M (part 5)

5. A kind of allegorical play, so termed because it consisted of discourses in praise of morality between actors representing such characters as Charity, Faith, Death, Vice, etc. Such plays were occasionally exhibited as late as the reign of Henry VIII. Strutt.

6. Intent; meaning; moral. [Obs.] Taketh the morality thereof, good men. Chaucer.

MORALIZATION
Mor`al*i*za"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. moralisation.]

1. The act of moralizing; moral reflections or discourse.

2. Explanation in a moral sense. T. Warton.

MORALIZE
Mor"al*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Moralized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Moralizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. moraliser.]

1. To apply to a moral purpose; to explain in a moral sense; to draw
a moral from.
This fable is moralized in a common proverb. L'Estrange.
Did he not moralize this spectacle Shak.

2. To furnish with moral lessons, teachings, or examples; to lend a moral to. While chastening thoughts of sweetest use, bestowed By Wisdom, moralize his pensive road. Wordsworth.

3. To render moral; to correct the morals of. It had a large share in moralizing the poor white people of the country. D. Ramsay.

4. To give a moral quality to; to affect the moral quality of, either for better or worse. Good and bad stars moralize not our actions. Sir T. Browne.

MORALIZE
Mor"al*ize, v. i.

Defn: To make moral reflections; to regard acts and events as involving a moral.

MORALIZER
Mor"al*i`zer, n.

Defn: One who moralizes.

MORALLY
Mor"al*ly, adv.

1. In a moral or ethical sense; according to the rules of morality. By good, good morally so called, "bonum honestum" ought chiefly to be understood. South.

2. According to moral rules; virtuously. "To live morally." Dryden.

3. In moral qualities; in disposition and character; as, one who physically and morally endures hardships.

4. In a manner calculated to serve as the basis of action; according to the usual course of things and human judgment; according to reason and probability. It is morally impossible for an hypocrite to keep himself long upon his guard. L'Estrange.

MORASS
Mo*rass", n. Etym: [OE. marras, mareis (perh. through D. moeras), fr.
F. marais, prob. from L. mare sea, in LL., any body of water; but
perh. influenced by some German word. See Mere a lake, and cf.
Marsh.]

Defn: A tract of soft, wet ground; a marsh; a fen. Morass ore. (Min.)
See Bog ore, under Bog.

MORASSY mo*rass"y, a.

Defn: Marshy; fenny. [R.] Pennant.

MORATE
Mo"rate, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A salt of moric acid.

MORATION
Mo*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. moratio.]

Defn: A delaying tarrying; delay. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

MORATORIUM
Mor`a*to"ri*um, n. [NL. See Moratory.] (Law)

Defn: A period during which an obligor has a legal right to delay meeting an obligation, esp. such a period granted, as to a bank, by a moratory law.

MORATORY
Mor"a*to*ry, a. [L. moratorius delaying, fr. morari to delay.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to delay; esp., designating a law passed, as in a time of financial panic, to postpone or delay for a period the time at which notes, bills of exchange, and other obligations, shall mature or become due.

MORAVIAN
Mo*ra"vi*an, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Moravia, or to the United Brethren. See
Moravian, n.

MORAVIAN
Mo*ra"vi*an, n. (Eccl. Hist.)

Defn: One of a religious sect called the United Brethern (an offshoot of the Hussites in Bohemia), which formed a separate church of Moravia, a northern district of Austria, about the middle of the 15th century. After being nearly extirpated by persecution, the society, under the name of The Renewed Church of the United Brethren, was reëstablished in 1722-35 on the estates of Count Zinzendorf in Saxony. Called also Herrnhuter.

MORAVIANISM
Mo*ra"vi*an*ism, n.

Defn: The religious system of the Moravians.

MORAY
Mor"ay, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A muræna.

MORBID Mor"bid, a. Etym: [L. morbidus, fr. morbus disease; prob. akin to mori to die: cf. F. morbide, It. morbido. See Mortal.]

1. Not sound and healthful; induced by a diseased or abnormal condition; diseased; sickly; as, morbid humors; a morbid constitution; a morbid state of the juices of a plant. "Her sick and morbid heart." Hawthorne.

