.
Now Nature hangs her mantle green
On every blooming tree.
Burns.
2. (Her.) Same as
Mantling.
3. (Zoöl.) (a)
The external fold, or folds, of the soft, exterior membrane of
the body of a mollusk. It usually forms a cavity inclosing the gills.
See Illusts. of Buccinum, and Byssus.
(b) Any free, outer membrane.
(c) The back of a bird together with the folded
wings.
4. (Arch.) A mantel. See
Mantel.
5. The outer wall and casing of a blast
furnace, above the hearth. Raymond.
6. (Hydraulic Engin.) A penstock for a
water wheel.
Man"tle, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Mantled (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Mantling (?).] To cover or envelop, as with a mantle; to
cloak; to hide; to disguise. Shak.
Man"tle, v. i. 1.
To unfold and spread out the wings, like a mantle; -- said of
hawks. Also used figuratively.
Ne is there hawk which mantleth on her
perch.
Spenser.
Or tend his sparhawk mantling in her
mew.
Bp. Hall.
My frail fancy fed with full delight.
Doth bathe in bliss, and mantleth most at ease.
Spenser.
2. To spread out; -- said of wings.
The swan, with arched neck
Between her white wings mantling proudly, rows.
Milton.
3. To spread over the surface as a covering;
to overspread; as, the scum mantled on the pool.
Though mantled in her cheek the
blood.
Sir W. Scott.
4. To gather, assume, or take on, a covering,
as froth, scum, etc.
There is a sort of men whose visages
Do cream and mantle like a standing pond.
Shak.
Nor bowl of wassail mantle warm.
Tennyson.
Man"tlet (?), n. See
Mantelet.
Man"tling (?), n. (Her.)
The representation of a mantle, or the drapery behind and around
a coat of arms: -- called also lambrequin.
Man"to (?), n. [It. or Sp.
manto, abbrev., from L. mantelum. See Mantle.]
See Manteau. [Obs.] Bailey.
Man*tol"o*gist (?), n. One who is
skilled in mantology; a diviner. [R.]
Man*tol"o*gy (?), n. [Gr. &?; prophet +
-logy.] The act or art of divination. [R.]
||Man"tra (?), n. [Skr.] A prayer;
an invocation; a religious formula; a charm. [India]
&fist; Among the Hindoos each caste and tribe has a mantra
peculiar to itself; as, the mantra of the Brahmans.
Balfour (Cyc. of India).
Man"trap` (?), n. 1.
A trap for catching trespassers. [Eng.]
2. A dangerous place, as an open hatch, into
which one may fall.
Man"tu*a (?), n. 1.
A superior kind of rich silk formerly exported from Mantua in
Italy. [Obs.] Beck (Draper's Dict.).
2. A woman's cloak or mantle; also, a woman's
gown. [Obs.]
Man"tu*a*mak`er (?), n. One who
makes dresses, cloaks, etc., for women; a dressmaker.
Man"tu*an (?), a. Of or pertaining
to Mantua. -- n. A native or inhabitant
of Mantua.
||Ma"nu (?), n. [Skr.] (Hind.
Myth.) One of a series of progenitors of human beings, and
authors of human wisdom.
Man"u*al (măn"&usl;*al),
a. [OE. manuel, F. manuel, L.
manualis, fr. manus hand; prob. akin to AS. mund
hand, protection, OHG. munt, G. mündel a ward,
vormund guardian, Icel. mund hand. Cf.
Emancipate, Legerdemain, Maintain,
Manage, Manner, Manure, Mound a hill.]
Of or pertaining to the hand; done or made by the hand; as,
manual labor; the king's sign manual.
"Manual and ocular examination." Tatham.
Manual alphabet. See
Dactylology. -- Manual exercise
(Mil.) the exercise by which soldiers are taught the use
of their muskets and other arms. -- Seal
manual, the impression of a seal worn on the hand as a
ring. -- Sign manual. See under
Sign.
Man"u*al (?), n. [Cf. F. manuel,
LL. manuale. See Manual, a.]
1. A small book, such as may be carried in the
hand, or conveniently handled; a handbook; specifically, the service
book of the Roman Catholic Church.
This manual of laws, styled the Confessor's
Laws.
Sir M. Hale.
2. (Mus.) A keyboard of an organ or
harmonium for the fingers, as distinguished from the pedals; a
clavier, or set of keys. Moore (Encyc. of Music).
3. (Mil.) A prescribed exercise in the
systematic handing of a weapon; as, the manual of arms; the
manual of the sword; the manual of the piece (cannon,
mortar, etc.).
Man"u*al*ist, n. One who works
with the hands; an artificer.
Man"u*al*ly, adv. By
hand.
Man"u*a*ry (?), a. [L.
manuarius, fr. manus hand.] Manual. --
n. An artificer. [Obs.] Bp.
Hall.
Ma*nu"bi*al (?), a. [L.
manubialis, fr. manubiae money obtained from the sale
of booty, booty.] Belonging to spoils; taken in war.
[Obs.] Bailey.
Ma*nu"bri*al (?), a. (Anat.)
Of or pertaining to a manubrium; shaped like a manubrium;
handlelike.
||Ma*nu"bri*um (?), n.; pl. L.
Manubria (#), E. Manubriums (#).
[L., handle, fr. manus hand.]
1. (Anat.) A handlelike process or
part; esp., the anterior segment of the sternum, or presternum, and
the handlelike process of the malleus.
2. (Zoöl.) The proboscis of a
jellyfish; -- called also hypostoma. See Illust. of
Hydromedusa.
Man"u*code (?), n. [Javanese
manukdewata the bird of the gods: cf. F. manucode.]
(Zoöl.) Any bird of the genus Manucodia, of
Australia and New Guinea. They are related to the bird of
paradise.
Man`u*du"cent (?), n. One who
leads by the hand; a manuductor. [Obs.]
Man`u*duc"tion (?), n. [L. manus
hand + ductio a leading, ducere to lead: cf. F.
manuduction.] Guidance by the hand. [Obs.]
Glanvill. South.
Man`u*duc"tor (?), n. [L. manus
the hand + ductor a leader, ducere to lead: cf. F.
manuducteur.] (Mus.) A conductor; an officer in
the ancient church who gave the signal for the choir to sing, and who
beat time with the hand, and regulated the music. Moore
(Encyc. of Music.)
Man`u*fac"to*ry (?), n.; pl.
-ries (#). [Cf. L. factorium an oil press,
prop., place where something is made. See Manufacture.]
1. Manufacture. [Obs.]
2. A building or place where anything is
manufactured; a factory.
Man`u*fac"to*ry, a. Pertaining to
manufacturing.
Man`u*fac"tur*al (?), a. Of or
pertaining to manufactures. [R.]
Man`u*fac"ture (?), n. [L. manus
the hand + factura a making, fr. facere to make: cf. F.
manufacture. See Manual, and Fact.]
1. The operation of making wares or any products
by hand, by machinery, or by other agency.
2. Anything made from raw materials by the
hand, by machinery, or by art, as cloths, iron utensils, shoes,
machinery, saddlery, etc.
Man`u*fac"ture, v. t. [imp. &
p. p. Manufactured (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Manufacturing.] [Cf. F. manufacturer.]
1. To make (wares or other products) by hand, by
machinery, or by other agency; as, to manufacture cloth,
nails, glass, etc.
2. To work, as raw or partly wrought
materials, into suitable forms for use; as, to manufacture
wool, cotton, silk, or iron.
Man`u*fac"ture, v. i. To be
employed in manufacturing something.
Man`u*fac"tur*er (?), n. One who
manufactures.
Man`u*fac"tur*ing, a.
1. Employed, or chiefly employed, in
manufacture; as, a manufacturing community; a
manufacturing town.
2. Pertaining to manufacture; as,
manufacturing projects.
||Ma"nul (?), n. (Zoöl.)
A wild cat (Felis manul), having long, soft, light-
colored fur. It is found in the mountains of Central Asia, and dwells
among rocks.
Man"u*mise` (?), v. t. [See
Manumit.] To manumit. [Obs.] Dryden.
Man`u*mis"sion (?), n. [L.
manumissio: cf. F. manumission. See Manumit.]
The act of manumitting, or of liberating a slave from
bondage. "Given to slaves at their manumission."
Arbuthnot.
Man`u*mit" (?), v. t. [imp. &
p. p. Manumitted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Manumitting.] [L. manumittere, manumissum;
manus the hand + mittere to send, to send off. See
Manual, and Missile.] To release from slavery; to
liberate from personal bondage or servitude; to free, as a
slave. "Manumitted slaves." Hume.
Man"u*mo`tive (?), a. [L. manus
the hand + E. motive.] Movable by hand. [R.]
Man"u*mo`tor (?), n. [L. manus
the hand + E. motor.] A small wheel carriage, so
constructed that a person sitting in it may move it.
Ma*nur"a*ble (&?;), a.
1. Capable of cultivation. [Obs.] Sir
M. Hale.
2. Capable of receiving a fertilizing
substance.
Ma*nur"age (?), n.
Cultivation. [Obs.] Warner.
Ma*nur"ance (?), n.
Cultivation. [Obs.] Spenser.
Ma*nure" (m&adot;*nūr"), v. t.
[imp. & p. p. Manured (?); p. pr. &
vb. n. Manuring.] [Contr, from OF. manuvrer,
manovrer, to work with the hand, to cultivate by manual labor,
F. manœuvrer. See Manual, Ure,
Opera, and cf. Inure.] 1. To
cultivate by manual labor; to till; hence, to develop by
culture. [Obs.]
To whom we gave the strand for to
manure.
Surrey.
Manure thyself then; to thyself be
improved;
And with vain, outward things be no more moved.
Donne.
2. To apply manure to; to enrich, as land, by
the application of a fertilizing substance.
The blood of English shall manure the
ground.
Shak.
Ma*nure" (m&adot;*nūr"), n.
Any matter which makes land productive; a fertilizing substance,
as the contents of stables and barnyards, dung, decaying animal or
vegetable substances, etc. Dryden.
Ma*nure"ment, n. [Cf. OF.
manouvrement.] Cultivation. [Obs.] W.
Wotton.
Ma*nur"er (?), n. One who manures
land.
Ma*nu"ri*al (?), a. Relating to
manures.
Ma*nur"ing (?), n. The act of
process of applying manure; also, the manure applied.
||Ma"nus (?), n.; pl.
Manus. [L., the hand.] (Anat.) The
distal segment of the fore limb, including the carpus and fore foot
or hand.
Man"u*script (?), a. [L. manu
scriptus. See Manual, and Scribe.] Written
with or by the hand; not printed; as, a manuscript
volume.
Man"u*script, n. [LL.
manuscriptum, lit., something written with the hand. See
Manuscript, a.] 1. A
literary or musical composition written with the hand, as
distinguished from a printed copy.
2. Writing, as opposed to print; as, the book
exists only in manuscript. Craik.
&fist; The word is often abbreviated to MS., plural
MSS.
Man"u*script`al (?), a.
Manuscript. [Obs.]
Man`u*ten"en*cy (?), n. [L.
manus hand + tenere to hold.] Maintenance.
[Obs.] Abp. Sancroft.
Man"way` (?), n. A small
passageway, as in a mine, that a man may pass through.
Raymond.
Manx (?), a. Of or pertaining to
the Isle of Man, or its inhabitants; as, the Manx
language.
Manx cat (Zoöl.), a breed of
domestic cats having a rudimentary tail, containing only about three
vertebrae. -- Manx shearwater
(Zoöl.), an oceanic bird (Puffinus anglorum,
or P. puffinus), called also Manx petrel, Manx
puffin. It was formerly abundant in the Isle of Man.
Manx, n. The language of the
inhabitants of the Isle of Man, a dialect of the Celtic.
Ma"ny (?), n. [See Meine,
Mansion.] A retinue of servants; a household.
[Obs.] Chaucer.
Ma"ny, a. or pron. [It has no variation
to express degrees of comparison; more and most, which
are used for the comparative and superlative degrees, are from a
different root.] [OE. mani, moni, AS. manig,
mænig, monig; akin to D. menig, OS. & OHG.
manag, G. manch, Dan. mange, Sw.
månge, Goth. manags, OSlav. mnog', Russ.
mnogii; cf. Icel. margr, Prov. E. mort.
√103.] Consisting of a great number; numerous; not
few.
Thou shalt be a father of many
nations.
Gen. xvii. 4.
Not many wise men after the flesh, not
many mighty, not many noble, are called.
1 Cor. i. 26.
&fist; Many is freely prefixed to participles, forming
compounds which need no special explanation; as, many-angled,
many-celled, many-eyed, many-footed, many-
handed, many-leaved, many-lettered, many-
named, many-peopled, many-petaled, many-
seeded, many-syllabled (polysyllabic), many-
tongued, many-voiced, many-wived, and the like.
Comparison is often expressed by many with as or
so. "As many as were willing hearted . . . brought
bracelets." Exod. xxxv. 22. "So many laws argue so
many sins." Milton.
Many stands with a singular substantive with a or
an.
Many a, a large number taken distributively;
each one of many. "For thy sake have I shed many a tear."
Shak. "Full many a gem of purest ray serene."
Gray. -- Many one, many a one; many
persons. Bk. of Com. Prayer. -- The
many, the majority; -- opposed to the few. See
Many, n. -- Too many,
too numerous; hence, too powerful; as, they are too many
for us. L'Estrange.
Syn. -- Numerous; multiplied; frequent; manifold; various;
divers; sundry.
Ma"ny, n. [AS. menigeo,
menigo, menio, multitude; akin to G. menge, OHG.
managī, menigī, Goth. managei. See
Many, a.] 1. The
populace; the common people; the majority of people, or of a
community.
After him the rascal many ran.
Spenser.
2. A large or considerable number.
A many of our bodies shall no doubt
Find native graves.
Shak.
Seeing a great many in rich gowns.
Addison.
It will be concluded by manythat he lived like
an honest man.
Fielding.
&fist; In this sense, many is connected immediately with
another substantive (without of) to show of what the
many consists; as, a good many [of] people think
so.
He is liable to a great many
inconveniences.
Tillotson.
Ma"ny-mind`ed (?), a. Having many
faculties; versatile; many-sided.
Ma"ny*plies (?), n. [Many, adj.
+ plies, pl. of ply a fold.] (Anat.) The
third division, or that between the reticulum, or honeycomb stomach,
and the abomasum, or rennet stomach, in the stomach of ruminants; the
omasum; the psalterium. So called from the numerous folds in its
mucous membrane. See Illust of Ruminant.
Ma"ny-sid`ed (?), a. 1.
Having many sides; -- said of figures. Hence, presenting many
questions or subjects for consideration; as, a many-sided
topic.
2. Interested in, and having an aptitude for,
many unlike pursuits or objects of attention; versatile.
-- Ma"ny-sid`ed*ness, n.
{ Ma"ny*ways` (?), Ma"ny*wise` (?), }
adv. In many different ways;
variously.
Man`za*ni"ta (?), n. [Sp., dim. of
munzana an apple.] (Bot.) A name given to several
species of Arctostaphylos, but mostly to A. glauca and
A. pungens, shrubs of California, Oregon, etc., with reddish
smooth bark, ovate or oval coriaceous evergreen leaves, and bearing
clusters of red berries, which are said to be a favorite food of the
grizzly bear.
Ma"o*ri (?), n.; pl.
Maoris (&?;). (Ethnol.) One of the
aboriginal inhabitants of New Zealand; also, the original language of
New Zealand. -- a. Of or pertaining to
the Maoris or to their language.
Map (?), n. [From F. mappe, in
mappemonde map of the world, fr. L. mappa napkin,
signal cloth; -- a Punic word. Cf. Apron, Napkin,
Nappe.] 1. A representation of the
surface of the earth, or of some portion of it, showing the relative
position of the parts represented; -- usually on a flat surface.
Also, such a representation of the celestial sphere, or of some part
of it.
&fist; There are five principal kinds of projection used in making
maps: the orthographic, the stereographic, the
globuar, the conical, and the cylindrical, or
Mercator's projection. See Projection.
2. Anything which represents graphically a
succession of events, states, or acts; as, an historical
map.
Thus is his cheek the map of days
outworn.
Shak.
Map lichen (Bot.), a lichen
(Lecidea geographica.) growing on stones in curious maplike
figures. Dr. Prior.
Map, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Mapped (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Mapping (?).] To represent by a map; -- often with
out; as, to survey and map, or map out, a
county. Hence, figuratively: To represent or indicate
systematically and clearly; to sketch; to plan; as, to map, or
map out, a journey; to map out business.
I am near to the place where they should meet, if
Pisanio have mapped it truly.
Shak.
||Ma*pach" (?), n. [Mexican.] The
raccoon.
Ma"ple (?), n. [AS. mapolder,
mapulder, mapol; akin to Icel. möpurr; cf.
OHG. mazzaltra, mazzoltra, G. massholder.]
(Bot.) A tree of the genus Acer, including about
fifty species. A. saccharinum is the rock maple, or sugar
maple, from the sap of which sugar is made, in the United States, in
great quantities, by evaporation; the red or swamp maple is A.
rubrum; the silver maple, A. dasycarpum, having fruit
wooly when young; the striped maple, A. Pennsylvanium, called
also moosewood. The common maple of Europe is A.
campestre, the sycamore maple is A. Pseudo-platanus, and
the Norway maple is A. platanoides.
&fist; Maple is much used adjectively, or as the first part
of a compound; as, maple tree, maple leaf, etc.
Bird's-eye maple, Curled
maple, varieties of the wood of the rock maple, in
which a beautiful lustrous grain is produced by the sinuous course of
the fibers. -- Maple honey, Maple
molasses, or Maple sirup, maple sap
boiled to the consistency of molasses. -- Maple
sugar, sugar obtained from the sap of the sugar maple
by evaporation.
Map"like` (?), a. Having or
consisting of lines resembling a map; as, the maplike figures
in which certain lichens grow.
Map"per*y (?), n. [From Map.] The
making, or study, of maps. [Obs.] Shak.
Ma"qui (?), n. (Bot.) A
Chilian shrub (Aristotelia Maqui). Its bark furnishes strings
for musical instruments, and a medicinal wine is made from its
berries.
Mar (?), n. A small lake. See
Mere. [Prov. Eng.]
Mar, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Marred (märd); p. pr. & vb.
n. Marring.] [OE. marren, merren, AS.
merran, myrran (in comp.), to obstruct, impede,
dissipate; akin to OS. merrian, OHG. marrjan,
merran; cf. D. marren, meeren, to moor a ship,
Icel. merja to bruise, crush, and Goth. marzjan to
offend. Cf. Moor, v.] 1.
To make defective; to do injury to, esp. by cutting off or
defacing a part; to impair; to disfigure; to deface.
I pray you mar no more trees with wiring love
songs in their barks.
Shak.
But mirth is marred, and the good cheer is
lost.
Dryden.
Ire, envy, and despair
Which marred all his borrowed visage.
Milton.
2. To spoil; to ruin. "It makes us, or
it mars us." "Striving to mend, to mar the subject."
Shak.
Mar, n. A mark or blemish made by
bruising, scratching, or the like; a disfigurement.
||Ma"ra (?), n. [Skr.
māra.] (Hind. Myth.) The principal or ruling
evil spirit. E. Arnold.
||Ma"ra, n. [Icel. mara
nightmare, an ogress. See Nightmare.] (Norse Myth.)
A female demon who torments people in sleep by crouching on
their chests or stomachs, or by causing terrifying visions.
||Ma"ra, n. (Zoöl.)
The Patagonian cavy (Dolichotis Patagonicus).
Mar`a*bou" (?), n. [F.]
1. (Zoöl.) A large stork of the
genus Leptoptilos (formerly Ciconia), esp. the African
species (L. crumenifer), which furnishes plumes worn as
ornaments. The Asiatic species (L. dubius, or L.
argala) is the adjutant. See Adjutant. [Written also
marabu.]
2. One having five eighths negro blood; the
offspring of a mulatto and a griffe. [Louisiana]
Bartlett.
Marabout" (?), n. [F., from Pg.
marabuto, Ar. morābit. Cf. Maravedi.]
A Mohammedan saint; especially, one who claims to work cures
supernaturally.
Mar"a*can (?), n. [Braz.
maracaná.] (Zoöl.) A macaw.
||Ma*rai" (?), n. A sacred
inclosure or temple; -- so called by the islanders of the Pacific
Ocean.
Mar`a*nath"a (?), n. [Aramaic
māran athā.] "Our Lord cometh;" -- an
expression used by St. Paul at the conclusion of his first Epistle to
the Corinthians (xvi. 22). This word has been used in anathematizing
persons for great crimes; as much as to say, "May the Lord come
quickly to take vengeance of thy crimes." See Anathema
maranatha, under Anathema.
Ma*ran"ta (?), n. [NL.] (Bot.)
A genus of endogenous plants found in tropical America, and some
species also in India. They have tuberous roots containing a large
amount of starch, and from one species (Maranta arundinacea)
arrowroot is obtained. Many kinds are cultivated for
ornament.
||Ma`ra*schi"no (?), n. [It., fr.
marasca, amarasca, a sour cherry, L. amarus
bitter.] A liqueur distilled from fermented cherry juice, and
flavored with the pit of a variety of cherry which grows in
Dalmatia.
Ma*ras"mus (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; ,
fr. &?;, to quench, as fire; pass., to die away.] (Med.)
A wasting of flesh without fever or apparent disease; a kind of
consumption; atrophy; phthisis.
Pining atrophy,
Marasmus, and wide-wasting pestilence.
Milton.
Marasmus senilis [L.], progressive atrophy
of the aged.
Ma*raud" (?), v. i. [imp. & p.
p. Marauded; p. pr. & vb. n.
Marauding.] [F. marauder, fr. maraud vagabond,
OF. marault; of uncertain origin, perh. for malault,
fr. (assumed) LL. malaldus; fr. L. malus bad, ill + a
suffix of German origin (cf. Herald). Cf. Malice.]
To rove in quest of plunder; to make an excursion for booty; to
plunder. "Marauding hosts." Milman.
Ma*raud", n. An excursion for
plundering.
Ma*raud`er (?), n. [From Maraud,
v.: cf. F. maraudeur.] A rover in quest
of booty or plunder; a plunderer; one who pillages. De
Quincey.
Mar`a*ve"di (?), n. [Sp.
maravedí; -- so called from the
Morābitīn (lit., the steadfast), an Arabian
dynasty which reigned in Africa and Spain. Cf. Marabout.]
(Numis.) A small copper coin of Spain, equal to three
mils American money, less than a farthing sterling. Also, an ancient
Spanish gold coin.
Mar"ble (mär"b'l), n. [OE.
marbel, marbre, F. marbre, L. marmor, fr.
Gr. ma`rmaros, fr. marmai`rein to sparkle,
flash. Cf. Marmoreal.] 1. A massive,
compact limestone; a variety of calcite, capable of being polished
and used for architectural and ornamental purposes. The color varies
from white to black, being sometimes yellow, red, and green, and
frequently beautifully veined or clouded. The name is also given to
other rocks of like use and appearance, as serpentine or verd antique
marble, and less properly to polished porphyry, granite,
etc.
&fist;
Breccia marble consists of limestone
fragments cemented together. -- Ruin marble, when
polished, shows forms resembling ruins, due to disseminated iron
oxide. -- Shell marble contains fossil shells. --
Statuary marble is a pure, white, fine-grained
kind, including Parian (from Paros) and Carrara marble.
If coarsely granular it is called saccharoidal.
2. A thing made of, or resembling, marble, as
a work of art, or record, in marble; or, in the plural, a collection
of such works; as, the Arundel or Arundelian marbles; the
Elgin marbles.
3. A little ball of marble, or of some other
hard substance, used as a plaything by children; or, in the plural, a
child's game played with marbles.
&fist; Marble is also much used in self-explaining
compounds; when used figuratively in compounds it commonly means,
hard, cold, destitute of compassion or feeling; as, marble-
breasted, marble-faced, marble-hearted.
Mar"ble, a. 1.
Made of, or resembling, marble; as, a marble mantel;
marble paper.
2. Cold; hard; unfeeling; as, a marble
breast or heart.
Mar"ble, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Marbled (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Marbling (?).] [Cf. F. marbrer. See Marble,
n.] To stain or vein like marble; to variegate
in color; as, to marble the edges of a book, or the surface of
paper.
Mar"bled (?), a. 1.
Made of, or faced with, marble. [Obs.] "The marbled
mansion." Shak.
2. Made to resemble marble; veined or spotted
like marble. "Marbled paper." Boyle.
3. (zoöl.) Varied with irregular
markings, or witch a confused blending of irregular spots and
streaks.
Mar"ble-edged` (?), a. Having the
edge veined or spotted with different colors like marble, as a
book.
Mar"ble*ize (?), v. t. [imp. &
p. p. Marbleized (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Marbleizing (?).] To stain or grain in
imitation of marble; to cover with a surface resembling marble; as,
to marbleize slate, wood, or iron.
Mar"bler (&?;), n. 1.
One who works upon marble or other stone. [R.]
Fuller.
2. One who colors or stains in imitation of
marble.
Mar"bling (?), n. 1.
The art or practice of variegating in color, in imitation of
marble.
2. An intermixture of fat and lean in meat,
giving it a marbled appearance.
3. pl. (Zoöl.) Distinct
markings resembling the variegations of marble, as on birds and
insects.
Mar"bly, a. Containing, or
resembling, marble.
||Mar*bri"nus (?), n. [LL., fr. OF. &
F. marble marble. See Marble.] A cloth woven so as
to imitate the appearance of marble; -- much used in the 15th and
16th centuries. Beck (Draper's Dict.).
Marc (?), n. [F.] The refuse
matter which remains after the pressure of fruit, particularly of
grapes.
Marc, n. [AS. marc; akin to G.
mark, Icel. mörk, perh. akin to E. mark a
sign. √106, 273.] [Written also mark.]
1. A weight of various commodities, esp. of gold
and silver, used in different European countries. In France and
Holland it was equal to eight ounces.
2. A coin formerly current in England and
Scotland, equal to thirteen shillings and four pence.
3. A German coin and money of account. See
Mark.
Mar"can*tant (?), n. [It.
mercatante. See Merchant.] A merchant.
[Obs.] Shak.
Mar"ca*site (?), n. [F.
marcassite; cf. It. marcassita, Sp. marquesita,
Pg. marquezita; all fr. Ar. marqashītha.]
(Min.) A sulphide of iron resembling pyrite or common
iron pyrites in composition, but differing in form; white iron
pyrites.
Golden marcasite, tin. [Obs.]
{ Mar`ca*sit"ic (?), Mar`ca*sit"ic*al (?), }
a. Containing, or having the nature of,
marcasite.
Mar*cas"sin (?), n. [F.] (Her.)
A young wild boar.
||Mar*ca"to (?), a. [It.] (Mus.)
In a marked emphatic manner; -- used adverbially as a
direction.
Mar"cel*ine (?), n. [F., fr. L.
marcidus withered, fr. marcere to wither, shrivel.]
A thin silk fabric used for linings, etc., in ladies'
dresses.
Mar*ces"cent (?), a. [L.
marcescens, p. pr. of marcescere to wither, decay, fr.
marcere to wither, droop: cf. F. marcescent.]
(Bot.) Withering without falling off; fading;
decaying.
Mar*ces"ci*ble (?), a. [Cf. F.
marcescible.] Liable to wither or decay.
March (?), n. [L. Martius mensis
Mars'month fr. Martius belonging to Mars, the god of
war: cf. F. mars. Cf. Martial.] The third month
of the year, containing thirty-one days.
The stormy March is come at last,
With wind, and cloud, and changing skies.
Bryant.
As mad as a March Hare, an old English
Saying derived from the fact that March is the rutting time of hares,
when they are excitable and violent. Wright.
March, n. [OE. marche, F.
marche; of German origin; cf. OHG. marcha, G.
mark, akin to OS. marka, AS. mearc, Goth.
marka, L. margo edge, border, margin, and possibly to
E. mark a sign. √106. Cf. Margin,
Margrave, Marque, Marquis.] A territorial
border or frontier; a region adjacent to a boundary line; a confine;
-- used chiefly in the plural, and in English history applied
especially to the border land on the frontiers between England and
Scotland, and England and Wales.
Geneva is situated in the marches of several
dominions -- France, Savoy, and Switzerland.
Fuller.
Lords of waste marches, kings of desolate
isles.
Tennyson.
March, v. i. [Cf. OF. marchir.
See 2d March.] To border; to be contiguous; to lie side
by side. [Obs.]
That was in a strange land
Which marcheth upon Chimerie.
Gower.
To march with, to have the same boundary for
a greater or less distance; -- said of an estate.
March, v. i. [imp. & p.
p. Marched (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Marching.] [F. marcher, in OF. also, to tread, prob.
fr. L. marcus hammer. Cf. Mortar.] 1.
To move with regular steps, as a soldier; to walk in a grave,
deliberate, or stately manner; to advance steadily.
Shak.
2. To proceed by walking in a body or in
military order; as, the German army marched into
France.
March, v. t. To cause to move with
regular steps in the manner of a soldier; to cause to move in
military array, or in a body, as troops; to cause to advance in a
steady, regular, or stately manner; to cause to go by peremptory
command, or by force.
March them again in fair array.
Prior.
March, n. [F. marche.]
1. The act of marching; a movement of soldiers
from one stopping place to another; military progress; advance of
troops.
These troops came to the army harassed with a long and
wearisome march.
Bacon.
2. Hence: Measured and regular advance or
movement, like that of soldiers moving in order; stately or
deliberate walk; steady onward movement.
With solemn march
Goes slow and stately by them.
Shak.
This happens merely because men will not bide their
time, but will insist on precipitating the march of
affairs.
Buckle.
3. The distance passed over in marching; as,
an hour's march; a march of twenty miles.
4. A piece of music designed or fitted to
accompany and guide the movement of troops; a piece of music in the
march form.
The drums presently striking up a
march.
Knolles.
To make a march, (Card Playing), to
take all the tricks of a hand, in the game of euchre.
March"er (?), n. One who
marches.
March"er, n. [See 2d March.]
The lord or officer who defended the marches or borders of a
territory.
{ Mar"chet (?), Mer"chet (?) },
n. [LL. marcheta; of uncertain origin.]
In old English and in Scots law, a fine paid to the lord of the
soil by a tenant upon the marriage of one the tenant's
daughters.
March"ing (?), a. & n., fr.
March, v.
Marching money (Mil.), the additional
pay of officer or soldier when his regiment is marching. --
In marching order (Mil.), equipped for a
march. -- Marching regiment. (Mil.)
(a) A regiment in active service.
(b) In England, a regiment liable to be ordered
into other quarters, at home or abroad; a regiment of the
line.
Mar"chion*ess (?), n. [LL.
marchionissa, fr. marchio a marquis. See
Marquis.] The wife or the widow of a marquis; a woman who
has the rank and dignity of a marquis. Spelman.
March"-mad` (?), a. Extremely
rash; foolhardy. See under March, the month. Sir W.
Scott.
March"man (?), n. A person living
in the marches between England and Scotland or Wales.
March"pane` (?), n. [Cf. It.
marzapane,Sp. pan,. massepain, prob. fr. L.
maza frumenty (Gr. ma^za) + L. panis bread;
but perh. the first part of the word is from the name of the
inventor.] A kind of sweet bread or biscuit; a cake of pounded
almonds and sugar. [Obs.] Shak.
March"-ward` (?), n. A warden of
the marches; a marcher.
Mar"cian (?), a. Under the
influence of Mars; courageous; bold. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Mar"cid (?), a. [L. marcidus,
fr. marcere to wither, pine.] 1. Pining;
lean; withered. Dryden.
2. Characterized by emaciation, as a
fever. Harvey.
Mar*cid"i*ty (?), n. [LL.
marciditas.] The state or quality of being withered or
lean. [R.]
Mar"cion*ite (?), n. (Eccl.
Hist) A follower of Marcion, a Gnostic of the second
century, who adopted the Oriental notion of the two conflicting
principles, and imagined that between them there existed a third
power, neither wholly good nor evil, the Creator of the world and of
man, and the God of the Jewish dispensation. Brande &
C.
||Mar`co*brun"ner (?), n. [G.
Marcobrunner.] A celebrated Rhine wine.
||Mar"cor (?), n. [L., fr.
marcere to wither.] A wasting away of flesh; decay.
[Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
Mar*co"sian (?), n. (Eccl.
Hist.) One of a Gnostic sect of the second century, so
called from Marcus, an Egyptian, who was reputed to be a
margician.
||Mar"di` gras" (?), n. [F., literally,
fat Tuesday.] The last day of Carnival; Shrove Tuesday; -- in
some cities a great day of carnival and merrymaking.
Mare (mâr), n. [OE. mere,
AS. mere, myre, fem of AS. mearh horse, akin to
D. merrie mare, G. mähre, OHG. marah horse,
meriha mare, Icel. marr horse, OCelt. marka
(Pausan. 19, 19,4), Ir. marc, W. march. Cf.
Marshal.] The female of the horse and other equine
quadrupeds.
Mare, n. [AS. mara incubus; akin
to OHG. & Icel. mara; cf. Pol. mora, Bohem.
můra.] (Med.) Sighing, suffocative panting,
intercepted utterance, with a sense of pressure across the chest,
occurring during sleep; the incubus; -- obsolete, except in the
compound nightmare.
I will ride thee o' nights like the
mare.
Shak.
Mare"chal Niel" (?). [F.] A kind of large yellow
rose. [Written also Marshal Niel.]
Mar"eis (?), n. A Marsh.
[Obs.] Chaucer.
Ma*re"na (?), n. [NL. Salmo
maraena, G. maräne, moräne; -- so called
from Lake Morin, in the March of Brandenburg, in Prussia.]
(Zoöl.) A European whitefish of the genus
Coregonus.
Mare"schal (?), n. [OF.
mareschal, F. maréchal. See Marshal.]
A military officer of high rank; a marshal. [Obs.]
Mare's"-nest` (?), n. A supposed
discovery which turns out to be a hoax; something grossly
absurd.
Mare's"-tail` (?), n.
1. A long streaky cloud, spreading out like a
horse's tail, and believed to indicate rain; a cirrus cloud. See
Cloud.
Mackerel sky and mare's-tails
Make tall ships carry low sails.
Old Rhyme.
2. (Bot.) An aquatic plant of the
genus Hippuris (H. vulgaris), having narrow leaves in
whorls.
Mar"ga*rate (?), n. [Cf. F.
margarate.] (Physiol. Chem.) A compound of the so-
called margaric acid with a base.
Mar*gar"ic (?), a. [Cf. F.
margarique. See Margarite.] Pertaining to, or
resembling, pearl; pearly.
Margaric acid. (a) (Physiol.
Chem.) A fatty body, crystallizing in pearly scales, and
obtained by digesting saponified fats (soaps) with an acid. It was
formerly supposed to be an individual fatty acid, but is now known to
be simply an intimate mixture of stearic and palmitic acids.
(b) (Chem.) A white, crystalline
substance, C17H34O2 of the fatty
acid series, intermediate between palmitic and stearic acids, and
obtained from the wax of certain lichens, from cetyl cyanide, and
other sources.
Mar"ga*rin (?), n. [Cf. F.
margarine. See Margarite.] (Physiol. Chem.)
A fatty substance, extracted from animal fats and certain
vegetable oils, formerly supposed to be a definite compound of
glycerin and margaric acid, but now known to be simply a mixture or
combination of tristearin and tripalmitin.
Mar`ga*ri*ta"ceous (?), a.
Pertaining to, or resembling, pearl; pearly.
Mar"ga*rite (?), n. [L.
margarita, Gr. &?; a pearl; cf. F. marguerite.]
1. A pearl. [Obs.] Peacham.
2. (Min.) A mineral related to the
micas, but low in silica and yielding brittle folia with pearly
luster.
Mar`ga*rit"ic (?), a. [Cf. F.
margaritique.] (Physiol. Chem.)
Margaric.
Mar`ga*ri*tif"er*ous (?), a. [L.
margaritifer; margarita pearl + ferre to bear:
cf. F. margaritifère.] Producing pearls.
Mar*gar"o*dite (?), n. [Gr. &?; pearl-
like.] (Min.) A hidrous potash mica related to
muscovite.
Mar"ga*rone (?), n. [Margaric +
-one.] (Chem.) The ketone of margaric
acid.
Mar"ga*rous (?), a. (Chem.)
Margaric; -- formerly designating a supposed acid.
[Obs.]
Mar"gate fish" (?). (Zoöl.) A sparoid
fish (Diabasis aurolineatus) of the Gulf of Mexico, esteemed
as a food fish; -- called also red-mouth grunt.
Mar"gay (?), n. (Zoöl.)
An American wild cat (Felis tigrina), ranging from Mexico
to Brazil. It is spotted with black. Called also long-tailed
cat.
Marge (?), n. [F. marge. See
Margin.] Border; margin; edge; verge. [Poetic]
Tennyson.
Along the river's stony marge.
Wordsworth.
Mar"gent (?), n. [OE. See
Margin.] A margin; border; brink; edge. [Obs.]
The beached margent of the sea.
Shak.
Mar"gent, v. t. To enter or note
down upon the margin of a page; to margin. [Obs.] Mir. for
Mag.
Mar"gin (?), n. [OE. margine,
margent, L. margo, ginis. Cf. March a
border, Marge.] 1. A border; edge; brink;
verge; as, the margin of a river or lake.
2. Specifically: The part of a page at the
edge left uncovered in writing or printing.
3. (Com.) The difference between the
cost and the selling price of an article.
4. Something allowed, or reserved, for that
which can not be foreseen or known with certainty.
5. (Brokerage) Collateral security
deposited with a broker to secure him from loss on contracts entered
into by him on behalf of his principial, as in the speculative buying
and selling of stocks, wheat, etc. N. Biddle.
Margin draft (Masonry), a smooth cut
margin on the face of hammer-dressed ashlar, adjacent to the
joints. -- Margin of a course (Arch.),
that part of a course, as of slates or shingles, which is not
covered by the course immediately above it. See 2d
Gauge.
Syn. -- Border; brink; verge; brim; rim.
Mar"gin (?), v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Margined (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Marginging.] 1. To furnish with a
margin.
2. To enter in the margin of a
page.
Mar"gin*al (?), a. [Cf. F.
marginal.] 1. Of or pertaining to a
margin.
2. Written or printed in the margin; as, a
marginal note or gloss.
||Mar`gi*na"li*a (?), n. pl. [NL.]
Marginal notes.
Mar"gin*al*ly, adv. In the margin
of a book.
Mar"gin*ate (?), a. [L.
marginatus, p. p. of marginare to margin. See
Margin, n.] Having a margin distinct in
appearance or structure.
Mar"gin*ate (?), v. t. To furnish
with a distinct margin; to margin. [R.] Cockeram.
Mar"gin*a`ted (?), a. Same as
Marginate, a.
Mar"gined (?), a. 1.
Having a margin. Hawthorne.
2. (Zoöl.) Bordered with a
distinct line of color.
||Mar`gi*nel"la (?), n. [NL., dim. of
L. margo, marginis, a margin.] (Zoöl.)
A genus of small, polished, marine univalve shells, native of
all warm seas.
Mar"gin*i*ci`dal (?), a. [L.
margo, -ginis, margin + caedere to cut.]
(Bot.) Dehiscent by the separation of united carpels; --
said of fruits.
Mar*go"sa (?), n. [Pg. amargoso
bitter.] (Bot.) A large tree of the genus Melia
(M. Azadirachta) found in India. Its bark is bitter, and used
as a tonic. A valuable oil is expressed from its seeds, and a
tenacious gum exudes from its trunk. The M. Azedarach is a
much more showy tree, and is cultivated in the Southern United
States, where it is known as Pride of India, Pride of
China, or bead tree. Various parts of the tree are
considered anthelmintic.
The margosa oil . . . is a most valuable balsam
for wounds, having a peculiar smell which prevents the attacks of
flies.
Sir S. Baker.
{ Mar"gra*vate (?), Mar*gra"vi*ate (?), }
n. [Cf. F. margraviat.] The territory
or jurisdiction of a margrave.
Mar"grave (?), n. [G. markgraf,
prop., lord chief justice of the march; mark bound, border,
march + graf earl, count, lord chief justice; cf. Goth.
gagrëfts decree: cf. D. markgraaf, F.
margrave. See March border, and cf. Landgrave,
Graff.] 1. Originally, a lord or keeper
of the borders or marches in Germany.
2. The English equivalent of the German title
of nobility, markgraf; a marquis.
Mar"gra*vine (?), n. [G.
markgräfin: cf. F. margrafine.] The wife of a
margrave.
Mar"gue*rite (?), n. [F., a pearl, a
daisy. See Margarite.] (Bot.) The daisy (Bellis
perennis). The name is often applied also to the ox-eye daisy and
to the China aster. Longfellow.
Ma"ri*an (?), a. Pertaining to the
Virgin Mary, or sometimes to Mary, Queen of England, daughter of
Henry VIII.
Of all the Marian martyrs, Mr. Philpot was the
best-born gentleman.
Fuller.
Maid Marian. See Maidmarian in the
Vocabulary.
Mar"ie (?), interj. Marry.
[Obs.] Chaucer.
Mar"i*et (?), n. [F. mariette,
prop. dim. of Marie Mary.] (Bot.) A kind of
bellflower, Companula Trachelium, once called Viola
Mariana; but it is not a violet.
Ma*rig"e*nous (?), a. [L. mare
the sea + -genous.] Produced in or by the sea.
Mar"i*gold (?), n. [Mary +
gold.] (Bot.) A name for several plants with
golden yellow blossoms, especially the Calendula officinalis
(see Calendula), and the cultivated species of
Tagetes.
&fist; There are several yellow-flowered plants of different
genera bearing this name; as, the African or French marigold
of the genus Tagetes, of which several species and many
varieties are found in gardens. They are mostly strong-smelling herbs
from South America and Mexico: bur marigold, of the genus
Bidens; corn marigold, of the genus
Chrysanthemum (C. segetum, a pest in the cornfields of
Italy); fig marigold, of the genus Mesembryanthemum;
marsh marigold, of the genus Caltha (C.
palustris), commonly known in America as the cowslip. See
Marsh Marigold.
Marigold window. (Arch.) See Rose
window, under Rose.
Mar`i*ki"na (?), n. [From the native
name: cf. Pg. mariquinha.] (Zoöl) A small
marmoset (Midas rosalia); the silky tamarin.
||Ma*rim"ba (?), n. [Pg.] A
musical istrument of percussion, consisting of bars yielding musical
tones when struck. Knight.
||Mar`i*mon"da (?), n. [Sp.]
(Zoöl.) A spider monkey (Ateles belzebuth) of
Central and South America.
Mar`i*nade" (?), n. [F.: cf. It.
marinato marinade, F. mariner to preserve food for use
at sea. See Marinate.] (Cookery) A brine or pickle
containing wine and spices, for enriching the flavor of meat and
fish.
Mar"i*nate (?), v. t. [See
Marine, and cf. Marinade.] To salt or pickle, as
fish, and then preserve in oil or vinegar; to prepare by the use of
marinade.
Ma*rine" (?), a. [L. marinus,
fr. mare the sea: cf. F. marin. See Mere a
pool.] 1. Of or pertaining to the sea; having to
do with the ocean, or with navigation or naval affairs; nautical; as,
marine productions or bodies; marine shells; a
marine engine.
2. (Geol.) Formed by the action of the
currents or waves of the sea; as, marine deposits.
Marine acid (Chem.), hydrochloric
acid. [Obs.] -- Marine barometer. See
under Barometer. -- Marine corps, a
corps formed of the officers, noncommissioned officers, privates, and
musicants of marines. -- Marine engine
(Mech.), a steam engine for propelling a vessel. --
Marine glue. See under Glue. --
Marine insurance, insurance against the perils
of the sea, including also risks of fire, piracy, and barratry.
-- Marine interest, interest at any rate agreed
on for money lent upon respondentia and bottomry bonds. --
Marine law. See under Law. --
Marine league, three geographical miles. -
- Marine metal, an alloy of lead, antimony, and
mercury, made for sheathing ships. Mc Elrath. --
Marine soap, cocoanut oil soap; -- so called
because, being quite soluble in salt water, it is much used on
shipboard. -- Marine store, a store where
old canvas, ropes, etc., are bought and sold; a junk shop.
[Eng.]
Ma*rine", n. [F. marin a sea
solider, marine naval economy, a marine picture, fr. L.
marinus. See Marine, a.]
1. A solider serving on shipboard; a sea
soldier; one of a body of troops trained to do duty in the
navy.
2. The sum of naval affairs; naval economy;
the department of navigation and sea forces; the collective shipping
of a country; as, the mercantile marine.
3. A picture representing some marine
subject.
Tell that to the marines, an expression of
disbelief, the marines being regarded by sailors as
credulous. [Colloq.]
Ma*rined" (?), a. [Cf. F.
mariné.] (Her.) Having the lower part of
the body like a fish. Crabb.
Mar"i*ner (?), n. [F. marinier,
LL. marinarius. See Marine.] One whose occupation
is to assist in navigating ships; a seaman or sailor.
Chaucer.
Mariner's compass. See under
Compass.
Mar"i*ner*ship, n.
Seamanship. [Obs.] Udalt.
Mar`i*no*ra"ma (?), n. [NL., from L.
marinus marine + Gr. &?; view.] A representation of a sea
view.
Ma`ri*ol"a*ter (?), n. [See
Mariolatry.] One who worships the Virgin Mary.
Ma`ri*ol"a*try (?), n. [Gr. &?; Mary +
&?; worship.] The worship of the Virgin Mary.
Mar`i*o*nette" (?), n. [F.
marionette, prop. a dim. of Marie Mary.]
1. A puppet moved by strings, as in a puppet
show.
2. (Zoöl.) The buffel
duck.
Ma`ri*otte's law` (?). (Physics.) See
Boyle's law, under Law.
Ma`ri*po"sa lil`y (?). [Sp. mariposa a butterfly +
E. lily. So called from the gay appearance of the blossoms.]
(Bot.) One of a genus (Calochortus) of tuliplike
bulbous herbs with large, and often gaycolored, blossoms. Called also
butterfly lily. Most of them are natives of
California.
Mar"i*put (măr"&ibreve;*pŭt),
n. (Zoöl.) A species of civet; the
zoril.
Mar"ish (măr"&ibreve;sh), n.
[Cf. F. marais, LL. marascus. See Marsh.]
Low, wet ground; a marsh; a fen; a bog; a moor. [Archaic]
Milton. Tennyson.
Mar"ish, a. 1.
Moory; fenny; boggy. [Archaic]
2. Growing in marshes. "Marish
flowers." Tennyson.
Mar"i*tal (măr"&ibreve;*tal),
a. [F., fr. L. maritalis, fr. maritus
belonging to marriage, n., a husband. See
Marry, v.] Of or pertaining to a
husband; as, marital rights, duties, authority.
"Marital affection." Ayliffe.
Mar"i*ta`ted (măr"&ibreve;*tā`t&ebreve;d),
a. [L. maritatus married.] Having a
husband; married. [Obs.]
{ Ma*rit"i*mal, Ma*rit"i*male }
(m&adot;*r&ibreve;t"&ibreve;*mal), a.
See Maritime. [Obs.]
Mar"i*time (măr"&ibreve;*t&ibreve;m; 277),
a. [L. maritimus, fr. mare the sea:
cf. F. maritime. See Mere a pool.] 1.
Bordering on, or situated near, the ocean; connected with the
sea by site, interest, or power; having shipping and commerce or a
navy; as, maritime states. "A maritime town."
Addison.
2. Of or pertaining to the ocean; marine;
pertaining to navigation and naval affairs, or to shipping and
commerce by sea. "Maritime service." Sir H.
Wotton.
Maritime law. See Law. --
Maritime loan, a loan secured by bottomry or
respodentia bonds. -- Martime nations,
nations having seaports, and using the sea more or less for war
or commerce.
Mar"jo*ram (mär"j&osl;*ram),
n. [OE. majoran, F. marjolaine, LL.
marjoraca, fr. L. amaracus, amaracum, Gr.
'ama`rakos, 'ama`rakon.] (Bot.) A
genus of mintlike plants (Origanum) comprising about twenty-
five species. The sweet marjoram (O. Majorana) is pecularly
aromatic and fragrant, and much used in cookery. The wild marjoram
of Europe and America is O. vulgare, far less fragrant than
the other.
Mark (märk), n. A license of
reprisals. See Marque.
Mark, n. [See 2d Marc.]
1. An old weight and coin. See
Marc. "Lend me a mark." Chaucer.
2. The unit of monetary account of the German
Empire, equal to 23.8 cents of United States money; the equivalent of
one hundred pfennigs. Also, a silver coin of this value.
Mark, n. [OE. marke,
merke, AS. mearc; akin to D. merk, MHG.
marc, G. marke, Icel. mark, Dan.
mærke; cf. Lith. margas party-colored.
√106, 273. Cf. Remark.] 1. A
visible sign or impression made or left upon anything; esp., a line,
point, stamp, figure, or the like, drawn or impressed, so as to
attract the attention and convey some information or intimation; a
token; a trace.
The Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding
him should kill him.
Gen. iv. 15.
2. Specifically: (a) A
character or device put on an article of merchandise by the maker to
show by whom it was made; a trade-mark. (b)
A character (usually a cross) made as a substitute for a
signature by one who can not write.
The mark of the artisan is found upon the most
ancient fabrics that have come to light.
Knight.
3. A fixed object serving for guidance, as of
a ship, a traveler, a surveyor, etc.; as, a seamark, a
landmark.
4. A trace, dot, line, imprint, or
discoloration, although not regarded as a token or sign; a scratch,
scar, stain, etc.; as, this pencil makes a fine
mark.
I have some marks of yours upon my
pate.
Shak.
5. An evidence of presence, agency, or
influence; a significative token; a symptom; a trace; specifically, a
permanent impression of one's activity or character.
The confusion of tongues was a mark of
separation.
Bacon.
6. That toward which a missile is directed; a
thing aimed at; what one seeks to hit or reach.
France was a fairer mark to shoot at than
Ireland.
Davies.
Whate'er the motive, pleasure is the
mark.
Young.
7. Attention, regard, or respect.
As much in mock as mark.
Shak.
8. Limit or standard of action or fact; as,
to be within the mark; to come up to the
mark.
9. Badge or sign of honor, rank, or official
station.
In the official marks invested, you
Anon do meet the Senate.
Shak.
10. Preëminence; high position; as,
patricians of mark; a fellow of no mark.
11. (Logic) A characteristic or
essential attribute; a differential.
12. A number or other character used in
registering; as, examination marks; a mark for
tardiness.
13. Image; likeness; hence, those formed in
one's image; children; descendants. [Obs.] "All the mark
of Adam." Chaucer.
14. (Naut.) One of the bits of leather
or colored bunting which are placed upon a sounding line at intervals
of from two to five fathoms. The unmarked fathoms are called
"deeps."
A man of mark, a conspicuous or eminent
man. -- To make one's mark. (a) To
sign, as a letter or other writing, by making a cross or other
mark. (b) To make a distinct or lasting
impression on the public mind, or on affairs; to gain
distinction.
Syn. -- Impress; impression; stamp; print; trace; vestige;
track; characteristic; evidence; proof; token; badge; indication;
symptom.
Mark (märk), v. t. [imp. &
p. p. Marked (märkt); p. pr. & vb.
n. Marking.] [OE. marken, merken, AS.
mearcian, from mearc. See Mark the sign.]
1. To put a mark upon; to affix a significant
mark to; to make recognizable by a mark; as, to mark a box or
bale of merchandise; to mark clothing.
2. To be a mark upon; to designate; to
indicate; -- used literally and figuratively; as, this monument
marks the spot where Wolfe died; his courage and energy
marked him for a leader.
3. To leave a trace, scratch, scar, or other
mark, upon, or any evidence of action; as, a pencil marks
paper; his hobnails marked the floor.
4. To keep account of; to enumerate and
register; as, to mark the points in a game of billiards or
cards.
5. To notice or observe; to give attention
to; to take note of; to remark; to heed; to regard.
"Mark the perfect man." Ps. xxxvii. 37.
To mark out. (a) To
designate, as by a mark; to select; as, the ringleaders were
marked out for punishment. (b) To
obliterate or cancel with a mark; as, to mark out an item in
an account. -- To mark time (Mil.),
to keep the time of a marching step by moving the legs
alternately without advancing.
Syn. -- To note; remark; notice; observe; regard; heed;
show; evince; indicate; point out; betoken; denote; characterize;
stamp; imprint; impress; brand.
Mark, v. i. To take particular
notice; to observe critically; to note; to remark.
Mark, I pray you, and see how this man seeketh
mischief.
1 Kings xx. 7.
Mark"a*ble (?), a.
Remarkable. [Obs.] Sandys.
Marked (märkt), a. Designated
or distinguished by, or as by, a mark; hence; noticeable;
conspicuous; as, a marked card; a marked coin; a
marked instance. -- Mark"ed*ly (#),
adv. J. S. Mill.
A marked man, a man who is noted by a
community, or by a part of it, as, for excellence or depravity; --
usually with an unfavorable suggestion.
Mar*kee" (mär*kē"), n.
See Marquee.
Mark"er (?), n. One who or that
which marks. Specifically: (a) One who
keeps account of a game played, as of billiards.
(b) A counter used in card playing and other
games. (c) (Mil.) The soldier who
forms the pilot of a wheeling column, or marks the direction of an
alignment. (d) An attachment to a sewing
machine for marking a line on the fabric by creasing it.
Mar"ket (?), n. [Akin to D.
markt, OHG. markāt, merkāt, G.
markt; all fr.L. mercatus trade, market place, fr.
mercari, p. p. mercatus, to trade, traffic,
merx, mercis, ware, merchandise, prob. akin to
merere to deserve, gain, acquire: cf. F. marché.
See Merit, and cf. Merchant, Mart.]
1. A meeting together of people, at a stated
time and place, for the purpose of traffic (as in cattle, provisions,
wares, etc.) by private purchase and sale, and not by auction; as, a
market is held in the town every week.
He is wit's peddler; and retails his wares
At wakes, and wassails, meetings, markets, fairs.
Shak.
Three women and a goose make a
market.
Old Saying.
2. A public place (as an open space in a
town) or a large building, where a market is held; a market place or
market house; esp., a place where provisions are sold.
There is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a
pool.
John v. 2.
3. An opportunity for selling anything;
demand, as shown by price offered or obtainable; a town, region, or
country, where the demand exists; as, to find a market for
one's wares; there is no market for woolen cloths in that
region; India is a market for English goods.
There is a third thing to be considered: how a
market can be created for produce, or how production can be
limited to the capacities of the market.
J. S.
Mill.
4. Exchange, or purchase and sale; traffic;
as, a dull market; a slow market.
5. The price for which a thing is sold in a
market; market price. Hence: Value; worth.
What is a man
If his chief good and market of his time
Be but to sleep and feed ?
Shak.
6. (Eng. Law) The privelege granted to
a town of having a public market.
&fist; Market is often used adjectively, or in forming
compounds of obvious meaning; as, market basket, market
day, market folk, market house, marketman,
market place, market price, market rate,
market wagon, market woman, and the like.
Market beater, a swaggering bully; a noisy
braggart. [Obs.] Chaucer. -- Market
bell, a bell rung to give notice that buying and
selling in a market may begin. [Eng.] Shak. --
Market cross, a cross set up where a market is
held. Shak. -- Market garden, a
garden in which vegetables are raised for market. --
Market gardening, the raising of vegetables for
market. -- Market place, an open square or
place in a town where markets or public sales are held. --
Market town, a town that has the privilege of a
stated public market.
Mar"ket (?), v. i. [imp. & p.
p. Marketed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Marketing.] To deal in a market; to buy or sell; to make
bargains for provisions or goods.
Mar"ket, v. t. To expose for sale
in a market; to traffic in; to sell in a market, and in an extended
sense, to sell in any manner; as, most of the farmes have
marketed their crops.
Industrious merchants meet, and market
there
The world's collected wealth.
Southey.
Mar"ket*a*ble (?), a.
1. Fit to be offered for sale in a market; such
as may be justly and lawfully sold; as, dacayed provisions are not
marketable.
2. Current in market; as, marketable
value.
3. Wanted by purchasers; salable; as, furs
are not marketable in that country.
Mar"ket*a*ble*ness, n. Quality of
being marketable.
Mar"ket*er (?), n. One who attends
a market to buy or sell; one who carries goods to market.
Mar"ket*ing, n. 1.
The act of selling or of purchasing in, or as in, a
market.
2. Articles in, or from, a market;
supplies.
Mar"ket*stead (?), n. [Market +
stead a place.] A market place. [Obs.]
Drayton.
||Mark"hoor` (?), n. [Per.
mār-kh&?;r snake eater.] (Zoöl.) A
large wild goat (Capra megaceros), having huge flattened
spiral horns. It inhabits the mountains of Northern India and
Cashmere.
Mark"ing (?), n. The act of one
who, or that which, marks; the mark or marks made; arrangement or
disposition of marks or coloring; as, the marking of a bird's
plumage.
Marking ink, indelible ink, because used in
marking linen. -- Marking nut (Bot.),
the nut of the Semecarpus Anacardium, an East Indian tree.
The shell of the nut yields a blackish resinous juice used for
marking cotton cloth, and an oil prepared from it is used for
rheumatism.
Mar"kis (?), n. A marquis.
[Obs.] Chaucer.
Mar"kis*esse (?), n. A
marchioness. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Mark"man (?), n. A marksman.
[Obs.] Shak.
Marks"man (?), n.; pl.
Marksmen (#). [Earlier markman; mark
+ man.] 1. One skillful to hit a mark
with a missile; one who shoots well.
2. (Law) One who makes his mark,
instead of writing his name, in signing documents.
Burrill.
Marks"man*ship, n. Skill of a
marksman.
Marl (?), v. t. [See Marline.]
(Naut.) To cover, as part of a rope, with marline,
marking a pecular hitch at each turn to prevent unwinding.
Marling spike. (Naut.) See under
Marline.
Marl, n. [OF. marle, F.
marne, LL. margila, dim. of L. marga marl.
Originally a Celtic word, according to Pliny, xvii. 7: "Quod genus
terræ Galli et Britanni margam vocant." √274.]
A mixed earthy substance, consisting of carbonate of lime, clay,
and sand, in very variable proportions, and accordingly designated as
calcareous, clayey, or sandy. See Greensand.
Marl, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Marled (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Marling.] [Cf. F. marner. See Marl,
n.] To overspread or manure with marl; as, to
marl a field.
Mar*la"ceous (?), a. Resembling
marl; partaking of the qualities of marl.
Mar"lin (?), n. (Zoöl.)
The American great marbled godwit (Limosa fedoa). Applied
also to the red-breasted godwit (Limosa
hæmatica).
Hook-billed marlin, a curlew.
Mar"line (?), n. [LG. marlien,
marling, or D. marling, marlijn, fr. D.
marren to tie, prob. akin to E. moor, v., and
lijn line: cf.F. merlin. See Moor,
v., Line.] (Naut.) A small line
composed of two strands a little twisted, used for winding around
ropes and cables, to prevent their being weakened by
fretting.
Marline spike, Marling spike
(Naut.), an iron tool tapering to a point, used to
separate the strands of a rope in splicing and in marling. It has an
eye in the thick end to which a lanyard is attached. See
Fid. [Written also marlin spike] --
Marline-spike bird. [The name alludes to the long
middle tail feathers.] (Zoöl.) (a) A
tropic bird. (b) A jager, or skua
gull.
Mar"line (?), v. t. [F.
merliner.] (Naut.) To wind marline around; as, to
marline a rope.
Marl"ite (?), n. [Cf. F.
marlite. See Marl, n.] (Min.)
A variety of marl.
Mar*lit"ic (?), a. Partaking of
the qualites of marlite.
Marl"pit` (?), n. Apit where marl
is dug.
Marl"stone` (?), n. (Geol.)
A sandy calcareous straum, containing, or impregnated with,
iron, and lying between the upper and lower Lias of
England.
Marl"y (?), a.
[Compar. Marlier (?);
superl. Marliest.] Consisting or
partaking of marl; resembling marl; abounding with marl.
Mar"ma*lade (?), n. [F.
marmelade, Pg. marmelada, fr. marmélo a
quince, fr. L. melimelum honey apple, Gr. &?; a sweet apple,
an apple grafted on a quince; &?; honey + &?; apple. Cf.
Mellifluous, Melon.] A preserve or confection made
of the pulp of fruit, as the quince, pear, apple, orange, etc.,
boiled with sugar, and brought to a jamlike consistence.
Marmalade tree (Bot.), a sapotaceous
tree (Lucuma mammosa) of the West Indies and Tropical America.
It has large obovate leaves and an egg-shaped fruit from three to
five inches long, containing a pleasant-flavored pulp and a single
large seed. The fruit is called marmalade, or natural
marmalade, from its consistency and flavor.
Mar"ma*let` (?), n. See
Marmalade. [Obs.]
Mar"ma*tite (?), n. [Cf. F.
marmatite.] (Min.) A ferruginous variety of
shalerite or zinc blende, nearly black in color.
Mar"mo*lite (-m&osl;*līt), n.
[Gr. maramai`rein to sparkle + -lite.]
(Min.) A thin, laminated variety of serpentine, usually
of a pale green color.
Mar`mo*ra"ceous (?), a. [L.
marmor marble. See Marble.] Pertaining to, or
like, marble.
{ Mar"mo*rate (?), Mar"mo*ra`ted (?), }
a. [L. marmoratus, p. p. of marmorate
to overlay with marble, fr. marmor marble.] Variegated
like marble; covered or overlaid with marble. [R.]
Mar`mo*ra"tion (?), n. [L.
marmoratio.] A covering or incrusting with marble; a
casing of marble; a variegating so as to resemble marble.
[R.]
||Mar`mo*ra`tum o"pus (?). [L. See Marmorate, and
Opus.] (Arch.) A kind of hard finish for
plasterwork, made of plaster of Paris and marble dust, and capable of
taking a high polish.
