← Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, Volume 5
Chapter 13
M (part 2)
MARCH March, n. Etym: [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. Margin, Margrave, Marque, Marquis.]
Defn: 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
March, v. i. Etym: [Cf. OF. marchir. See 2d March.]
Defn: 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
March, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Marched; p. pr. & vb. n. Marching.] Etym:
[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
March, v. t.
Defn: 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
March, n. Etym: [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.
MARCHER
March"er, n.
Defn: One who marches.
MARCHER
March"er, n. Etym: [See 2d March.]
Defn: The lord or officer who defended the marches or borders of a territory.
MARCHET; MERCHET
Mar"chet, Mer"chet, n. Etym: [LL. marcheta; of uncertain origin.]
Defn: 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.
MARCHING
March"ing, a. & n.
Defn: ,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.
MARCHIONESS
Mar"chio*ness, n. Etym: [LL. marchionissa, fr. marchio a marquis. See
Marquis.]
Defn: The wife or the widow of a marquis; a woman who has the rank and dignity of a marquis. Spelman.
MARCH-MAD
March"-mad`, a.
Defn: Extremely rash; foolhardy. See under March, the month. Sir W.
Scott.
MARCHMAN
March"man, n.
Defn: A person living in the marches between England and Scotland or
Wales.
MARCHPANE March"pane`, n. Etym: [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.]
Defn: A kind of sweet bread or biscuit; a cake of pounded almonds and sugar. [Obs.]marzipan Shak.
MARCH-WARD
March"-ward`, n.
Defn: A warden of the marches; a marcher.
MARCIAN
Mar"cian, a.
Defn: Under the influence of Mars; courageous; bold. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MARCID
Mar"cid, a. Etym: [L. marcidus, fr. marcere to wither, pine.]
1. Pining; lean; withered. Dryden.
2. Characterized by emaciation, as a fever. Harvey.
MARCIDITY
Mar"cid"ity, n. Etym: [LL. marciditas.]
Defn: The state or quality of being withered or lean. [R.]
MARCIONITE
Mar"cion*ite, n. (Eccl. Hist)
Defn: 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.
MARCOBRUNNER
Mar`co*brun"ner, n. Etym: [G. Marcobrunner.]
Defn: A celebrated Rhine wine.
MARCONI
Mar*co"ni, a. [After Guglielmo Marconi (b. 1874), Italian inventor.]
Defn: Designating, or pert. to, Marconi's system of wireless telegraphy; as, Marconi aërial, coherer, station, system, etc.
MARCONIGRAM
Mar*co"ni*gram, n. [Marconi + -gram.]
Defn: A Marconi wireless message.
MARCONIGRAPH
Mar*co"ni*graph, n. [Marconi + -graph.]
Defn: The apparatus used in Marconi wireless telegraphy.
MARCONI'S LAW
Mar*co"ni's law. (Wireless Teleg.)
Defn: The law that the maximum good signaling distance varies directly as the square of the height of the transmitting antenna.
MARCONISM
Mar*co"nism, n.
Defn: The theory or practice of Marconi's wireless telegraph system.
MARCONI SYSTEM
Mar*co"ni system. (Elec.)
Defn: A system or wireless telegraphy developed by G. Marconi, an Italian physicist, in which Hertzian waves are used in transmission and a coherer is used as the receiving instrument.
MARCOR
Mar"cor, n. Etym: [L., fr. marcere to wither.]
Defn: A wasting away of flesh; decay. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
MARCOSIAN
Mar*co"sian, n. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: One of a Gnostic sect of the second century, so called from
Marcus, an Egyptian, who was reputed to be a margician.
MARDI GRAS
Mar"di` gras", n. Etym: [F., literally, fat Tuesday.]
Defn: The last day of Carnival; Shrove Tuesday; — in some cities a great day of carnival and merrymaking.
MARE Mare, n. Etym: [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.]
Defn: The female of the horse and other equine quadrupeds.
MARE Mare, n. Etym: [AS. mara incubus; akin to OHG. & Icel. mara; cf. Pol. mora, Bohem. m.] (Med.)
Defn: 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.
MARECHAL NIEL
Mare"chal Niel". Etym: [F.]
Defn: A kind of large yellow rose. [Written also Marshal Niel.]
MARE CLAUSUM
Ma"re clau"sum. [L.] (Internat. Law)
Defn: Lit., closed sea; hence, a body of water within the separate jurisdiction of the nation; — opposed to open sea, the water open to all nations and over which no single nation has special control.
MAREIS
Mar"eis, n.
Defn: A Marsh. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MARENA
Ma*re"na, n. Etym: [NL. Salmo maraena, G. maräne, moräne; — so
called from Lake Morin, in the March of Brandenburg, in Prussia.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A European whitefish of the genus Coregonus.
MARESCHAL
Mare"schal, n. Etym: [OF. mareschal, F. maréchal. See Marshal.]
Defn: A military officer of high rank; a marshal. [Obs.]
MARE'S-NEST
Mare's"-nest`, n.
Defn: A supposed discovery which turns out to be a hoax; something grosaly absurd.
MARE'S-TAIL
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.)
Defn: An aquatic plant of the genus Hippuris (H.vulgaris), having narrow leaves in whorls.
MARGARATE
Mar"ga*rate, n. Etym: [Cf. F. margarate.] (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: A compound of the so-called margaric acid with a base.
MARGARIC
Mar*gar"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. margarique. See Margarite.]
Defn: 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.
MARGARIN
Mar"ga*rin, n. Etym: [Cf. F. margarine. See Margarite.] (Physiol.
Chem.)
Defn: 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 teipalmitin.
MARGARINE
Mar"ga*rine, n. [F.]
1. Artificial butter; oleomargarine.
The word margarine shall mean all substances, whether compounds or
otherwise, prepared in imitation of butter, and whether mixed with
butter or not.
Margarine Act, 1887 (50 & 51 Vict. c. 29).
2. Margarin.
MARGARITACEOUS
Mar`ga*ri*ta"ceous, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, pearl; pearly.
MARGARITE
Mar"ga*rite, n. Etym: [L. margarita, Gr. marguerite.]
1. A pearl. [Obs.] Peacham.
2. (Min.)
Defn: A mineral related to the micas, but low in silica and yielding brittle folia with pearly luster.
MARGARITIC
Mar`ga*rit"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. margaritique.] (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: Margaric.
MARGARITIFEROUS Mar`ga*ri*tif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. margaritifer; margarita pearl + ferre to bear: cf. F. margaritifère.]
Defn: Producing pearls.
MARGARODITE
Mar*gar"o*dite, n. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)
Defn: A hidrous potash mica related to muscovite.
MARGARONE
Mar"ga*rone, n. Etym: [Margaric + -one.] (Chem.)
Defn: The ketone of margaric acid.
MARGAROUS
Mar"ga*rous, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Margaric; — formerly designating a supposed acid. [Obs.]
MARGARYIZE; MARGARY'S FLUID
Mar"ga*ry*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. -ized; p. pr. & vb. n. -izing.]
[(J. J. Lloyd) Margary, inventor of the process + -ize.]
Defn: To impregnate (wood) with a preservative solution of copper sulphate (often called Mar"ga*ry's flu"id [-riz]).
MARGATE FISH
Mar"gate fish". (Zoöl.)
Defn: A sparoid fish (Diabasis aurolineatus) of the Gulf of Mexico, esteemed as a food fish; — called also red-mouth grunt.
MARGAY
Mar"gay, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An American wild cat (Felis tigrina), ranging from Mexico to
Brazil. It is spotted with black. Called also long-tailed cat.
MARGE
Marge, n. Etym: [F. marge. See Margin.]
Defn: Border; margin; edge; verge. [Poetic] Tennyson.
Along the river's stony marge. Wordsworth.
MARGENT
Mar"gent, n. Etym: [OE. See Margin.]
Defn: A margin; border; brink; edge. [Obs.]
The beached margent of the sea. Shak.
MARGENT
Mar"gent, v. t.
Defn: To enter or note down upon the margin of a page; to margin.
[Obs.] Mir. for Mag.
MARGIN Mar"gin, n. Etym: [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.)
Defn: 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)
Defn: 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.
MARGIN
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.
MARGINAL
Mar"gin*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. marginal.]
1. Of or pertaining to a margin.
2. Written or printed in the margin; as, a marginal note or gloss.
MARGINALIA
Mar`gi*na"li*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL.]
Defn: Marginal notes.
MARGINALLY
Mar"gin*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In the margin of a book.
MARGINATE
Mar"gin*ate, a. Etym: [L. marginatus, p. p. of marginare to margin.
See Margin, n.]
Defn: Having a margin distinct in appearance or structure.
MARGINATE
Mar"gin*ate, v. t.
Defn: To furnish with a distinct margin; to margin. [R.] Cockeram.
MARGINATED
Mar"gin*a`ted, a.
Defn: Same as Marginate, a.
MARGINED
Mar"gined, a.
1. Having a margin. Hawthorne.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Bordered with a distinct line of color.
MARGINELLA
Mar`gi*nel"la, n. Etym: [NL., dim. of L. margo, marginis, a margin.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of small, polished, marine univalve shells, native of all warm seas.
MARGINICIDAL Mar"gin*i*ci`dal, a. Etym: [L. margo, -ginis, margin + caedere to cut.] (Bot.)
Defn: Dehiscent by the separation of united carpels; — said of fruits.
MARGOSA
Mar*go"sa, n. Etym: [Pg. amargoso bitter.] (Bot.)
Defn: A large tree of 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.
MARGRAVATE; MARGRAVIATE
Mar"gra*vate, Mar*gra"vi*ate, n. Etym: [Cf. F. margraviat.]
Defn: The territory or jurisdiction of a margrave.
MARGRAVE Mar"grave, n. Etym: [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.
MARGRAVINE
Mar"gra*vine, n. Etym: [G. markgräfin: cf. F. margrafine.]
Defn: The wife of a margrave.
MARGUERITE
Mar"gue*rite, n. Etym: [F., a pearl, a daisy. See Margarite.] (Bot.)
Defn: The daisy (Bellis perennis). The name is often applied also to the ox-eye daisy and to the China aster. Longfellow.
MARIAN
Ma"ri*an, a.
Defn: 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.
MARIE
Mar"ie, interj.
Defn: Marry. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MARIET
Mar"i*et, n. Etym: [F. mariette, prop. dim. of Marie Mary.] (Bot.)
Defn: A kind of bellflower, Companula Trachelium, once called Viola
Mariana; but it is not a violet.
MARIGENOUS
Ma*rig"e*nous, a. Etym: [L. mare the sea + -genous.]
Defn: Produced in or by the sea.
MARIGOLD
Mar"i*gold, n. Etym: [Mary + gold.] (Bot.)
Defn: A name for several plants with golden yellow blossoms, especially the Calendula officinalis (see Calendula), and the cultivated species of Tagetes.
Note: 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.
MARIKINA
Mar`i*ki"na, n. Etym: [From the native name: cf. Pg. mariquinha.]
(Zoöl)
Defn: A small marmoset (Midas rosalia); the silky tamarin.
MARIMBA
Ma*rim"ba, n. Etym: [Pg.]
Defn: A musical istrument of percussion, consisting of bars yielding musical tones when struck. Knight.
MARIMONDA
Mar`i*mon"da, n. Etym: [Sp.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A spider monkey (Ateles belzebuth) of Central and South
America.
MARINADE Mar`i*nade", n. Etym: [F.: cf. It. marinato marinade, F. mariner to preserve food for use at sea. See Marinate.] (Cookery)
Defn: A brine or pickle containing wine and spices, for enriching the flavor of meat and fish.
MARINATE
Mar"i*nate, v. t. Etym: [See Marine, and cf. Marinade.]
Defn: To salt or pickle, as fish, and then preserve in oil or vinegar; to prepare by the use of marinade.
MARINE
Ma*rine", a. Etym: [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.)
Defn: 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.]
MARINE Ma*rine", n. Etym: [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.]
MARINED
Ma*rined", a. Etym: [Cf. F. mariné.] (Her.)
Defn: Having the lower part of the body like a fish. Crabb.
MARINER
Mar"i*ner, n. Etym: [F. marinier, LL. marinarius. See Marine.]
Defn: One whose occupation is to assist in navigating ships; a seaman or sailor. Chaucer. Mariner's compass. See under Compass.
MARINERSHIP
Mar"i*ner*ship, n.
Defn: Seamanship. [Obs.] Udalt.
MARINISM
Ma*ri"nism, n.
Defn: A bombastic literary style marked by the use of metaphors and antitheses characteristic of the Italian poet Giambattista Marini (1569-1625). — Ma*ri"nist (#), n.
MARINORAMA
Mar`i*no*ra"ma, n. Etym: [NL., from L. marinus marine + Gr.
Defn: A representation of a sea view.
MARIOLATER
Ma`ri*ol"a*ter, n. Etym: [See Mariolatry.]
Defn: One who worships the Virgin Mary.
MARIOLATRY
Ma`ri*ol"a*try, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The worship of the Virgin Mary.
MARIONETTE
Mar`i*o*nette", n. Etym: [F. marionette, prop. a dim. of Marie Mary.]
1. A puppet moved by strings, as in a puppet show.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The buffel duck.
MARIOTTE'S LAW
Ma`ri*otte's law`. (Physics.)
Defn: See Boyle's law, under Law.
MARIPOSA LILY Ma`ri*po"sa lil`y. Etym: [Sp. mariposa a butterfly + E. lily. So called from the gay apperance of the blossoms.] (Bot.)
Defn: 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.
MARIPUT
Mar"i*put, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A species of civet; the zoril.
MARISH
Mar"ish, n. Etym: [Cf. F. marais, LL. marascus. See Marsh.]
Defn: Low, wet ground; a marsh; a fen; a bog; a moor. [Archaic]
Milton. Tennyson.
MARISH
Mar"ish, a.
1. Moory; fenny; boggy. [Archaic]
2. Growing in marshes. "Marish flowers." Tennyson.
MARITAL Mar"i*tal, a. Etym: [F., fr. L. maritalis, fr. maritus belonging to marriage, n., a husband. See Marry, v.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a husband; as, marital rights, duties, authority. "Marital affection." Ayliffe.
MARITATED
Mar"i*ta`ted, a. Etym: [L. maritatus married.]
Defn: Having a husband; married. [Obs.]
MARITIMAL; MARITIMALE
Ma*rit"i*mal, Ma*rit"i*male, a.
Defn: See Maritime. [Obs.]
MARITIME Mar"i*time, a. Etym: [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.
MARJORAM
Mar"jo*ram, n. Etym: [OE. majoran, F. marjolaine, LL. marjoraca, fr.
L. amaracus, amaracum, Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: 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
Mark, n.
Defn: A license of reprisals. See Marque.
MARK
Mark, n. Etym: [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 Mark, n. Etym: [OE. marke, merke, AS. mearc; akin to D. merk, MHG. marc, G. marke, Icel. mark, Dan. mærke; cf. Lith. margas party- colored. sq. root106, 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, particians of mark; a fellow of no mark.
11. (Logic)
Defn: A characteristic or essential attribute; a differential.
12. A number or other character used in registring; 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.)
Defn: 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
Mark, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Marked; p. pr. & vb. n. Marking.] Etym:
[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
Mark, v. i.
Defn: To take particular notice; to observe critically; to note; to
remark.
Mark, I pray you, and see how this man seeketh maschief. 1 Kings xx.
7.
MARKABLE
Mark"a*ble, a.
Defn: Remarkable. [Obs.] Sandys.
MARKED
Marked, a.
Defn: 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.
MARKEE
Mar*kee", n.
Defn: See Marquee.
MARKER
Mark"er, n.
Defn: 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.
MARKET Mar"ket, n. Etym: [Akin to D. markt, OHG. markat, merkat, 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)
Defn: The privelege granted to a town of having a public market.
Note: 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.
MARKET
Mar"ket, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Marketed; p. pr. & vb. n. Marketing.]
Defn: To deal in a market; to buy or sell; to make bargains for provisions or goods.
MARKET
Mar"ket, v. t.
Defn: 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.
MARKETABLE
Mar"ket*a*ble, a.
1. Fit to be offered for sale in a market; such as may be justly and lawfully sold; as, dacayemarketable.
2. Current in market; as, marketable value.
3. Wanted by purchasers; salable; as, furs are not marketable in that country.
MARKETABLENESS
Mar"ket*a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: Quality of being marketable.
MARKETER
Mar"ket*er, n.
Defn: One who attends a market to buy or sell; one who carries goods to market.
MARKETING
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.
MARKETSTEAD
Mar"ket*stead, n. Etym: [Market + stead a place.]
Defn: A market place. [Obs.] Drayton.
MARKHOOR
Mark"hoor`, n. Etym: [Per. mar-kh snake eater.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large wild goat (Capra megaceros), having huge flattened spiral horns. It inhabits the mountains of Northern India and Cashmere.
MARKING
Mark"ing, n.
Defn: 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.
MARKIS
Mar"kis, n.
Defn: A marquis. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MARKISESSE
Mar"kis*esse, n.
Defn: A marchioness. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MARKMAN
Mark"man, n.
Defn: A marksman. [Obs.] Shak.
MARKSMAN
Marks"man, n.; pl. Marksmen. Etym: [Earlier markman; mark + man.]
1. One skillful to hit a mark with a missile; one who shoots well.
2. (Law)
Defn: One who makes his mark, instead of writing his name, in signing documents. Burrill.
MARKSMANSHIP
Marks"man*ship, n.
Defn: Skill of a marksman.
MARL
Marl, v. t. Etym: [See Marline.] (Naut.)
Defn: 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 Marl, n. Etym: [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." sq. root274.]
Defn: A mixed earthy substance, consisting of carbonate of lime, clay, and sand, in very varivble proportions, and accordingly designated as calcareous, clayey, or sandy. See Greensand.
MARL
Marl, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Marled; p. pr. & vb. n. Marling.] Etym:
[Cf. F. marner. See Marl, n.]
Defn: To overspread or manure with marl; as, to marl a field.
MARLACEOUS
Mar*la"ceous, a.
Defn: Resembling marl; partaking of the qualities of marl.
MARLIN
Mar"lin, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The American great marbled godwit (Limosa fedoa). Applied also to the red-breasted godwit (Limosa hæmatica). Hook-billed marlin, a curlew.
MARLINE
Mar"line, n. Etym: [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.)
Defn: 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. Etym: [The name alludes to the long middle tail feathers.] (Zoöl.) (a) A tropic bird. (b) A jager, or skua gull.
MARLINE
Mar"line, v. t. Etym: [F. merliner.] (Naut.)
Defn: To wind marline around; as, to marline a rope.
MARLITE
Marl"ite, n. Etym: [Cf. F. marlite. See Marl, n.] (Min.)
Defn: A variety of marl.
MARLITIC
Mar*lit"ic, a.
Defn: Partaking of the qualites of marlite.
MARLPIT
Marl"pit`, n.
Defn: Apit where marl is dug.
MARLSTONE
Marl"stone`, n. (Geol.)
Defn: A sandy calcareous straum, containing, or impregnated with, iron, and lying between the upper and lower Lias of England.
MARLY
Marl"y, a. [Compar. Marlier; superl. Marliest.]
Defn: Consisting or partaking of marl; resembling marl; abounding with marl.
MARMALADE Mar"ma*lade, n. Etym: [F. marmelade, Pg. marmelada, fr. marmélo a quince, fr. L. melimelum honey apple, Gr. Mellifluous, Melon.]
