LYRAIDLy"ra*id, n. (Astron.)
Defn: Same as Lyrid.
LYRATE; LYRATEDLy"rate, Ly"ra*ted, a. Etym: [NL. lyratus. See Lyre.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: Lyre-shaped, or spatulate and oblong, with small lobes toward the base; as, a lyrate leaf.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Shaped like a lyre, as the tail of the blackcock, or that of the lyre bird.
LYRELyre, n. Etym: [OE. lire, OF. lyre, L. lyra, Gr. Lyra.]
1. (Mus.)
Defn: A stringed instrument of music; a kind of harp much used by the ancients, as an accompaniment to poetry.
Note: The lyre was the peculiar instrument of Apollo, the tutelary god of music and poetry. It gave name to the species of verse called lyric, to which it originally furnished an accompaniment
2. (Astron.)
Defn: One of the constellations; Lyra. See Lyra. Lyre bat (Zoöl.), a small bat (Megaderma lyra), inhabiting India and Ceylon. It is remarkable for the enormous size and curious shape of the nose membrane and ears. — Lyre turtle (Zoöl.), the leatherback.
LYRE BIRDLyre" bird`. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of two or three species of Australian birds of the genus Menura. The male is remarkable for having the sixteen tail feathers very long and, when spread, arranged in the form of a lyre. The common lyre bird (Menura superba), inhabiting New South Wales, is about the size of a grouse. Its general color is brown, with rufous color on the throat, wings, tail coverts and tail. Called also lyre pheasant and lyre-tail.
LYRIC; LYRICALLyr"ic, Lyr"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. lyricus, Gr. lyrique. See Lyre.]
1. Of or pertaining to a lyre or harp.
2. Fitted to be sung to the lyre; hence, also, appropriate for song; — said especially of poetry which expresses the individual emotions of the poet. "Sweet lyric song." Milton.
LYRICLyr"ic, n.
1. A lyric poem; a lyrical composition.
2. A composer of lyric poems. [R.] Addison.
3. A verse of the kind usually employed in lyric poetry; — used chiefly in the plural. 4. pl.
Defn: The words of a song.
LYRICALLYLyr"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a lyrical manner.
LYRICISMLyr"i*cism, n.
Defn: A lyric composition. Gray.
LYRIDLy"rid, n. (Astron.)
Defn: One of the group of shooting stars which come into the air in certain years on or about the 19th of April; — so called because the apparent path among the stars the stars if produced back wards crosses the constellation Lyra.
LYRIELy"rie, n. Etym: [Icel. hl a sort of fish.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A European fish (Peristethus cataphractum), having the body covered with bony plates, and having three spines projecting in front of the nose; — called also noble, pluck, pogge, sea poacher, and armed bullhead.
LYRIFEROUSLy*rif"er*ous, a. Etym: [Lyre + -ferous.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having a lyre-shaped shoulder girdle, as certain fishes.
LYRISMLyr"ism, n. Etym: [Cf. Gr.
Defn: The act of playing on a lyre or harp. G. Eliot.
LYRISTLyr"ist, n. Etym: [L. lyristes, Gr. lyriste.]
Defn: A musician who plays on the harp or lyre; a composer of lyrical poetry. Shelley.
LYSIMETERLy*sim"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. -meter.]
Defn: An instrument for measuring the water that percolates through a certain depth of soil. Knight.
LYSISLy"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: The resolution or favorable termination of a disease, coming on gradually and not marked by abrupt change.
Note: It is usually contrasted with crisis, in which the improvement is sudden and marked; as, pneumonia ends by crisis, typhoid fever by lysis.
LYSSALys"sa, n. Etym: [NL. See Lytta.] (Med.)
Defn: Hydrophobia.
Note: The plural (Lyssæ) has been used to signify the pustules supposed to be developed under the tongue in hydrophobia.
LYTERIANLy*te"ri*an, a. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Termination a disease; indicating the end of a disease.
LYTHELythe, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The European pollack; — called also laith, and leet. [Scot.]
LYTHELythe, a. Etym: [See Lithe, a.]
Defn: Soft; flexible. [Obs.] Spenser.
LYTHONTHRIPTIC; LYTHONTRIPTICLyth`on*thrip"tic, Lyth`on*trip"*tic, a. (Med.)
Defn: See Lithontriptic.
LYTTA Lyt"ta, n.; pl. Lyttæ. Etym: [L., a worm said to grow under the tongue of dogs, and to cause canine madness, fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: A fibrous and muscular band lying within the longitudinal axis of the tongue in many mammals, as the dog.
MM (em).
1. M, the thirteenth letter of the English alphabet, is a vocal consonant, and from the manner of its formation, is called the labio- nasal consonant. See Guide to Pronunciation, §§ 178-180, 242.
The letter M came into English from the Greek, through the Latin, the form of the Greek letter being further derived from the Phonician, and ultimately, it is believed, from the Egyptian. Etymologically M is related to n, in lime, linden; emmet, ant; also to b.
M is readily followed by b and p. the position of the lips in the formation of both letters being the same. The relation of b and m is the same as that of d and t to n. and that of g and k to ng.
2. As a numeral, M stands for one thousand, both in English and Latin.
MM, n.
1. (Print.) A quadrat, the face or top of which is a perfect square; also, the size of such a square in any given size of type, used as the unit of measurement for that type: 500 m's of pica would be a piece of matter whose length and breadth in pica m's multiplied together produce that number. [Written also em.]
2. (law) A brand or stigma, having the shape of an M, formerly impressed on one convicted of manslaughter and admitted to the benefit of clergy.
M roof (Arch.), a kind of roof formed by the junction of two common roofs with a valley between them, so that the section resembles the letter M.
MAMa (mä), n. [Cf. Mamma.]
1. A child's word for mother.
2. [Hind.] In Oriental countries, a respectful form of address given to a woman; mother. Balfour (Cyc. of India).
MAMa, conj. [It.] (Mus.)
Defn: But; — used in cautionary phrases; as, "Vivace, ma non troppo presto" (i. e., lively, but not too quick). Moore (Encyc. of Music).
MAAMaa, n. [See New a gull.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The common European gull (Larus canus); — called also mar. SeeNew, a gull.
MAADMaad, obs. p. p. of Make.
Defn: Made. Chaucer.
MAALINMaa"lin, n. (Zoöl.)(a) The sparrow hawk.(b) The kestrel.
