MOTH-EATMoth"-eat`, v. t.
Defn: To eat or prey upon, as a moth eats a garment. [Rarely used except in the form moth-eaten, p.p. or a.] Ruin and neglect have so moth-eaten her. Sir T. Herbert.
MOTHENMoth"en, a.
Defn: Full of moths. [Obs.] Fulke.
MOTHERMoth"er, n. Etym: [OE. moder, AS. modor; akin to D. moeder, OS.modar, G. mutter, OHG. muotar, Icel. moedhir, Dan. & Sw. moder,OSlav. mati, Russ. mate, Ir. & Gael. mathair, L. mater, Gr. mh`thr,Skr. matrs; cf. Skr. ma to measure. *268. Cf. Material, Matrix,Metropolis, Father.]
1. A female parent; especially, one of the human race; a woman who has borne a child.
2. That which has produced or nurtured anything; source of birth or origin; generatrix. Alas! poor country! … it can not Be called our mother, but our grave. Shak. I behold … the solitary majesty of Crete, mother of a religion, it is said, that lived two thousand years. Landor.
3. An old woman or matron. [Familiar]
4. The female superior or head of a religious house, as an abbess, etc.
5. Hysterical passion; hysteria. [Obs.] Shak. Mother Carey's chicken (Zoöl.), any one of several species of small petrels, as the stormy petrel (Procellaria pelagica), and Leach's petrel (Oceanodroma leucorhoa), both of the Atlantic, and O. furcata of the North Pacific. — Mother Carey's goose (Zoöl.), the giant fulmar of the Pacific. See Fulmar. — Mother's mark (Med.), a congenital mark upon the body; a nævus.
MOTHERMoth"er, a.
Defn: Received by birth or from ancestors; native, natural; as, mother language; also acting the part, or having the place of a mother; producing others; originating. It is the mother falsehood from which all idolatry is derived. T. Arnold. Mother cell (Biol.), a cell which, by endogenous divisions, gives rise to other cells (daughter cells); a parent cell. — Mother church, the original church; a church from which other churches have sprung; as, the mother church of a diocese. — Mother country, the country of one's parents or ancestors; the country from which the people of a colony derive their origin. — Mother liquor (Chem.), the impure or complex residual solution which remains after the salts readily or regularly crystallizing have been removed. — Mother queen, the mother of a reigning sovereign; a queen mother. — Mother tongue. (a) A language from which another language has had its origin. (b) The language of one's native land; native tongue. — Mother water. See Mother liquor (above). — Mother wit, natural or native wit or intelligence.
MOTHERMoth"er, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mothered; p. pr. & vb. n. Mothering.]
Defn: To adopt as a son or daughter; to perform the duties of amother to.The queen, to have put lady Elizabeth besides the crown, would havemothered another body's child. Howell.
MOTHER Moth"er, n. Etym: [Akin to D. modder mud, G. moder mold, mud, Dan. mudder mud, and to E. mud. See Mud.]
Defn: A film or membrane which is developed on the surface of fermented alcoholic liquids, such as vinegar, wine, etc., and acts as a means of conveying the oxygen of the air to the alcohol and other combustible principles of the liquid, thus leading to their oxidation.
Note: The film is composed of a mass of rapidly developing microörganisms of the genus Mycoderma, and in the mother of vinegar the microörganisms (Mycoderma aceti) composing the film are the active agents in the Conversion of the alcohol into vinegar. When thickened by growth, the film may settle to the bottom of the fluid. See Acetous fermentation, under Fermentation.
MOTHERMoth"er, v. i.
Defn: To become like, or full of, mother, or thick matter, as vinegar.
MOTHEREDMoth"ered, a.
Defn: Thick, like mother; viscid.They oint their naked limbs with mothered oil. Dryden.
MOTHERHOODMoth"er*hood, n.
Defn: The state of being a mother; the character or office of a mother.
MOTHERINGMoth"er*ing, n.
Defn: A rural custom in England, of visiting one's parents on Midlent Sunday, — supposed to have been originally visiting the mother church to make offerings at the high altar.
MOTHER-IN-LAWMoth"er-in-law`, n.
Defn: The mother of one's husband or wife.
MOTHERLANDMoth"er*land`, n.
Defn: The country of one's ancestors; — same as fatherland.
MOTHERLESSMoth"er*less, a. Etym: [AS. modorleás.]
Defn: Destitute of a mother; having lost a mother; as, motherless children.
MOTHERLINESSMoth"er*li*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being motherly.
MOTHERLYMoth"er*ly, a. Etym: [AS. modorlic.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a mother; like, or suitable for, a mother; tender; maternal; as, motherly authority, love, or care. Hooker.
Syn. — Maternal; paternal. — Motherly, Maternal. Motherly, being Anglo-Saxon, is the most familiar word of the two when both have the same meaning. Besides this, maternal is confined to the feelings of a mother toward her own children, whereas motherly has a secondary sense, denoting a care like that of a mother for her offspring. There is, perhaps, a growing tendency thus to separate the two, confining motherly to the latter signification. "They termed her the great mother, for her motherly care in cherishing her brethren whilst young." Sir W. Raleigh.
MOTHERLYMoth"er*ly, adv.
Defn: In a manner of a mother.
MOTHER-NAKEDMoth"er-na`ked, a.
Defn: Naked as when born.
MOTHER-OF-PEARLMoth"er-of-pearl`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The hard pearly internal layer of several kinds of shells, esp. of pearl oysters, river mussels, and the abalone shells; nacre. See Pearl.
MOTHER-OF-THYMEMoth"er-of-thyme`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: An aromatic plant (Thymus Serphyllum); — called also wild thyme.
MOTHER'S DAYMoth"er's Day.
Defn: A day appointed for the honor and uplift of motherhood by the loving remembrance of each person of his mother through the performance of some act of kindness, visit, tribute, or letter. The founder of the day is Anna Jarvis, of Philadelphia, who designated the second Sunday in May, or for schools the second Friday, as the time, and a white carnation as the badge.
MOTHERWORT Moth"er*wort`, n. (Bot.) (a) A labiate herb (Leonurus Cardiaca), of a bitter taste, used popularly in medicine; lion's tail. (b) The mugwort. See Mugwort.
MOTHERYMoth"er*y, a.
Defn: Consisting of, containing, or resembling, mother (in vinegar).
MOTHYMoth"y, a.
Defn: Infested with moths; moth-eaten. "An old mothy saddle." Shak.
MOTIFMo"tif, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: Motive.
MOTIFIC Mo*tif"ic, a. Etym: [L. motus motion (fr. movere to move) + facere to make.]
Defn: Producing motion. [R.]