Defn: 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.
MARMALET
Mar"ma*let`, n.
Defn: See Marmalade. [Obs.]
MARMATITE
Mar"ma*tite, n. Etym: [Cf. F. marmatite.] (Min.)
Defn: A ferruginous variety of shalerite or zinc blende, nearly black in color.
MARMOLITE
Mar"mo*lite, n. Etym: [Gr. -lite.] (Min.)
Defn: A thin, laminated variety of serpentine, usually of a pale green color.
MARMORACEOUS
Mar`mo*ra"ceous, a. Etym: [L. marmor marble. See Marble.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or like, marble.
MARMORATE; MARMORATED Mar"mo*rate, Mar"mo*ra`ted, a. Etym: [L. marmoratus, p. p. of marmorate to overlay with marble, fr. marmor marble.]
Defn: Variegated like marble; covered or overlaid with marble. [R.]
MARMORATION
Mar`mo*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. marmoratio.]
Defn: A covering or incrusting with marble; a casing of marble; a variegating so as to resemble marble. [R.]
MARMORATUM OPUS
Mar`mo*ra`tum o"pus. Etym: [L. See Marmorate, and Opus.] (Arch.)
Defn: A kind of hard finish for plasterwork, made of plaster of Paris and marble dust, and capable of taking a high polish.
MARMOREAL; MARMOREAN Mar*mo"re*al, Mar*mo"re*an, a. Etym: [L. marmoreus, fr. marmor marble: cf. F. marmoréen. See Marble.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, marble; made of marble.
MARMOROSIS
Mar`mo*ro"sis, n. Etym: [NL.] (Geol.)
Defn: The metamorphism of limestone, that is, its conversion into marble. Geikie.
MARMOSE
Mar"mose`, n. Etym: [F.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A species of small opossum (Didelphus murina) ranging from
Mexico to Brazil.
MARMOSET Mar"mo*set`, n. Etym: [F. marmouset a grotesque figure, an ugly little boy, prob. fr. LL. marmoretum, fr. L. marmor marble. Perhaps confused with marmot. See Marble.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: 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.
MARMOT Mar"mot, n. Etym: [It. marmotta, marmotto, prob. fr. L. mus montanus, or mus montis, lit., mountain mouse or rat. See Mountain, and Mouse.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: 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.
MARMOTTES OIL
Mar"mottes oil`
Defn: . A fine oil obtained from the kernel of Prunus brigantiaca. It is used instead of olive or almond oil. De Colange.
MARMOZET
Mar"mo*zet`, n.
Defn: See Marmoset.
MARONE
Ma*rone", n.
Defn: See Maroon, the color.
MARONITE
Mar"o*nite, n.; pl. Maronites (. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: 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.
MAROON
Ma*roon", n. [Written also marroon.] Etym: [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.]
Defn: In the West Indies and Guiana, a fugitive slave, or a free negro, living in the mountains.
MAROON
Ma*roon", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Marooned; p. pr. & vb. n. Marooning.]
Etym: [See Maroon a fugitive slave.]
Defn: 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.
MAROON
Ma*roon", a. Etym: [F. marron chestnut-colored, fr. marron a large
French chestnut, It. marrone; cf. LGr. Marron.]
Defn: 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.
MAROON
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.
MARPLOT
Mar"plot`, n.
Defn: One who, by his officious
MARQUE Marque, n. Etym: [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)
Defn: 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.
MARQUEE Mar*quee", n. Etym: [F. marquise, misunderstood as a plural; prob. orig., tent of the marchioness. See Marquis.]
Defn: A large field tent; esp., one adapted to the use of an officer of high rank. [Written also markee.]
MARQUESS
Mar"quess, n. Etym: [Cf. Sp. marques. See Marquis.]
Defn: A marquis. Lady marquess, a marchioness. [Obs.] Shak.
MARQUETRY Mar"quet*ry, n. Etym: [F. marqueterie, from marqueter to checker, inlay, fr. marque mark, sign; of German origin. See Mark a sign.]
Defn: Inlaid work; work inlaid with pieces of wood, shells, ivory, and the like, of several colors.
MARQUIS
Mar"quis, n. Etym: [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.]
Defn: 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.
MARQUISATE
Mar"quis*ate, n. Etym: [Cf. F. marquisat.]
Defn: The seigniory, dignity, or lordship of a marquis; the territory governed by a marquis.
MARQUISDOM
Mar"quis*dom, n.
Defn: A marquisate. [Obs.] "Nobles of the marquisdom of Saluce."
Holinshed.
MARQUISE
Mar`quise", n. Etym: [F. See Marquis, and cf. Marquee.]
Defn: The wife of a marquis; a marchioness.
MARQUISSHIP
Mar"quis*ship, n.
Defn: A marquisate.
MARRAM
Mar"ram, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A coarse grass found on sandy beaches (Ammophila arundinacea).
See Beach grass, under Beach.
MARRER
Mar"rer, n.
Defn: One who mars or injures.
MARRIABLE
Mar"ri*a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. mariable.]
Defn: Marriageable. [R.] Coleridge.
MARRIAGE
Mar"riage, n. Etym: [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.
MARRIAGEABILITY
Mar`riage*a*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being marriageable.
MARRIAGEABLE
Mar"riage*a*ble, a.
Defn: Fit for, or capable of, marriage; of an age at which marriage
is allowable.
— Mar"riage*a*ble*ness, n.
MARRIED
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.
MARRIER
Mar"ri*er, n.
Defn: One who marries.
MARRON
Mar*ron", n. Etym: [See Maroon, a.]
1. A large chestnut. [Obs.] Holland.
2. A chestnut color; maroon.
3. (Pyrotechny & Mil.)
Defn: 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.]
MARROON
Mar*roon", n. & a.
Defn: Same as 1st Maroon.
MARROT 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.]
MARROW
Mar"row, n. Etym: [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. sq.
root274 Cf. Merge.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: 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. Etym: [OE. maru, maro; — perh. a different word; cf. Gael. maraon together.]
Defn: 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.
MARROW
Mar"row, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Marrowed; p. pr. & vb. n. Marrowing.]
Defn: To fill with, or as with, marrow of fat; to glut.
MARROWBONE
Mar"row*bone`, n.
Defn: A bone containing marrow; pl. ludicrously, knee bones or knees; as, to get down on one's marrowbones, i. e., to kneel.
MARROWFAT
Mar"row*fat, n.
Defn: A rich but late variety of pea.
MARROWISH
Mar"row*ish, a.
Defn: Of the nature of, or like, marrow.
MARROWLESS
Mar"row*less, a.
Defn: Destitute of marrow.
MARROWY
Mar"row*y, a.
Defn: Full of marrow; pithy.
MARRUBIUM
Mar*ru"bi*um, n. Etym: [L.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of bitter aromatic plants, sometimes used in medicine; hoarhound.
MARRY
Mar"ry, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Married; p. pr. & vb. n. Marrying.] Etym:
[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.
Note: 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.
MARRY
Mar"ry, v. i.
Defn: 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.
Marrrying man, a man disposed to marry. [Colloq.]
MARRY
Mar"ry, interj.
Defn: Indeed ! in truth ! — a term of asseveration said to have been derived from the practice of swearing by the Virgin Mary. [Obs.] Shak.
MARS
Mars, n. Etym: [L. Mars, gen. Martis, archaic Mavors, gen. Mavortis.]
1. (Rom. Myth.)
Defn: The god of war and husbandry.
2. (Astron.)
Defn: 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)
Defn: 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.
MARSALA
Mar*sa"la, n. Etym: [It., fr. Marsala, in Sicyly.]
Defn: A kind of wine exported from Marsala in Sicily.
MARSDENIA
Mars*de"ni*a, n. Etym: [NL. From W. Marsden, an English author.]
(Bot.)
Defn: 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.
MARSEILLAIS; MARSEILLAISE
Mar`sei`llais", a. m. Mar`sei`llaise", a. f.Etym: [F.]
Defn: 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.
MARSEILLAIS; MARSEILLAISE
Mar`sei`llais", n. m. Mar`sei`llaise", n. f.Etym: [F.]
Defn: A native or inhabitant of Marseilles.
MARSEILLES
Mar*seilles", n.
Defn: 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 Marsh, n. Etym: [OE. mersch, AS. mersc, fr. mere lake. See Mere pool, and cf. Marish, Morass.]
Defn: 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.
MARSHAL Mar"shal, n. Etym: [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.
MARSHAL 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.)
Defn: To dispose in due order, as the different quarterings on an escutcheon, or the different crests when several belong to an achievement.
MARSHALER
Mar"shal*er, n. Etym: [Written also marshaller.]
Defn: One who marshals.
MARSHALING
Mar"shal*ing, n. Etym: [Written also marshalling.]
1. The act of arranging in due order.
2. (Her.)
Defn: 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.
MARSHALSEA
Mar"shal*sea, n. Etym: [Marshal + OE. se a seat. See See a seat.]
Defn: 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.
MARSHALSHIP
Mar"shal*ship, n.
Defn: The office of a marshal.
MARSHBANKER; MARSEBANKER
Marsh"bank`er, Marse"bank`er, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The menhaden.
MARSHINESS
Marsh"i*ness, n.
Defn: The state or condition of being marshy.
MARSH MARIGOLD
Marsh mar"i*gold
Defn: . (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.
MARSHY
Marsh"y, a. Etym: [E. Marsh.]
1. Resembling a marsh; wet; boggy; fenny.
2. Pertaining to, or produced in, marshes; as, a marshy weed. Dryden.
MARSIPOBRANCH
Mar"si*po*branch`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Marsipobranchia.
MARSIPOBRANCHIA
Mar"si*po*bran"chi*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: 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.
MARSUPIAL
Mar*su"pi*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. marsupial.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having a pouch for carrying the immature young; of or pertaining to the Marsupialia.
2. (Anat. & Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to a marsupium; as, the marsupial bones.
Marsupial frog. (Zoöl.) See Nototrema.
MARSUPIAL
Mar*su"pi*al, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Marsupialia.
MARSUPIALIA Mar*su`pi*a"li*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. marsupium a pouch, bag, purse, Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: 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.
MARSUPIALIAN; MARSUPIAN
Mar*su`pi*a"li*an, Mar*su"pi*an, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Marsupialia.
MARSUPIATE
Mar*su"pi*ate, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Related to or resembling the marsupials; furnished with a pouch for the young, as the marsupials, and also some fishes and Crustacea.
MARSUPION
Mar*su"pi*on, n. Etym: [NL.]
Defn: Same as Marsupium.
MARSUPITE
Mar"su*pite, n. Etym: [See Marsupial.] (Paleon.)
Defn: A fossil crinoid of the genus Marsupites, resembling a purse in form.
MARSUPIUM Mar*su"pi*um, n.; pl. Marsupia. Etym: [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
Mart, n. Etym: [Contr. fr. market.]
1. A market. Where has commerce such a mart . . . as London Cowper.
2. A bargain. [Obs.] Shak.
MART
Mart, v. t.
Defn: To buy or sell in, or as in, a mart. [Obs.]
To sell and mart your officer for gold To undeservers. Shak.
MART
Mart, v. t.
Defn: To traffic. [Obs.] Shak.
MART
Mart, n. Etym: [See Mars.]
1. The god Mars. [Obs.]
2. Battle; contest. [Obs.] Fairfax.
MARTAGON
Mar"ta*gon, n. Etym: [Cf. F. & Sp. martagon, It. martagone.] (Bot.)
Defn: A lily (Lilium Martagon) with purplish red flowers, found in
Europe and Asia.
MARTEL Mar"tel, v. i. Etym: [F. marteler, fr. martel, marteau, hammer, a dim. fr. L. martulus, marculus, dim. of marcus hammer. Cf. March to step.]
Defn: To make a blow with, or as with, a hammer. [Obs.] Spenser.
MARTEL DE FER
Mar`tel` de fer". Etym: [OF., hammer of iron.]
Defn: A weapon resembling a hammer, often having one side of the head pointed; — used by horsemen in the Middle Ages to break armor. Fairholt.
MARTELINE
Mar"te*line, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A small hammer used by marble workers and sculptors.
MARTELLO TOWER Mar*tel"lo tow`er. Etym: [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.)
Defn: 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.
Note: The English borrowed the name of the tower from Corsica in 1794.
MARTEN
Mar"ten, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A bird. See Martin.
MARTEN Mar"ten, n. Etym: [From older martern, marter, martre, F. martre, marte, LL. martures (pl.), fr. L. martes; akin to AS. mear, meard, G. marder, OHG. mardar, Icel. mör. Cf. Foumart.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: 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.
MARTERN
Mar"tern, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Marten. [Obs.]
MAR-TEXT
Mar"-text`, n.
Defn: A blundering preacher.
MARTIAL Mar"tial, a. Etym: [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.)
Defn: 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.
MARTIALISM
Mar"tial*ism, n.
Defn: The quality of being warlike; exercises suitable for war.
[Obs.]
MARTIALIST
Mar"tial*ist, n.
Defn: A warrior. [Obs.] Fuller.
MARTIALIZE
Mar"tial*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Martialized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Martializing.]
Defn: To render warlike; as, to martialize a people.
MARTIALLY
Mar"tial*ly, adv.
Defn: In a martial manner.
MARTIALNESS
Mar"tial*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being martial.
MARTIAN
Mar"tian, a. [L. Martius.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to Mars, the Roman god of war, or to the planet bearing his name; martial.
MARTIAN
Mar"tian, n.
Defn: An inhabitant of the planet Mars. Du Maurier.
MARTIN
Mar"tin, n. (Stone Working) Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]
Defn: A perforated stone-faced runner for grinding.
MARTIN
Mar"tin, n. Etym: [F. martin, from the proper name Martin. Cf.
Martlet.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of several species of swallows, usually having the tail less deeply forked than the tail of the common swallows. [Written also marten.]
Note: 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.
MARTINET
Mar"ti*net`, n. Etym: [So called from an officer of that name in the
French army under Louis XIV. Cf. Martin the bird, Martlet.]
Defn: 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.]
MARTINET
Mar"ti*net`, n. Etym: [F.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The martin.
MARTINETA
Mar`ti*ne"ta, n. Etym: [Cf. Sp. martinete.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A species of tinamou (Calopezus elegans), having a long slender crest.
MARTINETISM
Mar"ti*net`ism, n.
Defn: The principles or practices of a martinet; rigid adherence to discipline, etc.
MARTINGALE; MARTINGAL Mar"tin*gale, Mar"tin*gal, n. Etym: [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.)
Defn: 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)
Defn: 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.
MARTINMAS
Mar"tin*mas, n. Etym: [St. Martin + mass religious service.] (Eccl.)
Defn: 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.
MARTITE Mar"tite, n. Etym: [L. Mars, Martis, the god Mars, the alchemical name of iron.] (Min.)
Defn: Iron sesquioxide in isometric form, probably a pseudomorph after magnetite.
MARTLEMAS
Mar"tle*mas, n.
Defn: See Martinmas. [Obs.]
MARTLET
Mart"let, n. Etym: [F. martinet. See Martin the bird, and cf.
Martinet a disciplinarian.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The European house martin.
2. Etym: [Cf. F. merlette.] (Her.)
Defn: A bird without beak or feet; — generally assumed to represent a martin. As a mark of cadency it denotes the fourth son.
MARTYR Mar"tyr, n. Etym: [AS., from L. martyr, Gr. ma`rtyr, ma`rtys, prop., a witness; cf. Skr. smrs 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.
MARTYR
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.
MARTYRDOM
Mar"tyr*dom, n. Etym: [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.
MARTYRIZATION
Mar`tyr*i*za"tion, n.
Defn: Act of martyrizing, or state of being martyrized; torture. B.
Jonson.
MARTYRIZE
Mar"tyr*ize, v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. martyriser, LL. martyrizare.]
Defn: To make a martyr of. Spenser.
MARTYRLY
Mar"tyr*ly, adv.
Defn: In the manner of a martyr.
MARTYROLOGE
Mar"tyr*o*loge, n. Etym: [LL. martyrologium: cf. F. martyrologe.]
Defn: A martyrology. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
MARTYROLOGIC; MARTYROLOGICAL
Mar`tyr*o*log"ic, Mar`tyr*o*log"ic*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to martyrology or martyrs; registering, or registered in, a catalogue of martyrs.
MARTYROLOGIST
Mar`tyr*ol"o*gist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. martyrologiste.]
Defn: A writer of martyrology; an historian of martyrs. T. Warton.
MARTYROLOGY
Mar`tyr*ol"o*gy, n.; pl. -gies. Etym: [Martyr + -logy.]
Defn: A history or account of martyrs; a register of martyrs. Bp.
Stillingfleet.
MARTYRSHIP
Mar"tyr*ship, n.
Defn: Martyrdom. [R.] Fuller.
MARVEL Mar"vel, n. Etym: [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.
MARVEL
Mar"vel, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Marveled or Marvelled; p. pr. & vb. n.
Marveling or Marvelling.] Etym: [OE. merveilen, OF. merveillier.]
Defn: To be struck with surprise, astonishment, or wonder; to wonder.
Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. 1 john iii. 13.
MARVEL
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.
MARVELOUS
Mar"vel*ous, a. Etym: [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 superna 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.
MARVELOUSLY
Mar"vel*ous*ly, adv.
Defn: In a marvelous manner; wonderfully; strangely.
MARVELOUSNESS
Mar"vel*ous*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being marvelous; wonderfulness; strangeness.
MARVER
Mar"ver, n. Etym: [Prob. corrupt. fr. OE. or F. marbre marble.]
(Glass Marking)
Defn: A stone, or cast-iron plate, or former, on which hot glass is rolled to give it shape.
MARY
Mar"y, n.
Defn: Marrow. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MARY
Ma"ry, interj.
Defn: See Marry. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MARY-BUD
Ma"ry-bud`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The marigold; a blossom of the marigold. Shak.
MARYOLATRY
Ma`ry*ol"a*try, n.
Defn: Mariolatry.
MARYSOLE
Ma"ry*sole, n. Etym: [Mary, the proper name + sole the fish.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large British fluke, or flounder (Rhombus megastoma); — called also carter, and whiff. marchpane.
MASCAGNIN; MASCAGNITE
Mas*ca"gnin, Mas*ca"gnite, n. Etym: [Cf. F. mascagnin.] (Min.)
Defn: Native sulphate of ammonia, found in volcanic districts; — so named from Mascagni, who discovered it.
MASCLE Mas"cle, n. Etym: [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.)
Defn: A lozenge voided.
MASCLED
Mas"cled, a.
Defn: 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.
MASCOT; MASCOTTE Mas"cot, Mas"cotte, n. Etym: [Through French fr. Pr. mascot a little sorcerer or magician, mascotto witchcraft, sorcery.]
Defn: A person who is supposed to bring good luck to the household to which he or she belongs; anything that brings good luck.
MASCULATE
Mas"cu*late, v. t. Etym: [L. masculus male, masculine.]
Defn: To make strong. [Obs.] Cockeram.
MASCULINE Mas"cu*line, a. Etym: [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.)
Defn: 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.
MASCULINITY
Mas`cu*lin"i*ty, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being masculine; masculineness.
MASE
Mase, n. & v.
Defn: See Maze. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MASELYN
Mas"e*lyn, n.
Defn: A drinking cup. See 1st Maslin, 2. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MASER
Ma"ser, n.
Defn: Same as Mazer.
MASH
Mash, n.
Defn: A mesh. [Obs.]
