Morion.
Morion,Morrion, mō′ri-un,n.a open helmet without visor or beaver. [Fr., prob. from Sp.morrion—morra, crown of the head. Diez suggests Basquemurua, a hill.]
Morisco, mo-ris′ko,n.the Moorish language: a Moorish dance or dancer: Moorish architecture: one of the Moors who remained in Spain after the fall of Granada in 1492.—adj.Moorish—(obs.)Morisk′.
Morisonian, mor-i-sō′ni-an,n.a member of the Evangelical Union, formed in 1843 by the Rev. JamesMorison(1816-93), after his separation from the United Secession Church.—n.Morisō′nianism, the religious views of Morison and others—essentially a reaction from the Calvinistic doctrine of the Westminster Confession on predestination and unconditional election and reprobation.
Morkin, mor′kin,n.a beast that has died by accident.
Morling, mor′ling,n.a sheep dead of disease or its wool.
Morlop, mor′lop,n.a New South Wales jasper.
Mormo, mor′mō,n.a genus of noctuoid moths: a bugbear.
Mormon, mor′mon,n.one of a religious sect in Utah, U.S., openly polygamous till 1890, calling itself 'The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,' founded in 1830 by Joseph Smith, whose supplement to the Bible, theBook of Mormon, was given out as translated from the golden plates of one 'Mormon,' but was really adapted from a MS. romance written about 1811 by Solomon Spaulding.—ns.Mor′monism;Mor′monite,Mor′monist.
Mormops, mor′mops,n.a genus of American phyllostomine bats, so called from their repulsive physiognomy. [Gr.mormō, a bugbear,ōps, face.]
Morn, morn,n.the first part of the day: morning.—The morn(Scot.), to-morrow;The morn's morning, to-morrow morning. [M. E.morwen—A.S.morgen; Ger.morgen.]
Morne, mōrn,n.the blunt head of a jousting-lance: a small, rounded hill.—adjs.Morné(mōr-nā′),denoting a lion rampant without teeth or claws;Morned(her.), blunted. [Fr.]
Morning, morn′ing,n.the first part of the day: the early part of anything: the first dram of the day.—adj.pertaining to the morning: taking place or being in the morning.—ns.Morn′ing-dress, dress such as is usually worn in the morning, as opposed toEvening-dress;Morn′ing-gift, a gift made by the husband to the wife on the morning after marriage;Morning-gown, a gown for wearing in the morning;Morn′ing-land, the east;Morn′ing-room, a woman's morning boudoir or sitting-room in English country houses;Morn′ing-sick′ness, nausea and vomiting in the morning, common in the early stages of pregnancy;Morn′ing-star, any of the planets, esp. Venus, when it rises before the sun: a kind of flail with a star-like ball of metal at the end of a chain, formerly used as a weapon of war;Morn′ing-tide, the morning time: early part;Morn′ing-watch, the watch between 4 and 8A.M.[Contr. ofmorwen-ing. Cf.Morn.]
Morocco, mo-rok′ō,n.a fine goat-skin leather, tanned with sumac, first brought fromMorocco, afterwards from the Levant and elsewhere: a sheep-skin leather in imitation of this: a very strong ale, anciently brewed in Cumberland.—adj.consisting of Morocco.—French morocco, an inferior kind of Levant morocco, with small grain;Levant morocco, a fine quality of morocco, with large grain;Persian morocco, a morocco finished on the grain side.
Morology, mō-rol′o-ji,n.foolish talk. [Gr.,mōros, a fool,logia—legein, to speak.]
Morose, mō-rōs′,adj.of a sour temper: gloomy: severe.—adv.Morose′ly.—ns.Morose′ness, quality of being morose—(obs.)Moros′ity. [L.morosus, peevish—mos,moris, manner.]
Morpheus, mor′fūs,n.a god of dreams: sleep.—adjs.Morphē′an,Morphet′ic. [L.]
Morphia, mor′fi-a,n.the chief narcotic principle of opium: a drug which causes sleep or deadens pain—alsoMor′phine.—ns.Mor′phinism;Morphiomā′nia;Morphiomā′niac. [Coined from Gr.Morpheus, god of dreams—morphē, shape.]
Morphic, mor′fik,adj.relating to form, morphological.—n.Morphogen′esis, the production of morphological characters.—adj.Morphogenet′ic.—ns.Morphog′eny, the genesis of form: morphology;Morphog′rapher;Morphog′raphy, descriptive morphology.—adjs.Morpholog′ic,-al.—ns.Morphol′ogist, one who is versed in, or who writes upon, morphology;Morphol′ogy, the science of organic form, of the development of the forms of living organisms;Morphon′omy, the laws of morphology;Morphō′sis, morphogenesis.—adj.Morphot′ic. [Gr.morphē, form.]
Morrhua, mor′ōō-a,n.the chief genus of gadoid fishes, including the cod (Gadus).
Morris,Morrice, mor′is,Morr′is-dance,n.a Moorish dance: a dance in which bells, rattles, tambours, &c. are introduced.—v.i.Morr′is, to perform by dancing.—ns.Morr′is-danc′er;Morr′is-pike(Shak.), a Moorish pike.—Nine men's morris, an old English game in which a figure of squares, one within another, was marked out on aboard or on the turf, and eighteen pieces or stones, nine for each side, were moved alternately as at draughts—alsoNine men's merils. [Sp.morisco, Moorish—Sp.moro, a Moor.]
Morrow, mor′ō,n.the day following the present: to-morrow: the next following day: the time immediately after any event.—n.To-morr′ow, next day—alsoadv.[M. E.morwe=morwen; cf.Morn.]
Morse, mors,n.the walrus or sea-horse. [Russ.morjŭ, a morse, prob. frommore, the sea.]
Morse, mors,n.the metal fastening of the cope, generally of precious metal, ornamented with jewels—alsoPectoral. [L.morsus, a bite.]
