Manyplies, men′i-plīz,n.sing.andpl.the third stomach of a ruminant—theomasumorpsalterium.—AlsoMan′ipliesandMon′yplies.
Manzanilla, man-za-nil′a,n.a very dry and light kind of sherry, esp. that produced in the district of San Lucar de Barrameda in Spain. [Prob. from the town near Seville.]
Maori, mow′ri, or mä′ō-ri,n.a native of New Zealand:—pl.Mao′ris. [A New Zealand word signifying native or indigenous.]
Maormor, mär′mōr,n.a royal steward in ancient Scotland. [Gael.,maor,maer, steward,mor, great.]
Map, map,n.a representation of the surface of the earth, or of part of it on a plane surface: a similar drawing of the stars in the sky.—v.t.to draw in the form of a map, as the figure of any portion of land: to describe clearly:—pr.p.map′ping;pa.t.andpa.p.mapped.—ns.Map′-meas′urer, an instrument for measuring distances other than in straight lines on a map;Map′-mount′er, one who mounts maps, or backs them with canvas and fixes them on rollers, &c.;Map′pery(Shak.), the art of planning and designing maps;Map′pist.—Map out, to mark down the chief points clearly. [L.mappa, a napkin, a painted cloth, orig. Punic.]
Maple, mā′pl,n.a tree of several species, from one of which, the rock-maple, sugar is made.—adj.of or pertaining to maple. [A.S.mapul, maple.]
Maqui, mā′kwi,n.an evergreen shrub, native of Chili, producing a berry yielding wine.
Mar, mär,v.t.to injure by wounding or by cutting off a part: to damage: to interrupt: to disfigure:—pr.p.mar′ring;pa.t.andpa.p.marred. [A.S.merran,mirran; cf. Dut.marren, to retard.]
Marabou, mar′a-bōō,n.a species of Indian stork, the feathers of which are much used as ornaments by ladies: a very white raw silk.
Marabout, mar′a-bōōt,n.one of a priestly race of Mohammedans in Northern Africa. [Ar.]
Marah, mā′ra,n.bitterness: something bitter. [Heb.]
Maranatha, mar-a-nā′tha, ormar-a-nath′a,n.See Anathema.
Maraschino, mar-as-kē′no,n.a liqueur distilled from a species of cherry grown in Dalmatia. [It.,—marasca,amarasca, a sour cherry—L.amārus, bitter.]
Marasmus, ma-raz′mus,n.a wasting of flesh without apparent disease, a kind of consumption. [Gr.marasmos—marainein, to decay.]
Marathi, ma-ra′thi,n.the language of theMahrattas.—AlsoMahrat′ti.
Maraud, ma-rawd′,v.i.to rove in quest of plunder.—n.Maraud′er, one who roves in quest of booty or plunder. [Fr.maraud, rogue; prob. O. Fr.mar-ir, to wander—Old High Ger.marrjan, to hinder.]
Maravedi, mar-a-vā′dī,n.the smallest copper coin of Spain, less than a farthing. [Sp.,—Ar.Murābitīn, the dynasty of the Almoravides (1086-1147A.D.).]
Marble, mär′bl,n.any species of limestone taking a high polish: that which is made of marble, as a work of art: a little ball used by boys in play.—adj.made of marble: veined like marble: hard: insensible.—v.t.to stain or vein like marble.—adjs.Mar′ble-breast′ed, hard-hearted, cruel;Mar′ble-con′stant, constant or firm as marble, immovable.—n.Mar′ble-cut′ter, one who hews marble: a machine for cutting marble.—adjs.Mar′ble-edged, having the edges marbled, as a book;Mar′ble-heart′ed, hard-hearted, insensible.—ns.Mar′ble-pā′per, paper coloured in imitation of variegated marble;Mar′bler;Mar′bling, the act of veining or painting in imitation of marble.—adv.Mar′bly, resembling marble, in the manner of marble.—Elgin marbles, a collection of marbles obtained chiefly from the Parthenon by LordElginin 1811, now in the British Museum. [O. Fr.marbre—L.marmor; cf. Gr.marmaros,marmairein, to sparkle.]
Marcando, mar-kän′do,adj.andadv.(mus.) with distinctness or precision.—AlsoMarca′to. [It.,marcare, to mark.]
Marcasite, mär′ka-sīt,n.an iron ore, a variety of pyrites (q.v.). [Fr.; prob. of Ar. origin.]
Marcescent, mar-ses′ent,adj.withering, decaying.—adj.Marcesc′ible, that may wither. [L.marcescens,-entis, pr.p. ofmarcescĕre—marcēre, to fade.]
March, märch,n.the third month of the year, named from Mars, the god of war. [L.Martius(mensis), (the month) of Mars.]
March, märch,n.a border: boundary of a territory:—used chiefly inpl.March′es.—v.i.to border: to be adjacent.—ns.March′man, a borderer;March′-trea′son, the betrayal of a border or march to an enemy.—Riding the marches, a ceremony in which the magistrates and chief men of a city ride on horseback round the bounds of the property of the city, so as to mark plainly what are its limits. [A.S.mearc; doublet ofmark.]
