Syn.— See Grace.
MERDMerd, n. Etym: [F. merde, L. merda.]
Defn: Ordure; dung. [Obs.] Burton.
-MERE -mere. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A combining form meaning part, portion; as, blastomere, epimere.
MERE Mere, n. Etym: [Written also mar.] Etym: [OE. mere, AS. mere mere, sea; akin to D. meer lake, OS. meri sea, OHG. meri, mari, G. meer, Icel. marr, Goth. marei, Russ. more, W. mor, Ir. & Gael. muir, L. mare, and perh. to L. mori to die, and meaning originally, that which is dead, a waste. Cf. Mortal, Marine, Marsh, Mermaid, Moor.]
Defn: A pool or lake. Drayton. Tennyson.
MERE Mere, n. Etym: [Written also meer and mear.] Etym: [AS. gemære. sq. root269.]
Defn: A boundary. Bacon.
MEREMere, v. t.
Defn: To divide, limit, or bound. [Obs.]Which meared her rule with Africa. Spenser.
MEREMere, n.
Defn: A mare. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MEREMere, a. [Superl. Merest. The comparative is rarely or never used.]Etym: [L. merus.]
1. Unmixed; pure; entire; absolute; unqualified. Then entered they the mere, main sea. Chapman. The sorrows of this world would be mere and unmixed. Jer. Taylor.
2. Only this, and nothing else; such, and no more; simple; bare; as,a mere boy; a mere form.From mere success nothing can be concluded in favor of any nation.Atterbury.
MERELYMere"ly, adv.
1. Purely; unmixedly; absolutely. Ulysses was to force forth his access, Though merely naked. Chapman.
2. Not otherwise than; simply; barely; only. Prize not your life for other ends Than merely to obige your friends. Swift.
Syn.— Solely; simply; purely; barely; scarcely.
MERENCHYMAMe*ren"chy*ma, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. -enchyma, as in parenchyma.](Bot.)
Defn: Tissue composed of spheroidal cells.
MERESMANMeres"man, n.
Defn: An officer who ascertains meres or boundaries. [Eng.]
MERESTEADMere"stead, n. Etym: [Mere boundary + stead place.]
Defn: The land within the boundaries of a farm; a farmstead or farm.[Archaic.] Longfellow.
MERESTONEMere"stone`, n.
Defn: A stone designating a limit or boundary; a landmark. Bacon.
MERETRICIOUS Mer`e*tri"cious, a. Etym: [L. meretricius, from meretrix, -icis, a prostitute, lit., one who earns money, i. e., by prostitution, fr. merere to earn, gain. See Merit.]
1. Of or pertaining to prostitutes; having to do with harlots; lustful; as, meretricious traffic.
2. Resembling the arts of a harlot; alluring by false show; gaudily and deceitfully ornamental; tawdry; as, meretricious dress or ornaments. — Mer`e*tri"cious*ly, adv. — Mer`e*tri"cious*ness, n.
MERGANSER Mer*gan"ser, n. Etym: [Sp. mergánsar, fr. mergo a diver (L. mergus, fr. mergere to dip, dive) + ánsar goose, L. anser.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any bird of the genus Merganser, and allied genera. They are allied to the ducks, but have a sharply serrated bill.
Note: The red-breasted merganser (Merganser serrator) inhabits bothhemispheres. It is called also sawbill, harle, and sheldrake. TheAmerican merganser (M. Americanus.) and the hooded merganser(Lophodytes cucullatus) are well-known species.— White merganser, the smew or white nun.
MERGEMerge, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Merged; p. pr. & vb. n. Merging.] Etym:[L. mergere, mersum. Cf. Emerge, Immerse, Marrow.]
Defn: To cause to be swallowed up; to immerse; to sink; to absorb.To merge all natural … sentiment in inordinate vanity. Burke.Whig and Tory were merged and swallowed up in the transcendent dutiesof patriots. De Quincey.
MERGEMerge, v. i.
Defn: To be sunk, swallowed up, or lost.Native irresolution had merged in stronger motives. I. Taylor.
MERGERMer"ger, n.
1. One who, or that which, merges.
2. (Law)
Defn: An absorption of one estate, or one contract, in another, or of a minor offense in a greater.
MERICARPMer"i*carp, n. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: One carpel of an umbelliferous fruit. See Cremocarp.
MERIDEMer"ide ( or ), n. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: A permanent colony of cells or plastids which may remain isolated, like Rotifer, or may multiply by gemmation to form higher aggregates, termed zoides. Perrier.
MERIDIAN Me*rid"i*an, a. Etym: [F. méridien, L. meridianus pertaining to noon, fr. meridies noon, midday, for older medidies; medius mid, middle + dies day. See Mid, and Diurnal.]
1. Being at, or pertaining to, midday; belonging to, or passing through, the highest point attained by the sun in his diurnal course. "Meridian hour." Milton. Tables … to find the altitude meridian. Chaucer.
2. Pertaining to the highest point or culmination; as, meridian splendor.
MERIDIANMe*rid"i*an, n. Etym: [F. méridien. See Meridian, a.]
1. Midday; noon.
2. Hence: The highest point, as of success, prosperity, or the like; culmination. I have touched the highest point of all my greatness, And from that full meridian of my glory I haste now to my setting. Shak.
3. (Astron.)
Defn: A great circle of the sphere passing through the poles of the heavens and the zenith of a given place. It is crossed by the sun at midday.
4. (Geog.)
Defn: A great circle on the surface of the earth, passing through the poles and any given place; also, the half of such a circle included between the poles.
Note: The planes of the geographical and astronomical meridians coincide. Meridians, on a map or globe, are lines drawn at certain intervals due north and south, or in the direction of the poles. Calculated for, or fitted to, or adapted to, the meridian of, suited to the local circumstances, capabilities, or special requirements of. All other knowledge merely serves the concerns of this life, and is fitted to the meridian thereof. Sir M. Hale. — First meridian, the meridian from which longitudes are reckoned. The meridian of Greenwich is the one commonly employed in calculations of longitude by geographers, and in actual practice, although in various countries other and different meridians, chiefly those which pass through the capitals of the countries, are occasionally used; as, in France, the meridian of Paris; in the United States, the meridian of Washington, etc. — Guide meridian (Public Land Survey), a line, marked by monuments, running North and South through a section of country between other more carefully established meridians called principal meridians, used for reference in surveying. [U.S.] — Magnetic meridian, a great circle, passing through the zenith and coinciding in direction with the magnetic needle, or a line on the earth's surface having the same direction. — Meridian circle (Astron.), an instrument consisting of a telescope attached to a large graduated circle and so mounted that the telescope revolves like the transit instrument in a meridian plane. By it the right ascension and the declination of a star may be measured in a single observation. — Meridian instrument (Astron.), any astronomical instrument having a telescope that rotates in a meridian plane. — Meridian of a globe, or Brass meridian, a graduated circular ring of brass, in which the artificial globe is suspended and revolves.
