Defn: , One who, or that which, melts.
MELTINGMelt"ing, n.
Defn: Liquefaction; the act of causing (something) to melt, or the process of becoming melted. Melting point (Chem.), the degree of temperature at which a solid substance melts or fuses; as, the melting point of ice is 0º Centigrade or 32º Fahr., that of urea is 132º Centigrade. — Melting pot, a vessel in which anything is melted; a crucible.
MELTINGMelt"ing a.
Defn: Causing to melt; becoming melted; — used literally or figuratively; as, a melting heat; a melting appeal; a melting mood. — Melt"ing*ly, adv.
MELTONMel"ton, Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]
Defn: A kind of stout woolen cloth with unfinished face and without raised nap. A commoner variety has a cotton warp.
MELUNGEONMe*lun"geon, n. [Cf. F. mélanger to mix, mélange a mixture.]
Defn: One of a mixed white and Indian people living in parts of Tennessee and the Carolinas. They are descendants of early intermixtures of white settlers with natives. In North Carolina the Croatan Indians, regarded as descended from Raleigh's lost colony of Croatan, formerly classed with negroes, are now legally recognized as distinct.
MEMBERMem"ber, v. t. Etym: [See Remember.]
Defn: To remember; to cause to remember; to mention. [Obs.]
MEMBER Mem"ber, n. Etym: [OE. membre, F. membre, fr. L. membrum; cf. Goth. mimz flesh, Skr. mamsa.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: A part of an animal capable of performing a distinct office; anorgan; a limb.We have many members in one body, and all members have not the sameoffice. Rom. xii. 4.
2. Hence, a part of a whole; an independent constituent of a body; as: (a) A part of a discourse or of a period or sentence; a clause; a part of a verse. (b) (Math.) Either of the two parts of an algebraic equation, connected by the sign of equality. (c) (Engin.)
Defn: Any essential part, as a post, tie rod, strut, etc., of a framed structure, as a bridge truss. (d) (Arch.) Any part of a building, whether constructional, as a pier, column, lintel, or the like, or decorative, as a molding, or group of moldings. (e) One of the persons composing a society, community, or the like; an individual forming part of an association; as, a member of the society of Friends. Compression member, Tension member (Engin.), a member, as a rod, brace, etc., which is subjected to compression or tension, respectively.
MEMBEREDMem"bered, a.
1. Having limbs; — chiefly used in composition.
2. (Her.)
Defn: Having legs of a different tincture from that of the body; — said of a bird in heraldic representations.
MEMBERSHIPMem"ber*ship, n.
1. The state of being a member.
2. The collective body of members, as of a society.
MEMBRALMem"bral, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Relating to a member.
MEMBRANACEOUSMem`bra*na"ceous, a. Etym: [L. membranaceus.]
1. Same as Membranous. Arbuthnot.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Thin and rather soft or pliable, as the leaves of the rose, peach tree, and aspen poplar.
MEMBRANE Mem"brane, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. membrana the skin that covers the separate members of the body, fr. L. membrum. See Member.] (Anat.)
Defn: A thin layer or fold of tissue, usually supported by a fibrous network, serving to cover or line some part or organ, and often secreting or absorbing certain fluids.
Note: The term is also often applied to the thin, expanded parts, of various texture, both in animals and vegetables. Adventitious membrane, a membrane connecting parts not usually connected, or of a different texture from the ordinary connection; as, the membrane of a cicatrix. — Jacob's membrane. See under Retina. — Mucous membranes (Anat.), the membranes lining passages and cavities which communicate with the exterior, as well as ducts and receptacles of secretion, and habitually secreting mucus. — Schneiderian membrane. (Anat.) See Schneiderian. — Serous membranes (Anat.) , the membranes, like the peritoneum and pleura, which line, or lie in, cavities having no obvious outlet, and secrete a serous fluid.
MEMBRANEOUSMem*bra"ne*ous, a. Etym: [L. membraneus of parchment.]
Defn: See Membranous.
MEMBRANIFEROUSMem`bra*nif"er*ous, a. Etym: [Membrane + -ferous.]
Defn: Having or producing membranes.
MEMBRANIFORMMem*bra"ni*form, a. Etym: [Membrane + -form: cf. F. membraniforme.]
Defn: Having the form of a membrane or of parchment.
MEMBRANOLOGYMem`bra*nol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Membrane + -logy.]
Defn: The science which treats of membranes.
MEMBRANOUSMem"bra*nous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. membraneux.]
1. Pertaining to, consisting of, or resembling, membrane; as, a membranous covering or lining.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Membranaceous. Membranous croup (Med.), true croup. See Croup.
MEMENTO Me*men"to, n.; pl. Mementos. Etym: [L., remember, be mindful, imper. of meminisse to remember. See Mention.]
Defn: A hint, suggestion, token, or memorial, to awaken memory; that which reminds or recalls to memory; a souvenir. Seasonable mementos may be useful. Bacon.
MEMENTO MORIMe*men"to mo"ri. [L.]
Defn: Lit., remember to die, i.e., that you must die; a warning to be prepared for death; an object, as a death's-head or a personal ornament, usually emblematic, used as a reminder of death.
MEMINNAMe*min"na, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small deerlet, or chevrotain, of India.
MEMNONMem"non, n. Etym: [L., from Gr. (Antiq.)
Defn: A celebrated Egyptian statue near Thebes, said to have the property of emitting a harplike sound at sunrise.
MEMOIR; MEMOIRS Mem"oir, or pl. Mem"oirs, n. Etym: [F. mémoire, m., memorandum, fr. mémoire, f., memory, L. memoria. See Memory.]
1. A memorial account; a history composed from personal experience and memory; an account of transactions or events (usually written in familiar style) as they are remembered by the writer. See History, 2.
2. A memorial of any individual; a biography; often, a biography written without special regard to method and completeness.
3. An account of something deemed noteworthy; an essay; a record of investigations of any subject; the journals and proceedings of a society.
MEMOIRISTMem"oir*ist, n.
Defn: A writer of memoirs.
MEMORABILIAMem`o*ra*bil"i*a, n. pl. Etym: [L., fr. memorabilis memorable. SeeMemorable.]
Defn: Things remarkable and worthy of remembrance or record; also, the record of them.
MEMORABILITYMem`o*ra*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being memorable.
MEMORABLEMem"o*ra*ble, a. Etym: [L. memorabilis, fr. memorare to bring toremembrance, fr. memor mindful, remembering. See Memory, and cf.Memorabilia.]