MOTILEMo"tile, a. Etym: [See Motive.]
1. (Biol.)
Defn: Having powers of self-motion, though unconscious; as, the motile spores of certain seaweeds.
2. Producing motion; as, motile powers.
MOTILITYMo*til"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. motilité.] (Physiol.)
Defn: Capability of motion; contractility.
MOTIONMo"tion, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. motio, fr. movere, motum, to move. SeeMove.]
1. The act, process, or state of changing place or position; movement; the passing of a body from one place or position to another, whether voluntary or involuntary; — opposed to rest. Speaking or mute, all comeliness and grace attends thee, and each word, each motion, forms. Milton.
2. Power of, or capacity for, motion. Devoid of sense and motion. Milton.
3. Direction of movement; course; tendency; as, the motion of the planets is from west to east. In our proper motion we ascend. Milton.
4. Change in the relative position of the parts of anything; action of a machine with respect to the relative movement of its parts. This is the great wheel to which the clock owes its motion. Dr. H. More.
5. Movement of the mind, desires, or passions; mental act, or impulse to any action; internal activity. Let a good man obey every good motion rising in his heart, knowing that every such motion proceeds from God. South.
6. A proposal or suggestion looking to action or progress; esp., a formal proposal made in a deliberative assembly; as, a motion to adjourn. Yes, I agree, and thank you for your motion. Shak.
7. (Law)
Defn: An application made to a court or judge orally in open court. Its object is to obtain an order or rule directing some act to be done in favor of the applicant. Mozley & W.
8. (Mus.)
Defn: Change of pitch in successive sounds, whether in the same partor in groups of parts.The independent motions of different parts sounding togetherconstitute counterpoint. Grove.
Note: Conjunct motion is that by single degrees of the scale. Contrary motion is that when parts move in opposite directions. Disjunct motion is motion by skips. Oblique motion is that when one part is stationary while another moves. Similar or direct motion is that when parts move in the same direction.
9. A puppet show or puppet. [Obs.] What motion's this the model of Nineveh Beau. & Fl.
Note: Motion, in mechanics, may be simple or compound. Simple motions are: (a) straight translation, which, if of indefinite duration, must be reciprocating. (b) Simple rotation, which may be either continuous or reciprocating, and when reciprocating is called oscillating. (c) Helical, which, if of indefinite duration, must be reciprocating. Compound motion consists of combinations of any of the simple motions. Center of motion, Harmonic motion, etc. See under Center, Harmonic, etc. — Motion block (Steam Engine), a crosshead. — Perpetual motion (Mech.), an incessant motion conceived to be attainable by a machine supplying its own motive forces independently of any action from without.
Syn.— See Movement.
MOTIONMo"tion, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Motioned; p. pr. & vb. n. Motioning.]
1. To make a significant movement or gesture, as with the hand; as, to motion to one to take a seat.
2. To make proposal; to offer plans. [Obs.] Shak.
MOTIONMo"tion, v. t.
1. To direct or invite by a motion, as of the hand or head; as, to motion one to a seat.
2. To propose; to move. [Obs.] I want friends to motion such a matter. Burton.
MOTIONERMo"tion*er, n.
Defn: One who makes a motion; a mover. Udall.
MOTIONISTMo"tion*ist, n.
Defn: A mover. [Obs.]
MOTIONLESSMo"tion*less, a.
Defn: Without motion; being at rest.
MOTION PICTUREMo"tion pic"ture.
Defn: A moving picture.
MOTIVATEMo"ti*vate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. -vated; p. pr. & vb. n. -vating.][From Motive, n.]
Defn: To provide with a motive; to move; impel; induce; incite. —Mo`ti*va"tion (#), n. William James.
MOTIVE Mo"tive, n. Etym: [F. motif, LL. motivum, from motivus moving, fr. L. movere, motum, to move. See Move.]
1. That which moves; a mover. [Obs.] Shak.
2. That which incites to action; anything prompting or exciting to choise, or moving the will; cause; reason; inducement; object. By motive, I mean the whole of that which moves, excites, or invites the mind to volition, whether that be one thing singly, or many things conjunctively. J. Edwards.
3. (Mus.)
Defn: The theme or subject; a leading phrase or passage which is reproduced and varied through the course of a comor a movement; a short figure, or melodic germ, out of which a whole movement is develpoed. See also Leading motive, under Leading. [Written also motivo.]
4. (Fine Arts)
Defn: That which produces conception, invention, or creation in the mind of the artist in undertaking his subject; the guiding or controlling idea manifested in a work of art, or any part of one.
Syn. — Incentive; incitement; inducement; reason; spur; stimulus; cause. — Motive, Inducement, Reason. Motive is the word originally used in speaking of that which determines the choice. We call it an inducement when it is attractive in its nature. We call it a reason when it is more immediately addressed to the intellect in the form of argument.
MOTIVEMo"tive, a.
Defn: Causing motion; having power to move, or tending to move; as, a motive argument; motive power. "Motive faculty." Bp. Wilkins. Motive power (Mach.), a natural agent, as water, steam, wind, electricity, etc., used to impart motion to machinery; a motor; a mover.
MOTIVEMo"tive, v. t.
Defn: To prompt or incite by a motive or motives; to move.
MOTIVELESSMo"tive*less, a.
Defn: Destitute of a motive; not incited by a motive.— Mo"tive*less*ness, n. G. Eliot.
MOTIVITYMo*tiv"i*ty, n. Etym: [See Motive, n.]
1. The power of moving or producing motion.
2. The quality of being influenced by motives. [R.]
MOTIVOMo*ti"vo, n. Etym: [It. See Motive, n.]
Defn: See Motive, n., 3, 4.
MOTLEYMot"ley, a. Etym: [OE. mottelee, motle; cf. OF. mattelé clotted,curdled, OF, ciel mattonné a mottled sky, mate, maton, curdled milk,Prov. G. matte curd. Cf. Mottle.]
1. Variegated in color; consisting of different colors; dappled; party-colored; as, a motley coat.
2. Wearing motley or party-colored clothing. See Motley, n., 1. "A motley fool." Shak.
3. Composed of different or various parts; heterogeneously made or mixed up; discordantly composite; as, motley style. Byron.
MOTLEYMot"ley, n.
1. A combination of distinct colors; esp., the party-colored cloth, or clothing, worn by the professional fool. Chaucer. "Motley 's the only wear." Shak.
2. Hence, a jester, a fool. [Obs.] Shak. Man of motley, a fool. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
MOTLEY-MINDEDMot"ley-mind`ed, a.
Defn: Having a mind of a jester; foolish. Shak.
