Matchlock.
Match, mach,n.a piece of inflammable material which easily takes or carries fire: a prepared rope for firing a gun, &c.: a lucifer.—ns.Match′-box, a box for holding matches;Match′lock, the lock of a musket containing a match for firing it: a musket so fired;Match′wood, wood cut down to a size suitable for making matches: wood broken into small pieces;Quick′-match, a match made of threads of cotton, and steeped in various inflammable substances so as to burn a yard in thirteen seconds;Safe′ty-match, a match which will only light when rubbed on a specially prepared surface;Slow′-match, a match made to burn at the rate of from four to five inches in an hour, for blasting, &c. [O. Fr.mesche(Fr.mèche)—Low L.myxus—Gr.myxa, the snuff or wick of a lamp.]
Match, mach,n.anything which agrees with or suits another thing: an equal: one able to cope with another: a contest or game: a pairing, a marriage: one to be gained in marriage.—v.i.to be of the same make, size, &c., to correspond: to form a union with.—v.t.to be equal to, to set a counterpart to anything: to be able to compete with: to find an equal to: to set against as equal: to suit: to give in marriage.—adj.Match′able.—ns.Match′board, a board with a tongue cut along one edge and a groove in the opposite edge, their joining being called aMatch′-joint;Match′er.—adj.Match′less, having no match or equal: superior to all: peerless: unpaired.—adv.Match′lessly.—ns.Match′lessness;Match′-mak′er, one who makes matches: one who plans to bring about marriages. [A.S.gemæca,gemaca, a mate, a wife.]
Mate, māt,n.a companion: an equal: one of a pair, the male or female of animals that go in pairs: in a merchant-ship the first-mate is the second in command—in the navy the term is now confined to petty-officers, such asboatswain's mate,gunner's mate, &c.: an assistant, deputy.—v.t.to be equal to: to become a companion to: to marry.—adj.Mate′less, without a mate or companion. [A.S.ge-maca; Ice.maki, an equal, from the same root asmake. Cf.match. Prob.matein its naut. sense is Dutch—Old Dut.maet, mod.maat.]
Mate, māt,n.andv.t.in chess=Checkmate.
Mate,Maté, mä′tā,n.a South American species of holly, the leaves and green shoots of which, dried and roughly ground, furnish theyerba de mateof Paraguay and Brazil. [Sp.mate, orig. the vessel in which it was infused for drinking.]
Mate, māt,v.t.(Bacon) to weaken, to confound, to crush. [O. Fr.mater; cf. Sp.matar, to weaken.]
Matelasse, mat-las′ā,adj.andn.having a raised pattern on the surface as if quilted, of silks. [Fr.matelas, a mattress.]
Matelote, mat′e-lōt,n.fish stewed with wine-sauce, onions, &c. [Fr.matelot, a sailor.]
Mateology, mat-ē-ol′o-ji,n.a foolish inquiry. [Gr.mataios, vain,matē, folly,logia, discourse.]
Mater, mā′tėr,n.a mother: one of the two membranes of the brain, outer and inner, separated by the arachnoid—thedura mater, ordura, andpia mater, orpia.—Mā′terdolorō′sa, the Virgin Mary represented as the sorrowing mother;Māterfamil′ias, the mother of a family. [L.,—Gr.mētēr.]
Material, ma-tē′ri-al,adj.consisting of matter: corporeal, not spiritual: substantial: essential: important, esp. of legal importance: (phil.) pertaining to matter and not to form, relating to the object as it exists.—n., esp. inpl., that out of which anything is to be made.—n.Materialisā′tion.—v.t.Matē′rialīse, to render material: to reduce to or regard as matter: to occupy with material interests.—ns.Matē′rialism, the doctrine that denies the independent existence of spirit, and maintains that there is but one substance—viz. matter—thus professing to find in matter (monisticorphilosophical materialism), or in material entities (atomistic materialism), or in material qualities and forces (scientific or physical materialism), a complete explanation of all life and existence whatsoever;Matē′rialist, one who holds the doctrine of materialism: one absorbed in material interests, who takes a low view of life and its responsibilities.—adjs.Materialist′ic,-al, pertaining to materialism.—adv.Matē′rially.—ns.Matē′rialness,Material′ity.—Material being, existence in the form of matter;Material cause, that which gives being to the thing;Material distinction, a distinction between individuals of the same species;Material evidence, evidence tending to prove or to disprove the matter under judgment;Material fallacy, a fallacy in the matter or thought, rather than in the logical form;Material form, a form depending on matter;Material issue(seeIssue).—Raw material, stuff as yet unworked into anything useful. [Fr.,—L.materialis—materia.]
Materia medica, ma-tē′ri-amed′i-ka,n.the various substances used in making up medicines: the science of the nature and use of substances used as medicines. [L.materia, material,medicus, medical.]
Matériel, ma-tā-re-el′,n.the totality of materials or instruments employed (as in an army), as distinguished from thepersonnelor men—applied esp. to military stores, arms, baggage, horses, &c. [Fr.]
Maternal, ma-tėr′nal,adj.belonging to a mother: motherly.—adv.Mater′nally.—n.Mater′nity, the state, character, or relation of a mother: motherhood: a lying-in hospital. [Fr.maternel(It.maternale)—L.maternus—mater, mother.]
Math, math,n.a mowing.
Mathematic,-al, math-e-mat′ik, -al,adj.pertaining to, or done by, mathematics: very accurate.—adv.Mathemat′ically.—ns.Mathematic′ian, one versed in mathematics;Mathemat′ics, the science of magnitude and number, and of all their relations—usually divided intoPure, andMixedorApplied, the first including all deductions from the abstract, self-evident relations of magnitude and number—the second, the results arrived at by applying the principles so established to certain relations found by observation to exist among the phenomena of nature.—Higher mathematics, a term applied generally to all the scientifically treated branches of mathematics. [Fr.mathématique—L.mathematica—Gr.mathēmatikē(epistēmē, skill, knowledge), relating to learning—mathēma—manthanein, to learn.]
Mathesis, ma-thē′sis,n.mental discipline. [Gr.]
Matico, ma-tē′ko,n.a Peruvian shrub, used in medicine as a styptic and astringent.
Matin, mat′in,adj.morning: used in the morning.—n.inpl.the daily morning service of the Church of England: one of the seven canonical hours, usually sung between midnight and daybreak.—adj.Mat′inal.—n.Matinée(mat-i-nā′),a musical entertainment or reception held in the day-time, usually in the afternoon: a woman's dress for wear in the forenoon or before dinner. [Fr.,—L.matutinus, belonging to the morning—Matuta, goddess of morning, prob. akin tomaturus, early.]
Matrass, mat′ras,n.a chemical vessel with a tapering neck, a cucurbit.