Defn: Worthy to be remembered; very important or remarkable.— Mem"o*ra*ble*ness, n.— Mem"o*ra*bly, adv.Surviving fame to gain, Buy tombs, by books, by memorable deeds. SirJ. Davies.
MEMORANDUM Mem`o*ran"dum, n.; pl. E. Memorandums, L. Memoranda. Etym: [L., something to be remembered, neut. of memorandus, fut. pass. p. of memorare. See Memorable.]
1. A record of something which it is desired to remember; a note to help the memory. I . . . entered a memorandum in my pocketbook. Guardian. I wish you would, as opportunity offers, make memorandums of the regulations of the academies. Sir J. Reynolds.
2. (Law)
Defn: A brief or informal note in writing of some transaction, or an outline of an intended instrument; an instrument drawn up in a brief and compendious form. Memorandum check, a check given as an acknowledgment of indebtedness, but with the understanding that it will not be presented at bank unless the maker fails to take it up on the day the debt becomes due. It usually has Mem. written on its face.
MEMORATEMem"o*rate, v. t. Etym: [L. memoratus, p. p. of memorare. SeeMemorable.]
Defn: To commemorate. [Obs.]
MEMORATIVEMem"o*ra*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. mémoratif.]
Defn: Commemorative. [Obs.] Hammond.
MEMORIAMe*mo"ri*a, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: Memory. Memoria technica, technical memory; a contrivance for aiding the memory.
MEMORIALMe*mo"ri*al, a. Etym: [F. mémorial, L. memorialis, fr. memoria. SeeMemory.]
1. Serving to preserve remembrance; commemorative; as, a memorial building. There high in air, memorial of my name, Fix the smooth oar, and bid me live to fame. Pope.
2. Contained in memory; as, a memorial possession.
3. Mnemonic; assisting the memory. This succession of Aspirate, Soft, and Hard, may be expressed by the memorial word ASH. Skeat. Memorial Day. Same as Decoration Day. [U.S.]
MEMORIALMe*mo"ri*al, n. Etym: [Cf. F. mémorial.]
1. Anything intended to preserve the memory of a person or event; something which serves to keep something else in remembrance; a monument. Macaulay. Churches have names; some as memorials of peace, some of wisdom, some in memory of the Trinity itself. Hooker.
2. A memorandum; a record. [Obs. or R.] Hayward.
3. A written representation of facts, addressed to the government, or to some branch of it, or to a society, etc., — often accompanied with a petition.
4. Memory; remembrance. [Obs.] Precious is the memorial of the just. Evelyn.
5. (Diplomacy)
Defn: A species of informal state paper, much used in negotiation.
MEMORIAL DAYMe*mo"ri*al Day.
Defn: A day, May 30, appointed for commemorating, by decorating theirgraves with flowers, by patriotic exercises, etc., the dead soldiersand sailors who served the Civil War (1861-65) in the United States;Decoration Day. It is a legal holiday in most of the States. In theSouthern States, the Confederate Memorial Day is: May 30 in Virginia;April 26 in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi; May 10 inNorth Carolina and South Carolina; the second Friday in May inTennessee; June 3 in Louisiana. [U. S.]
MEMORIALISTMe*mo"ri*al*ist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. mémorialiste.]
Defn: One who writes or signs a memorial.
MEMORIALIZEMe*mo"ri*al*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Memorialized; p. pr. & vb. n.Memorializing.]
Defn: To address or petition by a memorial; to present a memorial to; as, to memorialize the legislature. T. Hook.
MEMORIALIZERMe*mo"ri*al*i`zer, n.
Defn: One who petitions by a memorial. T. Hook.
MEMORIAL ROSEMemorial rose.
Defn: A Japanese evergreen rose (Rosa wichuraiana) with creeping branches, shining leaves, and single white flowers. It is often planted in cemeteries.
MEMORISTMem"o*rist, n. Etym: [See Memorize.]
Defn: One who, or that which, causes to be remembered. [Obs.]
MEMORITERMe*mor"i*ter, adv. Etym: [L., fr. memor mindful. See Memorable.]
Defn: By, or from, memory.
MEMORIZEMem"o*rize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Memorized; p. pr. & vb. n.Memorizing.] Etym: [See Memory.]
1. To cause to be remembered ; hence, to record. [Obs.] They neglect to memorize their conquest. Spenser. They meant to . . . memorize another Golgotha. Shak.
2. To commit to memory; to learn by heart.
MEMORYMem"o*ry, n.; pl. Memories. Etym: [OE. memorie, OF. memoire, memorie,F. mémoire, L. memoria, fr. memor mindful; cf. mora delay. Cf. Demur,Martyr, Memoir, Remember.]
1. The faculty of the mind by which it retains the knowledge of previous thoughts, impressions, or events. Memory is the purveyor of reason. Rambler.
2. The reach and positiveness with which a person can remember; the strength and trustworthiness of one's power to reach and represent or to recall the past; as, his memory was never wrong.
3. The actual and distinct retention and recognition of past ideas in the mind; remembrance; as, in memory of youth; memories of foreign lands.
4. The time within which past events can be or are remembered; as, within the memory of man. And what, before thy memory, was done From the begining. Milton.
5. Something, or an aggregate of things, remembered; hence, character, conduct, etc., as preserved in remembrance, history, or tradition; posthumous fame; as, the war became only a memory. The memory of the just is blessed. Prov. x. 7. That ever-living man of memory, Henry the Fifth. Shak. The Nonconformists . . . have, as a body, always venerated her [Elizabeth's] memory. Macaulay.
6. A memorial. [Obs.] These weeds are memories of those worser hours. Shak.
Syn. — Memory, Remembrance, Recollection, Reminiscence. Memory is the generic term, denoting the power by which we reproduce past impressions. Remembrance is an exercise of that power when things occur spontaneously to our thoughts. In recollection we make a distinct effort to collect again, or call back, what we know has been formerly in the mind. Reminiscence is intermediate between remembrance and recollection, being a conscious process of recalling past occurrences, but without that full and varied reference to particular things which characterizes recollection. "When an idea again recurs without the operation of the like object on the external sensory, it is remembrance; if it be sought after by the mind, and with pain and endeavor found, and brought again into view, it is recollection." Locke. To draw to memory, to put on record; to record. [Obs.] Chaucer. Gower.
MEMPHIANMem"phi*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the ancient city of Memphis in Egypt; hence, Egyptian; as, Memphian darkness.