March, märch,v.i.to move in order, as soldiers: to walk in a grave or stately manner.—v.t.to cause to march.—n.the movement of troops: regular advance: a piece of music fitted for marching to: the distance passed over.—March past, the march of a body of soldiers in front of one remaining stationary to review them;Forced march, a march in which the men are vigorously pressed forward for combative or strategic purposes;Rogue's march, music played in derision of a person when he is expelled as a soldier, &c. [Fr.marcher. Ety. dub.; acc. to Scheler, prob. from L.marcus, a hammer (cf. 'tobeattime'); others suggest root ofmarch, a frontier.]
Märchen,Mährchen, märh′hen,n.sing.andpl.a story or fable, a folk-tale. [Ger.]
Marchioness, mär′shun-es,Marchesa,mar-chē′za,n.feminine ofMarquis.
Marchpane, märch′pān,n.(Shak.) a kind of sweet bread or biscuit composed of sugar, almonds, and a small quantity of flour. [Fr.massepain, the latter part of the word being from L.panis, bread.]
Marcid, mär′sid,adj.withered, wasted.
Marcionite, mar′shun-īt,n.andadj.a follower ofMarcionof Sinope (died 165A.D.), who, partly under Gnostic influences, constructed an ethico-dualistic philosophy of religion, with rigorously ascetic practices. He claimed alone to have understood Paul aright, and accepted as authoritative his own version of Luke and ten of Paul's epistles.—ns.Mar′cionist;Mar′cionitism.
Marcobrunner, mär′ko-brōōn-ėr,n.a remarkably fine white wine, produced in Erbach, near Wiesbaden—from theMarkbrunnenfountain hard by.
Mare, mār,n.the female of the horse.—ns.Mare's′-nest, a supposed discovery which turns out to be a hoax;Mare's-tail, a tall, erect marsh plant of the genusHippuris: (pl.) long straight fibres of gray cirrus cloud;Shank's′-mare, a person's own legs, as a means of travelling.—The gray mare is the better horse, the wife rules her husband. [A.S.mere, fem. ofmearh, a horse; cog. with Ger.mähre, Ice.marr, W.march, a horse.]
Mareschal, mär′shal. Same asMarshal.
Margarine, mär′gar-in,n.the solid ingredient of human fat, olive-oil, &c.—so called from its pearly lustre: oleo-margarine or imitation butter (see underOlein).—adj.Margar′ic.—n.Mar′garite, one of the brittle micas. [L.margarita—Gr.margaritēs, a pearl.]
Margay, mär′gā,n.a spotted S. American tiger-cat.
Margin, mär′jin,n.an edge, border: the blank edge on the page of a book: something allowed more than is needed, in case of unforeseen things happening: a sum of money, or its value in securities, deposited with a broker to protect him against loss on transactions made on account: a deposit made by each of two brokers, parties to a contract, when one is 'called up' by the other.—v.t.to furnish with margins, enter on the margin.—ns.Marge,Marg′ent(poet.), edge, brink.—adjs.Marged;Mar′ginal, pertaining to a margin: placed in the margin.—n.Marginā′lia, notes written on the margin.—v.t.Mar′ginalise, to furnish with notes.—adv.Mar′ginally.—adjs.Mar′ginate,-d, having a margin;Mar′gined.—Marginal credit, a method by which a merchant at home can render bills drawn upon him abroad saleable there, by associating a well-known banker's name on their margin with his own;Marginal notes, notes written or printed on the margin of a book or writing. [L.margo,marginis; cf.mark.]
Margrave, mär′grāv,n.a German nobleman of rank equivalent to an English marquis:—fem.Margravine(mär′gra-vēn).—ns.Mar′gravate,Margrā′viate, the jurisdiction or dignity of a margrave. [Dut.markgraaf(Ger.markgraf)—mark, a border,graaf, a count; cf. Ger.graf, A.S.geréfa, Eng.reeveandshe-riff.]
Marguerite, mär′ge-rēt,n.the common garden daisy: the ox-eye daisy: the China aster.
Marian, mā′ri-an,adj.relating to the VirginMary: to the great Roman general CaiusMarius: to QueenMaryof England.
Marigold, mar′i-gōld,n.a name applied to several composite plants bearing yellow flowers. [From the VirginMaryandgold.]
Marine, ma-rēn′,adj.of or belonging to the sea: done at sea: representing the sea: near the sea.—n.a soldier serving on shipboard: the whole navy of a country or state: naval affairs: a sea-piece in painting.—ns.Mar′igraph, a self-registering tide-gauge;Marinade′, a liquor or pickle in which fish or meat is steeped before cooking, to improve the flavour.—v.t.Mar′inate, to salt or pickle.—n.Mar′iner, a seaman or sailor: one who assists in navigating ships.—Marine acid, hydrochloric acid;Marine boiler, a boiler fitted for use in steamships;Marine engine, an engine fitted for use in a steamship;Marine insurance, insurance of ships or their cargoes when at sea;Marine soap, a kind of coconut-oil soap, adapted for washing with sea-water;Marine store, a place where old ships' materials are bought and sold.—Tell that to the marines, a phrase expressive of disbelief and ridicule, from the sailor's contempt for the marine's ignorance of seamanship. [Fr.,—L.marinus—mare, sea.]