Morse, mors,n.(coll.) the Morse-code signalling of telegraph operators, from Sam. F. B.Morse(1791-1872).—Morse alphabet, a system of symbols to be used in telegraphic messages where Morse's indicator is used, consisting of dots and dashes combined in different ways to indicate the different letters.
Morsel, mor′sel,n.a bite or mouthful: a small piece of food: a small quantity of anything which is divided.—ns.Mor′sūre, the act of biting;Mor′sus, a bite. [O. Fr.morsel(Fr.morceau, It.morsello), dim. from L.morsus—mordēre,morsum, to bite.]
Morsing-horn, mor′sing-horn,n.the small horn that used to hold the fine powder used for priming. [Fr.amorcer, to prime a gun.]
Mort, mort,n.death: a flourish sounded at the death of a buck, & c., in hunting.
Mort, mort,n.a great number or amount of anything.
Mort, mort,n.(slang) a woman.
Mortal, mor′tal,adj.liable to die: causing death: deadly: fatal: punishable with death: involving the penalty of spiritual death, as opposed toVenial: extreme, violent, implacable: human: (coll.) very great, very long, confounded, very drunk.—n.a human being.—v.t.Mor′talise, to make mortal.—n.Mortal′ity, condition of being mortal: death: frequency or number of deaths, esp. in proportion to population: the human race.—adv.Mor′tally—(coll.)Mor′tal.—ns.Mort′-cloth, a pall;Mort′-stone, a stone by the wayside on which the bearers lay the bier for a rest during a funeral procession.—Bills of mortality, lists of the numbers of those who have died in any place during any given time;Law of mortality, rules founded on experience or calculation, showing what average proportion of those living at the beginning of a given time will be surviving at its close. [Fr.,—L.mortalis—mori, to die.]
Mortar, mor′tar,n.a vessel in which substances are pounded with a pestle: a short and very thick piece of artillery of large calibre, firing a heavy shell at a fixed angle of 45° or thereabouts, so as to strike vertically: a cement of lime, sand, and water, used to bind together stones or bricks in building.—v.t.to close up or in as with mortar: to pound in a mortar.—n.Mor′tar-board, a square board with a handle beneath for holding mortar which the workman is using: a square-crowned academic cap. [A.S.mortere—L.mortarium, a mortar.]
Mortgage, mor′gāj,n.a conditional conveyance of or lien upon land or other property as security for the performance of some condition, as the payment of money, becoming void on the performance of the condition: the act of conveying, or the deed effecting it.—v.t.to pledge as security for a debt.—ns.Mortgagee′, one to whom a mortgage is made or given;Mort′gager. [O. Fr.,mort, dead,gage, a pledge.]
Mortier, mor′tye,n.a cap of state worn by legal functionaries in France.
Mortiferous, mor-tif′ėr-us,adj.death-bringing: fatal. [L.mors, death,ferre, to bring.]
Mortify, mor′ti-fī,v.t.to destroy the vital functions of: to subdue by severities and penance: to vex: to humble: (Scots law) to dispose of by mortification.—v.i.to lose vitality, to gangrene: to be subdued:—pa.t.andpa.p.mor′tified.—ns.Mortificā′tion, act of mortifying or state of being mortified: the death of one part of an animal body: a bringing under of the passions and appetites by a severe or strict manner of living: humiliation: vexation: that which mortifies or vexes: (Scots law) a bequest to some charitable institution;Mor′tifiedness, subjugation of the passions;Mor′tifier, one who mortifies.—adj.Mor′tifying, tending to mortify or humble: humiliating: vexing. [Fr.,—Low L.mortificāre, to cause death to—morsdeath,facĕre, to make.]
Mortise, mor′tis,n.a cavity cut into a piece of timber to receive the tenon, a projection on another piece made to fit it: stability, power of adhesion—alsoMor′tice.—v.t.to cut a mortise in: to join by a mortise and tenon. [Fr.mortaise; ety. unknown.]
Mortmain, mort′mān,n.the transfer of property to a corporation, which is said to be a dead hand, or one that can never part with it again.—Statutes of mortmain, acts of parliament restricting or forbidding the giving of property to religious houses. [Fr.mort, dead,main—L.manus, the hand.]
Mortuary, mort′ū-ar-i,n. adj.belonging to the burial of the dead.—n.a burial-place, place for the temporary reception of the dead: a gift claimed by the minister of a parish on the death of a parishioner. [Low L.,—L.mortuus, dead,mori, to die.]
Morula, mor′ū-la,n.condition of an ovum after complete segmentation: button-scurvy.
Morus, mō′rus,n.a genus of trees or shrubs of the nettle family—the mulberries. [L.]
Mosaic, mö-zā′ik,n.a kind of work in which designs are formed by small pieces of coloured marble, glass, &c. cemented on a ground of stucco, or inlaid upon metal.—adj.relating to, or composed of, mosaic.—adv.Mosā′ically.—n.Mosā′icist.—Mosaic gold, an alloy of copper and zinc—alsoOrmolu. [Fr.,—L.musæumormusivum(opus), mosaic (work)—Gr.mouseios—Mousa, a muse.]
Mosaic, mō-zā′ik,adj.pertaining toMoses, the great Jewish lawgiver.—n.Mō′saism.—Mosaic Law, the law of the Jews given by Moses at Mount Sinai.
Mosausaurus, mō-sa-saw′rus,n.the typical genus of a group of huge fossil marine reptiles, found in the Cretaceous strata of Europe and America. [L.Mosa, the river Meuse, Gr.sauros, a lizard.]
Moschatel, mos′ka-tel,n.a plant with pale-green flowers and a musky smell. [Fr.moscatelline—Low L.moschatellina—muscus, musk.]
Moschiferous, mos-kif′e-rus,adj.producing musk.
Mose, mōz,n.(Shak.) a disease of horses.—v.i.to have this. [Prob. Old High Ger.māsā, a spot.]
Moselle, mo-zel′,n.light wines from the district of the riverMoselle, with an aromatic flavour.