{ Mar*mo"re*al (?), Mar*mo"re*an (?), }
a. [L. marmoreus, fr. marmor marble:
cf. F. marmoréen. See Marble.] Pertaining
to, or resembling, marble; made of marble.
||Mar`mo*ro"sis (?), n. [NL.]
(Geol.) The metamorphism of limestone, that is, its
conversion into marble. Geikie.
Mar"mose` (?), n. [F.]
(Zoöl.) A species of small opossum (Didelphus
murina) ranging from Mexico to Brazil.
Mar"mo*set` (?), n. [F.
marmouset a grotesque figure, an ugly little boy, prob. fr.
LL. marmoretum, fr. L. marmor marble. Perhaps confused
with marmot. See Marble.] (Zoöl.) Any
one of numerous species of small South American monkeys of the genera
Hapale and Midas, family Hapalidæ. They
have long soft fur, and a hairy, nonprehensile tail. They are often
kept as pets. Called also squirrel monkey.
Mar"mot (?), n. [It. marmotta,
marmotto, prob. fr. L. mus montanus, or mus
montis, lit., mountain mouse or rat. See Mountain, and
Mouse.] 1. (Zoöl.) Any rodent
of the genus Arctomys. The common European marmot (A.
marmotta) is about the size of a rabbit, and inhabits the higher
regions of the Alps and Pyrenees. The bobac is another European
species. The common American species (A. monax) is the
woodchuck.
2. Any one of several species of ground
squirrels or gophers of the genus Spermophilus; also, the
prairie dog.
Marmot squirrel (Zoöl.), a
ground squirrel or spermophile. -- Prairie
marmot. See Prairie dog.
Mar"mottes oil` (?). A fine oil obtained from the
kernel of Prunus brigantiaca. It is used instead of olive or
almond oil. De Colange.
Mar"mo*zet` (?), n. See
Marmoset.
Ma*rone" (?), n. See
Maroon, the color.
Mar"o*nite (?), n.; pl.
Maronites (&?;). (Eccl. Hist.) One of a
body of nominal Christians, who speak the Arabic language, and reside
on Mount Lebanon and in different parts of Syria. They take their
name from one Maron of the 6th century.
Ma*roon" (?), n. [Written also
marroon.] [F. marron, abbrev. fr. Sp. cimarron
wild, unruly, from cima the summit of a mountain; hence,
negro cimarron a runaway negro that lives in the mountains.]
In the West Indies and Guiana, a fugitive slave, or a free
negro, living in the mountains.
Ma*roon", v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Marooned (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Marooning.] [See Maroon a fugitive slave.] To put
(a person) ashore on a desolate island or coast and leave him to his
fate.
Marooning party, a social excursion party
that sojourns several days on the shore or in some retired place; a
prolonged picnic. [Southern U. S.] Bartlett.
Ma*roon" (m&adot;*r&oomac;n"), a. [F.
marron chestnut-colored, fr. marron a large French
chestnut, It. marrone; cf. LGr. ma`raon. Cf.
Marron.] Having the color called maroon. See 4th
Maroon.
Maroon lake, lake prepared from madder, and
distinguished for its transparency and the depth and durability of
its color.
Ma*roon", n. 1. A
brownish or dull red of any description, esp. of a scarlet cast
rather than approaching crimson or purple.
2. An explosive shell. See Marron,
3.
Mar"plot` (?), n. One who, by his
officious interference, mars or frustrates a design or
plot.
Marque (?), n. [F. marque, in
lettre de marque letter of marque, a commission with which the
commandant of every armed vessel was obliged to be provided, under
penalty of being considered a pirate or corsair; marque here
prob. meaning, border, boundary (the letter of marque being a
permission to go beyond the border), and of German origin. See
March border.] (Law) A license to pass the limits
of a jurisdiction, or boundary of a country, for the purpose of
making reprisals.
Letters of marque, Letters of marque and
reprisal, a license or extraordinary commission granted
by a government to a private person to fit out a privateer or armed
ship to cruise at sea and make prize of the enemy's ships and
merchandise. The ship so commissioned is sometimes called a letter
of marque.
Mar*quee" (?), n. [F. marquise,
misunderstood as a plural; prob. orig., tent of the marchioness. See
Marquis.] A large field tent; esp., one adapted to the
use of an officer of high rank. [Written also
markee.]
Mar"quess (?), n. [Cf. Sp.
marques. See Marquis.] A marquis.
Lady marquess, a marchioness. [Obs.]
Shak.
Mar"quet*ry (?), n. [F.
marqueterie, from marqueter to checker, inlay, fr.
marque mark, sign; of German origin. See Mark a sign.]
Inlaid work; work inlaid with pieces of wood, shells, ivory, and
the like, of several colors.
Mar"quis (?), n. [F. marquis,
OF. markis, marchis, LL. marchensis; of German
origin; cf. G. mark bound, border, march, OHG. marcha.
See March border, and cf. Marchioness, Marquee,
Marquess.] A nobleman in England, France, and Germany, of
a rank next below that of duke. Originally, the marquis was an
officer whose duty was to guard the marches or frontiers of the
kingdom. The office has ceased, and the name is now a mere title
conferred by patent.
Mar"quis*ate (?), n. [Cf. F.
marquisat.] The seigniory, dignity, or lordship of a
marquis; the territory governed by a marquis.
Mar"quis*dom (?), n. A
marquisate. [Obs.] "Nobles of the marquisdom of Saluce."
Holinshed.
||Mar`quise" (?), n. [F. See
Marquis, and cf. Marquee.] The wife of a marquis;
a marchioness.
Mar"quis*ship (?), n. A
marquisate.
Mar"ram (?), n. (Bot.) A
coarse grass found on sandy beaches (Ammophila arundinacea).
See Beach grass, under Beach.
Mar"rer (?), n. One who mars or
injures.
Mar"ri*a*ble (?), a. [Cf. F.
mariable.] Marriageable. [R.]
Coleridge.
Mar"riage (?), n. [OE. mariage,
F. mariage. See Marry, v. t.]
1. The act of marrying, or the state of being
married; legal union of a man and a woman for life, as husband and
wife; wedlock; matrimony.
Marriage is honorable in all.
Heb. xiii. 4.
2. The marriage vow or contract. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
3. A feast made on the occasion of a
marriage.
The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king
which made a marriage for his son.
Matt. xxii.
2.
4. Any intimate or close union.
Marriage brokage. (a) The
business of bringing about marriages. (b)
The payment made or demanded for the procurement of a
marriage. -- Marriage favors, knots of
white ribbons, or bunches of white flowers, worn at weddings. --
Marriage settlement (Law), a settlement
of property in view, and in consideration, of marriage.
Syn. -- Matrimony; wedlock; wedding; nuptials. --
Marriage, Matrimony, Wedlock. Marriage is
properly the act which unites the two parties, and
matrimony the state into which they enter.
Marriage is, however, often used for the state as well as the
act. Wedlock is the old Anglo-Saxon term for
matrimony.
Mar`riage*a*bil"i*ty (?), n. The
quality or state of being marriageable.
Mar"riage*a*ble (?), a. Fit for,
or capable of, marriage; of an age at which marriage is
allowable. -- Mar"riage*a*ble*ness,
n.
Mar"ried (?), a. 1.
Being in the state of matrimony; wedded; as, a married
man or woman.
2. Of or pertaining to marriage; connubial;
as, the married state.
Mar"ri*er (?), n. One who
marries.
Mar*ron" (?), n. [See Maroon,
a.]
1. A large chestnut. [Obs.]
Holland.
2. A chestnut color; maroon.
3. (Pyrotechny & Mil.) A paper or
pasteboard box or shell, wound about with strong twine, filled with
an explosive, and ignited with a fuse, -- used to make a noise like a
cannon. [Written also maroon.]
Mar*roon" (?), n. & a. Same as 1st
Maroon.
Mar"rot (?), n. (Zoöl.)
(a) The razor-billed auk. See Auk.
(b) The common guillemot.
(c) The puffin. [Prov. Eng.] [Written also
marrott, and morrot.]
Mar"row (?), n. [OE. marou,
mary, maruh, AS. mearg, mearh; akin to
OS. marg, D. merg, G. Mark, OHG. marg,
marag, Icel. mergr, Sw. merg, Dan. marv,
Skr. majjan; cf. Skr. majj to sink, L. mergere.
√274 Cf. Merge.]
1. (Anat.) The tissue which fills the
cavities of most bones; the medulla. In the larger cavities it is
commonly very fatty, but in the smaller cavities it is much less
fatty, and red or reddish in color.
2. The essence; the best part.
It takes from our achievements . . .
The pith and marrow of our attribute.
Shak.
3. [OE. maru, maro; -- perh. a
different word; cf. Gael. maraon together.] One of a
pair; a match; a companion; an intimate associate. [Scot.]
Chopping and changing I can not commend,
With thief or his marrow, for fear of ill end.
Tusser.
Marrow squash (Bot.), a name given to
several varieties of squash, esp. to the Boston marrow, an
ovoid fruit, pointed at both ends, and with reddish yellow flesh, and
to the vegetable marrow, a variety of an ovoid form, and
having a soft texture and fine grain resembling marrow. --
Spinal marrow. (Anat.) See Spinal
cord, under Spinal.
Mar"row (?), v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Marrowed (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Marrowing.] To fill with, or as with, marrow or fat; to
glut.
Mar"row*bone` (?), n. A bone
containing marrow; pl. ludicrously, knee bones or knees; as,
to get down on one's marrowbones, i. e., to
kneel.
Mar"row*fat (?), n. A rich but
late variety of pea.
Mar"row*ish, a. Of the nature of,
or like, marrow.
Mar"row*less, a. Destitute of
marrow.
Mar"row*y (?), a. Full of marrow;
pithy.
||Mar*ru"bi*um (?), n. [L.]
(Bot.) A genus of bitter aromatic plants, sometimes used
in medicine; hoarhound.
Mar"ry (?), v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Married (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Marrying.] [OE. marien, F. marier, L.
maritare, fr. maritus husband, fr. mas,
maris, a male. See Male, and cf. Maritral.]
1. To unite in wedlock or matrimony; to perform
the ceremony of joining, as a man and a woman, for life; to
constitute (a man and a woman) husband and wife according to the laws
or customs of the place.
Tell him that he shall marry the couple
himself.
Gay.
2. To join according to law, (a man) to a
woman as his wife, or (a woman) to a man as her husband. See the Note
to def. 4.
A woman who had been married to her twenty-
fifth husband, and being now a widow, was prohibited to
marry.
Evelyn.
3. To dispose of in wedlock; to give away as
wife.
Mæcenas took the liberty to tell him [Augustus]
that he must either marry his daughter [Julia] to Agrippa, or
take away his life.
Bacon.
4. To take for husband or wife. See the Note
below.
&fist; We say, a man is married to or marries a
woman; or, a woman is married to or marries a man. Both
of these uses are equally well authorized; but given in
marriage is said only of the woman.
They got him [the Duke of Monmouth] . . . to declare
in writing, that the last king [Charles II.] told him he was never
married to his mother.
Bp. Lloyd.
5. Figuratively, to unite in the closest and
most endearing relation.
Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord; for I am
married unto you.
Jer. iii. 14.
To marry ropes. (Naut.)
(a) To place two ropes along side of each other
so that they may be grasped and hauled on at the same time.
(b) To join two ropes end to end so that both
will pass through a block. Ham. Nav. Encyc.
Mar"ry, v. i. To enter into the
conjugal or connubial state; to take a husband or a wife.
I will, therefore, that the younger women
marry.
1 Tim. v. 14.
Marrying man, a man disposed to marry.
[Colloq.]
Mar"ry, interj. Indeed ! in truth
! -- a term of asseveration said to have been derived from the
practice of swearing by the Virgin Mary. [Obs.]
Shak.
Mars (?), n. [L. Mars, gen.
Martis, archaic Mavors, gen. Mavortis.]
1. (Rom. Myth.) The god of war and
husbandry.
2. (Astron.) One of the planets of the
solar system, the fourth in order from the sun, or the next beyond
the earth, having a diameter of about 4,200 miles, a period of 687
days, and a mean distance of 141,000,000 miles. It is conspicuous for
the redness of its light.
3. (Alchemy) The metallic element
iron, the symbol of which ♂ was the same as that of the planet
Mars. [Archaic] Chaucer.
Mars brown, a bright, somewhat yellowish,
brown.
Mar*sa"la (?), n. [It., fr.
Marsala, in Sicyly.] A kind of wine exported from Marsala
in Sicily.
||Mars*de"ni*a (?), n. [NL. From W.
Marsden, an English author.] (Bot.) A genus of
plants of the Milkweed family, mostly woody climbers with fragrant
flowers, several species of which furnish valuable fiber, and one
species (Marsdenia tinctoria) affords indigo.
{ ||Mar`sei`llais" (?), a. m.
||Mar`sei`llaise" (?), a. f. }[F.] Of
or pertaining to Marseilles, in France, or to its
inhabitants.
Marseillaise hymn, or The
Marseillaise, the national anthem of France, popularly
so called. It was composed in 1792, by Rouget de l'Isle, an officer
then stationed at Strasburg. In Paris it was sung for the first time
by the band of men who came from Marseilles to aid in the revolution
of August 10, 1792; whence the name.
{ ||Mar`sei`llais", n. m.
||Mar`sei`llaise", n. f. }[F.] A
native or inhabitant of Marseilles.
Mar*seilles" (?), n. A general
term for certain kinds of fabrics, which are formed of two series of
threads interlacing each other, thus forming double cloth, quilted in
the loom; -- so named because first made in Marseilles,
France.
Marsh (?), n. [OE. mersch, AS.
mersc, fr. mere lake. See Mere pool, and cf.
Marish, Morass.] A tract of soft wet land,
commonly covered partially or wholly with water; a fen; a swamp; a
morass. [Written also marish.]
Marsh asphodel (Bot.), a plant
(Nartheeium ossifragum) with linear equitant leaves, and a
raceme of small white flowers; -- called also bog
asphodel. -- Marsh cinquefoil
(Bot.), a plant (Potentilla palustris) having
purple flowers, and found growing in marshy places; marsh five-
finger. -- Marsh elder. (Bot.)
(a) The guelder-rose or cranberry tree
(Viburnum Opulus). (b) In the United
States, a composite shrub growing in salt marshes (Iva
frutescens). -- Marsh five-finger.
(Bot.) See Marsh cinquefoil (above). --
Marsh gas. (Chem.) See under
Gas. -- Marsh grass (Bot.),
a genus (Spartina) of coarse grasses growing in marshes; -
- called also cord grass. The tall S. cynosuroides is
not good for hay unless cut very young. The low S. juncea is a
common component of salt hay. -- Marsh harrier
(Zoöl.), a European hawk or harrier (Circus
æruginosus); -- called also marsh hawk, moor
hawk, moor buzzard, puttock. -- Marsh
hawk. (Zoöl.) (a) A hawk or
harrier (Circus cyaneus), native of both America and Europe.
The adults are bluish slate above, with a white rump. Called also
hen harrier, and mouse hawk. (b)
The marsh harrier. -- Marsh hen
(Zoöl.), a rail; esp., Rallus elegans of
fresh-water marshes, and R. longirostris of salt-water
marshes. -- Marsh mallow (Bot.), a
plant of the genus Althæa ( A. officinalis)
common in marshes near the seashore, and whose root is much used in
medicine as a demulcent. -- Marsh marigold.
(Bot.) See in the Vocabulary. -- Marsh
pennywort (Bot.), any plant of the umbelliferous
genus Hydrocotyle; low herbs with roundish leaves, growing in
wet places; -- called also water pennywort. --
Marsh quail (Zoöl.), the meadow
lark. -- Marsh rosemary (Bot.), a
plant of the genus Statice (S. Limonium), common in
salt marshes. Its root is powerfully astringent, and is sometimes
used in medicine. Called also sea lavender. --
Marsh samphire (Bot.), a plant
(Salicornia herbacea) found along seacoasts. See
Glasswort. -- Marsh St. John's-wort
(Bot.), an American herb (Elodes Virginica) with
small opposite leaves and flesh-colored flowers. --
Marsh tea. (Bot.). Same as Labrador
tea. -- Marsh trefoil. (Bot.)
Same as Buckbean. -- Marsh wren
(Zoöl.), any species of small American wrens of the
genus Cistothorus, and allied genera. They chiefly inhabit
salt marshes.
Mar"shal (?), n. [OE. mareschal,
OF. mareschal, F. maréchal, LL.
mariscalcus, from OHG. marah-scalc (G.
marschall); marah horse + scalc servant (akin to
AS. scealc, Goth. skalks). F. maréchal
signifies, a marshal, and a farrier. See Mare horse, and cf.
Seneschal.]
1. Originally, an officer who had the care of
horses; a groom. [Obs.]
2. An officer of high rank, charged with the
arrangement of ceremonies, the conduct of operations, or the
like; as, specifically: (a) One who goes
before a prince to declare his coming and provide entertainment; a
harbinger; a pursuivant. (b) One who
regulates rank and order at a feast or any other assembly, directs
the order of procession, and the like. (c)
The chief officer of arms, whose duty it was, in ancient times,
to regulate combats in the lists. Johnson.
(d) (France) The highest military
officer. In other countries of Europe a marshal is a military
officer of high rank, and called field marshal.
(e) (Am. Law) A ministerial officer,
appointed for each judicial district of the United States, to execute
the process of the courts of the United States, and perform various
duties, similar to those of a sheriff. The name is also sometimes
applied to certain police officers of a city.
Earl marshal of England, the eighth officer
of state; an honorary title, and personal, until made hereditary in
the family of the Duke of Norfolk. During a vacancy in the office of
high constable, the earl marshal has jurisdiction in the court of
chivalry. Brande & C. -- Earl marshal of
Scotland, an officer who had command of the cavalry
under the constable. This office was held by the family of Keith, but
forfeited by rebellion in 1715. -- Knight
marshal, or Marshal of the King's house,
formerly, in England, the marshal of the king's house, who was
authorized to hear and determine all pleas of the Crown, to punish
faults committed within the verge, etc. His court was called the
Court of Marshalsea. -- Marshal of the Queen's
Bench, formerly the title of the officer who had the
custody of the Queen's bench prison in Southwark. Mozley &
W.
Mar"shal, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Marshaled (?) or Marshalled; p.
pr. & vb. n. Marshaling or Marshalling.]
1. To dispose in order; to arrange in a
suitable manner; as, to marshal troops or an army.
And marshaling the heroes of his name
As, in their order, next to light they came.
Dryden.
2. To direct, guide, or lead.
Thou marshalest me the way that I was
going.
Shak.
3. (Her.) To dispose in due order, as
the different quarterings on an escutcheon, or the different crests
when several belong to an achievement.
Mar"shal*er (?), n. [Written also
marshaller.] One who marshals.
Mar"shal*ing, n. [Written also
marshalling.]
1. The act of arranging in due
order.
2. (Her.) The arrangement of an
escutcheon to exhibit the alliances of the owner.
Marshaling of assets (Law), the
arranging or ranking of assets in due order of
administration.
Mar"shal*sea (?), n. [Marshal +
OE. se a seat. See See a seat.] The court or seat
of a marshal; hence, the prison in Southwark, belonging to the
marshal of the king's household. [Eng.]
Court of Marshalsea, a court formerly held
before the steward and marshal of the king's house to administer
justice between the king's domestic servants.
Blackstone.
Mar"shal*ship, n. The office of a
marshal.
{ Marsh"bank`er (?), Marse"bank`er (?), }
n. (Zoöl.) The menhaden.
Marsh"i*ness (märsh"&ibreve;*n&ebreve;s),
n. The state or condition of being
marshy.
Marsh mar"i*gold (măr"&ibreve;*g&osl;ld).
(Bot.) A perennial plant of the genus Caltha
(C. palustris), growing in wet places and bearing bright
yellow flowers. In the United States it is used as a pot herb under
the name of cowslip. See Cowslip.
Marsh"y (-&ybreve;), a. [E.
Marsh.]
1. Resembling a marsh; wet; boggy;
fenny.
2. Pertaining to, or produced in, marshes;
as, a marshy weed. Dryden.
Mar"si*po*branch` (?), n.
(Zoöl.) One of the Marsipobranchia.
||Mar"si*po*bran"chi*a (?), n. pl.
[NL., fr. Gr. &?; a pouch + &?; a gill.] (Zoöl.) A
class of Vertebrata, lower than fishes, characterized by their
purselike gill cavities, cartilaginous skeletons, absence of limbs,
and a suckerlike mouth destitute of jaws. It includes the lampreys
and hagfishes. See Cyclostoma, and Lamprey. Called also
Marsipobranchiata, and Marsipobranchii.
Mar*su"pi*al (mär*sū"p&ibreve;*al),
a. [Cf. F. marsupial.]
1. (Zoöl.) Having a pouch for
carrying the immature young; of or pertaining to the
Marsupialia.
2. (Anat. & Zoöl.) Of or
pertaining to a marsupium; as, the marsupial bones.
Marsupial frog. (Zoöl.) See
Nototrema.
Mar*su"pi*al, n. (Zoöl.)
One of the Marsupialia.
||Mar*su`pi*a"li*a (-ā"l&ibreve;*&adot;),
n. pl. [NL., fr. L. marsupium a pouch, bag,
purse, Gr. marsy`pion, dim. of ma`rsypos,
ma`rsipos.] (Zoöl.) A subclass of
Mammalia, including nearly all the mammals of Australia and the
adjacent islands, together with the opossums of America. They differ
from ordinary mammals in having the corpus callosum very small, in
being implacental, and in having their young born while very
immature. The female generally carries the young for some time after
birth in an external pouch, or marsupium. Called also
Marsupiata.
{ Mar*su`pi*a"li*an (?), Mar*su"pi*an (?), }
n. (Zoöl.) One of the
Marsupialia.
Mar*su"pi*ate (?), a.
(Zoöl.) Related to or resembling the marsupials;
furnished with a pouch for the young, as the marsupials, and also
some fishes and Crustacea.
||Mar*su"pi*on (?), n. [NL.] Same
as Marsupium.
Mar"su*pite (?), n. [See
Marsupial.] (Paleon.) A fossil crinoid of the
genus Marsupites, resembling a purse in form.
||Mar*su"pi*um (?), n.; pl.
Marsupia (#). [L., a pouch], (Anat. &
Zoöl.) (a) The pouch, formed by a fold
of the skin of the abdomen, in which marsupials carry their young;
also, a pouch for similar use in other animals, as certain
Crustacea. (b) The pecten in the eye of
birds and reptiles. See Pecten.
Mart (märt), n. [Contr. fr.
market.]
1. A market.
Where has commerce such a mart . . . as London
?
Cowper.
2. A bargain. [Obs.] Shak.
Mart, v. t. To buy or sell in, or
as in, a mart. [Obs.]
To sell and mart your officer for gold
To undeservers.
Shak.
Mart, v. t. To traffic.
[Obs.] Shak.
Mart, n. [See Mars.]
1. The god Mars. [Obs.]
2. Battle; contest. [Obs.]
Fairfax.
Mar"ta*gon (?), n. [Cf. F. & Sp.
martagon, It. martagone.] (Bot.) A lily
(Lilium Martagon) with purplish red flowers, found in Europe
and Asia.
Mar"tel (?), v. i. [F. marteler,
fr. martel, marteau, hammer, a dim. fr. L.
martulus, marculus, dim. of marcus hammer. Cf.
March to step.] To make a blow with, or as with, a
hammer. [Obs.] Spenser.
||Mar`tel` de fer" (?). [OF., hammer of iron.] A
weapon resembling a hammer, often having one side of the head
pointed; -- used by horsemen in the Middle Ages to break armor.
Fairholt.
Mar"te*line (?), n. [F.] A small
hammer used by marble workers and sculptors.
Mar*tel"lo tow`er (?). [It. martello hammer. The
name was orig. given to towers erected on the coasts of Sicily and
Sardinia for protection against the pirates in the time of Charles
the Fifth, which prob. orig. contained an alarm bell to be struck
with a hammer. See Martel.] (Fort.) A building of
masonry, generally circular, usually erected on the seacoast, with a
gun on the summit mounted on a traversing platform, so as to be fired
in any direction.
&fist; The English borrowed the name of the tower from Corsica in
1794.
Mar"ten (mär"t&ebreve;n), n.
(Zoöl.) A bird. See Martin.
Mar"ten, n. [From older martern,
marter, martre, F. martre, marte, LL.
martures (pl.), fr. L. martes; akin to AS.
mearð, meard, G. marder, OHG. mardar,
Icel. mörðr. Cf. Foumart.] 1.
(Zoöl.) Any one of several fur-bearing carnivores of
the genus Mustela, closely allied to the sable. Among the
more important species are the European beech, or stone, marten
(Mustela foina); the pine marten (M. martes); and the
American marten, or sable (M. Americana), which some
zoölogists consider only a variety of the Russian
sable.
2. The fur of the marten, used for hats,
muffs, etc.
Mar"tern (?), n. (Zoöl.)
Same as Marten. [Obs.]
Mar"-text` (?), n. A blundering
preacher.
Mar"tial (?), a. [F., fr. L.
martialis of or belonging to Mars, the god of war. Cf.
March the month.]
1. Of, pertaining to, or suited for, war;
military; as, martial music; a martial
appearance. "Martial equipage." Milton.
2. Practiced in, or inclined to, war;
warlike; brave.
But peaceful kings, o'er martial people
set,
Each other's poise and counterbalance are.
Dryden.
3. Belonging to war, or to an army and navy;
-- opposed to civil; as, martial law; a court-
martial.
4. Pertaining to, or resembling, the god, or
the planet, Mars. Sir T. Browne.
5. (Old Chem. & Old Med.) Pertaining
to, or containing, iron; chalybeate; as, martial
preparations. [Archaic]
Martial flowers (Med.), a reddish
crystalline salt of iron; the ammonio-chloride of iron. [Obs.] -
- Martial law, the law administered by the
military power of a government when it has superseded the civil
authority in time of war, or when the civil authorities are unable to
enforce the laws. It is distinguished from military law, the
latter being the code of rules for the regulation of the army and
navy alone, either in peace or in war.
Syn. -- Martial, Warlike. Martial
refers more to war in action, its array, its attendants, etc.;
as, martial music, a martial appearance, a
martial array, courts-martial, etc. Warlike
describes the feeling or temper which leads to war, and the adjuncts
of war; as, a warlike nation, warlike indication, etc.
The two words are often used without discrimination.
Mar"tial*ism (?), n. The quality
of being warlike; exercises suitable for war. [Obs.]
Mar"tial*ist, n. A warrior.
[Obs.] Fuller.
Mar"tial*ize (?), v. t. [imp. &
p. p. Martialized (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Martializing (?).] To render warlike; as, to
martialize a people.
Mar"tial*ly, adv. In a martial
manner.
Mar"tial*ness, n. The quality of
being martial.
Mar"tin (?), n. (Stone Working)
[Etymol. uncertain.] A perforated stone-faced runner for
grinding.
Mar"tin, n. [F. martin, from the
proper name Martin. Cf. Martlet.] (Zoöl.)
One of several species of swallows, usually having the tail less
deeply forked than the tail of the common swallows. [Written
also marten.]
&fist; The American purple martin, or bee martin (Progne subis,
or purpurea), and the European house, or window, martin
(Hirundo, or Chelidon, urbica), are the best known
species.
Bank martin. (a) The bank
swallow. See under Bank. (b) The
fairy martin. See under Fairy. -- Bee
martin. (a) The purple martin.
(b) The kingbird. -- Sand
martin, the bank swallow.
Mar"ti*net` (?), n. [So called from an
officer of that name in the French army under Louis XIV. Cf.
Martin the bird, Martlet.] In military language, a
strict disciplinarian; in general, one who lays stress on a rigid
adherence to the details of discipline, or to forms and fixed
methods. [Hence, the word is commonly employed in a
depreciatory sense.]
Mar"ti*net`, n. [F.]
(Zoöl.) The martin.
Mar`ti*ne"ta (?), n. [Cf. Sp.
martinete.] (Zoöl.) A species of tinamou
(Calopezus elegans), having a long slender crest.
Mar"ti*net`ism (?), n. The
principles or practices of a martinet; rigid adherence to discipline,
etc.
{ Mar"tin*gale (?), Mar"tin*gal (?), }
n. [F. martingale; cf. It. martingala
a sort of hose, martingale, Sp. martingala a greave, cuish,
martingale, Sp. almártaga a kind of bridle.]
1. A strap fastened to a horse's girth, passing
between his fore legs, and fastened to the bit, or now more commonly
ending in two rings, through which the reins pass. It is intended to
hold down the head of the horse, and prevent him from
rearing.
2. (Naut.) A lower stay of rope or
chain for the jib boom or flying jib boom, fastened to, or reeved
through, the dolphin striker. Also, the dolphin striker
itself.
3. (Gambling) The act of doubling, at
each stake, that which has been lost on the preceding stake; also,
the sum so risked; -- metaphorically derived from the bifurcation of
the martingale of a harness. [Cant]
Thackeray.
Mar"tin*mas (?), n. [St. Martin +
mass religious service.] (Eccl.) The feast of St.
Martin, the eleventh of November; -- often called
martlemans.
Martinmas summer, a period of calm, warm
weather often experienced about the time of Martinmas; Indian
summer. Percy Smith.
Mar"tite (?), n. [L. Mars,
Martis, the god Mars, the alchemical name of iron.]
(Min.) Iron sesquioxide in isometric form, probably a
pseudomorph after magnetite.
Mar"tle*mas (?), n. See
Martinmas. [Obs.]
Mart"let (?), n. [F. martinet.
See Martin the bird, and cf. Martinet a
disciplinarian.]
1. (Zoöl.) The European house
martin.
2. [Cf. F. merlette.] (Her.) A
bird without beak or feet; -- generally assumed to represent a
martin. As a mark of cadency it denotes the fourth
son.
Mar"tyr (?), n. [AS., from L.
martyr, Gr. ma`rtyr, ma`rtys, prop., a
witness; cf. Skr. sm&rsdot; to remember, E.
memory.]
1. One who, by his death, bears witness to
the truth of the gospel; one who is put to death for his religion;
as, Stephen was the first Christian martyr.
Chaucer.
To be a martyr, signifies only to witness the
truth of Christ; but the witnessing of the truth was then so
generally attended with persecution, that martyrdom now signifies not
only to witness, but to witness by death.
South.
2. Hence, one who sacrifices his life, his
station, or what is of great value to him, for the sake of principle,
or to sustain a cause.
Then if thou fall'st, O Cromwell,
Thou fall'st a blessed martyr !
Shak.
Mar"tyr (?), v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Martyred (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Martyring.] 1. To put to death for
adhering to some belief, esp. Christianity; to sacrifice on account
of faith or profession. Bp. Pearson.
2. To persecute; to torment; to
torture. Chaucer.
The lovely Amoret, whose gentle heart
Thou martyrest with sorrow and with smart.
Spenser.
Racked with sciatics, martyred with the
stone.
Pope.
Mar"tyr*dom (?), n. [Martyr +
-dom.]
1. The condition of a martyr; the death of a
martyr; the suffering of death on account of adherence to the
Christian faith, or to any cause. Bacon.
I came from martyrdom unto this
peace.
Longfellow.
2. Affliction; torment; torture.
Chaucer.
Mar`tyr*i*za"tion (?), n. Act of
martyrizing, or state of being martyrized; torture. B.
Jonson.
Mar"tyr*ize (?), v. t. [Cf. F.
martyriser, LL. martyrizare.] To make a martyr
of. Spenser.
Mar"tyr*ly, adv. In the manner of
a martyr.
Mar"tyr*o*loge (?), n. [LL.
martyrologium: cf. F. martyrologe.] A
martyrology. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
{ Mar`tyr*o*log"ic (?), Mar`tyr*o*log"ic*al (?),
} a. Pertaining to martyrology or martyrs;
registering, or registered in, a catalogue of martyrs.
Mar`tyr*ol"o*gist (?), n. [Cf. F.
martyrologiste.] A writer of martyrology; an historian of
martyrs. T. Warton.
Mar`tyr*ol"o*gy (?), n.; pl.
-gies (#). [Martyr + -logy.] A
history or account of martyrs; a register of martyrs. Bp.
Stillingfleet.
Mar"tyr*ship, n. Martyrdom.
[R.] Fuller.
Mar"vel (?), n. [OE. mervaile,
F. merveille, fr. L. mirabilia wonderful things, pl.,
fr. mirabilis wonderful, fr. mirari to wonder or marvel
at. See Admire, Smile, and cf. Miracle.]
1. That which causes wonder; a prodigy; a
miracle.
I will do marvels such as have not been
done.
Ex. xxxiv. 10.
Nature's sweet marvel undefiled.
Emerson.
2. Wonder. [R.] "Use lessens
marvel." Sir W. Scott.
Marvel of Peru. (Bot.) See Four-
o'clock.
Mar"vel, v. i. [imp. & p.
p. Marveled (?) or Marvelled; p. pr.
& vb. n. Marveling or Marvelling.] [OE.
merveilen, OF. merveillier.] To be struck with
surprise, astonishment, or wonder; to wonder.
Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate
you.
1 john iii. 13.
Mar"vel, v. t. 1.
To marvel at. [Obs.] Wyclif.
2. To cause to marvel, or be surprised; --
used impersonally. [Obs.]
But much now me marveleth.
Rich. the Redeless.
Mar"vel*ous (?), a. [OE.
merveillous, OF. merveillos, F. Merveilleux. See
Marvel, n.] [Written also
marvellous.] 1. Exciting wonder or
surprise; astonishing; wonderful.
This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in
our eyes.
Ps. cxiii. 23.
2. Partaking of the character of miracle, or
supernatural power; incredible.
The marvelous fable includes whatever is
supernatural, and especially the machines of the gods.
Pope.
The marvelous, that which exceeds natural
power, or is preternatural; that which is wonderful; -- opposed to
the probable.
Syn. -- Wonderful; astonishing; surprising; strange;
improbable; incredible. -- Marvelous, Wonderful. We
speak of a thing as wonderful when it awakens our surprise and
admiration; as marvelous when it is so much out of the
ordinary course of things as to seem nearly or quite incredible.
Mar"vel*ous*ly, adv. In a
marvelous manner; wonderfully; strangely.
Mar"vel*ous*ness, n. The quality
or state of being marvelous; wonderfulness; strangeness.
Mar"ver (?), n. [Prob. corrupt. fr. OE.
or F. marbre marble.] (Glass Marking) A stone, or
cast-iron plate, or former, on which hot glass is rolled to give it
shape.
Mar"y (?), n. Marrow. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Ma"ry (?), interj. See
Marry. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Ma"ry-bud` (?), n. (Bot.)
The marigold; a blossom of the marigold. Shak.
Ma`ry*ol"a*try (?), n.
Mariolatry.
Ma"ry*sole (?), n. [Mary, the
proper name + sole the fish.] (Zoöl.) A large
British fluke, or flounder (Rhombus megastoma); -- called also
carter, and whiff.
{ Mas*ca"gnin (?), Mas*ca"gnite (?), }
n. [Cf. F. mascagnin.] (Min.)
Native sulphate of ammonia, found in volcanic districts; -- so
named from Mascagni, who discovered it.
Mas"cle (măs"k'l), n. [OF.
mascle, F. macle, L. macula spot, mesh of a net,
LL. macula, macla, mascla a scale of a coat of
mail. See Mail armor.] (Her.) A lozenge
voided.
Mas"cled (-k'ld), a. Composed of,
or covered with, lozenge-shaped scales; having lozenge-shaped
divisions.
Mascled armor, armor composed of small
lozenge-shaped scales of metal fastened on a foundation of leather or
quilted cloth.
{ Mas"cot, Mas"cotte } (?),
n. [Through French fr. Pr. mascot a little
sorcerer or magician, mascotto witchcraft, sorcery.] A
person who is supposed to bring good luck to the household to which
he or she belongs; anything that brings good luck.
Mas"cu*late (?), v. t. [L.
masculus male, masculine.] To make strong. [Obs.]
Cockeram.
Mas"cu*line (măs"k&usl;*l&ibreve;n),
a. [L. masculinus, fr. masculus male,
manly, dim. of mas a male: cf. F. masculin. See
Male masculine.] 1. Of the male sex; not
female.
Thy masculine children, that is to say, thy
sons.
Chaucer.
2. Having the qualities of a man; suitable
to, or characteristic of, a man; virile; not feminine or effeminate;
strong; robust.
That lady, after her husband's death, held the reins
with a masculine energy.
Hallam.
3. Belonging to males; appropriated to, or
used by, males. [R.] "A masculine church."
Fuller.
4. (Gram.) Having the inflections of,
or construed with, words pertaining especially to male beings, as
distinguished from feminine and neuter. See
Gender. -- Mas"cu*line*ly,
adv. -- Mas"cu*line*ness,
n.
Mas`cu*lin"i*ty (?), n. The state
or quality of being masculine; masculineness.
Mase (?), n. & v. See
Maze. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Mas"e*lyn (?), n. A drinking cup.
See 1st Maslin, 2. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Ma"ser (?), n. Same as
Mazer.
Mash (?), n. A mesh.
[Obs.]
Mash, n. [Akin to G. meisch,
maisch, meische, maische, mash, wash, and prob.
to AS. miscian to mix. See Mix.]
1. A mass of mixed ingredients reduced to a
soft pulpy state by beating or pressure; a mass of anything in a soft
pulpy state. Specifically (Brewing), ground or bruised malt,
or meal of rye, wheat, corn, or other grain (or a mixture of malt and
meal) steeped and stirred in hot water for making the wort.
2. A mixture of meal or bran and water fed to
animals.
3. A mess; trouble. [Obs.] Beau. &
Fl.
Mash tun, a large tub used in making mash
and wort.
Mash, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Mashed (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Mashing.] [Akin to G. meischen, maischen, to
mash, mix, and prob. to mischen, E. mix. See 2d
Mash.] To convert into a mash; to reduce to a soft pulpy
state by beating or pressure; to bruise; to crush; as, to mash
apples in a mill, or potatoes with a pestle. Specifically
(Brewing), to convert, as malt, or malt and meal, into the
mash which makes wort.
Mashing tub, a tub for making the mash in
breweries and distilleries; -- called also mash tun, and
mash vat.
Mash"er (?), n. 1.
One who, or that which, mashes; also (Brewing), a machine
for making mash.
2. A charmer of women. [Slang]
London Punch.
Mash"lin (?), n. See
Maslin.
Mash"y (?), a. Produced by
crushing or bruising; resembling, or consisting of, a mash.
Mask (?), n. [F. masque, LL.
masca, mascha, mascus; cf. Sp. & Pg.
máscara, It. maschera; all fr. Ar.
maskharat buffoon, fool, pleasantry, anything ridiculous or
mirthful, fr. sakhira to ridicule, to laugh at. Cf.
Masque, Masquerade.] 1. A cover,
or partial cover, for the face, used for disguise or protection; as,
a dancer's mask; a fencer's mask; a ball player's
mask.
2. That which disguises; a pretext or
subterfuge.
3. A festive entertainment of dancing or
other diversions, where all wear masks; a masquerade; hence, a revel;
a frolic; a delusive show. Bacon.
This thought might lead me through the world's vain
mask.
Milton.
4. A dramatic performance, formerly in vogue,
in which the actors wore masks and represented mythical or
allegorical characters.
5. (Arch.) A grotesque head or face,
used to adorn keystones and other prominent parts, to spout water in
fountains, and the like; -- called also mascaron.
6. (Fort.) (a) In a
permanent fortification, a redoubt which protects the
caponiere. (b) A screen for a
battery.
7. (Zoöl.) The lower lip of the
larva of a dragon fly, modified so as to form a prehensile
organ.
Mask house, a house for masquerades.
[Obs.]
Mask, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Masked (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Masking.] 1. To cover, as the face, by
way of concealment or defense against injury; to conceal with a mask
or visor.
They must all be masked and
vizarded.
Shak.
2. To disguise; to cover; to hide.
Masking the business from the common
eye.
Shak.
3. (Mil.) (a) To
conceal; also, to intervene in the line of. (b)
To cover or keep in check; as, to mask a body of troops
or a fortress by a superior force, while some hostile evolution is
being carried out.
Mask, v. i. 1. To
take part as a masker in a masquerade. Cavendish.
2. To wear a mask; to be disguised in any
way. Shak.
Masked (?), a. 1.
Wearing a mask or masks; characterized by masks; concealed;
hidden.
2. (Bot.) Same as
Personate.
3. (Zoöl.) Having the anterior
part of the head differing decidedly in color from the rest of the
plumage; -- said of birds.
Masked ball, a ball in which the dancers
wear masks. -- Masked battery (Mil.),
a battery so placed as not to be seen by an enemy until it opens
fire. H. L. Scott. -- Masked crab
(Zoöl.), a European crab (Corystes
cassivelaunus) with markings on the carapace somewhat resembling
a human face. -- Masked pig
(Zoöl.), a Japanese domestic hog (Sus
pliciceps). Its face is deeply furrowed.
Mask"er (?), n. One who wears a
mask; one who appears in disguise at a masquerade.
Mask"er, v. t. To confuse; to
stupefy. [Obs.] Holland.
Mask"er*y (?), n. The dress or
disguise of a masker; masquerade. [Obs.] Marston.
Mas"ki*nonge (?), n. The
muskellunge.
Mask" shell` (?). (Zoöl.) Any spiral
marine shell of the genus Persona, having a curiously twisted
aperture.
Mas"lach (?), n. [Ar. maslaq:
cf. F. masloc.] (Med.) An excitant containing
opium, much used by the Turks. Dunglison.
Mas"lin (?), n. [OE. missellane,
misceline, miscelin, meslin, fr.
miscellane. See Miscellane.] 1. A
mixture composed of different materials; especially:
(a) A mixture of metals resembling brass.
(b) A mixture of different sorts of grain, as
wheat and rye. [Written also meslin, mislin,
maselyn, mastlin.]
2. A vessel made of maslin, 1
(a). [Obs.]
Mead eke in a maselyn.
Chaucer.
Mas"lin, a. Composed of different
sorts; as, maslin bread, which is made of rye mixed with a
little wheat. [Written also meslin, mislin,
etc.]
Ma"son (?), n. [F. maçon,
LL. macio, machio, mattio, mactio,
marcio, macerio; of uncertain origin.]
1. One whose occupation is to build with
stone or brick; also, one who prepares stone for building
purposes.
2. A member of the fraternity of Freemasons.
See Freemason.
Mason bee (Zoöl.), any one of
numerous species of solitary bees of the genus Osmia. They
construct curious nests of hardened mud and sand. --
Mason moth (Zoöl.), any moth whose
larva constructs an earthen cocoon under the soil. --
Mason shell (Zoöl.), a marine
univalve shell of the genus Phorus; -- so called because it
cements other shells and pebbles upon its own shell; a carrier
shell. -- Mason wasp (Zoöl.),
any wasp that constructs its nest, or brood cells, of hardened
mud. The female fills the cells with insects or spiders, paralyzed by
a sting, and thus provides food for its larvæ
Ma"son, v. t. To build stonework
or brickwork about, under, in, over, etc.; to construct by masons; --
with a prepositional suffix; as, to mason up a well or
terrace; to mason in a kettle or boiler.
Ma*son"ic (m&adot;*s&obreve;n"&ibreve;k),
a. Of or pertaining to Freemasons or to their
craft or mysteries.
Ma"son*ry (?), n. [F.
maçonnerie.]
1. The art or occupation of a
mason.
2. The work or performance of a mason; as,
good or bad masonry; skillful masonry.
3. That which is built by a mason; anything
constructed of the materials used by masons, such as stone, brick,
tiles, or the like. Dry masonry is applied to structures made
without mortar.
4. The craft, institution, or mysteries of
Freemasons; freemasonry.
Ma*soo"la boat` (?). A kind of boat used on the
coast of Madras, India. The planks are sewed together with strands of
coir which cross over a wadding of the same material, so that the
shock on taking the beach through surf is much reduced.
[Written also masula, masulah, etc.]
||Ma*so"ra (?), n. [NHeb.
māsōrāh tradition.] A Jewish critical
work on the text of the Hebrew Scriptures, composed by several
learned rabbis of the school of Tiberias, in the eighth and ninth
centuries. [Written also Masorah, Massora, and
Massorah.]
Mas"o*ret (?), n. A
Masorite. [Written also Masorete, and
Massorete.]
{ Mas`o*ret"ic (?), Mas`o*ret"ic*al (?), }
a. [Cf. F. massorétique.] Of or
relating to the Masora, or to its authors.
Masoretic points and accents, the vowel
points and accents of the Hebrew text of the Bible, of which the
first mention is in the Masora.
Mas"o*rite (?), n. One of the
writers of the Masora.
Masque (?), n. A mask; a
masquerade.
Mas`quer*ade" (?), n. [F.
mascarade, fr. Sp. mascarada, or It. mascherata.
See Mask.]
1. An assembly of persons wearing masks, and
amusing themselves with dancing, conversation, or other
diversions.
In courtly balls and midnight
masquerades.
Pope.
2. A dramatic performance by actors in masks;
a mask. See 1st Mask, 4. [Obs.]
3. Acting or living under false pretenses;
concealment of something by a false or unreal show; pretentious show;
disguise.
That masquerade of misrepresentation which
invariably accompanied the political eloquence of Rome.
De Quincey.
4. A Spanish diversion on
horseback.
Mas`quer*ade", v. i. [imp. & p.
p. Masqueraded; p. pr. & vb. n.
Masquerading.]
1. To assemble in masks; to take part in a
masquerade.
2. To frolic or disport in disquise; to make
a pretentious show of being what one is not.
A freak took an ass in the head, and he goes into the
woods, masquerading up and down in a lion's skin.
L'Estrange.
Mas`quer*ade", v. t. To conceal
with masks; to disguise. "To masquerade vice."
Killingbeck.
Mas`quer*ad"er (?), n. One who
masquerades; a person wearing a mask; one disguised.
Mass (?), n. [OE. masse,
messe, AS. mæsse. LL. missa, from L.
mittere, missum, to send, dismiss: cf. F. messe.
In the ancient churches, the public services at which the catechumens
were permitted to be present were called missa catechumenorum,
ending with the reading of the Gospel. Then they were
dismissed with these words : "Ite, missa est" [sc.
ecclesia], the congregation is dismissed. After that the sacrifice
proper began. At its close the same words were said to those who
remained. So the word gave the name of Mass to the sacrifice
in the Catholic Church. See Missile, and cf. Christmas,
Lammas, Mess a dish, Missal.]
1. (R. C. Ch.) The sacrifice in the
sacrament of the Eucharist, or the consecration and oblation of the
host.
2. (Mus.) The portions of the Mass
usually set to music, considered as a musical composition; -- namely,
the Kyrie, the Gloria, the Credo, the
Sanctus, and the Agnus Dei, besides sometimes an
Offertory and the Benedictus.
Canon of the Mass. See Canon. --
High Mass, Mass with incense, music, the
assistance of a deacon, subdeacon, etc. -- Low
Mass, Mass which is said by the priest throughout,
without music. -- Mass bell, the sanctus
bell. See Sanctus. -- Mass book,
the missal or Roman Catholic service book.
Mass (?), v. i. [imp. & p.
p. Massed (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Massing.] To celebrate Mass. [Obs.]
Hooker.
Mass, n. [OE. masse, F.
masse, L. massa; akin to Gr. &?; a barley cake, fr. &?;
to knead. Cf. Macerate.]
1. A quantity of matter cohering together so
as to make one body, or an aggregation of particles or things which
collectively make one body or quantity, usually of considerable size;
as, a mass of ore, metal, sand, or water.
If it were not for these principles, the bodies of the
earth, planets, comets, sun, and all things in them, would grow cold
and freeze, and become inactive masses.
Sir I.
Newton.
A deep mass of continual sea is slower
stirred
To rage.
Savile.
2. (Phar.) A medicinal substance made
into a cohesive, homogeneous lump, of consistency suitable for making
pills; as, blue mass.
3. A large quantity; a sum.
All the mass of gold that comes into
Spain.
Sir W. Raleigh.
He had spent a huge mass of
treasure.
Sir J. Davies.
4. Bulk; magnitude; body; size.
This army of such mass and charge.
Shak.
5. The principal part; the main
body.
Night closed upon the pursuit, and aided the
mass of the fugitives in their escape.
Jowett
(Thucyd.).
6. (Physics) The quantity of matter
which a body contains, irrespective of its bulk or volume.
&fist; Mass and weight are often used, in a general
way, as interchangeable terms, since the weight of a body is
proportional to its mass (under the same or equal gravitative
forces), and the mass is usually ascertained from the
weight. Yet the two ideas, mass and weight, are
quite distinct. Mass is the quantity of matter in a body;
weight is the comparative force with which it tends towards
the center of the earth. A mass of sugar and a mass of
lead are assumed to be equal when they show an equal weight by
balancing each other in the scales.
Blue mass. See under Blue. --
Mass center (Geom.), the center of
gravity of a triangle. -- Mass copper,
native copper in a large mass. -- Mass
meeting, a large or general assembly of people, usually
a meeting having some relation to politics. -- The
masses, the great body of the people, as contrasted
with the higher classes; the populace.
Mass, v. t. To form or collect
into a mass; to form into a collective body; to bring together into
masses; to assemble.
But mass them together and they are terrible
indeed.
Coleridge.
Mas"sa*cre (?), n. [F., fr. LL.
mazacrium; cf. Prov. G. metzgern, metzgen, to
kill cattle, G. metzger a butcher, and LG. matsken to
cut, hew, OHG. meizan to cut, Goth. máitan.]
1. The killing of a considerable number of human
beings under circumstances of atrocity or cruelty, or contrary to the
usages of civilized people; as, the massacre on St.
Bartholomew's Day.
2. Murder. [Obs.] Shak.
Syn. -- Massacre, Butchery, Carnage.
Massacre denotes the promiscuous slaughter of many who
can not make resistance, or much resistance. Butchery refers
to cold-blooded cruelty in the killing of men as if they were brute
beasts. Carnage points to slaughter as producing the heaped-up
bodies of the slain.
I'll find a day to massacre them all,
And raze their faction and their family.
Shak.
If thou delight to view thy heinous deeds,
Brhold this pattern of thy butcheries.
Shak.
Such a scent I draw
Of carnage, prey innumerable !
Milton.
Mas"sa*cre, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Massacred (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Massacring (?).] [Cf. F. massacrer. See
Massacre, n.] To kill in considerable
numbers where much resistance can not be made; to kill with
indiscriminate violence, without necessity, and contrary to the
usages of nations; to butcher; to slaughter; -- limited to the
killing of human beings.
If James should be pleased to massacre them
all, as Maximian had massacred the Theban legion.
Macaulay.
Mas"sa*crer (?), n. One who
massacres. [R.]
Mas"sage (?), n. [F.] A rubbing or
kneading of the body, especially when performed as a hygienic or
remedial measure.
Mas`sa*sau"ga (?), n.
(Zoöl.) The black rattlesnake (Crotalus, or
Caudisona, tergemina), found in the Mississippi Valley.
{ Massé, or Massé shot (?) },
n. (Billiards) A stroke made with the
cue held vertically.
Mass"er, n. A priest who
celebrates Mass. [R.] Bale.
Mas"se*ter (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; a
chewer, &?; a muscle of the lower jaw used in chewing, from &?; to
chew: cf. F. masséter.] (Anat.) The large
muscle which raises the under jaw, and assists in
mastication.
Mas`se*ter"ic (?), a. (Anat.)
Of or pertaining to the masseter.
Mas"se*ter`ine (?), a. (Anat.)
Masseteric.
{ ||Mas`seur" (?), n. m.,
||Mas`seuse" (?), n. f.,} [F., or formed
in imitation of French. See Massage.] (Med.) One
who performs massage.
Mas"si*cot (?), n. [F. massicot;
E. masticot is a corruption.] (Chem.) Lead
protoxide, PbO, obtained as a yellow amorphous powder, the fused and
crystalline form of which is called litharge; lead ocher. It
is used as a pigment.
&fist; Massicot is sometimes used by painters, and also as
a drier in the composition of ointments and plasters.
Mass"i*ness (?), n. [From
Massy.] The state or quality of being massy;
ponderousness.
Mass"ive (?), a. [F. massif.]
1. Forming, or consisting of, a large mass;
compacted; weighty; heavy; massy. "Massive armor."
Dr. H. More.
2. (Min.) In mass; not necessarily
without a crystalline structure, but having no regular form; as, a
mineral occurs massive.
Massive rock (Geol.), a compact
crystalline rock not distinctly schistose, as granite; also, with
some authors, an eruptive rock.
Mass"ive*ly, adv. In a heavy
mass.
Mass"ive*ness, n. The state or
quality of being massive; massiness.
Mas*soo"la boat`. See Masoola boat.
Mas*so"ra (?), n. Same as
Masora.
Mas"so*ret (?), n. Same as
Masorite.
Mass"y (?), a.
[Compar. Massier (?);
superl. Massiest.] Compacted into, or
consisting of, a mass; having bulk and weight or substance;
ponderous; bulky and heavy; weighty; heavy; as, a massy
shield; a massy rock.
Your swords are now too massy for your
strengths,
And will not be uplifted.
Shak.
Yawning rocks in massy fragments
fly.
Pope.
Mast (m&adot;st), n. [AS.
mæst, fem.; akin to G. mast, and E. meat.
See Meat.] The fruit of the oak and beech, or other
forest trees; nuts; acorns.
Oak mast, and beech, . . . they
eat.
Chapman.
Swine under an oak filling themselves with the
mast.
South.
Mast, n. [AS. mæst, masc.;
akin to D., G., Dan., & Sw. mast, Icel. mastr, and
perh. to L. malus.]
1. (Naut.) A pole, or long, strong,
round piece of timber, or spar, set upright in a boat or vessel, to
sustain the sails, yards, rigging, etc. A mast may also consist of
several pieces of timber united by iron bands, or of a hollow pillar
of iron or steel.
The tallest pine
Hewn on Norwegian hills, to be the mast
Of some great ammiral.
Milton.
&fist; The most common general names of masts are
foremast, mainmast, and mizzenmast, each of
which may be made of separate spars.
2. (Mach.) The vertical post of a
derrick or crane.
Afore the mast, Before the
mast. See under Afore, and Before. -
- Mast coat. See under Coat. --
Mast hoop, one of a number of hoops attached to
the fore edge of a boom sail, which slip on the mast as the sail is
raised or lowered; also, one of the iron hoops used in making a made
mast. See Made.
Mast, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Masted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Masting.] To furnish with a mast or masts; to put the
masts of in position; as, to mast a ship.
||Mas"tax (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;
mouth, jaws.] (Zoöl.) (a) The
pharynx of a rotifer. It usually contains four horny pieces. The two
central ones form the incus, against which the mallei, or lateral
ones, work so as to crush the food. (b)
The lore of a bird.
Mast"ed (?), a. Furnished with a
mast or masts; -- chiefly in composition; as, a three-masted
schooner.
Mast"er (-&etilde;r), n. (Naut.)
A vessel having (so many) masts; -- used only in compounds; as,
a two-master.
Mas"ter (m&adot;s"t&etilde;r), n. [OE.
maistre, maister, OF. maistre, mestre, F.
maître, fr. L. magister, orig. a double
comparative from the root of magnus great, akin to Gr.
me`gas. Cf. Maestro, Magister,
Magistrate, Magnitude, Major, Mister,
Mistress, Mickle.] 1. A male
person having another living being so far subject to his will, that
he can, in the main, control his or its actions; -- formerly used
with much more extensive application than now.
(a) The employer of a servant.
(b) The owner of a slave.
(c) The person to whom an apprentice is
articled. (d) A sovereign, prince, or
feudal noble; a chief, or one exercising similar authority.
(e) The head of a household.
(f) The male head of a school or college.
(g) A male teacher. (h)
The director of a number of persons performing a ceremony or
sharing a feast. (i) The owner of a docile
brute, -- especially a dog or horse. (j)
The controller of a familiar spirit or other supernatural
being.
2. One who uses, or controls at will,
anything inanimate; as, to be master of one's time.
Shak.
Master of a hundred thousand
drachms.
Addison.
We are masters of the sea.
Jowett (Thucyd. ).
3. One who has attained great skill in the
use or application of anything; as, a master of oratorical
art.
Great masters of ridicule.
Macaulay.
No care is taken to improve young men in their own
language, that they may thoroughly understand and be masters
of it.
Locke.
4. A title given by courtesy, now commonly
pronounced m&ibreve;ster, except when given to boys; --
sometimes written Mister, but usually abbreviated to
Mr.
5. A young gentleman; a lad, or small
boy.
Where there are little masters and misses in a
house, they are impediments to the diversions of the
servants.
Swift.
6. (Naut.) The commander of a merchant
vessel; -- usually called captain. Also, a commissioned
officer in the navy ranking next above ensign and below lieutenant;
formerly, an officer on a man-of-war who had immediate charge, under
the commander, of sailing the vessel.
7. A person holding an office of authority
among the Freemasons, esp. the presiding officer; also, a person
holding a similar office in other civic societies.
Little masters, certain German engravers of
the 16th century, so called from the extreme smallness of their
prints. -- Master in chancery, an officer
of courts of equity, who acts as an assistant to the chancellor or
judge, by inquiring into various matters referred to him, and
reporting thereon to the court. -- Master of
arts, one who takes the second degree at a university;
also, the degree or title itself, indicated by the abbreviation M.
A., or A. M. -- Master of the horse, the
third great officer in the British court, having the management of
the royal stables, etc. In ceremonial cavalcades he rides next to the
sovereign. -- Master of the rolls, in
England, an officer who has charge of the rolls and patents that pass
the great seal, and of the records of the chancery, and acts as
assistant judge of the court. Bouvier. Wharton. --
Past master, one who has held the office of
master in a lodge of Freemasons or in a society similarly
organized. -- The old masters,
distinguished painters who preceded modern painters; especially,
the celebrated painters of the 16th and 17th centuries. --
To be master of one's self, to have entire
self-control; not to be governed by passion. -- To be
one's own master, to be at liberty to act as one
chooses without dictation from anybody.
&fist; Master, signifying chief, principal,
masterly, superior, thoroughly skilled, etc., is
often used adjectively or in compounds; as, master builder or
master-builder, master chord or master-chord,
master mason or master-mason, master workman or
master-workman, master mechanic, master mind,
master spirit, master passion, etc.
Throughout the city by the master
gate.
Chaucer.
Master joint (Geol.), a quarryman's
term for the more prominent and extended joints traversing a rock
mass. -- Master key, a key adapted to open
several locks differing somewhat from each other; figuratively, a
rule or principle of general application in solving
difficulties. -- Master lode (Mining),
the principal vein of ore. -- Master
mariner, an experienced and skilled seaman who is
certified to be competent to command a merchant vessel. --
Master sinew (Far.), a large sinew that
surrounds the hough of a horse, and divides it from the bone by a
hollow place, where the windgalls are usually seated. --
Master singer. See Mastersinger. --
Master stroke, a capital performance; a
masterly achievement; a consummate action; as, a master stroke
of policy. -- Master tap (Mech.), a
tap for forming the thread in a screw cutting die. --
Master touch. (a) The touch or
skill of a master. Pope. (b) Some
part of a performance which exhibits very skillful work or
treatment. "Some master touches of this admirable piece."
Tatler. -- Master work, the most
important work accomplished by a skilled person, as in architecture,
literature, etc.; also, a work which shows the skill of a master; a
masterpiece. -- Master workman, a man
specially skilled in any art, handicraft, or trade, or who is an
overseer, foreman, or employer.
Mas"ter (?), v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Mastered (?); p. pr. vb. n.
Mastering.] 1. To become the master of;
to subject to one's will, control, or authority; to conquer; to
overpower; to subdue.
Obstinacy and willful neglects must be
mastered, even though it cost blows.
Locke.
2. To gain the command of, so as to
understand or apply; to become an adept in; as, to master a
science.
3. To own; to posses. [Obs.]
The wealth
That the world masters.
Shak.
Mas"ter, v. i. To be skillful; to
excel. [Obs.]
Mas"ter*dom (?), n. [Master +
-dom.] Dominion; rule; command. [R.]
Shak.
Mas"ter*ful (?), a. 1.
Inclined to play the master; domineering; imperious;
arbitrary. Dryden.
2. Having the skill or power of a master;
indicating or expressing power or mastery.
His masterful, pale face.
Mrs.
Browning.
Mas"ter*ful*ly, adv. In a
masterful manner; imperiously.
A lawless and rebellious man who held lands
masterfully and in high contempt of the royal
authority.
Macaulay.
Mas"ter*hood (?), n. The state of
being a master; hence, disposition to command or hector. C.
Bronté.
Mas"ter*less, a. Destitute of a
master or owner; ungoverned or ungovernable. --
Mas"ter*less*ness, n.
Mas"ter*li*ness (?), n. The
quality or state of being masterly; ability to control wisely or
skillfully.
Mas"ter*ly, a. 1.
Suitable to, or characteristic of, a master; indicating thorough
knowledge or superior skill and power; showing a master's hand; as, a
masterly design; a masterly performance; a
masterly policy. "A wise and masterly
inactivity." Sir J. Mackintosh.
2. Imperious; domineering;
arbitrary.
Mas"ter*ly, adv. With the skill of
a master.
Thou dost speak masterly.
Shak.
Mas"ter*ous (?), a.
Masterly. [Obs.] Milton.
Mas"ter*piece` (?), n. Anything
done or made with extraordinary skill; a capital performance; a chef-
d'œuvre; a supreme achievement.
The top and masterpiece of art.
South.
Dissimulation was his masterpiece.
Claredon.
Mas"ter*ship, n. 1.
The state or office of a master.
2. Mastery; dominion; superior skill;
superiority.
Where noble youths for mastership should
strive.
Driden.
3. Chief work; masterpiece. [Obs.]
Dryden.
4. An ironical title of respect.
How now, seignior Launce ! what news with your
mastership ?
Shak.
Mas"ter*sing`er (?), n. [A translation
of G. meistersänger.] One of a class of poets which
flourished in Nuremberg and some other cities of Germany in the 15th
and 16th centuries. They bound themselves to observe certain
arbitrary laws of rhythm.
