MORENDOMo*ren"do, a. & n. Etym: [It.] (Mus.)
Defn: Dying; a gradual decrescendo at the end of a strain or cadence.
MORENESSMore"ness, n.
Defn: Greatness. [Obs.] Wyclif.
MOREOVERMore*o"ver, adv. Etym: [More + over.]
Defn: Beyond what has been said; further; besides; in addition; furthermore; also; likewise. Moreover, he hath left you all his walks. Shak.
Syn. — Besides, Moreover. Of the two words, moreover is the stronger and is properly used in solemn discourse, or when what is added is important to be considered. See Besides.
MOREPORKMore"pork`, n. Etym: [So named from its cry.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The Australian crested goatsucker (Ægotheles Novæ-Hollandiæ).Also applied to other allied birds, as Podargus Cuveiri.
MORESMo"res (mo"rez), n. pl.; sing. Mos (mos). [L.]
Defn: Customs; habits; esp., customs conformity to which is more or less obligatory; customary law.
MORESKMo*resk", a. & n.
Defn: Moresque. [Obs.]
MORESQUEMo*resque", a. Etym: [F., fr. It. moresco, or Sp. morisco. SeeMorris.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to, or in the manner or style of, the Moors; Moorish. — n.
Defn: The Moresque style of architecture or decoration. See Moorish architecture, under Moorish. [Written also mauresque.]
MORGANMor"gan, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of a celebrated breed of American trotting horses; — so called from the name of the stud from which the breed originated in Vermont.
MORGANATIC Mor`ga*nat"ic, a. Etym: [LL. matrimonium ad morganaticam, fr. morganatica a morning gift, a kind of dowry paid on the morning before or after the marriage, fr. OHG. morgan morning, in morgangeba morning gift, G. morgengabe. See Morn.]
Defn: Pertaining to, in the manner of, or designating, a kind of marriage, called also left-handed marriage, between a man of superior rank and a woman of inferior, in which it is stipulated that neither the latter nor her children shall enjoy the rank or inherit the possessions of her husband. Brande & C. — Mor`ga*nat"ic*al*ly, adv.
MORGAYMor"gay, n. Etym: [W. morgi dogfish, shark; mor sea + ci dog.](Zoöl.)
Defn: The European small-spotted dogfish, or houndfish. See the Note under Houndfish.
MORGLAYMor"glay, n. Etym: [Cf. Claymore.]
Defn: A sword. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
MORGUEMorgue, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A place where the bodies of persons found dead are exposed, that they may be identified, or claimed by their friends; a deadhouse.
MORIAMo"ri*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
Defn: Idiocy; imbecility; fatuity; foolishness.
MORIANMo"ri*an, n. (Ethnol.)
Defn: A Moor. [Obs.]In vain the Turks and Morians armed be. Fairfax.
MORIBUNDMor"i*bund, a. Etym: [L. moribundus, from moriri to die. See Mortal.]
Defn: In a dying state; dying; at the point of death.The patient was comatose and moribund. Copland.
MORIBUNDMor"i*bund, n.
Defn: A dying person. [R.]
MORICMo"ric, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, fustic (see Morin); as, moric acid.
MORICEMor"ice, n.
Defn: See Morisco.
MORIGERATE Mo*rig"er*ate, a. Etym: [L. morigeratus, p.p. of morigerari to comply with. See Morigerous.]
Defn: Obedient. [Obs.]
MORIGERATIONMo*rig`er*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. morigeratio.]
Defn: Obsequiousness; obedience. [Obs.] Evelyn.
MORIGEROUS Mo*rig"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. morigerus; oss, moris, custom, manner + gerere to bear, conduct.]
Defn: Obedient; obsequious. [Obs.] Brathwait.
MORIL Mor"il, n. Etym: [F. morille; cf. OHG. morhila, G. morchel, OHG. morha carrot. See More a root.] (Bot.)
Defn: An edible fungus. Same as 1st Morel.
MORINMo"rin, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A yellow crystalline substance of acid properties extracted from fustic (Maclura tinctoria, formerly called Morus tinctoria); — called also moric acid.
MORINDAMo*rin"da, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of rubiaceous trees and shrubs, mostly East Indian, many species of which yield valuable red and yellow dyes. The wood is hard and beautiful, and used for gunstocks.
MORINDINMo*rin"din, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A yellow dyestuff extracted from the root bark of an EastIndian plant (Morinda citrifolia).
MORINELMor"i*nel`, n. Etym: [Cf. F. morinelle.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The dotterel.
MORINGAMo*rin"ga, n. Etym: [Malayam murunggi.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of trees of Southern India and Northern Africa. One species (Moringa pterygosperma) is the horse-radish tree, and its seeds, as well as those of M. aptera, are known in commerce as ben or ben nuts, and yield the oil called oil of ben.
MORINGICMo*rin"gic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Designating an organic acid obtained from oil of ben. SeeMoringa.
MORINTANNICMo`rin*tan"nic, a. Etym: [NL. Morus fustic + E. tannic.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, a variety of tannic acid extracted from fustic (Maclura, formerly Morus, tinctoria) as a yellow crystalline substance; — called also maclurin.
MORION Mo"ri*on, n. Etym: [F. morion, Sp. morrion; cf. Sp. morra the upper part of the head, morro anything that is round.]
Defn: A kind of open helmet, without visor or beaver, and somewhatresembling a hat.A battered morion on his brow. Sir W. Scott.
MORIONMo"ri*on, n. Etym: [G.] (Min.)
Defn: A dark variety of smoky quartz.
MORIOPLASTYMo"ri*o*plas`ty, n. Etym: [Gr. -plasty.] (Surg.)
Defn: The restoration of lost parts of the body.
MORISCOMo*ris"co, a. Etym: [Sp. See Morris the dance.]
Defn: Moresque.
MORISCOMo*ris"co, n. Etym: [Sp. morisco Moorish.]
Defn: A thing of Moorish origin; as: (a) The Moorish language. (b) A Moorish dance, now called morris dance. Marston. (c) One who dances the Moorish dance. Shak. (d) Moresque decoration or architecture.
MORISKMo"risk, n.
Defn: Same as Morisco.
MORKIN Mor"kin, n. Etym: [Akin to Sw. murken putrefied, Icel. morkinn putrid.]
Defn: A beast that has died of disease or by mischance. [Obs.] Bp.Hall.
MORLANDMor"land, n.
Defn: Moorland. [Obs.]