Matriarchy, mā′tri-är-ki,n.government by a mother or by mothers, esp. a primitive order of society existing in many Indian tribes, in which the mother takes precedence of the father in tracing line of descent and in inheritance: descent in the female line.—ns.Mā′triarch, a woman in whom matriarchy rests: a patriarch's wife.—adj.Matriar′chal.—ns.Matriar′chalism, the character of possessing matriarchal customs;Matriar′chate, the position of a matriarch. [Gr.mētēr, mother,archos, a ruler.]
Matrice, mā′tris,n.Same asMatrix.
Matricide, mat′ri-sīd,n.a murderer of one's own mother: the murder of one's own mother.—adj.Mat′ricidal[Fr.,—L.matricida,matricidium—mater, mother,cædĕre, to kill.]
Matriculate, ma-trik′ū-lāt,v.t.to admit to membership by entering one's name in a register, esp. in a college.—v.i.to become a member of a college, university, &c., by being enrolled.—n.one admitted to membership in a society.—n.Matriculā′tion, act of matriculating: state of being matriculated. [Late L.matricula, a register, dim. ofmatrix.]
Matrimony, mat′ri-mun-i,n.union of husband and wife, marriage: state of marriage.—adj.Matrimō′nial, relating to, derived from, marriage.—adj.Matrimō′nially. [O. Fr.,—L.matrimonium—mater.]
Matrix, mā′triks, or mat′riks,n.(anat.) the cavity in which an animal is formed before its birth, the womb: the cavity in which anything is formed, a mould: (mining) earthy or stony substances in which minerals are found embedded: (dyeing) the five simple colours (black, white, blue, red, and yellow) from which all the others are formed: (math.) a rectangular array of quantities, usually square—a multiple quantity having as many dimensions as it has spaces:—pl.Matrices(mā′tri-sezormat′ri-sez).[L.matrix,-icis—mater, mother.]
Matron, mā′trun,n.an elderly married woman: an elderly lady of staid and sober habits: a head-nurse in a hospital, or a female superintendent in a school.—ns.Mā′tronage,Mā′tronhood, state of being a matron: a body of matrons.—adj.Mā′tronal, pertaining or suitable to a matron: motherly: grave.—v.t.Mā′tronise, to render matronly: to attend a lady to public places, as protector: to chaperon.—adjs.Mā′tron-like,Mā′tronly, like, becoming, or belonging to a matron: elderly: sedate.—n.Matronym′ic, a name derived from a mother or maternal ancestor—alsoadj.[Fr.,—L.matrona, a married lady—mater, mother.]
Matross, ma-tros′,n.formerly a soldier set to help the gunners in an artillery train. [Dut.matroos—Fr.matelot, a sailor.]
Matte, mat,n.a product of the smelting of sulphuretted ores.—AlsoRegulusandCoarse metal. [Fr.,—Ger.]
Matter, mat′ėr,n.that which occupies space, and with which we become acquainted by our bodily senses: that out of which anything is made: that which receiving a form becomes a substance: the subject or thing treated of: anything engaging the attention: that with which one has to do: cause of a thing: thing of consequence: something requiring remedy or explanation: any special allegation in law: importance: a measure, &c., of indefinite amount: (print.) material for work, type set up: mere dead substance, that which is thrown off by a living body, esp. pus, or the fluid in boils, tumours, and festering sores.—v.i.to be of importance: to signify: to form or discharge matter in a sore:—pr.p.matt′ering;pa.p.matt′ered.—adjs.Matt′erful, full of matter, pithy;Matt′erless;Matt′er-of-fact, adhering to the matter of fact: not fanciful: dry;Matt′ery, significant: purulent.—Matter of course, occurring in natural time and order, as a thing to be expected;Matter of fact, really happening and not fanciful or supposed: not wandering beyond realities. [O. Fr.matiere—L.materia, matter.]
Matting, mat′ing,n.a covering with mats: a texture like a mat, but larger: material for mats.
Mattins. Same asMatins,pl.ofMatin.
Mattock, mat′uk,n.a kind of pickaxe for loosening the soil, having the iron ends broad instead of pointed. [A.S.mattuc—W.matog.]
Mattress, mat′res,n.a bed made of a bag stuffed with wool, horse-hair, &c.: a mass of brushwood, &c., used to form a foundation for roads, &c., or for the walls of embankments, &c.—Spring mattress, a mattress in which springs of twisted wire are used to support the stuffed part;Wire mattress, one whose elasticity is produced by a sheet of tightly-stretched wire. [O. Fr.materas(Fr.matelas)—Ar.matrah, a place where anything is thrown.]
Maturate, mat′ū-rāt,v.t.to make mature: (med.) to promote the suppuration of.—v.i.(med.) to suppurate perfectly.—ns.Mat′urant, a maturative;Maturā′tion, a bringing or a coming to maturity: the process of suppurating fully.—adj.Matū′rative, maturing or ripening: (med.) promoting suppuration.—n.a medicine promoting suppuration. [L.maturāre—maturus, ripe.]
Mature, ma-tūr′,adj.grown to its full size: perfected: ripe: (med.) come to suppuration: fully digested, as a plan.—v.t.to ripen: to bring to perfection: to prepare for use.—v.i.to become ripe: to become payable, as a bill.—adj.Matur′able, capable of being matured.—adv.Mature′ly.—ns.Mature′ness, state or quality of being ripe or ready for use;Matur′ity, ripeness: a state of completeness or readiness for use. [L.maturus, ripe.]
Maturescent, mat-ū-res′ent,adj.becoming ripe: approaching maturity. [L.maturescĕre, to become ripe—maturus.]
Matutinal, mat-ū-tī′nal,adj.pertaining to the morning: happening early in the day.—AlsoMat′utine. [L.matutinalis,matutinus. SeeMatin.]
Maud, mawd,n.a Scotch shepherd's woollen plaid.
Maudlin, mawd′lin,adj.silly: sickly-sentimental: fuddled, half-drunk: (obs.) tearful.—n.Maud′linism, the tearful stage of drink. [Contr. from M. E.Maudelein, which comes through O. Fr. and L. from Gr.Magdalēnē, the orig. sense being 'tearful from penitence,' hence 'with eyes red and swollen with weeping,' like Mary Magdalene, erroneously identified with the penitent woman of Luke vii. 37.]
Maugre, maw′gėr,prep.in spite of.—n.(obs.) ill-will: spite. [O. Fr.malgré—L.male gratum—male,badly,gratum, agreeable.]
Maul, mawl,v.t.to beat with a mall or a heavy stick: to injure greatly by beating.—n.a heavy wooden hammer: a struggle for the ball in football, when it has been carried across the goal-line, but has not yet been touched down. [Mall.]
Maulstick. SeeMahl-stick.
Maumet,Mammet. Same asMawmet.
Maund, mawnd,n.(Shak.) a basket. [A.S.mand.]
Maund, mawnd,n.a measure of weight in India, its value varying in different places from about 25 to about 85 pounds avoirdupois. [Hind.mān.]