Mas"ter*wort` (?), n. (Bot.)
(a) A tall and coarse European umbelliferous
plant (Peucedanum Ostruthium, formerly
Imperatoria). (b) The Astrantia
major, a European umbelliferous plant with a showy colored
involucre. (c) Improperly, the cow parsnip
(Heracleum lanatum).
Mas"ter*y (?), n.; pl.
Masteries (#). [OF. maistrie.]
1. The position or authority of a master;
dominion; command; supremacy; superiority.
If divided by mountains, they will fight for the
mastery of the passages of the tops.
Sir W.
Raleigh.
2. Superiority in war or competition;
victory; triumph; preëminence.
The voice of them that shout for
mastery.
Ex. xxxii. 18.
Every man that striveth for the mastery is
temperate in all things.
1 Cor. ix. 25.
O, but to have gulled him
Had been a mastery.
B. Jonson.
3. Contest for superiority. [Obs.]
Holland.
4. A masterly operation; a feat.
[Obs.]
I will do a maistrie ere I go.
Chaucer.
5. Specifically, the philosopher's
stone. [Obs.]
6. The act process of mastering; the state of
having mastered.
He could attain to a mastery in all
languages.
Tillotson.
The learning and mastery of a tongue, being
unpleasant in itself, should not be cumbered with other
difficulties.
Locke.
Mast"ful (?), a. [See lst Mast.]
Abounding in mast; producing mast in abundance; as, the
mastful forest; a mastful chestnut.
Dryden.
Mast"head` (?), n. (Naut.)
The top or head of a mast; the part of a mast above the
hounds.
Mast"head", v. t. (Naut.)
To cause to go to the masthead as a punishment.
Marryat.
Mast"house` (?), n. A building in
which vessels' masts are shaped, fitted, etc.
Mas"tic (?), n. [F., fr. L.
mastiche, mastichum, Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to chew, because
of its being used in the East for chewing.] [Written also
mastich.]
1. (Bot.) A low shrubby tree of the
genus Pistacia (P. Lentiscus), growing upon the islands
and coasts of the Mediterranean, and producing a valuable resin; --
called also, mastic tree.
2. A resin exuding from the mastic tree, and
obtained by incision. The best is in yellowish white, semitransparent
tears, of a faint smell, and is used as an astringent and an
aromatic, also as an ingredient in varnishes.
3. A kind of cement composed of burnt clay,
litharge, and linseed oil, used for plastering walls, etc.
Barbary mastic (Bot.), the
Pistachia Atlantica. -- Peruvian mastic
tree (Bot.), a small tree (Schinus Molle)
with peppery red berries; -- called also pepper tree. --
West Indian mastic (Bot.), a lofty tree
(Bursera gummifera) full of gum resin in every part.
Mas"ti*ca*ble (?), a. Capable of
being masticated.
Mas`ti*ca"dor (?), n. [Cf. Sp.
mastigador. See Masticate.] (Man.) A part
of a bridle, the slavering bit. [Written also
mastigador.]
Mas"ti*cate (?), v. t. [imp. &
p. p. Masticated (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Masticating (?).] [L. masticatus, p. p. of
masticare to chew, prob. fr. mastiche mastic. See
Mastic.] To grind or crush with, or as with, the teeth
and prepare for swallowing and digestion; to chew; as, to
masticate food.
Mas"ti*ca`ter (?), n. One who
masticates.
Mas`ti*ca"tion (?), n. [L.
masticatio: cf. F. mastication.] The act or
operation of masticating; chewing, as of food.
Mastication is a necessary preparation of solid
aliment, without which there can be no good digestion.
Arbuthnot.
Mas"ti*ca`tor (?), n.
1. One who masticates.
2. A machine for cutting meat into fine
pieces for toothless people; also, a machine for cutting leather,
India rubber, or similar tough substances, into fine pieces, in some
processes of manufacture.
Mas"ti*ca*to*ry (?), a. [Cf. F.
masticatoire.] Chewing; adapted to perform the office of
chewing food.
Mas"ti*ca*to*ry, n.; pl.
-ries (&?;). (Med.) A substance to be
chewed to increase the saliva. Bacon.
Mas"tich (?), n. See
Mastic.
Mas"ti*cin (?), n. (Chem.)
A white, amorphous, tenacious substance resembling caoutchouc,
and obtained as an insoluble residue of mastic.
Mas"ti*cot (?), n. (Chem.)
Massicot. [Obs.]
Mas"tiff (?), n.; pl.
Mastiffs (&?;). [Mastives is
irregular and unusual.] [Prob. fr. Prov. E. masty, adj.,
large, n., a great dog, prob. fr. mast fruit, and hence, lit.,
fattened with mast. There is perh. confusion with OF. mestif
mongrel; cf. also F. mâtin mastiff, OF. mastin.]
(Zoöl.) A breed of large dogs noted for strength and
courage. There are various strains, differing in form and color, and
characteristic of different countries.
Mastiff bat (Zoöl.) , any bat of
the genus Molossus; so called because the face somewhat
resembles that of a mastiff.
Mas"ti*go*pod (?), n.
(Zoöl.) One of the Mastigopoda.
||Mas`ti*gop"o*da (?), n. pl. [NL., fr.
Gr. ma`stix, -igos, a whip + poy`s,
podo`s, foot.] (Zoöl.) The
Infusoria.
Mas"ti*gure (?), n. [Gr.
ma`stix, -igos, a scourge + &?; tail.]
(Zoöl.) Any one of several large spiny-tailed
lizards of the genus Uromastix. They inhabit Southern Asia and
North Africa.
Mast"ing (?), n. (Naut.)
The act or process of putting a mast or masts into a vessel;
also, the scientific principles which determine the position of
masts, and the mechanical methods of placing them.
Masting house (Naut.), a large
building, with suitable mechanism overhanging the water, used for
stepping and unstepping the masts of vessels.
||Mas*ti"tis (?), n. [Gr.
masto`s breast + -itis.] (Med.)
Inflammation of the breast.
Mast"less (?), a. [See lst
Mast.] Bearing no mast; as, a mastless oak or
beech. Dryden.
Mast"less, a. [See 2d Mast.]
Having no mast; as, a mastless vessel.
Mast"lin (măst"l&ibreve;n), n.
See Maslin.
Mas"to*don (?), n. [Gr.
masto`s the breast + 'odoy`s,
'odo`ntos, a tooth. So called from the conical projections
upon its molar teeth.] (Paleon.) An extinct genus of
mammals closely allied to the elephant, but having less complex molar
teeth, and often a pair of lower, as well as upper, tusks, which are
incisor teeth. The species were mostly larger than elephants, and
their remains occur in nearly all parts of the world in deposits
ranging from Miocene to late Quaternary time.
||Mas`to*don*sau"rus (?), n. [NL., fr.
E. Mastodon + Gr. say^ros a lizard.]
(Paleon.) A large extinct genus of labyrinthodonts, found
in the European Triassic rocks.
Mas`to*don"tic (?), a. Pertaining
to, or resembling, a mastodon; as, mastodontic
dimensions. Everett.
||Mas`to*dyn"i*a (?), Mas*tod"y*ny (&?;),
n. [NL. mastodynia, fr. Gr.
masto`s the breast + &?; pain.] (Med.) Pain
occuring in the mamma or female breast, -- a form of
neuralgia.
Mas"toid (?), a. [Gr. &?;;
masto`s the breast + &?; form: cf. F.
mastoïde.] (Anat.) (a)
Resembling the nipple or the breast; -- applied specifically to
a process of the temporal bone behind the ear.
(b) Pertaining to, or in the region of, the
mastoid process; mastoidal.
Mas*toid"al (?), a. Same as
Mastoid.
Mas*tol"o*gy (?), n. [Gr.
masto`s the breast + -logy: cf. F.
mastologie.] The natural history of Mammalia.
Mas"tress (?), n. Mistress.
[Obs.] Chaucer.
Mas`tur*ba"tion (?), n. [L.
masturbatus, p. p. of masturbari to practice onanism:
cf. F. masturbation.] Onanism; self-pollution.
Mast"y (?), a. [See lst Mast.]
Full of mast; abounding in acorns, etc.
Ma*su"la boat` (?). Same as Masoola
boat.
Mat (?), n. [Cf. Matte.] A
name given by coppersmiths to an alloy of copper, tin, iron, etc.,
usually called white metal. [Written also
matt.]
Mat, a. [OF. See 4th Mate.]
Cast down; dejected; overthrown; slain. [Obs.]
When he saw them so piteous and so
maat.
Chaucer.
Mat, n. [AS. matt, meatt,
fr. L. matta a mat made of rushes.] 1. A
fabric of sedge, rushes, flags, husks, straw, hemp, or similar
material, used for wiping and cleaning shoes at the door, for
covering the floor of a hall or room, and for other
purposes.
2. Any similar fabric for various uses, as
for covering plant houses, putting beneath dishes or lamps on a
table, securing rigging from friction, and the like.
3. Anything growing thickly, or closely
interwoven, so as to resemble a mat in form or texture; as, a
mat of weeds; a mat of hair.
4. An ornamental border made of paper,
pasterboard, metal, etc., put under the glass which covers a framed
picture; as, the mat of a daguerreotype.
Mat grass. (Bot.) (a)
A low, tufted, European grass (Nardus stricta).
(b) Same as Matweed. -- Mat
rush (Bot.), a kind of rush (Scirpus
lacustris) used in England for making mats.
Mat, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Matted (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Matting.] 1. To cover or lay with
mats. Evelyn.
2. To twist, twine, or felt together; to
interweave into, or like, a mat; to entangle.
And o'er his eyebrows hung his matted
hair.
Dryden.
Mat, v. i. To grow thick together;
to become interwoven or felted together like a mat.
||Ma`ta*chin" (?), n. [Sp.] An old
dance with swords and bucklers; a sword dance.
Mat"a*co (?), n. (Zoöl.)
The three-banded armadillo (Tolypeutis tricinctus). See
Illust. under Loricata.
{ Mat"a*dore, Mat"a*dor} (?),
n. [Sp. matador, prop., a killer, fr.
matar to kill, L. mactare to sacrifice, kill.]
1. The killer; the man appointed to kill the
bull in bullfights.
2. (Card Playing) In the game of
quadrille or omber, the three principal trumps, the ace of spades
being the first, the ace of clubs the third, and the second being the
deuce of a black trump or the seven of a red one.
When Lady Tricksey played a four,
You took it with a matadore.
Swift.
Mat`a*gasse" (?), n.
(Zoöl.) A shrike or butcher bird; -- called also
mattages. [Prov. Eng.]
||Ma`ta*ma"ta (?), n. [Pg.]
(Zoöl.) The bearded tortoise (Chelys
fimbriata) of South American rivers.
Ma*tan"za (?), n. [Sp., slaughter, fr.
matar to kill.] A place where animals are slaughtered for
their hides and tallow. [Western U. S.]
Match (măch), n. [OE.
macche, F. mèche, F. mèche, fr. L.
myxa a lamp nozzle, Gr. my`xa mucus, nostril, a
lamp nozzle. Cf. Mucus.] Anything used for catching and
retaining or communicating fire, made of some substance which takes
fire readily, or remains burning some time; esp., a small strip or
splint of wood dipped at one end in a substance which can be easily
ignited by friction, as a preparation of phosphorus or chlorate of
potassium.
Match box, a box for holding matches. -
- Match tub, a tub with a perforated cover for
holding slow matches for firing cannon, esp. on board ship. The tub
contains a little water in the bottom, for extinguishing sparks from
the lighted matches. -- Quick match,
threads of cotton or cotton wick soaked in a solution of
gunpowder mixed with gum arabic and boiling water and afterwards
strewed over with mealed powder. It burns at the rate of one yard in
thirteen seconds, and is used as priming for heavy mortars,
fireworks, etc. -- Slow match, slightly
twisted hempen rope soaked in a solution of limewater and saltpeter
or washed in a lye of water and wood ashes. It burns at the rate of
four or five inches an hour, and is used for firing cannon,
fireworks, etc.
Match, n. [OE. macche, AS.
gemæcca; akin to gemaca, and to OS.
gimako, OHG. gimah fitting, suitable, convenient, Icel.
mark suitable, maki mate, Sw. make, Dan.
mage; all from the root of E. make, v. See Make
mate, and Make, v., and cf. Mate an
associate.]
1. A person or thing equal or similar to
another; one able to mate or cope with another; an equal; a
mate.
Government . . . makes an innocent man, though of the
lowest rank, a match for the mightiest of his fellow
subjects.
Addison.
2. A bringing together of two parties suited
to one another, as for a union, a trial of skill or force, a contest,
or the like; as, specifically: (a) A
contest to try strength or skill, or to determine superiority; an
emulous struggle. "Many a warlike match."
Drayton.
A solemn match was made; he lost the
prize.
Dryden.
(b) A matrimonial union; a
marriage.
3. An agreement, compact, etc. "Thy
hand upon that match." Shak.
Love doth seldom suffer itself to be confined by other
matches than those of its own making.
Boyle.
4. A candidate for matrimony; one to be
gained in marriage. "She . . . was looked upon as the richest
match of the West." Clarendon.
5. Equality of conditions in contest or
competition.
It were no match, your nail against his
horn.
Shak.
6. Suitable combination or bringing together;
that which corresponds or harmonizes with something else; as, the
carpet and curtains are a match.
7. (Founding) A perforated board,
block of plaster, hardened sand, etc., in which a pattern is partly
imbedded when a mold is made, for giving shape to the surfaces of
separation between the parts of the mold.
Match boarding (Carp.), boards fitted
together with tongue and groove, or prepared to be so fitted. --
Match game, a game arranged as a test of
superiority. -- Match plane (Carp.),
either of the two planes used to shape the edges of boards which
are joined by grooving and tonguing. -- Match
plate (Founding), a board or plate on the
opposite sides of which the halves of a pattern are fastened, to
facilitate molding. Knight. -- Match
wheel (Mach.), a cogwheel of suitable pitch to
work with another wheel; specifically, one of a pair of cogwheels of
equal size.
Match, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Matched (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Matching.] 1. To be a mate or match for;
to be able to complete with; to rival successfully; to
equal.
No settled senses of the world can match
The pleasure of that madness.
Shak.
2. To furnish with its match; to bring a
match, or equal, against; to show an equal competitor to; to set
something in competition with, or in opposition to, as
equal.
No history or antiquity can matchis policies
and his conduct.
South.
3. To oppose as equal; to contend
successfully against.
Eternal might
To match with their inventions they presumed
So easy, and of his thunder made a scorn.
Milton.
4. To make or procure the equal of, or that
which is exactly similar to, or corresponds with; as, to match
a vase or a horse; to match cloth. "Matching of
patterns and colors." Swift.
5. To make equal, proportionate, or suitable;
to adapt, fit, or suit (one thing to another).
Let poets match their subject to their
strength.
Roscommon.
6. To marry; to give in marriage.
A senator of Rome survived,
Would not have matched his daughter with a king.
Addison.
7. To fit together, or make suitable for
fitting together; specifically, to furnish with a tongue and a
groove, at the edges; as, to match boards.
Matching machine, a planing machine for
forming a tongue or a groove on the edge of a board.
Match, v. i. 1. To
be united in marriage; to mate.
I hold it a sin to match in my
kindred.
Shak.
Let tigers match with hinds, and wolves with
sheep.
Dryden.
2. To be of equal, or similar, size, figure,
color, or quality; to tally; to suit; to correspond; as, these vases
match.
Match"a*ble (?), a. Capable of
being matched; comparable on equal conditions; adapted to being
joined together; correspondent. -- Match"a*ble*ness,
n.
Sir Walter Raleigh . . . is matchable with the
best of the ancients.
Hakewill.
Match"-cloth` (?), n. A coarse
cloth.
Match"-coat` (?), n. A coat made
of match-cloth.
Match"er (?), n. One who, or that
which, matches; a matching machine. See under 3d
Match.
Match"less, a. [Cf.
Mateless.]
1. Having no equal; unequaled. "A
matchless queen." Waller.
2. Unlike each other; unequal;
unsuited. [Obs.] "Matchless ears." Spenser.
-- Match"less*ly, adv. --
Match"less*ness, n.
Match"lock` (?), n. An old form of
gunlock containing a match for firing the priming; hence, a musket
fired by means of a match.
Match"mak`er (?), n. 1.
One who makes matches for burning or kinding.
2. One who tries to bring about
marriages.
Match"mak`ing, n. 1.
The act or process of making matches for kindling or
burning.
2. The act or process of trying to bring
about a marriage for others.
Match"mak`ing, a. Busy in making
or contriving marriages; as, a matchmaking woman.
||Ma"te (?), n. [Sp.] The Paraguay
tea, being the dried leaf of the Brazilian holly (Ilex
Paraguensis). The infusion has a pleasant odor, with an agreeable
bitter taste, and is much used for tea in South America.
Mate (?), n. [F. mat, abbrev.
fr. échec et mat. See Checkmate.] (Chess)
Same as Checkmate.
Mate, a. See 2d Mat.
[Obs.] Chaucer.
Mate, v. t. [F. mater to
fatigue, enfeeble, humiliate, checkmate. See Mate
checkmate.]
1. To confuse; to confound. [Obs.]
Shak.
2. To checkmate.
Mate, n. [Perhaps for older make
a companion; cf. also OD. maet companion, mate, D.
maat. Cf. Make a companion, Match a mate.]
1. One who customarily associates with another;
a companion; an associate; any object which is associated or combined
with a similar object.
2. Hence, specifically, a husband or wife;
and among the lower animals, one of a pair associated for propagation
and the care of their young.
3. A suitable companion; a match; an
equal.
Ye knew me once no mate
For you; there sitting where you durst not soar.
Milton.
4. (Naut.) An officer in a merchant
vessel ranking next below the captain. If there are more than one
bearing the title, they are called, respectively, first mate,
second mate, third mate, etc. In the navy, a
subordinate officer or assistant; as, master's mate; surgeon's
mate.
Mate, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Mated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Mating.] 1. To match; to marry.
If she be mated with an equal
husband.
Shak.
2. To match one's self against; to oppose as
equal; to compete with.
There is no passion in the mind of man so weak but it
mates and masters the fear of death.
Bacon.
I, . . . in the way of loyalty and truth, . . .
Dare mate a sounder man than Surrey can be.
Shak.
Mate, v. i. To be or become a mate
or mates, especially in sexual companionship; as, some birds
mate for life; this bird will not mate with that
one.
Mate"less, a. [Cf. Matchless.]
Having no mate.
Mat"e*lote (măt"&esl;*lōt),
n. [F., fr. matelot a sailor; properly, a
dish such as sailors prepare.] A dish of food composed of many
kinds of fish.
Ma`te*ol"o*gy
(mā`t&esl;*&obreve;l"&osl;*j&ybreve;), n.
[Gr. mataiologi`a; ma`taios useless, vain +
lo`gos discourse: cf. F. matéologie.] A
vain, unprofitable discourse or inquiry. [R.]
Ma`te*o*tech"ny
(mā`t&esl;*&osl;*t&ebreve;k"n&ybreve;), n.
[Gr. mataiotechni`a; ma`taios vain +
te`chnh art, science.] Any unprofitable
science. [Obs.]
||Ma"ter (?), n. [L., mother. See
Mother.] See Alma mater, Dura mater, and
Pia mater.
Ma*te"ri*al (?), a. [L.
materialis, fr. materia stuff, matter: cf. F.
matériel. See Matter, and cf.
MatÉriel.]
1. Consisting of matter; not spiritual;
corporeal; physical; as, material substance or
bodies.
The material elements of the
universe.
Whewell.
2. Hence: Pertaining to, or affecting, the
physical nature of man, as distinguished from the mental or moral
nature; relating to the bodily wants, interests, and
comforts.
3. Of solid or weighty character; not
insubstantial; of consequence; not be dispensed with;
important.
Discourse, which was always material, never
trifling.
Evelyn.
I shall, in the account of simple ideas, set down only
such as are most material to our present purpose.
Locke.
4. (Logic.) Pertaining to the matter,
as opposed to the form, of a thing. See Matter.
Material cause. See under Cause.
-- Material evidence (Law), evidence
which conduces to the proof or disproof of a relevant
hypothesis. Wharton.
Syn. -- Corporeal; bodily; important; weighty; momentous;
essential.
Ma*te"ri*al, n. The substance or
matter of which anything is made or may be made.
Raw material, any crude, unfinished, or
elementary materials that are adapted to use only by processes of
skilled labor. Cotton, wool, ore, logs, etc., are raw
material.
Ma*te"ri*al, v. t. To form from
matter; to materialize. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
Ma*te"ri*al*ism (?), n. [Cf. F.
matérialisme.]
1. The doctrine of materialists;
materialistic views and tenets.
The irregular fears of a future state had been
supplanted by the materialism of Epicurus.
Buckminster.
2. The tendency to give undue importance to
material interests; devotion to the material nature and its
wants.
3. Material substances in the aggregate;
matter. [R. & Obs.] A. Chalmers.
Ma*te"ri*al*ist
(m&adot;*tē"r&ibreve;*al*&ibreve;st),
n. [Cf. F. matérialiste.]
1. One who denies the existence of spiritual
substances or agents, and maintains that spiritual phenomena, so
called, are the result of some peculiar organization of
matter.
2. One who holds to the existence of matter,
as distinguished from the idealist, who denies it.
Berkeley.
{ Ma*te`ri*al*is"tic (?), Ma*te`ri*al*is"tic*al
(?), } a. Of or pertaining to materialism or
materialists; of the nature of materialism.
But to me his very spiritualism seemed more
materialistic than his physics.
C.
Kingsley.
Ma*te`ri*al"i*ty (?), n. [Cf. F.
matérialité.]
1. The quality or state of being material;
material existence; corporeity.
2. Importance; as, the materiality of
facts.
Ma*te`ri*al*i*za"tion (?), n. The
act of materializing, or the state of being materialized.
Ma*te"ri*al*ize (?), v. t.
[imp. & p. p. Materialized (?); p.
pr. & vb. n. Materializing (?).] [Cf. F.
matérialiser.] 1. To invest with
material characteristics; to make perceptible to the senses; hence,
to present to the mind through the medium of material
objects.
Having with wonderful art and beauty
materialized, if I may so call it, a scheme of abstracted
notions, and clothed the most nice, refined conceptions of philosophy
in sensible images.
Tatler.
2. To regard as matter; to consider or
explain by the laws or principles which are appropriate to
matter.
3. To cause to assume a character appropriate
to material things; to occupy with material interests; as, to
materialize thought.
4. (Spiritualism) To make visable in,
or as in, a material form; -- said of spirits.
A female spirit form temporarily materialized,
and not distinguishable from a human being.
Epes
Sargent.
Ma*te"ri*al*ize, v. i. To appear
as a material form; to take substantial shape. [Colloq.]
Ma*te"ri*al*ly, adv. 1.
In the state of matter.
I do not mean that anything is separable from a body
by fire that was not materially preëxistent in
it.
Boyle.
2. In its essence; substantially.
An ill intention is certainly sufficient to spoil . .
. an act in itself materially good.
South.
3. In an important manner or degree;
essentially; as, it materially concerns us to know the real
motives of our actions.
Ma*te"ri*al*ness, n. The state of
being material.
||Ma*te"ri*a med"i*ca (?). [L. See Matter, and
Medical.] 1. Material or substance used
in the composition of remedies; -- a general term for all substances
used as curative agents in medicine.
2. That branch of medical science which
treats of the nature and properties of all the substances that are
employed for the cure of diseases.
Ma*te`ri*a"ri*an (?), n. [L.
materiarius.] See Materialist. [Obs.]
{ Ma*te"ri*ate (?), Ma*te"ri*a`ted (?), }
a. [L. materiatus, p. p. of materiare
to build of wood.] Consisting of matter. [Obs.]
Bacon.
Ma*te`ri*a"tion (?), n. [L.
materiatio woodwork.] Act of forming matter. [Obs.]
Sir T. Browne.
||Ma`té`ri`el" (?), n. [F. See
Material.] That in a complex system which constitutes the
materials, or instruments employed, in distinction from the
personnel, or men; as, the baggage, munitions, provisions,
etc., of an army; or the buildings, libraries, and apparatus of a
college, in distinction from its officers.
Ma*te"ri*ous (?), a. See
Material. [Obs.]
Ma*ter"nal (?), a. [F. maternel,
L. maternus, fr. mater mother. See Mother.]
Of or pertaining to a mother; becoming to a mother; motherly;
as, maternal love; maternal tenderness.
Syn. -- See Motherly.
Ma*ter"nal*ly, adv. In a motherly
manner.
Ma*ter"ni*ty (?), n. [F.
maternité, LL. maternitas.] The state of
being a mother; the character or relation of a mother.
Mat"fel*on (?), n. [W.
madfelen.] (Bot.) The knapweed (Centaurea
nigra).
Math (?), n. [AS.
m&aemacr;ð; akin to māwan to mow, G.
mahd math. See Mow to cut (grass).] A mowing, or
that which is gathered by mowing; -- chiefly used in composition; as,
an aftermath. [Obs.]
The first mowing thereof, for the king's use, is wont
to be sooner than the common math.
Bp.
Hall.
Math`e*mat"ic (?), a. [F.
mathématique, L. mathematicus, Gr. &?; disposed
to learn, belonging to learning or the sciences, especially to
mathematics, fr. &?; that which is learned, learning, pl. &?; things
learned, learning, science, especially mathematical science, fr. &?;,
&?;, to learn; akin to E. mind. See Mind.] See
Mathematical.
Math`e*mat"ic*al (?), a. [See
Mathematic.] Of or pertaining to mathematics; according
to mathematics; hence, theoretically precise; accurate; as,
mathematical geography; mathematical instruments;
mathematical exactness. -- Math`e*mat"ic*al*ly,
adv.
Math`e*ma*ti"cian (?), n. [Cf. F.
mathématicien.] One versed in
mathematics.
Math`e*mat"ics (?), n. [F.
mathématiques, pl., L. mathematica, sing., Gr.
&?; (sc. &?;) science. See Mathematic, and -ics.]
That science, or class of sciences, which treats of the exact
relations existing between quantities or magnitudes, and of the
methods by which, in accordance with these relations, quantities
sought are deducible from other quantities known or supposed; the
science of spatial and quantitative relations.
&fist; Mathematics embraces three departments, namely:
1. Arithmetic. 2. Geometry, including
Trigonometry and Conic Sections. 3.
Analysis, in which letters are used, including Algebra,
Analytical Geometry, and Calculus. Each of these
divisions is divided into pure or abstract, which
considers magnitude or quantity abstractly, without relation to
matter; and mixed or applied, which treats of magnitude
as subsisting in material bodies, and is consequently interwoven with
physical considerations.
Math"er (?), n. See
Madder.
Math"es (?), n. [Perh. corrupted fr. L.
anthemis camomile, Gr. &?; .] (Bot.) The mayweed.
Cf. Maghet.
||Ma*the"sis (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. &?;,
from &?;, &?;, to learn.] Learning; especially,
mathematics. [R.] Pope.
Math"u*rin (?), n. (R. C. Ch.)
See Trinitarian.
Ma*ti"co (?), n. (Bot.) A
Peruvian plant (Piper, or Artanthe, elongatum), allied to the
pepper, the leaves of which are used as a styptic and
astringent.
Mat"ie (?), n. (Zoöl.)
A fat herring with undeveloped roe. [Written also
matty.] [Eng. & Scot.]
||Mâ`tin" (?), n. [F.
mâtin.] (Zoöl.) A French
mastiff.
Mat"in (?), n. [F. fr. L.
matutinum the morning, matutinus of the morning,
Matuta the goddess of the morning. See Matutinal.]
1. Morning. [Obs.] Shak.
2. pl. [F. matines. See Etymol.
above.] Morning worship or service; morning prayers or
songs.
The winged choristers began
To chirp their matins.
Cleveland.
3. Time of morning service; the first
canonical hour in the Roman Catholic Church.
Mat"in, a. Of or pertaining to the
morning, or to matins; used in the morning; matutinal.
Mat"in*al (?), a. Relating to the
morning, or to matins; matutinal.
Mat`i*née" (?), n. [F., from
matin. See Matin.] A reception, or a musical or
dramatic entertainment, held in the daytime. See
SoirÉe.
Ma*trass" (?), n. [F. matras;
perh. so called from its long narrow neck; cf. OF. matras
large arrow, L. materis, mataris, matara, a
Celtic javelin, pike; of Celtic origin.] (Chem.) A round-
bottomed glass flask having a long neck; a bolthead.
Mat"ress (?), n. See
Matress.
Ma"tri*arch (?), n. [L. mater
mother + -arch.] The mother and ruler of a family or of
her descendants; a ruler by maternal right.
Ma`tri*ar"chal (?), a. Of or
pertaining to a matriarch; governed by a matriarch.
Ma"tri*ar"chate (?), n. The office
or jurisdiction of a matriarch; a matriarchal form of
government.
Ma"trice (?), n. [Cf. F.
matrice. See Matrix.] See Matrix.
Mat"ri*ci`dal (?), a. Of or
pertaining to matricide.
Mat"ri*cide (?), n. [L.
matricidium; mater mother + coedere to kill,
slay: cf. F. matricide. See Mother, and cf.
Homicide.] 1. The murder of a mother by
her son or daughter.
2. [L. matricida: cf. F. matricide.]
One who murders one's own mother.
Ma*tric"u*late (?), v. t. [imp.
& p. p. Matriculated (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Matriculating.] [L. matricula a public
roll or register, dim. of matrix a mother, in respect to
propagation, also, a public register. See Matrix.] To
enroll; to enter in a register; specifically, to enter or admit to
membership in a body or society, particularly in a college or
university, by enrolling the name in a register.
In discovering and matriculating the arms of
commissaries from North America.
Sir W.
Scott.
Ma*tric"u*late, v. i. To go though
the process of admission to membership, as by examination and
enrollment, in a society or college.
Ma*tric"u*late (?), a.
Matriculated. Skelton. -- n.
One who is matriculated. Arbuthnot.
Ma*tric`u*la"tion (?), n. The act
or process of matriculating; the state of being
matriculated.
Mat"ri*moine (?), n.
Matrimony. [Obs.]
Mat`ri*mo"ni*al (?), a. [L.
matrimonialis: cf. F. matrimonial. See
Matrimony.] Of or pertaining to marriage; derived from
marriage; connubial; nuptial; hymeneal; as, matrimonial rights
or duties.
If he relied upon that title, he could be but a king
at courtesy, and have rather a matrimonial than a regal
power.
Bacon.
Syn. -- Connubial; conjugal; sponsal; spousal; nuptial;
hymeneal.
Mat`ri*mo"ni*al*ly, adv. In a
matrimonial manner.
Mat`ri*mo"ni*ous (?), a.
Matrimonial. [R.] Milton.
Mat"ri*mo*ny (?), n. [OE.
matrimoine, through Old French, fr. L. matrimonium, fr.
mater mother. See Mother.]
1. The union of man and woman as husband and
wife; the nuptial state; marriage; wedlock.
If either of you know any impediment, why ye may not
be lawfully joined together in matrimony, ye do now confess
it.
Book of Com. Prayer (Eng. Ed. )
2. A kind of game at cards played by several
persons.
Matrimony vine (Bot.), a climbing
thorny vine (Lycium barbarum) of the Potato family.
Gray.
Syn. -- Marriage; wedlock. See Marriage.
Ma"trix (mā"tr&ibreve;ks), n.;
pl. Matrices
(măt"r&ibreve;*sēz). [L., fr. mater mother. See
Mother, and cf. Matrice.]
1. (Anat.) The womb.
All that openeth the matrix is
mine.
Ex. xxxiv. 19.
2. Hence, that which gives form or origin to
anything; as: (a) (Mech.) The
cavity in which anything is formed, and which gives it shape; a die;
a mold, as for the face of a type. (b)
(Min.) The earthy or stony substance in which metallic
ores or crystallized minerals are found; the gangue.
(c) pl. (Dyeing) The five simple
colors, black, white, blue, red, and yellow, of which all the rest
are composed.
3. (Biol.) The lifeless portion of
tissue, either animal or vegetable, situated between the cells; the
intercellular substance.
4. (Math.) A rectangular arrangement
of symbols in rows and columns. The symbols may express quantities or
operations.
Ma"tron (?), n. [F. matrone, L.
matrona, fr. mater mother. See Mother.]
1. A wife or a widow, especially, one who has
borne children; a woman of staid or motherly manners.
Your wives, your daughters,
Your matrons, and your maids.
Shak.
Grave from her cradle, insomuch that she was a
matron before she was a mother.
Fuller.
2. A housekeeper; esp., a woman who manages
the domestic economy of a public instution; a head nurse in a
hospital; as, the matron of a school or hospital.
Jury of matrons (Law), a jury of
experienced women called to determine the question of pregnancy when
set up in bar of execution, and for other cognate purposes.
Mat"ron*age (?), n. 1.
The state of a matron.
2. The collective body of matrons.
Burke.
Can a politician slight the feelings and convictions
of the whole matronage of his country ?
Hare.
Mat"ron*al (?), a. [L.
matronalis.] Of or pertaining to a matron; suitable to an
elderly lady or to a married woman; grave; motherly.
Ma"tron*hood (?), n. The state of
being a matron.
Mat"ron*ize (?), v. t. [imp. &
p. p. Matronized (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Matronizing (?).] 1. To make
a matron of; to make matronlike.
Childbed matronizes the giddiest
spirits.
Richardson.
2. To act the part of a matron toward; to
superintend; to chaperone; as, to matronize an
assembly.
Ma"tron*like` (?), a. Like a
matron; sedate; grave; matronly.
Ma"tron*ly, a. 1.
Advanced in years; elderly.
2. Like, or befitting, a matron; grave;
sedate.
Mat`ro*nym"ic (?), n. [L. mater
mother + -nymic, as in patronimic.] See
Metronymic.
Ma*tross" (?), n. [D. matroos,
fr. F. matelot.] (Mil.) Formerly, in the British
service, a gunner or a gunner's mate; one of the soldiers in a train
of artillery, who assisted the gunners in loading, firing, and
sponging the guns. [Obs.]
Matt (?), n. See
Matte. Knight.
Mat`ta*ges" (?), n. (Zoöl.)
A shrike or butcher bird; -- written also
matagasse. [Prov. Eng.]
Mat"ta*more` (?), n. [F.
matamore, from Ar. ma&tsdot;mōra.] A
subterranean repository for wheat.
Matte (măt), n. [F.
matte; cf. F. mat, masc., matte, fem., faint,
dull, dim; -- said of metals. See Mate checkmate.]
1. (Metallurgy) A partly reduced copper
sulphide, obtained by alternately roasting and melting copper ore in
separating the metal from associated iron ores, and called coarse
metal, fine metal, etc., according to the grade of
fineness. On the exterior it is dark brown or black, but on a fresh
surface is yellow or bronzy in color.
2. A dead or dull finish, as in gilding where
the gold leaf is not burnished, or in painting where the surface is
purposely deprived of gloss.
Mat"ted (?), a. [See Matte.]
Having a dull surface; unburnished; as, matted gold leaf
or gilding.
Matted glass, glass ornamented with figures
on a dull ground.
Mat"ted, a. [See 3d Mat.]
1. Covered with a mat or mats; as, a
matted floor.
2. Tangled closely together; having its parts
adhering closely together; as, matted hair.
Mat"ter (?), n. [OE. matere, F.
matière, fr. L. materia; perh. akin to L.
mater mother. Cf. Mother, Madeira,
Material.] 1. That of which anything is
composed; constituent substance; material; the material or
substantial part of anything; the constituent elements of conception;
that into which a notion may be analyzed; the essence; the pith; the
embodiment.
He is the matter of virtue.
B.
Jonson.
2. That of which the sensible universe and
all existent bodies are composed; anything which has extension,
occupies space, or is perceptible by the senses; body;
substance.
&fist; Matter is usually divided by philosophical writers
into three kinds or classes: solid, liquid, and
aëriform. Solid substances are those whose parts
firmly cohere and resist impression, as wood or stone. Liquids
have free motion among their parts, and easily yield to impression,
as water and wine. Aëriform substances are elastic
fluids, called vapors and gases, as air and oxygen
gas.
3. That with regard to, or about which,
anything takes place or is done; the thing aimed at, treated of, or
treated; subject of action, discussion, consideration, feeling,
complaint, legal action, or the like; theme. "If the
matter should be tried by duel." Bacon.
Son of God, Savior of men ! Thy name
Shall be the copious matter of my song.
Milton.
Every great matter they shall bring unto thee,
but every small matter they shall judge.
Ex.
xviii. 22.
4. That which one has to treat, or with which
one has to do; concern; affair; business.
To help the matter, the alchemists call in many
vanities out of astrology.
Bacon.
Some young female seems to have carried matters
so far, that she is ripe for asking advice.
Spectator.
5. Affair worthy of account; thing of
consequence; importance; significance; moment; -- chiefly in the
phrases what matter ? no matter, and the
like.
A prophet some, and some a poet, cry;
No matter which, so neither of them lie.
Dryden.
6. Inducing cause or occasion, especially of
anything disagreeable or distressing; difficulty; trouble.
And this is the matter why interpreters upon
that passage in Hosea will not consent it to be a true story, that
the prophet took a harlot to wife.
Milton.
7. Amount; quantity; portion; space; -- often
indefinite.
Away he goes, . . . a matter of seven
miles.
L' Estrange.
I have thoughts to tarry a small
matter.
Congreve.
No small matter of British forces were
commanded over sea the year before.
Milton.
8. Substance excreted from living animal
bodies; that which is thrown out or discharged in a tumor, boil, or
abscess; pus; purulent substance.
9. (Metaph.) That which is permanent,
or is supposed to be given, and in or upon which changes are effected
by psychological or physical processes and relations; -- opposed to
form. Mansel.
10. (Print.) Written manuscript, or
anything to be set in type; copy; also, type set up and ready to be
used, or which has been used, in printing.
Dead matter (Print.), type which has
been used, or which is not to be used, in printing, and is ready for
distribution. -- Live matter (Print.),
type set up, but not yet printed from. -- Matter in
bar, Matter of fact. See under
Bar, and Fact. -- Matter of
record, anything recorded. -- Upon the
matter, or Upon the whole matter,
considering the whole; taking all things into view.
Waller, with Sir William Balfour, exceeded in horse,
but were, upon the whole matter, equal in foot.
Clarendon.
Mat"ter (?), v. i. [imp. & p.
p. Mattered (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Mattering.] 1. To be of importance; to
import; to signify.
It matters not how they were
called.
Locke.
2. To form pus or matter, as an abscess; to
maturate. [R.] "Each slight sore mattereth." Sir P.
Sidney.
Mat"ter, v. t. To regard as
important; to take account of; to care for. [Obs.]
He did not matter cold nor hunger.
H. Brooke.
Mat"ter*less, a. 1.
Not being, or having, matter; as, matterless
spirits. Davies (Wit's Pilgr. ).
2. Unimportant; immaterial. [Obs.]
Mat"ter-of-fact" (?), a. Adhering
to facts; not turning aside from absolute realities; not fanciful or
imaginative; commonplace; dry.
Mat"ter*y (?), a. 1.
Generating or containing pus; purulent.
2. Full of substance or matter;
important. B. Jonson.
Mat"ting (?), n. [From Mat,
v. t. & i.] 1. The act of
interweaving or tangling together so as to make a mat; the process of
becoming matted.
2. Mats, in general, or collectively; mat
work; a matlike fabric, for use in covering floors, packing articles,
and the like; a kind of carpeting made of straw, etc.
3. Materials for mats.
4. An ornamental border. See 3d Mat,
4.
Mat"ting, n. [See Matte.] A
dull, lusterless surface in certain of the arts, as gilding, metal
work, glassmaking, etc.
Mat"tock (?), n. [AS. mattuc;
cf. W. matog.] An implement for digging and grubbing. The
head has two long steel blades, one like an adz and the other like a
narrow ax or the point of a pickax.
'T is you must dig with mattock and with
spade.
Shak.
Mat`to*wac"ca (?), n. [Indian name.]
(Zoöl.) An American clupeoid fish (Clupea
mediocris), similar to the shad in habits and appearance, but
smaller and less esteemed for food; -- called also hickory
shad, tailor shad, fall herring, and shad
herring.
Mat"tress (?), n. [OF. materas,
F. matelas, LL. matratium; cf. Sp. & Pg.
almadraque, Pr. almatrac; all from Ar.
ma&tsdot;rah a place where anything is thrown, what is thrown
under something, fr. &tsdot;araha to throw.]
1. A quilted bed; a bed stuffed with hair,
moss, or other suitable material, and quilted or otherwise
fastened. [Written also matress.]
2. (Hydraulic Engin.) A mass of
interwoven brush, poles, etc., to protect a bank from being worn away
by currents or waves.
Mat"u*rant (?), n. [L. maturans,
p. pr. See Maturate.] (Med.) A medicine, or
application, which promotes suppuration.
Mat"u*rate (?), v. t. [imp. &
p. p. Maturated (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Maturating (?).] [L. maturatus, p. p. of
maturare to make ripe, fr. maturus ripe, mature. See
Mature, v. & a.]
1. To bring to ripeness or maturity; to
ripen.
A tree may be maturated
artificially.
Fuller.
2. To promote the perfect suppuration of (an
abscess).
Mat"u*rate, v. i. To ripen; to
become mature; specifically, to suppurate.
Mat`u*ra"tion (?), n. [L.
maturatio a hastening: cf. F. maturation.] The
process of bringing, or of coming, to maturity; hence, specifically,
the process of suppurating perfectly; the formation of pus or
matter.
Mat"u*ra*tive (?), a. [Cf. F.
maturatif.] Conducing to ripeness or maturity; hence,
conducing to suppuration.
Mat"u*ra*tive, n. (Med.) A
remedy promoting maturation; a maturant.
Ma*ture" (?), a.
[Compar. Maturer (?);
superl. Maturest.] [L. maturus; prob.
akin to E. matin.]
1. Brought by natural process to completeness
of growth and development; fitted by growth and development for any
function, action, or state, appropriate to its kind; full-grown;
ripe.
Now is love mature in ear.
Tennison.
How shall I meet, or how accost, the sage,
Unskilled in speech, nor yet mature of age ?
Pope.
2. Completely worked out; fully digested or
prepared; ready for action; made ready for destined application or
use; perfected; as, a mature plan.
This lies glowing, . . . and is almost mature
for the violent breaking out.
Shak.
3. Of or pertaining to a condition of full
development; as, a man of mature years.
4. Come to, or in a state of, completed
suppuration.
Syn. -- Ripe; perfect; completed; prepared; digested;
ready. -- Mature, Ripe. Both words describe
fullness of growth. Mature brings to view the
progressiveness of the process; ripe indicates the result. We
speak of a thing as mature when thinking of the successive
stayes through which it has passed; as ripe, when our
attention is directed merely to its state. A mature judgment;
mature consideration; ripe fruit; a ripe
scholar.
Ma*ture" (?), v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Matured (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Maturing.] [See Maturate, Mature.] To bring
or hasten to maturity; to promote ripeness in; to ripen; to complete;
as, to mature one's plans. Bacon.
Ma*ture", v. i. 1.
To advance toward maturity; to become ripe; as, wine
matures by age; the judgment matures by age and
experience.
2. Hence, to become due, as a note.
Ma*ture"ly, adv. 1.
In a mature manner; with ripeness; completely.
2. With caution; deliberately.
Dryden.
3. Early; soon. [A Latinism, little
used] Bentley.
Ma*ture"ness, n. The state or
quality of being mature; maturity.
Ma*tur"er (?), n. One who brings
to maturity.
Mat`u*res"cent (?), a. [L.
maturescens, p. pr. of maturescere to become ripe, v.
incho. from maturus. See Mature, a.]
Approaching maturity.
Ma*tur"ing (?), a. Approaching
maturity; as, maturing fruits; maturing notes of
hand.
Ma*tu"ri*ty (?), n. [L.
maturitas: cf. F. maturité.]
1. The state or quality of being mature;
ripeness; full development; as, the maturity of corn or of
grass; maturity of judgment; the maturity of a
plan.
2. Arrival of the time fixed for payment; a
becoming due; termination of the period a note, etc., has to
run.
Mat`u*ti"nal (?), a. [L.
matutinalis, matutinus: cf. F. matutinal. See
Matin.] Of or pertaining to the morning; early.
Ma*tu"ti*na*ry (?), a.
Matutinal. [R.]
Mat"u*tine (?), a.
Matutinal. [R.]
Mat"weed` (?), n. (Bot.) A
name of several maritime grasses, as the sea sand-reed (Ammophila
arundinacea) which is used in Holland to bind the sand of the
seacoast dikes (see Beach grass, under Beach); also,
the Lygeum Spartum, a Mediterranean grass of similar
habit.
Mat"y (?), n. [Etymology uncertain.]
A native house servant in India. Balfour (Cyc. of
India).
||Matz"oth (?), n. [Heb.
matstsōth, pl. of matstsāh unleavened.]
A cake of unleavened bread eaten by the Jews at the feast of the
Passover.
||Mau*ca"co (?), n. [From the native
name.] (Zoöl.) A lemur; -- applied to several
species, as the White-fronted, the ruffed, and the ring-tailed
lemurs.
Maud (?), n. A gray plaid; -- used
by shepherds in Scotland.
Mau"dle (?), v. t. To throw onto
confusion or disorder; to render maudlin. [Obs.]
Maud"lin (?), a. [From Maudlin,
a contr. of Magdalen, OE. Maudeleyne, who is drawn by
painters with eyes swelled and red with weeping.] 1.
Tearful; easily moved to tears; exciting to tears; excessively
sentimental; weak and silly. "Maudlin eyes."
Dryden. "Maudlin eloquence." Roscommon. "A
maudlin poetess." Pope. "Maudlin crowd."
Southey.
2. Drunk, or somewhat drunk; fuddled; given
to drunkenness.
Maudlin Clarence in his malmsey
butt.
Byron.
{ Maud"lin, Maude"line (?), }
n. (Bot.) An aromatic composite herb,
the costmary; also, the South European Achillea Ageratum, a
kind of yarrow.
Maud"lin*ism (?), n. A maudlin
state. Dickens.
Maud"lin*wort` (?), n. (Bot.)
The oxeye daisy.
{ Mau"ger, Mau"gre } (m&add;"g&etilde;r),
prep. [OF. maugré,
malgré, F. malgré. See Mal-,
Malice, and Agree.] In spite of; in opposition to;
notwithstanding.
A man must needs love maugre his
heed.
Chaucer.
This mauger all the world will I keep
safe.
Shak.
Mau"gre, v. t. To defy.
[Obs.] J. Webster.
Mau"kin (?), n. 1.
See Malkin.
2. (Zoöl.) A hare.
[Scot.]
Maul (?), n. [See Mall a
hammer.] A heavy wooden hammer or beetle. [Written also
mall.]
Maul, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Mauled (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Mauling.] 1. To beat and bruise with a
heavy stick or cudgel; to wound in a coarse manner.
Meek modern faith to murder, hack, and
maul.
Pope.
2. To injure greatly; to do much harm
to.
It mauls not only the person misrepreseted, but
him also to whom he is misrepresented.
South.
Maule (?), n. (Bot.) The
common mallow.
Maul"ing (?), n. A severe beating
with a stick, cudgel, or the fist.
Maul"-stick` (?), n. [G.
malerstock; maler a painter + stock stick.]
A stick used by painters as a rest for the hand while
working. [Written also mahl-stick.]
Mau"met (?), n. See
Mawmet. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Maunch (?), v. t. To munch.
[Obs.]
Maunch (?), n. See
Manche.
Maund (?), n. [AS. mand,
mond.] A hand basket. [Obs.] Herrick.
Maund, n. [Hind, & Per. man.]
An East Indian weight, varying in different localities from 25
to about 82 pounds avoirdupois.
{ Maund (?), Maund"er (?), } v.
i. [Cf. F. mendier to beg, E. mendicant.]
1. To beg. [Obs.] B. Jonson. Beau. &
Fl.
2. To mutter; to mumble; to grumble; to speak
indistinctly or disconnectedly; to talk incoherently.
He was ever maundering by the how that he met a
party of scarlet devils.
Sir W. Scott.
Maund"er, v. t. To utter in a
grumbling manner; to mutter.
Maund"er, n. A beggar.
[Obs.]
Maund"er*er (?), n. One who
maunders.
Maun"dril (?), n. [Cf. Mandrel.]
(Coal Mining) A pick with two prongs, to pry
with.
Maun"dy Thurs"day (?). [OE. maunde a command, OF.
mandé, L. mandatum, from mandare to
command. See called from the ancient custom of washing the feet of
the poor on this day, which was taken to be the fulfillment of the
"new commandment," John xiii. 5, 34.] (Eccl.) The
Thursday in Passion week, or next before Good Friday.
Maun"gy (?), a. Mangy.
[Obs.] Skelton.
Mau*resque" (?), a. & n. See
Moresque.
Maur"ist (?), n. [From Maurus,
the favorite disciple of St. Benedict.] A member of the
Congregation of Saint Maur, an offshoot of the Benedictines,
originating in France in the early part of the seventeenth century.
The Maurists have been distinguished for their interest in
literature.
Mau`so*le"an (?), a. [L.
Mausoleus. See Mausoleum.] Pertaining to a
mausoleum; monumental.
Mau`so*le"um (?), n.; pl. E.
Mausoleums (#), L. -lea (#). [L.
mausoleum, Gr. &?;, fr. &?; Mausolus, king of Caria, to whom
Artemisia, his widow, erected a stately monument.] A magnificent
tomb, or stately sepulchral monument.
Mau"ther (?), n. [Cf. AS.
mægþ a maid.] [Also spelled mawther,
mother.] A girl; esp., a great, awkward girl; a
wench. [Prov. Eng.]
Mauv`an"i*line (?), n. (Chem.)
See Mauve aniline, under Mauve.
Mauve (mōv), n. [F., mallow, L.
malva. So named from the similarity of the color to that of
the petals of common mallow, Malva sylvestris. See
Mallow.] A color of a delicate purple, violet, or
lilac.
Mauve aniline (Chem.), a dyestuff
produced artificially by the oxidation of commercial aniline, and the
first discovered of the so-called coal-tar, or aniline,
dyes. It consists of the sulphate of mauveïne, and is a
dark brown or bronze amorphous powder, which dissolves to a beatiful
purple color. Called also aniline purple, violine,
etc.
Mauve"ïne (?), n. (Chem.)
An artificial organic base, obtained by oxidizing a mixture of
aniline and toluidine, and valuable for the dyestuffs it forms.
[Written also mauvine.]
Mauv"ine (?), a. Mauve-
colored.
Mav"er*ick (?), n. In the
southwestern part of the united States, a bullock or heifer that has
not been branded, and is unclaimed or wild; -- said to be from
Maverick, the name of a cattle owner in Texas who neglected to
brand his cattle.
Ma"vis (mā"v&ibreve;s), n. [F.
mauvis, Arm. milvid, milfid, milc'hhouid,
Corn. melhuez.] (Zoöl.) The European throstle
or song thrush (Turdus musicus).
Maw (m&add;), n. [See Mew a
gull.] (Zoöl.) A gull.
Maw, n. [OE. mawe, AS.
maga stomach; akin to D. maag, OHG. mago, G.
magen, Icel. magi, Sw. mage, Dan. mave.
√103.] 1. A stomach; the receptacle into
which food is taken by swallowing; in birds, the craw; -- now used
only of the lower animals, exept humorously or in contempt.
Chaucer.
Bellies and maws of living
creatures.
Bacon.
2. Appetite; inclination. [Obs.]
Unless you had more maw to do me
good.
Beau. & Fl.
Fish maw. (Zoöl.) See under
Fish.
Maw, n. An old game at
cards. Sir A. Weldon.
Mawk (m&add;k), n. [OE. mauk,
maðek, Icel. maðkr; akin to Dan. maddik,
and E. mad an earthworm. See Mad,
n.]
1. A maggot. [Scot.]
2. A slattern; a mawks. [Prov.
Eng.]
Maw"kin (?), n. See Malkin,
and Maukin.
Mawk"ing*ly (?), adv.
Slatternly. [Obs.]
Mawk"ish, a. [Orig., maggoty. See
Mawk.] 1. Apt to cause satiety or
loathing; nauseous; disgusting.
So sweetly mawkish', and so smoothly
dull.
Pope.
2. Easily disgusted; squeamish; sentimentally
fastidious. J. H. Newman.
Mawk"ish*ly, adv. In a mawkish
way.
Mawk"ish*ness, n. The quality or
state of being mawkish. J. H. Newman.
Mawks (?), n. A slattern; a
mawk. [Prov. Eng.]
Mawk"y (?), a. Maggoty.
[Prov. Eng.]
Maw"met (?), n. [Contr. fr.
Mahomet.] A puppet; a doll; originally, an idol, because
in the Middle Ages it was generally believed that the Mohammedans
worshiped images representing Mohammed. [Obs.] Wyclif.
Beau. & Fl.
Maw"met*ry (?), n. The religion of
Mohammed; also, idolatry. See Mawmet. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Maw"mish (?), a. [Prov. E. maum
soft, mellow, rotten; cf. OD. molm rotten wood, G.
mulm.] Nauseous. [Obs.] L' Estrange.
Maw"seed` (?), n. [Cf. G.
magsamen.] (Bot.) The seed of the opium
poppy.
Maw"worm` (?), n. [Maw the belly
+ worm.] (Zoöl.) (a) Any
intestinal worm found in the stomach, esp. the common round worm
(Ascaris lumbricoides), and allied species.
(b) One of the larvæ of botflies of
horses; a bot.
||Max*il"la (?), n.; pl.
Maxillæ (#). [L., dim. of mala jaw,
jawbone.] 1. (Anat.) (a)
The bone of either the upper or the under jaw.
(b) The bone, or principal bone, of the upper
jaw, the bone of the lower jaw being the mandible. [Now
commonly used in this restricted sense.]
2. (Zoöl.) One of the lower or
outer jaws of arthropods.
&fist; There are usually two pairs in Crustacea and one pair in
insects. In certain insects they are not used as jaws, but may form
suctorial organs. See Illust. under Lepidoptera, and
Diptera.
{ Max"il*lar (?), Max"il*la*ry (?), }
a. [L. maxillaris, fr. maxilla
jawbone, jaw: cf. F. maxillaire.] 1.
(Anat.) Pertaining to either the upper or the lower jaw,
but now usually applied to the upper jaw only. --
n. The principal maxillary bone; the
maxilla.
2. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to a
maxilla.
Max*il"li*form (?), a. [Maxilla
+ -form: cf. F. maxilliforme.] Having the form, or
structure, of a maxilla.
Max*il"li*ped (?), n. [Maxilla +
L. pes, pedis, foot.] (Zoöl.) One of
the mouth appendages of Crustacea, situated next behind the
maxillæ. Crabs have three pairs, but many of the lower
Crustacea have but one pair of them. Called also jawfoot, and
foot jaw.
Max*il`lo-man*dib"u*lar (?), a.
[Maxilla + mandibular.] (Anat.) Pertaining
to the maxilla and mandible; as, the maxillo-mandibular
nerve.
Max*il`lo-pal"a*tine (?), a.
[Maxilla + palatine.] (Anat.) Pertaining to
the maxillary and palatine regions of the skull; as, the maxillo-
palatine process of the maxilla. Also used as
n.
Max*il`lo*tur`bi*nal (?), a.
[Maxilla + turbinal.] (Anat.) Pertaining to
the maxillary and turbinal regions of the skull. --
n. The maxillo-turbinal, or inferior
turbinate, bone.
Max"im (?), n. [F. maxime, L.
maxima (sc. sententia), the greatest sentence,
proposition, or axiom, i. e., of the greatest weight or authority,
fem. fr. maximus greatest, superl. of magnus great. See
Magnitude, and cf. Maximum.]
1. An established principle or proposition; a
condensed proposition of important practical truth; an axiom of
practical wisdom; an adage; a proverb; an aphorism.
'T is their maxim, Love is love's
reward.
Dryden.
2. (Mus.) The longest note formerly
used, equal to two longs, or four breves; a large.
Syn. -- Axiom; aphorism; apothegm; adage; proverb; saying.
See Axiom.
Max`i*mil"ian (?), n. [From the proper
name.] A gold coin of Bavaria, of the value of about 13s. 6d.
sterling, or about three dollars and a quarter.
Max`i*mi*za"tion (?), n. The act
or process of increasing to the highest degree.
Bentham.
Max"i*mize (?), v. t. [L.
maximus greatest.] To increase to the highest
degree. Bentham.
Max"i*mum (?), n.; pl.
Maxima (#). [L., neut. from maximus the
greatest. See Maxim.] The greatest quantity or value
attainable in a given case; or, the greatest value attained by a
quantity which first increases and then begins to decrease; the
highest point or degree; -- opposed to minimum.
Good legislation is the art of conducting a nation to
the maximum of happiness, and the minimum of
misery.
P. Colquhoun.
Maximum thermometer, a thermometer that
registers the highest degree of temperature attained in a given time,
or since its last adjustment.
Max"i*mum, a. Greatest in quantity
or highest in degree attainable or attained; as, a maximum
consumption of fuel; maximum pressure; maximum
heat.
May (mā), v.
[imp. Might (mīt)] [AS. pres.
mæg I am able, pret. meahte, mihte; akin
to D. mogen, G. mögen, OHG. mugan,
magan, Icel. mega, Goth. magan, Russ.
moche. √103. Cf. Dismay, Main strength,
Might. The old imp. mought is obsolete, except as a
provincial word.] An auxiliary verb qualifying the meaning of
another verb, by expressing: (a) Ability,
competency, or possibility; -- now oftener expressed by
can.
How may a man, said he, with idle speech,
Be won to spoil the castle of his health !
Spenser.
For what he [the king] may do is of two kinds;
what he may do as just, and what he may do as
possible.
Bacon.
For of all sad words of tongue or pen
The saddest are these: "It might have been."
Whittier.
(b) Liberty; permission; allowance.
Thou mayst be no longer steward.
Luke xvi. 2.
(c) Contingency or liability; possibility or
probability.
Though what he learns he speaks, and may
advance
Some general maxims, or be right by chance.
Pope.
(d) Modesty, courtesy, or concession, or a
desire to soften a question or remark.
How old may Phillis be, you ask.
Prior.
(e) Desire or wish, as in prayer,
imprecation, benediction, and the like. "May you live
happily." Dryden.
May be, ∧ It may be,
are used as equivalent to possibly, perhaps, by
chance, peradventure. See 1st Maybe.
May, n. [Cf. Icel. mær,
Goth. mawi; akin to E. maiden. √103.] A
maiden. [Obs.] Chaucer.
May, n. [F. Mai, L.
Maius; so named in honor of the goddess Maia (Gr. &?;),
daughter of Atlas and mother of Mercury by Jupiter.]
1. The fifth month of the year, containing
thirty-one days. Chaucer.
2. The early part or springtime of
life.
His May of youth, and bloom of
lustihood.
Shak.
3. (Bot.) The flowers of the hawthorn;
-- so called from their time of blossoming; also, the
hawthorn.
The palm and may make country houses
gay.
Nash.
Plumes that mocked the may.
Tennyson.
4. The merrymaking of May Day.
Tennyson.
Italian may (Bot.), a shrubby species
of Spiræa (S. hypericifolia) with many clusters
of small white flowers along the slender branches. --
May apple (Bot.), the fruit of an
American plant (Podophyllum peltatum). Also, the plant itself
(popularly called mandrake), which has two lobed leaves, and
bears a single egg-shaped fruit at the forking. The root and leaves,
used in medicine, are powerfully drastic. -- May
beetle, May bug (Zoöl.),
any one of numerous species of large lamellicorn beetles that
appear in the winged state in May. They belong to Melolontha,
and allied genera. Called also June beetle. --
May Day, the first day of May; -- celebrated in
the rustic parts of England by the crowning of a May queen with a
garland, and by dancing about a May pole. -- May
dew, the morning dew of the first day of May, to which
magical properties were attributed. -- May
flower (Bot.), a plant that flowers in May;
also, its blossom. See Mayflower, in the vocabulary. --
May fly (Zoöl.), any species of
Ephemera, and allied genera; -- so called because the mature
flies of many species appear in May. See Ephemeral fly, under
Ephemeral. -- May game, any May-day
sport. -- May lady, the queen or lady of
May, in old May games. -- May lily
(Bot.), the lily of the valley (Convallaria
majalis). -- May pole. See
Maypole in the Vocabulary. -- May
queen, a girl or young woman crowned queen in the
sports of May Day. -- May thorn, the
hawthorn.
||Ma"ya (mä"yä), n.
(Hindoo Philos.) The name for the doctrine of the
unreality of matter, called, in English, idealism; hence,
nothingness; vanity; illusion.
May"be (?), adv. [For it may
be.] Perhaps; possibly; peradventure.
Maybe the amorous count solicits
her.
Shak.
In a liberal and, maybe, somewhat reckless
way.
Tylor.
May"be, a. Possible; probable, but
not sure. [R.]
Then add those maybe years thou hast to
live.
Driden.
May"be, n. Possibility;
uncertainty. [R.]
What they offer is mere maybe and
shift.
Creech.
May"bird` (?), n. (Zoöl.)
(a) The whimbrel; -- called also May
fowl, May curlew, and May whaap.
(b) The knot. [Southern U. S.]
(c) The bobolink.
May"bloom` (?), n. (Bot.)
The hawthorn.
May"bush` (?), n. (Bot.)
The hawthorn.
May"duke` (?), n. [Corrupt. of
Médoc, a province in France, where it is supposed to
have originated.] A large dark-red cherry of excellent
quality.
May"fish` (?), n. (Zoöl.)
A common American minnow (Fundulus majalis). See
Minnow.
May"flow`er (?), n. (Bot.)
In England, the hawthorn; in New England, the trailing arbutus
(see Arbutus); also, the blossom of these plants.
May"hap (?), adv. Perhaps;
peradventure. [Prov. or Dialectic]
May"hem (?), n. [The same as
maim. See Maim.] (Law) The maiming of a
person by depriving him of the use of any of his members which are
necessary for defense or protection. See Maim.