MOTMOTMot"mot, n. Etym: [Cf. Momot.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of several species of long-tailed, passerine birds of the genus Momotus, having a strong serrated beak. In most of the species the two long middle tail feathers are racket-shaped at the tip, when mature. The bird itself is said by some writers to trim them into this shape. They feed on insects, reptiles, and fruit, and are found from Mexico to Brazil. The name is derived from its note. [Written also momot.]
MOTOMo"to, n. Etym: [It.] (Mus.)
Defn: Movement; manner of movement; particularly, movement with increased rapidity; — used especially in the phrase con moto, directing to a somewhat quicker movement; as, andante con moto, a little more rapidly than andante, etc.
MOTOGRAPHMo"to*graph, n. [L. movere, motum, to move + -graph.] (Elec.)
Defn: A device utilized in the making of a loud-speaking telephone, depending on the fact that the friction between a metallic point and a moving cylinder of moistened chalk, or a moving slip of paper, on which it rests is diminished by the passage of a current between the point and the moving surface. — Mo`to*graph"ic (#), a.
MOTONMo"ton, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.] (Anc. Armor)
Defn: A small plate covering the armpit in armor of the 14th century and later.
MOTORMo"tor, n. Etym: [L., fr. movere, motum, to move.]
1. One who, or that which, imparts motion; a source of mechanical power.
2. (Mach.)
Defn: A prime mover; a machine by means of which a source of power, as steam, moving water, electricity, etc., is made available for doing mechanical work.
MOTOR; MOTORY; MOTORIALMo"tor, Mo"to*ry, Mo*to"ri*al, a. Etym: [L. motorius that has motion.See Motor, n.]
Defn: Causing or setting up motion; pertaining to organs of motion; - - applied especially in physiology to those nerves or nerve fibers which only convey impressions from a nerve center to muscles, thereby causing motion.
MOTOR CAR; MOTORCARMotor car, or Mo"tor*car`, n.
1. An automobile, locomobile, or locomotive designed to run and be steered on a street or roadway; esp., an automobile specially designed for passengers.
2. (Elec. Railroads) Any car containing motors for propulsion. [U. S.]
MOTOR CYCLE; MOTORCYCLEMotor cycle, or Mo"tor*cy`cle, n.
Defn: A bicycle having a motor attached so as to be self-propelled. In Great Britain the term motor cycle is treated by statute (3 Ed VII. c. 36) as limited to motor cars (self-propelled vehicles) designed to travel on not more than three wheels, and weighing unladen (that is, without water, fuel, or accumulators necessary for propulsion) not more than three hundred weight (336 lbs.).
MOTOR-DRIVENMo`tor-driv`en, a. (Mach.)
Defn: Driven or actuated by a motor, esp. by an individual electric motor. An electric motor forms an integral part of many machine tools in numerous modern machine shops.
MOTOR GENERATORMotor generator.
Defn: The combination consisting of a generator and a driving motor mechanically connected, usually on a common bedplate and with the two shafts directly coupled or combined into a single shaft.
MOTORINGMo"tor*ing, n.
Defn: Act or recreation of riding in or driving a motor car or automobile.
MOTORINGMo"tor*ing, a.
Defn: Pertaining to motor cars or automobiles, or to the technology of such; addicted to riding in or driving automobiles; as, motoring parlance; my motoring friend.
MOTORIZEMo"tor*ize (mo"ter*iz), v. t. [Motor + -ize.]
Defn: To substitute motor-driven vehicles, or automobiles, for the horses and horse-drawn vehicles of (a fire department, city, etc.). - -Mo`tor*i*za"tion (#), n.
MOTORMANMo"tor*man, n.
Defn: A man who controls a motor.
MOTORPATHICMo`tor*path"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to motorpathy.
MOTORPATHYMo*tor"pa*thy, n. Etym: [L. motor a mover + Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Kinesiatrics.
MOTTEMotte, n. Etym: [Cf. F. motte a clod, clump, or hillock.]
Defn: A clump of trees in a prairie. [Local, U.S.]
MOTTLEMot"tle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mottled; p. pr. & vb. n. Mottling.]Etym: [From Mottled.]
Defn: To mark with spots of different color, or shades of color, as if stained; to spot; to maculate.
MOTTLEMot"tle, n.
Defn: A mottled appearance.
MOTTLEDMot"tled, a. Etym: [From Motley.]
Defn: Marked with spots of different colors; variegated; spotted; as, mottled wood. "The mottled meadows." Drayton.
MOTTO Mot"to, n.; pl. Mottoes. Etym: [It. motto a word, a saying, L. muttum a mutter, a grunt, cf. muttire, mutire, to mutter, mumble; prob. of imitative origin. Cf. Mot a word.]
1. (Her.)
Defn: A sentence, phrase, or word, forming part of an heraldic achievment.
2. A sentence, phrase, or word, prefixed to an essay, discourse, chapter, canto, or the like, suggestive of its subject matter; a short, suggestive expression of a guiding principle; a maxim. It was the motto of a bishop eminent for his piety and good works, … "Serve God, and be cheerful." Addison.
MOTTOEDMot"toed, a.
Defn: Bearing or having a motto; as, a mottoed coat or device.
MOTTYMot"ty, a.
Defn: Full of, or consisting of, motes. [Written also mottie.][Scot.]The motty dust reek raised by the workmen. H. Miller.
MOUCHOIRMou`choir", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A handkerchief.
MOUEZZINMou*ez"zin, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: See Muezzin.
MOUFLONMouf"lon, n. Etym: [F. mouflon.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A wild sheep (Ovis musimon), inhabiting the mountains of Sardinia, Corsica, etc. Its horns are very large, with a triangular base and rounded angles. It is supposed by some to be the original of the domestic sheep. Called also musimon or musmon. [Written also moufflon.]
MOUGHTMought, obs.imp.
Defn: of May. Might.
MOUILLATIONMouil*la"tion, n. Etym: [See Mouillé.] (Phon.)
Defn: The act of uttering the sound of a mouillé letter.
MOUILLEMouil`lé", a. Etym: [F., lit., wet.] (Phon.)
Defn: Applied to certain consonants having a "liquid" or softened sound; e.g., in French, l or ll and gn (like the lli in million and ni in minion); in Italian, gl and gn; in Spanish, ll and ñ; in Portuguese, lh and nh.
MOULD; MOULDER; MOULDYMould, Mould"er, Mould"y, etc.
Defn: See Mold, Molder, Moldy, etc.
MOULEMoule, v. i. Etym: [OE. moulen. See Mold.]
Defn: To contract mold; to grow moldy; to mold. [Obs.]Let us not moulen thus in idleness. Chaucer.