MORLINGMor"ling, n. Etym: [Cf. F. mort dead, L. mortuus, fr. moriri to die.]
Defn: Mortling. [Eng.] Ainsworth.
MORMALMor"mal, n. Etym: [F. mort-mai a deadly evil. Nares.]
Defn: A bad sore; a gangrene; a cancer. [Obs.] [Written also morrimal and mortmal.] Chaucer.
MORMOMor"mo, n. Etym: [Gr. mormw` a hideous she-monster, a bugbear.]
Defn: A bugbear; false terror. [Obs.] Jonhson.
MORMON Mor"mon, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.) (a) A genus of sea birds, having a large, thick bill; the puffin. (b) The mandrill.
MORMONMor"mon, n. (Eccl.)
Defn: One of a sect in the United States, followers of Joseph Smith, who professed to have found an addition to the Bible, engraved on golden plates, called the Book of Mormon, first published in 1830. The Mormons believe in polygamy, and their hierarchy of apostles, etc., has control of civil and religious matters.
Note: The Mormons call their religious organization The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Its head claims to receive revelations of God's will, and to have certain supernatural powers.
MORMONMor"mon, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Mormons; as, the Mormon religion;Mormon practices.
MORMONDOMMor"mon*dom, n.
Defn: The country inhabited by the Mormons; the Mormon people.
MORMONISMMor"mon*ism, n.
Defn: The doctrine, system, and practices of the Mormons.
MORMONITEMor"mon*ite, n.
Defn: A Mormon.— a.
Defn: Mormon. "Mormonite religion." F. W. Newman.
MORNMorn, n. Etym: [OE. morwen, morgen, AS. morgen; akin to D. morgen,OS. morgan, G. morgen, Icel. morginn, morgunn, Sw. morgon, Dan.morgen, Goth. maúrgins. Cf. Morrow, Morning.]
Defn: The first part of the day; the morning; — used chiefly inpoetry.From morn To noun he fell, from noon to dewy eve. Milton.
MORNEMor"ne, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the morn; morning. [Obs.] "White as morne milk." Chaucer.
MORNEMorne, n. Etym: [F., fr. morne sad, sorrowful. See Mourn.]
Defn: A ring fitted upon the head of a lance to prevent wounding an adversary in titling.
MORNEMor`né", a. Etym: [F., fr. morne a morne.] (Her.)
Defn: Without teeth, tongue, or claws; — said of a lion represented heraldically.
MORNEMorne, n. Etym: [OE. morning, morwening. See Morn.]
1. The first or early part of the day, variously understood as the earliest hours of light, the time near sunrise; the time from midnight to noon, from rising to noon, etc.
2. The first or early part; as, the morning of life.
3. The goddess Aurora. [Poetic] Shak.
MORNINGMorn"ing, a.
Defn: Pertaining to the first part or early part of the day; being in the early part of the day; as, morning dew; morning light; morning service. She looks as clear As morning roses newly washed with dew. Shak. Morning gown, a gown worn in the morning before one is dressed for the day. — Morning gun, a gun fired at the first stroke of reveille at military posts. — Morning sickness (Med.), nausea and vomiting, usually occurring in the morning; — a common sign of pregnancy. — Morning star. (a) Any one of the planets (Venus, Jupiter, Mars, or Saturn) when it precedes the sun in rising, esp. Venus. Cf. Evening star, Evening. (b) Satan. See Lucifer. Since he miscalled the morning star, Nor man nor fiend hath fallen so far. Byron. (c) A weapon consisting of a heavy ball set with spikes, either attached to a staff or suspended from one by a chain. — Morning watch (Naut.), the watch between four A. M. and eight A. M..
MORNING-GLORYMorn"ing-glo`ry, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A climbing plant (Ipomoea purpurea) having handsome, funnel- shaped flowers, usually red, pink, purple, white, or variegated, sometimes pale blue. See Dextrorsal.
MORNINGTIDEMorn"ing*tide`, n.
Defn: Morning time. [Poetic]
MORNWARDMorn"ward, adv.
Defn: Towards the morn. [Poetic]And mornward now the starry hands move on. Lowell.
MOROMo"ro, n. Etym: [Cf. It. mora mulberry, L. morum.] (Med.)
Defn: A small abscess or tumor having a resemblance to a mulberry.Dunglison.
MOROCCANMo*roc"can, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Morocco, or its inhabitants.
MOROCCO Mo*roc"co, n. Etym: [Named from Morocco, the country. Cf. Morris the dance.]
Defn: A fine kind of leather, prepared commonly from goatskin (though an inferior kind is made of sheepskin), and tanned with sumac and dyed of various colors; — said to have been first made by the Moors.
MOROLOGYMo*rol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Foolish talk; nonsense; folly. [Obs.]
MORONMo"ron, n. (Pedagogy)
Defn: A person whose intellectual development proceeds normally up to about the eighth year of age and is then arrested so that there is little or no further development.
MORONMo*ron", n.; Sp. pl. Morones (#). [Sp.]
Defn: An inferior olive size having a woody pulp and a large clingstone pit, growing in the mountainous and high-valley districts around the city of Moron, in Spain.
MORONEMo*rone", n.
Defn: Maroon; the color of an unripe black mulberry.
MOROSMo"ros, n. pl.; sing. Moro. [Sp., pl. of Moro Moor.] (Ethnol.)
Defn: The Mohammedan tribes of the southern Philippine Islands, said to have formerly migrated from Borneo. Some of them are warlike and addicted to piracy.
MOROSAURUSMo`ro*sau"rus, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: An extinct genus of large herbivorous dinosaurs, found inJurassic strata in America.
MOROSE Mo*rose", a. Etym: [L. morosus, prop., excessively addicted to any particular way or habit, fr. mos, moris, manner, habit, way of life: cf. F. morose.]
1. Of a sour temper; sullen and austere; ill-humored; severe. "A morose and affected taciturnity." I. Watts.
2. Lascivious; brooding over evil thoughts. [Obs.]
Syn. — Sullen; gruff; severe; austere; gloomy; crabbed; crusty; churlish; surly; ill-humored.
MOROSELYMo*rose"ly, adv.
Defn: Sourly; with sullen austerity.
MOROSENESSMo*rose"ness, n.
Defn: Sourness of temper; sulenness. Learn good humor, never to oppose without just reason; abate some degrees of pride and moroseness. I. Watts.
Note: Moroseness is not precisely peevishness or fretfulness, though often accompained with it. It denotes more of silence and severity, or ill-humor, than the irritability or irritation which characterizes peevishness.