May"ing (?), n. The celebrating of
May Day. "He met her once a-Maying." Milton.
Ma`yon`naise" (?), n. [F.] A sauce
compounded of raw yolks of eggs beaten up with olive oil to the
consistency of a sirup, and seasoned with vinegar, pepper, salt,
etc.; -- used in dressing salads, fish, etc. Also, a dish dressed
with this sauce.
May"or (?), n. [OE. maire, F.
maire, fr. L. major greater, higher, nobler, compar. of
magnus great; cf. Sp. mayor. See Major, and cf.
Merino.] The chief magistrate of a city or borough; the
chief officer of a municipal corporation. In some American cities
there is a city court of which the major is chief judge.
||May"or*al (?), n. [Sp., fr.
mayor greater, L. major.] The conductor of a mule
team; also, a head shepherd.
May"or*al*ty (?), n. The office,
or the term of office, of a mayor.
May"or*ess (?), n. The wife of a
mayor.
May"or*ship, n. The office of a
mayor.
May"pole` (?), n. A tall pole
erected in an open place and wreathed with flowers, about which the
rustic May-day sports were had.
May"pop (?), n. [Perh. corrupt. fr.
maracock.] (Bot.) The edible fruit of a passion
flower, especially that of the North American Passiflora
incarnata, an oval yellowish berry as large as a small
apple.
May"weed` (?), n. (Bot.)
(a) A composite plant (Anthemis Cotula),
having a strong odor; dog's fennel. It is a native of Europe, now
common by the roadsides in the United States.
(b) The feverfew.
{ Ma*za"ma (?), Ma*za"me (?), }
n. (Zoöl.) A goatlike antelope
(Haplocerus montanus) which inhabits the Rocky Mountains,
frequenting the highest parts; -- called also mountain
goat.
Maz"ard (?), n. [Cf. F. merise a
wild cherry.] (Bot.) A kind of small black
cherry.
Maz"ard, n. [Prob. fr. mazer,
the head being compared to a large goblet.] The jaw; the head or
skull. [Obs.] Shak.
Maz"ard, v. t., To knock on the
head. [Obs.]
Maz`a*rine" (?), a. Of or
pertaining to Cardinal Mazarin, prime minister of France,
1643-1661.
Mazarine Bible, the first Bible, and perhaps
the first complete book, printed with movable metal types; -- printed
by Gutenberg at Mentz, 1450-55; -- so called because a copy was found
in the Mazarine Library, at Paris, about 1760. --
Mazarine blue, a deep blue color, named in
honor of Cardinal Mazarin.
Maz`a*rine", n. Mazarine
blue.
Maz"de*an (?), a. Of or pertaining
to Ahura-Mazda, or Ormuzd, the beneficent deity in the
Zoroastrian dualistic system; hence, Zoroastrian.
Maz"de*ism (?), n. The Zoroastrian
religion.
Maze (?), n. [OE. mase; cf. OE.
masen to confuse, puzzle, Norweg. masast to fall into a
slumber, masa to be continually busy, prate, chatter, Icel.
masa to chatter, dial. Sw. masa to bask, be slow, work
slowly and lazily, mas slow, lazy.] 1. A
wild fancy; a confused notion. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. Confusion of thought; perplexity;
uncertainty; state of bewilderment.
3. A confusing and baffling network, as of
paths or passages; an intricacy; a labyrinth. "Quaint
mazes on the wanton green." Shak.
Or down the tempting maze of Shawford
brook.
Wordaworth.
The ways of Heaven are dark and intricate,
Puzzled with mazes, and perplexed with error.
Addison.
Syn. -- Labyrinth; intricacy. See Labyrinth.
Maze (?), v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Mazed (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Mazing.] To perplex greatly; to bewilder; to astonish and
confuse; to amaze. South.
Maze, v. i. To be
bewildered. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Maz"ed*ness (?), n. The condition
of being mazed; confusion; astonishment. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Maze"ful (?), a. Mazy.
[Obs.] Sir P. Sidney.
Maz"er (?), n. [OE. maser, akin
to OD. maser an excrescence on a maple tree, OHG.
masar, G. maser spot, Icel. mösurr maple.]
A large drinking bowl; -- originally made of maple.
[Obs.]
Their brimful mazers to the feasting
bring.
Drayton.
Ma"zi*ly (?), adv. In a mazy
manner.
Ma"zi*ness, n. The state or
quality of being mazy.
Maz`o*log"ic*al (?), a. Of or
pertaining to mazology.
Ma*zol"o*gist (?), n. One versed
in mazology or mastology.
Ma*zol"o*gy (?), n. [Gr. &?; the breast
+ -logy.] Same as Mastology.
{ Ma*zour"ka (?), Ma*zur"ka (?), }
n. A Polish dance, or the music which
accompanies it, usually in 3-4 or 3-8 measure, with a strong accent
on the second beat.
Ma"zy (?), a. [From Maze.]
Perplexed with turns and windings; winding; intricate;
confusing; perplexing; embarrassing; as, mazy error.
Milton.
To range amid the mazy thicket.
Spenser.
To run the ring, and trace the mazy
round.
Dryden.
Me (?), pron. One. See Men,
pron. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Me (mē), pers. pron. [AS.
mē, dat. & acc., mec, acc. only ; akin to D.
mij, G. mich, Icel. & Goth. mik, L. me,
Gr. me`, 'eme`, Skr. mā,
mām. √187. Cf. 2d Mine.] The person
speaking, regarded as an object; myself; a pronoun of the first
person used as the objective and dative case of the pronoum I; as, he
struck me; he gave me the money, or he gave the money
to me; he got me a hat, or he got a hat for
me.
&fist; In methinks, me is properly in the dative
case, and the verb is impersonal, the construction being, it
appears to me. In early use me was often placed before
forms of the verb to be with an adjective; as, me were
lief.
Me rather had my heart might frrl your love
Than my unpleased eye see your courtesy.
Shak.
Meach (?), v. i. To skulk; to
cower. See Mich.
Mea"cock (?), n. [Prob. fr. meek
+ cock.] An uxorious, effeminate, or spiritless
man. [Obs.] Johnson.
Mead (mēd), n. [OE. mede,
AS. meodo; akin to D. mede, G. met, meth,
OHG. metu, mitu, Icel. mjöðr, Dan.
miöd, Sw. mjöd, Russ. med', Lith.
midus, W. medd, Gr. me`qy wine, Skr.
madhu honey, a sweet drink, as adj., sweet. √270. Cf.
Metheglin.] 1. A fermented drink made of
water and honey with malt, yeast, etc.; metheglin; hydromel.
Chaucer.
2. A drink composed of sirup of sarsaparilla
or other flavoring extract, and water. It is sometimes charged with
carbonic acid gas. [U. S.]
Mead, n. [AS. m&aemacr;d. See
Meadow.] A meadow.
A mede
All full of freshe flowers, white and reede.
Chaucer.
To fertile vales and dewy meads
My weary, wandering steps he leads.
Addison.
Mead"ow (?), n. [AS. meady; akin
to m&aemacr;d, and to G. matte; prob. also to E.
mow. See Mow to cut (grass), and cf. 2d Mead.]
1. A tract of low or level land producing grass
which is mown for hay; any field on which grass is grown for
hay.
2. Low land covered with coarse grass or rank
herbage near rives and in marshy places by the sea; as, the salt
meadows near Newark Bay.
Mead"ow, a. Of or pertaining to a
meadow; of the nature of a meadow; produced, growing, or living in, a
meadow. "Fat meadow ground." Milton.
&fist; For many names of plants compounded with meadow, see
the particular word in the Vocabulary.
Meadow beauty. (Bot.) Same as
Deergrass. -- Meadow foxtail
(Bot.), a valuable pasture grass (Alopecurus
pratensis) resembling timothy, but with softer spikes. --
Meadow grass (Bot.), a name given to
several grasses of the genus Poa, common in meadows, and of
great value for nay and for pasture. See Grass. --
Meadow hay, a coarse grass, or true sedge,
growing in uncultivated swamp or river meadow; -- used as fodder or
bedding for cattle, packing for ice, etc. [Local, U. S.] --
Meadow hen. (Zoöl.) (a)
The American bittern. See Stake-driver.
(b) The American coot (Fulica).
(c) The clapper rail. -- Meadow
lark (Zoöl.), any species of
Sturnella, a genus of American birds allied to the starlings.
The common species (S. magna) has a yellow breast with a black
crescent. -- Meadow mouse (Zoöl.),
any mouse of the genus Arvicola, as the common American
species A. riparia; -- called also field mouse, and
field vole. -- Meadow mussel
(Zoöl.), an American ribbed mussel (Modiola
plicatula), very abundant in salt marshes. -- Meadow
ore (Min.), bog-iron ore , a kind of
limonite. -- Meadow parsnip. (Bot.)
See under Parsnip. -- Meadow pink.
(Bot.) See under Pink. -- Meadow
pipit (Zoöl.), a small singing bird of the
genus Anthus, as A. pratensis, of Europe. --
Meadow rue (Bot.), a delicate early
plant, of the genus Thalictrum, having compound leaves and
numerous white flowers. There are many species. --
Meadow saffron. (Bot.) See under
Saffron. -- Meadow sage. (Bot.)
See under Sage. -- Meadow saxifrage
(Bot.), an umbelliferous plant of Europe (Silaus
pratensis), somewhat resembling fennel. -- Meadow
snipe (Zoöl.), the common or jack
snipe.
{ Mead"ow*sweet` (?), Mead"ow*wort` (?), }
n. (Bot.) The name of several plants of
the genus Spiræa, especially the white- or pink-flowered
S. salicifolia, a low European and American shrub, and the
herbaceous S. Ulmaria, which has fragrant white flowers in
compound cymes.
Mead"ow*y (?), a. Of or pertaining
to meadows; resembling, or consisting of, meadow.
{ Mea"ger, Mea"gre } (?), a.
[OE. merge, F. maigre, L. macer; akin to D. & G.
mager, Icel. magr, and prob. to Gr. makro`s
long. Cf. Emaciate, Maigre.]
1. Destitue of, or having little, flesh;
lean.
Meager were his looks;
Sharp misery had worn him to the bones.
Shak.
2. Destitute of richness, fertility,
strength, or the like; defective in quantity, or poor in quality;
poor; barren; scanty in ideas; wanting strength of diction or
affluence of imagery. "Meager soil." Dryden.
Of secular habits and meager religious
belief.
I. Taylor.
His education had been but meager.
Motley.
3. (Min.) Dry and harsh to the touch,
as chalk.
Syn. -- Thin; lean; lank; gaunt; starved; hungry; poor;
emaciated; scanty; barren.
{ Mea"ger, Mea"gre }, v. t.
To make lean. [Obs.]
{ Mea"ger*ly, Mea"gre*ly },
adv. Poorly; thinly.
{ Mea"ger*ness, Mea"gre*ness },
n. The state or quality of being meager;
leanness; scantiness; barrenness.
Mea"gre (?), n. [F. maigre.]
(Zoöl.) A large European sciænoid fish
(Sciæna umbra or S. aquila), having white
bloodless flesh. It is valued as a food fish. [Written also
maigre.]
Meak (?), n. [Cf. AS. mēce
sword, OS. māki, Icel. mækir.] A hook
with a long handle. [Obs.] Tusser.
Meak"ing, n. [See Meak.]
(Naut.) The process of picking out the oakum from the
seams of a vessel which is to be recalked.
Meaking iron (Naut.), the tool with
which old oakum is picked out of a vessel's seams.
Meal (mēl), n. [OE. mele,
AS. m&aemacr;l part, portion, portion of time; akin to E.
meal a repast. Cf. Piecemeal.] A part; a
fragment; a portion. [Obs.]
Meal, n. [OE. mel; akin to E.
meal a part, and to D. maal time, meal, G. mal
time, mahl meal, Icel. māl measure, time, meal,
Goth. mēl time, and to E. measure. See
Measure.] The portion of food taken at a particular time
for the satisfaction of appetite; the quantity usually taken at one
time with the purpose of satisfying hunger; a repast; the act or time
of eating a meal; as, the traveler has not eaten a good meal
for a week; there was silence during the meal.
What strange fish
Hath made his meal on thee ?
Shak.
Meal, n. [OE. mele, AS.
melu, melo; akin to D. meel, G. mehl,
OHG. melo, Icel. mjöl, SW. mjöl, Dan.
meel, also to D. malen to grind, G. mahlen,
OHG., OS., & Goth. malan, Icel. mala, W. malu,
L. molere, Gr. my`lh mill, and E. mill.
√108. Cf. Mill, Mold soil, Mole an
animal, Immolate, Molar.]
1. Grain (esp. maize, rye, or oats) that is
coarsely ground and unbolted; also, a kind of flour made from beans,
pease, etc.; sometimes, any flour, esp. if coarse.
2. Any substance that is coarsely pulverized
like meal, but not granulated.
Meal beetle (Zoöl.), the adult
of the meal worm. See Meal worm, below. -- Meal
moth (Zoöl.), a lepidopterous insect
(Asopia farinalis), the larvæ of which feed upon meal,
flour, etc. -- Meal worm (Zoöl.),
the larva of a beetle (Tenebrio molitor) which infests
granaries, bakehouses, etc., and is very injurious to flour and
meal.
Meal, v. t. 1. To
sprinkle with, or as with, meal. Shak.
2. To pulverize; as, mealed
powder.
Meal"ies (?), n. pl. [From
Mealy.] (Bot.) Maize or Indian corn; -- the common
name in South Africa.
Meal"i*ness (?), n. The quality or
state of being mealy.
Meal"-mouthed` (?), a. See
Mealy-mouthed.
Meal"time` (?), n. The usual time
of eating a meal.
Meal"y (?), a.
[Compar. Mealier (?);
superl. Mealiest.]
1. Having the qualities of meal; resembling
meal; soft, dry, and friable; easily reduced to a condition
resembling meal; as, a mealy potato.
2. Overspread with something that resembles
meal; as, the mealy wings of an insect.
Shak.
Mealy bug (Zoöl.), a scale
insect (Coccus adonidum, and related species), covered with a
white powderlike substance. It is a common pest in
hothouses.
Meal"y-mouthed` (?), a. Using soft
words; plausible; affectedly or timidly delicate of speech; unwilling
to tell the truth in plain language. "Mealy-mouthed
philanthropies." Tennyson.
She was a fool to be mealy-mouthed where nature
speaks so plain.
L'Estrange.
-- Meal"y-mouth`ness (#), n.
Mean (mēn), v. t. [imp. &
p. p. Meant (m&ebreve;nt); p. pr. & vb.
n. Meaning.] [OE. menen, AS.
m&aemacr;nan to recite, tell, intend, wish; akin to OS.
mēnian to have in mind, mean, D. meenen, G.
meinen, OHG. meinan, Icel. meina, Sw.
mena, Dan. mene, and to E. mind. √104.
See Mind, and cf. Moan.] 1. To
have in the mind, as a purpose, intention, etc.; to intend; to
purpose; to design; as, what do you mean to do ?
What mean ye by this service ?
Ex. xii. 26.
Ye thought evil against me; but God meant it
unto good.
Gen. 1. 20.
I am not a Spaniard
To say that it is yours and not to mean it.
Longfellow.
2. To signify; to indicate; to import; to
denote.
What mean these seven ewe lambs ?
Gen. xxi. 29.
Go ye, and learn what that
meaneth.
Matt. ix. 13.
Mean, v. i. To have a purpose or
intention. [Rare, except in the phrase to mean well, or ill.]
Shak.
Mean (mēn), a.
[Compar. Meaner (mēn"&etilde;r);
superl. Meanest.] [OE. mene, AS.
m&aemacr;ne wicked; akin to mān, a., wicked, n.,
wickedness, OS. mēn wickedness, OHG. mein, G.
meineid perjury, Icel. mein harm, hurt, and perh. to
AS. gem&aemacr;ne common, general, D. gemeen, G.
gemein, Goth. gamáins, and L. communis.
The AS. gem&aemacr;ne prob. influenced the meaning.]
1. Destitute of distinction or eminence;
common; low; vulgar; humble. "Of mean parentage."
Sir P. Sidney.
The mean man boweth down, and the great man
humbleth himself.
Is. ii. 9.
2. Wanting dignity of mind; low-minded; base;
destitute of honor; spiritless; as, a mean motive.
Can you imagine I so mean could prove,
To save my life by changing of my love ?
Dryden.
3. Of little value or account; worthy of
little or no regard; contemptible; despicable.
The Roman legions and great Cæsar found
Our fathers no mean foes.
J. Philips.
4. Of poor quality; as, mean
fare.
5. Penurious; stingy; close-fisted;
illiberal; as, mean hospitality.
&fist; Mean is sometimes used in the formation of
compounds, the sense of which is obvious without explanation; as,
meanborn, mean-looking, etc.
Syn. -- Base; ignoble; abject; beggarly; wretched;
degraded; degenerate; vulgar; vile; servile; menial; spiritless;
groveling; slavish; dishonorable; disgraceful; shameful; despicable;
contemptible; paltry; sordid. See Base.
Mean, a. [OE. mene, OF.
meiien, F. moyen, fr. L. medianus that is in the
middle, fr. medius; akin to E. mid. See Mid.]
1. Occupying a middle position; middle; being
about midway between extremes.
Being of middle age and a mean
stature.
Sir. P. Sidney.
2. Intermediate in excellence of any
kind.
According to the fittest style of lofty, mean,
or lowly.
Milton.
3. (Math.) Average; having an
intermediate value between two extremes, or between the several
successive values of a variable quantity during one cycle of
variation; as, mean distance; mean motion; mean
solar day.
Mean distance (of a planet from the sun)
(Astron.), the average of the distances throughout one
revolution of the planet, equivalent to the semi-major axis of the
orbit. -- Mean error (Math. Phys.),
the average error of a number of observations found by taking the
mean value of the positive and negative errors without regard to
sign. -- Mean-square error, or Error
of the mean square (Math. Phys.), the error the
square of which is the mean of the squares of all the errors; --
called also, especially by European writers, mean error.
-- Mean line. (Crystallog.) Same as
Bisectrix. -- Mean noon, noon as
determined by mean time. -- Mean proportional
(between two numbers) (Math.), the square root of their
product. -- Mean sun, a fictitious sun
supposed to move uniformly in the equator so as to be on the meridian
each day at mean noon. -- Mean time, time
as measured by an equable motion, as of a perfect clock, or as
reckoned on the supposition that all the days of the year are of a
mean or uniform length, in contradistinction from apparent
time, or that actually indicated by the sun, and from sidereal
time, or that measured by the stars.
Mean, n. 1. That
which is mean, or intermediate, between two extremes of place, time,
or number; the middle point or place; middle rate or degree;
mediocrity; medium; absence of extremes or excess; moderation;
measure.
But to speak in a mean, the virtue of
prosperity is temperance; the virtue of adversity is
fortitude.
Bacon.
There is a mean in all things.
Dryden.
The extremes we have mentioned, between which the
wellinstracted Christian holds the mean, are
correlatives.
I. Taylor.
2. (Math.) A quantity having an
intermediate value between several others, from which it is derived,
and of which it expresses the resultant value; usually, unless
otherwise specified, it is the simple average, formed by adding the
quantities together and dividing by their number, which is called an
arithmetical mean. A geometrical mean is the square
root of the product of the quantities.
3. That through which, or by the help of
which, an end is attained; something tending to an object desired;
intermediate agency or measure; necessary condition or coagent;
instrument.
Their virtuous conversation was a mean to work
the conversion of the heathen to Christ.
Hooker.
You may be able, by this mean, to review your
own scientific acquirements.
Coleridge.
Philosophical doubt is not an end, but a
mean.
Sir W. Hamilton.
&fist; In this sense the word is usually employed in the plural
form means, and often with a singular attribute or predicate,
as if a singular noun.
By this means he had them more at
vantage.
Bacon.
What other means is left unto us.
Shak.
4. pl. Hence: Resources; property,
revenue, or the like, considered as the condition of easy livelihood,
or an instrumentality at command for effecting any purpose;
disposable force or substance.
Your means are very slender, and your waste is
great.
Shak.
5. (Mus.) A part, whether alto or
tenor, intermediate between the soprano and base; a middle
part. [Obs.]
The mean is drowned with your unruly
base.
Shak.
6. Meantime; meanwhile. [Obs.]
Spenser.
7. A mediator; a go-between. [Obs.]
Piers Plowman.
He wooeth her by means and by
brokage.
Chaucer.
By all means, certainly; without fail; as,
go, by all means. -- By any means,
in any way; possibly; at all.
If by any means I might attain to the
resurrection of the dead.
Phil. iii. ll.
--
By no means, or By no manner of
means, not at all; certainly not; not in any
degree.
The wine on this side of the lake is by no
means so good as that on the other.
Addison.
Me*an"der (?), n. [L. Maeander,
orig., a river in Phrygia, proverbial for its many windings, Gr. &?;:
cf. F. méandre.] 1. A winding,
crooked, or involved course; as, the meanders of the veins and
arteries. Sir M. Hale.
While lingering rivers in meanders
glide.
Sir R. Blackmore.
2. A tortuous or intricate
movement.
3. (Arch.) Fretwork. See
Fret.
Me*an"der, v. t. To wind, turn, or
twist; to make flexuous.
Dryton.
Me*an"der, v. i. [imp. & p.
p. Meandered (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Meandering.] To wind or turn in a course or passage; to
be intricate.
Five miles meandering with a mazy motion
Through wood and dale the sacred river ran.
Coleridge.
Me*an"dri*an (?), a. [L.
Maeandrius: cf. F. méandrien.] Winding;
having many turns.
||Me`an*dri"na (?), n. [NL.: cf. F.
méandrine.] (Zoöl.) A genus of corals
with meandering grooves and ridges, including the brain
corals.
{ Me*an"drous (?), Me*an"dry (?), }
a. Winding; flexuous.
Mean"ing (?), n. 1.
That which is meant or intended; intent; purpose; aim; object;
as, a mischievous meaning was apparent.
If there be any good meaning towards
you.
Shak.
2. That which is signified, whether by act
lanquage; signification; sense; import; as, the meaning of a
hint.
3. Sense; power of thinking. [R.]
-- Mean"ing*less, a. --
Mean"ing*ly, adv.
Mean"ly, adv. [Mean middle.]
Moderately. [Obs.]
A man meanly learned himself, but not
meanly affectioned to set forward learning in
others.
Ascham.
Mean"ly, adv. [From Mean low.]
In a mean manner; unworthily; basely; poorly;
ungenerously.
While the heaven-born child
All meanly wrapt in the rude manger lies.
Milton.
Would you meanly thus rely
On power you know I must obey ?
Prior.
We can not bear to have others think meanly of
them [our kindred].
I. Watts.
Mean"ness, n. 1.
The condition, or quality, of being mean; want of excellence;
poorness; lowness; baseness; sordidness; stinginess.
This figure is of a later date, by the meanness
of the workmanship.
Addison.
2. A mean act; as, to be guilty of
meanness. Goldsmith.
Mean"-spir`it*ed (?), a. Of a mean
spirit; base; groveling. -- Mean"-spir`it*ed*ness,
n.
Meant (?), imp. & p. p. of
Mean.
{ Mean"time` (?), Mean"while` (?), }
n. The intervening time; as, in the
meantime (or mean time).
{ Mean"time`, Mean"while`, }
adv. In the intervening time; during the
interval.
Mear (?), n. A boundary. See
Mere. [Obs.]
Mease (?), n. [Cf. G. mass
measure.] Five hundred; as, a mease of herrings.
[Prov. Eng.]
Mea"sel*ry (?), n. [OE.
meselrie, OF. mesellerie. See lst Measle.]
Leprosy. [Obs.] R. of Brunne.
Mea"sle (?), n. [OE. mesel, OF.
mesel, LL. misellus, L. misellus unfortunate,
dim. of miser. See Miser.] A leper. [Obs.]
[Written also meazel, and mesel.] Wyclif (Matt. x.
8. ).
Mea"sle, n. (Zoöl.) A
tapeworm larva. See 2d Measles, 4.
Mea"sled (?), a. [See 2d
Measles.] Infected or spotted with measles, as
pork. -- Mea"sled*ness, n.
Mea"sles (?), n. [From lst
Measle.] Leprosy; also, a leper. [Obs.]
Mea"sles, n.; pl. in form, but
used as singular in senses 1, 2, & 3. [D. mazelen; akin
to G. masern, pl., and E. mazer, and orig. meaning,
little spots. See Mazer.]
1. (Med.) A contagious febrile
disorder commencing with catarrhal symptoms, and marked by the
appearance on the third day of an eruption of distinct red circular
spots, which coalesce in a crescentic form, are slightly raised above
the surface, and after the fourth day of the eruption gradually
decline; rubeola.
Measles commences with the ordinary symptoms of
fever.
Am. Cyc.
2. (Veter. Med.) A disease of cattle
and swine in which the flesh is filled with the embryos of different
varieties of the tapeworm.
3. A disease of trees. [Obs.]
4. pl. (Zoöl.) The
larvæ of any tapeworm (Tænia) in the cysticerus
stage, when contained in meat. Called also bladder
worms.
Mea"sly (?), a. 1.
Infected with measles.
2. (Zoöl.) Containing larval
tapeworms; -- said of pork and beef.
Meas"ur*a*ble (?), a. [F.
mesurable, L. mensurabilis. See Measure, and cf.
Mensurable.]
1. Capable of being measured; susceptible of
mensuration or computation.
2. Moderate; temperate; not
excessive.
Of his diet measurable was he.
Chaucer.
-- Meas"ur*a*ble*ness, n. --
Meas"ur*a*bly, adv.
Yet do it measurably, as it becometh
Christians.
Latimer.
Meas"ure (m&ebreve;zh"&usl;r; 135), n.
[OE. mesure, F. mesure, L. mensura, fr.
metiri, mensus, to measure; akin to metrum
poetical measure, Gr. me`tron, E. meter. Cf.
Immense, Mensuration, Mete to measure.]
1. A standard of dimension; a fixed unit of
quantity or extent; an extent or quantity in the fractions or
multiples of which anything is estimated and stated; hence, a rule by
which anything is adjusted or judged.
2. An instrument by means of which size or
quantity is measured, as a graduated line, rod, vessel, or the
like.
False ells and measures be brought all clean
adown.
R. of Gloucester.
3. The dimensions or capacity of anything,
reckoned according to some standard; size or extent, determined and
stated; estimated extent; as, to take one's measure for a
coat.
The measure thereof is longer than the earth,
and broader than the sea.
Job xi. 9.
4. The contents of a vessel by which quantity
is measured; a quantity determined by a standard; a stated or limited
quantity or amount.
It is like leaven which a woman took and hid in three
measures of meal.
Luke xiii. 21.
5. Extent or degree not excessive or beyong
bounds; moderation; due restraint; esp. in the phrases, in
measure; with measure; without or beyond
measure.
Hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth
without measure.
Is. v. 14.
6. Determined extent, not to be exceeded;
limit; allotted share, as of action, influence, ability, or the like;
due proportion.
Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure
of my days.
Ps. xxxix. 4.
7. The quantity determined by measuring,
especially in buying and selling; as, to give good or full
measure.
8. Undefined quantity; extent;
degree.
There is a great measure of discretion to be
used in the performance of confession.
Jer.
Taylor.
9. Regulated division of movement:
(a) (Dancing) A regulated movement
corresponding to the time in which the accompanying music is
performed; but, especially, a slow and stately dance, like the
minuet. (b) (Mus.) (1) The group or
grouping of beats, caused by the regular recurrence of accented
beats. (2) The space between two bars. See
Beat, Triple, Quadruple, Sextuple,
Compound time, under Compound, a.,
and Figure. (c) (Poetry) The
manner of ordering and combining the quantities, or long and short
syllables; meter; rhythm; hence, a foot; as, a poem in iambic
measure.
10. (Arith.) A number which is
contained in a given number a number of times without a remainder; as
in the phrases, the common measure, the greatest common
measure, etc., of two or more numbers.
11. A step or definite part of a progressive
course or policy; a means to an end; an act designed for the
accomplishment of an object; as, political measures; prudent
measures; an inefficient measure.
His majesty found what wrong measures he had
taken in the conferring that trust, and lamented his
error.
Clarendon.
12. The act of measuring; measurement.
Shak.
13. pl. (Geol.) Beds or strata;
as, coal measures; lead measures.
Lineal, or Long,
measure, measure of length; the measure of
lines or distances. -- Liquid measure, the
measure of liquids. -- Square measure, the
measure of superficial area of surfaces in square units, as inches,
feet, miles, etc. -- To have hard measure,
to have harsh treatment meted out to one; to be harshly or
oppressively dealt with. -- To take measures,
to make preparations; to provide means. -- To take
one's measure, to measure one, as for a garment; hence,
to form an opinion of one's disposition, character, ability,
etc. -- To tread a measure, to dance in
the style so called. See 9 (a).
Say to her, we have measured many miles
To tread a measure with her on this grass.
Shak.
Meas"ure, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Measured (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Measuring.] [F. mesurer, L. mensurare. See
Measure, n.] 1. To
ascertain by use of a measuring instrument; to compute or ascertain
the extent, quantity, dimensions, or capacity of, by a certain rule
or standard; to take the dimensions of; hence, to estimate; to judge
of; to value; to appraise.
Great are thy works, Jehovah, infinite
Thy power! what thought can measure thee?
Milton.
2. To serve as the measure of; as, the
thermometer measures changes of temperature.
3. To pass throught or over in journeying, as
if laying off and determining the distance.
A true devoted pilgrim is not weary
To measure kingdoms with his feeble steps.
Shak.
4. To adjust by a rule or standard.
To secure a contented spirit, measure your
desires by your fortunes, not your fortunes by your
desires.
Jer. Taylor.
5. To allot or distribute by measure; to set
off or apart by measure; -- often with out or
off.
With what measure ye mete, it shall be measured
to you again.
Matt. vii. 2.
That portion of eternity which is called time,
measured out by the sun.
Addison.
To measure swords with one, to try another's
skill in the use of the sword; hence, figuratively, to match one's
abilities against an antagonist's.
Meas"ure (?), v. i. 1.
To make a measurement or measurements.
2. To result, or turn out, on measuring; as,
the grain measures well; the pieces measure
unequally.
3. To be of a certain size or quantity, or to
have a certain length, breadth, or thickness, or a certain capacity
according to a standard measure; as, cloth measures three
fourths of a yard; a tree measures three feet in
diameter.
Meas"ured (?), a. Regulated or
determined by a standard; hence, equal; uniform; graduated; limited;
moderated; as, he walked with measured steps; he expressed
himself in no measured terms. -- Meas"ured*ly,
adv.
Meas"ure*less (?), a. Without
measure; unlimited; immeasurable. --
Meas"ure*less*ness, n.
Syn. -- Boundless; limitless; endless; unbounded;
unlimited; vast; immense; infinite; immeasurable.
Meas"ure*ment (?), n.
1. The act or result of measuring; mensuration;
as, measurement is required.
2. The extent, size, capacity, amount. or
quantity ascertained by measuring; as, its measurement is five
acres.
Meas"ur*er (?), n. One who
measures; one whose occupation or duty is to measure commondities in
market.
Meas"ur*ing, a. Used in, or
adapted for, ascertaining measurements, or dividing by
measure.
Measuring faucet, a faucet which permits
only a given quantity of liquid to pass each time it is opened, or
one by means of which the liquid which passes can be measured. -
- Measuring worm (Zoöl.), the larva
of any geometrid moth. See Geometrid.
Meat (?), n. [OE. mete, AS.
mete; akin to OS. mat, meti, D. met
hashed meat, G. mettwurst sausage, OHG. maz food, Icel.
matr, Sw. mat, Dan. mad, Goth. mats. Cf.
Mast fruit, Mush.] 1. Food, in
general; anything eaten for nourishment, either by man or beast.
Hence, the edible part of anything; as, the meat of a lobster,
a nut, or an egg. Chaucer.
And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb
bearing seed, . . . to you it shall be for meat.
Gen. i. 29.
Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat
for you.
Gen. ix. 3.
2. The flesh of animals used as food; esp.,
animal muscle; as, a breakfast of bread and fruit without
meat.
3. Specifically, dinner; the chief
meal. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Meat biscuit. See under Biscuit.
-- Meat earth (Mining), vegetable
mold. Raymond. -- Meat fly.
(Zoöl.) See Flesh fly, under
Flesh. -- Meat offering
(Script.), an offering of food, esp. of a cake made of
flour with salt and oil. -- To go to meat,
to go to a meal. [Obs.] -- To sit at meat,
to sit at the table in taking food.
Meat, v. t. To supply with
food. [Obs.] Tusser.
His shield well lined, his horses meated
well.
Chapman.
Me*a"tal (?), a. Of or pertaining
to a meatus; resembling a meatus. Owen.
Meat"ed (?), a. 1.
Fed; fattened. [Obs.] Tusser.
2. Having (such) meat; -- used chiefly in
composition; as, thick-meated.
{ Meath, Meathe (?) }, n. [See
Mead.] A sweet liquor; mead. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Milton.
Meat"i*ness (?), n. Quality of
being meaty.
Meat"less, a. Having no meat;
without food.
"Leave these beggars meatless."
Sir T. More.
Me*at"o*scope (?), n. [Meatus +
-scope.] (Med.) A speculum for examining a natural
passage, as the urethra.
Me*at"o*tome (?), n. [Meatus +
Gr. &?; to cut.] (Surg.) An instrument for cutting into
the urethra so as to enlarge its orifice.
||Me*a"tus (?), n. sing. & pl.; E.
pl. Meatuses (&?;). [L., a going, passage,
fr. meare to go.] (Anat.) A natural passage or
canal; as, the external auditory meatus. See Illust. of
Ear.
Meat"y (?), a. Abounding in
meat.
Meaw (?), n. The sea mew.
[Obs.] Spenser.
Meaw, v. i. See Mew, to cry
as a cat.
Meawl (?), v. i. See Mewl,
and Miaul.
Mea"zel (?), n. See 1st
Measle. [Obs.]
Meaz"ling (?), a. Falling in small
drops; mistling; mizzing. [Obs.] Arbuthnot.
Me"bles (?), n. pl. See
Moebles. [Obs.]
||Me*ca"te (?), n. [Sp.] A rope of
hair or of maguey fiber, for tying horses, etc. [Southwestern
U. S.]
Mec`ca*wee" (?), a. Of or
pertaining to Mecca, in Arabia. -- n. A
native or inhabitant of Mecca.
Me*chan"ic (?), n. [F.
mécanique mechanics. See Mechanic,
a.] 1. The art of the
application of the laws of motion or force to construction.
[Obs.]
2. A mechanician; an artisan; an artificer;
one who practices any mechanic art; one skilled or employed in
shaping and uniting materials, as wood, metal, etc., into any kind of
structure, machine, or other object, requiring the use of tools, or
instruments.
An art quite lost with our
mechanics.
Sir T. Browne.
Me*chan"ic (m&esl;*kăn"&ibreve;k),
a. [F. mécanique, L.
mechanicus, Gr. mhchaniko`s, fr.
mhchanh` a machine. See Machine.]
1. Having to do with the application of the laws
of motion in the art of constructing or making things; of or
pertaining to mechanics; mechanical; as, the mechanic
arts. "These mechanic philosophers." Ray.
Mechanic slaves,
With greasy aprons, rules, and hammers.
Shak.
2. Of or pertaining to a mechanic or
artificer, or to the class of artisans; hence, rude; common;
vulgar.
To make a god, a hero, or a king
Descend to a mechanic dialect.
Roscommon.
Sometimes he ply'd the strong, mechanic
tool.
Thomson.
3. Base. [Obs.] Whitlock.
Me*chan"ic*al (?), a. [From
Mechanic, a.]
1. Pertaining to, governed by, or in
accordance with, mechanics, or the laws of motion; pertaining to the
quantitative relations of force and matter, as distinguished from
mental, vital, chemical, etc.; as,
mechanical principles; a mechanical theory;
mechanical deposits.
2. Of or pertaining to a machine or to
machinery or tools; made or formed by a machine or with tools; as,
mechanical precision; mechanical products.
We have also divers mechanical
arts.
Bacon.
3. Done as if by a machine; uninfluenced by
will or emotion; proceeding automatically, or by habit, without
special intention or reflection; as, mechanical singing;
mechanical verses; mechanical service.
4. Made and operated by interaction of forces
without a directing intelligence; as, a mechanical
universe.
5. Obtained by trial, by measurements, etc.;
approximate; empirical. See the 2d Note under
Geometric.
Mechanical effect, effective power; useful
work exerted, as by a machine, in a definite time. --
Mechanical engineering. See the Note under
Engineering. -- Mechanical maneuvers
(Mil.), the application of mechanical appliances to the
mounting, dismounting, and moving of artillery. Farrow. -
- Mechanical philosophy, the principles of
mechanics applied to the investigation of physical phenomena. --
Mechanical powers, certain simple instruments,
such as the lever and its modifications (the wheel and axle and the
pulley), the inclined plane with its modifications (the screw and the
wedge), which convert a small force acting through a great space into
a great force acting through a small space, or vice versa, and
are used separately or in combination. -- Mechanical
solution (Math.), a solution of a problem by any
art or contrivance not strictly geometrical, as by means of the ruler
and compasses, or other instruments.
Me*chan"ic*al, n. A
mechanic. [Obs.] Shak.
Me*chan"ic*al*ize (?), v. t. To
cause to become mechanical.
Me*chan"ic*al*ly, adv. In a
mechanical manner.
Me*chan"ic*al*ness, n. The state
or quality of being mechanical.
Mech`a*ni"cian (?), n. [Cf. F.
mécanicien. See Mechanic.] One skilled in
the theory or construction of machines; a machinist.
Boyle.
Me*chan`i*co-chem"ic*al (?), a.
Pertaining to, connected with, or dependent upon, both mechanics
and chemistry; -- said especially of those sciences which treat of
such phenomena as seem to depend on the laws both of mechanics and
chemistry, as electricity and magnetism.
Me*chan"ics (?), n. [Cf. F.
mécanique.] That science, or branch of applied
mathematics, which treats of the action of forces on
bodies.
&fist; That part of mechanics which considers the action of
forces in producing rest or equilibrium is called statics;
that which relates to such action in producing motion is called
dynamics. The term mechanics includes the action of
forces on all bodies, whether solid, liquid, or gaseous. It is
sometimes, however, and formerly was often, used distinctively of
solid bodies only: The mechanics of liquid bodies is
called also hydrostatics, or hydrodynamics, according
as the laws of rest or of motion are considered. The mechanics of
gaseous bodies is called also pneumatics. The mechanics
of fluids in motion, with special reference to the methods of
obtaining from them useful results, constitutes
hydraulics.
Animal mechanics (Physiol.), that
portion of physiology which has for its object the investigation of
the laws of equilibrium and motion in the animal body. The most
important mechanical principle is that of the lever, the bones
forming the arms of the levers, the contractile muscles the power,
the joints the fulcra or points of support, while the weight of the
body or of the individual limbs constitutes the weight or
resistance. -- Applied mechanics, the
principles of abstract mechanics applied to human art; also, the
practical application of the laws of matter and motion to the
construction of machines and structures of all kinds.
Mech"an*ism (?), n. [Cf. F.
mécanisme, L. mechanisma. See Mechanic.]
1. The arrangement or relation of the parts of a
machine; the parts of a machine, taken collectively; the arrangement
or relation of the parts of anything as adapted to produce an effect;
as, the mechanism of a watch; the mechanism of a sewing
machine; the mechanism of a seed pod.
2. Mechanical operation or action.
He acknowledges nothing besides matter and motion; so
that all must be performed either by mechanism or
accident.
Bentley.
3. (Kinematics) An ideal machine; a
combination of movable bodies constituting a machine, but considered
only with regard to relative movements.
Mech"an*ist, n. 1.
A maker of machines; one skilled in mechanics.
2. One who regards the phenomena of nature as
the effects of forces merely mechanical.
Mech"an*ize (?), v. t. [imp. &
p. p. Mechanized (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Mechanizing (?).] [Cf. F.
méchaniser.] To cause to be mechanical.
Shelley.
Mech"an*o*graph (?), n. [Gr.
mhchanh` machine + -graph.] One of a number of
copies of anything multiplied mechanically.
Mech`an*o*graph`ic
(m&ebreve;k`an*&osl;*grăf"&ibreve;k),
a. 1. Treating of
mechanics. [R.]
2. Written, copied, or recorded by machinery;
produced by mechanography; as, a mechanographic record of
changes of temperature; mechanographic prints.
Mech`an*og"ra*phist (-&obreve;g"r&adot;*f&ibreve;st),
n. An artist who, by mechanical means,
multiplies copies of works of art.
Mech`an*og"ra*phy (?), n. The art
of mechanically multiplying copies of a writing, or any work of
art.
Mech"an*ur`gy (?), n. [Gr.
mhchanh` machine + the root of &?; work.] That branch
of science which treats of moving machines.
Mech"i*tar*ist (?), n. [From
Mechitar, an Armenian., who founded the congregation in the
early part of the eighteenth century.] (Eccl. Hist.) One
of a religious congregation of the Roman Catholic Church devoted to
the improvement of Armenians.
Mech"lin (?), n. A kind of lace
made at, or originating in, Mechlin, in Belgium.
Me*cho"a*can (?), n. A species of
jalap, of very feeble properties, said to be obtained from the root
of a species of Convolvulus (C. Mechoacan); -- so
called from Michoacan, in Mexico, whence it is
obtained.
Meck*e"li*an (?), a. (Anat.)
Pertaining to, or discovered by, J. F. Meckel, a German
anatomist.
Meckelian cartilage, the cartilaginous rod
which forms the axis of the mandible; -- called also Meckel's
cartilage.
Mec"o*nate (?), n. [Cf. F.
méconate.] (Chem.) A salt of meconic
acid.
Me*con"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?; belonging to
the poppy, fr. &?; the poppy: cf. F. méconique.]
Pertaining to, or obtained from, the poppy or opium; specif.
(Chem.), designating an acid related to aconitic acid, found
in opium and extracted as a white crystalline substance.
Me*con"i*dine (?), n. (Chem)
An alkaloid found in opium, and extracted as a yellow amorphous
substance which is easily decomposed.
||Mec`o*nid"i*um (?), n. [NL., dim. of
Gr. &?; a poppy. So called in allusion to the shape of the seed
capsules of the poppy.] (Zoöl.) A kind of gonophore
produced by hydroids of the genus Gonothyræa. It has
tentacles, and otherwise resembles a free medusa, but remains
attached by a pedicel.
Mec"o*nin (?), n. [Cf. F.
méconine.] (Chem.) A substance regarded as
an anhydride of meconinic acid, existing in opium and extracted as a
white crystalline substance. Also erroneously called meconina,
meconia, etc., as though it were an alkaloid.
Mec`o*nin"ic (?), a. (Chem.)
Pertaining to, or designating, an acid which occurs in opium,
and which may be obtained by oxidizing narcotine.
||Me*co"ni*um (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. &?;,
fr. &?; poppy.] (Med.) (a) Opium.
[Obs.] (b) The contents of the fetal intestine;
hence, first excrement.
Med"al (?), n. [F.
médaille, It. medaglia, fr. L. metallum
metal, through (assumed) LL. metalleus made of metal. See
Metal, and cf. Mail a piece of money.] A piece of
metal in the form of a coin, struck with a device, and intended to
preserve the remembrance of a notable event or an illustrious person,
or to serve as a reward.
Med"al, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Medaled (?), or Medalled; p. pr. &
vb. n. Medaling or Medalling.] To honor
or reward with a medal. "Medaled by the king."
Thackeray.
Med"al*et (?), n. A small
medal.
Med"al*ist, n. [Cf. F.
médailliste, It. medaglista.] [Written also
medallist.]
1. A person that is skilled or curious in
medals; a collector of medals. Addison.
2. A designer of medals.
Macaulay.
3. One who has gained a medal as the reward
of merit.
Me*dal"lic (?), a. Of or
pertaining to a medal, or to medals. "Our medallic
history." Walpole.
Me*dal"lion (?), n. [F.
médaillion, It. medaglione, augm. of
medaglia. See Medal.]
1. A large medal or memorial coin.
2. A circular or oval (or, sometimes, square)
tablet bearing a figure or figures represented in relief.
Med"al*ur`gy (?), n. [Medal +
the root of Gr. &?; work.] The art of making and striking medals
and coins. [Written also medallurgy.]
Med"dle` (?), v. i. [imp. & p.
p. Meddled (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Meddling (?).] [OE. medlen to mix, OF. medler,
mesler, F. mêler, LL. misculare, a dim.
fr. L. miscere to mix. √271. See Mix, and cf.
Medley, Mellay.]
1. To mix; to mingle. [Obs.]
More to know
Did never meddle with my thoughts.
Shak.
2. To interest or engage one's self; to have
to do; -- in a good sense. [Obs.] Barrow.
Study to be quiet, and to meddle with your own
business.
Tyndale.
3. To interest or engage one's self
unnecessarily or impertinently, to interfere or busy one's self
improperly with another's affairs; specifically, to handle or distrub
another's property without permission; -- often followed by
with or in.
Why shouldst thou meddle to thy
hurt?
2 Kings xiv. 10.
The civil lawyers . . . have meddled in a
matter that belongs not to them.
Locke.
To meddle and make, to intrude one's self
into another person's concerns. [Archaic] Shak.
Syn. -- To interpose; interfere; intermeddle.
Med"dle, v. t. To mix; to
mingle. [Obs.] Chaucer.
"Wine meddled with gall."
Wyclif (Matt. xxvii. 34).
Med"dler (?), n. One who meddles;
one who interferes or busies himself with things in which he has no
concern; an officious person; a busybody.
Med"dle*some (?), a. Given to
meddling; apt to interpose in the affairs of others; officiously
intrusive. -- Med"dle*some*ness,
n.
Med"dling (?), a.
Meddlesome. Macaulay.
Med"dling*ly, adv. In a meddling
manner.
Mede (?), n. A native or
inhabitant of Media in Asia.
Mede, n. See lst & 2d Mead,
and Meed. [Obs.]
||Me"di*a (?), n.,
pl. of Medium.
||Me"di*a, n.; pl.
Mediæ (-ē). [NL., fr. L. medius
middle.] (Phonetics) One of the sonant mutes β,
δ, γ (b, d, g), in Greek, or of
their equivalents in other languages, so named as intermediate
between the tenues, π, τ, κ (p, t,
k), and the aspiratæ (aspirates) φ, θ,
χ (ph or f, th, ch). Also called
middle mute, or medial, and sometimes soft
mute.
Me"di*a*cy (?), n. The state or
quality of being mediate. Sir W. Hamilton.
Me`di*æ"val (?), a. [L.
medius middle + aevum age. See Middle, and
Age.] Of or relating to the Middle Ages; as,
mediæval architecture. [Written also
medieval.]
Me`di*æ"val*ism (?), n. The
method or spirit of the Middle Ages; devotion to the institutions and
practices of the Middle Ages; a survival from the Middle Ages.
[Written also medievalism.]
Me`di*æ"val*ist, n. One who
has a taste for, or is versed in, the history of the Middle Ages; one
in sympathy with the spirit or forms of the Middle Ages.
[Written also medievalist.]
Me`di*æ"val*ly, adv. In the
manner of the Middle Ages; in accordance with
mediævalism.
Me`di*æ"vals (?), n. pl. The
people who lived in the Middle Ages. Ruskin.
Me"di*al (?), a. [L. medialis,
fr. medius middle: cf. F. médial. See
Middle.] Of or pertaining to a mean or average; mean; as,
medial alligation.
Me"di*al, n. (Phonetics)
See 2d Media.
||Me"di*a*lu"na (?), n. [Sp. media
luna half-moon.] (Zoöl.) See Half-
moon.
Me"di*an (?), a. [L. medianus,
fr. medius middle. See Medial.] 1.
Being in the middle; running through the middle; as, a
median groove.
2. (Zoöl.) Situated in the
middle; lying in a plane dividing a bilateral animal into right and
left halves; -- said of unpaired organs and parts; as, median
coverts.
Median line. (a) (Anat.)
Any line in the mesial plane; specif., either of the lines in
which the mesial plane meets the surface of the body.
(b) (Geom.) The line drawn from an angle
of a triangle to the middle of the opposite side; any line having the
nature of a diameter. -- Median plane
(Anat.), the mesial plane. -- Median
point (Geom.), the point where the three median
lines of a triangle mutually intersect.
Me"di*an, n. (Geom.) A
median line or point.
Me"di*ant (?), n. [L. medians,
p. p. of mediare to halve: cf. It. mediante, F.
médiante.] (Mus.) The third above the
keynote; -- so called because it divides the interval between the
tonic and dominant into two thirds.
Me`di*as*ti"nal (?), a. (Anat.)
Of or pertaining to a mediastinum.
{ Me`di*as"tine (?), ||Me`di*as*ti"num (?), }
n. [NL. mediastinum, fr. L. medius
middle; cf. mediastinus helper, a menial servant, LL.
mediastinus equiv. to medius: cf F.
médiastin.] (Anat.) A partition; a septum;
specifically, the folds of the pleura (and the space included between
them) which divide the thorax into a right and left cavity. The space
included between these folds of the pleura, called the mediastinal
space, contains the heart and gives passage to the esophagus and
great blood vessels.
Me"di*ate (?), a. [L. mediatus,
p. p. of mediare, v. t., to halve, v. i., to be in the middle.
See Mid, and cf. Moiety.] 1. Being
between the two extremes; middle; interposed; intervening;
intermediate. Prior.
2. Acting by means, or by an intervening
cause or instrument; not direct or immediate; acting or suffering
through an intervening agent or condition.
3. Gained or effected by a medium or
condition. Bacon.
An act of mediate knowledge is
complex.
Sir W. Hamilton.
Me"di*ate (?), v. i. [imp. & p.
p. Mediated (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Mediating.] [LL. mediatus, p. p. of mediare to
mediate. See Mediate, a.]
1. To be in the middle, or between two; to
intervene. [R.]
2. To interpose between parties, as the equal
friend of each, esp. for the purpose of effecting a reconciliation or
agreement; as, to mediate between nations.
Me"di*ate, v. t. 1.
To effect by mediation or interposition; to bring about as a
mediator, instrument, or means; as, to mediate a
peace.
2. To divide into two equal parts. [R.]
Holder.
Me"di*ate*ly (?), adv. In a
mediate manner; by a secondary cause or agent; not directly or
primarily; by means; -- opposed to immediately.
God worketh all things amongst us
mediately.
Sir W. Raleigh.
The king grants a manor to A, and A grants a portion
of it to B. In this case. B holds his lands immediately of A, but
mediately of the king.
Blakstone.
Me"di*ate*ness, n. The state of
being mediate.
Me`di*a"tion (?), n. [OE.
mediacioun, F. médiation. See Mediate,
a.] 1. The act of mediating;
action or relation of anything interposed; action as a necessary
condition, means, or instrument; interposition;
intervention.
The soul [acts] by the mediation of these
passions.
South.
2. Hence, specifically, agency between
parties at variance, with a view to reconcile them; entreaty for
another; intercession. Bacon.
Me"di*a*tive (?), a. Pertaining to
mediation; used in mediation; as, mediative efforts.
Beaconsfield.
Me`di*at`i*za"tion (?), n. [Cf. F.
médiatisation.] The act of mediatizing.
Me"di*a*tize (?), v. t. [imp. &
p. p. Mediatized (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Mediatizing.] [Cf. F. médiatiser.]
To cause to act through an agent or to hold a subordinate
position; to annex; -- specifically applied to the annexation during
the former German empire of a smaller German state to a larger, while
allowing it a nominal sovereignty, and its prince his rank.
The misfortune of being a mediatized
prince.
Beaconsfield.
Me"di*a`tor (?), n. [L.
mediator: cf. E. médiateur.] One who
mediates; especially, one who interposes between parties at variance
for the purpose of reconciling them; hence, an intercessor.
For there is one God, and one mediator between
God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
1 Tim. ii.
5.
Me`di*a*to"ri*al (?), a. Of or
pertaining to a mediator, or to mediation; mediatory; as, a
mediatorial office. -- Me`di*a*to"ri*al*ly,
adv.
My measures were . . . healing and
mediatorial.
Burke.
Me"di*a`tor*ship (?), n. The
office or character of a mediator.
Me"di*a*to*ry (?), a.
Mediatorial.
{ Me`di*a"tress (?), Me`di*a*"trix (?), }
n. [L. mediatrix, f. of mediator: cf.
F. médiatrice.] A female mediator.
Med"ic (?), n. [L. medica, Gr.
&?; (sc. &?;) a kind of clover introduced from Media, from &?;
Median.] (Bot.) A leguminous plant of the genus
Medicago. The black medic is the Medicago lupulina; the
purple medic, or lucern, is M. sativa.
Med"ic, a. [L. medicus.]
Medical. [R.]
Med"i*ca*ble (?), a. [L.
medicabilis, from medicare, medicari, to heal,
fr. medicus physician. See Medical.] Capable of
being medicated; admitting of being cured or healed.
Med"ic*al (?), a. [LL.
medicalis, L. medicus belonging to healing, fr.
mederi to heal; cf. Zend madha medical science, wisdom,
Gr. &?; to learn, E. mind: cf. F. médical.]
1. Of, pertaining to, or having to do with,
the art of healing disease, or the science of medicine; as, the
medical profession; medical services; a medical
dictionary; medical jurisprudence.
2. Containing medicine; used in medicine;
medicinal; as, the medical properties of a plant.
Med"ic*al*ly, adv. In a medical
manner; with reference to healing, or to the principles of the
healing art.
Med"i*ca*ment (?), n. [L.
medicamentum, fr. medicare, medicari, to heal:
cf. F. médicament. See Medicable.] Anything
used for healing diseases or wounds; a medicine; a healing
application.
Med`ica*men"tal (?), a. Of or
pertaining to medicaments or healing applications; having the
qualities of medicaments. -- Med`ica*men"tal*ly, adv.
Med"i*cas`ter (?), n. [Cf. F.
médicastre. See Medical.] A quack.
[R.] Whitlock.
Med"i*cate (?), v. t. [imp. &
p. p. Medicated (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Medicating (?).] [L. medicatus, p. p. of
medicare, medicari. See Medicable.]
1. To tincture or impregnate with anything
medicinal; to drug. "Medicated waters."
Arbuthnot.
2. To treat with medicine.
Med`i*ca"tion (?), [L. medicatio: cf. F.
médication.] The act or process of
medicating.
Med"i*ca*tive (?), a. Medicinal;
acting like a medicine.
Med`i*ce"an (?), a. Of or relating
to the Medici, a noted Italian family; as, the Medicean
Venus.
Medicean planets (Astron.), a name
given by Galileo to the satellites of Jupiter.
Me*dic"i*na*ble (?), a. Medicinal;
having the power of healing. [Obs.] Shak.
Me*dic"i*nal (?), a. [L.
medicinalis: cf. F. médicinal. See
Medicine.] 1. Having curative or
palliative properties; used for the cure or alleviation of bodily
disorders; as, medicinal tinctures, plants, or
springs.
Drop tears as fast as the Arabian trees
Their medicinal gum.
Shak.
2. Of or pertaining to medicine;
medical.
Me*dic"i*nal*ly, adv. In a
medicinal manner.
Med"i*cine (?), n. [L. medicina
(sc. ars), fr. medicinus medical, fr. medicus:
cf. F. médecine. See Medical.]
1. The science which relates to the prevention,
cure, or alleviation of disease.
2. Any substance administered in the
treatment of disease; a remedial agent; a remedy; physic.
By medicine, life may be
prolonged.
Shak.
3. A philter or love potion. [Obs.]
Shak.
4. [F. médecin.] A
physician. [Obs.] Shak.
Medicine bag, a charm; -- so called among
the North American Indians, or in works relating to them. --
Medicine man (among the North American Indians),
a person who professes to cure sickness, drive away evil spirits,
and regulate the weather by the arts of magic. --
Medicine seal, a small gem or paste engraved
with reversed characters, to serve as a seal. Such seals were used by
Roman physicians to stamp the names of their medicines.
Med"i*cine, v. t. To give medicine
to; to affect as a medicine does; to remedy; to cure.
"Medicine thee to that sweet sleep." Shak.
Med`i*co-le"gal (?), a. Of or
pertaining to law as affected by medical facts.
Med`i*com"mis*sure (?), n. [L.
medius middle + E. commissure.] (Anat.) A
large transverse commissure in the third ventricle of the brain; the
middle or soft commissure. B. G. Wildex.
||Med`i*cor"nu (?), n.; pl.
Medicornua (#). [NL., fr. L. medius middle +
cornu horn.] (Anat.) The middle or inferior horn
of each lateral ventricle of the brain. B. G.
Wilder.
Med"ics (?), n. Science of
medicine. [Obs.]
Me*di"e*ty (?), n. [L.
medietas.] The middle part; half; moiety. [Obs.]
Sir T. Browne.
{ Me`di*e"val, Me`di*e"val*ism,
Me`di*e"val*ist }. Same as Medi&?;val,
Medi&?;valism, etc.
Me*di"na ep"och (?). [From Medina in New York.]
(Geol.) A subdivision of the Niagara period in the
American upper Silurian, characterized by the formations known as the
Oneida conglomerate, and the Medina sandstone. See the Chart
of Geology.
Me*di"no (m&esl;*dē"n&osl;), n.
Same as Para.
Me"di*o`cral (?), a.
Mediocre. [R.]
Me"di*o`cre (mē"d&ibreve;*ō`k&etilde;r),
a. [F. médiocre, L. mediocris,
fr. medius middle. See Mid.] Of a middle quality;
of but a moderate or low degree of excellence; indifferent;
ordinary. " A very mediocre poet." Pope.
Me"di*o`cre, n. 1.
A mediocre person. [R.]
2. A young monk who was excused from
performing a portion of a monk's duties. Shipley.
Me"di*o`crist (?), n. A mediocre
person. [R.]
Me`di*oc"ri*ty (?), n. [F.
médiocrité, L. mediocritas.]
1. The quality of being mediocre; a middle
state or degree; a moderate degree or rate. "A
mediocrity of success." Bacon.
2. Moderation; temperance. [Obs.]
Hooker.
Me`di*o*sta*pe"di*al (?), a. [L.
medius middle + E. stapedial.] (Anat.)
Pertaining to that part of the columella of the ear which, in
some animals, connects the stapes with the other parts of the
columella. -- n. The mediostapedial part
of the columella.
Me`di*ox"u*mous (?), a. [L.
medioxumus middlemost.] Intermediate. [Obs.]
Dr. H. More.
Med"i*tance (?), n.
Meditation. [Obs.]
Med"i*tate (?), v. i. [imp. &
p. p. Meditated (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Meditating.] [L. meditatus, p. p. of
meditari to meditate; cf. Gr. &?; to learn, E. mind.]
To keep the mind in a state of contemplation; to dwell on
anything in thought; to think seriously; to muse; to cogitate; to
reflect. Jer. Taylor.
In his law doth he meditate day and
night.
Ps. i. 2.
Med"i*tate, v. t. 1.
To contemplate; to keep the mind fixed upon; to study.
"Blessed is the man that doth meditate good things."
Ecclus. xiv. 20.
2. To purpose; to intend; to design; to plan
by revolving in the mind; as, to meditate a war.
I meditate to pass the remainder of life in a
state of undisturbed repose.
Washington.
Syn. -- To consider; ponder; weigh; revolve; study. -- To
Meditate, Contemplate, Intend. We
meditate a design when we are looking out or waiting for the
means of its accomplishment; we contemplate it when the means
are at hand, and our decision is nearly or quite made. To
intend is stronger, implying that we have decided to act when
an opportunity may offer. A general meditates an attack upon
the enemy; he contemplates or intends undertaking it at
the earliest convenient season.
Med`i*ta"tion (?), n. [OE.
meditacioun, F. méditation, fr. L.
meditatio.] 1. The act of meditating;
close or continued thought; the turning or revolving of a subject in
the mind; serious contemplation; reflection; musing.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of
my heart be acceptable in thy sight.
Ps. xix.
14.
2. Thought; -- without regard to kind.
[Obs.]
With wings as swift
As meditation or the thoughts of love.
Shak.
Med"i*ta`tist, n. One who is given
to meditation.
Med"i*ta*tive (?), a. [L.
meditativus: cf. F. méditatif.] Disposed to
meditate, or to meditation; as, a meditative man; a
meditative mood. -- Med"i*ta*tive*ly,
adv. -- Med"i*ta*tive*ness,
n.
Med`i*ter*ra"ne*an (?), a. [L.
mediterraneus; medius middle + terra land. See
Mid, and Terrace.]
1. Inclosed, or nearly inclosed, with land;
as, the Mediterranean Sea, between Europe and
Africa.
2. Inland; remote from the ocean.
[Obs.]
Cities, as well mediterranean as
maritime.
Holland.
3. Of or pertaining to the Mediterranean Sea;
as, Mediterranean trade; a Mediterranean
voyage.
Med`i*ter*ra"ne*ous (?), a.
Inland. Sir T. Browne.
Me"di*um (?), n.; pl. L.
Media (#), E.
Mediums (#). [L. medium the middle, fr.
medius middle. See Mid, and cf. Medius.]
1. That which lies in the middle, or between
other things; intervening body or quantity. Hence, specifically:
(a) Middle place or degree; mean.
The just medium . . . lies between pride and
abjection.
L'Estrange.
(b) (Math.) See Mean.
(c) (Logic) The mean or middle term of a
syllogism; that by which the extremes are brought into
connection.
2. A substance through which an effect is
transmitted from one thing to another; as, air is the common
medium of sound. Hence: The condition upon which any event or
action occurs; necessary means of motion or action; that through or
by which anything is accomplished, conveyed, or carried on;
specifically, in animal magnetism, spiritualism, etc., a person
through whom the action of another being is said to be manifested and
transmitted.
Whether any other liquors, being made mediums,
cause a diversity of sound from water, it may be tried.
Bacon.
I must bring together
All these extremes; and must remove all mediums.
Denham.