MERIDIONAL Me*rid"i*o*nal, a. Etym: [F. méridional, L. meridionalis, fr. meridies midday. See Meridian.]
1. Of or pertaining to the meridian.
2. Having a southern aspect; southern; southerly. Offices that require heat … should be meridional. Sir H. Wotton. Meridional distance, the distance or departure from the meridian; the easting or westing. — Meridional parts, parts of the meridian in Mercator's projection, corresponding to each minute of latitude from the equator up to 70 or 80 degrees; tabulated numbers representing these parts used in projecting charts, and in solving cases in Mercator's sailing.
MERIDIONALITYMe*rid`i*o*nal"i*ty, n.
1. The state of being in the meridian.
2. Position in the south; aspect toward the south.
MERIDIONALLYMe*rid"i*o*nal*ly, adv.
Defn: In the direction of the meridian.
MERILS Mer"ils, n. Etym: [F. mérelle, marelle, marelles, LL. marella, marrella. Cf. Morris the game.]
Defn: A boy's play, called also fivepenny morris. See Morris.
MERINGUEMe`ringue" (F. ; E. ), n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A delicate pastry made of powdered sugar and the whites of eggs whipped up, — with jam or cream added.
MERINOMe*ri"no, a. Etym: [Sp. merino moving from pasture to pasture, fr.merino a royal judge and superintendent or inspector of sheep walks,LL. merinus, fr. majorinus, i. e., major villmajor greater. SeeMajor. Merino sheep are driven at certain seasons from one part ofSpain to another, in large flocks, for pasturage.]
1. Of or pertaining to a variety of sheep with very fine wool, originally bred in Spain.
2. Made of the wool of the merino sheep.
MERINOMe*ri"no, n.; pl. Merinos. Etym: [Sp.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A breed of sheep originally from Spain, noted for the fineness of its wool.
2. A fine fabric of merino wool.
MERISMATICMer`is*mat"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: Dividing into cells or segments; characterized by separation into two or more parts or sections by the formation of internal partitions; as, merismatic growth, where one cell divides into many.
MERISTEMMer"i*stem, n. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A tissue of growing cells, or cells capable of further division.
MERITMer"it, n. Etym: [F. mérite, L. meritum, fr. merere, mereri, todeserve, merit; prob. originally, to get a share; akin to Gr. Market,Merchant, Mercer, Mercy.]
1. The quality or state of deserving well or ill; desert. Here may men see how sin hath his merit. Chaucer. Be it known, that we, the greatest, are misthought For things that others do; and when we fall, We answer other's merits in our name. Shak.
2. Esp. in a good sense: The quality or state of deserving well; worth; excellence. Reputation is … oft got without merit, and lost without deserving. Shak. To him the wit of Greece and Rome was known, And every author's merit, but his own. Pope.
3. Reward deserved; any mark or token of excellence or approbation; as, his teacher gave him ten merits. Those laurel groves, the merits of thy youth. Prior.
MERITMer"it, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Merited; p. pr. & vb. n. Meriting.] Etym:[F. mériter, L. meritare, v. intens. fr. merere. See Merit, n.]
1. To earn by service or performance; to have a right to claim as reward; to deserve; sometimes, to deserve in a bad sense; as, to merit punishment. "This kindness merits thanks." Shak.
2. To reward. [R. & Obs.] Chapman.
MERITMer"it, v. i.
Defn: To acquire desert; to gain value; to receive benefit; to profit. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
MERITABLEMer"it*a*ble, a.
Defn: Deserving of reward. [R.]
MERITEDLYMer"it*ed*ly, adv.
Defn: By merit; deservedly.
MERITHAL; MERITHALLUSMer"i*thal, Mer`i*thal"lus, n. Etym: [NL. merithallus, fr. Gr. or(Bot.)
Defn: Same as Internode.
MERITMONGERMer"it*mon`ger, n.
Defn: One who depends on merit for salvation. [Obs.] Milner.
MERITORIOUSMer`i*to"ri*ous, a. Etym: [L. meritorius that brings in money.]
Defn: Possessing merit; deserving of reward or honor; worthy ofrecompense; valuable.And meritorious shall that hand be called, Canonized, and worshipedas a saint. Shak.— Mer`i*to"ri*ous*ly, adv.— Mer`i*to"ri*ous*ness, n.
MERITORYMer"i*to*ry, a.
Defn: Meritorious. [Obs.]
MERITOTMer"i*tot, n.
Defn: A play of children, in swinging on ropes, or the like, till they are dizzy.
MERKMerk, n. Etym: [See Marc.]
Defn: An old Scotch silver coin; a mark or marc. [Scot.]
MERKMerk, n.
Defn: A mark; a sign. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MERKEMerke, a.
Defn: Murky. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.
MERKINMer"kin, n.
Defn: Originally, a wig; afterwards, a mop for cleaning cannon.
MERL; MERLEMerl, Merle, n. Etym: [F. merle, L. merula, merulus. Cf. Ousel.](Zoöl.)
Defn: The European blackbird. See Blackbird. Drayton.
MERLIN Mer"lin, n. Etym: [OE. merlion, F. émerillon ; cf. OHG. smirl, G. schmerl ; prob. fr. L. merula blackbird. Cf. Merle.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small European falcon (Falco lithofalco, or F. æsalon).
MERLINGMer"ling, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The European whiting.
MERLON Mer"lon, n. Etym: [F., perh. fr. L. moerus, for murus a wall, through (assumed) dim. moerulus.] (Fort.)
Defn: One of the solid parts of a battlemented parapet; a battlement.See Illust. of Battlement.