MA'AMMa'am, n.
Defn: Madam; my lady; — a colloquial contraction of madam often used in direct address, and sometimes as an appellation.
MAARA SHELLMa"a*ra shell`. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large, pearly, spiral, marine shell (Turbo margaritaceus), from the Pacific Islands. It is used as an ornament.
MAASHAMa*ash"a, n.
Defn: An East Indian coin, of about one tenth of the weight of a rupee.
MAATMaat, a. [See Mate, a.]
Defn: Dejected; sorrowful; downcast. [Obs.] "So piteous and so maat."Chaucer.
MABMab (mab), n. [Cf. W. mad a male child, a boy.]
1. A slattern. [Prov. Eng.]
2. The name of a female fairy, esp. the queen of the fairies; and hence, sometimes, any fairy. Shak.
MABBLEMab"ble, v. t.
Defn: To wrap up. [Obs.]
MABBYMab"by, n.
Defn: A spirituous liquor or drink distilled from potatoes; — used in the Barbadoes.
MABOLOMa*bo"lo, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A kind of persimmon tree (Diospyros discolor) from the Philippine Islands, now introduced into the East and West Indies. It bears an edible fruit as large as a quince.
MACMac. [Gael., son.]
Defn: A prefix, in names of Scotch origin, signifying son.
MACACOMa*ca"co, n. [Cf. Pg. macaco.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of several species of lemurs, as the ruffed lemur(Lemur macaco), and the ring-tailed lemur (L. catta).
MACACUSMa*ca"cus, n. [NL., a word of African origin. Cf. Macaco, Macaque.](Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of monkeys, found in Asia and the East Indies. They have short tails and prominent eyebrows.
MACADAMIZATIONMac*ad`am*i*za"tion, n.
Defn: The process or act of macadamizing.
MACADAMIZEMac*ad"am*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Macadamized; p. pr. & vb. n.Macadamizing.] [From John Loudon McAdam, who introduced the processinto Great Britain in 1816.]
Defn: To cover, as a road, or street, with small, broken stones, so as to form a smooth, hard, convex surface.
MACADAM ROADMac*ad"am road`. [See Macadamize.]
Defn: A macadamized road.
MACAOMa*ca"o, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A macaw.
MACAQUEMa`caque", n. [F. See Macacus.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of several species of short-tailed monkeys of the genusMacacus; as, M. maurus, the moor macaque of the East Indies.
MACARANGA GUMMac`a*ran"ga gum`.
Defn: A gum of a crimson color, obtained from a tree (MacarangaIndica) that grows in the East Indies. It is used in takingimpressions of coins, medallions, etc., and sometimes as a medicine.Balfour (Cyc. of India).
MACARIZEMac"a*rize, v. t. [Gr. to bless.]
Defn: To congratulate. [Oxford Univ. Cant] Whately.
MACARONI Mac`a*ro"ni, n.; pl. Macaronis (#), or Macaronies. [Prov. It. macaroni, It. maccheroni, fr. Gr. happiness, later, a funeral feast, fr. blessed, happy. Prob. so called because eaten at such feasts in honor of the dead; cf. Gr. blessed, i. e., dead. Cf. Macaroon.]
1. Long slender tubes made of a paste chiefly of wheat flour, and used as an article of food; Italian or Genoese paste.
A paste similarly prepared is largely used as food in Persia, India, and China, but is not commonly made tubular like the Italian macaroni. Balfour (Cyc. of India).
2. A medley; something droll or extravagant.
3. A sort of droll or fool. [Obs.] Addison.
4. A finical person; a fop; — applied especially to English fops of about 1775. Goldsmith.
5. pl. (U. S. Hist.) The designation of a body of Maryland soldiers in the Revolutionary War, distinguished by a rich uniform. W. Irving.
MACARONIAN; MACARONIC Mac`a*ro"ni*an, Mac`a*ron"ic, a. [Cf. It. maccheronico, F. macaronique.]
1. Pertaining to, or like, macaroni (originally a dish of mixed food); hence, mixed; confused; jumbled.
2. Of or pertaining to the burlesque composition called macaronic; as, macaronic poetry.
MACARONICMac`a*ron"ic, n.
1. A heap of thing confusedly mixed together; a jumble.
2. A kind of burlesque composition, in which the vernacular words of one or more modern languages are intermixed with genuine Latin words, and with hybrid formed by adding Latin terminations to other roots.
MACAROONMac`a*roon", n. [F. macaron, It. maccherone. See Macaroni.]
1. A small cake, composed chiefly of the white of eggs, almonds, and sugar.
2. A finical fellow, or macaroni. [Obs.]
MACARTNEYMa*cart"ney, n. [From Lord Macartney.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A fire-backed pheasant. See Fireback.
MACASSAR OILMa*cas`sar oil".
Defn: A kind of oil formerly used in dressing the hair; — so called because originally obtained from Macassar, a district of the Island of Celebes. Also, an imitation of the same, of perfumed castor oil and olive oil.
MACAUCOMa*cau"co, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of several species of small lemurs, as Lemur murinus, which resembles a rat in size.
MACAVAHUMa`ca*va"hu, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small Brazilian monkey (Callithrix torquatus), — called also collared teetee.
MACAWMa*caw", n. [From the native name in the Antilles.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any parrot of the genus Sittace, or Macrocercus. About eighteen species are known, all of them American. They are large and have a very long tail, a strong hooked bill, and a naked space around the eyes. The voice is harsh, and the colors are brilliant and strongly contrasted.
Macaw bush (Bot.), a West Indian name for a prickly kind of nightshade (Solanum mammosum). —Macaw palm, Macaw tree (Bot.), a tropical American palm (Acrocomia fusiformis and other species) having a prickly stem and pinnately divided leaves. Its nut yields a yellow butter, with the perfume of violets, which is used in making violet soap. Called also grugru palm.
MACCABEANMac`ca*be"an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Judas Maccabeus or to the Maccabees; as, the Maccabean princes; Maccabean times.
MACCABEESMac"ca*bees, n. pl.
1. The name given in later times to the Asmonæans, a family of Jewish patriots, who headed a religious revolt in the reign of Antiochus IV., 168-161 B. C., which led to a period of freedom for Israel. Schaff-Herzog.