2. Of or pertaining to disease or diseased parts; as, morbid anatomy.

Syn. — Diseased; sickly; sick. — Morbid, Diseased. Morbid is sometimes used interchangeably with diseased, but is commonly applied, in a somewhat technical sense, to cases of a prolonged nature; as, a morbid condition of the nervous system; a morbid sensibility, etc.

MORBIDEZZA
Mor`bi*dez"za, n. Etym: [It., softness, delicacy. See Morbid.]

1. (Fine Arts)

Defn: Delicacy or softness in the representation of flesh.

2. (Mus.)

Defn: A term used as a direction in execution, signifying, with extreme delicacy. Ludden.

MORBIDITY
Mor*bid"i*ty, n.

1. The quality or state of being morbid.

2. Morbid quality; disease; sickness. C. Kingsley.

3. Amount of disease; sick rate.

MORBIDLY
Mor"bid*ly, adv.

Defn: In a morbid manner.

MORBIDNESS
Mor"bid*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being morbid; morbidity.

MORBIFIC; MORBIFICAL Mor*bif"ic, Mor*bif"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. morbus disease + -ficare (in comp.) to make: cf. F. morbifique. See -fy.]

Defn: Causing disease; generating a sickly state; as, a morbific matter.

MORBILLOUS Mor*bil"lous, a. Etym: [LL. morbilli measles, dim. of L. morbus disease: cf. F. morbilleux.]

Defn: Pertaining to the measles; partaking of the nature of measels, or resembling the eruptions of that disease; measly.

MORBOSE
Mor*bose", a. Etym: [L. morbosus, fr. morbus disease.]

Defn: Proceeding from disease; morbid; unhealthy.
Morbose tumors and excrescences of plants. Ray.

MORBOSITY
Mor*bos"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. morbositas.]

Defn: A diseased state; unhealthiness. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

MORCEAU
Mor`ceau", n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: A bit; a morsel.

MORDACIOUS Mor*da"cious, a. Etym: [L. mordax, -acis, fr. mordere, morsum, to bite. See Morsel.]

Defn: Biting; given to biting; hence, figuratively, sarcastic;
severe; scathing.
— Mor*da"cious*ly, adv.

MORDACITY
Mor*dac"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. mordacitas: cf. F. mordacité. See
Mordacious.]

Defn: The quality of being mordacious; biting severity, or sarcastic quality. Bacon.

MORDANT
Mor"dant, a. Etym: [F., p.pr. of mordere to bite; L. mordere. See
Morsel.]

1. Biting; caustic; sarcastic; keen; severe.

2. (Dyeing & Calico Printing)

Defn: Serving to fix colors.

MORDANT
Mor"dant, n. Etym: [F., originally, biting.]

1. Any corroding substance used in etching.

2. (Dyeing & Calico Printing)

Defn: Any substance, as alum or copperas, which, having a twofold attraction for organic fibers and coloring matter, serves as a bond of union, and thus gives fixity to, or bites in, the dyes.

3. (Gilding)

Defn: Any sticky matter by which the gold leaf is made to adhere.

MORDANT
Mor"dant, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mordanted; p. pr. & vb. n. Mordanting.]

Defn: To subject to the action of, or imbue with, a mordant; as, to mordant goods for dyeing.

MORDANTLY
Mor"dant*ly, adv.

Defn: In the manner of a mordant.

MORDENTE
Mor*den"te, n. Etym: [It.] (Mus.)

Defn: An embellishment resembling a trill.

MORDICANCY
Mor"di*can*cy, n.

Defn: A biting quality; corrosiveness. [R.] Evelyn.

MORDICANT Mor"di*cant, a. Etym: [L. mordicans, p.pr. of mordicare to bite, fr. mordere: cf. F. mordicant.]

Defn: Biting; acrid; as, the mordicant quality of a body. [R.] Boyle.

MORDICATION
Mor`di*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. mordicatio.]

Defn: The act of biting or corroding; corrosion. [R.] Bacon.

MORDICATIVE
Mor"di*ca*tive, a. Etym: [L. mordicativus.]

Defn: Biting; corrosive. [R.] Holland.

MORE
More, n. Etym: [AS. mor. See Moor a waste.]

Defn: A hill. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

MORE More, n. Etym: [AS. more, moru; akin to G. möhre carrot, OHG. moraha, morha.]

Defn: A root. [Obs.] Chaucer.