Maunder, mawn′dėr,v.i.to beg: to whine like a beggar, to grumble: to mutter, to talk foolishly, to drivel.—ns.Maun′derer;Maun′dering, drivelling talk. [O. Fr.mendier, to beg—L.mendicāre.]
Maundril, mawn′dril,n.a pick with two prongs.
Maundy, mawn′di,n.the religious ceremony of washing the feet of others, esp. of inferiors, in commemoration of Christ's washing His disciples' feet at the Last Supper—still practised in Austria by the emperor.—Maundy money, the money given away onMaundy Thursday, the Thursday in Passion week, by the royal almoner, usually a penny for each year of the sovereign's reign—the small silver coins specially coined since 1662. [O. Fr.mande(Fr.mandé)—L.mandātum, command, i.e. the 'new Commandment' of John, xiii. 34.]
Maurist, maw′rist,n.a member of the reformed Benedictine Congregation of StMaur, settled from 1618 at the abbey of StMaur-sur-Loire,near Saumur, notable for its great services to learning.
Mauser, mow′zėr,n.a German magazine rifle, invented by WilhelmMauser(1834-82).
Mausoleum, maw-so-lē′um,n.a magnificent tomb or monument.—adj.Mausolē′an, pertaining to a mausoleum: monumental. [L.,—Gr.,Mausōleion, fromMausolus, king of Caria, to whom his widow, Artemisia, erected a splendid tomb about 350B.C.]
Mauther, mä′thėr,n.an Eng. prov. form of mother.
Mauve, mawv,n.a beautiful purple dye extracted from coal-tar, so called from its likeness in colour to the flowers of the common mallow.—adj.of the colour of mauve. [Fr.,—L.malva, the mallow.]
Maverick, mav′ėr-ik,n.(U.S.) an animal found straying without an owner's brand, esp. a strayed calf: anything dishonestly obtained.—v.t.to seize without legal claim. [From SamuelMaverick, a Texas cattle-raiser.]
Mavis, mā′vis,n.the song-thrush. [Fr.mauvis; prob. from Bret.milfid, a mavis.]
Mavourneen, ma-vōōr′nēn,n.andinterj.a term of endearment=my dear one. [Ir.]
Maw, maw,n.the stomach, esp. in the lower animals: the craw, in birds.—ns.Maw′-seed, poppy-seed, so called when used as food for cage birds;Maw′-worm, the thread-worm infesting the stomach. [A.S.maga; Ger.magen.]
Mawkin. Same asMalkin(q.v.).
Mawkish, mawk′ish,adj.loathsome, disgusting, as anything beginning to breed mawks or maggots.—n.Mawk, a maggot.—adv.Mawk′ishly.—n.Mawk′ishness. [Explained by Skeat as formed, with suffix-ish, from M. E.mawk,mauk, a contr. form of M. E.maðek, a maggot—Ice.maðkr, a maggot.]
Mawmet, maw′met,n. a puppet: an idol—Mohammed.
Max, maks,n. a kind of gin. [L.maximus, greatest.]
Maxillary, maks′il-ar-i,adj. pertaining to the jawbone or jaw.—n. a maxillary bone, or maxilla.—n.Maxill′a, a jawbone.—adjs.Maxillif′erous;Maxill′iform.—n.Maxill′ipede, in crustacea, one of those limbs serving both for mastication and locomotion. [L.maxilla, jawbone.]
Maxim, maks′im,n. a general principle, serving as a rule or guide: a pithy saying: a proverb.—adjs.Max′imal;Max′imed, reduced to a maxim.—ns.Max′imist,Max′im-mong′er. [Fr.,—L.maxima(sententia, an opinion), superl. ofmagnus, great.]
Maxim, maks′im,n. often put forMax′im-gun, an automatic machine-gun capable of firing as many as 620 rounds per minute, and of accurate shooting up to 3000 yards. [From HiramMaxim, the inventor.]
Maximum, maks′i-mum,adj. the greatest.—n. the greatest number, quantity, or degree: the highest point reached: (math.) the value of a variable when it ceases to increase and begins to decrease:—pl.Max′ima:—opp. toMinimum.—adj.Max′imal, of the highest or maximum value.—adv.Max′imally.—v.t.Max′imise, to raise to the highest degree. [L., superl. ofmagnus, great.]
May, mā,v.i.to be able: to be allowed: to be free to act: to be possible: to be by chance: to be competent:—pa.t.might (mīt).—adv.May′be, perhaps, possibly.—n. a possibility.—adv.May′hap, perhaps. [A.S.mæg, pr.t. ofmugan, to be able, pa.t.mihte; cog. with Goth.magan, Ger.mögen.]
May, mā,n. the fifth month of the year: the early or gay part of life.—v.i.to gatherMay(prov. Eng. the blossom of the hawthorn, which blooms in May):—pr.p.May′ing.—ns.May′-bee′tle,May′-bug, the cockchafer;May′-bloom, the hawthorn flower;May′day, the first day of May;May′-dew, the dew of May, esp. that of the morning of the first day of May, which is said to whiten linen, and to enable a face washed with it to keep its beauty;May′-duke, a variety of sour cherry;May′-flow′er, the hawthorn, which blooms in May;May′fly, a short-lived fly which appears in May;May′-game, sport such as is usual on 1st May, frolic generally;May′ing, the observance of Mayday sports and games;May′-lā′dy, the queen of the May;May′-lil′y, the lily of the valley, so called because it blooms in May;May′-morn(Shak.), freshness, like that of a morning in May, vigour;May′pole, a pole erected for dancing round on Mayday;May′-queen, a young woman crowned with flowers as queen on Mayday;May′time, May, the season of May. [O. Fr.Mai—L.Maius(mensis, a month), sacred toMaia, the mother of Mercury.]
May, mā,n. a maid. [A.S.mǽg, a kinswoman.]
Maya, mä′ya,n. an illusive appearance, esp. of a celestial maiden personifying the active will of the creator of the universe. [Hind.]
Mayhem, mā′hem,n. the offence of depriving a person by violence of any limb, member, or organ, or causing any mutilation of the body. [Maim.]
Mayonnaise, mā-on-āz′,n. a sauce composed of the yoke of eggs, salad-oil, and vinegar or lemon-juice, seasoned: any cold dish of which the foregoing is an ingredient, as lobster. [Fr.]
Mayor, mā′ur,n. the chief magistrate of a city or borough:—fem.May′oress.—adj.May′oral.—ns.May′oralty,May′orship, the office of a mayor. [Fr.maire—L.major, comp. ofmagnus, great.]
Mazard,Mazzard, maz′ard,n. (Shak.) a head or skull: a wild European cherry. [Prob. frommazer, from the likeness of the skull to a goblet.]