MEM-SAHIB Mem"-sa`hib, n. [Hind. mem-sahib; mem (fr. E. ma'am) + Ar. çahib master. See Sahib.]
Defn: Lady; mistress; — used by Hindustani-speaking natives in India in addressing European women.
MENMen, n.,
Defn: pl. of Man.
MEN Men, pron. Etym: [OE. me, men. "Not the plural of man, but a weakened form of the word man itself." Skeat.]
Defn: A man; one; — used with a verb in the singular, andcorresponding to the present indefinite one or they. [Obs.] PiersPlowman.Men moot give silver to the poure triars. Chaucer.A privy thief, men clepeth death. Chaucer.
MENACCANITE Me*nac"can*ite, n. Etym: [From Menaccan, in Cornwall, where it was first found.] (Min.)
Defn: An iron-black or steel-gray mineral, consisting chiefly of the oxides of iron and titanium. It is commonly massive, but occurs also in rhombohedral crystals. Called also titanic iron ore, and ilmenite.
MENACE Men"ace, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. minaciae threats, menaces, fr. minax, - acis, projecting, threatening, minae projecting points or pinnacles, threats. Cf. Amenable, Demean, Imminent, Minatory.]
Defn: The show of an intention to inflict evil; a threat orthreatening; indication of a probable evil or catastrophe to come.His (the pope's) commands, his rebukes, his menaces. Milman.The dark menace of the distant war. Dryden.
MENACEMen"ace, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Menaced (ast); p. pr. & vb. n.Menacing.] Etym: [OF. menacier, F. menacer. See Menace, n.]
1. To express or show an intention to inflict, or to hold out a prospect of inflicting, evil or injury upon; to threaten; — usually followed by with before the harm threatened; as, to menace a country with war. My master . . . did menace me with death. Shak.
2. To threaten, as an evil to be inflicted. By oath he menaced Revenge upon the cardinal. Shak.
MENACEMen"ace, v. i.
Defn: To act in threatening manner; to wear a threatening aspect.Who ever knew the heavens menace so Shak.
MENACERMen"a*cer, n.
Defn: One who menaces.
MENACINGLYMen"a*cing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a threatening manner.
MENAGEMé`nage", n.
Defn: See Manage.
MENAGEMé`nage", n. Etym: [See Menagerie.]
Defn: A collection of animals; a menagerie. [Obs.] Addison.
MENAGERIE Men*ag"er*ie, n. Etym: [F. ménagerie, fr. ménager to keep house, ménage household. See Menial, Mansion.]
1. A piace where animals are kept and trained.
2. A collection of wild or exotic animals, kept for exhibition.
MENAGOGUEMen"a*gogue, n. Etym: [F. ménagogue, fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Emmenagogue.
MENAIONMe*na"ion, n.; pl. Menaia (-yå). Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Eccl.)
Defn: A work of twelve volumes, each containing the offices in theGreek Church for a month; also, each volume of the same. Shipley.
MENALD; MENILDMen"ald, Men"ild, a.
Defn: Covered with spots; speckled; variegated. [Obs.]
MENDMend, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mended; p. pr. & vb. n. Mending.] Etym:[Abbrev. fr. amend. See Amend.]
1. To repair, as anything that is torn, broken, defaced, decayed, or the like; to restore from partial decay, injury, or defacement; to patch up; to put in shape or order again; to re-create; as, to mend a garment or a machine.
2. To alter for the better; to set right; to reform; hence, to quicken; as, to mend one's manners or pace. The best service they could do the state was to mend the lives of the persons who composed it. Sir W. Temple.
3. To help, to advance, to further; to add to. Though in some lands the grass is but short, yet it mends garden herbs and fruit. Mortimer. You mend the jewel by the wearing it. Shak.
Syn.— To improve; help; better; emend; amend; correct; rectify; reform.
MENDMend, v. i.
Defn: To grow better; to advance to a better state; to become improved. Shak.
MENDABLEMend"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being mended.
MENDACIOUSMen*da"cious, a. Etym: [L. mendax, -acis, lying, cf. mentiri to lie.]
1. Given to deception or falsehood; lying; as, a mendacious person.
2. False; counterfeit; containing falsehood; as, a mendaciousstatement.— Men*da"cious*ly, adv.— Men*da"cious*ness, n.
MENDACITYMen*dac"i*ty, n.; pl. Mendacities. Etym: [L. mendacitas.]
1. The quality or state of being mendacious; a habit of lying. Macaulay.
2. A falsehood; a lie. Sir T. Browne.
Syn.— Lying; deceit; untruth; falsehood.
MENDELIANMen*de"li*an, a. [See Mendel's law.] (Biol.)
Defn: Pert. to Mendel, or to Mendel's law. — Men*de"li*an*ism (#),Men*del"ism (#), n.
MENDELIAN CHARACTERMendelian character. (Biol.)
Defn: A character which obeys Mendel's law in regard to its hereditary transmission.
MENDEL'S LAWMen"del's law.
Defn: A principle governing the inheritance of many characters in animals and plants, discovered by Gregor J. Mendel (Austrian Augustinian abbot, 1822-84) in breeding experiments with peas. He showed that the height, color, and other characters depend on the presence of determinating factors behaving as units. In any given germ cell each of these is either present or absent. The following example (using letters as symbols of the determining factors and hence also of the individuals possessing them) shows the operation of the law: Tallness being due to a factor T, a tall plant, arising by the union in fertilization of two germ cells both bearing this factor, is TT; a dwarf, being without T, is tt. Crossing these, crossbreeds, Tt, result (called generation F1). In the formation of the germ cells of these crossbreeds a process of segregation occurs such that germ cells, whether male or female, are produced of two kinds, T and t, in equal numbers. The T cells bear the factor "tallness," the t cells are devoid of it. The offspring, generation F2, which arise from the chance union of these germ cells in pairs, according to the law of probability, are therefore on an average in the following proportions:
1 TT : 2 Tt : 1 tt;
and thus plants pure in tallness (TT) and dwarfness (tt), as well as crossbreeds (Tt), are formed by the interbreeding of crossbreeds. Frequently, as in this example, owning to what is called the dominance of a factor, the operation of Mendel's law may be complicated by the fact that when a dominant factor (as T) occurs with its allelomorph (as t), called recessive, in the crossbreed Tt, the individual Tt is itself indistinguishable from the pure form TT. Generation F1, containing only the Tt form, consists entirely of dominants (tall plants) and generation F2 consists of three dominants (2 Tt, 1 TT) to one dwarf (tt), which, displaying the feature suppressed in F1, is called recessive. Such qualitative and numerical regularity has been proved to exist in regard to very diverse qualities or characters which compose living things, both wild and domesticated, such as colors of flowers, of hair or eyes, patterns, structure, chemical composition, and power of resisting certain diseases. The diversity of forms produced in crossbreeding by horticulturists and fanciers generally results from a process of analytical variation or recombination of the factors composing the parental types. Purity of type consequently acquires a specific meaning. An individual is pure in respect of a given character when it results from the union of two sexual cells both bearing that character, or both without it.