MERLUCEMer"luce, n. Etym: [F. merluche, merlus.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The European hake; — called also herring hake and sea pike.
MERMAIDMer"maid, n. Etym: [AS. mere lake, sea. See Mere lake, and maid.]
Defn: A fabled marine creature, typically represented as having the upper part like that of a woman, and the lower like a fish; a sea nymph, sea woman, or woman fish.
Note: Chaucer uses this word as equivalent to the siren of theancients. Mermaid fish (Zoöl.) the angel fish (Squatina).— Mermaid's glove (Zoöl.), a British branched sponge somewhatresembling a glove.— Mermaid's head (Zoöl.), a European spatangoid sea urchin(Echinocardium cordatum) having some resemblance to a skull.— Mermaid weed (Bot.), an aquatic herb with dentate or pectinateleaves (Proserpinaca palustris and P. pectinacea).
MERMANMer"man, n.; pl. Mermen (.
Defn: The male corresponding to mermaid; a sea man, or man fish.
MERO; MERO DE LOALTO; MERO CABROLLAMe"ro, n. [Sp.; cf. Pg. mero.]
Defn: Any of several large groupers of warm seas, esp. the guasa(Epinephelus guaza), the red grouper (E. morio), the black grouper(E. nigritas), distinguished as Me"ro de lo al"to, and a speciescalled also rock hind, distinguished as Me"ro ca*brol"la.
MEROBLASTMer"o*blast, n. Etym: [Gr. -blast.] (Biol.)
Defn: An ovum, as that of a mammal, only partially composed of germinal matter, that is, consisting of both a germinal portion and an albuminous or nutritive one; — opposed to holoblast.
MEROBLASTICMer`o*blas"tic, a. (Biol.)
Defn: Consisting only in part of germinal matter; characterized by partial segmentation only; as, meroblastic ova, in which a portion of the yolk only undergoes fission; meroblastic segmentation; — opposed to holoblastic.
MEROCELEMe"ro*cele, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Hernia in the thigh; femoral hernia .
MEROISTICMer`o*is"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Applied to the ovaries of insects when they secrete vitelligenous cells, as well as ova.
MEROPIDANMe*rop"i*dan, n. Etym: [L. merops a bee-eating bird, Gr. me`rops.](Zoöl.)
Defn: One of a family of birds (Meropidæ), including the bee-eaters.
MEROPODITEMe*rop"o*dite, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The fourth joint of a typical appendage of Crustacea.
MERORGANIZATIONMer*or`gan*i*za"tion, n. Etym: [Gr. organization.]
Defn: Organization in part. [R.]
MEROSMe"ros, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Arch.)
Defn: The plain surface between the channels of a triglyph. [Written also merus.] Weale.
MEROSMe"ros, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: The proximal segment of the hind limb; the thigh.
MEROSOMEMer"o*some, n. Etym: [Gr. -some body.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the serial segments, or metameres, of which the bodies of vertebrate and articulate animals are composed.
MEROSTOMATAMer`o*stom"a*ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A class of Arthropoda, allied to the Crustacea. It includes the trilobites, Eurypteroidea, and Limuloidea. All are extinct except the horseshoe crabs of the last group. See Limulus.
MEROUMé`rou", n. Etym: [F.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Jack, 8 (c).
MEROVINGIAN Mer`o*vin"gi*an, a. Etym: [From Merovaeus, the Latin name of a king of the Franks.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the first Frankish dynasty in Gaul or France. — n.
Defn: One of the kings of this dynasty.
MEROZOITEMer`o*zo"ite, n. [Gr. part + Sporozoa.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A form of spore, usually elongate or falciform, and somewhat amoboid, produced by segmentation of the schizonts of certain Sporozoa, as the malaria parasite.
MERRILYMer"ri*ly, adv. Etym: [From Merry.]
Defn: In a merry manner; with mirth; with gayety and laughter; jovially. See Mirth, and Merry. Merrily sing, and sport, and play. Granville.
MERRIMAKEMer"ri*make`, n.
Defn: See Merrymake, n.
MERRIMAKEMer"ri*make`, v. i.
Defn: See Merrymake, v. Gay.
MERRIMENTMer"ri*ment, n.
Defn: Gayety, with laughter; mirth; frolic. "Follies and lightmerriment." Spenser.Methought it was the sound Of riot and ill-managed merriment. Milton.
MERRINESSMer"ri*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being merry; merriment; mirth; gayety, with laughter.
MERRY Mer"ry, a. [Compar. Merrier; superl. Merriest.] Etym: [OE. merie, mirie, murie, merry, pleasant, AS. merge, myrige, pleasant; cf. murge, adv.; prob. akin to OHG. murg, short, Goth. gamaúrgjan to shorten; cf. L. murcus a coward, who cuts off his thumb to escape military service; the Anglo-Saxon and English meanings coming from the idea of making the time seem short. Cf. Mirth.]
1. Laughingly gay; overflowing with good humor and good spirits; jovial; inclined to laughter or play ; sportive. They drank, and were merry with him. Gen. xliii. 34. I am never merry when I hear sweet music. Shak.
2. Cheerful; joyous; not sad; happy. Is any merry Jas. v. 13.
3. Causing laughter, mirth, gladness, or delight; as, merry jest. "Merry wind and weather." Spenser. Merry dancers. See under Dancer. — Merry men, followers; retainers. [Obs.] His merie men commanded he To make him bothe game and glee. Chaucer. — To make merry, to be jovial; to indulge in hilarity; to feast with mirth. Judg. ix. 27.
Syn. — Cheerful; blithe; lively; sprightly; vivacious; gleeful; joyous; mirthful; jocund; sportive; hilarious.
MERRYMer"ry, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A kind of wild red cherry.
MERRY-ANDREWMer"ry-an"drew, n.
Defn: One whose business is to make sport for others; a buffoon; a zany; especially, one who attends a mountebank or quack doctor.
Note: This term is said to have originated from one Andrew Borde, an English physician of the 16th century, who gained patients by facetious speeches to the multitude.
MERRY-GO-ROUNDMer"ry-go`-round", n.
Defn: Any revolving contrivance for affording amusement; esp., a ring of flying hobbyhorses.
MERRYMAKEMer"ry*make`, n.
Defn: Mirth; frolic; a meeting for mirth; a festival. [Written also merrimake.]