MASH Mash, n. Etym: [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
Mash, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mashed; p. pr. & vb. n. Mashing.] Etym:
[Akin to G. meischen, maischen, to mash, mix, and prob. to mischen,
E. mix. See 2d Mash.]
Defn: 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.
MASHER
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.
MASHIE; MASHY
Mash"ie, Mash"y, n.; pl. Mashies (#). [Etym. uncert.]
Defn: A golf club like the iron, but with a shorter head, slightly more lofted, used chiefly for short approaches.
MASHLIN
Mash"lin, n.
Defn: See Maslin.
MASHY
Mash"y, a.
Defn: Produced by crushing or bruising; resembling, or consisting of, a mash.
MASK Mask, n. Etym: [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.)
Defn: 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.)
Defn: 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
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 fortess by a superior force, while some hostile evolution is being carried out.
MASK
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
Masked, a.
1. Wearing a mask or masks; characterized by masks; cincealed; hidden.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Same as Personate.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: 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.
MASKER
Mask"er, n.
Defn: One who wears a mask; one who appears in disguise at a masquerade.
MASKER
Mask"er, v. t.
Defn: To confuse; to stupefy. [Obs.] Holland.
MASKERY
Mask"er*y, n.
Defn: The dress or disguise of a maske [Obs.] Marston.
MASKINONGE
Mas"ki*nonge, n.
Defn: The muskellunge.
MASK SHELL
Mask" shell`. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any spiral marine shell of the genus Persona, having a curiously twisted aperture.
MASLACH
Mas"lach, n. Etym: [Ar. maslaq: cf. F. masloc.] (Med.)
Defn: An excitant containing opium, much used by the Turks.
Dunglison.
MASLIN Mas"lin, n. Etym: [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.
MASLIN
Mas"lin, a.
Defn: Composed of different sorts; as, maslin bread, which is made of rye mixed with a little wheat. [Written also meslin, mislin, etc.]
MASON Ma"son, n. Etym: [F. ma, 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
MASON
Ma"son, v. t.
Defn: 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.
MASONIC
Ma*son"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Freemasons or to their craft or mysteries.
MASONRY
Ma"son*ry, n. Etym: [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.
MASOOLA BOAT
Ma*soo"la boat`
Defn: . 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.]
MASORA
Ma*so"ra, n. Etym: [NHeb. mas tradition.]
Defn: 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.]
MASORET
Mas"o*ret, n.
Defn: A Masorite. [Written also Masorete, and Massorete.]
MASORETIC; MASORETICAL
Mas`o*ret"ic, Mas`o*ret"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. massorétique.]
Defn: 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.
MASORITE
Mas"o*rite, n.
Defn: One of the writers of the Masora.
MASQUE
Masque, n.
Defn: A mask; a masquerade.
MASQUERADE Mas`quer*ade", n. Etym: [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.
MASQUERADE
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.
MASQUERADE
Mas`quer*ade", v. t.
Defn: To conceal with masks; to disguise. "To masquerade vice."
Killingbeck.
MASQUERADER
Mas`quer*ad"er, n.
Defn: One who masquerades; a person wearing a mask; one disguised.
MASS Mass, n. Etym: [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.)
Defn: The sacrifice in the sacrament of the Eucharist, or the consecration and oblation of the host.
2. (Mus.)
Defn: 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 through-out, without
music.
— Mass bell, the sanctus bell. See Sanctus.
— Mass book, the missal or Roman Catholic service book.
MASS
Mass, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Massed; p. pr. & vb. n. Massing.]
Defn: To celebrate Mass. [Obs.] Hooker.
MASS
Mass, n. Etym: [OE. masse, F. masse, L. massa; akin to Gr. 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.)
Defn: 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)
Defn: The quantity of matter which a body contains, irrespective of its bulk or volume.
Note: 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
Mass, v. t.
Defn: 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.
MASSACRE Mas"sa*cre, n. Etym: [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.
MASSACRE
Mas"sa*cre, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Massacred; p. pr. & vb. n.
Massacring.] Etym: [Cf. F. massacrer. See Massacre, n.]
Defn: 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.
MASSACRER
Mas"sa*crer, n.
Defn: One who massacres. [R.]
MASSAGE
Mas"sage, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A rubbing or kneading of the body, especially when performed as a hygienic or remedial measure.
MASSAGIST
Mas"sag*ist, n.
Defn: One who practices massage; a masseur or masseuse.
MASSASAUGA
Mas`sa*sau"ga, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The black rattlesnake (Crotalus, or Caudisona, tergemina), found in the Mississippi Valley.
MASSE; MASSE SHOT
Massé, or Masse shot, n. (Billiards)
Defn: A stroke made with the cue held vertically.
MASSER
Mass"er, n.
Defn: A priest who celebrates Mass. [R.] Bale.
MASSETER
Mas"se*ter, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. masséter.] (Anat.)
Defn: The large muscle which raises the under jaw, and assists in mastication.
MASSETERIC
Mas`se*ter"ic, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the masseter.
MASSETERINE
Mas"se*ter`ine, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Masseteric.
MASSEUR; MASSEUSE Mas`seur", n. m., Mas`seuse", n. f.,} Etym: [F., or formed in imitation of French. See Massage.] (Med.)
Defn: One who performs massage.
MASSICOT
Mas"si*cot, n. Etym: [F. massicot; E. masticot is a corruption.]
(Chem.)
Defn: 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.
Note: Massicot is sometimes used by painters, and also as a drier in the composition of ointments and plasters.
MASSINESS
Mass"i*ness, n. Etym: [From Massy.]
Defn: The state or quality of being massy; ponderousness.
MASSIVE
Mass"ive, a. Etym: [F. massif.]
1. Forming, or consisting of, a large mass; compacted; weighty; heavy; massy. "Massive armor." Dr. H. More.
2. (Min.)
Defn: 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 schistone, as granite; also, with some authors, an eruptive rock.
MASSIVELY
Mass"ive*ly, adv.
Defn: In a heavy mass.
MASSIVENESS
Mass"ive*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being massive; massiness.
MASSOOLA BOAT
Mas*soo"la boat`.
Defn: See Masoola boat.
MASSORA
Mas*so"ra, n.
Defn: Same as Masora.
MASSORET
Mas"so*ret, n.
Defn: Same as Masorite.
MASSY
Mass"y, a. [Compar. Massier; superl. Massiest.]
Defn: Compacted into, or consisting of, a mass; having bulk and weight ot substance; ponderous; bulky and heavy; weight; 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
Mast, n. Etym: [AS. mæst, fem. ; akin to G. mast, and E. meat. See
Meat.]
Defn: 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
Mast, n. Etym: [AS. mæst, masc.; akin to D., G., Dan., & Sw. mast,
Icel. mastr, and perh. to L. malus.]
1. (Naut.)
Defn: 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.
Note: The most common general names of masts are foremast, mainmast, and mizzenmast, each of which may be made of separate spars.
2. (Mach.)
Defn: 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
Mast, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Masted; p. pr. & vb. n. Masting.]
Defn: To furnish with a mast or masts; to put the masts of in position; as, to mast a ship.
MASTABA; MASTABAH
Mas"ta*ba, n. Also Mas"ta*bah . [Ar. maçtabah a large stone bench.]
1. In Mohammedan countries, a fixed seat, common in dwellings and in public places.
2. (Egyptology) A type of tomb, of the time of the Memphite dynasties, comprising an oblong structure with sloping sides (sometimes containing a decorated chamber, sometimes of solid masonry), and connected with a mummy chamber in the rock beneath.
MASTAX Mas"tax, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (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.
MASTED
Mast"ed, a.
Defn: Furnished with a mast or masts; — chiefly in composition; as, a three-masted schooner.
MASTER
Mast"er, n. (Naut.)
Defn: A vessel having (so many) masts; — used only in compounds; as, a two-master.
MASTER Mas"ter, n. Etym: [OE. maistre, maister, OF. maistre, mestre, F. maître, fr. L. magister, orig. a double comparative from the root of magnus great, akin to Gr. 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. Maccaulay. 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 mìster, 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.)
Defn: 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.
Note: Master, signifying chief, principal, masterly, superior, thoroughly skilled, etc., is often used adjiectively 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.
MASTER
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.
MASTER
Mas"ter, v. i.
Defn: To be skillful; to excel. [Obs.]
MASTERDOM
Mas"ter*dom, n. Etym: [Master + -dom.]
Defn: Dominion; rule; command. [R.] Shak.
MASTERFUL
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.
MASTERFULLY
Mas"ter*ful*ly, adv.
Defn: In a masterful manner; imperiously. A lawless and rebellious man who held lands masterfully and in high contempt of the royal authority. Macaulay.
MASTERHOOD
Mas"ter*hood, n.
Defn: The state of being a master; hence, disposition to command or hector. C. Bronté.
MASTERLESS
Mas"ter*less, a.
Defn: Destitute of a master or owner; ungoverned or ungovernable.
— Mas"ter*less*ness, n.
MASTERLINESS
Mas"ter*li*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being masterly; ability to control wisely or skillfully.
MASTERLY
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.
MASTERLY
Mas"ter*ly, adv.
Defn: With the skill of a master.
Thou dost speak masterly. Shak.
MASTEROUS
Mas"ter*ous, a.
Defn: Masterly. [Obs.] Milton.
MASTERPIECE
Mas"ter*piece`, n.
Defn: Anything done or made with extraordinary skill; a capital
performance; a chef-d'oeuvre; a supreme achievement.
The top and masterpiece of art. South.
Dissimulation was his masterpiece. Claredon.
MASTERSHIP
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.
MASTERSINGER
Mas"ter*sing`er, n. Etym: [A translation of G. meistersänger.]
Defn: 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.
MASTER VIBRATOR
Mas"ter vi"bra*tor.
Defn: In an internal-combustion engine with two or more cylinders, an induction coil and vibrator placed in the circuit between the battery or magneto and the coils for the different cylinders, which are used without vibrators of their own.
MASTERWORT 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).
MASTERY
Mas"ter*y, n.; pl. Masteries. Etym: [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.
MASTFUL
Mast"ful, a. Etym: [See lst Mast.]
Defn: Abounding in mast; producing mast in abundance; as, the mastful forest; a mastful chestnut. Dryden.
MASTHEAD
Mast"head`, n. (Naut.)
Defn: The top or head of a mast; the part of a mast above the hounds.
MASTHEAD
Mast"head", v. t. (Naut.)
Defn: To cause to go to the masthead as a punishment. Marryat.
MASTHOUSE
Mast"house`, n.
Defn: A building in which vessels' masts are shaped, fitted, etc.
MASTIC Mas"tic, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. mastiche, mastichum, Gr. [Written also mastich.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: 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.
MASTICABLE
Mas"ti*ca*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being masticated.
MASTICADOR
Mas`ti*ca"dor, n. Etym: [Cf. Sp. mastigador. See Masticate.] (Man.)
Defn: A part of a bridle, the slavering bit. [Written also mastigador.]
MASTICATE
Mas"ti*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Masticated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Masticating.] Etym: [L. masticatus, p. p. of masticare to chew, prob.
fr. mastiche mastic. See Mastic.]
Defn: To grind or crush with, or as with, the teeth and prepare for swallowing and digestion; to chew; as, to masticate food.
MASTICATER
Mas"ti*ca`ter, n.
Defn: One who masticates.
MASTICATION
Mas`ti*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. masticatio: cf. F. mastication.]
Defn: 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.
MASTICATOR
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.
MASTICATORY
Mas"ti*ca*to*ry, a. Etym: [Cf. F. masticatoire.]
Defn: Chewing; adapted to perform the office o
MASTICATORY
Mas"ti*ca*to*ry, n.; pl. -ries (. (Med.)
Defn: A substance to be chewed to increase the saliva. Bacon.
MASTICH
Mas"tich, n.
Defn: See Mastic.
MASTICIN
Mas"ti*cin, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A white, amorphous, tenacious substance resembling caoutchouc, and obtained as an insoluble residue of mastic.
MASTICOT
Mas"ti*cot, n. (Chem.)
Defn: Massicot. [Obs.]
MASTIFF Mas"tiff, n.; pl. Mastiffs (. [Mastives is irregular and unusual.] Etym: [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.)
Defn: 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.
MASTIGOPOD
Mas"ti*go*pod, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Mastigopoda.
MASTIGOPODA
Mas`ti*gop"o*da, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The Infusoria.
MASTIGURE
Mas"ti*gure, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of several large spiny-tailed lizards of the genus
Uromastix. They inhabit Southern Asia and North Africa.
MASTING
Mast"ing, n. (Naut.)
Defn: 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.
MASTITIS
Mas*ti"tis, n. Etym: [Gr. -itis.] (Med.)
Defn: Inflammation of the breast.
MASTLESS
Mast"less, a. Etym: [See lst Mast.]
Defn: Bearing no mast; as, a mastless oak or beech. Dryden.
MASTLESS
Mast"less, a. Etym: [See 2d Mast.]
Defn: Having no mast; as, a mastless vessel.
MASTLIN
Mast"lin, n.
Defn: See Maslin.
MASTODON
Mas"to*don, n. Etym: [Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: 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 romains occur in nearly all parts of the world in deposits ranging from Miocene to late Quaternary time.
MASTODONSAURUS
Mas`to*don*sau"rus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. E. Mastodon + Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: A large extinct genus of labyrinthodonts, found in the European
Triassic rocks.
MASTODONTIC
Mas`to*don"tic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, a mastodon; as, mastodontic dimensions. Everett.
MASTODYNIA; MASTODYNY
Mas`to*dyn"i*a, Mas*tod"y*ny (, n. Etym: [NL. mastodynia, fr. Gr.
(Med.)
Defn: Pain occuring in the mamma or female breast, — a form of neuralgia.
MASTOID Mas"toid, a. Etym: [Gr. 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.
MASTOIDAL
Mas*toid"al, a.
Defn: Same as Mastoid.
MASTOIDITIS
Mas`toid*i*tis, n. [NL. See Mastoid, and -itis.] (Med.)
Defn: Inflammation in the mastoid process of the temporal bone.
MASTOLOGY
Mas*tol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy: cf. F. mastologie.]
Defn: The natural history of Mammalia.
MASTRESS
Mas"tress, n.
Defn: Mistress. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MASTURBATION Mas`tur*ba"tion, n. Etym: [L. masturbatus, p. p. of masturbari to practice onanism: cf. F. masturbation.]
Defn: Onanism; self-pollution.
MASTY
Mast"y, a. Etym: [See lst Mast.]
Defn: Full of mast; abounding in acorns, etc.
MASULA BOAT
Ma*su"la boat`.
Defn: Same as Masoola boat.
MAT
Mat, n. Etym: [Cf. Matte.]
Defn: A name given by coppersmiths to an alloy of copper, tin, iron, etc., usually called white metal. [Written also matt.]
MAT
Mat, a. Etym: [OF. See 4th Mate.]
Defn: Cast down; dejected; overthrown; slain. [Obs.]
When he saw them so piteous and so maat. Chaucer.
MAT
Mat, n. Etym: [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
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
Mat, v. i.
Defn: To grow thick together; to become interwoven or felted together like a mat.
MATABELE; MATABELES
Mat`a*be"le, or Mat`a*be"les, n. pl., sing. Matabele. [Written also
Matabili.] (Ethnol.)
Defn: A warlike South African Kaffir tribe.
MATACHIN
Ma`ta*chin", n. Etym: [Sp.]
Defn: An old dance with swords and bucklers; a sword dance.
MATACO
Mat"a*co, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The three-banded armadillo (Tolypeutis tricinctus). See Illust. under Loricata.
MATADORE; MATADOR Mat"a*dore, Mat"a*dor, n. Etym: [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)
Defn: 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.
MATAGASSE
Mat`a*gasse", n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A shrike or butcher bird; — called also mattages. [Prov. Eng.]
MATAJUELO Ma`ta*jue"lo (mä`ta*hwa"lo; 239), n. [Cf. Sp. matajudío a kind of fish.]
Defn: A large squirrel fish (Holocentrus ascensionis) of Florida and the West Indies.
MATAJUELO BLANCO
Ma`ta*jue"lo blan"co. [Sp. blanco white.]
Defn: A West Indian food fish (Malacanthus plumieri) related to the tilefish.
MATAMATA
Ma`ta*ma"ta, n. Etym: [Pg.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The bearded tortoise (Chelys fimbriata) of South American rivers.
MATANZA
Ma*tan"za, n. Etym: [Sp., slaughter, fr. matar to kill.]
Defn: A place where animals are slaughtered for their hides and tallow. [Western U. S.]
MATCH Match, n. Etym: [OE. macche, F. mèche, F. mèche, fr. L. myxa a lamp nozzle, Gr. Mucus.]
Defn: 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 Match, n. Etym: [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)
Defn: 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
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
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.
MATCHABLE
Match"a*ble, a.
Defn: 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
Match"-cloth`, n.
Defn: A coarse cloth.
MATCH-COAT
Match"-coat`, n.
Defn: A coat made of match-cloth.
MATCHER
Match"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, matches; a matching machine. See under 3d Match.
MATCH GAME
Match game.
Defn: A game arranged as a test of superiority; also, one of a series of such games.
MATCHLESS
Match"less, a. Etym: [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.
MATCHLOCK
Match"lock`, n.
Defn: An old form of gunlock containing a match for firing the priming; hence, a musket fired by means of a match.
MATCHMAKER
Match"mak`er, n.
1. One who makes matches for burning or kinding.
2. One who tries to bring about marriages.
MATCHMAKING
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.
MATCHMAKING
Match"mak`ing, a.
Defn: Busy in making or contriving marriages; as, a matchmaking woman.
MATCH PLAY
Match play. (Golf)
Defn: Play in which the score is reckoned by counting the holes won or lost by each side; — disting. from medal play.
MATE
Ma"te, n. Etym: [Sp.]
Defn: 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
Mate, n. Etym: [F. mat, abbrev. fr. échec et mat. See Checkmate.]
(Chess)
Defn: Same as Checkmate.
MATE
Mate, a.
Defn: See 2d Mat. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MATE Mate, v. t. Etym: [F. mater to fatigue, enfeeble, humiliate, checkmate. See Mate checkmate.]
1. To confuse; to confound. [Obs.] Shak.
2. To checkmate.
MATE Mate, n. Etym: [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.)
Defn: 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
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
Mate, v. i.
Defn: 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.
MATELASSE Mate`las`sé", a. [F., p.p. of matelasser to cushion, to cover as with a mattress, fr. matelas mattress. See Mattress.]
Defn: Ornamented by means of an imitation or suggestion of quilting, the surface being marked by depressed lines which form squares or lozenges in relief; as, matelassé silks.
MATELASSE
Mate`las`sé", n.
Defn: A quilted ornamented dress fabric of silk or silk and wool.
MATELESS
Mate"less, a. Etym: [Cf. Matchless.]
Defn: Having no mate.
MATELOTE Mat"e*lote, n. Etym: [F., fr. matelot a sailor; properly, a dish such as sailors prepare.]
Defn: A dish of food composed of many kings of fish.
MATELOTE; MATELOTTE Mat"e*lote, Mat"e*lotte, n. [F. matelote, fr. matelot a sailor; properly, a dish such as a sailors prepare.]
1. A stew, commonly of fish, flavored with wine, and served with a wine sauce containing onions, mushrooms, etc.
2. An old dance of sailors, in double time, and somewhat like a hornpipe.
MATEOLOGY
Ma`te*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. matéologie.]