3. An average. [R.]
A medium of six years of war, and six years of
peace.
Burke.
4. A trade name for printing and writing
paper of certain sizes. See Paper.
5. (Paint.) The liquid vehicle with
which dry colors are ground and prepared for application.
Circulating medium, a current medium of
exchange, whether coin, bank notes, or government notes. --
Ethereal medium (Physics), the
ether. -- Medium of exchange, that which
is used for effecting an exchange of commodities -- money or current
representatives of money.
Me"di*um, a. Having a middle
position or degree; mean; intermediate; medial; as, a horse of
medium size; a decoction of medium strength.
Me"di*um-sized` (?), a. Having a
medium size; as, a medium-sized man.
||Me"di*us (?), n.; pl.
Medii (#). [NL., fr. L. medius middle. See
Medium.] (Anat.) The third or middle finger; the
third digit, or that which corresponds to it.
Med"lar (?), n. [OE. medler
medlar tree, OF. meslier, F. néflier, L.
mespilum, mespilus, Gr. &?;, &?;. Cf.
Naseberry.] A tree of the genus Mespilus (M.
Germanica); also, the fruit of the tree. The fruit is something
like a small apple, but has a bony endocarp. When first gathered the
flesh is hard and austere, and it is not eaten until it has begun to
decay.
Japan medlar (Bot.), the loquat. See
Loquat. -- Neapolitan medlar
(Bot.), a kind of thorn tree (Cratægus
Azarolus); also, its fruit.
Med"le (?), v. t. [See Meddle.]
To mix; to mingle; to meddle. [Written also medly.]
[Obs.] Chaucer.
Med"ley (?), n.; pl.
Medleys (#). [OE. medlee, OF.
meslée, medlée, mellée, F.
mêlée. See Meddle, and cf.
MelÉe, Mellay.] 1. A
mixture; a mingled and confused mass of ingredients, usually
inharmonious; a jumble; a hodgepodge; -- often used
contemptuously.
This medley of philosophy and war.
Addison.
Love is a medley of endearments, jars,
Suspicions, reconcilements, wars.
W. Walsh.
2. The confusion of a hand to hand battle; a
brisk, hand to hand engagement; a mêlée. [Obs.]
Holland.
3. (Mus.) A composition of passages
detached from several different compositions; a potpourri.
&fist; Medley is usually applied to vocal, potpourri
to instrumental, compositions.
4. A cloth of mixed colors.
Fuller.
Med"ley, a. 1.
Mixed; of mixed material or color. [Obs.] "A
medlé coat." Chaucer.
2. Mingled; confused.
Dryden.
Med"ly (?), v. t. See
Medle. Johnson.
||Mé`doc" (?), n. [Cf.
Mayduke.] A class of claret wines, including several
varieties, from the district of Médoc in the department of
Gironde.
Med"re*gal (?), n. (Zoöl.)
See Bonito, 3.
Med"rick (?), n. [Etymol. uncertain.]
(Zoöl.) A species of gull or tern. [Prov.]
Lowell.
Me*dul"la (?), n. [L.]
1. Marrow; pith; hence, essence. [Obs.]
Milton.
2. (Anat.) The marrow of bones; the
deep or inner portion of an organ or part; as, the medulla, or
medullary substance, of the kidney; specifically, the medula
oblongata.
3. (Bot.) A soft tissue, occupying the
center of the stem or branch of a plant; pith.
||Medulla oblongata. [L., oblong medulla]
(Anat.), the posterior part of the brain connected with
the spinal cord. It includes all the hindbrain except the cerebellum
and pons, and from it a large part of the cranial nerves arise. It
controls very largely respiration, circulation, swallowing, and other
functions, and is the most vital part of the brain; -- called also
bulb of the spinal cord. See Brain.
Me*dul"lar (?), a. See
Medullary.
Med"ul*la*ry (?), a. [L.
medullaris, fr. medulla marrow: cf. F.
médullaire.] 1. (Anat.)
(a) Pertaining to, consisting of, or resembling,
marrow or medulla. (b) Pertaining to the
medula oblongata.
2. (Bot.) Filled with spongy pith;
pithy.
Medullary groove (Anat.), a groove,
in the epiblast of the vertebrate blastoderm, the edges of which
unite, making a tube (the medullary canal) from which the brain and
spinal cord are developed. -- Medullary rays
(Bot.), the rays of cellular tissue seen in a transverse
section of exogenous wood, which pass from the pith to the bark.
-- Medullary sheath (Anat.), the layer
of white semifluid substance (myelin), between the primitive sheath
and axis cylinder of a medullated nerve fiber.
Me*dul"la*ted (?), a. (Anat.)
Furnished with a medulla or marrow, or with a medullary sheath;
as, a medullated nerve fiber.
Me*dul"lin (?), n. [Cf. F.
médulline.] (Bot. Chem.) A variety of
lignin or cellulose found in the medulla, or pith, of certain plants.
Cf. Lignin, and Cellulose.
||Me*du"sa (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. &?;.]
1. (Class. Myth.) The Gorgon; or one of
the Gorgons whose hair was changed into serpents, after which all who
looked upon her were turned into stone.
2. [pl. Medusae (&?;).]
(Zoöl.) Any free swimming acaleph; a
jellyfish.
&fist; The larger medusæ belong to the Discophora,
and are sometimes called covered-eyed medusæ; others,
known as naked-eyed medusæ, belong to the Hydroidea, and
are usually developed by budding from hydroids. See
Discophora, Hydroidea, and Hydromedusa.
Medusa bud (Zoöl.), one of the
buds of a hydroid, destined to develop into a gonophore or medusa.
See Athecata, and Gonotheca. -- Medusa's
head. (a) (Zoöl.) An
astrophyton. (b) (Astron.) A cluster
of stars in the constellation Perseus. It contains the bright star
Algol.
Me*du"si*an (?), n. (Zoöl.)
A medusa.
Me*du"si*form (?), a. [Medusa +
-form.] (Zoöl.) Resembling a medusa in shape
or structure.
Me*du"soid (?), a. [Medusa +
-oid.] (Zoöl.) Like a medusa; having the
fundamental structure of a medusa, but without a locomotive disk; --
said of the sessile gonophores of hydroids. --
n. A sessile gonophore. See Illust.
under Gonosome.
Meech (mēch), v. i. See
Mich. [Obs. or Colloq.]
Meed (mēd), n. [OE. mede,
AS. mēd, meord; akin to OS. mēda,
OHG. miata, mieta, G. miethe hire, Goth.
mizdō reward, Bohem. & Russ. mzda, Gr.
mistho`s, Skr. mīdha. √276.]
1. That which is bestowed or rendered in
consideration of merit; reward; recompense.
A rosy garland was the victor's
meed.
Spenser.
2. Merit or desert; worth.
My meed hath got me fame.
Shak.
3. A gift; also, a bride. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Meed, v. t. 1. To
reward; to repay. [Obs.] Waytt.
2. To deserve; to merit. [Obs.]
Heywood.
Meed"ful (?), a. Worthy of meed,
reward, or recompense; meritorious. "Meedful works."
Wiclif.
Meed"ful*ly, adv. According to
merit; suitably.
Meek (mēk), a.
[Compar. Meeker (-&etilde;r);
superl. Meekest.] [OE. mek,
meoc; akin to Icel. mj&?;kr mild, soft, Sw.
mjuk, Dan. myg, D. muik, Goth.
mukamōdei gentleness.] 1. Mild of
temper; not easily provoked or orritated; patient under injuries; not
vain, or haughty, or resentful; forbearing; submissive.
Now the man Moses was very meek.
Num. xii. 3.
2. Evincing mildness of temper, or patience;
characterized by mildness or patience; as, a meek answer; a
meek face. "Her meek prayer."
Chaucer.
Syn. -- Gentle; mild; soft; yielding; pacific; unassuming;
humble. See Gentle.
{ Meek, Meek"en (-'n) }, v. t.
To make meek; to nurture in gentleness and humility.
[Obs.] Chaucer.
Meek"ly, adv. In a meek
manner. Spenser.
Meek"ness, n. The quality or state
of being meek.
Meer (mēr), a. Simple;
unmixed. See Mere, a. [Obs.]
Meer, n. See Mere, a
lake.
Meer, n. A boundary. See
Mere.
||Meer"kat (mēr"kăt), n.
[D.] (Zoöl.) A South African carnivore (Cynictis
penicillata), allied to the ichneumons.
Meer"schaum (mēr"sh&add;m; 277),
n. [G., lit., sea foam; meer sea +
schaum foam; but it perh. is a corruption of the Tartaric name
myrsen. Cf. Mere a lake, and Scum.]
1. (Min.) A fine white claylike mineral,
soft, and light enough when in dry masses to float in water. It is a
hydrous silicate of magnesia, and is obtained chiefly in Asia Minor.
It is manufacturd into tobacco pipes, cigar holders, etc. Also called
sepiolite.
2. A tobacco pipe made of this
mineral.
Meet (mēt), v. t. [imp. &
p. p. Met (m&ebreve;t); p. pr. & vb.
n. Meeting.] [OE. meten, AS.
mētan, fr. mōt, gemōt, a
meeting; akin to OS. mōtian to meet, Icel.
mæta, Goth. gamōtjan. See Moot,
v. t.] 1. To join, or come in
contact with; esp., to come in contact with by approach from an
opposite direction; to come upon or against, front to front, as
distinguished from contact by following and overtaking.
2. To come in collision with; to confront in
conflict; to encounter hostilely; as, they met the enemy and
defeated them; the ship met opposing winds and
currents.
3. To come into the presence of without
contact; to come close to; to intercept; to come within the
perception, influence, or recognition of; as, to meet a train
at a junction; to meet carriages or persons in the street; to
meet friends at a party; sweet sounds met the
ear.
His daughter came out to meet him.
Judg. xi. 34.
4. To perceive; to come to a knowledge of; to
have personal acquaintance with; to experience; to suffer; as, the
eye met a horrid sight; he met his fate.
Of vice or virtue, whether blest or curst,
Which meets contempt, or which compassion first.
Pope.
5. To come up to; to be even with; to equal;
to match; to satisfy; to ansver; as, to meet one's
expectations; the supply meets the demand.
To meet half way, literally, to go half the
distance between in order to meet (one); hence, figuratively, to
yield or concede half of the difference in order to effect a
compromise or reconciliation with.
Meet, v. t. 1. To
come together by mutual approach; esp., to come in contact, or into
proximity, by approach from opposite directions; to join; to come
face to face; to come in close relationship; as, we met in the
street; two lines meet so as to form an angle.
O, when meet now
Such pairs in love and mutual honor joined !
Milton.
2. To come together with hostile purpose; to
have an encounter or conflict.
Weapons more violent, when next we meet,
May serve to better us and worse our foes.
Milton.
3. To assemble together; to congregate; as,
Congress meets on the first Monday of December.
They . . . appointed a day to meet
together.
2. Macc. xiv. 21.
4. To come together by mutual concessions;
hence, to agree; to harmonize; to unite.
To meet with. (a) To light
upon; to find; to come to; -- often with the sense of
unexpectedness.
We met with many things worthy of
observation.
Bacon.
(b) To join; to unite in company.
Shak. (c) To suffer unexpectedly; as, to
meet with a fall; to meet with a loss.
(d) To encounter; to be subjected to.
Prepare to meet with more than brutal fury
From the fierce prince.
Rowe.
(e) To obviate. [Obs.] Bacon.
Meet, n. An assembling together;
esp., the assembling of huntsmen for the hunt; also, the persons who
so assemble, and the place of meeting.
Meet, a. [OE. mete fitting,
moderate, scanty, AS. m&aemacr;te moderate; akin to
gemet fit, meet, metan to mete, and G.
mässig moderate, gemäss fitting. See
Mete.] Suitable; fit; proper; appropriate; qualified;
convenient.
It was meet that we should make
merry.
Luke xv. 32.
To be meet with, to be even with; to be
equal to. [Obs.]
Meet (mēt), adv.
Meetly. [Obs.] Shak.
Meet"en (mēt"'n), v. t. To
render fit. [R.]
Meet"er (mēt"&etilde;r), n.
One who meets.
Meeth (mēth), n. Mead. See
Meathe. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Meet"ing, n. 1. A
coming together; an assembling; as, the meeting of
Congress.
2. A junction, crossing, or union; as, the
meeting of the roads or of two rivers.
3. A congregation; a collection of people; a
convention; as, a large meeting; an harmonious
meeting.
4. An assembly for worship; as, to attend
meeting on Sunday; -- in England, applied distinctively and
disparagingly to the worshiping assemblies of Dissenters.
Syn. -- Conference; assembly; company; convention;
congregation; junction; confluence; union.
Meet"ing*house` (?), n. A house
used as a place of worship; a church; -- in England, applied only to
a house so used by Dissenters.
Meet"ly, adv. Fitly; suitably;
properly.
Meet"ness, n. Fitness;
suitableness; propriety.
{ Meg- (m&ebreve;g-), Meg"a (m&ebreve;g"&adot;-
), Meg"a*lo- (-l&osl;-) }. [Gr. me`gas, gen.
mega`loy, great.] Combining forms signifying:
(a) Great, extended, powerful; as, megascope,
megacosm. (b) (Metric System, Elec.,
Mech., etc.) A million times, a million of; as,
megameter, a million meters; megafarad, a million
farads; megohm, a million ohms.
{ Meg`a*ce*phal"ic
(m&ebreve;g`&adot;*s&esl;*făl"&ibreve;k),
Meg`a*ceph"a*lous (-s&ebreve;f"&adot;*lŭs) },
a. [Mega- + Gr. kefalh` head.]
(Biol.) Large headed; -- applied to animals, and to
plants when they have large flower heads.
||Me*gac"e*ros (m&esl;*găs"&esl;*r&obreve;s),
n. [NL., fr. Gr. me`gas great +
ke`ras horn.] (Paleon.) The Irish
elk.
Meg"a*chile (?), n. [Mega- + Gr.
&?; lip.] (Zoöl.) A leaf-cutting bee of the genus
Megachilus. See Leaf cutter, under
Leaf.
Meg"a*cosm (?), n. [Mega- + Gr.
&?; world.] See Macrocosm. Croft.
Meg`a*cou`lomb" (?), n. [Mega- +
coulomb.] (Elec.) A million coulombs.
Meg"a*derm (?), n. [Mega- + Gr.
&?; skin.] (Zoöl.) Any one of several species of Old
World blood-sucking bats of the genus Megaderma.
Meg"a*dyne (?), n. [Mega- +
dyne.] (Physics) One of the larger measures of
force, amounting to one million dynes.
Meg"a*far`ad (?), n. [Mega- +
farad.] (Elec.) One of the larger measures of
electrical capacity, amounting to one million farads; a
macrofarad.
Meg"a*lerg (?), n. [Megalo- +
erg.] (Physics) A million ergs; a
megerg.
Meg`a*le"sian (?), a. [L.
Megalesius, fr. Gr. Mega`lh the Great, a surname of
Cybele, the Magna Mater.] Pertaining to, or in honor of, Cybele;
as, the Megalesian games at Rome.
Meg`a*leth"o*scope (?), n. [Mega-
+ alethoscope.] An optical apparatus in which
pictures are viewed through a large lens with stereoptical effects.
It is often combined with the stereoscope.
Meg"a*lith (?), n. [Mega- + -
lith; cf. F. mégalithe.] A large stone;
especially, a large stone used in ancient building. --
Meg`a*lith"ic (#), a.
Meg"a*lo- (?). See Meg-.
Meg"a*lo*cyte (?), n. [Megalo- +
Gr. &?; a hollow vessel.] (Physiol.) A large, flattened
corpuscle, twice the diameter of the ordinary red corpuscle, found in
considerable numbers in the blood in profound anæmia.
Meg`a*lo*ma"ni*a (?), n. [NL., fr.
megalo- + mania.] (Pathol.) A form of
mental alienation in which the patient has grandiose
delusions.
||Meg`a*lon"yx (?), n. [NL., from Gr.
me`gas, mega`lh, great + 'o`nyx
claw.] (Paleon.) An extinct quaternary mammal, of great
size, allied to the sloth.
Meg`a*loph"o*nous
(m&ebreve;g`&adot;*l&obreve;f"&osl;*nŭs), a.
[Megalo- + Gr. fwnh` voice.] Having a loud
voice.
Meg`a*lop"o*lis (-l&obreve;p"&osl;*l&ibreve;s),
n. [NL., fr. Gr. megalo`polis;
me`gas, mega`lh, great + po`lis
city.] A chief city; a metropolis. [R.]
Meg"a*lops (m&ebreve;g"&adot;*l&obreve;ps),
n. [NL., fr. Gr. me`gas, -
a`loy, large + 'w`ps eye.] (Zoöl.)
1. A larva, in a stage following the zoëa,
in the development of most crabs. In this stage the legs and
abdominal appendages have appeared, the abdomen is relatively long,
and the eyes are large. Also used adjectively.
2. A large fish; the tarpum.
Meg`a*lop"sy*chy (?), n. [Megalo-
+ Gr. &?; soul, mind.] Greatness of soul. [Obs. &
R.]
{ Meg"a*lo*saur` (?), ||Meg`a*lo*sau"rus (?), }
n. [NL. megalosaurus, fr. Gr.
me`gas, mega`lh, great + say^ros
lizard: cf. F. mégalosaure.] (Paleon.) A
gigantic carnivorous dinosaur, whose fossil remains have been found
in England and elsewhere.
Me*gam"e*ter (?), n. [Mega- +
-meter: cf. F. mégamètre.]
(Physics) 1. An instrument for
determining longitude by observation of the stars.
2. A micrometer. [R.]
Knight.
{ Meg"a*me`ter, Meg"a*me`tre } (?),
n. [Mega- + meter, metre, n.,
2.] In the metric system, one million meters, or one thousand
kilometers.
Meg`am`père" (?), n. [Mega-
+ ampère.] (Elec.) A million
ampères.
Meg"a*phone (?), n. [Mega- + Gr.
fwnh` voice.] A device to magnify sound, or direct it
in a given direction in a greater volume, such as a very large funnel
used as an ear trumpet or as a speaking trumpet.
||Me*gaph"y*ton (?), n. [NL., from Gr.
me`gas great + fyto`n plant.] (Paleon.)
An extinct genus of tree ferns with large, two-ranked leaves, or
fronds.
Meg"a*pode (?), n. [Mega- + Gr.
poy`s, podo`s, foot.] (Zoöl.)
Any one of several species of large-footed, gallinaceous birds
of the genera Megapodius and Leipoa, inhabiting
Australia and other Pacific islands. See Jungle fowl
(b) under Jungle, and Leipoa.
Me*gap"o*lis (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr.
me`gas great + po`lis city.] A
metropolis. [Obs.] Sir T. Herbert.
{ Me*ga"ri*an (?), Me*gar"ic (?), }
a. Belonging, or pertaining, to Megara, a city
of ancient Greece.
Megarian, or Megaric,
school, a school of philosophy established at
Megara, after the death of Socrates, by his disciples, and remarkable
for its logical subtlety.
Meg"a*scope (?), n. [Mega- +
-scope: cf. F. mégascope.] A modification
of the magic lantern, used esp. for throwing a magnified image of an
opaque object on a screen, solar or artificial light being
used. [archaic]
Meg"a*seme (?), a. [Mega- + Gr.
&?; sing, mark: cf. F. mégasème.] (Anat.)
Having the orbital index relatively large; having the orbits
narrow transversely; -- opposed to microseme.
{ Me"gass" (?), Me*gasse" },
n. See Bagasse.
Meg"as*thene (?), n. [Gr.
me`gas great + sthe`nos strength.]
(Zoöl.) One of a group which includes the higher
orders of mammals, having a large size as a typical
characteristic.
Meg`as*then"ic (?), a.
(Zoöl.) Having a typically large size; belonging to
the megasthenes.
Meg"a*stome (?), n. [Gr.
me`gas great + sto`ma mouth.]
(Zoöl.) One of a group of univalve shells, having a
large aperture or mouth.
{ Meg"a*there (?), ||Meg`a*the"ri*um (?), }
n. [NL. megatherium, fr. Gr.
me`gas great + thyri`on beast.]
(Paleon.) An extinct gigantic quaternary mammal, allied
to the ant-eaters and sloths. Its remains are found in South
America.
Meg`a*the"roid (?), n.
[Megatherium + -oid.] (Paleon.) One of a
family of extinct edentates found in America. The family includes
the megatherium, the megalonyx, etc.
Meg`a*volt" (?), n. [Mega- +
volt.] (Elec.) One of the larger measures of
electro-motive force, amounting to one million volts.
Meg`a*we"ber (?), n. [Mega- +
weber.] (Elec.) A million webers.
Meg"erg` (?), n. [Mega- +
erg.] (Physics) One of the larger measures of
work, amounting to one million ergs; -- called also
megalerg.
{ Me*gilp" (?), Me*gilph" (?) },
n. (Paint.) A gelatinous compound of
linseed oil and mastic varnish, used by artists as a vehicle for
colors. [Written also magilp, and magilph.]
Meg"ohm" (?), n. [Mega- +
ohm.] (Elec.) One of the larger measures of
electrical resistance, amounting to one million ohms.
Me"grim (?), n. [OE. migrim,
migrene, F. migraine, LL. hemigrania, L.
hemicrania, hemicranium, Gr. "hmikrani`a;
"hmi- half + krani`on skull. See Hemi-
and Cranium, and cf. Hemicrania, Migraine.]
1. A kind of sick or nervous headache, usually
periodical and confined to one side of the head.
2. A fancy; a whim; a freak; a humor; esp.,
in the plural, lowness of spirits.
These are his megrims, firks, and
melancholies.
Ford.
3. pl. (Far.) A sudden vertigo
in a horse, succeeded sometimes by unconsciousness, produced by an
excess of blood in the brain; a mild form of apoplexy.
Youatt.
Me"grim, n. [Etymol. uncertain.]
(Zoöl.) The British smooth sole, or scaldfish
(Psetta arnoglossa).
Mei*bo"mi*an (?), a. (Anat.)
Of, pertaining to, or discovered by, Meibomius.
Meibomian glands, the slender sebaceous
glands of the eyelids, which discharge, through minute orifices in
the edges of the lids, a fatty secretion serving to lubricate the
adjacent parts.
Meine (?), v. t. See
Menge.
{ Mein"e, Mein"y, (&?;), } n.
[OF. maisniée, maisnie. See Menial.]
1. A family, including servants, etc.;
household; retinue; train. [Obs.] Chaucer. Shak.
2. Company; band; army. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Mei"o*cene (?), a. (Geol.)
See Miocene.
Mei"o*nite (?), n. [Gr.
mei`wn smaller. So called in a allusion to the low
pyramids of the crystals.] (Min.) A member of the
scapolite group, occuring in glassy crystals on Monte Somma, near
Naples.
||Mei*o"sis (m&isl;*ō"s&ibreve;s),
n. [NL., fr. Gr. mei`wsis, fr.
meioy^n to make smaller, from mei`wn. See
Meionite.] (Rhet.) Diminution; a species of
hyperbole, representing a thing as being less than it really
is.
Mei`o*stem"o*nous (?), a. [Gr.
mei`wn smaller + &?; warp, thread.] (Bot.)
Having fever stamens than the parts of the corolla.
||Meis"ter*sing`er (?), n. [G.]
See Mastersinger.
Mekh"i*tar*ist (?), n. (Eccl.
Hist.) See Mechitarist.
Me*lac"o*nite (?), n. [Gr.
me`las black + &?; dust.] (Min.) An earthy
black oxide of copper, arising from the decomposition of other
ores.
{ ||Me*la"da (?), ||Me*la"do (?), }
n. [Sp., prop. p. p. of melar to sugar,
candy, fr. L. mel honey. See Molasses.] A mixture
of sugar and molasses; crude sugar as it comes from the pans without
being drained.
||Me*læ"na (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr.
me`las, m., me`laina, f., black.] (Med.)
A discharge from the bowels of black matter, consisting of
altered blood.
Mel"ain (?), n. [See
Melæna.] The dark coloring matter of the liquid of
the cuttlefish.
Me*lai"no*type (?), n. See
Melanotype.
Me"lam (mē"lăm), n. [Cf.
F. mélam.] (Chem.) A white or buff-colored
granular powder, C6H9N11, obtained
by heating ammonium sulphocyanate.
Me*lam"ine (?), n. (Chem.)
A strong nitrogenous base,
C3H6N6, produced from several
cyanogen compounds, and obtained as a white crystalline substance, --
formerly supposed to be produced by the decomposition of
melam. Called also cyanuramide.
Mel"am*pode (?), n. [Gr.
melampo`dion; of uncertain origin.] The black
hellebore. [Obs.] Spenser.
{ Mel`am*py"rin (?), Mel`am*py"rite (?), }
n. [NL. Melampyrum cowwheat; Gr.
me`las black + pyro`s wheat.] (Chem.)
The saccharine substance dulcite; -- so called because found in
the leaves of cowwheat (Melampyrum). See
Dulcite.
||Mel`a*næ"mi*a (?), n. [NL., fr.
Gr. me`las, -anos, black + a"i^ma
blood.] (Med.) A morbid condition in which the blood
contains black pigment either floating freely or imbedded in the
white blood corpuscles.
Me*lan"a*gogue (?), n. [Gr.
me`las, -anos, black + &?; leading, driving,
&?; to lead.] (Med.) A medicine supposed to expel black
bile or choler. [Obs.]
||Mel`an*cho"li*a (?), n. [L. See
Melancholy.] (Med.) A kind of mental unsoundness
characterized by extreme depression of spirits, ill-grounded fears,
delusions, and brooding over one particular subject or train of
ideas.
Mel`an*cho"li*an (?), n. A person
affected with melancholy; a melancholic. [Obs.] Dr. J.
Scott.
Mel"an*chol`ic (?), a. [L.
melancholicus, Gr. &?;: cf. F. mélancholique.]
Given to melancholy; depressed; melancholy; dejected;
unhappy.
Just as the melancholic eye
Sees fleets and armies in the sky.
Prior.
Mel"an*chol`ic, n. [Obs.]
1. One affected with a gloomy state of
mind. J. Spenser.
2. A gloomy state of mind; melancholy.
Clarendon.
Mel"an*chol`i*ly (?), adv. In a
melancholy manner.
Mel"an*chol`i*ness, n. The state
or quality of being melancholy. Hallywell.
Mel`an*cho"li*ous (?), a. [Cf. OF.
melancholieux.] Melancholy. [R.]
Milton.
Mel"an*chol*ist (?), n. One
affected with melancholy or dejection. [Obs.]
Glanvill.
Mel"an*cho*lize (?), v. i. To
become gloomy or dejected in mind. Barrow.
Mel"an*cho*lize, v. t. To make
melancholy.
Mel"an*chol*y (?), n. [OE.
melancolie, F. mélancolie, L.
melancholia, fr. Gr. &?;; me`las, -anos,
black + &?; gall, bile. See Malice, and 1st Gall.]
1. Depression of spirits; a gloomy state
continuing a considerable time; deep dejection; gloominess.
Shak.
2. Great and continued depression of spirits,
amounting to mental unsoundness; melancholia.
3. Pensive maditation; serious
thoughtfulness. [Obs.] "Hail, divinest Melancholy !"
Milton.
4. Ill nature. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Mel"an*chol*y, a. 1.
Depressed in spirits; dejected; gloomy dismal.
Shak.
2. Producing great evil and grief; causing
dejection; calamitous; afflictive; as, a melancholy
event.
3. Somewhat deranged in mind; having the
jugment impaired. [Obs.] Bp. Reynolds.
4. Favorable to meditation; somber.
A pretty, melancholy seat, well wooded and
watered.
Evelin.
Syn. -- Gloomy; sad; dispirited; low-spirited; downhearted;
unhappy; hypochondriac; disconsolate; heavy, doleful; dismal;
calamitous; afflictive.
Mel`a*ne"sian (?), a. [Gr.
me`las, -anos, black + &?; island.
Melanesia was so called from the dark complexion of the
natives.] Of or pertaining to Melanesia.
||Mé`lange" (?), n. [F. See
Mell, Meddle.] A mixture; a medley.
Me*la"ni*an (?), n. (Zoöl.)
One of a family of fresh-water pectinibranchiate mollusks,
having a turret-shaped shell.
Me*lan"ic (?), a. [Gr.
me`las, -anos, black.] 1.
Melanotic.
2. (Ethnol.) Of or pertaining to the
black-haired races. Prichard.
Me*lan"i*line (?), n. (Chem.)
A complex nitrogenous hydrocarbon obtained artificially (as by
the action of cyanogen chloride on aniline) as a white, crystalline
substance; -- called also diphenyl guanidin.
Mel"a*nin (?), n. [Gr.
me`las, -anos, black.] (Physiol.) A
black pigment found in the pigment-bearing cells of the skin
(particularly in the skin of the negro), in the epithelial cells of
the external layer of the retina (then called fuscin), in the
outer layer of the choroid, and elsewhere. It is supposed to be
derived from the decomposition of hemoglobin.
Mel"a*nism (m&ebreve;l"&adot;*n&ibreve;z'm),
n. [Gr. me`las, -anos,
black.]
1. An undue development of dark-colored
pigment in the skin or its appendages; -- the opposite of
albinism.
2. (Med.) A disease; black jaundice.
See Melæna.
Mel`a*nis"tic (?), a. Affected
with melanism; of the nature of melanism.
Mel"a*nite (?), n. [Gr.
me`las, -anos, black: cf. F.
mélanite.] (Min.) A black variety of
garnet.
||Mel`a*noch"ro*i (?), n. pl. [NL. See
Melanochroic.] (Ethnol.) A group of the human
race, including the dark whites.
Mel`a*no*chro"ic (?), a. [Gr.
melana`chroos; me`las, -anos, black
+ chroa` color.] Having a dark complexion; of or
pertaining to the Melanochroi.
Mel`a*no*chro"ite (?), n. [See
Melanochroic.] (Min.) A mineral of a red, or
brownish or yellowish red color. It is a chromate of lead; -- called
also phœnicocroite.
Mel`a*noc"o*mous (?), a. [Gr.
me`las, -anos, black + &?; hair.] Having
very dark or black hair; black-haired. Prichard.
||Mel`a*nor*rhœ"a (?), n. [NL.,
fr. Gr. me`las, -anos, black + &?; to flow.]
(Bot.) An East Indian genus of large trees.
Melanorrhœa usitatissima is the lignum-vitæ of
Pegu, and yields a valuable black varnish.
Me*lan"o*scope (?), n. [Gr.
me`las, -anos, black + -scope.]
(Opt.) An instrument containing a combination of colored
glasses such that they transmit only red light, so that objects of
other colors, as green leaves, appear black when seen through it. It
is used for viewing colored flames, to detect the presence of
potassium, lithium, etc., by the red light which they emit.
||Mel`a*no"sis (?), [NL., fr. Gr. &?; a growing black,
fr. me`las, -anos, black.] (Med.)
The morbid deposition of black matter, often of a malignant
character, causing pigmented tumors.
Me*lan"o*sperm (?), n. [Gr.
me`las, -anos, black + spe`rma
seed.] (Bot.) An alga of any kind that produces blackish
spores, or seed dust. The melanosperms include the rockweeds and all
kinds of kelp. -- Mel`a*no*sper"mous (#),
a.
Mel`a*not"ic (?), a.
Melanistic.
Me*lan"o*type (?), n. [Gr.
me`las, -anos, black + -type.]
(Photog.) A positive picture produced with sensitized
collodion on a smooth surface of black varnish, coating a thin plate
of iron; also, the process of making such a picture. [Written
also melainotype.]
Me*lan"ter*ite (?), n. (Min.)
A hydrous sulphate of iron of a green color and vitreous luster;
iron vitriol.
Mel"a*nure (?), n. [NL.
melanurus, fr. Gr. me`las, -anos, black
+ o'ura` tail.] (Zoöl.) A small fish of
the Mediterranean; a gilthead. See Gilthead
(a).
Mel`a*nu"ric (?), a. [Melam +
urea.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, a
complex nitrogenous acid obtained by decomposition of melam, or of
urea, as a white crystalline powder; -- called also melanurenic
acid.
Mel"a*phyre (?), n. [F., fr. Gr.
me`las, -anos, black + porphyre
porphyry.] (Min.) Any one of several dark-colored
augitic, eruptive rocks allied to basalt.
||Me*las"ma (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;
black spot.] (Med.) A dark discoloration of the skin,
usually local; as, Addison's melasma, or Addison's
disease. -- Me*las"mic (#), a.
Me*las"ses (?), n. See
Molasses.
Me*las"sic (?), a. [See
Molasses.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating,
an acid obtained from molasses or glucose, and probably identical
with saccharic acid. See Saccharic.
||Me*las"to*ma (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr.
me`las black + sto`ma mouth.] (Bot.)
A genus of evergreen tropical shrubs; -- so called from the
black berries of some species, which stain the mouth.
Mel`a*sto*ma"ceous (?), a.
(Bot.) Belonging to the order of which Melastoma is the
type.
Mel"chite (?), n. [Heb. melek
king.] (Eccl. Hist.) One of a sect, chiefly in Syria and
Egypt, which acknowledges the authority of the pope, but adheres to
the liturgy and ceremonies of the Eastern Church.
Mel`e*a"grine (?), a.
(Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the genus
Meleagris.
||Mel`e*a"gris (?), n. [L., the Guinea
fowl.] (Zoöl.) A genus of American gallinaceous
birds, including the common and the wild turkeys.
||Mê`lée" (m&asl;`l&asl;"),
n. [F., fr. mêler to mix. See
Meddle, Mell, and cf. Mellay.] A fight in
which the combatants are mingled in one confused mass; a hand to hand
conflict; an affray.
||Me*le"na (?), n. (Med.)
See Melæna.
Mel"ene (?), n. [Melissic +
ethylene.] (Chem.) An unsaturated hydrocarbon,
C30H60, of the ethylene series, obtained from
beeswax as a white, scaly, crystalline wax; -- called also
melissene, and melissylene.
Mel"e*nite (?), n. [Gr.
me`li honey.] An explosive of great destructive
power; -- so called from its color, which resembles honey.
Mel"e*tin (?), n. (Chem.)
See Quercitin.
Me*lez"i*tose` (?), n. [F.
mélèze the larch + melitose.]
(Chem.) A variety of sugar, isomeric with sucrose,
extracted from the manna of the larch (Larix). [Written
also melicitose.]
Me`li*a"ceous (?), a. (Bot.)
Pertaining to a natural order (Meliacæ) of plants
of which the genus Melia is the type. It includes the mahogany
and the Spanish cedar.
{ Mel`i*be"an (?), Mel`i*b&?;"an },
a. [From L. Meliboeus, one of the
interlocutors in Virgil's first Eclogue.] (Rhet.)
Alternately responsive, as verses.
Mel"ic (?), [Gr. &?;, fr. &?; song.] Of or
pertaining to song; lyric; tuneful.
Me*lic"er*ous (?), a. [L.
meliceris a kind of tumor, fr. Gr. &?;; me`li honey
+ &?; wax.] (Med.) Consisting of or containing matter
like honey; -- said of certain encysted tumors.
Mel"ic grass` (?). (Bot.) A genus of grasses
(Melica) of little agricultural importance.
Mel`i*co*toon" (?), n. (Bot.)
See Melocoton.
Me*lic"ra*to*ry (?), n. [Gr.
meli`kraton.] A meadlike drink. [Obs.]
Mel"i*lite (m&ebreve;l"&ibreve;*līt),
n. [Gr. me`li honey + -lite; cf.
F. mélilithe.] (Min.) A mineral occurring
in small yellow crystals, found in the lavas (melilite basalt)
of Vesuvius, and elsewhere. [Written also
mellilite.]
Mel"i*lot (-l&obreve;t), n. [F.
mélilot, L. melilotus, fr. Gr. &?;, &?;, a kind
of clover containing honey; me`li honey + &?; lotus.]
(Bot.) Any species of Melilotus, a genus of
leguminous herbs having a vanillalike odor; sweet clover; hart's
clover. The blue melilot (Melilotus cærulea) is used in
Switzerland to give color and flavor to sapsago cheese.
Mel`i*lot"ic (?), a. (Chem.)
Of, pertaining to, or obtained from, sweet clover or melilot;
specifically, designating an acid of the aromatic series, obtained
from melilot as a white crystalline substance.
Mel"io*rate (mēl"y&osl;*rāt), v.
t. [imp. & p. p. Meliorated (-
rā`t&ebreve;d); p. pr. & vb. n.
Meliorating.] [L. melioratus, p. p. of meliorare
to meliorate, fr. melior better; akin to Gr.
ma^llon rather, ma`la very. Cf.
Ameliorate.] To make better; to improve; to ameliorate;
to soften; to make more tolerable.
Nature by art we nobly meliorate.
Denham.
The pure and benign light of revelation has had a
meliorating influence on mankind.
Washington.
Mel"io*rate, v. i. To grow
better.
Mel"io*ra`ter (?), n. Same as
Meliorator.
Mel`io*ra"tion (?), n. [L.
melioratio.] The act or operation of meliorating, or the
state of being meliorated; improvement. Bacon.
Mel"io*ra`tor (?), n. One who
meliorates.
Mel"io*rism (?), n. [From L.
melior better.] The doctrine that there is a tendency
throughout nature toward improvement. J. Sully.
Mel*ior"i*ty (?), n. [LL.
melioritas, fr. L. melior. See Meliorate.]
The state or quality of being better; melioration. [Obs.]
Bacon.
Me*liph"a*gan (?), a. [Gr.
me`li honey + &?; to eat.] (Zoöl.)
Belonging to the genus Meliphaga.
Me*liph"a*gan, n. (Zoöl.)
Any bird of the genus Meliphaga and allied genera; a
honey eater; -- called also meliphagidan.
Me*liph"a*gous (?), a. [See
Meliphagan.] (Zool.) Eating, or feeding upon,
honey.
||Me*lis"ma (?), n.; pl.
Melismata (#). [NL., fr. Gr. me`lisma a
song.] (Mus.) (a) A piece of melody; a
song or tune, -- as opposed to recitative or musical
declamation. (b) A grace or
embellishment.
||Me*lis"sa (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr.
me`lissa a bee, honey.] (Bot.) A genus of
labiate herbs, including the balm, or bee balm (Melissa
officinalis).
Me*lis"sic (?), a. [Gr.
me`lissa a bee, honey.] (Chem.) Pertaining to,
or derived from, beeswax; specif., denoting an acid obtained by
oxidation of myricin.
Me*lis"syl (?), n. [Melissic
+yl.] (Chem.) See Myricyl.
Me*lis"sy*lene (?), n. [Melissic
+ -yl + -ene.] (Chem.) See
Melene.
Mel"i*tose` (?), n. [Gr.
me`li honey.] (Chem.) A variety of sugar
isomeric with sucrose, extracted from cotton seeds and from the so-
called Australian manna (a secretion of certain species of
Eucalyptus).
Mell (?), v. i. & t. [F.
mêler, OF. meller, mester. See
Meddle.] To mix; to meddle. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Mell, n. [See Mellifluous.]
Honey. [Obs.] Warner.
Mell, n. A mill. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Mel"late (?), n. [L. mel,
mellis, honey. Cf. Mellitate.] (Chem.) A
mellitate. [R.]
Mel"lay (?), n. A
mêlée; a conflict. Tennyson.
Mel"lic (?), a. (Chem.) See
Mellitic. [R.]
Mel*lif"er*ous (?), a. [L.
mellifer; mel, mellis, honey + ferre to
bear.] Producing honey.
Mel*lif"ic (?), a. [L. mel,
mellis, honey + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See -
fy.] Producing honey.
Mel`li*fi*ca"tion (?), n. [L.
mellificare to make honey: cf. F. mellification. See
Mellific.] The making or production of honey.
Mel*lif"lu*ence (?), n. A flow of
sweetness, or a sweet, smooth flow.
Mel*lif"lu*ent (?), a. [L.
mellifluens. See Mellifluous.] Flowing as with
honey; smooth; mellifluous.
Mel*lif"lu*ent*ly, adv. In a
mellifluent manner.
Mel*lif"lu*ous (?), a. [L.
mellifluus; mel, mellis, honey (akin to Gr. &?;,
Goth. milip) + fluere to flow. See Mildew,
Fluent, and cf. Marmalade.] Flowing as with honey;
smooth; flowing sweetly or smoothly; as, a mellifluous
voice. -- Mel*lif"lu*ous*ly,
adv.
Mel*lig"e*nous (?), a. [L. mel,
mellis + -genous.] Having the qualities of honey.
[R.]
||Mel*li"go (?), n. [L.]
Honeydew.
Mel*lil"o*quent (?), a. [L. mel,
mellis honey + loquens speaking, p. pr. of loqui
to speak.] Speaking sweetly or harmoniously.
Mel*liph"a*gan (?), n. See
Meliphagan.
Mel*liph"a*gous (?), a. See
Meliphagous.
Mel"li*tate (?), n. [Cf. F.
mellitate. See Mellitic.] (Chem.) A salt of
mellitic acid.
Mel"lite (?), n. [L. mel,
mellis, honey: cf. F. mellite.] (Min.) A
mineral of a honey color, found in brown coal, and partly the result
of vegetable decomposition; honeystone. It is a mellitate of
alumina.
Mel*lit"ic (?), a. [Cf. F.
mellitique. See Mellite.] (Chem.)
(a) Containing saccharine matter; marked by
saccharine secretions; as, mellitic diabetes.
(b) Pertaining to, or derived from, the mineral
mellite.
Mellitic acid (Chem.), a white,
crystalline, organic substance,
C6(CO2H)6, occurring naturally in
combination with aluminium in the mineral mellite, and produced
artificially by the oxidation of coal, graphite, etc., and hence
called also graphitic acid.
Mel"lone (?), n. (Chem.) A
yellow powder, C6H3N9, obtained from
certain sulphocyanates. It has acid properties and forms compounds
called mellonides.
Mel"lon*ide (?), n. See
Mellone.
Mel"low (?), a.
[Compar. Mellower (?);
superl. Mellowest.] [OE. melwe; cf.
AS. mearu soft, D. murw, Prov. G. mollig soft,
D. malsch, and E. meal flour.]
1. Soft or tender by reason of ripeness;
having a tender pulp; as, a mellow apple.
2. Hence: (a) Easily worked
or penetrated; not hard or rigid; as, a mellow soil.
"Mellow glebe." Drayton (b) Not
coarse, rough, or harsh; subdued; soft; rich; delicate; -- said of
sound, color, flavor, style, etc. "The mellow horn."
Wordsworth. "The mellow-tasted Burgundy."
Thomson.
The tender flush whose mellow stain imbues
Heaven with all freaks of light.
Percival.
3. Well matured; softened by years; genial;
jovial.
May health return to mellow age.
Wordsworth.
As merry and mellow an old bachelor as ever
followed a hound.
W. Irving.
4. Warmed by liquor; slightly
intoxicated. Addison.
Mel"low, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Mellowed (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Mellowing.] To make mellow. Shak.
If the Weather prove frosty to mellow it [the
ground], they do not plow it again till April.
Mortimer.
The fervor of early feeling is tempered and
mellowed by the ripeness of age.
J. C.
Shairp.
Mel"low, v. i. To become mellow;
as, ripe fruit soon mellows. "Prosperity begins to
mellow." Shak.
Mel"low*ly, adv. In a mellow
manner.
Mel"low*ness, n. Quality or state
of being mellow.
Mel"low*y (?), a. Soft;
unctuous. Drayton.
||Mel*lu"co (?), n. (Bot.)
A climbing plant (Ullucus officinalis) of the Andes,
having tuberous roots which are used as a substitute for
potatoes.
Mel"ne (?), n. A mill.
[Obs.] Chaucer.
{ Mel`o*co*ton", Mel`o*co*toon" } (?),
n. [Sp. melocoton a kind of peach tree and
its fruit, L. malum cotonium, or cotonea, or
Cydonia, a quince, or quince tree, lit., apple of
Cydonia, Gr. &?; &?;. See Quince.] (Bot.)
(a) A quince. (b) A
kind of peach having one side deep red, and the flesh yellow.
[Written also malacatoon, malacotune.]
Me*lo"de*on (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;
musical. See Melody, and cf. Odeon.]
1. (Mus.) A kind of small reed organ;
-- a portable form of the seraphine.
2. A music hall.
Me*lod"ic (?), a. [L. melodicus,
Gr. &?;: cf. F. mélodique.] Of the nature of
melody; relating to, containing, or made up of, melody;
melodious.
Me*lod"ics (?), n. The department
of musical science which treats of the pitch of tones, and of the
laws of melody.
Me*lo"di*o*graph (?), n. [Melody
+ -graph.] A contrivance for preserving a record of
music, by recording the action of the keys of a musical instrument
when played upon.
Me*lo"di*ous (?), a. [Cf. F.
mélodieux. See Melody.] Containing, or
producing, melody; musical; agreeable to the ear by a sweet
succession of sounds; as, a melodious voice. "A
melodious voice." "A melodious undertone."
Longfellow. -- Me*lo"di*ous*ly,
adv. -- Me*lo"di*ous*ness,
n.
Mel"o*dist (?), n. [Cf. F.
mélodiste.] A composer or singer of
melodies.
Mel"o*dize (?), v. t. [imp. &
p. p. Melodized (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Melodizing (?).] To make melodious; to form
into, or set to, melody.
Mel"o*dize, v. i. To make melody;
to compose melodies; to harmonize.
Mel`o*dra"ma (?), n. [F.
mélodrame, fr. Gr. me`los song +
dra^ma drama.] Formerly, a kind of drama having a
musical accompaniment to intensify the effect of certain scenes. Now,
a drama abounding in romantic sentiment and agonizing situations,
with a musical accompaniment only in parts which are especially
thrilling or pathetic. In opera, a passage in which the orchestra
plays a somewhat descriptive accompaniment, while the actor speaks;
as, the melodrama in the gravedigging scene of Beethoven's
"Fidelio".
Mel`o*dra*mat"ic (?), a. [Cf. F.
mélodramatique.] Of or pertaining to melodrama;
like or suitable to a melodrama; unnatural in situation or
action. -- Mel`o*dra*mat"ic*al*ly (#),
adv.
Mel`o*dram"a*tist (?), n. One who
acts in, or writes, melodramas.
Mel"o*drame (?), n. [F.]
Melodrama.
Mel"o*dy (?), n.; pl.
Melodies (#). [OE. melodie, F.
mélodie, L. melodia, fr. Gr. &?; a singing,
choral song, fr. &?; musical, melodious; me`los song, tune
+ &?; song. See Ode.]
1. A sweet or agreeable succession of
sounds.
Lulled with sound of sweetest
melody.
Shak.
2. (Mus.) A rhythmical succession of
single tones, ranging for the most part within a given key, and so
related together as to form a musical whole, having the unity of what
is technically called a musical thought, at once pleasing to the ear
and characteristic in expression.
&fist; Melody consists in a succession of single tones;
harmony is a consonance or agreement of tones, also a
succession of consonant musical combinations or chords.
3. The air or tune of a musical
piece.
Syn. -- See Harmony.
||Mel"o*e (?), [ NL., fr. Gr. &?; to probe a wound.]
(Zoöl.) A genus of beetles without wings, but having
short oval elytra; the oil beetles. These beetles are sometimes used
instead of cantharides for raising blisters. See Oil beetle,
under Oil.
Mel"o*graph (m&ebreve;l"&osl;*gr&adot;f),
n. [Gr. me`los a song + -graph :
cf. F. mélographe.] Same as
Melodiograph.
Mel`o*lon*thid"i*an (?), n. [Gr. &?;
the cockchafer.] (Zoöl.) A beetle of the genus
Melolontha, and allied genera. See May beetle, under
May.
Mel"on (m&ebreve;l"ŭn), n. [F.,
fr. L. melo, for melopepo an apple-shaped melon, Gr.
&?; ; mh^lon apple + &?; a species of large melon; cf. L.
malum apple. Cf. Marmalade.]
1. (Bot.) The juicy fruit of certain
cucurbitaceous plants, as the muskmelon, watermelon, and citron
melon; also, the plant that produces the fruit.
2. (Zoöl.) A large, ornamental,
marine, univalve shell of the genus Melo.
Melon beetle (Zoöl.), a small
leaf beetle (Diabrotiea vittata), which damages the leaves of
melon vines. -- Melon cactus, Melon
thistle. (a) (Bot.) A genus of
cactaceous plants (Melocactus) having a fleshy and usually
globose stem with the surface divided into spiny longitudinal ridges,
and bearing at the top a prickly and woolly crown in which the small
pink flowers are half concealed. M. communis, from the
West Indies, is often cultivated, and sometimes called Turk's
cap. (b) The related genus Mamillaria,
in which the stem is tubercled rather than ribbed, and the flowers
sometimes large. See Illust. under Cactus.
Mel`o*pi*a"no (?), n. [Gr.
me`los song + E. piano.] A piano having a
mechanical attachment which enables the player to prolong the notes
at will.
Mel`o*plas"tic (?), a. Of or
pertaining to meloplasty, or the artificial formation of a new
cheek.
Mel"o*plas`ty (m&ebreve;l"&osl;*plăs`t&ybreve;),
n. [Gr. mh^lon an apple, a cheek + -
plasty: cf. F. méloplastie.] (Surg.)
The process of restoring a cheek which has been destroyed wholly
or in part.
||Mel`o*pœ"ia (?), n. [NL., fr.
Gr. &?;; me`los song + poiei^n to make.]
(Mus.) The art of forming melody; melody; -- now often
used for a melodic passage, rather than a complete melody.
Mel"o*type (?), n. (Photog.)
A picture produced by a process in which development after
exposure may be deferred indefinitely, so as to permit transportation
of exposed plates; also, the process itself.
Mel*pom"e*ne (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. &?;,
lit., the songstress, fr. &?;, &?;, to sing.]
1. (Class. Myth.) The Muse of
tragedy.
2. (Astron.) The eighteenth
asteroid.
Mel"rose (?), n. Honey of
roses.
Melt (m&ebreve;lt), n.
(Zoöl.) See 2d Milt.
Melt, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Melted (obs.) p. p.
Molten (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Melting.]
[AS. meltan; akin to Gr. me`ldein, E. malt,
and prob. to E. smelt, v. √108. Cf. Smelt,
v., Malt, Milt the spleen.]
1. To reduce from a solid to a liquid state, as
by heat; to liquefy; as, to melt wax, tallow, or lead; to
melt ice or snow.
2. Hence: To soften, as by a warming or
kindly influence; to relax; to render gentle or susceptible to mild
influences; sometimes, in a bad sense, to take away the firmness of;
to weaken.
Thou would'st have . . . melted down thy
youth.
Shak.
For pity melts the mind to love.
Dryden.
Syn. -- To liquefy; fuse; thaw; mollify; soften.
Melt, v. i. 1. To
be changed from a solid to a liquid state under the influence of
heat; as, butter and wax melt at moderate
temperatures.
2. To dissolve; as, sugar melts in the
mouth.
3. Hence: To be softened; to become tender,
mild, or gentle; also, to be weakened or subdued, as by
fear.
My soul melteth for heaviness.
Ps. cxix. 28.
Melting with tenderness and kind
compassion.
Shak.
4. To lose distinct form or outline; to
blend.
The soft, green, rounded hills, with their flowing
outlines, overlapping and melting into each
other.
J. C. Shairp.
5. To disappear by being dispersed or
dissipated; as, the fog melts away. Shak.
Melt"a*ble (?), a. Capable of
being melted.
Melt"er (-&etilde;r), n. One who,
or that which, melts.
Melt"ing, n. Liquefaction; the act
of causing (something) to melt, or the process of becoming
melted.
Melting point (Chem.), the degree of
temperature at which a solid substance melts or fuses; as, the
melting point of ice is 0° Centigrade or 32° Fahr.,
that of urea is 132° Centigrade. -- Melting
pot, a vessel in which anything is melted; a
crucible.
Melt"ing a. Causing to melt;
becoming melted; -- used literally or figuratively; as, a
melting heat; a melting appeal; a melting
mood. -- Melt"ing*ly, adv.
Mel"ton (?), n. [Etymol. uncertain.]
A kind of stout woolen cloth with unfinished face and without
raised nap. A commoner variety has a cotton warp.
Mem"ber (?), v. t. [See
Remember.] To remember; to cause to remember; to
mention. [Obs.]
Mem"ber, n. [OE. membre, F.
membre, fr. L. membrum; cf. Goth. mimz flesh,
Skr. mamsa.]
1. (Anat.) A part of an animal capable
of performing a distinct office; an organ; a limb.
We have many members in one body, and all
members have not the same office.
Rom. xii.
4.
2. Hence, a part of a whole; an independent
constituent of a body; as: (a) A part of a
discourse or of a period or sentence; a clause; a part of a
verse. (b) (Math.) Either of the
two parts of an algebraic equation, connected by the sign of
equality. (c) (Engin.) Any
essential part, as a post, tie rod, strut, etc., of a framed
structure, as a bridge truss. (d)
(Arch.) Any part of a building, whether constructional,
as a pier, column, lintel, or the like, or decorative, as a molding,
or group of moldings. (e) One of the
persons composing a society, community, or the like; an individual
forming part of an association; as, a member of the society of
Friends.
Compression member, Tension
member (Engin.), a member, as a rod, brace,
etc., which is subjected to compression or tension,
respectively.
Mem"bered (?), a. 1.
Having limbs; -- chiefly used in composition.
2. (Her.) Having legs of a different
tincture from that of the body; -- said of a bird in heraldic
representations.
Mem"ber*ship, n. 1.
The state of being a member.
2. The collective body of members, as of a
society.
Mem"bral (?), a. (Anat.)
Relating to a member.
Mem`bra*na"ceous (?), a. [L.
membranaceus.]
1. Same as Membranous.
Arbuthnot.
2. (Bot.) Thin and rather soft or
pliable, as the leaves of the rose, peach tree, and aspen
poplar.
Mem"brane (?), n. [F., fr. L.
membrana the skin that covers the separate members of the
body, fr. L. membrum. See Member.] (Anat.)
A thin layer or fold of tissue, usually supported by a fibrous
network, serving to cover or line some part or organ, and often
secreting or absorbing certain fluids.
&fist; The term is also often applied to the thin, expanded parts,
of various texture, both in animals and vegetables.
Adventitious membrane, a membrane connecting
parts not usually connected, or of a different texture from the
ordinary connection; as, the membrane of a cicatrix. --
Jacob's membrane. See under Retina.
-- Mucous membranes (Anat.), the
membranes lining passages and cavities which communicate with the
exterior, as well as ducts and receptacles of secretion, and
habitually secreting mucus. -- Schneiderian
membrane. (Anat.) See Schneiderian.
-- Serous membranes (Anat.) , the
membranes, like the peritoneum and pleura, which line, or lie in,
cavities having no obvious outlet, and secrete a serous
fluid.
Mem*bra"ne*ous (?), a. [L.
membraneus of parchment.] See
Membranous.
Mem`bra*nif"er*ous (?), a.
[Membrane + -ferous.] Having or producing
membranes.
Mem*bra"ni*form (?), a.
[Membrane + -form: cf. F. membraniforme.]
Having the form of a membrane or of parchment.
Mem`bra*nol"o*gy (?), n.
[Membrane + -logy.] The science which treats of
membranes.
Mem"bra*nous (?), a. [Cf. F.
membraneux.]
1. Pertaining to, consisting of, or
resembling, membrane; as, a membranous covering or
lining.
2. (Bot.) Membranaceous.
Membranous croup (Med.), true croup.
See Croup.
Me*men"to (?), n.; pl.
Mementos (#). [L., remember, be mindful, imper. of
meminisse to remember. See Mention.] A hint,
suggestion, token, or memorial, to awaken memory; that which reminds
or recalls to memory; a souvenir.
Seasonable mementos may be useful.
Bacon.
||Me*min"na (?), n. (Zoöl.)
A small deerlet, or chevrotain, of India.
Mem"non (?), n. [L., from Gr. &?;,
lit., the Steadfast, Resolute, the son of Tithonus and Aurora, and
king of the Ethiopians, killed by Achilles.] (Antiq.) A
celebrated Egyptian statue near Thebes, said to have the property of
emitting a harplike sound at sunrise.
{ Mem"oir (?), or pl. Mem"oirs (?) },
n. [F. mémoire, m., memorandum, fr.
mémoire, f., memory, L. memoria. See
Memory.] 1. A memorial account; a history
composed from personal experience and memory; an account of
transactions or events (usually written in familiar style) as they
are remembered by the writer. See History, 2.
2. A memorial of any individual; a biography;
often, a biography written without special regard to method and
completeness.
3. An account of something deemed noteworthy;
an essay; a record of investigations of any subject; the journals and
proceedings of a society.
Mem"oir*ist, n. A writer of
memoirs.
||Mem`o*ra*bil"i*a (?), n. pl. [L., fr.
memorabilis memorable. See Memorable.] Things
remarkable and worthy of remembrance or record; also, the record of
them.
Mem`o*ra*bil"i*ty (?), n. The
quality or state of being memorable.
Mem"o*ra*ble (?), a. [L.
memorabilis, fr. memorare to bring to remembrance, fr.
memor mindful, remembering. See Memory, and cf.
Memorabilia.] Worthy to be remembered; very important or
remarkable. -- Mem"o*ra*ble*ness, n.
-- Mem"o*ra*bly, adv.
Surviving fame to gain,
Buy tombs, by books, by memorable deeds.
Sir
J. Davies.
Mem`o*ran"dum (?), n.; pl. E.
Memorandums, L. Memoranda (#).
[L., something to be remembered, neut. of memorandus, fut.
pass. p. of memorare. See Memorable.]
1. A record of something which it is desired
to remember; a note to help the memory.
I . . . entered a memorandum in my
pocketbook.
Guardian.
I wish you would, as opportunity offers, make
memorandums of the regulations of the academies.
Sir J. Reynolds.
2. (Law) A brief or informal note in
writing of some transaction, or an outline of an intended instrument;
an instrument drawn up in a brief and compendious form.
Memorandum check, a check given as an
acknowledgment of indebtedness, but with the understanding that it
will not be presented at bank unless the maker fails to take it up on
the day the debt becomes due. It usually has Mem. written on
its face.
Mem"o*rate (?), v. t. [L.
memoratus, p. p. of memorare. See Memorable.]
To commemorate. [Obs.]
Mem"o*ra*tive (?), a. [Cf. F.
mémoratif.] Commemorative. [Obs.]
Hammond.
||Me*mo"ri*a (?), n. [L.]
Memory.
Memoria technica, technical memory; a
contrivance for aiding the memory.
Me*mo"ri*al (?), a. [F.
mémorial, L. memorialis, fr. memoria. See
Memory.]
1. Serving to preserve remembrance;
commemorative; as, a memorial building.
There high in air, memorial of my name,
Fix the smooth oar, and bid me live to fame.
Pope.
2. Contained in memory; as, a memorial
possession.
3. Mnemonic; assisting the memory.
This succession of Aspirate, Soft, and Hard, may be
expressed by the memorial word ASH.
Skeat.
Memorial Day. Same as Decoration
Day. [U.S.]
Me*mo"ri*al, n. [Cf. F.
mémorial.]
1. Anything intended to preserve the memory
of a person or event; something which serves to keep something else
in remembrance; a monument. Macaulay.
Churches have names; some as memorials of
peace, some of wisdom, some in memory of the Trinity
itself.
Hooker.
2. A memorandum; a record. [Obs. or R.]
Hayward.
3. A written representation of facts,
addressed to the government, or to some branch of it, or to a
society, etc., -- often accompanied with a petition.
4. Memory; remembrance. [Obs.]
Precious is the memorial of the
just.
Evelyn.
5. (Diplomacy) A species of informal
state paper, much used in negotiation.
Me*mo"ri*al*ist, n. [Cf. F.
mémorialiste.] One who writes or signs a
memorial.
Me*mo"ri*al*ize (?), v. t.
[imp. & p. p. Memorialized (?); p.
pr. & vb. n. Memorializing (?).] To address or
petition by a memorial; to present a memorial to; as, to
memorialize the legislature. T. Hook.
Me*mo"ri*al*i`zer (?), n. One who
petitions by a memorial. T. Hook.
Mem"o*rist (?), n. [See
Memorize.] One who, or that which, causes to be
remembered. [Obs.]
||Me*mor"i*ter (?), adv. [L., fr.
memor mindful. See Memorable.] By, or from,
memory.
Mem"o*rize (?), v. t. [imp. &
p. p. Memorized (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Memorizing (?).] [See Memory.]
1. To cause to be remembered ; hence, to
record. [Obs.]
They neglect to memorize their
conquest.
Spenser.
They meant to . . . memorize another
Golgotha.
Shak.
2. To commit to memory; to learn by
heart.
Mem"o*ry (?), n.; pl.
Memories (#). [OE. memorie, OF.
memoire, memorie, F. mémoire, L.
memoria, fr. memor mindful; cf. mora delay. Cf.
Demur, Martyr, Memoir, Remember.]
1. The faculty of the mind by which it
retains the knowledge of previous thoughts, impressions, or
events.
Memory is the purveyor of reason.
Rambler.
2. The reach and positiveness with which a
person can remember; the strength and trustworthiness of one's power
to reach and represent or to recall the past; as, his memory
was never wrong.
3. The actual and distinct retention and
recognition of past ideas in the mind; remembrance; as, in
memory of youth; memories of foreign lands.
4. The time within which past events can be
or are remembered; as, within the memory of man.
And what, before thy memory, was done
From the begining.
Milton.
5. Something, or an aggregate of things,
remembered; hence, character, conduct, etc., as preserved in
remembrance, history, or tradition; posthumous fame; as, the war
became only a memory.
The memory of the just is blessed.
Prov. x. 7.
That ever-living man of memory, Henry the
Fifth.
Shak.
The Nonconformists . . . have, as a body, always
venerated her [Elizabeth's] memory.
Macaulay.
6. A memorial. [Obs.]
These weeds are memories of those worser
hours.
Shak.