2. The name of two ancient historical books, which give accounts of Jewish affairs in or about the time of the Maccabean princes, and which are received as canonical books in the Roman Catholic Church, but are included in the Apocrypha by Protestants. Also applied to three books, two of which are found in some MSS. of the Septuagint.
MACCABOY; MACCOBOYMac"ca*boy, Mac"co*boy, n. Etym: [From a district in the Island ofMartinique where it is made: cf. F. macouba.]
Defn: A kind of snuff.
MACCOMac"co, n.
Defn: A gambling game in vogue in the eighteenth century. Thackeray.
MACEMace, n. Etym: [Jav. & Malay. mas, fr. Skr. masha a bean.]
Defn: A money of account in China equal to one tenth of a tael; also, a weight of 57.98 grains. S. W. Williams.
MACE Mace, n. Etym: [F. macis, L. macis, macir, Gr. makaranda the nectar or honey of a flower, a fragrant mango.] (Bot.)
Defn: A kind of spice; the aril which partly covers nutmegs. SeeNutmeg.
Note: Red mace is the aril of Myristica tingens, and white mace that of M. Otoba, — East Indian trees of the same genus with the nutmeg tree.
MACE Mace, n. Etym: [OF. mace, F. masse, from (assumed) L. matea, of which the dim. mateola a kind of mallet or beetle, is found.]
1. A heavy staff or club of metal; a spiked club; — used as weapon in war before the general use of firearms, especially in the Middle Ages, for breaking metal armor. Chaucer. Death with his mace petrific . . . smote. Milton.
2. Hence: A staff borne by, or carried before, a magistrate as an ensign of his authority. "Swayed the royal mace." Wordsworth.
3. An officer who carries a mace as an emblem of authority. Macaulay.
4. A knobbed mallet used by curriers in dressing leather to make it supple.
5. (Billiards)
Defn: A rod for playing billiards, having one end suited to resting on the table and pushed with one hand. Mace bearer, an officer who carries a mace before person in authority.
MACEDOINEMa`cé`doine", n. [F., apparently the same word as MacédoineMacedonia.]
Defn: A kind of mixed dish, as of cooked vegetables with white sauce, sweet jelly with whole fruit, etc. Also, fig., a medley.
MACEDONIANMac`e*do"ni*an, a. Etym: [L. Macedonius, Gr. (Geog.)
Defn: Belonging, or relating, to Macedonia.— n.
Defn: A native or inhabitant of Macedonia.
MACEDONIANMac`e*do"ni*an, n. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: One of a certain religious sect, followers of Macedonius,Bishop of Constantinople, in the fourth century, who held that theHoly Ghost was a creature, like the angels, and a servant of theFather and the Son.
MACEDONIANISMMac`e*do"ni*an*ism, n.
Defn: The doctrines of Macedonius.
MACERMa"cer, n. Etym: [F. massier. See Mace staff.]
Defn: A mace bearer; an officer of a court. P. Plowman.
MACERATEMac"er*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Macerated; p. pr. & vb. n.Macerating.] Etym: [L. maceratus, p. p. of macerare to make soft,weaken, enervate; cf. Gr.
1. To make lean; to cause to waste away. [Obs. or R.] Harvey.
2. To subdue the appetites of by poor and scanty diet; to mortify. Baker.
3. To soften by steeping in a liquid, with or without heat; to wear away or separate the parts of by steeping; as, to macerate animal or vegetable fiber.
MACERATERMac"er*a`ter, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, macerates; an apparatus for converting paper or fibrous matter into pulp.
MACERATIONMac`er*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. maceratio: cf. F. macération.]
Defn: The act or process of macerating.
MACHAERODUS; MACHAIRODUSMa*chæ"ro*dus, Ma*chai"ro*dus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: A genus of extinct mammals allied to the cats, and having in the upper jaw canine teeth of remarkable size and strength; — hence called saber-toothed tigers.
MACHETEMa*che"te, n. Etym: [Sp.]
Defn: A large heavy knife resembling a broadsword, often two or three feet in length, — used by the inhabitants of Spanish America as a hatchet to cut their way through thickets, and for various other purposes. J. Stevens.
MACHIAVELIAN Mach`i*a*vel"ian, a. Etym: [From Machiavel, an Italian writer, secretary and historiographer to the republic of Florence.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to Machiavel, or to his supposed principles; politically cunning; characterized by duplicity or bad faith; crafty.
MACHIAVELIANMach`i*a*vel"ian, n.
Defn: One who adopts the principles of Machiavel; a cunning and unprincipled politician.
MACHIAVELISM; MACHIAVELIANISM Mach"i*a*vel*ism, Mach`i*a*vel"ian*ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. machiavélisme; It. machiavellismo.]
Defn: The supposed principles of Machiavel, or practice in conformity to them; political artifice, intended to favor arbitrary power.
MACHICOLATED Ma*chic"o*la`ted, a. Etym: [LL. machicolatus, p. p. of machicolare, machicollare. See Machicolation.]
Defn: Having machicolations. "Machicolated turrets." C. Kingsley.
MACHICOLATIONMach`i*co*la"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. LL. machicolamentum, machacolladura,F. mâchicolis, mâchecoulis; perh. fr. F. mèche match, combustiblematter + OF. coulis, couleis, flowing, fr. OF. & F. couler to flow.Cf. Match for making fire, and Cullis.]
1. (Mil. Arh.)
Defn: An opening between the corbels which support a projecting parapet, or in the floor of a gallery or the roof of a portal, shooting or dropping missiles upen assailants attacking the base of the walls. Also, the construction of such defenses, in general, when of this character. See Illusts. of Battlement and Castle.
2. The act of discharging missiles or pouring burning or melted substances upon assailants through such apertures.
MACHICOULISMa`chi`cou`lis", n. Etym: [F. mâchicoulis.] (Mil. Arch.)
Defn: Same as Machicolation.
MACHINALMa*chin"al, a. Etym: [L. machinalis: cf. F. machinal.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to machines.
MACHINATEMach"i*nate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Machinated; p. pr. & vb. n.Machinating.] Etym: [L. machinatus, p. p. of machinari to devise,plot. See Machine.]
Defn: To plan; to contrive; esp., to form a scheme with the purpose of doing harm; to contrive artfully; to plot. "How long will you machinate!" Sandys.
MACHINATEMach"i*nate, v. t.
Defn: To contrive, as a plot; to plot; as, to machinate evil.
