List of Abbreviations Used in This Dictionary (part 12)

Murmur, mur′mur, n. a low, indistinct sound, like that of running water: a complaint in a low, muttering voice.—v.i. to utter a murmur: to grumble:—pr.p. mur′muring; pa.t. and pa.p. mur′mured.—n. Mur′murer.—adj. Mur′muring, making a low continuous noise.—adv. Mur′muringly, with a low murmuring sound: in a murmuring manner.—adj. Mur′murous, attended with murmurs: exciting murmur.—adv. Mur′murously. [Fr.,—L.; imit.]

Murphy, mur′fi, n. (coll.) a potato:—pl. Mur′phies (-fiz). [From the common Irish name Murphy.]

Murra, mur′a, n. an ornamental stone for vases, &c., described by Pliny, most probably fluor-spar; it was first brought to Rome by Pompey, 61 B.C.—adjs. Murr′hine, Murr′ine, Myrr′hine.

Murrain, mur′rān, or -′rin, n. an infectious and fatal disease among cattle, esp. foot-and-mouth disease.—n. Mur′ren (Milt.). [O. Fr. morine, a carcass—L. mori, to die. See Mortal.]

Murrey, mur′i, adj. dark red or reddish brown, of mulberry colour.

Murry, same as Moray (q.v.).

Murther, Murtherer=Murder, Murderer.

Musaceous, mū-zā′shus, adj. relating to an order of plants, of which the genus Mū′sa is the type, the banana or plantain family.

Musang, mū-sang′, n. a paradoxure, or a related civet, esp. the East Indian coffee-rat. [Malay.]

Musca, mus′kä, n. a genus of insects, including the house-fly, &c.—n. Muscatō′rium, a flabellum.—Muscæ volitantes, ocular spectra like floating black spots before the eyes. [L. musca.]

Muscadel, mus′ka-del, n. a rich, spicy wine: also the grape producing it: a fragrant and delicious pear—also Mus′cadine, Mus′cat, Mus′catel.—n.pl. Mus′catels, sun-dried raisins. [O. Fr.,—It. moscadello, dim. of muscato—L. muscus, musk.]

Muscadin, müs-ka-dang′, n. a fop or dandy. [Fr.]

Muscardine, mus′kar-din, n. a fungus destructive to silkworms, also the disease caused by it. [Fr.]

Muscardine, mus′kar-din, n. a dormouse. [Fr.]

Muschelkalk, mush′el-kalk, n. the middle member of the Triassic system as developed in Germany, consisting chiefly of limestone—wanting in Britain. [Ger. muschel, shell, kalk, lime.]

Muschetor, mus′che-tor, n. (her.) a black spot like an ermine spot, but without its three specks.—Also Mus′chetour. [O. Fr.,—L. musca, a fly.]

Muscle, mus′l, n. an animal tissue consisting of bundles of fibres through whose contractility bodily movement is effected, the fibres of the voluntary muscles being striped, those of the involuntary (of intestinal canal, blood-vessels, and of skin) unstriped.—adj. Mus′cled, supplied with muscles.—ns. Mus′cle-read′ing, the interpretation of slight involuntary muscular movements; Mus′cling, the delineation of muscles, as in a picture; Musculā′tion, the arrangement of muscles of a body; Musculos′ity.—adj. Mus′culous, pertaining to muscle: full of muscles, strong. [Fr.,—L. musculus, dim. of mus, a mouse, a muscle.]

Muscoid, mus′koid, adj. (bot.) moss-like.—n. a moss-like, flowerless plant.—ns. Muscol′ogist, one skilled in muscology; Muscol′ogy, the part of botany which treats of mosses; Muscos′ity, mossiness. [L. muscus, moss, Gr. eidos, form.]

Muscovado, mus-kō-vā′do, n. the moist, dark-coloured impure sugar left after evaporating the juice from the sugar-cane and draining off the molasses, unrefined sugar. [Sp. moscabado.]

Muscovite, mus′co-vīt, n. a native or an inhabitant of Moscow, or of Russia: the desman or Muscovitic rat: (min.) potash mica, a silicate of alumina and potash, yellowish, brownish, or greenish, with pearly or almost metallic lustre, its thin transparent plates still used as glass—also Muscovy glass.—adj. of or pertaining to Moscow or to Russia—also Muscovit′ic.—n. Mus′covy-duck (see Musk).