Mariolatry, mā-ri-ol′a-tri,n.the undue worship of the VirginMary—the veneration paid to her is strictlyHyperdulia.—n.Mariol′ater, one who practises mariolatry. [L.Maria, Mary, Gr.latreia, worship.]
Marionette, mar-i-o-net′,n.a puppet moved by strings, a puppet-show. [Fr.]
Mariotte's law. SeeLaw.
Mariput, mar′i-put,n.the African zoril.
Marischal, a Scotch form ofmarshal.
Marish, mar′ish,n.andadj.Same asMarsh.
Marist, mā′rist,n.a member of a modern R.C. congregation for teaching.—adj.devoted to the service of the Virgin.
Marital, mar′i-tal,adj.pertaining to a husband: of the nature of a marriage.—n.Maritā′gium, in the feudal system, the right of the lord of the fee to dispose of the heiress, later also of the male heir, in marriage. [Fr.,—L.maritalis—maritus, a husband—mas,maris, a male.]
Maritime, mar′i-tim,adj.pertaining to the sea: relating to navigation or to naval affairs: situated near the sea: living on the shore, littoral—opp. toMarine: having a navy and a naval commerce. [L.maritimus—mare, sea.]
Marjoram, mär′jo-ram,n.an aromatic plant used as a seasoning in cookery. [Fr.marjolaine—Low L.majoraca—L.amaracus—Gr.amarakos.]
Mark, märk,n.a visible sign: any object serving as a guide: that by which anything is known: a badge: a trace, impression, proof: any visible effect: symptom: a thing aimed at or striven for: an attainable point: a character made by one who cannot write: any impressed sign or stamp: a physical peculiarity: distinction: a boundary, limit: in medieval times, a tract of common land belonging to a community.—v.t.to make a mark on anything: to impress with a sign: to take notice of: to regard.—v.i.to take particular notice.—adj.Marked, distinguished: prominent: notorious.—adv.Mark′edly, noticeably.—ns.Mark′er, one who marks the score at games, as at billiards: a counter used at card-playing, &c.: the soldier who forms the pivot round which a body of soldiers wheels;Mark′ing, act of making a mark: a mark made upon anything;Mark′ing-ink, indelible ink, used for marking clothes;Mark′ing-nut, the fruit of an East Indian tree of the cashew family, yielding a black juice used in marking cloths;Mark′man, one of the community owning a mark;Marks′man, one good at hitting a mark: one who shoots well.—Mark down, set down in writing, put a note of;Mark out, to lay out the plan or outlines of anything;Mark time, to move the feet alternately in the same manner as in marching, but without changing ground.—A man of mark, a well-known or famous man;Beside the mark, not properly referring to the matter in hand;God bless, orsave,the mark, orSave the mark, a phrase expressing ironical astonishment or scorn, from the usage of archery;Make one's mark, to leave a lasting impression: to gain great influence;Toe the mark, to stand to one's obligations, facing the consequences;Trade mark, a distinctive mark put on goods, &c., to show by whom they were made;Up to the mark, good enough, measured by a certain standard. [A.S.mearc, a boundary; Ger.mark, Goth.marka.]
Mark, märk,n.an obsolete English coin=13s. 4d.: a coin of the present German Empire=about one shilling: a silver coin of Hamburg=about 1s. 4d. [A.S.marc, another form of the above word.]
Market, mär′ket,n.a public place for the purposes of buying and selling: the time for the market: sale: rate of sale: value.—v.i.to deal at a market: to buy and sell.—ns.Marketabil′ity,Mar′ketableness.—adj.Mar′ketable, fit for the market: saleable.—ns.Mar′ket-bell(Shak.), a bell to give notice of the time;Mar′ket-cross, a cross anciently set up where a market was held;Mar′ket-day, the fixed day on which a market is usually held;Mar′keter;Mar′ket-gar′den, a garden in which fruit and vegetables are grown for market;Mar′ket-gar′dener;Mar′ket-house, a building in which a market is held;Mar′keting, the act or practice of buying and selling in market;Mar′ket-place, the open space in a town where markets are held;Mar′ket-price, the price at which anything is sold in the market: the current price;Mar′ket-town, a town having the privilege of holding a public market. [Through the O. Fr. (Fr.marché, It.mercato), from L.mercatus, trade, a market—merx, merchandise.]
Marl, märl,n.a fat earth or clay often used as manure.—v.t.to cover with marl.—adj.Marlā′ceous, having the qualities of marl: like marl.—n.Mar′lite, a variety of marl.—adjs.Marlit′ic;Mar′ly, like marl: abounding in marl.—n.Marl′stone, argillaceous limestone. [O. Fr.marle(Fr.marne)—Low L.margila, a dim. of L.marga, marl.]