MACHINATIONMach`i*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. machinatio: cf. F. machination.]
1. The act of machinating. Shak.
2. That which is devised; a device; a hostile or treacherous scheme; an artful design or plot. Devilish machinations come to naught. Milton. His ingenious machinations had failed. Macaulay.
MACHINATORMach"i*na`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who machinates, or forms a scheme with evil designs; a plotter or artful schemer. Glanvill. Sir W. Scott.
MACHINE Ma*chine", n. Etym: [F., fr. L. machina machine, engine, device, trick, Gr. Mechanic.]
1. In general, any combination of bodies so connected that their relative motions are constrained, and by means of which force and motion may be transmitted and modified, as a screw and its nut, or a lever arranged to turn about a fulcrum or a pulley about its pivot, etc.; especially, a construction, more or less complex, consisting of a combination of moving parts, or simple mechanical elements, as wheels, levers, cams, etc., with their supports and connecting framework, calculated to constitute a prime mover, or to receive force and motion from a prime mover or from another machine, and transmit, modify, and apply them to the production of some desired mechanical effect or work, as weaving by a loom, or the excitation of electricity by an electrical machine.
Note: The term machine is most commonly applied to such pieces of mechanism as are used in the industrial arts, for mechanically shaping, dressing, and combining materials for various purposes, as in the manufacture of cloth, etc. Where the effect is chemical, or other than mechanical, the contrivance is usually denominated an apparatus, not a machine; as, a bleaching apparatus. Many large, powerful, or specially important pieces of mechanism are called engines; as, a steam engine, fire engine, graduating engine, etc. Although there is no well-settled distinction between the terms engine and machine among practical men, there is a tendency to restrict the application of the former to contrivances in which the operating part is not distinct from the motor.
2. Any mechanical contrivance, as the wooden horse with which the Greeks entered Troy; a coach; a bicycle. Dryden. Southey. Thackeray.
3. A person who acts mechanically or at will of another.
4. A combination of persons acting together for a common purpose, with the agencies which they use; as, the social machine. The whole machine of government ought not to bear upon the people with a weight so heavy and oppressive. Landor.
5. A political organization arranged and controlled by one or more leaders for selfish, private or partisan ends. [Political Cant]
6. Supernatural agency in a poem, or a superhuman being introduced to perform some exploit. Addison. Elementary machine, a name sometimes given to one of the simple mechanical powers. See under Mechanical. — Infernal machine. See under Infernal. — Machine gun.See under Gun. — Machine screw, a screw or bolt adapted for screwing into metal, in distinction from one which is designed especially to be screwed into wood. — Machine shop, a workshop where machines are made, or where metal is shaped by cutting, filing, turning, etc. — Machine tool, a machine for cutting or shaping wood, metal, etc., by means of a tool; especially, a machine, as a lathe, planer, drilling machine, etc., designed for a more or less general use in a machine shop, in distinction from a machine for producing a special article as in manufacturing. — Machine twist, silken thread especially adapted for use in a sewing machine. — Machine work, work done by a machine, in contradistinction to that done by hand labor.
MACHINEMa*chine", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Machined; p. pr. & vb. n. Machining.]
Defn: To subject to the action of machinery; to effect by aid of machinery; to print with a printing machine.
MACHINERMa*chin"er, n.
Defn: One who or operates a machine; a machinist. [R.]
MACHINERYMa*chin"er*y, n. Etym: [From Machine: cf. F. machinerie.]
1. Machines, in general, or collectively.
2. The working parts of a machine, engine, or instrument; as, the machinery of a watch.
3. The supernatural means by which the action of a poetic or fictitious work is carried on and brought to a catastrophe; in an extended sense, the contrivances by which the crises and conclusion of a fictitious narrative, in prose or verse, are effected. The machinery, madam, is a term invented by the critics, to signify that part which the deities, angels, or demons, are made to act in a poem. Pope.
4. The means and appliances by which anything is kept in action or a desired result is obtained; a complex system of parts adapted to a purpose. An indispensable part of the machinery of state. Macaulay. The delicate inflexional machinery of the Aryan languages. I. Taylor (The Alphabet).
MACHININGMa*chin"ing, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the machinery of a poem; acting or used as a machine.[Obs.] Dryden.
MACHINISTMa*chin"ist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. machiniste.]
1. A constrictor of machines and engines; one versed in the principles of machines.
2. One skilled in the use of machine tools.
3. A person employed to shift scenery in a theater.
MACHOMa"cho, n. Etym: [Sp.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The striped mullet of California (Mugil cephalus, orMexicanus).
MACILENCYMac"i*len*cy, n. Etym: [See Macilent.]
Defn: Leanness.[Obs.] Sandys.
MACILENT Mac"i*lent, a. Etym: [L. macilentus, fr. macies leanness, macere to be lean.]
Defn: Lean; thin. [Obs.] Bailey.
MACINTOSHMac"in*tosh, n.
Defn: Same as Mackintosh.
MACKEREL Mack"er*el, n. Etym: [OF. maquerel, F. maquereau, fr. D. makelaar mediator, agent, fr. makelen to act as agent.]
Defn: A pimp; also, a bawd. [Obs.] Halliwell.
MACKEREL Mack`er*el, n. Etym: [OF. maquerel, F. maquereau (LL. macarellus), prob. for maclereau, fr. L. macula a spot, in allusion to the markings on the fish. See Mail armor.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any species of the genus Scomber, and of several related genera. They are finely formed and very active oceanic fishes. Most of them are highly prized for food.
Note: The common mackerel (Scomber scombrus), which inhabits both sides of the North Atlantic, is one of the most important food fishes. It is mottled with green and blue. The Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus maculatus), of the American coast, is covered with bright yellow circular spots. Bull mackerel, Chub mackerel. (Zoöl.) See under Chub. — Frigate mackerel. See under Frigate. — Horse mackerel . See under Horse. — Mackerel bird (Zoöl.), the wryneck; — so called because it arrives in England at the time when mackerel are in season. — Mackerel cock (Zoöl.), the Manx shearwater; — so called because it precedes the appearance of the mackerel on the east coast of Ireland. — Mackerel guide. (Zoöl.) See Garfish (a). — Mackerel gull (Zoöl.) any one of several species of gull which feed upon or follow mackerel, as the kittiwake. — Mackerel midge (Zoöl.), a very small oceanic gadoid fish of the North Atlantic. It is about an inch and a half long and has four barbels on the upper jaw. It is now considered the young of the genus Onos, or Motella. — Mackerel plow, an instrument for creasing the sides of lean mackerel to improve their appearance. Knight. — Mackerel shark (Zoöl.), the porbeagle. — Mackerel sky, or Mackerel-back sky, a sky flecked with small white clouds; a cirro-cumulus. See Cloud. Mackerel sky and mare's-tails Make tall ships carry low sails. Old Rhyme.
