Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (part 34 of 60)
Defn: To cite erroneously.
MISCLAIM Mis*claim", n.
Defn: A mistaken claim.
MISCOGNIZANT Mis*cog"ni*zant, a. (Law)
Defn: Not cognizant; ignorant; not knowing.
MISCOGNIZE Mis*cog"nize, v. t.
Defn: To fail to apprehend; to misunderstand. [Obs.] Holland.
MISCOLLOCATION Mis*col`lo*ca"tion, n.
Defn: Wrong collocation. De Quincey.
MISCOLOR Mis*col"or, v. t.
Defn: To give a wrong color to; figuratively, to set forth erroneously or unfairly; as, to miscolor facts. C. Kingsley.
MISCOMFORT Mis*com"fort, n.
Defn: Discomfort. [Obs.]
MISCOMPREHEND Mis*com`pre*hend", v. t.
Defn: To get a wrong idea of or about; to misunderstand.
MISCOMPUTATION Mis*com`pu*ta"tion, n.
Defn: Erroneous computation; false reckoning.
MISCOMPUTE Mis`com*pute", v. t. Etym: [Cf. Miscount.]
Defn: To compute erroneously. Sir T. Browne.
MISCONCEIT Mis`con*ceit", n.
Defn: Misconception. [Obs.]
MISCONCEIVE Mis`con*ceive", v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Misconceived; p. pr. & vb. n. Misconceiving.]
Defn: To conceive wrongly; to interpret incorrectly; to receive a false notion of; to misjudge; to misapprehend. Those things which, for want of due consideration heretofore, they have misconceived. Hooker.
Syn. -- To misapprehend; misunderstand; mistake.
MISCONCEIVER Mis`con*ceiv"er, n.
Defn: One who misconceives.
MISCONCEPTION Mis`con*cep"tion, n.
Defn: Erroneous conception; false opinion; wrong understanding. Harvey.
MISCONCLUSION Mis`con*clu"sion, n.
Defn: An erroneous inference or conclusion. Bp. Hall.
MISCONDUCT Mis*con"duct, n.
Defn: Wrong conduct; bad behavior; mismanagement. Addison.
Syn. -- Misbehavior; misdemeanor; mismanagement; misdeed; delinquency; offense.
MISCONDUCT Mis`con*duct", v. t.
Defn: To conduct amiss; to mismanage. Johnson. To misconduct one's self, to behave improperly.
MISCONDUCT Mis`con*duct", v. i.
Defn: To behave amiss.
MISCONFIDENT Mis*con"fi*dent, a.
Defn: Having a mistaken confidence; wrongly trusting. [R.] Bp. Hall.
MISCONJECTURE Mis`con*jec"ture, n.
Defn: A wrong conjecture or guess. Sir T. Browne.
MISCONJECTURE Mis`con*jec"ture, v. t. & i.
Defn: To conjecture wrongly.
MISCONSECRATE Mis*con"se*crate, v. t.
Defn: To consecrate amiss. "Misconsecrated flags." Bp. Hall.
MISCONSECRATION Mis*con`se*cra"tion, n.
Defn: Wrong consecration.
MISCONSEQUENCE Mis*con"se*quence, n.
Defn: A wrong consequence; a false deduction.
MISCONSTRUABLE Mis*con"stru*a*ble, a.
Defn: Such as can be misconstrued, as language or conduct. R. North.
MISCONSTRUCT Mis`con*struct", v. t.
Defn: To construct wrongly; to construe or interpret erroneously.
MISCONSTRUCTION Mis`con*struc"tion, n.
Defn: Erroneous construction; wrong interpretation. Bp. Stillingfleet.
MISCONSTRUE Mis*con"strue, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Misconstrued; p. pr. & vb. n. Misconstruing.]
Defn: To construe wrongly; to interpret erroneously. Do not, great sir, misconstrue his intent. Dryden. Much afflicted to find his actions misconstrued. Addison.
MISCONSTRUER Mis*con"stru*er, n.
Defn: One who misconstrues.
MISCONTENT Mis`con*tent", a.
Defn: Discontent. [Obs.]
MISCONTINUANCE Mis`con*tin"u*ance, n. (Law)
Defn: Discontinuance; also, continuance by undue process.
MISCOPY Mis*copy", v. t.
Defn: To copy amiss.
MISCOPY Mis*copy", n.
Defn: A mistake in copying. North Am. Rev.
MISCORRECT Mis`cor*rect", v. t.
Defn: To fail or err in attempting to correct. "Scaliger miscorrects his author." Dryden.
MISCOUNSEL Mis*coun"sel, v. t.
Defn: To counsel or advise wrongly.
MISCOUNT Mis*count", v. t. & i. Etym: [Cf. OF. mesconter, F. mécompter. Cf. Miscompute.]
Defn: To count erroneously.
MISCOUNT Mis*count", n. Etym: [Cf. F. mécompte error, OF. mesconte.]
Defn: An erroneous counting.
MISCOVET Mis*cov"et, v. t.
Defn: To covet wrongfully. [Obs.]
MISCREANCE; MISCREANCY Mis"cre*ance, Mis"cre*an*cy, n. Etym: [OF. mescreance, F. mécréance incredulity.]
Defn: The quality of being miscreant; adherence to a false religion; false faith. [Obs.] Ayliffe.
MISCREANT Mis"cre*ant, n. Etym: [OF. mescreant, F. mécréant; pref. mes- (L. minus less) + p. pr. fr. L. credere to believe. See Creed.]
1. One who holds a false religious faith; a misbeliever. [Obs.] Spenser. De Quincey. Thou oughtest not to be slothful to the destruction of the miscreants, but to constrain them to obey our Lord God. Rivers.
2. One not restrained by Christian principles; an unscrupulous villain; a while wretch. Addison.
MISCREANT Mis"cre*ant, a.
1. Holding a false religious faith.
2. Destitute of conscience; unscrupulous. Pope.
MISCREATE Mis`cre*ate", a.
Defn: Miscreated; illegitimate; forged; as, miscreate titles. [Obs. or Poet.] Shak.
MISCREATE Mis`cre*ate", v. t.
Defn: To create badly or amiss.
MISCREATED Mis`cre*at"ed, a.
Defn: Formed unnaturally or illegitimately; deformed. Spenser. Milton.
MISCREATIVE Mis`cre*a"tive, a.
Defn: Creating amiss. [R.]
MISCREDENT Mis*cre"dent, n. Etym: [Pref. mis- + credent. Cf. Miscreant.]
Defn: A miscreant, or believer in a false religious doctrine. [Obs.] Holinshed.
MISCREDULITY Mis`cre*du"li*ty, n.
Defn: Wrong credulity or belief; misbelief. Bp. Hall.
MISCUE Mis*cue", n. (Billiards)
Defn: A false stroke with a billiard cue, the cue slipping from the ball struck without impelling it as desired.
MISDATE Mis*date", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Misdated; p. pr. & vb. n. Misdating.]
Defn: To date erroneously. Young.
MISDEAL Mis*deal", v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Misdealt; p. pr. & vb. n. Misdealing.]
Defn: To deal or distribute wrongly, as cards; to make a wrong distribution.
MISDEAL Mis*deal", n.
Defn: The act of misdealing; a wrong distribution of cards to the players.
MISDEED Mis*deed", n. Etym: [AS. misd. See Deed, n.]
Defn: An evil deed; a wicked action. Evils which our own misdeeds have wrought. Milton.
Syn. -- Misconduct; misdemeanor; fault; offense; trespass; transgression; crime.
MISDEEM Mis*deem", v. t.
Defn: To misjudge. [Obs.] Milton.
MISDEMEAN Mis`de*mean", v. t.
Defn: To behave ill; -- with a reflexive pronoun; as, to misdemean one's self.
MISDEMEANANT Mis`de*mean"ant, n.
Defn: One guilty of a misdemeanor. Sydney Smith.
MISDEMEANOR Mis`de*mean"or, n.
1. Ill behavior; evil conduct; fault. Shak.
2. (Law)
Defn: A crime less than a felony. Wharton.
Note: As a rule, in the old English law, offenses capitally punishable were felonies; all other indictable offenses were misdemeanors. In common usage, the word crime is employed to denote the offenses of a deeper and more atrocious dye, while small faults and omissions of less consequence are comprised under the gentler name of misdemeanors. Blackstone. The distinction, however, between felonies and misdemeanors is purely arbitrary, and is in most jurisdictions either abrogated or so far reduced as to be without practical value. Cf. Felony. Wharton.
Syn. -- Misdeed; misconduct; misbehavior; fault; trespass; transgression.
MISDEMPT Mis*dempt", obs. p. p.
Defn: of Misdeem. Spenser.
MISDEPART Mis`de*part", v. t.
Defn: To distribute wrongly. [Obs.] He misdeparteth riches temporal. Chaucer.
MISDERIVE Mis`de*rive", v. t.
1. To turn or divert improperly; to misdirect. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
2. To derive erroneously.
MISDESCRIBE Mis`de*scribe", v. t.
Defn: To describe wrongly.
MISDESERT Mis`de*sert", n.
Defn: Ill desert. [Obs.] Spenser.
MISDEVOTION Mis`de*vo"tion, n.
Defn: Mistaken devotion.
MISDIET Mis*di"et, n.
Defn: Improper. [Obs.] Spenser.
MISDIET Mis*di"et, v. t.
Defn: To diet improperly.
MISDIGHT Mis*dight", a.
Defn: Arrayed, prepared, or furnished, unsuitably. [Archaic] Bp. Hall.
MISDIRECT Mis`di*rect", v. t.
Defn: To give a wrong direction to; as, to misdirect a passenger, or a letter; to misdirect one's energies. Shenstone.
MISDIRECTION Mis`di*rec"tion, n.
1. The act of directing wrongly, or the state of being so directed.
2. (Law)
Defn: An error of a judge in charging the jury on a matter of law. Mozley & W.
MISDISPOSITION Mis*dis`po*si"tion, n.
Defn: Erroneous disposal or application. Bp. Hall.
MISDISTINGUISH Mis`dis*tin"guish, v. t.
Defn: To make wrong distinctions in or concerning. Hooker.
MISDIVIDE Mis`di*vide", v. t.
Defn: To divide wrongly.
MISDIVISION Mis`di*vi"sion, n.
Defn: Wrong division.
MISDO Mis*do", v. t. [imp. Misdid; p. p. Misdone; p. pr. & vb. n. Misdoing.] Etym: [AS. misd. See Do, v.]
1. To do wrongly. Afford me place to show what recompense To wards thee I intend for what I have misdone. Milton.
2. To do wrong to; to illtreat. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MISDO Mis*do", v. i.
Defn: To do wrong; to commit a fault. I have misdone, and I endure the smart. Dryden.
MISDOER Mis*do"er, n.
Defn: A wrongdoer. Spenser.
MISDOING Mis*do"ing, n.
Defn: A wrong done; a fault or crime; an offense; as, it was my misdoing.
MISDOUBT Mis*doubt", v. t. & i.
Defn: To be suspicious of; to have suspicion. [Obs.] I do not misdoubt my wife. Shak.
MISDOUBT Mis*doubt", n.
1. Suspicion. [Obs.]
2. Irresolution; hesitation. [Obs.] Shak.
MISDOUBTFUL Mis*doubt"ful, a
Defn: Misgiving; hesitating. [Obs.] "Her misdoubtful mind." Spenser.
MISDREAD Mis*dread", n.
Defn: Dread of evil. [Obs.]
MISE Mise, n. Etym: [F. mise a putting, setting, expense, fr. mis, mise, p. p. of mettre to put, lay, fr. LL. mittere to send.]
1. (Law)
Defn: The issue in a writ of right.
2. Expense; cost; disbursement. [Obs.]
3. A tax or tallage; in Wales, an honorary gift of the people to a new king or prince of Wales; also, a tribute paid, in the country palatine of Chester, England, at the change of the owner of the earldom. [Obs.]
MISEASE Mis*ease", n. Etym: [OE. mesaise, OF. mesaise.]
Defn: Want of ease; discomfort; misery. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MISEASED Mis*eased", a.
Defn: Having discomfort or misery; troubled. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MISEASY Mis*eas"y, a.
Defn: Not easy; painful. [Obs.]
MISEDITION Mis`e*di"tion, n.
Defn: An incorrect or spurious edition. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
MISEDUCATE Mis*ed"u*cate, v. t.
Defn: To educate in a wrong manner.
MISEMPLOY Mis`em*ploy", v. t.
Defn: To employ amiss; as, to misemploy time, advantages, talents, etc. Their frugal father's gains they misemploy. Dryden.
MISEMPLOYMENT Mis`em*ploy"ment, n.
Defn: Wrong or mistaken employment. Johnson.
MISENTER Mis*en"ter, v. t.
Defn: To enter or insert wrongly, as a charge in an account.
MISENTREAT Mis`en*treat", v. t.
Defn: To treat wrongfully. [Obs.] Grafton.
MISENTRY Mis*en"try, n.
Defn: An erroneous entry or charge, as of an account.
MISER Mi"ser, n. Etym: [L. miser wretched, miserable; cf. Gr. misero wretched, avaricious.]
1. A wretched person; a person afflicted by any great misfortune. [Obs.] Spenser. The woeful words of a miser now despairing. Sir P. Sidney.
2. A despicable person; a wretch. [Obs.] Shak.
3. A covetous, grasping, mean person; esp., one having wealth, who lives miserably for the sake of saving and increasing his hoard. As some lone miser, visiting his store, Bends at his treasure, counts, recounts it o'er. Goldsmith.
4. A kind of large earth auger. Knight.
MISERABLE Mis"er*a*ble, a. Etym: [F. misérable, L. miserabilis, fr. miserari to lament, pity, fr. miser wretched. See Miser.]
1. Very unhappy; wretched. What hopes delude thee, miserable man Dryden.
2. Causing unhappiness or misery. What 's more miserable than discontent Shak.
3. Worthless; mean; despicable; as, a miserable fellow; a miserable dinner. Miserable comforters are ye all. Job xvi. 2.
4. Avaricious; niggardly; miserly. [Obs.] Hooker.
Syn. -- Abject; forlorn; pitiable; wretched.
MISERABLE Mis"er*a*ble, n.
Defn: A miserable person. [Obs.] Sterne.
MISERABLENESS Mis"er*a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being miserable.
MISERABLY Mis"er*a*bly, adv.
Defn: In a miserable; unhappily; calamitously; wretchedly; meanly. They were miserably entertained. Sir P. Sidney. The fifth was miserably stabbed to death. South.
MISERATION Mis`er*a"tion, n.
Defn: Commiseration. [Obs.]
MISERERE Mis`e*re"re, n. Etym: [L., have mercy, fr. misereri to have mercy, fr. miser. See Miser.]
1. (R. C. Ch.)
Defn: The psalm usually appointed for penitential acts, being the 50th psalm in the Latin version. It commences with the word miserere.
2. A musical composition adapted to the 50th psalm. Where only the wind signs miserere. Lowell.
3. (Arch.)
Defn: A small projecting boss or bracket, on the under side of the hinged seat of a church stall (see Stall). It was intended, the seat being turned up, to give some support to a worshiper when standing. Called also misericordia.
4. (Med.)
Defn: Same as Ileus.
MISERICORDE Mis"er*i*corde", n. Etym: [F. miséricorde. See Misericordia.]
1. Compassion; pity; mercy. [Obs.]
2. (Anc. Armor.)
Defn: Same as Misericordia, 2.
MISERICORDIA Mis`e*ri*cor"di*a, n. Etym: [L., mercy, compassion; miser wretched + cor, cordis, heart.]
1. (O. Law)
Defn: An amercement. Burrill.
2. (Anc. Armor.)
Defn: A thin-bladed dagger; so called, in the Middle Ages, because used to give the death wound or "mercy" stroke to a fallen adversary.
3. (Eccl.)
Defn: An indulgence as to food or dress granted to a member of a religious order. Shipley.
MISERLY Mi"ser*ly, a. Etym: [From Miser.]
Defn: Like a miser; very covetous; sordid; niggardly.
Syn. -- Avaricious; niggardly; sordid; parsimonious; penurious; covetous; stingy; mean. See Avaricious.
MISERY Mi"ser*y, n.; pl. Miseries. Etym: [OE. miserie, L. miseria, fr. miser wretched: cf. F. misère, OF. also, miserie.]
1. Great unhappiness; extreme pain of body or mind; wretchedness; distress; woe. Chaucer. Destruction and misery are in their ways. Rom. iii. 16.
2. Cause of misery; calamity; misfortune. When we our betters see bearing our woes, We scarcely think our miseries our foes. Shak.
3. Covetousness; niggardliness; avarice. [Obs.]
Syn. -- Wretchedness; torture; agony; torment; anguish; distress; calamity; misfortune.
MISESTEEM Mis`es*teem", n. Etym: [Cf. F. mésestime.]
Defn: Want of esteem; disrespect. Johnson.
MISESTIMATE Mis*es"ti*mate, v. t.
Defn: To estimate erroneously. J. S. Mill.
MISEXPLANATION Mis*ex`pla*na"tion, n.
Defn: An erroneous explanation.
MISEXPLICATION Mis*ex`pli*ca"tion, n.
Defn: Wrong explication.
MISEXPOSITION Mis*ex`po*si"tion, n.
Defn: Wrong exposition.
MISEXPOUND Mis`ex*pound", v. t.
Defn: To expound erroneously.
MISEXPRESSION Mis`ex*pres"sion, n.
Defn: Wrong expression.
MISFAITH Mis*faith", n.
Defn: Want of faith; distrust. "[Anger] born of your misfaith." Tennyson.
MISFALL Mis*fall", v. t. [imp. Misfell; p. p. Misfallen (; p. pr. & vb. n. Misfalling.]
Defn: To befall, as ill luck; to happen to unluckily. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MISFARE Mis*fare", v. i. Etym: [AS. misfaran.]
Defn: To fare ill. [Obs.] -- n.
Defn: Misfortune. [Obs.] Spenser.
MISFASHION Mis*fash"ion, v. t.
Defn: To form wrongly.
MISFEASANCE Mis*fea"sance, n. Etym: [OF. pref. mes- wrong (L. minus less) + faisance doing, fr. faire to do, L. facere. Cf. Malfeasance.] (Law)
Defn: A trespass; a wrong done; the improper doing of an act which a person might lawfully do. Bouvier. Wharton.
MISFEATURE Mis*fea"ture, n.
Defn: Ill feature. [R.] Keats.
MISFEELING Mis*feel"ing, a.
Defn: Insensate. [Obs.] Wyclif.
MISFEIGN Mis*feign", v. i.
Defn: To feign with an evil design. [Obs.] Spenser.
MISFIT Mis*fit", n.
1. The act or the state of fitting badly; as, a misfit in making a coat; a ludicrous misfit.
2. Something that fits badly, as a garment. I saw an uneasy change in Mr. Micawber, which sat tightly on him, as if his new duties were a misfit. Dickens.
MISFORM Mis*form", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Misformed; p. pr. & vb. n. Misforming.]
Defn: To make in an ill form. Spenser.
MISFORMATION Mis`for*ma"tion, n.
Defn: Malformation.
MISFORTUNATE Mis*for"tu*nate, a.
Defn: Producing misfortune. [Obs.]
MISFORTUNE Mis*for"tune, n.
Defn: Bad fortune or luck; calamity; an evil accident; disaster; mishap; mischance. Consider why the change was wrought, You 'll find his misfortune, not his fault. Addison.
Syn. -- Calamity; mishap; mischance; misadventure; ill; harm; disaster. See Calamity.
MISFORTUNE Mis*for"tune, v. i.
Defn: To happen unluckily or unfortunately; to miscarry; to fail. [Obs.] Stow.
MISFORTUNED Mis*for"tuned, a.
Defn: Unfortunate. [Obs.]
MISFRAME Mis*frame", v. t.
Defn: To frame wrongly.
MISGET Mis*get", v. t.
Defn: To get wrongfully. [Obs.]
MISGIE Mis*gie", v. t.
Defn: See Misgye. [Obs.]
MISGIVE Mis*give", v. t. [imp. Misgave; p. p. Misgiven; p. pr. & vb. n. Misgiving.]
1. To give or grant amiss. [Obs.] Laud.
2. Specifically: To give doubt and apprehension to, instead of confidence and courage; to impart fear to; to make irresolute; -- usually said of the mind or heart, and followed by the objective personal pronoun. So doth my heart misgive me in these conflicts What may befall him, to his harm and ours. Shak. Such whose consciences misgave them, how ill they had deserved. Milton.
3. To suspect; to dread. [Obs.] Shak.
MISGIVE Mis*give", v. i.
Defn: To give out doubt and apprehension; to be fearful or irresolute. "My mind misgives." Shak.
MISGIVING Mis*giv"ing, n.
Defn: Evil premonition; doubt; distrust. "Suspicious and misgivings." South.
MISGO Mis*go", v. i.
Defn: To go astray. Spenser.
MISGOTTEN Mis*got"ten, a.
Defn: Unjustly gotten. Spenser.
MISGOVERN Mis*gov"ern, v. t.
Defn: To govern ill; as, to misgovern a country. Knolles.
MISGOVERNANCE Mis*gov"ern*ance, n.
Defn: Misgovernment; misconduct; misbehavior. [Obs.] Chaucer. Spenser.
MISGOVERNED Mis*gov"erned, a.
Defn: Ill governed, as a people; ill directed. "Rude, misgoverned hands." Shak.
MISGOVERNMENT Mis*gov"ern*ment, n.
Defn: Bad government; want of government. Shak.
MISGRACIOUS Mis*gra"cious, a.
Defn: Not gracious. [Obs.]
MISGRAFF Mis*graff", v. t.
Defn: To misgraft. [Obs.] Shak.
MISGRAFT Mis*graft", v. t.
Defn: To graft wrongly.
MISGROUND Mis*ground", v. t.
Defn: To found erroneously. "Misgrounded conceit." Bp. Hall.
MISGROWTH Mis*growth", n.
Defn: Bad growth; an unnatural or abnormal growth.
MISGUESS Mis*guess", v. t. & i.
Defn: To guess wrongly.
MISGUIDANCE Mis*guid"ance, n.
Defn: Wrong guidance.
MISGUIDE Mis*guide", v. t.
Defn: To guide wrongly; to lead astray; as, to misguide the understanding.
MISGUIDE Mis*guide", n.
Defn: Misguidance; error. [Obs.] Spenser.
MISGUIDING Mis*guid"ing, a.
Defn: Misleading. -- Mis*guid"ing*ly, adv.
MISGYE Mis*gye", v. t.
Defn: To misguide. [Obs.]
MISHANDLE Mis*han"dle, v. t.
Defn: To handle ill or wrongly; to maltreat.
MISHAP Mis*hap", n.
Defn: Evil accident; ill luck; misfortune; mischance. Chaucer. Secure from worldly chances and mishaps. Shak.
MISHAP Mis*hap", v. i.
Defn: To happen unluckily; -- used impersonally. [Obs.] "If that me mishap." Chaucer.
MISHAPPEN Mis*hap"pen, v. i.
Defn: To happen ill or unluckily. Spenser.
MISHAPPY Mis*hap"py, a.
Defn: Unhappy. [Obs.]
MISHCUP Mish*cup", n. Etym: [See Scup.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The scup. [Local, U. S.]
MISHEAR Mis*hear", v. t. & i.
Defn: To hear incorrectly.
MISHMASH Mish"mash`, n. Etym: [Cf. G. mish-mash, fr. mischen to mix.]
Defn: A hotchpotch. Sir T. Herbert.
MISHNA Mish"na, n. Etym: [NHeb. mishnah, i. e., repetition, doubling, explanation (of the divine law), fr. Heb. shanah to change, to repeat.]
Defn: A collection or digest of Jewish traditions and explanations of Scripture, forming the text of the Talmud. [Written also Mischna.]
MISHNIC Mish"nic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Mishna.
MISIMAGINATION Mis`im*ag`i*na"tion, n.
Defn: Wrong imagination; delusion. Bp. Hall.
MISIMPROVE Mis`im*prove", v. t.
Defn: To use for a bad purpose; to abuse; to misuse; as, to misimprove time, talents, advantages, etc. South.
MISIMPROVEMENT Mis`im*prove"ment, n.
Defn: Ill use or employment; use for a bad purpose.
MISINCLINE Mis"in*cline", v. t.
Defn: To cause to have a wrong inclination or tendency; to affect wrongly.
MISINFER Mis`in*fer", v. t.
Defn: To infer incorrectly.
MISINFORM Mis`in*form", v. t.
Defn: To give untrue information to; to inform wrongly.
MISINFORM Mis`in*form", v. i.
Defn: To give untrue information; (with against) to calumniate. [R.] Bp. Montagu.
MISINFORMANT Mis`in*form"ant, n.
Defn: A misinformer.
MISINFORMATION Mis*in`for*ma"tion, n.
Defn: Untrue or incorrect information. Bacon.
MISINFORMER Mis`in*form"er, n.
Defn: One who gives or incorrect information.
MISINSTRUCT Mis`in*struct", v. t.
Defn: To instruct amiss.
MISINSTRUCTION Mis`in*struc"tion, n.
Defn: Wrong or improper instruction.
MISINTELLIGENCE Mis`in*tel"li*gence, n.
1. Wrong information; misinformation.
2. Disagreement; misunderstanding. [Obs.]
MISINTEND Mis`in*tend", v. t.
Defn: To aim amiss. [Obs.]
MISINTERPRET Mis`in*ter"pret, v. t.
Defn: To interpret erroneously; to understand or to explain in a wrong sense.
MISINTERPRETABLE Mis`in*ter"pret*a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being misinterpreted; liable to be misunderstood.
MISINTERPRETATION Mis`in*ter"pre*ta"tion, n.
Defn: The act of interpreting erroneously; a mistaken interpretation.
MISINTERPRETER Mis`in*ter"pret*er, n.
Defn: One who interprets erroneously.
MISJOIN Mis*join", v. t.
Defn: To join unfitly or improperly.
MISJOINDER Mis*join"der, n. (Law)
Defn: An incorrect union of parties or of causes of action in a procedure, criminal or civil. Wharton.
MISJUDGE Mis*judge", v. t. & i.
Defn: To judge erroneously or unjustly; to err in judgment; to misconstrue.
MISJUDGMENT Mis*judg"ment, n. Etym: [Written also misjudgement.]
Defn: A wrong or unjust judgment.
MISKEEP Mis*keep", v. t.
Defn: To keep wrongly. Chaucer.
MISKEN Mis*ken", v. t.
Defn: Not to know. [Obs.]
MISKIN Mis"kin, n. Etym: [Prob. for music + -kin.] (Mus.)
Defn: A little bagpipe. [Obs.] Drayton.
MISKINDLE Mis*kin"dle, v. t.
Defn: To kindle amiss; to inflame to a bad purpose; to excite wrongly.
MISKNOW Mis*know", v. t.
Defn: To have a mistaken notion of or about. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
MISLACTATION Mis`lac*ta"tion, n. (Med.)
Defn: Defective flow or vitiated condition of the milk.
MISLAY Mis*lay", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mislaid; p. pr. & vb. n. Mislaying.]
1. To lay in a wrong place; to ascribe to a wrong source. The fault is generally mislaid upon nature. Locke.
2. To lay in a place not recollected; to lose. The... charter, indeed, was unfortunately mislaid: and the prayer of their petition was to obtain one of like import in its stead. Hallam.
MISLAYER Mis*lay"er, n.
Defn: One who mislays.
MISLE Mi"sle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Misled; p. pr. & vb. n. Misling.] Etym: [Prop. mistle, fr. mist. Cf. Mistle, Mizzle.]
Defn: To rain in very fine drops, like a thick mist; to mizzle.
MISLE Mi"sle, n.
Defn: A fine rain; a thick mist; mizzle.
MISLEAD Mis*lead", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Misled; p. pr. & vb. n. Misleading.] Etym: [AS. misl. See Mis-, and Lead to conduct.]
Defn: To lead into a wrong way or path; to lead astray; to guide into error; to cause to mistake; to deceive. Trust not servants who mislead or misinform you. Bacon. To give due light To the mislead and lonely traveler. Milton.
Syn. -- To delude; deceive. See Deceive.
MISLEADER Mis*lead"er, n.
Defn: One who leads into error.
MISLEADING Mis*lead"ing, a.
Defn: Leading astray; delusive.
MISLEARN Mis*learn", v. t.
Defn: To learn wrongly.
MISLED Mis*led", imp. & p. p.
Defn: of Mislead.
MISLEN Mis"len, n.
Defn: See Maslin.
MISLETOE Mis"le*toe, n.
Defn: See Mistletoe.
MISLIGHT Mis*light", v. t.
Defn: To deceive or lead astray with a false light. Herrick.
MISLIKE Mis*like", v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Misliked; p. pr. & vb. n. Misliking.] Etym: [AS. mislician to displease. See Like, v.]
Defn: To dislike; to disapprove of; to have aversion to; as, to mislike a man. Who may like or mislike what he says. I. Taylor.
MISLIKE Mis*like", n.
Defn: Dislike; disapprobation; aversion.
MISLIKER Mis*lik"er, n.
Defn: One who dislikes.
MISLIKING Mis*lik"ing, n.
Defn: Dislike; aversion.
MISLIN Mis"lin, n. & a.
Defn: See Maslin.
MISLIVE Mis*live", v. i.
Defn: To live amiss.
MISLODGE Mis*lodge", v. t.
Defn: To lodge amiss. [Obs.]
MISLUCK Mis*luck", n.
Defn: Ill luck; misfortune.
MISLY Mis"ly, a.
Defn: Raining in very small drops.
MISMAKE Mis*make", v. t.
Defn: To make or form amiss; to spoil in making. "Limping possibilities of mismade human nature." Mrs. Browning.
MISMAKE Mis*make" (mis*mak"), v. t.
Defn: To make or form amiss; to spoil in making. "Limping possibilities of mismade human nature." Mrs. Browning.
MISMANAGE Mis*man"age, v. t. & i.
Defn: To manage ill or improperly; as, to mismanage public affairs.
MISMANAGEMENT Mis*man"age*ment, n.
Defn: Wrong or bad management; as, he failed through mismagement.
MISMANAGER Mis*man"a*ger, n.
Defn: One who manages ill.
MISMARK Mis*mark", v. t.
Defn: To mark wrongly.
MISMATCH Mis*match", v. t.
Defn: To match unsuitably.
MISMATE Mis*mate", v. t.
Defn: To mate wrongly or unsuitably; as, to mismate gloves or shoes; a mismated couple.
MISMEASURE Mis*meas"ure, v. t.
Defn: To measure or estimate incorrectly.
MISMEASUREMENT Mis*meas"ure*ment, n.
Defn: Wrong measurement.
MISMETER Mis*me"ter, v. t.
Defn: To give the wrong meter to, as to a line of verse. [R.] Chaucer.
MISNAME Mis*name", v. t.
Defn: To call by the wrong name; to give a wrong or inappropriate name to.
MISNOMER Mis*no"mer, n. Etym: [OF. pref. mes- amiss, wrong (L. minus less) + F. nommer to name, L. nominare, fr. nomen name. See Name.]
Defn: The misnaming of a person in a legal instrument, as in a complaint or indictment; any misnaming of a person or thing; a wrong or inapplicable name or title. Many of the changes, by a great misnomer, called parliamentary "reforms". Burke. The word "synonym" is fact a misnomer. Whatel
MISNOMER Mis*no"mer, v. t.
Defn: To misname. [R.]
MISNUMBER Mis*num"ber, v. t.
Defn: To number wrongly.
MISNURTURE Mis*nur"ture, v. t.
Defn: To nurture or train wrongly; as, to misnurture children. Bp. Hall.
MISOBEDIENCE Mis`o*be"di*ence, n.
Defn: Mistaken obedience; disobedience. [Obs.] Milton.
MISOBSERVE Mis`ob*serve", v. t.
Defn: To observe inaccurately; to mistake in observing. Locke.
MISOBSERVER Mis`ob*serv"er, n.
Defn: One who misobserves; one who fails to observe properly.
MISOGAMIST Mi*sog"a*mist, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A hater of marriage.
MISOGAMY Mi*sog"a*my, n. Etym: [Cf. F. misogamie.]
Defn: Hatre
MISOGYNIST Mi*sog"y*nist, n. Etym: [Gr. misogyne.]
Defn: A woman hater. Fuller.
MISOGYNOUS Mi*sog"y*nous, a.
Defn: Hating women.
MISOGYNY Mi*sog"y*ny, n. Etym: [Gr. misogynie.]
Defn: Hatred of women. Johnson.
MISOLOGY Mi*sol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Hatred of argument or discussion; hatred of enlightenment. G. H. Lewes.
MISOPINION Mis`o*pin"ion, n.
Defn: Wrong opinion. [Obs.]
MISORDER Mis*or"der, v. t.
Defn: To order ill; to manage erroneously; to conduct badly. [Obs.] Shak.
MISORDER Mis*or"der, n.
Defn: Irregularity; disorder. [Obs.] Camden.
MISORDERLY Mis*or"der*ly, a.
Defn: Irregular; disorderly. [Obs.]
MISORDINATION Mis*or`di*na"tion, n.
Defn: Wrong ordination.
MISOTHEISM Mis"o*the`ism, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Hatred of God. De Quincey.
MISPAINT Mis*paint", v. t.
Defn: To paint ill, or wrongly.
MISPASSION Mis*pas"sion, n.
Defn: Wrong passion or feeling. [Obs.]
MISPAY Mis*pay", v. t. Etym: [Cf. Appay.]
Defn: To dissatisfy. [Obs.]
MISPELL; MISPEND Mis*pell", v. t., Mis*pend" (, v. t., etc.
Defn: See Misspell, Misspend, etc.
MISPENSE Mis*pense", n.
Defn: See Misspense. Bp. Hall.
MISPERCEPTION Mis`per*cep"tion, n.
Defn: Erroneous perception.
MISPERSUADE Mis`per*suade", v. t.
Defn: To persuade amiss.
MISPERSUASION Mis`per*sua"sion, n.
Defn: A false persuasion; wrong notion or opinion. Dr. H. More.
MISPICKEL Mis*pick"el, n. Etym: [G.] (Min.)
Defn: Arsenical iron pyrites; arsenopyrite.
MISPLACE Mis*place", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Misplaced; p. pr. & vb. n. Misplacing.]
Defn: To put in a wrong place; to set or place on an improper or unworthy object; as, he misplaced his confidence.
MISPLACEMENT Mis*place"ment, n.
Defn: The act of misplacing, or the state of being misplaced.
MISPLEAD Mis*plead", v. i.
Defn: To err in pleading.
MISPLEADING Mis*plead"ing, n. (Law)
Defn: An error in pleading.
MISPOINT Mis*point", v. t.
Defn: To point improperly; to punctuate wrongly.
MISPOLICY Mis*pol"i*cy, n.
Defn: Wrong policy; impolicy.
MISPRACTICE Mis*prac"tice, n.
Defn: Wrong practice.
MISPRAISE Mis*praise", v. t.
Defn: To praise amiss.
MISPRINT Mis*print", v. t.
Defn: To print wrong.
MISPRINT Mis*print", n.
Defn: A mistake in printing; a deviation from the copy; as, a book full of misprints.
MISPRISE Mis*prise", v. t.
Defn: See Misprize. [Obs.] Shak.
MISPRISE Mis*prise", v. t. Etym: [OF. mesprise mistake, F. méprise, fr. mespris, masc., mesprise, fem., p. p. of mesprendre to mistake; F. méprendre; pref. mes- amiss + prendre to take, L. prehendere.]
Defn: To mistake. [Obs.] Shak.
MISPRISION Mis*pri"sion, n. Etym: [LL. misprisio, or OF. mesprison, prop., a mistaking, but confused with OF. mespris contempt, F. mépris. See 2d Misprise, Misprize, Prison.]
1. The act of misprising; misapprehension; misconception; mistake. [Archaic] Fuller. The misprision of this passage has aided in fostering the delusive notion. Hare.
2. Neglect; undervaluing; contempt. [Obs.] Shak.
3. (Law)
Defn: A neglect, negligence, or contempt.
Note: In its larger and older sense it was used to signify "every considerable misdemeanor which has not a certain name given to it in the law." Russell. In a more modern sense it is applied exclusively to two offenses: --1. Misprision of treason, which is omission to notify the authorities of an act of treason by a person cognizant thereof. Stephen. 2. Misprision of felony, which is a concealment of a felony by a person cognizant thereof. Stephen.
MISPRIZE Mis*prize", v. t. Etym: [OF. mesprisier to deprise, F. mépriser; pref. amiss, wrong (L. minus less + LL. pretium price. See price, Prize, v.]
Defn: To slight or undervalue. O, for those vanished hours, so much misprized! Hillhouse. I do not blame them, madam, nor misprize. Mrs. Browning.
MISPROCEEDING Mis`pro*ceed"ing, n.
Defn: Wrong or irregular proceding.
MISPROFESS Mis`pro*fess", v. i.
Defn: To make a false profession; to make pretensions to skill which is not possessed.
MISPROFESS Mis`pro*fess", v. t.
Defn: To make a false profession of.
MISPRONOUNCE Mis`pro*nounce", v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Mispronounced; p. pr. & vb. n. Mispronouncing.]
Defn: To pronounce incorrectly.
MISPRONUNCIATION Mis`pro*nun`ci*a"tion ( or ), n.
Defn: Wrong or improper pronunciation.
MISPROPORTION Mis`pro*por"tion, v. t.
Defn: To give wrong proportions to; to join without due proportion.
MISPROUD Mis*proud", a.
Defn: Viciously proud. [Obs.] Shak.
MISPUNCTUATE Mis*punc"tu*ate, v. t.
Defn: To punctuate wrongly or incorrectly.
MISQUOTATION Mis`quo*ta"tion, n.
Defn: Erroneous or inaccurate quotation.
MISQUOTE Mis*quote", v. t. & i.
Defn: To quote erroneously or incorrectly. Shak.
MISRAISE Mis*raise", v. t.
Defn: To raise or exite unreasonable. "Misraised fury." Bp. Hall.
MISRATE Mis*rate", v. t.
Defn: To rate erroneously.
MISREAD Mis*read", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Misread; p. pr. & vb. n. Misreading.]
Defn: To read amiss; to misunderstand in reading.
MISRECEIVE Mis`re*ceive", v. t.
Defn: To receive wrongly.
MISRECITAL Mis`re*cit"al, n.
Defn: An inaccurate recital.
MISRECITE Mis`re*cite", v. t. & i.
Defn: To recite erroneously.
MISRECKON Mis*reck"on, v. t. & i.
Defn: To reckon wrongly; to miscalculate. Swift.
MISRECKONING Mis*reck"on*ing, n.
Defn: An erroneous computation.
MISRECOLLECT Mis*rec`ol*lect", v. t. & i.
Defn: To have an erroneous remembrance of; to suppose erroneously that one recollects. Hitchcock.
MISRECOLLECTION Mis*rec`ol*lec"tion, n.
Defn: Erroneous or inaccurate recollection.
MISREFORM Mis`re*form", v. t.
Defn: To reform wrongly or imperfectly.
MISREGARD Mis`re*gard", n.
Defn: Wrong understanding; misconstruction. [Obs.] Spenser.
MISREGULATE Mis*reg"u*late, v. t.
Defn: To regulate wrongly or imperfectly; to fail to regulate.
MISREHEARSE Mis`re*hearse", v. t.
Defn: To rehearse or quote incorrectly. Sir T. More.
MISRELATE Mis`re*late", v. t.
Defn: To relate inaccurately.
MISRELATION Mis`re*la"tion, n.
Defn: Erroneous relation or narration. Abp. Bramhall.
MISRELIGION Mis`re*li"gion, n.
Defn: False religion. [R.]
MISREMEMBER Mis`re*mem"ber, v. t. & i.
Defn: To mistake in remembering; not to remember correctly. Sir T. More.
MISRENDER Mis*ren"der, v. t.
Defn: To render wrongly; to translate or recite wrongly. Boyle.
MISREPEAT Mis`re*peat", v. t.
Defn: To repeat wrongly; to give a wrong version of. Gov. Winthrop.
MISREPORT Mis`re*port", v. t. & i.
Defn: To report erroneously; to give an incorrect account of. Locke.
MISREPORT Mis`re*port", n.
Defn: An erroneous report; a false or incorrect account given. Denham. South.
MISREPRESENT Mis*rep`re*sent", v. t.
Defn: To represent incorrectly (almost always, unfacorably); to give a false erroneous representation of, either maliciously, ignirantly, or carelessly. Swift.
MISREPRESENT Mis*rep`re*sent", v. i.
Defn: To make an incorrect or untrue representation. Milton.
MISREPRESENTATION Mis*rep`re*sen*ta"tion, n.
Defn: Untrue representation; false or incorrect statement or account; -- usually unfavorable to the thing represented; as, a misrepresentation of a person's motives. Sydney Smith.
Note: In popular use, this word often conveys the idea of intentional untruth.
MISREPRESENTATIVE Mis*rep`re*sent"a*tive, a.
Defn: Tending to convey a wrong impression; misrepresenting.
MISREPRESENTER Mis*rep`re*sent"er, n.
Defn: One who misrepresents.
MISREPUTE Mis`re*pute", v. t.
Defn: To have in wrong estimation; to repute or estimate erroneously.
MISRULE Mis*rule", v. t. & i.
Defn: To rule badly; to misgovern.
MISRULE Mis*rule", n.
1. The act, or the result, of misruling.
2. Disorder; confusion; tumult from insubordination. Enormous riot and misrule surveyed. Pope. Abbot, or Lord, of Misrule. See under Abbot, and Lord.
MISRULY Mis*rul"y, a.
Defn: Unruly. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
MISS Miss, n.; pl. Misses. Etym: [Contr. fr. mistress.]
1. A title of courtesy prefixed to the name of a girl or a woman who has not been married. See Mistress, 5.
Note: There is diversity of usage in the application of this title to two or more persons of the same name. We may write either the Miss Browns or the Misses Brown.
2. A young unmarried woman or a girl; as, she is a miss of sixteen. Gay vanity, with smiles and kisses, Was busy 'mongst the maids and misses. Cawthorn.
3. A kept mistress. See Mistress, 4. [Obs.] Evelyn.
4. (Card Playing)
Defn: In the game of three-card loo, an extra hand, dealt on the table, which may be substituted for the hand dealt to a player.
MISS Miss, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Missed; p.pr. & vb.n. Missing.] Etym: [AS. missan; akin to D. & G. missen, OHG. missan, Icel. missa, Sw. mista, Dan. miste. *100. See Mis-, pref.]
1. To fail of hitting, reaching, getting, finding, seeing, hearing, etc.; as, to miss the mark one shoots at; to miss the train by being late; to miss opportunites of getting knowledge; to miss the point or meaning of something said. When a man misses his great end, happiness, he will acknowledge he judged not right. Locke.
2. To omit; to fail to have or to do; to get without; to dispense with; -- now seldom applied to persons. She would never miss, one day, A walk so fine, a sight so gay. Prior. We cannot miss him; he does make our fire, Fetch in our wood. Shak.
3. To discover the absence or omission of; to feel the want of; to mourn the loss of; to want. Shak. Neither missed we anything ... Nothing was missed of all that pertained unto him. 1 Sam. xxv. 15, 21. What by me thou hast lost, thou least shalt miss. Milton. To miss stays. (Naut.) See under Stay.
MISS Miss, v. i.
1. To fail to hit; to fly wide; to deviate from the true direction. Men observe when things hit, and not when they miss. Bacon. Flying bullets now, To execute his rage, appear too slow; They miss, or sweep but common souls away. Waller.
2. To fail to obtain, learn, or find; -- with of. Upon the least reflection, we can not miss of them. Atterbury.
3. To go wrong; to err. [Obs.] Amongst the angels, a whole legion Of wicked sprites did fall from happy bliss; What wonder then if one, of women all, did miss Spenser.
4. To be absent, deficient, or wanting. [Obs.] See Missing, a. What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend. Shak.
MISS Miss, n.
1. The act of missing; failure to hit, reach, find, obtain, etc.
2. Loss; want; felt absence. [Obs.] There will be no great miss of those which are lost. Locke.
3. Mistake; error; fault. Shak. He did without any great miss in the hardest points of grammar. Ascham.
4. Harm from mistake. [Obs.] Spenser.
MISSA Mis"sa, n.; pl. Missæ. Etym: [LL. See 1st Mass.] (R.C.Ch.)
Defn: The service or sacrifice of the Mass.
MISSAL Mis"sal, n. Etym: [LL. missale, liber missalis, from missa mass: cf. F. missel. See 1st Mass.]
Defn: The book containing the service of the Mass for the entire year; a Mass book.
MISSAL Mis"sal, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Mass, or to a missal or Mass book. Bp. Hall.
MISSAY Mis*say", v. t.
1. To say wrongly.
2. To speak evil of; to slander. [Obs.]
MISSAY Mis*say", v. i.
Defn: To speak ill. [Obs.] Spenser.
MISSEEK Mis*seek", v. t.
Defn: To seek for wrongly. [Obs.]
MISSEEM Mis*seem", v. i.
1. To make a false appearance. [Obs.]
2. To misbecome; to be misbecoming. [Obs.] Spenser.
MISSEL Mis"sel, n.
Defn: Mistletoe. [Obs.] Missel bird, Missel thrush (Zoöl.), a large European thrush (Turdus viscivorus) which feeds on the berries of the mistletoe; -- called also mistletoe thrush and missel.