MORE More, a., compar. [Positive wanting; superl. Most (.] Etym: [OE. more, mare, and (orig. neut. and adv.) mo, ma, AS. mara, and (as neut. and adv.) ma; akin to D. meer, OS. mer, G. mehr, OHG. mero, mer, Icel. meiri, meirr, Dan. meere, meer, Sw. mera, mer, Goth. maiza, a., mais, adv., and perh. to L. major greater, compar. of magnus great, and magis, adv., more. sq. root103. Cf. Most, uch, Major.]

1. Greater; superior; increased; as: (a) Greater in quality, amount, degree, quality, and the like; with the singular. He gat more money. Chaucer. If we procure not to ourselves more woe. Milton.

Note: More, in this sense, was formerly used in connection with some other qualifying word, — a, the, this, their, etc., — which now requires the substitution of greater, further, or the like, for more. Whilst sisters nine, which dwell on Parnasse height, Do make them music for their more delight. Spenser. The more part knew not wherefore they were come together. Acts xix. 32. Wrong not that wrong with a more contempt. Shak.

(b) Greater in number; exceeding in numbers; — with the plural. The people of the children of Israel are more and mighter than we. Ex. i. 9.

2. Additional; other; as, he wept because there were no more words to conquer. With open arms received one poet more. Pope.

MORE
More, n.

1. A greater quantity, amount, or number; that which exceeds or surpasses in any way what it is compared with. And the children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less. Ex. xvi. 17.

2. That which is in addition; something other and further; an additional or greater amount. They that would have more and more can never have enough. L'Estrange. O! That pang where more than madness lies. Byron. Any more. (a) Anything or something additional or further; as, I do not need any more. (b) Adverbially: Further; beyond a certain time; as, do not think any more about it. — No more, not anything more; nothing in addition. — The more and less, the high and low. [Obs.] Shak. "All cried, both less and more." Chaucer.

MORE
More, adv.

1. In a greater quantity; in or to a greater extent or degree. (a) With a verb or participle. Admiring more The riches of Heaven's pavement. Milton.

(b) With an adjective or adverb (instead of the suffix -er) to form the comparative degree; as, more durable; more active; more sweetly. Happy here, and more happy hereafter. Bacon.

Note: Double comparatives were common among writers of the Elizabeth period, and for some time later; as, more brighter; more dearer. The duke of Milan And his more braver daughter. Shak.

2. In addition; further; besides; again. Yet once more, Oye laurels, and once more, Ye myrtles brown, with ivy never sere, I come to pluck your berries harsh and crude. Milton. More and more, with continual increase. "Amon trespassed more and more." 2 Chron. xxxiii. 23. — The more, to a greater degree; by an added quantity; for a reason already specified. — The more — the more, by how much more — by so much more. "The more he praised in himself, the more he seems to suspect that in very deed it was not in him." Milton. — To be no more, to have ceased to be; as, Cassius is no more; Troy is no more. Those oracles which set the world in flames, Nor ceased to burn till kingdoms were no more. Byron.

MORE
More, v. t.

Defn: To make more; to increase. [Obs.] Gower.

MOREEN
Mo*reen", n. Etym: [Cf. Mohair.]

Defn: A thick woolen fabric, watered or with embossed figures; — used in upholstery, for curtains, etc.

MOREL
Mor"el, n. Etym: [See Moril.] (Bot.)

Defn: An edible fungus (Morchella esculenta), the upper part of which is covered with a reticulated and pitted hymenium. It is used as food, and for flavoring sauces. [Written also moril.]

MOREL
Mor"el, n. Etym: [See Morelle.] (Bot.)

1. Nightshade; — so called from its blackish purple berries. [Written also morelle.]

2. A kind of cherry. See Morello. Great morel, the deadly nightshade.
— Petty morel, the black nightshade. See Nightshade.

MORELAND
More"land, n.

Defn: Moorland.

MORELLE
Mo*relle", n. Etym: [F., orig. fem. of moreau black, OF. morel, fr.
LL. morellus. Cf. Morello, Murrey.] (Bot.)

Defn: Nightshade. See 2d Morel.

MORELLO
Mo*rel"lo, n. Etym: [Cf. It. morello blackish, OF. morel. Cf.
Morelle.] (Bot.)

Defn: A kind of nearly black cherry with dark red flesh and juice, — used chiefly for preserving.

MORENDO
Mo*ren"do, a. & n. Etym: [It.] (Mus.)