MENDERMend"er, n.
Defn: One who mends or repairs.
MENDIANTMen"di*ant, n.
Defn: See Mendinant. [Obs.]
MENDICANCYMen"di*can*cy, n.
Defn: The condition of being mendicant; beggary; begging. Burke.
MENDICANT Men"di*cant, a. Etym: [L. mendicans, -antis, p. pr. of mendicare to beg, fr. mendicus beggar, indigent.]
Defn: Practicing beggary; begging; living on alms; as, mendicant friars. Mendicant orders (R. C. Ch.), certain monastic orders which are forbidden to acquire landed property and are required to be supported by alms, esp. the Franciscans, the Dominicans, the Carmelites, and the Augustinians.
MENDICANTMen"di*cant, n.
Defn: A beggar; esp., one who makes a business of begging; specifically, a begging friar.
MENDICATE Men"di*cate, v. t.& i. Etym: [L. mendicatus, p. p. of mendicare to beg.]
Defn: To beg. [R.] Johnson.
MENDICATIONMen`di*ca"tion, n.
Defn: The act or practice of begging; beggary; mendicancy. Sir T.Browne.
MENDICITYMen*dic"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. mendicitas: cf. F. mendicité. SeeMendicant.]
Defn: The practice of begging; the life of a beggar; mendicancy. Rom. of R.
MENDINANTMen"di*nant, n.
Defn: A mendicant or begging friar. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MENDMENTMend"ment, n.
Defn: Amendment. [Obs.]
MENDOLEMen"dole, n. Etym: [Cf. F. mendol, mendole.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The cackerel.
MENDREGALMen"dre*gal, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Medregal.
MENDSMends, n.
Defn: See Amends. [Obs.] Shak.
MENGEMenge, v. i. [imp. Mente, Meinte; p. p. Ment, Meint.] Etym: [SeeMingle.]
Defn: To mix. [Obs.] Spenser.
MENHADENMen*ha"den, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An American marine fish of the Herring familt (Brevoortia tyrannus), chiefly valuable for its oil and as a component of fertilizers; — called also mossbunker, bony fish, chebog, pogy, hardhead, whitefish, etc.
MENHIRMen"hir, n. Etym: [F. Armor. men stone + hir high.]
Defn: A large stone set upright in olden times as a memorial or monument. Many, of unknown date, are found in Brittany and throughout Northern Europe.
MENIALMen"ial, a. Etym: [OE. meneal, fr. meine, maine, household, OF.maisniée, maisnie, LL. mansionaticum. See Mansion, and cf. Meine, n.,Meiny.]
1. Belonging to a retinue or train of servants; performing servile office; serving. Two menial dogs before their master pressed. Dryden.
2. Pertaining to servants, esp. domestic servants; servile; low; mean. " Menial offices." Swift.
MENIALMen"ial, n.
1. A domestic servant or retainer, esp. one of humble rank; one employed in low or servile offices.
2. A person of a servile character or disposition.
MENIERE'S DISEASEMé`nière's" dis*ease". (Med.)
Defn: A disease characterized by deafness and vertigo, resulting in incoördination of movement. It is supposed to depend upon a morbid condition of the semicircular canals of the internal ear. Named after Ménière, a French physician.
MENILITE Men"i*lite, n. Etym: [F. ménilite; — so called because it is found at Ménilmontant, near Paris.] (Min.)
Defn: See Opal.
MENINGEALMe*nin"ge*al, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the meninges.
MENINGESMe*nin"ges, n. pl.; sing. Meninx (. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: The three membranes that envelop the brain and spinal cord; the pia mater, dura mater, and arachnoid membrane.
MENINGITISMen`in*gi"tis, n. Etym: [NL. See Meninges, and -itis.] (Med.)
Defn: Inflammation of the membranes of the brain or spinal cord.Cerebro-spinal meningitis. See under Cerebro-spinal.
MENISCALMe*nis"cal, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or having the form of, a meniscus.
MENISCOIDMe*nis"coid, a. Etym: [Meniscus + -oid.]
Defn: Concavo-convex, like a meniscus.
MENISCUSMe*nis"cus, n.; pl. L. Menisci (-si), E. Meniscuses. Etym: [NL., fromGr. mh`nh the moon.]
1. A crescent.
2. (Opt.)
Defn: A lens convex on one side and concave on the other.
3. (Anat.)
Defn: An interarticular synovial cartilage or membrane; esp., one of the intervertebral synovial disks in some parts of the vertebral column of birds. Converging meniscus, Diverging meniscus. See Lens.
MENISPERMACEOUSMen`i*sper*ma"ceous, a. Etym: [Gr. mh`nh the moon + spe`rma seed.](Bot.)
Defn: Pertaining to a natural order (Menispermaceæ) of climbing plants of which moonseed (Menispermum) is the type.
MENISPERMICMen`i*sper"mic (, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or obtained from, moonseed (Menispermum), or other plants of the same family, as the Anamirta Cocculus.
MENISPERMINEMen`i*sper"mine, n. Etym: [Cf. F. ménispermine.] (Chem.)
Defn: An alkaloid distinct from picrotoxin and obtained from the cocculus indicus (the fruit of Anamirta Cocculus, formerly Menispermum Cocculus) as a white, crystalline, tasteless powder; — called also menispermina.
MENIVER Men"i*ver, n. Etym: [OF. menuver, menuveir, menuvair, a grayish fur; menu small + vair a kind of fur. See Minute, a., and Vair.]
Defn: Same as Miniver.
MENNONIST; MENNONITEMen"non*ist, Men"non*ite, n. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: One of a small denomination of Christians, so called from Menno Simons of Friesland, their founder. They believe that the New Testament is the only rule of faith, that there is no original sin, that infants should not be baptized, and that Christians ought not to take oath, hold office, or render military service.
MENOBRANCH; MENOBRANCHUSMen"o*branch, Men`o*bran"chus, n. Etym: [NL. menobranchus, fr. Gr.(Zoöl.)