MISSELDINE Mis"sel*dine, n. Etym: [See Mistletoe.] [Written also misselden.]
Defn: The mistletoe. [Obs.] Baret.
MISSELTOE Mis"sel*toe, n.
Defn: See Mistletoe.
MISSEMBLANCE Mis*sem"blance, n.
Defn: False resemblance or semblance. [Obs.]
MISSEND Mis*send", v. t.
Defn: To send amiss or incorrectly.
MISSERVE Mis*serve", v. t. & i.
Defn: To serve unfaithfully.
MISSET Mis*set", v. t.
Defn: To set pr place wrongly.
MISSHAPE Mis*shape", v. t.
Defn: To shape ill; to give an ill or unnatural from to; to deform. "Figures monstrous and misshaped." Pope.
MISSHAPEN Mis*shap"en, a.
Defn: Having a bad or ugly form. "The mountains are misshapen." Bentley. -- Mis*shap"en*ly, adv. -- Mis*shap"en*ness, n.
MISSHEATHED Mis*sheathed", a.
Defn: Sheathed by mistake; wrongly sheathed; sheathed in a wrong place. Shak.
MISSIFICATE Mis*sif"i*cate, v. i. Etym: [LL. missa Mass + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See fy-.]
Defn: To perform Mass. [Obs.] Milton.
MISSILE Mis"sile, a. Etym: [L. missils, fr. mittere, missum, to cause to go, to send, to throw; cf. Lith. mesti to throw: cf. F. missile. Cf. Admit, Dismiss, Mass the religious service, Message, Mission.]
Defn: Capable of being thrown; adapted for hurling or to be projected from the hand, or from any instrument or rngine, so as to strike an object at a distance. We bend the bow, or wing the missile dart. Pope.
MISSILE Mis"sile, n. Etym: [L. missile.]
Defn: A weapon thrown or projected or intended to be projcted, as a lance, an arrow, or a bullet.
MISSING Miss"ing, a. Etym: [From Miss, v. i.]
Defn: Absent from the place where it was expected to be found; lost; wanting; not present when called or looked for. Neither was there aught missing unto them. 1 Sam. xxv. 7. For a time caught up to God, as once Moses was in the mount, and missing long. Milton.
MISSINGLY Miss"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: With a sense of loss. [Obs.] Shak.
MISSION Mis"sion, n. Etym: [L. missio, fr. mittere, missum, to send: cf. F. mission. See Missile.]
1. The act of sending, or the state of being sent; a being sent or delegated by authority, with certain powers for transacting business; comission. Whose glorious deeds, but in these fields of late, Made emulous missions' mongst the gods themselves. Shak.
2. That with which a messenger or agent is charged; an errand; business or duty on which one is sent; a commission. How to begin, how to accomplish best His end of being on earth, and mission high. Milton.
3. Persons sent; any number of persons appointed to perform any service; a delegation; an embassy. In these ships there should be a mission of three of the fellows or brethren of Solomon's house. Bacon.
4. An assotiation or organization of missionaries; a station or residence of missionaries.
5. An organization for worship and work, dependent on one or more churches.
6. A course of extraordinary sermons and services at a particular place and time for the special purpose of quickening the faith and zeal participants, and of converting unbelievers. Addis & Arnold.
7. Dismission; discharge from service. [Obs.] Mission school. (a) A school connected with a mission and conducted by missionaries. (b) A school for the religious instruction of children not having regular church privileges.
Syn. -- Message; errand; commission; deputation.
MISSION Mis"sion, v. t.
Defn: To send on a mission. [Mostly used in the form of the past participle.] Keats.
MISSIONARY Mis"sion*ary, n.; pl. Missionaries. Etym: [Cf. F. missionnaire. See Mission, n.]
Defn: One who is sent on a mission; especially, one sent to propagate religion. Swift. Missionary apostolic, a Roman Catholic missionary sent by commission from the pope.
MISSIONARY Mis"sion*a*ry, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to missions; as, a missionary meeting; a missionary fund.
MISSIONER Mis"sion*er, n.
Defn: A missionary; an envoy; one who conducts a mission. See Mission, n., 6. "Like mighty missioner you come." Dryden.
MISSIS Mis"sis, n.
Defn: A mistress; a wife; -- so used by the illiterate. G. Eliot.
MISSISH Miss"ish, a.
Defn: Like a miss; prim; affected; sentimental. -- Miss"ish*ness, n.
MISSIT Mis*sit", v. t.
Defn: To sit badly or imperfectly upon; to misbecome. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MISSIVE Mis"sive, a. Etym: [See Missive, n.]
1. Specially sent; intended or prepared to be sent; as, a letter missive. Ayliffe.
2. Missile. "The missive weapons fly." Dryden. Letters missive, letters conveying the permission, comand, or advice of a superior authority, as a sovereign. They are addressed and sent to some certain person or persons, and are distinguished from letters patent, which are addressed to the public.
MISSIVE Mis"sive, n. Etym: [F. lettre missive. See Mission, n.]
1. That which is sent; a writing containing a message.
2. One who is sent; a messenger. [Obs.] Shak.
MISSOUND Mis*sound", v. t.
Defn: To sound wrongly; to utter or pronounce incorrectly. E,Hall.
MISSPEAK Mis*speak", v. i.
Defn: To err in speaking.
MISSPEAK Mis*speak", v. t.
Defn: To utter wrongly.
MISSPEECH Mis*speech", n.
Defn: Wrong speech. [Obs.]
MISSPELL Mis*spell", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Misspelled, or Misspelt (; p. pr. & vb. n. Misspelling.]
Defn: To spell incorrectly.
MISSPELLING Mis*spell"ing, n.
Defn: A wrong spelling.
MISSPEND Mis*spend", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Misspent; p. pr. & vb. n. Misspending.]
Defn: To spend amiss or for wrong purposes; to aquander; to waste; as, to misspend time or money. J. Philips.
MISSPENDER Mis*spend"er, n.
Defn: One who misspends.
MISSPENSE mis*spense", n.
Defn: A spending improperly; a wasting. [Obs.] Barrow.
MISSPENT Mis*spent", imp. & p. p.
Defn: of Misspend.
MISSTATE Mis*state", v. t.
Defn: To state wrongly; as, to misstate a question in debate. Bp. Sanderson.
MISSTATEMENT Mis*state"ment, n.
Defn: An incorrect statement.
MISSTAYED Mis*stayed", a. (Naut.)
Defn: Having missed stays; -- said of a ship.
MISSTEP Mis*step", n.
Defn: A wrong step; an error of conduct.
MISSTEP Mis*step", v. i.
Defn: To take a wrong step; to go astray.
MISSUCCESS Mis`suc*cess", n.
Defn: Failure. [Obs.]
MISSUGGESTION Mis`sug*ges"tion ( or ), n.
Defn: Wrong or evil suggestion. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
MISSUMMATION Mis`sum*ma"tion, n.
Defn: Wrong summation.
MISSWEAR Mis*swear", v. i.
Defn: To swear falsely.
MISSY Mis"sy, n. (Min.)
Defn: See Misy.
MISSY Mis"sy, n.
Defn: An affectionate, or contemptuous, form of miss; a young girl; a miss. -- a.
Defn: Like a miss, or girl.
MIST Mist, n. Etym: [AS. mist; akin to D. & Sw. mist, Icel. mistr, G. mist dung, Goth. maíhstus, AS. migan to make water, Icel. miga, Lith. migla mist, Russ. mgla, L. mingere, meiere, to make water, gr. mih to make water, n., a mist m*gha cloud. *102. Cf. Misle, Mizzle, Mixen.]
1. Visible watery vapor suspended in the atmosphere, at or near the surface of the earth; fog.
2. Coarse, watery vapor, floating or falling in visible particles, approaching the form of rain; as, Scotch mist.
3. Hence, anything which dims or darkens, and obscures or intercepts vision. His passion cast a mist before his sense. Dryden. Mist flower (Bot.), a composite plant (Eupatorium coelestinum), having heart-shaped leaves, and corymbs of lavender-blue flowers. It is found in the Western and Southern United States.
MIST Mist, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Misted; p. pr. & vb. n. Misting.]
Defn: To cloud; to cover with mist; to dim. Shak.
MIST Mist, v. i.
Defn: To rain in very fine drops; as, it mists.
MISTAKABLE Mis*tak"a*ble, a.
Defn: Liable to be mistaken; capable of being misconceived. Sir T. Browne.
MISTAKE Mis*take", v. t. [imp. & obs. p. p. Mistook; p. p. Mistaken; p. pr. & vb. n. Mistaking.] Etym: [Pref. mis- + take: cf. Icel. mistaka.]
1. To take or choose wrongly. [Obs. or R.] Shak.
2. To take in a wrong sense; to misunderstand misapprehend, or misconceive; as, to mistake a remark; to mistake one's meaning. Locke. My father's purposes have been mistook. Shak.
3. To substitute in thought or perception; as, to mistake one person for another. A man may mistake the love of virtue for the practice of it. Johnson.
4. To have a wrong idea of in respect of character, qualities, etc.; to misjudge. Mistake me not so much, To think my poverty is treacherous. Shak.
MISTAKE Mis*take", v. i.
Defn: To err in knowledge, perception, opinion, or judgment; to commit an unintentional error. Servants mistake, and sometimes occasion misunderstanding among friends. Swift.
MISTAKE Mis*take", n.
1. An apprehending wrongly; a misconception; a misunderstanding; a fault in opinion or judgment; an unintentional error of conduct. Infallibility is an absolute security of the understanding from all possibility of mistake. Tillotson.
2. (Law)
Defn: Misconception, error, which when non-negligent may be ground for rescinding a contract, or for refusing to perform it. No mistake, surely; without fail; as, it will happen at the appointed time, and no mistake. [Low]
Syn. -- Blunder; error; bull. See Blunder.
MISTAKEN Mis*tak"en, p.a.
1. Being in error; judging wrongly; having a wrong opinion or a misconception; as, a mistaken man; he is mistaken.
2. Erroneous; wrong; as, a mistaken notion.
MISTAKENLY Mis*tak"en*ly, adv.
Defn: By mistake. Goldsmith.
MISTAKENNESS Mis*tak"en*ness, n.
Defn: Erroneousness.
MISTAKER Mis*tak"er, n.
Defn: One who mistakes. Well meaning ignorance of some mistakers. Bp. Hall.
MISTAKING Mis*tak"ing, n.
Defn: An error; a mistake. Shak.
MISTAKINGLY Mis*tak"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: Erroneously.
MISTAUGHT Mis*taught", a. Etym: [See Misteach.]
Defn: Wrongly taught; as, a mistaught youth. L'Estrange.
MISTEACH Mis*teach", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mistaught; p. pr. & vb. n. Misteaching.] Etym: [AS. mist.]
Defn: To teach wrongly; to instruct erroneously.
MISTELL Mis*tell", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mistold; p. pr. & vb. n. Mistelling.]
Defn: To tell erroneously.
MISTEMPER Mis*tem"per, v. t.
Defn: To temper ill; to disorder; as, to mistemper one's head. Warner. This inundation of mistempered humor. Shak.
MISTER Mis"ter, n. Etym: [See Master, and cf. Mistress.]
Defn: A title of courtesy prefixed to the name of a man or youth. It is usually written in the abbreviated form Mr. To call your name, inquire your where, Or whet you think of Mister Some-one's book, Or Mister Other's marriage or decease. Mrs. Browning.
MISTER Mis"ter, v. t.
Defn: To address or mention by the title Mr.; as, he mistered me in a formal way. [Colloq.]
MISTER Mis"ter, n. Etym: [OF. mistier trade, office, ministry, need, F. métier trade, fr. L. ministerium service, office, ministry. See Ministry, Mystery trade.] [Written also mester.]
1. A trade, art, or occupation. [Obs.] In youth he learned had a good mester. Chaucer.
2. Manner; kind; sort. [Obs.] Spenser. But telleth me what mester men ye be. Chaucer.
3. Need; necessity. [Obs.] Rom. of R.
MISTER Mis"ter, v. i.
Defn: To be needful or of use. [Obs.] As for my name, it mistereth not to tell. Spenser.
MISTERM Mis*term", v. t.
Defn: To call by a wrong name; to miscall.
MISTERY Mis"ter*y, n.
Defn: See Mystery, a trade.
MISTFUL Mist"ful, a.
Defn: Clouded with, or as with, mist.
MISTHINK Mis*think", v. i. Etym: [See Think.]
Defn: To think wrongly. [Obs.] "Adam misthought of her." Milton.
MISTHINK Mis*think", v. t.
Defn: To have erroneous thoughts or judgment of; to think ill of. [Obs.] Shak.
MISTHOUGHT Mis*thought", n.
Defn: Erroneous thought; mistaken opinion; error. [Obs.] Spenser.
MISTHRIVE Mis*thrive", v. i.
Defn: To thrive poorly; to be not thrifty or prosperous. [Obs.]
MISTHROW Mis*throw", v. t.
Defn: To throw wrongly.
MISTIC; MISTICO Mis"tic, Mis"ti*co, n. Etym: [Sp. místico.]
Defn: A kind of small sailing vessel used in the Mediterranean. It is rigged partly like a xebec, and partly like a felucca.
MISTIDE Mis*tide", v. i. Etym: [AS. mistidan. See Tide.]
Defn: To happen or come to pass unfortunately; also, to suffer evil fortune. [Obs.]
MISTIGRIS; MISTIGRI Mis`ti`gris", Mis`ti`gri", n. Etym: [F. mistigri.]
Defn: A variety of the game of poker in which the joker is used, and called mistigris or mistigri.
MISTIHEAD Mist"i*head, n.
Defn: Mistiness. [Obs.]
MISTILY Mist"i*ly, adv.
Defn: With mist; darkly; obscurely.
MISTIME Mis*time", v. t. Etym: [AS. mistimain to turn out ill.]
Defn: To time wrongly; not to adapt to the time.
MISTINESS Mist"i*ness, n.
Defn: State of being misty.
MISTION Mis"tion, n. Etym: [L. mistio, mixtio. See Mix, and cf. Mixtion.]
Defn: Mixture. [Obs.]
MISTITLE Mis*ti"tle, v. t.
Defn: To call by a wrong title.
MISTLE Mis"tle, v. i. Etym: [Eng. mist. See Misle, and Mizzle.]
Defn: To fall in very fine drops, as rain.
MISTLETOE Mis"tle*toe, n. Etym: [AS. misteltan; mistel mistletoe + tan twig. AS. mistel is akin of D., G., Dan. & Sw. mistel, OHG. mistil, Icel. mistilteinn; and AS. tan to D. teen, OHG. zein, Icel. teinn, Goth. tains. Cf. Missel.] (Bot.)
Defn: A parasitic evergreen plant of Europe (Viscum album), bearing a glutinous fruit. When found upon the oak, where it is rare, it was an object of superstitious regard among the Druids. A bird lime is prepared from its fruit. [Written also misletoe, misseltoe, and mistleto.] Lindley. Loudon.
Note: The mistletoe of the United States is Phoradendron flavescens, having broader leaves than the European kind. In different regions various similar plants are called by this name.
MISTONUSK Mis"to*nusk, n. Etym: [From the Indian name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The American badger.
MISTOOK Mis*took", imp. & obs. p. p.
Defn: of Mistake.
MISTRADITION Mis`tra*di"tion, n.
Defn: A wrong tradition. "Monsters of mistradition." Tennyson.
MISTRAIN Mis*train", v. t.
Defn: To train amiss.
MISTRAL Mis"tral, n. Etym: [F., fr. Provençal.]
Defn: A violent and cold northwest wind experienced in the Mediterranean provinces of France, etc.
MISTRANSLATE Mis`trans*late", v. t.
Defn: To translate erroneously.
MISTRANSLATION Mis`trans*la"tion, n.
Defn: Wrong translation.
MISTRANSPORT Mis`trans*port", v. t.
Defn: To carry away or mislead wrongfully, as by passion. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
MISTREADING Mis*tread"ing, n.
Defn: Misstep; misbehavior. "To punish my mistreadings." Shak.
MISTREAT Mis*treat", v. t.
Defn: To treat amiss; to abuse.
MISTREATMENT Mis*treat"ment, n.
Defn: Wrong treatment.
MISTRESS Mis"tress, n. Etym: [OE. maistress, OF. maistresse, F. maîtresse, LL. magistrissa, for L. magistra, fem. of magister. See Master, Mister, and cf. Miss a young woman.]
1. A woman having power, authority, or ownership; a woman who exercises authority, is chief, etc.; the female head of a family, a school, etc. The late queen's gentlewoman! a knight's daughter! To be her mistress' mistress! Shak.
2. A woman well skilled in anything, or having the mastery over it. A letter desires all young wives to make themselves mistresses of Wingate's Arithmetic. Addison.
3. A woman regarded with love and devotion; she who has command over one's heart; a beloved object; a sweetheart. [Poetic] Clarendon.
4. A woman filling the place, but without the rights, of a wife; a concubine; a loose woman with whom one consorts habitually. Spectator.
5. A title of courtesy formerly prefixed to the name of a woman, married or unmarried, but now superseded by the contracted forms, Mrs., for a married, and Miss, for an unmarried, woman. Now Mistress Gilpin (careful soul). Cowper.
6. A married woman; a wife. [Scot.] Several of the neighboring mistresses had assembled to witness the event of this memorable evening. Sir W. Scott.
7. The old name of the jack at bowls. Beau. & Fl. To be one's own mistress, to be exempt from control by another person.
MISTRESS Mis"tress, v. i.
Defn: To wait upon a mistress; to be courting. [Obs.] Donne.
MISTRESSSHIP Mis"tress*ship, n.
1. Female rule or dominion.
2. Ladyship, a style of address; -- with the personal pronoun. [Obs.] Massinger.
MISTRIAL Mis*tri"al, n. (Law)
Defn: A false or erroneous trial; a trial which has no result.
MISTRIST Mis*trist", v. t.
Defn: To mistrust. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MISTROW Mis*trow", v. i.
Defn: To think wrongly. [Obs.]
MISTRUST Mis*trust", n.
Defn: Want of confidence or trust; suspicion; distrust. Milton.
MISTRUST Mis*trust", v. t.
1. To regard with jealousy or suspicion; to suspect; to doubt the integrity of; to distrust. I will never mistrust my wife again. Shak.
2. To forebode as near, or likely to occur; to surmise. By a divine instinct, men's minds mistrust Ensuing dangers. Shak.
MISTRUSTER Mis*trust"er, n.
Defn: One who mistrusts.
MISTRUSTFUL Mis*trust"ful, a.
Defn: Having or causing mistrust, suspicions, or forebodings. Their light blown out in some mistrustful wood. Shak. -- Mis*trust"ful*ly, adv. -- Mis*trust"ful*ness, n.
MISTRUSTINGLY Mis*trust"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: With distrust or suspicion.
MISTRUSTLESS Mis*trust"less, a.
Defn: Having no mistrust or suspicion. The swain mistrustless of his smutted face. Goldsmith.
MISTUNE Mis*tune", v. t.
Defn: To tune wrongly.
MISTURA Mis*tu"ra, n. Etym: [L. See Mixture.] (Med.) (a) A mingled compound in which different ingredients are contained in a liquid state; a mixture. See Mixture, n., 4. (b) Sometimes, a liquid medicine containing very active substances, and which can only be administered by drops. Dunglison.
MISTURN Mis*turn", v. t.
Defn: To turn amiss; to pervert.
MISTUTOR Mis*tu"tor, v. t.
Defn: To instruct amiss.
MISTY Mist"y, a. [Compar. Mistier; superl. Mistiest.] Etym: [AS. mistig. See Mist. In some senses misty has been confused with mystic.]
1. Accompained with mist; characterized by the presence of mist; obscured by, or overspread with, mist; as, misty weather; misty mountains; a misty atmosphere.
2. Obscured as if by mist; dim; obscure; clouded; as, misty sight. The more I muse therein [theology], The mistier it seemeth. Piers Plowman.
MISUNDERSTAND Mis*un`der*stand", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Misunderstood; p. pr. & vb. n. Misunderstanding.]
Defn: To misconceive; to mistake; to miscomprehend; to take in a wrong sense.
MISUNDERSTANDER Mis*un`der*stand"er, n.
Defn: One who misunderstands. Sir T. More.
MISUNDERSTANDING Mis*un`der*stand"ing, n.
1. Mistake of the meaning; error; misconception. Bacon.
2. Disagreement; difference of opinion; dissension; quarrel. "Misunderstandings among friends." Swift.
MISURATO Mi`su*ra"to, a. Etym: [It.] (Mus.)
Defn: Measured; -- a direction to perform a passage in strict or measured time.
MISUSAGE Mis*us"age, n. Etym: [Cf. F. mésusage.]
Defn: Bad treatment; abuse. Spenser.
MISUSE Mis*use", v. t. Etym: [F. mésuser. See Mis-, prefix from French, and Use.]
1. To treat or use improperly; to use to a bad purpose; to misapply; as, to misuse one's talents. South. The sweet poison of misused wine. Milton.
2. To abuse; to treat ill. O, she misused me past the endurance of a block. Shak.
Syn. -- To maltreat; abuse; misemploy; misapply.
MISUSE Mis*use", n.
1. Wrong use; misapplication; erroneous or improper use. Words little suspected for any such misuse. Locke.
2. Violence, or its effects. [Obs.] Shak.
MISUSEMENT Mis*use"ment, n.
Defn: Misuse. [Obs.]
MISUSER Mis*us"er, n.
1. One who misuses. "Wretched misusers of language." Coleridge.
2. (Law)
Defn: Unlawful use of a right; use in excess of, or varying from, one's right. Bouvier.
MISVALUE Mis*val"ue, v. t.
Defn: To value wrongly or too little; to undervalue. But for I am so young, I dread my work Wot be misvalued both of old and young. W. Browne.
MISVOUCH Mis*vouch", v. t.
Defn: To vouch falsely.
MISWANDER Mis*wan"der, v. i.
Defn: To wander in a wrong path; to stray; to go astray. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MISWAY Mis*way", n.
Defn: A wrong way. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MISWEAR Mis*wear", v. t.
Defn: To wear ill. [Obs.] Bacon.
MISWED Mis*wed", v. t.
Defn: To wed improperly.
MISWEEN Mis*ween", v. i.
Defn: To ween amiss; to misjudge; to distrust; to be mistaken. [Obs.] Spenser.
MISWEND Mis*wend", v. i.
Defn: To go wrong; to go astray. [Obs.] "The world is miswent." Gower.
MISWORD Mis*word", v. t.
Defn: To word wrongly; as, to misword a message, or a sentence.
MISWORD Mis*word", n.
Defn: A word wrongly spoken; a cross word. [Obs.] Sylvester. Breton.
MISWORSHIP Mis*wor"ship, n.
Defn: Wrong or false worship; mistaken practices in religion. Bp. Hall. Such hideous jungle of misworships. Carlyle.
MISWORSHIP Mis*wor"ship, v. t.
Defn: To worship wrongly. Bp. Hall.
MISWORSHIPER Mis*wor"ship*er, n.
Defn: One who worships wrongly.
MISWRITE Mis*write", v. t.
Defn: To write incorrectly.
MISWROUGHT Mis*wrought", a.
Defn: Badly wrought. Bacon.
MISY Mi"sy, n. Etym: [Cf. L. misy a mineral, perh. copperas, Gr. (Min.)
Defn: An impure yellow sulphate of iron; yellow copperas or copiapite.
MISYOKE Mis*yoke", v. t.
Defn: To yoke improperly.
MISZEALOUS Mis*zeal"ous, a.
Defn: Mistakenly zealous. [Obs.]
MITE Mite, n. Etym: [AS. mite mite (in sense 1); akin to LG. mite, D. mijt, G. miete, OHG. miza; cf. Goth. maitan to cut.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A minute arachnid, of the order Acarina, of which there are many species; as, the cheese mite, sugar mite, harvest mite, etc. See Acarina.
2. Etym: [D. mijt; prob. the same word.]
Defn: A small coin formerly circulated in England, rated at about a third of a farthing. The name is also applied to a small coin used in Palestine in the time of Christ. Two mites, which make a farthing. Mark xii. 49.
3. A small weight; one twentieth of a grain.
4. Anything very small; a minute object; a very little quantity or particle. For in effect they be not worth a myte. Chaucer.
MITER; MITRE Mi"ter, Mi"tre, n. Etym: [F. mitre, fr. L. mitra headband, turban, Gr.
1. A covering for the head, worn on solemn occasions by church dignitaries. It has been made in many forms, the present form being a lofty cap with two points or peaks. Fairholt.
2. The surface forming the beveled end or edge of a piece where a miter joint is made; also, a joint formed or a junction effected by two beveled ends or edges; a miter joint.
3. (Numis.)
Defn: A sort of base money or coin. Miter box (Carp. & Print.), an apparatus for guiding a handsaw at the proper angle in making a miter joint; esp., a wooden or metal trough with vertical kerfs in its upright sides, for guides. -- Miter dovetail (Carp.), a kind of dovetail for a miter joint in which there is only one joint line visible, and that at the angle. -- Miter gauge (Carp.), a gauge for determining the angle of a miter. -- Miter joint, a joint formed by pieces matched and united upon a line bisecting the angle of junction, as by the beveled ends of two pieces of molding or brass rule, etc. The term is used especially when the pieces form a right angle. See Miter, 2. -- Miter shell (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of marine univalve shells of the genus Mitra. -- Miter square (Carp.), a bevel with an immovable arm at an angle of 45º, for striking lines on stuff to be mitered; also, a square with an arm adjustable to any angle. -- Miter wheels, a pair of bevel gears, of equal diameter, adapted for working together, usually with their axes at right angles.
MITER; MITRE Mi"ter, Mi"tre, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mitered or Mitred; p. pr. & vb. n. Mitering or Mitring.]
1. To place a miter upon; to adorn with a miter. "Mitered locks." Milton.
2. To match together, as two pieces of molding or brass rule on a line bisecting the angle of junction; to bevel the ends or edges of, for the purpose of matching together at an angle.
MITER; MITRE Mi"ter, Mi"tre, v. i.
Defn: To meet and match together, as two pieces of molding, on a line bisecting the angle of junction.
MITERWORT Mi"ter*wort`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: Any plant of the genus Mitella, -- slender, perennial herbs with a pod slightly resembling a bishop's miter; bishop's cap. False miterwort, a white-flowered perennial herb of the United States (Tiarella cardifolia).
MITHIC Mith"ic, a.
Defn: See Mythic.
MITHRAS Mi"thras, n. Etym: [L., from Gr.
Defn: The sun god of the Persians.
MITHRIDATE Mith"ri*date, n. (Med.)
Defn: An antidote against poison, or a composition in form of an electuary, supposed to serve either as a remedy or a preservative against poison; an alexipharmic; -- so called from King Mithridates, its reputed inventor. [Love is] a drop of the true elixir; no mithridate so effectual against the infection of vice. Southey.
MITHRIDATIC Mith`ri*dat"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to King Mithridates, or to a mithridate.
MITIGABLE Mit"i*ga*ble, a.
Defn: Admitting of mitigation; that may be mitigated.
MITIGANT Mit"i*gant, a. Etym: [L. mitigans, p.pr. of mitigare. See Mitigate.]
Defn: Tending to mitigate; mitigating; lentitive. Johnson.
MITIGATE Mit"i*gate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mitigated; p. pr. & vb. n. Mitigating.] Etym: [L. mitigatus, p.p. of mitigare to soften, mitigate; mitis mild, soft + the root of agere to do, drive.]
1. To make less severe, intense, harsh, rigorous, painful, etc.; to soften; to meliorate; to alleviate; to diminish; to lessen; as, to mitigate heat or cold; to mitigate grief.
2. To make mild and accessible; to mollify; -- applied to persons. [Obs.] This opinion ... mitigated kings into companions. Burke.
Syn. -- To alleviate; assuage; allay. See Alleviate.
MITIGATION Mit`i*ga"tion, n. Etym: [OE. mitigacioun, F. mitigation, fr. L. mitigatio.]
Defn: The act of mitigating, or the state of being mitigated; abatement or diminution of anything painful, harsh, severe, afflictive, or calamitous; as, the mitigation of pain, grief, rigor, severity, punishment, or penalty.
Syn. -- Alleviation; abatement; relief.
MITIGATIVE Mit"i*ga*tive, a. Etym: [L. mitigativus: cf. F. mitigatif.]
Defn: Tending to mitigate; alleviating.
MITIGATOR Mit"i*ga`tor, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, mitigates.
MITIGATORY Mit"i*ga*to*ry, a.
Defn: Tending to mitigate or alleviate; mitigative.
MITING Mit"ing, n. Etym: [From Mite.]
Defn: A little one; -- used as a term of endearment. [Obs.] Skelton.
MITIS CASTING Mi"tis cast`ing. [Perh. fr. L. mitis mild.]
Defn: A process, invented by P. Ostberg, for producing malleable iron castings by melting wrought iron, to which from 0.05 to 0.1 per cent of aluminium is added to lower the melting point, usually in a petroleum furnace, keeping the molten metal at the bubbling point until it becomes quiet, and then pouring the molten metal into a mold lined with a special mixture consisting essentially of molasses and ground burnt fire clay; also, a casting made by this process; -- called also wrought-iron casting.
MITIS METAL Mitis metal.
Defn: The malleable iron produced by mitis casting; -- called also simply mitis.
MITOME Mi"tome, n. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: The denser part of the protoplasm of a cell.
MITOSIS Mi*to"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: See Karyokinesis.
MITOTIC Mi*tot"ic, a. (Biol.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to mitosis; karyokinetic; as, mitotic cell division; -- opposed to amitotic. --Mi*tot"ic*al*ly (#), adv.
MITRAILLE Mi`traille", n. Etym: [F. See Mitrailleur.]
Defn: Shot or bits of iron used sometimes in loading cannon.
MITRAILLEUR Mi`tra`illeur", n. Etym: [F.] (Mil.)
Defn: One who serves a mitrailleuse.
MITRAILLEUSE Mi`tra`illeuse", n. Etym: [F., fr. mitrailler to fire grapeshot, fr. mitraille old iron, grapeshot, dim. of OF. mite a mite.] (Mil.)
Defn: A breech-loading machine gun consisting of a number of barrels fitted together, so arranged that the barrels can be fired simultaneously, or successively, and rapidly.
MITRAL Mi"tral, a. Etym: [Cf. F. mitral. See Miter.]
Defn: Pertaining to a miter; resembling a miter; as, the mitral valve between the left auricle and left ventricle of the heart.
MITRE Mi"tre, n. & v.
Defn: See Miter.
MITRIFORM Mit"ri*form, a. Etym: [Miter + -form: cf. F. mitriforme.]
Defn: Having the form of a miter, or a peaked cap; as, a mitriform calyptra. Gray.
MITT Mitt, n. Etym: [Abbrev. fr. mitten.]
Defn: A mitten; also, a covering for the wrist and hand and not for the fingers.
MITTEN Mit"ten, n. Etym: [OE. mitaine, meteyn, F. mitaine, perh. of Celtic origin; cf. Ir. miotog, Gael. miotag, Ir. & Gael. mutan a muff, a thick glove. Cf. Mitt.]
1. A covering for the hand, worn to defend it from cold or injury. It differs from a glove in not having a separate sheath for each finger. Chaucer.
2. A cover for the wrist and forearm. To give the mitten to, to dismiss as a lover; to reject the suit of. [Colloq.] -- To handle without mittens, to treat roughly; to handle without gloves. [Colloq.]
MITTENED Mit"tened, a.
Defn: Covered with a mitten or mittens. "Mittened hands." Whittier.
MITTENT Mit"tent, a. Etym: [L. mittens, p.pr. of mittere to send.]
Defn: Sending forth; emitting. [Obs.] Wiseman.
MITTIMUS Mit"ti*mus, n. Etym: [L., we send, fr. mittere to send.] (Law) (a) A precept or warrant granted by a justice for committing to prison a party charged with crime; a warrant of commitment to prison. Burrill. (b) A writ for removing records from one court to another. Brande & C.
MITTLER'S GREEN Mitt"ler's green`. (Chem.)
Defn: A pigment of a green color, the chief constituent of which is oxide of chromium.
MITTY Mit"ty, n.
Defn: The stormy petrel. [Prov. Eng.]
MITU Mi"tu, n. Etym: [Braz. mitu poranga.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A South American curassow of the genus Mitua.
MITY Mit"y, a. Etym: [From Mite.]
Defn: Having, or abounding with, mites.
MIX Mix, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mixed (less properly Mixt); p. pr. & vb. n. Mixing.] Etym: [AS. miscan; akin to OHG. misken, G. mischen, Russ. mieshate, W. mysgu, Gael. measg, L. miscere, mixtum, Gr. miçra mixed. The English word has been influenced by L. miscere, mixtum (cf. Mixture), and even the AS. miscan may have been borrowed fr. L. miscere. Cf. Admix, Mash to bruise, Meddle.]
1. To cause a promiscuous interpenetration of the parts of, as of two or more substances with each other, or of one substance with others; to unite or blend into one mass or compound, as by stirring together; to mingle; to blend; as, to mix flour and salt; to mix wines. Fair persuasions mixed with sugared words. Shak.
2. To unite with in company; to join; to associate. Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people. Hos. vii. 8.
3. To form by mingling; to produce by the stirring together of ingredients; to compound of different parts. Hast thou no poison mixed Shak. I have chosen an argument mixed of religious and civil considerations. Bacon.
MIX Mix, v. i.
1. To become united into a compound; to be blended promiscuously together.
2. To associate; to mingle. He had mixed Again in fancied safety with his kind. Byron.
MIXABLE Mix"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being mixed.
MIXED Mixed, a.
Defn: Formed by mixing; united; mingled; blended. See Mix, v. t. & i. Mixed action (Law), a suit combining the properties of a real and a personal action. -- Mixed angle, a mixtilineal angle. -- Mixed fabric, a textile fabric composed of two or more kinds of fiber, as a poplin. -- Mixed marriage, a marriage between persons of different races or religions; specifically, one between a Roman Catholic and a Protestant. -- Mixed number, a whole number and a fraction taken together. -- Mixed train, a railway train containing both passenger and freight cars. -- Mixed voices (Mus.), voices of both males and females united in the same performance.
MIXEDLY Mix"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: In a mixed or mingled manner.
MIXEN Mix"en, n. Etym: [AS. mixen, myxen, fr. meohx, meox, dung, filth; akin to E. mist. See Mist.]
Defn: A compost heap; a dunghill. Chaucer. Tennyson.
MIXER Mix"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, mixes.
MIXOGAMOUS Mix*og"a*mous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Pairing with several males; -- said of certain fishes of which several males accompany each female during spawning.
MIXOLYDIAN MODE Mix`o*lyd"i*an mode`. Etym: [Gr. Lydian.] (Mus.)
Defn: The seventh ecclesiastical mode, whose scale commences on G.
MIXTILINEAL; MIXTILINEAR Mix`ti*lin"e*al, Mix`ti*lin"e*ar, a. Etym: [L. mixtus mixed (p.p. of miscere to mix) + E. lineal, linear.]
Defn: Containing, or consisting of, lines of different kinds, as straight, curved, and the like; as, a mixtilinear angle, that is, an angle contained by a straight line and a curve. [R.]
MIXTION Mix"tion, n. Etym: [L. mixtio, mistio: cf. F. mixtion. See Mistion, Mix.]
1. Mixture. [Obs.]
2. A kind of cement made of mastic, amber, etc., used as a mordant for gold leaf.
MIXTLY Mixt"ly, adv.
Defn: With mixture; in a mixed manner; mixedly. Bacon.
MIXTURE Mix"ture, n. Etym: [L. mixtura, fr. miscere, mixtum, to mix: cf. F. mixture. See Mix.]
1. The act of mixing, or the state of being mixed; as, made by a mixture of ingredients. Hooker.
2. That which results from mixing different ingredients together; a compound; as, to drink a mixture of molasses and water; -- also, a medley. There is also a mixture of good and evil wisely distributed by God, to serve the ends of his providence. Atterbury.
3. An ingredient entering into a mixed mass; an additional ingredient. Cicero doubts whether it were possible for a community to exist that had not a prevailing mixture of piety in its constitution. Addison.
4. (Med.)
Defn: A kind of liquid medicine made up of many ingredients; esp., as opposed to solution, a liquid preparation in which the solid ingredients are not completely dissolved.
5. (Physics & Chem.)
Defn: A mass of two or more ingredients, the particles of which are separable, independent, and uncompounded with each other, no matter how thoroughly and finely commingled; -- contrasted with a compound; thus, gunpowder is a mechanical mixture of carbon, sulphur, and niter.
6. (Mus.)
Defn: An organ stop, comprising from two to five ranges of pipes, used only in combination with the foundation and compound stops; -- called also furniture stop. It consists of high harmonics, or overtones, of the ground tone.
Syn. -- Union; admixture; intermixture; medley.
MIZMAZE Miz"maze`, n.
Defn: A maze or labyrinth. [Obs.]
MIZZEN Miz"zen, a. Etym: [It. mezzana, fr. mezzano middle, fr. mezzo middle, half: cf. F. misaine foresail. See Mezzo.] (Naut.)
Defn: Hindmost; nearest the stern; as, the mizzen shrouds, sails, etc.
MIZZEN Miz"zen, n. (Naut.)
Defn: The hindmost of the fore and aft sails of a three-masted vessel; also, the spanker.
MIZZENMAST Miz"zen*mast, n. (Naut.)
Defn: The hindmost mast of a three-masted vessel, or of a yawl-rigged vessel.
MIZZLE Miz"zle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Mizzled; p. pr. & vb. n. Mizzling.] Etym: [See Misle, and cf. Mistle.]
1. To rain in very fine drops. Spenser.
2. To take one's self off; to go. [Slang] As long as George the Fourth could reign, he reigned, And then he mizzled. Epigram, quoted by Wright.
MIZZLE Miz"zle, n.
Defn: Mist; fine rain.
MIZZY Miz"zy, n. Etym: [Cf. F. moisi moldy, musty, p.p. of moisir to mold, fr. L. mucere to be moldy.]
Defn: A bog or quagmire. [Obs.] Ainsworth.
M'-NAUGHT M'-Naught" (mak*nalt"), v. t. (Steam Engines)
Defn: To increase the power of (a single-cylinder beam engine) by adding a small high-pressure cylinder with a piston acting on the beam between the center and the flywheel end, using high-pressure steam and working as a compound engine, -- a plan introduced by M'Naught, a Scottish engineer, in 1845.
MNEMONIC; MNEMONICAL Mne*mon"ic, Mne*mon"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. mind.]
Defn: Assisting in memory.
MNEMONICIAN Mne`mo*ni"cian, n.
Defn: One who instructs in the art of improving or using the memory.
MNEMONICS Mne*mon"ics, n. Etym: [Gr. mnémonique.]
Defn: The art of memory; a system of precepts and rules intended to assist the memory; artificial memory.
MNEMOSYNE Mne*mos"y*ne, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. Mnemonic.] (Class Myth.)
Defn: The goddess of memory and the mother of the Muses.
MNEMOTECHNY Mne"mo*tech`ny, n. Etym: [Gr. mnémotechnie.]
Defn: Mnemonics.
MO Mo, a., adv., & n. [Written also moe.] Etym: [AS. ma. See More.]
Defn: More; -- usually, more in number. [Obs.] An hundred thousand mo. Chaucer. Likely to find mo to commend than to imitate it. Fuller.
-MO -mo.
Defn: A suffix added to the names of certain numerals or to the numerals themselves, to indicate the number of leaves made by folding a sheet of paper; as, sixteenmo or 16mo; eighteenmo or 18mo. It is taken from the Latin forms similarly used; as, duodecimo, sextodecimo, etc. A small circle, placed after the number and near its top, is often used for -mo; as, 16°, 18°, etc.
MOA Mo"a, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of several very large extinct species of wingless birds belonging to Dinornis, and other related genera, of the suborder Dinornithes, found in New Zealand. They are allied to the apteryx and the ostrich. They were probably exterminated by the natives before New Zealand was discovered by Europeans. Some species were much larger than the ostrich.
MOABITE Mo"ab*ite, n.
Defn: One of the posterity of Moab, the son of Lot. (Gen. xix. 37.) Also used adjectively.
MOABITESS Mo"ab*i`tess, n.
Defn: A female Moabite. Ruth i. 22.
MOABITE STONE Mo"ab*ite stone. (Archæol.)
Defn: A block of black basalt, found at Dibon in Moab by Rev. F. A. Klein, Aug. 19, 1868, which bears an inscription of thirty-four lines, dating from the 9th century b. c., and written in the Moabite alphabet, the oldest Phonician type of the Semitic alphabet. It records the victories of Mesha, king of Moab, esp. those over Israel (2 Kings iii. 4, 5, 27).
MOABITISH Mo"ab*i`tish, a.
Defn: Moabite. Ruth ii. 6.
MOAN Moan, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Moaned; p. pr. & vb. n. Moaning.] Etym: [AS. m to moan, also, to mean; but in the latter sense perh. a different word. Cf. Mean to intend.]
1. To make a low prolonged sound of grief or pain, whether articulate or not; to groan softly and continuously. Unpitied and unheard, where misery moans. Thomson. Let there bechance him pitiful mischances, To make him moan. Shak.
2. To emit a sound like moan; -- said of things inanimate; as, the wind moans.
MOAN Moan, v. t.
1. To bewail audibly; to lament. Ye floods, ye woods, ye echoes, moan My dear Columbo, dead and gone. Prior.
2. To afflict; to distress. [Obs.] Which infinitely moans me. Beau. & Fl.
MOAN Moan, n. Etym: [OE. mone. See Moan, v. i.]
1. A low prolonged sound, articulate or not, indicative of pain or of grief; a low groan. Sullen moans, hollow groans. Pope.
2. A low mournful or murmuring sound; -- of things. Rippling waters made a pleasant moan. Byron.
MOANFUL Moan"ful, a.
Defn: Full of moaning; expressing sorrow. -- Moan"ful*ly, adv.
MOAT Moat, n. Etym: [OF. mote hill, dike, bank, F. motte clod, turf: cf. Sp. & Pg. mota bank or mound of earth, It. motta clod, LL. mota, motta, a hill on which a fort is built, an eminence, a dike, Prov. G. mott bog earth heaped up; or perh. F. motte, and OF. mote, are from a LL. p.p. of L. movere to move (see Move). The name of moat, properly meaning, bank or mound, was transferred to the ditch adjoining: cf. F. dike and ditch.] (Fort.)
Defn: A deep trench around the rampart of a castle or other fortified place, sometimes filled with water; a ditch.
MOAT Moat, v. t.
Defn: To surround with a moat. Dryden.
MOATE Moate, v. i. Etym: [See Mute to molt.]
Defn: To void the excrement, as a bird; to mute. [Obs.]
MOB Mob, n. Etym: [See Mobcap.]
Defn: A mobcap. Goldsmith.
MOB Mob, v. t.
Defn: To wrap up in, or cover with, a cowl. [R.]
MOB Mob, n. Etym: [L. mobile vulgus, the movable common people. See Mobile, n.]
1. The lower classes of a community; the populace, or the lowest part of it. A cluster of mob were making themselves merry with their betters. Addison.
2. Hence: A throgn; a rabble; esp., an unlawful or riotous assembly; a disorderly crowd. The mob of gentlemen who wrote with ease. Pope. Had every Athenian citizen been a Socrates, every Athenian assembly would still have been a mob. Madison. Confused by brainless mobs. Tennyson. Mob law, law administered by the mob; lynch law. -- Swell mob, well dressed thieves and swindlers, regarded collectively. [Slang] Dickens.
MOB Mob, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mobbed; p. pr. & vb. n. Mobbing.]
Defn: To crowd about, as a mob, and attack or annoy; as, to mob a house or a person.
MOBBISH Mob"bish, a.
Defn: Like a mob; tumultuous; lawless; as, a mobbish act. Bp. Kent.
MOBCAP Mob"cap`, n. Etym: [D. mop-muts; OD. mop a woman's coif + D. muts cap.]
Defn: A plain cap or headdress for women or girls; especially, one tying under the chin by a very broad band, generally of the same material as the cap itself. Thackeray.
MOBILE Mo"bile, a. Etym: [L. mobilis, for movibilis, fr. movere to move: cf. F. mobile. See Move.]
1. Capable of being moved; not fixed in place or condition; movable. "Fixed or else mobile." Skelton.
2. Characterized by an extreme degree of fluidity; moving or flowing with great freedom; as, benzine and mercury are mobile liquids; -- opposed to viscous, viscoidal, or oily.
3. Easily moved in feeling, purpose, or direction; excitable; changeable; fickle. Testament of Love. The quick and mobile curiosity of her disposition. Hawthorne.
4. Changing in appearance and expression under the influence of the mind; as, mobile features.
5. (Physiol.)
Defn: Capable of being moved, aroused, or excited; capable of spontaneous movement.
MOBILE Mo"bile, n. Etym: [L. mobile vulgus. See Mobile, a., and cf. 3d Mob.]
Defn: The mob; the populace. [Obs.] "The unthinking mobile." South.
MOBILITY Mo*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. mobilitas: cf. F. mobilité.]
1. The quality or state of being mobile; as, the mobility of a liquid, of an army, of the populace, of features, of a muscle. Sir T. Browne.
2. The mob; the lower classes. [Humorous] Dryden.
MOBILIZATION Mob`i*li*za"tion, n. Etym: [F. mobilization.]
Defn: The act of mobilizing.