Mosey, mō′zi,v.i.(Amer. slang) to go off quickly: to hurry up.
Moslem, moz′lem,n.a Mussulman or Mohammedan.—adj.of or belonging to the Mohammedans.—n.Mos′lemism. [Ar.muslim, pl.muslimīn—salama, to submit (to God). DoubletMussulman.]
Moslings, moz′lingz,n.pl.the thin shavings taken off by the currier in dressing skins. [Morsel.]
Mosque, mosk,n.a Mohammedan place of worship. [Fr.,—Sp.mezquita—Ar.masjid—sajada, to pray.]
Mosquito, mos-kē′to,n.a biting gnat, common in tropical countries:—pl.Mosqui′toes.—Mosquito canopy, curtain, net, an arrangement of netting set over a bed, in a window, &c., to keep out mosquitoes. [Sp., dim. ofmosca, a fly—L.musca.]
Moss, mos,n.a family of flowerless plants with branching stems and narrow, simple leaves: popularly any small cryptogamic plant, esp. a lichen: a piece of ground covered with moss: a bog.—v.t.to cover with moss.—ns.Moss′-back, an old fish: a person of antiquated views;Moss′-cheep′er(Scot.), the titlark.—adj.Moss′-grown, covered with moss.—ns.Moss′-hag(Scot.), a pit or slough in a bog;Moss′iness;Moss′-land, land abounding in peat-bogs;Moss′-rose, a variety of rose having a moss-like growth on and below the calyx;Moss′troop′er, one of the robbers that used to infest the mosses of the Border.—adj.Moss′y, overgrown or abounding with moss.—Iceland moss(seeIceland). [A.S.meós; Dut.mos, Ger.moos.]
Moss-bunker, mos′-bung-kėr,n.the menhaden. [Dut.mars-banker, the scad or horse-mackerel.]
Most, mōst,adj.(superl.ofMore), greatest in age, position or rank, number, degree, &c.—adv.in the highest degree.—n.the greatest number or quantity.—advs.Most′ly;Most′what(Spens.), for the most part, mostly.—At (the) most, to the utmost extent;For the most part, chiefly;Make the most of(seeMake). [A.S.mǽst; cog. with Ger.meist.]
Mot, mō,n.a pithy or witty saying.—Mot d'ordre, word of command. [Fr.]
Mot, mot,n.a note on the bugle, &c., or its mark in musical notation. [Fr.,—L.muttum, a murmur.]
Motatorious, mō-ta-tō′ri-us,adj.vibratory, excessively mobile—of long-legged spiders and crane-flies, &c. [L.motāre,-ātumto keep moving, freq. ofmovēre, to move.]
Mote, mōt,n.an archaism for might or must.
Mote, mōt,n.a particle of dust: a speck: a stain or blemish: anything very small.—adjs.Mōt′ed,Mot′ty, containing motes. [A.S.mot; Dut.mot.]
Motet, mo-tet′,n.a sacred cantata of several unconnected movements, as a solo, trio, chorus, fugue, &c.: a choral composition having a biblical or similar prose text.—n.Motet′tist, a composer of such. [Fr.,—It.mottetto—motto, saying.]
Moth., moth,n.a family of insects like butterflies, seen mostly at night: the larva of this insect which gnaws cloth: that which eats away gradually and silently.—v.t.Moth′-eat, to prey upon, as a moth eats a garment.—adj.Moth′-eat′en, eaten or cut by moths.—n.Moth′-hunt′er, a little kind of swallow which hunts moths, &c., called also theGoatsucker.—adj.Moth′y, full of moths.—Death's-head moth, (seeDeath). [A.S.moþþe,mohþe; Ger.motte.]
Mother, muth′ėr,n.a female parent, esp. one of the human race: a woman in relation to her child: a matron: that which has produced anything: the female head of a religious house: a familiar term of address to an old woman.—adj.received by birth, as it were from one's mother: natural: acting the part of a mother: originating.—v.t.to adopt as a son or daughter.—ns.Moth′er-church, the church from which others have sprung;Moth′er-coun′try,-land, the country of one's birth: the country from which a colony has gone out;Moth′erhood, state of being a mother;Moth′ering, a rural English custom of visiting one's parents on Mid-Lent Sunday;Moth′er-in-law, the mother of one's husband or wife.—adj.Moth′erless, without a mother.—n.Moth′erliness.—adj.Moth′erly, pertaining to, or becoming, a mother: like a mother: parental: tender.—ns.Moth′er-of-pearl′, the nacreous internal layer of the shells of several molluscs, esp. of the pearl-oyster, so called because producing the pearl;Moth′er's-mark, a birth-mark;Moth′er-tongue, a person's native language: a language from which another has its origin;Moth′er-wa′ter, the residual liquid remaining after the chemical substances it contained have been crystallised or precipitated;Moth′er-wit, native wit: common-sense;Moth′er-wort, a labiate plant growing in waste places;Queen′-moth′er, the mother of a reigning sovereign.—Mother Carey's chicken, the stormy petrel, or other bird of the same family;Mother-Hubbard, a woman's loose flowing gown, like that proper to the nursery heroine.—Every mother's son, all, without exception. [A.S.móder; Dut.moeder, Ice.móðir, Ger.mutter, Ir. and Gael.mathair, L.mater, Gr.mētēr, Sans,mátá,mátri.]
Mother, muthėr,n.dregs or sediments, as of vinegar.—v.i.to become concreted.—adj.Moth′ery. [Mud.]
Motif, mō-tēf′,n.an old form of motive: a theme or ground for intellectual action, or a leading subject in a dramatic work: in a musical composition the principal subject on which the movement is constructed. [Fr.,—L.motus, moved.]