Defn: A large aquatic American salamander of the genus Necturus, having permanent external gills.
MENOLOGIUM; MENOLOGYMen`o*lo"gi*um, Me*nol"o*gy, n.; pl. L. Menologia, E. Menologies.Etym: [NL. menologium, fr. Gr. ménologe.]
1. A register of months. Bp. Stillingfleet.
2. (Gr. Church)
Defn: A brief calendar of the lives of the saints for each day in the year, or a simple remembrance of those whose lives are not written.
MENOPAUSEMen"o*pause, n. Etym: [Gr. Menses.] (Med.)
Defn: The period of natural cessation of menstruation. See Change of life, under Change.
MENOPOMA; MENOPOMEMen`o*po"ma, Men"o*pome, n. Etym: [NL. menopoma, fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The hellbender.
MENORRHAGIA Men`or*rha"gi*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.) (a) Profuse menstruation. (b) Any profuse bleeding from the uterus; Metrorrhagia.
MENOSTASIS Me*nos"ta*sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. mh`n month + 'istan`nai to stop.] (Med.)
Defn: Stoppage of the mences.
MENOSTATIONMen`os*ta"tion, n. (Med.)
Defn: Same as Menostasis.
MENOWMen"ow, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A minnow.
MEN-PLEASERMen"-pleas`er, n.
Defn: One whose motive is to please men or the world, rather thanGod. Eph. vi. 6.
MENSALMen"sal, a. Etym: [L. mensalis, fr. mensa table.]
Defn: Belonging to the table; transacted at table; as, mensa conversation.
MENSALMen"sal, a. Etym: [L. mensis month.]
Defn: Occurring once in a month; monthly.
MENSEMense, n. Etym: [OE. menske, AS. mennisc human, man. See Man.]
Defn: Manliness; dignity; comeliness; civility. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]— Mense"ful, a.— Mense"less, a.
MENSEMense, v. t.
Defn: To grace. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]
MENSES Men"ses, n. pl. Etym: [L. mensis month, pl. menses months, and the monthly courses of women. Cf. Month.] (Med.)
Defn: The catamenial or menstrual discharge, a periodic flow of blood or bloody fluid from the uterus or female generative organs.
MENSTRUALMen"stru*al, a. Etym: [L. menstrualis: cf. F. menstruel. SeeMenstruous.]
1. Recurring once a month; monthly; gone through in a month; as, the menstrual revolution of the moon; pertaining to monthly changes; as, the menstrual equation of the sun's place.
2. Of or pertaining to the menses; as, menstrual discharges; the menstrual period.
3. Of or pertaining to a menstruum. Bacon.
MENSTRUANT Men"stru*ant, a. Etym: [L. menstruans, p. pr. of menstruare to have a monthly term, fr. menstruus. See Menstruous.]
Defn: Subject to monthly flowing or menses.
MENSTRUATEMen"stru*ate, a.
Defn: Menstruous. [Obs.]
MENSTRUATEMen"stru*ate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Menstruated; p. pr. & vb. n.Menstruating.]
Defn: To discharge the menses; to have the catamenial flow.
MENSTRUATIONMen`stru*a"tion, n.
Defn: The discharge of the menses; also, the state or the period of menstruating.
MENSTRUEMen"strue, n. Etym: [Cf. F. menstrues. See Menstruous.]
Defn: The menstrual flux; menses. [Obs.]
MENSTRUOUSMen"stru*ous, a. Etym: [L. menstruus, fr. mensis month. Cf.Menstruum.]
1. Having the monthly flow or discharge; menstruating.
2. Of or pertaining tj the monthly flow; catamenial.
MENSTRUUMMen"stru*um, n.; pl. E. Menstruums, L. Menstrua. Etym: [L. menstruus.See Menstruous.]
Defn: Any substance which dissolves a solid body; a solvent.The proper menstruum to dissolve metal. Bacon.All liquors are called menstruums which are used as dissolvents, orto extract the virtues of ingredients by infusion or decoction.Quincy.
Note: The use is supposed to have originated in some notion of the old chemists about the influence of the moon in the preparation of dissolvents. Johnson.
MENSURABILITYMen`su*ra*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. mensurabilité.]
Defn: The quality of being mensurable.
MENSURABLE Men"su*ra*ble, a. Etym: [L. mensurabilis, fr. mensurare to measure, fr. mensura measure: cf. F. mensurable. See Measurable, Measure.]
Defn: Capable of being measured; measurable.
MENSURABLENESSMen"su*ra*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being mensurable; measurableness.
MENSURALMen"su*ral, a. Etym: [L. mensuralis.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to measure.
MENSURATEMen"su*rate, v. t. Etym: [L. mensuratus, p. p. of mensurare. SeeMeasure, v.]
Defn: To measure. [Obs.]
MENSURATIONMen`su*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. mensuratio : cf. F. mensuration.]
1. The act, process, or art, of measuring.
2. That branch of applied geometry which gives rules for finding the length of lines, the areas of surfaces, or the volumes of solids, from certain simple data of lines and angles.
-MENT -ment, Etym: [F. -ment, L. -mentum.]
Defn: A suffix denoting that which does a thing; an act or process; the result of an act or process; state or condition; as, aliment, that which nourishes, ornament, increment; fragment, piece broken, segment; abridgment, act of abridging, imprisonment, movement, adjournment; amazement, state of being amazed, astonishment.
MENTMent, p. p.
Defn: of Menge.
MENTAGRAMen"ta*gra, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. mentum chin + Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Sycosis.
MENTALMen"tal, a. Etym: [L. mentum the chin.] (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the chin; genian; as, the mental nerve; the mental region.
MENTALMen"tal, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A plate or scale covering the mentum or chin of a fish or reptile.
MENTAL Men"tal, a. Etym: [F., fr. L. mentalis, fr. mens, mentis, the mind; akin to E. mind. See Mind.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the mind; intellectual; as, mental faculties; mental operations, conditions, or exercise. What a mental power This eye shoots forth! Shak. Mental alienation, insanity. — Mental arithmetic, the art or practice of solving arithmetical problems by mental processes, unassisted by written figures.
MENTALITYMen*tal"i*ty, n.
Defn: Quality or state of mind. "The same hard mentality." Emerson.
MENTALLYMen"tal*ly, adv.
Defn: In the mind; in thought or meditation; intellectually; in idea.
MENTHAMen"tha, n. Etym: [L. See Mint the plant.] (Bot.)