Mazarinade, maz-a-rin-ād′,n. a pamphlet or satire against the French minister, CardinalMazarin(1602-61).—n.Mazarine′, a rich blue colour: a blue gown.—Mazarin Bible, the first printed Bible, printed by Gutenberg and Fust about 1450, so called because CardinalMazarinpossessed twenty-five copies.
Mazda, maz′da,n. orAhura Mazdâh, the supreme deity and creator of the Zend-Avesta.—adj.Maz′dēan.—n.Maz′dēism, the religious system of the Zend-Avesta, the ancient sacred writings of the Parsees, Zoroastrianism. [Zendahu=the living, life, or spirit, rootah=to be;Mazdâh, the great Creator,maz+dâ=Sans.mahâ+dhâ.]
Maze, māz,n. a place full of intricate windings: confusion of thought: perplexity.—v.t.to bewilder: to confuse.—adjs.Maze′ful(Spens.),Maz′y, full of mazes or windings: intricate.—adv.Maz′ily.—n.Maz′iness, state or quality of being mazy. [Scand., as in Ice.masa, to jabber.]
Mazer, maz′ėr,n. (Spens.) a kind of hard wood, probably maple: a cup or goblet made of maple, and usually highly ornamented. [Skeat explains as Ice.mösurr, a maple-tree, lit. 'spot-wood.']
Mazourka,Mazurka, ma-zōōr′ka,n. a lively Polish round dance for four or eight couples: the music such as is played to it.
Me, mē,personal pron. the objective case of I, including both the old English accusative and dative of the first personal pronoun. [A.S.mé.]
Meacock, mē′kok,adj. (Shak.) timorous, effeminate, cowardly. [Perh. dim. ofmeek.]
Mead, mēd,n. honey and water fermented and flavoured. [A.S.medu; Ger.meth, W.medd.]
Meadow, med′ō,n. a level tract producing grass to be mown down: a rich pasture-ground—(poet.)Mead.—ns.Mead′ow-fox′tail(seeFoxtail);Mead′ow-grass, the larger and more useful kinds of grass, grown in meadows for hay and pasture;Mead′ow-hay, a coarse grass or sedge growing in moist places, used as fodder or bedding;Mead′ow-lark, the American field-lark;Mead′ow-saff′ron, the colchicum—alsoAutumn-crocus, orNaked lady;Mead′ow-sweet,Mead′ow-wort, an ornamental shrub or plant with white flowers, called alsoQueen of the meadow.—adj.Mead′owy. [A.S.mǽd—máwan, to mow; Ger.mahd, a mowing, Swissmatt, a meadow, as in Zermatt, &c.]
Meagre, mē′gėr,adj. having little flesh: lean: poor: without richness or fertility: barren: scanty: without strength.—adv.Mea′grely.—n.Mea′greness, state or quality of being meagre. [Fr.maigre—L.macer, lean; cf. Ger.mager.]
Meal, mēl,n. the food taken at one time: the act or the time of taking food: a breakfast, dinner, or supper.—ns.Meal′er, one who takes his meals at a boarding-house, lodging elsewhere;Meal′-time, the time for meals.—Square meal, a full meal. [A.S.mǽl, time, portion of time; Dut.maal, Ger.mahl.]
Meal, mēl,n. grain ground to powder.—v.i.to yield or be plentiful in meal.—ns.Meal′-ark(Scot.), a large chest for holding meal;Meal′iness;Meal′-man, orMeal′-mong′er, one who deals in meal;Meal′-pock, or-poke, a beggar's meal-bag;Meal′worm, the larva of an insect abounding in granaries and flour-stores.—adj.Meal′y, resembling meal: covered with meal or with something like meal: whitish.—n.Meal′y-bug, a small species of cochineal insect covered with a while powdery substance resembling meal or flour.—adj.Meal′y-mouthed, smooth-tongued.—n.Meal′y-mouthedness. [A.S.melu, melo;Ger.mehl, Dut.meel, meal.]
Mealie, mēl′i,n. an ear of maize or Indian corn, esp. inpl., maize.
Mean, mēn,adj. low in rank or birth: base: sordid: low in worth or estimation: of little value or importance: poor, humble: despicable.—adj.Mean′-born, of humble origin.—adv.Mean′ly.—n.Mean′ness, state or quality of being mean: want of nobility or excellence: a low action.—adj.Mean′-spir′ited, having a mean spirit, base.—n.Mean′-spir′itedness. [A.S.mǽne, wicked, frommán, wickedness; perh. conn. with A.S.gemǽne, Ger.gemein, common.]
Mean, mēn,adj. middle: coming between two others in size, degree, quantity, time, &c.: average: moderate.—n. the middle point, quantity, value, or degree: (math.) a term interpolated between two terms of a series, and consequently intermediate in magnitude: (mus.) a middle voice or voice-part, as the tenor or alto, the second or third string in a viol: instrument or medium: (pl.) that by which anything is caused or brought to pass: income: estate: instrument.—n.Mean′-time, the interval between two given times.—advs.Mean′time,Mean′while, in the intervening time.—Means of grace, divine ordinances, by which divine grace reaches the hearts of men—word and sacraments.—Arithmetical mean, the average obtained by adding several quantities together and dividing the sum by their number;Harmonic mean, the reciprocal of the arithmetical mean of the reciprocals of the quantities concerned;Geometric mean, the mean obtained by multiplying two quantities together and extracting the square root of the product;Golden mean, the middle course between two extremes: a wise moderation;Quadratic mean, the square root of the arithmetical mean of the squares of the given quantities.—By all means, certainly;By any means, in any way;By no means, certainly not.—In the mean(Spens.), in the meantime. [O. Fr.meien(Fr.moyen)—L.medianus, enlarged form ofmedius.]
Mean, mēn,v.t.to have in the mind or thoughts: to intend, to purpose: to signify.—v.i.to have in the mind: to have meaning or disposition:—pr.p.mean′ing;pa.t.andpa.p.meant (ment).—n.Mean′ing, that which is in the mind or thoughts: signification: the sense intended: purpose.—adj. significant.—adj.Mean′ingless, without meaning.—adv.Mean′ingly. [A.S.mǽnan; Ger.meinen, to think.]
Mean, mēn,v.i.(Shak.) to lament, to moan.
Meander, mē-an′dėr,n. a winding course: a maze: an intricate variety of fretwork: perplexity.—v.i.to flow, run, or proceed in a winding course: to be intricate.—v.t.to wind or flow round.—adjs.Mean′dered, formed into mazy passages or patterns;Mean′dering, winding in a course;Mean′drian,Mean′drous, winding.—n. a winding course. [L.,—Gr.Maiandros, a winding river in Asia Minor.]
Meant,pa.t.andpa.p.of mean (v.t.).
Mear, mēr,n. (Spens.) a boundary. [SeeMere.]
Mease, mēs, or mēz,n. a tale of 500 herrings.