MOULINE; MOULINET Mou*line", Mou"li*net, n. Etym: [F. moulinet, orig., a little mill, dim. of moulin mill. See Mill.]
1. The drum upon which the rope is wound in a capstan, crane, or the like.
2. A machine formerly used for bending a crossbow by winding it up.
3. In sword and saber exercises, a circular swing of the weawon.
MOULTMoult, v. & n.
Defn: See Molt.
MOULTENMoult"en, a.
Defn: Having molted. [Obs.] "A moulten raven." Shak.
MOUNMoun, v.,
Defn: pl. of Mow, may. [Obs.] Wyclif.
MOUNCHMounch, v. t.
Defn: To munch. [Obs.]
MOUNDMound, n. Etym: [F. monde the world, L. mundus. See Mundane.]
Defn: A ball or globe forming part of the regalia of an emperor or other sovereign. It is encircled with bands, enriched with precious stones, and surmounted with a cross; — called also globe.
MOUNDMound, n. Etym: [OE. mound, mund, protection, AS. mund protection,hand; akin to OHG. munt, Icel. mund hand, and prob. to L. manus. SeeManual.]
Defn: An artificial hill or elevation of earth; a raised bank; an embarkment thrown up for defense; a bulwark; a rampart; also, a natural elevation appearing as if thrown up artificially; a regular and isolated hill, hillock, or knoll. To thrid the thickets or to leap the mounds. Dryden. Mound bird. (Zoöl.) Same as Mound maker (below). — Mound builders (Ethnol.), the tribe, or tribes, of North American aborigines who built, in former times, extensive mounds of earth, esp. in the valleys of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. Formerly they were supposed to have preceded the Indians, but later investigations go to show that they were, in general, identical with the tribes that occupied the country when discovered by Europeans. — Mound maker (Zoöl.), any one of the megapodes. — Shell mound, a mound of refuse shells, collected by aborigines who subsisted largely on shellfish. See Midden, and Kitchen middens.
MOUNDMound, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mounded; p. pr. & vb. n. Mounding.]
Defn: To fortify or inclose with a mound.
MOUNTMount, n. Etym: [OE. munt, mont, mount, AS. munt, fr. L. mons,montis; cf. L. minae protections, E. eminent, menace: cf. F. mont.Cf. Mount, v., Mountain, Mont, Monte, Montem.]
1. A mass of earth, or earth and rock, rising considerably above the common surface of the surrounding land; a mountain; a high hill; — used always instead of mountain, when put before a proper name; as, Mount Washington; otherwise, chiefly in poetry.
2. A bulwark for offense or defense; a mound. [Obs.] Hew ye down trees, and cast a mount against Jerusalem. Jer. vi. 6.
3. Etym: [See Mont de piété.]
Defn: A bank; a fund. Mount of piety. See Mont de piété.
MOUNTMount, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Mounted; p. pr. & vb. n. Mounting.] Etym:[OE. mounten, monten, F. monter, fr. L. mons, montis, mountain. SeeMount, n. (above).]
1. To rise on high; to go up; to be upraised or uplifted; to tower aloft; to ascend; — often with up. Though Babylon should mount up to heaven. Jer. li. 53. The fire of trees and houses mounts on high. Cowley.
2. To get up on anything, as a platform or scaffold; especially, to seat one's self on a horse for riding.
3. To attain in value; to amount. Bring then these blessings to a strict account, Make fair deductions, see to what they mount. Pope.
MOUNTMount, v. t.
1. To get upon; to ascend; to climb. Shall we mount again the rural throne Dryden.
2. To place one's self on, as a horse or other animal, or anything that one sits upon; to bestride.
3. To cause to mount; to put on horseback; to furnish with animals for riding; to furnish with horses. "To mount the Trojan troop." Dryden.
4. Hence: To put upon anything that sustains and fits for use, as a gun on a carriage, a map or picture on cloth or paper; to prepare for being worn or otherwise used, as a diamond by setting, or a sword blade by adding the hilt, scabbard, etc.
5. To raise aloft; to lift on high. What power is it which mounts my love so high Shak.
Note: A fort or ship is said to mount cannon, when it has them arranged for use in or about it. To mount guard (Mil.), to go on guard; to march on guard; to do duty as a guard. — To mount a play, to prepare and arrange the scenery, furniture, etc., used in the play.
MOUNTMount, n. Etym: [From Mount, v.]
Defn: That upon which a person or thing is mounted, as:(a) A horse.She had so good a seat and hand, she might be trusted with any mount.G. Eliot.
(b) The cardboard or cloth on which a drawing, photograph, or the like is mounted; a mounting.
MOUNTABLEMount"a*ble, a.
Defn: Such as can be mounted.
MOUNTAIN Moun"tain, n. Etym: [OE. mountaine, montaine, F. montagne, LL. montanea, montania, fr. L. mons, montis, a mountain; cf. montanus belonging to a mountain. See 1st Mount.]
1. A large mass of earth and rock, rising above the common level of the earth or adjacent land; earth and rock forming an isolated peak or a ridge; an eminence higher than a hill; a mount.
2. pl.
Defn: A range, chain, or group of such elevations; as, the WhiteMountains.
3. A mountainlike mass; something of great bulk. I should have been a mountain of mummy. Shak. The Mountain (La montagne) (French Hist.), a popular name given in 1793 to a party of extreme Jacobins in the National Convention, who occupied the highest rows of seats.
MOUNTAINMoun"tain, a.
1. Of or pertaining to a mountain or mountains; growing or living on a mountain; found on or peculiar to mountains; among mountains; as, a mountain torrent; mountain pines; mountain goats; mountain air; mountain howitzer.