MACKINAW BLANKET; MACKINAWMack"i*naw blan"ket, Mack"i*naw.Etym: [From Mackinac,the State ofMichigan, where blankets and other stores were distributed to theIndians.]
Defn: A thick blanket formerly in common use in the western part of the United States.
MACKINAW BOATMack"i*naw boat.
Defn: A flat-bottomed boat with a pointed prow and square stern, using oars or sails or both, used esp. on the upper Great Lakes and their tributaries.
MACKINAW COATMackinaw coat.
Defn: A short, heavy, double-breasted plaid coat, the design of which is large and striking. [Local, U. S.]
MACKINAW TROUTMackinaw trout.
Defn: The namaycush.
MACKINTOSHMack"in*tosh, n.
Defn: A waterproof outer garment; — so called from the name of the inventor.
MACKLEMac`kle, n. Etym: [See Macle.]
Defn: Same Macule.
MACKLEMac"kle, v. t. & i.
Defn: To blur, or be blurred, in printing, as if there were a double impression.
MACLE Ma"cle, n. Etym: [L. macula a spot: cf. F. macle. Cf. Mackle, Mascle.] (Min.) (a) Chiastolite; — so called from the tessellated appearance of a cross section. See Chiastolite. (b) A crystal having a similar tessellated appearance. (c) A twin crystal.
MACLEDMa"cled, a.
1. (Min.) (a) Marked like macle (chiastolite). (b) Having a twin structure. See Twin, a.
2. See Mascled.
MACLUREA Ma*clu"re*a, n. Etym: [NL. Named from William Maclure, the geologist.] (Paleon.)
Defn: A genus of spiral gastropod shells, often of large size, characteristic of the lower Silurian rocks.
MACLURINMa*clu"rin, n. (Chem.)
Defn: See Morintannic.
MACRAME LACEMac"ra*me lace".
Defn: A coarse lace made of twine, used especially in decorating furniture.
MACRENCEPHALIC; MACRENCEPHALOUS Mac`ren*ce*phal"ic, Mac`ren*ceph"a*lous, a. Etym: [Macro + encephalic, encephalous.]
Defn: Having a large brain.
MACRO-Mac"ro-. Etym: [Gr. makro`s, adj.]
Defn: A combining form signifying long, large, great; as macrodiagonal, macrospore.
MACROBIOTICMac`ro*bi*ot"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. macrobiotique.]
Defn: Long-lived. Dunglison.
MACROBIOTICSMac`ro*bi*ot"ics, n. (Physiol.)
Defn: The art of prolonging life.
MACROCEPHALOUSMac`ro*ceph"a*lous, a. Etym: [Macro + Gr. kefalh` the head.]
1. Having a large head.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Having the cotyledons of a dicotyledonous embryo confluent, and forming a large mass compared with the rest of the body. Henslow.
MACRO-CHEMISTRYMac`ro-chem"is*try, n. Etym: [Macro- + chemistry.] (Chem.)
Defn: The science which treats of the chemical properties, actions or relations of substances in quantity; — distinguished from micro- chemistry.
MACROCHIRESMac`ro*chi"res, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of birds including the swifts and humming birds. So called from the length of the distal part of the wing.
MACROCOSMMac"ro*cosm, n. Etym: [Macro- + Gr. macrocosme.]
Defn: The great world; that part of the universe which is exterior to man; — contrasted with microcosm, or man. See Microcosm.
MACROCOSMICMac`ro*cos"mic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the macrocosm. Tylor.
MACROCYSTISMac`ro*cys"tis, n. Etym: [NL. See Macro-, and Cyst.] (Bot.)
Defn: An immensely long blackish seaweed of the Pacific (Macrocystis pyrifera), having numerous almond-shaped air vessels.
MACRODACTYLMac`ro*dac"tyl, n. Etym: [Gr. macrodactyle.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of a group of wading birds (Macrodactyli) having very long toes. [Written also macrodactyle.]
MACRODACTYLIC; MACRODACTYLOUSMac`ro*dac*tyl"ic, Mac`ro*dac"tyl*ous, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having long toes.
MACRODIAGONALMac`ro*di*ag"o*nal, n. Etym: [Macro- + diagonal.] (Crystallog.)
Defn: The longer of two diagonals, as of a rhombic prism. SeeCrystallization.
MACRODOMEMac"ro*dome, n. Etym: [Macro- + dome.] (Crystallog.)
Defn: A dome parallel to the longer lateral axis of an orthorhombic crystal. See Dome, n., 4.
MACRODONTMac"ro*dont, a. Etym: [Macro- + Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having large teeth.— n.
Defn: A macrodont animal.
MACROFARADMac"ro*far`ad, n. Etym: [Macro- + farad.] (Elec.)
Defn: See Megafarad. [R.]
MACROGLOSSIAMac`ro*glos"si*a, n. Etym: [NL. See Macro-, and Glossa.] (Med.)
Defn: Enlargement or hypertrophy of the tongue.
MACROGNATHICMac`rog*nath"ic, a. Etym: [Macro- + gnathic.] (Anthropol.)
Defn: Long-jawed. Huxley.
MACROGRAPHMac"ro*graph, n. [Macro- + -graph.]
Defn: A picture of an object as seen by the naked eye (that is, unmagnified); as, a macrograph of a metallic fracture.
MACROGRAPHYMa*crog"ra*phy, n.
Defn: Examination or study with the naked eye, as distinguished from micrography.
MACROLOGYMa*crol"o*gy, n. Etym: [L. macrologia, Gr. macrologie.]
Defn: Long and tedious talk without much substance; superfluity of words.
MACROMETERMa*crom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Macro- + -meter.]
Defn: An instrument for determining the size or distance of inaccessible objects by means of two reflectors on a common sextant.
MACRONMa"cron, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Pron.)