Defn: A vain, unprofitable discourse or inquiry. [R.]
MATEOTECHNY
Ma`te*o*tech"ny, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Any unprofitable science. [Obs.]
MATER
Ma"ter, n. Etym: [L., mother. See Mother.]
Defn: See Alma mater, Dura mater, and Pia mater.
MATERIAL
Ma*te"ri*al, a. Etym: [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 cinsequence; 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.)
Defn: 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.
MATERIAL
Ma*te"ri*al, n.
Defn: 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.
MATERIAL
Ma*te"ri*al, v. t.
Defn: To form from matter; to materialize. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
MATERIALISM
Ma*te"ri*al*ism, n. Etym: [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.
MATERIALIST
Ma*te"ri*al*ist, n. Etym: [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.
MATERIALISTIC; MATERIALISTICAL
Ma*te`ri*al*is"tic, Ma*te`ri*al*is"tic*al, a.
Defn: 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.
MATERIALITY
Ma*te`ri*al"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. matérialité.]
1. The quality or state of being material; material existence; corporeity.
2. Importance; as, the materiality of facts.
MATERIALIZATION
Ma*te`ri*al*i*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act of materializing, or the state of being materialized.
MATERIALIZE
Ma*te"ri*al*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Materialized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Materializing.] Etym: [Cf. F. matérialiser.]
1. To invest wich material characteristics; to make perceptible to the senses; hence, to present to the mind through the medium of material objects. Having wich 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)
Defn: 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.
MATERIALIZE
Ma*te"ri*al*ize, v. i.
Defn: To appear as a material form; to take substantial shape.
[Colloq.]
MATERIALLY
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; essentaily; as, it materially concern us to know the real motives of our actions.
MATERIALNESS
Ma*te"ri*al*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being material.
MATERIA MEDICA
Ma*te"ri*a med"i*ca. Etym: [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.
MATERIARIAN
Ma*te`ri*a"ri*an, n. Etym: [L. materiarius.]
Defn: See Materialist. [Obs.]
MATERIATE; MATERIATED Ma*te"ri*ate, Ma*te"ri*a`ted, a. Etym: [L. materiatus, p. p. of materiare to build of wood.]
Defn: Consisting of matter. [Obs.] Bacon.
MATERIATION
Ma*te`ri*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. materiatio woodwork.]
Defn: Act of forming matter. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
MATERIEL
Ma`té`ri`el", n. Etym: [F. See Material.]
Defn: 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.
MATERIOUS
Ma*te"ri*ous, a.
Defn: See Material. [Obs.]
MATERNAL
Ma*ter"nal, a. Etym: [F. maternel, L. maternus, fr. mater mother. See
Mother.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a mother; becoming to a mother; motherly; as, maternal love; maternal tenderness.
Syn.
— See Motherly.
MATERNALLY
Ma*ter"nal*ly, adv.
Defn: In a motherly manner.
MATERNITY
Ma*ter"ni*ty, n. Etym: [F. maternité, LL. maternitas.]
Defn: The state of being a mother; the character or relation of a mother.
MATFELON
Mat"fel*on, n. Etym: [W. madfelen.] (Bot.)
Defn: The knapweed (Centaurea nigra).
MATH Math, n. Etym: [AS. mmawan to mow, G. mahd math. See Mow to cut (grass).]
Defn: 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.
MATHEMATIC
Math`e*mat"ic, a. Etym: [F. mathématique, L. mathematicus, Gr. mind.
See Mind.]
Defn: See Mathematical.
MATHEMATICAL
Math`e*mat"ic*al, a. Etym: [See Mathematic.]
Defn: 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.
MATHEMATICIAN
Math`e*ma*ti"cian, n. Etym: [Cf. F. mathématicien.]
Defn: One versed in mathematics.
MATHEMATICS Math`e*mat"ics, n. Etym: [F. mathématiques, pl., L. mathematica, sing., Gr. Mathematic, and -ics.]
Defn: 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.
Note: 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.
MATHER
Math"er, n.
Defn: See Madder.
MATHES
Math"es, n. Etym: [Perh. corrupted fr. L. anthemis camomile, Gr.
(Bot.)
Defn: The mayweed. Cf. Maghet.
MATHESIS
Ma*the"sis, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.
Defn: Learning; especially, mathematics. [R.] Pope.
MATHURIN
Math"u*rin, n. (R. C. Ch.)
Defn: See Trinitarian.
MATICO
Ma*ti"co, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A Peruvian plant (Piper, or Artanthe, elongatum), allied to the pepper, the leaves of which are used as a styptic and astringent.
MATIE
Mat"ie, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A fat herring with undeveloped roe. [Written also matty.] [Eng. & Scot.]
MATIN
Ma`tin", n. Etym: [F. matin.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A French mastiff.
MATIN Mat"in, n. Etym: [F. fr. L. matutinum the morning, matutinus of the morning, Matuta the goddess of the morning. See Matutinal.]
1. Morning. [Obs.] Shak.
2. pl. Etym: [F. matines. See Etymol. above.]
Defn: 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.
MATIN
Mat"in, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the morning, or to matins; used in the morning; matutinal.
MATINAL
Mat"in*al, a.
Defn: Relating to the morning, or to matins; matutinal.
MATINEE
Mat`i*née", n. Etym: [F., from matin. See Matin.]
Defn: A reception, or a musical or dramatic entertainment, held in the daytime. See SoirÉe.
MATRASS
Ma*trass", n. Etym: [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.)
Defn: A round-bottomed glass flask having a long neck; a bolthead.
MATRESS
Mat"ress, n.
Defn: See Matress.
MATRIARCH
Ma"tri*arch, n. Etym: [L. mater mother + -arch.]
Defn: The mother and ruler of a family or of her descendants; a ruler by maternal right.
MATRIARCHAL
Ma`tri*ar"chal, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a matriarch; governed by a matriarch.
MATRIARCHATE
Ma"tri*ar"chate, n.
Defn: The office or jurisdiction of a matriarch; a matriarchal form of government.
MATRICE
Ma"trice, n. Etym: [Cf. F. matrice. See Matrix.]
Defn: See Matrix.
MATRICIDAL
Mat"ri*ci`dal, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to matricide.
MATRICIDE Mat"ri*cide, n. Etym: [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. Etym: [L. matricida: cf. F. matricide.]
Defn: One who murders one's own mother.
MATRICULATE Ma*tric"u*late, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Matriculated; p. pr. & vb. n. Matriculating.] Etym: [L. matricula a public roll or register, dim. of matrix a mother, in respect to propagation, also, a public register. See Matrix.]
Defn: 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.
MATRICULATE
Ma*tric"u*late, v. i.
Defn: To go though the process of admission to membership, as by examination and enrollment, in a society or college.
MATRICULATE
Ma*tric"u*late, a.
Defn: Matriculated. Skelton.
— n.
Defn: One who is matriculated. Arbuthnot.
MATRICULATION
Ma*tric`u*la"tion, n.
Defn: The act or process of matriculating; the state of being matriculated.
MATRIMOINE
Mat"ri*moine, n.
Defn: Matrimony. [Obs.]
MATRIMONIAL
Mat`ri*mo"ni*al, a. Etym: [L. matrimonialis: cf. F. matrimonial. See
Matrimony.]
Defn: 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.
MATRIMONIALLY
Mat`ri*mo"ni*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a matrimonial manner.
MATRIMONIOUS
Mat`ri*mo"ni*ous, a.
Defn: Matrimonial. [R.] Milton.
MATRIMONY Mat"ri*mo*ny, n. Etym: [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 confessit. 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.
MATRIX Ma"trix, n.; pl. Matrices. Etym: [L., fr. mater mother. See Mother, and cf. Matrice.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: 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)
Defn: The five simple colors, black, white, blue, red, and yellow, of which all the rest are composed.
3. (Biol.)
Defn: The lifeless portion of tissue, either animal or vegetable, situated between the cells; the intercellular substance.
4. (Math.)
Defn: A rectangular arrangement of symbols in rows and columns. The symbols may express quantities or operations.
MATRON
Ma"tron, n. Etym: [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.
MATRONAGE
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.
MATRONAL
Mat"ron*al, a. Etym: [L. matronalis.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a matron; suitable to an elderly lady or to a married woman; grave; motherly.
MATRONHOOD
Ma"tron*hood, n.
Defn: The state of being a matron.
MATRONIZE
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 marton toward; to superintend; to chaperone; as, to matronize an assembly.
MATRONLIKE
Ma"tron*like`, a.
Defn: Like a matron; sedate; grave; matronly.
MATRONLY
Ma"tron*ly, a.
1. Advanced in years; elderly.
2. Like, or befitting, a matron; grave; sedate.
MATRONYMIC
Mat`ro*nym"ic, n. Etym: [L. mater mother + -nymic, as in patronimic.]
Defn: See Metronymic.
MATROSS
Ma*tross", n. Etym: [D. matroos, fr. F. matelot.] (Mil.)
Defn: 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
Matt, n.
Defn: See Matte. Knight.
MATTAGES
Mat`ta*ges", n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A shrike or butcher bird; — written also matagasse. [Prov.
Eng.]
MATTAMORE
Mat"ta*more`, n. Etym: [F. matamore, from Ar. matm.]
Defn: A subterranean repository for wheat.
MATTE Matte, n. Etym: [F. matte; cf. F. mat, masc., matte, fem., faint, dull, dim; — said of metals. See Mate checkmate.]
1. (Metallurgy)
Defn: 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.
MATTED
Mat"ted, a. Etym: [See Matte.]
Defn: Having a dull surface; unburnished; as, matted gold leaf or gilding. Matted glass, glass ornamented with figures on a dull ground.
MATTED
Mat"ted, a. Etym: [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.
MATTER Mat"ter, n. Etym: [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.
Note: 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. Mi lton.
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.)
Defn: 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.)
Defn: 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.
MATTER
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.
MATTER
Mat"ter, v. t.
Defn: To regard as important; to take account of; to care for. [Obs.]
He did not matter cold nor hunger. H. Brooke.
MATTERLESS
Mat"ter*less, a.
1. Not being, or having, matter; as, matterless spirits. Davies (Wit's Pilgr. ).
2. Unimportant; immaterial. [Obs.]
MATTER-OF-FACT
Mat"ter-of-fact", a.
Defn: Adhering to facts; not turning aside from absolute realities; not fanciful or imaginative; commonplace; dry.
MATTERY
Mat"ter*y, a.
1. Generating or containing pus; purulent.
2. Full of substance or matter; important. B. Jonson.
MATTING
Mat"ting, n. Etym: [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.
MATTING
Mat"ting, n. Etym: [See Matte.]
Defn: A dull, lusterless surface in certain of the arts, as gilding, metal work, glassmaking, etc.
MATTOCK
Mat"tock, n. Etym: [AS. mattuc; cf. W. matog.]
Defn: 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.
MATTOID
Mat"toid, n. [It. matto mad (cf. L. mattus, matus, drunk) + -oid.]
Defn: A person of congenitally abnormal mind bordering on insanity or degeneracy.
MATTOIR
Mat*toir", n. [F. matoir.] (Engraving)
Defn: A kind of coarse punch with a rasplike face, used for making a rough surface on etching ground, or on the naked copper, the effect after biting being very similar to stippled lines.
MATTOWACCA
Mat`to*wac"ca, n. Etym: [Indian name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: 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.
MATTRESS Mat"tress, n. Etym: [OF. materas, F. matelas, LL. matratium; cf. Sp. & Pg. almadraque, Pr. almatrac; all from Ar. matsrah a place where anything is thrown, what is thrown under something, fr. tsaraha 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.)
Defn: A mass of interwoven brush, poles, etc., to protect a bank from being worn away by currents or waves.
MATURANT
Mat"u*rant, n. Etym: [L. maturans, p. pr. See Maturate.] (Med.)
Defn: A medicine, or application, which promotes suppuration.
MATURATE
Mat"u*rate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Maturated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Maturating.] Etym: [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).
MATURATE
Mat"u*rate, v. i.
Defn: To ripen; to become mature; specif
MATURATION Mat`u*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. maturatio a hastening: cf. F. maturation.]
Defn: The process of bringing, or of coming, to maturity; hence, specifically, the process of suppurating perfectly; the formation of pus or matter.
MATURATIVE
Mat"u*ra*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. maturatif.]
Defn: Conducing to ripeness or maturity; hence, conducing to suppuration.
MATURATIVE
Mat"u*ra*tive, n. (Med.)
Defn: A remedy promoting maturation; a maturant.
MATURE Ma*ture", a. [Compar. Maturer; superl. Maturest.] Etym: [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.
MATURE
Ma*ture", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Matured; p. pr. & vb. n. Maturing.]
Etym: [See Maturate, Mature.]
Defn: To bring or hasten to maturity; to promote ripeness in; to ripen; to complete; as, to mature one's plans. Bacon.
MATURE
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.
MATURELY
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.
MATURENESS
Ma*ture"ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being mature; maturity.
MATURER
Ma*tur"er, n.
Defn: One who brings to maturity.
MATURESCENT Mat`u*res"cent, a. Etym: [L. maturescens, p. pr. of maturescere to become ripe, v. incho. from maturus. See Mature, a.]
Defn: Approaching maturity.
MATURING
Ma*tur"ing, a.
Defn: Approaching maturity; as, maturing fruits; maturing notes of hand.
MATURITY
Ma*tu"ri*ty, n. Etym: [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.
MATUTINAL
Mat`u*ti"nal, a. Etym: [L. matutinalis, matutinus: cf. F. matutinal.
See Matin.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the morning; early.
MATUTINARY
Ma*tu"ti*na*ry, a.
Defn: Matutinal. [R.]
MATUTINE
Mat"u*tine, a.
Defn: Matutinal. [R.]
MATWEED
Mat"weed`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: 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.
MATY
Mat"y, n. Etym: [Etymology uncertain.]
Defn: A native house servant in India. Balfour (Cyc. of India).
MATZOTH
Matz"oth, n. Etym: [Heb. matstsoth, pl. of matstsah unleavened.]
Defn: A cake of unleavened bread eaten by the Jews at the feast of the Passover.
MAUCACO
Mau*ca"co, n. Etym: [From the native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A lemur; — applied to several species, as the White-fronted, the ruffed, and the ring-tailed lemurs.
MAUD
Maud, n.
Defn: A gray plaid; — used by shepherds in Scotland.
MAUDLE
Mau"dle, v. t.
Defn: To throw onto confusion or disorder; to render maudlin. [Obs.]
MAUDLIN
Maud"lin, a. Etym: [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.
MAUDLIN; MAUDELINE
Maud"lin, Maude"line, n. (Bot.)
Defn: An aromatic composite herb, the costmary; also, the South
European Achillea Ageratum, a kind of yarrow.
MAUDLINISM
Maud"lin*ism, n.
Defn: A maudlin state. Dickens.
MAUDLINWORT
Maud"lin*wort`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The oxeye daisy.
MAUGER; MAUGRE
Mau"ger, Mau"gre, prep. Etym: [OF. maugré, malgré, F. malgré. See
Mal-, Malice, and Agree.]
Defn: 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.
MAUGRE
Mau"gre, v. t.
Defn: To defy. [Obs.] J. Webster.
MAUKIN
Mau"kin, n.
1. See Malkin.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A hare. [Scot.]
MAUL
Maul, n. Etym: [See Mall a hammer.]
Defn: A heavy wooden hammer or beetle. [Written also mall.]
MAUL
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
Maule, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The common mallow.
MAULING
Maul"ing, n.
Defn: A severe beating with a stick, cudgel, or the fist.
MAUL-STICK Maul"-stick`, n. Etym: [G. malerstock; maler a painter + stock stick.]
Defn: A stick used by painters as a rest for the hand while working.
[Written also mahl-stick.]
MAUMET
Mau"met, n.
Defn: See Mawmet. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MAUNCH
Maunch, v. t.
Defn: To munch. [Obs.]
MAUNCH
Maunch, n.
Defn: See Manche.
MAUND
Maund, n. Etym: [AS. mand, mond.]
Defn: A hand basket. [Obs.] Herrick.
MAUND
Maund, n. Etym: [Hind, & Per. man.]
Defn: An East Indian weight, varying in different localities from 25 to about 82 pounds avoirdupois.
MAUND; MAUNDER
Maund, Maund"er, v. i. Etym: [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.
MAUNDER
Maund"er, v. t.
Defn: To utter in a grumbling manner; to mutter.
MAUNDER
Maund"er, n.
Defn: A beggar. [Obs.]
MAUNDERER
Maund"er*er, n.
Defn: One who maunders.
MAUNDRIL
Maun"dril, n. Etym: [Cf. Mandrel.] (Coa
Defn: A pick with two prongs, to pry with.
MAUNDY COINS; MAUNDY MONEY
Maundy coins or money.
Defn: Silver coins or money of the nominal value of 1d., 2d., 3d., and 4d., struck annually for the Maundy alms.
MAUNDY THURSDAY Maun"dy Thurs"day. Etym: [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.)
Defn: The Thursday in Passion week, or next before Good Friday.
MAUNGY
Maun"gy, a.
Defn: Mangy. [Obs.] Skelton.
MAURESQUE
Mau*resque", a. & n.
Defn: See Moresque.
MAURIST
Maur"ist, n. Etym: [From Maurus, the favorite disciple of St.
Benedict.]
Defn: 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.
MAUSOLEAN
Mau`so*le"an, a. Etym: [L. Mausoleus. See Mausoleum.]
Defn: Pertaining to a mausoleum; monumental.
MAUSOLEUM
Mau`so*le"um, n.; pl. E. Mausoleums, L. -lea. Etym: [L. mausoleum,
Gr.
Defn: A magnificent tomb, or stately sepulchral monument.
MAUTHER Mau"ther, n. Etym: [Cf. AS. mæg a maid.] [Also spelled mawther, mother.]
Defn: A girl; esp., a great, awkward girl; a wench. [Prov. Eng.]
MAUVANILINE
Mauv`an"i*line, n. (Chem.)
Defn: See Mauve aniline, under Mauve.
MAUVE Mauve, n. Etym: [F., mallow, L. malva. So named from the similarity of the color to that of the petals of common mallow, Malva sylvestris. See Mallow.]
Defn: 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.
MAUVEINE
Mauve"ïne, n. (Chem.)
Defn: An artificial organic base, obtained by oxidizing a mixture of aniline and toluidine, and valuable for the dyestuffs it forms. [Written also mauvine.]
MAUVINE
Mauv"ine, a.
Defn: Mauve-colored.
MAVERICK
Mav"er*ick, n.
Defn: 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 naglected to brand his cattle.
MAVERICK BRAND
Maverick brand.
Defn: A brand originated by a dishonest cattleman, who, without owning any stock, gradually accumulates a herd by finding mavericks. [Western U. S.]
MAVIS Ma"vis (ma"vîs), n. Etym: [F. mauvis, Arm. milvid, milfid, milc'hhouid, Corn. melhuez.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The European throstle or song thrush (Turdus musicus).
MAVOURNIN; MAVOURNEEN Ma*vour"nin, Ma*vour"neen (ma*voor"nen), n. [Ir. mo mhuirnin my darling; mo my + mhuirnin darling.]
Defn: My darling; — an Irish term of endearment for a girl or woman.
"Erin mavournin." Campbell.
MAW
Maw, n. Etym: [See Mew a gull.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A gull.
MAW Maw, n. Etym: [OE. mawe, AS. maga stomach; akin to D. maag, OHG. mago, G. magen, Icel. magi, Sw. mage, Dan. mave.