2. Like a mountain; mountainous; vast; very great. The high, the mountain majesty of worth. Byron. Mountain anthelope (Zoöl.), the goral. — Mountain ash (Bot.), an ornamental tree, the Pyrus (Sorbus) Americana, producing beautiful bunches of red berries. Its leaves are pinnate, and its flowers white, growing in fragrant clusters. The European species is the P. aucuparia, or rowan tree. — Mountain barometer, a portable barometer, adapted for safe transportation, used in measuring the heights of mountains. — Mountain beaver (Zoöl.), the sewellel. — Mountain blue (Min.), blue carbonate of copper; azurite. — Mountain cat (Zoöl.), the catamount. See Catamount. — Mountain chain, a series of contiguous mountain ranges, generally in parallel or consecutive lines or curves. — Mountain cock (Zoöl.), capercailzie. See Capercailzie. — Mountain cork (Min.), a variety of asbestus, resembling cork in its texture. — Mountain crystal. See under Crystal. — Mountain damson (Bot.), a large tree of the genus Simaruba (S. amarga) growing in the West Indies, which affords a bitter tonic and astringent, sometimes used in medicine. — Mountain dew, Scotch whisky, so called because often illicitly distilled among the mountains. [Humorous] — Mountain ebony (Bot.), a small leguminous tree (Bauhinia variegata) of the East and West Indies; — so called because of its dark wood. The bark is used medicinally and in tanning. — Mountain flax (Min.), a variety of asbestus, having very fine fibers; amianthus. See Amianthus. — Mountain fringe (Bot.), climbing fumitory. See under Fumitory. — Mountain goat. (Zoöl.) See Mazama. — Mountain green. (Min.) (a) Green malachite, or carbonate of copper. (b) See Green earth, under Green, a. — Mountain holly (Bot.), a branching shrub (Nemopanthes Canadensis), having smooth oblong leaves and red berries. It is found in the Northern United States. — Mountain laurel (Bot.), an American shrub (Kalmia latifolia) with glossy evergreen leaves and showy clusters of rose-colored or white flowers. The foliage is poisonous. Called also American laurel, ivy bush, and calico bush. See Kalmia. — Mountain leather (Min.), a variety of asbestus, resembling leather in its texture. — Mountain licorice (Bot.), a plant of the genus Trifolium (T. Alpinum). — Mountain limestone (Geol.), a series of marine limestone strata below the coal measures, and above the old red standstone of Great Britain. See Chart of Geology. — Mountain linnet (Zoöl.), the twite. — Mountain magpie. (Zoöl.) (a) The yaffle, or green woodpecker. (b) The European gray shrike. — Mountain mahogany (Bot.) See under Mahogany. — Mountain meal (Min.), a light powdery variety of calcite, occurring as an efflorescence. — Mountain milk (Min.), a soft spongy variety of carbonate of lime. — Mountain mint. (Bot.) See Mint. — Mountain ousel (Zoöl.), the ring ousel; — called also mountain thrush and mountain colley. See Ousel. — Mountain pride, or Mountain green (Bot.), a tree of Jamaica (Spathelia simplex), which has an unbranched palmlike stem, and a terminal cluster of large, pinnate leaves. — Mountain quail (Zoöl.), the plumed partridge (Oreortyx pictus) of California. It has two long, slender, plumelike feathers on the head. The throat and sides are chestnut; the belly is brown with transverse bars of black and white; the neck and breast are dark gray. — Mountain range, a series of mountains closely related in position and direction. — Mountain rice. (Bot.) (a) An upland variety of rice, grown without irrigation, in some parts of Asia, Europe, and the United States. (b) An American genus of grasses (Oryzopsis). — Mountain rose (Bot.), a species of rose with solitary flowers, growing in the mountains of Europe (Rosa alpina). — Mountain soap (Min.), a soft earthy mineral, of a brownish color, used in crayon painting; saxonite. — Mountain sorrel (Bot.), a low perennial plant (Oxyria digyna with rounded kidney-form leaves, and small greenish flowers, found in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, and in high northern latitudes. Gray. — Mountain sparrow (Zoöl.), the European tree sparrow. — Mountain spinach. (Bot.) See Orach. — Mountain tobacco (Bot.), a composite plant (Arnica montana) of Europe; called also leopard's bane. — Mountain witch (Zoöl.), a ground pigeon of Jamaica, of the genus Geotrygon.
MOUNTAINEERMoun`tain*eer", n. Etym: [OF. montanier, LL. montanarius. SeeMountain.]
1. An inhabitant of a mountain; one who lives among mountains.
2. A rude, fierce person. [Obs.] No savage fierce, bandit, or mountaineer. Milton.
MOUNTAINEERMoun`tain*eer", v. i.
Defn: To lie or act as a mountaineer; to climb mountains.You can't go mountaineering in a flat country. H. James.
MOUNTAINERMoun"tain*er, n.
Defn: A mountaineer. [Obs.]
MOUNTAINETMoun"tain*et, n.
Defn: A small mountain. [R.]
MOUNTAINOUSMoun"tain*ous, a. Etym: [F. montagneux, L. montaniosus.]
1. Full of, or containing, mountains; as, the mountainous country of the Swiss.
2. Inhabiting mountains. [Obs.] Bacon.
3. Large as, or resembling, a mountain; huge; of great bulk; as, a mountainous heap. Prior.
MOUNTAINOUSNESSMoun"tain*ous*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being mountainous.
MOUNTAIN SPECTERMoun"tain spec"ter.
Defn: An optical phenomenon sometimes seen on the summit of mountains (as on the Brocken) when the observer is between the sun and a mass of cloud. The figures of the observer and surrounding objects are seen projected on the cloud, greatly enlarged and often encircled by rainbow colors.
MOUNTAIN STATEMoun"tain State.
Defn: Montana; — a nickname.
MOUNTANCEMount"ance, n. Etym: [OF. montance.]
Defn: Amount; sum; quantity; extent. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MOUNTANTMount"ant, a. Etym: [F. montant, p.pr. of monter. See Mount, and cf.Montant.]
Defn: Raised; high. [Obs.]
MOUNTEBANK Mount"e*bank, n. Etym: [It. montimbanco, montambanco; montare to mount + in in, upon + banco bench. See Mount, and 4th Bank.]
1. One who mounts a bench or stage in the market or other public place, boasts of his skill in curing diseases, and vends medicines which he pretends are infalliable remedies; a quack doctor. Such is the weakness and easy credulity of men, that a mountebank … is preferred before an able physician. Whitlock.
2. Any boastful or false pretender; a charlatan; a quack. Nothing so impossible in nature but mountebanks will undertake. Arbuthnot.
MOUNTEBANKMount"e*bank, v. t.
Defn: To cheat by boasting and false pretenses; to gull. [R.] Shak.
MOUNTEBANKMount"e*bank, v. i.
Defn: To play the mountebank.
MOUNTEBANKERYMount"e*bank`er*y, n.
Defn: The practices of a mountebank; quackery; boastful and vain pretenses.
MOUNTEBANKISHMount"e*bank`ish, a.
Defn: Like a mountebank or his quackery. Howell.
MOUNTEBANKISMMount"e*bank*ism, n.
Defn: The practices of a mountebank; mountebankery.
MOUNTEDMount"ed, a.
1. Seated or serving on horseback or similarly; as, mounted police; mounted infantry.
2. Placed on a suitable support, or fixed in a setting; as, a mounted gun; a mounted map; a mounted gem.
MOUNTENAUNCEMount"e*naunce, n.
Defn: Mountance. [Obs.]
MOUNTERMount"er, n.