Motion, mō′shun,n.the act or state of moving: a single movement: change of posture: gait: power of moving or of being moved: angular velocity—directwhen from west to east;retrogradewhen from east to west: excitement of the mind: any natural impulse, instigation: proposal made, esp. in an assembly: an application to a court, during a case before it, for an order or rule that something be done, esp. something incidental to the progress of the cause rather than its issue: evacuation of the intestine: (pl.,B.) impulses.—v.i.to make a significant movement, to offer a proposal.—v.t.to guide by a gesture, &c.: to move.—adj.Mō′tile, capable of spontaneous motion.—n.Motil′ity.—adj.Mo′tional, characterised by motions.—n.Mō′tionist, one who makes a motion.—adj.Mō′tionless, without motion.—Absolute motion, change of absolute place;Accelerated motion, motion of which the velocity is continually increasing;Angular motion, motion regarded as measured by the increase of the angle made with some standard direction by a line drawn from the moving object to a fixed point;Laws of motion, Newton's three laws: (1) Every body continues in its state of rest, or of uniform motion in a straight line, except so far as it may be compelled by force to change that state; (2) Change of motion is proportional to force applied, and takes place in the direction of the straight line in which the force acts; (3) To every action there is always an equal and contrary reaction;Parallel motion(seeParallel);Perpetual motion(seePerpetual);Quantity of motion, momentum. [Fr.,—L.,—movēre,mōtum, to move.]
Motive, mō′tiv,adj.causing motion: having power to cause motion.—n.that which moves or excites to action: inducement: reason.—v.t.to act on as a motive, instigate.—v.t.Mō′tivāte, to act on as a motive, induce.—n.Motivā′tion.—adj.Mōtiveless.—ns.Mō′tivelessness;Mō′tive-power, or-force, the force acting upon a body so as to cause it to move;Motiv′ity, power of producing motion: the quality of being influenced by motion. [Fr., through Low L., frommovēre,mōtumto move.]
Motley, mot′li,adj.covered with spots of different colours: consisting of different colours: composed of various parts, heterogeneous.—n.clothes made of pieces of different colours: the dress of a jester: any mixture, esp. of colours.—adj.Mot′ley-mind′ed(Shak.), having fickle and foolish thoughts and feelings.—Man of motley, a jester. [Skeat explains M. E.motteleeas through O. Fr.mattelé, clotted, curdled—Bavarianmatte, curds.]
Motmot, mot′mot,n.a sawbill.
Motograph, mō′to-graf,n.a device of Edison's, used as a telephone receiver, &c., by which the variation of the friction between two conductors in relative motion is diminished periodically by the passage of a current of electricity from one to the other across the surface of contact.—adj.Motograph′ic. [L.motus, motion, Gr.graphein, to write.]
Motophone, mō′to-fōn,n.a sound-engine of Edison's actuated by aerial sound-waves. [L.motus, motion, Gr.phōnē, a voice.]
Motor, mō′tor,n.a mover: that which gives motion: a machine by means of which steam or other sources of force can be used to give motion or produce work.—adj.giving or transmitting motion.—ns.Mō′tor-car, a vehicle for the road impelled by steam, electricity, or petrol (petroleum spirit);Mō′tor-dy′namo, a dynamo used as a motor.—adjs.Motō′rial,Mō′tory, giving motion.—n.Motō′rium, that part of the nervous organism instrumental in the exertion of motor influence:—opp. toSensorium, that which feels or perceives.—adj.Motorpath′ic, belonging toMotor′pathyor the movement cure.—Motor nerve, any nerve which transmits impulse to the muscles.—Air-motor, a machine impelled by compressed air. [Cf.Motive.]
Mottle, mot′l,v.t.to mark with spots as if stained.—n.the arrangement of spots on any mottled surface, in marble, &c.—adjs.Mott′led, marked with spots of various colours or shades;Mott′le-faced.—n.Mott′ling. [Motley.]
Motto, mot′ō,n.a short sentence or phrase prefixed in anything intimating the subject of it: a phrase attached to a coat-of-arms: a paper packet containing a sweetmeat, cracker, &c., together with a scrap of paper bearing a motto—a motto-kiss:—pl.Mottoes(mot′ōz).—adj.Mott′oed. [Low L.muttum—muttīre, to mutter.]
Moucharaby, mōō-shar′a-bi,n.a balcony enclosed with lattice-work: an embattled balcony with parapet and machicolations. [Fr.]
Mouchard, mōō-shär′,n.a police spy in France. [Mouche, a fly.]
Moucher, mow′chėr,n.one who idles about, a loafer, a beggar—same asMicher.—v.i.Mouch, to skulk or sneak about; to live a vagabond life. [O. Fr.muchier(Fr.musser), to hide.]
Mouchoir, mōō-shwor′,n.a pocket-handkerchief. [Fr.]
Moufflon, mōōf′lon,n.a wild sheep in the mountains of Corsica, Greece, &c. [Fr.]
Mought, mowt (Bacon), obsoletepa.t.ofmay.
Mouille, mōōl-lyā′,adj.sounded in a liquid manner, as certain consonants in many French words. [Fr.]
Mould, mōld,n.dust: soil rich in decayed matter: the matter of which anything is composed: a minute fungus which grows on bodies in a damp atmosphere, so named from often growing on mould: the earth, the ground, the grave, esp. inpl.Mools(Scot.).—v.t.to cover with mould or soil: to cause to become mouldy.—v.i.to become mouldy.—n.Mould′-board, the curved plate in a plough which turns over the furrow.—v.i.Mould′er, to crumble to mould: to turn to dust: to waste away gradually.—v.t.to turn to dust.—ns.Mould′iness;Mould′warp, the mole, which casts up little heaps of mould.—adj.Mould′y, overgrown with mould. [A.S.molde; Ger.mull, Goth.mulda.]