MOROSISMo*ro"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Idiocy; fatuity; stupidity.
MOROSITYMo*ros"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. morositas: cf. F. morosité.]
Defn: Moroseness. [R.] Jer. Taylor.
MOROSOPHMo"ro*soph, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A philosophical or learned fool. [Obs.]
MOROSOUSMo*ro"sous, a.
Defn: Morose. [Obs.] Sheldon.
MOROXITEMo*rox"ite, n. Etym: [Cf. Gr. (Min.)
Defn: A variety of apatite of a greenish blue color.
MOROXYLATEMo*rox"y*late, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A morate.
MOROXYLICMor`ox*yl"ic, a. Etym: [L. morus a mulberry tree + Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or derived from, the mulberry; moric.
MORPHEANMor"phe*an, a.
Defn: Of or relating to Morpheus, to dreams, or to sleep. Keats.
MORPHEUSMor"pheus, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Class. Myth.)
Defn: The god of dreams.
MORPHEWMor"phew, n. Etym: [F. morpheé, LL. morphea; cf. It. morfea.]
Defn: A scurfy eruption. [Obs.] Drayton.
MORPHEWMor"phew, v. t.
Defn: To cover with a morphew. [Obs.]
MORPHIAMor"phi*a, n. Etym: [NL.] (Chem.)
Defn: Morphine.
MORPHINEMor"phine, n. Etym: [From Morpheus: cf. F. morphine.] (Chem.)
Defn: A bitter white crystalline alkaloid found in opium, possessing strong narcotic properties, and much used as an anodyne; — called also morphia, and morphina.
MORPHINISMMor"phin*ism, n. (Med.)
Defn: A morbid condition produced by the excessive or prolonged use of morphine.
MORPHOMor"pho, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of numerous species of large, handsome, tropical American butterflies, of the genus Morpho. They are noted for the very brilliant metallic luster and bright colors (often blue) of the upper surface of the wings. The lower surface is usually brown or gray, with eyelike spots.
MORPHOGENYMor*phog"e*ny, n. Etym: [form + root of (Biol.)
Defn: History of the evolution of forms; that part of ontogeny that deals with the germ history of forms; — distinguished from physiogeny. Haeckel.
MORPHOLOGIC; MORPHOLOGICALMor`pho*log"ic, Mor`pho*log"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. morphologique.](Biol.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or according to, the principles ofmorphology.— Mor`pho*log"ic*al*ly, adv.
MORPHOLOGISTMor*phol"o*gist, n. (Biol.)
Defn: One who is versed in the science of morphology.
MORPHOLOGYMor*phol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy: cf. F. morphologie.] (Biol.)
Defn: That branch of biology which deals with the structure of animals and plants, treating of the forms of organs and describing their varieties, homologies, and metamorphoses. See Tectology, and Promorphology.
MORPHONMor"phon, n. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: A morphological individual, characterized by definiteness of form bion, a physiological individual. See Tectology. Haeckel.
Note: Of morphons there are six orders or categories: 1. Plastids or elementary organisms. 2. Organs, homoplastic or heteroplastic. 3. Antimeres (opposite or symmetrical or homotypic parts). 4. Metameres (successive or homodynamous parts). 5. Personæ (shoots or buds of plants, individuals in the narrowest sense among the higher animals). 6. Corms (stocks or colonies). For orders 2, 3, and 4 the term idorgan has been recently substituted. See Idorgan.
MORPHONOMYMor*phon"o*my, n. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: The laws of organic formation.
MORPHOPHYLYMor"pho*phy`ly, n. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: The tribal history of forms; that part of phylogeny which treats of the tribal history of forms, in distinction from the tribal history of functions. Haeckel.
MORPHOSISMor*pho"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: The order or mode of development of an organ or part.
MORPHOTICMor*phot"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol.)
Defn: Connected with, or becoming an integral part of, a living unit or of the morphological framework; as, morphotic, or tissue, proteids. Foster.
-MORPHOUS -mor"phous. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A combining form denoting form, shape; as, isomorphous.
MORPIONMor"pi*on, n. Etym: [F., fr. mordre to bite + L. pedis louse.](Zoöl.)
Defn: A louse. Hudibras.
MORRICEMor"rice, n.
Defn: Same as 1st Morris.
MORRICEMor"rice, a.
Defn: Dancing the morrice; dancing.In shoals and bands, a morrice train. Wordsworth.
MORRICERMor"ri*cer, n.
Defn: A morris dancer. [Obs.]
MORRIMALMor"ri*mal, n. & a.
Defn: See Mormal.
MORRIS Mor"ris, n. Etym: [Sp. morisco Moorish, fr. Moro a Moor: cf. F. moresque, It. moresca.]
1. A Moorish dance, usually performed by a single dancer, who accompanies the dance with castanets.
2. A dance formerly common in England, often performed in pagenats, processions, and May games. The dancers, grotesquely dressed and ornamented, took the parts of Robin Hood, Maidmarian, and other fictious characters.
3. An old game played with counters, or men, which are placed angles of a figure drawn on a board or on the ground; also, the board or ground on which the game is played. The nine-men's morris is filled up with mud. Shak.
Note: The figure consists of three concentric squares, with lines from the angles of the outer one to those of the inner, and from the middle of each side of the outer square to that of the inner. The game is played by two persons with nine or twelve pieces each (hence called nine-men's morris or twelve-men's morris). The pieces are placed alternately, and each player endeavors to prevent his opponent from making a straight row of three. Should either succeed in making a row, he may take up one of his opponent's pieces, and he who takes off all of his opponent's pieces wins the game.
MORRISMor"ris, n. Etym: [So called from its discoverer.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A marine fish having a very slender, flat, transparent body. It is now generally believed to be the young of the conger eel or some allied fish.
MORRIS-CHAIRMor"ris-chair`, n. [Prob. fr. the proper name Morris.]
Defn: A kind of easy-chair with a back which may be lowered or raised.
MORRIS-PIKEMor"ris-pike`, n.
Defn: A Moorish pike. [Obs.]
MORROMor"ro, n. [Sp., any spherical object.]
Defn: A round hill or point of land; hence, Morro castle, a castle on a hill.
MORROTMor"rot, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Marrot.
MORROWMor"row, n. Etym: [OE. morwe, morwen, AS. morgen. See Morn.]