Defn: A widely distributed genus of fragrant herbs, including the peppermint, spearmint, etc. The plants have small flowers, usually arranged in dense axillary clusters.
MENTHENEMen"thene, n. Etym: [Menthol + terpene.] (Chem.)
Defn: A colorless liquid hydrocarbon resembling oil of turpentine, obtained by dehydrating menthol. It has an agreeable odor and a cooling taste.
MENTHOLMen"thol, n. Etym: [Mentha + -ol.] (Chem.)
Defn: A white, crystalline, aromatic substance resembling camphor, extracted from oil of peppermint (Mentha); — called also mint camphor or peppermint camphor.
MENTHYLMen"thyl, n. Etym: [Mentha + -yl.] (Chem.)
Defn: A compound radical forming the base of menthol.
MENTICULTURALMen`ti*cul"tur*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to mental culture; serving to improve or strengthen the mind. [R.]
MENTION Men"tion, n. Etym: [OE. mencioun, F. mention, L. mentio, from the root of meminisse to remember. See Mind.]
Defn: A speaking or notice of anything, — usually in a brief or cursory manner. Used especially in the phrase to make mention of. I will make mention of thy righteousness. Ps. lxxi. 16. And sleep in dull, cold marble, where no mention Of me more must be heard of. Shak.
MENTIONMen"tion, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mentioned; p. pr. & vb. n. Mentioning.]Etym: [Cf. F. mentionner.]
Defn: To make mention of; to speak briefly of; to name.I will mention the loving-kindnesses of the Lord. Is. lxiii. 7.
MENTIONABLEMen"tion*a*ble, a.
Defn: Fit to be mentioned.
MENTOMECKELIANMen`to*meck*e"li*an, a. Etym: [1st mental + Meckelian.] (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the chin and lower jaw.— n.
Defn: The bone or cartilage forming the anterior extremity of the lower jaw in some adult animals and the young of others.
MENTORMen"tor, n. Etym: [From Mentor, the counselor of Telemachus, Gr.Monitor.]
Defn: A wise and faithful counselor or monitor.
MENTORIALMen*to"ri*al, a. Etym: [From Mentor.]
Defn: Containing advice or admonition.
MENTUMMen"tum, n. Etym: [L., chin.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The front median plate of the labium in insects. See Labium.
MENUMe*nu", n. Etym: [F., slender, thin, minute. See 4th Minute.]
Defn: The details of a banquet; a bill of fare.
MENUSEMe"nuse, v. i.
Defn: See Amenuse. [Obs.]
MEOWMe*ow", v. i. & n.
Defn: See 6th and 7th Mew.
MEPHISTOPHELIANMeph`is*to*phe"li*an ( or ), a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, the devil Mephistopheles, "a crafty, scoffing, relentless fiend;" devilish; crafty.
MEPHITIC; MEPHITICAL Me*phit"ic, Me*phit"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. mephiticus, fr. mephitis mephitis: cf. F. méphitique.]
1. Tending to destroy life; poisonous; noxious; as, mephitic exhalations; mephitic regions.
2. Offensive to the smell; as, mephitic odors. Mephitic air (Chem.), carbon dioxide; — so called because of its deadly suffocating power. See Carbonic acid, under Carbonic.
MEPHITISMe*phi"tis, n. Etym: [L. mephitis : cf. F. méphitis.]
1. Noxious, pestilential, or foul exhalations from decomposing substances, filth, or other source.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of mammals, including the skunks.
MEPHITISMMeph"i*tism, n.
Defn: Same as Mephitis, 1.
MERACIOUSMe*ra"cious, a. Etym: [L. meracus, fr. merus pure, inmixed.]
Defn: Being without mixture or adulteration; hence, strong; racy.[Obs.]
MERCABLE Mer"ca*ble, a. Etym: [L. mercabilis, fr. mercari to trade, traffic, buy. See Merchant.]
Defn: Capable of being bought or sold. [Obs.]
MERCANTILE Mer"can*tile, a. Etym: [F. mercantile, It. mercantile, fr. L. mercans, -antis, p. pr. of mercari to traffic. See Merchant.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to merchants, or the business of merchants; having to do with trade, or the buying and selling of commodities; commercial. The expedition of the Argonauts was partly mercantile, partly military. Arbuthnot. Mercantile agency, an agency for procuring information of the standing and credit of merchants in different parts of the country, for the use of dealers who sell to them. — Mercantile marine, the persons and vessels employed in commerce, taken collectively. — Mercantile paper, the notes or acceptances given by merchants for goods bought, or received on consignment; drafts on merchants for goods sold or consigned. McElrath.
Syn. — Mercantile, Commercial. Commercial is the wider term, being sometimes used to embrace mercantile. In their stricter use, commercial relates to the shipping, freighting, forwarding, and other business connected with the commerce of a country (whether external or internal), that is, the exchange of commodities; while mercantile applies to the sale of merchandise and goods when brought to market. As the two employments are to some extent intermingled, the two words are often interchanged.
MERCAPTALMer*cap"tal, n. Etym: [Mercaptan + aldehyde.] (Chem.)
Defn: Any one of a series of compounds of mercaptans with aldehydes.
MERCAPTAN Mer*cap"tan, n. Etym: [F., fr. NL. mercurius mercury + L. captans, p. pr. of captare to seize, v. intens. fr. capere.] (Chem.)
Defn: Any one of series of compounds, hydrosulphides of alcohol radicals, in composition resembling the alcohols, but containing sulphur in place of oxygen, and hence called also the sulphur alcohols. In general, they are colorless liquids having a strong, repulsive, garlic odor. The name is specifically applied to ethyl mercaptan, C2H5SH. So called from its avidity for mercury, and other metals.
MERCAPTIDEMer*cap"tide ( or ), n. (Chem.)
Defn: A compound of mercaptan formed by replacing its sulphur hydrogen by a metal; as, potassium mercaptide, C2H5SK.
MERCATMer"cat, n. Etym: [L. mercatus : cf. It. mercato. See Market.]
Defn: Market; trade. [Obs.] Bp. Sprat.
MERCATANTEMer`ca*tan"te (; It. ), n. Etym: [It. See Merchant.]
Defn: A foreign trader. [Obs.] Shak.
MERCATOR'S CHARTMer*ca"tor's chart".
Defn: See under Chart, and see Mercator's projection, underProjection.
MERCATUREMer"ca*ture, n. Etym: [L. mercatura commerce.]
Defn: Commerce; traffic; trade. [Obs.]
MERCEMerce, v. t. Etym: [See Amerce.]