Mould, mōld,n.a hollow form in which anything is cast: a pattern; the form received from a mould, a former or matrix for jellies, &c., also a dish shaped in such: character.—v.t.to form in a mould: to knead, as dough.—adj.Mould′able, that may be moulded.—ns.Mould′-box, a box in which molten steel is hydraulically compressed;Mould′er;Mould′-fac′ing, a fine powder or wash applied to the face of a mould to ensure a smooth casting;Mould′ing, the process of shaping, esp. any soft substance: anything formed by or in a mould: an ornamental edging on a picture-frame, &c., or (archit.) raised above or sunk below the surface of a wall, on cornices, jambs, lintels, &c.—thefilletorlist,astragalorbead,ogee,cyma, &c.;Moulding-tā′ble, a table on which a potter moulds his ware;Mould′-loft, a large room in a shipbuilding yard in which the several parts of a ship's hull are laid off to full size from the construction drawings.—Moulding machine, a machine for making wood-mouldings;Moulding plane, a plane used in forming mouldings, a match-plane;Moulding sand, a mixture of sand and loam used by founders in making sand-moulds. [Fr.moule—L.modulus, a measure.]
Moulin, mōō-lang′,n.a cavity formed in a glacier by the running down of surface water, sometimes allowing a cascade to be formed. [Fr.]
Moulinage, mōō′lināj,n.the operation of reeling-off, twisting, and doubling raw silk.
Moulinet, mōō′li-net,n.the drum of a windlass, &c., on which the rope is wound: a machine for bending a crossbow. [Fr., 'a little mill.']
Moult, mōlt,v.i.to change or cast the feathers, &c., as birds, &c.—n.Moult′ing, the act or process of moulting or casting feathers, skin, &c. [L.mutāre, to change, with intrusivel.]
Mound, mownd,n.an artificial mount: a natural hillock, appearing as if thrown up by man's work: (fort.) a bank of earth or stone raised as a protection.—v.t.to fortify with a mound.—n.pl.Mound′-birds, a family of Australasian gallinaceous birds which build large mounds as incubators for their eggs.—n.Mound′-build′er, one of the primitive race which built the vast so-calledIndian moundsfound in the United States, esp. east of the Mississippi River. [A.S.mund, a defence; cf. Old High Ger.munt, defence, and perh. L.mons, a mount.]
Mound.
Mound, mownd,n.(her.) the representation of a globe encircled with bands, and surmounted by a cross.—AlsoMonde. [Fr.monde—L.mundus, the world.]
Mount, mownt,n.ground rising above the level of the surrounding country: a hill: an ornamental mound: that on which anything is mounted for more convenient use or exhibition: a saddle-horse for riding: a step, &c., to give aid in mounting a horse, also a signal for mounting: (her.) a green hillock in the base of a shield: (fort.) a cavalier or raised hillock commanding the surrounding country: one of the seven fleshy cushions in the palm of the hand: (B.) a bulwark for offence or defence.—v.i.to project or rise up: to be of great elevation.—v.t.to raise aloft: to climb: to get upon, as a horse: to put on horseback: to put upon something: to arrange or set in fitting order.—adjs.Mount′able, that may be mounted or ascended;Mount′ed, raised, esp. set on horseback: (her.) raised on steps, generally three, as a cross: furnished, supplied.—ns.Mount′er;Mount′ing, the act of rising or getting higher: the act of mounting or embellishing, as the setting of a gem, &c.: that which mounts;Mount′ing-block, a block or stone to enable one to mount a horse.—Mount guard(seeGuard). [A.S.munt—L.mons,montis, a mountain.]
Mountain, mownt′ān, or-′in,n.a high hill: anything very large: a wine made from mountain grapes: the extreme party in the French Revolution (seeMontagnard).—adj.of or relating to a mountain: growing or dwelling on a mountain.—ns.Mount′ain-ash, the rowan-tree, with bunches of red berries, common on mountains;Mount′ain-blue, blue carbonate of copper;Mount′ain-bram′ble, the cloudberry;Mount′ain-cat, a catamount, a wild-cat;Mount′ain-chain, a number of mountains connected together in one line;Mount′ain-cork,Mount′ain-leath′er, a very light and whitish variety of asbestos;Mount′ain-deer, the chamois;Mount′ain-dew, whisky.—adj.Mount′ained.—ns.Mountaineer′, an inhabitant of a mountain: a climber of mountains: a rustic;Mountaineer′ing, the practice of climbing mountains;Mount′ain-flax, a fibrous asbestos;Mount′ain-lime′stone(geol.), a series of limestone strata separating the Old Red Sandstone from the coal-measures;Mount′ain-līon, the cougar;Mount′ain-milk, a spongy carbonate of lime.—adj.Mount′ainous, full of mountains: large as a mountain: huge.—ns.Mount′ain-rice, an awnless rice grown without irrigation on the Himalayas, &c.;Mount′ain-sheep, the bighorn of the Rocky Mountains;Mount′ain-soap, a greasy clay-like mineral, a kind of halloysite—alsoRock-soap;Mount′ain-tall′ow, a mineral substance, called alsoHatchettite;Mount′ain-tea, the American evergreen,Gaultheria procumbens.—Old man of the mountain, a popular name for the chief of the 11th centuryHashshāshīn(seeAssassin). [O. Fr.montaine—Low L.montana, a mountain—L.montanus—mons,montis.]
Mountant, mownt′ant,adj.(Shak.) rising on high. [Fr.montant, pr.p. ofmonter, to mount.]
Mountebank, mown′te-bangk,n.a quack-doctor who boasts of his skill and his medicines: a boastful pretender.—adj.pertaining to such, sham.—v.t.to cheat by false pretences, to humbug.—v.i.to play the mountebank.—ns.Moun′tebankery,Moun′tebanking,Moun′tebankism. [It.montambanco—montare, to mount,in, on,banco, a bench.]