MERRYMAKEMer"ry*make`, v. i.
Defn: To make merry; to be jolly; to feast. [Written also merrimake.]
MERRYMAKERMer"ry*mak`er, n.
Defn: One who makes merriment or indulges in conviviality; a jovial comrade.
MERRYMAKINGMer"ry*mak`ing, a.
Defn: Making or producing mirth; convivial; jolly.
MERRYMAKINGMer"ry*mak`ing, n.
Defn: The act of making merry; conviviality; merriment; jollity.Wordsworth.
MERRYMEETINGMer"ry*meet`ing, n.
Defn: A meeting for mirth.
MERRYTHOUGHTMer"ry*thought`, n.
Defn: The forked bone of a fowl's breast; — called also wishbone.See Furculum.
Note: It is a sportive custom for two persons to break this bone by pulling the ends apart to see who will get the longer piece, the securing of which is regarded as a lucky omen, signifying that the person holding it will obtain the gratification of some secret wish.
MERSIONMer"sion, n. Etym: [L. mersio. See Merge.]
Defn: Immersion [R.] Barrow.
MERULIDANMe*ru"li*dan, n. Etym: [L. merula, merulus, blackbird. See Merle.](Zoöl.)
Defn: A bird of the Thrush family.
MERUSMe"rus, n. Etym: [NL.] (Arch.)
Defn: See Meros.
MERVAILLEMer"vaille`, n.
Defn: Marvel. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MES-Mes-.
Defn: See Meso-.
MESAMe"sa, Etym: [Sp.]
Defn: A high tableland; a plateau on a hill. [Southwestern U.S.]Bartlett.
MESACONATEMes*ac"o*nate, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of mesaconic acid.
MESACONICMes`a*con"ic, a. Etym: [Mes- + -aconic, as in citraconic.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, one of several isomeric acids obtained from citric acid.
MESADMes"ad, adv.
Defn: Same as Mesiad.
MESALMes"al, a.
Defn: Same as Mesial.
MESALLIANCEMé`sal`li`ance", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A marriage with a person of inferior social position; a misalliance.
MESALLYMes"al*ly, adv.
Defn: Same as Mesially.
MESAMEBOID; MESAMOEBOIDMes`a*me"boid, Mes`a*moe"boid, n. Etym: [Mes- + amoeboid.] (Biol.)
Defn: One of a class of independent, isolated cells found in the mesoderm, while the germ layers are undergoing differentiation.
MESARAICMes`a*ra"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: Mesenteric.
MESATICEPHALICMes`a*ti*ce*phal"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. midmost + E. cephalic.] (Anat.)
Defn: Having the ratio of the length to the breadth of the cranium a medium one; neither brachycephalic nor dolichocephalic.
MESATICEPHALOUSMes`a*ti*ceph"a*lous, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Mesaticephalic.
MESCALMes*cal", n. Etym: [Sp.]
Defn: A distilled liquor prepared in Mexico from a species of agave.See Agave.
MESDAMESMes`dames" (F. , E. ), n.,
Defn: pl. of Madame and Madam.
MESEEMSMe*seems", v. impers. [imp. Meseemed.]
Defn: It seems to me. [Poetic]
MESELMe"sel, n. Etym: [See Measle.]
Defn: A leper. [Obs.]
MESELRYMe"sel*ry, n.
Defn: Leprosy. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MESEMBRYANTHEMUMMe*sem`bry*an"the*mum, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of herbaceous or suffruticose plants, chiefly natives of South Africa. The leaves are opposite, thick, and f
MESENCEPHALICMes`en*ce*phal"ic, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the mesencephalon or midbrain.
MESENCEPHALONMes`en*ceph"a*lon, n. Etym: [NL. See Meso- and Encephalon.] (Anat.)
Defn: The middle segment of the brain; the midbrain. Sometimes abbreviated to mesen. See Brain.
MESENCHYMAMes*en"chy*ma, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. -enchyma, as in E. parenchyma.](Biol.)
Defn: The part of the mesoblast which gives rise to the connective tissues and blood.
MESENTERICMes`en*ter"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. mésentérique.] (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to a mesentery; mesaraic.
MESENTERONMes*en"te*ron, n. Etym: [NL. See Meso-, and Enteron.] (Anat.)
Defn: All that part of the alimentary canal which is developed from the primitive enteron and is lined with hypoblast. It is distinguished from the stomod, a part at the anterior end of the canal, including the cavity of the mouth, and the proctod, a part at the posterior end, which are formed by invagination and are lined with epiblast.
MESENTERYMes"en*ter*y, n. Etym: [Gr. mésentère.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: The membranes, or one of the membranes (consisting of a fold of the peritoneum and inclosed tissues), which connect the intestines and their appendages with the dorsal wall of the abdominal cavity. The mesentery proper is connected with the jejunum and ilium, the other mesenteries being called mesoc, mesocolon, mesorectum, etc.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the vertical muscular radiating partitions which divide the body cavity of Anthozoa into chambers.
MESERAICMes`e*ra"ic, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Mesaraic.
MESETHMOIDMes*eth"moid, a. Etym: [Mes- + ethmoid.] (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the middle of the ethmoid region or ethmoid bone. — n. (Anat.)
Defn: The median vertical plate, or median element, of the ethmoid bone.
MESH Mesh, n. Etym: [AS. masc, max, m; akin to D. maas, masche, OHG. masca, Icel. möskvi; cf. Lith. mazgas a knot, megsti to weave nets, to knot.]
1. The opening or space inclosed by the threads of a net between knot and knot, or the threads inclosing such a space; network; a net. A golden mesh to entrap the hearts of men. Shak.
2. (Gearing)
Defn: The engagement of the teeth of wheels, or of a wheel and rack.Mesh stick, a stick on which the mesh is formed in netting.
MESHMesh, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Meshed; p. pr. & vb. n. Meshing.]
Defn: To catch in a mesh. Surrey.
MESHMesh, v. i. (Gearing)
Defn: To engage with each other, as the teeth of wheels.
MESHEDMeshed, a.
Defn: Mashed; brewed. [Obs.] Shak.
MESHYMesh"y, a.
Defn: Formed with meshes; netted.
MESIADMes"i*ad, adv. Etym: [Gr. ad to.] (Anat.)