Defn: To subject to fine or amercement; to mulct; to amerce. [Obs.]
MERCENARIAMer`ce*na"ri*a, n. Etym: [NL. See Mercenary.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The quahog.
MERCENARIANMer`ce*na"ri*an (-an), n.
Defn: A mercenary. [Obs.]
MERCENARILYMer"ce*na`ri*ly, adv.
Defn: In a mercenary manner.
MERCENARINESSMer"ce*na*ri*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being mercenary; venality. Boyle.
MERCENARY Mer"ce*na*ry, a. Etym: [OE. mercenarie, F. mercenaire, fr. L. mercenarius, fr. merces wages, reward. See Mercy.]
1. Acting for reward; serving for pay; paid; hired; hireling; venal; as, mercenary soldiers.
2. Hence: Moved by considerations of pay or profit; greedy of gain; sordid; selfish. Shak. For God forbid I should my papers blot With mercenary lines, with servile pen. Daniel.
Syn.— See Venal.
MERCENARYMer"ce*na*ry, n.; pl. Mercenaries (.
Defn: One who is hired; a hireling; especially, a soldier hired into foreign service. Milman.
MERCER Mer"cer, n. Etym: [F. mercier, fr. L. merx, mercis, wares, merchandise. See Merchant.]
Defn: Originally, a dealer in any kind of goods or wares; now restricted to a dealer in textile fabrics, as silks or woolens. [Eng.]
MERCERIZEMer"cer*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. -ized; p. pr. & vb. n. -izing.][From (John) Mercer (1791-1866), an English calico printer whointroduced the process + -ize.]
Defn: To treat (cotton fiber or fabrics) with a solution of caustic alkali. Such treatment causes the fiber to shrink in length and become stronger and more receptive of dyes. If the yarn or cloth is kept under tension during the process, it assumes a silky luster. — Mer`cer*i*za"tion (#), n.
MERCERSHIPMer"cer*ship, n.
Defn: The business of a mercer.
MERCERYMer"cer*y, n. Etym: [F. mercerie.]
Defn: The trade of mercers; the goods in which a mercer deals.
MERCHANDMer"chand, v. i. Etym: [F. marchander. See Merchant.]
Defn: To traffic. [Obs.] Bacon.
MERCHANDISABLEMer"chan*di`sa*ble, a.
Defn: Such as can be used or transferred as merchandise.
MERCHANDISEMer"chan*dise, n. Etym: [F. marchandise, OF. marcheandise.]
1. The objects of commerce; whatever is usually bought or sold in trade, or market, or by merchants; wares; goods; commodities. Spenser.
2. The act or business of trading; trade; traffic.
MERCHANDISEMer"chan*dise, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Merchandised; p. pr. & vb. n.Merchandising.]
Defn: To trade; to carry on commerce. Bacon.
MERCHANDISEMer"chan*dise, v. t.
Defn: To make merchandise of; to buy and sell. "Love is merchandised." Shak.
MERCHANDISERMer"chan*di`ser, n.
Defn: A trader. Bunyan.
MERCHANDRYMer"chand*ry, n. Etym: [See Merchant.]
Defn: Trade; commerce. [Obs.] Bp. Sanderson.
MERCHANTMer"chant, n. Etym: [OE. marchant, OF. marcheant, F. marchand, fr.LL. mercatans, -antis, p. pr. of mercatare to negotiate, L. mercarito traffic, fr. merx, mercis, wares. See Market, Merit, and cf.Commerce.]
1. One who traffics on a large scale, especially with foreign countries; a trafficker; a trader. Others, like merchants, venture trade abroad. Shak.
2. A trading vessel; a merchantman. [Obs.] Shak.
3. One who keeps a store or shop for the sale of goods; a shopkeeper. [U. S. & Scot.]
MERCHANTMer"chant, a.
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or employed in, trade or merchandise; as, the merchant service. Merchant bar, Merchant iron or steel, certain common sizes of wrought iron and steel bars. — Merchant service, the mercantile marine of a country. Am. Cyc. — Merchant ship, a ship employed in commerce. — Merchant tailor, a tailor who keeps and sells materials for the garments which he makes.
MERCHANTMer"chant, v. i.
Defn: To be a merchant; to trade. [Obs.]
MERCHANTABLEMer"chant*a*ble, a.
Defn: Fit for market; such as is usually sold in market, or such as will bring the ordinary price; as, merchantable wheat; sometimes, a technical designation for a particular kind or class.
MERCHANTLYMer"chant*ly, a.
Defn: Merchantlike; suitable to the character or business of a merchant. [Obs.] Gauden.
MERCHANTMANMer"chant*man, n.; pl. Merchantmen (.
1. A merchant. [Obs.] Matt. xiii. 45.
2. A trading vessel; a ship employed in the transportation of goods, as, distinguished from a man-of-war.
MERCHANTRYMer"chant*ry, n.
1. The body of merchants taken collectively; as, the merchantry of a country.
2. The business of a merchant; merchandise. Walpole.
MERCIABLEMer"ci*a*ble, a. Etym: [OF.]
Defn: Merciful. [Obs.]
MERCIFULMer"ci*ful, a. Etym: [Mercy + -ful.]
1. Full of mercy; having or exercising mercy; disposed to pity and spare offenders; unwilling to punish. The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious. Ex. xxxiv. 6. Be merciful, great duke, to men of mold. Shak.
2. Unwilling to give pain; compassionate. A merciful man will be merciful to his beast. Old Proverb.
Syn.— Compassionate; tender; humane; gracious; kind; mild; clement;benignant.— Mer"ci*ful*ly, adv.— Mer"ci*ful*ness, n.
MERCIFYMer"ci*fy, v. t.
Defn: To pity. [Obs.] Spenser.
MERCILESSMer"ci*less, a.
Defn: Destitute of mercy; cruel; unsparing; — said of animatebeings, and also, figuratively, of things; as, a merciless tyrant;merciless waves.The foe is merciless, and will not pity. Shak.
Syn.— Cruel; unmerciful; remorseless; ruthless; pitiless; barbarous;savage.— Mer"ci*less*ly, adv.— Mer"ci*less*ness, n.
MERCURAMMONIUMMer`cur*am*mo"ni*um, n. Etym: [Mercuric + ammonium.] (Chem.)
Defn: A radical regarded as derived from ammonium by the substitution of mercury for a portion of the hydrogen.
MERCURIAL Mer*cu"ri*al, a. Etym: [L. mercurialis, fr. Mercurius Mercury: cf. F. mercuriel.]