1. Morning. [Obs.] "White as morrow's milk." Bp. Hall. We loved he by the morwe a sop in wine. Chaucer.
2. The next following day; the day subsequent to any day specified or understood. Lev. vii. 16. Till this stormy night is gone, And the eternal morrow dawn. Crashaw.
3. The day following the present; to-morrow. Good morrow, good morning; — a form of salutation. — To morrow. See To-morrow in the Vocabulary.
MORSE Morse, n. Etym: [F. morse, Russ. morj'; perh. akin to E. mere lake; cf. Russ. more sea.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The walrus. See Walrus.
MORSEMorse, n. Etym: [L. morsus a biting, a clasp, fr. mordere to bite.]
Defn: A clasp for fastening garments in front. Fairholt.
MORSE ALPHABETMorse" al"pha*bet.
Defn: A telegraphic alphabet in very general use, inventing by Samuel F.B.Morse, the inventor of Morse's telegraph. The letters are represented by dots and dashes impressed or printed on paper, as, .- (A), -… (B), -.. (D), . (E), .. (O), … (R), — (T), etc., or by sounds, flashes of light, etc., with greater or less intervals between them.
MORSE CODEMorse" code". (Teleg.)
Defn: The telegraphic code, consisting of dots, dashes, and spaces, invented by Samuel B. Morse. The Alphabetic code which is in use in North America is given below. In length, or duration, one dash is theoretically equal to three dots; the space between the elements of a letter is equal to one dot; the interval in spaced letters, as O . ., is equal to three dots. There are no spaces in any letter composed wholly or in part of dashes.
Alphabet
F .-. M — T — & . …
Numerals
1 .—. 4 . . . .- 7 —..
2 ..-.. 5 —- 8 - . . . .
3 . . . -. 6 . . . . . . 9 -..-
0 —— Period ..—.. Comma .-.-
The International (Morse) code used elsewhere is the same as the above with the following exceptions.
J .—- P .—. X -..- The Morse code is used chiefly with the electric telegraph, but is also employed in signalling with flags, lights, etc.
MORSELMor"sel, n. Etym: [OF. morsel, F. morceau, LL. morsellus, a dim. fr.L. morsus a biting, bite, fr. mordere to bite; prob. akin to E.smart. See Smart, and cf. Morceau, Mordant, Muse, v., Muzzle, n.]
1. A little bite or bit of food. Chaucer. Every morsel to a satisfied hunger is only a new labor to a tired digestion. South.
2. A small quantity; a little piece; a fragment.
MORSING HORNMor"sing horn`.
Defn: A horn or flask for holding powder, as for priming. [Scot.] SirW. Scott.
MORSITATIONMor`si*ta"tion, n.
Defn: The act of biting or gnawing. [Obs.]
MORSUREMor"sure, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. mordere, morsum, to bite.]
Defn: The act of biting. Swift.
MORTMort, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. margt, neut. of margr many.]
Defn: A great quantity or number. [Prov. Eng.]There was a mort of merrymaking. Dickens.
MORTMort, n. Etym: [Etym. uncert.]
Defn: A woman; a female. [Cant]Male gypsies all, not a mort among them. B. Jonson.
MORTMort, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A salmon in its third year. [Prov. Eng.]
MORTMort, n. Etym: [F., death, fr. L. mors, mortis.]
1. Death; esp., the death of game in the chase.
2. A note or series of notes sounded on a horn at the death of game. The sportsman then sounded a treble mort. Sir W. Scott.
3. The skin of a sheep or lamb that has died of disease. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.] Mort cloth, the pall spread over a coffin; black cloth indicative or mourning; funeral hangings. Carlyle. — Mort stone, a large stone by the wayside on which the bearers rest a coffin. [Eng.] H. Taylor.
MORTAL Mor"tal, a. Etym: [F. mortel, L. mortalis, from mors, mortis, death, fr. moriri 8die; akin to E. murder. See Murder, and cf. Filemot, Mere a lake, Mortgage.]
1. Subject to death; destined to die; as, man is mortal.
2. Destructive to life; causing or occasioning death; terminating life; exposing to or deserving death; deadly; as, a mortal wound; a mortal sin.
3. Fatally vulnerable; vital. Last of all, against himself he turns his sword, but missing the mortal place, with his poniard finishes the work. Milton.
4. Of or pertaining to the time of death. Safe in the hand of one disposing Power, Or in the natal or the mortal hour. Pope.
5. Affecting as if with power to kill; deathly. The nymph grew pale, and in a mortal fright. Dryden.
6. Human; belonging to man, who is mortal; as, mortal wit or knowledge; mortal power. The voice of God To mortal ear is dreadful. Milton.
7. Very painful or tedious; wearisome; as, a sermon lasting two mortal hours. [Colloq.] Sir W. Scott. Mortal foe, Mortal enemy, an inveterate, desperate, or implacable enemy; a foe bent on one's destruction.
MORTALMor"tal, n.
Defn: A being subject to death; a human being; man. "Warn poor mortals left behind." Tickell.
MORTALITYMor*tal"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. mortalitas: cf. F. mortalité.]
1. The condition or quality of being mortal; subjection to death or to the necessity of dying. When I saw her die, I then did think on your mortality. Carew.
2. Human life; the life of a mortal being. From this instant There 's nothing serious in mortality. Shak.
3. Those who are, or that which is, mortal; the human cace; humanity; human nature. Take these tears, mortality's relief. Pope.
4. Death; destruction. Shak.
5. The whole sum or number of deaths in a given time or a given community; also, the proportion of deaths to population, or to a specific number of the population; death rate; as, a time of great, or low, mortality; the mortality among the settlers was alarming. Bill of mortality. See under Bill. — Law of mortality, a mathematical relation between the numbers living at different ages, so that from a given large number of persons alive at one age, it can be computed what number are likely to survive a given number of years. — Table of mortality, a table exhibiting the average relative number of persons who survive, or who have died, at the end of each year of life, out of a given number supposed to have been born at the same time.
MORTALIZEMor"tal*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mortalized; p. pr. & vb. n.Mortalizing.]
Defn: To make mortal. [R.]
MORTALLYMor"tal*ly, adv.
1. In a mortal manner; so as to cause death; as, mortally wounded.
2. In the manner of a mortal or of mortal beings. I was mortally brought forth. Shak.
3. In an extreme degree; to the point of dying or causing death; desperately; as, mortally jealous. Adrian mortally envied poets, painters, and artificers, in works wherein he had a vein to excel. Bacon.
MORTALNESSMor"tal*ness, n.
Defn: Quality of being mortal; mortality.