Mourn, mōrn,v.i.to grieve: to be sorrowful: to wear mourning.—v.t.to grieve for: to utter in a sorrowful manner.—n.Mourn′er, one who mourns, one who attends a funeral in mourning-dress, esp. one of those related to the deceased.—adj.Mourn′ful, mourning: causing or expressing sorrow: feeling grief.—adv.Mourn′fully.—n.Mourn′fulness.—adj.Mourn′ing, grieving: lamenting.—n.the act of expressing grief: the dress of mourners, or other tokens of mourning.—ns.Mourn′ing-bride, the sweet scabious;Mourn′ing-cloak, an undertaker's cloak, formerly worn at a funeral;Mourn′ing-coach, a closed carriage for carrying mourners to a funeral;Mourn′ing-dove, the common American turtle-dove.—adv.Mourn′ingly.—ns.Mourn′ing-piece, a picture intended to be a memorial of the dead;Mourn′ing-ring, a ring worn in memorial of a dead person;Mourn′ing-stuff, a lustreless black dress fabric, as crape, cashmere, &c., for making mourning clothes. [A.S.murnan,meornan; Old High Ger.mornēn, to grieve.]
Mouse, mows,n.a little rodent animal found in houses and in the fields:—pl.Mice(mīs): one of various animals like the mouse, theflitter-mouse,shrew-mouse:part of a hind-leg of beef, next the round—alsoMouse′-butt′ockandMouse′-piece: a match for firing a cannon or mine: a small cushion for a woman's hair: (slang) a black eye, or discoloured swelling: a term of endearment.—v.t.andv.i.(mowz), to hunt for mice: to pursue slyly: to prowl: to tear as a cat tears a mouse: (naut.) to pass a turn or two of rope yarn round the point of a tackle-hook to prevent its unhooking.—ns.Mouse′-ear, a name of several plants with soft leaves shaped like a mouse's ear;Mouse′-hole, a hole for mice: a small hole or opening;Mouse′-hunt(Shak.), a mouser;Mouse′kin,Mous′ie, a young mouse;Mous′er, a catcher of mice;Mous′ery, a resort of mice;Mouse′-sight, myopia;Mouse′tail, a small plant with a spike of seed-vessels very like the tail of a mouse;Mouse′-trap, a trap for catching mice;Mous′ing, act of catching mice.—adj.given to catching mice.—adj.Mous′y, like a mouse in colour or smell: abounding with mice. [A.S.mús, pl.mýs; Ger.maus, L. and Gr.mus.]
Mousquetaire, mōōs-ke-tār′,n.a musketeer: a woman's cloak trimmed with ribbons, with large buttons, fashionable about 1855: a broad turnover linen collar worn a few years earlier.—Mousquetaire glove, a woman's glove, long-armed, loose at top, without slit lengthwise. [Fr.]
Mousseline, mōō-se-lēn′,n.fine French muslin: a very thin glass for claret-glasses.—n.Mousseline′-de-laine, an untwilled woollen cloth, in many colours and varied patterns. [Fr.]
Moustache,Mustache, mus-tash′,n.the hair upon the upper lip of men: a soldier—alsoMustach′io.—n.Moustache′-cup, a cup for drinking tea, &c., having the top partly covered to keep the moustache from being wet.—adjs.Moustached′,Mustach′ioed. [Fr.moustache—It.mostaccio—Gr.mastax,mastakos, the upper lip.]
Mouth, mowth,n.the opening in the head of an animal by which it eats and utters sound: opening or entrance, as of a bottle, river, &c.: the instrument of speaking: a speaker: cry, voice, utterance: taste or flavour in the mouth: a wry face, a grimace:—pl.Mouths(mowthz).—ns.Mouth′-friend(Shak.), one who only professes friendship:Mouth′ful, as much as fills the mouth: a small quantity:—pl.Mouth′fuls;Mouth′-hon′our(Shak.), honour or civility insincerely expressed.—adjs.Mouth′less, without a mouth;Mouth′-made(Shak.), expressed by the mouth, insincere.—n.Mouth′piece, the piece of a musical instrument, or tobacco-pipe, held in the mouth: one who speaks for others.—By word of mouth, by means of spoken words;Down in the mouth, out of spirits: despondent;From hand to mouth(seeHand);Have one's heart in one's mouth(seeHeart);Make a mouth, ormouths, to distort the face in mockery, to pout;Make the mouth water(seeWater);Stop the mouth, to cause to be silent. [A.S.múth; Ger.mund, Dut.mond.]
Mouth, mowth,v.t.to utter with a voice over loud or swelling.—adjs.Mouth′able, sounding well;Mouthed, having a mouth.—ns.Mouth′er, an affected speaker;Mouth′ing, rant.—adj.Mouth′y, ranting, affected.
Mouton, mōō′ton,n.a sheep: a 14th-cent. French gold coin, weighing about 70 grains. [Fr.]
Movable, mōōv′a-bl,adj.that may be moved, lifted, changed, &c.: not fixed: changing from one time to another.—n.an article of furniture.—ns.Movabil′ity,Mov′ableness.—n.pl.Mo′vables(law), such articles of property as may be moved, as furniture, &c., in opposition tolandsandhouses.—adv.Mov′ably.
Move, mōōv,v.t.to cause to change place or posture: to set in motion: to impel: to excite to action: to persuade: to instigate: to arouse: to provoke: to touch the feelings of: to propose or bring before an assembly: to recommend.—v.i.to go from one place to another: to change place or posture: to walk, to carry one's self: to change residence: to make a motion as in an assembly: to bow or salute on meeting.—n.the act of moving: a proceeding or step: a movement, esp. at chess.—adj.Move′less, immovable.—ns.Move′ment, act or manner of moving: change of position: motion of the mind, emotion: a series of incidents moving continuously towards one end: particular arrangement of the moving parts in a mechanism, esp. the wheelwork of a clock or watch: (mil.) a strategic change of position: (mus.) melodic progression, accentual character, tempo or pace;Mov′er.—adj.Mov′ing, causing motion: changing position: affecting the feelings: pathetic.—adv.Mov′ingly.—Know a move or two, to be sharp or knowing;On the move, changing or about to change one's place. [O. Fr.movoir(Fr.mouvoir)—L.movēre, to move.]
Mow, mow,n.a wry face.—v.i.to make grimaces. [Fr.moue, a grimace.]