MOBILIZE Mob"i*lize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mobilized; p. pr. & vb. n. Mobilizing.] Etym: [F. mobiliser.]
Defn: To put in a state of readiness for active service in war, as an army corps.
MOBLE Mo"ble, v. t. Etym: [From Mob to wrap up.]
Defn: To wrap the head of in a hood. [Obs.] Shak.
MOBLES Mo"bles, n. pl.
Defn: See Moebles. [Obs.]
MOBOCRACY Mob*oc"ra*cy, n. Etym: [Mob rabble + -cracy, as in democracy.]
Defn: A condition in which the lower classes of a nation control public affairs without respect to law, precedents, or vested rights. It is good name that Dr. Stevens has given to our present situation (for one can not call it a government), a mobocracy. Walpole.
MOBOCRAT Mob"o*crat, n.
Defn: One who favors a form of government in which the unintelligent populace rules without restraint. Bayne.
MOBOCRATIC Mob`o*crat"ic, a.
Defn: Of, or relating to, a mobocracy.
MOCCASIN Moc"ca*sin, n. Etym: [An Indian word. Algonquin makisin.] [Sometimes written moccason.]
1. A shoe made of deerskin, or other soft leather, the sole and upper part being one piece. It is the customary shoe worn by the American Indians.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A poisonous snake of the Southern United States. The water moccasin (Ancistrodon piscivorus) is usually found in or near water. Above, it is olive brown, barred with black; beneath, it is brownish yellow, mottled with darker. The upland moccasin is Ancistrodon atrofuscus. They resemble rattlesnakes, but are without rattles. Moccasin flower (Bot.), a species of lady's slipper (Cypripedium acaule) found in North America. The lower petal is two inches long, and forms a rose-colored moccasin-shaped pouch. It grows in rich woods under coniferous trees.
MOCCASINED Moc"ca*sined, a.
Defn: Covered with, or wearing, a moccasin or moccasins. "Moccasined feet." Harper's Mag.
MOCHA Mo"cha, n.
1. A seaport town of Arabia, on the Red Sea.
2. A variety of coffee brought from Mocha.
3. An Abyssinian weight, equivalent to a Troy grain. Mocha stone (Min.), moss agate.
MOCHE Moche, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A bale of raw silk.
MOCHE Moche, a.
Defn: Much. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MOCHEL Moch"el, a. & adv.
Defn: Much. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MOCHILA Mo*chi"la, n. Etym: [Sp.]
Defn: A large leather flap which covers the saddletree. [Western U.S.]
MOCK Mock, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mocked; p. pr. & vb. n. Mocking.] Etym: [F. moquer, of uncertain origin; cf. OD. mocken to mumble, G. mucken, OSw. mucka.]
1. To imitate; to mimic; esp., to mimic in sport, contempt, or derision; to deride by mimicry. To see the life as lively mocked as ever Still sleep mocked death. Shak. Mocking marriage with a dame of France. Shak.
2. To treat with scorn or contempt; to deride. Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud. 1 Kings xviii. 27. Let not ambition mock their useful toil. Gray.
3. To disappoint the hopes of; to deceive; to tantalize; as, to mock expectation. Thou hast mocked me, and told me lies. Judg. xvi. 13. He will not ... Mock us with his blest sight, then snatch him hence. Milton.
Syn. -- To deride; ridicule; taunt; jeer; tantalize; disappoint. See Deride.
MOCK Mock, v. i.
Defn: To make sport contempt or in jest; to speak in a scornful or jeering manner. When thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed Job xi. 3. She had mocked at his proposal. Froude.
MOCK Mock, n.
1. An act of ridicule or derision; a scornful or contemptuous act or speech; a sneer; a jibe; a jeer. Fools make a mock at sin. Prov. xiv. 9.
2. Imitation; mimicry. [R.] Crashaw.
MOCK Mock, a.
Defn: Imitating reality, but not real; false; counterfeit; assumed; sham. That superior greatness and mock majesty. Spectator. Mock bishop's weed (Bot.), a genus of slender umbelliferous herbs (Discopleura) growing in wet places. -- Mock heroic, burlesquing the heroic; as, a mock heroic poem. -- Mock lead. See Blende (a). -- Mock nightingale (Zoöl.), the European blackcap. -- Mock orange (Bot.), a genus of American and Asiatic shrubs (Philadelphus), with showy white flowers in panicled cymes. P. coronarius, from Asia, has fragrant flowers; the American kinds are nearly scentless. -- Mock sun. See Parhelion. -- Mock turtle soup, a soup made of calf's head, veal, or other meat, and condiments, in imitation of green turtle soup. -- Mock velvet, a fabric made in imitation of velvet. See Mockado.
MOCKABLE Mock"a*ble, a.
Defn: Such as can be mocked. Shak.
MOCKADO Mock"a*do, n.
Defn: A stuff made in imitation of velvet; -- probably the same as mock velvet. [Obs.] Our rich mockado doublet. Ford.
MOCKADOUR Mock"a*dour, n.
Defn: See Mokadour. [Obs.]
MOCKAGE Mock"age, n.
Defn: Mockery. [Obs.] Fuller.
MOCKBIRD Mock"bird`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The European sedge warbler (Acrocephalus phragmitis).
MOCKER Mock"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, mocks; a scorner; a scoffer; a derider.
2. A deceiver; an impostor.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A mocking bird. Mocker nut (Bot.), a kind of hickory (Carya tomentosa) and its fruit, which is far inferior to the true shagbark hickory nut.
MOCKERY Mock"er*y, n.; pl. Mockeries. Etym: [F. moquerie.]
1. The act of mocking, deriding, and exposing to contempt, by mimicry, by insincere imitation, or by a false show of earnestness; a counterfeit appearance. It is, as the air, invulnerable, And our vain blows malicious mockery. Shak. Grace at meals is now generally so performed as to look more like a mockery upon devotion than any solemn application of the mind to God. Law. And bear about the mockery of woe. Pope.
2. Insulting or contemptuous action or speech; contemptuous merriment; derision; ridicule. The laughingstock of fortune's mockeries. Spenser.
3. Subject of laughter, derision, or sport. The cruel handling of the city whereof they made a mockery. 2 Macc. viii. 17.
MOCKING Mock"ing, a.
Defn: Imitating, esp. in derision, or so as to cause derision; mimicking; derisive. Mocking bird (Zoöl.), a North American singing bird (Mimus polyglottos), remarkable for its exact imitations of the notes of other birds. Its back is gray; the tail and wings are blackish, with a white patch on each wing; the outer tail feathers are partly white. The name is also applied to other species of the same genus, found in Mexico, Central America, and the West Indies. -- Mocking thrush (Zoöl.), any species of the genus Harporhynchus, as the brown thrush (H. rufus). -- Mocking wren (Zoöl.), any American wren of the genus Thryothorus, esp. T. Ludovicianus.
MOCKINGLY Mock"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: By way of derision; in a contemptuous or mocking manner.
MOCKINGSTOCK Mock"ing*stock`, n.
Defn: A butt of sport; an object of derision. [R.]
MOCKISH Mock"ish, a.
Defn: Mock; counterfeit; sham. [Obs.]
MOCKLE Moc"kle, a.
Defn: See Mickle.
MOCO Mo"co, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A South American rodent (Cavia rupestris), allied to the Guinea pig, but larger; -- called also rock cavy.
MODAL Mo"dal, a. Etym: [Cf. F. modal. See Mode.]
1. Of or pertaining to a mode or mood; consisting in mode or form only; relating to form; having the form without the essence or reality. Glanvill.
2. (Logic & Metaph.)
Defn: Indicating, or pertaining to, some mode of conceiving existence, or of expressing thought.
MODALIST Mo"dal*ist, n. (Theol.)
Defn: One who regards Father, Son, and Spirit as modes of being, and not as persons, thus denying personal distinction in the Trinity. Eadie.
MODALITY Mo*dal"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. modalité.]
1. The quality or state of being modal.
2. (Logic & Metaph.)
Defn: A modal relation or quality; a mode or point of view under which an object presents itself to the mind. According to Kant, the quality of propositions, as assertory, problematical, or apodeictic.
MODALLY Mo"dal*ly, adv.
Defn: In a modal manner. A compound proposition, the parts of which are united modally ... by the particles "as" and "so." Gibbs.
MODE Mode, n. Etym: [L. modus a measure, due or proper measure, bound, manner, form; akin to E. mete: cf. F. mode. See Mete, and cf. Commodious, Mood in grammar, Modus.]
1. Manner of doing or being; method; form; fashion; custom; way; style; as, the mode of speaking; the mode of dressing. The duty of itself being resolved on, the mode of doing it may easily be found. Jer. Taylor. A table richly spread in regal mode. Milton.
2. Prevailing popular custom; fashion, especially in the phrase the mode. The easy, apathetic graces of a man of the mode. Macaulay.
3. Variety; gradation; degree. Pope.
4. (Metaph.)
Defn: Any combination of qualities or relations, considered apart from the substance to which they belong, and treated as entities; more generally, condition, or state of being; manner or form of arrangement or manifestation; form, as opposed to matter. Modes I call such complex ideas, which, however compounded, contain not in them the supposition of subsisting by themselves, but are considered as dependencies on, or affections of, substances. Locke.
5. (Logic)
Defn: The form in which the proposition connects the predicate and subject, whether by simple, contingent, or necessary assertion; the form of the syllogism, as determined by the quantity and quality of the constituent proposition; mood.
6. (Gram.)
Defn: Same as Mood.
7. (Mus.)
Defn: The scale as affected by the various positions in it of the minor intervals; as, the Dorian mode, the Ionic mode, etc., of ancient Greek music.
Note: In modern music, only the major and the minor mode, of whatever key, are recognized.
8. A kind of silk. See Alamode, n.
Syn. -- Method; manner. See Method.
MODEL Mod"el, n. Etym: [F. modèle, It. modello, fr. (assumed) L. modellus, fr. modulus a small measure, dim. of modus. See Mode, and cf. Module.]
1. A miniature representation of a thing, with the several parts in due proportion; sometimes, a facsimile of the same size. In charts, in maps, and eke in models made. Gascoigne. I had my father's signet in my purse, Which was the model of that Danish seal. Shak. You have the models of several ancient temples, though the temples and the gods are perished. Addison.
2. Something intended to serve, or that may serve, as a pattern of something to be made; a material representation or embodiment of an ideal; sometimes, a drawing; a plan; as, the clay model of a sculpture; the inventor's model of a machine. [The application for a patent] must be accompanied by a full description of the invention, with drawings and a model where the case admits of it. Am. Cyc. When we mean to build We first survey the plot, then draw the model. Shak.
3. Anything which serves, or may serve, as an example for imitation; as, a government formed on the model of the American constitution; a model of eloquence, virtue, or behavior.
4. That by which a thing is to be measured; standard. He that despairs measures Providence by his own little, contracted model. South.
5. Any copy, or resemblance, more or less exact. Thou seest thy wretched brother die, Who was the model of thy father's life. Shak.
6. A person who poses as a pattern to an artist. A professional model. H. James. Working model, a model of a machine which can do on a small scale the work which the machine itself does, or expected to do.
MODEL Mod"el, a.
Defn: Suitable to be taken as a model or pattern; as, a model house; a model husband.
MODEL Mod"el, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Modeled or Modelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Modeling or Modelling.] Etym: [Cf. F. modeler, It. modellare.]
Defn: To plan or form after a pattern; to form in model; to form a model or pattern for; to shape; to mold; to fashion; as, to model a house or a government; to model an edifice according to the plan delineated.
MODEL Mod"el, v. i. (Fine Arts)
Defn: To make a copy or a pattern; to design or imitate forms; as, to model in wax.
MODELER Mod"el*er, n.
Defn: One who models; hence, a worker in plastic art. [Written also modeller.]
MODELING Mod"el*ing, n. (Fine Arts)
Defn: The act or art of making a model from which a work of art is to be executed; the formation of a work of art from some plastic material. Also, in painting, drawing, etc., the expression or indication of solid form. [Written also modelling.] Modeling plane, a small plane for planing rounded objects. -- Modeling wax, beeswax melted with a little Venice turpentine, or other resinous material, and tinted with coloring matter, usually red, -- used in modeling.
MODELIZE Mod"el*ize, v. t.
Defn: To model. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
MODENA Mod"e*na, n. Etym: [From Modena, in Italy.]
Defn: A certain crimsonlike color. Good.
MODENESE Mod`e*nese", a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Modena or its inhabitants. -- n. sing. & pl.
Defn: A native or inhabitant of Modena; the people of Modena.
MODER Mo"der, n. Etym: [OE. See Mother female parent.]
1. A mother. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. The principal piece of an astrolabe, into which the others are fixed. [Obs.]
MODER Mod"er, v. t.
Defn: To moderate. [Obs.]
MODERABLE Mod"er*a*ble, a. Etym: [L. moderabilis.]
Defn: Modeate; temperate. [Obs.]
MODERANCE Mod"er*ance, n.
Defn: Moderation. [Obs.] Caxton.
MODERATE Mod"er*ate, a. Etym: [L. moderatus, p.p. of moderate, moderati, to moderate, regulate, control, fr. modus measure. See Mode.]
Defn: Kept within due bounds; observing reasonable limits; not excessive, extreme, violent, or rigorous; limited; restrained; as: (a) Limited in quantity; sparing; temperate; frugal; as, moderate in eating or drinking; a moderate table. (b) Limited in degree of activity, energy, or excitement; reasonable; calm; slow; as, moderate language; moderate endeavors. (c) Not extreme in opinion, in partisanship, and the like; as, a moderate Calvinist. A number of moderate members managed ... to obtain a majority in a thin house. Swift.
(d) Not violent or rigorous; temperate; mild; gentle; as, a moderate winter. "Moderate showers." Walter. (e) Limited as to degree of progress; as, to travel at moderate speed. (f) Limited as to the degree in which a quality, principle, or faculty appears; as, an infusion of moderate strength; a man of moderate abilities. (g) Limited in scope or effects; as, a reformation of a moderate kind. Hooker.
MODERATE Mod"er*ate, n. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: One of a party in the Church of Scotland in the 18th century, and part of the 19th, professing moderation in matters of church government, in discipline, and in doctrine.
MODERATE Mod"er*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Moderated; p. pr. & vb. n. Moderating.]
1. To restrain from excess of any kind; to reduce from a state of violence, intensity, or excess; to keep within bounds; to make temperate; to lessen; to allay; to repress; to temper; to qualify; as, to moderate rage, action, desires, etc.; to moderate heat or wind. By its astringent quality, it moderates the relaxing quality of warm water. Arbuthnot. To moderate stiff minds disposed to strive. Spenser.
2. To preside over, direct, or regulate, as a public meeting; as, to moderate a synod.
MODERATE Mod"er*ate, v. i.
1. To become less violent, severe, rigorous, or intense; as, the wind has moderated.
2. To preside as a moderator. Dr. Barlow [was] engaged ... to moderate for him in the divinity disputation. Bp. Barlow's Remains (1693).
MODERATELY Mod"er*ate*ly, adv.
Defn: In a moderate manner or degree; to a moderate extent. Each nymph but moderately fair. Waller.
MODERATENESS Mod"er*ate*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being moderate; temperateness; moderation.
MODERATION Mod`er*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. moderatio: cf. F. modération.]
1. The act of moderating, or of imposing due restraint.
2. The state or quality of being mmoderate. In moderation placing all my glory, While Tories call me Whig, and Whigs a Tory. Pope.
3. Calmness of mind; equanimity; as, to bear adversity with moderation. The calm and judicious moderation of Orange. Motley.
4. pl.
Defn: The first public examinations for degrees at the University of Oxford; -- usually contracted to mods.
MODERATISM Mod"er*a*tism, n.
Defn: Moderation in doctrines or opinion, especially in politics or religion.
MODERATO Mod`e*ra"to, a. & adv. Etym: [It. See Moderate.] (Mus.)
Defn: With a moderate degree of quickness; moderately. Allegro moderato, a little slower than allegro. -- Andante moderato, a little faster than andante.
MODERATOR Mod"er*a`tor, n. Etym: [L.: cf. F. modérateur.]
1. One who, or that which, moderates, restrains, or pacifies. Sir W. Raleigh. Angling was ... a moderator of passions. Walton.
2. The officer who presides over an assembly to preserve order, propose questions, regulate the proceedings, and declare the votes.
3. In the University of Oxford, an examiner for moderations; at Cambridge, the superintendant of examinations for degrees; at Dublin, either the first (senior) or second (junior) in rank in an examination for the degree of Bachelor of Arts.
4. A mechamical arrangement for regulating motion in a machine, or producing equality of effect.
MODERATORSHIP Mod"er*a`tor*ship, n.
Defn: The office of a moderator.
MODERATRESS Mod"er*a`tress, n.
Defn: A female moderator. Fuller.
MODERATRIX Mod"er*a`trix, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: A female moderator.
MODERN Mod"ern, a. Etym: [F. moderne, L. modernus; akin to modo just now, orig. abl. of modus measure; hence, by measure, just now. See Mode.]
1. Of or pertaining to the present time, or time not long past; late; not ancient or remote in past time; of recent period; as, modern days, ages, or time; modern authors; modern fashions; modern taste; modern practice. Bacon.
2. New and common; trite; commonplace. [Obs.] We have our philosophical persons, to make modern and familiar, things supernatural and causeless. Shak. Modern English. See the Note under English.
MODERN Mod"ern, n.
Defn: A person of modern times; -- opposed to ancient. Pope.
MODERNISM Mod"ern*ism, n.
Defn: Modern practice; a thing of recent date; esp., a modern usage or mode of expression.
MODERNIST Mod"ern*ist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. moderniste.]
Defn: One who admires the moderns, or their ways and fashions.
MODERNITY Mo*der"ni*ty, n.
Defn: Modernness; something modern. Walpole.
MODERNIZATION Mod`ern*i*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act of rendering modern in style; the act or process of causing to conform to modern of thinking or acting.
MODERNIZE Mod"ern*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Modernized; p. pr. & vb. n. Modernizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. moderniser.]
Defn: To render modern; to adapt to modern person or things; to cause to conform to recent or present usage or taste. Percy.
MODERNIZER Mod"ern*i`zer, n.
Defn: One who modernizes.
MODERNLY Mod"ern*ly, adv.
Defn: In modern times. Milton.
MODERNNESS Mod"ern*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being modern; recentness; novelty. M. Arnold.
MODEST Mod"est, a. Etym: [F. modeste, L. modestus, fr. modus measure. See Mode.]
1. Restraining within due limits of propriety; not forward, bold, boastful, or presumptious; rather retiring than pushing one's self forward; not obstructive; as, a modest youth; a modest man.
2. Observing the proprieties of the sex; not unwomanly in act or bearing; free from undue familiarity, indecency, or lewdness; decent in speech and demeanor; -- said of a woman. Mrs. Ford, the honest woman, the modest wife. Shak. The blushing beauties of a modest maid. Dryden.
3. Evincing modestly in the actor, author, or speaker; not showing presumption; not excessive or extreme; moderate; as, a modest request; modest joy.
Syn. -- Reserved; unobtrusive; diffident; bashful; coy; shy; decent; becoming; chaste; virtuous.
MODESTLY Mod"est*ly, adv.
Defn: In a modest manner.
MODESTY Mod"es*ty, n. Etym: [L. modestia: cf. F. modestie. See Modest.]
1. The quality or state of being modest; that lowly temper which accompanies a moderate estimate of one's own worth and importance; absence of self-assertion, arrogance, and presumption; humility respecting one's own merit.
2. Natural delicacy or shame regarding personal charms and the sexual relation; purity of thought and manners; due regard for propriety in speech or action. Her blush is guiltiness, not modesty. Shak. Modesty piece, a narrow piece of lace worn by women over the bosom. [Obs.] Addison.
Syn. -- Bashfulness; humility; diffidence; shyness. See Bashfulness, and Humility.
MODICITY Mo*dic"i*ty, n. Etym: [LL. modicitas; cf. F. modicité.]
Defn: Moderateness; smallness; meanness. [Obs.]
MODICUM Mod"i*cum, n. Etym: [L., fr. modicus moderate, fr. modus. See Mode.]
Defn: A little; a small quantity; a measured simply. "Modicums of wit." Shak. Her usual modicum of beer and punch. Thackeray.
MODIFIABILITY Mod`i*fi`a*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: Capability of being modified; state or quality of being modifiable.
MODIFIABLE Mod"i*fi`a*ble, a. Etym: [From Modify.]
Defn: Capable of being modified; liable to modification.
MODIFICABLE Mo*dif"i*ca*ble, a.
Defn: Modifiable. [Obs.]
MODIFICATE Mod"i*fi*cate, v. t. Etym: [See Modify.]
Defn: To qualify. [Obs.] Bp. Pearson.
MODIFICATION Mod`i*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. modificatio a measuring: cf. F. modification. See Modify.]
Defn: The act of modifying, or the state of being modified; a modified form or condition; state as modified; a change; as, the modification of an opinion, or of a machine; the various modifications of light. Bentley.
MODIFICATIVE Mod"i*fi*ca*tive, n.
Defn: That which modifies or qualifies, as a word or clause.
MODIFICATORY Mod"i*fi*ca`to*ry, a.
Defn: Tending or serving to modify; modifying. Max Müller.
MODIFIER Mod"i*fi`er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, modifies. Hume.
MODIFY Mod"i*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Modified; p. pr. & vb. n. Modifying.] Etym: [F. modifier, L. modificare, modificari; modus limit + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See Mode, and -fy.]
1. To change somewhat the form or qualities of; to alter somewhat; as, to modify a contrivance adapted to some mechanical purpose; to modify the terms of a contract.
2. To limit or reduce in extent or degree; to moderate; to qualify; to lower. Of his grace He modifies his first severe decree. Dryden.
MODILLION Mo*dil"lion, n. Etym: [F. modillon, It. modiglione. Cf. Module, n.] (Arch.)
Defn: The enriched block or horizontal bracket generally found under the cornice of the Corinthian and Composite entablature, and sometimes, less ornamented, in the Ionic and other orders; -- so called because of its arrangement at regulated distances.
MODIOLAR Mo*di"o*lar, a. Etym: [L. modiolus, dim. of modius the Roman corn measure.]
Defn: Shaped like a bushel measure.
MODIOLUS Mo*di"o*lus, n.; pl. Modioli. Etym: [L., a small measure.] (Anat.)
Defn: The central column in the osseous cochlea of the ear.
MODISH Mod"ish, a.
Defn: According to the mode, or customary manner; conformed to the fashion; fashionable; hence, conventional; as, a modish dress; a modish feast. Dryden. "Modish forms of address." Barrow. -- Mod"ish*ly, adv. -- Mod"ish*ness, n.
MODIST Mod"ist, n.
Defn: One who follows the fashion.
MODISTE Mo`diste", n. Etym: [F. See Mode, and cf. Modist.]
Defn: A female maker of, or dealer in, articles of fashion, especially of the fashionable dress of ladies; a woman who gives direction to the style or mode of dress.
MODIUS Mo"di*us, n.; pl. Modii. Etym: [L.] (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: A dry measure, containing about a peck.
MODOCS Mo"docs, n. pl.; sing. Modoc (. (Ethnol.)
Defn: A tribe of warlike Indians formerly inhabiting Northern California. They are nearly extinct.
MODULAR Mod"u*lar, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to mode, modulation, module, or modius; as, modular arrangement; modular accent; modular measure.
MODULATE Mod"u*late, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Modulated; p. pr. & vb. n. Modulating.] Etym: [L. modulatus, p.p. of modulari to measure, to modulate, fr. modulus a small measure, meter, melody, dim. of modus. See Mode.]
1. To form, as sound, to a certain key, or to a certain portion.
2. To vary or inflect in a natural, customary, or musical manner; as, the organs of speech modulate the voice in reading or speaking. Could any person so modulate her voice as to deceive so many Broome.
MODULATE Mod"u*late, v. i. (Mus.)
Defn: To pass from one key into another.
MODULATION Mod`u*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. modulatio: cf. F. modulation.]
1. The act of modulating, or the state of being modulated; as, the modulation of the voice.
2. Sound modulated; melody. [R.] Thomson.
3. (Mus.)
Defn: A change of key, whether transient, or until the music becomes established in the new key; a shifting of the tonality of a piece, so that the harmonies all center upon a new keynote or tonic; the art of transition out of the original key into one nearly related, and so on, it may be, by successive changes, into a key quite remote. There are also sudden and unprepared modulations.
MODULATOR Mod"u*la`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who, or that which, modulates. Denham.
MODULE Mod"ule, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. modulus a small measure, dim. of modus. See Mode, and cf. Model, Modulus, Mold a matrix.]
1. A model or measure.
2. (Arch.)
Defn: The size of some one part, as the diameter of semi-diameter of the base of a shaft, taken as a unit of measure by which the proportions of the other parts of the composition are regulated. Generally, for columns, the semi-diameter is taken, and divided into a certain number of parts, called minutes (see Minute), though often the diameter is taken, and any dimension is said to be so many modules and minutes in height, breadth, or projection.
MODULE Mod"ule, v. t. Etym: [See module, n., Modulate.]
Defn: To model; also, to modulate. [Obs.] Sandys. Drayton.
MODULUS Mod"u*lus, n.; pl. Moduli. Etym: [L., a small measure. See Module, n.] (Math., Mech., & Physics)
Defn: A quantity or coefficient, or constant, which expresses the measure of some specified force, property, or quality, as of elasticity, strength, efficiency, etc.; a parameter. Modulus of a machine, a formula expressing the work which a given machine can perform under the conditions involved in its construction; the relation between the work done upon a machine by the moving power, and that yielded at the working points, either constantly, if its motion be uniform, or in the interval of time which it occupies in passing from any given velocity to the same velocity again, if its motion be variable; -- called also the efficiency of the machine. Mosley. Rankine. -- Modulus of a system of logarithms (Math.), a number by which all the Napierian logarithms must be multiplied to obtain the logarithms in another system. -- Modulus of elasticity. (a) The measure of the elastic force of any substance, expressed by the ratio of a stress on a given unit of the substance to the accompanying distortion, or strain. (b) An expression of the force (usually in terms of the height in feet or weight in pounds of a column of the same body) which would be necessary to elongate a prismatic body of a transverse section equal to a given unit, as a square inch or foot, to double, or to compress it to half, its original length, were that degree of elongation or compression possible, or within the limits of elasticity; -- called also Young's modulus. -- Modulus of rupture, the measure of the force necessary to break a given substance across, as a beam, expressed by eighteen times the load which is required to break a bar of one inch square, supported flatwise at two points one foot apart, and loaded in the middle between the points of support. Rankine.
MODUS Mo"dus, n.; pl. Modi. Etym: [L. See Mode.] (Old Law)
1. The arrangement of, or mode of expressing, the terms of a contract or conveyance.
2. (Law)
Defn: A qualification involving the idea of variation or departure from some general rule or form, in the way of either restriction or enlargement, according to the circumstances of the case, as in the will of a donor, an agreement between parties, and the like. Bracton.
3. (Law)
Defn: A fixed compensation or equivalent given instead of payment of tithes in kind, expressed in full by the phrase modus decimandi. Blackstone. They, from time immemorial, had paid a modus, or composition. Landor. Modus operandi ( Etym: [L.], manner of operating.
MODUS VIVENDI Mo"dus vi*ven"di. [L.]
Defn: Mode, or manner, of living; hence, a temporary arrangement of affairs until disputed matters can be settled.
MODY Mod"y, a. Etym: [From Mode.]
Defn: Fashionable. [R.]
MOE Moe, n.
Defn: A wry face or mouth; a mow. [Obs.]
MOE Moe, v. i.
Defn: To make faces; to mow. [Obs.]
MOE Moe, a., adv., & n. Etym: [AS. ma See More.]
Defn: More. See Mo. [Obs.] "Sing no more ditties, sing no moe." Shak.
MOEBLES Moe"bles, n. pl. Etym: [OE., fr. OF. moeble, mueble, movable, from L. mobilis.]
Defn: Movables; furniture; -- also used in the singular (moeble). [Obs.] Chaucer.
MOELLINE Mo"el*line, n. Etym: [F. moelle, fr. L. medulla marrow.]
Defn: An unguent for the hair.
MOELLON Mo"el*lon, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: Rubble masonry.
MOESOGOTHIC Moe`so*goth"ic, a.
Defn: Belonging to the Moesogoths, a branch of the Goths who settled in Moesia.
MOESOGOTHIC Moe`so*goth"ic, n.
Defn: The language of the Moesogoths; -- also called Gothic.
MOEVE Moeve, v. t. & i.
Defn: To move. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MOFF Moff, n.
Defn: A thin silk stuff made in Caucasia.
MOG Mog, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mogged; p. pr. & vb. n. Mogging.] [Etym. unknown.]
Defn: To move away; to go off. [Prov. Eng. or Local, U. S.]
MOGGAN Mog"gan, n.
Defn: A closely fitting knit sleeve; also, a legging of knitted material. [Scot.]
MOGUL Mo*gul", n. Etym: [From the Mongolian.]
1. A person of the Mongolian race.
2. (Railroad)
Defn: A heavy locomotive for freight traffic, having three pairs of connected driving wheels and a two-wheeled truck. Great, or Grand, Mogul, the sovereign of the empire founded in Hindostan by the Mongols under Baber in the sixteenth century. Hence, a very important personage; a lord; -- sometimes only mogul. Dryden.
MOHA Mo"ha, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A kind of millet (Setaria Italica); German millet.
MOHAIR Mo"hair`, n. Etym: [F. moire, perh. from Ar. mukhayyar a kind of coarse camelot or haircloth; but prob. fr. L. marmoreus of marble, resembling marble. Cf. Moire, Marble.]
Defn: The long silky hair or wool of the Angora goat of Asia Minor; also, a fabric made from this material, or an imitation of such fabric.
MOHAMMEDAN Mo*ham"med*an, a. Etym: [From Mohammed, fr. Ar. muhámmad praiseworthy, highly praised.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to Mohammed, or the religion and institutions founded by Mohammed. [Written also Mahometan, Mahomedan, Muhammadan, etc.]
MOHAMMEDAN Mo*ham"med*an, n.
Defn: A follower of Mohammed, the founder of Islamism; one who professes Mohammedanism or Islamism.
MOHAMMEDAN CALENDAR Mo*ham"med*an cal"en*dar.
Defn: A lunar calendar reckoning from the year of the hegira, 622 a. d. Thirty of its years constitute a cycle, of which the 2d, 5th, 7th, 10th, 13th, 16th, 18th, 21st, 24th, 26th, and 29th are leap years, having 355 days; the others are common, having 354 days. By the following tables any Mohammedan date may be changed into the Christian date, or vice versa, for the years 1900-1935 a. d.
Months of the Mohammedan year.
1 Muharram . . . .. 30 2 Safar . . . . . . .. 29 3 Rabia I . . . . . . 30 4 Rabia II . . . .. 29 5 Jumada I . . . .. 30 6 Jumada II . . . . 29 7 Rajab . . . . . . .. 30 8 Shaban . . . . . . . 29 9 Ramadan . . . . . . 30 10 Shawwal . . . . . . 29 11 Zu'lkadah . . . . 30 12 Zu'lhijjah . . . 29* * in leap year, 30 days
a. h. a. d. a. h. a. d.
1317 begins May 12, 1899 1336* begins Oct.17, 1917 1318 May 1, 1900 1337 Oct. 7, 1918 1319* Apr.20, 1901 1338* Sept.26,1919 1320 Apr.10, 1902 1339 Sept.15,1920 1321+ Mar.30, 1903 1340 Sept.4, 1921 1322* Mar.18, 1904 1341* Aug.24, 1922 1323 Mar. 8, 1905 1342 Aug.14, 1923 1324 Feb.25, 1906 1343 Aug. 2, 1924 1325* Feb.14, 1907 1344* July 22,1925 1326 Feb. 4, 1908 1345 July 12,1926 1327* Jan.23, 1909 1346* July 1, 1927 1328 Jan.13, 1910 1347 June 20,1928 1329 Jan. 2, 1911 1348 June 9, 1929 1330* Dec.22, 1911 1349* May 29, 1930 1331 Dec.11, 1912 1350 May 19, 1931 1332 Nov.30, 1913 1351++ May 7, 1932 1333* Nov.19, 1914 1352* Apr.26, 1933 1334 Nov. 9, 1915 1353 Apr.16, 1934 1335 Oct.28, 1916 1354 Apr. 5, 1935 * Leap year + First year of the 45th cycle ++ First year of the 46th cycle
The following general rule for finding the date of commencement of any Mohammedan year has a maximum error of a day: Multiply 970,224 by the Mohammedan year, point off six decimal places, and add 621.5774. The whole number will be the year a. d., and the decimal multiplied by 365 will give the day of the year.
MOHAMMEDAN ERA Mohammedan Era.
Defn: The era in use in Mohammedan countries. See Mohammedan year, below.
MOHAMMEDANISM; MOHAMMEDISM Mo*ham"med*an*ism, Mo*ham"med*ism, n.
Defn: The religion, or doctrines and precepts, of Mohammed, contained in the Koran; Islamism.
MOHAMMEDANIZE; MOHAMMEDIZE Mo*ham"med*an*ize, Mo*ham"med*ize, v. t.
Defn: To make conformable to the principles, or customs and rites, of Mohammedanism. [Written also Mahometanize.]
MOHAMMEDAN YEAR Mohammedan year.
Defn: The year used by Mohammedans, consisting of twelve lunar months without intercalation, so that they retrograde through all the seasons in about 32½ years. The Mohammedan era begins with the year 622 a.d., the first day of the Mohammedan year 1332 begin Nov. 30, 1913, acording to the Gregorian calendar.
MOHAWK Mo"hawk, n.
1. (Ethnol.)
Defn: One of a tribe of Indians who formed part of the Five Nations. They formerly inhabited the valley of the Mohawk River.
2. One of certain ruffians who infested the streets of London in the time of Addison, and took the name from the Mohawk Indians. [Slang] Spectator. Macaulay.
MOHICANS Mo*hi"cans, n. pl.; sing. Mohican (. (Ethnol.)
Defn: A tribe of Lenni-Lenape Indians who formerly inhabited Western Connecticut and Eastern New York. [Written also Mohegans.]
MOHO Mo"ho, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A gallinule (Notornis Mantelli) formerly inhabiting New Zealand, but now supposed to be extinct. It was incapable of flight. See Notornis.
MOHOCK Mo"hock, n.
Defn: See Mohawk.
MOHOLI Mo*ho"li, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Maholi.
MOHR Mohr, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A West African gazelle (Gazella mohr), having horns on which are eleven or twelve very prominent rings. It is one of the species which produce bezoar. [Written also mhorr.]
MOHUR Mo"hur, n. Etym: [Hind., fr. Per. muhur, muhr, a gold coin, a seal, seal ring.]
Defn: A British Indian gold coin, of the value of fifteen silver rupees, or $7.21. Malcom.
MOHURRUM; MUHARRAM Mo*hur"rum, Mu*har"ram, n. Etym: [Ar. muharram, prop., sacred, forbidden, n., the first month of the Mohammedan lunar year.]
1. The first month of the Mohammedan year. Whitworth.
2. A festival of the Shiah sect of the Mohammedans held during the first ten days of the month Mohurrum.
MOIDER Moi"der, v. i.
Defn: To toil. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]
MOIDORE Moi"dore, n. Etym: [Pg. moeda d'ouro, lit., coin of gold. Cf. Money, and Aureate.]
Defn: A gold coin of Portugal, valued at about 27s. sterling.
MOIETY Moi"e*ty, n.; pl. Moieties. Etym: [F. moitié, L. medietas, fr. medius middle, half. See Mid, a., and cf. Mediate, Mediety.]
1. One of two equal parts; a half; as, a moiety of an estate, of goods, or of profits; the moiety of a jury, or of a nation. Shak. The more beautiful moiety of his majesty's subject. Addison.
2. An indefinite part; a small part. Shak.
MOIL Moil, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Moiled; p. pr. & vb. n. Moiling.] Etym: [OE. moillen to wet, OF. moillier, muillier, F. mouller, fr. (assumed) LL. molliare, fr. L. mollis soft. See Mollify.]
Defn: To daub; to make dirty; to soil; to defile. Thou ... doest thy mind in dirty pleasures moil. Spenser.
MOIL Moil, v. i. Etym: [From Moil to daub; prob. from the idea of struggling through the wet.]
Defn: To soil one's self with severe labor; to work with painful effort; to labor; to toil; to drudge. Moil not too much under ground. Bacon. Now he must moil and drudge for one he loathes. Dryden.
MOIL Moil, n.
Defn: A spot; a defilement. The moil of death upon them. Mrs. Browning.
MOILE Moile, n. Etym: [F. mule a slipper.]
Defn: A kind of high shoe anciently worn. [Written also moyle.]
MOINEAU Moi"neau, n. Etym: [F.] (Fort.)
Defn: A small flat bastion, raised in the middle of an overlong curtain.
MOIRA Moi"ra, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Greek Myth.)
Defn: The deity who assigns to every man his lot.
MOIRE Moire, n. Etym: [F. Cf. Mohair.]
1. Originally, a fine textile fabric made of the hair of an Asiatic goat; afterwards, any textile fabric to which a watered appearance is given in the process of calendering.
2. A watered, clouded, or frosted appearance produced upon either textile fabrics or metallic surfaces. Moire antique, a superior kind of thick moire.
MOIRE METALLIQUE Moi`ré" mé`tal`lique". Etym: [F.]
Defn: A crystalline or frosted appearance produced by some acids on tin plate; also, the tin plate thus treated.
MOIST Moist, a. Etym: [OE. moiste, OF. moiste, F. moite, fr. L. muccidus, for mucidus, moldy, musty. Cf. Mucus, Mucid.]
1. Moderately wet; damp; humid; not dry; as, a moist atmosphere or air. "Moist eyes." Shak.
2. Fresh, or new. [Obs.] "Shoes full moist and new." "A draught of moist and corny ale." Chaucer.
MOIST Moist, v. t.
Defn: To moisten. [Obs.] Shak.
MOISTEN Mois"ten, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Moistened; p. pr. & vb. n. Moistening.]
1. To make damp; to wet in a small degree. A pipe a little moistened on the inside. Bacon.
2. To soften by making moist; to make tender. It moistened not his executioner's heart with any pity. Fuller.
MOISTENER Mois"ten*er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, moistens. Johnson.
MOISTFUL Moist"ful, a.
Defn: Full of moisture. [R.]
MOISTLESS Moist"less, a.
Defn: Without moisture; dry. [R.]
MOISTNESS Moist"ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being moist.
MOISTURE Mois"ture, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. moistour, F. moiteur.]
1. A moderate degree of wetness. Bacon.
2. That which moistens or makes damp or wet; exuding fluid; liquid in small quantity. All my body's moisture Scarce serves to quench my furnace-burning heat. Shak.
MOISTURELESS Mois"ture*less, a.
Defn: Without moisture.
MOISTY Moist"y, a.
Defn: Moist. [Obs.]
MOITHER Moi"ther, v. t. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]
Defn: To perplex; to confuse. [Prov. Eng.] Lamb.
MOITHER Moi"ther, v. i.
Defn: To toil; to labor. [Prov. Eng.]
MOJARRA Mo*jar"ra, n. [Sp.]
Defn: Any of certain basslike marine fishes (mostly of tropical seas, and having a deep, compressed body, protracile mouth, and large silvery scales) constituting the family Gerridæ, as Gerres plumieri, found from Florida to Brazil and used as food. Also, any of numerous other fishes of similar appearance but belonging to other families.
MOKADOUR Mok"a*dour, n. Etym: [Sp. mocador handkerchief.]
Defn: A handkerchief. [Obs.]
MOKE Moke, n.
Defn: A donkey. [Cant] Thackeray.
MOKE Moke, n.
Defn: A mesh of a net, or of anything resembling a net. Halliwell.
MOKY Mo"ky, a. Etym: [Cf. Icel. mökkvi cloud, mist, mökkr a dense cloud, W. mwg smoke, and E. muggy, muck.]
Defn: Misty; dark; murky; muggy. [Obs.]
MOLA Mo"la, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Sunfish, 1.
MOLAR Mo"lar, a. Etym: [L. moles mass.] (Mech.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to a mass of matter; -- said of the properties or motions of masses, as distinguished from those of molecules or atoms. Carpenter.
MOLAR Mo"lar, a. Etym: [L. molaris, fr. mola mill, fr. molere to grind in a mill. See Mill the machine.]
Defn: Having power to grind; grinding; as, the molar teeth; also, of or pertaining to the molar teeth. Bacon.
MOLAR Mo"lar, n. (Anat.)
Defn: Any one of the teeth back of the incisors and canines. The molar which replace the deciduous or milk teeth are designated as premolars, and those which are not preceded by deciduous teeth are sometimes called true molars. See Tooth.
MOLARY Mo"la*ry, a.
Defn: Same as 2d Molar.
MOLASSE Mo*lasse", n. Etym: [F. molasse, prob. fr. mollasse flabby, flimsy, fr. L. mollis soft.] (Geol.)
Defn: A soft Tertiary sandstone; -- applied to a rock occurring in Switzerland. See Chart of Geology.
MOLASSES Mo*las"ses, n. Etym: [F. mélasse, cf. Sp. melaza, Pg. melaço, fr. L. mellaceus honeylike, honey-sweet, mel, mellis, honey. See Mellifluous, and cf. Melasses.]
Defn: The thick, brown or dark colored, viscid, uncrystallizable sirup which drains from sugar, in the process of manufacture; any thick, viscid, sweet sirup made from vegetable juice or sap, as of the sorghum or maple. See Treacle.
MOLD Mold, n. Etym: [See Mo a spot.]
Defn: A spot; a blemish; a mole. [Obs.] Spenser.
MOLD; MOULD Mold, Mould, n. Etym: [OE. molde, AS. molde; akin to D. mul, G. mull, mulm, OHG. molt, molta, Icel. mold, Dan. muld, Sw. mull, Goth. mulda, and E. meal flour. See Meal, and cf. Mole an animal, Mull, v.] [The prevalent spelling is, perhaps, mould; but as the u has not been inserted in the other words of this class, as bold, gold, old, cold, etc., it seems desirable to complete the analogy by dropping it from this word, thus spelling it as Spenser, South, and many others did. The omission of the u is now very common in America.]
1. Crumbling, soft, friable earth; esp., earth containing the remains or constituents of organic matter, and suited to the growth of plants; soil.
2. Earthy material; the matter of which anything is formed; composing substance; material. The etherial mold, Incapable of stain. Milton. Nature formed me of her softest mold. Addison.
MOLD; MOULD Mold, Mould, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Molded or Moulded; p. pr. & vb. n. Molding or Moulding.]
Defn: To cover with mold or soil. [R.]
MOLD; MOULD Mold, Mould, n. Etym: [From the p.p. of OE. moulen to become moldy, to rot, prob. fr. Icel. mygla to grow musty, mugga mugginess; cf. Sw. mögla to grow moldy. See Muggy, and cf. Moldy.] (Bot.)
Defn: A growth of minute fungi of various kinds, esp. those of the great groups Hyphomycetes, and Physomycetes, forming on damp or decaying organic matter.
Note: The common blue mold of cheese, the brick-red cheese mold, and the scarlet or orange strata which grow on tubers or roots stored up for use, when commencing to decay, are familiar examples. M. J. Berkley.
MOLD; MOULD Mold, Mould, v. t.
Defn: To cause to become moldy; to cause mold to grow upon.
MOLD; MOULD Mold, Mould, v. i.
Defn: To become moldy; to be covered or filled, in whole or in part, with a mold.
MOLD; MOULD Mold, Mould, n. Etym: [OE. molde, OF. mole, F. moule, fr. L. modulus. See Model.] [For spelling, see 2d Mold, above.]
1. The matrix, or cavity, in which anything is shaped, and from which it takes its form; also, the body or mass containing the cavity; as, a sand mold; a jelly mold. Milton.
2. That on which, or in accordance with which, anything is modeled or formed; anything which serves to regulate the size, form, etc., as the pattern or templet used by a shipbuilder, carpenter, or mason. The glass of fashion and the mold of form. Shak.
3. Cast; form; shape; character. Crowned with an architrave of antique mold. Pope.
4. (Arch.)
Defn: A group of moldings; as, the arch mold of a porch or doorway; the pier mold of a Gothic pier, meaning the whole profile, section, or combination of parts.
5. (Anat.)
Defn: A fontanel.
6. (Paper Making)
Defn: A frame with a wire cloth bottom, on which the pump is drained to form a sheet, in making paper by hand.
MOLD; MOULD Mold, Mould, v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. mouler, OF. moler, moller. See Mold the matrix.]
1. To form into a particular shape; to shape; to model; to fashion. He forgeth and moldeth metals. Sir M. Hale. Did I request thee, Maker, from my clay To mold me man Milton.
2. To ornament by molding or carving the material of; as, a molded window jamb.
3. To knead; as, to mold dough or bread.
4. (Founding)
Defn: To form a mold of, as in sand, in which a casting may be made.
MOLDABLE; MOULDABLE Mold"a*ble, Mould"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being molded or formed.
MOLDBOARD; MOULDBOARD Mold"board`, Mould"board`, n.
1. A curved plate of iron (originally of wood) back of the share of a plow, which turns over the earth in plowing.
2. (Founding)
Defn: A follow board.
MOLDER; MOULDER Mold"er, Mould"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, molds or forms into shape; specifically (Founding), one skilled in the art of making molds for castings.