Measles, mē′zlz,n.sing.a contagious fever accompanied with eruptions of small red spots upon the skin: a disease of swine and cattle, caused by larval tapeworms: a disease of trees, the leaves being covered with spots.—adjs.Mea′sled,Mea′sly, infected with measles: good for nothing, miserable.—n.Meas′liness.—German measles, a name somewhat loosely used of a disease, resembling measles, but mostly less prolonged and severe. [Dut.maselen, measles, from Old Dut.masche, a spot, cog. with Old High Ger.māsā, a spot; Ger.masern, measles.]
Measure, mezh′ūr,n. that by which extent is ascertained or expressed: the size of anything: a rule or standard by which anything is adjusted (Apothecaries',Cubic,Decimal,Dry,Liquid, &c.): (politics) a proposal or plan by which some end can be brought about: proportion: a stated quantity: degree: extent: moderation: means to an end: metre: (mus.) that division of time, containing a specified number of beats, by which the air and motion of music are regulated: rate of movement, time, rhythm, metre, arrangement of syllables in poetry: a slow and stately dance, as the minuet: (print.) the width of a page or column, usually inems: (pl.,geol.) a series of beds or strata.—v.t.to ascertain the dimensions of: to adjust by a rule or standard: to mark out: to allot: to show a certain measurement.—v.i.to be of a certain size: to be equal or uniform.—adj.Meas′urable, that may be measured or computed: moderate: in small quantity or extent.—n.Meas′urableness, the quality of being measurable.—adv.Meas′urably.—adjs.Meas′ured, of a certain measure: equal: uniform: steady: restricted;Meas′ureless, boundless: immense.—ns.Meas′urement, the act of measuring: quantity found by measuring—(Measurement goods, light goods carried for charges according to bulk, not weight);Meas′urer, one who, or that which, measures.—adj.Meas′uring, that measures, or fitted for measuring.—Measure one's length, to fall or be thrown down at full length;Measure strength, to engage in a contest;Measure swords, to fight with swords: to try one's skill against.—Above, orBeyond,measure, to an exceedingly great degree;In a measure, to some degree.—Take measures, to adopt means (to gain an end);Take one's measure, to find out what one is, and what he can or cannot do;Tread a measure, to dance;Use hard measures, to apply harsh treatment to;Within measure, moderately;Without measure, immoderately. [O. Fr.mesure—L.mensura, a measure—metīri, to measure.]
Meat, mēt,n.anything eaten as food, the edible part of anything: act of taking meat: (obs.) meal, flour: the flesh of animals used as food—sometimes beef, mutton, pork, veal, &c., as opposed to poultry, fish, &c.—ns.Meat′-bis′cuit, a preparation of meat, made with meal into a biscuit;Meat′iness, quality of being meaty;Meat′-off′ering, a Jewish sacrificial offering of fine flour or first-fruits with oil and frankincense;Meat′-pie, a pie mainly made up of meat;Meat′-safe, a receptacle for storing meat, walled with perforated zinc or gauze;Meat′-sales′man, one who sells meat, esp. to the retail butchers;Meat′-tea, a high tea, at which meat is served;Meat′-tub, a pickling-tub.—adj.Meat′y, full of meat: fleshy: pithy.—Hang meat, to hang up meat before cooking;Sit at meat, to sit at table. [A.S.mete; Dut.met.]
Meath,Meathe, mēth,n.a form ofmead, liquor.
Meatus, mē-ā′tus,n.a passage or canal, as the urethral meatus.—adj.Meā′tal.—n.Meat′oscope, an instrument for examining the urethral or other meatus. [L.meātus—meāre, to go.]
Meazel, mē′zl,n.(Shak.) a leper. [Measles.]
Mechanic,-al, me-kan′ik, -al,adj.pertaining to machines or mechanics: constructed according to the laws of mechanics: possessing mechanical talent: acting by physical power: done by a machine: pertaining to artisans: done simply by force of habit, slavish, artificial: vulgar.—n.Mechan′ic, one engaged in a mechanical trade: an artisan—(Shak.)Mechan′ical.—adv.Mechan′ically.—ns.Mechanic′ian,Mech′anist, a machine-maker: one skilled in mechanics;Mechan′ics, the science which treats of machines: the science which treats of the nature of forces and of their action on bodies, either directly or by the agency of machinery.—v.t.Mech′anise, to make mechanical: to work out the details of a machine.—ns.Mech′anism, the construction of a machine: the arrangement and action of its parts, by which it produces a given result;Mech′anograph, a copy, esp. of a work of art produced by a mechanical process on a machine.—adj.Mech′anographic.—ns.Mechanog′raphist;Mechanog′raphy, the art of multiplying copies of a writing or work of art by means of a machine;Mechanol′ogy, a treatise on mechanics: the knowledge of such.—Mechanical effect, work produced by the use of mechanical power;Mechanical philosophy, the principles of mechanics applied to solve questions or phenomena involving force;Mechanical powers, the elementary forms or parts of machines—threeprimary, the lever, inclined plane, and pulley; and threesecondary, the wheel-and-axle, the wedge, and the screw.—Mechanics' institute, an institution for mechanics, with lectures, library, museum, &c. [O. Fr.,—L.mechanicus; Gr.mēchanikos—mēchane, a contrivance.]
Mechlin, meh′lin,adj.andn.produced atMechlinor Malines: lace made at Mechlin.
Meconic, me-kon′ik,adj.denoting an acid obtained from poppies.—ns.Mec′onate, a salt of meconic acid;Mec′onine, a white, fusible, neutral substance existing in opium;Mecō′nium, the first fæces of a new-born child: opium. [Gr.mēkōn, the poppy.]
Medal, med′al,n.a piece of metal in the form of a coin bearing some device or inscription, struck or cast: a reward of merit.—v.t.to decorate with a medal.—n.Med′alet, a small medal, esp. the representation of saints, worn by Roman Catholics.—adj.Medall′ic, pertaining to medals.—ns.Medall′ion, a large medal: a bas-relief of a round (sometimes a square) form: a round ornament enclosing a portrait or lock of hair;Med′allist,Med′alist, one skilled in medals: an engraver of medals: one who has gained a medal;Med′allurgy, the art of producing medals and coins. [O. Fr.medaille—It.medaglia; through a Low L. formmedallaormedalia, a small coin, from L.metallum, a metal.]
Meddle, med′l,v.i.to interfere unnecessarily (withorin): to take part in a matter with which one has nothing to do: to have to do (with).—n.Medd′ler, one who interferes with matters in which he has no concern.—adj.Medd′lesome, given to meddling.—n.Medd′lesomeness.—adj.Medd′ling, interfering in the concerns of others: officious—alson.[O. Fr.medler, a corr. ofmesler(Fr.mêler)—Low L.misculare—L.miscēre, to mix.]
Media. SeeMedium.
Mediæval,Mediævalist. SeeMedieval.