Muscular, mus′kū-lar, adj. pertaining to a muscle: consisting of muscles: having strong muscles: brawny: strong: vigorous.—n. Muscular′ity, state of being muscular.—adv. Mus′cularly.—adjs. Musculocutā′neous, muscular and cutaneous—of certain nerves; Mus′culous, sinewy.—Muscular Christianity, a phrase humorously applied to that vigorous combination of Christian living with devotion to athletic enjoyments associated with Charles Kingsley and his admirers (the name was, however, repudiated by him); Muscular excitability, the contracting property of a muscle; Muscular pile, a voltaic battery employed in biological experiments; Muscular system, the whole of the muscular tissue of a body.

Muse, mūz, v.i. to study in silence: to be absent-minded: to meditate.—n. deep thought: contemplation: absence of mind: the inspiring power, as of a poet.—adj. Mused, bemused, muzzy, fuddled.—n. Mus′er.—adv. Mus′ingly. [Fr. muser, to loiter (It. musare); acc. to Diez and Skeat, from O. Fr. muse (Fr. museau), the snout of an animal. Others explain Fr. muser as from Low L. mussāre—L. mussāre, to murmur.]

Muse, mūz, n. one of the nine goddesses of poetry, music, and the other liberal arts—daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne: an inspiring poetic inspiration: (Milt.) an inspired poet.—Names of the Muses:—Calliope, of epic poetry; Clio, of history; Erato, of amatory poetry; Euterpe, of lyric poetry; Melpomene, of tragedy; Polyhymnia, of lyric poetry and eloquence; Terpsichore, of dancing; Thalia, of comedy; Urania, of astronomy. [Fr.,—L. musa—Gr. mousa.]

Muset, mūz′et, n. (Shak.) a gap in a fence or thicket through which an animal passes.

Musette, mū-zet′, n. a small oboe: an old French bagpipe: a simple pastoral melody.

Museum, mū-zē′um, n. a collection of natural, scientific, or other curiosities, or of works of art.—ns. Museol′ogy, the science of arranging—Museog′raphy, of describing, museums. [L.,—Gr. mouseion; cf. Muse.]

Mush, mush, n. meal boiled in water, esp. Indian meal: anything pulpy.—adj. Mush′y, soft, pulpy. [Prob. mash.]

Mush, mush, v.t. to notch, a dress-fabric ornamentally at the side with a stamp. [Prob. a form of mesh.]

Mushed, musht, adj. (prov.) worn out, exhausted.

Mushroom, mush′rōōm, n. the common name of certain fungi, esp. such as are edible: (fig.) one who rises suddenly from a low condition: an upstart.—n. Mush′room-spawn, the substance in which the reproductive mycelium of the mushroom is embodied. [O. Fr. mousseron, through mousse, moss—Old High Ger. mos (Ger. moos, moss).]

Music, mū′zik, n. a connected series of sweet sounds: melody or harmony: the science which treats of harmony: the art of combining sounds so as to please the ear: a musical composition: (U.S.) heated argument, also amusement.—adj. Mū′sical, pertaining to, or producing, music: pleasing to the ear: melodious.—adv. Mū′sicallly.—ns. Mū′sicalness; Mū′sic-case, -fō′lio, -hold′er, &c., a roll, cabinet, &c. for carrying sheet music; Mū′sic-demy′, a size of writing-paper, 20¾ in. × 14⅜ in.; Mū′sic-hall, a public hall for musical entertainments, esp. when varied by dancing, variety performances, &c., often with concomitant smoking and drinking; Mū′sic-house, a place for public musical entertainments: a firm dealing in music or musical instruments; Musi′cian, one skilled in music: a performer of music—(obs.) Musi′cianer.—adv. Musi′cianly.—ns. Musi′cianship; Mū′sic-mas′ter, or -mis′tress, a man or a woman who teaches music; Mū′sic-of-the-spheres (see Harmony); Mū′sic-pā′per, paper ruled with staffs for writing music in; Mū′sic-pen, a pen marking at once a series of fine parallel lines for music; Mū′sic-rack, a rack attached to a musical instrument for holding the player's music; Mū′sic-record′er, a device for recording music as played on an organ, pianoforte, &c.; Mū′sic-school, a place where music is regularly taught, a conservatory; Mū′sic-shell, a Gasteropod of the Caribbean Sea, marked with figures like printed music; Mū′sic-stand, a music-rack: a raised platform for a musical band; Mū′sic-stool, a stool or chair, generally adjustable in height, for the performer on the pianoforte, &c.; Mū′sic-wire, wire such as the strings of musical instruments are made of.—Music (-al) box, a case containing a mechanism contrived, when the spring is wound up, to reproduce melodies; Music club, a meeting for practising music.—Musical director, the conductor of an orchestra, &c.; Musical glasses (see Harmonica, under Harmonium). [Fr. musique—L. musica—Gr. mousikē (technē, art), mousa, a muse.]