Syn. -- Memory, Remembrance,
Recollection, Reminiscence. Memory is the
generic term, denoting the power by which we reproduce past
impressions. Remembrance is an exercise of that power when
things occur spontaneously to our thoughts. In
recollection we make a distinct effort to collect
again, or call back, what we know has been formerly in the mind.
Reminiscence is intermediate between remembrance and
recollection, being a conscious process of recalling past
occurrences, but without that full and varied reference to particular
things which characterizes recollection. "When an idea again
recurs without the operation of the like object on the external
sensory, it is remembrance; if it be sought after by the mind,
and with pain and endeavor found, and brought again into view, it is
recollection." Locke.
To draw to memory, to put on record; to
record. [Obs.] Chaucer. Gower.
Mem"phi*an (?), a. Of or
pertaining to the ancient city of Memphis in Egypt; hence, Egyptian;
as, Memphian darkness.
Men (?), n., pl.
of Man.
Men, pron. [OE. me, men.
"Not the plural of man, but a weakened form of the word
man itself." Skeat.] A man; one; -- used with a
verb in the singular, and corresponding to the present indefinite
one or they. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.
Men moot give silver to the poure
friars.
Chaucer.
A privy thief, men clepeth death.
Chaucer.
Me*nac"can*ite (?), n. [From
Menaccan, in Cornwall, where it was first found.]
(Min.) An iron-black or steel-gray mineral, consisting
chiefly of the oxides of iron and titanium. It is commonly massive,
but occurs also in rhombohedral crystals. Called also titanic iron
ore, and ilmenite.
Men"ace (m&ebreve;n"&asl;s; 48), n.
[F., fr. L. minaciae threats, menaces, fr. minax, -
acis, projecting, threatening, minae projecting points or
pinnacles, threats. Cf. Amenable, Demean,
Imminent, Minatory.] The show of an intention to
inflict evil; a threat or threatening; indication of a probable evil
or catastrophe to come.
His (the pope's) commands, his rebukes, his
menaces.
Milman.
The dark menace of the distant
war.
Dryden.
Men"ace (m&ebreve;n"&asl;s; 48), v. t.
[imp. & p. p. Menaced (āst);
p. pr. & vb. n. Menacing (?).] [OF.
menacier, F. menacer. See Menace,
n.] 1. To express or show an
intention to inflict, or to hold out a prospect of inflicting, evil
or injury upon; to threaten; -- usually followed by with
before the harm threatened; as, to menace a country with
war.
My master . . . did menace me with
death.
Shak.
2. To threaten, as an evil to be
inflicted.
By oath he menaced
Revenge upon the cardinal.
Shak.
Men"ace, v. i. To act in
threatening manner; to wear a threatening aspect.
Who ever knew the heavens menace
so?
Shak.
Men"a*cer (?), n. One who
menaces.
Men"a*cing*ly, adv. In a
threatening manner.
||Mé`nage" (?), n. See
Manage.
||Mé`nage" (?), n. [See
Menagerie.] A collection of animals; a menagerie.
[Obs.] Addison.
Men*ag"er*ie (?), n. [F.
ménagerie, fr. ménager to keep house,
ménage household. See Menial, Mansion.]
1. A piace where animals are kept and
trained.
2. A collection of wild or exotic animals,
kept for exhibition.
Men"a*gogue (?), n. [F.
ménagogue, fr. Gr. mh`n month + &?;
leading.] (Med.) Emmenagogue.
||Me*na"ion (?), n.; pl.
Menaia (-yå). [NL., from Gr. &?; monthly.]
(Eccl.) A work of twelve volumes, each containing the
offices in the Greek Church for a month; also, each volume of the
same. Shipley.
{ Men"ald (?), Men"ild (?), }
a. Covered with spots; speckled;
variegated. [Obs.]
Mend (?), v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Mended; p. pr. & vb. n.
Mending.] [Abbrev. fr. amend. See Amend.]
1. To repair, as anything that is torn,
broken, defaced, decayed, or the like; to restore from partial decay,
injury, or defacement; to patch up; to put in shape or order again;
to re-create; as, to mend a garment or a machine.
2. To alter for the better; to set right; to
reform; hence, to quicken; as, to mend one's manners or
pace.
The best service they could do the state was to
mend the lives of the persons who composed it.
Sir W. Temple.
3. To help, to advance, to further; to add
to.
Though in some lands the grass is but short, yet it
mends garden herbs and fruit.
Mortimer.
You mend the jewel by the wearing
it.
Shak.
Syn. -- To improve; help; better; emend; amend; correct;
rectify; reform.
Mend, v. i. To grow better; to
advance to a better state; to become improved.
Shak.
Mend"a*ble (?), a. Capable of
being mended.
Men*da"cious (?), a. [L. mendax,
-acis, lying, cf. mentiri to lie.] 1.
Given to deception or falsehood; lying; as, a mendacious
person.
2. False; counterfeit; containing falsehood;
as, a mendacious statement.
-- Men*da"cious*ly, adv. --
Men*da"cious*ness, n.
Men*dac"i*ty (?), n.; pl.
Mendacities (#). [L. mendacitas.]
1. The quality or state of being mendacious; a
habit of lying. Macaulay.
2. A falsehood; a lie. Sir T.
Browne.
Syn. -- Lying; deceit; untruth; falsehood.
Mend"er (?), n. One who mends or
repairs.
Men"di*ant (?), n. See
Mendinant. [Obs.]
Men"di*can*cy (?), n. The
condition of being mendicant; beggary; begging.
Burke.
Men"di*cant (?), a. [L.
mendicans, -antis, p. pr. of mendicare to beg,
fr. mendicus beggar, indigent.] Practicing beggary;
begging; living on alms; as, mendicant friars.
Mendicant orders (R. C. Ch.), certain
monastic orders which are forbidden to acquire landed property and
are required to be supported by alms, esp. the Franciscans, the
Dominicans, the Carmelites, and the Augustinians.
Men"di*cant, n. A beggar; esp.,
one who makes a business of begging; specifically, a begging
friar.
Men"di*cate (?), v. t.& i. [L.
mendicatus, p. p. of mendicare to beg.] To
beg. [R.] Johnson.
Men`di*ca"tion (?), n. The act or
practice of begging; beggary; mendicancy. Sir T.
Browne.
Men*dic"i*ty (?), n. [L.
mendicitas: cf. F. mendicité. See
Mendicant.] The practice of begging; the life of a
beggar; mendicancy. Rom. of R.
Men"di*nant (?), n. A mendicant or
begging friar. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Mend"ment (?), n. Amendment.
[Obs.]
Men"dole (m&ebreve;n"dōl), n.
[Cf. F. mendol, mendole.] (Zoöl.) The
cackerel.
Men"dre*gal (?), n. (Zoöl.)
Medregal.
Mends (m&ebreve;ndz), n. See
Amends. [Obs.] Shak.
Menge (m&ebreve;nj), v. i.
[imp. Mente, Meinte; p.
p. Ment, Meint.] [See Mingle.] To
mix. [Obs.] Spenser.
Men*ha"den (?), n. (Zoöl.)
An American marine fish of the Herring family (Brevoortia
tyrannus), chiefly valuable for its oil and as a component of
fertilizers; -- called also mossbunker, bony fish,
chebog, pogy, hardhead, whitefish,
etc.
Men"hir (?), n. [F. Armor. men
stone + hir high.] A large stone set upright in olden
times as a memorial or monument. Many, of unknown date, are found in
Brittany and throughout Northern Europe.
Men"ial (?), a. [OE. meneal, fr.
meine, maine, household, OF. maisniée,
maisnie, LL. mansionaticum. See Mansion, and cf.
Meine, n., Meiny.]
1. Belonging to a retinue or train of
servants; performing servile office; serving.
Two menial dogs before their master
pressed.
Dryden.
2. Pertaining to servants, esp. domestic
servants; servile; low; mean. " Menial offices."
Swift.
Men"ial, n. 1. A
domestic servant or retainer, esp. one of humble rank; one employed
in low or servile offices.
2. A person of a servile character or
disposition.
Mé`nière's" dis*ease" (?). (Med.)
A disease characterized by deafness and vertigo, resulting in
incoördination of movement. It is supposed to depend upon a
morbid condition of the semicircular canals of the internal ear.
Named after Ménière, a French
physician.
Men"i*lite (?), n. [F.
ménilite; -- so called because it is found at
Ménilmontant, near Paris.] (Min.) See
Opal.
Me*nin"ge*al (m&esl;*n&ibreve;n"j&esl;*al),
a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the
meninges.
Me*nin"ges (-jēz), n. pl.; sing.
Meninx (&?;). [NL., fr. Gr. mh^nigx,
-iggos, a membrane.] (Anat.) The three
membranes that envelop the brain and spinal cord; the pia mater, dura
mater, and arachnoid membrane.
Men`in*gi"tis (?), n. [NL. See
Meninges, and -itis.] (Med.) Inflammation
of the membranes of the brain or spinal cord.
Cerebro-spinal meningitis. See under
Cerebro-spinal.
Me*nis"cal (?), a. Pertaining to,
or having the form of, a meniscus.
Me*nis"coid (?), a. [Meniscus +
-oid.] Concavo-convex, like a meniscus.
me*nis"cus (?), n.; pl. L.
menisci (-sī), E.
Meniscuses (#). [NL., from Gr.
mhni`skos, dim. of mh`nh the moon.]
1. A crescent.
2. (Opt.) A lens convex on one side
and concave on the other.
3. (Anat.) An interarticular synovial
cartilage or membrane; esp., one of the intervertebral synovial disks
in some parts of the vertebral column of birds.
Converging meniscus, Diverging
meniscus. See Lens.
Men`i*sper*ma"ceous (?), a. [Gr.
mh`nh the moon + spe`rma seed.] (Bot.)
Pertaining to a natural order (Menispermaceæ) of
climbing plants of which moonseed (Menispermum) is the
type.
Men`i*sper"mic (&?;), a.
Pertaining to, or obtained from, moonseed (Menispermum),
or other plants of the same family, as the Anamirta
Cocculus.
Men`i*sper"mine (?), n. [Cf. F.
ménispermine.] (Chem.) An alkaloid distinct
from picrotoxin and obtained from the cocculus indicus (the fruit of
Anamirta Cocculus, formerly Menispermum Cocculus) as a
white, crystalline, tasteless powder; -- called also
menispermina.
Men"i*ver (?), n. [OF. menuver,
menuveir, menuvair, a grayish fur; menu small +
vair a kind of fur. See Minute, a.,
and Vair.] Same as Miniver.
{ Men"non*ist (?), Men"non*ite (?), }
n. (Eccl. Hist.) One of a small
denomination of Christians, so called from Menno Simons of
Friesland, their founder. They believe that the New Testament is the
only rule of faith, that there is no original sin, that infants
should not be baptized, and that Christians ought not to take oath,
hold office, or render military service.
{ Men"o*branch (?), ||Men`o*bran"chus (?), }
n. [NL. menobranchus, fr. Gr. &?; to remain
+ &?; a gill.] (Zoöl.) A large aquatic American
salamander of the genus Necturus, having permanent external
gills.
{ ||Men`o*lo"gi*um (?), Me*nol"o*gy (?), }
n.; pl. L. Menologia (#),
E. Menologies (#). [NL. menologium, fr. Gr.
mh`n month + lo`gos discourse : cf. F.
ménologe.] 1. A register of
months. Bp. Stillingfleet.
2. (Gr. Church) A brief calendar of
the lives of the saints for each day in the year, or a simple
remembrance of those whose lives are not written.
Men"o*pause (?), n. [Gr.
mh`n month + &?; to cause to cease. See Menses.]
(Med.) The period of natural cessation of menstruation.
See Change of life, under Change.
{ ||Men`o*po"ma (?), Men"o*pome (?), }
n. [NL. menopoma, fr. Gr. &?; to remain +
&?; lid.] (Zoöl.) The hellbender.
||Men`or*rha"gi*a (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr.
mh`n month + &?; to break.] (Med.)
(a) Profuse menstruation.
(b) Any profuse bleeding from the uterus;
Metrorrhagia.
||Me*nos"ta*sis (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr.
mh`n month + 'istan`nai to stop.] (Med.)
Stoppage of the menses.
Men`os*ta"tion (?), n. (Med.)
Same as Menostasis.
Men"ow (?), n. (Zoöl.)
A minnow.
Men"-pleas`er (?), n. One whose
motive is to please men or the world, rather than God. Eph.
vi. 6.
Men"sal (?), a. [L. mensalis,
fr. mensa table.] Belonging to the table; transacted at
table; as, mensal conversation.
Men"sal (?), a. [L. mensis
month.] Occurring once in a month; monthly.
Mense (?), n. [OE. menske, AS.
mennisc human, man. See Man.] Manliness; dignity;
comeliness; civility. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.] --
Mense"ful (#), a. -- Mense"less,
a.
Mense, v. t. To grace.
[Prov. Eng. & Scot.]
||Men"ses (?), n. pl. [L. mensis
month, pl. menses months, and the monthly courses of women.
Cf. Month.] (Med.) The catamenial or menstrual
discharge, a periodic flow of blood or bloody fluid from the uterus
or female generative organs.
Men"stru*al (?), a. [L.
menstrualis: cf. F. menstruel. See Menstruous.]
1. Recurring once a month; monthly; gone through
in a month; as, the menstrual revolution of the moon;
pertaining to monthly changes; as, the menstrual equation of
the sun's place.
2. Of or pertaining to the menses; as,
menstrual discharges; the menstrual period.
3. Of or pertaining to a menstruum.
Bacon.
Men"stru*ant (?), a. [L.
menstruans, p. pr. of menstruare to have a monthly
term, fr. menstruus. See Menstruous.] Subject to
monthly flowing or menses.
Men"stru*ate (?), a.
Menstruous. [Obs.]
Men"stru*ate (?), v. i. [imp. &
p. p. Menstruated (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Menstruating (?).] To discharge the menses;
to have the catamenial flow.
Men`stru*a"tion (?), n. The
discharge of the menses; also, the state or the period of
menstruating.
Men"strue (?), n. [Cf. F.
menstrues. See Menstruous.] The menstrual flux;
menses. [Obs.]
Men"stru*ous (?), a. [L.
menstruus, fr. mensis month. Cf. Menstruum.]
1. Having the monthly flow or discharge;
menstruating.
2. Of or pertaining to the monthly flow;
catamenial.
Men"stru*um (?), n.; pl. E.
Menstruums (#), L. Menstrua (#).
[L. menstruus. See Menstruous.] Any substance
which dissolves a solid body; a solvent.
The proper menstruum to dissolve
metal.
Bacon.
All liquors are called menstruums which are
used as dissolvents, or to extract the virtues of ingredients by
infusion or decoction.
Quincy.
&fist; The use is supposed to have originated in some notion of
the old chemists about the influence of the moon in the preparation
of dissolvents. Johnson.
Men`su*ra*bil"i*ty (?), n. [Cf. F.
mensurabilité.] The quality of being
mensurable.
Men"su*ra*ble (?), a. [L.
mensurabilis, fr. mensurare to measure, fr.
mensura measure: cf. F. mensurable. See
Measurable, Measure.] Capable of being measured;
measurable.
Men"su*ra*ble*ness, n. The quality
or state of being mensurable; measurableness.
Men"su*ral (?), a. [L.
mensuralis.] Of or pertaining to measure.
Men"su*rate (?), v. t. [L.
mensuratus, p. p. of mensurare. See Measure,
v.] To measure. [Obs.]
Men`su*ra"tion (?), n. [L.
mensuratio : cf. F. mensuration.] 1.
The act, process, or art, of measuring.
2. That branch of applied geometry which
gives rules for finding the length of lines, the areas of surfaces,
or the volumes of solids, from certain simple data of lines and
angles.
-ment (?), [F. -ment, L. -mentum.] A
suffix denoting that which does a thing; an act or
process; the result of an act or process;
state or condition; as, aliment, that which
nourishes, ornament, increment; fragment, piece
broken, segment; abridgment, act of abridging,
imprisonment, movement, adjournment;
amazement, state of being amazed,
astonishment.
Ment (?), p. p. of
Menge.
||Men"ta*gra (?), n. [NL., fr. L.
mentum chin + Gr. &?; a catching.] (Med.)
Sycosis.
Men"tal (?), a. [L. mentum the
chin.] (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the chin; genian; as,
the mental nerve; the mental region.
Men"tal, n. (Zoöl.) A
plate or scale covering the mentum or chin of a fish or
reptile.
Men"tal, a. [F., fr. L.
mentalis, fr. mens, mentis, the mind; akin to E.
mind. See Mind.] Of or pertaining to the mind;
intellectual; as, mental faculties; mental operations,
conditions, or exercise.
What a mental power
This eye shoots forth!
Shak.
Mental alienation, insanity. --
Mental arithmetic, the art or practice of
solving arithmetical problems by mental processes, unassisted by
written figures.
Men*tal"i*ty (?), n. Quality or
state of mind. "The same hard mentality."
Emerson.
Men"tal*ly (?), adv. In the mind;
in thought or meditation; intellectually; in idea.
||Men"tha (?), n. [L. See Mint
the plant.] (Bot.) A widely distributed genus of fragrant
herbs, including the peppermint, spearmint, etc. The plants have
small flowers, usually arranged in dense axillary clusters.
Men"thene (?), n. [Menthol +
terpene.] (Chem.) A colorless liquid hydrocarbon
resembling oil of turpentine, obtained by dehydrating menthol. It has
an agreeable odor and a cooling taste.
Men"thol (?), n. [Mentha + -
ol.] (Chem.) A white, crystalline, aromatic substance
resembling camphor, extracted from oil of peppermint (Mentha);
-- called also mint camphor or peppermint
camphor.
Men"thyl (?), n. [Mentha + -
yl.] (Chem.) A compound radical forming the base of
menthol.
Men`ti*cul"tur*al (?), a. Of or
pertaining to mental culture; serving to improve or strengthen the
mind. [R.]
Men"tion (?), n. [OE. mencioun,
F. mention, L. mentio, from the root of
meminisse to remember. See Mind.] A speaking or
notice of anything, -- usually in a brief or cursory manner. Used
especially in the phrase to make mention of.
I will make mention of thy
righteousness.
Ps. lxxi. 16.
And sleep in dull, cold marble, where no
mention
Of me more must be heard of.
Shak.
Men"tion (m&ebreve;n"shŭn), v.
t. [imp. & p. p. Mentioned (-
shŭnd); p. pr. & vb. n. Mentioning.]
[Cf. F. mentionner.] To make mention of; to speak briefly
of; to name.
I will mention the loving-kindnesses of the
Lord.
Is. lxiii. 7.
Men"tion*a*ble (?), a. Fit to be
mentioned.
Men`to*meck*e"li*an (?), a. [1st
mental + Meckelian.] (Anat.) Of or
pertaining to the chin and lower jaw. -- n.
The bone or cartilage forming the anterior extremity of the
lower jaw in some adult animals and the young of others.
Men"tor (?), n. [From Mentor,
the counselor of Telemachus, Gr. Me`ntwr, prop.,
counselor. Cf. Monitor.] A wise and faithful counselor
or monitor.
Men*to"ri*al (?), a. [From
Mentor.] Containing advice or admonition.
||Men"tum (?), n. [L., chin.]
(Zoöl.) The front median plate of the labium in
insects. See Labium.
||Me*nu" (?), n. [F., slender, thin,
minute. See 4th Minute.] The details of a banquet; a bill
of fare.
Me"nuse (?), v. i. See
Amenuse. [Obs.]
Me*ow" (?), v. i. & n. See 6th and
7th Mew.
Meph`is*to*phe"li*an (? or ?), a.
Pertaining to, or resembling, the devil Mephistopheles, "a
crafty, scoffing, relentless fiend;" devilish; crafty.
{ Me*phit"ic (?), Me*phit"ic*al (?), }
a. [L. mephiticus, fr. mephitis
mephitis: cf. F. méphitique.] 1.
Tending to destroy life; poisonous; noxious; as, mephitic
exhalations; mephitic regions.
2. Offensive to the smell; as,
mephitic odors.
Mephitic air (Chem.), carbon dioxide;
-- so called because of its deadly suffocating power. See Carbonic
acid, under Carbonic.
||Me*phi"tis (?), n. [L.
mephitis : cf. F. méphitis.] 1.
Noxious, pestilential, or foul exhalations from decomposing
substances, filth, or other source.
2. (Zoöl.) A genus of mammals,
including the skunks.
Meph"i*tism (?), n. Same as
Mephitis, 1.
Me*ra"cious (?), a. [L. meracus,
fr. merus pure, inmixed.] Being without mixture or
adulteration; hence, strong; racy. [Obs.]
Mer"ca*ble (?), a. [L.
mercabilis, fr. mercari to trade, traffic, buy. See
Merchant.] Capable of being bought or sold.
[Obs.]
Mer"can*tile (?; 277), a. [F.
mercantile, It. mercantile, fr. L. mercans, -
antis, p. pr. of mercari to traffic. See Merchant.]
Of or pertaining to merchants, or the business of merchants;
having to do with trade, or the buying and selling of commodities;
commercial.
The expedition of the Argonauts was partly
mercantile, partly military.
Arbuthnot.
Mercantile agency, an agency for procuring
information of the standing and credit of merchants in different
parts of the country, for the use of dealers who sell to them. -
- Mercantile marine, the persons and vessels
employed in commerce, taken collectively. -- Mercantile
paper, the notes or acceptances given by merchants for
goods bought, or received on consignment; drafts on merchants for
goods sold or consigned. McElrath.
Syn. -- Mercantile, Commercial.
Commercial is the wider term, being sometimes used to embrace
mercantile. In their stricter use, commercial relates
to the shipping, freighting, forwarding, and other business connected
with the commerce of a country (whether external or internal),
that is, the exchange of commodities; while mercantile applies
to the sale of merchandise and goods when brought to market. As the
two employments are to some extent intermingled, the two words are
often interchanged.
Mer*cap"tal (?), n. [Mercaptan +
aldehyde.] (Chem.) Any one of a series of
compounds of mercaptans with aldehydes.
Mer*cap"tan (?), n. [F., fr. NL.
mercurius mercury + L. captans, p. pr. of
captare to seize, v. intens. fr. capere.]
(Chem.) Any one of series of compounds, hydrosulphides of
alcohol radicals, in composition resembling the alcohols, but
containing sulphur in place of oxygen, and hence called also the
sulphur alcohols. In general, they are colorless liquids
having a strong, repulsive, garlic odor. The name is specifically
applied to ethyl mercaptan, C2H5SH. So called
from its avidity for mercury, and other metals.
Mer*cap"tide (? or ?), n.
(Chem.) A compound of mercaptan formed by replacing its
sulphur hydrogen by a metal; as, potassium mercaptide,
C2H5SK.
Mer"cat (?), n. [L. mercatus :
cf. It. mercato. See Market.] Market; trade.
[Obs.] Bp. Sprat.
Mer`ca*tan"te (?; It. ?), n. [It. See
Merchant.] A foreign trader. [Obs.]
Shak.
Mer*ca"tor's chart" (?). See under Chart, and
see Mercator's projection, under Projection.
Mer"ca*ture (?; 135), n. [L.
mercatura commerce.] Commerce; traffic; trade.
[Obs.]
Merce (?), v. t. [See Amerce.]
To subject to fine or amercement; to mulct; to amerce.
[Obs.]
||Mer`ce*na"ri*a (?), n. [NL. See
Mercenary.] (Zoöl.) The quahog.
Mer`ce*na"ri*an (-an), n. A
mercenary. [Obs.]
Mer"ce*na`ri*ly (?), adv. In a
mercenary manner.
Mer"ce*na*ri*ness, n. The quality
or state of being mercenary; venality. Boyle.
Mer"ce*na*ry (?), a. [OE.
mercenarie, F. mercenaire, fr. L. mercenarius,
fr. merces wages, reward. See Mercy.]
1. Acting for reward; serving for pay; paid;
hired; hireling; venal; as, mercenary soldiers.
2. Hence: Moved by considerations of pay or
profit; greedy of gain; sordid; selfish. Shak.
For God forbid I should my papers blot
With mercenary lines, with servile pen.
Daniel.
Syn. -- See Venal.
Mer"ce*na*ry (?), n.; pl.
Mercenaries (&?;). One who is hired; a
hireling; especially, a soldier hired into foreign service.
Milman.
Mer"cer (?), n. [F. mercier, fr.
L. merx, mercis, wares, merchandise. See
Merchant.] Originally, a dealer in any kind of goods or
wares; now restricted to a dealer in textile fabrics, as silks or
woolens. [Eng.]
Mer"cer*ship, n. The business of a
mercer.
Mer"cer*y (?), n. [F. mercerie.]
The trade of mercers; the goods in which a mercer
deals.
Mer"chand (?), v. i. [F.
marchander. See Merchant.] To traffic.
[Obs.] Bacon.
Mer"chan*di`sa*ble (?), a. Such as
can be used or transferred as merchandise.
Mer"chan*dise (?), n. [F.
marchandise, OF. marcheandise.] 1.
The objects of commerce; whatever is usually bought or sold in
trade, or market, or by merchants; wares; goods; commodities.
Spenser.
2. The act or business of trading; trade;
traffic.
Mer"chan*dise, v. i. [imp. & p.
p. Merchandised (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Merchandising (?).] To trade; to carry on
commerce. Bacon.
Mer"chan*dise, v. t. To make
merchandise of; to buy and sell. "Love is merchandised."
Shak.
Mer"chan*di`ser (?), n. A
trader. Bunyan.
Mer"chand*ry (?), n. [See
Merchant.] Trade; commerce. [Obs.] Bp.
Sanderson.
Mer"chant (?), n. [OE. marchant,
OF. marcheant, F. marchand, fr. LL. mercatans,
-antis, p. pr. of mercatare to negotiate, L.
mercari to traffic, fr. merx, mercis, wares. See
Market, Merit, and cf. Commerce.]
1. One who traffics on a large scale, especially
with foreign countries; a trafficker; a trader.
Others, like merchants, venture trade
abroad.
Shak.
2. A trading vessel; a merchantman.
[Obs.] Shak.
3. One who keeps a store or shop for the sale
of goods; a shopkeeper. [U. S. & Scot.]
Mer"chant, a. Of, pertaining to,
or employed in, trade or merchandise; as, the merchant
service.
Merchant bar, Merchant iron or
steel, certain common sizes of wrought iron and
steel bars. -- Merchant service, the
mercantile marine of a country. Am. Cyc. --
Merchant ship, a ship employed in
commerce. -- Merchant tailor, a tailor who
keeps and sells materials for the garments which he makes.
Mer"chant, v. i. To be a merchant;
to trade. [Obs.]
Mer"chant*a*ble (?), a. Fit for
market; such as is usually sold in market, or such as will bring the
ordinary price; as, merchantable wheat; sometimes, a technical
designation for a particular kind or class.
Mer"chant*ly, a. Merchantlike;
suitable to the character or business of a merchant. [Obs.]
Gauden.
Mer"chant*man (?), n.; pl.
Merchantmen (&?;).
1. A merchant. [Obs.] Matt. xiii.
45.
2. A trading vessel; a ship employed in the
transportation of goods, as, distinguished from a man-of-
war.
Mer"chant*ry (?), n. 1.
The body of merchants taken collectively; as, the
merchantry of a country.
2. The business of a merchant;
merchandise. Walpole.
Mer"ci*a*ble (?), a. [OF.]
Merciful. [Obs.]
Mer"ci*ful (?), a. [Mercy + -
ful.] 1. Full of mercy; having or exercising
mercy; disposed to pity and spare offenders; unwilling to
punish.
The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and
gracious.
Ex. xxxiv. 6.
Be merciful, great duke, to men of
mold.
Shak.
2. Unwilling to give pain;
compassionate.
A merciful man will be merciful to his
beast.
Old Proverb.
Syn. -- Compassionate; tender; humane; gracious; kind;
mild; clement; benignant.
-- Mer"ci*ful*ly, adv. --
Mer"ci*ful*ness, n.
Mer"ci*fy (?), v. t. To
pity. [Obs.] Spenser.
Mer"ci*less, a. Destitute of
mercy; cruel; unsparing; -- said of animate beings, and also,
figuratively, of things; as, a merciless tyrant;
merciless waves.
The foe is merciless, and will not
pity.
Shak.
Syn. -- Cruel; unmerciful; remorseless; ruthless; pitiless;
barbarous; savage.
-- Mer"ci*less*ly, adv. --
Mer"ci*less*ness, n.
Mer`cur*am*mo"ni*um (?), n.
[Mercuric + ammonium.] (Chem.) A radical
regarded as derived from ammonium by the substitution of mercury for
a portion of the hydrogen.
Mer*cu"ri*al (?), a. [L.
mercurialis, fr. Mercurius Mercury: cf. F.
mercuriel.] 1. Having the qualities
fabled to belong to the god Mercury; swift; active; sprightly;
fickle; volatile; changeable; as, a mercurial youth; a
mercurial temperament.
A mercurial man
Who fluttered over all things like a fan.
Byron.
2. Having the form or image of Mercury; --
applied to ancient guideposts. [Obs.]
Chillingworth.
3. Of or pertaining to Mercury as the god of
trade; hence, money-making; crafty.
The mercurial wand of commerce.
J. Q. Adams.
4. Of or pertaining to, or containing,
mercury; as, mercurial preparations, barometer. See
Mercury, 2.
5. (Med.) Caused by the use of
mercury; as, mercurial sore mouth.
Mer*cu"ri*al, n. 1.
A person having mercurial qualities. Bacon.
2. (Med.) A preparation containing
mercury.
Mer*cu"ri*al*ist, n. 1.
One under the influence of Mercury; one resembling Mercury in
character.
2. (Med.) A physician who uses much
mercury, in any of its forms, in his practice.
Mer*cu"ri*al*ize (?), v. t.
[imp. & p. p. Mercurialized (?); p.
pr. & vb. n. Mercurializing (?).] 1.
(Med.) To affect with mercury.
2. (Photography) To treat with
mercury; to expose to the vapor of mercury.
Mer*cu"ri*al*ize, v. i. To be
sprightly, fantastic, or capricious. [Obs.]
Mer*cu"ri*al*ly, adv. In a
mercurial manner.
Mer*cu"ric (?), a. (Chem.)
Of, pertaining to, or derived from, mercury; containing mercury;
-- said of those compounds of mercury into which this element enters
in its lowest proportion.
Mercuric chloride, corrosive sublimate. See
Corrosive.
Mer*cu`ri*fi*ca"tion (?), n. [Cf. F.
mercurification. See Mercurify.] 1.
(Metal.) The process or operation of obtaining the
mercury, in its fluid form, from mercuric minerals.
2. (Chem.) The act or process of
compounding, or the state of being compounded, with mercury.
[R.]
Mer*cu"ri*fy (?), v. t. [imp. &
p. p. Mercurified (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Mercurifying (?).] [Mercury + -fy.]
1. To obtain mercury from, as mercuric minerals,
which may be done by any application of intense heat that expels the
mercury in fumes, which are afterward condensed. [R.]
2. To combine or mingle mercury with; to
impregnate with mercury; to mercurialize. [R.]
Mer"cu*rism (?), n. A
communication of news; an announcement. [Obs.] Sir T.
Browne.
Mer*cu"rous (?), a. (Chem.)
Of, pertaining to, or derived from, mercury; containing mercury;
-- said of those compounds of mercury in which it is present in its
highest proportion.
Mercurous chloride. (Chem.) See
Calomel.
Mer"cu*ry (?), n. [L. Mercurius;
akin to merx wares.] 1. (Rom. Myth.)
A Latin god of commerce and gain; -- treated by the poets as
identical with the Greek Hermes, messenger of the gods, conductor of
souls to the lower world, and god of eloquence.
2. (Chem.) A metallic element mostly
obtained by reduction from cinnabar, one of its ores. It is a heavy,
opaque, glistening liquid (commonly called quicksilver), and
is used in barometers, thermometers, etc. Specific gravity 13.6.
Symbol Hg (Hydrargyrum). Atomic weight 199.8. Mercury has a
molecule which consists of only one atom. It was named by the
alchemists after the god Mercury, and designated by his symbol,
&mercury;.
&fist; Mercury forms alloys, called amalgams, with many
metals, and is thus used in applying tin foil to the backs of
mirrors, and in extracting gold and silver from their ores. It is
poisonous, and is used in medicine in the free state as in blue pill,
and in its compounds as calomel, corrosive sublimate, etc. It is the
only metal which is liquid at ordinary temperatures, and it
solidifies at about -39° Centigrade to a soft, malleable, ductile
metal.
3. (Astron.) One of the planets of the
solar system, being the one nearest the sun, from which its mean
distance is about 36,000,000 miles. Its period is 88 days, and its
diameter 3,000 miles.
4. A carrier of tidings; a newsboy; a
messenger; hence, also, a newspaper. Sir J. Stephen.
"The monthly Mercuries." Macaulay.
5. Sprightly or mercurial quality; spirit;
mutability; fickleness. [Obs.]
He was so full of mercury that he could not fix
long in any friendship, or to any design.
Bp.
Burnet.
6. (Bot.) A plant (Mercurialis
annua), of the Spurge family, the leaves of which are sometimes
used for spinach, in Europe.
&fist; The name is also applied, in the United States, to certain
climbing plants, some of which are poisonous to the skin, esp. to the
Rhus Toxicodendron, or poison ivy.
Dog's mercury (Bot.), Mercurialis
perennis, a perennial plant differing from M. annua by
having the leaves sessile. -- English mercury
(Bot.), a kind of goosefoot formerly used as a pot herb; -
- called Good King Henry. -- Horn
mercury (Min.), a mineral chloride of mercury,
having a semitranslucent, hornlike appearance.
Mer"cu*ry, v. t. To wash with a
preparation of mercury. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
Mer"cy (?), n.; pl.
Mercies (#). [OE. merci, F. merci, L.
merces, mercedis, hire, pay, reward, LL., equiv. to
misericordia pity, mercy. L. merces is prob. akin to
merere to deserve, acquire. See Merit, and cf.
Amerce.] 1. Forbearance to inflict harm
under circumstances of provocation, when one has the power to inflict
it; compassionate treatment of an offender or adversary;
clemency.
Examples of justice must be made for terror to some;
examples of mercy for comfort to others.
Bacon.
2. Compassionate treatment of the unfortunate
and helpless; sometimes, favor, beneficence. Luke x.
37.
3. Disposition to exercise compassion or
favor; pity; compassion; willingness to spare or to help.
In whom mercy lacketh and is not
founden.
Sir T. Elyot.
4. A blessing regarded as a manifestation of
compassion or favor.
The Father of mercies and the God of all
comfort.
2 Cor. i. 3.
Mercy seat (Bib.), the golden cover
or lid of the Ark of the Covenant. See Ark, 2. --
Sisters of Mercy (R. C. Ch.),a religious
order founded in Dublin in the year 1827. Communities of the same
name have since been established in various American cities. The
duties of those belonging to the order are, to attend lying-in
hospitals, to superintend the education of girls, and protect decent
women out of employment, to visit prisoners and the sick, and to
attend persons condemned to death. -- To be at the mercy
of, to be wholly in the power of.
Syn. -- See Grace.
Merd (?), n. [F. merde, L.
merda.] Ordure; dung. [Obs.] Burton.
-mere (?). [Gr. &?; part.] A combining form meaning
part, portion; as, blastomere,
epimere.
Mere (mēr), n. [Written also
mar.] [OE. mere, AS. mere mere, sea; akin to D.
meer lake, OS. meri sea, OHG. meri, mari,
G. meer, Icel. marr, Goth. marei, Russ.
more, W. mor, Ir. & Gael. muir, L. mare,
and perh. to L. mori to die, and meaning originally, that
which is dead, a waste. Cf. Mortal, Marine,
Marsh, Mermaid, Moor.] A pool or
lake. Drayton. Tennyson.
Mere, n. [Written also meer and
mear.] [AS. gem&aemacr;re. √269.] A
boundary. Bacon.
Mere (?), v. t. To divide, limit,
or bound. [Obs.]
Which meared her rule with Africa.
Spenser.
Mere, n. A mare. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Mere (?), a. [Superl.
Merest. The comparative is rarely or never used.] [L.
merus.] 1. Unmixed; pure; entire;
absolute; unqualified.
Then entered they the mere, main
sea.
Chapman.
The sorrows of this world would be mere and
unmixed.
Jer. Taylor.
2. Only this, and nothing else; such, and no
more; simple; bare; as, a mere boy; a mere
form.
From mere success nothing can be concluded in
favor of any nation.
Atterbury.
Mere"ly, adv. 1.
Purely; unmixedly; absolutely.
Ulysses was to force forth his access,
Though merely naked.
Chapman.
2. Not otherwise than; simply; barely;
only.
Prize not your life for other ends
Than merely to oblige your friends.
Swift.
Syn. -- Solely; simply; purely; barely; scarcely.
||Me*ren"chy*ma (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr.
&?; a part + -enchyma, as in parenchyma.] (Bot.)
Tissue composed of spheroidal cells.
Meres"man (?), n. An officer who
ascertains meres or boundaries. [Eng.]
Mere"stead (?), n. [Mere
boundary + stead place.] The land within the boundaries
of a farm; a farmstead or farm. [Archaic.]
Longfellow.
Mere"stone` (?), n. A stone
designating a limit or boundary; a landmark. Bacon.
Mer`e*tri"cious (?), a. [L.
meretricius, from meretrix, -icis, a prostitute,
lit., one who earns money, i. e., by prostitution, fr.
merere to earn, gain. See Merit.] 1.
Of or pertaining to prostitutes; having to do with harlots;
lustful; as, meretricious traffic.
2. Resembling the arts of a harlot; alluring
by false show; gaudily and deceitfully ornamental; tawdry; as,
meretricious dress or ornaments.
-- Mer`e*tri"cious*ly, adv. --
Mer`e*tri"cious*ness, n.
Mer*gan"ser (?), n. [Sp.
mergánsar, fr. mergo a diver (L. mergus,
fr. mergere to dip, dive) + ánsar goose, L.
anser.] (Zoöl.) Any bird of the genus
Merganser, and allied genera. They are allied to the ducks,
but have a sharply serrated bill.
&fist; The red-breasted merganser (Merganser serrator)
inhabits both hemispheres. It is called also sawbill,
harle, and sheldrake. The American merganser (M.
Americanus.) and the hooded merganser (Lophodytes
cucullatus) are well-known species. --
White
merganser, the smew or white nun.
Merge (m&etilde;rj), v. t.
[imp. & p. p. Merged (m&etilde;rjd);
p. pr. & vb. n. Merging
(m&etilde;r"j&ibreve;ng).] [L. mergere, mersum. Cf.
Emerge, Immerse, Marrow.] To cause to be
swallowed up; to immerse; to sink; to absorb.
To merge all natural . . . sentiment in
inordinate vanity.
Burke.
Whig and Tory were merged and swallowed up in
the transcendent duties of patriots.
De
Quincey.
Merge, v. i. To be sunk, swallowed
up, or lost.
Native irresolution had merged in stronger
motives.
I. Taylor.
Mer"ger (?), n. 1.
One who, or that which, merges.
2. (Law) An absorption of one estate,
or one contract, in another, or of a minor offense in a
greater.
Mer"i*carp (?), n. [Gr.
me`ros a part + karpo`s fruit.] (Bot.)
One carpel of an umbelliferous fruit. See
Cremocarp.
Mer"ide (? or ?), n. [Gr. &?; a part.]
(Biol.) A permanent colony of cells or plastids which may
remain isolated, like Rotifer, or may multiply by gemmation to form
higher aggregates, termed zoides. Perrier.
Me*rid"i*an (?), a. [F.
méridien, L. meridianus pertaining to noon, fr.
meridies noon, midday, for older medidies;
medius mid, middle + dies day. See Mid, and
Diurnal.] 1. Being at, or pertaining to,
midday; belonging to, or passing through, the highest point attained
by the sun in his diurnal course. "Meridian hour."
Milton.
Tables . . . to find the altitude
meridian.
Chaucer.
2. Pertaining to the highest point or
culmination; as, meridian splendor.
Me*rid"i*an, n. [F.
méridien. See Meridian,
a.]
1. Midday; noon.
2. Hence: The highest point, as of success,
prosperity, or the like; culmination.
I have touched the highest point of all my
greatness,
And from that full meridian of my glory
I haste now to my setting.
Shak.
3. (Astron.) A great circle of the
sphere passing through the poles of the heavens and the zenith of a
given place. It is crossed by the sun at midday.
4. (Geog.) A great circle on the
surface of the earth, passing through the poles and any given place;
also, the half of such a circle included between the poles.
&fist; The planes of the geographical and astronomical meridians
coincide. Meridians, on a map or globe, are lines drawn at certain
intervals due north and south, or in the direction of the poles.
Calculated for, or fitted to,
or adapted to, the meridian of,
suited to the local circumstances, capabilities, or special
requirements of.
All other knowledge merely serves the concerns of this
life, and is fitted to the meridian
thereof.
Sir M. Hale.
--
First meridian, the meridian from which
longitudes are reckoned. The meridian of Greenwich is the one
commonly employed in calculations of longitude by geographers, and in
actual practice, although in various countries other and different
meridians, chiefly those which pass through the capitals of the
countries, are occasionally used; as, in France, the meridian of
Paris; in the United States, the meridian of Washington, etc. --
Guide meridian (Public Land Survey), a
line, marked by monuments, running North and South through a section
of country between other more carefully established meridians called
principal meridians, used for reference in surveying.
[U.S.] -- Magnetic meridian, a great circle,
passing through the zenith and coinciding in direction with the
magnetic needle, or a line on the earth's surface having the same
direction. -- Meridian circle
(Astron.), an instrument consisting of a telescope
attached to a large graduated circle and so mounted that the
telescope revolves like the transit instrument in a meridian plane.
By it the right ascension and the declination of a star may be
measured in a single observation. -- Meridian
instrument (Astron.), any astronomical
instrument having a telescope that rotates in a meridian plane.
-- Meridian of a globe, or Brass
meridian, a graduated circular ring of brass, in which
the artificial globe is suspended and revolves.
Me*rid"i*o*nal (?), a. [F.
méridional, L. meridionalis, fr. meridies
midday. See Meridian.]
1. Of or pertaining to the
meridian.
2. Having a southern aspect; southern;
southerly.
Offices that require heat . . . should be
meridional.
Sir H. Wotton.
Meridional distance, the distance or
departure from the meridian; the easting or westing. --
Meridional parts, parts of the meridian in
Mercator's projection, corresponding to each minute of latitude from
the equator up to 70 or 80 degrees; tabulated numbers representing
these parts used in projecting charts, and in solving cases in
Mercator's sailing.
Me*rid`i*o*nal"i*ty (?), n.
1. The state of being in the meridian.
2. Position in the south; aspect toward the
south.
Me*rid"i*o*nal*ly (?), adv. In the
direction of the meridian.
Mer"ils (?), n. [F.
mérelle, marelle, marelles, LL.
marella, marrella. Cf. Morris the game.] A
boy's play, called also fivepenny morris. See
Morris.
||Me`ringue" (F. m&etilde;`răN"g'; E.
m&ebreve;*răng"), n. [F.] A delicate
pastry made of powdered sugar and the whites of eggs whipped up, --
with jam or cream added.
Me*ri"no (?), a. [Sp. merino
moving from pasture to pasture, fr. merino a royal judge and
superintendent or inspector of sheep walks, LL. merinus, fr.
majorinus, i. e., major vill&?;, fr. L. major greater.
See Major. Merino sheep are driven at certain seasons from one
part of Spain to another, in large flocks, for pasturage.]
1. Of or pertaining to a variety of sheep with
very fine wool, originally bred in Spain.
2. Made of the wool of the merino
sheep.
Me*ri"no, n.; pl.
Merinos (#). [Sp.] 1.
(Zoöl.) A breed of sheep originally from Spain,
noted for the fineness of its wool.
2. A fine fabric of merino wool.
Mer`is*mat"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?;
division, fr. &?; part.] (Biol.) Dividing into cells or
segments; characterized by separation into two or more parts or
sections by the formation of internal partitions; as,
merismatic growth, where one cell divides into many.
Mer"i*stem (?), n. [Gr. &?; divisible.]
(Bot.) A tissue of growing cells, or cells capable of
further division.
Mer"it (?), n. [F.
mérite, L. meritum, fr. merere,
mereri, to deserve, merit; prob. originally, to get a share;
akin to Gr. &?; part, &?; fate, doom, &?; to receive as one's
portion. Cf. Market, Merchant, Mercer,
Mercy.] 1. The quality or state of
deserving well or ill; desert.
Here may men see how sin hath his
merit.
Chaucer.
Be it known, that we, the greatest, are misthought
For things that others do; and when we fall,
We answer other's merits in our name.
Shak.
2. Esp. in a good sense: The quality or state
of deserving well; worth; excellence.
Reputation is . . . oft got without merit, and
lost without deserving.
Shak.
To him the wit of Greece and Rome was known,
And every author's merit, but his own.
Pope.
3. Reward deserved; any mark or token of
excellence or approbation; as, his teacher gave him ten
merits.
Those laurel groves, the merits of thy
youth.
Prior.
Mer"it, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Merited; p. pr. & vb. n.
Meriting.] [F. mériter, L. meritare, v.
intens. fr. merere. See Merit, n.]
1. To earn by service or performance; to have a
right to claim as reward; to deserve; sometimes, to deserve in a bad
sense; as, to merit punishment. "This kindness
merits thanks." Shak.
2. To reward. [R. & Obs.]
Chapman.
Mer"it, v. i. To acquire desert;
to gain value; to receive benefit; to profit. [Obs.] Beau.
& Fl.
Mer"it*a*ble (?), a. Deserving of
reward. [R.]
Mer"it*ed*ly, adv. By merit;
deservedly.
{ Mer"i*thal (?), ||Mer`i*thal"lus (?), }
n. [NL. merithallus, fr. Gr. &?;, or
&?;, a part + &?; a young shoot.] (Bot.) Same as
Internode.
Mer"it*mon`ger (?), n. One who
depends on merit for salvation. [Obs.] Milner.
Mer`i*to"ri*ous (?), a. [L.
meritorius that brings in money.] Possessing merit;
deserving of reward or honor; worthy of recompense;
valuable.
And meritorious shall that hand be called,
Canonized, and worshiped as a saint.
Shak.
-- Mer`i*to"ri*ous*ly, adv. --
Mer`i*to"ri*ous*ness, n.
Mer"i*to*ry (?), a.
Meritorious. [Obs.]
Mer"i*tot (?), n. A play of
children, in swinging on ropes, or the like, till they are
dizzy.
Merk (?), n. [See Marc.] An
old Scotch silver coin; a mark or marc. [Scot.]
Merk, n. A mark; a sign.
[Obs.] Chaucer.
Merke (?), a. Murky. [Obs.]
Piers Plowman.
Mer"kin (?), n. Originally, a wig;
afterwards, a mop for cleaning cannon.
{ Merl (?), Merle, } n. [F.
merle, L. merula, merulus. Cf. Ousel.]
(Zoöl.) The European blackbird. See
Blackbird. Drayton.
Mer"lin (?), n. [OE. merlion, F.
émerillon ; cf. OHG. smirl, G. schmerl ;
prob. fr. L. merula blackbird. Cf. Merle.]
(Zoöl.) A small European falcon (Falco
lithofalco, or F. æsalon).
Mer"ling (?), n. (Zoöl.)
The European whiting.
Mer"lon (?), n. [F., perh. fr. L.
moerus, for murus a wall, through (assumed) dim.
moerulus.] (Fort.) One of the solid parts of a
battlemented parapet; a battlement. See Illust. of
Battlement.
Mer"luce (?), n. [F. merluche,
merlus.] (Zoöl.) The European hake; -- called
also herring hake and sea pike.
Mer"maid (?), n. [AS. mere lake,
sea. See Mere lake, and maid.] A fabled marine
creature, typically represented as having the upper part like that of
a woman, and the lower like a fish; a sea nymph, sea woman, or woman
fish.
&fist; Chaucer uses this word as equivalent to the siren of
the ancients.
Mermaid fish (Zoöl.) the angel
fish (Squatina). -- Mermaid's glove
(Zoöl.), a British branched sponge somewhat
resembling a glove. -- Mermaid's head
(Zoöl.), a European spatangoid sea urchin
(Echinocardium cordatum) having some resemblance to a
skull. -- Mermaid weed (Bot.), an
aquatic herb with dentate or pectinate leaves (Proserpinaca
palustris and P. pectinacea).
Mer"man (?), n.; pl.
Mermen (&?;). The male corresponding to
mermaid; a sea man, or man fish.
Mer"o*blast (?), n. [Gr. &?; part +
-blast.] (Biol.) An ovum, as that of a mammal,
only partially composed of germinal matter, that is, consisting of
both a germinal portion and an albuminous or nutritive one; --
opposed to holoblast.
Mer`o*blas"tic (?), a. (Biol.)
Consisting only in part of germinal matter; characterized by
partial segmentation only; as, meroblastic ova, in which a
portion of the yolk only undergoes fission; meroblastic
segmentation; -- opposed to holoblastic.
Me"ro*cele (?), n. [Gr. &?; thigh + &?;
tumor.] (Med.) Hernia in the thigh; femoral hernia
.
Mer`o*is"tic (?), a. [Gr. &?; part +
&?; an egg.] (Zoöl.) Applied to the ovaries of
insects when they secrete vitelligenous cells, as well as
ova.
Me*rop"i*dan (?), n. [L. merops
a bee-eating bird, Gr. me`rops.] (Zoöl.)
One of a family of birds (Meropidæ), including the
bee-eaters.
Me*rop"o*dite (?), n. [Gr. &?; thigh +
poy`s, podo`s, foot.] (Zoöl.)
The fourth joint of a typical appendage of Crustacea.
Mer*or`gan*i*za"tion (?), n. [Gr. &?;
part + E. organization.] Organization in part.
[R.]
||Me"ros (?), n. [NL., from Gr. &?;
part.] (Arch.) The plain surface between the channels of
a triglyph. [Written also merus.] Weale.
||Me"ros, n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; the
thigh.] (Anat.) The proximal segment of the hind limb;
the thigh.
Mer"o*some (?), n. [Gr. &?; part + -
some body.] (Zoöl.) One of the serial segments,
or metameres, of which the bodies of vertebrate and articulate
animals are composed.
||Mer`o*stom"a*ta (?), n. pl. [NL., fr.
Gr. &?; thigh + &?;, -&?;, mouth.] (Zoöl.) A class
of Arthropoda, allied to the Crustacea. It includes the trilobites,
Eurypteroidea, and Limuloidea. All are extinct except the horseshoe
crabs of the last group. See Limulus.
||Mé`rou" (?), n. [F.]
(Zoöl.) See Jack, 8
(c).
Mer`o*vin"gi*an (?), a. [From
Merovaeus, the Latin name of a king of the Franks.] Of or
pertaining to the first Frankish dynasty in Gaul or France. --
n. One of the kings of this dynasty.
Mer"ri*ly (?), adv. [From
Merry.] In a merry manner; with mirth; with gayety and
laughter; jovially. See Mirth, and Merry.
Merrily sing, and sport, and play.
Granville.
Mer"ri*make` (?), n. See
Merrymake, n.
Mer"ri*make`, v. i. See
Merrymake, v. Gay.
Mer"ri*ment (?), n. Gayety, with
laughter; mirth; frolic. "Follies and light merriment."
Spenser.
Methought it was the sound
Of riot and ill-managed merriment.
Milton.
Mer"ri*ness, n. The quality or
state of being merry; merriment; mirth; gayety, with
laughter.
Mer"ry (?), a.
[Compar. Merrier (?);
superl. Merriest.] [OE. merie,
mirie, murie, merry, pleasant, AS. merge,
myrige, pleasant; cf. murge, adv.; prob. akin to OHG.
murg, short, Goth. gamaúrgjan to shorten; cf. L.
murcus a coward, who cuts off his thumb to escape military
service; the Anglo-Saxon and English meanings coming from the idea of
making the time seem short. Cf. Mirth.] 1.
Laughingly gay; overflowing with good humor and good spirits;
jovial; inclined to laughter or play ; sportive.
They drank, and were merry with
him.
Gen. xliii. 34.
I am never merry when I hear sweet
music.
Shak.
2. Cheerful; joyous; not sad;
happy.
Is any merry? let him sing
psalms.
Jas. v. 13.
3. Causing laughter, mirth, gladness, or
delight; as, a merry jest. "Merry wind and
weather." Spenser.
Merry dancers. See under Dancer.
-- Merry men, followers; retainers.
[Obs.]
His merie men commanded he
To make him bothe game and glee.
Chaucer.
--
To make merry, to be jovial; to indulge
in hilarity; to feast with mirth. Judg. ix. 27.
Syn. -- Cheerful; blithe; lively; sprightly; vivacious;
gleeful; joyous; mirthful; jocund; sportive; hilarious.
Mer"ry (m&ebreve;r"r&ybreve;), n.
(Bot.) A kind of wild red cherry.
Mer"ry-an"drew (-ăn"dr&udd;), n.
One whose business is to make sport for others; a buffoon; a
zany; especially, one who attends a mountebank or quack
doctor.
&fist; This term is said to have originated from one Andrew Borde,
an English physician of the 16th century, who gained patients by
facetious speeches to the multitude.
Mer"ry-go`-round" (?), n. Any
revolving contrivance for affording amusement; esp., a ring of flying
hobbyhorses.
Mer"ry*make` (?), n. Mirth;
frolic; a meeting for mirth; a festival. [Written also
merrimake.]
Mer"ry*make`, v. i. To make merry;
to be jolly; to feast. [Written also merrimake.]
Mer"ry*mak`er (?), n. One who
makes merriment or indulges in conviviality; a jovial
comrade.
Mer"ry*mak`ing (?), a. Making or
producing mirth; convivial; jolly.
Mer"ry*mak`ing, n. The act of
making merry; conviviality; merriment; jollity.
Wordsworth.
Mer"ry*meet`ing (?), n. A meeting
for mirth.
Mer"ry*thought` (?), n. The forked
bone of a fowl's breast; -- called also wishbone. See
Furculum.
&fist; It is a sportive custom for two persons to break this bone
by pulling the ends apart to see who will get the longer piece, the
securing of which is regarded as a lucky omen, signifying that the
person holding it will obtain the gratification of some secret
wish.
Mer"sion (?), n. [L. mersio. See
Merge.] Immersion. [R.] Barrow.
Me*ru"li*dan (?), n. [L. merula,
merulus, blackbird. See Merle.] (Zoöl.)
A bird of the Thrush family.
||Me"rus (?), n. [NL.] (Arch.)
See Meros.
Mer"vaille` (?), n. Marvel.
[Obs.] Chaucer.
Mes- (?). See Meso-.
||Me"sa (?), &?;. [Sp.] A high
tableland; a plateau on a hill. [Southwestern U.S.]
Bartlett.
Mes*ac"o*nate (?), n. (Chem.)
A salt of mesaconic acid.
Mes`a*con"ic (?), a. [Mes- +
-aconic, as in citraconic.] (Chem.)
Pertaining to, or designating, one of several isomeric acids
obtained from citric acid.
Mes"ad (?), adv. Same as
Mesiad.
Mes"al (?), a. Same as
Mesial.
||Mé`sal`li`ance" (?), n. [F.]
A marriage with a person of inferior social position; a
misalliance.
Mes"al*ly (m&ebreve;s"al*l&ybreve;),
adv. Same as Mesially.
Mes`a*mœ"boid (m&ebreve;s`&ador;*mē"boid),
n. [Mes- + amœboid.]
(Biol.) One of a class of independent, isolated cells
found in the mesoderm, while the germ layers are undergoing
differentiation.
Mes`a*ra"ic (?), a. [Gr.
mesa`raion mesentery; me`sos middle +
'araia` flank.] (Anat.) Mesenteric.
Mes`a*ti*ce*phal"ic (?), a. [Gr.
&?; midmost + E. cephalic.] (Anat.) Having
the ratio of the length to the breadth of the cranium a medium one;
neither brachycephalic nor dolichocephalic.
Mes`a*ti*ceph"a*lous (?), a.
(Anat.) Mesaticephalic.
||Mes*cal" (?), n. [Sp.] A
distilled liquor prepared in Mexico from a species of agave. See
Agave.
||Mes`dames" (F. ?, E. ?), n.,
pl. of Madame and
Madam.
Me*seems" (?), v. impers.
[imp. Meseemed (?).] It seems to
me. [Poetic]
Me"sel (?), n. [See Measle.]
A leper. [Obs.]
Me"sel*ry (?), n. Leprosy.
[Obs.] Chaucer.
||Me*sem`bry*an"the*mum (?), n. [NL.,
fr. Gr. meshmbri`a midday + 'a`nqos flower.]
(Bot.) A genus of herbaceous or suffruticose plants,
chiefly natives of South Africa. The leaves are opposite, thick, and
f&?;eshy. The flowers usually open about midday, whence the
name.
Mes`en*ce*phal"ic (?), a.
(Anat.) Of or pertaining to the mesencephalon or
midbrain.
||Mes`en*ceph"a*lon (?), n. [NL. See
Meso- and Encephalon.] (Anat.) The middle
segment of the brain; the midbrain. Sometimes abbreviated to
mesen. See Brain.
||Mes*en"chy*ma (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr.
me`sos middle + -enchyma, as in E.
parenchyma.] (Biol.) The part of the mesoblast
which gives rise to the connective tissues and blood.
Mes`en*ter"ic (?), a. [Cf. F.
mésentérique.] (Anat.) Pertaining to
a mesentery; mesaraic.
||Mes*en"te*ron (?), n. [NL. See
Meso-, and Enteron.] (Anat.) All that part
of the alimentary canal which is developed from the primitive enteron
and is lined with hypoblast. It is distinguished from the
stomodæum, a part at the anterior end of the canal,
including the cavity of the mouth, and the proctodæum, a
part at the posterior end, which are formed by invagination and are
lined with epiblast.
Mes"en*ter*y (?; 277), n. [Gr.
mesente`rion, me`sos + 'e`nteron
intestine: cf. F. mésentère.]
1. (Anat.) The membranes, or one of
the membranes (consisting of a fold of the peritoneum and inclosed
tissues), which connect the intestines and their appendages with the
dorsal wall of the abdominal cavity. The mesentery proper is
connected with the jejunum and ilium, the other mesenteries being
called mesocæcum, mesocolon, mesorectum,
etc.
2. (Zoöl.) One of the vertical
muscular radiating partitions which divide the body cavity of
Anthozoa into chambers.
Mes`e*ra"ic (?), a. (Anat.)
Mesaraic.
Mes*eth"moid (?), a. [Mes- +
ethmoid.] (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the middle
of the ethmoid region or ethmoid bone. -- n.
(Anat.) The median vertical plate, or median element, of
the ethmoid bone.
Mesh (m&ebreve;sh), n. [AS.
masc, max, mæscre; akin to D. maas,
masche, OHG. masca, Icel. möskvi; cf. Lith.
mazgas a knot, megsti to weave nets, to knot.]
1. The opening or space inclosed by the threads
of a net between knot and knot, or the threads inclosing such a
space; network; a net.
A golden mesh to entrap the hearts of
men.
Shak.
2. (Gearing) The engagement of the
teeth of wheels, or of a wheel and rack.
Mesh stick, a stick on which the mesh is
formed in netting.
Mesh, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Meshed (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Meshing.] To catch in a mesh. Surrey.
Mesh, v. i. (Gearing) To
engage with each other, as the teeth of wheels.
Meshed (?), a. Mashed;
brewed. [Obs.] Shak.
Mesh"y (?), a. Formed with meshes;
netted.
Mes"i*ad (?), adv. [Gr.
me`sos middle + L. ad to.] (Anat.)
Toward, or on the side toward, the mesial plane; mesially; --
opposed to laterad.
Me"sial (?; 277), a. [Gr.
me`sos middle.] (Anat.) Middle; median; in, or
in the region of, the mesial plane; internal; -- opposed to
lateral.
Mesial plane. (Anat.) See
Meson.
Me"sial*ly, adv. (Anat.)
In, near, or toward, the mesial plane; mesiad.
Mes"i*tyl (?), n. (Chem.) A
hypothetical radical formerly supposed to exist in mesityl
oxide.
Mesityl oxide (Chem.), a volatile
liquid having the odor of peppermint, obtained by certain dehydrating
agents from acetone; -- formerly called also dumasin.
Me*sit"y*le*nate (?), n. (Chem.)
A salt of mesitylenic acid.
Me*sit"y*lene (?), n. (Chem.)
A colorless, fragrant liquid,
C6H3(CH3)3, of the
benzene series of hydrocarbons, obtained by distilling acetone with
sulphuric acid. -- Me*sit`y*len"ic (#),
a.
Me*sit"y*lol (?), n. [Mesitylene
+ -ol.] (Chem.) A crystalline substance obtained
from mesitylene.
Mes"lin (? or ?), n. See
Maslin.
Mes`mer*ee" (?), n. A person
subjected to mesmeric influence; one who is mesmerized.
[R.]
{ Mes*mer"ic (?), Mes*mer"ic*al (?), }
a. [Cf. F. mesmérique.] Of,
pertaining to, or induced by, mesmerism; as, mesmeric
sleep.
Mes"mer*ism (?), n. [From
Mesmer, who first brought it into notice at Vienna, about
1775: cf. F. mesmérisme.] The art of inducing an
extraordinary or abnormal state of the nervous system, in which the
actor claims to control the actions, and communicate directly with
the mind, of the recipient. See Animal magnetism, under
Magnetism.
Mes"mer*ist, n. One who practices,
or believes in, mesmerism.
Mes`mer*i*za"tion (?), n. The act
of mesmerizing; the state of being mesmerized.
Mes"mer*ize (?), v. t. [imp. &
p. p. Mesmerized (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Mesmerizing (?).] To bring into a state of
mesmeric sleep.
Mes"mer*i`zer (?), n. One who
mesmerizes.
Mesne (?), a. [Cf. Mean
intermediate.] (Law) Middle; intervening; as, a
mesne lord, that is, a lord who holds land of a superior, but
grants a part of it to another person, in which case he is a
tenant to the superior, but lord or superior to the
second grantee, and hence is called the mesne lord.