Defn: A short, straight, horizontal mark [-], placed over vowels to denote that they are to be pronounced with a long sound; as, a, in dame; e, in seam, etc.
MACROPETALOUSMac`ro*pet"al*ous, a. Etym: [Macro- + petal.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having long or large petals.
MACROPHYLLOUSMa*croph"yl*lous, a. Etym: [Macro- + Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Having long or large leaves.
MACROPINACOIDMac`ro*pin"a*coid, n. Etym: [Macro- + pinacoid.] (Crystallog.)
Defn: One of the two planes of an orthorhombic crystal which are parallel to the vertical and longer lateral (macrodiagonal) axes.
MACROPODMac"ro*pod, n. Etym: [Macro- + -pod.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of a group of maioid crabs remarkable for the length of their legs; — called also spider crab.
MACROPODALMa*crop"o*dal, a.
Defn: Having long or large feet, or a long stem.
MACROPODIANMac`ro*po"di*an, n.
Defn: A macropod.
MACROPODOUSMa*crop"o*dous, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having long legs or feet.
MACROPRISMMac"ro*prism, n. Etym: [Macro- + prism.] (Crystallog.)
Defn: A prism of an orthorhombic crystal between the macropinacoid and the unit prism; the corresponding pyramids are called macropyramids.
MACROPTERESMa*crop"te*res, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of birds; the Longipennes.
MACROPTEROUSMa*crop"ter*ous, a. Etym: [See Macropteres.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having long wings.
MACROPUSMac"ro*pus, n. Etym: [NL. See Macropod.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: genus of marsupials including the common kangaroo.
MACROPYRAMIDMac`ro*pyr"a*mid, n. Etym: [Macro- + pyramid.] (Crystallog.)
Defn: See Macroprism.
MACROSCOPIC; MACROSCOPICALMac`ro*scop"ic, Mac`ro*scop"ic*al, a. Etym: [Macro- + Gr.
Defn: Visible to the unassisted eye; — as opposed to microscopic.— Mac`ro*scop"ic*al*ly, adv.
MACROSPORANGIUMMac`ro*spo*ran"gi*um, n. Etym: [NL. See Macro-, and Sporangium.](Bot.)
Defn: A sporangium or conceptacle containing only large spores; — opposed to microsporangium. Both are found in the genera Selaginella, Isoctes, and Marsilia, plants remotely allied to ferns.
MACROSPOREMac"ro*spore, n. Etym: [Macro- + spore.] (Bot.)
Defn: One of the specially large spores of certain flowerless plants, as Selaginella, etc.
MACROSPORICMac`ro*spor"ic, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to macrospores.
MACROTONEMac"ro*tone, n. Etym: [Gr. Macro-, and Tone.] (Pron.)
Defn: Same as Macron.
MACROTOUSMa*cro"tous, a. Etym: [Macro- + Gr. o"y^s, gen. 'wto`s, the ear.](Zoöl.)
Defn: Large-eared.
MACROURA; MACROURALMa*crou"ra, n. pl., Ma*crou"ral (, a., etc. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Macrura, Macrural, etc.
MACROZOOSPORE; MACROZOOESPOREMac`ro*zo"ö*spore, n. Etym: [Macro- + zoöspore.] (Bot.)
Defn: A large motile spore having four vibratile cilia; — found in certain green algæ.
MACRURAMa*cru"ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A subdivision of decapod Crustacea, having the abdomen largely developed. It includes the lobster, prawn, shrimp, and many similar forms. Cf. Decapoda.
MACRURALMa*cru"ral, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Macrurous.
MACRURANMa*cru"ran, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Macrura.
MACRUROIDMa*cru"roid, a. Etym: [Macrura + -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like or pertaining to the Macrura.
MACRUROUSMa*cru"rous, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Macrura; having a long tail.
MACTATIONMac*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. mactatio, fr. macture to slay, sacrifice.]
Defn: The act of killing a victim for sacrifice. [Obs.]
MACTRAMac"tra, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any marine bivalve shell of the genus Mactra, and allied genera. Many species are known. Some of them are used as food, as Mactra stultorum, of Europe. See Surf clam, under Surf.
MACULA Mac"u*la, n.; pl. Maculæ. Etym: [L., spot, stain, blot. See Mail armor, and cf. Mackle, Macule.]
1. A spot, as on the skin, or on the surface of the sun or of some other luminous orb.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A rather large spot or blotch of color.
MACULATEMac"u*late, v. t. Etym: [L. maculatus, p. p. of maculare to spot. SeeMacula, and cf. Macule, v.]
Defn: To spot; to stain; to blur.Maculate the honor of their people. Sir T. Elyot.
MACULATEMac"u*late, a. Etym: [L. maculatus, p. p.]
Defn: Marked with spots or maculæ; blotched; hence, defiled; impure; as, most maculate thoughts. Shak.
MACULATEDMac"u*la`ted, a.
Defn: Having spots or blotches; maculate.
MACULATIONMac"u*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. maculatio.]
Defn: The act of spotting; a spot; a blemish. Shak.
MACULATORYMac"u*la*to*ry, a.
Defn: Causing a spot or stain. T. Adams.
MACULATUREMac"u*la*ture, n
Defn: , Blotting paper. [Obs.]
MACULEMac"ule, n. Etym: [F. macule. See Macula.]
1. A spot. [Obs.]
2. (Print.)
Defn: A blur, or an appearance of a double impression, as when the paper slips a little; a mackle.
MACULEMac"ule, v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. maculer. See Maculate,v.]
Defn: To blur; especially (Print.), to blur or double an impression from type. See Mackle.
MACULOSEMac"u*lose`, a. Etym: [L. maculosus.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to spots upon a surface; spotted; maculate.
MADMad, obs. p. p.
Defn: of Made. Chaucer.
MAD Mad, a. [Compar. Madder; superl. Maddest.] Etym: [AS. gem, gemad, mad; akin to OS. gem foolish, OHG. gameit, Icel. mei to hurt, Goth. gamáids weak, broken.
1. Disordered in intellect; crazy; insane. I have heard my grandsire say full oft, Extremity of griefs would make men mad. Shak.
2. Excited beyond self-control or the restraint of reason; inflamed by violent or uncontrollable desire, passion, or appetite; as, to be mad with terror, lust, or hatred; mad against political reform. It is the land of graven images, and they are mad upon their idols. Jer. 1. 88. And being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities. Acts xxvi. 11.