Musimon, mū′si-mon, n. the moufflon.—Also Mus′mon.

Musing, mūz′ing, n. the act of one who muses: contemplation: meditation.—adj. meditative, preoccupied.—adv. Mus′ingly.

Musive, mū′siv, adj. Same as Mosaic.

Musk, musk, n. a strong perfume, obtained from the male musk-deer, or the odour thereof: a hornless deer, in Tibet and Nepaul, yielding musk.—v.t. to perfume with musk.—ns. Musk (bot.), a name given to a number of plants which smell more or less strongly of musk; Musk′-bag, -ball, a bag, ball, containing musk as a perfuming sachet; Musk′-cat, a civet-cat: a scented effeminate dandy; Musk′-cāv′y, a West Indian echimyine rat-like rodent; Musk′-deer, a hornless deer, native of Central Asia, which produces the perfume called musk; Musk′-duck, the Muscovy-duck, so called from its musky odour; Musk′-gland, a skin-pit in mammals producing a secretion with a musky odour, esp. in the male musk-deer and male beaver.—adv. Musk′ily.—ns. Musk′iness; Musk′-mall′ow, an ornamental species of mallow, with faint odour of musk; Musk′-melon, the juicy edible fruit of a trailing herb (Cucumis melo), or the plant; Musk′-ox, a ruminant of arctic America, with long smooth hair, its horns meeting in a shield over the forehead, exhaling a strong musky smell; Musk′-pear, a fragrant variety of pear; Musk′-plum, a fragrant kind of plum; Musk′-rat, a North American aquatic, arvicoline, rat-like rodent, yielding a valuable fur, and secreting in its gland a substance with a musky smell—also Mus′quash; Musk′-rose, a fragrant species of rose.—adj. Musk′y, having the odour of musk. [Fr. musc—L. muscus, Gr. moschos—Pers. musk—Sans. mushka, a testicle.]

Musket, mus′ket, n. any kind of smooth-bore military hand-gun: a male sparrow-hawk.—ns. Musketeer′, a soldier armed with a musket; Musketoon′, Musquetoon′, a short musket: one armed with a musketoon.—adj. Mus′ket-proof, capable of resisting the force of a musket-ball.—ns. Mus′ket-rest, a fork used as a support for the heavy 16th-century musket—also Croc; Mus′ketry, muskets in general; practice with muskets: a body of troops armed with muskets; Mus′ket-shot, the discharge of a musket, the reach of a musket. [O. Fr. mousquet, a musket, formerly a hawk—It. mosquetto—L. musca, a fly.]

Muslim, mus′lim, n. and adj. Same as Moslem.

Muslin, muz′lin, n. a fine soft cotton fabric resembling gauze in appearance, but woven plain without any looping of the warp threads on the weft—generally uncoloured: a coarser fabric than Indian muslin, printed with coloured patterns, &c.: (U.S.) cotton cloth for shirts, bedding, &c.: a collector's name for several different moths.—adj. made of muslin.—adj. Mus′lined, clothed with muslin.—ns. Mus′linet, a coarse kind of muslin; Mus′lin-kale (Scot.), thin broth made without meat. [Fr. mousseline—It. mussolino, from Mosul in Mesopotamia.]

Musquash, mus′kwosh, n. the musk-rat. [Am. Ind.]

Musrole, muz′rōl, n. the nose-band of a horse's bridle.

Muss, mus, n. (Shak.) a scramble: confusion, disorder.—v.t. (U.S.) to throw into confusion. [O. Fr. mousche, a fly—L. musca, a fly.]

Mussel, Muscle, mus′l, n. a. marine bivalve shellfish, used for food.—n. Mus′cūlite, a petrified mussel or shell. [A.S. muxle; Ger. muschel, Fr. moule; all from L. musculus.]

Mussitation, mus-i-tā′shun, n. the movement of the tongue or lips as if in speech, without producing articulate sounds, muttering.—v.t. Muss′itate, to mutter.