MOLDER; MOULDER Mold"er, Mould"er, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Moldered or Mouldered; p. pr. & vb. n. Moldering or Mouldering.] Etym: [From Mold fine soft earth: cf. Prov. G. multern.]
Defn: To crumble into small particles; to turn to dust by natural decay; to lose form, or waste away, by a gradual separation of the component particles, without the presence of water; to crumble away. The moldering of earth in frosts and sun. Bacon. When statues molder, and when arches fall. Prior. If he had sat still, the enemy's army would have moldered to nothing. Clarendon.
MOLDER; MOULDER Mold"er, Mould"er, v. t.
Defn: To turn to dust; to cause to crumble; to cause to waste away. [Time's] gradual touch Has moldered into beauty many a tower. Mason.
MOLDERY; MOULDERY Mold"er*y, Mould"er*y, a.
Defn: Covered or filled with mold; consisting of, or resembling, mold.
MOLDINESS; MOULDINESS Mold"i*ness, Mould"i*ness, n. Etym: [From Moldy.]
Defn: The state of being moldy.
MOLDING; MOULDING Mold"ing, Mould"ing, n.
1. The act or process of shaping in or on a mold, or of making molds; the art or occupation of a molder.
2. Anything cast in a mold, or which appears to be so, as grooved or ornamental bars of wood or metal.
3. (Arch.)
Defn: A plane, or curved, narrow surface, either sunk or projecting, used for decoration by means of the lights and shades upon its surface. Moldings vary greatly in pattern, and are generally used in groups, the different members of each group projecting or retreating, one beyond another. See Cable, n., 3, and Crenelated molding, under Crenelate, v. t.
MOLDING; MOULDING Mold"ing, Mould"ing, p.a.
Defn: Used in making a mold or moldings; used in shaping anything according to a pattern. Molding, or Moulding, board. (a) See Follow board, under Follow, v. t. (b) A board on which bread or pastry is kneaded and shaped. -- Molding, or Moulding, machine. (a) (Woodworking) A planing machine for making moldings. (b) (Founding) A machine to assist in making molds for castings. -- Molding, or Moulding, mill, a mill for shaping timber. -- Molding, or Moulding, sand (Founding), a kind of sand containing clay, used in making molds.
MOLDWARP; MOULDWARP Mold"warp, Mould"warp, n. Etym: [OE. moldwerp: AS. molde soil + weorpan to throw up; cf. OD. molworp, G. maulwurf, Icel. moldvarpa, Dan. muldvarp. See Mold soil, Warp, and cf. Mole the animal.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Mole the animal. Spenser.
MOLDY; MOULDY Mold"y, Mould"y, a. [Compar. Moldier or Mouldier; superl. Moldiest or Mouldiest.] Etym: [From Mold the growth of fungi.]
Defn: Overgrown with, or containing, mold; as, moldy cheese or bread.
MOLE Mole, n. Etym: [AS. mal; akin to OHG. meil, Goth. mail Cf. Mail a spot.]
1. A spot; a stain; a mark which discolors or disfigures. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.
2. A spot, mark, or small permanent protuberance on the human body; esp., a spot which is dark-colored, from which commonly issue one or more hairs.
MOLE Mole, n. Etym: [L. mola.]
Defn: A mass of fleshy or other more or less solid matter generated in the uterus.
MOLE Mole, n. Etym: [F. môle, L. moles. Cf. Demolish, Emolument, Molest.]
Defn: A mound or massive work formed of masonry or large stones, etc., laid in the sea, often extended either in a right line or an arc of a circle before a port which it serves to defend from the violence of the waves, thus protecting ships in a harbor; also, sometimes, the harbor itself. Brande & C.
MOLE Mole, n. Etym: [OE. molle, either shortened fr. moldwerp, or from the root of E. mold soil: cf. D. mol, OD. molworp. See Moldwarp.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any insectivore of the family Talpidæ. They have minute eyes and ears, soft fur, and very large and strong fore feet.
Note: The common European mole, or moldwarp (Talpa Europæa), is noted for its extensive burrows. The common American mole, or shrew mole (Scalops aquaticus), and star-nosed mole (Condylura cristata) have similar habits.
Note: In the Scriptures, the name is applied to two unindentified animals, perhaps the chameleon and mole rat.
2. A plow of peculiar construction, for forming underground drains. [U.S.] Duck mole. See under Duck. -- Golden mole. See Chrysochlore. -- Mole cricket (Zoöl.), an orthopterous insect of the genus Gryllotalpa, which excavates subterranean galleries, and throws up mounds of earth resembling those of the mole. It is said to do damage by injuring the roots of plants. The common European species (Gryllotalpa vulgaris), and the American (G. borealis), are the best known. -- Mole rat (Zoöl.), any one of several species of Old World rodents of the genera Spalax, Georychus, and several allied genera. They are molelike in appearance and habits, and their eyes are small or rudimentary. -- Mole shrew (Zoöl.), any one of several species of short-tailed American shrews of the genus Blarina, esp. B. brevicauda. -- Water mole, the duck mole.
MOLE Mole, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Moled; p. pr. & vb. n. Moling.]
1. To form holes in, as a mole; to burrow; to excavate; as, to mole the earth.
2. To clear of molehills. [Prov. Eng.] Pegge.
MOLEBUT Mole"but, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The sunfish (Orthagoriscus, or Mola). [Written also molebat.]
MOLECAST Mole"cast`, n.
Defn: A little elevation of earth made by a mole; a molehill. Mortimer.
MOLECH Mo"lech, n. Etym: [Heb. molek king.] (Script.)
Defn: The fire god of the Ammonites, to whom human sacrifices were offered; Moloch. Lev. xviii. 21.
MOLECULAR Mo*lec"u*lar, a. Etym: [Cf. F. moléculare. See Molecule.] (Phys. & Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, connected with, produced by, or consisting of, molecules; as, molecular forces; molecular groups of atoms, etc. Molecular attraction (Phys.), attraction acting between the molecules of bodies, and at insensible distances. -- Molecular weight (Chem.), the weight of a molecule of any gas or vapor as compared with the hydrogen atom as a standard; the sum of the atomic weights of the constituents of a molecule; thus, the molecular weight of water (H2O) is 18.
MOLECULARITY Mo*lec`u*lar"i*ty, n. (Phys. & Chem.)
Defn: The state of consisting of molecules; the state or quality of being molecular.
MOLECULARLY Mo*lec"u*lar*ly, adv. (Phys. & Chem.)
Defn: With molecules; in the manner of molecules. W. R. Grove.
MOLECULE Mol"e*cule, n. Etym: [Dim. fr. L. moles a mass: cf. F. molécule. See 3d Mole.]
1. One of the very small invisible particles of which all matter is supposed to consist.
2. (Physics)
Defn: The smallest part of any substance which possesses the characteristic properties and qualities of that substance, and which can exist alone in a free state.
3. (Chem.)
Defn: A group of atoms so united and combined by chemical affinity that they form a complete, integrated whole, being the smallest portion of any particular compound that can exist in a free state; as, a molecule of water consists of two atoms of hydrogen and one of oxygen. Cf. Atom.
MOLE-EYED Mole"-eyed`, a.
Defn: Having eyes like those of the mole; having imperfect sight.
MOLEHILL Mole"hill`, n.
Defn: A little hillock of earth thrown up by moles working under ground; hence, a very small hill, or an insignificant obstacle or difficulty. Having leapt over such mountains, lie down before a molehill. South.
MOLENDINACEOUS; MOLENDINARIOUS Mo*len`di*na"ceous, Mo*len`di*na"ri*ous, a. Etym: [L. molendinarius, fr. molendinum a mill, fr. molere to grind.] (Bot.)
Defn: Resembling the sails of a windmill.
MOLESKIN Mole"skin`, n.
Defn: Any fabric having a thick soft shag, like the fur of a mole; esp., a kind of strong twilled fustian.
MOLEST Mo*lest", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Molested; p. pr. & vb. n. Molesting.] Etym: [F. molester, L. molestare, fr. molestus troublesome, fr. moles a heavy mass, load, burden. See 3d Mole.]
Defn: To trouble; to disturb; to render uneasy; to interfere with; to vex. They have molested the church with needless opposition. Hooker.
Syn. -- To trouble; disturb; incommode; inconvenience; annoy; vex; tease.
MOLEST Mo*lest", n.
Defn: Molestation. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MOLESTATION Mol`es*ta"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. molestation.]
Defn: The act of molesting, or the state of being molested; disturbance; annoyance.
MOLESTER Mo*lest"er, n.
Defn: One who molests.
MOLESTFUL Mo*lest"ful, a.
Defn: Troublesome; vexatious. [R.]
MOLESTIE; MOLESTY Mo*les"tie, Mo*les"ty, n. Etym: [L. molestia.]
Defn: Molestation. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MOLEWARP Mole"warp`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Moldwarp.
MOLIMINOUS Mo*lim"i*nous, a. Etym: [L. molimen a great exertion; moles a heavy mass.]
Defn: Of great bulk or consequence; very important. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
MOLINE Mo"line, n. Etym: [L. molina mill, fr. molere to grind. See Mill.]
Defn: The crossed iron that supports the upper millstone by resting on the spindle; a millrind. Cross moline (Her.), a cross each arm of which is divided at the end into two rounded branches or divisions.
MOLINISM Mo"lin*ism, n. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: The doctrines of the Molinists, somewhat resembling the tenets of the Arminians.
MOLINIST Mo"lin*ist, n. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: A follower of the opinions of Molina, a Spanish Jesuit (in respect to grace); an opposer of the Jansenists.
MOLL Moll, a. Etym: [G., fr. L. mollis soft, tender, elegiac. Cf. Molle.] (Mus.)
Defn: Minor; in the minor mode; as, A moll, that is, A minor.
MOLLAH Mol"lah, n. Etym: [Ar. maula, commonly mollain Turkey.]
Defn: One of the higher order of Turkish judges; also, a Turkish title of respect for a religious and learned man. [Written also moolah.]
MOLLE Mol"le, a. Etym: [See Moll.] (Mus.)
Defn: Lower by a semitone; flat; as, E molle, that is, E flat.
MOLLEBART Mol"le*bart, n.
Defn: An agricultural implement used in Flanders, consisting of a kind of large shovel drawn by a horse and guided by a man. [Written also mollebært and mouldebært.] Simmonds.
MOLLEMOKE Mol"le*moke`, n. Etym: [Sw. mallemucke the stormy petrel.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of several species of large pelagic petrels and fulmars, as Fulmarus glacialis, of the North Atlantic, and several species of Æstrelata, of the Southern Ocean. See Fulmar. [Written also mollymawk, malmock, mollemock, mallemocke, etc.]
MOLLIENT Mol"lient, a. Etym: [L. molliens, p.p. of mollire to soften, fr. mollis soft.]
Defn: Serving to soften; assuaging; emollient.
MOLLIENTLY Mol"lient*ly, adv.
Defn: Assuagingly.
MOLLIFIABLE Mol"li*fi`a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being mollified.
MOLLIFICATION Mol`li*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [LL. mollificatio; cf. F. mollification.]
Defn: The act of mollifying, or the state of being mollified; a softening. Chaucer.
MOLLIFIER Mol"li*fi`er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, mollifies. Bacon.
MOLLIFY Mol"li*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mollified; p. pr. & vb. n. Mollifying.] Etym: [F. mollifier, L. mollificare; mollis soft + - ficare (in comp.) to make. See Enmollient, Moil, v. t., and -fy.]
1. To soften; to make tender; to reduce the hardness, harshness, or asperity of; to qualify; as, to mollify the ground. With sweet science mollified their stubborn hearts. Spenser.
2. To assuage, as pain or irritation, to appease, as excited feeling or passion; to pacify; to calm.
MOLLINET Mol"li*net, n. Etym: [Cf. Moline.]
Defn: A little mill.
MOLLIPILOSE Mol`li*pi*lose", a. Etym: [L. mollis soft + pilosus hairy.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having soft hairs; downy.
MOLLITIES Mol*li"ti*es, n. Etym: [L., softness.] (Med.)
Defn: Unnatural softness of any organ or part. Dunglison.
MOLLITUDE Mol"li*tude, n. Etym: [L. mollitudo, fr. mollis soft.]
Defn: Softness; effeminacy; weakness. [R.]
MOLLUSC Mol"lusc, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Mollusk.
MOLLUSCA Mol*lus"ca, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Mollusk.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the grand divisions of the animal kingdom, including the classes Cephalopoda, Gastropoda, PteropodaScaphopoda, and Lamellibranchiata, or Conchifera. These animals have an unsegmented bilateral body, with most of the organs and parts paired, but not repeated longitudinally. Most of them develop a mantle, which incloses either a branchial or a pulmonary cavity. They are generally more or less covered and protected by a calcareous shell, which may be univalve, bivalve, or multivalve.
Note: Formerly the Brachiopoda, Bryzoa, and Tunicata were united with the Lamellibranchiata in an artificial group called Acephala, which was also included under Mollusca. See Molluscoudea.
MOLLUSCAN Mol*lus"can, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to mollusks. -- n.
Defn: A mollusk; one of the Mollusca.
MOLLUSCOID Mol*lus"coid, a. Etym: [Mollusca + -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Resembling the true mollusks; belonging to the Molluscoidea. -- n.
Defn: One of the Molluscoidea.
MOLLUSCOIDAL Mol`lus*coid"al, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Molluscoid.
MOLLUSCOIDEA Mol`lus*coi"de*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Mollusk, and -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of Invertebrata which includes the classes Brachiopoda and Bryozoa; -- called also Anthoid Mollusca.
Note: Originally the Tunicata were included under Molluscoidea, from which they are known to differ widely in structure and embryology. Molluscoidea were formerly considered a subdivision of Mollusca, but they are now known to have more relationship with Annelida than with Mollusca.
MOLLUSCOUS Mol*lus"cous, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Molluscan.
MOLLUSCUM Mol*lus"cum, n. Etym: [NL. See Mollusk.] (Med.)
Defn: A cutaneous disease characterized by numerous tumors, of various forms, filled with a thick matter; -- so called from the resemblance of the tumors to some molluscous animals. Dunglison.
MOLLUSK Mol"lusk, n. Etym: [F. mollusque, L. mollusca a kind of soft nut with a thin shell, fr. molluscus soft, mollis soft. See Mollify.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Mollusca. [Written also mollusc.]
MOLLY Mol"ly, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Mollemoke.
MOLLY Mol"ly, n.
Defn: A pet or colloquial name for Mary. Molly cottontail. (Zoöl.) See Cottontail. -- Molly Maguire (ma*gwir"); pl. Molly Maguires (-gwirz). (a) A member of a secret association formed among the tenantry in Ireland about 1843, principally for the purpose of intimidating law officers and preventing the service of legal writs. Its members disguised themselves in the dress of women. (b) A member of a similar association of Irishmen organized in the anthracite coal region of Pennsylvania, about 1854, for the purpose of intimidating employers and officers of the law, and for avenging themselves by murder on persons obnoxious to them. The society was broken up by criminal prosecutions in 1876.
MOLLY-MAWK Mol"ly-mawk`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Mollemoke.
MOLOCH Mo"loch, n. Etym: [Heb. molek king.]
1. (Script.)
Defn: The fire god of the Ammonites in Canaan, to whom human sacrifices were offered; Molech. Also applied figuratively.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A spiny Australian lizard (Moloch horridus). The horns on the head and numerous spines on the body give it a most formidable appearance.
MOLOKANE; MOLOKANY Mol`o*ka"ne, Mol`o*ka"ny, n. pl. [Russ. molokane.]
Defn: See Raskolnik.
MOLOSSE Mo*losse", n.
Defn: See Molossus.
MOLOSSES Mo*los"ses, n.
Defn: Molasses. [Obs.]
MOLOSSINE Mo*los"sine, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A bat of the genus Molossus, as the monk bat.
MOLOSSUS Mo*los"sus, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Gr. & Lat. Pros.)
Defn: A foot of three long syllables. [Written also molosse.]
MOLT Molt, obs.imp.
Defn: of Melt. Chaucer. Spenser.
MOLT; MOULT Molt, Moult, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Molted or Moulted; p. pr. & vb. n. Molting or Moulting.] Etym: [OE. mouten, L. mutare. See Mew to molt, and cf. Mute, v. t.] [The prevalent spelling is, perhaps, moult; but as the u has not been inserted in the otherwords of this class, as, bolt, colt, dolt, etc., it is desirable to complete the analogy by the spelling molt.]
Defn: To shed or cast the hair, feathers, skin, horns, or the like, as an animal or a bird. Bacon.
MOLT; MOULT Molt, Moult, v. t.
Defn: To cast, as the hair, skin, feathers, or the like; to shed.
MOLT; MOULT Molt, Moult, n.
Defn: The act or process of changing the feathers, hair, skin, etc.; molting.
MOLTABLE Molt"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of assuming a molten state; meltable; fusible. [Obs.]
MOLTEN Mol"ten, a. Etym: [See Melt.]
1. Melted; being in a state of fusion, esp. when the liquid state is produced by a high degree of heat; as, molten iron.
2. Made by melting and casting the substance or metal of which the thing is formed; as, a molten image.
MOLTO Mol"to, adv. Etym: [It.] (Mus.)
Defn: Much; very; as, molto adagio, very slow.
MOLY Mo"ly, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.
1. A fabulous herb of occult power, having a black root and white blossoms, said by Homer to have been given by Hermes to Ulysses to counteract the spells of Circe. Milton.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: A kind of garlic (Allium Moly) with large yellow flowers; -- called also golden garlic.
MOLYBDATE Mo*lyb"date, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of molybdic acid.
MOLYBDENA Mol`yb*de"na, n. Etym: [L. molybdaena galena, Gr. (Min.)
Defn: See Molybdenite.
MOLYBDENITE Mo*lyb"de*nite, n. Etym: [Cf. F. molybdénite. See Molybdena.] (Min.)
Defn: A mineral occurring in soft, lead-gray, foliated masses or scales, resembling graphite; sulphide of molybdenum.
MOLYBDENOUS Mo*lyb"de*nous, a. (Chem.)
Defn: See Molybdous.
MOLYBDENUM Mol`yb*de"num, n. Etym: [NL.: cf. F. molybdène. See Molybdena.] (Chem.)
Defn: A rare element of the chromium group, occurring in nature in the minerals molybdenite and wulfenite, and when reduced obtained as a hard, silver-white, difficulty fusible metal. Symbol Mo. Atomic weight 95.9.
MOLYBDIC Mo*lyb"dic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. molybdique. See molybdena.] (Chem.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or containing, molybdenum; specif., designating those compounds in which the element has a higher valence, as contrasted with molybdous compounds; as, molybdic oxide.
MOLYBDITE Mo*lyb"dite, n. (Min.)
Defn: Molybdic ocher.
MOLYBDOUS Mo*lyb"dous, a. Etym: [See Molybdena.]
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or containing, molybdenum; specif., designating those compounds in which molybdenum has a lower valence as contrasted with molybdic compounds.
MOME Mome, n. Etym: [Cf. Mumm, Momus.]
Defn: A dull, silent person; a blockhead. [Obs.] Spenser.
MOMENT Mo"ment, n. Etym: [F. moment, L. momentum, for movimentum movement, motion, moment, fr. movere to move. See Move, and cf. Momentum, Movement.]
1. A minute portion of time; a point of time; an instant; as, at thet very moment. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. 1 Cor. xv. 52.
2. Impulsive power; force; momentum. The moments or quantities of motion in bodies. Berkley. Touch, with lightest moment of impulse, His free will. Milton.
3. Importance, as in influence or effect; consequence; weight or value; consideration. Matters of great moment. Shak. It is an abstruse speculation, but also of far less moment and consequence of us than the others. Bentley.
4. An essential element; a deciding point, fact, or consideration; an essential or influential circumstance.
5. (Math.)
Defn: An infinitesimal change in a varying quantity; an increment or decrement. [Obs.]
6. (Mech.)
Defn: Tendency, or measure of tendency, to produce motion, esp. motion about a fixed point or axis. Moment of a couple (Mech.), the product of either of its forces into the perpendicular distance between them. -- Moment of a force. (Mech.) (a) With respect to a point, the product of the intensity of the force into the perpendicular distance from the point to the line of direction of the force. (b) With respect to a line, the product of that component of the force which is perpendicular to the plane passing through the line and the point of application of the force, into the shortest distance between the line and this point. (c) With respect to a plane that is parallel to the force, the product of the force into the perpendicular distance of its point of application from the plane. -- Moment of inertia, of a rotating body, the sum of the mass of each particle of matter of the body into the square of its distance from the axis of rotation; -- called also moment of rotation and moment of the mass. -- Statical moment, the product of a force into its leverage; the same as moment of a force with respect to a point, line, etc. -- Virtual moment. See under Virtual.
Syn. -- Instant; twinkling; consequence; weight; force; value; consideration; signification; avail.
MOMENTAL Mo*men"tal, a. Etym: [Cf. OF. momental.] [Obs.]
1. Lasting but a moment; brief. Not one momental minute doth she swerve. Breton.
2. Important; momentous.
3. (Mech.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to moment or momentum.
MOMENTALLY Mo*men"tal*ly, adv.
Defn: For a moment. [Obs.]
MOMENTANEOUS; MOMENTANY Mo`men*ta"ne*ous, Mo"men*ta*ny, a. Etym: [L. momentaneus: cf. F. momentané.]
Defn: Momentary. [Obs.] Hooker. "Momentany as a sound." Shak.
MOMENTARILY Mo"men*ta*ri*ly, adv.
Defn: Every moment; from moment to moment. Shenstone.
MOMENTARINESS Mo"men*ta*ri*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being momentary; shortness of duration.
MOMENTARY Mo"men*ta*ry, a. Etym: [L. momentarius. See Moment.]
Defn: Done in a moment; continuing only a moment; lasting a very short time; as, a momentary pang. This momentary joy breeds months of pain. Shak.
MOMENTLY Mo"ment*ly, adv.
1. For a moment.
2. In a moment; every moment; momentarily.
MOMENTOUS Mo*men"tous, a. Etym: [Cf. L. momentosus rapid, momentary.]
Defn: Of moment or consequence; very important; weighty; as, a momentous decision; momentous affairs. -- Mo*men"tous*ly, adv. -- Mo*men"tous*ness, n.
MOMENTUM Mo*men"tum, n.; pl. L. Momenta, F. Momentums. Etym: [L. See Moment.]
1. (Mech.)
Defn: The quantity of motion in a moving body, being always proportioned to the quantity of matter multiplied into the velocity; impetus.
2. Essential element, or constituent element. I shall state the several momenta of the distinction in separate propositions. Sir W. Hamilton.
MOMIER Mom"i*er, n. Etym: [F. mômier, fr. OF. momer, mommer, to mumm, to mask one's self.]
Defn: A name given in contempt to strict Calvinists in Switzerland, France, and some parts of Germany, in the early part of the 19th century.
MOMMERY Mom"mer*y, n.
Defn: See Mummery. Rowe.
MOMOT Mo"mot, n. Etym: [Momot and motmot, the native American name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Motmot.
MOMUS Mo"mus, n. Etym: [Gr. (Gr. Myth.)
Defn: The god of mockery and censure.
MON- Mon-.
Defn: Same as Mono-.
MONA Mo"na, n. Etym: [CF. Sp. & Pg. mona, fem. of mono a monkey, ape.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small, handsome, long-tailed West American monkey (Cercopithecus mona). The body is dark olive, with a spot of white on the haunches.
MONACHAL Mon"a*chal, a. Etym: [L. monachus a monk: cf. F. monacal. See Monk.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to monks or a monastic life; monastic.
MONACHISM Mon"a*chism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. monachisme.]
Defn: The system and influences of a monastic life; monasticism.
MONACID Mon*ac"id, a. Etym: [Mon- + acid.] (Chem.)
Defn: Having one hydrogen atom replaceable by a negative or acid atom or radical; capable of neutralizing a monobasic acid; -- said of bases, and of certain metals.
MONAD Mon"ad, n. Etym: [L. monas, -adis, a unit, Gr.
1. An ultimate atom, or simple, unextended point; something ultimate and indivisible.
2. (Philos. of Leibnitz)
Defn: The elementary and indestructible units which were conceived of as endowed with the power to produce all the changes they undergo, and thus determine all physical and spiritual phenomena.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the smallest flangellate Infusoria; esp., the species of the genus Monas, and allied genera.
4. (Biol.)
Defn: A simple, minute organism; a primary cell, germ, or plastid.
5. (Chem.)
Defn: An atom or radical whose valence is one, or which can combine with, be replaced by, or exchanged for, one atom of hydrogen. Monad deme (Biol.), in tectology, a unit of the first order of individuality.
MONADARIA Mon`a*da"ri*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Monad.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The Infusoria.
MONADELPHIA Mon`a*del"phi*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A Linnæan class of plants having the stamens united into a tube, or ring, by the filaments, as in the Mallow family.
MONADELPHIAN; MONADELPHOUS Mon`a*del"phi*an, Mon`a*del"phous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. monadelphie.] (Bot.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Monadelphia; having the stamens united in one body by the filaments.
MONADIC; MONADICAL Mo*nad"ic, Mo*nad"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or like, a monad, in any of its senses. See Monad, n. Dr. H. More.
MONADIFORM Mo*nad"i*form, a. Etym: [Monad + -form.] (Biol.)
Defn: Having the form of a monad; resembling a monad in having one or more filaments of vibratile protoplasm; as, monadiform young.
MONADOLOGY Mon`ad*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Monad + -logy.] (Philos.)
Defn: The doctrine or theory of monads.
MONAL Mo*nal", n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any Asiatic pheasant of the genus Lophophorus, as the Impeyan pheasant.
MONAMIDE Mon*am"ide, n. Etym: [Mon- + amide.] (Chem.)
Defn: An amido compound with only one amido group.
MONAMINE Mon*am"ine, n. Etym: [Mon- + amine.] (Chem.)
Defn: A basic compound containing one amido group; as, methyl amine is a monamine.
MONANDER Mo*nan"der, n. (Bot.)
Defn: One of the Monandria.
MONANDRIA Mo*nan"dri*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A Linnæan class of plants embracing those having but a single stamen.
MONANDRIAN Mo*nan"dri*an, a.; (Bot.)
Defn: Same as Monandrous.
MONANDRIC Mo*nan"dric, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to monandry; practicing monandry as a system of marriage.
MONANDROUS Mo*nan"drous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the monandria; having but one stamen.
MONANDRY Mo*nan"dry, n. Etym: [See Monandria.]
Defn: The possession by a woman of only one husband at the same time; -- contrasted with polyandry.
MONANTHOUS Mo*nan"thous, a. Etym: [Mon- + Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Having but one flower; one-flowered. Gray.
MONARCH Mon"arch, n. Etym: [F. monarque, L. monarcha, fr. Gr. Archi-.]
1. A sole or supreme ruler; a sovereign; the highest ruler; an emperor, king, queen, prince, or chief. He who reigns Monarch in heaven, ... upheld by old repute. Milton.
2. One superior to all others of the same kind; as, an oak is called the monarch of the forest.
3. A patron deity or presiding genius. Come, thou, monarch of the vine, Plumpy Bacchus. Shak.
4. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A very large red and black butterfly (Danais Plexippus); -- called also milkweed butterfly.
MONARCH Mon"arch, a.
Defn: Superior to others; preëminent; supreme; ruling. "Monarch savage." Pope.
MONARCHAL Mo*nar"chal, a.
Defn: Pertaining to a monarch; suiting a monarch; sovoreign; regal; imperial. Satan, whom now transcendent glory raised Above his fellows, with monarchal pride. Milton.
MONARCHESS Mon"arch*ess, n.
Defn: A female monarch. [Obs.]
MONARCHIAL Mo*nar"chi*al, a.
Defn: Monarchic. Burke.
MONARCHIAN Mo*nar"chi*an, n. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: One of a sect in the early Christian church which rejected the doctrine of the Trinity; -- called also patripassian.
MONARCHIC; MONARCHICAL Mo*nar"chic, Mo*nar"chic*al, a. Etym: [F. monarchique, Gr.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a monarch, or to monarchy. Burke. -- Mo*nar"chic*al*ly, adv.
MONARCHISM Mon"arch*ism, n.
Defn: The principles of, or preference for, monarchy.
MONARCHIST Mon"arch*ist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. monarchiste.]
Defn: An advocate of, or believer in, monarchy.
MONARCHIZE Mon"arch*ize, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Monarchized; p. pr. & vb. n. Monarchizing.]
Defn: To play the sovereign; to act the monarch. [R.] Shak.
MONARCHIZE Mon"arch*ize, v. t.
Defn: To rule; to govern. [R.]
MONARCHIZER Mon"arch*i`zer, n.
Defn: One who monarchizes; also, a monarchist.
MONARCHO Mo*nar"cho, n.
Defn: The nickname of a crackbrained Italian who fancied himself an emperor. [Obs.] Shak.
MONARCHY Mon"arch*y, n.; pl. Monarchies. Etym: [F. monarchie, L. monarchia, Gr. Monarch.]
1. A state or government in which the supreme power is lodged in the hands of a monarch.
2. A system of government in which the chief ruler is a monarch. In those days he had affected zeal for monarchy. Macaulay.
3. The territory ruled over by a monarch; a kingdom. What scourage for perjury Can this dark monarchy afford false Clarence. Shak. Fifth monarchy, a universal monarchy, supposed to be the subject of prophecy in Daniel ii.; the four preceding monarchies being Assyrian, Persian, Grecian, and Roman. See Fifth Monarchy men, under Fifth.
MONAS Mo"nas, n. Etym: [NL. See Monad.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of minute flagellate Infusoria of which there are many species, both free and attached. See Illust. under Monad.
MONASTERIAL Mon`as*te"ri*al, a. Etym: [L. monasterials, fr. monasterium.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to monastery, or to monastic life. -- Mon`as*te"ri*al*ly, adv.
MONASTERY Mon"as*te*ry, n.; pl. Monasteries. Etym: [L. monasterium, Gr. Minister.]
Defn: A house of religious retirement, or of secusion from ordinary temporal concerns, especially for monks; -- more rarely applied to such a house for females.
Syn. -- Convent; abbey; priory. See Cloister.
MONASTIC Mo*nas"tic, n.
Defn: A monk.
MONASTIC; MONASTICAL Mo*nas"tic, Mo*nas"tic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. monastique. See Monastery.]
1. Of or pertaining to monasteries, or to their occupants, rules, etc., as, monastic institutions or rules.
2. Secluded from temporal concerns and devoted to religion; recluse. "A life monastic." Denham.
MONASTICALLY Mo*nas"tic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a monastic manner.
MONASTICISM Mo*nas"ti*cism, n.
Defn: The monastic life, system, or condition. Milman.
MONASTICON Mo*nas"ti*con, n. Etym: [NL. See Monastic.]
Defn: A book giving an account of monasteries.
MONATOMIC Mon`a*tom"ic, adv. Etym: [Mon- + atomic.] (Chem.) (a) Consisting of, or containing, one atom; as, the molecule of mercury is monatomic. (b) Having the equivalence or replacing power of an atom of hydrogen; univalent; as, the methyl radical is monatomic.
MONAXIAL Mo*nax"i*al, a. Etym: [Mon- + axial.] (Biol.)
Defn: Having only one axis; developing along a single line or plane; as, monaxial development.
MONAZITE Mon"a*zite, n. Etym: [From Gr. (Min.)
Defn: A mineral occurring usually in small isolated crystals, -- phosphate of the cerium metals.
MONDAY Mon"day, n. Etym: [OE. moneday, monenday, AS. monandæg, i.e., day of the moon, day sacred to the moon; akin to D. maandag, G. montag, OHG. manatag, Icel. manadagr, Dan. mandag, Sw. måndag. See Moon, and Day.]
Defn: The second day of the week; the day following Sunday.
MONDE Monde, n. Etym: [F. See Mundane.]
Defn: The world; a globe as an ensign of royalty. [R.] A. Drummond. Le beau monde Etym: [F.], fashionable society. See Beau monde. -- Demi monde. See Demimonde.
MONE Mone, n.
Defn: The moon. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MONE Mone, n.
Defn: A moan. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MONECIAN; MONECIOUS Mo*ne"cian, Mo*ne"cious, a. (Bot.)
Defn: See Monoecian, and Monoecious.
MONEMBRYONY Mon*em"bry*o*ny, n. Etym: [See Mono-, and Embryo.] (Bot.)
Defn: The condition of an ovule having but a single embryo. -- Mon*em`bry*on"ic, a.
MONER Mo"ner, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Monera.
MONERA Mo*ne"ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The lowest division of rhizopods, including those which resemble the amoebas, but are destitute of a nucleus.
MONERAL Mo*ne"ral, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Monera.
MONERAN Mo*ne"ran, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Monera. -- n.
Defn: One of the Monera.
MONERON Mo*ne"ron, n.; pl. L. Monera; E. Monerons. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Monera.
MONERULA Mo*ner"u*la, n. Etym: [NL., dim. of moner. See Monera.] (Biol.)
Defn: A germ in that stage of development in which its form is simply that of a non-nucleated mass of protoplasm. It precedes the one- celled germ. So called from its likeness to a moner. Haeckel.
MONESIA Mo*ne"sia, n. (Pharm.)
Defn: The bark, or a vegetable extract brought in solid cakes from South America and believed to be derived from the bark, of the tree Chrysophyllum glycyphloeum. It is used as an alterative and astringent.
MONESIN Mo*ne"sin, n.
Defn: The acrid principle of Monesia, sometimes used as a medicine.
MONEST Mo*nest", v. t. Etym: [See Admonish.]
Defn: To warn; to admonish; to advise. [Obs.] Wyclif (2 Cor. v. 20).
MONETARY Mon"e*ta*ry, a. Etym: [L. monetarius belonging to a mint. See Money.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to money, or consisting of money; pecuniary. "The monetary relations of Europe." E. Everett. Monetary unit, the standard of a national currency, as the dollar in the United States, the pound in England, the franc in France, the mark in Germany.
MONETH Mon"eth, n.
Defn: A month. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MONETIZATION Mon`e*ti*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act or process of converting into money, or of adopting as money; as, the monetization of silver.
MONETIZE Mon"e*tize, v. t.
Defn: To convert into money; to adopt as current money; as, to monetize silver.
MONEY Mon"ey, n.; pl. Moneys. Etym: [OE. moneie, OF. moneie, F. monnaie, fr. L. moneta. See Mint place where coin is made, Mind, and cf. Moidore, Monetary.]
1. A piece of metal, as gold, silver, copper, etc., coined, or stamped, and issued by the sovereign authority as a medium of exchange in financial transactions between citizens and with government; also, any number of such pieces; coin. To prevent such abuses, ... it has been found necessary ... to affix a public stamp upon certain quantities of such particular metals, as were in those countries commonly made use of to purchase goods. Hence the origin of coined money, and of those public offices called mints. A. Smith.
2. Any written or stamped promise, certificate, or order, as a government note, a bank note, a certificate of deposit, etc., which is payable in standard coined money and is lawfully current in lieu of it; in a comprehensive sense, any currency usually and lawfully employed in buying and selling.
Note: Whatever, among barbarous nations, is used as a medium of effecting exchanges of property, and in the terms of which values are reckoned, as sheep, wampum, copper rings, quills of salt or of gold dust, shovel blades, etc., is, in common language, called their money.
3. In general, wealth; property; as, he has much money in land, or in stocks; to make, or lose, money. The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. 1 Tim vi. 10 (Rev. Ver. ). Money bill (Legislation), a bill for raising revenue. -- Money broker, a broker who deals in different kinds of money; one who buys and sells bills of exchange; -- called also money changer. -- Money cowrie (Zoöl.), any one of several species of Cypræa (esp. C. moneta) formerly much used as money by savage tribes. See Cowrie. -- Money of account, a denomination of value used in keeping accounts, for which there may, or may not, be an equivalent coin; e.g., the mill is a money of account in the United States, but not a coin. -- Money order, an order for the payment of money; specifically, a government order for the payment of money, issued at one post office as payable at another; -- called also postal money order. -- Money scrivener, a person who produces the loan of money to others. [Eng.] -- Money spider, Money spinner (Zoöl.), a small spider; -- so called as being popularly supposed to indicate that the person upon whom it crawls will be fortunate in money matters. -- Money's worth, a fair or full equivalent for the money which is paid. -- A piece of money, a single coin. -- Ready money, money held ready for payment, or actually paid, at the time of a transaction; cash. -- To make money, to gain or acquire money or property; to make a profit in dealings.
MONEY Mon"ey, v. t.
Defn: To supply with money. [Obs.]
MONEYAGE Mon"ey*age, n. Etym: [Cf. F. monnayage coinage.]
1. A tax paid to the first two Norman kings of England to prevent them from debashing the coin. Hume.
2. Mintage; coinage. [Obs.]
MONEYED Mon"eyed, adv.
1. Supplied with money; having money; wealthy; as, moneyey men. Bacon.
2. Converted into money; coined. If exportation will not balance importation, away must your silver go again, whether moneyed or not moneyed. Locke.
3. Consisting in, or composed of, money. A. Hamilton.
MONEYER Mon"ey*er, n. Etym: [From Money; cf. OF. monoier, F. monnoayeur, L. monetarius a master of the mint. Cf. Monetary.]
1. A person who deals in money; banker or broker. [Obs. or R.]
2. An authorized coiner of money. Sir M. Hale. The Company of Moneyers, the officials who formerly coined the money of Great Britain, and who claimed certain prescriptive rights and privileges.
MONEYLESS Mon"ey*less, a.
Defn: Destitute of money; penniless; impecunious. Swift.
MONEY-MAKER Mon"ey-mak`er, n.
1. One who coins or prints money; also, a counterfeiter of money. [R.]
2. One who accumulates money or wealth; specifically, one who makes money-getting his governing motive.
MONEY-MAKING Mon"ey-mak`ing, n.
Defn: The act or process of making money; the acquisition and accumulation of wealth. Obstinacy in money-making. Milman.
MONEY-MAKING Mon"ey-mak`ing, a.
1. Affording profitable returns; lucrative; as, a money-making business.
2. Sussessful in gaining money, and devoted to that aim; as, a money- making man.
MONEYWORT Mon"ey*wort`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A trailing plant (Lysimachia Nummularia), with rounded opposite leaves and solitary yellow flowers in their axils.
MONGCORN Mong"corn`, n.
Defn: See Mangcorn.
MONGER Mon"ger, n. Etym: [AS. mangere, fr. mangian to trade; akin to Icel. manga to trade, mangari a trader, OHG. mangari, mengari; cf. L. mango a dealer in slaves.]
1. A trader; a dealer; -- now used chiefly in composition; as, fishmonger, ironmonger, newsmonger.
2. A small merchant vessel. [Obs.] Blount.
MONGER Mon"ger, v. t.
Defn: To deal in; to make merchandise of; to traffic in; -- used chiefly of discreditable traffic.
MONGOL Mon"gol, n.
Defn: One of the Mongols. -- a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Mongolia or the Mongols.
MONGOLIAN Mon*go"li*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Mongolia or the Mongols. -- n.
Defn: One of the Mongols.
MONGOLIC Mon*gol"ic, a.
Defn: See Mongolian.
MONGOLOID Mon"go*loid, a. Etym: [Mongol + -oid.]
Defn: Resembling a Mongol or the Mongols; having race characteristics, such as color, hair, and features, like those of the Mongols. Huxley.
MONGOLS; MONGOLIANS Mon"gols, Mon*go"li*ans, n. pl. (Ethnol.)
Defn: One of the great races of man, including the greater part of the inhabitants of China, Japan, and the interior of Asia, with branches in Northern Europe and other parts of the world. By some American Indians are considered a branch of the Mongols. In a more restricted sense, the inhabitants of Mongolia and adjacent countries, including the Burats and the Kalmuks.
MONGOOSE; MONGOOS Mon"goose, Mon"goos, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A species of ichneumon (Herpestes griseus), native of India. Applied also to other allied species, as the African banded mongoose (Crossarchus fasciatus). [Written also mungoose, mungoos, mungous.]
MONGREL Mon"grel, n. Etym: [Prob. shortened fr. mongrel, and akin to AS. mengan to mix, and E. mingle. See Mingle.]
Defn: The progeny resulting from a cross between two breeds, as of domestic animals; anything of mixed breed. Drayton.
MONGREL Mon"grel, a.
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Not of a pure breed.
2. Of mixed kinds; as, mongrel language.
MONGRELIZE Mon"grel*ize, v. t. & i.
Defn: To cause to be mongrel; to cross breeds, so as to produce mongrels.
'MONGST 'Mongst, prep.
Defn: See Amongst.
MONIED Mon"ied, a.
Defn: See Moneyed.
MONIFIER Mo*nif"i*er, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. monile necklace + ferre to bear.] (Paleon.)
Defn: A fossil fish.
MONILIALES Mo*nil`i*a"les, n. pl. [NL., fr. L. monile necklace, -- because the conidia are produced in chains.] (Bot.)
Defn: The largest of the three orders into which the Fungi Imperfecti are divided, including various forms.
MONILIFORM Mo*nil"i*form, a. Etym: [L. monile necklace + -form: cf. F. moniliforme.] (Biol.)
Defn: Joined or constricted, at regular intervals, so as to resemble a string of beads; as, a moniliform root; a moniliform antenna. See Illust. of Antenna.
MONIMENT Mon"i*ment, n. Etym: [L. monimentum, monumentum. See Monument.]
Defn: Something to preserve memory; a reminder; a monument; hence, a mark; an image; a superscription; a record. [Obs.] Spenser.
MONISH Mon"ish, v. t. Etym: [OE. monesten. See Admonish, Monition.]
Defn: To admonish; to warn. See Admonish. [Archaic] Ascham.
MONISHER Mon"ish*er, n.
Defn: One who monishes; an admonisher. [Archaic]
MONISHMENT Mon"ish*ment, n.
Defn: Admonition. [Archaic]
MONISM Mon"ism, n. Etym: [From Gr.
1. (Metaph.)
Defn: That doctrine which refers all phenomena to a single ultimate constituent or agent; -- the opposite of dualism.
Note: The doctrine has been held in three generic forms: matter and its phenomena have been explained as a modification of mind, involving an idealistic monism; or mind has been explained by and resolved into matter, giving a materialistic monism; or, thirdly, matter, mind, and their phenomena have been held to be manifestations or modifications of some one substance, like the substance of Spinoza, or a supposed unknown something of some evolutionists, which is capable of an objective and subjective aspect.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: See Monogenesis, 1.
MONIST Mon"ist, n.
Defn: A believer in monism.
MONISTIC Mo*nis"tic, a.
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or involving, monism.
MONITION Mo*ni"tion, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. monitio, from monere to warn, bring to mind; akin to E. mind. See Mind, and cf. Admonish, Money, Monster.]
1. Instruction or advice given by way of caution; an admonition; a warning; a caution. Sage monitions from his friends. Swift.
2. Information; indication; notice; advice. We have no visible monition of ... other periods, such as we have of the day by successive light and darkness. Holder.
3. (Admiralty Practice)
Defn: A process in the nature of a summons to appear and answer.
4. (Eccl. Law)
Defn: An order monishing a party complained against to obey under pain of the law. Shipley.
MONITIVE Mon"i*tive, a.
Defn: Conveying admonition; admonitory. Barrow.
MONITOR Mon"i*tor, n. Etym: [L., fr. monere. See Monition, and cf. Mentor.]
1. One who admonishes; one who warns of faults, informs of duty, or gives advice and instruction by way of reproof or caution. You need not be a monitor to the king. Bacon.
2. Hence, specifically, a pupil selected to look to the school in the absence of the instructor, to notice the absence or faults of the scholars, or to instruct a division or class.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any large Old World lizard of the genus Varanus; esp., the Egyptian species (V. Niloticus), which is useful because it devours the eggs and young of the crocodile. It is sometimes five or six feet long.
4. Etym: [So called from the name given by Captain Ericson, its designer, to the first ship of the kind.]
Defn: An ironclad war vessel, very low in the water, and having one or more heavily-armored revolving turrets, carrying heavy guns.
5. (Mach.)
Defn: A tool holder, as for a lathe, shaped like a low turret, and capable of being revolved on a vertical pivot so as to bring successively the several tools in holds into proper position for cutting. Monitor top, the raised central portion, or clearstory, of a car roof, having low windows along its sides.
MONITORIAL Mon`i*to"ri*al, a.
1. Of or pertaining to a monitor or monitors.
2. Done or performed by a monitor; as, monitorial work; conducted or taught by monitors; as, a monitorial school; monitorial instruction.
MONITORIALLY Mon`i*to"ri*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a monitorial manner.
MONITOR NOZZLE Monitor nozzle.
Defn: A nozzle capable of turning completely round in a horizontal plane and having a limited play in a vertical plane, used in hydraulic mining, fire-extinguishing apparatus, etc.
MONITORSHIP Mon"i*tor*ship, n.
Defn: The post or office of a monitor.
MONITORY Mon"i*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. monitorius.]
Defn: Giving admonition; instructing by way of caution; warning. Losses, miscarriages, and disappointments, are monitory and instructive. L'Estrange.
MONITORY Mon"i*to*ry, n.
Defn: Admonition; warning; especially, a monition proceeding from an ecclesiastical court, but not addressed to any one person.
MONITRESS; MONITRIX Mon"i*tress, Mon"i*trix, n.
Defn: A female monitor.
MONK Monk, n. Etym: [AS. munuc, munec, munc, L. monachus, Gr. Monachism.]