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
Maw, n.
Defn: An old game at cards. Sir A. Weldon.
MAWK Mawk, n. Etym: [OE. mauk, ma, Icel. ma; akin to Dan. maddik, and E. mad an earthworm. See Mad, n.]
1. A maggot. [Scot.]
2. A slattern; a mawks. [Prov. Eng.]
MAWKIN
Maw"kin, n.
Defn: See Malkin, and Maukin.
MAWKINGLY
Mawk"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: Slatternly. [Obs.]
MAWKISH
Mawk"ish, a. Etym: [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.
MAWKISHLY
Mawk"ish*ly, adv.
Defn: In a mawkish way.
MAWKISHNESS
Mawk"ish*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being mawkish. J. H. Newman.
MAWKS
Mawks, n.
Defn: A slattern; a mawk. [Prov. Eng.]
MAWKY
Mawk"y, a.
Defn: Maggoty. [Prov. Eng.]
MAWMET
Maw"met, n. Etym: [Contr. fr. Mahomet.]
Defn: 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.
MAWMETRY
Maw"met*ry, n.
Defn: The religion of Mohammed; also, idolatry. See Mawmet. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
MAWMISH Maw"mish, a. Etym: [Prov. E. maum soft, mellow, rotten; cf. OD. molm rotten wood, G. mulm.]
Defn: Nauseous. [Obs.] L' Estrange.
MAWSEED
Maw"seed`, n. Etym: [Cf. G. magsamen.] (Bot.)
Defn: The seed of the opium poppy.
MAWWORM Maw"worm`, n. Etym: [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.
MAXILLA
Max*il"la, n.; pl. Maxillæ. Etym: [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.)
Defn: One of the lower or outer jaws of arthropods.
Note: 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.
MAXILLAR; MAXILLARY Max"il*lar, Max"il*la*ry, a. Etym: [L. maxillaris, fr. maxilla jawbone, jaw: cf. F. maxillaire.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to either the upper or the lower jaw, but now usually applied to the upper jaw only. — n.
Defn: The principal maxillary bone; the maxilla.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to a maxilla.
MAXILLIFORM
Max*il"li*form, a. Etym: [Maxilla + -form: cf. F. maxilliforme.]
Defn: Having the form, or structure, of a maxilla.
MAXILLIPED
Max*il"li*ped, n. Etym: [Maxilla + L. pes, pedis, foot.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: 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.
MAXILLO-MANDIBULAR
Max*il`lo-man*dib"u*lar, a. Etym: [Maxilla + mandibular.] (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to the maxilla and mandible; as, the maxillo- mandibular nerve.
MAXILLO-PALATINE
Max*il`lo-pal"a*tine, a. Etym: [Maxilla + palatine.] (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to the maxillary and palatine regions of the skull; as, the maxillo-palatine process of the maxilla. Also used as n.
MAXILLOTURBINAL
Max*il`lo*tur`bi*nal, a. Etym: [Maxilla + turbinal.] (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to the maxillary and turbinal regions of the skull.
— n.
Defn: The maxillo-turbinal, or inferior turbinate, bone.
MAXIM Max"im, n. Etym: [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.)
Defn: The longest note formerly used, equal to two longs, or four breves; a large.
Syn.
— Axiom; aphorism; apothegm; adage; proverb; saying. See Axiom.
MAXIM GUN
Max"im gun`.
Defn: A kind of machine gun; — named after its inventor, Hiram S.
Maxim.
MAXIMILIAN
Max`i*mil"ian, n. Etym: [From the proper name.]
Defn: A gold coin of Bavaria, of the value of about 13s. 6d. sterling, or about three dollars and a quarter.
MAXIMIZATION
Max`i*mi*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act or process of increasing to the highest degree.
Bentham.
MAXIMIZE
Max"i*mize, v. t. Etym: [L. maximus greatest.]
Defn: To increase to the highest degree. Bentham.
MAXIMUM Max"i*mum, n.; pl. Maxima. Etym: [L., neut. from maximus the greatest. See Maxim.]
Defn: 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 Ant: 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.
MAXIMUM
Max"i*mum, a.
Defn: Greatest in quantity or highest in degree attainable or attained; as, a maximum consumption of fuel; maximum pressure; maximum heat.
MAY May, v. [imp. Might] Etym: [AS. pres. mæg I am able, pret. meahte, mihte; akin to D. mogen, G. mögen, OHG. mugan, magan, Icel. mega, Goth. magan, Russ. moche. Dismay, Main strength, Might. The old imp. mought is obsolete, except as a provincial word.]
Defn: An auxiliary verb qualifyng 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, and It may be, are used as equivalent to possibly, perhaps, by chance, peradventure. See 1st Maybe.
MAY
May, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. mær, Goth. mawi; akin to E. maiden.
Defn: A maiden. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MAY
May, n. Etym: [F. Mai, L. Maius; so named in honor of the goddess
Maia (Gr.
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.)
Defn: 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 micked 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.
MAYA
Ma"ya, n. (Hindoo Philos.)
Defn: The name for the doctrine of the unreality of matter, called, in English, idealism; hence, nothingness; vanity; illusion.
MAYAN
Ma"yan, a.
1. Designating, or pertaining to, an American Indian linguistic stock occupying the Mexican States of Veracruz, Chiapas, Tabasco, Campeche, and Yucatan, together with a part of Guatemala and a part of Salvador. The Mayan peoples are dark, short, and brachycephallic, and at the time of the discovery had attained a higher grade of culture than any other American people. They cultivated a variety of crops, were expert in the manufacture and dyeing of cotton fabrics, used cacao as a medium of exchange, and were workers of gold, silver, and copper. Their architecture comprised elaborately carved temples and places, and they possessed a superior calendar, and a developed system of hieroglyphic writing, with records said to go back to about 700 a. d.
2. Of or pertaining to the Mayas.
MAYAN ARCH; MAYA ARCH
Mayan arch, or Maya arch .
Defn: A form of corbel arch employing regular small corbels.
MAYBE
May"be, adv. Etym: [For it may be.]
Defn: Perhaps; possibly; peradventure.
Maybe the amorous count solicits her. Shak.
In a liberal and, maybe, somewhat reckless way. Tylor.
MAYBE
May"be, a.
Defn: Possible; probable, but not sure. [R.]
Then add those maybe years thou hast to live. Driden.
MAYBE
May"be, n.
Defn: Possibility; uncertainty. [R.]
What they offer is mere maybe and shift. Creech.
MAYBIRD 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.
MAYBLOOM
May"bloom`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The hawthorn.
MAYBUSH
May"bush`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The hawthorn.
MAYDUKE May"duke`, n. Etym: [Corrupt. of Médoc, a province in France, where it is supposed to have originated.]
Defn: A large dark-red cherry of excellent quality.
MAYFISH
May"fish`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A common American minnow (Fundulus majalis). See Minnow.
MAYFLOWER
May"flow`er, n. (Bot.)
Defn: In England, the hawthorn; in New England, the trailing arbutus (see Arbutus); also, the blossom of these plants.
MAYHAP
May"hap, adv.
Defn: Perhaps; peradventure. [Prov. or Dialectic]
MAYHEM
May"hem, n. Etym: [The same as maim. See Maim.] (Law)
Defn: 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.
MAYING
May"ing, n.
Defn: The celebrating of May Day. "He met her once a-Maying." Milton.
MAY LAWS
May laws.
1. See Kulturkampf, above.
2. In Russia, severe oppressive laws against Jews, which have given occasion for great persecution; — so called because they received the assent of the czar in May, 1882, and because likened to the Prussian May laws (see Kulturkampf).
MAYONNAISE
Ma`yon`naise", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: 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.
MAYOR
May"or, n. Etym: [OE. maire, F. maire, fr. L. major greater, higher,
nobler, compar. of magnus great; cf. Sp. mayor. See Major, and cf.
Merino.]
Defn: 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.
MAYORAL
May"or*al, n. Etym: [Sp., fr. mayor greater, L. major.]
Defn: The conductir of a mule team; also, a head shepherd.
MAYORALTY
May"or*al*ty, n.
Defn: The office, or the term of office, of a mayor.
MAYORESS
May"or*ess, n.
Defn: The wife of a mayor.
MAYORSHIP
May"or*ship, n.
Defn: The office of a mayor.
MAYPOLE
May"pole`, n.
Defn: A tall pole erected in an open place and wreathed with flowers, about which the rustic May-day sports were had.
MAYPOP
May"pop, n. Etym: [Perh. corrupt. fr. maracock.] (Bot.)
Defn: 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.
MAYWEED 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.
MAZAMA; MAZAME
Ma*za"ma, Ma*za"me, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A goatlike antelope (Haplocerus montanus) which inhabits the Rocky Mountains, frequenting the highest parts; — called also mountain goat.
MAZARD
Maz"ard, n. Etym: [Cf. F. merise a wild cherry.] (Bot.)
Defn: A kind of small black cherry.
MAZARD Maz"ard, n. Etym: [Prob. fr. mazer, the head being compared to a large goblet.]
Defn: The jaw; the head or skull. [Obs.] Shak.
MAZARD
Maz"ard, v. t.,
Defn: To knock on the head. [Obs.]
MAZARINE
Maz`a*rine", a.
Defn: 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.
MAZARINE
Maz`a*rine", n.
Defn: Mazarine blue.
MAZDEAN
Maz"de*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Ahura-Mazda, or Ormuzd, the beneficent deity in the Zoroastrian dualistic system; hence, Zoroastrian.
MAZDEISM
Maz"de*ism, n.
Defn: The Zoroastrian religion.
MAZE Maze, n. Etym: [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
Maze, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mazed; p. pr. & vb. n. Mazing.]
Defn: To perplex greatly; to bewilder; to astonish and confuse; to amaze. South.
MAZE
Maze, v. i.
Defn: To be bewildered. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MAZEDNESS
Maz"ed*ness, n.
Defn: The condition of being mazed; confusion; astonishment. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
MAZEFUL
Maze"ful, a.
Defn: Mazy. [Obs.] Sir P. Sidney.
MAZER Maz"er, n. Etym: [OE. maser, akin to OD. maser an excrescence on a maple tree, OHG. masar, G. maser spot, Icel. mösurr maple.]
Defn: A large drinking bowl; — originally made of maple. [Obs.]
Their brimful mazers to the feasting bring. Drayton.
MAZILY
Ma"zi*ly, adv.
Defn: In a mazy manner.
MAZINESS
Ma"zi*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being mazy.
MAZOLOGICAL
Maz`o*log"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to mazology.
MAZOLOGIST
Ma*zol"o*gist, n.
Defn: One versed in mazology or mastology.
MAZOLOGY
Ma*zol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.]
Defn: Same as Mastology.
MAZOURKA; MAZURKA
Ma*zour"ka, Ma*zur"ka, n.
Defn: 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.
MAZY
Ma"zy, a. Etym: [From Maze.]
Defn: 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
Me, pron.
Defn: One. See Men, pron. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ME
Me, pers. pron. Etym: [AS. m, dat. & acc., mec, acc. only ; akin to
D. mij, G. mich, Icel. & Goth. mik, L. me, Gr. ma, mam. Mine.]
Defn: 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.
Note: 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
Meach, v. i.
Defn: To skulk; to cower. See Mich.
MEACOCK
Mea"cock, n. Etym: [Prob. fr. meek + cock.]
Defn: An uxorious, effeminate, or spiritless man. [Obs.] Johnson.
MEAD
Mead, n. Etym: [OE. mede, AS. meodo; akin to D. mede, G. met, meth,
OHG. metu, mitu, Icel. mjö, Dan. miöd, Sw. mjöd, Russ. med', Lith.
midus, W. medd, Gr. madhu honey, a sweet drink, as adj., sweet.
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
Mead, n. Etym: [AS. m. See Meadow.]
Defn: 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.
MEADOW Mead"ow, n. Etym: [AS. meady; akin to m, 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.
MEADOW
Mead"ow, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a meadow; of the nature of a meadow; produced, growing, or living in, a meadow. "Fat meadow ground." Milton.
Note: 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.
MEADOWSWEET; MEADOWWORT
Mead"ow*sweet`, Mead"ow*wort`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: 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.
MEADOWY
Mead"ow*y, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to meadows; resembling, or consisting of, meadow.
MEAGER; MEAGRE
Mea"ger, Mea"gre, a. Etym: [OE. merge, F. maigre, L. macer; akin to
D. & G. mager, Icel. magr, and prob. to Gr. 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.)
Defn: Dry and harsh to the touch, as chalk.
Syn. — Thin; lean; lank; gaunt; starved; hungry; poor; emaciated; scanty; barren.
MEAGER; MEAGRE
Mea"ger, Mea"gre, v. t.
Defn: To make lean. [Obs.]
MEAGERLY; MEAGRELY
Mea"ger*ly, Mea"gre*ly, adv.
Defn: Poorly; thinly.
MEAGERNESS; MEAGRENESS
Mea"ger*ness, Mea"gre*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being meager; leanness; scantiness; barrenness.
MEAGRE
Mea"gre, n. Etym: [F. maigre.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: 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
Meak, n. Etym: [Cf. AS. m sword, OS. maki, Icel. mækir.]
Defn: A hook with a long handle. [Obs.] Tusser.
MEAKING
Meak"ing, n. Etym: [See Meak.] (Naut.)
Defn: 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 Meal, n. Etym: [OE. mele, AS. m part, portion, portion of time; akin to E. meal a repast. Cf. Piecemeal.]
Defn: A part; a fragment; a portion. [Obs.]
MEAL Meal, n. Etym: [OE. mel; akin to E. meal a part, and to D. maal time, meal, G. mal time, mahl meal, Icel. mal measure, time, meal, Goth. m time, and to E. measure. See Measure.]
Defn: 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 acas, 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 Meal, n. Etym: [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. mill. 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
Meal, v. t.
1. To sprinkle with, or as with, meal. Shak.
2. To pulverize; as, mealed powder.
MEALIES
Meal"ies, n. pl. Etym: [From Mealy.] (Bot.)
Defn: Maize or Indian corn; — the common name in South Africa.
MEALINESS
Meal"i*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being mealy.
MEAL-MOUTHED
Meal"-mouthed`, a.
Defn: See Mealy-mouthed.
MEALTIME
Meal"time`, n.
Defn: The usual time of eating a meal.
MEALY
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.
MEALY-MOUTHED
Meal"y-mouthed`, a.
Defn: 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 Mean, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Meant; p. pr. & vb. n. Meaning.] Etym: [OE. menen, AS. mænan to recite, tell, intend, wish; akin to OS. menian to have in mind, mean, D. meenen, G. meinen, OHG. meinan, Icel. meina, Sw. mena, Dan. mene, and to E. mind. 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 me. Matt. ix. 13.
MEAN
Mean, v. i.
Defn: To have a purpose or intention. [Rare, except in the phrase to mean well, or ill.] Shak.
MEAN Mean, a. [Compar. Meaner; superl. Meanest.] Etym: [OE. mene, AS. m wicked; akin to man, a., wicked, n., wickedness, OS. m wickedness, OHG. mein, G. meineid perjury, Icel. mein harm, hurt, and perh. to AS. gem common, general, D. gemeen, G. gemein, Goth. gamáins, and L. communis. The AS. gem 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.
Note: 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 Mean, a. Etym: [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.)
Defn: 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
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.)
Defn: 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.
Note: 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.
Defn: 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.)
Defn: 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.
MEANDER Me*an"der, n. Etym: [L. Maeander, orig., a river in Phrygia, proverbial for its many windings, Gr. 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.)
Defn: Fretwork. See Fret.
MEANDER
Me*an"der, v. t.
Defn: To wind, turn, or twist; to make flexuous. Dryton.
MEANDER
Me*an"der, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Meandered; p. pr. & vb. n.
Meandering.]
Defn: 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.
MEANDRIAN
Me*an"dri*an, a. Etym: [L. Maeandrius: cf. F. méandrien.]
Defn: Winding; having many turns.
MEANDRINA
Me`an*dri"na, n. Etym: [NL.: cf. F. méandrine.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of corals with meandering grooves and ridges, including the brain corals.
MEANDROUS; MEANDRY
Me*an"drous, Me*an"dry, a.
Defn: Winding; flexuous.
MEANING
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; sence; import; as, the meaning of a hint.
3. Sense; power of thinking. [R.] — Mean"ing*less, a.
— Mean"ing*ly, adv.
MEANLY
Mean"ly, adv. Etym: [Mean middle.]
Defn: Moderately. [Obs.] A man meanly learned himself, but not meanly affectioned to set forward learning in others. Ascham.
MEANLY
Mean"ly, adv. Etym: [From Mean low.]
Defn: 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.
MEANNESS
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-SPIRITED
Mean"-spir`it*ed, a.
Defn: Of a mean spirit; base; groveling.
— Mean"-spir`it*ed*ness, n.
MEANT
Meant, imp. & p. p.
Defn: of Mean.
MEANTIME; MEANWHILE
Mean"time`, Mean"while`, n.
Defn: The intervening time; as, in the meantime (or mean time).
MEANTIME; MEANWHILE
Mean"time`, Mean"while`, adv.
Defn: In the intervening time; during the interval.
MEAR
Mear, n.
Defn: A boundary. See Mere. [Obs.]
MEASE
Mease, n. Etym: [Cf. G. mass measure.]
Defn: Five hundred; as, a mease of herrings. [Prov. Eng.]
MEASELRY
Mea"sel*ry, n. Etym: [OE. meselrie, OF. mesellerie. See lst Measle.]
Defn: Leprosy. [Obs.] R. of Brunne.
MEASLE Mea"sle, n. Etym: [OE. mesel, OF. mesel, LL. misellus, L. misellus unfortunate, dim. of miser. See Miser.]
Defn: A leper. [Obs.] [Written also meazel, and mesel.] Wyclif (Matt. x. 8. ).
MEASLE
Mea"sle, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A tapeworm larva. See 2d Measles, 4.
MEASLED
Mea"sled, a. Etym: [See 2d Measles.]
Defn: Infected or spotted with measles, as pork.
— Mea"sled*ness, n.
MEASLES
Mea"sles, n. Etym: [From lst Measle.]
Defn: Leprosy; also, a leper. [Obs.]
MEASLES
Mea"sles, n.; pl. in form, but used as singular in senses 1, 2, & 3.
Etym: [D. mazelen; akin to G. masern, pl., and E. mazer, and orig.
meaning, little spots. See Mazer.]
1. (Med.)
Defn: 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.)
Defn: 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.)
Defn: The larvæ of any tapeworm (Tænia) in the cysticerus stage, when contained in meat. Called also bladder worms.
MEASLY
Mea"sly, a.
1. Infected with measles.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Containing larval tapeworms; — said of pork and beef.
MEASURABLE Meas"ur*a*ble, a. Etym: [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.
MEASURE
Meas"ure, n. Etym: [OE. mesure, F. mesure, L. mensura, fr. metiri,
mensus, to measure; akin to metrum poetical measure, Gr. 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 dane, like the minuet. (b) (Mus.) (1) The group or grouping of beats, caused by the regular recurrence of accented beats. (2)
Defn: 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.)
Defn: 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.)
Defn: 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.
MEASURE
Meas"ure, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Measured; p. pr. & vb. n. Measuring.]
Etym: [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.
MEASURE
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.
MEASURED
Meas"ured, a.
Defn: 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.
MEASURELESS
Meas"ure*less, a.