Mussulman, mus′ul-man, n. a Moslem or Mohammedan:—pl. Muss′ulmans (-manz). [Turk. musulmān—Ar. muslim, moslim, Moslem.]

Mussy, mus′i, adj. disordered.—n. Muss′iness.

Must, must, v.i. to be obliged physically or morally. [A.S. mót, móste; Ger. müssen.]

Must, must, n. wine pressed from the grape, but not fermented: potato-pulp prepared for fermentation. [A.S. must—L. mustus, new, fresh.]

Must, must, n. an occasional state of dangerous frenzy in adult male elephants.

Mustache. Same as Moustache.

Mustang, mus′tang, n. the wild horse of the American prairies: (U.S.) a naval officer from the merchant service in the Civil War.

Mustard, mus′tard, n. a plant of the genus Brassica, formerly classed as Sinapis, having a pungent taste: the seed thereof ground and used as a seasoning for meat, as a plaster, &c.—French mustard, mustard prepared for table by adding salt, sugar, vinegar, &c.; Wild mustard, the charlock. [O. Fr. mostarde (Fr. moutarde)—L. mustum, must.]

Mustela, mus-tē′la, n. the typical genus of Mustelidæ, the martens and sables.—adj. Mus′teline, like a marten or weasel: tawny in colour.—n. a musteline mammal.—adj. Mus′teloid, like a weasel. [L.]

Muster, mus′tėr, v.t. to assemble, as troops for duty or inspection: to gather, summon (with up).—v.i. to be gathered together, as troops.—n. an assembling of troops: a register of troops mustered: assemblage: collected show.—ns. Mus′ter-book (Shak.), a book in which military forces are registered; Mus′ter-file (Shak.), a muster-roll; Mus′ter-mas′ter, the master of the muster, or who takes an account of troops, their arms, &c.; Mus′ter-roll, a register of the officers and men in each company, troop, or regiment present at the time of muster.—Pass muster, to pass inspection uncensured. [O. Fr. mostre, monstre—L. monstrum—monēre, to warn.]

Musty, must′i, adj. mouldy: spoiled by damp: sour: foul.—adv. Must′ily.—n. Must′iness. [Doublet of moisty—L. musteus, new.]

Mutable, mū′ta-bl, adj. that may be changed: subject to change: inconstant.—ns. Mutabil′ity, Mū′tableness, state or quality of being mutable.—adv. Mū′tably.—n. Mutan′dum, something to be altered:—pl. Mutan′da.—v.t. Mū′tate, to change a vowel-sound by the influence of a vowel in the following syllable.—n. Mutā′tion, act or process of changing a vowel through the influence of one in the next syllable—the German umlaut: change: succession.—adjs. Mū′tative, Mū′tātory, changing, mutable. [Fr.,—L. mutabilis—mutāre, -ātum, to change—movēre, motum, to move.]

Mutage, mū′tāj, n. a process for arresting fermentation in the must of grapes. [Fr.]

Mutch, much, n. (Scot.) a woman's cap. [Old Dut. mutse; Dut. muts, Ger. mütze.]

Mutchkin, much′kin, n. a Scottish liquid measure of four gills, or forming one-fourth of a Scottish pint. [Scot. mutch, a cap, kin, little.]

Mute, mūt, adj. incapable of speaking: dumb: silent: unpronounced.—n. one dumb, or remaining silent: a person stationed by undertakers at the door of a house at a funeral: a stopped sound, formed by the shutting of the mouth-organs, esp. the surds t, p, k, but also applied to the sonant or voiced consonants d, b, g, and even the nasals n, m, ng: (law) one who refuses to plead.—v.t. to deaden sound.—adv. Mute′ly.—n. Mute′ness. [Fr.,—L. mutus.]

Mute, mūt, v.i. to dung, as birds. [O. Fr. mutir, esmeutir—Old Dut. smelten, to smelt.]

Mutilate, mū′ti-lāt, v.t. to maim: to cut off: to remove a material part of.—ns. Mutilā′tion, act of mutilating: deprivation of a limb or essential part; Mū′tilator, one who mutilates. [L. mutilāre—mutilus—Gr. mutilos, mitulos, curtailed.]

Mutineer, mū-ti-nēr′, n. one guilty of mutiny.—v.i. to mutiny.—n. and v.i. Mū′tine (Shak.).