1. A man who retires from the ordinary temporal concerns of the world, and devotes himself to religion; one of a religious community of men inhabiting a monastery, and bound by vows to a life of chastity, obedience, and poverty. "A monk out of his cloister." Chaucer. Monks in some respects agree with regulars, as in the substantial vows of religion; but in other respects monks and regulars differ; for that regulars, vows excepted, are not tied up to so strict a rule of life as monks are. Ayliffe.
2. (Print.)
Defn: A blotch or spot of ink on a printed page, caused by the ink not being properly distributed. It is distinguished from a friar, or white spot caused by a deficiency of ink.
3. A piece of tinder made of agaric, used in firing the powder hose or train of a mine.
4. (Zoöl.) (a) A South American monkey (Pithecia monachus); also applied to other species, as Cebus xanthocephalus. (b) The European bullfinch. Monk bat (Zoöl.), a South American and West Indian bat (Molossus nasutus); -- so called because the males live in communities by themselves. -- Monk bird(Zoöl.), the friar bird. -- Monk seal (Zoöl.), a species of seal (Monachus albiventer) inhabiting the Black Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, and the adjacent parts of the Atlantic. -- Monk's rhubarb (Bot.), a kind of dock; -- also called patience (Rumex Patientia).
MONKERY Monk"er*y, n.; pl. Monkeries (.
1. The life of monks; monastic life; monastic usage or customs; -- now usually applied by way of reproach. Miters, and wretched dead mediæval monkeries. Carlyle.
2. A collective body of monks. [Obs.] Though he have a whole monkery to sing for him. Latimer.
MONKEY Mon"key, n.; pl. Monkeys. Etym: [Cf. OIt. monicchio, It. monnino, dim. of monna an ape, also dame, mistress, contr. fr. madonna. See Madonna.]
1. (Zoöl.) (a) In the most general sense, any one of the Quadrumana, including apes, baboons, and lemurs. (b) Any species of Quadrumana, except the lemurs. (c) Any one of numerous species of Quadrumana (esp. such as have a long tail and prehensile feet) exclusive of apes and baboons.
Note: The monkeys are often divided into three groups: (a) Catarrhines, or Simidæ. These have an oblong head, with the oblique flat nostrils near together. Some have no tail, as the apes. All these are natives of the Old World. (b) Platyrhines, or Cebidæ. These have a round head, with a broad nasal septum, so that the nostrils are wide apart and directed downward. The tail is often prehensile, and the thumb is short and not opposable. These are natives of the New World. (c) Strepsorhines, or Lemuroidea. These have a pointed head with curved nostrils. They are natives of Southern Asia, Africa, and Madagascar.
2. A term of disapproval, ridicule, or contempt, as for mischievous child. This is the monkey's own giving out; she is persuaded I will marry her. Shak.
3. The weight or hammer of a pile driver, that is, a very heavy mass of iron, which, being raised on high, falls on the head of the pile, and drives it into the earth; the falling weight of a drop hammer used in forging.
4. A small trading vessel of the sixteenth century. Monkey boat. (Naut.) (a) A small boat used in docks. (b) A half-decked boat used on the River Thames. -- Monkey block (Naut.), a small single block strapped with a swivel. R. H. Dana, Jr. -- Monkey flower (Bot.), a plant of the genus Mimulus; -- so called from the appearance of its gaping corolla. Gray. -- Monkey gaff (Naut.), a light gaff attached to the topmast for the better display of signals at sea. -- Monkey jacket, a short closely fitting jacket, worn by sailors. -- Monkey rail (Naut.), a second and lighter rail raised about six inches above the quarter rail of a ship. -- Monkey shine, monkey trick. [Slang, U.S.] -- Monkey trick, a mischievous prank. Saintsbury. -- Monkey wheel. See Gin block, under 5th Gin. -- Monkey wrench, a wrench or spanner having a movable jaw.
MONKEY Mon"key, v. t. & i.
Defn: To act or treat as a monkey does; to ape; to act in a grotesque or meddlesome manner. To monkey with, to handle in a meddlesome manner. [Colloq.]
MONKEY-BREAD Mon"key-bread`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The fruit of the Adansonia digitata; also, the tree. See Adansonia.
MONKEY-CUP Mon"key-cup`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: See Nepenthes.
MONKEY-POT Mon"key-pot`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The fruit of two South American trees (Lecythis Ollaria, and L. Zabucajo), which have for their fruit large, pot-shaped, woody capsules containing delicious nuts, and opening almost explosively by a circular lid at the top. Vases and pots are made of this capsule.
MONKEY'S PUZZLE Mon"key's puz"zle. (Bot.)
Defn: A lofty coniferous Chilian tree (Araucaria imbricata), the branches of which are so crowded and intertwisted "as to puzzle a monkey to climb." The edible nuts are over an inch long, and are called piñon by the Chilians.
MONKEYTAIL Mon"key*tail`, n. (Naut.)
Defn: A short, round iron bar or lever used in naval gunnery. Totten.
MONKFISH Monk"fish, n. (Zoöl.) (a) The angel fish (Squatina). (b) The angler (Lophius).
MONKFLOWER Monk"flow`er, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A name of certain curious orchids which bear three kinds of flowers formerly referred to three genera, but now ascertained to be sexually different forms of the same genus (Catasetum tridentatum, etc.).
MONKHOOD Monk"hood, n. Etym: [Monk + -hood.]
1. The character or condition of a monk. Atterbury.
2. Monks, regarded collectively. Longfellow.
MONKING Monk"ing, a.
Defn: Monkish. [R.] Coleridge.
MONKISH Monk"ish, a.
Defn: Like a monk, or pertaining to monks; monastic; as, monkish manners; monkish dress; monkish solitude. -- Monk"ish*ness, n.
MONKLY Monk"ly, a.
Defn: Like, or suitable to, a monk. [R.]
MONKSHOOD Monks"hood`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant of the genus Aconitum; aconite. See Aconite.
MONK'S SEAM Monk's" seam`. (Naut.)
Defn: An extra middle seam made at the junction of two breadths of canvas, ordinarily joined by only two rows of stitches.
MONO-; MON- Mon"o-, Mon-. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A prefix signifying one, single, alone; as, monocarp, monopoly; (Chem.) indicating that a compound contains one atom, radical, or group of that to the name of which it is united; as, monoxide, monosulphide, monatomic, etc.
MONO Mo"no, n. Etym: [Sp.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The black howler of Central America (Mycetes villosus).
MONOBASIC Mon`o*ba"sic, a. Etym: [Mono- + basic.] (Chem.)
Defn: Capable of being neutralized by a univalent base or basic radical; having but one acid hydrogen atom to be replaced; -- said of acids; as, acetic, nitric, and hydrochloric acids are monobasic.
MONOCARBONIC Mon`o*car*bon"ic, a. Etym: [Mono- + carbonic.] (Chem.)
Defn: Containing one carboxyl group; as, acetic acid is a monocarbonic acid.
MONOCARDIAN Mon`o*car"di*an, a. Etym: [Mono- + Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having a single heart, as fishes and amphibians. -- n.
Defn: An animal having a single heart.
MONOCARP Mon"o*carp, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A monocarpic plant.
MONOCARPELLARY Mon`o*car"pel*la*ry, a. Etym: [Mono- + carpellary.] (Bot.)
Defn: Consisting of a single carpel, as the fruit of the pea, cherry, and almond.
MONOCARPIC; MONOCARPOUS Mon`o*car"pic, Mon`o*car"pous, a. Etym: [Mono- + Gr. monocarpe.] (Bot.)
Defn: Bearing fruit but once, and dying after fructification, as beans, maize, mustard, etc.
Note: Annual and biennual herbs are monocarpic, so also some plants of longer duration, as the century plant.
MONOCEPHALOUS Mon`o*ceph"a*lous, a. Etym: [Mono- + Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Having a solitary head; -- said of unbranched composite plants.
MONOCEROS Mo*noc"e*ros, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.
1. A one-horned creature; a unicorn; a sea monster with one horn. Mighty monoceroses with immeasured tails. Spenser.
2. (Astron.)
Defn: The Unicorn, a constellation situated to the east Orion.
MONOCHLAMYDEOUS Mon`o*chla*myd"e*ous, a. Etym: [Mono- + Gr. monochlamydé.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having a single floral envelope, that is, a calyx without a corolla, or, possibly, in rare cases, a corolla without a calyx.
MONOCHORD Mon"o*chord, n. Etym: [L. monochordon, Gr. monocorde. See Chord, and cf. Mainchord.] (Mus.)
Defn: An instrument for experimenting upon the mathematical relations of musical sounds. It consists of a single string stretched between two bridges, one or both of which are movable, and which stand upon a graduated rule for the purpose of readily changing and measuring the length of the part of the string between them.
MONOCHROMATIC Mon`o*chro*mat"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. monochromatique. See Monochrome.]
Defn: Consisting of one color, or presenting rays of light of one color only. Monochromatic lamp (Opt.),a lamp whose flame yields rays of some one homogenous light. It is of great importance in optical experiments.
MONOCHROME Mon"o*chrome, n. Etym: [Gr. monochrome.]
Defn: A painting or drawing in a single color; a picture made with a single color.
MONOCHROMIC Mon`o*chro"mic, a.
Defn: Made, or done, with a single color; as, a monochromic picture.
MONOCHROMY Mon"o*chro`my, n.
Defn: The art of painting or drawing in monochrome.
MONOCHRONIC Mon`o*chron"ic, a. Etym: [Mono- + Gr.
Defn: Existing at the same time; contemporaneous.
MONOCILIATED Mon`o*cil"i*a`ted, a. Etym: [Mono- + ciliated.] (Biol.)
Defn: Having but one cilium.
MONOCLE Mon"o*cle, n. Etym: [F. See Monocular.]
Defn: An eyeglass for one eye. Simmonds.
MONOCLINAL Mon`o*cli"nal, a. Etym: [See Monoclinic.] (Geol.)
Defn: Having one oblique inclination; -- applied to strata that dip in only one direction from the axis of elevation.
MONOCLINE Mon"o*cline, n. (Geol.)
Defn: A monoclinal fold.
MONOCLINIC Mon`o*clin"ic, a. Etym: [Mono- + Gr. (Crystallog.)
Defn: Having one oblique intersection; -- said of that system of crystallization in which the vertical axis is inclined to one, but at right angles to the other, lateral axis. See Crystallization.
MONOCLINOUS Mo*noc"li*nous, a. Etym: [Mono- + Gr. monocline.] (Bot.)
Defn: Hermaphrodite, or having both stamens and pistils in every flower.
MONOCONDYLA Mon`o*con"dy*la, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Mono-, and Condyle.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of vertebrates, including the birds and reptiles, or those that have only one occipital condyle; the Sauropsida.
MONOCOTYL Mon"o*co*tyl, n. (Bot.)
Defn: Any monocotyledonous plant.
MONOCOTYLE Mon"o*co*tyle, a. Etym: [Cf. F. monocotyle.] (Bot.)
Defn: Monocotyledonous.
MONOCOTYLEDON Mon`o*cot`y*le"don, n. Etym: [Mono- + cotyledon: cf. F. monocotylédone.] (Bot.)
Defn: A plant with only one cotyledon, or seed lobe.
Note: The plural, monocotyledons, is used as the name of a large class of plants, and is generally understood to be equivalent to the term endogens.
MONOCOTYLEDONOUS Mon`o*cot`y*le"don*ous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. monocotylédoné.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having only one cotyledon, seed lobe, or seminal leaf. Lindley.
MONOCRACY Mo*noc"ra*cy, n. Etym: [Mono- + -cracy, as in democracy.]
Defn: Government by a single person; undivided rule. Sydney Smith.
MONOCRAT Mon"o*crat, n. Etym: [Cf. Gr.
Defn: One who governs alone.
MONOCROTIC Mon`o*crot"ic, a. (Physiol.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or showing, monocrotism; as, a monocrotic pulse; a pulse of the monocrotic type.
MONOCROTISM Mo*noc"ro*tism, n. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol.)
Defn: That condition of the pulse in which the pulse curve or sphygmogram shows but a single crest, the dicrotic elevation entirely disappearing.
MONOCULAR Mo*noc"u*lar, a. Etym: [L. monoculus; Gr. oculus eye: cf. F. monoculaire.]
1. Having only one eye; with one eye only; as, monocular vision.
2. Adapted to be used with only one eye at a time; as, a monocular microscope.
MONOCULE Mon"o*cule, n. Etym: [See Monocular.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small crustacean with one median eye.
MONOCULOUS Mo*noc"u*lous, a.
Defn: Monocular. Glanvill.
MONOCYSTIC Mon`o*cys"tic, a. Etym: [See Mono-, and Cyst.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to a division (Monocystidea) of Gregarinida, in which the body consists of one sac.
MONODACTYLOUS Mon`o*dac"tyl*ous, a. Etym: [Gr. monodactyle.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having but one finger or claw.
MONODELPH; MONODELPHIAN Mon"o*delph, Mon`o*del"phi*an, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Monodelphia.
MONODELPHIA Mon`o*del"phi*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The group that includes all ordinary or placental mammals; the Placentalia. See Mammalia.
MONODELPHIC; MONODELPHOUS Mon`o*del"phic, Mon`o*del"phous, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Monodelphia.
MONODIC; MONODICAL Mo*nod"ic, Mo*nod"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr.
1. Belonging to a monody.
2. (Mus.) (a) For one voice; monophonic. (b) Homophonic; -- applied to music in which the melody is confined to one part, instead of being shared by all the parts as in the style called polyphonic.
MONODIMETRIC Mon`o*di*met"ric, a. Etym: [Mono- + dimetric.] (Crystallog.)
Defn: Dimetric.
MONODIST Mon"o*dist, n.
Defn: A writer of a monody.
MONODRAMA; MONODRAME Mon"o*dra`ma, Mon"o*drame, n. Etym: [Mono- + Gr.
Defn: A drama acted, or intended to be acted, by a single person.
MONODRAMATIC Mon`o*dra*mat"ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to a monodrama.
MONODY Mon"o*dy, n.; pl. Monodies. Etym: [L. monodia, Gr. monodie. See Ode.]
Defn: A species of poem of a mournful character, in which a single mourner expresses lamentation; a song for one voice.
MONODYNAMIC Mon`o*dy*nam"ic, a. Etym: [Mono- + dynamic.]
Defn: Possessing but one capacity or power. "Monodynamic men." De Quincey.
MONODYNAMISM Mon`o*dy"na*mism, n.
Defn: The theory that the various forms of activity in nature are manifestations of the same force. G. H. Lewes.
MONOECIA Mo*noe"ci*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A Linnæan class of plants, whose stamens and pistils are in distinct flowers in the same plant.
MONOECIAN Mo*noe"cian, a.
1. (Bot.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Monoecia; monoecious. -- n.
Defn: One of the Monoecia.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A monoecious animal, as certain mollusks.
MONOECIOUS Mo*noe"cious, a. (Biol.)
Defn: Having the sexes united in one individual, as when male and female flowers grow upon the same individual plant; hermaphrodite; -- opposed to Ant: dioecious.
MONOECISM Mo*noe"cism, n. (Biol.)
Defn: The state or condition of being monoecious.
MONOGAM Mon"o*gam, n. (Bot.)
Defn: One of the Monogamia.
MONOGAMIA Mon`o*ga"mi*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Monogamous.] (Bot.)
Defn: A Linnæan order of plants, having solitary flowers with united anthers, as in the genus Lobelia.
MONOGAMIAN; MONOGAMIC Mon`o*ga"mi*an, Mon`o*gam"ic, a. Etym: [See Monogamous.]
1. Pertaining to, or involving, monogamy.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Monogamia; having a simple flower with united anthers.
MONOGAMIST Mo*nog"a*mist, n.
Defn: One who practices or upholds monogamy. Goldsmith.
MONOGAMOUS Mo*nog"a*mous, a. Etym: [L. monogamus having but one wife, Gr.
1. Upholding, or practicing, monogamy.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Same as Monogamian.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Mating with but one of the opposite sex; -- said of birds and mammals.
MONOGAMY Mo*nog"a*my, n. Etym: [L. monogamia, Gr. monogamie.]
1. Single marriage; marriage with but one person, husband or wife, at the same time; -- opposed to polygamy. Also, one marriage only during life; -- opposed to deuterogamy.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: State of being paired with a single mate.
MONOGASTRIC Mon`o*gas"tric, a. Etym: [Mono- + Gr.
Defn: Having but a single stomach.
MONOGENESIS Mon`o*gen"e*sis, n. Etym: [Mono- + genesis.]
1. Oneness of origin; esp. (Biol.), development of all beings in the universe from a single cell; -- opposed to polygenesis. Called also monism. Dana. Haeckel.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: That form of reproduction which requires but one parent, as in reproduction by fission or in the formation of buds, etc., which drop off and form new individuals; asexual reproduction. Haeckel.
3. (Biol.)
Defn: The direct development of an embryo, without metamorphosis, into an organism similar to the parent organism; -- opposed to metagenesis. E. van Beneden.
MONOGENETIC Mon`o*ge*net"ic, a. Etym: [See Monogenesis.]
1. (Geol.)
Defn: One in genesis; resulting from one process of formation; -- used of a mountain range. Dana.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: Relating to, or involving, monogenesis; as, the monogenetic school of physiologists, who admit but one cell as the source of all beings.
MONOGENIC Mon`o*gen"ic, a.
1. (Biol.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to monogenesis.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Producing only one kind of germs, or young; developing only in one way.
MONOGENISM Mo*nog"e*nism, n. (Anthropol.)
Defn: The theory or doctrine that the human races have a common origin, or constitute a single species.
MONOGENIST Mo*nog"e*nist, n. (Anthropol.)
Defn: One who maintains that the human races are all of one species; -- opposed to polygenist.
MONOGENISTIC Mon`o*ge*nis"tic, a.
Defn: Monogenic.
MONOGENOUS Mo*nog"e*nous, a. (Biol.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to monogenesis; as, monogenous, or asexual, reproduction.
MONOGENY Mo*nog"e*ny, n.
1. Monogenesis.
2. (Anthropol.)
Defn: The doctrine that the members of the human race have all a common origin.
MONOGONEUTIC Mon`o*go*neu"tic, a. Etym: [Mono- + Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having but one brood in a season.
MONOGRAM Mon"o*gram, n. Etym: [L. monogramma; Gr. monogramme. See Graphic.]
1. A character or cipher composed of two or more letters interwoven or combined so as to represent a name, or a part of it (usually the initials). Monograms are often used on seals, ornamental pins, rings, buttons, and by painters, engravers, etc., to distinguish their works. Monogram.
Note: The monogram above, combining the letters of the name Karolvs, was used by Charlemagne.
2. A picture in lines; a sketch. [R.]
3. An arbitrary sign for a word. [R.]
MONOGRAMMAL Mon"o*gram`mal, a.
Defn: See Monogrammic.
MONOGRAMMATIC Mon`o*gram*mat"ic, a.
Defn: Monogrammic.
MONOGRAMMIC Mon`o*gram"mic, a.
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a monogram.
MONOGRAMMOUS Mon"o*gram`mous, a.
Defn: Monogrammic.
MONOGRAPH Mon"o*graph, n. Etym: [Mono- + -graph.]
Defn: A written account or description of a single thing, or class of things; a special treatise on a particular subject of limited range.
MONOGRAPHER Mo*nog"ra*pher, n.
Defn: A writer of a monograph.
MONOGRAPHIC; MONOGRAPHICAL Mon`o*graph"ic, Mon`o*graph"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. monographique.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a monograph, or to a monography; as, a monographic writing; a monographic picture. -- Mon`o*graph"ic*al*ly, adv.
MONOGRAPHIST Mo*nog"ra*phist, n.
Defn: One who writes a monograph.
MONOGRAPHOUS Mo*nog"ra*phous, a.
Defn: Monographic. [Obs.]
MONOGRAPHY Mo*nog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Mono- + -graphy: cf. F. monographie.]
1. Representation by lines without color; an outline drawing.
2. A monograph. [Obs.]
MONOGYN Mon"o*gyn, n. (Bot.)
Defn: One of the Monogynia.
MONOGYNIA Mon`o*gyn"i*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A Linnæan order of plants, including those which have only one style or stigma.
MONOGYNIAN Mon`o*gyn"i*an, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Pertaining to the Monogynia; monogynous. -- n.
Defn: One of the Monogynia.
MONOGYNOUS Mo*nog"y*nous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. monogyne.] (Bot.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to Monogynia; having only one style or stigma.
MONOGYNY Mo*nog"y*ny, n. Etym: [See Monogynia.]
1. Marriage with the one woman only.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: The state or condition of being monogynous.
MONOHEMEROUS Mon`o*hem"er*ous, a. Etym: [Mono- + Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Lasting but one day.
MONOICOUS Mo*noi"cous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Monoecious.
MONOLATRY Mo*nol"a*try, n. Etym: [Mono- + Gr.
Defn: Worship of a single deity.
MONOLITH Mon"o*lith, n. Etym: [F. monolithe, L. monolithus consisting of a single stone, Gr.
Defn: A single stone, especially one of large size, shaped into a pillar, statue, or monument.
MONOLITHAL Mon"o*lith`al, a.
Defn: Monolithic.
MONOLITHIC Mon`o*lith"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a monolith; consisting of a single stone.
MONOLOGIST Mo*nol"o*gist, n. Etym: [See Monologue.]
Defn: One who soliloquizes; esp., one who monopolizes conversation in company. De Quincey.
MONOLOGUE Mon"o*logue, n. Etym: [F. monologue, Gr. Legend.]
1. A speech uttered by a person alone; soliloquy; also, talk or discourse in company, in the strain of a soliloquy; as, an account in monologue. Dryden.
2. A dramatic composition for a single performer.
MONOLOGY Mo*nol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The habit of soliloquizing, or of monopolizing conversation. It was not by an insolent usurpation that Coleridge persisted in monology through his whole life. De Quincey.
MONOMACHIA; MONOMACHY Mon`o*ma"chi*a, Mo*nom"a*chy, n. Etym: [L. monomachia, Gr.
Defn: A duel; single combat. "The duello or monomachia." Sir W. Scott.
MONOMACHIST Mo*nom"a*chist, n.
Defn: One who fights in single combat; a duelist.
MONOMANE Mon"o*mane, n.
Defn: A monomaniac. [R.]
MONOMANIA Mon`o*ma"ni*a, n. Etym: [Mono- + mania.]
Defn: Derangement of the mind in regard of a single subject only; also, such a concentration of interest upon one particular subject or train of ideas to show mental derangement.
Syn. -- Insanity; madness; alienation; aberration; derangement; mania. See Insanity.
MONOMANIAC Mon`oma"ni*ac, n.
Defn: A person affected by monomania.
MONOMANIAC; MONOMANIACAL Mon`oma"ni*ac, Mon`oma"ni*a*cal, a. Etym: [Cf. F. monomaniaque.]
Defn: Affected with monomania, or partial derangement of intellect; caused by, or resulting from, monomania; as, a monomaniacal delusion.
MONOME Mon"ome, n. Etym: [F., fr. Gr. -nome as in binome. See Binomial.] (Math.)
Defn: A monomial.
MONOMEROUS Mo*nom"er*ous, a. Etym: [Gr.
1. (Bot.)
Defn: Composed of solitary parts, as a flower with one sepal, one petal, one stamen, and one pistil.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having but one joint; -- said of the foot of certain insects.
MONOMETALLIC Mon`o*me*tal"lic, a.
Defn: Consisting of one metal; of or pertaining to monometallism.
MONOMETALLISM Mon`o*met"al*lism, n. Etym: [Mono- + metal.]
Defn: The legalized use of one metal only, as gold, or silver, in the standard currency of a country, or as a standard of money values. See Bimetallism.
MONOMETALLIST Mon`o*met"al*list, n.
Defn: One who believes in monometallism as opposed to bimetallism, etc.
MONOMETER Mo*nom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A rhythmic series, consisting of a single meter.
MONOMETRIC Mon`o*met"ric, a. Etym: [Cf. F. monométrique.] (Crystallog.)
Defn: Same as Isometric.
MONOMIAL Mo*no"mi*al, n. Etym: [See Monome, Binomial.] (Alg.)
Defn: A single algebraic expression; that is, an expression unconnected with any other by the sign of addition, substraction, equality, or inequality.
MONOMIAL Mo*no"mi*al, a. (Alg.)
Defn: Consisting of but a single term or expression.
MONOMORPHIC; MONOMORPHOUS Mon`o*mor"phic, Mon`o*mor"phous, a. Etym: [Mono- + Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: Having but a single form; retaining the same form throughout the various stages of development; of the same or of an essentially similar type of structure; -- opposed to dimorphic, trimorphic, and polymorphic.
MONOMPHALUS Mo*nom"pha*lus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
Defn: A form of double monster, in which two individuals are united by a common umbilicus.
MONOMYA; MONOMYARIA Mo*no"my*a, Mon`o*my*a"ri*a, n.pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of lamellibranchs having but one muscle for closing the shell, as the oyster.
MONOMYARIAN; MONOMYARY Mon`o*my"a*ri*an, Mon`o*my"a*ry, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Monomya. -- n.
Defn: One of the Monomya.
MONONOMIAL Mon`o*no"mi*al, n. & a.
Defn: Monomyal.
MONOOUSIAN; MONOOUSIOUS Mon`o*ou"si*an, Mon`o*ou"si*ous, a. Etym: [Mono- + Gr. (Theil.)
Defn: Having but one and the same nature or essence.
MONOPATHY Mo*nop"a*thy, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Suffering or sensibility in a single organ or function. -- Mon`o*path"ic, a.
MONOPERSONAL Mon`o*per"son*al, a. Etym: [Mono- + personal.]
Defn: Having but one person, or form of existence.
MONOPETALOUS Mon`o*pet"al*ous, a. Etym: [Mono- + petal: cf. F. monopétale.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having only one petal, or the corolla in one piece, or composed of petals cohering so as to form a tube or bowl; gamopetalous.
Note: The most recent authors restrict this form to flowers having a solitary petal, as in species of Amorpha, and use gamopetalous for a corolla of several petals combined into one piece. See Illust. of Gamopetalous.
MONOPHANOUS Mo*noph"a*nous, a. Etym: [Mono- + Gr.
Defn: Having one the same appearance; having a mutual resemblance.
MONOPHONIC Mon`o*phon"ic, a. Etym: [Mono- + Gr. (Mus.)
Defn: Single-voiced; having but one part; as, a monophonic composition; -- opposed to Ant: polyphonic.
MONOPHTHONG Mon"oph*thong, n. Etym: [Gr.
1. A single uncompounded vowel sound.
2. A combination of two written vowels pronounced as one; a digraph.
MONOPHTHONGAL Mon`oph*thon"gal, a.
Defn: Consisting of, or pertaining to, a monophthong.
MONOPHYLETIC Mon`o*phy*let"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to a single family or stock, or to development from a single common parent form; -- opposed to polyphyletic; as, monophyletic origin.
MONOPHYLLOUS Mo*noph"yl*lous, a. Etym: [Gr. monophylle.] (Bot.)
Defn: One-leaved; composed of a single leaf; as, a monophyllous involucre or calyx.
MONOPHYODONT Mon`o*phy"o*dont, a. Etym: [Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: Having but one set of teeth; -- opposed to diphyodont.
MONOPHYSITE Mo*noph"y*site, n. Etym: [Gr. monophysite.] (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: One of a sect, in the ancient church, who maintained that the human and divine in Jesus Christ constituted but one composite nature. Also used adjectively.
MONOPHYSITICAL Mon`o*phy*sit"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Monophysites, or their doctrines.
MONOPLAST Mon"o*plast, n. Etym: [Mono- + -plast.] (Biol.)
Defn: A monoplastic element.
MONOPLASTIC Mon`o*plas"tic, a. Etym: [Mono- + -plastic.] (Biol.)
Defn: That has one form, or retains its primary form, as, a monoplastic element.
MONOPLEGIA Mon`ople"gi*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Paralysis affecting a single limb.
MONOPNEUMONA Mon`op*neu"mo*na, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Mono-, and Pneumonia.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A suborder of Dipnoi, including the Ceratodus. [Written also monopneumonia.]
MONOPODE Mon"o*pode, n.
1. One of a fabulous tribe or race of Ethiopians having but one leg and foot. Sir J. Mandeville. Lowell.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: A monopodium.
MONOPODIAL Mon`o*po"di*al, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Having a monopodium or a single and continuous axis, as a birchen twig or a cornstalk.
MONOPODIUM Mon`o*po"di*um, n.; pl. L. Monopodia, E. -ums. Etym: [L. See Monopody.] (Bot.)
Defn: A single and continuous vegetable axis; -- opposed to sympodium.
MONOPODY Mo*nop"o*dy, n. Etym: [Mono- + Gr. (Pros.)
Defn: A measure of but a single foot.
MONOPOLER Mo*nop"o*ler, n.
Defn: A monopolist. [Obs.]
MONOPOLIST Mo*nop"o*list, n.
Defn: One who monopolizes; one who has a monopoly; one who favors monopoly.
MONOPOLISTIC Mo*nop`o*lis"tic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a monopolist. North Am. Rev.
MONOPOLITE Mo*nop"o*lite, n.
Defn: A monopolist. Sylvester.
MONOPOLIZE Mo*nop"o*lize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Monopolized; p. pr. & vb. n. Monopolizing.] Etym: [From Monopoly.]
Defn: To acquire a monopoly of; to have or get the exclusive privilege or means of dealing in, or the exclusive possession of; to engross the whole of; as, to monopolize the coffee trade; to monopolize land.
MONOPOLIZER Mo*nop"o*li`zer, n.
Defn: One who monopolizes.
MONOPOLY Mo*nop"o*ly, n.; pl. Monopolies. Etym: [L. monopolium, Gr.
1. The exclusive power, or privilege of selling a commodity; the exclusive power, right, or privilege of dealing in some article, or of trading in some market; sole command of the traffic in anything, however obtained; as, the proprietor of a patented article is given a monopoly of its sale for a limited time; chartered trading companies have sometimes had a monopoly of trade with remote regions; a combination of traders may get a monopoly of a particular product. Raleigh held a monopoly of cards, Essex a monopoly of sweet wines. Macaulay.
2. Exclusive possession; as, a monopoly of land. If I had a monopoly out, they would have part on 't. Shak.
3. The commodity or other material thing to which the monopoly relates; as, tobacco is a monopoly in France. [Colloq.]
MONOPOLYLOGUE Mon`o*pol"y*logue, n. Etym: [Mono- + Gr. poly`s many + lo`gos speech.]
Defn: An exhibition in which an actor sustains many characters.
MONOPSYCHISM Mon`o*psy"chism, n. Etym: [Mono- + Gr.
Defn: The doctrine that there is but one immortal soul or intellect with which all men are endowed.
MONOPTERAL Mo*nop"ter*al, a. Etym: [Gr. monoptère.] (Arch.)
Defn: Round and without a cella; consisting of a single ring of columns supporting a roof; -- said esp. of a temple.
MONOPTERON Mo*nop"ter*on, n.; pl. Monoptera. Etym: [NL. See Monopteral.] (Arch.)
Defn: A circular temple consisting of a roof supported on columns, without a cella.
MONOPTOTE Mon"op*tote, n. Etym: [L. monoptotum, Gr. mo`nos single + (Gram.)
1. A noun having only one case. Andrews.
2. A noun having only one ending for the oblique cases.
MONOPYRENOUS Mon`o*py*re"nous, a. Etym: [Mono- + pyrene.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having but a single stone or kernel.
MONORGANIC Mon`or*gan"ic, a. Etym: [Mon- + organic.] (Biol. & Med.)
Defn: Belonging to, or affecting, a single organ, or set of organs.
MONORHINA Mon`o*rhi"na, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The Marsipobranchiata.
MONORHYME Mon"o*rhyme, n. Etym: [Mono- + rhyme: cf. F. monorime.]
Defn: A composition in verse, in which all the lines end with the same rhyme.
MONOSACCHARIDE; MONOSACCHARID Mon`o*sac"cha*ride, n. Also -rid . [Mono- + saccharide.] (Chem.)
Defn: A simple sugar; any of a number of sugars (including the trioses, tetroses, pentoses, hexoses, etc.), not decomposable into simpler sugars by hydrolysis. Specif., as used by some, a hexose. The monosaccharides are all open-chain compounds containing hydroxyl groups and either an aldehyde group or a ketone group.
MONOSEPALOUS Mon`o*sep"al*ous, a. Etym: [Mono- + sepal: cf. F. monosépale.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having only one sepal, or the calyx in one piece or composed of the sepals united into one piece; gamosepalous.
Note: The most recent writers restrict this term to flowers having a solarity sepal, and use gamosepalous for a calyx formed by several sepals combined into one piece. Cf. Monopetalous.
MONOSPERM Mon"o*sperm, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A monospermous plant.
MONOSPERMAL; MONOSPERMOUS Mon`o*sper"mal, Mon`o*sper"mous, a. Etym: [Mono- + Gr. monosperme.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having only one seed.
MONOSPHERICAL Mon`o*spher"ic*al, a. Etym: [Mono- + spherical.]
Defn: Consisting of one sphere only.
MONOSTICH Mon"o*stich, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A composition consisting of one verse only.
MONOSTICHOUS Mo*nos"ti*chous, a. Etym: [See Monostich.] (Bot.)
Defn: Arranged in a single row on one side of an axis, as the flowers in grasses of the tribe Chloridæ.
MONOSTROPHE Mo*nos"tro*phe, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
Defn: A metrical composition consisting of a single strophe.
MONOSTROPHIC Mon`o*stroph"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Pros.)
Defn: Having one strophe only; not varied in measure; written in unvaried measure. Milton.
MONOSULPHIDE Mon`o*sul"phide, n. Etym: [Mono- + sulphide.] (Chem.)
Defn: A sulphide containing one atom of sulphur, and analogous to a monoxide; -- contrasted with a Ant: polysulphide; as, galena is a monosulphide.
MONOSULPHURET Mon`o*sul"phu*ret, n. Etym: [Mono- + sulphuret.] (Chem.)
Defn: See Monosulphide.
MONOSYLLABIC Mon`o*syl*lab"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. monosyllabique.]
Defn: Being a monosyllable, or composed of monosyllables; as, a monosyllabic word; a monosyllabic language. -- Mon`o*syl*lab"ic*al*ly, adv.
MONOSYLLABISM Mon`o*syl"la*bism, n.
Defn: The state of consisting of monosyllables, or having a monosyllabic form; frequent occurrence of monosyllables.
MONOSYLLABLE Mon"o*syl`la*ble, n. Etym: [L. monosyllabus of one syllable, Gr. monosyllabe. See Mono-, Syllable.]
Defn: A word of one syllable.
MONOSYLLABLED Mon"o*syl`la*bled, a.
Defn: Formed into, or consisting of, monosyllables. Cleveland.
MONOSYMMETRIC; MONOSYMMETRICAL Mon`o*sym*met"ric, Mon`o*sym*met"ric*al, a. Etym: [Mono- + symmetric, -ical.] (Crystallog.)
Defn: Same as Monoclinic.
MONOTESSARON Mon`o*tes"sa*ron, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
Defn: A single narrative framed from the statements of the four evangelists; a gospel harmony. [R.]
MONOTHALAMA Mon`o*thal"a*ma, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of Foraminifera including those that have only one chamber.
MONOTHALAMAN Mon`o*thal"a*man, n. Etym: [See Monothalamous.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A foraminifer having but one chamber.
MONOTHALAMOUS Mon`o*thal"a*mous, a. Etym: [Mono- + Gr. monothalame.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One-chambered.
MONOTHALMIC Mon`o*thal"mic, a. Etym: [See Monothalamous.] (Bot.)
Defn: Formed from one pistil; -- said of fruits. R. Brown.
MONOTHECAL Mon`o*the"cal, a. Etym: [Mono- + Br. (Bot.)
Defn: Having a single loculament.
MONOTHEISM Mon"o*the*ism, n. Etym: [Mono- + Gr. monothéisme.]
Defn: The doctrine or belief that there is but one God.
MONOTHEIST Mon"o*the*ist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. monothéiste.]
Defn: One who believes that there is but one God.
MONOTHEISTIC Mon`o*the*is"tic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to monotheism.
MONOTHELISM; MONOTHELITISM Mo*noth"e*lism, Mo*noth"e*li*tism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. monothélisme, monothélitisme.]
Defn: The doctrine of the Monothelites.
MONOTHELITE Mo*noth"e*lite, n. Etym: [Gr. monothélite.] (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: One of an ancient sect who held that Christ had but one will as he had but one nature. Cf. Monophysite. Gibbon.
MONOTHELITIC Mon`o*the*lit"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Monothelites, or their doctrine.
MONOTOCOUS Mo*not"o*cous, a. Etym: [Mono- + Gr.
1. (Bot.)
Defn: Bearing fruit but once; monocarpic.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Uniparous; laying a single egg.
MONOTOMOUS Mo*not"o*mous, a. Etym: [Mono- + Gr. (Min.)
Defn: Having a distinct cleavage in a single direction only.
MONOTONE Mon"o*tone, n. Etym: [See Monotonous, Monotony.]
1. (Mus.)
Defn: A single unvaried tone or sound.
2. (Rhet.)
Defn: The utterance of successive syllables, words, or sentences, on one unvaried key or line of pitch.
MONOTONIC; MONOTONICAL Mon`o*ton"ic, Mon`o*ton"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or uttered in, a monotone; monotonous. "Monotonical declamation." Chesterfield.
MONOTONIST Mo*not"o*nist, n.
Defn: One who talks in the same strain or on the same subject until weariness is produced. Richardson.
MONOTONOUS Mo*not"o*nous, a. Etym: [Gr. Tone.]
Defn: Uttered in one unvarying tone; continued with dull uniformity; characterized by monotony; without change or variety; wearisome. -- Mo*not"o*nous*ly, adv. -- Mo*not"o*nous*ness, n.
MONOTONY Mo*not"o*ny, n. Etym: [Gr. monotonie. See Monotonius.]
1. A frequent recurrence of the same tone or sound, producing a dull uniformity; absence of variety, as in speaking or singing.
2. Any irksome sameness, or want of variety. At sea, everything that breaks the monotony of the surrounding expanse attracts attention. W. Irving.
MONOTREMATA Mon`o*trem"a*ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A subclass of Mammalia, having a cloaca in which the ducts of the urinary, genital, and alimentary systems terminate, as in birds. The female lays eggs like a bird. See Duck mole, under Duck, and Echidna.
MONOTREMATOUS Mon`o*trem"a*tous, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Monotremata.
MONOTREME Mon"o*treme, n. Etym: [Cf. F. monotrème.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Monotremata.
MONOTRIGLYPH Mon`o*tri"glyph, n. Etym: [Mono- + triglyph: cf. F. monotriglyphe.] (Arch.)
Defn: A kind of intercolumniation in an entablature, in which only one triglyph and two metopes are introduced.
MONOTROPA Mo*not"ro*pa, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of parasitic or saprophytic plants including the Indian pipe and pine sap. The name alludes to the dropping end of the stem.
MONOTYPE; MONOTYPIC Mon"o*type, Mon`o*typ"ic, a. Etym: [Mono- + -type: cf. F. monotype.] (Biol.)
Defn: Having but one type; containing but one representative; as, a monotypic genus, which contains but one species.
MONOVALENT Mo*nov"a*lent, a. Etym: [Mono- + L. valens, p. pr. See Valence.] (Chem.)
Defn: Having a valence of one; univalent. See Univalent.
MONOXIDE Mo*nox"ide, n. Etym: [Mon- + oxide.] (Chem.)
Defn: An oxide containing one atom of oxygen in each molecule; as, barium monoxide.
MONOXYLON Mo*nox"y*lon, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr.
Defn: A canoe or boat made from one piece of timber.
MONOXYLOUS Mo*nox"y*lous, a. Etym: [See Monoxylon.]
Defn: Made of one piece of wood.
MONOZOA Mon`o*zo"a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of Radiolaria; -- called also Monocyttaria. -- Mon`o*zo"ic, a.
MONROE DOCTRINE Mon*roe" doc"trine.
Defn: See under Doctrine.
MONSEIGNEUR Mon`sei`gneur", n.; pl. Messeigneurs. Etym: [F., fr. mon my + seigneur lord, L. senior older. See Senior, and cf. Monsieur.]
Defn: My lord; -- a title in France of a person of high birth or rank; as, Monseigneur the Prince, or Monseigneur the Archibishop. It was given, specifically, to the dauphin, before the Revolution of 1789. (Abbrev. Mgr.)
MONSEL'S SALT Mon"sel's salt`. (Med.)
Defn: A basic sulphate of iron; -- so named from Monsel, a Frenchman.
MONSEL'S SOLUTION Mon"sel's so*lu"tion. Etym: [See Monsel's salt.] (Med.)
Defn: An aqueous solution of Monsel's salt, having valuable styptic properties.
MONSIEUR Mon*sieur", n.; pl. Messieurs. Etym: [F., fr. mon my + Sieur, abbrev. of seigneur lord. See Monseigneur.]
1. The common title of civility in France in speaking to, or of, a man; Mr. or Sir. [Represented by the abbreviation M. or Mons. in the singular, and by MM. or Messrs. in the plural.]
2. The oldest brother of the king of France.
3. A Frenchman. [Contemptuous] Shak.
MONSIGNORE Mon`si*gno"re, n.; pl. Monsignors. Etym: [It., my lord. Cf. Monseigneur.]
Defn: My lord; -- an ecclesiastical dignity bestowed by the pope, entitling the bearer to social and domestic rank at the papal court. (Abbrev. Mgr.)
MONSOON Mon*soon", n. Etym: [Malay musim, fr. Ar. mausim a time, season: cf. F. monson, mousson, Sr. monzon, Pg. monç\'eeo, It. monsone.]
Defn: A wind blowing part of the year from one direction, alternating with a wind from the opposite direction; -- a term applied particularly to periodical winds of the Indian Ocean, which blow from the southwest from the latter part of May to the middle of September, and from the northeast from about the middle of October to the middle of December.
MONSTER Mon"ster, n. Etym: [OE. monstre, F. monstre, fr. L. monstrum, orig., a divine omen, indicating misfortune; akin of monstrare to show, point out, indicate, and monere to warn. See Monition, and cf. Demonstrate, Muster.]
1. Something of unnatural size, shape, or quality; a prodigy; an enormity; a marvel. A monster or marvel. Chaucer.
2. Specifically , an animal or plant departing greatly from the usual type, as by having too many limbs.
3. Any thing or person of unnatural or excessive ugliness, deformity, wickedness, or cruelty.
MONSTER Mon"ster, a.
Defn: Monstrous in size. Pope.
MONSTER Mon"ster, v. t.
Defn: To make monstrous. [Obs.] Shak.
MONSTRANCE Mon"strance, n. Etym: [LL. monstrantia, fr. L. monstrare to show: cf. OF. monstrance. See Monster.] (R. C. Ch.)
Defn: A transparent pyx, in which the consecrated host is exposed to view.
MONSTRATION Mon*stra"tion, n. Etym: [L. monstratio.]
Defn: The act of demonstrating; proof. [Obs.] A certain monstration. Grafton.
MONSTROSITY Mon*stros"i*ty, n.; pl. Monstrosities. Etym: [Cf. F. monstruosité. See Monstrous.]
Defn: The state of being monstrous, or out of the common order of nature; that which is monstrous; a monster. South. A monstrosity never changes the name or affects the immutability of a species. Adanson (Trans. ).
MONSTROUS Mon"strous, a. Etym: [OE. monstruous, F. monstrueux, fr. L. monstruosus, fr. monstrum. See Monster.]
1. Marvelous; strange. [Obs.]
2. Having the qualities of a monster; deviating greatly from the natural form or character; abnormal; as, a monstrous birth. Locke. He, therefore, that refuses to do good to them whom he is bound to love ... is unnatural and monstrous in his affections. Jer. Taylor.
3. Extraordinary in a way to excite wonder, dislike, apprehension, etc.; -- said of size, appearance, color, sound, etc.; as, a monstrous height; a monstrous ox; a monstrous story.
4. Extraordinary on account of ugliness, viciousness, or wickedness; hateful; horrible; dreadful. So bad a death argues a monstrous life. Shak.
5. Abounding in monsters. [R.] Where thou, perhaps, under the whelming tide Visitest the bottom of the monstrous world. Milton.
MONSTROUS Mon"strous, adv.
Defn: Exceedingly; very; very much. "A monstrous thick oil on the top." Bacon. And will be monstrous witty on the poor. Dryden.
MONSTROUSLY Mon"strous*ly, adv.
Defn: In a monstrous manner; unnaturally; extraordinarily; as, monstrously wicked. "Who with his wife is monstrously in love." Dryden.
MONSTROUSNESS Mon"strous*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being monstrous, unusual, extraordinary. Shak.
MONSTRUOSITY Mon`stru*os"i*ty, n.
Defn: Monstrosity. [Obs.] Shak.
MONSTRUOUS Mon"stru*ous, a.
Defn: Monstrous. [Obs.]
MONT Mont, n. Etym: [F. See Mount, n.]
Defn: Mountain.
MONTAIGNE Mon"taigne, n.
Defn: A mountain. [Obs.]
MONTANIC Mon*tan"ic, a. Etym: [L. montanus, fr. mons, montis, mountain. See Mount, n.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to mountains; consisting of mountains.