Mesne process, intermediate process; process
intervening between the beginning and end of a suit, sometimes
understood to be the whole process preceding the execution.
Blackstone. Burrill. -- Mesne
profits, profits of premises during the time the owner has
been wrongfully kept out of the possession of his estate.
Burrill.
{ Mes"o- (?), Mes- (?) }. [Gr. me`sos
in the middle.] A combining form denoting in the middle,
intermediate; specif. (Chem.), denoting a
type of hydrocarbons which are regarded as methenyl
derivatives. Also used adjectively.
||Mes`o*a"ri*um (?), n. [NL., from Gr.
me`sos middle + 'w,a`rion, dim. of
'w,o`n an egg.] (Anat.) The fold of peritoneum
which suspends the ovary from the dorsal wall of the body
cavity.
Mes"o*blast (?), n. [Meso- +
-blast.] (Biol.) (a) The
mesoderm. (b) The cell nucleus;
mesoplast.
Mes`o*blas"tic (?), a. (Biol.)
Relating to the mesoblast; as, the mesoblastic
layer.
Mes`o*bran"chi*al (?), a. [Meso-
+ branchial.] (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to a
region of the carapace of a crab covering the middle branchial
region.
||Mes`o*bron"chi*um (?), n.; pl.
Mesobronchia (#). [NL. See Meso-, and
Bronchia.] (Anat.) The main bronchus of each
lung.
||Mes`o*cæ"cum (?), n.
(Anat.) [NL. See Meso-, and Cæcum.]
The fold of peritoneum attached to the cæcum. --
Mes`o*cæ"cal (#), a.
Mes"o*carp (?), n. [Meso- + Gr.
karpo`s fruit.] (Bot.) The middle layer of a
pericarp which consists of three distinct or dissimilar layers.
Gray.
Mes`o*ce*phal"ic (?), a. [Meso-
+ cephalic.] (Anat.) (a) Of or
pertaining to, or in the region of, the middle of the head; as, the
mesocephalic flexure. (b) Having
the cranial cavity of medium capacity; neither megacephalic nor
microcephalic. (c) Having the ratio of the
length to the breadth of the cranium a medium one;
mesaticephalic.
||Mes`o*ceph"a*lon (?), n. [NL. See
Meso-, and Cephalon.] (Anat.) The pons
Varolii.
Mes`o*ceph"a*lous (?), a.
(Anat.) Mesocephalic.
{ Mes`o*cœ"le (?), ||Mes`o*cœ"li*a
(?), } n. [NL. mesocoelia. See Meso-,
and Cœlia.] (Anat.) The cavity of the
mesencephalon; the iter.
Mes`o*co"lon (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;;
me`sos middle + &?; the colon : cf. F.
mésocôlon.] (Anat.) The fold of
peritoneum, or mesentery, attached to the colon. --
Mes`o*col"ic (#), a.
Mes`o*cor"a*coid (?), n. [Meso-
+ coracoid.] (Anat.) A process from the middle of
the coracoid in some animals.
{ Mes`o*cu*ne"i*form (?), Mes`o*cu"ni*form (?),
} n. [Meso- + cuneiform,
cuniform.] (Anat.) One of the bones of the tarsus.
See 2d Cuneiform.
Mes"o*derm (?), n. [Meso- + Gr.
de`rma skin.] (Biol.) (a) The
layer of the blastoderm, between the ectoderm and endoderm;
mesoblast. See Illust. of Blastoderm and
Ectoderm. (b) The middle body layer
in some invertebrates. (c) The middle
layer of tissue in some vegetable structures.
Mes`o*der"mal (?), a. (Biol.)
Pertaining to, or derived from, the mesoderm; as,
mesodermal tissues.
Mes`o*der"mic (?), a. Same as
Mesodermal.
Mes"o*dont (?), a. [Meso- + Gr.
'odoy`s, 'odo`ntos, a tooth.] (Anat.)
Having teeth of moderate size.
||Mes`o*gas"ter (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr.
me`sos middle + &?; belly.] (Anat.) The fold
of peritoneum connecting the stomach with the dorsal wall of the
abdominal cavity; the mesogastrium.
Mes`o*gas"tric (?), a. [Meso- +
gastric.]
1. (Anat.) (a) Of or
pertaining to the middle region of the abdomen, or of the
stomach. (b) Of or pertaining to the
mesogaster.
2. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to
the middle gastric lobe of the carapace of a crab.
||Mes`o*gas"tri*um (?), n. [NL. See
Mesogaster.] (Anat.) (a) The
umbilical region. (b) The
mesogaster.
||Mes`o*glœ"a (?), n. [NL., fr.
Gr. me`sos middle + &?; a glutinous substance.]
(Zoöl.) A thin gelatinous tissue separating the
ectoderm and endoderm in certain cœlenterates. --
Mes`o*glœ"al (#), a.
Me*sog"na*thous (?), a. [Meso- +
Gr. gna`qos jaw.] (Anat.) Having the jaws
slightly projecting; between prognathous and orthognathous. See
Gnathic index, under Gnathic.
||Mes`o*he"par (?), n. [NL. See
Meso-, and Hepar.] (Anat.) A fold of the
peritoneum connecting the liver with the dorsal wall of the abdominal
cavity.
||Mes`o*hip"pus (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr.
me`sos middle + &?; a horse.] (Paleon.) An
extinct mammal of the Horse family, but not larger than a sheep, and
having three toes on each foot.
Mes"o*labe (?), n. [L.
mesolabium, Gr. &?;; me`sos middle + &?; to take.]
An instrument of the ancients for finding two mean proportionals
between two given lines, required in solving the problem of the
duplication of the cube. Brande & C.
Mes"ole (?), n. [Gr. me`sos
middle.] (Min.) Same as Thomsonite.
Mes"o*lite (?; 277), n. [Meso- +
-lite.] (Min.) A zeolitic mineral, grayish white
or yellowish, occuring in delicate groups of crystals, also fibrous
massive. It is a hydrous silicate of alumina, lime, and
soda.
Mes`o*log"a*rithm (?), n. [Meso-
+ logarithm : cf. F. mésologarithme.]
(Math.) A logarithm of the cosine or cotangent.
[Obs.] Kepler. Hutton.
||Mes`o*me"tri*um (?), n. [NL. See
Meso-, and Metrium.] (Anat.) The fold of
the peritoneum supporting the oviduct.
Mes`o*my*o"di*an (?), n.
(Zoöl.) A bird having a mesomyodous
larynx.
Mes`o*my"o*dous (?), a. [Meso- +
Gr. &?;, &?;, a muscle.] (Zoöl.) Having the
intrinsic muscles of the larynx attached to the middle of the
semirings.
||Mes"on (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr.
me`son middle, neut. of me`sos, a., middle.]
(Anat.) The mesial plane dividing the body of an animal
into similar right and left halves. The line in which it meets the
dorsal surface has been called the dorsimeson, and the
corresponding ventral edge the ventrimeson. B. G.
Wilder.
Mes`o*na"sal (?), a. [Meso- +
nasal.] (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the middle
portion of the nasal region.
Mes`o*neph"ric (?), a. (Anat.)
Of or pertaining to the mesonephros; as, the mesonephric,
or Wolffian, duct.
||Mes`o*neph"ros (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr.
me`sos middle + nefro`s kidney.] (Anat.)
The middle one of the three pairs of embryonic renal organs
developed in most vertebrates; the Wolffian body.
||Mes`o*no"tum (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr.
me`sos middle + nw^ton the back.]
(Zoöl.) The dorsal portion of the mesothorax of
insects.
||Mes`o*phlœ"um (?), n. [NL., fr.
Gr. me`sos middle + floio`s bark.]
(Bot.) The middle bark of a tree; the green layer of
bark, usually soon covered by the outer or corky layer, and
obliterated.
||Me*soph"ry*on (?), n. [NL., from Gr.
meso`fryon.] (Anat.) See
Glabella.
||Mes`o*phyl"lum (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr.
me`sos middle + fy`llon leaf.] (Bot.)
The parenchyma of a leaf between the skin of the two
surfaces. Gray.
Mes"o*plast (?), n. [Meso- +
-plast.] (Biol.) The nucleus of a cell;
mesoblast. Agassiz.
Mes`o*po"di*al
(m&ebreve;s`&osl;*pō"d&ibreve;*al), a.
(Anat.) Of or pertaining to the mesopodialia or to the
parts of the limbs to which they belong.
||Mes`o*po`di*a"le (?), n.; pl.
Mesopodialia (#). [NL., fr. Gr. me`sos
middle + &?;, dim. of poy`s, podo`s, foot.]
(Anat.) One of the bones of either the carpus or
tarsus.
||Mes`o*po"di*um (?), n. [NL. See
Mesopodiale.] (Zoöl.) The middle portion of
the foot in the Gastropoda and Pteropoda.
||Me*sop`te*ryg"i*um (?), n. [NL., fr.
Gr. me`sos middle + &?; a fin.] (Anat.) The
middle one of the three principal basal cartilages in the fins of
fishes. -- ||Me*sop`ter*yg"i*al (#),
a.
||Me*sor"chi*um (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr.
me`sos middle + &?; a testicle.] (Anat.) The
fold of peritoneum which attaches the testis to the dorsal wall of
the body cavity or scrotal sac.
||Mes`o*rec"tum (?), n. [Meso- +
rectum.] (Anat.) The fold of peritoneum, or
mesentery, attached to the rectum. -- Mes`o*rec"tal
(#), a.
Mes"o*rhine (?), a. [Meso- + Gr.
&?;, &?;, the nose.] (Anat.) Having the nose of medium
width; between leptorhine and platyrhine.
||Mes`o*sau"ri*a (?), n. Same as
Mosasauria.
||Mes`o*scap"u*la (?), n. [Meso-
+ scapula.] (Anat.) A process from the middle of
the scapula in some animals; the spine of the scapula.
Mes`o*scap"u*lar (?), a. (Anat.)
Of or pertaining to the mesoscapula.
||Mes`o*scu"tum (?), n. [Meso- +
scutum.] (Zoöl.) The scutum or dorsal plate
of the middle thoracic segment of an insect. See Illust. of
Butterfly.
Mes"o*seme (?), a. [Meso- + Gr.
&?; sign, mark; cf. F. mésosème.] (Anat.)
Having a medium orbital index; having orbits neither broad nor
narrow; between megaseme and microseme.
Mes`o*sid"er*ite (?), n. [Meso-
+ siderite.] (Min.) See the Note under
Meteorite.
Mes"o*sperm (?), n. [Meso- + Gr.
&?; seed: cf. F. mésosperme.] (Bot.) A
membrane of a seed. See Secundine.
Mes"o*state (?), n. [Meso- + Gr.
&?; to make to stand.] (Physiol.) A product of metabolic
action.
&fist; Every mesostate is either an anastate or
katastate, according as it is formed by an anabolic or
katabolic process. See Metabolism.
Mes`o*ster"nal (?), a. (Anat.)
Of or pertaining to the mesosternum.
||Mes`o*ster"num (?), n. [Meso-
+ sternum.]
1. (Anat.) The middle portion, or
body, of the sternum.
2. (Zoöl.) The ventral piece of
the middle segment of the thorax in insects.
Mes`o*tar*tar"ic (?), a. [Meso-
+ tartaric.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or
designating, an acid called also inactive tartaric
acid.
||Mes`o*the"ca (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr.
me`sos middle + &?; box.] (Zoöl.) The
middle layer of the gonophore in the Hydrozoa.
||Mes`o*the"li*um (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr.
me`sos middle + E. epithelium.] (Biol.)
Epithelial mesoderm; a layer of cuboidal epithelium cells,
formed from a portion of the mesoderm during the differetiation of
the germ layers. It constitutes the boundary of the
cœlum.
Mes`o*tho*rac"ic (?), a.
(Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the
mesothorax.
Mes`o*tho"rax (?), n. [Meso- +
thorax: cf. F. mésothorax.] (Zoöl.)
The middle segment of the thorax in insects. See Illust.
of Coleoptera.
Mes"o*tro`chal (?), a. [Meso- +
Gr. &?; anything round, a hoop.] (Zoöl.) Having the
middle of the body surrounded by bands of cilia; -- said of the
larvæ of certain marine annelids.
Mes"o*type (?), n. [Meso- + -
type: cf. F. mésotype.] (Min.) An old
term covering natrolite or soda mesolite, scolecite or lime
mesotype, and mesolite or lime-soda mesotype.
||Mes`o*va"ri*um (?), n. [NL. See
Meso-, and Ovary.] (Anat.) The fold of
peritoneum connecting the ovary with the wall of the abdominal
cavity.
Mes*ox"a*late (?), n. (Chem.)
A salt of mesoxalic acid.
Mes`ox*al"ic (?), a. [Mes- +
oxalic.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, an
acid, CH2O2(CO2H)2,
obtained from amido malonic acid.
||Mes`o*zo"a (?), n. pl. [NL. See
Mesozoic.] (Zoöl.) A group of very lowly
organized, wormlike parasites, including the Dicyemata. They are
found in cephalopods. See Dicyemata.
Mes`o*zo"ic (?), a. [Meso- + Gr.
&?; life, fr. &?; to live.] (Geol.) Belonging, or
relating, to the secondary or reptilian age, or the era between the
Paleozoic and Cenozoic. See Chart of Geology.
Mes`o*zo"ic, n. The Mesozoic age
or formation.
Mes*prise" (?), n. [OF. mespris,
F. mépris. See Misprize.] 1.
Contempt; scorn. [Obs.]
2. [Perh. for F. méprise mistake.
Cf. Misprision.] Misadventure; ill-success. [Obs.]
Spenser.
{ Mes*qui"te (m&ebreve;s*kē"t&asl;),
Mes*quit" (m&ebreve;s*kēt") }, n.
[Sp. mezquite; said to be a Mexican Indian word.]
(Bot.) A name for two trees of the southwestern part of
North America, the honey mesquite, and screw-pod mesquite.
Honey mesquite. See Algaroba
(b). -- Screw-pod mesquite,
a smaller tree (Prosopis pubescens), having spiral pods
used as fodder and sometimes as food by the Indians. --
Mesquite grass, a rich native grass in Western
Texas (Bouteloua oligostachya, and other species); -- so
called from its growing in company with the mesquite tree; -- called
also muskit grass, grama grass.
Mess (?), n. Mass; church
service. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Mess (?), n. [OE. mes, OF.
mets, LL. missum, p. p. of mittere to put, place
(e. g., on the table), L. mittere to send. See
Mission, and cf. Mass religious service.]
1. A quantity of food set on a table at one
time; provision of food for a person or party for one meal; as, a
mess of pottage; also, the food given to a beast at one
time.
At their savory dinner set
Of herbs and other country messes.
Milton.
2. A number of persons who eat together, and
for whom food is prepared in common; especially, persons in the
military or naval service who eat at the same table; as, the wardroom
mess. Shak.
3. A set of four; -- from the old practice of
dividing companies into sets of four at dinner. [Obs.]
Latimer.
4. The milk given by a cow at one
milking. [U.S.]
5. [Perh. corrupt. fr. OE. mesh for
mash: cf. muss.] A disagreeable mixture or
confusion of things; hence, a situation resulting from blundering or
from misunderstanding; as, he made a mess of it.
[Colloq.]
Mess (?), v. i. [imp. & p.
p. Messed (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Messing.] To take meals with a mess; to belong to a mess;
to eat (with others); as, I mess with the wardroom
officers. Marryat.
Mess, v. t. To supply with a
mess.
Mes"sage (?; 48), n. [F., fr. LL.
missaticum, fr. L. mittere, missum, to send. See
Mission, and cf. Messenger.] 1.
Any notice, word, or communication, written or verbal, sent from
one person to another.
Ehud said, I have a message from God unto
thee.
Judg. iii. 20.
2. Hence, specifically, an official
communication, not made in person, but delivered by a messenger; as,
the President's message.
Message shell. See Shell.
Mes"sage, v. t. To bear as a
message. [Obs.]
Mes"sage, n. [OE., fr. OF.
message, fr. LL. missaticus. See 1st Message.]
A messenger. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Mes"sa*ger (?), n. [OE.] A
messenger. [Obs.]
Mes"sen*ger (?), n. [OE.
messager, OF. messagier, F. messager. See
Message.] 1. One who bears a message; the
bearer of a verbal or written communication, notice, or invitation,
from one person to another, or to a public body; specifically, an
office servant who bears messages.
2. One who, or that which, foreshows, or
foretells.
Yon gray lines
That fret the clouds are messengers of day.
Shak.
3. (Naut.) A hawser passed round the
capstan, and having its two ends lashed together to form an endless
rope or chain; -- formerly used for heaving in the cable.
4. (Law) A person appointed to perform
certain ministerial duties under bankrupt and insolvent laws, such as
to take charge of the estate of the bankrupt or insolvent.
Bouvier. Tomlins.
Syn. -- Carrier; intelligencer; courier; harbinger;
forerunner; precursor; herald.
Messenger bird, the secretary bird, from its
swiftness.
Mes"set (?), n. A dog. [Obs.
or Prov. Eng.]
Mes*si"ad (?), n. A German epic
poem on the Messiah, by Klopstock.
Mes*si"ah (?), n. [Heb.
māshīakh anointed, fr. māshakh to
anoint. Cf. Messias.] The expected king and deliverer of
the Hebrews; the Savior; Christ.
And told them the Messiah now was
born.
Milton.
Mes*si"ah*ship, n. The state or
office of the Messiah.
Mes`si*an"ic (?), a. Of or
relating to the Messiah; as, the Messianic office or
character.
Mes*si"as (?), n. [LL., fr. Gr. &?;.
See Messiah.] The Messiah.
I know that Messias cometh, which is called
Christ.
John iv. 25.
||Mes`si`dor" (F. ?; E. ?), n. [F., fr.
L. messis harvest.] The tenth month of the French
republican calendar dating from September 22, 1792. It began June 19,
and ended July 18. See VendÉmiaire.
Mes"sieurs (?; F. ?; 277), n. pl. [F.;
pl. of monsieur.] Sirs; gentlemen; -- abbreviated to
Messrs., which is used as the plural of Mr.
Mes`si*nese" (? or ?), a. Of or
pertaining to Messina, or its inhabitans.
Mess"mate` (?), n. An associate in
a mess.
Mes"suage (?; 48), n. [Cf. OF.
mesuage, masnage, LL. messuagium,
mansionaticum, fr. L. mansio, -onis, a staying,
remaining, dwelling, fr. manere, mansum, to stay,
remain, E. mansion, manse.] (Law) A
dwelling house, with the adjacent buildings and curtilage, and the
adjoining lands appropriated to the use of the household.
Cowell. Bouvier.
They wedded her to sixty thousand pounds,
To lands in Kent, and messuages in York.
Tennyson.
Mest (?), a. Most. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Mes*tee" (?), n. [See Mestizo.]
The offspring of a white person and a quadroon; -- so called in
the West Indies. [Written also mustee.]
Mes"ter (?), n. [Obs.] See
Mister, a trade.
Mes*ti"no (?), n.; pl.
Mestinos (&?;). See Mestizo.
Mes*ti"zo (?), n.; pl.
Mestizos (#). [Sp. mestizo; akin to OF.
mestis, F. métis; all fr. (assumed) LL.
mixtitius, fr. L. mixtus mixed, p. p. of miscere
to mix. See Mix, and cf. Mestee, MÉtif,
MÉtis, Mustee.] The offspring of an Indian
or a negro and a European or person of European stock. [Spanish
America]
Mestizo wool, wool imported from South
America, and produced by mixed breeds of sheep.
Mest"ling (?), n. A kind of brass.
See Maslin. [Obs.]
||Me*sym"ni*cum (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr.
me`sos middle + &?; a festive song. See Hymn.]
(Anc. Poetry) A repetition at the end of a
stanza.
Met (?), imp. & p. p. of
Meet.
Met, obs. imp. & p. p. of
Mete, to measure. Chapman.
Met, obs. p. p. of Mete, to
dream. Chaucer.
{ Met"a- (?), Met- (?) }. [Gr. meta`
between, with, after; akin to AS. mid with, G. mit,
Goth. miþ, E. mid, in midwife.]
1. A prefix meaning between, with, after,
behind, over, about, reversely; as, metachronism, the error of
placing after the correct time; metaphor, lit., a carrying
over; metathesis, a placing reversely.
2. (Chem.) A prefix denoting:
(a) Other; duplicate, corresponding to;
resembling; hence, metameric; as, meta-arabinic,
metaldehyde. (b) (Organic Chem.)
That two replacing radicals, in the benzene nucleus, occupy the
relative positions of 1 and 3, 2 and 4, 3 and 5, 4 and 6, 5
and 1, or 6 and 2; as, metacresol, etc. See Ortho-,
and Para-. (c) (Inorganic Chem.)
Having less than the highest number of hydroxyl groups; -
- said of acids; as, metaphosphoric acid. Also used
adjectively.
Me*tab"a*sis (?), n.; pl.
Metabases (#). [NL., fr. Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to pass
over; &?; beyond, over + &?; to go.] 1.
(Rhet.) A transition from one subject to
another.
2. (Med.) Same as
Metabola.
{ ||Me*tab"o*la (?), ||Me*tab"o*le (?), }
n. [NL., from Gr. &?; change; &?; beyond + &?; to
throw.] (Med.) A change or mutation; a change of disease,
symptoms, or treatment.
{ ||Me*tab"o*la (?), ||Met`a*bo"li*a (?), }
n. pl. [NL. See 1st Metabola.]
(Zoöl.) A comprehensive group of insects, including
those that undegro a metamorphosis.
Met`a*bo"li*an (?), n. [See
Metabola.] (Zoöl.) An insect which undergoes
a metamorphosis.
Met`a*bol"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?;. See
Metabola.] 1. (Biol.) Of or
pertaining to metamorphosis; pertaining to, or involving,
change.
2. (Physiol.) Of or pertaining to
metabolism; as, metabolic activity; metabolic
force.
||Met`a*bol"i*sis (?), n. [NL.]
Metabolism. [R.]
Me*tab"o*lism (?), n. (Physiol.)
The act or process, by which living tissues or cells take up and
convert into their own proper substance the nutritive material
brought to them by the blood, or by which they transform their cell
protoplasm into simpler substances, which are fitted either for
excretion or for some special purpose, as in the manufacture of the
digestive ferments. Hence, metabolism may be either constructive
(anabolism), or destructive (katabolism).
Me*tab"o*lite (?), n. (Physiol
Chem.) A product of metabolism; a substance produced by
metabolic action, as urea.
Me*tab"o*lize (?), v. t. & i.
(Physiol.) To change by a metabolic process. See
Metabolism.
Met`a*bran"chi*al (?), a. [Meta-
+ branchial.] (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the
lobe of the carapace of crabs covering the posterior
branchiæ.
Met`a*car"pal (?), a. (Anat.)
Of or pertaining to the metacarpus. --
n. A metacarpal bone.
Met`a*car"pus (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr.
&?;; &?; beyond, between + &?; the wrist.] (Anat.) That
part of the skeleton of the hand or forefoot between the carpus and
phalanges. In man it consists of five bones. See Illust. of
Artiodactyla.
{ Met`a*cen"ter (?) or -tre },
n. [Pref. meta- + center.]
(Hydrostatics) The point of intersection of a vertical
line through the center of gravity of the fluid displaced by a
floating body which is tipped through a small angle from its position
of equilibrium, and the inclined line which was vertical through the
center of gravity of the body when in equilibrium.
&fist; When the metacenter is above the center of gravity, the
position of the body is stable; when below it, unstable.
Me*tac"e*tone (?), n. [Pref. met-
+ acetone.] (Chem.) A colorless liquid of an
agreeable odor, C6H10O, obtained by distilling
a mixture of sugar and lime; -- so called because formerly regarded
as a polymeric modification of acetone.
Met`a*chlo"ral (?), n. [Pref. meta-
+ chloral.] (Chem.) A white, amorphous,
insoluble substance regarded as a polymeric variety of
chloral.
Me*tach"ro*nism (?), n. [Gr. &?;, &?;,
after the time, happening afterward; &?; beyond + &?; time: cf. F.
métachronisme.] An error committed in chronology
by placing an event after its real time.
||Met`a*chro"sis (?), n. [NL., from Gr.
&?; beyond + &?; a coloring.] (Biol.) The power of
changing color at will by the expansion of special pigment cells,
under nerve influence, as seen in many reptiles, fishes, etc.
Cope.
Met`a*cin"na*bar*ite (?), n. [Pref.
meta- + cinnabar.] (Min.) Sulphide of
mercury in isometric form and black in color.
Met"a*cism (?), n. [L.
metacismus, Gr. &?; fondness for the letter &?;.] A
defect in pronouncing the letter m, or a too frequent use of
it.
Met`a*cro"le*in (?), n. [Pref. met-
+ acrolein.] (Chem.) A polymeric modification
of acrolein obtained by heating it with caustic potash. It is a
crystalline substance having an aromatic odor.
||Met`a*cro"mi*on (?), n. [NL.]
(Anat.) A process projecting backward and downward from
the acromion of the scapula of some mammals.
Met`a*dis*coid"al (?), a. [Meta-
+ discoidal.] (Anat.) Discoidal by derivation; --
applied especially to the placenta of man and apes, because it is
supposed to have been derived from a diffused placenta.
Met`a*gas"tric (?), a. [Pref. meta-
+ gastric.] (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to
the two posterior gastric lobes of the carapace of crabs.
Met"age (?; 48), n. [From Mete,
v.] 1. Measurement, especially
of coal. De Foe.
2. Charge for, or price of, measuring.
Simmonds.
Met`a*gen"e*sis (?), n. [Pref. meta-
+ genesis.] 1. (Biol.) The
change of form which one animal species undergoes in a series of
successively produced individuals, extending from the one developed
from the ovum to the final perfected individual. Hence, metagenesis
involves the production of sexual individuals by nonsexual means,
either directly or through intervening sexless generations. Opposed
to monogenesis. See Alternate generation, under
Generation.
2. (Biol.) Alternation of sexual and
asexual or gemmiparous generations; -- in distinction from
heterogamy.
Met`a*ge*net"ic
(m&ebreve;t`&adot;*j&esl;*n&ebreve;t"&ibreve;k), a.
(Biol.) Of or pertaining to metagenesis.
Met`a*gen"ic (-j&esl;n"&ibreve;k), a.
(Biol.) Metagenetic.
Me*tag"na*thous (?), a. [Pref. meta-
+ Gr. gna`qos the jaw.] (Zoöl.)
Cross-billed; -- said of certain birds, as the
crossbill.
Met`a*gram"ma*tism (?), n.
Anagrammatism.
Met`a*graph"ic (?), a. By or
pertaining to metagraphy.
Me*tag"ra*phy (?), n. [Pref. meta-
+ -graphy.] The art or act of rendering the letters
of the alphabet of one language into the possible equivalents of
another; transliteration. Stormonth.
Met"al (? or ?; 277), n. [F.
métal, L. metallum metal, mine, Gr. &?; mine;
cf. Gr. &?; to search after. Cf. Mettle, Medal.]
1. (Chem.) An elementary substance, as
sodium, calcium, or copper, whose oxide or hydroxide has basic rather
than acid properties, as contrasted with the nonmetals, or
metalloids. No sharp line can be drawn between the metals and
nonmetals, and certain elements partake of both acid and basic
qualities, as chromium, manganese, bismuth, etc.
&fist; Popularly, the name is applied to certain hard, fusible
metals, as gold, silver, copper, iron, tin, lead, zinc, nickel, etc.,
and also to the mixed metals, or metallic alloys, as brass, bronze,
steel, bell metal, etc.
2. Ore from which a metal is derived; -- so
called by miners. Raymond.
3. A mine from which ores are taken.
[Obs.]
Slaves . . . and persons condemned to
metals.
Jer. Taylor.
4. The substance of which anything is made;
material; hence, constitutional disposition; character;
temper.
Not till God make men of some other metal than
earth.
Shak.
5. Courage; spirit; mettle. See
Mettle. Shak.
&fist; The allusion is to the temper of the metal of a sword
blade. Skeat.
6. The broken stone used in macadamizing
roads and ballasting railroads.
7. The effective power or caliber of guns
carried by a vessel of war.
8. Glass in a state of fusion.
Knight.
9. pl. The rails of a railroad.
[Eng.]
Base metal (Chem.), any one of the
metals, as iron, lead, etc., which are readily tarnished or oxidized,
in contrast with the noble metals. In general, a metal of small
value, as compared with gold or silver. -- Fusible
metal (Metal.), a very fusible alloy, usually
consisting of bismuth with lead, tin, or cadmium. --
Heavy metals (Chem.), the metallic
elements not included in the groups of the alkalies, alkaline earths,
or the earths; specifically, the heavy metals, as gold, mercury,
platinum, lead, silver, etc. -- Light metals
(Chem.), the metallic elements of the alkali and alkaline
earth groups, as sodium, lithium, calcium, magnesium, etc.; also,
sometimes, the metals of the earths, as aluminium. --
Muntz metal, an alloy for sheathing and other
purposes, consisting of about sixty per cent of copper, and forty of
zinc. Sometimes a little lead is added. It is named from the
inventor. -- Prince's metal (Old
Chem.), an alloy resembling brass, consisting of three parts
of copper to one of zinc; -- also called Prince Rupert's
metal.
Met"al, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Metaled (? or ?) or Metalled; p.
pr. & vb. n. Metaling or Metalling.] To
cover with metal; as, to metal a ship's bottom; to
metal a road.
Met`al*am*mo"ni*um (?), n.
[Metal + ammonium.] (Chem.) A hypothetical
radical derived from ammonium by the substitution of metallic atoms
in place of hydrogen.
Met`al*bu"min (?), n. [Pref. met-
+ albumin.] (Physiol. Chem.) A form of
albumin found in ascitic and certain serous fluids. It is sometimes
regarded as a mixture of albumin and mucin.
Me*tal"de*hyde (?), n. [Pref. met-
+ aldehyde.] (Chem.) A white crystalline
substance isomeric with, and obtained from, acetic aldehyde by
polymerization, and reconvertible into the same.
||Met`a*lep"sis (?), n.; pl.
Metalepses (#). [L., fr. Gr. &?; participation,
alteration, fr. &?; to partake, to take in exchange; &?; beyond + &?;
to take.] (Rhet.) The continuation of a trope in one word
through a succession of significations, or the union of two or more
tropes of a different kind in one word.
Met"a*lep`sy (?), n. (Chem.)
Exchange; replacement; substitution; metathesis. [R.]
Met`a*lep"tic (?), a. [Gr. &?;]
1. Of or pertaining to a metalepsis.
2. Transverse; as, the metaleptic
motion of a muscle.
3. (Chem.) Of, pertaining to,
concerned in, or occurring by, metalepsy.
Met`a*lep"tic*al (?), a.
Metaleptic. -- Met`a*lep"tic*al*ly,
adv.
Me*tal"lic (?), a. [L.
metallicus, fr. metallum: cf. F.
métallique. See Metal.] 1.
Of or pertaining to a metal; of the nature of metal; resembling
metal; as, a metallic appearance; a metallic
alloy.
2. (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or
characterized by, the essential and implied properties of a metal, as
contrasted with a nonmetal or metalloid; basic; antacid;
positive.
Metallic iron, iron in the state of the
metal, as distinquished from its ores, as magnetic iron. --
Metallic paper, paper covered with a thin
solution of lime, whiting, and size. When written upon with a pewter
or brass pencil, the lines can hardly be effaced. --
Metallic tinking (Med.), a sound heard
in the chest, when a cavity communicating with the air passages
contains both air and liquid.
Me*tal"lic*al (?), a. See
Metallic. [Obs.]
Me*tal"lic*ly (?), adv. In a
metallic manner; by metallic means.
Me*tal`li*fac"ture (?; 135), n. [L.
metallum metal + facere, factum, to make.]
The production and working or manufacture of metals. [R.]
R. Park.
Met`al*lif"er*ous (?), a. [L.
metallifer; metallum metal + ferre to bear: cf.
F. métallifère.] Producing metals; yielding
metals.
Me*tal"li*form (?), a. [L.
metallum metal + -form: cf. F.
métalliforme.] Having the form or structure of a
metal.
Met"al*line (?), a. [Cf. F.
métallin.] (Chem.) (a)
Pertaining to, or resembling, a metal; metallic; as,
metalline properties. (b)
Impregnated with metallic salts; chalybeate; as,
metalline water. [R.]
Met"al*line (? or ?), n. (Chem.)
A substance of variable composition, but resembling a soft,
dark-colored metal, used in the bearings of machines for obviating
friction, and as a substitute for lubricants.
Met"al*list (?), n. A worker in
metals, or one skilled in metals.
Met`al*li*za"tion (?), n. [Cf. F.
métallisation.] The act or process of
metallizing. [R.]
Met"al*lize (?), v. t. [imp. &
p. p. Metallized (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Metallizing (?).] [Cf. F.
métalliser.] To impart metallic properties to; to
impregnate with a metal. [R.]
Me*tal"lo*chrome (?), n. [See
Metallochromy.] A coloring produced by the deposition of
some metallic compound; specifically, the prismatic tints produced by
depositing a film of peroxide of lead on polished steel by
electricity.
Me*tal"lo*chro`my (?), n. [L.
metallum metal + Gr. &?; color.] The art or process of
coloring metals.
Me*tal"lo*graph (?), n. [L.
metallum metal + -graph.] A print made by
metallography.
Me*tal`lo*graph"ic (?), a.
Pertaining to, or by means of, metallography.
Met`al*log"ra*phist (?), n. One
who writes on the subject of metals.
Met`al*log"ra*phy (?), n. [L.
metallum metal + -graphy: cf. F.
métallographie.] 1. The science or
art of metals and metal working; also, a treatise on
metals.
2. A method of transferring impressions of
the grain of wood to metallic surfaces by chemical action.
Knight.
3. A substitute for lithography, in which
metallic plates are used instead of stone. Knight.
Met"al*loid (?), n. [L. metallum
metal + -oid: cf. F. métalloïde.]
(a) Formerly, the metallic base of a fixed
alkali, or alkaline earth; -- applied by Sir H. Davy to sodium,
potassium, and some other metallic substances whose metallic
character was supposed to be not well defined.
(b) Now, one of several elementary substances
which in the free state are unlike metals, and whose compounds
possess or produce acid, rather than basic, properties; a nonmetal;
as, boron, carbon, phosphorus, nitrogen, oxygen, sulphur, chlorine,
bromine, etc., are metalloids.
Met"al*loid, a. 1.
Having the appearance of a metal.
2. (Chem.) Having the properties of a
nonmetal; nonmetallic; acid; negative.
Met`al*loid"al (?), a.
Metalloid.
Met`al*lor*gan"ic (?), a.
Metalorganic.
Me*tal`lo*ther"a*py (?), n. [L.
metallum metal + E. therapy.] (Med.)
Treatment of disease by applying metallic plates to the surface
of the body.
{ Met`al*lur"gic (?), Met`al*lur"gic*al (?), }
a. [Cf. F. métallurgique.] Of or
pertaining to metallurgy.
Met"al*lur`gist (?), n. [Cf. F.
métallurgiste.] One who works in metals, or
prepares them for use; one who is skilled in metallurgy.
Met"al*lur`gy (?), n. [F.
métallurgie, fr. L. metallum metal, Gr. &?; a
mine + the root of &?; work. See Metal, and Work.]
The art of working metals, comprehending the whole process of
separating them from other matters in the ore, smelting, refining,
and parting them; sometimes, in a narrower sense, only the process of
extracting metals from their ores.
Met"al*man (?), n.; pl.
Metalmen (&?;). A worker in metals.
Met`a*log"ic*al (?), a. Beyond the
scope or province of logic.
Met`al*or*gan"ic (?), a. [Metal,
L. metallum + E. organic.] (Chem.)
Pertaining to, or denoting, any one of a series of compounds of
certain metallic elements with organic radicals; as, zinc methyl,
sodium ethyl, etc. [Written also metallorganic.]
Met"a*mer (?), n. [See
Metamere.] (Chem.) Any one of several metameric
forms of the same substance, or of different substances having the
same composition; as, xylene has three metamers, viz.,
orthoxylene, metaxylene, and paraxylene.
Met"a*mere (?), n. [Pref. meta-
+ -mere.] (Biol.) One of successive or
homodynamous parts in animals and plants; one of a series of similar
parts that follow one another in a vertebrate or articulate animal,
as in an earthworm; a segment; a somite. See Illust. of
Loeven's larva.
Met`a*mer"ic (?), a. [Pref. meta-
+ Gr. &?; part.] 1. (Chem.) Having
the same elements united in the same proportion by weight, and with
the same molecular weight, but possessing a different structure and
different properties; as, methyl ether and ethyl alcohol are
metameric compounds. See Isomeric.
&fist; The existence of metameric compounds is due to the
different arrangement of the same constituents in the molecule.
2. (Biol.) Of or pertaining to a
metamere or its formation; as, metameric
segmentation.
Met`a*mer"ic*al*ly, adv. In a
metameric manner.
Me*tam"er*ism (?), n.
1. (Biol.) The symmetry of a metameric
structure; serial symmetry; the state of being made up of
metameres.
2. (Chem.) The state or quality of
being metameric; also, the relation or condition of metameric
compounds.
Met`a*mor"phic (?), a. [See
Metamorphosis.] 1. Subject to change;
changeable; variable.
2. Causing a change of structure.
3. (Geol.) Pertaining to, produced by,
or exhibiting, certain changes which minerals or rocks may have
undergone since their original deposition; -- especially applied to
the recrystallization which sedimentary rocks have undergone through
the influence of heat and pressure, after which they are called
metamorphic rocks.
Met`a*mor"phism (?), n. (Geol.)
The state or quality of being metamorphic; the process by which
the material of rock masses has been more or less recrystallized by
heat, pressure, etc., as in the change of sedimentary limestone to
marble. Murchison.
Met`a*mor"phist (?), n. (Eccl.)
One who believes that the body of Christ was merged into the
Deity when he ascended.
Met`a*mor"phize (?), v. t. To
metamorphose.
Met`a*mor"phose (?), v. t.
[imp. & p. p. Metamorphosed (?); p.
pr. & vb. n. Metamorphosing.] [Cf. F.
métamorphoser.] To change into a different form;
to transform; to transmute.
And earth was metamorphosed into
man.
Dryden.
Met`a*mor"phose (?), n. [Cf. F.
métamorphose. See Metamorphosis.] Same as
Metamorphosis.
Met`a*mor"pho*ser (?), n. One who
metamorphoses. [R.] Gascoigne.
Met`a*mor"pho*sic (?), a. Changing
the form; transforming. [R.] Pownall.
Met`a*mor"pho*sis (?), n.; pl.
Metamorphoses (#). [L., fr. Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to be
transformed; meta` beyond, over + morfh`
form.]
1. Change of form, or structure;
transformation.
2. (Biol.) A change in the form or
function of a living organism, by a natural process of growth or
development; as, the metamorphosis of the yolk into the
embryo, of a tadpole into a frog, or of a bud into a blossom.
Especially, that form of sexual reproduction in which an embryo
undergoes a series of marked changes of external form, as the
chrysalis stage, pupa stage, etc., in insects. In these intermediate
stages sexual reproduction is usually impossible, but they ultimately
pass into final and sexually developed forms, from the union of which
organisms are produced which pass through the same cycle of changes.
See Transformation.
3. (Physiol.) The change of material
of one kind into another through the agency of the living organism;
metabolism.
Vegetable metamorphosis (Bot.), the
doctrine that flowers are homologous with leaf buds, and that the
floral organs are transformed leaves.
||Met`a*nau"pli*us (?), n. [NL. See
Meta-, and Nauplius.] (Zoöl.) A larval
crustacean in a stage following the nauplius, and having about seven
pairs of appendages.
Met`a*ne*phrit"ic (?), a.
(Anat.) Of or pertaining to the metanephros.
||Met`a*neph"ros (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr.
&?; behind + &?; kidney.] (Anat.) The most posterior of
the three pairs of embryonic renal organs developed in many
vertebrates.
||Met`a*no"tum (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr.
&?; behind + &?; back.] (Zoöl.) The dorsal portion
of the metaphorax of insects.
Met`an*ti*mo"nate (?), n.
(Chem.) A salt of metantimonic acid.
Met`an*ti*mon"ic (?), a. [Pref. met-
+ antimonic.] (Chem.) (a)
Pertaining to, or designating, an acid (formerly called
antimonic acid) analogous to metaphosphoric acid, and obtained
as a white amorphous insoluble substance, (HSbO3).
(b) Formerly, designating an acid, which is now
properly called pyroantimonic acid, and analogous to
pyrophosphoric acid.
Met`a*pec"tic (?), a. [Pref. meta-
+ pectic.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or
designating, a supposed acid obtained from pectin.
Met`a*pec"tin (?), n. (Chem.)
A substance obtained from, and resembling, pectin, and occurring
in overripe fruits.
Met`a*pep"tone (?), n. [Pref. meta-
+ peptone.] (Physiol. Chem.) An intermediate
product formed in the gastric digestion of albuminous
matter.
Met"a*phor (m&ebreve;t"&adot;*f&etilde;r),
n. [F. métaphore, L.
metaphora, fr. Gr. metafora`, fr.
metafe`rein to carry over, transfer; meta`
beyond, over + fe`rein to bring, bear.] (Rhet.)
The transference of the relation between one set of objects to
another set for the purpose of brief explanation; a compressed
simile; e. g., the ship plows the sea. Abbott &
Seeley. "All the world's a stage." Shak.
&fist; The statement, "that man is a fox," is a metaphor; but
"that man is like a fox," is a simile, similitude, or comparison.
{ Met`a*phor"ic (?), Met`a*phor"ic*al (?), }
a. [Gr. &?;: cf. F. métaphorique.]
Of or pertaining to metaphor; comprising a metaphor; not
literal; figurative; tropical; as, a metaphorical expression;
a metaphorical sense. -- Met`a*phor"ic*al*ly,
adv. -- Met`a*phor"ic*al*ness,
n.
Met"a*phor*ist (?), n. One who
makes metaphors.
Met`a*phos"phate (?), n. (Chem.)
A salt of metaphosphoric acid.
Met`a*phos*phor"ic (?), a. [Pref.
meta- + phosphoric.] (Chem.) Pertaining to,
or designating, a monobasic acid, HPO3, analogous to
nitric acid, and, by heating phosphoric acid, obtained as a
crystalline substance, commonly called glacial phosphoric
acid.
Met"a*phrase (m&ebreve;t"&adot;*frāz),
n. [Gr. meta`frasis, from
metafra`zein to paraphrase; meta` beyond, over
+ fra`zein to speak: cf. F. métaphrase.]
1. A verbal translation; a version or
translation from one language into another, word for word; -- opposed
to paraphrase. Dryden.
2. An answering phrase; repartee.
Mrs. Browning.
Met"a*phrased (m&ebreve;t"&adot;*frāzd),
a. Translated literally.
Me*taph"ra*sis (m&esl;*tăf"r&adot;*s&ibreve;s),
n. [NL. See Metaphrase.]
Metaphrase.
Met"a*phrast (?), n. [Gr. &?;: cf. F.
métaphraste.] A literal translator.
{ Met`a*phras"tic (?), Met`a*phras"tic*al (?), }
a. [Gr. &?;.] Close, or literal.
Met`a*phys"ic (?), n. [Cf. F.
métaphysique.] See Metaphysics.
Met`a*phys"ic, a.
Metaphysical.
Met`a*phys"ic*al (?), a. [Cf. F.
métaphysique. See Metaphysics.]
1. Of or pertaining to metaphysics.
2. According to rules or principles of
metaphysics; as, metaphysical reasoning.
3. Preternatural or supernatural.
[Obs.]
The golden round
Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem
To have thee crowned withal.
Shak.
Met`a*phys"ic*al*ly, adv. In the
manner of metaphysical science, or of a metaphysician.
South.
Met`a*phy*si"cian (?), n. [Cf. F.
métaphysicien.] One who is versed in
metaphysics.
Met`a*phys"ics (?), n. [Gr. &?; &?; &?;
after those things which relate to external nature, after physics,
fr. &?; beyond, after + &?; relating to external nature, natural,
physical, fr. &?; nature: cf. F. métaphysique. See
Physics. The term was first used by the followers of Aristotle
as a name for that part of his writings which came after, or
followed, the part which treated of physics.]
1. The science of real as distinguished from
phenomenal being; ontology; also, the science of being, with
reference to its abstract and universal conditions, as distinguished
from the science of determined or concrete being; the science of the
conceptions and relations which are necessarily implied as true of
every kind of being; philosophy in general; first principles, or the
science of first principles.
&fist; Metaphysics is distinguished as general and
special. General metaphysics is the science of all
being as being. Special metaphysics is the science of one kind
of being; as, the metaphysics of chemistry, of morals, or of
politics. According to Kant, a systematic exposition of those notions
and truths, the knowledge of which is altogether independent of
experience, would constitute the science of metaphysics.
Commonly, in the schools, called metaphysics,
as being part of the philosophy of Aristotle, which hath that for
title; but it is in another sense: for there it signifieth as much as
"books written or placed after his natural philosophy." But the
schools take them for "books of supernatural philosophy;" for the
word metaphysic will bear both these senses.
Hobbes.
Now the science conversant about all such inferences
of unknown being from its known manifestations, is called ontology,
or metaphysics proper.
Sir W.
Hamilton.
Metaphysics are [is] the science which
determines what can and what can not be known of being, and the laws
of being, a priori.
Coleridge.
2. Hence: The scientific knowledge of mental
phenomena; mental philosophy; psychology.
Metaphysics, in whatever latitude the term be
taken, is a science or complement of sciences exclusively occupied
with mind.
Sir W. Hamilton.
Whether, after all,
A larger metaphysics might not help
Our physics.
Mrs. Browning.
||Me*taph"y*sis (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr.
&?; after + &?; nature.] Change of form;
transformation.
Met"a*plasm (?), n. [L.
metaplasmus, Gr. &?;; &?; beyond, over + &?; to mold: cf. F.
métaplasme.] (Gram.) A change in the
letters or syllables of a word.
Met"a*plast (?), n. [See
Metaplasm.] (Gram.) A word having more than one
form of the root.
Met"a*pode (?), n. [NL.
metapodium, from Gr. &?; behind + &?;, dim. of
poy`s, podo`s, foot.] (Zoöl.)
The posterior division of the foot in the Gastropoda and
Pteropoda.
Met`a*po"di*al (?), a. (Anat.)
Of or pertaining to the metapodialia, or to the parts of the
limbs to which they belong.
||Met`a*po`di*a"le (?), n.; pl.
Metapodialia (#). [NL. See Metapode.]
(Anat.) One of the bones of either the metacarpus or
metatarsus.
||Met`a*po"di*um (?), n.; pl.
Metapodia (#). [NL.] (Zoöl.) Same
as Metapode.
||Met`a*poph"y*sis (?), n.; pl.
Metapophyses (#). [NL. See Meta-, and
Apophysis.] (Anat.) A tubercle projecting from the
anterior articular processes of some vertebræ; a mammillary
process.
||Me*tap`te*ryg"i*um (?), n. [NL., fr.
Gr. &?; after + &?; fin.] (Anat.) The posterior of the
three principal basal cartilages in the fins of fishes. --
Me*tap`ter*yg"i*al (#), a.
Met`a*sil"i*cate (?), n. (Chem.)
A salt of metasilicic acid.
Met`a*si*lic"ic (?), a. [Pref. meta-
+ silicic.] (Chem.) Designating an acid
derived from silicic acid by the removal of water; of or pertaining
to such an acid.
&fist; The salts of metasilicic acid are often called
bisilicates, in mineralogy, as Wollastonite
(CaSiO3).
Metasilicic acid (Chem.), a
gelatinous substance, or white amorphous powder, analogous to
carbonic acid, and forming many stable salts.
Met`a*so"ma*tism (?), n. [Pref.
meta- + Gr. &?;, &?;, body.] (Geol.) An alteration
in a mineral or rock mass when involving a chemical change of the
substance, as of chrysolite to serpentine; -- opposed to ordinary
metamorphism, as implying simply a recrystallization. --
Met`a*so*mat"ic (#), a.
Met"a*some (?), n. [Pref. meta-
+ -some body.] (Zoöl.) One of the component
segments of the body of an animal.
Met`a*stan"nate (?), n. (Chem.)
A salt of metastannic acid.
Met`a*stan"nic (?), a. (Chem.)
Pertaining to, or designating, a compound of tin (metastannic
acid), obtained, as an isomeric modification of stannic acid, in the
form of a white amorphous substance.
Me*tas"ta*sis (?), n.; pl.
Metastases (#). [L., transition, fr. Gr. &?;, fr.
&?; to place in another way; &?; after + &?; to place.]
1. (Theol.) A spiritual change, as
during baptism.
2. (Med.) A change in the location of
a disease, as from one part to another. Dunglison.
3. (Physiol.) The act or process by
which matter is taken up by cells or tissues and is transformed into
other matter; in plants, the act or process by which are produced all
of those chemical changes in the constituents of the plant which are
not accompanied by a production of organic matter;
metabolism.
Met`a*stat"ic (?), a. Of,
pertaining to, or caused by, metastasis; as, a metastatic
abscess; the metastatic processes of growth.
Met`a*ster"nal (?), a. Of or
pertaining to the metasternum.
||Met`a*ster"num (?), n. [Pref.
meta- + sternum.] 1. (Anat.)
The most posterior element of the sternum; the ensiform process;
xiphisternum.
2. (Zoöl.) The ventral plate of
the third or last segment of the thorax of insects.
{ ||Me*tas"to*ma (?), Met"a*stome (?), }
n. [NL. metastoma, from Gr. meta`
behind + sto`ma mouth.] (Zoöl.) A median
elevation behind the mouth in the arthropods.
Met`a*tar"sal (?), a. (Anat.)
Of or pertaining to the metatarsus. --
n. A metatarsal bone.
Met"a*tarse (?), n. (Anat.)
Metatarsus.
Met`a*tar"sus (?), n.; pl.
Metatarsi (#). [NL. See Meta-, and
Tarsus.] (Anat.) That part of the skeleton of the
hind or lower limb between the tarsus and phalanges; metatarse. It
consists, in the human foot, of five bones. See Illustration
in Appendix.
Me*tath"e*sis (?), n.; pl.
Metatheses (&?;). [L., fr. Gr.
meta`thesis, fr. metatithe`nai to place
differently, to transpose; meta` beyond, over +
tithe`nai to place, set. See Thesis.]
1. (Gram.) Transposition, as of the
letters or syllables of a word; as, pistris for
pristis; meagre for meager.
2. (Med.) A mere change in place of a
morbid substance, without removal from the body.
3. (Chem.) The act, process, or result
of exchange, substitution, or replacement of atoms and radicals;
thus, by metathesis an acid gives up all or part of its
hydrogen, takes on an equivalent amount of a metal or base, and forms
a salt.
{ Met`a*thet"ic (?), Met`a*thet"ic*al (?), }
a. Of or pertaining to metathesis.
Met`a*tho*rac"ic (?), a.
(Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the
metathorax.
Met`a*tho"rax (?), n. [NL.: cf. F.
métathorax. See Meta-, and Thorax.]
(Zoöl.) The last or posterior segment of the thorax
in insects. See Illust. of Coleoptera.
Met`a*ti*tan"ic (?), a. [Pref. meta-
+ titanic.] (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or
designating, an acid of titanium analogous to metasilicic
acid.
Met`a*tung"state (?), n. (Chem.)
A salt of metatungstic acid.
Met`a*tung"stic (?), a. [Pref. meta-
+ tungstic.] (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or
designating, an acid known only in its salts (the
metatungstates) and properly called polytungstic, or
pyrotungstic, acid.
Met`a*van"a*date (?), n. (Chem.)
A salt of metavanadic acid.
Met`a*va*nad"ic (?), a. [Pref. meta-
+ vanadic.] (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or
designating, a vanadic acid analogous to metaphosphoric
acid.
Met`a*xy"lene (?), n. [Pref. meta-
+ xylene.] (Chem.) That variety of xylene, or
dimethyl benzene, in which the two methyl groups occupy the meta
position with reference to each other. It is a colorless inflammable
liquid.
||Mé`ta`yage" (?), n. [F. See
Métayer.] A system of farming on halves.
[France & Italy]
||Mé`ta`yer" (F. ?; E. ?), n.
[F., fr. LL. medietarius, fr. L. medius middle, half.
See Mid, a.] One who cultivates land
for a share (usually one half) of its yield, receiving stock, tools,
and seed from the landlord. [France & Italy]
Milman.
||Met`a*zo"a (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr.
&?; after + zo^,on an animal.] (Zoöl.)
Those animals in which the protoplasmic mass, constituting the
egg, is converted into a multitude of cells, which are metamorphosed
into the tissues of the body. A central cavity is commonly developed,
and the cells around it are at first arranged in two layers, -- the
ectoderm and endoderm. The group comprises nearly all
animals except the Protozoa.
Met`a*zo"an (?), n.; pl.
Metazoans (&?;). (Zoöl.) One of
the Metazoa.
Met`a*zo"ic (?), a. (Zoöl.)
Of or pertaining to the Metazoa.
||Met`a*zo"ön (?), n. [NL.]
(Zoöl.) One of the Metazoa.
Mete (?), n. Meat. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Mete, v. t. & i. To meet.
[Obs.] Chaucer.
Mete, v. i. & t.
[imp. Mette (?); p. p.
Met.] [AS. m&?;tan.] To dream; also impersonally;
as, me mette, I dreamed. [Obs.] "I mette of him
all night." Chaucer.
Mete (?), v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Meted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Meting.] [AS. metan; akin to D. meten, G.
messen, OHG. mezzan, Icel. meta, Sw.
mäta, Goth. mitan, L. modus measure,
moderation, modius a corn measure, Gr. &?; to rule, &?; a corn
measure, and ultimately from the same root as E. measure, L.
metiri to measure; cf. Skr. mā to measure.
√99. Cf. Measure, Meet, a.,
Mode.] To find the quantity, dimensions, or capacity of,
by any rule or standard; to measure.
Mete (?), v. i. To measure.
[Obs.] Mark iv. 24.
Mete, n. [AS. met. See
Mete to measure.] Measure; limit; boundary; -- used
chiefly in the plural, and in the phrase metes and
bounds.
Mete"corn` (?), n. A quantity of
corn formerly given by the lord to his customary tenants, as an
encouragement to, or reward for, labor and faithful
service.
Mete"ly, a. According to measure
or proportion; proportionable; proportionate. [Obs.]
{ Met`em*pir"ic (?), Met`em*pir"ic*al (?), }
a. [Pref. met- + empiric, -
ical.] (Metaph.) Related, or belonging, to the
objects of knowledge within the province of metempirics.
If then the empirical designates the province we
include within the range of science, the province we exclude may be
fitly styled the metempirical.
G. H.
Lewes.
Met*em*pir"i*cism (?), n. The
science that is concerned with metempirics.
Met`em*pir"ics (?), n. The
concepts and relations which are conceived as beyond, and yet as
related to, the knowledge gained by experience.
Me*temp"sy*chose (?), v. t.
[imp. & p. p. Metempsychosed (?); p.
pr. & vb. n. Metempsychosing (?).] [See
Metempsychosis.] To translate or transfer, as the soul,
from one body to another. [R.] Peacham.
Me*temp`sy*cho"sis (?), n. [NL., fr.
Gr. &?;; &?; beyond, over + &?; to animate; &?; in + &?; soul. See
Psychology.] The passage of the soul, as an immortal
essence, at the death of the animal body it had inhabited, into
another living body, whether of a brute or a human being;
transmigration of souls. Sir T. Browne.
Met`emp*to"sis (?), n. [NL., from Gr.
&?; beyond, after + &?; a falling upon, fr. &?; to fall in or upon;
&?; in + &?; to fall.] (Chron.) The suppression of a day
in the calendar to prevent the date of the new moon being set a day
too late, or the suppression of the bissextile day once in 134 years.
The opposite to this is the proemptosis, or the addition of a
day every 330 years, and another every 2,400 years.
Met`en*ceph"a*lon (?), n. [Met-
+ encephalon.] (Anat.) The posterior part of the
brain, including the medulla; the afterbrain. Sometimes abbreviated
to meten.
||Met`en*so`ma*to"sis (?), n. [L., a
change of body (by the soul), fr. Gr. &?;.] (Biol.) The
assimilation by one body or organism of the elements of
another.
Me"te*or (?), n. [F.
météore, Gr. &?;, pl. &?; things in the air, fr.
&?; high in air, raised off the ground; &?; beyond + &?;, &?;, a
suspension or hovering in the air, fr. &?; to lift, raise up.]
1. Any phenomenon or appearance in the
atmosphere, as clouds, rain, hail, snow, etc.
Hail, an ordinary meteor.
Bp.
Hall.
2. Specif.: A transient luminous body or
appearance seen in the atmosphere, or in a more elevated
region.
The vaulty top of heaven
Figured quite o'er with burning meteors.
Shak.
&fist; The term is especially applied to fireballs, and the masses
of stone or other substances which sometimes fall to the earth; also
to shooting stars and to ignes fatui. Meteors are often classed as:
aerial meteors, winds, tornadoes, etc.; aqueous
meteors, rain, hail, snow, dew, etc.; luminous meteors,
rainbows, halos, etc.; and igneous meteors, lightning,
shooting stars, and the like.
Me`te*or"ic (?), a. [Cf. F.
météorique.] 1. Of or
pertaining to a meteor, or to meteors; atmospheric, as,
meteoric phenomena; meteoric stones.
2. Influenced by the weather; as,
meteoric conditions.
3. Flashing; brilliant; transient; like a
meteor; as, meteoric fame. "Meteoric politician."
Craik.
Meteoric iron, Meteoric stone.
(Min.) See Meteorite. -- Meteoric
paper, a substance of confervoid origin found floating
in the air, and resembling bits of coarse paper; -- so called because
formerly supposed to fall from meteors. -- Meteoric
showers, periodical exhibitions of shooting stars,
occuring about the 9th or 10th of August and 13th of November, more
rarely in April and December, and also at some other
periods.
Me`te*or"ic*al (?), a.
Meteoric.
Me"te*or*ism (?), n. (Med.)
Flatulent distention of the abdomen; tympanites.
Me"te*or*ite (?), n. [Cf. F.
météorite.] (Min.) A mass of stone
or iron which has fallen to the earth from space; an
aërolite.
&fist; Meteorites usually show a pitted surface with a fused
crust, caused by the heat developed in their rapid passage through
the earth's atmosphere. A meteorite may consist: 1. Of
metallic iron, alloyed with a small percentage of nickel (meteoric
iron, holosiderite). When etched this usually exhibits
peculiar crystalline figures, called Widmanstätten
figures. 2. Of a cellular mass of iron with imbedded
silicates (mesosiderite or siderolite). 3. Of a
stony mass of silicates with little iron (meteoric stone,
sporadosiderite). 4. Of a mass without iron
(asiderite).
Me"te*or*ize (?), v. i. [Gr. &?; to
raise to a height.] To ascend in vapors; to take the form of a
meteor. Evelyn.
Me`te*or"o*graph (?), n. [Meteor
+ -graph.] An instrument which registers meteorologic
phases or conditions.
Me`te*or`o*graph"ic (?), a. Of or
pertaining to meteorography.
Me`te*or*og"ra*phy (?), n.
[Meteor + -graphy.] The registration of
meteorological phenomena.
Me"te*or*oid (mē"t&esl;*&etilde;r*oid),
n. [Meteor + -oid.] (Astron.)
A small body moving through space, or revolving about the sun,
which on entering the earth's atmosphere would be deflagrated and
appear as a meteor.
These bodies [small, solid bodies] before they come
into the air, I call meteoroids.
H. A.
Newton.
Me`te*or*oid"al (?), a. Of or
pertaining to a meteoroid or to meteoroids.
Me`te*or"o*lite (?; 277), n.
[Meteor + -lite : cf. F.
météorolithe.] A meteoric stone; an
aërolite; a meteorite.
{ Me`te*or`o*log"ic (?), Me`te*or`o*log"ic*al
(?), } a. [Gr. &?;: cf. F.
météorologique.] Of or pertaining to the
atmosphere and its phenomena, or to meteorology.
Meteorological table, Meteorological
register, a table or register exhibiting the state of
the air and its temperature, weight, dryness, moisture, motion,
etc.
Me`te*or*ol"o*gist (?), n. [Cf. F.
météorologiste.] A person skilled in
meteorology.
Me`te*or*ol"o*gy (?), n. [Gr. &?;; &?;
+ lo`gos discourse: cf. F.
météorologie. See Meteor.] The
science which treats of the atmosphere and its phenomena,
particularly of its variations of heat and moisture, of its winds,
storms, etc.
Me`te*or"o*man`cy (?), n.
[Meteor + -mancy : cf. F.
météoromancie.] A species of divination by
meteors, chiefly by thunder and lightning, which was held in high
estimation by the Romans.
Me`te*or*om"e*ter (?), n.
[Meteor + -meter.] An apparatus which transmits
automatically to a central station atmospheric changes as marked by
the anemometer, barometer, thermometer, etc.
Me`te*or"o*scope (?; 277), n. [Gr. &?;,
fr. &?; observing the heavenly bodies; &?; + &?; to view: cf. F.
météoroscope. See Meteor.]
(Astron.) (a) An astrolabe; a
planisphere. [Obs.] (b) An instrument for
measuring the position, length, and direction, of the apparent path
of a shooting star.
Me*te"o*rous (? or ?), a. [See
Meteor.] Of the nature or appearance of a
meteor.
-me"ter (?). [L. metrum measure, or the allied Gr.
&?;. See Meter rhythm.] A suffix denoting that by
which anything is measured; as, barometer,
chronometer, dynamometer.
Me"ter (?), n. [From Mete to
measure.] 1. One who, or that which, metes or
measures. See Coal-meter.
2. An instrument for measuring, and usually
for recording automatically, the quantity measured.
Dry meter, a gas meter having measuring
chambers, with flexible walls, which expand and contract like bellows
and measure the gas by filling and emptying. -- Wet
meter, a gas meter in which the revolution of a
chambered drum in water measures the gas passing through it.