Mutiny, mū′ti-ni, v.i. to rise against authority in military or naval service: to revolt against rightful authority:—pr.p. mū′tinying; pa.t. and pa.p. mū′tinied.—n. insurrection against constituted authority, esp. naval or military: revolt, tumult, strife.—adj. Mū′tinous, disposed to mutiny: seditious.—adv. Mū′tinously.—n. Mū′tinousness.—Mutiny Act, an act passed by the British parliament from year to year, to regulate the government of the army, from 1689 down to 1879, when it was superseded by the Army Discipline and Regulation Act, modified by the Army Act of 1881. [O. Fr. mutiner, mutin, riotous, meute, a sedition—L. motus, rising—movēre, motum, to move.]

Mutism, mūt′izm, n. the state or habit of being mute.

Mutter, mut′ėr, v.i. to utter words in a low voice: to murmur: to sound with a low, rumbling noise.—v.t. to utter indistinctly.—ns. Mutt′er (Milt.), a murmuring; Mutterā′tion, act of muttering or complaining; Mutt′erer; Mutt′ering.—adv. Mutt′eringly, in a muttering or grumbling manner: with indistinct articulation. [Prob. imit., like prov. Ger. mustern; L. muttīre.]

Mutton, mut′n, n. the flesh of sheep: an old Anglo-French gold coin impressed with a lamb: (slang) a loose woman, hence illicit commerce: a sheep.—n. Mutt′on-chop, a rib of mutton chopped at the small end for broiling or frying.—adj. like a mutton-chop (of whiskers cut round at the ends).—ns. Mutt′on-cut′let, a steak cut usually from a leg of mutton for broiling or frying; Mutt′on-fist, a coarse, big hand; Mutt′on-ham, a salted leg of mutton; Mutt′on-head, a heavy, stupid person.—adj. Mutt′on-head′ed, stupid.—ns. Mutt′on-sū′et, the fat about the kidneys and loins of sheep; Mutt′on-thump′er, a clumsy bookbinder.—adj. Mutt′ony.—Laced mutton (Shak.), a loose woman; Return to one's muttons (coll.), to return to the subject of discussion—a humorous mistranslation of the Fr. proverb, 'Revenons à nos moutons.' [O. Fr. moton (Fr. mouton), a sheep—Low L. multo, acc. to Diez, from L. mutilus, mutilated.]

Mutual, mū′tū-al, adj. interchanged: in return: given and received, equally affecting two or more: common, conjoint, shared alike, as in 'mutual friend.'—ns. Mū′tualism, Mutual′ity.—adv. Mū′tually.—Mutual accounts, accounts in which each of two have charges against the other; Mutual insurance, a reciprocal contract among several persons to indemnify each other against certain designated losses, the system of a company in which policy-holders receive a certain share of the profits, &c.; Mutual wall, a wall equally belonging to each of two houses. [Fr. mutuel—L. mutuus—mutāre, to change.]

Mutule, mūt′ūl, n. a kind of square, flat bracket used in the Doric order of architecture, above each triglyph and each metope, having round projections like nail-heads on the lower surface.

Mutuum, mū′tū-um, n. a bailment consisting of a loan of goods for consumption, as corn, coal, &c., to be returned in goods of the same amount.

Mux, muks, v.t. to spoil, botch.—n. a mess.

Muzhik, mōō-zhik′, n. a Russian peasant.

Muzzle, muz′l, n. the projecting jaws and nose of an animal: a fastening for the mouth to prevent biting, by a strap or a cage: the extreme end of a gun, &c.—v.t. to put a muzzle on: to restrain from biting: to keep from hurting: to gag or silence.—ns. Muzz′le-bag, a canvas bag fixed to the muzzle of a gun at sea, to keep out water; Muzz′le-load′er, a firearm loaded through the muzzle—opp. to Breech-loader.—adj. Muzz′le-load′ing.—n. Muzz′le-veloc′ity, the velocity of a projectile the moment it leaves the muzzle of a gun. [O. Fr. musel (Fr. museau), prob. from L. morsus—mordēre, to bite.]

Muzzy, muz′i, adj. dazed, bewildered, tipsy.—n. Muzz′iness.

My, (when emphatic or distinct) mī, (otherwise) me, poss. adj. belonging to me. [Contr. of mine, A.S. mín, of me.]

Mya, mī′a, n. a genus of bivalve shells: a clam of this genus.—n. Myā′ria, an old name for the Myidæ, a family of dimyarian bivalves.—adj. Myā′rian. [Gr. myax, a sea-mussel.]