Defn: Without measure; unlimited; immeasurable.
— Meas"ure*less*ness, n.
Syn.
— Boundless; limitless; endless; unbounded; unlimited; vast;
immense; infinite; immeasurable. Where Alf, the sacred river ran,
Through canyons measureless to man, Down to a hidden sea. Coleridge
MEASUREMENT
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.
MEASURER
Meas"ur*er, n.
Defn: One who measures; one whose occupation or duty is to measure commondities in market.
MEASURING
Meas"ur*ing, a.
Defn: 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 Meat, n. Etym: [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
Meat, v. t.
Defn: To supply with food. [Obs.] Tusser.
His shield well lined, his horses meated well. Chapman.
MEATAL
Me*a"tal, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a meatus; resembling a meatus. Owen.
MEATED
Meat"ed, a.
1. Fed; fattened. [Obs.] Tusser.
2. Having (such) meat; — used chiefly in composition; as, thick- meated.
MEATH; MEATHE
Meath, Meathe, n. Etym: [See Mead.]
Defn: A sweet liquor; mead. [Obs.] Chaucer. Milton.
MEATINESS
Meat"i*ness, n.
Defn: Quality of being meaty.
MEATLESS
Meat"less, a.
Defn: Having no meat; without food.
"Leave these beggars meatless." Sir T. More.
MEATOSCOPE
Me*at"o*scope, n. Etym: [Meatus + -scope.] (Med.)
Defn: A speculum for examining a natural passage, as the urethra.
MEATOTOME
Me*at"o*tome, n. Etym: [Meatus + Gr. (Surg.)
Defn: An instrument for cutting into the urethra so as to enlarge its orifice.
MEATUS Me*a"tus, n. sing. & pl.; E. pl. Meatuses (. Etym: [L., a going, passage, fr. meare to go.] (Anat.)
Defn: A natural passage or canal; as, the external auditory meatus.
See Illust. of Ear.
MEATY
Meat"y, a.
Defn: Abounding in meat.
MEAW
Meaw, n.
Defn: The sea mew. [Obs.] Spenser.
MEAW
Meaw, v. i.
Defn: See Mew, to cry as a cat.
MEAWL
Meawl, v. i.
Defn: See Mewl, and Miaul.
MEAZEL
Mea"zel, n.
Defn: See 1st Measle. [Obs.]
MEAZLING
Meaz"ling, a.
Defn: Falling in small drops; mistling; mizzing. [Obs.] Arbuthnot.
MEBLES
Me"bles, n. pl.
Defn: See Moebles. [Obs.]
MECATE
Me*ca"te, n. Etym: [Sp.]
Defn: A rope of hair or of maguey fiber, for tying horses, etc.
[Southwestern U. S.]
MECCAWEE
Mec`ca*wee", a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Mecca, in Arabia.
— n.
Defn: A native or inhabitant of Mecca.
MECHANIC
Me*chan"ic, n. Etym: [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.
MECHANIC
Me*chan"ic, a. Etym: [F. mécanique, L. mechanicus, Gr. Machine.]
1. Having to do woth 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.
MECHANICAL
Me*chan"ic*al, a. Etym: [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 inverstigation 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 throught 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.
MECHANICAL
Me*chan"ic*al, n.
Defn: A mechanic. [Obs.] Shak.
MECHANICALIZE
Me*chan"ic*al*ize, v. t.
Defn: To cause to become mechanical.
MECHANICALLY
Me*chan"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a mechanical manner.
MECHANICALNESS
Me*chan"ic*al*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being mechanical.
MECHANICIAN
Mech`a*ni"cian, n. Etym: [Cf. F. mécanicien. See Mechanic.]
Defn: One skilled in the theory or construction of machines; a machinist. Boyle.
MECHANICO-CHEMICAL
Me*chan`i*co-chem"ic*al, a.
Defn: 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.
MECHANICS
Me*chan"ics, n. Etym: [Cf. F. mécanique.]
Defn: That science, or branch of applied mathematics, which treats of the action of forces on bodies.
Note: 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.
MECHANISM
Mech"an*ism, n. Etym: [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)
Defn: An ideal machine; a combination of movable bodies constituting a machine, but considered only with regard to relative movements.
MECHANIST
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.
MECHANIZE
Mech"an*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mechanized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Mechanizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. méchaniser.]
Defn: To cause to be mechanical. Shelley.
MECHANOGRAPH
Mech"an*o*graph, n. Etym: [Gr. -graph.]
Defn: One of a number of copies of anything multiplied mechanically.
MECHANOGRAPHIC
Mech`an*o*graph`ic, 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.
MECHANOGRAPHIST
Mech`an*og"ra*phist, n.
Defn: An artist who, by mechanical means, multiplies copies of works of art.
MECHANOGRAPHY
Mech`an*og"ra*phy, n.
Defn: The art of mechanically multiplying copies of a writing, or any work of art.
MECHANURGY
Mech"an*ur`gy, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: That branch of science which treats of moving machines.
MECHITARIST
Mech"i*tar*ist, n. Etym: [From Mechitar, an Armenian., who founded
the congregation in the early part of the eighteenth century.] (Eccl.
Hist.)
Defn: One of a religious congregation of the Roman Catholic Church devoted to the improvement of Armenians.
MECHLIN
Mech"lin, n.
Defn: A kind of lace made at, or originating in, Mechlin, in Belgium.
MECHOACAN
Me*cho"a*can, n.
Defn: 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.
MECKELIAN
Meck*e"li*an, a. (Anat.)
Defn: 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.
MECONATE
Mec"o*nate, n. Etym: [Cf. F. méconate.] (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of meconic acid.
MECONIC
Me*con"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. méconique.]
Defn: 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.
MECONIDINE
Me*con"i*dine, n. (Chem)
Defn: An alkaloid found in opium, and extracted as a yellow amorphous substance which is easily decomposed.
MECONIDIUM
Mec`o*nid"i*um, n. Etym: [NL., dim. of Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: 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.
MECONIN
Mec"o*nin, n. Etym: [Cf. F. méconine.] (Chem.)
Defn: 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.
MECONINIC
Mec`o*nin"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, an acid which occurs in opium, and which may be obtained by oxidizing narcotine.
MECONIUM Me*co"ni*um, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Med.) (a) Opium. [Obs.] (b) The contents of the fetal intestine; hence, first excrement.
MEDAL
Med"al, n. Etym: [F. médaille, It. medaglia, fr. L. metallum metal,
through (assumed) LL. metalleus made of metal. See Metal, and cf.
Mail a piece of money.]
Defn: 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.
MEDAL
Med"al, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Medaled, or Medalled; p. pr. & vb. n.
Medaling or Medalling.]
Defn: To honor or reward with a medal. "Medaled by the king."
Thackeray.
MEDALET
Med"al*et, n.
Defn: A small medal.
MEDALIST Med"al*ist, n. Etym: [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.
MEDALLIC
Me*dal"lic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a medal, or to medals. "Our medallic history." Walpole.
MEDALLION Me*dal"lion, n. Etym: [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.
MEDAL PLAY
Med"al play`. (Golf)
Defn: Play in which the score is reckoned by counting the number of strokes.
MEDALURGY
Med"al*ur`gy, n. Etym: [Medal + the root of Gr.
Defn: The art of making and striking medals and coins. [Written also medallurgy.]
MEDDLE
Med"dle`, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Meddled; p. pr. & vb. n. Meddling.]
Etym: [OE. medlen to mix, OF. medler, mesler, F. mêler, LL.
misculare, a dim. fr. L. miscere to mix. 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; — [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.
MEDDLE
Med"dle, v. t.
Defn: To mix; to mingle. [Obs.] Chaucer.
"Wine meddled with gall." Wyclif (Matt. xxvii. 34).
MEDDLER
Med"dler, n.
Defn: One who meddles; one who interferes or busies himself with things in which he has no concern; an officious person; a busybody.
MEDDLESOME
Med"dle*some, a.
Defn: Given to meddling; apt to interpose in the affairs of others;
officiously intrusive.
— Med"dle*some*ness, n.
MEDDLING
Med"dling, a.
Defn: Meddlesome. Macaulay.
MEDDLINGLY
Med"dling*ly, adv.
Defn: In a meddling manner.
MEDE
Mede, n.
Defn: A native or inhabitant of Media in Asia.
MEDE
Mede, n.
Defn: See lst & 2d Mead, and Meed. [Obs.]
MEDIA
Me"di*a, n.,
Defn: pl. of Medium.
MEDIA
Me"di*a, n.; pl. Mediæ (-e). Etym: [NL., fr. L. medius middle.]
(Phonetics)
Defn: One of the sonant mutes b, d, g (b, d, g), in Greek, or of their equivalents in other languages, so named as intermediate between the tenues, p, t, k (p, t, k), and the aspiratæ (aspirates) f, th, x (ph or f, th, ch). Also called middle mute, or medial, and sometimes soft mute.
MEDIACY
Me"di*a*cy, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being mediate. Sir W. Hamilton.
MEDIAEVAL
Me`di*æ"val, a. Etym: [L. medius middle + aevum age. See Middle, and
Age.]
Defn: Of or relating to the Middle Ages; as, mediæval architecture.
[Written also medieval.]
MEDIAEVALISM
Me`di*æ"val*ism, n.
Defn: 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.]
MEDIAEVALIST
Me`di*æ"val*ist, n.
Defn: 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.]
MEDIAEVALLY
Me`di*æ"val*ly, adv.
Defn: In the manner of the Middle Ages; in accordance with mediævalism.
MEDIAEVALS
Me`di*æ"vals, n. pl.
Defn: The people who lived in the Middle Ages. Ruskin.
MEDIAL
Me"di*al, a. Etym: [L. medialis, fr. medius middle: cf. F. médial.
See Middle.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a mean or average; mean; as, medial alligation.
MEDIAL
Me"di*al, n. (Phonetics)
Defn: See 2d Media.
MEDIALUNA
Me"di*a*lu"na, n. Etym: [Sp. media luna half-moon.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Half-moon.
MEDIAN
Me"di*an, a. Etym: [L. medianus, fr. medius middle. See Medial.]
1. Being in the middle; running through the middle; as, a median groove.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: 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.
MEDIAN
Me"di*an, n. (Geom.)
Defn: A median line or point.
MEDIANT Me"di*ant, n. Etym: [L. medians, p. p. of mediare to halve: cf. It. mediante, F. médiante.] (Mus.)
Defn: The third above the keynote; — so called because it divides the interval between the tonic and dominant into two thirds.
MEDIASTINAL
Me`di*as*ti"nal, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to a mediastinum.
MEDIASTINE; MEDIASTINUM Me`di*as"tine, Me`di*as*ti"num, n. Etym: [NL. mediastinum, fr. L. medius middle; cf. mediastinus helper, a menial servant, LL. mediastinus equiv. to medius: cf F. médiastin.] (Anat.)
Defn: 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.
MEDIATE Me"di*ate, a. Etym: [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.
MEDIATE
Me"di*ate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Mediated; p. pr. & vb. n. Mediating.]
Etym: [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.
MEDIATE
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.
MEDIATELY
Me"di*ate*ly, adv.
Defn: 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.
MEDIATENESS
Me"di*ate*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being mediate.
MEDIATION Me`di*a"tion, n. Etym: [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.
MEDIATIVE
Me"di*a*tive, a.
Defn: Pertaining to mediation; used in mediation; as, mediative efforts. Beaconsfield.
MEDIATIZATION
Me`di*at`i*za"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. médiatisation.]
Defn: The act of mediatizing.
MEDIATIZE
Me"di*a*tize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mediatized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Mediatizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. médiatiser.]
Defn: 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.
MEDIATOR
Me"di*a`tor, n. Etym: [L. mediator: cf. E. médiateur.]
Defn: 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.
MEDIATORIAL
Me`di*a*to"ri*al, a.
Defn: 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.
MEDIATORSHIP
Me"di*a`tor*ship, n.
Defn: The office or character of a mediator.
MEDIATORY
Me"di*a*to*ry, a.
Defn: Mediatorial.
MEDIATRESS; MEDIATRIX Me`di*a"tress, Me`di*a*"trix, n. Etym: [L. mediatrix, f. of mediator: cf. F. médiatrice.]
Defn: A female mediator.
MEDIC
Med"ic, n. Etym: [L. medica, Gr. Media, from (Bot.)
Defn: A leguminous plant of the genus Medicago. The black medic is the Medicago lupulina; the purple medic, or lucern, is M. sativa.
MEDIC
Med"ic, a. Etym: [L. medicus.]
Defn: Medical. [R.]
MEDICABLE Med"i*ca*ble, a. Etym: [L. medicabilis, from medicare, medicari, to heal, fr. medicus physician. See Medical.]
Defn: Capable of being medicated; admitting of being cured or healed.
MEDICAL Med"ic*al, a. Etym: [LL. medicalis, L. medicus belonging to healing, fr. mederi to heal; cf. Zend madha medical science, wisdom, gr. 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.
MEDICALLY
Med"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a medical manner; with reference to healing, or to the principles of the healing art.
MEDICAMENT Med"i*ca*ment, n. Etym: [L. medicamentum, fr. medicare, medicari, to heal: cf. F. médicament. See Medicable.]
Defn: Anything used for healing diseases or wounds; a medicine; a healing application.
MEDICAMENTAL
Med`ica*men"tal, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to medicaments or healing applications; having the qualities of medicaments. — Med`ica*men"tal*ly, adv.
MEDICASTER
Med"i*cas`ter, n. Etym: [Cf. F. médicastre. See Medical.]
Defn: A quack. [R.] Whitlock.
MEDICATE
Med"i*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Medicated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Medicating.] Etym: [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.
MEDICATION
Med`i*ca"tion, Etym: [L. medicatio: cf. F. médication.]
Defn: The act or process of medicating.
MEDICATIVE
Med"i*ca*tive, a.
Defn: Medicinal; acting like a medicine.
MEDICEAN
Med`i*ce"an, a.
Defn: 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.
MEDICINABLE
Me*dic"i*na*ble, a.
Defn: Medicinal; having the power of healing. [Obs.] Shak.
MEDICINAL
Me*dic"i*nal, a. Etym: [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.
MEDICINALLY
Me*dic"i*nal*ly, adv.
Defn: In a medicinal manner.
MEDICINE Med"i*cine, n. Etym: [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. Etym: [F. médecin.]
Defn: 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.
MEDICINE
Med"i*cine, v. t.
Defn: To give medicine to; to affect as a medicine does; to remedy; to cure. "Medicine thee to that sweet sleep." Shak.
MEDICO-LEGAL
Med`i*co-le"gal, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to law as affected by medical facts.
MEDICOMMISSURE
Med`i*com"mis*sure, n. Etym: [L. medius middle + E. commissure.]
(Anat.)
Defn: A large transverse commissure in the third ventricle of the brain; the middle or soft commissure. B. G. Wildex.
MEDICORNU Med`i*cor"nu, n.; pl. Medicornua. Etym: [NL., fr. L. medius middle + cornu horn.] (Anat.)
Defn: The middle or inferior horn of each lateral ventricle of the brain. B. G. Wilder.
MEDICS
Med"ics, n.
Defn: Science of medicine. [Obs.]
MEDIETY
Me*di"e*ty, n. Etym: [L. medietas.]
Defn: The middle part; half; moiety. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
MEDIEVAL; MEDIEVALISM; MEDIEVALIST
Me`di*e"val, Me`di*e"val*ism, Me`di*e"val*ist.
Defn: Same as Medi, Medi, etc.
MEDINA EPOCH
Me*di"na ep"och. Etym: [From Medina in New York.] (Geol.)
Defn: 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.
MEDINO
Me*di"no, n.
Defn: Same as Para.
MEDIOCRAL
Me"di*o`cral, a.
Defn: Mediocre. [R.]
MEDIOCRE
Me"di*o`cre, a. Etym: [F. médiocre, L. mediocris, fr. medius middle.
See Mid.]
Defn: Of a middle quality; of but a moderate or low degree of excellence; indifferent; ordinary. " A very mediocre poet." Pope.
MEDIOCRE
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.
MEDIOCRIST
Me"di*o`crist, n.
Defn: A mediocre person. [R.]
MEDIOCRITY
Me`di*oc"ri*ty, n. Etym: [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.
MEDIOSTAPEDIAL
Me`di*o*sta*pe"di*al, a. Etym: [L. medius middle + E. stapedial.]
(Anat.)
Defn: 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.
Defn: The mediostapedial part of the columella.
MEDIOXUMOUS
Me`di*ox"u*mous, a. Etym: [L. medioxumus middlemost.]
Defn: Intermediate. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
MEDITANCE
Med"i*tance, n.
Defn: Meditation. [Obs.]
MEDITATE
Med"i*tate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Meditated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Meditating.] Etym: [L. meditatus, p. p. of meditari to meditate; cf.
Gr. mind.]
Defn: 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.
MEDITATE
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.
MEDITATION Med`i*ta"tion, n. Etym: [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.
MEDITATIST
Med"i*ta`tist, n.
Defn: One who is given to meditation.
MEDITATIVE
Med"i*ta*tive, a. Etym: [L. meditativus: cf. F. méditatif.]
Defn: 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.
MEDITERRANEAN Med`i*ter*ra"ne*an, a. Etym: [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.
MEDITERRANEAN FRUIT FLY
Mediterranean fruit fly.
Defn: A two-winged fly (Ceratitis capitata) with black and white markings, native of the Mediterranean countries, but now widely distributed. Its larva lives in ripening oranges, peaches, and other fruits, causing them to decay and fall.
MEDITERRANEOUS
Med`i*ter*ra"ne*ous, a.
Defn: Inland. Sir T. Browne.
MEDIUM Me"di*um, n.; pl. L. Media, E. Mediums. Etym: [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.)
Defn: 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.)
Defn: 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.
MEDIUM
Me"di*um, a.
Defn: Having a middle position or degree; mean; intermediate; medial; as, a horse of medium size; a decoction of medium strength.
MEDIUM-SIZED
Me"di*um-sized`, a.
Defn: Having a medium size; as, a medium-sized man.
MEDIUS
Me"di*us, n.; pl. Medii. Etym: [NL., fr. L. medius middle. See
Medium.] (Anat.)
Defn: The third or middle finger; the third digit, or that which corresponds to it.
MEDJIDIE; MEDJIDIEH Me*dji"di*e, Me*dji"di*eh, n. [Turk. majidieh (prop. fem. a., fr. Ar. mejid glorious); — so called after the sultan Abdul Mejid, lit., "servant of the Glorious One," i.e., of God.]
1. (a) A silver coin of Turkey formerly rated at twenty, but since 1880 at nineteen, piasters (about 83 cents). (b) A gold coin of Turkey equal to one hundred piastres ($4.396 or 18s. ¾d.); a lira, or Turkish pound.
2. A Turkish honorary order established in 1851 by Abdul-Mejid, having as its badge a medallion surrounded by seven silver rays and crescents. It is often conferred on foreigners.
MEDLAR
Med"lar, n. Etym: [OE. medler medlar tree, OF. meslier, F. néflier,
L. mespilum, mespilus, Gr. Naseberry.]
Defn: 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.
MEDLE
Med"le, v. t. Etym: [See Meddle.]
Defn: To mix; to mingle; to meddle. [Written also medly.] [Obs.]
Chaucer.
MEDLEY Med"ley, n.; pl. Medleys. Etym: [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.)
Defn: A composition of passages detached from several different compositions; a potpourri.