1. One who mounts.
2. An animal mounted; a monture. [Obs.]
MOUNTINGMount"ing, n.
1. The act of one that mounts.
2. That by which anything is prepared for use, or set off to advantage; equipment; embellishment; setting; as, the mounting of a sword or diamond.
MOUNTINGLYMount"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In an ascending manner.
MOUNTLETMount"let, n.
Defn: A small or low mountain. [R.]
MOUNTYMount"y, n. Etym: [F. montée, fr. monter. See Mount, v.]
Defn: The rise of a hawk after prey. Sir P. Sidney.
MOURNMourn, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Mourned; p. pr. & vb. n. Mourning.] Etym:[AS. murnan; akin to OS. mornian, OHG. mornen, Goth. maúrnan.]
1. To express or to feel grief or sorrow; to grieve; to be sorrowful; to lament; to be in a state of grief or sadness. Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her. Gen. xxiii. 2.
2. To wear the customary garb of a mourner. We mourn in black; why mourn we not in blood Shak. Grieve for an hour, perhaps, then mourn a year. Pope.
MOURNMourn, v. t.
1. To grieve for; to lament; to deplore; to bemoan; to bewail.As if he mourned his rival's ill success. Addison.And looking over the hills, I mourn The darling who shall not return.Emerson.
2. To utter in a mournful manner or voice. The lovelorn nightingale Nightly to thee her sad song mourneth well. Milton.
Syn.— See Deplore.
MOURNEMourne, n. Etym: [See 2d Morne.]
Defn: The armed or feruled end of a staff; in a sheephook, the end of the staff to which the hook is attached. Sir P. Sidney.
MOURNERMourn"er, n.
1. One who mourns or is grieved at any misfortune, as the death of a friend. His mourners were two hosts, his friends and foes. Byron.
2. One who attends a funeral as a hired mourner. Mourners were provided to attend the funeral. L'Estrange.
MOURNFULMourn"ful, a.
Defn: Full of sorrow; expressing, or intended to express, sorrow; mourning; grieving; sad; also, causing sorrow; saddening; grievous; as, a mournful person; mournful looks, tones, loss. — Mourn"ful*ly, adv. — Mourn"ful*ness, n.
Syn. — Sorrowful; lugubrious; sad; doleful; heavy; afflictive; grievous; calamitous.
MOURNINGMourn"ing, n. Etym: [AS. murnung.]
1. The act of sorrowing or expressing grief; lamentation; sorrow.
2. Garb, drapery, or emblems indicative of grief, esp. clothing or a badge of somber black. The houses to their tops with black were spread, And ev'n the pavements were with mourning hid. Dryden. Deep mourning. See under Deep.
MOURNINGMourn"ing, a.
1. Grieving; sorrowing; lamenting.
2. Employed to express sorrow or grief; worn or used as appropriate to the condition of one bereaved or sorrowing; as, mourning garments; a mourning ring; a mourning pin, and the like. Mourning bride (Bot.), a garden flower (Scabiosa atropurpurea) with dark purple or crimson flowers in flattened heads. — Mourning dove (Zoöl.), a wild dove (Zenaidura macroura) found throughout the United States; — so named from its plaintive note. Called also Carolina dove. See Illust. under Dove. — Mourning warbler (Zoöl.), an American ground warbler (Geothlypis Philadelphia). The male has the head, neck, and chest, deep ash-gray, mixed with black on the throat and chest; other lower parts are pure yellow.
MOURNINGLYMourn"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a mourning manner.
MOURNIVALMour"ni*val, n.
Defn: See Murnival.
MOUSEMouse (mous), n.; pl. Mice (mis). Etym: [OE. mous, mus, AS. mus, pl.mys; akin to D. muis, G. maus, OHG. & Icel. mus, Dan. muus, Sw. mus,Russ. muishe, L. mus, Gr. my^s, Skr. mush mouse, mush to steal. *277.Cf. Muscle, Musk.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of numerous species of small rodents belonging to the genus Mus and various related genera of the family Muridæ. The common house mouse (Mus musculus) is found in nearly all countries. The American white-footed, or deer, mouse (Hesperomys leucopus) sometimes lives in houses. See Dormouse, Meadow mouse, under Meadow, and Harvest mouse, under Harvest.
2. (Naut.) (a) A knob made on a rope with spun yarn or parceling to prevent a running eye from slipping. (b) Same as 2d Mousing, 2.
3. A familiar term of endearment. Shak.
4. A dark-colored swelling caused by a blow. [Slang]
5. A match used in firing guns or blasting. Field mouse, Flying mouse, etc. See under Field, Flying, etc. — Mouse bird (Zoöl.), a coly. — Mouse deer (Zoöl.), a chevrotain, as the kanchil. — Mouse galago (Zoöl.), a very small West American galago (Galago murinus). In color and size it resembles a mouse. It has a bushy tail like that of a squirrel. — Mouse hawk. (Zoöl.) (a) A hawk that devours mice. (b) The hawk owl; — called also mouse owl. — Mouse lemur (Zoöl.), any one of several species of very small lemurs of the genus Chirogaleus, found in Madagascar. — Mouse piece (Cookery), the piece of beef cut from the part next below the round or from the lower part of the latter; — called also mouse buttock.
MOUSEMouse, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Moused; p. pr. & vb. n. Mousing.]
1. To watch for and catch mice.
2. To watch for or pursue anything in a sly manner; to pry about, on the lookout for something.
MOUSEMouse, v. t.
1. To tear, as a cat devours a mouse. [Obs.] "[Death] mousing the flesh of men." Shak.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: To furnish with a mouse; to secure by means of a mousing. SeeMouse, n., 2.
MOUSE-EAR Mouse"-ear`, n. (Bot.) (a) The forget-me-not (Myosotis palustris) and other species of the same genus. (b) A European species of hawkweed (Hieracium Pilosella). Mouse-ear chickweed, a name of two common species of chickweed (Cerastium vulgarium, and C. viscosum). — Mouse-ear cress, a low cruciferous herb (Sisymbrium Thaliana). All these are low herbs with soft, oval, or obovate leaves, whence the name.
MOUSEFISHMouse"fish`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Frogfish.
MOUSEHOLEMouse"hole`, n.
Defn: A hole made by a mouse, for passage or abode, as in a wall; hence, a very small hole like that gnawed by a mouse.
MOUSEKINMouse"kin, n.
Defn: A little mouse. Thackeray.
MOUSERMous"er, n.
1. A cat that catches mice.
2. One who pries about on the lookout for something.
MOUSETAILMouse"tail`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of ranunculaceous plants (Myosurus), in which the prolonged receptacle is covered with imbricating achenes, and so resembles the tail of a mouse.