Myalgia, mī-al′ji-a, n. a morbid state of a muscle.—adj. Myal′gic. [Gr. mys, muscle, algos, pain.]

Myall, mī′al, n. a hard, scented wood yielded by several Australian acacias, esp. good for tobacco-pipes and whip-handles.

Mycelium, mī-sē′li-um, n. the white thread-like parts from which a mushroom or a fungus is developed: mushroom spawn:—pl. Mycē′lia. [Gr. mykēs, a fungus, ēlos, a nail or wart.]

Mycetes, mī-sē′tēz, n. a kind of South American monkey, called also Howlers. [Gr. mykētēs, bellower.]

Mycetes, mī-sē′tēz, n.pl. mushrooms or fungi.—ns. Mycetol′ogy (same as Mycology); Mycetō′ma, a chronic disease of the feet and hands in India.—n.pl. Mycetozō′a, a group of fungus-like organisms, now mostly contained in the division Myxomycetes or slime-fungi.—adjs. Mycolog′ic, -al.—ns. Mycol′ogist; Mycol′ogy, the science treating of the fungi or mushrooms; Mycoph′agist; Mycoph′agy, the eating of fungi; My′cose, a kind of sugar obtained from certain lichens and fungi, as ergot of rye—also Trehalose; Mycō′sis, the presence of fungus growth within the body.—adj. Mycot′ic. [Gr. mykētēs, pl. of mykēs a mushroom.]

Mydriasis, mi-drī′a-sis, n. morbid dilatation of the pupil of the eye.—adj. Mydriat′ic.—n. a drug causing this.

Myelitis, mī-e-lī′tis, n. inflammation of the substance of the spinal cord.—ns. Myelasthenī′a, spinal exhaustion; Myelatrō′phia, atrophy of the spinal cord.—adjs. Myelit′ic, My′eloid, medullary.—ns. Myelomalā′cia, softening of the spinal cord; Myelomeningī′tis, spinal meningitis; My′elon, the spinal cord.—adjs. My′elonal, Myelon′ic. [Gr. myelos, marrow.]

Mygale, mig′a-lē, n. an American tarantula or bird-catching spider. [Gr. mygalē, a field-mouse.]

Mylodon, mī′lō-don, n. a genus of large fossil sloths.—adj. My′lodont. [Gr. mylē, a mill, odous, odontos, a tooth.]

Mylohyoid, mī-lō-hī′oid, adj. pertaining to the molar teeth and to the hyoid bone.—n. the mylohyoid muscle. [Gr. mylē, a mill.]

Myna, mī′na, n. one of several sturnoid passerine birds of India.—Also Mī′na.

Mynheer, mīn-hār′, n. my lord: Dutch form of Mr or Sir: a Dutchman. [Dut. mijn, my, heer, lord.]

Myoid, mī′oid, adj. like muscle.—n. My′oblast, a cell producing muscle-tissue.—adj. Myoblast′ic.—ns. Myocardī′tis, inflammation of the myocardium; Myocar′dium, the muscular substance of the heart; Myodynā′mia, muscular force; My′ogram, the tracing of a contracting and relaxing muscle by the myograph; My′ograph, an instrument for noting and recording muscular contractions.—adjs. Myograph′ic, -al, relating to myography.—ns. Myog′raphist; Myog′raphy, a description of the muscles of the body.—adj. Myolog′ical.—ns. Myol′ogist; Myol′ogy, the part of anatomy which treats of the muscles; Myō′ma, a tumour composed of muscular tissue; Myonic′ity, the contractile property of muscular tissue. [Gr. mys, myos, muscle.]

Myomancy, mī′o-man-si, n. divination from the movements of mice.—adj. Myoman′tic. [Gr. mys, a mouse, manteia, divination.]

Myopia, mī-ō′pi-a, n. shortness or nearness of sight.—adj. Myop′ic.—ns. My′ops, My′ope, a short-sighted person. [Gr.,—myein, to close, ōps, the eye.]

Myosin, mī′ō-sin, n. an albuminous compound contained in the contractile muscular tissue.

Myosis, mī-ō′sis, n. abnormal contraction of the pupil of the eye.—adjs. Myosit′ic; Myot′ic. [Gr. myein, to close.]

Myositis, mī-o-sī′tis, n. inflammation of a muscle—properly My′itis.