3. Proceeding from, or indicating, madness; expressing distraction; prompted by infatuation, fury, or extreme rashness. "Mad demeanor." Milton. Mad wars destroy in one year the works of many years of peace. Franklin. The mad promise of Cleon was fulfilled. Jowett (Thucyd.).
4. Extravagant; immoderate. "Be mad and merry." Shak. "Fetching mad bounds." Shak.
5. Furious with rage, terror, or disease; — said of the lower animals; as, a mad bull; esp., having hydrophobia; rabid; as, a mad dog.
6. Angry; out of patience; vexed; as, to get mad at a person. [Colloq.]
7. Having impaired polarity; — applied to a compass needle. [Colloq.] Like mad, like a mad person; in a furious manner; as, to run like mad. L'Estrange. — To run mad. (a) To become wild with excitement. (b) To run wildly about under the influence of hydrophobia; to become affected with hydrophobia. — To run mad after, to pursue under the influence of infatuation or immoderate desire. "The world is running mad after farce." Dryden.
MADMad, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Madded; p. pr. & vb. n. Madding.]
Defn: To make mad or furious; to madden.Had I but seen thy picture in this plight, It would have madded me.Shak.
MADMad, v. i.
Defn: To be mad; to go mad; to rave. See Madding. [Archaic] Chaucer.Festus said with great voice, Paul thou maddest. Wyclif (Acts).
MADMad, n. Etym: [AS. ma; akin to D. & G. made, Goth. mapa, and prob. toE. moth.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An earthworm. [Written also made.]
MADAMMad"am, n.; pl. Madams, or Mesdames. Etym: [See Madame.]
Defn: A gentlewoman; — an appellation or courteous form of address given to a lady, especially an elderly or a married lady; — much used in the address, at the beginning of a letter, to a woman. The corresponding word in addressing a man is Sir.
MADAME Ma`dame", n.; pl. Mesdames. Etym: [F., fr. ma my (L. mea) + dame dame. See Dame, and cf. Madonna.]
Defn: My lady; — a French title formerly given to ladies of quality; now, in France, given to all married women. Chaucer.
MAD-APPLEMad"-ap`ple, n. (Bot.)
Defn: See Eggplant.
MADBRAINMad"brain`, a.
Defn: Hot-headed; rash. Shak.— n.
Defn: A rash or hot-headed person.
MADBRAINEDMad"brained`, a.
Defn: Disordered in mind; hot-headed. Shak.
MADCAPMad"cap`, a.
1. Inclined to wild sports; delighting in rash, absurd, or dangerous amusements. "The merry madcap
Defn: lord." Shak.
2. Wild; reckless. "Madcap follies" Beau. & Fl.
MADCAPMad"cap`, n.
Defn: A person of wild behavior; an excitable, rash, violent person.Shak.
MADDENMad"den, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Maddened; p. pr. & vb. n. Maddening.]
Defn: To make mad; to drive to madness; to craze; to excite violently with passion; to make very angry; to enrage.
MADDENMad"den, v. i.
Defn: To become mad; to act as if mad.They rave, recite, and madden round the land. Pope.
MADDERMad"der, n. Etym: [OE. mader, AS. mædere; akin to Icel. ma.] (Bot.)
Defn: A plant of the Rubia (R. tinctorum). The root is much used in dyeing red, and formerly was used in medicine. It is cultivated in France and Holland. See Rubiaceous.
Note: Madder is sometimes used in forming pigments, as lakes, etc., which receive their names from their colors; as. madder yellow. Field madder, an annual European weed (Sherardia arvensis) resembling madder. — Indian madder , the East Indian Rubia cordifolia, used in the East for dyeing; — called also munjeet. — Wild madder, Rubia peregrina of Europe; also the Galium Mollugo, a kind of bedstraw.
MADDERWORTMad"der*wort`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A name proposed for any plant of the same natural order(Rubiaceæ) as the madder.
MADDINGMad"ding, a.
Defn: Affected with madness; raging; furious.— Mad"ding*ly, adv. [Archaic]Far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife. Gray.The madding wheels Of brazen chariots raged. Milton.
MADDISHMad"dish, a.
Defn: Somewhat mad. Beau. & Fl.
MADEMade, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Mad, n.
MADEMade, imp. & p. p.
Defn: of Make.
MADEMade, a.
Defn: Artificially produced; pieced together; formed by filling in; as, made ground; a made mast, in distinction from one consisting of a single spar. Made up. (a) Complete; perfect. "A made up villain." Shak. (b) Falsely devised; fabricated; as, a made up story. (c) Artificial; as, a made up figure or complexion.
MADECASS; MADECASSEEMad"e*cass, Mad`e*cas"see, n.
Defn: A native or inhabitant of Madagascar, or Madecassee; the language of the natives of Madagascar. See Malagasy.
MADECASSEEMad`e*cas"see, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Madagascar or its inhabitants.
MADEFACTION; MADEFICATION Mad`e*fac"tion, Mad`e*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. madefacere to make wet; madere to be wet + facere to make: cf. F. madéfaction.]
Defn: The act of madefying, or making wet; the state of that which is made wet. [R.] Bacon.
MADEFYMad"e*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Madefied; p. pr. & vb. n. Madefying.]Etym: [Cf. F. madéfier, L. madefacere. See Madefaction.]
Defn: To make wet or moist. [R.]
MADEGASSYMad`e*gas"sy, n. & a.
Defn: See Madecassee.
MADEIRAMa*dei"ra, n. Etym: [Pg., the Island Madeira, properly, wood, fr. L.materia stuff, wood. The island was so called because well wooded.See Matter.]
Defn: A rich wine made on the Island of Madeira.A cup of Madeira, and a cold capon's leg. Shak.Madeira nut (Bot.), the European walnut; the nut of the Juglansregia.
MADEIRA VINEMa*dei"ra vine. (Bot.)
Defn: A herbaceous climbing vine (Boussingaultia baselloides) very popular in cultivation, having shining entire leaves and racemes of small fragrant white flowers.
MADEIRA WOOD Madeira wood. (Bot.) (a) The mahogany tree (Swietenia Mahogoni). (b) A West Indian leguminous tree (Lysiloma Latisiliqua) the wood of which is used for boat trimming.
MADEMOISELLE Ma`de*moi`selle", n.; pl. Mesdemoiselles. Etym: [F., fr. ma my, f. of mon + demoiselle young lady. See Damsel.]