MOUSIEMous"ie, n.
Defn: Diminutive for Mouse. Burns.
MOUSINGMous"ing, a.
Defn: Impertinently inquisitive; prying; meddlesome. "Mousing saints." L'Estrange.
MOUSINGMous"ing, n.
1. The act of hunting mice.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: A turn or lashing of spun yarn or small stuff, or a metallic clasp or fastening, uniting the point and shank of a hook to prevent its unhooking or straighening out.
3. A ratchet movement in a loom. Mousing hook, a hook with an attachment which prevents its unhooking.
MOUSLEMou"sle, v. t.
Defn: To sport with roughly; to rumple. [Written also mouzle.] [Obs.]Wycherley.
MOUSQUETAIREMous`que*taire", n. [F.]
1. A musketeer, esp. one of the French royal musketeers of the 17th and 18th centuries, conspicuous both for their daring and their fine dress.
2. A mosquetaire cuff or glove, or other article of dress fancied to resemble those worn by the French mosquetaires.
MOUSQUETAIRE CUFFMousquetaire cuff.
Defn: A deep flaring cuff.
MOUSQUETAIRE GLOVEMousquetaire glove.
Defn: A woman's glove with a long, loosely fitting wrist.
MOUSSEMousse (moos), n. [F.] (Cookery)
Defn: A frozen dessert of a frothy texture, made of sweetened and flavored whipped cream, sometimes with the addition of egg yolks and gelatin. Mousse differs from ice cream in being beaten before — not during — the freezing process.
MOUSSELINEMousse`line", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: Muslin. Mousseline de laine (. Etym: [F., muslin of wool.]Muslin delaine. See under Muslin.— Mousseline glass, a kind of thin blown glassware, such aswineglasses, etc.
MOUSSELINE DE SOIEMousse`line de soie". [F.]
Defn: A soft thin silk fabric with a weave like that of muslin.
MOUSTACHEMous`tache", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: Mustache.
MOUSYMous"y, a.
Defn: Infested with mice; smelling of mice.
MOUTANMou"tan, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The Chinese tree peony (Pæonia Mountan), a shrub with large flowers of various colors.
MOUTH Mouth, n.; pl. Mouths. Etym: [OE. mouth, mu, AS. m; akin to D. mond, OS. m, G. mund, Icel. mu, munnr, Sw. mun, Dan. mund, Goth. mun, and possibly L. mentum chin; or cf. D. muil mouth, muzzle, G. maul, OHG. m, Icel. m, and Skr. mukha mouth.]
1. The opening through which an animal receives food; the aperture between the jaws or between the lips; also, the cavity, containing the tongue and teeth, between the lips and the pharynx; the buccal cavity.
2. Hence:
Defn: An opening affording entrance or exit; orifice; aperture; as: (a) The opening of a vessel by which it is filled or emptied, charged or discharged; as, the mouth of a jar or pitcher; the mouth of the lacteal vessels, etc. (b) The opening or entrance of any cavity, as a cave, pit, well, or den. (c) The opening of a piece of ordnance, through which it is discharged. (d) The opening through which the waters of a river or any stream are discharged. (e) The entrance into a harbor.
3. (Saddlery)
Defn: The crosspiece of a bridle bit, which enters the mouth of an animal.
4. A principal speaker; one who utters the common opinion; a mouthpiece. Every coffeehouse has some particular statesman belonging to it, who is the mouth of the street where he lives. Addison.
5. Cry; voice. [Obs.] Dryden.
6. Speech; language; testimony. That in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. Matt. xviii. 16.
7. A wry face; a grimace; a mow.Counterfeit sad looks, Make mouths upon me when I turn my back. Shak.Down in the mouth, chapfallen; of dejected countenance; depressed;discouraged. [Obs. or Colloq.] — Mouth friend, one who professesfriendship insincerely. Shak.— Mouth glass, a small mirror for inspecting the mouth or teeth.— Mouth honor, honor given in words, but not felt. Shak.— Mouth organ. (Mus.) (a) Pan's pipes. See Pandean. (b) Anharmonicon.— Mouth pipe, an organ pipe with a lip or plate to cut the escapingair and make a sound.— To stop the mouth, to silence or be silent; to put to shame; toconfound.The mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped. Ps. lxiii. 11.Whose mouths must be stopped. Titus i. 11.
MOUTHMouth, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mouthed; p. pr. & vb. n. Mouthing.]
1. To take into the mouth; to seize or grind with the mouth or teeth; to chew; to devour. Dryden.
2. To utter with a voice affectedly big or swelling; to speak in a strained or unnaturally sonorous manner. "Mouthing big phrases." Hare. Mouthing out his hollow oes and aes. Tennyson.
3. To form or cleanse with the mouth; to lick, as a bear her cub. Sir T. Browne.
4. To make mouths at. [R.] R. Blair.
MOUTHMouth, v. i.
1. To speak with a full, round, or loud, affected voice; to vociferate; to rant. I'll bellow out for Rome, and for my country, And mouth at Cæsar, till I shake the senate. Addison.
2. To put mouth to mouth; to kiss. [R.] Shak.
3. To make grimaces, esp. in ridicule or contempt. Well I know, when I am gone, How she mouths behind my back. Tennyson.
MOUTHEDMouthed, a.
1. Furnished with a mouth.
2. Having a mouth of a particular kind; using the mouth, speech, or voice in a particular way; — used only in composition; as, wide- mouthed; hard-mouthed; foul-mouthed; mealy-mouthed.
MOUTHERMouth"er, n.
Defn: One who mouths; an affected speaker.
MOUTH-FOOTEDMouth"-foot`ed, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the basal joints of the legs converted into jaws.
MOUTHFULMouth"ful, n.; pl. Mouthfuls (.
1. As much as is usually put into the mouth at one time.
2. Hence, a small quantity.
MOUTHLESSMouth"less, a. Etym: [AS. muedhleás.]
Defn: Destitute of a mouth.
MOUTH-MADEMouth"-made`, a.
Defn: Spoken without sincerity; not heartfelt. "Mouth-made vows."Shak.
MOUTHPIECEMouth"piece`, n.
1. The part of a musical or other instrument to which the mouth is applied in using it; as, the mouthpiece of a bugle, or of a tobacco pipe.
2. An appendage to an inlet or outlet opening of a pipe or vessel, to direct or facilitate the inflow or outflow of a fluid.
3. One who delivers the opinion of others or of another; a spokesman; as, the mouthpiece of his party. Egmont was imprudent enough to make himself the mouthpiece of their remonstrance. Motley.
MOVABILITYMov`a*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: Movableness.