Myosotis, mī-ō-sō′tis, n. a genus of annual or perennial herbs of the borage family, with alternate leaves and simple or branched racemes of bractless blue, pink, or white flowers: a flower of this genus, as the common blue forget-me-not. [Gr. mys, myos, a mouse, ous, ōtos, an ear.]

Myotomy, mī-ot′o-mi, n. the dissection of the muscles. [Gr. mys, myos, muscle, temnein, to cut.]

Myriad, mir′i-ad, n. any immense number.—adj. numberless. [Gr. myrias, myriados, ten thousand.]

Myriapod, mir′i-a-pod, (more correctly) Myr′iopod, n. a worm-shaped animal with many-jointed legs.—n. Myriap′oda, a class of jointed animals, of which some of the lower kinds have an immense number of legs. [Gr. myrios, numberless, pous, podos, a foot.]

Myrica, mi-rī′ka, n. a genus of shrubs of the sweet-gale family, including the bay-berry or wax-myrtle, yielding a tallow used for candles. [Gr. myrikē.]

Myriorama, mir-i-o-rä′ma, n. a picture composed of interchangeable parts which can be combined into a variety of pictures. [Gr. myrios, numberless, horama, a view.]

Myrioscope, mir′i-o-skōp, n. a variety of kaleidoscope, esp. a form of it consisting of mirrors so arranged as by multiplied reflection from a small piece of carpet to show how it looks covering a whole floor. [Gr. myrios, numberless, skopein, to view.]

Myristica, mī-ris′ti-ka, n. a genus of fragrant apetalous trees—the nutmegs: the kernel of the seed of Myristica fragrans, as used in cookery. [Gr. myrizein, to anoint.]

Myrmidon, mėr′mi-don, n. one of a tribe of warriors who accompanied Achilles to Troy: one of a ruffianly band under a daring leader: one who carries out another's orders without fear or pity.—adj. Myrmidō′nian.—Myrmidons of the law, policemen, bailiffs, &c. [L.,—Gr.]

Myrobalan, mī-rob′a-lan, n. the astringent fruit of certain Indian mountain species of Terminalia. [Gr. myron, an unguent, balanos, a corn.]

Myrrh, mėr, n. a bitter, aromatic, transparent gum, exuded from the bark of a shrub in Arabia.—adj. Myr′rhic.—ns. Myr′rhin, the fixed resin of myrrh; Myr′rhol, the volatile oil of myrrh. [O. Fr. mirre (Fr. myrrhe)—L. and Gr. myrrha—Ar. murr.]

Myrrhine. Same as Murrine.

Myrtle, mėr′tl, n. an evergreen shrub with beautiful and fragrant leaves.—n. Myr′tle-wax, wax from the candle-berry. [O. Fr. myrtil, dim. of myrte—L. and Gr. myrtus.]

Myself, mī-self′, or me-self′, pron. I or me, in person—used for the sake of emphasis and also as the reciprocal of me.

Mystagogue, mis′ta-gōg, n. an initiator into religious mysteries, a teacher or catechist—also Mystagō′gus.—adj. Mystagog′ic (-goj′-).—n. Mys′tagogy (-goj-), the practice of a mystagogue: the sacraments. [Gr. mystēs, one initiated, agōgos, a leader.]

Mystery, mis′tėr-i, n. a secret doctrine: anything very obscure: that which is beyond human knowledge to explain: anything artfully made difficult: (pl.) secret rites, in ancient religions rites known only to and practised by initiated persons, as the Eleusinian mysteries in Greece, &c.: a sacrament: a rude medieval drama founded on the historical parts of the Bible and the lives of the saints—the Basque pastorales are a survival.—adj. Mystē′rious, containing mystery: obscure: secret: incomprehensible.—adv. Mystē′riously.—n. Mystē′riousness. [M. E. mysterie—L. mysterium—Gr. mystērion—mystēs, one initiated—muein, to close the eyes.]

Mystery, mis′tėr-i, n. a trade, handicraft. [M. E. mistere—O. Fr. mestier (Fr. métier)—L. ministerium—minister. Prop. mistery; the form mystery is due to confusion with the above.]