Defn: Dying; a gradual decrescendo at the end of a strain or cadence.

MORENESS
More"ness, n.

Defn: Greatness. [Obs.] Wyclif.

MOREOVER
More*o"ver, adv. Etym: [More + over.]

Defn: Beyond what has been said; further; besides; in addition; furthermore; also; likewise. Moreover, he hath left you all his walks. Shak.

Syn. — Besides, Moreover. Of the two words, moreover is the stronger and is properly used in solemn discourse, or when what is added is important to be considered. See Besides.

MOREPORK
More"pork`, n. Etym: [So named from its cry.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The Australian crested goatsucker (Ægotheles Novæ-Hollandiæ).
Also applied to other allied birds, as Podargus Cuveiri.

MORES
Mo"res (mo"rez), n. pl.; sing. Mos (mos). [L.]

Defn: Customs; habits; esp., customs conformity to which is more or less obligatory; customary law.

MORESK
Mo*resk", a. & n.

Defn: Moresque. [Obs.]

MORESQUE
Mo*resque", a. Etym: [F., fr. It. moresco, or Sp. morisco. See
Morris.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to, or in the manner or style of, the Moors; Moorish. — n.

Defn: The Moresque style of architecture or decoration. See Moorish architecture, under Moorish. [Written also mauresque.]

MORGAN
Mor"gan, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of a celebrated breed of American trotting horses; — so called from the name of the stud from which the breed originated in Vermont.

MORGANATIC Mor`ga*nat"ic, a. Etym: [LL. matrimonium ad morganaticam, fr. morganatica a morning gift, a kind of dowry paid on the morning before or after the marriage, fr. OHG. morgan morning, in morgangeba morning gift, G. morgengabe. See Morn.]

Defn: Pertaining to, in the manner of, or designating, a kind of marriage, called also left-handed marriage, between a man of superior rank and a woman of inferior, in which it is stipulated that neither the latter nor her children shall enjoy the rank or inherit the possessions of her husband. Brande & C. — Mor`ga*nat"ic*al*ly, adv.

MORGAY
Mor"gay, n. Etym: [W. morgi dogfish, shark; mor sea + ci dog.]
(Zoöl.)

Defn: The European small-spotted dogfish, or houndfish. See the Note under Houndfish.

MORGLAY
Mor"glay, n. Etym: [Cf. Claymore.]

Defn: A sword. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.

MORGUE
Morgue, n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: A place where the bodies of persons found dead are exposed, that they may be identified, or claimed by their friends; a deadhouse.

MORIA
Mo"ri*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.

Defn: Idiocy; imbecility; fatuity; foolishness.

MORIAN
Mo"ri*an, n. (Ethnol.)

Defn: A Moor. [Obs.]
In vain the Turks and Morians armed be. Fairfax.

MORIBUND
Mor"i*bund, a. Etym: [L. moribundus, from moriri to die. See Mortal.]

Defn: In a dying state; dying; at the point of death.
The patient was comatose and moribund. Copland.

MORIBUND
Mor"i*bund, n.

Defn: A dying person. [R.]

MORIC
Mo"ric, a.

Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, fustic (see Morin); as, moric acid.

MORICE
Mor"ice, n.

Defn: See Morisco.

MORIGERATE Mo*rig"er*ate, a. Etym: [L. morigeratus, p.p. of morigerari to comply with. See Morigerous.]

Defn: Obedient. [Obs.]

MORIGERATION
Mo*rig`er*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. morigeratio.]

Defn: Obsequiousness; obedience. [Obs.] Evelyn.

MORIGEROUS Mo*rig"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. morigerus; oss, moris, custom, manner + gerere to bear, conduct.]

Defn: Obedient; obsequious. [Obs.] Brathwait.

MORIL Mor"il, n. Etym: [F. morille; cf. OHG. morhila, G. morchel, OHG. morha carrot. See More a root.] (Bot.)

Defn: An edible fungus. Same as 1st Morel.

MORIN
Mo"rin, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A yellow crystalline substance of acid properties extracted from fustic (Maclura tinctoria, formerly called Morus tinctoria); — called also moric acid.

MORINDA
Mo*rin"da, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of rubiaceous trees and shrubs, mostly East Indian, many species of which yield valuable red and yellow dyes. The wood is hard and beautiful, and used for gunstocks.