Note: Medley is usually applied to vocal, potpourri to instrumental, compositions.
4. A cloth of mixed colors. Fuller.
MEDLEY
Med"ley, a.
1. Mixed; of mixed material or color. [Obs.] "A medlè coat." Chaucer.
2. Mingled; confused. Dryden.
MEDLY
Med"ly, v. t.
Defn: See Medle. Johnson.
MEDOC
Mé`doc", n. Etym: [Cf. Mayduke.]
Defn: A class of claret wines, including several varieties, from the district of Médoc in the department of Gironde.
MEDREGAL
Med"re*gal, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Bonito, 3.
MEDRICK
Med"rick, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A species of gull or tern. [Prov.] Lowell.
MEDULLA
Me*dul"la, n. Etym: [L.]
1. Marrow; pith; hence, essence. [Obs.] Milton.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: 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.)
Defn: A soft tissue, occupying the center of the stem or branch of a plant; pith. Medulla oblongata. Etym: [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.
MEDULLAR
Me*dul"lar, a.
Defn: See Medullary.
MEDULLARY Med"ul*la*ry, a. Etym: [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.)
Defn: 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.
MEDULLATED
Me*dul"la*ted, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Furnished with a medulla or marrow, or with a medullary sheath; as, a medullated nerve fiber.
MEDULLIN
Me*dul"lin, n. Etym: [Cf. F. médulline.] (Bot. Chem.)
Defn: A variety of lignin or cellulose found in the medulla, or pith, of certain plants. Cf. Lignin, and Cellulose.
MEDUSA
Me*du"sa, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.
1. (Class. Myth.)
Defn: 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.)
Defn: Any free swimming acaleph; a jellyfish.
Note: 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 hidroids. 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.
MEDUSIAN
Me*du"si*an, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A medusa.
MEDUSIFORM
Me*du"si*form, a. Etym: [Medusa + -form.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Resembling a medusa in shape or structure.
MEDUSOID
Me*du"soid, a. Etym: [Medusa + -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like a medusa; having the fundamental structure of a medusa, but without a locomotive disk; — said of the sessile gonophores of hydroids. — n.
Defn: A sessile gonophore. See Illust. under Gonosome.
MEECH
Meech, v. i.
Defn: See Mich. [Obs. or Colloq.]
MEED Meed, n. Etym: [OE. mede, AS. med, meord; akin to OS. m, OHG. miata, mieta, G. miethe hire, Goth. mizdo reward, Bohem. & Russ. mzda, Gr. mistho`s, Skr. midha. sq. root276.]
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
Meed, v. t.
1. To reward; to repay. [Obs.] Waytt.
2. To deserve; to merit. [Obs.] Heywood.
MEEDFUL
Meed"ful, a.
Defn: Worthy of meed, reward, or recompense; meritorious. "Meedful works." Wiclif.
MEEDFULLY
Meed"ful*ly, adv.
Defn: According to merit; suitably.
MEEK Meek, a. [Compar. Meeker; superl. Meekest.] Etym: [OE. mek, meoc; akin to Icel. mj mild, soft, Sw. mjuk, Dan. myg, D. muik, Goth. mukam
1. Mild of temper; not easily provoked or orritated; patient under injuries; not vain, or haughty, or resentful; forbearing; submissive. Not 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; MEEKEN
Meek, Meek"en (-'n), v. t.
Defn: To make meek; to nurture in gentleness and humility. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
MEEKLY
Meek"ly, adv.
Defn: In a meek manner. Spenser.
MEEKNESS
Meek"ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being meek.
MEER
Meer, a.
Defn: Simple; unmixed. See Mere, a. [Obs.]
MEER
Meer, n.
Defn: See Mere, a lake.
MEER
Meer, n.
Defn: A boundary. See Mere.
MEERKAT
Meer"kat, n. Etym: [D.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A South African carnivore (Cynictis penicillata), allied to the ichneumons.
MEERSCHAUM Meer"schaum, n. Etym: [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.)
Defn: 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 Meet, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Met; p. pr. & vb. n. Meeting.] Etym: [OE. meten, AS. m, fr. m, gem, a meeting; akin to OS. m to meet, Icel. mæta, Goth. gam. 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
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
Meet, n.
Defn: An assembling together; esp., the assembling of huntsmen for the hunt; also, the persons who so assemble, and the place of meeting.
MEET Meet, a. Etym: [OE. mete fitting, moderate, scanty, AS. m moderate; akin to gemet fit, meet, metan to mete, and G. mässig moderate, gemäss fitting. See Mete.]
Defn: 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
Meet, adv.
Defn: Meetly. [Obs.] Shak.
MEETEN
Meet"en, v. t.
Defn: To render fit. [R.]
MEETER
Meet"er, n.
Defn: One who meets.
MEETH
Meeth
Defn: , Mead. See Meathe. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MEETING
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 harmonius 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.
MEETINGHOUSE
Meet"ing*house`, n.
Defn: A house used as a place of worship; a church; — in England, applied only to a house so used by Dissenters.
MEETLY
Meet"ly, adv.
Defn: Fitly; suitably; properly.
MEETNESS
Meet"ness, n.
Defn: Fitness; suitableness; propriety.
MEG-; MEGA; MEGALO-
Meg-, Meg"a, Meg"a*lo-. Etym: [Gr. me`gas, gen. mega`loy, great.]
Defn: Combining forms signifying: (a) Great, extended, powerful; as, megascope, megacosm. (b) (Metric System, Elec., Mech., etc.)
Defn: A million times, a million of; as, megameter, a million meters; megafarad, a million farads; megohm, a million ohms.
MEGACEPHALIC; MEGACEPHALOUS
Meg`a*ce*phal"ic, Meg`a*ceph"a*lous, a. Etym: [Mega- Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: Large headed; — applied to animals, and to plants when they have large flower heads.
MEGACEROS
Me*gac"e*ros, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. me`gas great + horn.] (Paleon.)
Defn: The Irish elk.
MEGACHILE
Meg"a*chile, n. Etym: [Mega- + Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A leaf-cutting bee of the genus Megachilus. See Leaf cutter, under Leaf.
MEGACOSM
Meg"a*cosm, n. Etym: [Mega- + Gr.
Defn: See Macrocosm. Croft.
MEGACOULOMB
Meg`a*cou`lomb", n. Etym: [Mega- + coulomb.] (Elec.)
Defn: A million coulombs.
MEGADERM
Meg"a*derm, n. Etym: [Mega- + Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of several species of Old World blood-sucking bats of the genus Megaderma.
MEGADYNE
Meg"a*dyne, n. Etym: [Mega- + dyne.] (Physics)
Defn: One of the larger measures of force, amounting to one million dynes.
MEGAFARAD
Meg"a*far`ad, n. Etym: [Mega- + farad.] (Elec.)
Defn: One of the larger measures of electrical capacity, amounting to one million farads; a macrofarad.
MEGALERG
Meg"a*lerg, n. Etym: [Megalo- + erg.] (Physics)
Defn: A million ergs; a megerg.
MEGALESIAN Meg`a*le"sian, a. Etym: [L. Megalesius, fr. Gr. Mega`lh the Great, a surname of Cybele, the Magna Mater.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or in honor of, Cybele; as, the Megalesian games at Rome.
MEGALETHOSCOPE
Meg`a*leth"o*scope, n. Etym: [Mega- + alethoscope.]
Defn: An optical apparatus in which pictures are viewed through a large lens with stereoptical effects. It is often combined with the stereoscope.
MEGALITH
Meg"a*lith, n. Etym: [Mega- + -lith; cf. F. mégalithe.]
Defn: A large stone; especially, a large stone used in ancient
building.
— Meg`a*lith"ic, a.
MEGALO-
Meg"a*lo-.
Defn: See Meg-.
MEGALOCEPHALIA; MEGALOCEPHALY
Meg`a*lo*ce*pha"li*a, Meg`a*lo*ceph"a*ly, n. [NL. megalocephalia, fr.
Gr. having a large head.] (Med.)
Defn: The condition of having an abnormally large head. —
Meg`a*lo*ce*phal"ic (#), a.
MEGALOCYTE
Meg"a*lo*cyte, n. Etym: [Megalo- + Gr. (Physiol.)
Defn: A large, flattened corpuscle, twice the diameter of the ordinary red corpuscle, found in considerable numbers in the blood in profound anæmia.
MEGALOMANIA
Meg`a*lo*ma"ni*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. megalo- + mania.] (Pathol.)
Defn: A form of mental alienation in which the patient has grandiose delusions.
MEGALONYX Meg`a*lon"yx, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. me`gas, mega`lh, great + 'o`nyx claw.] (Paleon.)
Defn: An extinct quaternary mammal, of great size, allied to the sloth.
MEGALOPHONOUS
Meg`a*loph"o*nous, a. Etym: [Megalo- + Gr. fwnh` voice.]
Defn: Having a loud voice.
MEGALOPOLIS Meg`a*lop"o*lis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. megalo`polis; me`gas, mega`lh, great + po`lis city.]
Defn: A chief city; a metropolis. [R.]
MEGALOPS Meg"a*lops, n. Etym: [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.
MEGALOPSYCHY
Meg`a*lop"sy*chy, n. Etym: [Megalo- + Gr.
Defn: Greatness of soul. [Obs. & R.]
MEGALOSAUR; MEGALOSAURUS Meg"a*lo*saur`, Meg`a*lo*sau"rus, n. Etym: [NL. megalosaurus, fr. Gr. mégalosaure.] (Paleon.)
Defn: A gigantic carnivorous dinosaur, whose fossil remains have been found in England and elsewhere.
MEGAMETER
Me*gam"e*ter, n. Etym: [Mega- + -meter: cf. F. mégamètre.] (Physics)
1. An instrument for determining longitude by observation of the stars.
2. A micrometer. [R.] Knight.
MEGAMETER; MEGAMETRE
Meg"a*me`ter, Meg"a*me`tre, n. Etym: [Mega- + meter, metre, n., 2.]
Defn: In the metric system, one million meters, or one thousand kilometers.
MEGAMPERE
Meg`am`père", n. Etym: [Mega- + ampère.] (Elec.)
Defn: A million ampères.
MEGAPHONE
Meg"a*phone, n. Etym: [Mega- + Gr.
Defn: A device to magnify sound, or direct it in a given direction in a greater volume, as a very large funnel used as an ear trumpet or as a speaking trumpet.
MEGAPHYTON
Me*gaph"y*ton, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. me`gas great + fyto`n plant.]
(Paleon.)
Defn: An extinct genus of tree ferns with large, two-ranked leaves, or fronds.
MEGAPODE
Meg"a*pode, n. Etym: [Mega- + Gr. poy`s, podo`s, foot.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: 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.
MEGAPOLIS
Me*gap"o*lis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. me`gas great + po`lis city.]
Defn: A metropolis. [Obs.] Sir T. Herbert.
MEGARIAN; MEGARIC
Me*ga"ri*an, Me*gar"ic, a.
Defn: 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.
MEGASCOPE
Meg"a*scope, n. Etym: [Mega- + -scope: cf. F. mégascope.]
Defn: 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.
MEGASCOPIC; MEGASCOPICAL
Meg`a*scop"ic, Meg`a*scop"ic*al, a.
1. (Physics) Of or pertaining to the megascope or the projection upon a screen of images of opaque objects. (b) Enlarged or magnified; — said of images or of photographic pictures, etc.
2. (Geol.) Large enough to be seen; —said of the larger structural features and components of rocks which do not require the use of the microscope to be perceived. Opposed to microscopic.
MEGASEME
Meg"a*seme, a. Etym: [Mega- + Gr. mégasème.] (Anat.)
Defn: Having the orbital index relatively large; having the orbits narrow transversely; — opposed to microseme.
MEGASS; MEGASSE
Me"gass", Me*gasse", n.
Defn: See Bagasse.
MEGASTHENE
Meg"as*thene, n. Etym: [Gr. me`gas great + sthe`nos strength.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: One of a group which includes the higher orders of mammals, having a large size as a typical characteristic.
MEGASTHENIC
Meg`as*then"ic, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having a typically large size; belonging to the megasthenes.
MEGASTOME
Meg"a*stome, n. Etym: [Gr. me`gas great + sto`ma mouth.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of a group of univalve shells, having a large aperture or mouth.
MEGATHERE; MEGATHERIUM Meg"a*there, Meg`a*the"ri*um, n. Etym: [NL. megatherium, fr. Gr. me`gas great + thyri`on beast.] (Paleon.)
Defn: An extinct gigantic quaternary mammal, allied to the ant-eaters and sloths. Its remains are found in South America.
MEGATHEROID
Meg`a*the"roid, n. Etym: [Megatherium + -oid.] (Paleon.)
Defn: One of a family of extinct edentates found in America. The family includes the megatherium, the megalonyx, etc.
MEGAVOLT
Meg`a*volt", n. Etym: [Mega- + volt.] (Elec.)
Defn: One of the larger measures of electro-motive force, amounting to one million volts.
MEGAWEBER
Meg`a*we"ber, n. Etym: [Mega- + weber.] (Elec.)
Defn: A million webers.
MEGERG
Meg"erg`, n. Etym: [Mega- + erg.] (Physics)
Defn: One of the larger measures of work, amounting to one million ergs; — called also megalerg.
MEGILP; MEGILPH
Me*gilp", Me*gilph", n. (Paint.)
Defn: A gelatinous compound of linseed oil and mastic varnish, used by artists as a vehicle for colors. [Written also magilp, and magilph.]
MEGOHM
Meg"ohm", n. Etym: [Mega- + ohm.] (Elec.)
Defn: One of the larger measures of electrical resistance, amounting to one million ohms.
MEGRIM
Me"grim, n. Etym: [OE. migrim, migrene, F. migraine, LL. hemigrania,
L. hemicrania, hemicranium, Gr. Hemi- and Cranium, and cf.
Hemicrania, Migraine.]
1. A kind of sick or nevrous 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.)
Defn: 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.
MEGRIM
Me"grim, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The British smooth sole, or scaldfish (Psetta arnoglossa).
MEIBOMIAN
Mei*bo"mi*an, a. (Anat.)
Defn: 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
Meine, v. t.
Defn: See Menge.
MEINE; MEINY
Mein"e, Mein"y, (, n. Etym: [OF. maisniée, maisnie. See Menial.]
1. A family, including servants, etc.; household; retinue; train. [Obs.] Chaucer. Shak.
2. Company; band; army. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MEIOCENE
Mei"o*cene, a. (Geol.)
Defn: See Miocene.
MEIONITE
Mei"o*nite, n. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)
Defn: A member of the scapolite, group, occuring in glassy crystals on Monte Somma, near Naples.
MEIOSIS
Mei*o"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Meionite.] (Rhet.)
Defn: Diminution; a species of hyperbole, representing a thing as being less than it really is.
MEIOSTEMONOUS
Mei`o*stem"o*nous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Having fever stamens than the parts of the corolla.
MEISTERSINGER
Meis"ter*sing`er, n. Etym: [G.]
Defn: See Mastersinger.
MEKHITARIST
Mekh"i*tar*ist, n. (Ecc. Hist.)
Defn: See Mechitarist.
MELACONITE
Me*lac"o*nite, n. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)
Defn: An earthy black oxide of copper, arising from the decomposition of other ores.
MELADA; MELADO Me*la"da, Me*la"do, n. Etym: [Sp., prop. p. p. of melar to sugar, candy, fr. L. mel honey. See Molasses.]
Defn: A mixture of sugar and molasses; crude sugar as it comes from the pans without being drained.
MELAENA
Me*læ"na, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A discharge from the bowels of black matter, consisting of altered blood.
MELAIN
Mel"ain, n. Etym: [See Melna.]
Defn: The dark coloring matter of the liquid of the cuttlefish.
MELAINOTYPE
Me*lai"no*type, n.
Defn: See Melanotype.
MELAM
Me"lam, n. Etym: [Cf. F. mélam.] (Chem.)
Defn: A white or buff-colored granular powder,
MELAMINE
Me*lam"ine, n. (Chem.)
Defn: 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.
MELAMPODE
Mel"am*pode, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The black hellebore. [Obs.] Spenser.
MELAMPYRIN; MELAMPYRITE
Mel`am*py"rin, Mel`am*py"rite, n. Etym: [NL. Melampyrum cowwheat; Gr.
(Chem.)
Defn: The saccharine substance dulcite; — so called because found in the leaves of cowwheat (Melampyrum). See Dulcite.
MELANAEMIA
Mel`a*næ"mi*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A morbid condition in which the blood contains black pigment either floating freely or imbedded in the white blood corpuscles.
MELANAGOGUE
Me*lan"a*gogue, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A medicine supposed to expel black bile or choler. [Obs.]
MELANCHOLIA
Mel`an*cho"li*a, n. Etym: [L. See Melancholy.] (Med.)
Defn: 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.
MELANCHOLIAN
Mel`an*cho"li*an, n.
Defn: A person affected with melancholy; a melancholic. [Obs.] Dr. J.
Scott.
MELANCHOLIC
Mel"an*chol`ic, a. Etym: [L. melancholicus, Gr. mélancholique.]
Defn: Given to melancholy; depressed; melancholy; dejected; unhappy.
Just as the melancholic eye Sees fleets and armies in the sky. Prior.
MELANCHOLIC
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.
MELANCHOLILY
Mel"an*chol`i*ly, adv.
Defn: In a melancholy manner.
MELANCHOLINESS
Mel"an*chol`i*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being melancholy. Hallywell.
MELANCHOLIOUS
Mel`an*cho"li*ous, a. Etym: [Cf. OF. melancholieux.]
Defn: Melancholy. [R.] Milton.
MELANCHOLIST
Mel"an*chol*ist, n.
Defn: One affected with melancholy or dejection. [Obs.] Glanvill.
MELANCHOLIZE
Mel"an*cho*lize, v. i.
Defn: To become gloomy or dejected in mind. Barrow.
MELANCHOLIZE
Mel"an*cho*lize, v. t.
Defn: To make melancholy.
MELANCHOLY Mel"an*chol*y, n. Etym: [OE. melancolie, F. mélancolie, L. melancholia, fr. Gr. 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.
MELANCHOLY
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.
MELANCONIACEAE
Mel`an*co`ni*a"ce*æ, n. pl. [NL.] (Bot.)
Defn: A family of fungi constituting the order Melanconiales. —
Mel`an*co`ni*a"ceous (#), a.
MELANCONIALES
Mel`an*co`ni*a"les, n. pl. [NL., fr. Melanconium, name of the typical
genus, fr. Gr. black + dust, in allusion to the dark spores.]
(Bot.)
Defn: The smallest of the three orders of Fungi Imperfecti, including those with no asci nor pycnidia, but as a rule having the spores in cavities without special walls. They cause many of the plant diseases known as anthracnose.
MELANESIAN Mel`a*ne"sian, a. Etym: [Gr. Melanesia was so called from the dark complexion of the natives.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to Melanesia.
MELANGE
Mé`lange", n. Etym: [F. See Mell, Meddle.]
Defn: A mixture; a medley.
MELANIAN
Me*la"ni*an, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of a family of fresh-water pectinibranchiate mollusks, having a turret-shaped shell.
MELANIC
Me*lan"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.
1. Melanotic.
2. (Ethnol.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the black-haired races. Prichard.
MELANILINE
Me*lan"i*line, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A complex nitrogenous hydrocarbon obtained artificially (as by the action of cyanogen chloride on aniline) as a white, crystalline substance; — called also diphenyl guanidin.