Marline, mär′lin,n.a small rope for winding round a larger one to keep it from being worn by rubbing.—v.t.Mar′line,Marl, to bind or wind round with marline.—n.Mar′linespike, an iron tool, like a spike, for separating the strands of a rope in splicing. [Dut.marlijn,marling—marren, to bind,lijn, a rope—Fr.ligne; cf.moorandline.]
Marmalade, mär′ma-lād,n.a jam or preserve generally made of the pulp of oranges, originally of quinces. [Fr., from Port.marmelada—marmelo, a quince—L.melimēlum—Gr.melimēlon, a sweet apple—meli, honey,mēlon, an apple.]
Marmoraceous, mar-mo-rā′shus,adj.belonging to, or like, marble.—adjs.Mar′morate,-d, covered with marble: variegated like marble.—n.Marmorā′tion.—adjs.Marmō′real,Marmō′rean, belonging to, or like, marble. [L.marmor, marble.]
Marmose, mar′mōs,n.one of several small South American opossums.
Marmoset, mär′mo-zet,n.a small variety of American monkey. [Fr.marmouset, a little grotesque figure beside a fountain—L.marmor, marble.]
Marmot, mär′mot,n.a rodent animal, about the size of a rabbit, which inhabits the higher parts of the Alps and Pyrenees. [It.marmotto—Romanschmurmont—L.mus montanus, mountain-mouse.]
Maronite, mar′ō-nīt,n.one of a sect of Christians who live on or around the mountains of Lebanon. [StMaron, about 400A.D., or JohnMaron, a patriarch of the sect in the 7th century.]
Maroon, ma-rōōn′,n.a brownish crimson. [Fr.marron, a chestnut—It.marrone, a chestnut.]
Maroon, ma-rōōn′,n.a fugitive slave living on the mountains, in the West Indies.—v.t.to put on shore on a desolate island.—ns.Maroon′er;Maroon′ing. [Fr.marron—Sp.cimarron, wild—cima, a mountain-summit—L.cyma—Gr.kyma.]
Maroquin, mar′o-kwin,n.leather prepared from goatskin: morocco leather. [Fr.]
Marplot, mär′plot,n.one who mars or defeats a plot or design by interference where he has no right.
Marprelate, mär-prel′āt,adj.pertaining to the series of vigorous pamphlets against prelacy issued in England in 1588-9, in spite of severe repression.
Marque, märk,n.a license to pass the marches or limits of a country for the purpose of making reprisals: a ship commissioned for making captures.—Letter-of-marque(seeLetter). [Fr.]
Marquee, mär-kē′,n.a large field-tent. [Formarquees, the s being dropped as if a plural, from Fr.marquise, acc. to Littré, orig. a marchioness's tent.]
Marquetry, märk′et-ri,n.work inlaid with pieces of various-coloured wood. [Fr.marqueterie—marqueter, to inlay—marque, a mark.]
Marquis's Coronet.
Marquis, mär′kwis,Marquess,mär′kwes,n.a title of nobility next below that of a duke, first given in England in 1386:—fem.Mar′chioness.—ns.Mar′quisāte, the dignity or lordship of a marquis;Marquise(mär-kēz′),in France, a marchioness: a style of parasol about 1850. [O. Fr.markis(Fr.marquis, It.marchese)—Low L.marchensis, a prefect of the marches.]
Marriage, mar′ij,n.the ceremony by which a man and woman become husband and wife: the union of a man and woman as husband and wife.—adj.Marr′iageable, suitable, or at a proper age, for marriage.—ns.Marr′iageableness;Marr′iage-con′tract, an agreement to be married: an agreement respecting property by persons about to marry.—n.pl.Marr′iage-fā′vours, knots or decorations worn at a marriage.—n.Marr′iage-sett′lement, an arrangement of property, &c., before marriage, by which something is secured to the wife or her children, in case of her husband's death. [O. Fr.mariage. SeeMarry.]
Marrow, mar′ō,n.the soft, fatty matter in the hollow parts of the bones: the pith of certain plants: the essence or best part of anything: the inner meaning or purpose.—ns.Marr′ow-bone, a bone containing marrow: (pl.) the knees or the bones of the knees;Marr′owfat, a rich kind of pea, called also Dutch Admiral pea.—adjs.Marr′owish, of the nature of, or resembling, marrow;Marr′owless, having no marrow.—n.Marr′ow-squash(U.S.), vegetable marrow.—adj.Marr′owy, full of marrow: strong: forcible: pithy. [A.S.mearg; Ger.mark.]
Marry, mar′i,v.t.to take for husband or wife: to give in marriage: to unite in matrimony.—v.i.to enter into the married state: to take a husband or a wife:—pr.p.marr′ying;pa.t.andpa.p.marr′ied.[Fr.marier—L.maritāre, to marry,maritus, a husband—mas,maris, a male.]
Marry, mar′i,interj.indeed! forsooth! [ByMary.]
Mars, märz,n.the Roman god of war: the planet next to the earth in the order of distance from the sun. [L.Mars,Martis.]
Marsala, mar′sä-la,n.a light wine resembling sherry, fromMarsalain Sicily.