MORTAR Mor"tar, n. Etym: [OE. morter, AS. mortere, L. mortarium: cf. F. mortier mortar. Cf. sense 2 (below), also 2d Mortar, Martel, Morter.]
1. A strong vessel, commonly in form of an inverted bell, in which substances are pounded or rubbed with a pestle.
2. Etym: [F. mortier, fr. L. mortarium mortar (for trituarating).] (Mil.)
Defn: A short piece of ordnance, used for throwing bombs, carcasses, shells, etc., at high angles of elevation, as 45º, and even higher; - - so named from its resemblance in shape to the utensil above described. Mortar bed (Mil.), a framework of wood and iron, suitably hollowed out to receive the breech and trunnions of a mortar. — Mortar boat or vessel (Naut.), a boat strongly built and adapted to carrying a mortar or mortars for bombarding; a bomb ketch. — Mortar piece, a mortar. [Obs.] Shak.
MORTAR Mor"tar, n. Etym: [OE. mortier, F. mortier, L. mortarium mortar, a large basin or trough in which mortar is made, a mortar (in sense 1, above). See 1st Mortar.] (Arch.)
Defn: A building material made by mixing lime, cement, or plaster of Paris, with sand, water, and sometimes other materials; — used in masonry for joining stones, bricks, etc., also for plastering, and in other ways. Mortar bed, a shallow box or receptacle in which mortar is mixed. — Mortar board. (a) A small square board with a handle beneath, for holding mortar; a hawk. (b) A cap with a broad, projecting, square top; — worn by students in some colleges. [Slang]
MORTARMor"tar, v. t.
Defn: To plaster or make fast with mortar.
MORTARMor"tar, n. Etym: [F. mortier. See Mortar a vessel.]
Defn: A chamber lamp or light. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MORTGAGE Mort"gage, n. Etym: [F. mort-gage; mort dead (L. mortuus) + gage pledge. See Mortal, and Gage.]
1. (Law)
Defn: A conveyance of property, upon condition, as security for the payment of a debt or the preformance of a duty, and to become void upon payment or performance according to the stipulated terms; also, the written instrument by which the conveyance is made.
Note: It was called a mortgage (or dead pledge) because, whatever profit it might yield, it did not thereby redeem itself, but became lost or dead to the mortgager upon breach of the condition. But in equity a right of redemption is an inseparable incident of a mortgage until the mortgager is debarred by his own laches, or by judicial decree. Cowell. Kent.
2. State of being pledged; as, lands given in mortgage. Chattelmortgage. See under Chattel.— To foreclose a mortgage. See under Foreclose.— Mortgage deed (Law), a deed given by way of mortgage.
MORTGAGEMort"gage, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mortgaged; p. pr. & vb. n.Mortgaging.]
1. (Law)
Defn: To grant or convey, as property, for the security of a debt, or other engagement, upon a condition that if the debt or engagement shall be discharged according to the contract, the conveyance shall be void, otherwise to become absolute, subject, however, to the right of redemption.
2. Hence: To pledge, either literally or figuratively; to make subject to a claim or obligation. Mortgaging their lives to covetise. Spenser. I myself an mortgaged to thy will. Shak.
MORTGAGEEMort`ga*gee", n. (Law)
Defn: The person to whom property is mortgaged, or to whom a mortgage is made or given.
MORTGAGEOR; MORTGAGORMort"gage*or, Mort"ga*gor, n. (Law)
Defn: One who gives a mortgage.
Note: The letter e is required analogically after the second g in order to soften it; but the spelling mortgagor is in fact the prevailing form. When the word is contradistinguished from mortgagee it is accented on the last syllable (
MORTGAGERMort"ga*ger, n. (Law)
Defn: gives a mortgage.
MORTIFEROUS Mor"tif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. mortifier; mors, mortis, death + ferre to bring: cf. F. mortifère.]
Defn: Bringing or producing death; deadly; destructive; as, a mortiferous herb. Gov. of Tongue.
MORTIFICATIONMor`ti*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. mortificatio a killing. SeeMortify.]
1. The act of mortifying, or the condition of being mortified; especially: (a) (Med.) The death of one part of an animal body, while the rest continues to live; loss of vitality in some part of a living animal; gangrene. Dunglison. (b) (Alchem. & Old Chem.) Destruction of active qualities; neutralization. [Obs.] Bacon. (c) Subjection of the passions and appetites, by penance, absistence, or painful severities inflicted on the body. The mortification of our lusts has something in it that is troublesome, yet nothing that is unreasonable. Tillotson.
(d) Hence: Deprivation or depression of self-approval; abatement or pride; humiliation; chagrin; vexation. We had the mortification to lose sight of Munich, Augsburg, and Ratisbon. Addison.
2. That which mortifies; the cause of humiliation, chagrin, or vexation. It is one of the vexatious mortifications of a studious man to have his thoughts discovered by a tedious visit. L'Estrange.
3. (Scots Law)
Defn: A gift to some charitable or religious institution; — nearly synonymous with mortmain.
Syn.— Chagrin; vexation; shame. See Chagrin.
MORTIFIEDMor"ti*fied, imp. & p. p.
Defn: of Mortify.
MORTIFIEDNESSMor"ti*fied*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being mortified; humiliation; subjection of the passions. [R.]
MORTIFIERMor"ti*fi`er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, mortifies.
MORTIFYMor"ti*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mortified; p. pr. & vb. n.Mortifying.] Etym: [OE. mortifien, F. mortifier, fr. L. mortificare;L. mors, mortis, death + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See Mortal, and-fy.]
1. To destroy the organic texture and vital functions of; to produce gangrene in.
2. To destroy the active powers or essential qualities of; to change by chemical action. [Obs.] Chaucer. Quicksilver is mortified with turpentine. Bacon. He mortified pearls in vinegar. Hakewill.
3. To deaden by religious or other discipline, as the carnal affections, bodily appetites, or worldly desires; to bring into subjection; to abase; to humble. With fasting mortified, worn out with tears. Harte. Mortify thy learned lust. Prior. Mortify, rherefore, your members which are upon the earth. Col. iii. 5.
4. To affect with vexation, chagrin, or humiliation; to humble; to depress. The news of the fatal battle of Worcester, which exceedingly mortified our expectations. Evelyn. How often is the ambitious man mortified with the very praises he receives, if they do not rise so high as he thinks they ought! Addison.
MORTIFYMor"ti*fy, v. i.