Defn: Toward, or on the side toward, the mesial plane; mesially; — opposed to laterad.
MESIALMe"sial, a. Etym: [Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: Middle; median; in, or in the region of, the mesial plane; internal; — opposed to lateral. Mesial plane. (Anat.) See Meson.
MESIALLYMe"sial*ly, adv. (Anat.)
Defn: In, near, or toward, the mesial plane; mesiad.
MESITYLMes"i*tyl, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A hypothetical radical formerly supposed to exist in mesityl oxide. Mesityl oxide (Chem.), a volatile liquid having the odor of peppermint, obtained by certain dehydrating agents from acetone; — formerly called also dumasin.
MESITYLENATEMe*sit"y*le*nate, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of mesitylenic acid.
MESITYLENEMe*sit"y*lene, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A colorless, fragrant liquid, C6H3(CH3)3, of the benzene series of hydrocarbons, obtained by distilling acetone with sulphuric acid. — Me*sit`y*len"ic, a.
MESITYLOLMe*sit"y*lol, n. Etym: [Mesitylene + -ol.] (Chem.)
Defn: A crystalline substance obtained from mesitylene.
MESLINMes"lin ( or ), n.
Defn: See Maslin.
MESMEREEMes`mer*ee", n.
Defn: A person subjected to mesmeric influence; one who is mesmerized. [R.]
MESMERIC; MESMERICALMes*mer"ic, Mes*mer"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. mesmérique.]
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or induced by, mesmerism; as, mesmeric sleep.
MESMERISM Mes"mer*ism, n. Etym: [From Mesmer, who first brought it into notice at Vienna, about 1775: cf. F. mesmérisme.]
Defn: The art of inducing an extraordinary or abnormal state of the nervous system, in which the actor claims to control the actions, and communicate directly with the mind, of the recipient. See Animal magnetism, under Magnetism.
MESMERISTMes"mer*ist, n.
Defn: One who practices, or believes in, mesmerism.
MESMERIZATIONMes`mer*i*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act of mesmerizing; the state of being mesmerized.
MESMERIZEMes"mer*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mesmerized; p. pr. & vb. n.Mesmerizing.]
Defn: To bring into a state of mesmeric sleep.
MESMERIZERMes"mer*i`zer, n.
Defn: One who mesmerizes.
MESNEMesne, a. Etym: [Cf. Mean intermediate.] (Law)
Defn: Middle; intervening; as, a mesne lord, that is, a lord who holds land of a superior, but grants a part of it to another person, in which case he is a tenant to the superior, but lord or superior to the second grantee, and hence is called the mesne lord. Mesne process, intermediate process; process intervening between the beginning and end of a suit, sometimes understood to be the whole process preceding the execution. Blackstone. Burrill. — Mesne profits, profits of premises during the time the owner has been wrongfully kept out of the possession of his estate. Burrill.
MESO-; MES-Mes"o-, Mes-. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A combining form denoting in the middle, intermediate; specif. (Chem.), denoting a type of hydrocarbons which are regarded as methenyl derivatives. Also used adjectively.
MESOARIUMMes`o*a"ri*um, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: The fold of peritoneum which suspends the ovary from the dorsal wall of the body cavity.
MESOBLAST Mes"o*blast, n. Etym: [Meso- + -blast.] (Biol.) (a) The mesoderm. (b) The cell nucleus; mesoplast.
MESOBLASTICMes`o*blas"tic, a. (Biol.)
Defn: Relating to the mesoblast; as, the mesoblastic layer.
MESOBRANCHIALMes`o*bran"chi*al, a. Etym: [Meso- + branchial.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to a region of the carapace of a crab covering the middle branchial region.
MESOBRONCHIUMMes`o*bron"chi*um, n.; pl. Mesobronchia. Etym: [NL. See Meso-, andBronchia.] (Anat.)
Defn: The main bronchus of each lung.
MESOCAECUMMes`o*cæ"cum, n. (Anat.) Etym: [NL. See Meso-, and Cæcum.]
Defn: The fold of peritoneum attached to the cæcum.— Mes`o*cæ"cal, a.
MESOCARPMes"o*carp, n. Etym: [Meso- + Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: The middle layer of a pericarp which consists of three distinct or dissimilar layers. Gray.
MESOCEPHALIC Mes`o*ce*phal"ic, a. Etym: [Meso- + cephalic.] (Anat.) (a) Of or pertaining to, or in the region of, the middle of the head; as, the mesocephalic flexure. (b) Having the cranial cavity of medium capacity; neither megacephalic nor microcephalic. (c) Having the ratio of the length to the breadth of the cranium a medium one; mesaticephalic.
MESOCEPHALONMes`o*ceph"a*lon, n. Etym: [NL. See Meso-, and Cephalon.] (Anat.)
Defn: The pons Varolii.
MESOCEPHALOUSMes`o*ceph"a*lous, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Mesocephalic.
MESOCOELE; MESOCOELIA Mes`o*coe"le, Mes`o*coe"li*a, n. Etym: [NL. mesocoelia. See Meso-, and Coelia.] (Anat.)
Defn: The cavity of the mesencephalon; the iter.
MESOCOLONMes`o*co"lon, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. mésocôlon.] (Anat.)
Defn: The fold of peritoneum, or mesentery, attached to the colon.— Mes`o*col"ic, a.
MESOCORACOIDMes`o*cor"a*coid, n. Etym: [Meso- + coracoid.] (Anat.)
Defn: A process from the middle of the coracoid in some animals.
MESOCUNEIFORM; MESOCUNIFORM Mes`o*cu*ne"i*form, Mes`o*cu"ni*form, n. Etym: [Meso- + cuneiform, cuniform.] (Anat.)
Defn: One of the bones of the tarsus. See 2d Cuneiform.
MESODERM Mes"o*derm, n. Etym: [Meso- + Gr. (Biol.) (a) The layer of the blastoderm, between the ectoderm and endoderm; mesoblast. See Illust. of Blastoderm and Ectoderm. (b) The middle body layer in some invertebrates. (c) The middle layer of tissue in some vegetable structures.
MESODERMALMes`o*der"mal, a. (Biol.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, the mesoderm; as, mesodermal tissues.
MESODERMICMes`o*der"mic, a.
Defn: Same as Mesodermal.