Medial, mē′di-al,adj.lying between two extremes, median: of or pertaining to a mean or average.—n.one of the sonant-mute group,g,d,b, intermediate between the surd or smooth group (c,t,p) and the rough or aspirate group (gh,dh,bh,kh,th,ph). [Low L.medialis—L.medius, middle.]
Median, mē′di-an,adj.being in the middle, running through the middle: situated in the median plane, that dividing the body longitudinally into symmetrical halves.—adv.Med′ianly.—n.Med′iant(mus.), the third tone of a diatonic scale. [L.medianus—medius, middle.]
Median, mē′di-an,adj.pertaining toMediaor theMedes, an ancient Aryan race which became fused with the Persians under the victorious Cyrus about 550B.C.—n.Mede, a member of this race.
Mediastinum, mē-di-as-tī′num,n.a membranous septum or cavity between two principal portions of an organ, esp. the folds of the pleura and the space between the right and left lungs.—adj.Mediastī′nal. [L.,medius.]
Mediate, mē′di-āt,adj.middle: between two extremes: acting by or as a means: not direct and independent: dependent on some intervening thing.—v.i.to interpose between parties as a friend of each: to intercede: to hold a mediate position: to act as a spiritualistic medium.—v.t.to bring about by mediation: to effect a relation between two things.—n.Mē′diacy.—adv.Mē′diately.—ns.Mē′diateness, state of being mediate;Mediā′tion, the act of mediating or coming between: entreaty for another;Mediatisā′tion.—v.t.Mē′diatīse, to cause to act in a subordinate position or through an agent: to annex, or to subordinate, as a smaller state to a larger neighbouring one.—adj.Mē′diative.—n.Mē′diator, one who mediates between parties at strife:—fem.Mediat′ress,Mē′diatrix.—adj.Mediatō′rial, belonging to a mediator or intercessor.—adv.Mediatō′rially.—n.Mediat′orship, the office of a mediator.—adj.Mē′diatory. [Low L.mediāre,-ātum—L.medius.]
Medic, med′ik,n.one of several plants of the genusMedicago, esp. the purple medic or lucerne—leguminous plants, with leaves like those of clover.—AlsoMed′ick. [L.medica—Gr.mēdikē(poa), 'median' (grass).]
Medical, med′i-kal,adj.relating to the art of healing diseases: containing that which heals: intended to promote the study of medicine.—adv.Med′ically.—Medical jurisprudence(seeJurisprudence). [Fr.,—Low L.medicalis—L.medicus, pertaining to healing, a physician—medēri, to heal.]
Medicate, med′i-kāt,v.t.to treat with medicine: to impregnate with anything medicinal.—adj.Med′icable, that may be healed.—n.Med′icament, anything used for healing: a medicine: healing power.—adj.Medicamen′tal.—n.Med′icaster, an ignorant physician.—adj.Med′icated, mixed with medicine: made medicinal: treated with medicine.—n.Medicā′tion, the act or process of medicating or of mixing with medicinal substances: the use of medicine.—adj.Med′icative, having the power of healing: tending to heal.—n.Medicā′tor, any medical appliance. [L.medicāre, to heal—medicus.]
Medicean, med-i-sē′an,adj.relating to theMedici, a distinguished Florentine family which attained to sovereign power in the 15th century, and became extinct in 1737.
Medicine, med′i-sin, or med′sin,n.anything applied for the cure or lessening of disease or pain, whether simple or compound (made up of more than one ingredient): the science which treats of the prevention or cure of disease: a charm.—v.t.to treat or cure by medicine.—adj.Medic′inal, relating to medicine: fitted to cure or to lessen disease or pain.—adv.Medic′inally.—ns.Med′icine-bag, a Red Indian's receptacle for charms;Med′icine-chest, a chest for keeping medicines in a ship, &c.;Med′icine-man, among savages, a witch-doctor or exorciser.—adjs.Med′ico-chirur′gical, relating to both medicine and surgery;Med′ico-lē′gal, relating to the application of medicine to questions of law. [Fr.,—L.medicina—medicus.]
Medieval,Mediæval, mē-di-ē′val,adj.relating to the Middle Ages.—ns.Mediē′valism, the spirit of the Middle Ages, devotion to medieval ideals;Mediē′valist,Mediæ′valist, one versed in the history of the Middle Ages.—Medieval architecture,Medieval art, the style of architecture and art used in public buildings in Europe from the 4th to the 16th century. [L.medius, middle,ævum, age.]
Medio-,Medi-, middle, in compounds likemediocarpal,mediodorsal,mediotarsal,medioventral. [L.medius, middle.]
Mediocre, mē′di-ō-kėr,adj.of middling extent or quality: moderate.—n.Medioc′rity, a middle state or condition: a moderate degree: a person of little power or importance. [Fr.,—L.mediocris—medius, middle.]
Medism, mēd′izm,n.the adoption of Persian interests—to a Greek, a treachery to his country.
Meditate, med′i-tāt,v.i.to consider thoughtfully: to purpose (with on, upon).—v.t.to think on: to revolve in the mind: to intend.—adj.Med′itated, thought of: planned.—n.Meditā′tion, the act of meditating: deep thought: serious contemplation: the direction of the thoughts of others, in a discourse, &c.: a literary or musical theme treated in a meditative manner.—adj.Med′itative, given to meditation: expressing design.—adv.Med′itatively.—n.Med′itativeness. [L.meditāri, prob. cog. with L.medēri, to heal.]
Mediterranean, med-i-tėr-rā′ne-an,adj.situated in the middle of earth or land: inland—alsoMediterrā′neous.—Mediterranean Sea, so called from being, as it were, in the middle of the land of the Old World. [L.,medius, middle,terra, earth.]
Medium, mē′di-um,n.the middle: the middle place or degree: any intervening means, instrument, or agency: the substance in which bodies exist, or through which they move: in spiritualism, the person through whom spirits are said to make themselves seen or heard:—pl.Mē′diums, orMē′dia.—adjs.Mē′dium, mediocre;Mediumis′tic, of or pertaining to spiritualistic mediums.—Circulating medium, money passing from hand to hand, as coin, bank-notes, &c. [L.]
Medius, mē′di-us,n.the middle finger of the hand.
Medjidie, me-jid′i-e,n.a Turkish order of knighthood instituted in 1852, having five classes. [Turk.mejīd, glorious.]
Medlar, med′lar,n.a small tree of the rose family, or its fruit. [O. Fr.meslier, a medlar-tree—L.mespilum—Gr.mespilon.]
Medley, med′li,n.a mingled and confused mass: a miscellany: a song or piece of music made up of bits from various sources continuously: a cloth woven from yarn of different colours: (obs.) a mêlée, fight. [O. Fr.medler,mesler, to mix.]
Médoc, me-dok′,n.a French wine produced in the district ofMédoc, department of Gironde.
Medorrhea, mē-dor-ē′a,n.mucous discharge from the genitals. [Gr.mēdos, bladder,rhoia, a flowing.]