MONTANIST Mon"ta*nist, n. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: A follower of Mintanus, a Phrygian enthusiast of the second century, who claimed that the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, dwelt in him, and employed him as an instrument for purifying and guiding men in the Christian life. -- Mon`ta*nis"tic, Mon`ta*nis"tic*al, a.
MONTANT Mon"tant, n. Etym: [F.,prop., mounting, fr. monter to mount, fr. L. mons, montis, mountain. See Mount.]
1. (Fencing)
Defn: An upward thrust or blow. Shak.
2. (Arch.)
Defn: An upright piece in any framework; a mullion or muntin; a stile. [R.] See Stile.
MONT DE PIETE Mont" de pi`é`té". Etym: [F., fr. It. monte di pietà mount of piety.]
Defn: One of certain public pawnbroking establishments which originated in Italy in the 15th century, the object of which was to lend money at a low rate of interest to poor people in need; -- called also mount of piety. The institution has been adopted in other countries, as in Spain and France. See Lombard-house.
MONTE Mon"te, n. Etym: [Sp., lit., mountain, hence, the stock of cards remaining after laying out a certain number, fr. L. mons, montis, mountain.]
Defn: A favorite gambling game among Spaniards, played with dice or cards.
MONTE-ACID Monte`-ac"id, n. Etym: [F. monter to raise + acide acid.] (Chem.)
Defn: An acid elevator, as a tube through which acid is forced to some height in a sulphuric acid manufactory.
MONTEITH Mon*teith", n.
Defn: See Monteth.
MONTE-JUS Monte"-jus", n. [F., fr. monter to bring up + jus juice.]
Defn: An apparatus for raising a liquid by pressure of air or steam in a reservoir containing the liquid.
MONTEM Mon"tem, n. Etym: [L. ad montem to the hillock. See Mount, n.]
Defn: A custom, formerly practiced by the scholars at Eton school, England, of giing every third year, on Whittuesday, to a hillock near the Bath road, and exacting money from all passers-by, to support at the university the senior scholar of the school.
MONTERO Mon*te"ro, n. Etym: [Sp. montera a hunting cap, fr. montero a huntsman, monte a mountain, forest, L. mons, montis, mountain. See Mount, n.]
Defn: An ancient kind of cap worn by horsemen or huntsmen. Bacon.
MONTESSORI METHOD Mon`tes*so"ri Meth"od. (Pedagogy)
Defn: A system of training and instruction, primarily for use with normal children aged from three to six years, devised by Dr. Maria Montessori while teaching in the "Houses of Childhood" (schools in the poorest tenement districts of Rome, Italy), and first fully described by her in 1909. Leading features are freedom for physical activity (no stationary desks and chairs), informal and individual instruction, the very early development of writing, and an extended sensory and motor training (with special emphasis on vision, touch, perception of movement, and their interconnections), mediated by a patented, standardized system of "didactic apparatus," which is declared to be "auto-regulative." Most of the chief features of the method are borrowed from current methods used in many institutions for training feeble-minded children, and dating back especially to the work of the French-American physician Edouard O. Seguin (1812- 80).
MONTETH; MONTEITH Mon*teth", Mon*teith", n.
Defn: A vessel in which glasses are washed; -- so called from the name of the inventor. New things produce new words, and thus Monteth Has by one vessel saved his name from death. King.
MONTGOLFIER Mont`gol"fier, n.
Defn: A balloon which ascends by the buoyancy of air heated by a fire; a fire balloon; -- so called from two brothers, Stephen and Joseph Montgolfier, of France, who first constructed and sent up a fire balloon.
MONTH Month, n. Etym: [OE. month, moneth, AS. mon, mona; akin to mona moon, and to D. maand month, G. monat, OHG. manod, Icel. manu, mana, Goth. meno. *272. See Moon.]
Defn: One of the twelve portions into which the year is divided; the twelfth part of a year, corresponding nearly to the length of a synodic revolution of the moon, -- whence the name. In popular use, a period of four weeks is often called a month.
Note: In the common law, a month is a lunar month, or twenty-eight days, unless otherwise expressed. Blackstone. In the United States the rule of the common law is generally cahanged, and a month is declared to mean a calendar month. Cooley's Blackstone. A month mind. (a) A strong or abnormal desire. [Obs.] Shak. (b) A celebration made in remembrance of a deceased person a month after death. Strype. -- Calendar months, the months as adjusted in the common or Gregorian calendar; April, June, September, and November, containing 30 days, and the rest 31, except February, which, in common years, has 28, and in leap years 29. -- Lunar month, the period of one revolution of the moon, particularly a synodical revolution; but several kinds are distinguished, as the synodical month, or period from one new moon to the next, in mean length 29 d. 12 h. 44 m. 2.87 s.; the nodical month, or time of revolution from one node to the same again, in length 27 d. 5 h. 5 m. 36 s.; the sidereal, or time of revolution from a star to the same again, equal to 27 d. 7 h. 43 m. 11.5 s.; the anomalistic, or time of revolution from perigee to perigee again, in length 27 d. 13 h. 18 m. 37.4 s.; and the tropical, or time of passing from any point of the ecliptic to the same again, equal to 27 d. 7 h. 43 m. 4.7 s. -- Solar month, the time in which the sun passes through one sign of the zodiac, in mean length 30 d. 10 h. 29 m. 4.1 s.
MONTHLING Month"ling, n.
Defn: That which is a month old, or which lives for a month. [R.] Wordsworth.
MONTHLY Month"ly, a.
1. Continued a month, or a performed in a month; as, the monthly revolution of the moon.
2. Done, happening, payable, published, etc., once a month, or every month; as, a monthly visit; monthly charges; a monthly installment; a monthly magazine. Monthly nurse, a nurse who serves for a month or some short time, esp. one which attends women after childbirth.
MONTHLY Month"ly, n.; pl. Monthlies (.
Defn: A publication which appears regularly once a month.
MONTHLY Month"ly, adv.
1. Once a month; in every month; as, the moon changes monthly. Shak.
2. As if under the influence of the moon; in the manner of a lunatic. [Obs.] Middleton.
MONTICLE Mon"ti*cle, n. Etym: [L. monticulus, dim. of mons, montis, mountain: cf. F. monticule. See Mount, n.]
Defn: A little mount; a hillock; a small elevation or prominence. [Written also monticule.]
MONTICULATE Mon*tic"u*late, a.
Defn: Furnished with monticles or little elevations.
MONTICULE Mon"ti*cule, n.
Defn: See Monticle.
MONTICULOUS Mon*tic"u*lous, a.
Defn: Monticulate.
MONTIFORM Mon"ti*form, a. Etym: [L. mons, montis, mountain + -form.]
Defn: Resembling a mountain in form.
MONTIGENOUS Mon*tig"e*nous, a. Etym: [L. montigena; mons, montis, mountain + the root of gignere to beget.]
Defn: Produced on a mountain.
MONTOIR Mon`toir", n. Etym: [F., fr. monter to mount. See Montant.]
Defn: A stone used in mounting a horse; a horse block.
MONTON Mon"ton, n. Etym: [Sp.] (Mining)
Defn: A heap of ore; a mass undergoing the process of amalgamation.
MONTRE Mon"tre, n. [F., show, show case, organ case.]
1. (Organ Building) A stop, usually the open diapason, having its pipes "shown" as part of the organ case, or otherwise specially mounted.
2. A hole in the wall of a pottery kiln, by which the state of the pieces within can be judged.
MONTROSS Mon*tross", n.
Defn: See Matross. [Obs.]
MONTRUE Mon"true, n. Etym: [F., fr. monter to mount. See Montoir.]
Defn: That on which anything is mounted; a setting; hence, a saddle horse. [Obs.] Spenser.
MONUMENT Mon"u*ment, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. monumentum, fr. monere to remind, admonish. See Monition, and cf. Moniment.]
1. Something which stands, or remains, to keep in remembrance what is past; a memorial. Of ancient British art A pleasing monument. Philips. Our bruised arms hung up for monuments. Shak.
2. A building, pillar, stone, or the like, erected to preserve the remembrance of a person, event, action, etc.; as, the Washington monument; the Bunker Hill monument. Also, a tomb, with memorial inscriptions. On your family's old monument Hang mournful epitaphs, and do all rites That appertain unto a burial. Shak.
3. A stone or other permanent object, serving to indicate a limit or to mark a boundary.
4. A saying, deed, or example, worthy of record. Acts and Monuments of these latter and perilous days. Foxe.
Syn. -- Memorial; remembrance; tomb; cenotaph.
MONUMENTAL Mon`u*men"tal, a. Etym: [L. monumentalis: cf. F. monumental.]
1. Of, pertaining to, or suitable for, a monument; as, a monumental inscription.
2. Serving as a monument; memorial; preserving memory. "Of pine, or monumental oak." Milton. A work outlasting monumental brass. Pope.
MONUMENTALLY Mon`u*men"tal*ly, adv.
1. By way of memorial.
2. By means of monuments.
MONUREID Mon*u"re*id, n. Etym: [Mon- + ureid.] (Chem.)
Defn: Any one of a series of complex nitrogenous substances regarded as derived from one molecule of urea; as, alloxan is a monureid. [Written also monureide.]
MOO Moo, a., adv., & n.
Defn: See Mo. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MOO Moo, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Mooed; p. pr. & vb. n. Mooing.] Etym: [Of imitative origin.]
Defn: To make the noise of a cow; to low; -- child's word.
MOO Moo, n.
Defn: The lowing of a cow.
MOOD Mood, n. Etym: [The same word as mode, perh. influenced by mood temper. See Mode.]
1. Manner; style; mode; logical form; musical style; manner of action or being. See Mode which is the preferable form).
2. (Gram.)
Defn: Manner of conceiving and expressing action or being, as positive, possible, hypothetical, etc., without regard to other accidents, such as time, person, number, etc.; as, the indicative mood; the infinitive mood; the subjunctive mood. Same as Mode.
MOOD Mood, n. Etym: [OE. mood, mod, AS. modmind, feeling, heart, courage; akin to OS. & OFries. mod, D. moed, OHG. muot, G. muth, mut, courage, Dan. & Sw. mod, Icel. mo wrath, Goth. mods.]
Defn: Temper of mind; temporary state of the mind in regard to passion or feeling; humor; as, a melancholy mood; a suppliant mood. Till at the last aslaked was mood. Chaucer. Fortune is merry, And in this mood will give us anything. Shak. The desperate recklessness of her mood. Hawthorne.
MOODER Moo"der, n.
Defn: Mother. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MOODILY Mood"i*ly, adv.
Defn: In a moody manner.
MOODINESS Mood"i*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being moody; specifically, liability to strange or violent moods.
MOODIR Moo"dir, n. Etym: [Ar. mudir.]
Defn: The governor of a province in Egypt, etc. [Written also mudir.]
MOODISH Mood"ish, a.
Defn: Moody. [Obs.]
MOODISHLY Mood"ish*ly, adv.
Defn: Moodily. [Obs.]
MOODY Mood"y, a. [Compar. Moodier; superl. Moodiest.] Etym: [AS. modig courageous.]
1. Subject to varying moods, especially to states of mind which are unamiable or depressed.
2. Hence: Out of humor; peevish; angry; fretful; also, abstracted and pensive; sad; gloomy; melancholy. "Every peevish, moody malcontent." Rowe. Arouse thee from thy moody dream! Sir W. Scott.
Syn. -- Gloomy; pensive; sad; fretful; capricious.
MOOLAH; MOOLLAH Moo"lah, Mool"lah, n.
Defn: See Mollah.
MOOLLEY Mool"ley, n.
Defn: Same as Mulley.
MOON Moon, n. Etym: [OE. mone, AS. mona; akin to D. maan, OS. & OHG. mano, G. mond, Icel. mani, Dan. maane, Sw. måne, Goth. mena, Lith. men, L. mensis month, Gr. mas moon, month; prob. from a root meaning to measure (cf. Skr. ma to measure), from its serving to measure the time. *271. Cf. Mete to measure, Menses, Monday, Month.]
1. The celestial orb which revolves round the earth; the satellite of the earth; a secondary planet, whose light, borrowed from the sun, is reflected to the earth, and serves to dispel the darkness of night. The diameter of the moon is 2,160 miles, its mean distance from the earth is 240,000 miles, and its mass is one eightieth that of the earth. See Lunar month, under Month. The crescent moon, the diadem of night. Cowper.
2. A secondary planet, or satellite, revolving about any member of the solar system; as, the moons of Jupiter or Saturn.
3. The time occupied by the moon in making one revolution in her orbit; a month. Shak.
4. (Fort.)
Defn: A crescentlike outwork. See Half-moon. Moon blindness. (a) (Far.) A kind of ophthalmia liable to recur at intervals of three or four weeks. (b) (Med.) Hemeralopia. -- Moon dial, a dial used to indicate time by moonlight. -- Moon face, a round face like a full moon. -- Moon madness, lunacy. [Poetic] -- Moon month, a lunar month. -- Moon trefoil (Bot.), a shrubby species of medic (Medicago arborea). See Medic. -- Moon year, a lunar year, consisting of lunar months, being sometimes twelve and sometimes thirteen.
MOON Moon, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mooned; p. pr. & vb. n. Mooning.]
Defn: To expose to the rays of the moon. If they have it to be exceeding white indeed, they seethe it yet once more, after it hath been thus sunned and mooned. Holland.
MOON Moon, v. i.
Defn: To act if moonstruck; to wander or gaze about in an abstracted manner. Elsley was mooning down the river by himself. C. Kingsley.
MOONBEAM Moon"beam`, n.
Defn: A ray of light from the moon.
MOONBLIND Moon"blind`, a.
Defn: Dim-sighted; purblind.
MOONBLINK Moon"blink`, n.
Defn: A temporary blindness, or impairment of sight, said to be caused by sleeping in the moonlight; -- sometimes called nyctalopia.
MOONCALF Moon"calf`, n.
1. A monster; a false conception; a mass of fleshy matter, generated in the uterus.
2. A dolt; a stupid fellow. Dryden.
MOON-CULMINATING Moon"-cul"mi*na`ting, a.
Defn: Culminating, or coming to the meredian, at or about the same time with the moon; -- said of a star or stars, esp. of certain stars selected beforehand, and named in an ephemeris (as the Nautical Almanac), as suitable to be observed in connection with the moon at culmination, for determining terrestrial longitude.
MOONED Mooned, a.
Defn: Of or resembling the moon; symbolized by the moon. "Sharpening in mooned horns." "Mooned Ashtaroth." Milton.
MOONER Moon"er, n.
Defn: One who abstractedly wanders or gazes about, as if moonstruck. [R.] Dickens.
MOONERY Moon"er*y, n.
Defn: Conduct of one who moons. [R.]
MOONET Moon"et, n.
Defn: A little moon. [R.] Bp. Hall.
MOON-EYE Moon"-eye`, n.
1. A eye affected by the moon; also, a disease in the eye of a horse.
2. (Zoöl.) (a) Any species of American fresh-water fishes of the genus Hyodon, esp. H. tergisus of the Great Lakes and adjacent waters. (b) The cisco.
MOON-EYED Moon"-eyed`, a.
Defn: Having eyes affected by the moon; moonblind; dim-eyed; purblind.
MOON-FACED Moon"-faced`, a.
Defn: Having a round, full face.
MOONFISH Moon"fish`, n. (Zoöl.) (a) An American marine fish (Vomer setipennis); -- called also bluntnosed shiner, horsefish, and sunfish. (b) A broad, thin, silvery marine fish (Selene vomer); -- called also lookdown, and silver moonfish. (c) The mola. See Sunfish, 1.
MOONFLOWER Moon"flow`er, n. (Bot.) (a) The oxeye daisy; -- called also moon daisy. (b) A kind of morning glory (Ipomoea Bona-nox) with large white flowers opening at night.
MOONG Moong, n. (Bot.)
Defn: Same as Mung.
MOONGLADE Moon"glade`, n.
Defn: The bright reflection of the moon's light on an expanse of water. [Poetic]
MOONIE Moo"nie, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The European goldcrest.
MOONISH Moon"ish, a.
Defn: Like the moon; variable. Being but a moonish youth. Shak.
MOONLESS Moon"less, a.
Defn: Being without a moon or moonlight.
MOONLIGHT Moon`light`, n.
Defn: The light of the moon. -- a.
Defn: Occurring during or by moonlight; characterized by moonlight.
MOONLIGHTER Moon"light`er, n. One who follows an occupation or pastime by moonlight; as: (a) A moonshiner. (b) In Ireland, one of a band that engaged in agrarian outrages by night. (c) A serenader by moonlight. [Local, U. S.]
MOONLING Moon"ling, n.
Defn: A simpleton; a lunatic. [Obs.]
MOONLIT Moon"lit`, a.
Defn: Illumined by the moon. "The moonlit sea." Moore. "Moonlit dells." Lowell.
MOONRAKER Moon"rak`er, n. (Naut.)
Defn: Same as Moonsail.
MOONRISE Moon"rise`, n.
Defn: The rising of the moon above the horizon; also, the time of its rising.
MOONSAIL Moon"sail`, n. (Naut.)
Defn: A sail sometimes carried in light winds, above a skysail. R. H. Dana, Jr.
MOONSEED Moon"seed`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A climbing plant of the genus Menispermum; -- so called from the crescentlike form of the seeds.
MOONSET Moon"set`, n.
Defn: The descent of the moon below the horizon; also, the time when the moon sets.
MOONSHEE Moon"shee, n. Etym: [Hind. munishi, fr. Ar. munishi a writer, author, secretary, tutor.]
Defn: A Mohammedan professor or teacher of language. [India]
MOONSHINE Moon"shine`, n.
1. The light of the moon.
2. Hence, show without substance or reality.
3. A month. [R.] Shak.
4. A preparation of eggs for food. [Obs.]
MOONSHINE Moon"shine`, a.
Defn: Moonlight. [R.] Clarendon.
MOONSHINER Moon"shin`er, n.
Defn: A person engaged in illicit distilling; -- so called because the work is largely done at night. [Cant, U.S.]
MOONSHINING Moon"shin`ing, n.
Defn: Illicit distilling. [Slang or Colloq., U. S.]
MOONSHINY Moon"shin`y, a.
Defn: Moonlight. [Colloq.] I went to see them in a moonshiny night. Addison.
MOONSTONE Moon"stone`, n. (Min.)
Defn: A nearly pellucid variety of feldspar, showing pearly or opaline reflections from within. It is used as a gem. The best specimens come from Ceylon.
MOONSTRICKEN Moon"strick`en, a.
Defn: See Moonstruck.
MOONSTRUCK Moon"struck`, a.
1. Mentally affected or deranged by the supposed influence of the moon; lunatic.
2. Produced by the supposed influence of the moon. "Moonstruck madness." Milton.
3. Made sick by the supposed influence of the moon, as a human being; made unsuitable for food, as fishes, by such supposed influence.
MOONWORT Moon"wort`, n. (Bot.) (a) The herb lunary or honesty. See Honesty. (b) Any fern of the genus Botrychium, esp. B. Lunaria; -- so named from the crescent-shaped segments of its frond.
MOONY Moon"y, a.
1. Of or pertaining to the moon. Soft and pale as the moony beam. J. R. Drake.
2. Furnished with a moon; bearing a crescent. But soon the miscreant moony host Before the victor cross shall fly. Fenton.
3. Silly; weakly sentimental. [Colloq.] G. Eliot.
MOOR Moor, n. Etym: [F. More, Maure, L. Maurus a Moor, a Mauritanian, an inhabitant of Mauritania, Gr. Morris a dance, Morocco.]
1. One of a mixed race inhabiting Morocco, Algeria, Tunis, and Tripoli, chiefly along the coast and in towns.
2. (Hist.)
Defn: Any individual of the swarthy races of Africa or Asia which have adopted the Mohammedan religion. "In Spanish history the terms Moors, Saracens, and Arabs are synonymous." Internat. Cyc.
MOOR Moor, n. Etym: [OE. mor, AS. mor moor, morass; akin to D. moer moor, G. moor, and prob. to Goth. marei sea, E. mere. See Mere a lake.]
1. An extensive waste covered with patches of heath, and having a poor, light soil, but sometimes marshy, and abounding in peat; a heath. In her girlish age she kept sheep on the moor. Carew.
2. A game preserve consisting of moorland. Moor buzzard (Zoöl.), the marsh harrier. [Prov. Eng.] -- Moor coal (Geol.), a friable variety of lignite. -- Moor cock (Zoöl.), the male of the moor fowl or red grouse of Europe. -- Moor coot. (Zoöl.) See Gallinule. -- Moor fowl. (Zoöl.) (a) The European ptarmigan, or red grouse (Lagopus Scoticus). (b) The European heath grouse. See under Heath. -- Moor game. (Zoöl.) Same as Moor fowl (above). -- Moor grass (Bot.), a tufted perennial grass (Sesleria cærulea), found in mountain pastures of Europe. -- Moor hawk (Zoöl.), the marsh harrier. -- Moor hen. (Zoöl.) (a) The female of the moor fowl. (b) A gallinule, esp. the European species. See Gallinule. (c) An Australian rail (Tribonyx ventralis). -- Moor monkey (Zoöl.), the black macaque of Borneo (Macacus maurus). -- Moor titling (Zoöl.), the European stonechat (Pratinocola rubicola).
MOOR Moor, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Moored; p. pr. & vb. n. Mooring.] Etym: [Prob. fr. D. marren to tie, fasten, or moor a ship. See Mar.]
1. (Naut.)
Defn: To fix or secure, as a vessel, in a particular place by casting anchor, or by fastening with cables or chains; as, the vessel was moored in the stream; they moored the boat to the wharf.
2. Fig.: To secure, or fix firmly. Brougham.
MOOR Moor, v. i.
Defn: To cast anchor; to become fast. On oozy ground his galleys moor. Dryden.
MOORAGE Moor"age, n.
Defn: A place for mooring.
MOORBALL Moor"ball`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A fresh-water alga (Cladophora Ægagropila) which forms a globular mass.
MOORBAND Moor"band`, n.
Defn: See Moorpan.
MOORESS Moor"ess, n.
Defn: A female Moor; a Moorish woman.
MOORING Moor"ing, n.
1. The act of confining a ship to a particular place, by means of anchors or fastenings.
2. That which serves to confine a ship to a place, as anchors, cables, bridles, etc.
3. pl.
Defn: The place or condition of a ship thus confined. And the tossed bark in moorings swings. Moore. Mooring block (Naut.), a heavy block of cast iron sometimes used as an anchor for mooring vessels.
MOORISH Moor"ish, a. Etym: [From 2d Moor.]
Defn: Having the characteristics of a moor or heath. "Moorish fens." Thomson.
MOORISH Moor"ish, a. Etym: [See 1st Moor, and cf. Morris, Moresque.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to Morocco or the Moors; in the style of the Moors. Moorish architecture, the style developed by the Moors in the later Middle Ages, esp. in Spain, in which the arch had the form of a horseshoe, and the ornamentation admitted no representation of animal life. It has many points of resemblance to the Arabian and Persian styles, but should be distinguished from them. See Illust. under Moresque.
MOORLAND Moor"land, n. Etym: [AS. morland.]
Defn: Land consisting of a moor or moors.
MOORPAN Moor"pan`, n. Etym: [Cf. Hard pan, under Hard.]
Defn: A clayey layer or pan underlying some moors, etc.
MOORSTONE Moor"stone`, n.
Defn: A species of English granite, used as a building stone.
MOORUK Moo"ruk, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A species of cassowary (Casuarius Bennetti) found in New Britain, and noted for its agility in running and leaping. It is smaller and has stouter legs than the common cassowary. Its crest is biloted; the neck and breast are black; the back, rufous mixed with black; and the naked skin of the neck, blue.
MOORY Moor"y, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to moors; marshy; fenny; boggy; moorish. Mortimer. As when thick mists arise from moory vales. Fairfax.
MOORY Moor"y, n.
Defn: A kind of blue cloth made in India. Balfour (Cyc of India).
MOOSE Moose, n. Etym: [A native name; Knisteneaux mouswah; Algonquin monse. Mackenzie.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large cervine mammal (Alces machlis, or A. Americanus), native of the Northern United States and Canada. The adult male is about as large as a horse, and has very large, palmate antlers. It closely resembles the European elk, and by many zoölogists is considered the same species. See Elk. Moose bird (Zoöl.), the Canada jayor whisky jack. See Whisky jack. -- Moose deer. Same as Moose. -- Moose yard (Zoöl.), a locality where moose, in winter, herd together in a forest to feed and for mutual protection.
MOOSEWOOD Moose"wood`, n. (Bot.) (a) The striped maple (Acer Pennsylvanicum). (b) Leatherwood.
MOOT Moot, v.
Defn: See 1st Mot. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MOOT Moot, n. (Shipbuilding)
Defn: A ring for gauging wooden pins.
MOOT Moot, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mooted; p. pr. & vb. n. Mooting.] Etym: [OE. moten, motien, AS. motan to meet or assemble for conversation, to discuss, dispute, fr. mot, gemot, a meeting, an assembly; akin to Icel. mot, MHG. muoz. Cf. Meet to come together.]
1. To argue for and against; to debate; to discuss; to propose for discussion. A problem which hardly has been mentioned, much less mooted, in this country. Sir W. Hamilton.
2. Specifically: To discuss by way of exercise; to argue for practice; to propound and discuss in a mock court. First a case is appointed to be mooted by certain young men, containing some doubtful controversy. Sir T. Elyot.
MOOT Moot, v. i.
Defn: To argue or plead in a supposed case. There is a difference between mooting and pleading; between fencing and fighting. B. Jonson.
MOOT Moot, n. Etym: [AS. mot, gemot, a meeting; -- usually in comp.] [Written also mote.]
1. A meeting for discussion and deliberation; esp., a meeting of the people of a village or district, in Anglo-Saxon times, for the discussion and settlement of matters of common interest; -- usually in composition; as, folk-moot. J. R. Green.
2. Etym: [From Moot, v.]
Defn: A discussion or debate; especially, a discussion of fictitious causes by way of practice. The pleading used in courts and chancery called moots. Sir T. Elyot. Moot case, a case or question to be mooted; a disputable case; an unsettled question. Dryden. -- Moot court, a mock court, such as is held by students of law for practicing the conduct of law cases. -- Moot point, a point or question to be debated; a doubtful question.
MOOT Moot, a.
Defn: Subject, or open, to argument or discussion; undecided; debatable; mooted.
MOOTABLE Moot"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being mooted.
MOOTER Moot"er, n.
Defn: A disputer of a mooted case.
MOOT-HALL; MOOT-HOUSE Moot"-hall`, Moot"-house`, n. Etym: [AS. moth.]
Defn: A hall for public meetings; a hall of judgment. [Obs.] "The moot-hall of Herod." Wyclif.
MOOT-HILL Moot"-hill`, n. (O. Eng. Law)
Defn: A hill of meeting or council; an elevated place in the open air where public assemblies or courts were held by the Saxons; -- called, in Scotland, mute-hill. J. R. Green.
MOOTMAN Moot"man, n.; pl. Mootmen (. (O. Eng. Law)
Defn: One who argued moot cases in the inns of court.
MOP Mop, n. Etym: [See Mope.]
Defn: A made-up face; a grimace. "What mops and mowes it makes!" Beau. & Fl.
MOP Mop, v. i.
Defn: To make a wry mouth. [Obs.] Shak.
MOP Mop, n. Etym: [CF. W. mop, mopa, Ir. moipal, Gael. moibeal, moibean; or OF. mappe a napkin (see Map, Napkin).]
1. An implement for washing floors, or the like, made of a piece of cloth, or a collection of thrums, or coarse yarn, fastened to a handle.
2. A fair where servants are hired. [Prov. Eng.]
3. The young of any animal; also, a young girl; a moppet. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell. Mop head. (a) The end of a mop, to which the thrums or rags are fastened. (b) A clamp for holding the thrums or rags of a mop. [U.S.]
MOP Mop, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mopped; p. pr. & vb. n. Mopping.]
Defn: To rub or wipe with a mop, or as with a mop; as, to mop a floor; to mop one's face with a handkerchief.
MOPBOARD Mop"board`, n. (Carp.)
Defn: A narrow board nailed against the wall of a room next to the floor; skirting board; baseboard. See Baseboard.
MOPE Mope, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Moped; p. pr. & vb. n. Moping.] Etym: [Cf. D. moppen to pout, Prov. G. muffen to sulk.]
Defn: To be dull and spiritless. "Moping melancholy." Milton. A sickly part of one true sense Could not so mope. Shak.
MOPE Mope, v. t.
Defn: To make spiritless and stupid. [Obs.]
MOPE Mope, n.
Defn: A dull, spiritless person. Burton.
MOPE-EYED Mope"-eyed`, a.
Defn: Shortsighted; purblind.
MOPEFUL Mope"ful, a.
Defn: Mopish. [R.]
MOPISH Mop"ish, a.
Defn: Dull; spiritless; dejected. -- Mop"ish*ly, adv. -- Mop"ish*ness, n.
MOPLAH Mop"lah, n. Etym: [Malayalam mapplia.]
Defn: One of a class of Mohammedans in Malabar.
MOPPET Mop"pet, n. Etym: [From 3d Mop.]
1. A rag baby; a puppet made of cloth; hence, also, in fondness, a little girl, or a woman.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A long-haired pet dog.
MOPSEY; MOPSY Mop"sey, Mop"sy, n.
1. A moppet.
2. A slatternly, untidy woman. Halliwell.
MOPSICAL Mop"si*cal, a.
Defn: Shortsighted; mope-eyed.
MOPSTICK Mop"stick`, n.
Defn: The long handle of a mop.
MOPUS Mo"pus, n.
Defn: A mope; a drone. [Obs.] Swift.
MOQUETTE Mo*quette", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A kind of carpet having a short velvety pile.
MORA Mor"a, n. Etym: [It.]
Defn: A game of guessing the number of fingers extended in a quick movement of the hand, -- much played by Italians of the lower classes.
MORA Mo"ra, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A leguminous tree of Guiana and Trinidad (Dimorphandra excelsa); also, its timber, used in shipbuilding and making furniture.
MORA Mo"ra, n. Etym: [L.] (Rom. & Civil Law)
Defn: Delay; esp., culpable delay; postponement.
MORAINE Mo*raine", n. Etym: [F. Cf. Prov. G. mur stones broken off, It. mora a heap of stones, hillock, G. mürbe soft, broken up, OHG. muruwi, AS. mearu tender, Gr. mla to relax.] (Geol.)
Defn: An accumulation of earth and stones carried forward and deposited by a glacier. Lyell.
Note: If the moranie is at the extremity of the glacier it is a terminal moranie; if at the side, a lateral moranie; if parallel to the side on the central portion of the glacier, a medial moranie. See Illust. of Glacier. In the last case it is formed by the union of the lateral moranies of the branches of the glacier. A ground moranie is one beneath the mass of ice.
MORAINIC Mo*rain"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a moranie.
MORAL Mor"al, a. Etym: [F., fr. It. moralis, fr. mos, moris, manner, custom, habit, way of life, conduct.]
1. Relating to duty or obligation; pertaining to those intentions and actions of which right and wrong, virtue and vice, are predicated, or to the rules by which such intentions and actions ought to be directed; relating to the practice, manners, or conduct of men as social beings in relation to each other, as respects right and wrong, so far as they are properly subject to rules. Keep at the least within the compass of moral actions, which have in them vice or virtue. Hooker. Mankind is broken loose from moral bands. Dryden. She had wandered without rule or guidance in a moral wilderness. Hawthorne.
2. Conformed to accepted rules of right; acting in conformity with such rules; virtuous; just; as, a moral man. Used sometimes in distinction from religious; as, a moral rather than a religious life. The wiser and more moral part of mankind. Sir M. Hale.
3. Capable of right and wrong action or of being governed by a sense of right; subject to the law of duty. A moral agent is a being capable of those actions that have a moral quality, and which can properly be denominated good or evil in a moral sense. J. Edwards.
4. Acting upon or through one's moral nature or sense of right, or suited to act in such a manner; as, a moral arguments; moral considerations. Sometimes opposed to material and physical; as, moral pressure or support.
5. Supported by reason or probability; practically sufficient; -- opposed to legal or demonstrable; as, a moral evidence; a moral certainty.
6. Serving to teach or convey a moral; as, a moral lesson; moral tales. Moral agent, a being who is capable of acting with reference to right and wrong. -- Moral certainty, a very high degree or probability, although not demonstrable as a certainty; a probability of so high a degree that it can be confidently acted upon in the affairs of life; as, there is a moral certainty of his guilt. -- Moral insanity, insanity, so called, of the moral system; badness alleged to be irresponsible. -- Moral philosophy, the science of duty; the science which treats of the nature and condition of man as a moral being, of the duties which result from his moral relations, and the reasons on which they are founded. -- Moral play, an allegorical play; a morality. [Obs.] -- Moral sense, the power of moral judgment and feeling; the capacity to perceive what is right or wrong in moral conduct, and to approve or disapprove, independently of education or the knowledge of any positive rule or law. -- Moral theology, theology applied to morals; practical theology; casuistry.
MORAL Mor"al, n.
1. The doctrine or practice of the duties of life; manner of living as regards right and wrong; conduct; behavior; -- usually in the plural. Corrupt in their morals as vice could make them. South.
2. The inner meaning or significance of a fable, a narrative, an occurrence, an experience, etc.; the practical lesson which anything is designed or fitted to teach; the doctrine meant to be inculcated by a fiction; a maxim. Thus may we gather honey from the weed, And make a moral of the devil himself. Shak. To point a moral, or adorn a tale. Johnson. We protest against the principle that the world of pure comedy is one into which no moral enters. Macaulay.
3. A morality play. See Morality, 5.
MORAL Mor"al, v. i.
Defn: To moralize. [Obs.] Shak.
MORALE Mo`rale", n. Etym: [F. See Moral, a.]
Defn: The moral condition, or the condition in other respects, so far as it is affected by, or dependent upon, moral considerations, such as zeal, spirit, hope, and confidence; mental state, as of a body of men, an army, and the like.
MORALER Mor"al*er, n.
Defn: A moralizer. [Obs.] Shak.
MORALISM Mor"al*ism, n.
Defn: A maxim or saying embodying a moral truth. Farrar.
MORALIST Mor"al*ist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. moraliste.]
1. One who moralizes; one who teaches or animadverts upon the duties of life; a writer of essays intended to correct vice and inculcate moral duties. Addison.
2. One who practices moral duties; a person who lives in conformity with moral rules; one of correct deportment and dealings with his fellow-creatures; -- sometimes used in contradistinction to one whose life is controlled by religious motives. The love (in the moralist of virtue, but in the Christian) of God himself. Hammond.
MORALITY Mo*ral"i*ty, n.; pl. Moralities. Etym: [L. moralitas: cf. F. moralité.]
1. The relation of conformity or nonconformity to the moral standard or rule; quality of an intention, a character, an action, a principle, or a sentiment, when tried by the standard of right. The morality of an action is founded in the freedom of that principle, by virtue of which it is in the agent's power, having all things ready and requisite to the performance of an action, either to perform or not perform it. South.
2. The quality of an action which renders it good; the conformity of an act to the accepted standard of right. Of moralitee he was the flower. Chaucer. I am bold to think that morality is capable of demonstration. Locke.
3. The doctrines or rules of moral duties, or the duties of men in their social character; ethics. The end of morality is to procure the affections to obey reason, and not to invade it. Bacon. The system of morality to be gathered out of ... ancient sages falls very short of that delivered in the gospel. Swift.
4. The practice of the moral duties; rectitude of life; conformity to the standard of right; virtue; as, we often admire the politeness of men whose morality we question.
5. A kind of allegorical play, so termed because it consisted of discourses in praise of morality between actors representing such characters as Charity, Faith, Death, Vice, etc. Such plays were occasionally exhibited as late as the reign of Henry VIII. Strutt.
6. Intent; meaning; moral. [Obs.] Taketh the morality thereof, good men. Chaucer.
MORALIZATION Mor`al*i*za"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. moralisation.]
1. The act of moralizing; moral reflections or discourse.
2. Explanation in a moral sense. T. Warton.
MORALIZE Mor"al*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Moralized; p. pr. & vb. n. Moralizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. moraliser.]
1. To apply to a moral purpose; to explain in a moral sense; to draw a moral from. This fable is moralized in a common proverb. L'Estrange. Did he not moralize this spectacle Shak.
2. To furnish with moral lessons, teachings, or examples; to lend a moral to. While chastening thoughts of sweetest use, bestowed By Wisdom, moralize his pensive road. Wordsworth.
3. To render moral; to correct the morals of. It had a large share in moralizing the poor white people of the country. D. Ramsay.
4. To give a moral quality to; to affect the moral quality of, either for better or worse. Good and bad stars moralize not our actions. Sir T. Browne.
MORALIZE Mor"al*ize, v. i.
Defn: To make moral reflections; to regard acts and events as involving a moral.
MORALIZER Mor"al*i`zer, n.
Defn: One who moralizes.
MORALLY Mor"al*ly, adv.
1. In a moral or ethical sense; according to the rules of morality. By good, good morally so called, "bonum honestum" ought chiefly to be understood. South.
2. According to moral rules; virtuously. "To live morally." Dryden.
3. In moral qualities; in disposition and character; as, one who physically and morally endures hardships.
4. In a manner calculated to serve as the basis of action; according to the usual course of things and human judgment; according to reason and probability. It is morally impossible for an hypocrite to keep himself long upon his guard. L'Estrange.
MORASS Mo*rass", n. Etym: [OE. marras, mareis (perh. through D. moeras), fr. F. marais, prob. from L. mare sea, in LL., any body of water; but perh. influenced by some German word. See Mere a lake, and cf. Marsh.]
Defn: A tract of soft, wet ground; a marsh; a fen. Morass ore. (Min.) See Bog ore, under Bog.
MORASSY mo*rass"y, a.
Defn: Marshy; fenny. [R.] Pennant.
MORATE Mo"rate, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of moric acid.
MORATION Mo*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. moratio.]
Defn: A delaying tarrying; delay. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
MORATORIUM Mor`a*to"ri*um, n. [NL. See Moratory.] (Law)
Defn: A period during which an obligor has a legal right to delay meeting an obligation, esp. such a period granted, as to a bank, by a moratory law.
MORATORY Mor"a*to*ry, a. [L. moratorius delaying, fr. morari to delay.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to delay; esp., designating a law passed, as in a time of financial panic, to postpone or delay for a period the time at which notes, bills of exchange, and other obligations, shall mature or become due.
MORAVIAN Mo*ra"vi*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Moravia, or to the United Brethren. See Moravian, n.
MORAVIAN Mo*ra"vi*an, n. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: One of a religious sect called the United Brethern (an offshoot of the Hussites in Bohemia), which formed a separate church of Moravia, a northern district of Austria, about the middle of the 15th century. After being nearly extirpated by persecution, the society, under the name of The Renewed Church of the United Brethren, was reëstablished in 1722-35 on the estates of Count Zinzendorf in Saxony. Called also Herrnhuter.
MORAVIANISM Mo*ra"vi*an*ism, n.
Defn: The religious system of the Moravians.
MORAY Mor"ay, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A muræna.
MORBID Mor"bid, a. Etym: [L. morbidus, fr. morbus disease; prob. akin to mori to die: cf. F. morbide, It. morbido. See Mortal.]
1. Not sound and healthful; induced by a diseased or abnormal condition; diseased; sickly; as, morbid humors; a morbid constitution; a morbid state of the juices of a plant. "Her sick and morbid heart." Hawthorne.
2. Of or pertaining to disease or diseased parts; as, morbid anatomy.
Syn. -- Diseased; sickly; sick. -- Morbid, Diseased. Morbid is sometimes used interchangeably with diseased, but is commonly applied, in a somewhat technical sense, to cases of a prolonged nature; as, a morbid condition of the nervous system; a morbid sensibility, etc.
MORBIDEZZA Mor`bi*dez"za, n. Etym: [It., softness, delicacy. See Morbid.]
1. (Fine Arts)
Defn: Delicacy or softness in the representation of flesh.
2. (Mus.)
Defn: A term used as a direction in execution, signifying, with extreme delicacy. Ludden.
MORBIDITY Mor*bid"i*ty, n.
1. The quality or state of being morbid.
2. Morbid quality; disease; sickness. C. Kingsley.
3. Amount of disease; sick rate.
MORBIDLY Mor"bid*ly, adv.
Defn: In a morbid manner.
MORBIDNESS Mor"bid*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being morbid; morbidity.
MORBIFIC; MORBIFICAL Mor*bif"ic, Mor*bif"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. morbus disease + -ficare (in comp.) to make: cf. F. morbifique. See -fy.]
Defn: Causing disease; generating a sickly state; as, a morbific matter.
MORBILLOUS Mor*bil"lous, a. Etym: [LL. morbilli measles, dim. of L. morbus disease: cf. F. morbilleux.]
Defn: Pertaining to the measles; partaking of the nature of measels, or resembling the eruptions of that disease; measly.
MORBOSE Mor*bose", a. Etym: [L. morbosus, fr. morbus disease.]
Defn: Proceeding from disease; morbid; unhealthy. Morbose tumors and excrescences of plants. Ray.
MORBOSITY Mor*bos"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. morbositas.]
Defn: A diseased state; unhealthiness. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
MORCEAU Mor`ceau", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A bit; a morsel.
MORDACIOUS Mor*da"cious, a. Etym: [L. mordax, -acis, fr. mordere, morsum, to bite. See Morsel.]
Defn: Biting; given to biting; hence, figuratively, sarcastic; severe; scathing. -- Mor*da"cious*ly, adv.
MORDACITY Mor*dac"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. mordacitas: cf. F. mordacité. See Mordacious.]
Defn: The quality of being mordacious; biting severity, or sarcastic quality. Bacon.
MORDANT Mor"dant, a. Etym: [F., p.pr. of mordere to bite; L. mordere. See Morsel.]
1. Biting; caustic; sarcastic; keen; severe.
2. (Dyeing & Calico Printing)
Defn: Serving to fix colors.
MORDANT Mor"dant, n. Etym: [F., originally, biting.]
1. Any corroding substance used in etching.
2. (Dyeing & Calico Printing)
Defn: Any substance, as alum or copperas, which, having a twofold attraction for organic fibers and coloring matter, serves as a bond of union, and thus gives fixity to, or bites in, the dyes.
3. (Gilding)
Defn: Any sticky matter by which the gold leaf is made to adhere.
MORDANT Mor"dant, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mordanted; p. pr. & vb. n. Mordanting.]
Defn: To subject to the action of, or imbue with, a mordant; as, to mordant goods for dyeing.
MORDANTLY Mor"dant*ly, adv.
Defn: In the manner of a mordant.
MORDENTE Mor*den"te, n. Etym: [It.] (Mus.)
Defn: An embellishment resembling a trill.
MORDICANCY Mor"di*can*cy, n.
Defn: A biting quality; corrosiveness. [R.] Evelyn.
MORDICANT Mor"di*cant, a. Etym: [L. mordicans, p.pr. of mordicare to bite, fr. mordere: cf. F. mordicant.]
Defn: Biting; acrid; as, the mordicant quality of a body. [R.] Boyle.
MORDICATION Mor`di*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. mordicatio.]
Defn: The act of biting or corroding; corrosion. [R.] Bacon.
MORDICATIVE Mor"di*ca*tive, a. Etym: [L. mordicativus.]
Defn: Biting; corrosive. [R.] Holland.
MORE More, n. Etym: [AS. mor. See Moor a waste.]
Defn: A hill. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
MORE More, n. Etym: [AS. more, moru; akin to G. möhre carrot, OHG. moraha, morha.]
Defn: A root. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MORE More, a., compar. [Positive wanting; superl. Most (.] Etym: [OE. more, mare, and (orig. neut. and adv.) mo, ma, AS. mara, and (as neut. and adv.) ma; akin to D. meer, OS. mer, G. mehr, OHG. mero, mer, Icel. meiri, meirr, Dan. meere, meer, Sw. mera, mer, Goth. maiza, a., mais, adv., and perh. to L. major greater, compar. of magnus great, and magis, adv., more. sq. root103. Cf. Most, uch, Major.]
1. Greater; superior; increased; as: (a) Greater in quality, amount, degree, quality, and the like; with the singular. He gat more money. Chaucer. If we procure not to ourselves more woe. Milton.
Note: More, in this sense, was formerly used in connection with some other qualifying word, -- a, the, this, their, etc., -- which now requires the substitution of greater, further, or the like, for more. Whilst sisters nine, which dwell on Parnasse height, Do make them music for their more delight. Spenser. The more part knew not wherefore they were come together. Acts xix. 32. Wrong not that wrong with a more contempt. Shak.
(b) Greater in number; exceeding in numbers; -- with the plural. The people of the children of Israel are more and mighter than we. Ex. i. 9.
2. Additional; other; as, he wept because there were no more words to conquer. With open arms received one poet more. Pope.
MORE More, n.
1. A greater quantity, amount, or number; that which exceeds or surpasses in any way what it is compared with. And the children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less. Ex. xvi. 17.
2. That which is in addition; something other and further; an additional or greater amount. They that would have more and more can never have enough. L'Estrange. O! That pang where more than madness lies. Byron. Any more. (a) Anything or something additional or further; as, I do not need any more. (b) Adverbially: Further; beyond a certain time; as, do not think any more about it. -- No more, not anything more; nothing in addition. -- The more and less, the high and low. [Obs.] Shak. "All cried, both less and more." Chaucer.
MORE More, adv.