MESODONTMes"o*dont, a. Etym: [Meso- + Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: Having teeth of moderate size.
MESOGASTERMes`o*gas"ter, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: The fold of peritoneum connecting the stomach with the dorsal wall of the abdominal cavity; the mesogastrium.
MESOGASTRICMes`o*gas"tric, a. Etym: [Meso- + gastric.]
1. (Anat.) (a) Of or pertaining to the middle region of the abdomen, or of the stomach. (b) Of or pertaining to the mesogaster.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the middle gastric lobe of the carapace of a crab.
MESOGASTRIUM Mes`o*gas"tri*um, n. Etym: [NL. See Mesogaster.] (Anat.) (a) The umbilical region. (b) The mesogaster.
MESOGLEA; MESOGLOEAMes`o*gloe"a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A thin gelatinous tissue separating the ectoderm and endoderm in certain coelenterates. — Mes`o*gloeal, a.
MESOGNATHOUSMe*sog"na*thous, a. Etym: [Meso- + Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: Having the jaws slightly projecting; between prognathous and orthognathous. See Gnathic index, under Gnathic.
MESOHEPARMes`o*he"par, n. Etym: [NL. See Meso-, and Hepar.] (Anat.)
Defn: A fold of the peritoneum connecting the liver with the dorsal wall of the abdominal cavity.
MESOHIPPUSMes`o*hip"pus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: An extinct mammal of the Horse family, but not larger than a sheep, and having three toes on each foot.
MESOLABEMes"o*labe, n. Etym: [L. mesolabium, Gr.
Defn: An instrument of the ancients for finding two mean proportionals between two given lines, required in solving the problem of the duplication of the cube. Brande & C.
MESOLEMes"ole, n. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)
Defn: Same as Thomsonite.
MESOLITEMes"o*lite, n. Etym: [Meso- + -lite.] (Min.)
Defn: A zeolitic mineral, grayish white or yellowish, occuring in delicate groups of crystals, also fibrous massive. It is a hydrous silicate of alumina, lime, and soda.
MESOLOGARITHM Mes`o*log"a*rithm, n. Etym: [Meso- + logarithm : cf. F. mésologarithme.] (Math.)
Defn: A logarithm of the cosine or cotangent. [Obs.] Kepler. Hutton.
MESOMETRIUMMes`o*me"tri*um, n. Etym: [NL. See Meso-, and Metrium.] (Anat.)
Defn: The fold of the peritoneum supporting the oviduct.
MESOMYCETESMes`o*my*ce"tes, n. pl. [NL.; meso- + mycetes.] (Bot.)
Defn: One of the three classes into which the fungi are divided inBrefeld's classification. — Mes`o*my*ce"tous (#), a.
MESOMYODIANMes`o*my*o"di*an, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A bird having a mesomyodous larynx.
MESOMYODOUSMes`o*my"o*dous, a. Etym: [Meso- + Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the intrinsic muscles of the larynx attached to the middle of the semirings.
MESONMes"on, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: The mesial plane dividing the body of an animal into similar right and left halves. The line in which it meets the dorsal surface has been called the dorsimeson, and the corresponding ventral edge the ventrimeson. B. G. Wilder.
MESONASALMes`o*na"sal, a. Etym: [Meso- + nasal.] (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the middle portion of the nasal region.
MESONEPHRICMes`o*neph"ric, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the mesonephros; as, the mesonephric, orWolffian, duct.
MESONEPHROSMes`o*neph"ros, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: The middle one of the three pairs of embryonic renal organs developed in most vertebrates; the Wolffian body.
MESONOTUMMes`o*no"tum, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The dorsal portion of the mesothorax of insects.
MESOPHLOEUMMes`o*phloe"um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: The middle bark of a tree; the green layer of bark, usually soon covered by the outer or corky layer, and obliterated.
MESOPHRYONMe*soph"ry*on, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: See Glabella.
MESOPHYLLUMMes`o*phyl"lum, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: The parenchyma of a leaf between the skin of the two surfaces.Gray.
MESOPLASTMes"o*plast, n. Etym: [Meso- + -plast.] (Biol.)
Defn: The nucleus of a cell; mesoblast. Agassix.
MESOPODIALMes`o*po"di*al, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the mesopodialia or to the parts of the limbs to which they belong.
MESOPODIALEMes`o*po`di*a"le, n.; pl. Mesopodialia. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: One of the bones of either the carpus or tarsus.
MESOPODIUMMes`o*po"di*um, n. Etym: [NL. See Mesopodiale.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The middle portion of the foot in the Gastropoda and Pteropoda.
MESOPTERYGIUMMe*sop`te*ryg"i*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: The middle one of the three principal basal cartilages in thefins of fishes.— Me*sop`ter*yg"i*al, a.
MESORCHIUMMe*sor"chi*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: The fold of peritoneum which attaches the testis to the dorsal wall of the body cavity or scrotal sac.
MESORECTUMMes`o*rec"tum, n. Etym: [Meso- + rectum.] (Anat.)
Defn: The fold of peritoneum, or mesentery, attached to the rectum.— Mes`o*rec"tal, a.
MESORHINEMes"o*rhine, a. Etym: [Meso- + Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: Having the nose of medium width; between leptorhine and platyrhine.
MESOSAURIAMes`o*sau"ri*a, n.
Defn: Same as Mosasauria.
MESOSCAPULAMes`o*scap"u*la, n. Etym: [Meso- + scapula.] (Anat.)
Defn: A process from the middle of the scapula in some animals; the spine of the scapula.
MESOSCAPULARMes`o*scap"u*lar, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the mesoscapula.
MESOSCUTUMMes`o*scu"tum, n. Etym: [Meso- + scutum.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The scutum or dorsal plate of the middle thoracic segment of an insect. See Illust. of Butterfly.
MESOSEMEMes"o*seme, a. Etym: [Meso- + Gr. mésosème.] (Anat.)
Defn: Having a medium orbital index; having orbits neither broad nor narrow; between megaseme and microseme.
MESOSIDERITEMes`o*sid"er*ite, n. Etym: [Meso- + siderite.] (Min.)
Defn: See the Note under Meteorite.
MESOSPERMMes"o*sperm, n. Etym: [Meso- + Gr. mésosperme.] (Bot.)
Defn: A membrane of a seed. See Secundine.