1. To lose vitality and organic structure, as flesh of a living body; to gangrene.
2. To practice penance from religious motives; to deaden desires by religious discipline. This makes him … give alms of all that he hath, watch, fast, and mortify. Law.
3. To be subdued; to decay, as appetites, desires, etc.
MORTIFYINGMor"ti*fy`ing, a.
1. Tending to mortify; affected by, or having symptoms of, mortification; as, a mortifying wound; mortifying flesh.
2. Subduing the appetites, desires, etc.; as, mortifying penances.
3. Tending to humble or abase; humiliating; as, a mortifying repulse.
MORTIFYINGLYMor"ti*fy`ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a mortifying manner.
MORTISE Mor"tise, n. Etym: [F. mortaise; cf. Sp. mortaja, Ar. murtazz fixed, or W. mortais, Ir. mortis, moirtis, Gael. moirteis.]
Defn: A cavity cut into a piece of timber, or other material, to receive something (as the end of another piece) made to fit it, and called a tenon. Mortise and tenon (Carp.), made with a mortise and tenon; joined or united by means of a mortise and tenon; — used adjectively. — Mortise joint, a joint made by a mortise and tenon. — Mortise lock. See under Lock. — Mortise wheel, a cast-iron wheel, with wooden clogs inserted in mortises on its face or edge; — also called mortise gear, and core gear.
MORTISEMor"tise, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mortised; p. pr. & vb. n. Mortising.]
1. To cut or make a mortisein.
2. To join or fasten by a tenon and mortise; as, to mortise a beam into a post, or a joist into a girder.
MORTLINGMort"ling, n. Etym: [See Morling.]
1. An animal, as a sheep, dead of disease or privation; a mortling. [Eng.]
2. Wool plucked from a dead sheep; morling.
MORTMAIN Mort"main`, n. Etym: [F. mort, morte, dead + main hand; F. main- morte. See Mortal, and Manual.] (Law)
Defn: Possession of lands or tenements in, or conveyance to, dead hands, or hands that cannot alienate.
Note: The term was originally applied to conveyance of land made to ecclesiastical bodies; afterward to conveyance made to any corporate body. Burrill.
MORTMALMort"mal, n.
Defn: See Mormal. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
MORTPAYMort"pay`, n. Etym: [F. mort dead + E. pay.]
Defn: Dead pay; the crime of taking pay for the service of dead soldiers, or for services not actually rendered by soldiers. [Obs.] Bacon.
MORTRESS; MORTREWMor"tress, Mor"trew, n. Etym: [See Mortar.]
Defn: A dish of meats and other ingredients, cooked together; an ollapodrida. Chaucer. Bacon.
MORTUARY Mor"tu*a*ry, n.; pl. Mortuaries. Etym: [LL. mortuarium. See Mortuary, a.]
1. A sort of ecclesiastical heriot, a customary gift claimed by, and due to, the minister of a parish on the death of a parishioner. It seems to have been originally a voluntary bequest or donation, intended to make amends for any failure in the payment of tithes of which the deceased had been guilty.
2. A burial place; a place for the dead.
3. A place for the reception of the dead before burial; a deadhouse; a morgue.
MORTUARY Mor"tu*a*ry, a. Etym: [L. mortuarius, fr. mortuus dead: cf. F. mortuaire. See Mortal.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the dead; as, mortuary monuments. Mortuary urn, an urn for holding the ashes of the dead.
MORULAMor"u*la, n.; pl. Morulæ. Etym: [NL., dim. of L. morum a mulberry.](Biol.)
Defn: The sphere or globular mass of cells (blastomeres), formed by the clevage of the ovum or egg in the first stages of its development; — called also mulberry mass, segmentation sphere, and blastosphere. See Segmentation.
MORULATIONMor`u*la"tion, n. (Biol.)
Defn: The process of cleavage, or segmentation, of the ovum, by which a morula is formed.
MORUSMo"rus, n. Etym: [L., mulberry tree. See Mulberry.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of trees, some species of which produce edible fruit; the mulberry. See Mulberry.
Note: Morus alba is the white mulberry, a native of India or China, the leaves of which are extensively used for feeding silkworms, for which it furnishes the chief food. — Morus multicaulis, the many-stemmed or Chinese mulberry, is only a form of white mulberry, preferred on account of its more abundant leaves. — Morus nigra, the black mulberry, produces a dark-colored fruit, of an agreeable flavor.
MORWEMor"we, n.
Defn: See Morrow. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MORWENINGMor"wen*ing, n.
Defn: Morning. [Obs.]
MOSMos, n.,
Defn: sing. of Mores.
MOSAIC Mo*sa"ic, n. Etym: [F. mosaïque; cf. Pr. mozaic, musec, Sp. & Pg. mosaico, It. mosaico, musaico, LGr. musivum; all fr. Gr. Muse the goddess.]
1. (Fine Arts)
Defn: A surface decoration made by inlaying in patterns small pieces of variously colored glass, stone, or other material; — called also mosaic work.
2. A picture or design made in mosaic; an article decorated in mosaic.
MOSAICMo*sa"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the style of work called mosaic; formed by uniting pieces of different colors; variegated; tessellated; also, composed of various materials or ingredients. A very beautiful mosaic pavement. Addison. Florentine mosaic. See under Florentine. — Mosaic gold. (a) See Ormolu. — (b) Stannic sulphide, SnS2, obtained as a yellow scaly crystalline powder, and used as a pigment in bronzing and gilding wood and metal work. It was called by the alchemists aurum musivum, or aurum mosaicum. Called also bronze powder. — Mosaic work. See Mosaic, n.
MOSAICMo*sa"ic, a. Etym: [From Moses.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to Moses, the leader of the Israelites, or established through his agency; as, the Mosaic law, rites, or institutions.
MOSAICALMo*sa"ic*al, a.
Defn: Mosaic (in either sense). "A mosaical floor." Sir P. Sidney.
MOSAICALLYMo*sa"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In the manner of a mosaic.
MOSAISMMo"sa*ism, n.
Defn: Attachment to the system or doctrines of Moses; that which is peculiar to the Mosaic system or doctrines.
MOSASAUR; MOSASAURIANMos"a*saur, Mos`a*sau"ri*an, n. (Paleon.)
Defn: One of an extinct order of reptiles, including Mosasaurus and allied genera. See Mosasauria.
MOSASAURIAMos`a*sau"ri*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Mosasaurus.] (Paleon.)