Mystic, -al, mis′tik, -al, adj. relating to, or containing, mystery: sacredly obscure or secret: involving a sacred or a secret meaning hidden from the eyes of the ordinary reader, only revealed to a spiritually enlightened mind, allegorical: belonging to mysticism.—n. Mys′tic, one who seeks for direct intercourse with God in elevated religious feeling or ecstasy.—adv. Mys′tically.—ns. Mys′ticalness, the quality of being mystical; Mys′ticism, the doctrine of the mystics, a tendency of religious feeling marked by an effort to attain to direct and immediate communion with God: obscurity of doctrine; Mystificā′tion.—v.t. Mys′tify, to make mysterious, obscure, or secret: to involve in mystery:—pr.p. mys′tifying; pa.t. and pa.p. mys′tified.—Mystic recitation, the recitation of parts of the Greek liturgy in an inaudible voice; Mystical theology, the knowledge of divine things attained by spiritual insight and experience only, without authority, the process of reason, &c. [L. mysticus—Gr. mystikos. Cf. Mystery, a secret doctrine.]

Mytacism, mī′ta-sizm, n. a too recurrent use of the letter m in speech or writing.

Myth, mith, n. a fable, a legend, a fabulous narrative founded on a remote event, esp. those made in the early period of a people's existence: an invented story: a falsehood.—adjs. Myth′ic, -al, relating to myths: fabulous: untrue.—adv. Myth′ically.—ns. Myth′icist, Myth′iciser, an adherent of the mythical theory; Myth′ist, a maker of myths; Mythogen′esis, the production of, or the tendency to originate, myths; Mythog′rapher, a writer or narrator of myths; Mythog′raphy, representation of myths in graphic or plastic art, art-mythology; Mythol′oger, Mytholō′gian, a mythologist.—adjs. Mytholog′ic, -al, relating to mythology, fabulous.—adv. Mytholog′ically.—v.t. Mythol′ogise, to interpret or explain myths: to render mythical.—ns. Mythol′ogiser, one who, or that which, mythologises; Mythol′ogist, one versed in, or who writes on, mythology; Mythol′ogy, the myths or stories of a country: a treatise regarding myths: a collection of myths: the science which investigates myths; Mython′omy, the deductive and predictive stage of mythology; Myth′oplasm, a narration of mere fable; Mythopœ′ist, a myth-maker.—adjs. Mythopoet′ic, Mythopœ′ic, myth-making, tending to generate myth.—n. Myth′us, the same as myth:—pl. Myth′ī.—Mythical theory, the theory of D. F. Strauss (1808-74) and his school, that the Gospels are mainly a collection of myths, developed during the first two centuries, from the imagination of the followers of Jesus; Comparative mythology, the science which investigates myths and seeks to relate those of different races. [Gr. mythos.]

Mytilus, mit′i-lus, n. a genus of bivalves, or an individual bivalve belonging to it.—adjs. Mytil′iform, Myt′iloid.

Myxœdema, mik-sē-dē′ma, n. a diseased condition occurring in adults, generally females, characterised by a thickening of the subcutaneous tissue, most noticeable in the face, with a simultaneous dulling of all the faculties and slowing of the movements of the body. A precisely similar condition occurs in many cases where the thyroid gland has been removed for disease. [Gr. myxa, mucus, and Eng. edema.]

Myxoma, mik-sō′ma, n. a tumour consisting of mucous tissue—also Collonema. [Gr. myxa, mucus.]

Myxomycetes, mik-sō-mī-sē′tēz, n.pl. a class of very simple organisms, often claimed by botanists as fungi, generally regarded by zoologists as primitive Protozoa, living on damp surfaces exposed to air, esp. on rotting wood, and feeding on organic débris forming composite masses or plasmodia. [Gr. myxa, mucus, mykētes, pl. of mykēs, a mushroom.]

Myxopod, mik′so-pod, n. and adj. a protozoan animal having pseudopodia, as distinguished from a mastigopod, which has cilia or flagella.—n.pl. Myxop′oda, protozoans whose locomotive appendages are pseudopodia—the same as Rhizopoda.—adj. Myxop′odous. [Gr. myxa, mucus, pous, podos, a foot.]

Myxosarcoma, mik-sō-sär-kō′ma, n. a tumour composed of mucous and sarcomatous tissue:—pl. Myxosarcō′mata. [Gr. myxa, mucus, sarcōma, a fleshy lump.]

Myzontes, mī-zon′tēz, n.pl. a class of vertebrates with an incomplete cartilaginous skull, no lower jaw, and pouch-like gills—including the lampreys and hags.—adj. and n. suctorial as the lamprey, belonging to the Myzontes. [Gr. myzōn, myzontos, pr.p. of myzein, to suck.]