MORINDIN
Mo*rin"din, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A yellow dyestuff extracted from the root bark of an East
Indian plant (Morinda citrifolia).

MORINEL
Mor"i*nel`, n. Etym: [Cf. F. morinelle.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The dotterel.

MORINGA
Mo*rin"ga, n. Etym: [Malayam murunggi.] (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of trees of Southern India and Northern Africa. One species (Moringa pterygosperma) is the horse-radish tree, and its seeds, as well as those of M. aptera, are known in commerce as ben or ben nuts, and yield the oil called oil of ben.

MORINGIC
Mo*rin"gic, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Designating an organic acid obtained from oil of ben. See
Moringa.

MORINTANNIC
Mo`rin*tan"nic, a. Etym: [NL. Morus fustic + E. tannic.] (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, a variety of tannic acid extracted from fustic (Maclura, formerly Morus, tinctoria) as a yellow crystalline substance; — called also maclurin.

MORION Mo"ri*on, n. Etym: [F. morion, Sp. morrion; cf. Sp. morra the upper part of the head, morro anything that is round.]

Defn: A kind of open helmet, without visor or beaver, and somewhat
resembling a hat.
A battered morion on his brow. Sir W. Scott.

MORION
Mo"ri*on, n. Etym: [G.] (Min.)

Defn: A dark variety of smoky quartz.

MORIOPLASTY
Mo"ri*o*plas`ty, n. Etym: [Gr. -plasty.] (Surg.)

Defn: The restoration of lost parts of the body.

MORISCO
Mo*ris"co, a. Etym: [Sp. See Morris the dance.]

Defn: Moresque.

MORISCO
Mo*ris"co, n. Etym: [Sp. morisco Moorish.]

Defn: A thing of Moorish origin; as: (a) The Moorish language. (b) A Moorish dance, now called morris dance. Marston. (c) One who dances the Moorish dance. Shak. (d) Moresque decoration or architecture.

MORISK
Mo"risk, n.

Defn: Same as Morisco.

MORKIN Mor"kin, n. Etym: [Akin to Sw. murken putrefied, Icel. morkinn putrid.]

Defn: A beast that has died of disease or by mischance. [Obs.] Bp.
Hall.

MORLAND
Mor"land, n.

Defn: Moorland. [Obs.]

MORLING
Mor"ling, n. Etym: [Cf. F. mort dead, L. mortuus, fr. moriri to die.]

Defn: Mortling. [Eng.] Ainsworth.

MORMAL
Mor"mal, n. Etym: [F. mort-mai a deadly evil. Nares.]

Defn: A bad sore; a gangrene; a cancer. [Obs.] [Written also morrimal and mortmal.] Chaucer.

MORMO
Mor"mo, n. Etym: [Gr. mormw` a hideous she-monster, a bugbear.]

Defn: A bugbear; false terror. [Obs.] Jonhson.

MORMON Mor"mon, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.) (a) A genus of sea birds, having a large, thick bill; the puffin. (b) The mandrill.

MORMON
Mor"mon, n. (Eccl.)

Defn: One of a sect in the United States, followers of Joseph Smith, who professed to have found an addition to the Bible, engraved on golden plates, called the Book of Mormon, first published in 1830. The Mormons believe in polygamy, and their hierarchy of apostles, etc., has control of civil and religious matters.

Note: The Mormons call their religious organization The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Its head claims to receive revelations of God's will, and to have certain supernatural powers.

MORMON
Mor"mon, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Mormons; as, the Mormon religion;
Mormon practices.

MORMONDOM
Mor"mon*dom, n.

Defn: The country inhabited by the Mormons; the Mormon people.

MORMONISM
Mor"mon*ism, n.

Defn: The doctrine, system, and practices of the Mormons.

MORMONITE
Mor"mon*ite, n.

Defn: A Mormon.
— a.

Defn: Mormon. "Mormonite religion." F. W. Newman.

MORN
Morn, n. Etym: [OE. morwen, morgen, AS. morgen; akin to D. morgen,
OS. morgan, G. morgen, Icel. morginn, morgunn, Sw. morgon, Dan.
morgen, Goth. maúrgins. Cf. Morrow, Morning.]

Defn: The first part of the day; the morning; — used chiefly in
poetry.
From morn To noun he fell, from noon to dewy eve. Milton.