1. In a greater quantity; in or to a greater extent or degree. (a) With a verb or participle. Admiring more The riches of Heaven's pavement. Milton.
(b) With an adjective or adverb (instead of the suffix -er) to form the comparative degree; as, more durable; more active; more sweetly. Happy here, and more happy hereafter. Bacon.
Note: Double comparatives were common among writers of the Elizabeth period, and for some time later; as, more brighter; more dearer. The duke of Milan And his more braver daughter. Shak.
2. In addition; further; besides; again. Yet once more, Oye laurels, and once more, Ye myrtles brown, with ivy never sere, I come to pluck your berries harsh and crude. Milton. More and more, with continual increase. "Amon trespassed more and more." 2 Chron. xxxiii. 23. -- The more, to a greater degree; by an added quantity; for a reason already specified. -- The more -- the more, by how much more -- by so much more. "The more he praised in himself, the more he seems to suspect that in very deed it was not in him." Milton. -- To be no more, to have ceased to be; as, Cassius is no more; Troy is no more. Those oracles which set the world in flames, Nor ceased to burn till kingdoms were no more. Byron.
MORE More, v. t.
Defn: To make more; to increase. [Obs.] Gower.
MOREEN Mo*reen", n. Etym: [Cf. Mohair.]
Defn: A thick woolen fabric, watered or with embossed figures; -- used in upholstery, for curtains, etc.
MOREL Mor"el, n. Etym: [See Moril.] (Bot.)
Defn: An edible fungus (Morchella esculenta), the upper part of which is covered with a reticulated and pitted hymenium. It is used as food, and for flavoring sauces. [Written also moril.]
MOREL Mor"el, n. Etym: [See Morelle.] (Bot.)
1. Nightshade; -- so called from its blackish purple berries. [Written also morelle.]
2. A kind of cherry. See Morello. Great morel, the deadly nightshade. -- Petty morel, the black nightshade. See Nightshade.
MORELAND More"land, n.
Defn: Moorland.
MORELLE Mo*relle", n. Etym: [F., orig. fem. of moreau black, OF. morel, fr. LL. morellus. Cf. Morello, Murrey.] (Bot.)
Defn: Nightshade. See 2d Morel.
MORELLO Mo*rel"lo, n. Etym: [Cf. It. morello blackish, OF. morel. Cf. Morelle.] (Bot.)
Defn: A kind of nearly black cherry with dark red flesh and juice, -- used chiefly for preserving.
MORENDO Mo*ren"do, a. & n. Etym: [It.] (Mus.)
Defn: Dying; a gradual decrescendo at the end of a strain or cadence.
MORENESS More"ness, n.
Defn: Greatness. [Obs.] Wyclif.
MOREOVER More*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.
MOREPORK More"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.
MORES Mo"res (mo"rez), n. pl.; sing. Mos (mos). [L.]
Defn: Customs; habits; esp., customs conformity to which is more or less obligatory; customary law.
MORESK Mo*resk", a. & n.
Defn: Moresque. [Obs.]
MORESQUE Mo*resque", a. Etym: [F., fr. It. moresco, or Sp. morisco. See Morris.]
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.]
MORGAN Mor"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.
MORGAY Mor"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.
MORGLAY Mor"glay, n. Etym: [Cf. Claymore.]
Defn: A sword. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
MORGUE Morgue, 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.
MORIA Mo"ri*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
Defn: Idiocy; imbecility; fatuity; foolishness.
MORIAN Mo"ri*an, n. (Ethnol.)
Defn: A Moor. [Obs.] In vain the Turks and Morians armed be. Fairfax.
MORIBUND Mor"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.
MORIBUND Mor"i*bund, n.
Defn: A dying person. [R.]
MORIC Mo"ric, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, fustic (see Morin); as, moric acid.
MORICE Mor"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.]
MORIGERATION Mo*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.
MORIN Mo"rin, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A yellow crystalline substance of acid properties extracted from fustic (Maclura tinctoria, formerly called Morus tinctoria); -- called also moric acid.
MORINDA Mo*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.
MORINDIN Mo*rin"din, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A yellow dyestuff extracted from the root bark of an East Indian plant (Morinda citrifolia).
MORINEL Mor"i*nel`, n. Etym: [Cf. F. morinelle.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The dotterel.
MORINGA Mo*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.
MORINGIC Mo*rin"gic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Designating an organic acid obtained from oil of ben. See Moringa.
MORINTANNIC Mo`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 somewhat resembling a hat. A battered morion on his brow. Sir W. Scott.
MORION Mo"ri*on, n. Etym: [G.] (Min.)
Defn: A dark variety of smoky quartz.
MORIOPLASTY Mo"ri*o*plas`ty, n. Etym: [Gr. -plasty.] (Surg.)
Defn: The restoration of lost parts of the body.
MORISCO Mo*ris"co, a. Etym: [Sp. See Morris the dance.]
Defn: Moresque.
MORISCO Mo*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.
MORISK Mo"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.
MORLAND Mor"land, n.
Defn: Moorland. [Obs.]
MORLING Mor"ling, n. Etym: [Cf. F. mort dead, L. mortuus, fr. moriri to die.]
Defn: Mortling. [Eng.] Ainsworth.
MORMAL Mor"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.
MORMO Mor"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.
MORMON Mor"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.
MORMON Mor"mon, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Mormons; as, the Mormon religion; Mormon practices.
MORMONDOM Mor"mon*dom, n.
Defn: The country inhabited by the Mormons; the Mormon people.
MORMONISM Mor"mon*ism, n.
Defn: The doctrine, system, and practices of the Mormons.
MORMONITE Mor"mon*ite, n.
Defn: A Mormon. -- a.
Defn: Mormon. "Mormonite religion." F. W. Newman.
MORN Morn, 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 in poetry. From morn To noun he fell, from noon to dewy eve. Milton.
MORNE Mor"ne, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the morn; morning. [Obs.] "White as morne milk." Chaucer.
MORNE Morne, 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.
MORNE Mor`né", a. Etym: [F., fr. morne a morne.] (Her.)
Defn: Without teeth, tongue, or claws; -- said of a lion represented heraldically.
MORNE Morne, 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.
MORNING Morn"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-GLORY Morn"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.
MORNINGTIDE Morn"ing*tide`, n.
Defn: Morning time. [Poetic]
MORNWARD Morn"ward, adv.
Defn: Towards the morn. [Poetic] And mornward now the starry hands move on. Lowell.
MORO Mo"ro, n. Etym: [Cf. It. mora mulberry, L. morum.] (Med.)
Defn: A small abscess or tumor having a resemblance to a mulberry. Dunglison.
MOROCCAN Mo*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.
MOROLOGY Mo*rol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Foolish talk; nonsense; folly. [Obs.]
MORON Mo"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.
MORON Mo*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.
MORONE Mo*rone", n.
Defn: Maroon; the color of an unripe black mulberry.
MOROS Mo"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.
MOROSAURUS Mo`ro*sau"rus, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: An extinct genus of large herbivorous dinosaurs, found in Jurassic 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.
MOROSELY Mo*rose"ly, adv.
Defn: Sourly; with sullen austerity.
MOROSENESS Mo*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.
MOROSIS Mo*ro"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Idiocy; fatuity; stupidity.
MOROSITY Mo*ros"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. morositas: cf. F. morosité.]
Defn: Moroseness. [R.] Jer. Taylor.
MOROSOPH Mo"ro*soph, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A philosophical or learned fool. [Obs.]
MOROSOUS Mo*ro"sous, a.
Defn: Morose. [Obs.] Sheldon.
MOROXITE Mo*rox"ite, n. Etym: [Cf. Gr. (Min.)
Defn: A variety of apatite of a greenish blue color.
MOROXYLATE Mo*rox"y*late, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A morate.
MOROXYLIC Mor`ox*yl"ic, a. Etym: [L. morus a mulberry tree + Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or derived from, the mulberry; moric.
MORPHEAN Mor"phe*an, a.
Defn: Of or relating to Morpheus, to dreams, or to sleep. Keats.
MORPHEUS Mor"pheus, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Class. Myth.)
Defn: The god of dreams.
MORPHEW Mor"phew, n. Etym: [F. morpheé, LL. morphea; cf. It. morfea.]
Defn: A scurfy eruption. [Obs.] Drayton.
MORPHEW Mor"phew, v. t.
Defn: To cover with a morphew. [Obs.]
MORPHIA Mor"phi*a, n. Etym: [NL.] (Chem.)
Defn: Morphine.
MORPHINE Mor"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.
MORPHINISM Mor"phin*ism, n. (Med.)
Defn: A morbid condition produced by the excessive or prolonged use of morphine.
MORPHO Mor"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.
MORPHOGENY Mor*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; MORPHOLOGICAL Mor`pho*log"ic, Mor`pho*log"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. morphologique.] (Biol.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or according to, the principles of morphology. -- Mor`pho*log"ic*al*ly, adv.
MORPHOLOGIST Mor*phol"o*gist, n. (Biol.)
Defn: One who is versed in the science of morphology.
MORPHOLOGY Mor*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.
MORPHON Mor"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.
MORPHONOMY Mor*phon"o*my, n. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: The laws of organic formation.
MORPHOPHYLY Mor"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.
MORPHOSIS Mor*pho"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: The order or mode of development of an organ or part.
MORPHOTIC Mor*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.
MORPION Mor"pi*on, n. Etym: [F., fr. mordre to bite + L. pedis louse.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A louse. Hudibras.
MORRICE Mor"rice, n.
Defn: Same as 1st Morris.
MORRICE Mor"rice, a.
Defn: Dancing the morrice; dancing. In shoals and bands, a morrice train. Wordsworth.
MORRICER Mor"ri*cer, n.
Defn: A morris dancer. [Obs.]
MORRIMAL Mor"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.
MORRIS Mor"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-CHAIR Mor"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-PIKE Mor"ris-pike`, n.
Defn: A Moorish pike. [Obs.]
MORRO Mor"ro, n. [Sp., any spherical object.]
Defn: A round hill or point of land; hence, Morro castle, a castle on a hill.
MORROT Mor"rot, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Marrot.
MORROW Mor"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.
MORSE Morse, n. Etym: [L. morsus a biting, a clasp, fr. mordere to bite.]
Defn: A clasp for fastening garments in front. Fairholt.
MORSE ALPHABET Morse" 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 CODE Morse" 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
A .- H .... O . . V ...-
B - . . . I .. P ..... W .--
C .. . J -.-. Q ..-. X .-..
D -.. K -.- R . .. Y .. ..
E . L --- S ... Z ... .
F .-. M -- T -- & . ...
G --. N -. U ..-
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.
C -.-. L .-.. Q --.- Y -.--
F ..-. O --- R .-. Z --..
J .--- P .--. X -..- The Morse code is used chiefly with the electric telegraph, but is also employed in signalling with flags, lights, etc.
MORSEL Mor"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 HORN Mor"sing horn`.
Defn: A horn or flask for holding powder, as for priming. [Scot.] Sir W. Scott.
MORSITATION Mor`si*ta"tion, n.
Defn: The act of biting or gnawing. [Obs.]
MORSURE Mor"sure, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. mordere, morsum, to bite.]
Defn: The act of biting. Swift.
MORT Mort, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. margt, neut. of margr many.]
Defn: A great quantity or number. [Prov. Eng.] There was a mort of merrymaking. Dickens.
MORT Mort, n. Etym: [Etym. uncert.]
Defn: A woman; a female. [Cant] Male gypsies all, not a mort among them. B. Jonson.
MORT Mort, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A salmon in its third year. [Prov. Eng.]
MORT Mort, 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.
MORTAL Mor"tal, n.
Defn: A being subject to death; a human being; man. "Warn poor mortals left behind." Tickell.
MORTALITY Mor*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.
MORTALIZE Mor"tal*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mortalized; p. pr. & vb. n. Mortalizing.]
Defn: To make mortal. [R.]
MORTALLY Mor"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.
MORTALNESS Mor"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]
MORTAR Mor"tar, v. t.
Defn: To plaster or make fast with mortar.
MORTAR Mor"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. Chattel mortgage. See under Chattel. -- To foreclose a mortgage. See under Foreclose. -- Mortgage deed (Law), a deed given by way of mortgage.
MORTGAGE Mort"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.
MORTGAGEE Mort`ga*gee", n. (Law)
Defn: The person to whom property is mortgaged, or to whom a mortgage is made or given.
MORTGAGEOR; MORTGAGOR Mort"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 (
MORTGAGER Mort"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.
MORTIFICATION Mor`ti*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. mortificatio a killing. See Mortify.]
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.
MORTIFIED Mor"ti*fied, imp. & p. p.
Defn: of Mortify.
MORTIFIEDNESS Mor"ti*fied*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being mortified; humiliation; subjection of the passions. [R.]
MORTIFIER Mor"ti*fi`er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, mortifies.
MORTIFY Mor"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.
MORTIFY Mor"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.
MORTIFYING Mor"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.
MORTIFYINGLY Mor"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.
MORTISE Mor"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.
MORTLING Mort"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.
MORTMAL Mort"mal, n.
Defn: See Mormal. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
MORTPAY Mort"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; MORTREW Mor"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.
MORULA Mor"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.
MORULATION Mor`u*la"tion, n. (Biol.)
Defn: The process of cleavage, or segmentation, of the ovum, by which a morula is formed.
MORUS Mo"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.
MORWE Mor"we, n.
Defn: See Morrow. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MORWENING Mor"wen*ing, n.
Defn: Morning. [Obs.]
MOS Mos, 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.
MOSAIC Mo*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.
MOSAIC Mo*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.
MOSAICAL Mo*sa"ic*al, a.
Defn: Mosaic (in either sense). "A mosaical floor." Sir P. Sidney.
MOSAICALLY Mo*sa"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In the manner of a mosaic.
MOSAISM Mo"sa*ism, n.
Defn: Attachment to the system or doctrines of Moses; that which is peculiar to the Mosaic system or doctrines.
MOSASAUR; MOSASAURIAN Mos"a*saur, Mos`a*sau"ri*an, n. (Paleon.)
Defn: One of an extinct order of reptiles, including Mosasaurus and allied genera. See Mosasauria.
MOSASAURIA Mos`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.
MOSASAURUS Mos`a*sau"rus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. Mosa the River Meuse (on which Meastricht 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.]
MOSCHATEL Mos"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.
MOSCHINE Mos"chine, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Moschus, a genus including the musk deer.
MOSEL Mos"el, n. & v.
Defn: See Muzzle. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MOSELLE Mo*selle", n.
Defn: A light wine, usually white, produced in the vicinity of the river Moselle.
MOSES Mo"ses, n.
Defn: A large flatboat, used in the West Indies for taking freight from shore to ship.
MOSEY Mo"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.
MOSK Mosk, 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.
MOSLEM Mos"lem, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Mohammedans; Mohammedan; as, Moslem lands; the Moslem faith.
MOSLINGS Mos"lings, n. pl.
Defn: Thin shreds of leather shaved off in dressing skins. Simmonds.
MOSOSAURUS Mos`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.
MOSS Moss, 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 which need no special explanation; as, moss-capped, moss-clad, moss- covered, moss-grown, etc. Black moss. See under Black, and Tillandsia. -- 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 of manganese. 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 (Silene acaulis), with mostly purplish flowers, found on the highest mountains of Europe and America, and within the Arctic circle. -- Moss land, land produced accumulation of aquatic plants, forming peat bogs of more or less consistency, as the water is grained off or retained 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 on the 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.
MOSS Moss, 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.
MOSSBACK Moss"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; MOSSBUNKER Moss"bank`er, Moss"bunk`er, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The menhaded.
MOSS-GROWN Moss"-grown`, a.
Defn: Overgrown with moss.
MOSSINESS Moss"i*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being mossy.
MOSSTROOPER Moss"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.
MOSSY Moss"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.
MOST Most, 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.
MOSTAHIBA Mos`ta*hi"ba, n.
Defn: See Mustaiba.
MOSTE Mos"te, obs.imp.
Defn: of Mote. Chaucer.
MOSTIC; MOSTICK Mos"tic, Mos"tick, n. Etym: [See Maul-stick.]
Defn: A painter's maul-stick.
MOSTLY Most"ly, adv.
Defn: For the greatest part; for the most part; chiefly; in the main.
MOSTRA Mos"tra, n. Etym: [It.] (Mus.)
Defn: See Direct, n.
MOSTWHAT Most"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 that of the Freemasons.
MOT Mot, 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.
MOTACIL Mot"a*cil, n. Etym: [Cf. F. motacille.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any singing bird of the genus Motacilla; a wagtail.
MOTATION Mo*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. motare, motatum, to keep moving.]
Defn: The act of moving; motion. [Obs.]
MOTE Mote, 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.]
MOTE Mote, n.
Defn: The flourish sounded on a horn by a huntsman. See Mot, n., 3, and Mort. Chaucer.
MOTE Mote, n. Etym: [OE. mot, AS. mot.]
Defn: A small particle, as of floating dust; anything proverbially small; 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.
MOTED Mot"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.
MOTH Moth (môth), n.
Defn: A mote. [Obs.] Shak.
MOTH Moth, n.; pl. Moths (môthz). Etym: [OE. mothe, AS. moedhedhe; akin to D. 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 wastes any other thing. Moth blight (Zoöl.), any plant louse of the genus Aleurodes, 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.
MOTH-EAT Moth"-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.
MOTHEN Moth"en, a.
Defn: Full of moths. [Obs.] Fulke.
MOTHER Moth"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.
MOTHER Moth"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.
MOTHER Moth"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 a mother to. The queen, to have put lady Elizabeth besides the crown, would have mothered 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.
MOTHER Moth"er, v. i.
Defn: To become like, or full of, mother, or thick matter, as vinegar.
MOTHERED Moth"ered, a.
Defn: Thick, like mother; viscid. They oint their naked limbs with mothered oil. Dryden.
MOTHERHOOD Moth"er*hood, n.
Defn: The state of being a mother; the character or office of a mother.
MOTHERING Moth"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-LAW Moth"er-in-law`, n.
Defn: The mother of one's husband or wife.
MOTHERLAND Moth"er*land`, n.
Defn: The country of one's ancestors; -- same as fatherland.
MOTHERLESS Moth"er*less, a. Etym: [AS. modorleás.]
Defn: Destitute of a mother; having lost a mother; as, motherless children.
MOTHERLINESS Moth"er*li*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being motherly.
MOTHERLY Moth"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.
MOTHERLY Moth"er*ly, adv.
Defn: In a manner of a mother.
MOTHER-NAKED Moth"er-na`ked, a.
Defn: Naked as when born.
MOTHER-OF-PEARL Moth"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-THYME Moth"er-of-thyme`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: An aromatic plant (Thymus Serphyllum); -- called also wild thyme.
MOTHER'S DAY Moth"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.
MOTHERY Moth"er*y, a.
Defn: Consisting of, containing, or resembling, mother (in vinegar).
MOTHY Moth"y, a.
Defn: Infested with moths; moth-eaten. "An old mothy saddle." Shak.
MOTIF Mo"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.]
MOTILE Mo"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.
MOTILITY Mo*til"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. motilité.] (Physiol.)
Defn: Capability of motion; contractility.
MOTION Mo"tion, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. motio, fr. movere, motum, to move. See Move.]
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 part or in groups of parts. The independent motions of different parts sounding together constitute 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.
MOTION Mo"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.
MOTION Mo"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.
MOTIONER Mo"tion*er, n.
Defn: One who makes a motion; a mover. Udall.
MOTIONIST Mo"tion*ist, n.
Defn: A mover. [Obs.]
MOTIONLESS Mo"tion*less, a.
Defn: Without motion; being at rest.
MOTION PICTURE Mo"tion pic"ture.
Defn: A moving picture.
MOTIVATE Mo"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.
MOTIVE Mo"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.
MOTIVE Mo"tive, v. t.
Defn: To prompt or incite by a motive or motives; to move.
MOTIVELESS Mo"tive*less, a.
Defn: Destitute of a motive; not incited by a motive. -- Mo"tive*less*ness, n. G. Eliot.
MOTIVITY Mo*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.]
MOTIVO Mo*ti"vo, n. Etym: [It. See Motive, n.]
Defn: See Motive, n., 3, 4.
MOTLEY Mot"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.
MOTLEY Mot"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-MINDED Mot"ley-mind`ed, a.
Defn: Having a mind of a jester; foolish. Shak.
MOTMOT Mot"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.]
MOTO Mo"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.
MOTOGRAPH Mo"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.
MOTON Mo"ton, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.] (Anc. Armor)
Defn: A small plate covering the armpit in armor of the 14th century and later.
MOTOR Mo"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; MOTORIAL Mo"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; MOTORCAR Motor 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; MOTORCYCLE Motor 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-DRIVEN Mo`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 GENERATOR Motor 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.
MOTORING Mo"tor*ing, n.
Defn: Act or recreation of riding in or driving a motor car or automobile.
MOTORING Mo"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.
MOTORIZE Mo"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.
MOTORMAN Mo"tor*man, n.
Defn: A man who controls a motor.
MOTORPATHIC Mo`tor*path"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to motorpathy.
MOTORPATHY Mo*tor"pa*thy, n. Etym: [L. motor a mover + Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Kinesiatrics.
MOTTE Motte, n. Etym: [Cf. F. motte a clod, clump, or hillock.]
Defn: A clump of trees in a prairie. [Local, U.S.]
MOTTLE Mot"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.
MOTTLE Mot"tle, n.
Defn: A mottled appearance.
MOTTLED Mot"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.
MOTTOED Mot"toed, a.
Defn: Bearing or having a motto; as, a mottoed coat or device.
MOTTY Mot"ty, a.
Defn: Full of, or consisting of, motes. [Written also mottie.] [Scot.] The motty dust reek raised by the workmen. H. Miller.
MOUCHOIR Mou`choir", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A handkerchief.
MOUEZZIN Mou*ez"zin, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: See Muezzin.
MOUFLON Mouf"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.]
MOUGHT Mought, obs.imp.
Defn: of May. Might.
MOUILLATION Mouil*la"tion, n. Etym: [See Mouillé.] (Phon.)
Defn: The act of uttering the sound of a mouillé letter.
MOUILLE Mouil`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; MOULDY Mould, Mould"er, Mould"y, etc.
Defn: See Mold, Molder, Moldy, etc.
MOULE Moule, 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.
MOULT Moult, v. & n.
Defn: See Molt.
MOULTEN Moult"en, a.
Defn: Having molted. [Obs.] "A moulten raven." Shak.
MOUN Moun, v.,
Defn: pl. of Mow, may. [Obs.] Wyclif.
MOUNCH Mounch, v. t.
Defn: To munch. [Obs.]
MOUND Mound, 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.
MOUND Mound, n. Etym: [OE. mound, mund, protection, AS. mund protection, hand; akin to OHG. munt, Icel. mund hand, and prob. to L. manus. See Manual.]
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.
MOUND Mound, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mounded; p. pr. & vb. n. Mounding.]
Defn: To fortify or inclose with a mound.
MOUNT Mount, 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.
MOUNT Mount, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Mounted; p. pr. & vb. n. Mounting.] Etym: [OE. mounten, monten, F. monter, fr. L. mons, montis, mountain. See Mount, 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.
MOUNT Mount, 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.
MOUNT Mount, 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.
MOUNTABLE Mount"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 White Mountains.
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.
MOUNTAIN Moun"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.
MOUNTAINEER Moun`tain*eer", n. Etym: [OF. montanier, LL. montanarius. See Mountain.]
1. An inhabitant of a mountain; one who lives among mountains.
2. A rude, fierce person. [Obs.] No savage fierce, bandit, or mountaineer. Milton.
MOUNTAINEER Moun`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.
MOUNTAINER Moun"tain*er, n.
Defn: A mountaineer. [Obs.]
MOUNTAINET Moun"tain*et, n.
Defn: A small mountain. [R.]
MOUNTAINOUS Moun"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.
MOUNTAINOUSNESS Moun"tain*ous*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being mountainous.
MOUNTAIN SPECTER Moun"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 STATE Moun"tain State.
Defn: Montana; -- a nickname.
MOUNTANCE Mount"ance, n. Etym: [OF. montance.]
Defn: Amount; sum; quantity; extent. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MOUNTANT Mount"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.
MOUNTEBANK Mount"e*bank, v. t.
Defn: To cheat by boasting and false pretenses; to gull. [R.] Shak.
MOUNTEBANK Mount"e*bank, v. i.
Defn: To play the mountebank.
MOUNTEBANKERY Mount"e*bank`er*y, n.
Defn: The practices of a mountebank; quackery; boastful and vain pretenses.
MOUNTEBANKISH Mount"e*bank`ish, a.
Defn: Like a mountebank or his quackery. Howell.
MOUNTEBANKISM Mount"e*bank*ism, n.
Defn: The practices of a mountebank; mountebankery.
MOUNTED Mount"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.
MOUNTENAUNCE Mount"e*naunce, n.
Defn: Mountance. [Obs.]
MOUNTER Mount"er, n.
1. One who mounts.
2. An animal mounted; a monture. [Obs.]
MOUNTING Mount"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.
MOUNTINGLY Mount"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In an ascending manner.
MOUNTLET Mount"let, n.
Defn: A small or low mountain. [R.]
MOUNTY Mount"y, n. Etym: [F. montée, fr. monter. See Mount, v.]
Defn: The rise of a hawk after prey. Sir P. Sidney.
MOURN Mourn, 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.
MOURN Mourn, 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.
MOURNE Mourne, 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.
MOURNER Mourn"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.
MOURNFUL Mourn"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.
MOURNING Mourn"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.
MOURNING Mourn"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.
MOURNINGLY Mourn"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a mourning manner.
MOURNIVAL Mour"ni*val, n.
Defn: See Murnival.
MOUSE Mouse (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.
MOUSE Mouse, 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.
MOUSE Mouse, 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. See Mouse, 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.
MOUSEFISH Mouse"fish`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Frogfish.
MOUSEHOLE Mouse"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.
MOUSEKIN Mouse"kin, n.
Defn: A little mouse. Thackeray.
MOUSER Mous"er, n.
1. A cat that catches mice.
2. One who pries about on the lookout for something.
MOUSETAIL Mouse"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.
MOUSIE Mous"ie, n.
Defn: Diminutive for Mouse. Burns.
MOUSING Mous"ing, a.
Defn: Impertinently inquisitive; prying; meddlesome. "Mousing saints." L'Estrange.
MOUSING Mous"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.
MOUSLE Mou"sle, v. t.
Defn: To sport with roughly; to rumple. [Written also mouzle.] [Obs.] Wycherley.
MOUSQUETAIRE Mous`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 CUFF Mousquetaire cuff.
Defn: A deep flaring cuff.
MOUSQUETAIRE GLOVE Mousquetaire glove.
Defn: A woman's glove with a long, loosely fitting wrist.
MOUSSE Mousse (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.
MOUSSELINE Mousse`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 as wineglasses, etc.
MOUSSELINE DE SOIE Mousse`line de soie". [F.]
Defn: A soft thin silk fabric with a weave like that of muslin.
MOUSTACHE Mous`tache", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: Mustache.
MOUSY Mous"y, a.
Defn: Infested with mice; smelling of mice.
MOUTAN Mou"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 professes friendship 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) An harmonicon. -- Mouth pipe, an organ pipe with a lip or plate to cut the escaping air and make a sound. -- To stop the mouth, to silence or be silent; to put to shame; to confound. The mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped. Ps. lxiii. 11. Whose mouths must be stopped. Titus i. 11.
MOUTH Mouth, 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.
MOUTH Mouth, 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.
MOUTHED Mouthed, 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.
MOUTHER Mouth"er, n.
Defn: One who mouths; an affected speaker.
MOUTH-FOOTED Mouth"-foot`ed, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the basal joints of the legs converted into jaws.
MOUTHFUL Mouth"ful, n.; pl. Mouthfuls (.
1. As much as is usually put into the mouth at one time.
2. Hence, a small quantity.
MOUTHLESS Mouth"less, a. Etym: [AS. muedhleás.]
Defn: Destitute of a mouth.
MOUTH-MADE Mouth"-made`, a.
Defn: Spoken without sincerity; not heartfelt. "Mouth-made vows." Shak.
MOUTHPIECE Mouth"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.
MOVABILITY Mov`a*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: Movableness.
MOVABLE Mov"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.
MOVABLE Mov"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.
MOVABLENESS Mov"a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being movable; mobility; susceptibility of motion.
MOVABLY Mov"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.
MOVE Move, 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.
MOVE Move, 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.]
MOVELESS Move`less, a.
Defn: Motionless; fixed. "Moveless as a tower." Pope.
MOVEMENT Move"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.
MOVENT Mo"vent, a. Etym: [L. movens, p.pr. of movere. See Move.]
Defn: Moving. [R.] Grew.
MOVENT Mo"vent, n.
Defn: That which moves anything. [R.]
MOVER Mov"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.
MOVIE Mov"ie, n.
Defn: A moving picture or a moving picture show; -- commonly used in pl. [Slang or Colloq.]
MOVING Mov"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.
MOVING Mov"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.
MOVINGLY Mov"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a moving manner. Addison.
MOVINGNESS Mov"ing*ness, n.
Defn: The power of moving.
MOVING PICTURE Moving 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.
MOW Mow, n. [Written also moe and mowe.] Etym: [F. moue pouting, a wry face; cf. OD. mouwe the protruded lip.]
Defn: A wry face. "Make mows at him." Shak.
MOW Mow, v. i.
Defn: To make mouths. Nodding, becking, and mowing. Tyndale.
MOW Mow, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Mew, a gull.
MOW Mow, v. [pres. sing. Mow, pl. Mowe, Mowen, Moun.] Etym: [AS. magan. See May, v.]
Defn: May; can. "Thou mow now escapen." [Obs.] Chaucer. Our walles mowe not make hem resistence. Chaucer.
MOW Mow, v. t. [imp. Mowed; p. p. Mowed or Mown (; p. pr. & vb. n. Mowing.] Etym: [OE. mowen, mawen, AS. mawan; akin to D. maaijen, G. mähen, OHG. majan, Dan. meie, L. metere to reap, mow, Gr. Math, Mead a meadow, Meadow.]
1. To cut down, as grass, with a scythe or machine.
2. To cut the grass from; as, to mow a meadow.
3. To cut down; to cause to fall in rows or masses, as in mowing grass; -- with down; as, a discharge of grapeshot mows down whole ranks of men.
MOW Mow, v. i.
Defn: To cut grass, etc., with a scythe, or with a machine; to cut grass for hay.
MOW Mow, n. Etym: [OE. mowe, AS. m.]
1. A heap or mass of hay or of sheaves of grain stowed in a barn.
2. The place in a barn where hay or grain in the sheaf is stowed.
MOW Mow, v. t.
Defn: To lay, as hay or sheaves of grain, in a heap or mass in a barn; to pile and stow away.
MOWBURN Mow"burn`, v. i.
Defn: To heat and ferment in the mow, as hay when housed too green.
MOWE Mowe, v.
Defn: See 4th Mow. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MOWE Mowe, n. & v.
Defn: See 1st & 2d Mow. [Obs.]
MOWER Mow"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, mows; a mowing machine; as, a lawn mower.
MOWING Mow"ing, n.
1. The act of one who, or the operation of that which, mows.
2. Land from which grass is cut; meadow land. Mowing machine, an agricultural machine armed with knives or blades for cutting standing grass, etc. It is drawn by a horse or horses, or propelled by steam.
MOWN Mown, p. p. & a.
Defn: Cut down by mowing, as grass; deprived of grass by mowing; as, a mown field.
MOWYER Mow"yer, n.
Defn: A mower. [Obs.]
MOXA Mox"a, n. Etym: [A corruption of Japan. mogusa (pronounced mongsa), an escharotic made from the plant yomigi: cf. F. moxa.]
1. (Med.)
Defn: A soft woolly mass prepared from the young leaves of Artemisia Chinensis, and used as a cautery by burning it on the skin; hence, any substance used in a like manner, as cotton impregnated with niter, amadou.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant from which this substance is obtained, esp. Artemisia Chinensis, and A. moxa.
MOXIE Mox"ie, n. Etym: [fr. Moxie, a trade name for a beverage.]
1. energy; pep.
2. courage, determination.
3. Know-how, expertise. MW10.
MOYA Moy"a, n.
Defn: Mud poured out from volcanoes during eruptions; -- so called in South America.
MOYLE Moyle, n. & v.
Defn: See Moil, and Moile.
MOZARAB; MOZARABIC Moz"a*rab, Moz`a*rab"ic.
Defn: Same as Muzarab, Muzarabic.
MOZETTA; MOZZETTA Mo*zet"ta, Moz*zet"ta, n. Etym: [It. mozzetta: cf. F. mosette. Cf. Amice a hood or cape.] (Eccl.)
Defn: A cape, with a small hood; -- worn by the pope and other dignitaries of the Roman Catholic Church.
MR. Mr.. (.
Defn: The customary abbreviation of Mister in writing and printing. See Master, 4.
MRS. Mrs. (.
Defn: The customary abbreviation of Mistress when used as a title of courtesy, in writing and printing.
MUCAMIDE Mu*cam"ide, n. Etym: [Mucic + amide.] (Chem.)
Defn: The acid amide of mucic acid, obtained as a white crystalline substance.
MUCATE Mu"cate, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of mucic acid.
MUCE Muce, n.
Defn: See Muse, and Muset.
MUCEDIN Mu*ce"din, n. Etym: [From Mucus.] (Bot. Chem.)
Defn: A yellowish white, amorphous, nitrogenous substance found in wheat, rye, etc., and resembling gluten; -- formerly called also mucin.
MUCH Much, a. [Compar. & superl. wanting, but supplied by More, and Most (, from another root.] Etym: [OE. moche, muche, miche, prob. the same as mochel, muchel, michel, mikel, fr. AS. micel, mycel; cf. Gr. mjök, adv., much. *103. See Mickle.]
1. Great in quantity; long in duration; as, much rain has fallen; much time. Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field, and shalt gather but little in. Deut. xxviii. 38.
2. Many in number. [Archaic] Edom came out against him with much people. Num. xx. 20.
3. High in rank or position. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MUCH Much, n.
1. A great quantity; a great deal; also, an indefinite quantity; as, you have as much as I. He that gathered much had nothing over. Ex. xvi. 18.
Note: Muchin this sense can be regarded as an adjective qualifying a word unexpressed, and may, therefore, be modified by as, so, too, very.
2. A thing uncommon, wonderful, or noticeable; something considerable. And [he] thought not much to clothe his enemies. Milton. To make much of, to treat as something of especial value or worth.
MUCH Much, adv. Etym: [Cf. Icel. mjök. See Much, a.]
Defn: To a great degree or extent; greatly; abundantly; far; nearly. "Much suffering heroes." Pope. Thou art much mightier than we. Gen. xxvi. 16. Excellent speech becometh not a fool, much less do lying lips a prince. Prov. xvii. 7. Henceforth I fly not death, nor would prolong Life much. Milton. All left the world much as they found it. Sir W. Temple.
MUCHEL Much"el, a. Etym: [*103. See Mickle.]
Defn: Much. [Obs.]
MUCHNESS Much"ness, n.
Defn: Greatness; extent. [Obs. or Colloq.] The quantity and muchness of time which it filcheth. W. Whately. Much of a muchness, much the same. [Colloq.] "Men's men; gentle or simple, they 're much of muchness." G. Eliot.
MUCHWHAT Much"what`, adv.
Defn: Nearly; almost; much. [Obs.] "Muchwhat after the same manner." Glanvill.
MUCIC Mu"cic, a. Etym: [L. mucus mucus: cf. F. mucique.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, gums and micilaginous substances; specif., denoting an acid obtained by the oxidation of gums, dulcite, etc., as a white crystalline substance isomeric with saccharic acid.
MUCID Mu"cid, a. Etym: [L. mucidus, fr. L. mucus mucus. See Mucus, and cf. Moist.]
Defn: Musty; moldy; slimy; mucous. -- Mu"cid*ness, n.
MUCIFIC Mu*cif"ic, a. Etym: [Mucus + L. -ficare (in comp.) to make. See -fy.]
1. (Med.)
Defn: Inducing or stimulating the secretion of mucus; blennogenous.
2. (Physiol.)
Defn: Secreting mucus.
MUCIFORM Mu"ci*form, a. Etym: [Mucus + -form.] (Physiol.)
Defn: Resembling mucus; having the character or appearance of mucus.
MUCIGEN Mu"ci*gen, n. Etym: [Mucin + -gen.] (Physiol.)
Defn: A substance which is formed in mucous epithelial cells, and gives rise to mucin.
MUCIGENOUS Mu*cig"e*nous, a. (Physiol.)
Defn: Connected with the formation of mucin; resembling mucin. The mucigenous basis is manufactured at the expense of the ordinary protoplasm of the cell. Foster.
MUCILAGE Mu"ci*lage, n. Etym: [F., from L. mucilago a musty juice, fr. mucus mucus, slime. See Mucus.]
1. (Bot. Chem.)
Defn: A gummy or gelatinous substance produced in certain plants by the action of water on the cell wall, as in the seeds of quinces, of flax, etc.
2. An aqueous solution of gum, or of substances allied to it; as, medicinal mucilage; mucilage for fastening envelopes.
MUCILAGINOUS Mu`ci*lag"i*nous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. mucilagineux. See Mucilage.]
1. Partaking of the nature of, or resembling, mucilage; moist, soft, and viscid; slimy; ropy; as, a mucilaginous liquid.
2. Of, pertaining to, or secreting, mucilage; as, the mucilaginous glands.
3. Soluble in water, but not in alcohol; yielding mucilage; as, mucilaginous gums or plants. -- Mu`ci*lag"i*nous*ness, n.
MUCIN Mu"cin, n. Etym: [From Mucus.]
1. (Bot. Chem.)
Defn: See Mucedin. [Obs.]
2. (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: An albuminoid substance which is contained in mucus, and gives to the latter secretion its peculiar ropy character. It is found in all the secretions from mucous glands, and also between the fibers of connective tissue, as in tendons. See Illust. of Demilune.
MUCINOGEN Mu*cin"o*gen, n. Etym: [Mucin + -gen.] (Physiol.)
Defn: Same as Mucigen.
MUCIPAROUS Mu*cip"a*rous, a. Etym: [Mucus + L. parere to produce.] (Physiol.)
Defn: Secreting, or producing, mucus or mucin.
MUCIVORE Mu"ci*vore, n. Etym: [L. mucus slime, mucus + vorare to devour.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An unsect which feeds on mucus, or the sap of plants, as certain Diptera, of the tribe Mucivora.
MUCK Muck
Defn: , abbreviation of Amuck. To run a muck. See Amuck.
MUCK Muck, n. Etym: [Icel. myki; akin to D. mög. Cf. Midden.]
1. Dung in a moist state; manure. Bacon.
2. Vegetable mold mixed with earth, as found in low, damp places and swamps.
3. Anything filthy or vile. Spenser.
4. Money; -- in contempt. The fatal muck we quarreled for. Beau. & Fl. Muck bar, bar iron which has been through the rolls only once. -- Muck iron, crude puddled iron ready for the squeezer or rollers. Knight.
MUCK Muck, a.
Defn: Like muck; mucky; also, used in collecting or distributing muck; as, a muck fork.
MUCK Muck, v. t.
Defn: To manure with muck.
MUCKENDER Muck"en*der, n. Etym: [Sp. mocador. Cf. Mokadour.]
Defn: A handkerchief. [Obs.] [Written also muckinder, muckiter, mockadour.]
MUCKER Muck"er, n.
Defn: A term of reproach for a low or vulgar labor person. [Slang]
MUCKER Muck"er, v. t.
Defn: To scrape together, as money, by mean labor or shifts. [Obs.] Udall.
MUCKERER Muck"er*er, n.
Defn: A miser; a niggard. [Obs.]
MUCKINESS Muck"i*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being mucky.
MUCKLE Muc"kle, a. Etym: [See Mickle.]
Defn: Much. [Obs.]
MUCKMIDDEN Muck"mid`den, n.
Defn: A dunghill. [Scot.]
MUCK RAKE Muck rake.
Defn: A rake for scraping up muck or dung. See Muckrake, v. i., below.
MUCK-RAKE; MUCKRAKE; MUCKRAKER Muck"rake`, v. i. [imp. & p. p. -raked; p. pr. & vb. n. -raking.]
Defn: To seek for, expose, or charge, esp. habitually, corruption, real or alleged, on the part of public men and corporations. On April 14, 1906, President Roosevelt delivered a speech on "The Man with the Muck Rake," in which he deprecated sweeping and unjust charges of corruption against public men and corporations. The phrase was taken up by the press, and the verb to muck"rake`, in the above sense, and the noun muck"rak`er, to designate one so engaged, were speedily coined and obtained wide currency. The original allusion was to a character in Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress" so intent on raking up muck that he could not see a celestial crown held above him.
MUCKSY Muck"sy, a.
Defn: Somewhat mucky; soft, sticky, and dirty; muxy. [Prov. Eng.] R. D. Blackmore.
MUCKWORM Muck"worm`, n.
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A larva or grub that lives in muck or manure; -- applied to the larvæ of the tumbledung and allied beetles.
2. One who scrapes together money by mean labor and devices; a miser. "Misers are muckworms." Pope.
MUCKY Muck"y, a.
1. Filthy with muck; miry; as, a mucky road. "Mucky filth." Spenser.
2. Vile, in a moral sense; sordid. [Obs.] Spenser. Mucky money and false felicity. Latimer.
MUCOCELE Mu"co*cele, n. Etym: [Mucus + Gr. (Med.)
Defn: An enlargement or protrusion of the mucous membrane of the lachrymal passages, or dropsy of the lachrymal sac, dependent upon catarrhal inflammation of the latter. Dunglison.
MUCOID Mu"coid, a. Etym: [Mucus + -oid.]
Defn: Resembling mucus. Dunglison. Mucoid degeneration, a form of degeneration in which the tissues are transformed into a semisolid substance resembling mucus. Quain.
MUCONATE Mu"co*nate, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of muconic acid.
MUCONIC Mu*con"ic, a. Etym: [Mucic + itaconic.] (Chem.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or designating, an organic acid, obtained indirectly from mucic acid, and somewhat resembling itaconic acid.
MUCOPURULENT Mu`co*pu"ru*lent, a. Etym: [Mucus + purulent.] (Med.)
Defn: Having the character or appearance of both mucus and pus. Dunglison.
MUCOR Mu"cor, n. Etym: [L., fr. mucere to be moldy or musty.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of minute fungi. The plants consist of slender threads with terminal globular sporangia; mold.
MUCOSITY Mu*cos"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being mucous or slimy; mucousness.
MUCOUS Mu"cous, a. Etym: [L. mucosus, fr. mucus mucus.]
1. Of, pertaining to, or resembling, mucus; slimy, ropy, or stringy, and lubricous; as, a mucous substance.
2. Secreting a slimy or mucigenous substance; as, the mucous membrane. Mucous membrane. (Anat.) See under Membrane. -- Mucous patches (Med.), elevated patches found in the mucous membranes of the mouth and anus, usually due to syphilis. -- Mucous tissue (Anat.), a form of connective tissue in an early stage of development, found in the umbilical cord and in the embryo, and also in certain tumors called myxomata.
MUCOUSNESS Mu"cous*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being mucous; sliminess.
MUCRO Mu"cro, n. Etym: [L.] (Bot. & Zoöl.)
Defn: A minute abrupt point, as of a leaf; any small, sharp point or process, terminating a larger part or organ.
MUCRONATE; MUCRONATED Mu"cro*nate, Mu"cro*na`ted, a. Etym: [L. mucronatus, fr. mucro a sharp point: cf. F. mucroné.]
Defn: Ending abruptly in a sharp point; abruptly tipped with a short and sharp point; as, a mucronate leaf. -- Mu"cro*nate*ly, adv.
MUCRONULATE Mu*cron"u*late, a.
Defn: Having, or tipped with, a small point or points.
MUCULENT Mu"cu*lent, a. Etym: [L. muculentus, fr. mucus.]
Defn: Slimy; moist, and moderately viscous.
MUCUS Mu"cus, n. Etym: [L. mucus, muccus; cf. mucere 8be moldy or musty, Gr. muc to release. Cf. Match for striking fire, Moist, Mucilage.]
1. (Physiol.)
Defn: A viscid fluid secreted by mucous membranes, which it serves to moisten and protect. It covers the lining membranes of all the cavities which open externally, such as those of the mouth, nose, lungs, intestinal canal, urinary passages, etc.
2. (Physiol.)
Defn: Any other animal fluid of a viscid quality, as the synovial fluid, which lubricates the cavities of the joints; -- improperly so used.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: A gelatinous or slimy substance found in certain algæ and other plants.
MUCUSIN Mu"cus*in, n. (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: Mucin. [R.]
MUD Mud, n. Etym: [Akin to LG. mudde, D. modder, G. moder mold, OSw. modd mud, Sw. modder mother, Dan. mudder mud. Cf. Mother a scum on liquors.]