Defn: An order of large, extinct, marine reptiles, found in the Cretaceous rocks, especially in America. They were serpentlike in form and in having loosely articulated and dilatable jaws, with large recurved tteth, but they had paddlelike feet. Some of them were over fifty feet long. They are, essentially, fossil sea serpents with paddles. Called also Pythonomarpha, and Mosasauria.
MOSASAURUSMos`a*sau"rus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. Mosa the River Meuse (on whichMeastricht is situated) + Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: A genus of extinct marine reptiles allied to the lizards, but having the body much elongated, and the limbs in the form of paddles. The first known species, nearly fifty feet in length, was discovered in Cretaceous beds near Maestricht, in the Netherlands. [Written also Mososaurus.]
MOSCHATELMos"cha*tel`, n. Etym: [Gr. moscatelline. See Muscadel, Musk.] (Bot.)
Defn: A plant of the genus Adoxa (A. moschatellina), the flowers of which are pale green, and have a faint musky smell. It is found in woods in all parts of Europe, and is called also hollow root and musk crowfoot. Loudon.
MOSCHINEMos"chine, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Moschus, a genus including the musk deer.
MOSELMos"el, n. & v.
Defn: See Muzzle. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MOSELLEMo*selle", n.
Defn: A light wine, usually white, produced in the vicinity of the river Moselle.
MOSESMo"ses, n.
Defn: A large flatboat, used in the West Indies for taking freight from shore to ship.
MOSEYMo"sey, v. i. [Perh. fr. Vamose.]
Defn: To go, or move (in a certain manner); — usually with out, off, along, etc. [Colloq.] E. N. Wescott.
MOSKMosk, n.
Defn: See Mosque.
MOSLEM Mos"lem, n.; pl. Moslems, or collectively Moslem. Etym: [Ar. muslim a true believer in the Mohammedan faith, fr. salama to submit to God, to resign one's self to the divine will. Cf. Islam, Mussulman.]
Defn: A Mussulman; an orthodox Mohammedan. [Written also muslim.]"Heaps of slaughtered Moslem." Macaulay.They piled the ground with Moslem slain. Halleck.
MOSLEMMos"lem, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Mohammedans; Mohammedan; as, Moslem lands; the Moslem faith.
MOSLINGSMos"lings, n. pl.
Defn: Thin shreds of leather shaved off in dressing skins. Simmonds.
MOSOSAURUSMos`o*sau"rus, n. Etym: [NL.] (Paleon.)
Defn: Same as Mosasaurus.
MOSQUE Mosque, n. Etym: [F. mosquée, Sp. mezquita, Ar. masjid, from sajada to bend, adore.]
Defn: A Mohammedan church or place of religious worship. [Written also mosk.]
MOSQUITO Mos*qui"to, n.; pl. Mosquitoes. Etym: [Sp. mosquito, fr. moscafly, L. musca. Cf. Musket.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of various species of gnats of the genus Culex and allied genera. The females have a proboscis containing, within the sheathlike labium, six fine, sharp, needlelike organs with which they puncture the skin of man and animals to suck the blood. These bites, when numerous, cause, in many persons, considerable irritation and swelling, with some pain. The larvæ and pupæ, called wigglers, are aquatic. [Written also musquito.] Mosquito bar, Mosquito net, a net or curtain for excluding mosquitoes, — used for beds and windows. — Mosquito fleet, a fleet of small vessels. — Mosquito hawk (Zoöl.), a dragon fly; — so called because it captures and feeds upon mosquitoes. — Mosquito netting, a loosely-woven gauzelike fabric for making mosquito bars.
MOSSMoss, n. Etym: [OE. mos; akin to AS. meós, D. mos, G. moos, OHG. mos,mios, Icel. mosi, Dan. mos, Sw. mossa, Russ. mokh', L. muscus. Cf.Muscoid.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A cryptogamous plant of a cellular structure, with distinct stem and simple leaves. The fruit is a small capsule usually opening by an apical lid, and so discharging the spores. There are many species, collectively termed Musci, growing on the earth, on rocks, and trunks of trees, etc., and a few in running water.
Note: The term moss is also popularly applied to many other small cryptogamic plants, particularly lichens, species of which are called tree moss, rock moss, coral moss, etc. Fir moss and club moss are of the genus Lycopodium. See Club moss, under Club, and Lycopodium.
2. A bog; a morass; a place containing peat; as, the mosses of the Scottish border.
Note: Moss is used with participles in the composition of words whichneed no special explanation; as, moss-capped, moss-clad, moss-covered, moss-grown, etc. Black moss. See under Black, andTillandsia.— Bog moss. See Sphagnum.— Feather moss, any moss branched in a feathery manner, esp.several species of the genus Hypnum.— Florida moss, Long moss, or Spanish moss. See Tillandsia.— Iceland moss, a lichen. See Iceland Moss.— Irish moss, a seaweed. See Carrageen.— Moss agate (Min.), a variety of agate, containing brown, black,or green mosslike or dendritic markings, due in part to oxide ofmanganese. Called also Mocha stone.— Moss animal (Zoöl.), a bryozoan.— Moss berry (Bot.), the small cranberry (Vaccinium Oxycoccus).— Moss campion (Bot.), a kind of mosslike catchfly (Sileneacaulis), with mostly purplish flowers, found on the highestmountains of Europe and America, and within the Arctic circle.— Moss land, land produced accumulation of aquatic plants, formingpeat bogs of more or less consistency, as the water is grained off orretained in its pores.— Moss pink (Bot.), a plant of the genus Phlox (P. subulata),growing in patches on dry rocky hills in the Middle United States,and often cultivated for its handsome flowers. Gray.— Moss rose (Bot.), a variety of rose having a mosslike growth onthe stalk and calyx. It is said to be derived from the Provence rose.— Moss rush (Bot.), a rush of the genus Juncus (J. squarrosus).— Scale moss. See Hepatica.
MOSSMoss, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mossed; p. pr. & vb. n. Mossing.]
Defn: To cover or overgrow with moss.An oak whose boughs were mossed with age. Shak.
MOSSBACKMoss"back`, n.
Defn: A veteran partisan; one who is so conservative in opinion that he may be likened to a stone or old tree covered with moss. [Political Slang, U.S.]
MOSSBANKER; MOSSBUNKERMoss"bank`er, Moss"bunk`er, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The menhaded.
MOSS-GROWNMoss"-grown`, a.
Defn: Overgrown with moss.
MOSSINESSMoss"i*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being mossy.
MOSSTROOPERMoss"troop`er, n. Etym: [Moss + trooper.]