Mow, mow,n.a pile of hay or corn in sheaves laid up in a barn.—v.t.to lay hay or sheaves of grain in a heap:—pr.p.mow′ing;pa.t.mowed;pa.p.mowed or mown.—v.i.Mow′burn, to heat and ferment in the mow. [A.S.múga, heap; Ice.múga, swath.]
Mow, mō,v.t.to cut down with a scythe: to cut down in great numbers:—pr.p.mow′ing;pa.t.mowed;pa.p.mowed or mown.—adjs.Mowed,Mown, cut down with a scythe: cleared of grass with a scythe, as land.—ns.Mow′er, one who mows grass, &c.: a machine for mowing grass;Mow′ing, the act of cutting down with a scythe: land from which grass is cut;Mow′ing-machine′, a machine with revolving cutters for mowing lawns. [A.S.máwan; Ger.mähen; L.metĕre, to reap.]
Moxa, mok′sa,n.a cottony material for cauterising, prepared in China and Japan fromArtemisia Moxa, &c.: a cone of cotton-wool placed on the skin and fired at the top for cauterisation.—n.Moxibus′tion, cauterisation by this method.
Moya, moi′ya,n.volcanic mud.
Moyenage, moi′en-äzh,n.the Middle Ages. [Fr.]
Mozarabic, mō-zar′a-bik,adj.pertaining to theMozarabesorMuzarabes, the Christian Spaniards who lived in the parts of Spain under Moorish rule, retaining their ancient liturgy.—n.Mozar′ab, one of these.
Mozetta, mō-tset′ta,n.a short cape to which a hood may be attached, worn by popes, cardinals, bishops, abbots. [It.,mozzo, cut short.]
Mozing, mō′zing,n.the raising of nap on cloth, as in a gig-mill.
M roof. See under letterM.
Mucedinous, mū-sed′i-nus,adj.like mould or mildew.
Much, much,adj.great in size, quantity, or extent: long in duration.—adv.to a great degree: by far: often or long: almost.—n.a great quantity: a strange thing.—adj.Much′el(Spens.), much.—n.Much′ness, state of being much.—Much about it, something like what it usually is;Much of a muchness=just about the same value or amount.—Make much of(seeMake);Not so much as, not even;Too much for, more than a match for. [M. E.muche,moche,muchel,mochel—A.S.mic-el; cf. Ice.mjök.]
Mucic, mū′sik,adj.derived from gums.—n.Mū′cate, a salt of mucic acid and a base.
Mucid, mū′sid,adj.slimy, mouldy—alsoMū′cidous.—ns.Mū′cidness,Mū′cor.
Muck, muk,n.dung: a mass of decayed vegetable matter: anything low and filthy.—v.t.to manure with muck.—v.i.Muck′er, to make a muddle of anything, to fail.—n.a heavy fall in the mire: a coarse, dirty fellow.—ns.Muck′-heap, a dung-hill;Muck′iness;Muck′-rake, a rake for scraping filth;Muck′-sweat, profuse sweat;Muck′-worm, a worm that lives in muck: one who acquires money by mean devices: a miser.—adj.Muck′y, nasty, filthy. [Scand., Ice.myki, Dan.mög, dung.]
Muck, mistaken form ofamuck.
Mucker, muk′ėr,n.a canting person, a hypocrite, esp. a follower of the sect of J. W. Ebel of Königsberg, suspected of dirty practices. [Ger.]
Muckle, a Scotch form ofmickle.
Mucronate,-d, mū′kro-nāt, -ed,adj.(bot.) terminating in a short and sharp point.—n.Mū′cro, a spine-like process.—adj.Mucron′ūlate, very mucronate. [L.mucronātus—mucro,mucronis, a sharp point.]
Mucus, mū′kus,n.the slimy fluid from the nose: the viscous fluid secreted by the mucous membrane of animals.—adjs.Mūcif′erous;Mūcif′ic;Mū′ciform.—n.Mū′cigen, a substance secreted by the cells of mucous membrane, converted into mucin.—adjs.Mūcig′enous,Mūcip′arous, secreting mucus.—n.Mū′cilage, the solution of a gum in water: the gum extracted from plants.—adj.Mucilag′inous, pertaining to, or secreting, mucilage: slimy.—n.Mū′cin, an alkaline glutinous fluid forming the chief constituent of mucus.—adjs.Mūciv′orous, feeding on the juices of plants;Mū′coid, like mucus;Mūcopū′rulent, pertaining to mucus and pus.—n.Mucos′ity.—adjs.Muco′so-sac′charine, partaking of the properties of mucilage and sugar;Mū′cous, like mucus: slimy: viscous;Mū′culent, like mucus.—Mucous membrane(seeMembrane). [L., cf. L.mungĕre, wipe away.]
Mud, mud,n.wet soft earth.—v.t.to bury in mud: to dirty: to stir the sediment in, as in liquors; to bury in mud.—v.i.to go under the mud like the eel.—ns.Mud′-bath, a kind of mud connected with some mineral springs into which the patient plunges himself;Mud′-boat,-scow, a boat for carrying away the mud dredged from a river, &c.;Mud′-cone, a mud-volcano.—adv.Mud′dily.—n.Mud′diness.—adj.Mud′dy, foul with mud: containing mud: covered with mud: confused: stupid.—v.t.to dirty: to render dull:—pa.t.andpa.p.mud′died.—adjs.Mud′dy-head′ed, having a muddy or dull head or understanding;Mud′dy-mett′led(Shak.), dull-spirited: spiritless.—ns.Mud′-fish, a fish which burrows in the mud;Mud′-flat, a muddy strip of shore submerged at high tide;Mud′-guard, the dash-board of a carriage;Mud′-hole, a place full of mud: an orifice in the bottom of a boiler where the sediment is collected;Mud′-lark, a man who cleans public sewers or who picks up a living along the banks of tidal rivers: a street-arab;Mud′-wall, a wall composed of mud, or one in which mud is used in place of mortar: the bee-eater. [Old Low Ger.mudde, Dut.modder.]