1. A French title of courtesy given to a girl or an unmarried lady, equivalent to the English Miss. Goldsmith.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A marine food fish (Sciæna chrysura), of the Southern UnitedStates; — called also yellowtail, and silver perch.
MADGE Madge, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. & Prov. F. machette.] (Zoöl.) (a) The barn owl. (b) The magpie.
MAD-HEADEDMad"-head`ed, a.
Defn: Wild; crack-brained.
MADHOUSEMad"house`, n.
Defn: A house where insane persons are confined; an insane asylum; a bedlam.
MADIA Ma"di*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Sp. madi, fr. Chilian madi, the native name.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of composite plants, of which one species (Madia sativa) is cultivated for the oil yielded from its seeds by pressure. This oil is sometimes used instead of olive oil for the table.
MADIDMad"id, a. Etym: [L. madidus, fr. madere to be wet.]
Defn: Wet; moist; as, a madid eye. [R.] Beaconsfield.
MADISTERIUMMad`is*te"ri*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Surg.)
Defn: An instrument to extract hairs.
MADJOUNMad"joun, n. Etym: [Hind., fr. Ar. ma'j.]
Defn: An intoxicating confection from the hemp plant; — used by theTurks and Hindoos. [Written also majoun.]
MADLYMad"ly, adv. Etym: [From Mad, a.]
Defn: In a mad manner; without reason or understanding; wildly.
MADMANMad"man, n.; pl. Madmen (.
Defn: A man who is mad; lunatic; a crazy person. When a man mistakes his thoughts for person and things, he is mad. A madman is properly so defined. Coleridge.
MADNEPMad"nep, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The masterwort (Peucedanum Ostruthium).
MADNESSMad"ness, n. Etym: [From Mad, a.]
1. The condition of being mad; insanity; lunacy.
2. Frenzy; ungovernable rage; extreme folly.
Syn.— Insanity; distraction; derangement; craziness; lunacy; mania;frenzy; franticness; rage; aberration; alienation; monomania. SeeInsanity.
MADONNAMa*don"na, n. Etym: [It. madonna my lady. See Dame, Donna, and cf.Madame, Monkey.]
1. My lady; — a term of address in Italian formerly used as the equivalent of Madame, but for which Signora is now substituted. Sometimes introduced into English. Shak.
2. [pl. Madonnas (naz).]
Defn: A picture of the Virgin Mary (usually with the babe). The Italian painters are noted for drawing the Madonnas by their own wives or mistresses. Rymer.
MADOQUAMa"do*qua, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small Abyssinian antelope (Neotragus Saltiana), about the size of a hare.
MADRAGUEMa`drague", n. Etym: [R.]
Defn: A large fish pound used for the capture of the tunny in theMediterranean; also applied to the seines used for the same purpose.
MADRASMa*dras", n. [So named after Madras, a city and presidency of India.]
Defn: A large silk-and-cotton kerchief, usually of bright colors, such as those often used by negroes for turbans.
A black woman in blue cotton gown, red-and-yellow madras turban . . . crouched against the wall. G. W. Cable.
MADREPERLMa"dre*perl, n. Etym: [It. madreperla.]
Defn: Mother-of-pearl.
MADREPORAMad`re*po"ra, n. Etym: [NL. See Madre.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of reef corals abundant in tropical seas. It includesthan one hundred and fifty species, most of which are elegantlybranched.— Mad`re*po"ral, a.
MADREPORARIAMad`re*po*ra"ri*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Madrepore.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An extensive division of Anthozoa, including most of the species that produce stony corals. See Illust. of Anthozoa. — Mad`re*po*ra"ri*an, a. & n.
MADREPORE Mad"re*pore, n. Etym: [F. madrepore, perh. fr. madré spotted, fr. OF. madre, mazre, a kind of knotty wood with brown spots, fr. OHG. masar a knot, grain, or vein in wood, a speck, G. maser + pore (see Pore); or perh. F. madrépore is rather from It. madrepora, and this perh. fr. It. madre mother (see Mother) + Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any coral of the genus Madrepora; formerly, often applied to any stony coral.
MADREPORIAN; MADREPORICMad`re*po"ri*an, Mad`re*po"ric, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Resembling, or pertaining to, the genus Madrepora. Madreporic plate (Zoöl.), a perforated plate in echinoderms, through which water is admitted to the ambulacral tubes; — called also madreporic tubercule.
MADREPORIFORMMad`re*po"ri*form, a. Etym: [Madrepore + -form.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Resembling a madreporian coral in form or structure.
MADREPORITEMad"re*po*rite, n. Etym: [Cf. F. madréporite]
1. (Paleon.)
Defn: A fossil coral.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The madreporic plate of echinoderms.
MADRIER Ma*drier", n. Etym: [F., from Sp. madero, or Pg. madeiro, fr. Sp. madera wood for building, timber, Pg. madeira, L. materia stuff, materials, lumber. See Matter.]
Defn: A thick plank, used for several mechanical purposes; especially: (a) A plank to receive the mouth of a petard, with which it is applied to anything intended to be broken down. (b) A plank or beam used for supporting the earth in mines or fortifications.
MADRIGAL Mad"ri*gal, n. Etym: [It. madrigale, OIt. madriale, mandriale (cf. LL. matriale); of uncertain origin, possibly fr. It mandra flock, L. mandra stall, herd of cattle, Gr. madrigal, originally, a pastoral song.]
1. A little amorous poem, sometimes called a pastoral poem, containing some tender and delicate, though simple, thought. Whose artful strains have oft delayed The huddling brook to hear his madrigal. Milton.
2. (Mus.)
Defn: An unaccompanied polyphonic song, in four, five, or more parts, set to secular words, but full of counterpoint and imitation, and adhering to the old church modes. Unlike the freer glee, it is best sung with several voices on a part. See Glee.
MADRIGALERMad"ri*gal*er, n.
Defn: A madrigalist.
MADRIGALISTMad"ri*gal*ist, n.
Defn: A composer of madrigals.
MADRILENIANMad`ri*le"ni*an, a. Etym: [Sp. Madrileno.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to Madrid in Spain, or to its inhabitants.— n.
Defn: A native or inhabitant of Madrid.
MADRINAMa*dri"na, n. Etym: [Sp., prop., a godmother.]