Defn: One of a class of marauders or bandits that formerly infested the border country between England and Scotland; — so called in allusion to the mossy or boggy character of much of the border country.
MOSSYMoss"y, a. [Compar. Mossier; superl. Mossiest.]
1. Overgrown with moss; abounding with or edged with moss; as, mossy trees; mossy streams. Old trees are more mossy far than young. Bacon.
2. Resembling moss; as, mossy green.
MOST Most, a., superl. of More. Etym: [OE. most, mast, mest, AS. m; akin to D. meest, OS. mest, G. meist, Icel. mestr, Goth. maists; a superl. corresponding to E. more. *103. See More, a.]
1. Consisting of the greatest number or quantity; greater in number or quantity than all the rest; nearly all. "Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness." Prov. xx. 6. The cities wherein most of his mighty works were done. Matt. xi. 20.
2. Greatest in degree; as, he has the most need of it. "In the moste pride." Chaucer.
3. Highest in rank; greatest. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Note: Most is used as a noun, the words part, portion, quantity, etc., being omitted, and has the following meanings: 1. The greatest value, number, or part; preponderating portion; highest or chief part. 2. The utmost; greatest possible amount, degree, or result; especially in the phrases to make the most of, at the most, at most. A quarter of a year or some months at the most. Bacon. A covetous man makes the most of what he has. L'Estrange. For the most part, in reference to the larger part of a thing, or to the majority of the persons, instances, or things referred to; as, human beings, for the most part, are superstitious; the view, for the most part, was pleasing. — Most an end, generally. See An end, under End, n. [Obs.] "She sleeps most an end." Massinger.
MOSTMost, adv. Etym: [AS. mæst. See Most, a.]
Defn: In the greatest or highest degree. Those nearest to this king, and most his favorites, were courtiers and prelates. Milton.
Note: Placed before an adjective or adverb, most is used to form the superlative degree, being equivalent to the termination -est; as, most vile, most wicked; most illustrious; most rapidly. Formerly, and until after the Elizabethan period of our literature, the use of the double superlative was common. See More, adv. The most unkindest cut of all. Shak. The most straitest sect of our religion. Acts xxvi. 5.
MOSTAHIBAMos`ta*hi"ba, n.
Defn: See Mustaiba.
MOSTEMos"te, obs.imp.
Defn: of Mote. Chaucer.
MOSTIC; MOSTICKMos"tic, Mos"tick, n. Etym: [See Maul-stick.]
Defn: A painter's maul-stick.
MOSTLYMost"ly, adv.
Defn: For the greatest part; for the most part; chiefly; in the main.
MOSTRAMos"tra, n. Etym: [It.] (Mus.)
Defn: See Direct, n.
MOSTWHATMost"what`, adv.
Defn: For the most part. [Obs.] "All the rest do mostwhat far amiss."Spenser.
MOT Mot, v. [Sing. pres. ind. Mot, Mote, Moot (, pl. Mot, Mote, Moote, pres. subj. Mote; imp. Moste.] Etym: [See Must, v.] [Obs.]
Defn: May; must; might.He moot as well say one word as another Chaucer.The wordes mote be cousin to the deed. Chaucer.Men moot [i.e., one only] give silver to the poore freres. Chaucer.So mote it be, so be it; amen; — a phrase in some rituals, as thatof the Freemasons.
MOTMot, n. Etym: [F. See Motto.]
1. A word; hence, a motto; a device. [Obs.] Bp. Hall. Tarquin's eye may read the mot afar. Shak.
2. A pithy or witty saying; a witticism. [A Gallicism] Here and there turns up a … savage mot. N. Brit. Rev.
3. A note or brief strain on a bugle. Sir W. Scott.
MOTACILMot"a*cil, n. Etym: [Cf. F. motacille.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any singing bird of the genus Motacilla; a wagtail.
MOTATIONMo*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. motare, motatum, to keep moving.]
Defn: The act of moving; motion. [Obs.]
MOTEMote, v.
Defn: See 1st Mot. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MOTE Mote, n. Etym: [See Moot, a meeting.] [Obs., except in a few combinations or phrases.]
1. A meeting of persons for discussion; as, a wardmote in the city of London.
2. A body of persons who meet for discussion, esp. about the management of affairs; as, a folkmote.
3. A place of meeting for discussion. Mote bell, the bell rung to summon to a mote. [Obs.]
MOTEMote, n.
Defn: The flourish sounded on a horn by a huntsman. See Mot, n., 3, and Mort. Chaucer.
MOTEMote, n. Etym: [OE. mot, AS. mot.]
Defn: A small particle, as of floating dust; anything proverbiallysmall; a speck.The little motes in the sun do ever stir, though there be no wind.Bacon.We are motes in the midst of generations. Landor.
MOTEDMot"ed, a.
Defn: Filled with motes, or fine floating dust; as, the air. "Moted sunbeams." Tennyson.
MOTET Mo*tet", n. Etym: [F., a dim. of mot word; cf. It. mottetto, dim. of motto word, device. See Mot, Motto.] (Mus.)
Defn: A composition adapted to sacred words in the elaborate polyphonic church style; an anthem.
MOTHMoth (môth), n.
Defn: A mote. [Obs.] Shak.
MOTHMoth, n.; pl. Moths (môthz). Etym: [OE. mothe, AS. moedhedhe; akin toD. mot, G. motte, Icel. motti, and prob. to E. mad an earthworm. Cf.Mad, n., Mawk.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any nocturnal lepidopterous insect, or any not included among the butterflies; as, the luna moth; Io moth; hawk moth.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any lepidopterous insect that feeds upon garments, grain, etc.; as, the clothes moth; grain moth; bee moth. See these terms under Clothes, Grain, etc.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of various other insects that destroy woolen and fur goods, etc., esp. the larvæ of several species of beetles of the genera Dermestes and Anthrenus. Carpet moths are often the larvæ of Anthrenus. See Carpet beetle, under Carpet, Dermestes, Anthrenus.
4. Anything which gradually and silently eats, consumes, or wastesany other thing. Moth blight (Zoöl.), any plant louse of the genusAleurodes, and related genera. They are injurious to various plants.— Moth gnat (Zoöl.), a dipterous insect of the genus Bychoda,having fringed wings.— Moth hunter (Zoöl.), the goatsucker.— Moth miller (Zoöl.), a clothes moth. See Miller, 3, (a).— Moth mullein (Bot.), a common herb of the genus Verbascum (V.Blattaria), having large wheel-shaped yellow or whitish flowers.