MORNE
Mor"ne, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the morn; morning. [Obs.] "White as morne milk." Chaucer.

MORNE
Morne, n. Etym: [F., fr. morne sad, sorrowful. See Mourn.]

Defn: A ring fitted upon the head of a lance to prevent wounding an adversary in titling.

MORNE
Mor`né", a. Etym: [F., fr. morne a morne.] (Her.)

Defn: Without teeth, tongue, or claws; — said of a lion represented heraldically.

MORNE
Morne, n. Etym: [OE. morning, morwening. See Morn.]

1. The first or early part of the day, variously understood as the earliest hours of light, the time near sunrise; the time from midnight to noon, from rising to noon, etc.

2. The first or early part; as, the morning of life.

3. The goddess Aurora. [Poetic] Shak.

MORNING
Morn"ing, a.

Defn: Pertaining to the first part or early part of the day; being in the early part of the day; as, morning dew; morning light; morning service. She looks as clear As morning roses newly washed with dew. Shak. Morning gown, a gown worn in the morning before one is dressed for the day. — Morning gun, a gun fired at the first stroke of reveille at military posts. — Morning sickness (Med.), nausea and vomiting, usually occurring in the morning; — a common sign of pregnancy. — Morning star. (a) Any one of the planets (Venus, Jupiter, Mars, or Saturn) when it precedes the sun in rising, esp. Venus. Cf. Evening star, Evening. (b) Satan. See Lucifer. Since he miscalled the morning star, Nor man nor fiend hath fallen so far. Byron. (c) A weapon consisting of a heavy ball set with spikes, either attached to a staff or suspended from one by a chain. — Morning watch (Naut.), the watch between four A. M. and eight A. M..

MORNING-GLORY
Morn"ing-glo`ry, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A climbing plant (Ipomoea purpurea) having handsome, funnel- shaped flowers, usually red, pink, purple, white, or variegated, sometimes pale blue. See Dextrorsal.

MORNINGTIDE
Morn"ing*tide`, n.

Defn: Morning time. [Poetic]

MORNWARD
Morn"ward, adv.

Defn: Towards the morn. [Poetic]
And mornward now the starry hands move on. Lowell.

MORO
Mo"ro, n. Etym: [Cf. It. mora mulberry, L. morum.] (Med.)

Defn: A small abscess or tumor having a resemblance to a mulberry.
Dunglison.

MOROCCAN
Mo*roc"can, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Morocco, or its inhabitants.

MOROCCO Mo*roc"co, n. Etym: [Named from Morocco, the country. Cf. Morris the dance.]

Defn: A fine kind of leather, prepared commonly from goatskin (though an inferior kind is made of sheepskin), and tanned with sumac and dyed of various colors; — said to have been first made by the Moors.

MOROLOGY
Mo*rol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Foolish talk; nonsense; folly. [Obs.]

MORON
Mo"ron, n. (Pedagogy)

Defn: A person whose intellectual development proceeds normally up to about the eighth year of age and is then arrested so that there is little or no further development.

MORON
Mo*ron", n.; Sp. pl. Morones (#). [Sp.]

Defn: An inferior olive size having a woody pulp and a large clingstone pit, growing in the mountainous and high-valley districts around the city of Moron, in Spain.

MORONE
Mo*rone", n.

Defn: Maroon; the color of an unripe black mulberry.

MOROS
Mo"ros, n. pl.; sing. Moro. [Sp., pl. of Moro Moor.] (Ethnol.)

Defn: The Mohammedan tribes of the southern Philippine Islands, said to have formerly migrated from Borneo. Some of them are warlike and addicted to piracy.

MOROSAURUS
Mo`ro*sau"rus, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Paleon.)

Defn: An extinct genus of large herbivorous dinosaurs, found in
Jurassic strata in America.

MOROSE Mo*rose", a. Etym: [L. morosus, prop., excessively addicted to any particular way or habit, fr. mos, moris, manner, habit, way of life: cf. F. morose.]

1. Of a sour temper; sullen and austere; ill-humored; severe. "A morose and affected taciturnity." I. Watts.

2. Lascivious; brooding over evil thoughts. [Obs.]

Syn. — Sullen; gruff; severe; austere; gloomy; crabbed; crusty; churlish; surly; ill-humored.

MOROSELY
Mo*rose"ly, adv.

Defn: Sourly; with sullen austerity.