MELANIN
Mel"a*nin, n. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol.)
Defn: 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.
MELANISM
Mel"a*nism, n. Etym: [Gr. , , black.]
1. An indue development of dark-colored pigment in the skin or its appendages; — the opposite of albinism.
2. (Med.)
Defn: A disease; black jaundice. See Mel.
MELANISTIC
Mel`a*nis"tic, a.
Defn: Affected with melanism; of the nature of melanism.
MELANITE
Mel"a*nite, n. Etym: [Gr. mélanite.] (Min.)
Defn: A black variety of garnet.
MELANOCHROI
Mel`a*noch"ro*i, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Melanochroic.] (Ethnol.)
Defn: A group of the human race, including the dark whites.
MELANOCHROIC
Mel`a*no*chro"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Having a dark complexion; of or pertaining to the Melanochroi.
MELANOCHROITE
Mel`a*no*chro"ite, n. Etym: [See Melanochroic.] (Min.)
Defn: A mineral of a red, or brownish or yellowish red color. It is a chromate of lead; — called also phoenicocroite.
MELANOCOMOUS
Mel`a*noc"o*mous, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Having very dark or black hair; black-haired. Prichard.
MELANOMA Mel`a*no"ma, n.; L. pl. -nomata (#). [NL.; Gr. , , black + -oma.] (Med.) (a) A tumor containing dark pigment. (b) Development of dark-pigmented tumors.
MELANORRHOEA
Mel`a*nor*rhoe"a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: An East Indian genus of large trees. Melanorrhoea usitatissima is the lignum-vitæ of Peru, and yelds a valuable black varnish.
MELANOSCOPE
Me*lan"o*scope, n. Etym: [Gr. -scope.] (Opt.)
Defn: 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.
MELANOSIS
Mel`a*no"sis, Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: The morbid deposition of black matter, often of a malignant character, causing pigmented tumors.
MELANOSPERM
Me*lan"o*sperm, n. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: 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.
MELANOTIC
Mel`a*not"ic
Defn: , Melanistic.
MELANOTYPE
Me*lan"o*type, n. Etym: [Gr. -type.] (Photog.)
Defn: 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.]
MELANTERITE
Me*lan"ter*ite, n. (Min.)
Defn: A hydrous sulphate of iron of a green color and vitreous luster; iron vitriol.
MELANURE
Mel"a*nure, n. Etym: [NL. melanurus, fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small fish of the Mediterranean; a gilthead. See Gilthead (a).
MELANURIC
Mel`a*nu"ric, a. Etym: [Melam + urea.] (Chem.)
Defn: 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.
MELAPHYRE
Mel"a*phyre, n. Etym: [F., fr. Gr. phyre porphyry.] (Min.)
Defn: Any one of several dark-colored augitic, eruptive rocks allied to basalt.
MELASMA
Me*las"ma, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A dark discoloration of the skin, usually local; as, Addison's melasma, or Addison's disease. — Me*las"mic, a.
MELASSES
Me*las"ses, n.
Defn: See Molasses.
MELASSIC
Me*las"sic, a. Etym: [See Molasses.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, an acid obtained from molasses or glucose, and probably identical with saccharic acid. See Saccharic.
MELASTOMA
Me*las"to*ma, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of evergreen tropical shrubs; — so called from the black berries of some species, which stain the mouth.
MELASTOMACEOUS
Mel`a*sto*ma"ceous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Belonging to the order of which Melastoma is the type.
MELCHITE
Mel"chite, n. Etym: [Heb. melek king.] (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: 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.
MELD Meld, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Melded; p. pr. & vb. n. Melding.] [G. melden to announce.] (Card Playing)
Defn: In the game of pinochle, to declare or announce for a score; as, to meld a sequence.
MELD
Meld, n. (Card Playing)
Defn: Any combination or score which may be declared, or melded, in pinochle.
MELEAGRINE
Mel`e*a"grine, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the genus Meleagris.
MELEAGRIS
Mel`e*a"gris, n. Etym: [L., the Guinea fowl.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of American gallinaceous birds, including the common and the wild turkeys.
MELEE
Mê`lée", n. Etym: [F., fr. mêler to mix. See Meddle, Mell, and cf.
Mellay.]
Defn: A fight in which the combatants are mingled
MELENA
Me*le"na, n. (Med.)
Defn: See Mel.
MELENE
Mel"ene, n. Etym: [Melissic + ethylene.] (Chem.)
Defn: An unsaturated hydrocarbon, C30H60, of the ethylene series, obtained from beeswax as a white, scaly, crystalline wax; — called also melissene, and melissylene.
MELENITE
Mel"e*nite, n. Etym: [Gr. me`li honey.]
Defn: An explosive of great destructive power; — so called from its color, which resembles honey.
MELETIN
Mel"e*tin, n. (Chem.)
Defn: See Quercitin.
MELEZITOSE
Me*lez"i*tose`, n. Etym: [F. mélèze the larch + melitose.] (Chem.)
Defn: A variety of sugar, isomeric with sucrose, extracted from the manna of the larch (Larix). [Written also melicitose.]
MELIACEOUS
Me`li*a"ceous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Pertaining to a natural order (Meliacæ) of plants of which the genus Melia is the type. It includes the mahogany and the Spanish cedar.
MELIBEAN; MELIBOEAN Mel`i*be"an, Mel`i*boe"an, a. Etym: [From L. Meliboeus, one of the interlocutors in Virgil's first Eclogue.] (Rhet.)
Defn: Alternately responsive, as verses.
MELIC
Mel"ic, Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Of or pertaining to song; lyric; tuneful.
MELICEROUS Me*lic"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. meliceris a kind of tumor, fr. Gr. me`li honey + (Med.)
Defn: Consisting of or containing matter like honey; — said of certain encysted tumors.
MELIC GRASS
Mel"ic grass`. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of grasses (Melica) of little agricultural importance.
MELICOTOON
Mel`i*co*toon", n. (Bot.)
Defn: See Melocoton.
MELICRATORY
Me*lic"ra*to*ry, n. Etym: [Gr. meli`kraton.]
Defn: A meadlike drink. [Obs.]
MELILITE
Mel"i*lite, n. Etym: [Gr. me`li honey + -lite; cf. F. mélilithe.]
(Min.)
Defn: A mineral occurring in small yellow crystals, found in the lavas (melilite basalt) of Vesuvius, and elsewhere. [Written also mellilite.]
MELILOT
Mel"i*lot, n. Etym: [F. mélilot, L. melilotus, fr. Gr. me`li honey +
(Bot.)
Defn: 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.
MELILOTIC
Mel`i*lot"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or obtained from, sweet clover or meliot; specifically, designating an acid of the aromatic series, obtained from melilot as a white crystalline substance.
MELINITE
Mé"lin*ite, n. [F.] (Chem.)
Defn: A high explosive similar to lyddite, consisting principally of picric acid, used in the French military service.
MELIORATE
Mel"io*rate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Meliorated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Meliorating.] Etym: [L. melioratus, p. p. of meliorare to meliorate,
fr. melior better; akin to Gr. Ameliorate.]
Defn: To make better; to improve; to ameliorate; to soften; to make
more tolerable.
Nature by art we nobly meliorate. Denham.
The pure and bening light of revelation has had a meliorating
influence on mankind. Washington.
MELIORATE
Mel"io*rate, v. i.
Defn: To grow better.
MELIORATER
Mel"io*ra`ter, n.
Defn: Same as Meliorator.
MELIORATION
Mel`io*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. melioratio.]
Defn: The act or operation of meliorating, or the state of being meliorated; improvement. Bacon.
MELIORATOR
Mel"io*ra`tor, n.
Defn: One who meliorates.
MELIORISM
Mel"io*rism, n. Etym: [From L. melior better.]
Defn: The doctrine that there is a tendency throughout nature toward improvement. J. Sully.
MELIORITY
Mel*ior"i*ty, n. Etym: [LL. melioritas, fr. L. melior. See
Meliorate.]
Defn: The state or quality of being better; melioration. [Obs.]
Bacon.
MELIPHAGAN
Me*liph"a*gan, a. Etym: [Gr. me`li honey + (Zoöl.)
Defn: Belonging to the genus Meliphaga.
MELIPHAGAN
Me*liph"a*gan, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any bird of the genus Meliphaga and allied genera; a honey eater; — called also meliphagidan.
MELIPHAGOUS
Me*liph"a*gous, a. Etym: [See Meliphagan.] (Zool.)
Defn: Eating, or feeding upon, honey.
MELISMA Me*lis"ma, n.; pl. Melismata. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Mus.) (a) A piece of melody; a song or tune, — as opposed to recitative or musical declamation. (b) A grace or embellishment.
MELISSA
Me*lis"sa, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. me`lissa a bee, honey.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of labiate herbs, including the balm, or bee balm
(Melissa officinalis).
MELISSIC
Me*lis"sic, a. Etym: [Gr. me`lissa a bee, honey.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, beeswax; specif., denoting an acid obtained by oxidation of myricin.
MELISSYL
Me*lis"syl, n. Etym: [Melissic +yl.] (Chem.)
Defn: See Myricyl.
MELISSYLENE
Me*lis"sy*lene, n. Etym: [Melissic + -yl + -ene.] (Chem.)
Defn: See Melene.
MELITOSE
Mel"i*tose`, n. Etym: [Gr. me`li honey.] (Chem.)
Defn: 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
Mell, v. i. & t. Etym: [F. mêler, OF. meller, mester. See Meddle.]
Defn: To mix; to meddle. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MELL
Mell, n. Etym: [See Mellifluous.]
Defn: Honey. [Obs.] Warner.
MELL
Mell, n.
Defn: A mill. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MELLATE
Mel"late, n. Etym: [L. mel, mellis, honey. Cf. Mellitate.] (Chem.)
Defn: A mellitate. [R.]
MELLAY
Mel"lay, n.
Defn: A mêlée; a conflict. Tennyson.
MELLIC
Mel"lic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: See Mellitic. [R.]
MELLIFEROUS Mel*lif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. mellifer; mel, mellis, honey + ferre to bear.]
Defn: Producing honey.
MELLIFIC Mel*lif"ic, a. Etym: [L. mel, mellis, honey + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See -fy.]
Defn: Producing honey.
MELLIFICATION Mel`li*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. mellificare to make honey: cf. F. mellification. See Mellific.]
Defn: The making or production of honey.
MELLIFLUENCE
Mel*lif"lu*ence, n.
Defn: A flow of sweetness, or a sweet, smooth flow.
MELLIFLUENT
Mel*lif"lu*ent, a. Etym: [L. mellifluens. See Mellifluous.]
Defn: Flowing as with honey; smooth; mellifluous.
MELLIFLUENTLY
Mel*lif"lu*ent*ly, adv.
Defn: In a mellifluent manner.
MELLIFLUOUS
Mel*lif"lu*ous, a. Etym: [L. mellifluus; mel, mellis, honey (akin to
Gr. milip) + fluere to flow. See Mildew, Fluent, and cf. Marmalade.]
Defn: Flowing as with honey; smooth; flowing sweetly or smoothly; as,
a mellifluous voice.
— Mel*lif"lu*ous*ly, adv.
MELLIGENOUS
Mel*lig"e*nous, a. Etym: [L. mel, mellis + -genous.]
Defn: Having the qualities of honey. [R.]
MELLIGO
Mel*li"go, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: Honeydew.
MELLILOQUENT Mel*lil"o*quent, a. Etym: [L. mel, mellis honey + loquens speaking, p. pr. of loqui to speak.]
Defn: Speaking sweetly or harmoniously.
MELLIPHAGAN
Mel*liph"a*gan, n.
Defn: See Meliphagan.
MELLIPHAGOUS
Mel*liph"a*gous, a.
Defn: See Meliphagous.
MELLITATE
Mel"li*tate, n. Etym: [Cf. F. mellitate. See Mellitic.] (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of mellitic acid.
MELLITE
Mel"lite, n. Etym: [L. mel, mellis, honey: cf. F. mellite.] (Min.)
Defn: A mineral of a honey color, found in brown coal, and partly the result of vegetable decomposition; honeystone. It is a mellitate of alumina.
MELLITIC Mel*lit"ic, a. Etym: [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.
MELLONE
Mel"lone, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A yellow powder, C6H3N9, obtained from certain sulphocyanates.
It has acid properties and forms compounds called mellonides.
MELLONIDE
Mel"lon*ide, n.
Defn: See Mellone.
MELLOW Mel"low, a. [Compar. Mellower; superl. Mellowest.] Etym: [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.
MELLOW
Mel"low, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mellowed; p. pr. & vb. n. Mellowing.]
Defn: 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.
MELLOW
Mel"low, v. i.
Defn: To become mellow; as, ripe fruit soon mellows. "Prosperity begins to mellow." Shak.
MELLOWLY
Mel"low*ly, adv.
Defn: In a mellow manner.
MELLOWNESS
Mel"low*ness, n.
Defn: Quality or state of being mellow.
MELLOWY
Mel"low*y, a.
Defn: Soft; unctuous. Drayton.
MELLUCO
Mel*lu"co, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A climbing plant (Ullucus officinalis) of the Andes, having tuberous roots which are used as a substitute for potatoes.
MELNE
Mel"ne, n.
Defn: A mill. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MELOCOTON; MELOCOTOON Mel`o*co*ton", Mel`o*co*toon", n. Etym: [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. Quince.] (Bot.) (a) A quince. (b) A kind of peach having one side deep red, and the flesh yellow. [Written also malacatoon, malacotune.]
MELODEON
Me*lo"de*on, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Melody, and cf. Odeon.]
1. (Mus.)
Defn: A kind of small reed organ; — a portable form of the seraphine.
2. A music hall.
MELODIC
Me*lod"ic, a. Etym: [L. melodicus, Gr. mélodique.]
Defn: Of the nature of melody; relating to, containing, or made up of, melody; melodious.
MELODICS
Me*lod"ics, n.
Defn: The department of musical science which treats of the pitch of tones, and of the laws of melody.
MELODIOGRAPH
Me*lo"di*o*graph, n. Etym: [Melody + -graph.]
Defn: A contrivance for preserving a record of music, by recording the action of the keys of a musical instrument when played upon.
MELODIOUS
Me*lo"di*ous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. mélodieux. See Melody.]
Defn: 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.
MELODIST
Mel"o*dist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. mélodiste.]
Defn: A composer or singer of melodies.
MELODIZE
Mel"o*dize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Melodized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Melodizing.]
Defn: To make melodious; to form into, or set to, melody.
MELODIZE
Mel"o*dize, v. i.
Defn: To make melody; to compose melodies; to harmonize.
MELODRAMA
Mel`o*dra"ma, n. Etym: [F. mélodrame, fr. Gr.
Defn: 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".
MELODRAMATIC
Mel`o*dra*mat"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. mélodramatique.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to melodrama; like or suitable to a melodrama; unnatural in situation or action. — Mel`o*dra*mat"ic*al*ly, adv.
MELODRAMATIST
Mel`o*dram"a*tist, n.
Defn: One who acts in, or writes, melodramas.
MELODRAME
Mel"o*drame, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: Melodrama.
MELODY Mel"o*dy, n.; pl. Melodies. Etym: [OE. melodie, F. mélodie, L. melodia, fr. Gr. Ode.]
1. A sweet or agreeable succession of sounds. Lulled with sound of sweetest melody. Shak.
2. (Mus.)
Defn: 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.
Note: 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.
MELOE
Mel"o*e, Etym: [ NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: 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.
MELOGRAPH
Mel"o*graph, n. Etym: [Gr. -graph : cf. F. mélographe.]
Defn: Same as Melodiograph.
MELOLONTHIDIAN
Mel`o*lon*thid"i*an, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A beetle of the genus Melolontha, and allied genera. See May beetle, under May.
MELON Mel"on, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. melo, for melopepo an apple-shaped melon, Gr. malum apple. Cf. Marmalade.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: The juicy fruit of certain cucurbitaceous plants, as the muskmelon, watermelon, and citron melon; also, the plant that produces the fruit.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: 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.
MELOPIANO
Mel`o*pi*a"no, n. Etym: [Gr. piano.]
Defn: A piano having a mechanical attachment which enables the player to prolong the notes at will.
MELOPLASTIC
Mel`o*plas"tic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to meloplasty, or the artificial formation of a new cheek.
MELOPLASTY
Mel"o*plas`ty, n. Etym: [Gr. -plasty: cf. F. méloplastie.] (Surg.)
Defn: The process of restoring a cheek which has been destroyed wholly or in part.
MELOPOEIA
Mel`o*poe"ia, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Mus.)
Defn: The art of forming melody; melody; — now often used for a melodic passage, rather than a complete melody.
MELOTYPE
Mel"o*type, n. (Photog.)
Defn: 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.
MELPOMENE
Mel*pom"e*ne, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.
1. (Class. Myth.)
Defn: The Muse of tragedy.
2. (Astron.)
Defn: The eighteenth asteroid.
MELROSE
Mel"rose, n.
Defn: Honey of roses.
MELT
Melt, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See 2d Milt.
MELT
Melt, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Melted (obs.) p. p. Molten; p. pr. & vb. n.
Melting.] Etym: [AS. meltan; akin to Gr. malt, and prob. to E. smelt,
v. Smelt, v., Malt, Milt the spleen.]
1. To reduce from a solid to a liquid state, as by heat; to liquefy; as, to mell 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
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.
MELTABLE
Melt"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being melted.
MELTER
Melt"er
Defn: , One who, or that which, melts.
MELTING
Melt"ing, n.
Defn: 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 0º Centigrade or 32º Fahr., that of urea is 132º Centigrade. — Melting pot, a vessel in which anything is melted; a crucible.
MELTING
Melt"ing a.
Defn: Causing to melt; becoming melted; — used literally or figuratively; as, a melting heat; a melting appeal; a melting mood. — Melt"ing*ly, adv.
MELTON
Mel"ton, Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]
Defn: A kind of stout woolen cloth with unfinished face and without raised nap. A commoner variety has a cotton warp.
MELUNGEON
Me*lun"geon, n. [Cf. F. mélanger to mix, mélange a mixture.]
Defn: One of a mixed white and Indian people living in parts of Tennessee and the Carolinas. They are descendants of early intermixtures of white settlers with natives. In North Carolina the Croatan Indians, regarded as descended from Raleigh's lost colony of Croatan, formerly classed with negroes, are now legally recognized as distinct.
MEMBER
Mem"ber, v. t. Etym: [See Remember.]
Defn: To remember; to cause to remember; to mention. [Obs.]
MEMBER Mem"ber, n. Etym: [OE. membre, F. membre, fr. L. membrum; cf. Goth. mimz flesh, Skr. mamsa.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: 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.)
Defn: 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.
MEMBERED
Mem"bered, a.
1. Having limbs; — chiefly used in composition.
2. (Her.)
Defn: Having legs of a different tincture from that of the body; — said of a bird in heraldic representations.
MEMBERSHIP
Mem"ber*ship, n.
1. The state of being a member.
2. The collective body of members, as of a society.
MEMBRAL
Mem"bral, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Relating to a member.
MEMBRANACEOUS
Mem`bra*na"ceous, a. Etym: [L. membranaceus.]
1. Same as Membranous. Arbuthnot.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Thin and rather soft or pliable, as the leaves of the rose, peach tree, and aspen poplar.
MEMBRANE Mem"brane, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. membrana the skin that covers the separate members of the body, fr. L. membrum. See Member.] (Anat.)