Marseillaise, mär-se-lyāz′, ormär-se-lāz′,n.the French revolutionary hymn composed by Rouget de Lisle in 1792, sung by the volunteers ofMarseillesas they entered Paris, 30th July, and when they marched to the storming of the Tuileries.
Marsh, märsh,n.a tract of low wet land: a morass, swamp, or fen.—adj.pertaining to wet or boggy places.—ns.Marsh′-gas, fire-damp;Marsh′-harr′ier, a harrier of genusCircusfrequenting marshes;Marsh′iness;Marsh′-mall′ow, a species of mallow common in meadows and marshes;Marsh′-mar′igold, a genus of plants of theRanunculusorder, having large yellow flowers like those of a buttercup.—adj.Marsh′y, pertaining to, or produced in, marshes: abounding in marshes. [A.S.mersc, former-isc, as if 'mere-ish,' full ofmeres. Cf.mere, a pool.]
Marshal, mär′shal,n.an officer charged with the regulation of ceremonies, preservation of order, points of etiquette, &c.: the chief officer who regulated combats in the lists: a pursuivant or harbinger: a herald: in France, an officer of the highest military rank: (U.S.) the civil officer of a district, corresponding to the sheriff of a county in England.—v.t.to arrange in order: to lead, as a herald:—pr.p.mar′shalling;pa.t.andpa.p.mar′shalled.—ns.Mar′shaller, one who marshals;Mar′shalling, act of arranging in due order;Mar′shalsea, till 1842 a prison in Southwark, under the marshal of the royal household;Mar′shalship, office of marshal. [O. Fr.mareschal(Fr.maréchal); from Old High Ger.marah, a horse,schalh(Ger.schalk), a servant.]
Marsipobranchiate, mar-si-po-brang′ki-āt,adj.having pursed gills, as lampreys, hags, &c.—AlsoMar′sipobranch.
Marsupial, mär-sū′pi-al,adj.carrying young in a pouch.—n.a marsupial animal, as the opossum or the kangaroo.—n.Marsū′pium, a brood-pouch. [L.marsupium—Gr.marsipion, a pouch.]
Mart, märt,n.a place of trade. [Contr. ofmarket.]
Martagon, mär′ta-gon,n.the Turk's-cap lily.
Martel, mär′tel,v.t.(Spens.) to hammer, to strike. [Fr.marteler, It.martello. SeeMartello.]
Martello, mar-tel′o,n.a circular fort erected to protect a coast. [It.martello, a hammer—L.martulus,marculus, dim. ofmarcus, a hammer; or fromMortellaPoint in Corsica, where a tower of this kind withstood an English cannonade in 1794.]
Marten, mär′ten,n.a destructive kind of weasel valued for its fur. [Fr.martre, alsomarte—Low L.marturis, from a Teut. root seen in Ger.marder, and A.S.mearð, a marten.]
Mar-text, mär′-tekst,n.an ignorant preacher.
Martial, mär′shal,adj.belonging to Mars, the god of war, or to the planet Mars: of or belonging to war, or to the army and navy: warlike: brave.—ns.Mar′tialism;Mar′tialist.—adv.Mar′tially.—Martial law, law enforced during a state of war for the proper government of armies, and for the punishment of those who break the laws of war. [Fr.,—L.martialis—Mars,Martis.]
Martin, mär′tin,n.a bird of the swallow kind.—AlsoMar′tinet. [The nameMartin; cf.robin, &c.]
Martinet, mär′tin-et,n.a strict disciplinarian.—n.Martinet′ism. [FromMartinet, a very strict officer in the army of Louis XIV. of France.]
Martingale, mär′tin-gāl,n.a strap passing between a horse's forelegs, fastened to the girth and to the bit, to keep his head down: in ships, a short spar under the bowsprit.—AlsoMar′tingal. [Fr., from a kind of breeches worn atMartiguesin Provence.]
Martinmas, mär′tin-mas,n.the mass or feast of StMartin: 11th Nov., a term-day in Scotland.
Martlet, märt′let,n.the martin, the name of a bird: (her.) a martin or swallow without feet, used as a bearing, a crest, or a mark of cadency to designate the fourth son. [From Fr.martinet, dim. ofmartin.]
Martyr, mär′tėr,n.one who by his death bears witness to the truth: one who suffers for his belief: one who suffers greatly from any cause.—v.t.to put to death for one's belief.—n.Mar′tyrdom, state of being a martyr: the sufferings or death of a martyr: torment generally.—v.t.Mar′tyrise(Browning), to offer as a sacrifice: to cause to suffer martyrdom.—adj.Martyrolog′ical.—ns.Martyrol′ogist;Martyrol′ogy, a history of martyrs: a discourse on martyrdom. [A.S.,—L.,—Gr., a witness.]
Marvel, mär′vel,n.a wonder: anything astonishing or wonderful: astonishment.—v.i.to wonder: to feel astonishment:—pr.p.mar′velling;pa.t.andpa.p.mar′velled.—adj.Mar′vellous, astonishing: almost or altogether beyond belief: improbable.—adv.Mar′vellously.—n.Mar′vellousness. [Fr.merveille—L.mirabilis, wonderful—mirāri, to wonder.]