Me"ter, n. A line above or below a
hanging net, to which the net is attached in order to strengthen
it.
{ Me"ter, Me"tre } (?), n.
[OE. metre, F. mètre, L. metrum, fr. Gr.
&?;; akin to Skr. mā to measure. See Mete to
measure.] 1. Rhythmical arrangement of syllables
or words into verses, stanzas, strophes, etc.; poetical measure,
depending on number, quantity, and accent of syllables; rhythm;
measure; verse; also, any specific rhythmical arrangements; as, the
Horatian meters; a dactylic meter.
The only strict antithesis to prose is
meter.
Wordsworth.
2. A poem. [Obs.] Robynson (More's
Utopia).
3. A measure of length, equal to 39.37
English inches, the standard of linear measure in the metric system
of weights and measures. It was intended to be, and is very nearly,
the ten millionth part of the distance from the equator to the north
pole, as ascertained by actual measurement of an arc of a meridian.
See Metric system, under Metric.
Common meter (Hymnol.), four iambic
verses, or lines, making a stanza, the first and third having each
four feet, and the second and fourth each three feet; -- usually
indicated by the initials C.M. -- Long meter
(Hymnol.), iambic verses or lines of four feet each, four
verses usually making a stanza; -- commonly indicated by the initials
L. M. -- Short meter (Hymnol.),
iambic verses or lines, the first, second, and fourth having each
three feet, and the third four feet. The stanza usually consists of
four lines, but is sometimes doubled. Short meter is indicated
by the initials S. M.
Me"ter*age (?), n. [See 1st
Meter.] The act of measuring, or the cost of
measuring.
Me"ter*gram` (?), n. (Mech.)
A measure of energy or work done; the power exerted in raising
one gram through the distance of one meter against
gravitation.
Mete"wand` (?), n. [Mete to
measure + wand.] A measuring rod.
Ascham.
Mete"yard` (?), n. [AS.
metgeard. See Mete to measure, and Yard stick.]
A yard, staff, or rod, used as a measure. [Obs.]
Shak.
Meth (?), n. See
Meathe. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Met`hæm*o*glo"bin (? or ?), n.
[Pref. met- + hæmoglobin.] (Physiol.
Chem.) A stable crystalline compound obtained by the
decomposition of hemoglobin. It is found in old blood
stains.
Meth"al (?), n. [Myristic +
ether + alcohol.] (Chem.) A white waxy
substance, found in small quantities in spermaceti as an ethereal
salt of several fatty acids, and regarded as an alcohol of the
methane series.
Meth"ane (?), n. [See Methal.]
(Chem.) A light, colorless, gaseous, inflammable
hydrocarbon, CH4; marsh gas. See Marsh gas, under
Gas.
Methane series (Chem.), a series of
saturated hydrocarbons, of which methane is the first member and
type, and (because of their general chemical inertness and
indifference) called also the paraffin (little affinity)
series. The lightest members are gases, as methane, ethane;
intermediate members are liquids, as hexane, heptane, etc. (found in
benzine, kerosene, etc.); while the highest members are white, waxy,
or fatty solids, as paraffin proper.
Me*theg"lin (?), n. [W.
meddyglyn; medd mead + llyn liquor, juice. See
Mead a drink.] A fermented beverage made of honey and
water; mead. Gay.
Meth"ene (?), n. [Methyl +
ethylene.] (Chem.) See Methylene.
Meth"e*nyl (?), n. [Methene +
-yl.] (Chem.) The hypothetical hydrocarbon radical
CH, regarded as an essential residue of certain organic
compounds.
Meth"ide (? or ?), n. [See
Methyl.] (Chem.) A binary compound of methyl with
some element; as, aluminium methide,
Al2(CH3)6.
Me*thinks" (?), v. impers.
[imp. Methought (?).] [AS.
þyncan to seem, mē þynceð,
mē þūhte, OE. me thinketh, me
thoughte; akin to G. dünken to seem, denken to
think, and E. think. See Me, and Think.] It
seems to me; I think. See Me. [R., except in
poetry.]
In all ages poets have been had in special reputation,
and, methinks, not without great cause.
Spenser.
Me*thi"on*ate (?), n. (Chem.)
A salt of methionic acid.
Meth`i*on"ic (?), a. [Methyl +
thionic.] (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or
designating, a sulphonic (thionic) acid derivative of methane,
obtained as a stable white crystalline substance,
CH2.(SO3H)2, which forms well
defined salts.
Meth"od (?), n. [F.
méthode, L. methodus, fr. Gr. meqodos
method, investigation following after; meta` after +
"odo`s way.] 1. An orderly procedure
or process; regular manner of doing anything; hence, manner; way;
mode; as, a method of teaching languages; a method of
improving the mind. Addison.
2. Orderly arrangement, elucidation,
development, or classification; clear and lucid exhibition;
systematic arrangement peculiar to an individual.
Though this be madness, yet there's method in
it.
Shak.
All method is a rational progress, a progress
toward an end.
Sir W. Hamilton.
3. (Nat. Hist.) Classification; a mode
or system of classifying natural objects according to certain common
characteristics; as, the method of Theophrastus; the
method of Ray; the Linnæan method.
Syn. -- Order; system; rule; regularity; way; manner; mode;
course; process; means. -- Method, Mode,
Manner. Method implies arrangement; mode, mere
action or existence. Method is a way of reaching a given end
by a series of acts which tend to secure it; mode
relates to a single action, or to the form which a series of acts,
viewed as a whole, exhibits. Manner is literally the
handling of a thing, and has a wider sense, embracing both
method and mode. An instructor may adopt a good
method of teaching to write; the scholar may acquire a bad
mode of holding his pen; the manner in which he is
corrected will greatly affect his success or failure.
{ Me*thod"ic (?), Me*thod"ic*al (?), }
a. [L. methodicus, Gr. &?;: cf. F.
méthodique.] 1. Arranged with
regard to method; disposed in a suitable manner, or in a manner to
illustrate a subject, or to facilitate practical observation; as, the
methodical arrangement of arguments; a methodical
treatise. "Methodical regularity." Addison.
2. Proceeding with regard to method;
systematic. "Aristotle, strict, methodic, and orderly."
Harris.
3. Of or pertaining to the ancient school of
physicians called methodists. Johnson.
-- Me*thod"ic*al*ly, adv. --
Me*thod"ic*al*ness, n.
Me*thod"ios (?), n. The art and
principles of method.
Meth"o*dism (?), n. (Eccl.)
The system of doctrines, polity, and worship, of the sect called
Methodists. Bp. Warburton.
Meth"o*dist (?), n. [Cf. F.
méthodiste. See Method.] 1.
One who observes method. [Obs.]
2. One of an ancient school of physicians who
rejected observation and founded their practice on reasoning and
theory. Sir W. Hamilton.
3. (Theol.) One of a sect of
Christians, the outgrowth of a small association called the "Holy
Club," formed at Oxford University, A.D. 1729, of which the
most conspicuous members were John Wesley and his brother Charles; --
originally so called from the methodical strictness of members of the
club in all religious duties.
4. A person of strict piety; one who lives in
the exact observance of religious duties; -- sometimes so called in
contempt or ridicule.
Meth"o*dist, a. Of or pertaining
to the sect of Methodists; as, Methodist hymns; a
Methodist elder.
{ Meth`o*dis"tic (?), Meth`o*dis"tic*al (?), }
a. Of or pertaining to methodists, or to the
Methodists. -- Meth`o*dis"tic*al*ly,
adv.
Meth`od*i*za"tion (?), n. The act
or process of methodizing, or the state of being
methodized.
Meth"od*ize (?), v. t. [imp. &
p. p. Methodized (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Methodizing (?).] To reduce to method; to
dispose in due order; to arrange in a convenient manner; as, to
methodize one's work or thoughts. Spectator.
Meth"od*i`zer (?), n. One who
methodizes.
Meth`od*o*log"ic*al (?), a. Of or
pertaining to methodology.
Meth`od*ol"o*gy (?), n. [Gr. &?; method
+ -logy.] The science of method or arrangement; a
treatise on method. Coleridge.
Meth"ol (?), n. [Gr. &?; wine + -
ol.] (Chem.) The technical name of methyl alcohol or
wood spirit; also, by extension, the class name of any of the series
of alcohols of the methane series of which methol proper is
the type. See Methyl alcohol, under Methyl.
Me*thought" (?), imp. of
Methinks.
Meth*ox"yl (?), n. [Methyl +
hydroxyl.] (Chem.) A hypothetical radical,
CH3O, analogous to hydroxyl.
Meth"yl (?), n. [See Methylene.]
(Chem.) A hydrocarbon radical, CH3, not
existing alone but regarded as an essential residue of methane, and
appearing as a component part of many derivatives; as, methyl
alcohol, methyl ether, methyl amine, etc.
[Formerly written also methule, methyle, etc.]
Methyl alcohol (Chem.), a light,
volatile, inflammable liquid, CH3.OH, obtained by the
distillation of wood, and hence called wood spirit; -- called
also methol, carbinol, etc. -- Methyl
amine (Chem.), a colorless, inflammable,
alkaline gas, CH3.NH2, having an ammoniacal,
fishy odor. It is produced artificially, and also occurs naturally in
herring brine and other fishy products. It is regarded as ammonia in
which a third of its hydrogen is replaced by methyl, and is a type of
the class of substituted ammonias. -- Methyl
ether (Chem.), a light, volatile ether
CH3.O.CH3, obtained by the etherification of
methyl alcohol; -- called also methyl oxide. --
Methyl green. (Chem.) See under
Green, n. -- Methyl
orange. (Chem.) See Helianthin. --
Methyl violet (Chem.), an artificial
dye, consisting of certain methyl halogen derivatives of
rosaniline.
Meth"yl*al (?), n. [Methylene +
alcohol.] (Chem.) A light, volatile liquid,
H2C(OCH3)2, regarded as a complex
ether, and having a pleasant ethereal odor. It is obtained by the
partial oxidation of methyl alcohol. Called also
formal.
Meth`yl*am"ine (? or ?), n.
(Chem.) See Methyl amine, under
Methyl.
Meth"yl*ate (?), n. [Methyl +
alcoholate.] (Chem.) An alcoholate of methyl
alcohol in which the hydroxyl hydrogen is replaced by a metal, after
the analogy of a hydrate; as, sodium methylate,
CH3ONa.
Meth"yl*ate (?), v. t. To
impregnate or mix with methyl or methyl alcohol.
Meth"yl*a`ted (?), a. (Chem.)
Impregnated with, or containing, methyl alcohol or wood spirit;
as, methylated spirits.
Meth"yl*ene (?), n. [F.
méthylène, from Gr. &?; wine + &?; wood; -- a
word coined to correspond to the name wood spirit.]
(Chem.) A hydrocarbon radical, CH2, not known
in the free state, but regarded as an essential residue and component
of certain derivatives of methane; as, methylene bromide,
CH2Br2; -- formerly called also
methene.
Methylene blue (Chem.), an artificial
dyestuff consisting of a complex sulphur derivative of diphenyl
amine; -- called also pure blue.
Me*thyl"ic (?), a. (Chem.)
Pertaining to, derived from, or containing, methyl;
specifically, designating methyl alcohol. See under
Methyl.
Me*thys"ti*cin (?), n. (Chem.)
A white, silky, crystalline substance extracted from the thick
rootstock of a species of pepper (Piper methysticum) of the
South Sea Islands; -- called also kanakin.
Met"ic (? or ?; 277), n. [Gr. &?;,
prop., changing one's abode; &?;, indicating change + &?; house,
abode: cf. L. metoecus, F. métèque.]
(Gr. Antiq.) A sojourner; an immigrant; an alien resident
in a Grecian city, but not a citizen. Mitford.
The whole force of Athens, metics as well as
citizens, and all the strangers who were then in the
city.
Jowett (Thucyd. ).
Me*tic"u*lous (?), a. [L.
meticulosus, fr. metus fear: cf. F.
méticuleux.] Timid; fearful.
-- Me*tic"u*lous*ly, adv.
{ ||Mé`tif" (?), n. m.
||Mé`tive" (?), n. f. }[F.]
See Métis.
{ ||Mé`tis" (?), n. m.
||Mé`tisse" (?), n. f. }[F.; akin
to Sp. mestizo. See Mestizo.] 1.
The offspring of a white person and an American
Indian.
2. The offspring of a white person and a
quadroon; an octoroon. [Local, U. S.] Bartlett.
Met"o*che (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; a
sharing, fr. &?; to share in; &?; with + &?; to have.] (Arch.)
(a) The space between two dentils.
(b) The space between two triglyphs.
Me*ton"ic (?), a. [Cf. F.
métonique.] Pertaining to, or discovered by,
Meton, the Athenian.
Metonic cycle or year.
(Astron.) See under Cycle.
{ Met`o*nym"ic (?), Met`o*nym"ic*al (?), }
a. [See Metonymy.] Used by way of
metonymy. -- Met`o*nym"ic*al*ly,
adv.
Me*ton"y*my (m&esl;*t&obreve;n"&ibreve;*m&ybreve;; 277),
n. [L. metonymia, Gr. metwnymi`a;
meta`, indicating change + 'o`nyma , for
'o`noma a name: cf. F. métonymie. See
Name.] (Rhet.) A trope in which one word is put
for another that suggests it; as, we say, a man keeps a good
table instead of good provisions; we read
Virgil, that is, his poems; a man has a warm
heart, that is, warm affections.
Met"o*pe (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;;
meta` with, between + &?; opening, hole, the hole in the
frieze between the beam ends.] 1. (Arch.)
The space between two triglyphs of the Doric frieze, which,
among the ancients, was often adorned with carved work. See
Illust. of Entablature.
2. (Zoöl.) The face of a
crab.
&fist; In the Parthenon, groups of centaurs and heroes in high
relief occupy the metopes.
Me*top"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?; the
forehead.] (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the forehead or
frontal bones; frontal; as, the metopic suture.
Met"o*po*man`cy (?), n. [Gr. &?; the
forehead + -mancy.] Fortune telling by physiognomy.
[R.] Urquhart.
{ Met`o*po*scop"ic (?), Met`o*po*scop"ic*al (?),
} a. Of or relating to metoposcopy.
Met`o*pos"co*pist (?), n. One
versed in metoposcopy.
Met`o*pos"co*py (?), n. [Gr. &?;
observing the forehead; &?; the forehead + &?; to view: cf. F.
métoposcopie.] The study of physiognomy; the art
of discovering the character of persons by their features, or the
lines of the face.
||Me*tos"te*on (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr.
&?; after + &?; bone.] (Anat.) The postero-lateral
ossification in the sternum of birds; also, the part resulting from
such ossification.
Me"tre (mē"t&etilde;r), n.
See Meter.
Met"ric (m&ebreve;t"r&ibreve;k), a. [L.
metricus, Gr. &?;: cf. F. métrique. See
Meter rhythm.] 1. Relating to
measurement; involving, or proceeding by, measurement.
2. Of or pertaining to the meter as a
standard of measurement; of or pertaining to the decimal system of
measurement of which a meter is the unit; as, the metric
system; a metric measurement.
Metric analysis (Chem.), analysis by
volume; volumetric analysis. -- Metric system,
a system of weights and measures originating in France, the use
of which is required by law in many countries, and permitted in many
others, including the United States and England. The principal unit
is the meter (see Meter). From this are formed the
are, the liter, the stere, the gram, etc.
These units, and others derived from them, are divided decimally, and
larger units are formed from multiples by 10, 100, 1,000, and 10,000.
The successive multiplies are designated by the prefixes, deca-
, hecto-, kilo-, and myria-; successive
parts by deci-, centi-, and milli-. The prefixes
mega- and micro- are sometimes used to denote a
multiple by one million, and the millionth part, respectively. See
the words formed with these prefixes in the Vocabulary. For metric
tables, see p. 1682.
Met"ric*al (?), a. 1.
Of or pertaining to the meter; arranged in meter; consisting of
verses; as, metrical compositions.
2. Of or pertaining to measurement; as, the
inch, foot, yard, etc., are metrical terms; esp., of or
pertaining to the metric system.
Met"ric*al*ly, adv. In a metrical
manner.
Me*tri"cian (?), n. [Cf. F.
métricien. See Meter rhythm.] A composer of
verses. [Obs.]
Met"ric sys"tem (?). See Metric,
a.
Met`ri*fi*ca"tion (?), n.
Composition in metrical form; versification. [R.]
Tennyson.
Met"ri*fy (?), v. i. [L. metrum
meter + -fy: cf. F. métrifier.] To make
verse. [R.] Skelton.
Me"trist (?), n. A maker of
verses. Bale.
Spenser was no mere metrist, but a great
composer.
Lowell.
||Me*tri"tis (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;
womb + -tis.] (Med.) Inflammation of the
womb.
Met"ro*chrome (?), n. [Gr. &?; + &?;
color.] An instrument for measuring colors.
Met"ro*graph (?), n. [Gr. &?; measure +
-graph.] An instrument attached to a locomotive for
recording its speed and the number and duration of its
stops.
Met`ro*log"ic*al (?), a. [Cf. F.
métrologique.] Of or pertaining to
metrology.
Me*trol"o*gy (?), n. [Gr. &?; measure +
-métrologie.] The science of, or a system of,
weights and measures; also, a treatise on the subject.
Met`ro*ma"ni*a (?), n. [Gr. &?; measure
+ E. mania.] A mania for writing verses.
Met`ro*ma"ni*ac (?), n. One who
has metromania.
Me*trom"e*ter (?), n. [Gr. &?; womb +
-meter.] (Med.) An instrument for measuring the
size of the womb. Knight.
Met"ro*nome (?), n. [Gr. &?; measure +
&?; distribute, assign: cf. F. métronome, It.
metronomo.] An instrument consisting of a short pendulum
with a sliding weight. It is set in motion by clockwork, and serves
to measure time in music.
Me*tron"o*my (?), n. [See
Metronome.] Measurement of time by an
instrument.
Met`ro*nym"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?;; &?;
mother + &?;, for &?; name.] Derived from the name of one's
mother, or other female ancestor; as, a metronymic name or
appellation. -- n. A metronymic
appellation.
Met"ro*pole (?), n. [Cf. F.
métropole. See Metropolis.] A
metropolis. [Obs.] Holinshed.
Me*trop"o*lis (?), n. [L.
metropolis, Gr. &?;, prop., the mother city (in relation to
colonies); &?; mother + &?; city. See Mother, and
Police.]
1. The mother city; the chief city of a
kingdom, state, or country.
[Edinburgh] gray metropolis of the
North.
Tennyson.
2. (Eccl.) The seat, or see, of the
metropolitan, or highest church dignitary.
The great metropolis and see of
Rome.
Shak.
Met`ro*pol"i*tan (?; 277), a. [L.
metropolitanus: cf. F. métropolitain.]
1. Of or pertaining to the capital or
principal city of a country; as, metropolitan
luxury.
2. (Eccl.) Of, pertaining to, or
designating, a metropolitan or the presiding bishop of a country or
province, his office, or his dignity; as, metropolitan
authority. "Bishops metropolitan." Sir T.
More.
Met`ro*pol"i*tan, n. [LL.
metropolitanus.] 1. The superior or
presiding bishop of a country or province.
2. (Lat. Church.) An
archbishop.
3. (Gr. Church) A bishop whose see is
a civil metropolis. His rank is intermediate between that of an
archbishop and a patriarch. Hook.
Met`ro*pol"i*tan*ate (?), n. The
see of a metropolitan bishop. Milman.
Me*trop"o*lite (?), n. [L.
metropolita, Gr. &?;.] A metropolitan.
Barrow.
Met`ro*po*lit"ic*al (?), a. Of or
pertaining to a metropolis; being a metropolis; metropolitan; as, the
metropolitical chair. Bp. Hall.
||Met`ror*rha"gi*a (?), n. [NL., fr.
Gr. &?; womb + &?; to break.] (Med.) Profuse bleeding
from the womb, esp. such as does not occur at the menstrual
period.
Met"ro*scope (?), n. [Gr. &?; womb +
-scope.] A modification of the stethoscope, for directly
auscultating the uterus from the vagina.
||Met`ro*si*de"ros (?), n. [NL., fr.
Gr. &?; heart of a tree + &?; iron.] (Bot.) A myrtaceous
genus of trees or shrubs, found in Australia and the South Sea
Islands, and having very hard wood. Metrosideros vera is the
true ironwood.
Met"ro*tome (?), n. [See
Metrotomy.] (Surg.) An instrument for cutting or
scarifying the uterus or the neck of the uterus.
Me*trot"o*my (?), n. [Gr. &?; womb +
&?; to cut: cf. F. métrotomie.] (Surg.) The
operation of cutting into the uterus; hysterotomy; the Cæsarean
section.
-me*try (?). [See -meter.] A suffix denoting
the art, process, or science, of
measuring; as, acidimetry, chlorometry,
chronometry.
Mette (?), obs. imp. of
Mete, to dream. Chaucer.
Met"tle (?), n. [E. metal, used
in a tropical sense in allusion to the temper of the metal of a sword
blade. See Metal.] Substance or quality of temperament;
spirit, esp. as regards honor, courage, fortitude, ardor, etc.;
disposition; -- usually in a good sense.
A certain critical hour which shall . . . try what
mettle his heart is made of.
South.
Gentlemen of brave mettle.
Shak.
The winged courser, like a generous horse,
Shows most true mettle when you check his course.
Pope.
To put one one's mettle, to cause or incite
one to use one's best efforts.
Met"tled (?), a. Having mettle;
high-spirited; ardent; full of fire. Addison.
Met"tle*some (?), a. Full of
spirit; possessing constitutional ardor; fiery; as, a
mettlesome horse.
-- Met"tle*some*ly, adv. --
Met"tle*some*ness, n.
Meute (?), n. A cage for hawks; a
mew. See 4th Mew, 1. Milman.
Meve (?), v. t. & i. To
move. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Mew (?), n. [AS. m&?;w, akin to
D. meeuw, G. möwe, OHG. m&?;h, Icel.
mār.] (Zoöl.) A gull, esp. the common
British species (Larus canus); called also sea mew,
maa, mar, mow, and cobb.
Mew, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Mewed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Mewing.] [OE. muen, F. muer, fr. L.
mutare to change, fr. movere to move. See Move,
and cf. Mew a cage, Molt.] To shed or cast; to
change; to molt; as, the hawk mewed his feathers.
Nine times the moon had mewed her
horns.
Dryden.
Mew, v. i. To cast the feathers;
to molt; hence, to change; to put on a new appearance.
Now everything doth mew,
And shifts his rustic winter robe.
Turbervile.
Mew, n. [OE. mue, F. mue
change of feathers, scales, skin, the time or place when the change
occurs, fr. muer to molt, mew, L. mutare to change. See
2d Mew.]
1. A cage for hawks while mewing; a coop for
fattening fowls; hence, any inclosure; a place of confinement or
shelter; -- in the latter sense usually in the plural.
Full many a fat partrich had he in
mewe.
Chaucer.
Forthcoming from her darksome mew.
Spenser.
Violets in their secret mews.
Wordsworth.
2. A stable or range of stables for horses; -
- compound used in the plural, and so called from the royal stables
in London, built on the site of the king's mews for hawks.
Mew, v. t. [From Mew a cage.]
To shut up; to inclose; to confine, as in a cage or other
inclosure.
More pity that the eagle should be
mewed.
Shak.
Close mewed in their sedans, for fear of
air.
Dryden.
Mew, v. i. [Of imitative origin; cf. G.
miauen.] To cry as a cat. [Written also
meaw, meow.] Shak.
Mew, n. The common cry of a
cat. Shak.
Mewl (?), v. i. [imp. & p.
p. Mewled (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Mewling.] [Cf. F. miauler to mew, E. mew to cry
as a cat. Cf. Miaul.] To cry, as a young child; to
squall. [Written also meawl.] Shak.
Mewl"er (?), n. One that
mewls.
Mews (?), n. sing. & pl. [Prop. pl. of
mew. See Mew a cage.] An alley where there are
stables; a narrow passage; a confined place. [Eng.]
Mr. Turveydrop's great room . . . was built out into a
mews at the back.
Dickens.
||Mex*al" (?), Mex"i*cal (#),
n. [Sp. mexcal.] See
Mescal.
Mex"i*can (?), a. Of or pertaining
to Mexico or its people. -- n. A native
or inhabitant of Mexico.
Mexican poppy (Bot.), a tropical
American herb of the Poppy family (Argemone Mexicana) with
much the look of a thistle, but having large yellow or white
blossoms. -- Mexican tea (Bot.), an
aromatic kind of pigweed from tropical America (Chenopodium
ambrosioides).
Mex"i*can*ize (?), v. t. To cause
to be like the Mexicans, or their country, esp. in respect of
frequent revolutions of government.
Mex"i*can*ize, v. i. To become
like the Mexicans, or their country or government.
Meyn"e (m&ebreve;n"&esl;), n. [Obs.]
Same as Meine.
Mez*cal" (?), n. Same as
Mescal.
Me*ze"re*on (?), n. [F.
mézéréon, Per.
māzriyūn.] (Bot.) A small European
shrub (Daphne Mezereum), whose acrid bark is used in
medicine.
||Mez*qui"ta (?), n. [Sp.] A
mosque.
Mez"u*zoth (?), n. [Heb.
m&ebreve;zūzōth, pl. of
m&ebreve;zūzāh doorpost.] A piece of
parchment bearing the Decalogue and attached to the doorpost; -- in
use among orthodox Hebrews.
Mez"za*nine (?), n. [F.
mezzanine, It. mezzanino, fr. mezzano middle,
fr. mezzo middle, half. See Mezzo.] (Arch.)
(a) Same as Entresol.
(b) A partial story which is not on the same
level with the story of the main part of the edifice, as of a back
building, where the floors are on a level with landings of the
staircase of the main house.
||Mez"za vo"ce (?). [It., fr. mezzo, fem.
mezza middle, half + voce voice, L. vox.]
(Mus.) With a medium fullness of sound.
||Mez"zo (?), a. [It., from L.
medius middle, half. See Mid, a.]
(Mus.) Mean; not extreme.
Mez"zo-re*lie"vo (?), n. Mezzo-
rilievo.
||Mez"zo-ri*lie"vo (?), n. [It.]
(a) A middle degree of relief in figures,
between high and low relief. (b) Sculpture
in this kind of relief. See under Alto-rilievo.
Mez"zo-so*pra"no (?), a. (Mus.)
Having a medium compass between the soprano and contralto; --
said of the voice of a female singer. -- n.
(a) A mezzo-soprano voice.
(b) A person having such a voice.
Mez"zo*tint (?), n. [Cf. F. mezzo-
tinto.] A manner of engraving on copper or steel by drawing
upon a surface previously roughened, and then removing the roughness
in places by scraping, burnishing, etc., so as to produce the
requisite light and shade. Also, an engraving so produced.
Mez"zo*tint, v. t. To engrave in
mezzotint.
Mez"zo*tint`er (?), n. One who
engraves in mezzotint.
Mez`zo*tin"to (?), n. [It. mezzo
half + tinto tinted, p. p. of tingere to dye, color,
tinge, L. tingere. See Mezzo.]
Mezzotint.
Mez`zo*tin"to, v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Mezzotintoed (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Mezzotintoing (?).] To engrave in mezzotint;
to represent by mezzotint.
Mhorr (?), n. (Zoöl.)
See Mohr.
Mi (?), n. [It.] (Mus.) A
syllable applied to the third tone of the scale of C, i. e.,
to E, in European solmization, but to the third tone of any scale in
the American system.
Mi*a"mis (?), n. pl.; sing.
Miami (&?;). (Ethnol.) A tribe of
Indians that formerly occupied the country between the Wabash and
Maumee rivers.
Mi*ar"gy*rite (?), n. [Gr. &?; less +
&?; silver. So called because it contains less silver than some
kindred ore.] (Min.) A mineral of an iron-black color,
and very sectile, consisting principally of sulphur, antimony, and
silver.
Mi"as (?), n. [Malayan.] The
orang-outang.
Mi*asc"ite (?), n. [Named from
Miask, in the Ural Mountains.] (Min.) A granitoid
rock containing feldspar, biotite, elæolite, and
sodalite.
Mi"asm (?), n. [Cf. F. miasme.]
Miasma.
Mi*as"ma (?), n.; pl.
Miasmata (#). [NL., fr. Gr. &?; defilement, fr. &?;
to pollute.] Infectious particles or germs floating in the air;
air made noxious by the presence of such particles or germs; noxious
effluvia; malaria.
Mi*as"mal (?), a. Containing
miasma; miasmatic.
{ Mi`as*mat"ic (?), Mi`as*mat"ic*al (?), }
a. [Cf. F. miasmatique.] Containing, or
relating to, miasma; caused by miasma; as, miasmatic
diseases.
Mi*as"ma*tist (?), n. One who has
made a special study of miasma.
Mi`as*mol"o*gy (?), n. [Miasma +
-logy.] That department of medical science which treats
of miasma.
Mi*aul" (?), v. i. [imp. & p.
p. Miauled (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Miauling.] [Cf. F. miauler, of imitative origin, and E.
mew. Cf. Mewl.] To cry as a cat; to mew; to
caterwaul. Sir W. Scott.
Mi*aul", n. The crying of a
cat.
Mi"ca (?), n. [L. mica crumb,
grain, particle; cf. F. mica.] (Min.) The name of
a group of minerals characterized by highly perfect cleavage, so that
they readily separate into very thin leaves, more or less elastic.
They differ widely in composition, and vary in color from pale brown
or yellow to green or black. The transparent forms are used in
lanterns, the doors of stoves, etc., being popularly called
isinglass. Formerly called also cat-silver, and
glimmer.
&fist; The important species of the mica group are:
muscovite, common or potash mica, pale brown or green, often
silvery, including damourite (also called hydromica);
biotite, iron-magnesia mica, dark brown, green, or black;
lepidomelane, iron, mica, black; phlogopite, magnesia
mica, colorless, yellow, brown; lepidolite, lithia mica, rose-
red, lilac.
Mica (usually muscovite, also biotite) is an essential
constituent of granite, gneiss, and mica slate; biotite is
common in many eruptive rocks; phlogopite in crystalline
limestone and serpentine.
Mica diorite (Min.), an eruptive rock
allied to diorite but containing mica (biotite) instead of
hornblende. -- Mica powder, a kind of
dynamite containing fine scales of mica. -- Mica
schist, Mica slate (Geol.), a
schistose rock, consisting of mica and quartz with, usually, some
feldspar.
Mi*ca`ce*o-cal*ca"re*ous (?), a.
(Geol.) Partaking of the nature of, or consisting of,
mica and lime; -- applied to a mica schist containing carbonate of
lime.
Mi*ca"ceous (?), a. [Cf. F.
micacé.] Pertaining to, or containing, mica;
splitting into laminæ or leaves like mica.
Mice (?), n., pl
of Mouse.
||Mi*cel"la (?), n.; pl.
Micellæ (#). [NL., dim. of L. mica a
morsel, grain.] (Biol.) A theoretical aggregation of
molecules constituting a structural particle of protoplasm, capable
of increase or diminution without change in chemical
nature.
{ Mich, Miche } (?), v. i.
[OE. michen; cf. OE. muchier, mucier, to
conceal, F. musser, and OHG. mūhhen to waylay.
Cf. Micher, Curmudgeon, Muset.] To lie hid;
to skulk; to act, or carry one's self, sneakingly. [Obs. or
Colloq.] [Written also meach and meech.]
Spenser.
Mich"ael*mas (?), n. [Michael +
mass religious service; OE. Mighelmesse.] The
feast of the archangel Michael, a church festival, celebrated on the
29th of September. Hence, colloquially, autumn.
Michaelmas daisy. (Bot.) See under
Daisy.
Mich"er (?), n. [OE. michare,
muchare. See Mich.] One who skulks, or keeps out
of sight; hence, a truant; an idler; a thief, etc. [Obs.]
Shak.
Mich"er*y (?), n. Theft;
cheating. [Obs.] Gower.
Mich"ing, a. Hiding; skulking;
cowardly. [Colloq.] [Written also meaching and
meeching.]
Mic"kle (m&ibreve;k"k'l), a. [OE.
mikel, muchel, mochel, mukel, AS.
micel, mycel; akin to OS. mikil, OHG.
mihil, mihhil, Icel. mikill, mykill,
Goth. mikils, L. magnus, Gr. me`gas, gen.
mega`loy; cf. Skr. mahat. √103. Cf.
Much, Muckle, Magnitude.] Much;
great. [Written also muckle and mockle.] [Old
Eng. & Scot.] "A man of mickle might." Spenser.
Mic"macs (?), n. pl.; sing.
Micmac (&?;). (Ethnol.) A tribe of
Indians inhabiting Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. [Written also
Mikmaks.]
Mi"co (?), n. [Sp. or Pg. mico.]
(Zoöl.) A small South American monkey (Mico
melanurus), allied to the marmoset. The name was originally
applied to an albino variety.
Mi`cra*cous"tic (?), a. Same as
Microustic.
||Mi*cras"ter (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr.
mikro`s small + &?; star.] (Paleon.) A genus
of sea urchins, similar to Spatangus, abounding in the chalk
formation; -- from the starlike disposal of the ambulacral
furrows.
Mi`cren*ceph"a*lous (?), [Micr- + Gr. &?; brain.]
Having a small brain.
{ Mi"cro- (?), Mi"cr- }. [Gr.
mikro`s small.] A combining form signifying:
(a) Small, little, trivial,
slight; as, microcosm, microscope.
(b) (Metric System, Elec., Mech., etc.)
A millionth part of; as, microfarad,
microohm, micrometer.
Mi`cro*am`père" (?), n.
[Micr- + ampère.] (Elec.) One of the
smaller measures of electrical currents; the millionth part of one
ampère.
||Mi`cro*bac*te"ri*a (?), n. pl. [NL.
See Micro-, and Bacterium.] (Biol.) In the
classification of Cohn, one of the four tribes of Bacteria.
&fist; In this classification bacteria are divided into four
tribes: 1. Spherobacteria, or spherical bacteria, as the genus
Micrococcus. 2. Microbacteria, or bacteria in the form
of short rods, including the genus Bacterium. 3.
Desmobacteria, or bacteria in straight filaments, of which the
genus Bacillus is a type. 4. Spirobacteria, or bacteria
in spiral filaments, as the genus Vibrio.
{ Mi"crobe (?), ||Mi*cro"bi*on (?), }
n. [NL. microbion, fr. Gr. &?; little + &?;
life.] (Biol.) A microscopic organism; -- particularly
applied to bacteria and especially to pathogenic forms; as, the
microbe of fowl cholera.
Mi*cro"bi*an (?), a. (Biol.)
Of, pertaining to, or caused by, microbes; as, the
microbian theory; a microbian disease.
Mi*crob"ic (?), a. (Biol.)
Of or pertaining to a microbe.
Mi*crob"i*cide (?), n. [Microbe
+ L. caedere to kill.] (Biol.) Any agent
detrimental to, or destructive of, the life of microbes or bacterial
organisms.
{ Mi`cro*ce*phal"ic (?), Mi`cro*ceph"a*lous (?),
} a. [Micro- + cephalic,
cephalous.] (Anat.) Having a small head; having
the cranial cavity small; -- opposed to
megacephalic.
Mi`cro-chem"ic*al (?), a. Of or
pertaining to micro-chemistry; as, a micro-chemical
test.
Mi`cro-chem"is*try (?), n. [Micro-
+ chemistry.] The application of chemical tests to
minute objects or portions of matter, magnified by the use of the
microscopy; -- distinguished from macro-chemistry.
Mi`cro*chro*nom"e*ter (?), n. A
chronoscope.
Mi"cro*cline (?), n. [Micro- +
Gr. &?; to incline.] (Min.) A mineral of the feldspar
group, like orthoclase or common feldspar in composition, but
triclinic in form.
Mi`cro*coc"cal (?), a. Of or
pertaining to micrococci; caused by micrococci.
Nature.
||Mi`cro*coc"cus (?), n.; pl.
Micrococci (#). [NL. See Micro-, and
Coccus.] (Biol.) A genus of Spherobacteria,
in the form of very small globular or oval cells, forming, by
transverse division, filaments, or chains of cells, or in some cases
single organisms shaped like dumb-bells (Diplococcus), all
without the power of motion. See Illust. of
Ascoccus.
&fist; Physiologically, micrococci are divided into three groups;
chromogenic, characterized by their power of forming pigment;
zymogenic, including those associated with definite chemical
processes; and pathogenic, those connected with disease.
Mi"cro*cosm (?), n. [F.
microcosme, L. microcosmus, fr. Gr. mikro`s
small + ko`smos the world.] A little world; a
miniature universe. Hence (so called by Paracelsus), a man, as a
supposed epitome of the exterior universe or great world. Opposed to
macrocosm. Shak.
{ Mi`cro*cos"mic (?), Mi`cro*cos"mic*al (?), }
a. [Cf. F. microcosmique.] Of or
pertaining to the microcosm.
Microcosmic salt (Chem.), a white
crystalline substance obtained by mixing solutions of sodium
phosphate and ammonium phosphate, and also called hydric-sodic-
ammonic-phosphate. It is a powerful flux, and is used as a
substitute for borax as a blowpipe reagent in testing for the
metallic oxides. Originally obtained by the alchemists from human
urine, and called sal microcosmicum.
Mi`cro*cos*mog"ra*phy (?), n.
[Microcosm + -graphy.] Description of man as a
microcosm.
Mi`cro*cou`lomb" (?), n. [Micro-
+ coulomb.] (Elec.) A measure of electrical
quantity; the millionth part of one coulomb.
Mi`cro*cous"tic (?), a. [Micro-
+ acoustic: cf. F. microcoustique,
micracoustique.] Pertaining, or suited, to the audition
of small sounds; fitted to assist hearing.
Mi`cro*cous"tic, n. An instrument
for making faint sounds audible, as to a partially deaf
person.
Mi`cro*crith" (?), n. [Micro- +
crith.] (Chem.) The weight of the half hydrogen
molecule, or of the hydrogen atom, taken as the standard in comparing
the atomic weights of the elements; thus, an atom of oxygen weighs
sixteen microcriths. See Crith. J. P.
Cooke.
Mi`cro*crys"tal*line (?), a. [Micro-
+ crystalline.] (Crystallog.) Crystalline on
a fine, or microscopic, scale; consisting of fine crystals; as, the
ground mass of certain porphyrics is
microcrystalline.
Mi"cro*cyte (?), n. [Micro- +
Gr. &?; a hollow vessel.] (Physiol.) One of the
elementary granules found in blood. They are much smaller than an
ordinary corpuscle, and are particularly noticeable in disease, as in
anæmia.
Mic"ro*dont (?), a. [Micr- + Gr.
'odoy`s, 'odo`ntos, a tooth.] (Anat.)
Having small teeth.
Mi`cro*far"ad (?), n. [Micro- +
farad.] (Elec.) The millionth part of a
farad.
Mi"cro*form (?), n. [Micro- +
form, n.] (Biol.) A microscopic form of life; an
animal or vegetable organism of microscopic size.
Mi`cro-ge`o*log"ic*al (?), a. Of
or pertaining to micro-geology.
Mi`cro-ge*ol"o*gy (?), n. [Micro-
+ geology.] The part of geology relating to
structure and organisms which require to be studied with a
microscope.
Mi"cro*graph (?), n. [See
Micrography.] An instrument for executing minute writing
or engraving.
Mi`cro*graph"ic (?), a. Of or
pertaining to micrography.
Mi*crog"ra*phy (?), n. [Micro- +
-graphy: cf. F. micrographie.] The description of
microscopic objects.
Mi*crohm" (?), n. [Micr- +
ohm.] (Elec.) The millionth part of an
ohm.
||Mi`cro*lep`i*dop"te*ra (?), n. pl.
[NL. See Micro-, and Lepidoptera.] (Zoöl.)
A tribe of Lepidoptera, including a vast number of minute
species, as the plume moth, clothes moth, etc.
||Mi`cro*les"tes (?), n. [NL., from Gr.
mikro`s small + &?; a robber.] (Paleon.) An
extinct genus of small Triassic mammals, the oldest yet found in
European strata.
Mi"cro*lite (?), n. [Micro- +
-lite.] (Min.)
1. A rare mineral of resinous luster and high
specific gravity. It is a tantalate of calcium, and occurs in
octahedral crystals usually very minute.
2. (Min.) A minute inclosed crystal,
often observed when minerals or rocks are examined in thin sections
under the microscope.
Mi"cro*lith (?), n. [Micro- +
lith.] (Min.) Same as Microlite,
2.
Mi`cro*lith"ic (?), a. Formed of
small stones.
{ Mi`cro*log"ic (?), Mi`cro*log"ic*al (?), }
a. Of or pertaining to micrology; very minute;
as, micrologic examination. --
Mi`cro*log"ic*al*ly, adv.
Mi*crol"o*gy (?), n. [Micro- +
-logy.]
1. That part of science which treats of
microscopic objects, or depends on microscopic observation.
2. Attention to petty items or
differences. W. Taylor.
Mi"cro*mere (?), n. [Micro- +
-mere.] (Biol.) One of the smaller cells, or
blastomeres, resulting from the complete segmentation of a
telolecithal ovum.
Mi*crom"e*ter (?), n. [Micro- +
-meter: cf. F. micromètre.] An instrument,
used with a telescope or microscope, for measuring minute distances,
or the apparent diameters of objects which subtend minute angles. The
measurement given directly is that of the image of the object formed
at the focus of the object glass.
Circular, or Ring, micrometer,
a metallic ring fixed in the focus of the object glass of a
telescope, and used to determine differences of right ascension and
declination between stars by observations of the times at which the
stars cross the inner or outer periphery of the ring. --
Double image micrometer, a micrometer in which
two images of an object are formed in the field, usually by the two
halves of a bisected lens which are movable along their line of
section by a screw, and distances are determined by the number of
screw revolutions necessary to bring the points to be measured into
optical coincidence. When the two images are formed by a bisected
object glass, it is called a divided-object-glass micrometer,
and when the instrument is large and equatorially mounted, it is
known as a heliometer. -- Double refraction
micrometer, a species of double image micrometer, in
which the two images are formed by the double refraction of rock
crystal. -- Filar, or Bifilar,
micrometer. See under Bifilar. --
Micrometer caliper or gauge
(Mech.), a caliper or gauge with a micrometer screw, for
measuring dimensions with great accuracy. -- Micrometer
head, the head of a micrometer screw. --
Micrometer microscope, a compound microscope
combined with a filar micrometer, used chiefly for reading and
subdividing the divisions of large astronomical and geodetical
instruments. -- Micrometer screw, a screw
with a graduated head used in some forms of micrometers. --
Position micrometer. See under
Position. -- Scale, or
Linear, micrometer, a minute
and very delicately graduated scale of equal parts used in the field
of a telescope or microscope, for measuring distances by direct
comparison.
{ Mi`cro*met"ric (?), Mi`cro*met"ric*al (?), }
a. [Cf. F. micrométrique.]
Belonging to micrometry; made by the micrometer. --
Mi`cro*met"ric*al*ly, adv.
Mi*crom"e*try (?), n. The art of
measuring with a micrometer.
Mi`cro*mil"li*me`ter (?), n. [Micro-
+ millimeter.] The millionth part of a
meter.
Mic"ron (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr.
mikro`s small.] (Physics) A measure of length;
the thousandth part of one millimeter; the millionth part of a
meter.
Mi"cro*ne"sian (?), a. [From
Micronesia, fr. Gr. mikro`s small +
nh^sos an island.] Of or pertaining to Micronesia, a
collective designation of the islands in the western part of the
Pacific Ocean, embracing the Marshall and Gilbert groups, the
Ladrones, the Carolines, etc.
Mi`cro*ne"sians (?), n. pl.; sing.
Micronesian. (Ethnol.) A dark race
inhabiting the Micronesian Islands. They are supposed to be a mixed
race, derived from Polynesians and Papuans.
Mi`cro*nom"e*ter (?), n. [Micro-
+ chronometer.] An instrument for noting minute portions
of time.
Mi`cro*ör"gan*ism (?), n.
[Micro- + organism.] (Biol.) Any
microscopic form of life; -- particularly applied to bacteria and
similar organisms, esp. such are supposed to cause infectious
diseases.
Mi`cro*pan"to*graph (?), n. [Micro-
+ pantograph.] A kind of pantograph which produces
copies microscopically minute.
Mi`cro*peg"ma*tite (?), n. [Micro-
+ pegmatite.] (Min.) A rock showing under the
microscope the structure of a graphic granite (pegmatite). --
Mi`cro*peg`ma*tit"ic (#), a.
Mi"cro*phone (?), n. [Micro- +
Gr. &?; sound, voice: cf. F. microphone.] (Physics)
An instrument for intensifying and making audible very feeble
sounds. It produces its effects by the changes of intensity in an
electric current, occasioned by the variations in the contact
resistance of conducting bodies, especially of imperfect conductors,
under the action of acoustic vibrations.
Mi`cro*phon"ics (?), n. [See
Microphone.] The science which treats of the means of
increasing the intensity of low or weak sounds, or of the
microphone.
Mi*croph"o*nous (?), a. Serving to
augment the intensity of weak sounds; microcoustic.
Mi`cro*pho"to*graph (?), n. [Micro-
+ photograph.]
1. A microscopically small photograph of a
picture, writing, printed page, etc.
2. An enlarged representation of a
microscopic object, produced by throwing upon a sensitive plate the
magnified image of an object formed by a microscope or other suitable
combination of lenses.
&fist; A picture of this kind is preferably called a
photomicrograph.
Mi`cro*pho*tog"ra*phy (?), n. The
art of making microphotographs.
{ Mi`croph*thal"mi*a (?), Mi`croph*thal"my (?),
} n. [Micro- + Gr. 'ofqalmo`s
eye.] An unnatural smallness of the eyes, occurring as the
result of disease or of imperfect development.
Mi*croph"yl*lous (?), a. [Micro-
+ Gr. fy`llon leaf.] (Bot.) Small-
leaved.
Mi*croph"y*tal (?), a. (Bot.)
Pertaining to, or of the nature of, microphytes.
Mi"cro*phyte (?), n. [Micro- +
Gr. &?; a plant: cf. F. microphyte.] (Bot.) A very
minute plant, one of certain unicellular algæ, such as the
germs of various infectious diseases are believed to be.
Mi"cro*pyle (?), n. [Micro- +
Gr. &?; gate, orifice: cf. F. micropyle.] (Biol.)
(a) An opening in the membranes surrounding the
ovum, by which nutrition is assisted and the entrance of the
spermatozoa permitted. (b) An opening in
the outer coat of a seed, through which the fecundating pollen enters
the ovule. -- Mi*crop"y*lar (#),
a.
Mi*cros"co*pal (?), a. Pertaining
to microscopy, or to the use of the microscope.
Huxley.
Mi"cro*scope (?), n. [Micro- +
-scope.] An optical instrument, consisting of a lens, or
combination of lenses, for making an enlarged image of an object
which is too minute to be viewed by the naked eye.
Compound microscope, an instrument
consisting of a combination of lenses such that the image formed by
the lens or set of lenses nearest the object (called the
objective) is magnified by another lens called the
ocular or eyepiece. -- Oxyhydrogen
microscope, and Solar microscope. See
under Oxyhydrogen, and Solar. -- Simple,
or Single, microscope, a single
convex lens used to magnify objects placed in its focus.
Mi`cro*sco"pi*al (?), a.
Microscopic. [R.] Berkeley.
{ Mi`cro*scop"ic (?), Mi`cro*scop"ic*al (?), }
a. [Cf. F. microscopique.]
1. Of or pertaining to the microscope or to
microscopy; made with a microscope; as, microscopic
observation.
2. Able to see extremely minute
objects.
Why has not man a microscopic eye?
Pope.
3. Very small; visible only by the aid of a
microscope; as, a microscopic insect.
Mi`cro*scop"ic*al*ly, adv. By the
microscope; with minute inspection; in a microscopic
manner.
Mi*cros"co*pist (?; 277), n. One
skilled in, or given to, microscopy.
Mi*cros"co*py (?), n. The use of
the microscope; investigation with the microscope.
Mi"cro*seme (?), a. [Micro- +
Gr. &?; sign, mark: cf. F. microsème.] (Anat.)
Having the orbital index relatively small; having the orbits
broad transversely; -- opposed to megaseme.
Mi`cro*spec"tro*scope
(mī`kr&osl;*sp&ebreve;k"tr&osl;*skōp or
m&ibreve;`kr&osl;-), n. [Micro- +
spectroscope.] (Physics) A spectroscope arranged
for attachment to a microscope, for observation of the spectrum of
light from minute portions of any substance.
||Mi`cro*spo*ran"gi*um (?), n. [NL. See
Micro-, and Sporangium.] (Bot.) A
sporangium or conceptacle containing only very minute spores. Cf.
Macrosporangium.
Mi"cro*spore (?), n. [Micro- +
spore.] (Bot.) One of the exceedingly minute
spores found in certain flowerless plants, as Selaginella and
Isoetes, which bear two kinds of spores, one very much smaller
than the other. Cf. Macrospore.
Mi`cro*spor"ic (?), a. (Bot.)
Of or pertaining to microspores.
Mi"cro*sthene (?), n. [Micro- +
Gr. sqe`nos might, strength.] (Zoöl.) One
of a group of mammals having a small size as a typical
characteristic. It includes the lower orders, as the
Insectivora, Cheiroptera, Rodentia, and
Edentata.
Mi`cro*sthen"ic (?), a.
(Zoöl.) Having a typically small size; of or
pertaining to the microsthenes.
Mi`cro*ta*sim"e*ter (?), n. [Micro-
+ tasimeter.] (Physics) A tasimeter,
especially when arranged for measuring very small extensions. See
Tasimeter.
Mi"cro*tome (?), n. [Micro- +
Gr. te`mnein to cut.] An instrument for making very
thin sections for microscopical examination.
Mi*crot"o*mist (?), n. One who is
skilled in or practices microtomy.
Mi*crot"o*my (?), n. The art of
using the microtome; investigation carried on with the
microtome.
Mi`cro*volt" (?), n. [Micro- +
volt.] (Elec.) A measure of electro-motive force;
the millionth part of one volt.
Mi`cro*we"ber (?), n. [Micro- +
weber.] (Elec.) The millionth part of one
weber.
||Mi`cro*zo"a (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr.
mikro`s small + zw^,on an animal.]
(Zoöl.) The Infusoria.
Mi`cro*zo"ö*spore (?), n.
[Micro- + zoöspore.] (Bot.) A small
motile spore furnished with two vibratile cilia, found in certain
green algæ.
Mi"cro*zyme (?), n. [Micro- +
Gr. zy`mh leaven.] (Biol.) A
microörganism which is supposed to act like a ferment in causing
or propagating certain infectious or contagious diseases; a
pathogenic bacterial organism.
Mic`tu*ri"tion (?), n. [L.
micturire to desire to make water, v. desid. fr.
mingere, mictum, to make water.] The act of
voiding urine; also, a morbidly frequent passing of the urine, in
consequence of disease.
Mid (m&ibreve;d), a.
[Compar. wanting; superl.
Midmost.] [AS. midd; akin to OS. middi, D.
mid (in comp.), OHG. mitti, Icel. miðr,
Goth. midjis, L. medius, Gr. me`sos, Skr.
madhya. √271. Cf. Amid, Middle,
Midst, Mean, Mediate, Meridian,
Mizzen, Moiety.]
1. Denoting the middle part; as, in
mid ocean.
No more the mounting larks, while Daphne sings,
Shall list'ning in mid air suspend their wings.
Pope.
2. Occupying a middle position; middle; as,
the mid finger; the mid hour of night.
3. (Phon.) Made with a somewhat
elevated position of some certain part of the tongue, in relation to
the palate; midway between the high and the low; --
said of certain vowel sounds; as, ā (āle), &ebreve;
(&ebreve;ll), ō (ōld). See Guide to Pronunciation,
§§ 10, 11.
&fist; Mid is much used as a prefix, or combining form,
denoting the middle or middle part of a thing; as,
mid-air, mid-channel, mid-age, midday,
midland, etc. Also, specifically, in geometry, to denote a
circle inscribed in a triangle (a midcircle), or relation to
such a circle; as, mid-center, midradius.
Mid, n. Middle. [Obs.]
About the mid of night come to my
tent.
Shak.
Mid, prep. See
Amid.
Mi"da (?), n. [Gr. &?; a destructive
insect in pulse.] (Zoöl.) The larva of the bean
fly.
Mi"das (?), n. [So called from L.
Midas, a man fabled to have had ass's ears.]
(Zoöl.) A genus of longeared South American monkeys,
including numerous species of marmosets. See
Marmoset.
Mi"das's ear" (?). [See Midas.]
(Zoöl.) A pulmonate mollusk (Auricula, or
Ellobium, aurismidæ); -- so called from resemblance to a
human ear.
Mid"brain` (?), n. [Mid, a. +
brain.] (Anat.) The middle segment of the brain;
the mesencephalon. See Brain.
Mid"day` (?), n. [AS.
middæg. See Mid, a., and
Day.] The middle part of the day; noon.
Mid"day`, a. Of or pertaining to
noon; meridional; as, the midday sun.
Mid"den (?), n. [Also midding.]
[Cf. Dan. mögdynge, E. muck, and dung.]
1. A dunghill. [Prov. Eng.]
2. An accumulation of refuse about a dwelling
place; especially, an accumulation of shells or of cinders, bones,
and other refuse on the supposed site of the dwelling places of
prehistoric tribes, -- as on the shores of the Baltic Sea and in many
other places. See Kitchen middens.
Mid"den crow" (?). (Zoöl.) The common
European crow. [Prov. Eng.]
Mid"dest (?), a.;
superl. of Mid. [See Midst.]
Situated most nearly in the middle; middlemost; midmost.
[Obs.] " 'Mongst the middest crowd." Spenser.
Mid"dest, n. Midst; middle.
[Obs.] Fuller.
Mid"ding (?), n. Same as
Midden.
Mid"dle (-d'l), a. [OE. middel,
AS. middel; akin to D. middel, OHG. muttil, G.
mittel. √271. See Mid, a.]
1. Equally distant from the extreme either of
a number of things or of one thing; mean; medial; as, the
middle house in a row; a middle rank or station in
life; flowers of middle summer; men of middle
age.
2. Intermediate; intervening.
Will, seeking good, finds many middle
ends.
Sir J. Davies.
&fist; Middle is sometimes used in the formation of self-
explaining compounds; as, middle-sized, middle-
witted.
Middle Ages, the period of time intervening
between the decline of the Roman Empire and the revival of letters.
Hallam regards it as beginning with the sixth and ending with the
fifteenth century. -- Middle class, in
England, people who have an intermediate position between the
aristocracy and the artisan class. It includes professional men,
bankers, merchants, and small landed proprietors
The middle-class electorate of Great
Britain.
M. Arnold.
--
Middle distance. (Paint.) See
Middle-ground. -- Middle English.
See English, n., 2. --
Middle Kingdom, China. -- Middle
oil (Chem.), that part of the distillate
obtained from coal tar which passes over between 170° and
230° Centigrade; -- distinguished from the light, and the
heavy or dead, oil. -- Middle
passage, in the slave trade, that part of the Atlantic
Ocean between Africa and the West Indies. -- Middle
post. (Arch.) Same as King-post. --
Middle States, New York, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, and Delaware; which, at the time of the formation of
the Union, occupied a middle position between the Eastern States (or
New England) and the Southern States. [U.S.] -- Middle
term (Logic), that term of a syllogism with
which the two extremes are separately compared, and by means of which
they are brought together in the conclusion. Brande. --
Middle tint (Paint.), a subdued or
neutral tint. Fairholt. -- Middle
voice. (Gram.) See under Voice. --
Middle watch, the period from midnight to four
A. M.; also, the men on watch during that time.
Ham. Nav. Encyc. -- Middle weight, a
pugilist, boxer, or wrestler classed as of medium weight, i.
e., over 140 and not over 160 lbs., in distinction from those
classed as light weights, heavy weights, etc.
Mid"dle (?), n. [AS. middel. See
Middle, a.] The point or part equally
distant from the extremities or exterior limits, as of a line, a
surface, or a solid; an intervening point or part in space, time, or
order of series; the midst; central portion; specif., the
waist. Chaucer. "The middle of the land."
Judg. ix. 37.
In this, as in most questions of state, there is a
middle.
Burke.
Syn. -- See Midst.
Mid"dle-age` (?), [Middle + age. Cf.
Mediæval.] Of or pertaining to the Middle Ages;
mediæval.
Mid"dle-aged` (?), a. Being about
the middle of the ordinary age of man; between 30 and 50 years
old.
Mid"dle-earth` (?), n. The world,
considered as lying between heaven and hell. [Obs.]
Shak.
Mid"dle-ground` (?), n. (Paint.)
That part of a picture between the foreground and the
background.
Mid"dle*man (?), n.; pl.
Middlemen (&?;).
1. An agent between two parties; a broker; a
go-between; any dealer between the producer and the consumer; in
Ireland, one who takes land of the proprietors in large tracts, and
then rents it out in small portions to the peasantry.
2. A person of intermediate rank; a
commoner.
3. (Mil.) The man who occupies a
central position in a file of soldiers.
Mid"dle*most` (?), a. [Cf.
Midmost.] Being in the middle, or nearest the middle;
midmost.
Mid"dler (?), n. One of a middle
or intermediate class in some schools and seminaries.
Mid"dling (?), a. Of middle rank,
state, size, or quality; about equally distant from the extremes;
medium; moderate; mediocre; ordinary. "A town of but
middling size." Hallam.
Plainly furnished, as beseemed the middling
circumstances of its inhabitants.
Hawthorne.
-- Mid"dling*ly, adv. --
Mid"dling*ness, n.
Mid"dlings (?), n. pl.
1. A combination of the coarser parts of ground
wheat the finest bran, separated from the fine flour and coarse bran
in bolting; -- formerly regarded as valuable only for feed; but now,
after separation of the bran, used for making the best quality of
flour. Middlings contain a large proportion of
gluten.
2. In the southern and western parts of the
United States, the portion of the hog between the ham and the
shoulder; bacon; -- called also middles.
Bartlett.
Mid"dy (?), n.; pl.
Middies (&?;). A colloquial abbreviation of
midshipman.
Mid"feath`er (?), n. 1.
(Steam Boilers) A vertical water space in a fire box or
combustion chamber.
2. (Mining) A support for the center
of a tunnel.
Mid"gard` (?), n. [Icel.
miðgarðr.] (Scand. Myth.) The middle space
or region between heaven and hell; the abode of human beings; the
earth.
Midge (?), n. [OE. migge, AS.
mycge; akin to OS. muggia, D. mug, G.
mücke, OHG. mucca, Icel. m&?;, Sw.
mygga, mygg, Dan. myg; perh. named from its
buzzing; cf. Gr. &?; to low, bellow.] (Zoöl.)
1. Any one of many small, delicate, long-
legged flies of the Chironomus, and allied genera, which do
not bite. Their larvæ are usually aquatic.
2. A very small fly, abundant in many parts
of the United States and Canada, noted for the irritating quality of
its bite.
&fist; The name is also applied to various other small flies. See
Wheat midge, under Wheat.
Midg"et (?), n. [Dim. of
midge.]
1. (Zoöl.) A minute bloodsucking
fly. [Local, U. S.]
2. A very diminutive person.
Mid"gut` (?), n. [Mid, a. +
gut.] (Anat.) The middle part of the alimentary
canal from the stomach, or entrance of the bile duct, to, or
including, the large intestine.
Mid"heav`en (?), n. 1.
The midst or middle of heaven or the sky.
2. (Astron.) The meridian, or middle
line of the heavens; the point of the ecliptic on the
meridian.
Mid"land (?), a. 1.
Being in the interior country; distant from the coast or
seashore; as, midland towns or inhabitants.
Howell.
2. Surrounded by the land;
mediterranean.
And on the midland sea the French had
awed.
Dryden.
Mid"land (?), n. The interior or
central region of a country; -- usually in the plural.
Drayton.
Mid"main` (?), n. The middle part
of the main or sea. [Poetic] Chapman.
Mid"most` (?), a. [OE.
middemiste. Cf. Foremost.] Middle;
middlemost.
Ere night's midmost, stillest hour was
past.
Byron.
Mid"night` (?), n. [AS.
midniht.] The middle of the night; twelve o'clock at
night.
The iron tongue of midnight hath told
twelve.
Shak.
Mid"night`, a. Being in, or
characteristic of, the middle of the night; as, midnight
studies; midnight gloom. "Midnight shout and
revelry." Milton.
||Mid*rash" (?), n.; pl.
Midrashim (#), Midrashoth (#).
[Heb., explanation.] A talmudic exposition of the Hebrew law, or
of some part of it.
Mid"rib` (?), n. (Bot.) A
continuation of the petiole, extending from the base to the apex of
the lamina of a leaf.
Mid"riff (m&ibreve;d"r&ibreve;f), n.
[AS. midhrif; midd mid, middle + hrif bowels,
womb; akin to OFries. midref midriff, rif, ref,
belly, OHG. href body, and to L. corpus body. See
Corpse.] (Anat.) See Diaphragm,
n., 2.
Smote him into the midriff with a
stone.
Milton.
{ Mid" sea", or Mid"-sea" (?) }. The middle
part of the sea or ocean. Milton.
The Mid-sea, the Mediterranean Sea.
[Obs.]
Mid"ship`, a. Of or pertaining to,
or being in, the middle of a ship.
Midship beam (Naut.), the beam or
timber upon which the broadest part of a vessel is formed. --
Midship bend, the broadest frame in a
vessel. Weale.
Mid"ship`man (?), n.; pl.
Midshipmen (&?;).
1. (a) Formerly, a kind of
naval cadet, in a ship of war, whose business was to carry orders,
messages, reports, etc., between the officers of the quarter-deck and
those of the forecastle, and render other services as required.
(b) In the English naval service, the second
rank attained by a combatant officer after a term of service as naval
cadet. Having served three and a half years in this rank, and passed
an examination, he is eligible to