Medulla, me-dul′a,n.the inner portion of an organ or part, as the pith of a hair, spinal cord, or its continuation within the cranium, (medulla oblongata): the pith of a plant, the thallus in lichens, &c.—adjs.Medull′ar,-y, consisting of, or resembling, marrow or pith;Med′ullated, provided with a medullary sheath.—n.Medull′in, the cellulose in the medulla of plants like the lilac.—adj.Med′ullose, like pith.—Medullary rays, the bands of cells in various trees extending across the wood from the pith to the bark;Medullary sheath(bot.), a thin layer surrounding the pith. [L.medulla, marrow.]
Medusa, me-dū′sa,n.one of the three Gorgons, whose head, cut off by Perseus, and placed in the ægis of Minerva, had the power of turning those who looked on it into stone: the name given to the common kinds of jelly-fishes, prob. from the likeness of their tentacles to the snakes on Medusa's head:—pl.Medū′sæ, a division of hydrozoans.—adjs.Medū′siform,Medū′soid—alsons.[Gr., 'ruler,' fem.]
Meed, mēd,n.wages: reward: what is bestowed for merit. [A.S.méd,meord; Ger.miethe.]
Meek, mēk,adj.mild and gentle of temper: submissive.—adv.Meek′ly.—n.Meek′ness, state or quality of being meek. [Ice.mjúkr; Dut.muik.]
Meer, mēr,n.a form ofmere.
Meerschaum, mēr′shawm,n.a fine light whitish clay making excellent tobacco-pipes—once supposed to be a petrified sea-scum: a pipe made of this material. [Ger.meer, sea,schaum, foam.]
Meet, mēt,adj.fitting: qualified.—adv.Meet′ly.—n.Meet′ness. [A.S.ge-met—metan, to measure.]
Meet, mēt,v.t.to come face to face: to encounter in conflict: to find or experience; to refute: be suitable to: satisfy, as by payment: to receive as a welcome.—v.i.to come together from different points: to assemble: to have an encounter: to balance or come out correct:—pa.t.andpa.p.met.—n.a meeting, as of huntsmen.—ns.Meet′ing, a coming face to face for friendly or hostile ends: an interview: an assembly: a crossing of two roads: a junction of two rivers;Meet′ing-house, a house or building where people, esp. Dissenters, meet for public worship;Race′-meet′ing, a stated occasion for horse-racing.—Meet half-way, to make mutual concessions;Meet the ear, oreye, to be told, or shown, anything distinctly: to be readily apparent;Meet with, to come to or upon, esp. unexpectedly: (Bacon) to obviate (as an objection).—Well met, an old complimentary greeting. [A.S.métan, to meet—mót,ge-mót, a meeting.]
Megacephalous, meg-a-sef′a-lus,adj.large-headed.
Megafarad, meg′a-far-ad,n.in electrometry, a unit equal to a million farads.
Megalichthys, meg-a-lik′this,n.a genus of extinct ganoid fishes. [Gr.megas,megalē, great,ichthys, a fish.]
Megalith, meg′a-lith,n.a huge stone.—adj.Megalith′ic. [Gr.megas, great,lithos, a stone.]
Megalomania, meg-a-lō-mā′ni-a,n.the delusion that one is great or powerful. [Gr.megas, great,mania.]
Megalosaurus, meg-a-lō-saw′rus,n.a gigantic extinct reptile of carnivorous habits.—adj.Megalosau′rian. [Gr.megas,megalē, great,sauros, a lizard.]
Megaphone, meg′a-fōn,n.an appliance for making words audible—a form of speaking-trumpet.
Megapodidæ, meg-a-pod′i-dē,n.mound-birds (q.v.).
Megascope, meg′a-skōp,n.a form of solar microscope for throwing enlarged images on a screen: (phot.) an enlarging camera.
Megatherium, meg-a-thē′ri-um,n.a gigantic extinct quadruped of the orderEdentata, found in the pampas of South America. [Gr.megas, great,thērion, wild beast.]
Megilp, me-gilp′. SeeMagilp.
Megohm, meg′ōm,n.a unit of electrical resistance, equal to one million ohms. [Gr.megas, great, andohm.]
Megrim, mē′grim,n.a pain affecting only one half of the head or face: lowness of spirits: a sudden sickness of a horse at work. [Fr.migraine—Gr.hēmicrania—hēmi, half,kranion, skull.]
Meiny, mē′ni,n.(Shak.) a retinue or company of servants attending upon a person of high rank. [O. Fr.mesnie, a company, through Low L. forms, from L.mansio, a dwelling.]
Meiocene. Same asMiocene.
Meiosis, mī-ō′sis,n.(rhet.) a figure of speech representing a thing as less than it is. [Gr.]
Meistersinger, mīs′tėr-sing′ėr,n.one of the burgher poets and musicians of Germany in the 14th-16th centuries, the successors of the Minnesingers. [Ger.]
Melampode, mel-am′pōd,n.(Spens.) the black hellebore. [Gr.]
Melanæmia, mel-a-nē′mi-a,n.a morbid condition of the blood in which the vessels contain an unusual quantity of dark colouring matter.
Melancholy, mel′an-kol-i,n.continued depression of spirits: dejection: a gloomy state of mind causing groundless fears: (Milt.) pensiveness.—adj.gloomy: producing grief.—n.Melanchō′lia, a form of insanity, in which there is continued depression or pain of mind.—adjs.Melanchol′ic,Melanchō′lious, affected with, or caused by, melancholy: dejected: mournful. [Through Fr.,—L.,—Gr.melancholia—melan, black,cholē, bile.]
Melange, mā-longzh′,n.a mixture: a medley. [Fr.]
Melanic, me-lan′ik,adj.black.—n.Mel′anism, an undue development of colouring matter in the skin and its appendages.—adj.Melanis′tic.—n.Mel′anite, a deep-black variety of garnet.—adjs.Melanochrō′ic,Melanoch′rōous, dark-coloured;Mel′anoid, dark-looking.—n.Melanō′sis, an abnormal deposition of pigmentary matter in such organs as the spleen, liver, &c.: the condition of the system associated with such, black degeneration.—adjs.Melanot′ic;Mel′anous, dark-complexioned.—n.Melanū′ria, the presence of a dark pigment in the urine.—adj.Melanū′ric.—ns.Mel′aphyre, a pre-Tertiary basalt, usually altered;Melas′ma, a skin disease showing dark discolouration in spots.
Mêlée, mā-lā′,n.a fight in which the combatants are mingled together: a confused conflict: an affray. [Fr.,—mêler, to mix.]
Melibean,Melibœan,mel-i-bē′an,adj.in poetry, alternately responsive—from the name of a shepherd in Virgil's first eclogue.
Melic, mel′ik,adj.pertaining to song.