MESOSTATEMes"o*state, n. Etym: [Meso- + Gr. (Physiol.)
Defn: A product of metabolic action.
Note: Every mesostate is either an anastate or katastate, according as it is formed by an anabolic or katabolic process. See Metabolism.
MESOSTERNALMes`o*ster"nal, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the mesosternum.
MESOSTERNUMMes`o*ster"num, n. Etym: [Meso- + sternum.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: The middle portion, or body, of the sternum.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The ventral piece of the middle segment of the thorax in insects.
MESOTARTARICMes`o*tar*tar"ic, a. Etym: [Meso- + tartaric.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, an acid called also inactive tartaric acid.
MESOTHECAMes`o*the"ca, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The middle layer of the gonophore in the Hydrozoa.
MESOTHELIUMMes`o*the"li*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. thelium.] (Biol.)
Defn: Epithelial mesoderm; a layer of cuboidal epithelium cells, formed from a portion of the mesoderm during the differetiation of the germ layers. It constitutes the boundary of the coelum.
MESOTHORACICMes`o*tho*rac"ic, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the mesothorax.
MESOTHORAXMes`o*tho"rax, n. Etym: [Meso- + thorax: cf. F. mésothorax.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The middle segment of the thorax in insects. See Illust. ofColeoptera.
MESOTHORIUMMes`o*tho"ri*um, n. [NL.; meso-+ thorium.] (Chem.)
Defn: A radioactive product intermediate between thorium and radiothorium, with a period of 5.5 years.
MESOTROCHALMes"o*tro`chal, a. Etym: [Meso- + Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the middle of the body surrounded by bands of cilia; — said of the larvæ of certain marine annelids.
MESOTYPEMes"o*type, n. Etym: [Meso- + -type: cf. F. mésotype.] (Min.)
Defn: An old term covering natrolite or soda mesolite, scolecite or lime mesotype, and mesolite or lime-soda mesotype.
MESOVARIUMMes`o*va"ri*um, n. Etym: [NL. See Meso-, and Ovary.] (Anat.)
Defn: The fold of peritoneum connecting the ovary with the wall of the abdominal cavity.
MESOXALATEMes*ox"a*late, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of mesoxalic acid.
MESOXALICMes`ox*al"ic, a. Etym: [Mes- + oxalic.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, an acid, CH2O2(CO2H)2, obtained from amido malonic acid.
MESOZOAMes`o*zo"a, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Mesozoic.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of very lowly organized, wormlike parasites, including the Dicyemata. They are found in cephalopods. See Dicyemata.
MESOZOICMes`o*zo"ic, a. Etym: [Meso- + Gr. (Geol.)
Defn: Belonging, or relating, to the secondary or reptilian age, or the era between the Paleozoic and Cenozoic. See Chart of Geology.
MESOZOICMes`o*zo"ic, n.
Defn: The Mesozoic age or formation.
MESPRISEMes*prise", n. Etym: [OF. mespris, F. mépris. See Misprize.]
1. Contempt; scorn. [Obs.]
2. Etym: [Perh. for F. méprise mistake. Cf. Misprision.]
Defn: Misadventure; ill-success. [Obs.] Spenser.
MESQUITE; MESQUITMes*qui"te, Mes*quit", n. Etym: [Sp. mezquite; said to be a MexicanIndian word.] (Bot.)
Defn: A name for two trees of the southwestern part of North America, the honey mesquite, and screw-pod mesquite. Honey mesquite. See Algaroba (b). — Screw-pod mesquite, a smaller tree (Prosopis pubescens), having spiral pods used as fodder and sometimes as food by the Indians. — Mesquite grass, a rich native grass in Western Texas (Bouteloua oligostachya, and other species); — so called from its growing in company with the mesquite tree; — called also muskit grass, grama grass.
MESQUITE BEANMes*qui"te bean.
Defn: The pod or seed of the mesquite.
MESSMess, n.
Defn: Mass; church service. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MESS Mess, n. Etym: [OE. mes, OF. mets, LL. missum, p. p. of mittere to put, place (e. g., on the table), L. mittere to send. See Mission, and cf. Mass religious service.]
1. A quantity of food set on a table at one time; provision of food for a person or party for one meal; as, a mess of pottage; also, the food given to a beast at one time. At their savory dinner set Of herbs and other country messes. Milton.
2. A number of persons who eat together, and for whom food is prepared in common; especially, persons in the military or naval service who eat at the same table; as, the wardroom mess. Shak.
3. A set of four; — from the old practice of dividing companies into sets of four at dinner. [Obs.] Latimer.
4. The milk given by a cow at one milking. [U.S.]
5. Etym: [Perh. corrupt. fr. OE. mesh for mash: cf. muss.]
Defn: A disagreeable mixture or confusion of things; hence, a situation resulting from blundering or from misunderstanding; as, he made a mess of it. [Colloq.]
MESSMess, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Messed; p. pr. & vb. n. Messing.]
Defn: To take meals with a mess; to belong to a mess; to eat (with others); as, I mess with the wardroom officers. Marryat.
MESSMess, v. t.
Defn: To supply with a mess.
MESSAGE Mes"sage (; 48), n. Etym: [F., fr. LL. missaticum, fr. L. mittere, missum, to send. See Mission, and cf. Messenger.]
1. Any notice, word, or communication, written or verbal, sent from one person to another. Ehud said, I have a message from God unto thee. Judg. iii. 20.
2. Hence, specifically, an official communication, not made in person, but delivered by a messenger; as, the President's message. Message shell. See Shell.
MESSAGEMes"sage, v. t.
Defn: To bear as a message. [Obs.]
MESSAGEMes"sage, n. Etym: [OE., fr. OF. message, fr. LL. missaticus. See 1stMessage.]
Defn: A messenger. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MESSAGERMes"sa*ger, n. Etym: [OE.]
Defn: A messenger. [Obs.]
MESSAGE STICKMes"sage stick.
Defn: A stick, carved with lines and dots, used, esp. by Australian aborigines, to convey information.
MESS BEEFMess beef.
Defn: Barreled salt beef, packed with about 80 pounds chuck and rump, two flanks, and the rest plates.
MESSENGERMes"sen*ger, n. Etym: [OE. messager, OF. messagier, F. messager. SeeMessage.]