1. Having the qualities fabled to belong to the god Mercury; swift; active; sprightly; fickle; volatile; changeable; as, a mercurial youth; a mercurial temperament. A mercurial man Who fluttered over all things like a fan. Byron.
2. Having the form or image of Mercury; — applied to ancient guideposts. [Obs.] Chillingworth.
3. Of or pertaining to Mercury as the god of trade; hence, money- making; crafty. The mercurial wand of commerce. J. Q. Adams.
4. Of or pertaining to, or containing, mercury; as, mercurial preparations, barometer. See Mercury, 2.
5. (Med.)
Defn: Caused by the use of mercury; as, mercurial sore mouth.
MERCURIALMer*cu"ri*al, n.
1. A person having mercurial qualities. Bacon.
2. (Med.)
Defn: A preparation containing mercury.
MERCURIALISMMer*cu"ri*al*ism, n. [Mercurial + -ism.] (Med.)
Defn: The morbid condition produced by the excessive use of mercury, or by exposure to its fumes, as in mining or smelting.
MERCURIALISTMer*cu"ri*al*ist, n.
1. One under the influence of Mercury; one resembling Mercury in character.
2. (Med.)
Defn: A physician who uses much mercury, in any of its forms, in his practice.
MERCURIALIZEMer*cu"ri*al*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mercurialized; p. pr. & vb. n.Mercurializing.]
1. (Med.)
Defn: To affect with mercury.
2. (Photography)
Defn: To treat with mercury; to expose to the vapor of mercury.
MERCURIALIZEMer*cu"ri*al*ize, v. i.
Defn: To be sprightly, fantastic, or capricious. [Obs.]
MERCURIALLYMer*cu"ri*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a mercurial manner.
MERCURICMer*cu"ric, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or derived from, mercury; containing mercury; — said of those compounds of mercury into which this element enters in its lowest proportion. Mercuric chloride, corrosive sublimate. See Corrosive.
MERCURIFICATIONMer*cu`ri*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. mercurification. SeeMercurify.]
1. (Metal.)
Defn: The process or operation of obtaining the mercury, in its fluid form, from mercuric minerals.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: The act or process of compounding, or the state of being compounded, with mercury. [R.]
MERCURIFYMer*cu"ri*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mercurified; p. pr. & vb. n.Mercurifying.] Etym: [Mercury + -fy.]
1. To obtain mercury from, as mercuric minerals, which may be done by any application of intense heat that expels the mercury in fumes, which are afterward condensed. [R.]
2. To combine or mingle mercury with; to impregnate with mercury; to mercurialize. [R.]
MERCURISMMer"cu*rism, n.
Defn: A communication of news; an announcement. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
MERCUROUSMer*cu"rous, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or derived from, mercury; containing mercury; — said of those compounds of mercury in which it is present in its highest proportion. Mercurous chloride. (Chem.) See Calomel.
MERCURYMer"cu*ry, n. Etym: [L. Mercurius; akin to merx wares.]
1. (Rom. Myth.)
Defn: A Latin god of commerce and gain; — treated by the poets as identical with the Greek Hermes, messenger of the gods, conductor of souls to the lower world, and god of eloquence.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: A metallic element mostly obtained by reduction from cinnabar, one of its ores. It is a heavy, opaque, glistening liquid (commonly called quicksilver), and is used in barometers, thermometers, ect. Specific gravity 13.6. Symbol Hg (Hydrargyrum). Atomic weight 199.8. Mercury has a molecule which consists of only one atom. It was named by the alchemists after the god Mercury, and designated by his symbol, mercury.
Note: Mercury forms alloys, called amalgams, with many metals, and is thus used in applying tin foil to the backs of mirrors, and in extracting gold and silver from their ores. It is poisonous, and is used in medicine in the free state as in blue pill, and in its compounds as calomel, corrosive sublimate, etc. It is the only metal which is liquid at ordinary temperatures, and it solidifies at about -39º Centigrade to a soft, malleable, ductile metal.
3. (Astron.)
Defn: One of the planets of the solar system, being the one nearest the sun, from which its mean distance is about 36,000,000 miles. Its period is 88 days, and its diameter 3,000 miles.
4. A carrier of tidings; a newsboy; a messenger; hence, also, a newspaper. Sir J. Stephen. "The monthly Mercuries." Macaulay.
5. Sprightly or mercurial quality; spirit; mutability; fickleness. [Obs.] He was so full of mercury that he could not fix long in any friendship, or to any design. Bp. Burnet.
6. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant (Mercurialis annua), of the Spurge family, the leaves of which are sometimes used for spinach, in Europe.
Note: The name is also applied, in the United States, to certain climbing plants, some of which are poisonous to the skin, esp. to the Rhus Toxicodendron, or poison ivy. Dog's mercury (Bot.), Mercurialis perennis, a perennial plant differing from M. annua by having the leaves sessile. — English mercury (Bot.), a kind of goosefoot formerly used as a pot herb; — called Good King Henry. — Horn mercury (Min.), a mineral chloride of mercury, having a semitranslucent, hornlike appearance.
MERCURYMer"cu*ry, v. t.
Defn: To wash with a preparation of mercury. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
MERCYMer"cy, n.; pl. Mercies. Etym: [OE. merci, F. merci, L. merces,mercedis, hire, pay, reward, LL., equiv. to misericordia pity, mercy.L. merces is probmerere to deserve, acquire. See Merit, and cf.Amerce.]
1. Forbearance to inflict harm under circumstances of provocation, when one has the power to inflict it; compassionate treatment of an offender or adversary; clemency. Examples of justice must be made for terror to some; examples of mercy for comfort to others. Bacon.
2. Compassionate treatment of the unfortunate and helpless; sometimes, favor, beneficence. Luke x. 37.
3. Disposition to exercise compassion or favor; pity; compassion; willingness to spare or to help. In whom mercy lacketh and is not founden. Sir T. Elyot.
4. A blessing regarded as a manifestation of compassion or favor. The Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. 2 Cor. i. 3. Mercy seat (Bib.), the golden cover or lid of the Ark of the Covenant. See Ark, 2. — Sisters of Mercy (R. C. Ch.),a religious order founded in Dublin in the year 1827. Communities of the same name have since been established in various American cities. The duties of those belonging to the order are, to attend lying-in hospitals, to superintend the education of girls, and protect decent women out of employment, to visit prisoners and the sick, and to attend persons condemned to death. — To be at the mercy of, to be wholly in the power of.