MOROSENESS
Mo*rose"ness, n.

Defn: Sourness of temper; sulenness. Learn good humor, never to oppose without just reason; abate some degrees of pride and moroseness. I. Watts.

Note: Moroseness is not precisely peevishness or fretfulness, though often accompained with it. It denotes more of silence and severity, or ill-humor, than the irritability or irritation which characterizes peevishness.

MOROSIS
Mo*ro"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)

Defn: Idiocy; fatuity; stupidity.

MOROSITY
Mo*ros"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. morositas: cf. F. morosité.]

Defn: Moroseness. [R.] Jer. Taylor.

MOROSOPH
Mo"ro*soph, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: A philosophical or learned fool. [Obs.]

MOROSOUS
Mo*ro"sous, a.

Defn: Morose. [Obs.] Sheldon.

MOROXITE
Mo*rox"ite, n. Etym: [Cf. Gr. (Min.)

Defn: A variety of apatite of a greenish blue color.

MOROXYLATE
Mo*rox"y*late, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A morate.

MOROXYLIC
Mor`ox*yl"ic, a. Etym: [L. morus a mulberry tree + Gr. (Chem.)

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or derived from, the mulberry; moric.

MORPHEAN
Mor"phe*an, a.

Defn: Of or relating to Morpheus, to dreams, or to sleep. Keats.

MORPHEUS
Mor"pheus, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Class. Myth.)

Defn: The god of dreams.

MORPHEW
Mor"phew, n. Etym: [F. morpheé, LL. morphea; cf. It. morfea.]

Defn: A scurfy eruption. [Obs.] Drayton.

MORPHEW
Mor"phew, v. t.

Defn: To cover with a morphew. [Obs.]

MORPHIA
Mor"phi*a, n. Etym: [NL.] (Chem.)

Defn: Morphine.

MORPHINE
Mor"phine, n. Etym: [From Morpheus: cf. F. morphine.] (Chem.)

Defn: A bitter white crystalline alkaloid found in opium, possessing strong narcotic properties, and much used as an anodyne; — called also morphia, and morphina.

MORPHINISM
Mor"phin*ism, n. (Med.)

Defn: A morbid condition produced by the excessive or prolonged use of morphine.

MORPHO
Mor"pho, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous species of large, handsome, tropical American butterflies, of the genus Morpho. They are noted for the very brilliant metallic luster and bright colors (often blue) of the upper surface of the wings. The lower surface is usually brown or gray, with eyelike spots.

MORPHOGENY
Mor*phog"e*ny, n. Etym: [form + root of (Biol.)

Defn: History of the evolution of forms; that part of ontogeny that deals with the germ history of forms; — distinguished from physiogeny. Haeckel.

MORPHOLOGIC; MORPHOLOGICAL
Mor`pho*log"ic, Mor`pho*log"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. morphologique.]
(Biol.)

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or according to, the principles of
morphology.
— Mor`pho*log"ic*al*ly, adv.

MORPHOLOGIST
Mor*phol"o*gist, n. (Biol.)

Defn: One who is versed in the science of morphology.

MORPHOLOGY
Mor*phol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy: cf. F. morphologie.] (Biol.)

Defn: That branch of biology which deals with the structure of animals and plants, treating of the forms of organs and describing their varieties, homologies, and metamorphoses. See Tectology, and Promorphology.

MORPHON
Mor"phon, n. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)

Defn: A morphological individual, characterized by definiteness of form bion, a physiological individual. See Tectology. Haeckel.

Note: Of morphons there are six orders or categories: 1. Plastids or elementary organisms. 2. Organs, homoplastic or heteroplastic. 3. Antimeres (opposite or symmetrical or homotypic parts). 4. Metameres (successive or homodynamous parts). 5. Personæ (shoots or buds of plants, individuals in the narrowest sense among the higher animals). 6. Corms (stocks or colonies). For orders 2, 3, and 4 the term idorgan has been recently substituted. See Idorgan.

MORPHONOMY
Mor*phon"o*my, n. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)

Defn: The laws of organic formation.

MORPHOPHYLY
Mor"pho*phy`ly, n. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)

Defn: The tribal history of forms; that part of phylogeny which treats of the tribal history of forms, in distinction from the tribal history of functions. Haeckel.

MORPHOSIS
Mor*pho"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Biol.)