MOVABLEMov"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. OF. movable. See Move.]
1. Capable of being moved, lifted, carried, drawn, turned, or conveyed, or in any way made to change place or posture; susceptible of motion; not fixed or stationary; as, a movable steam engine.
2. Changing from one time to another; as, movable feasts, i. e., church festivals, the date of which varies from year to year. Movable letter (Heb. Gram.), a letter that is pronounced, as opposed to one that is quiescent.
MOVABLEMov"a*ble, n.; pl. Movables (.
1. An article of wares or goods; a commodity; a piece of property not fixed, or not a part of real estate; generally, in the plural, goods; wares; furniture. Furnished with the most rich and princely movables. Evelyn.
2. (Rom. Law)
Defn: Property not attached to the soil.
Note: The word is not convertible with personal property, since rents and similar incidents of the soil which are personal property by our law are immovables by the Roman law. Wharton.
MOVABLENESSMov"a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being movable; mobility; susceptibility of motion.
MOVABLYMov"a*bly, adv.
Defn: In a movable manner or condition.
MOVE Move, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Moved; p. pr. & vb. n. Moving.] Etym: [OE. moven, OF. moveir, F. mouvoir, L. movere; cf. Gr. miv, p.p. muta, to move, push. Cf. Emotion, Mew to molt, Mob, Mutable, Mutiny.]
1. To cause to change place or posture in any manner; to set in motion; to carry, convey, draw, or push from one place to another; to impel; to stir; as, the wind moves a vessel; the horse moves a carriage.
2. (Chess, Checkers, etc.)
Defn: To transfer (a piece or man) from one space or position to another, according to the rules of the game; as, to move a king.
3. To excite to action by the presentation of motives; to rouse by representation, persuasion, or appeal; to influence. Minds desirous of revenge were not moved with gold. Knolles. No female arts his mind could move. Dryden.
4. To arouse the feelings or passions of; especially, to excite to tenderness or compassion; to touch pathetically; to excite, as an emotion. Shak. When he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them. Matt. ix. 36. [The use of images] in orations and poetry is to move pity or terror. Felton.
5. To propose; to recommend; specifically, to propose formally for consideration and determination, in a deliberative assembly; to submit, as a resolution to be adopted; as, to move to adjourn. Let me but move one question to your daughter. Shak. They are to be blamed alike who move and who decline war upon particular respects. Hayward.
6. To apply to, as for aid. [Obs.] Shak.
Syn. — To stir; agitate; trouble; affect; persuade; influence; actuate; impel; rouse; prompt; instigate; incite; induce; incline; propose; offer.
MOVEMove, v. i.
1. To change place or posture; to stir; to go, in any manner, from one place or position to another; as, a ship moves rapidly. The foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth. Ps. xviii. 7. On the green bank I sat and listened long, … Nor till her lay was ended could I move. Dryden.
2. To act; to take action; to stir; to begin to act; as, to move in a matter.
3. To change residence; to remove, as from one house, town, or state, to another.
4. (Chess, Checkers, etc.)
Defn: To change the place of a piece in accordance with the rules of the game.
MOVEMove, n.
1. The act of moving; a movement.
2. (Chess, Checkers, etc.)
Defn: The act of moving one of the pieces, from one position to another, in the progress of the game.
3. An act for the attainment of an object; a step in the execution of a plan or purpose. To make a move. (a) To take some action. (b) To move a piece, as in a game. — To be on the move, to bustle or stir about. [Colloq.]
MOVELESSMove`less, a.
Defn: Motionless; fixed. "Moveless as a tower." Pope.
MOVEMENTMove"ment, n. Etym: [F. mouvement. See Move, and cf. Moment.]
1. The act of moving; change of place or posture; transference, by any means, from one situation to another; natural or appropriate motion; progress; advancement; as, the movement of an army in marching or maneuvering; the movement of a wheel or a machine; the party of movement.
2. Motion of the mind or feelings; emotion.
3. Manner or style of moving; as, a slow, or quick, or sudden, movement.
4. (Mus.) (a) The rhythmical progression, pace, and tempo of a piece. "Any change of time is a change of movement." Busby. (b) One of the several strains or pieces, each complete in itself, with its own time and rhythm, which make up a larger work; as, the several movements of a suite or a symphony.
5. (Mech.)
Defn: A system of mechanism for transmitting motion of a definite character, or for transforming motion; as, the wheelwork of a watch. Febrille movement (Med.), an elevation of the body temperature; a fever. — Movement cure. (Med.) See Kinesiatrics. — Movement of the bowels, an evacuation or stool; a passage or discharge.
Syn. — Motion. — Movement, Motion. Motion expresses a general idea of not being at rest; movement is oftener used to express a definite, regulated motion, esp. a progress.
MOVENTMo"vent, a. Etym: [L. movens, p.pr. of movere. See Move.]
Defn: Moving. [R.] Grew.
MOVENTMo"vent, n.
Defn: That which moves anything. [R.]
MOVERMov"er, n.
1. A person or thing that moves, stirs, or changes place.
2. A person or thing that imparts motion, or causes change of place; a motor.
3. One who, or that which, excites, instigates, or causes movement, change, etc.; as, movers of sedition. These most poisonous compounds, Which are the movers of a languishing death. Shak.
4. A proposer; one who offers a proposition, or recommends anything for consideration or adoption; as, the mover of a resolution in a legislative body.
MOVIEMov"ie, n.
Defn: A moving picture or a moving picture show; — commonly used in pl. [Slang or Colloq.]
MOVINGMov"ing, a.
1. Changing place or posture; causing motion or action; as, a moving car, or power.
2. Exciting movement of the mind; adapted to move the sympathies, passions, or affections; touching; pathetic; as, a moving appeal. I sang an old moving story. Coleridge. Moving force (Mech.), a force that accelerates, retards, or deflects the motion of a body. — Moving plant (Bot.), a leguminous plant (Desmodium gyrans); — so called because its leaflets have a distinct automatic motion.
MOVINGMov"ing, n.
Defn: The act of changing place or posture; esp., the act of changing one's dwelling place or place of business. Moving day, a day when one moves; esp., a day when a large number of tenants change their dwelling place.
MOVINGLYMov"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a moving manner. Addison.
MOVINGNESSMov"ing*ness, n.
Defn: The power of moving.
MOVING PICTUREMoving picture.
Defn: A series of pictures, usually photographs taken with a special machine, presented to the eye in very rapid succession, with some or all of the objects in the picture represented in slightly changed positions, producing, by persistence of vision, the optical effect of a continuous picture in which the objects move in some manner, as that of some original scene. The usual form of moving pictures is that produced by the cinematograph.