Muddle, mud′l,v.t.to render muddy or foul, as water: to confuse, esp. with liquor: to waste, squander, misuse.—v.i.to potter about.—n.confusion, mess: mental confusion, bewilderment.—n.Mudd′lehead, a blockhead.—adv.Muddlehead′edly.—n.Muddlehead′edness. [Freq. ofmud.]
Mudir, mōō′dēr,n.governor of an Egyptian province.
Muezzin, mū-ez′in,n.the Mohammedan official attached to a mosque, whose duty it is to announce the hours of prayer.—AlsoMued′din. [Ar.]
Muff, muf,n.a warm, soft cover for the hands in winter, usually of fur or dressed skins.—n.Muffettee′, a small muff worn over the wrist. [Prob. from Dut.mof; cf. Ger.muff, a muff.]
Muff, muf,n.a stupid fellow.—v.t.andv.i.to perform awkwardly, spoil: to act clumsily, esp. in letting a ball slip out of the hands. [Prob. related to Dut.muffen, to dote; Ger.muffen, to sulk.]
Muffin, muf′in,n.a soft, light, spongy cake, eaten hot with butter: a small plate: one who dangles after a young woman: a poor ball-player.—ns.Muff′in-cap, a round flat cap for men;Muffineer′, a dish for keeping muffins hot: a metal cruet for sprinkling salt or sugar on muffins.
Muffle, muf′l,n.the thick naked upper lip and nose, as of a ruminant. [Ger.]
Muffle, muf′l,v.t.to wrap up as with a muff: to blindfold: to cover up so as to render sound dull, as a bell or a drum: to cover from the weather.—n.something used for smothering sound: a boxing-glove: a clay oven, as for firing pottery.—adj.Muff′led, wrapped up closely: dulled or deadened—of sound.—n.Muff′ler, a cover that muffles the face. [Muff.]
Muffle, muf′l,v.i.to mumble.
Mufti, muf′ti,n.a doctor or official expounder of Mohammedan law in Turkey: the dress of an officer off duty. [Ar.]
Mug, mug,n.a kind of earthen or metal cup for liquor, its contents.—ns.Mug′ger(Scot.), a tramping tinker or vendor of earthenware;Mug′-house, an alehouse;Mug′-hunt′er, one who competes at games merely for the prizes. [Ir.mugan, a mug,mucog, a cup.]
Mug, mug,n.the human face, the mouth.
Muggins, mug′inz,n.a children's card-game played with a full pack divided equally, each in turn laying down a card face up, the first one who calls 'Muggins' when one matches another adding his card to the other's pile, the aim being to get out as soon as possible. [Ety. dub.]
Muggletonian, mug-l-tō′ni-an,n.a member of a sect founded in England by John Reeve and LodowickMuggleton(1607-97), which lingered till well into the 19th cent. They claimed to be the two witnesses of Rev. xi. 3-6, denied the Trinity, holding grotesque anthropomorphist opinions, with many strange doctrines over and above, as that the devil became incarnate in Eve, &c.
Muggy, mug′i,adj.foggy: close and damp, as weather: wet or mouldy, as straw.—AlsoMug′gish. [Ice.mugga, mist; cf. Gael.mugach, cloudy.]
Mugwort, mug′wurt,n.a common British species of wormwood.
Mugwump, mug′wump,n.an Indian chief: a person of great importance, or who thinks himself so: a humorous political use of the above. [Algonkinmugquomp, a great man.]
Mulatto, mū-lat′ō,n.the offspring of black and white parents:—fem.Mulatt′ress. [Sp.mulato.]
Mulberry, mul′ber-i,n.the tree the leaves of which form the food of the silkworm: the berry of this tree. [Mul-is A.S.mór-(as in A.S.mórbeám, a mulberry)—L.morus; Gr.mōron.]
Mulch, the same asMulsh(q.v.).
Mulct, mulkt,n.a fine: a penalty.—v.t.to fine.—adjs.Mulc′tary,Mulc′tūary, imposing a fine: paid as a fine. [L.mulcta, a fine.]
Mule, mūl,n.the offspring of the horse and ass: an instrument for cotton-spinning: an obstinate person.—ns.Mūle′-deer, the black-tail of North America;Mūleteer′, one who drives mules.—adj.Mūl′ish, like a mule: obstinate.—adv.Mūl′ishly.—n.Mūl′ishness. [A.S.mul—L.mulus, mule.]
Muley, mū′li,adj.hornless.—n.any cow.—AlsoMool′y,Mul′ley.
Muliebrity, mū-li-eb′ri-ti,n.womanhood: effeminacy, softness.—adj.Mul′ierōse, fond of women.—n.Mulieros′ity. [L.,—mulier, a woman.]
Mull, mul,n.a muddle or mess.—v.t.to break to pieces: to confuse, muddle.
Mull, mul,n.a promontory: a horn snuff-box. [Prob. Gael.maol.]
Mull, mul,n.a soft muslin.—AlsoMul′mul. [Hind.]
Mull, mul,v.t.to warm, spice, and sweeten (wine, ale, &c.).—v.i.to toil on, moil: to bustle about.—adj.Mulled.—n.Mull′er. [M. E.molde-ale, a funeral banquet,molde, grave earth, andale=feast.]
Mullen,Mullein, mul′en,n.any plant of genusVerbascum.—AlsoHag-taper,Adam's flannel,Aaron's rod,Shepherd's club.
Muller, mul′ėr,n.a glass pestle for mixing paints: a mechanical pulveriser.
Mullet, mul′et,n.a genus of fishes nearly cylindrical in form, highly esteemed for the table. [Fr.mulet—L.mullus, the red mullet.]
Mullet, mul′et,n.the rowel of a spur: (her.) a five-pointed star—a mark of cadency, indicating the third son. [O. Fr.molette—L.mola, a mill.]
Mulligatawny, mul-i-ga-taw′ni,n.an East Indian curry-soup. [Tamilmilagu-tannīr, pepper-water.]
Mulligrubs, mul′i-grubz,n.(coll.) colic: sulkiness.