1. One who bears a message; the bearer of a verbal or written communication, notice, or invitation, from one person to another, or to a public body; specifically, an office servant who bears messages.
2. One who, or that which, foreshows, or foretells. Yon gray lines That fret the clouds are messengers of day. Shak.
3. (Naut.)
Defn: A hawser passed round the capstan, and having its two ends lashed together to form an endless rope or chain; — formerly used for heaving in the cable.
4. (Law)
Defn: A person appointed to perform certain ministerial duties under bankrupt and insolvent laws, such as to take charge og the estate of the bankrupt or insolvent. Bouvier. Tomlins.
Syn. — Carrier; intelligencer; courier; harbinger; forerunner; precursor; herald. Messenger bird, the secretary bird, from its swiftness.
MESSETMes"set, n.
Defn: A dog. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
MESSIADMes*si"ad, n.
Defn: A German epic poem on the Messiah, by Klopstock.
MESSIAHMes*si"ah, n. Etym: [Heb. mashiakh anointed, fr. mashakh to anoint.Cf. Messias.]
Defn: The expected king and deliverer of the Hebrews; the Savior;Christ.And told them the Messiah now was born. Milton.
MESSIAHSHIPMes*si"ah*ship, n.
Defn: The state or office of the Messiah.
MESSIANICMes`si*an"ic, a.
Defn: Of or relating to the Messiah; as, the Messianic office or character.
MESSIASMes*si"as, n. Etym: [LL., fr. Gr. Messiah.]
Defn: The Messiah.I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ. John iv. 25.
MESSIDORMes`si`dor" (F. ; E. ), n. Etym: [F., fr. L. messis harvest.]
Defn: The tenth month of the French republican calendar dating fromSeptember 22, 1792. It began June 19, and ended July 18. SeeVendÉmiaire.
MESSIEURSMes"sieurs (; F. ; 277), n. pl. Etym: [F.; pl. of monsieur.]
Defn: Sirs; gentlemen; — abbreviated to Messrs., which is used as the plural of Mr.
MESSINESEMes`si*nese" ( or ), a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Messina, or its inhabitans.
MESSMATEMess"mate`, n.
Defn: An associate in a mess.
MESSUAGE Mes"suage (; 48), n. Etym: [Cf. OF. mesuage, masnage, LL. messuagium, mansionaticum, fr. L. mansio, -onis, a staying, remaining, dwelling, fr. manere, mansum, to stay, remain, E. mansion, manse.] (Law)
Defn: A dwelling house, with the adjacent buildings and curtilage, and the adjoining lands appropriated to the use of the household. Cowell. Bouvier. They wedded her to sixty thousand pounds, To lands in Kent, and messuages in York. Tennyson.
MESTMest, a.
Defn: Most. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MESTEEMes*tee", n. Etym: [See Mestizo.]
Defn: The offspring of a white person and a quadroon; — so called in the West Indies. [Written also mustee.]
MESTERMes"ter, n. [Obs.]
Defn: See Mister, a trade.
MESTINOMes*ti"no, n.; pl. Mestinos (.
Defn: See Mestizo.
MESTIZOMes*ti"zo, n.; pl. Mestizos. Etym: [Sp. mestizo; akin to OF. mestis,F. métis; all fr. (assumed) LL. mixtitius, fr. L. mixtus mixed, p. p.of miscere to mix. See Mix, and cf. Mestee, MÉtif, MÉtis, Mustee.]
Defn: The offspring of an Indian or a negro and a European or person of European stock. [Spanish America] Mestizo wool, wool imported from South America, and produced by mixed breeds of sheep.
MESTLINGMest"ling, n.
Defn: A kind of brass. See Maslin. [Obs.]
MESYMNICUMMe*sym"ni*cum, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Hymn.] (Anc. Poetry)
Defn: A repetition at the end of a stanza.
METMet, imp. & p. p.
Defn: of Meet.
METMet, obs. imp. & p. p.
Defn: of Mete, to measure. Chapman.
METMet, obs. p. p.
Defn: of Mete, to dream. Chaucer.
META-; MET- Met"a-, Met-. Etym: [Gr. mid with, G. mit, Goth. miÞ, E. mid, in midwife.]
1. A prefix meaning between, with, after, behind, over, about, reversely; as, metachronism, the error of placing after the correct time; metaphor, lit., a carrying over; metathesis, a placing reversely.
2. (Chem.) A prefix denoting: (a) Other; duplicate, corresponding to; resembling; hence, metameric; as, meta-arabinic, metaldehyde. (b) (Organic Chem.) That two replacing radicals, in the benzene nucleus, occupy the relative positions of 1 and 3, 2 and 4, 3 and 5, 4 and 6, 5 and 1, or 6 and 2; as, metacresol, etc. See Ortho-, and Para-. (c) (Inorganic Chem.) Having less than the highest number of hydroxyl groups; — said of acids; as, metaphosphoric acid. Also used adjectively. at a level above, as metaphysics, metalanguage.
METABASISMe*tab"a*sis, n.; pl. Metabases. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
1. (Rhet.)
Defn: A transition from one subject to another.
2. (Med.)
Defn: Same as Metabola.
METABOLA; METABOLEMe*tab"o*la, Me*tab"o*le, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A change or mutation; a change of disease, symptoms, or treatment.
METABOLA; METABOLIAMe*tab"o*la, Met`a*bo"li*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See 1st Metabola.](Zoöl.)
Defn: A comprehensive group of insects, including those that undegro a metamorphosis.
METABOLIANMet`a*bo"li*an, n. Etym: [See Metabola.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An insect which undergoes a metamorphosis.
METABOLICMet`a*bol"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. Metabola.]
1. (Biol.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to metamorphosis; pertaining to, or involving, change.
2. (Physiol.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to metabolism; as, metabolic activity; metabolic force.
METABOLISISMet`a*bol"i*sis, n. Etym: [NL.]
Defn: Metabolism. [R.]
METABOLISMMe*tab"o*lism, n. (Physiol.)
Defn: The act or process, by which living tissues or cells take up and convert into their own proper substance the nutritive material brought to them by the blood, or by which they transform their cell protoplasm into simpler substances, which are fitted either for excretion or for some special purpose, as in the manufacture of the digestive ferments. Hence, metabolism may be either constructive (anabolism), or destructive (katabolism).