Melilot, mel′i-lot,n.a genus of clover-like plants with white or yellow flowers and a peculiar sweet odour. [Gr.melilōtos—meli, honey,lōtos, lotus.]
Melinite, mā′lin-īt,n.an explosive of great force obtained from picric acid. [Fr.]
Meliorate, mē′lyo-rāt,v.t.to make better.—v.i.to grow better.—ns.Meliorā′tion, the act of making or becoming better;Meliorā′tor, an improver;Mē′liorism, the doctrine that the world is capable of improvement, as opposed toOptimismandPessimism;Mē′liorist, one who holds this doctrine;Melior′ity, the state of being better: betterness. [L.meliorāre,-ātum, to make better.]
Meliphagous, mel-if′a-gus,adj.feeding upon honey. [Gr.meli, honey,phagein, to eat.]
Mell, mel,v.i.(Spens.) to mingle: to be concerned with: to meddle. [Meddle.]
Mellay, mel′ā,n.another form ofmêlée.
Melliferous, mel-if′ėr-us,adj.honey-producing.—adj.Mellif′ic, honey-making.—ns.Mellificā′tion, the production of honey;Mellif′luence, a flow of sweetness: a smooth sweet flow.—adjs.Mellif′luent,Mellif′luous, flowing with honey or sweetness: smooth.—advs.Mellif′luently,Mellif′luously.—adj.Mellig′enous, producing honey.—n.Mell′ite, honey stone.—adjs.Mellit′ic;Melliv′orous, eating honey. [L.mellifer—mel, honey,ferre, to bear.]
Mellow, mel′ō,adj.soft and ripe: well matured: soft to the touch, palate, ear, &c.: genial: half-tipsy.—v.t.to soften by ripeness or age: to mature.—v.i.to become soft: to be matured.—adv.Mell′owly.—n.Mell′owness, softness: maturity.—adj.Mell′owy, soft: friable. [A.S.mearu, soft; Dut.murw,mollig, L.mollis, Gr.malakos.]
Melocoton, mel′ō-kot-on,n.(Bacon) a quince: a large kind of peach.—AlsoMel′ocotoon. [Late L.melum cotoneum(a corr. ofCydonium), a quince, lit. apple ofCydonia, in Crete.]
Melodrama, mel-o-dram′a,n.a kind of romantic and sensational drama, formerly largely intermixed with songs—alsoMel′odrame.—adj.Melodramat′ic, of the nature of melodrama: overstrained: sensational.—n.Melodram′atist, a writer of melodramas. [Gr.melos, a song,drama, a play.]
Melody, mel′o-di,n.an air or tune: music: an agreeable succession of single musical sounds, as distinguished fromharmonyor the concord of a succession of simultaneous sounds.—n.Melō′deon, a small reed organ: an improved variety of the accordeon.—adj.Melod′ic—n.pl.Melod′ics, the branch of music concerned with melody.—adj.Melō′dious, full of melody: agreeable to the ear.—adv.Melō′diously.—n.Melō′diousness.—v.t.Mel′odise, to make melodious: to reduce to the form of a melody.—v.i.to compose or sing melodies.—n.Mel′odist. [Fr.,—Late L.—Gr.melōdia—melos, a song,ōdē, a lay.]
Melon, mel′un,n.a kind of cucumber and its fruit, which in shape resembles an apple. [Fr.,—L.melo,-onis—Gr.mēlon, an apple.]
Melpomene, mel-pom′e-ne,n.the Muse of tragedy. [Gr.melpomĕnē, songstress.]
Melrose, mel′rōz,n.honey of roses.
Melt, melt,v.t.to make liquid, to dissolve: to soften: to waste away.—v.i.to become liquid: to dissolve: to become tender or mild: to lose distinct form: to be discouraged:—pa.p.melted, or molten.—n.Melt′ing, the act of making liquid or of dissolving: the act of softening or rendering tender.—adv.Melt′ingly.—n.Melt′ing-pot, a crucible. [A.S.meltan; Ice.melta, Gr.meldein.]
Melton, mel′ton,n.a strong cloth for men's wear, the surface without nap, neither pressed nor finished.
Member, mem′bėr,n.an integral part of a whole, esp. a limb of an animal: a clause: one of a society: a representative in a legislative body.—adj.Mem′bered, having limbs.—n.Mem′bership, the state of being a member or one of a society: the members of a body regarded as a whole.—adj.Mem′bral, pertaining to the limbs rather than the trunk.Member of Parliament, a member of the House of Commons, M.P. [Fr.membre—L.membrum.]
Membrane, mem′brān,n.(anat.) one of the thin textures which cover the organs or line the cavities or canals of the body: the film containing the seeds of a plant.—adjs.Membran′eous,Mem′branous,Membranā′ceous, relating to, consisting of, or like a membrane;Membranif′erous;Mem′braniform.—Mucous membrane, the membrane lining the various channels of the body which communicate with the outside. [Fr.,—L.membrana—membrum.]
Memento, me-men′tō,n.something to awaken memory: a reminder of what is past or of what is yet to come:—pl.Memen′tos.—Memento mori, remember death: an ornament by its form reminding one of death. [L., imper. ofmeminisse, to remember.]
Memnon, mem′non,n.a hero who fought for Troy against the Greeks: a statue at Thebes in Egypt which gave out a musical sound at sunrise. [Gr.]
Memoir, mem′wor, or me-moir′,n.a sketch or description of something as remembered by the writer: a short biographical sketch of some one now dead: a record of facts personally found out on any subject: the transactions of a society.—ns.Mem′oirism, the act or art of writing memoirs;Mem′oirist, a writer of memoirs. [Fr.mémoire—L.memoria, memory—memor, mindful.]
Memory, mem′o-ri,n.the power of retaining and reproducing mental or sensory impressions: a having or keeping in the mind: time within which past things can be remembered: that which is remembered: commemoration: remembrance.—n.pl.Memorabil′ia, things worth remembering: noteworthy points.—adj.Mem′orable, deserving to be remembered: remarkable.—adv.Mem′orably.—n.Memoran′dum, something to be remembered: a note to assist the memory: (law) a brief note of some transaction: (diplomacy) a summary of the state of aquestion:—pl.Memoran′dums,Memoran′da.—adjs.Mem′orātive, pertaining to memory: aiding the memory;Memō′rial, bringing to memory: contained in memory.—n.that which serves to keep in remembrance: a monument: a note to help the memory: a written statement forming the ground of a petition, laid before a legislative or other body: (B.) memory.—v.t.Memō′rialise, to present a memorial to: to petition by a memorial.—n.Memō′rialist, one who writes, signs, or presents a memorial.—v.t.Mem′orise, to commit to memory: (Shak.) to cause to be remembered.—adv.Memor′iter, from memory: by heart.
Memphian, mem′fi-an,adj.relating toMemphis, an ancient capital of Egypt.—AlsoMem′phite,Memphit′ic.