Marybud, mā′ri-bud,n.the marigold.
Mascle, mas′kl,n.(her.) a bearing, lozenge-shaped and perforated: a plate of steel in the form of a lozenge, used in making scale-armour.—adjs.Mas′cled,Mascule′,Mas′culy. [Fr.macle—L.macula, the mesh of a net.]
Mascot, mas′kot,n.a luck-penny or talisman: a person whose presence brings good luck. [Fr.mascotte.]
Masculine, mas′kū-lin,adj.of the male sex: having the qualities of a man: resembling a man, or suitable to a man: robust: of a woman, bold, forward, unwomanly: denoting nouns which are names of males.—n.(gram.) the masculine gender.—adv.Mas′culinely.—ns.Mas′culineness,Masculin′ity. [Fr.,—L.masculinus—masculus, male—mas, a male.]
Mash, mash,v.t.to beat into a mixed mass: to bruise: in brewing, to mix malt and hot water together.—v.i.to act violently.—n.a mixture of ingredients beaten or stirred together, as of bran, meal, &c., or bran and boiled turnips, &c., for feeding cattle or horses: in brewing, a mixture of crushed malt and hot water.—ns.Mash′ing;Mash′-tub,Mash′ing-tub, a tub in which the mash in breweries is mixed.—adj.Mash′y, produced by mashing; of the nature of a mash. [The noun is older than the verb, and seems to be connected withmix(A.S.miscian); cf.Mish-mash.]
Masher, mash′ėr,n.a fellow who dresses showily to attract the attention of silly young women, a fop.—v.t.Mash, to gain the affections of one of the opposite sex, to treat as a sweetheart.—Be mashed on(slang), to be struck with love for another.
Mashie,Mashy, mash′i,n.a kind of golf-club.
Masjid, mas′jid,n.a Mohammedan mosque.
Mask,Masque, mask,n.anything disguising or concealing the face: anything that disguises: a pretence: a masquerade: a former kind of dramatic spectacle, in which actors personified mythological deities, shepherdesses, &c.: a representation or impression of a face in any material, as in marble, plaster, &c.: a fox's head.—v.t.to cover the face with a mask: to hide.—v.i.to join in a mask or masquerade: to be disguised in any way: to revel.—n.Mas′caron(archit.), a grotesque face on door-knockers, spouts, &c.—adj.Masked, wearing a mask, concealed.—ns.Masked′-ball, a ball in which the dancers wear masks;Mask′er, one who wears a mask.—Masked battery(seeBattery). [Fr.masque—Sp.mascara—Ar.maskharat, a jester, man in masquerade.]
Mask, mask,v.t.(Scot.) to steep, infuse.—v.i.to be infusing. [A form ofmash.]
Maslin, mas′lin,n.mixed grain, esp. rye and wheat.—AlsoMash′lin,Mash′lim,Mash′lum.
Mason, mā′sn,n.one who cuts, prepares, and lays stones: a builder in stone: a member of the society of freemasons.—v.t.to build.—adjs.Mason′ic, relating to freemasonry;Mā′sonried, constructed of masonry.—n.Mā′sonry, the skill or practice of a mason: the work of a mason: the art of building in stone: freemasonry.—adj.consisting of mason-work.—n.Mas′ter-mā′son(see underMaster). [O. Fr.masson(Fr.maçon)—Low L.macion-em; prob. Teut.; cf. Mid. High Ger.mezzo, a mason, whencesteinmetz, a stone-mason, cog. with Old High Ger.meizan, to hew, whence Ger.meissel, a chisel.]
Masoolah-boat, ma-sōō′la-bōt,n.a high many-oared East Indian surf-boat.—AlsoMasu′la-boat.
Masque. SeeMask.
Masquerade, mask-ėr-ād′,n.an assembly of persons wearing masks, generally at a ball: disguise.—v.i.to wear a mask: to join in a masquerade: to go in disguise.—n.Masquerad′er, a person wearing a mask: a person or thing disguised in any manner. [Fr.mascarade. SeeMask.]
Mass, mas,n.a lump of matter: a quantity: a collected body: the main body: magnitude: the principal part or main body: quantity of matter in any body, weight being proportional to mass: (pl.) the lower classes of the people.—v.t.to form into a mass: to bring together in masses.—v.i.to assemble in masses.—adj.Mass′ive, bulky: weighty: not separated into parts or elements: without crystalline form, geologically homogeneous.—adv.Mass′ively.—ns.Mass′iveness,Mass′iness;Mass′-meeting, a public meeting of persons of all classes to discuss some matter of general interest.—adj.Mass′y, massive, made up of masses. [Fr.masse—L.massa—Gr.maza—massein, to squeeze together.]