Defn: The order or mode of development of an organ or part.

MORPHOTIC
Mor*phot"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol.)

Defn: Connected with, or becoming an integral part of, a living unit or of the morphological framework; as, morphotic, or tissue, proteids. Foster.

-MORPHOUS -mor"phous. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: A combining form denoting form, shape; as, isomorphous.

MORPION
Mor"pi*on, n. Etym: [F., fr. mordre to bite + L. pedis louse.]
(Zoöl.)

Defn: A louse. Hudibras.

MORRICE
Mor"rice, n.

Defn: Same as 1st Morris.

MORRICE
Mor"rice, a.

Defn: Dancing the morrice; dancing.
In shoals and bands, a morrice train. Wordsworth.

MORRICER
Mor"ri*cer, n.

Defn: A morris dancer. [Obs.]

MORRIMAL
Mor"ri*mal, n. & a.

Defn: See Mormal.

MORRIS Mor"ris, n. Etym: [Sp. morisco Moorish, fr. Moro a Moor: cf. F. moresque, It. moresca.]

1. A Moorish dance, usually performed by a single dancer, who accompanies the dance with castanets.

2. A dance formerly common in England, often performed in pagenats, processions, and May games. The dancers, grotesquely dressed and ornamented, took the parts of Robin Hood, Maidmarian, and other fictious characters.

3. An old game played with counters, or men, which are placed angles of a figure drawn on a board or on the ground; also, the board or ground on which the game is played. The nine-men's morris is filled up with mud. Shak.

Note: The figure consists of three concentric squares, with lines from the angles of the outer one to those of the inner, and from the middle of each side of the outer square to that of the inner. The game is played by two persons with nine or twelve pieces each (hence called nine-men's morris or twelve-men's morris). The pieces are placed alternately, and each player endeavors to prevent his opponent from making a straight row of three. Should either succeed in making a row, he may take up one of his opponent's pieces, and he who takes off all of his opponent's pieces wins the game.

MORRIS
Mor"ris, n. Etym: [So called from its discoverer.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A marine fish having a very slender, flat, transparent body. It is now generally believed to be the young of the conger eel or some allied fish.

MORRIS-CHAIR
Mor"ris-chair`, n. [Prob. fr. the proper name Morris.]

Defn: A kind of easy-chair with a back which may be lowered or raised.

MORRIS-PIKE
Mor"ris-pike`, n.

Defn: A Moorish pike. [Obs.]

MORRO
Mor"ro, n. [Sp., any spherical object.]

Defn: A round hill or point of land; hence, Morro castle, a castle on a hill.

MORROT
Mor"rot, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Marrot.

MORROW
Mor"row, n. Etym: [OE. morwe, morwen, AS. morgen. See Morn.]

1. Morning. [Obs.] "White as morrow's milk." Bp. Hall. We loved he by the morwe a sop in wine. Chaucer.

2. The next following day; the day subsequent to any day specified or understood. Lev. vii. 16. Till this stormy night is gone, And the eternal morrow dawn. Crashaw.

3. The day following the present; to-morrow. Good morrow, good morning; — a form of salutation. — To morrow. See To-morrow in the Vocabulary.

MORSE Morse, n. Etym: [F. morse, Russ. morj'; perh. akin to E. mere lake; cf. Russ. more sea.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The walrus. See Walrus.

MORSE
Morse, n. Etym: [L. morsus a biting, a clasp, fr. mordere to bite.]

Defn: A clasp for fastening garments in front. Fairholt.

MORSE ALPHABET
Morse" al"pha*bet.

Defn: A telegraphic alphabet in very general use, inventing by Samuel F.B.Morse, the inventor of Morse's telegraph. The letters are represented by dots and dashes impressed or printed on paper, as, .- (A), -… (B), -.. (D), . (E), .. (O), … (R), — (T), etc., or by sounds, flashes of light, etc., with greater or less intervals between them.

MORSE CODE
Morse" code". (Teleg.)

Defn: The telegraphic code, consisting of dots, dashes, and spaces, invented by Samuel B. Morse. The Alphabetic code which is in use in North America is given below. In length, or duration, one dash is theoretically equal to three dots; the space between the elements of a letter is equal to one dot; the interval in spaced letters, as O . ., is equal to three dots. There are no spaces in any letter composed wholly or in part of dashes.

Alphabet