Mass, mas,n.the celebration of the Lord's Supper or Eucharist in R.C. churches, also the office for the same: a musical setting of certain parts of the R.C. liturgy: a church festival or feast-day, as inCandlemas,Christmas,Martinmas, &c.—ns.Mass′-bell, orSacring-bell, a bell rung during the celebration of mass, at the elevation of the host;Mass′-book, the R.C. missal or service-book;Mass′-priest, formerly a R.C. secular priest, as distinct from those living under a rule—later, a priest retained in chantries, &c., to say masses for the dead: a R.C. priest generally.—Mass for the dead, a funeral mass for the faithful in Christ, to hasten their release from purgatory;Conventual mass, a mass for the general community of a religious house: a mass at which special remembrance is made of pious founders and benefactors;Dry mass, orservice, a rite in which there is neither consecration nor communion;High mass, a mass celebrated with music, ritual, ceremonies, and incense;Low mass, the ordinary mass celebrated without music and incense;Midnight mass, that mass which is said at midnight on Christmas-eve;Private mass, any mass where only the priest communicates, esp. in a private oratory;Solemn mass, a mass resembling a high mass, but without some of its special ceremonies;Votive mass, a special mass over and above those ordinarily said for the day, for some particular grace or purpose, and provided by some individual. [A.S.mæsse—Low L.missa—L.missus,mittĕre, to send away, from the phrase at the close of service,Ite, missa est (ecclesia), 'Go, the congregation is dismissed.']
Massa, mas′ä,n.a negro corruption ofmaster.
Massacre, mas′a-kėr,n.indiscriminate slaughter, esp. with cruelty: carnage.—v.t.to kill with violence and cruelty: to slaughter. [Fr.; from the Teut., as in Low Ger.matsken, to cut; cf. Ger.metz-ger, a butcher.]
Massage, ma-säzh′,n.in medicine, a system of treatment in which the manipulation and exercise of parts (passive movement) are employed for the relief of morbid conditions—by stroking, pressing, tapping, kneading, friction with kneading, &c.—v.t.to subject to massage.—ns.Massa′gist,Masseur′:—fem.Masseuse′. [Fr., from Gr.massein, to knead.]
Masse, ma-sā′,n.in billiards, a sharp stroke made with the cue perpendicular or nearly so. [Fr.]
Masseter, mas-ē′tėr,n.a muscle which raises the under jaw, and thus closes the mouth. [Gr.masētēr—masasthai, to chew.]
Massicot, mas′i-kot,n.protoxide of lead or yellow oxide of lead. [Fr.]
Massif, ma-sēf,n.a central mountain-mass; an orographic fault-block. [Fr.]
Massorah,Masora, mas′ō-rä,n.the tradition by which Jewish scholars tried to preserve the text of the Old Testament—a collection of critical notes on the text of the Old Testament, first committed to writing in Tiberias between the 6th and 9th cent.A.D.—theGreat Massorahwas finally arranged about the 11th century; theSmall Massorahis an extract therefrom.—ns.Mass′orete,Mass′orite.—adjs.Massoret′ic,Masoret′ic.—Massoretic pointsandaccents, the vowel-points in Hebrew furnished by the Massorah. [Heb., 'tradition.']
Mast, mast,n.a long upright pole for bearing the yards, rigging, &c. in a ship.—v.t.to supply with a mast or masts.—adj.Mast′ed.—n.Mast′-head, the head or top of the mast of a ship.—v.t.to raise to the mast-head: to punish by sending a sailor to the mast-head for a certain time.—n.Mast′-house, the place in dockyards where masts are made.—adj.Mast′less, having no mast. [A.S.mæst, the stem of a tree; Ger.mast.]
Mast, mast,n.the fruit of the oak, beech, chestnut, and other forest trees, on which swine feed: nuts, acorns.—adjs.Mast′ful;Mast′less;Mast′y. [A.S.mæst; Ger.mast, whencemästen, to feed.]
Master, mas′tėr,n.one who commands: a lord or owner: a leader or ruler: a teacher: an employer: the commander of a merchant-ship: formerly the navigator or sailing-master of a ship-of-war: one eminently skilled in anything: the common title of address to a young gentleman, &c.: a title of dignity or office—a degree conferred by universities, asMaster of Arts, &c., the title of the eldest son of a Scotch viscount or baron, the head of some corporations, as Balliol College, &c., of a lodge of freemasons, &c.: a husband.—adj.the chief, predominant: belonging to a master, chief, principal, as inMaster-builder, &c.—v.t.to become master of: to overcome: to become skilful in: to execute with skill.—ns.Mas′ter-build′er, a chief builder, one who directs or employs others;Mas′terdom, power of control.—adj.Mas′terful, exercising the authority or power of a master: imperious: having the skill of a master.—adv.Mas′terfully, in a masterful or imperious manner.—ns.Mas′terfulness;Mas′ter-hand, the hand of a master: a person highly skilled;Mas′terhood;Mas′ter-joint, the most marked system of joints or divisional planes by which a rock is intersected;Mas′terkey, a key that opens many locks: a clue fitted to guide one out of many difficulties.—adj.Mas′terless, without a master or owner: ungoverned: unsubdued: beyond control.—n.Mas′terliness, quality of being masterly: masterly skill.—adj.Mas′terly, like a master: with the skill of a master: skilful: excellent: overbearing.—adv.with the skill of a master.—ns.Mas′ter-mar′iner, the captain of a merchant-vessel or fishing-vessel;Mas′ter-mā′son, a freemason who has attained the third degree;Mas′ter-mind;Mas′ter-pass′ion;Mas′terpiece, a piece of work worthy of a master: a work of superior skill: chief excellence;Mas′tership, the office of master: rule or dominion: superiority;Mas′terstroke, a stroke or performance worthy of a master: superior performance;Mas′ter-wheel, the wheel in a machine which imparts motion to other parts;Mas′ter-work, work worthy of a master: masterpiece;Mas′terwort, a perennial umbelliferous herb, native to northern Europe, its root reputed as a stomachic, sudorific, diuretic, &c.;Mas′tery, the power or authority of a master: dominion: victory: superiority: the attainment of superior power or skill.—Master of ceremonies,of the Rolls, &c. (seeCeremonies,Rolls, &c.);Master of the horse, the RomanMagister Equitum, an official appointed by the dictator to act next under himself: an equerry, esp. the exalted official bearing this name at the British court;Master of the Temple, the preacher of the Temple Church in London;Masters of the schools, at Oxford, the conductors of the first examination (Responsions) for the degree of B.A.—Masterly inactivity, the position or part of a neutral or a Fabian combatant, carried out with diplomatic skill, so as to preserve a predominant influence without risking anything.—Passed, orPast,master, one who has occupied the office of master, esp. among freemasons—hence any one known to possess ample knowledge of some subject;The little masters, a 16th-17th cent. group of followers of Dürer, notable for fine work on wood and copper;The old masters, a term applied collectively to the great painters about the time of the Renaissance, esp. the Italians.—Be master of one's self, to have one's passions or emotions under control. [O. Fr.maistre(Fr.maître)—L.magister, from root ofmagnus, great.]
Mastic,Mastich, mas′tik,n.a species of gum-resin from the lentisk-tree: a cement from mastic: the tree producing mastic. [Fr.,—L.mastiche—Gr.mastichē—mas-tizein, to chew.]
Masticate, mas′ti-kāt,v.t.to chew: to grind with the teeth.—adj.Mas′ticable, that may be chewed.—ns.Masticā′tion, act or process of chewing;Masticā′tor, a machine for cutting up meat for people unable to chew: a machine used in purifying india-rubber.—adj.Mas′ticatory, chewing: adapted for chewing.—n.a substance chewed to increase the saliva. [L.masticāre,-ātum—mastiche, mastic.]
Masticot. Same asMassicot.
Mastiff, mas′tif,n.a thick-set and powerful variety of dog much used as a watch-dog. [Skeat follows Scheler and Diez in explainingmastiffas 'house-dog,' from an assumed O. Fr.mastif, prob. a variant of O. Fr.mastin(Fr.mâtin)—Low L.masnata, a family—L.mansion-em, a house. Others explain as O. Fr.mestif(Fr.métif), of mixed breed, mongrel, or O. Fr.mestis(métis), mongrel, or even as the above O. Fr. mastin (Fr. mâtin), all, through Low L. forms, from L.mixtus,mistus,miscēre, to mix.]
Mastitis, mas-tī′tis,n.inflammation of the mammary gland.—n.Mastodyn′ia, pain in the breast.—adj.Mas′toid, like a nipple or teat: denoting a part or process of the temporal bone.—n.Mastol′ogy, mammology. [Gr.mastos, a nipple.]
Mastodon, mas′to-don,n.a genus of extinct elephants, so named from the mamillary cusps or teat-like prominences on the molar teeth. [Gr.mastos, the breast,odous,odontos, a tooth.]
Masturbation, mas-tur-bā′shun,n.self-defilement, onanism.—v.i.Mas′turbate, to commit self-abuse.—n.Mas′turbator, one guilty of this. [L.masturbāri.]
Mat, mat,n.a texture of sedge, rushes, straw, &c. for cleaning the feet on: a web of rope-yarn: an ornamental border for a picture: a piece of cloth, &c. put below dishes on a table: anything like a mat in appearance, thick and closely set: any interwoven structure used as a revetment on river-banks, &c.: a sack of matting used to cover tea and coffee chests, such a sack containing a certain quantity of coffee: the closely-worked portion of lace: any annular pad to protect the head in bearing burdens.—v.t.to cover with mats: to interweave: to entangle:—pr.p.mat′ting;pa.t.andpa.p.mat′ted.[A.S.meatta—L.matta, a mat.]
Mat, mat,adj.andn.having a dull or dead surface, without lustre: an instrument by means of which such is produced.—v.t.to produce such a surface on metal. [Ger.matt, dull.]
Matador,Matadore, mat-a-dōr′,n.the man who kills the bull in bull-fights: one of the three chief cards at ombre and quadrille. [Sp.matador—matar, to kill—L.mactāre, to kill, to honour by sacrifice—mactus, honoured.]
Matafunda, mat-a-fun′da,n.an old military engine which slung stones. [Low L., prob. Sp.matar, to kill, L.funda, a sling.]