Defn: Earth and water mixed so as to be soft and adhesive. Mud bass (Zoöl.), a fresh-water fish (Acantharchum pomotis) of the Eastern United States. It produces a deep grunting note. -- Mud bath, an immersion of the body, or some part of it, in mud charged with medicinal agents, as a remedy for disease. -- Mud boat, a large flatboat used in deredging. -- Mud cat. See Catfish. -- Mud crab (Zoöl.), any one of several American marine crabs of the genus Panopeus. -- Mud dab (Zoöl.), the winter flounder. See Flounder, and Dab. -- Mud dauber (Zoöl.), a mud wasp. -- Mud devil (Zoöl.), the fellbender. -- Mud drum (Steam Boilers), a drum beneath a boiler, into which sediment and mud in the water can settle for removal. -- Mud eel (Zoöl.), a long, slender, aquatic amphibian (Siren lacertina), found in the Southern United States. It has persistent external gills and only the anterior pair of legs. See Siren. -- Mud frog (Zoöl.), a European frog (Pelobates fuscus). -- Mud hen. (Zoöl.) (a) The American coot (Fulica Americana). (b) The clapper rail. -- Mud lark, a person who cleans sewers, or delves in mud. [Slang] - - Mud minnow (Zoöl.), any small American fresh-water fish of the genus Umbra, as U. limi. The genus is allied to the pickerels. -- Mud plug, a plug for stopping the mudhole of a boiler. -- Mud puppy (Zoöl.), the menobranchus. -- Mud scow, a heavy scow, used in dredging; a mud boat. [U.S.] -- Mud turtle, Mud tortoise (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of fresh-water tortoises of the United States. -- Mud wasp (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of hymenopterous insects belonging to Pepæus, and allied genera, which construct groups of mud cells, attached, side by side, to stones or to the woodwork of buildings, etc. The female places an egg in each cell, together with spiders or other insects, paralyzed by a sting, to serve as food for the larva. Called also mud dauber.
MUD Mud, v. t.
1. To bury in mud. [R.] Shak.
2. To make muddy or turbid. Shak.
MUDAR Mu"dar, n. Etym: [Hind. madar.] (Bot.)
Defn: Either one of two asclepiadaceous shrubs (Calotropis gigantea, and C. procera), which furnish a strong and valuable fiber. The acrid milky juice is used medicinally.
MUDARIN Mu"da*rin, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A brown, amorphous, bitter substance having a strong emetic action, extracted from the root of the mudar.
MUDDILY Mud"di*ly
Defn: , In a muddy manner; turbidly; without mixture; cloudily; obscurely; confusedly.
MUDDINESS Mud"di*ness, n.
1. The condition or quality of being muddy; turbidness; foulness casued by mud, dirt, or sediment; as, the muddiness of a stream.
2. Obscurity or confusion, as in treatment of a subject; intellectual dullness.
MUDDLE Mud"dle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Muddled; p. pr. & vb. n. Muddling.] Etym: [From Mud.]
1. To make turbid, or muddy, as water. [Obs.] He did ill to muddle the water. L'Estrange.
2. To cloud or stupefy; to render stupid with liquor; to intoxicate partially. Epicurus seems to have had brains so muddled and confounded, that he scarce ever kept in the right way. Bentley. Often drunk, always muddled. Arbuthnot.
3. To waste or misuse, as one does who is stupid or intoxicated. [R.] They muddle it [money] away without method or object, and without having anything to show for it. Hazlitt.
4. To mix confusedly; to confuse; to make a mess of; as, to muddle matters; also, to perplex; to mystify. F. W. Newman.
MUDDLE Mud"dle, v. i.
1. To dabble in mud. [Obs.] Swift.
2. To think and act in a confused, aimless way.
MUDDLE Mud"dle, n.
Defn: A state of being turbid or confused; hence, intellectual cloudiness or dullness. We both grub on in a muddle. Dickens.
MUDDLEHEAD Mud"dle*head`, n.
Defn: A stupid person. [Colloq.] C. Reade. -- Mud"dle-head`ed, a. [Colloq.] Dickens.
MUDDLER Mud"dler, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, muddles.
MUDDY Mud"dy, a. [Compar. Muddier; superl. Muddiest.]
1. Abounding in mud; besmeared or dashed with mud; as, a muddy road or path; muddy boots.
2. Turbid with mud; as, muddy water.
3. Consisting of mud or earth; gross; impure. This muddy vesture of decay. Shak.
4. Confused, as if turbid with mud; cloudy in mind; dull; stupid; also, immethodical; incoherent; vague. Cold hearts and muddy understandings. Burke. Dost think I am so muddy, so unsettled. Shak.
5. Not clear or bright. Swift.
MUDDY Mud"dy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Muddied; p. pr. & vb. n. Muddying.]
1. To soil with mud; to dirty; to render turbid.
2. Fig.: To cloud; to make dull or heavy. Grew.
MUDDY-HEADED Mud"dy-head`ed, a.
Defn: Dull; stupid.
MUDDY-METTLED Mud"dy-met`tled, a.
Defn: Dull-spirited. Shak.
MUDFISH Mud"fish`, n. (Zoöl.) (a) The European loach. (b) The bowfin. (c) The South American lipedosiren, and the allied African species (Protopterus annectens). See Lipedosiren. (d) The mud minnow.
MUDHOLE Mud"hole`, n.
1. A hole, or hollow place, containing mud, as in a road.
2. (Steam Boilers)
Defn: A hole near the bottom, through which the sediment is withdrawn.
MUDIR Mu"dir, n.
Defn: Same as Moodir.
MUDSILL Mud"sill`, n.
Defn: The lowest sill of a structure, usually embedded in the soil; the lowest timber of a house; also, that sill or timber of a bridge which is laid at the bottom of the water. See Sill.
MUDSUCKER Mud"suck`er, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A woodcock.
MUDWALL Mud"wall`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The European bee-eater. See Bee-eater. [Written also modwall.]
MUDWORT Mud"wort`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A small herbaceous plant growing on muddy shores (Limosella aquatica).
MUE Mue, v. i.
Defn: To mew; to molt. [Obs.] Quarles.
MUEZZIN Mu*ez"zin, n. Etym: [Ar.]
Defn: A Mohammedan crier of the hour of prayer. [Written also mouezzin, mueddin, and muwazzin.]
MUFF Muff, n. Etym: [Cf. LG. muff, D. mof, G., Dan., & Sw. muff, F. moufle mitten, LL. muffula, MHG. mouwe sleeve, D. mouw, and E. muffle, v.]
1. A soft cover of cylindrical form, usually of fur, worn by women to shield the hands from cold.
2. (Mech.)
Defn: A short hollow cylinder surrounding an object, as a pipe.
3. (Glass Manuf.)
Defn: A blown cylinder of glass which is afterward flattened out to make a sheet.
4. Etym: [Perhaps a different word; cf. Prov. E. maffle to slammer.]
Defn: A stupid fellow; a poor-spirited person. [Colloq.] "A muff of a curate." Thackeray.
5. Etym: [See 4.] (Baseball)
Defn: A failure to hold a ball when once in the hands.
6. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The whitethroat. [Prov. Eng.]
MUFF Muff, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Muffed; p. pr. & vb. n. Muffing.]
Defn: To handle awkwardly; to fumble; to fail to hold, as a ball, in catching it.
MUFFETEE Muf`fe*tee", n.
Defn: A small muff worn over the wrist. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
MUFFIN Muf"fin, n. Etym: [From Muff.]
Defn: A light, spongy, cylindrical cake, used for breakfast and tea.
MUFFINEER Muf`fin*eer", n.
Defn: A dish for keeping muffins hot.
MUFFISH Muff"ish, a. Etym: [See Muff, 4 & 5.]
Defn: Stupid; awkward. [Colloq.]
MUFFLE Muf"fle, n.
Defn: The bare end of the nose between the nostrils; -- used esp. of ruminants.
MUFFLE Muf"fle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Muffled; p. pr. & vb. n. Muffling.] Etym: [Cf. F. moufle a mitten, LL. muffula, OD. moffel a muff. See Muff.]
1. To wrap up in something that conceals or protects; to wrap, as the face and neck, in thick and disguishing folds; hence, to conceal or cover the face of; to envelop; to inclose; -- often with up. South. The face lies muffled up within the garment. Addison. He muffled with a cloud his mournful eyes. Dryden. Muffled up in darkness and superstition. Arbuthnot.
2. To prevent seeing, or hearing, or speaking, by wraps bound about the head; to blindfold; to deafen.
3. To wrap with something that dulls or deadens the sound of; as, to muffle the strings of a drum, or that part of an oar which rests in the rowlock.
MUFFLE Muf"fle, v. i. Etym: [Cf. F. maffle, mumble, D. moffelen.]
Defn: To speak indistinctly, or without clear articulation.
MUFFLE Muf"fle, n. Etym: [F. moufle, prop., a mitten, from the resemblance in shape. See Muffle, v. t., Muff.]
1. Anything with which another thing, as an oar or drum, is muffled; also, a boxing glove; a muff.
2. (Metal.)
Defn: An earthenware compartment or oven, often shaped like a half cylinder, used in furnaces to protect objects heated from the direct action of the fire, as in scorification of ores, cupellation of ore buttons, etc.
3. (Ceramics)
Defn: A small oven for baking and fixing the colors of painted or printed pottery, without exposing the pottery to the flames of the furnace or kiln.
4. A pulley block containing several sheaves. Knight.
MUFFLER Muf"fler, n.
1. Anything used in muffling; esp., a scarf for protecting the head and neck in cold weather; a tippet. Fortune is painted blind, with a muffler above her eyes. Shak.
2. (Mus.)
Defn: A cushion for terminating or softening a note made by a stringed instrument with a keyboard.
3. A kind of mitten or boxing glove, esp. when stuffed.
4. One who muffles.
MUFLON Muf"lon, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Mouflon.
MUFTI Muf"ti, n.; pl. Muftis. Etym: [Ar. mufti.]
Defn: An official expounder of Mohammedan law.
MUFTI Muf"ti, n.
Defn: Citizen's dress when worn by a naval or military officer; -- a term derived from the British service in India. [Colloq. Eng.]
MUG Mug, n. Etym: [Cf. Ir. mugam a mug, mucog a cup.]
1. A kind of earthen or metal drinking cup, with a handle, -- usually cylindrical and without a lip.
2. The face or mouth. [Slang] Thackeray.
MUGGARD Mug"gard, a. Etym: [Cf. G. mucker a sulky person, muckish sullen, peevish, mucken to mutter, grumble.]
Defn: Sullen; displeased. [Obs.]
MUGGER; MUGGAR; MUGGUR Mug"ger, n. Also Mug"gar, Mug"gur. [Hind. magar, fr. Skr. makara sea monster.]
Defn: The common crocodile (Crocodilus palustris) of India, the East Indies, etc. It becomes twelve feet or more long.
MUGGET Mug"get, n.
Defn: The small entrails of a calf or a hog.
MUGGINESS Mug"gi*ness, n.
Defn: The condition or quality of being muggy.
MUGGINS Mug"gins, n. [Etym. unknown.]
1. A game of dominoes in which the object is to make the sum of the two ends of the line some multiple of five.
2. A game at cards which depends upon building in suits or matching exposed cards, the object being to get rid of one's cards.
MUGGINS Mug"gins, v. t.
Defn: In certain games, to score against, or take an advantage over (an opponent), as for an error, announcing the act by saying "muggins."
MUGGISH Mug"gish, a.
Defn: See Muggy.
MUGGLETONIAN Mug`gle*to"ni*an, n. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: One of an extinct sect, named after Ludovic Muggleton, an English journeyman tailor, who (about 1657) claimed to be inspired. Eadie.
MUGGY Mug"gy, a. [Compar. Muggier; superl. Muggiest.] Etym: [Cf. Icel. mugga mist, mugginess. Cf. 4th Mold.]
1. Moist; damp; moldy; as, muggy straw.
2. Warm, damp, and close; as, muggy air, weather.
MUGHOUSE Mug"house`, n.
Defn: An alehouse; a pothouse. Tickel.
MUGIENCY Mu"gi*en*cy, n.
Defn: A bellowing. [Obs.]
MUGIENT Mu"gi*ent, a. Etym: [L. mugiens, p.pr. of mugire to bellow.]
Defn: Lowing; bellowing. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
MUGIL Mu"gil, n. Etym: [L., a sort of fish.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of fishes including the gray mullets. See Mullet.
MUGILOID Mu"gi*loid, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like or pertaining to the genus Mugil, or family Mugilidæ.
MUGWEED Mug"weed`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A slender European weed (Galium Cruciata); -- called also crossweed.
MUGWORT Mug"wort`, n. Etym: [AS. mucgwyrt. Cf. Midge.] (Bot.)
Defn: A somewhat aromatic composite weed (Artemisia vulgaris), at one time used medicinally; -- called also motherwort.
MUGWUMP Mug"wump`, n. Etym: [Cf. Algonquin mugquomp a chief.]
Defn: A bolter from the Republican party in the national election of 1884; an Independent. [Political Cant, U.S.]
MUGWUMPERY; MUGWUMPISM Mug"wump`er*y, Mug"wump*ism, n.
Defn: The acts and views of the mugwumps. [Political Cant, U.S.]
MUHAMMADAN; MUHAMMEDAN Mu*ham"mad*an, Mu*ham"med*an, a. & n.
Defn: Mohammedan.
MUHAMMADANISM Mu*ham"mad*an*ism, n.
Defn: Mohammedanism.
MULADA Mu*la"da, n.
Defn: A moor. [Scot.] Lockhart.
MULADA Mu*la"da, n. Etym: [Sp. Amer., fr. Sp. mulo, mula, a mule.]
Defn: A drove of mules. [Southwest. U.S.]
MULATTO Mu*lat"to, n.; pl. Mulattoes. Etym: [Sp. & Pg. mulato, masc., mulata, fem., of a mixed breed, fr. mulo mule, L. mulus. See Mule.]
Defn: The offspring of a negress by a white man, or of a white woman by a negro, -- usually of a brownish yellow complexion.
MULATTRESS Mu*lat"tress, n.
Defn: A female mulatto. G. W. Gable.
MULBERRY Mul"ber*ry, n.; pl. Mulberries. Etym: [OE. moolbery, murberie, AS. murberie, where the first part is fr. L. morum mulberry; cf. Gr. Murrey, Sycamore.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: The berry or fruit of any tree of the genus Morus; also, the tree itself. See Morus.
2. A dark pure color, like the hue of a black mulberry. Mulberry mass. (Biol.) See Morula. -- Paper mulberry, a tree (Broussonetia papyrifera), related to the true mulberry, used in Polynesia for making tapa cloth by macerating and pounding the inner bark, and in China and Japan for the manufacture of paper. It is seen as a shade tree in America.
MULBERRY-FACED Mul"ber*ry-faced` (-fast`), a.
Defn: Having a face of a mulberry color, or blotched as if with mulberry stains.
MULCH Mulch, n. Etym: [Cf. mull dirt, also Prov. G. mulsch, molsch, rotten, soft, mellow, as fruit.]
Defn: Half-rotten straw, or any like substance strewn on the ground, as over the roots of plants, to protect from heat, drought, etc., and to preserve moisture.
MULCH Mulch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mulched; p. pr. & vb. n. Mulching.]
Defn: To cover or dress with mulch.
MULCT Mulct, n. Etym: [L. mulcta, multa.]
1. A fine or penalty, esp. a pecuniary punishment or penalty.
2. A blemish or defect. [Obs.]
Syn. -- Amercement; forfeit; forfeiture; penalty.
MULCT Mulct, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mulcted; p. pr. & vb. n. Mulcting.] Etym: [L. mulctare, multare.]
1. To punish for an offense or misdemeanor by imposing a fine or forfeiture, esp. a pecuniary fine; to fine.
2. Hence, to deprive of; to withhold by way of punishment or discipline. [Obs.]
MULCTARY; MULCTUARY Mulc"ta*ry, Mulc"tu*a*ry, a.
Defn: Imposing a pecuniary penalty; consisting of, or paid as, a fine. Fines, or some known mulctuary punishments. Sir W. Temple.
MULE Mule, n. Etym: [F., a she-mule, L. mula, fem. of mulus; cf. Gr. m, fr. L. mulus. Cf. Mulatto.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A hybrid animal; specifically, one generated between an ass and a mare, sometimes a horse and a she-ass. See Hinny.
Note: Mules are much used as draught animals. They are hardy, and proverbial for stubbornness.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant or vegetable produced by impregnating the pistil of one species with the pollen or fecundating dust of another; -- called also hybrid.
3. A very stubborn person.
4. A machine, used in factories, for spinning cotton, wool, etc., into yarn or thread and winding it into cops; -- called also jenny and mule-jenny. Mule armadillo (Zoöl.), a long-eared armadillo (Tatusia hybrida), native of Buenos Ayres; -- called also mulita. See Illust. under Armadillo. -- Mule deer (Zoöl.), a large deer (Cervus, or Cariacus, macrotis) of the Western United States. The name refers to its long ears. -- Mule pulley (Mach.), an idle pulley for guiding a belt which transmits motion between shafts that are not parallel. -- Mule twist, cotton yarn in cops, as spun on a mule; -- in distinction from yarn spun on a throstle frame.
MULE-JENNY Mule"-jen`ny, n.
Defn: See Mule, 4.
MULE KILLER Mule killer.
Defn: Any of several arthropods erroneously supposed to kill live stock, in the southern United States, by stinging or by being swallowed; as: (a) A whip scorpion. [Florida] (b) A walking-stick insect. [Texas] (c) A mantis. (d) A wheel bug.
MULETEER Mu`le*teer", n. Etym: [F. muletier, fr. mulet a mule, dim. fr. L. mulus.]
Defn: One who drives mules.
MULEWORT Mule"wort`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A fern of the genus Hemionitis.
MULEY Mu"ley, n. (Sawmills)
Defn: A stiff, long saw, guided at the ends but not stretched in a gate. Muley axle (Railroad), a car axle without collars at the outer ends of the journals. Forney.
MULEY Mul"ey, n.
Defn: See Mulley.
MULIEBRITY Mu`li*eb"ri*ty, n. Etym: [L. muliebritas, fr. muliebris belonging to a woman, fr. mulier a woman.]
1. The state of being a woman or of possessing full womanly powers; womanhood; -- correlate of virility.
2. Hence: Effeminancy; softness.
MULIER Mu"li*er, n. Etym: [L., a woman.]
1. A woman.
2. (Law) (a) Lawful issue born in wedlock, in distinction from an elder brother born of the same parents before their marriage; a lawful son. (b) (Civ. Law) A woman; a wife; a mother. Blount. Cowell.
MULIERLY Mu"li*er*ly, adv.
Defn: In the manner or condition of a mulier; in wedlock; legitimately. [Obs.]
MULIEROSE Mu"li*er*ose`, a. Etym: [L. mulierosus.]
Defn: Fond of woman. [R.] Charles Reade.
MULIEROSITY Mu`li*er*os"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. mulierositas.]
Defn: A fondness for women. [R.] Dr. H. More.
MULIERTY Mu"li*er*ty, n. (Law)
Defn: Condition of being a mulier; position of one born in lawful wedlock.
MULISH Mul"ish, a.
Defn: Like a mule; sullen; stubborn. -- Mul"ish*ly, adv. -- Mul"ish*ness, n.
MULL Mull, n. Etym: [Perh. contr. fr. mossul. See Muslin.]
Defn: A thin, soft kind of muslin.
MULL Mull, n. Etym: [Icel. m a snout, muzzle, projecting crag; or cf. Ir. & Gael. meall a heap of earth, a mound, a hill or eminence, W. moel. Cf. Mouth.]
1. A promontory; as, the Mull of Cantyre. [Scot.]
2. A snuffbox made of the small end of a horn.
MULL Mull, n. Etym: [Prob. akin to mold. *108. See Mold.]
Defn: Dirt; rubbish. [Obs.] Gower.
MULL Mull, v. t. Etym: [OE. mullen. See 2d Muller.]
Defn: To powder; to pulverize. [Prov. Eng.]
MULL Mull, v. i.
Defn: To work (over) mentally; to cogitate; to ruminate; -- usually with over; as, to mull over a thought or a problem. [Colloq. U.S.]
MULL Mull, n.
Defn: An inferior kind of madder prepared from the smaller roots or the peelings and refuse of the larger.
MULL Mull, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mulled; p. pr. & vb. n. Mulling.] Etym: [From mulled, for mold, taken as a p.p.; OE. mold-ale funeral ale or banquet. See Mold soil.]
1. To heat, sweeten, and enrich with spices; as, to mull wine. New cider, mulled with ginger warm. Gay.
2. To dispirit or deaden; to dull or blunt. Shak.
MULLA Mul"la, n.
Defn: Same as Mollah.
MULLAGATAWNY Mul`la*ga*taw"ny, n. Etym: [Tamil milagu-tannir pepper water.]
Defn: An East Indian curry soup.
MULLAH Mul"lah, n.
Defn: See Mollah.
MULLAR Mul"lar, n.
Defn: A die, cut in intaglio, for stamping an ornament in relief, as upon metal.
MULLEIN Mul"lein, n. Etym: [OE. moleyn, AS. molegn.] (Bot.)
Defn: Any plant of the genus Verbascum. They are tall herbs having coarse leaves, and large flowers in dense spikes. The common species, with densely woolly leaves, is Verbascum Thapsus. Moth mullein. See under Moth. -- Mullein foxglove, an American herb (Seymeria macrophylla) with coarse leaves and yellow tubular flowers with a spreading border. -- Petty mullein, the cowslip. Dr. Prior.
MULLEN Mul"len, n. (Bot.)
Defn: See Mullein.
MULLER Mull"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, mulls.
2. A vessel in which wine, etc., is mulled over a fire.
MULLER Mull"er, n. Etym: [OE. mullen to pulverize, bruise; cf. Icel. mylja; prob. akin to E. mold soil. See Mold soil, and cf. Mull dirt.]
Defn: A stone or thick lump of glass, or kind of pestle, flat at the bottom, used for grinding pigments or drugs, etc., upon a slab of similar material.
MULLERIAN; MUELLERIAN Mül*le"ri*an, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or discovered by, Johannes Müller. Müllerian ducts (Anat.), a pair of embryonic ducts which give rise to the genital passages in the female, but disappear in the male. -- Müllerian fibers (Anat.), the sustentacular or connective-tissue fibers which form the framework of the retina.
MULLET Mul"let, n. Etym: [OE. molet, mulet, F. mulet, fr. L. mullus.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of numerous fishes of the genus Mugil; -- called also gray mullets. They are found on the coasts of both continents, and are highly esteemed as food. Among the most valuable species are Mugil capito of Europe, and M. cephalus which occurs both on the European and American coasts.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any species of the genus Mullus, or family Mullidæ; called also red mullet, and surmullet, esp. the plain surmullet (Mullus barbatus), and the striped surmullet (M. surmulletus) of Southern Europe. The former is the mullet of the Romans. It is noted for the brilliancy of its colors. See Surmullet. French mullet. See Ladyfish (a).
MULLET Mul"let, n. Etym: [F. molette.] (Her.)
Defn: A star, usually five pointed and pierced; -- when used as a difference it indicates the third son.
MULLET Mul"let, n. Etym: [Cf. F. molet a sort of pinchers.]
Defn: Small pinchers for curling the hair. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
MULLEY; MOOLLEY Mul"ley, Mool"ley, n. Etym: [CF. Gael. maolag a hornless cow, maol bald, hornless, blunt.]
1. A mulley or polled animal. [U. S.]
2. A cow. [Prov. Eng.; U.S., a child's word.] Leave milking and dry up old mulley, thy cow. Tusser.
MULLEY; MOOLLEY Mul"ley, Mool"ley, a.
Defn: Destitute of horns, although belonging to a species of animals most of which have horns; hornless; polled; as, mulley cattle; a mulley (or moolley) cow. [U. S.] [Written also muley.]
MULLIGATAWNY Mul`li*ga*taw"ny, n.
Defn: See Mullagatawny.
MULLIGRUBS Mul"li*grubs, n. Etym: [Cf. Prov. E. mull to squeeze, pull about, mulling numb or dull.]
1. A griping of the intestines; colic. [Slang] Whose dog lies sick of the mulligrubs Beau. & Fl.
2. Hence, sullenness; the sulks. [Slang]
MULLINGONG Mul"lin*gong, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Duck mole, under Duck. [Written also mollingong.]
MULLION Mul"lion, n. Etym: [A corruption of munnion, F. moignon stump of an amputated limb, stump, OF. moing mutilated; cf. Armor. moñ, mouñ, mank, monk, and also L. mancus maimed.] (Arch.) (a) A slender bar or pier which forms the division between the lights of windows, screens, etc. (b) An upright member of a framing. See Stile.
MULLION Mul"lion, v. t.
Defn: To furnish with mullions; to divide by mullions.
MULLOCK Mul"lock, n. Etym: [From Mull dirt: cf. Scot. mulloch, mulock, crumb. *108.]
Defn: Rubbish; refuse; dirt. [Obs.] All this mullok [was] in a sieve ythrowe. Chaucer.
MULLOID Mul"loid, a. Etym: [NL. Mullus, generic name (fr. L. mullus surmullet) + -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like or pertaining to the genus Mullus, which includes the surmullet, or red mullet.
MULMUL Mul"mul, n.
Defn: A fine, soft muslin; mull.
MULSE Mulse, n. Etym: [L. mulsum (sc. vinum), fr. mulsus mixed with honey, honey-sweet, p.p. of mulcere to sweeten, soften.]
Defn: Wine boiled and mingled with honey.
MULT- Mult-.
Defn: See Multi-.
MULTANGULAR Mul*tan"gu*lar, a. Etym: [L. multangulus; multus much, many + angulus angle: cf. F. multangulaire.]
Defn: Having many angles. -- Mul*tan"gu*lar*ly, adv. -- Mul*tan"gu*lar*ness, n.
MULTANIMOUS Mul*tan"i*mous, a. Etym: [Mult- + L. animus mind.]
Defn: Many-minded; many-sided. The multanimous nature of the poet. J. R. Lowell.
MULTARTICULATE Mul`tar*tic"u*late, a. Etym: [Mult- + articulate.]
Defn: Having many articulations or joints.
MULTEITY Mul*te"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. multus much, many.]
Defn: Multiplicity. [R.] Coleridge.
MULTI-; MULT- Mul"ti-, Mult-. Etym: [L. multus much.]
Defn: A prefix signifying much or many; several; more than one; as, multiaxial, multocular.
MULTIAXIAL Mul`ti*ax"i*al, a. Etym: [Multi- + axial.] (Biol.)
Defn: Having more than one axis; developing in more than a single line or plain; -- opposed to Ant: monoaxial.
MULTICAPSULAR Mul`ti*cap"su*lar, a. Etym: [Multi- + capsular: cf. F. multicapsulaire.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having many, or several, capsules.
MULTICARINATE Mul`ti*car"i*nate, a. Etym: [Multi- + carinate.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Many-keeled.
MULTICAVOUS Mul`ti*ca"vous, a. Etym: [L. multicavus; multus much, many + cavum, cavus, a cavity, hole, fr. cavus hollow.]
Defn: Having many cavities.
MULTICELLULAR Mul`ti*cel"lu*lar, a.
Defn: Consisting of, or having, many cells or more than one cell.
MULTICENTRAL Mul`ti*cen"tral, a. Etym: [Multi- + central.]
Defn: Having many, or several, centers; as, a multicentral cell. Multicental development (Biol.), growth, or development, from several centers. According as the insubordination to a single center is more or less pronounced, the resultant organism will be more or less irregular in form and may even discontinuous.
MULTICIPITAL Mul`ti*cip"i*tal, a. Etym: [Multi- + L. caput head.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having many heads or many stems from one crown or root. Gray.
MULTICOLOR Mul"ti*col`or, a. Etym: [See Multi-, and Color.]
Defn: Having many, or several, colors.
MULTICOSTATE Mul`ti*cos"tate, a. Etym: [Multi- + costate.]
Defn: Having numerous ribs, or costæ, as the leaf of a plant, or as certain shells and corals.
MULTICUSPID Mul`ti*cus"pid, a. Etym: [See Multi-, and Cuspid.]
Defn: Multicuspidate; -- said of teeth.
MULTICUSPIDATE Mul`ti*cus"pi*date, a. Etym: [Multi- + cuspidate.]
Defn: Having many cusps or points.
MULTIDENTATE Mul`ti*den"tate, a. Etym: [Multi- + dentate.]
Defn: Having many teeth, or toothlike processes.
MULTIDIGITATE Mul`ti*dig"i*tate, a. Etym: [Multi- + digitate.]
Defn: Having many fingers, or fingerlike processes.
MULTIFACED Mul"ti*faced`, a. Etym: [Multi- + face.]
Defn: Having many faces.
MULTIFARIOUS Mul`ti*fa"ri*ous, a. Etym: [L. multifarius; multus much, many. Cf. Bifarious.]
1. Having multiplicity; having great diversity or variety; of various kinds; diversified; made up of many differing parts; manifold. There is a multifarious artifice in the structure of the meanest animal. Dr. H. More.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Having parts, as leaves, arranged in many vertical rows.
MULTIFARIOUSLY Mul`ti*fa"ri*ous*ly, adv.
Defn: With great multiplicity and diversity; with variety of modes and relations.
MULTIFARIOUSNESS Mul`ti*fa"ri*ous*ness, n.
1. Multiplied diversity.
2. (Law)
Defn: The fault of improperly uniting in one bill distinct and independent matters, and thereby confounding them. Burrill.
MULTIFEROUS Mul*tif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. multifer; multus much, many + ferre to bear.]
Defn: Bearing or producing much or many. [R.]
MULTIFID Mul"ti*fid, a. Etym: [L. multifidus; multus much, many + findere to split: cf. F. multifide.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having many segments; cleft into several parts by linear sinuses; as, a multifid leaf or corolla.
MULTIFLOROUS Mul`ti*flo"rous, a. Etym: [L. multiflorus; multus much, many + flos, floris, flower: cf. F. multiflore.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having many flowers.
MULTIFLUE Mul"ti*flue, a. Etym: [Multi- + flue.]
Defn: Having many flues; as, a multiflue boiler. See Boiler.
MULTIFOIL Mul"ti*foil, n. Etym: [Multi- + foil.] (Arch.)
Defn: An ornamental foliation consisting of more than five divisions or foils. [R.] See Foil.
MULTIFOIL Mul"ti*foil, a.
Defn: Having more than five divisions or foils.
MULTIFOLD Mul"ti*fold, a. Etym: [Multi- + fold.]
Defn: Many times doubled; manifold; numerous.
MULTIFORM Mul"ti*form, a. Etym: [L. multiformis; multus much, many + forma shape: cf. F. multiforme.]
Defn: Having many forms, shapes, or appearances. A plastic and multiform unit. Hare.
MULTIFORMITY Mul`ti*form"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. multiformitas.]
Defn: The quality of being multiform; diversity of forms; variety of appearances in the same thing. Purchas.
MULTIFORMOUS Mul`ti*form"ous, a.
Defn: Multiform. [Obs.]
MULTIGENEROUS Mul`ti*gen"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. multigenerus; multus + genus, generis, kind.]
Defn: Having many kinds.
MULTIGRANULATE Mul`ti*gran"u*late, a. Etym: [Multi- + granulate.]
Defn: Having, or consisting of, many grains.
MULTIGRAPH Mul"ti*graph, n. [Multi- + -graph.]
Defn: A combined rotary type-setting and printing machine for office use. The type is transferred semi-automatically by means of keys from a type-supply drum to a printing drum. The printing may be done by means of an inked ribbon to print "typewritten" letters, or directly from inked type or a stereotype plate, as in a printing press.
MULTIJUGATE Mul*tij"u*gate, a.
Defn: Having many pairs of leaflets.
MULTIJUGOUS Mul*tij"u*gous, a. Etym: [L. multijugus; multus + jugum yoke.]
1. Consisting of many parts.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Same as Multijugate.
MULTILATERAL Mul`ti*lat"er*al, a. Etym: [Multi- + lateral.]
Defn: Having many sides; many-sided.
MULTILINEAL Mul`ti*lin"e*al, a. Etym: [Multi- + lineal.]
Defn: Having many lines. Steevens.
MULTILOBAR Mul`ti*lo"bar, a. Etym: [Multi- + lobar.]
Defn: Consisting of, or having, many lobes.
MULTILOCULAR Mul`ti*loc"u*lar, a. Etym: [Multi- + locular: cf. F. multiloculaire.]
Defn: Having many or several cells or compartments; as, a multilocular shell or capsule.
MULTILOQUENCE Mul*til"o*quence, n.
Defn: Quality of being multiloquent; use of many words; talkativeness.
MULTILOQUENT; MULTILOQUOUS Mul*til"o*quent, Mul*til"o*quous, a. Etym: [L. multiloquus; multus much, many + loqui to speak.]
Defn: Speaking much; very talkative; loquacious.
MULTILOQUY Mul*til"o*quy, n. Etym: [L. multiloquium.]
Defn: Excess of words or talk. [R.]
MULTINODATE Mul`ti*no"date, a. Etym: [Multi- + nodate.]
Defn: Having many knots or nodes.
MULTINODOUS Mul`ti*no"dous, a. Etym: [L. multinodus.]
Defn: Same as Multinodate.
MULTINOMIAL Mul`ti*no"mi*al, n. & a. Etym: [Multi- + -nomial, as in binomial. See Binomial.] (Alg.)
Defn: Same as Polynomial.
MULTINOMINAL; MULTINOMINOUS Mul`ti*nom"i*nal, Mul`ti*nom"i*nous, a. Etym: [L. multinominis; multus many + nomen nominis name.]
Defn: Having many names or terms.
MULTINUCLEAR Mul`ti*nu"cle*ar, a. Etym: [Multi- + nuclear.] (Biol.)
Defn: Containing many nuclei; as, multinuclear cells.
MULTINUCLEATE; MULTINUCLEATED Mul`ti*nu"cle*ate, Mul`ti*nu"cle*a`ted, a. (Biol.)
Defn: Multinuclear.
MULTIPAROUS Mul*tip"a*rous, a. Etym: [Multi- + L. parere to produce: cf. F. multipare.]
Defn: Producing many, or more than one, at a birth.
MULTIPARTITE Mul*tip"ar*tite, a. Etym: [L. multipartitus multus much, many partitus divided, p.p.: cf. F. multipartite. See Partite.]
Defn: Divided into many parts; having several parts.
MULTIPED Mul"ti*ped, n. Etym: [L. multipes, multipeda; multus much, many + pes, pedis, foot: cf. F. multipède.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An insect having many feet, as a myriapod.
MULTIPED Mul"ti*ped, a.
Defn: Having many feet.
MULTIPHASE Mul"ti*phase, a. [Multi- + phase.]
Defn: Having many phases; specif. (Elec.),
Defn: pertaining to, or designating, a generator producing, or any system conveying or utilizing, two or more waves of pressure, or electromotive force, not in phase with each other; polyphase.
MULTIPLANE Mul"ti*plane, a.
Defn: Having several or many planes or plane surfaces; as, a multiplane kite.
MULTIPLANE Mul"ti*plane, n. [Multi- + plane.] (Aëronautics)
Defn: An aëroplane with three or more superposed main planes.
MULTIPLE Mul"ti*ple, a. Etym: [Cf. F. multiple, and E. quadruple, and multiply.]
Defn: Containing more than once, or more than one; consisting of more than one; manifold; repeated many times; having several, or many, parts. Law of multiple proportion (Chem.), the generalization that when the same elements unite in more than one proportion, forming two or more different compounds, the higher proportions of the elements in such compounds are simple multiplies of the lowest proportion, or the proportions are connected by some simple common factor; thus, iron and oxygen unite in the proportions FeO, Fe2O3, Fe3O4, in which compounds, considering the oxygen, 3 and 4 are simple multiplies of 1. Called also the Law of Dalton, from its discoverer. -- Multiple algebra, a branch of advanced mathematics that treats of operations upon units compounded of two or more unlike units. -- Multiple conjugation (Biol.), a coalescence of many cells (as where an indefinite number of amoeboid cells flow together into a single mass) from which conjugation proper and even fertilization may have been evolved. -- Multiple fruits. (Bot.) See Collective fruit, under Collective. -- Multiple star (Astron.), several stars in close proximity, which appear to form a single system.
MULTIPLE Mul"ti*ple, n. (Math.)
Defn: A quantity containing another quantity a number of times without a remainder.
Note: A common multiple of two or more numbers contains each of them a number of times exactly; thus, 24 is a common multiple of 3 and 4. The least common multiple is the least number that will do this; thus, 12 is the least common multiple of 3 and 4.
MULTIPLEX Mul"ti*plex, a. Etym: [L. multiplex, -plicis. See Multiply.]
Defn: Manifold; multiple.
MULTIPLIABLE Mul"ti*pli`a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. multipliable.]
Defn: Capable of being multiplied. -- Mul"ti*pli`a*ble*ness, n.
MULTIPLICABLE Mul"ti*pli*ca*ble, a. Etym: [L. multiplicabilis.]
Defn: Capable of being multiplied; multipliable.
MULTIPLICAND Mul"ti*pli*cand`, n. Etym: [L. multiplicandus to be multiplied: cf. F. multiplicande.] (Math.)
Defn: The number which is to be multiplied by another number called the multiplier. See Note under Multiplication.
MULTIPLICATE Mul"ti*pli*cate, a. Etym: [L. multiplicatus, p.p. of multiplicare. See Multiply.]
Defn: Consisting of many, or of more than one; multiple; multifold. Multiplicate flower (Bot.), a flower that is double, or has an unusual number of petals in consequence of the abnormal multiplication of the parts of the floral whorls.
MULTIPLICATION Mul`ti*pli*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. multiplicatio: cf. F. multiplication. See Multiply.]
1. The act or process of multiplying, or of increasing in number; the state of being multiplied; as, the multiplication of the human species by natural generation. The increase and multiplication of the world. Thackeray.
2. (Math.)
Defn: The process of repeating, or adding to itself, any given number or quantity a certain number of times; commonly, the process of ascertaining by a briefer computation the result of such repeated additions; also, the rule by which the operation is performed; -- the reverse of division.
Note: The word multiplication is sometimes used in mathematics, particularly in multiple algebra, to denote any distributive operation expressed by one symbol upon any quantity or any thing expressed by another symbol. Corresponding extensions of meaning are given to the words multiply, multiplier, multiplicand, and product. Thus, since f(x + y) = fx + fy (see under Distributive), where f(x + y), fx, and fy indicate the results of any distributive operation represented by the symbol f upon x + y, x, and y, severally, then because of many very useful analogies f(x + y) is called the product of f and x + y, and the operation indicated by f is called multiplication. Cf. Facient, n., 2.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: An increase above the normal number of parts, especially of petals; augmentation.
4. The art of increasing gold or silver by magic, -- attributed formerly to the alchemists. [Obs.] Chaucer. Multiplication table, a table giving the product of a set of numbers multiplied in some regular way; commonly, a table giving the products of the first ten or twelve numbers multiplied successively by 1, 2, 3, etc., up to 10 or 12.
MULTIPLICATIVE Mul"ti*pli*ca*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. multiplicatif.]
Defn: Tending to multiply; having the power to multiply, or incease numbers.
MULTIPLICATIVELY Mul"ti*pli*ca*tive*ly, adv.
Defn: So as to multiply.
MULTIPLICATOR Mul"ti*pli*ca`tor, n. Etym: [L.: cf. F. multiplicateur. Cf. Multiplier.]
Defn: The number by which another number is multiplied; a multiplier.
MULTIPLICIOUS Mul`ti*pli"cious, a. Etym: [See Multiplex.]
Defn: Manifold. [Obs.]
MULTIPLICITY Mul`ti*plic"ity, n. Etym: [Cf. F. multiplicité.]
Defn: The quality of being multiple, manifold, or various; a state of being many; a multitude; as, a multiplicity of thoughts or objects. "A multiplicity of goods." South.
MULTIPLIER Mul"ti*pli`er, n. Etym: [Cf. F. multiplier. Cf. Multiplicator.]
1. One who, or that which, multiplies or increases number.
2. (Math.)
Defn: The number by which another number is multiplied. See the Note under Multiplication.
3. (Physics)
Defn: An instrument for multiplying or increasing by repetition or accumulation the intensity of a force or action, as heat or electricity. It is particularly used to render such a force or action appreciable or measurable when feeble. See Thermomultiplier.
MULTIPLY Mul"ti*ply, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Multiplied; p. pr. & vb. n. Multiplying.] Etym: [F. multiplier, L. multiplicare, fr. multiplex manifold. See Multitude, Complex.]
1. To increase in number; to make more numerous; to add quantity to. Impunity will multiply motives to disobedience. Ames.
2. (Math.)
Defn: To add (any given number or quantity) to itself a certain number of times; to find the product of by multiplication; thus 7 multiplied by 8 produces the number 56; to multiply two numbers. See the Note under Multiplication.
3. To increase (the amount of gold or silver) by the arts of alchemy. [Obs.] Multiplying gear (Mach.), gear for increasing speed. -- Multiplying lens. (Opt.) See under Lens.
MULTIPLY Mul"ti*ply, v. i.
1. To become greater in number; to become numerous. When men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them. Gen. vi. 1.
2. To increase in extent and influence; to spread. The word of God grew and multiplied. Acts xii. 24.
3. To increase amount of gold or silver by the arts of alchemy. [Obs.] Chaucer.
MULTIPOLAR Mul`ti*po"lar, a. Etym: [Multi- + polar.] (Biol.)
Defn: Having many poles; -- applied especially to those ganglionic nerve cells which have several radiating processes.
MULTIPOTENT Mul*tip"o*tent, a. Etym: [L. multipotens; multus much + potens powerful. See Potent.]
Defn: Having manifold power, or power to do many things. "Jove multipotent." Shak.
MULTIPRESENCE Mul`ti*pres"ence, n.
Defn: The state or power of being multipresent. The multipresence of Christ's body. Bp. Hall.
MULTIPRESENT Mul`ti*pres"ent, a. Etym: [Multi- + present, a.]
Defn: Being, or having the power to be, present in two or more places at once.
MULTIRADIATE Mul`ti*ra"di*ate, a. Etym: [Multi- + radiate.]
Defn: Having many rays.
MULTIRAMIFIED Mul`ti*ram"i*fied, a. Etym: [Multi- + p.p. of ramify.]
Defn: Divided into many branches.
MULTIRAMOSE Mul`ti*ra*mose", a. Etym: [Multi- + ramose.]
Defn: Having many branches.
MULTISCIOUS Mul*tis"cious, a. Etym: [L. multiscius; multus much + scius knowing, fr. scire to know.]
Defn: Having much or varied knowledge. [Obs.]
MULTISECT Mul"ti*sect, a. Etym: [Multi- + L. sectus, p.p. of secare to cut.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Divided into many similar segments; -- said of an insect or myriapod.
MULTISEPTATE Mul`ti*sep"tate, a. Etym: [Multi- + septate.] (Bot.)
Defn: Divided into many chambers by partitions, as the pith of the pokeweed.
MULTISERIAL Mul`ti*se"ri*al, a. Etym: [Multi- + serial.] (Bot.)
Defn: Arranged in many rows, or series, as the scales of a pine cone, or the leaves of the houseleek.
MULTISILIQUOUS Mul`ti*sil"i*quous, a. Etym: [Multi- + siliquious.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having many pods or seed vessels.
MULTISONOUS Mul*tis"o*nous, a. Etym: [L. multisonus; multus much, many + sonus sound.]
Defn: Having many sounds, or sounding much.
MULTISPIRAL Mul`ti*spi"ral, a. Etym: [Multi- + spiral.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having numerous spiral coils round a center or nucleus; -- said of the opercula of certain shells.
MULTISTRIATE Mul`ti*stri"ate, a. Etym: [Multi- + striate.]
Defn: Having many streaks.
MULTISULCATE Mul`ti*sul"cate, a. Etym: [Multi- + sulcate.]
Defn: Having many furrows.
MULTISYLLABLE Mul"ti*syl`la*ble, n. Etym: [Multi- + syllable.]
Defn: A word of many syllables; a polysyllable. [R.] -- Mul`ti*syl*lab"ic, a.
MULTITITULAR Mul`ti*tit"u*lar, a. Etym: [Multi- + titular.]
Defn: Having many titles.
MULTITUBULAR Mul`ti*tu"bu*lar, a. Etym: [Multi- + tubular.]
Defn: Having many tubes; as, a multitubular boiler.
MULTITUDE Mul"ti*tude, n. Etym: [F. multitude, L. multitudo, multitudinis, fr. multus much, many; of unknown origin.]
1. A great number of persons collected together; a numerous collection of persons; a crowd; an assembly. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them. Matt. ix. 36.
2. A great number of persons or things, regarded collectively; as, the book will be read by a multitude of people; the multitude of stars; a multitude of cares. It is a fault in a multitude of preachers, that they uttery neglect method in their harangues. I. Watts. A multitude of flowers As countless as the stars on high. Longfellow.
3. The state of being many; numerousness. They came as grasshoppers for multitude. Judg. vi. 5. The multitude, the populace; the mass of men.
Syn. -- Throng; crowd; assembly; assemblage; commonalty; swarm; populace; vulgar. See Throng.
MULTITUDINARY Mul`ti*tu"di*na*ry, a.
Defn: Multitudinous.
MULTITUDINOUS Mul`ti*tu"di*nous, a.
1. Consisting of a multitude; manifold in number or condition; as, multitudinous waves. "The multitudinous seas." Shak. A renewed jingling of multitudinous chains. G. Kennan.
2. Of or pertaining to a multitude. "The multitudinous tongue." Shak. -- Mul`ti*tu"di*nous*ly, adv. -- Mul`ti*tu"di*nous*ness, n.
MULTIVAGANT; MULTIVAGOUS Mul*tiv"a*gant, Mul*tiv"a*gous, a. Etym: [L. multivagus; multus much + vagus wandering; cf. vagans, p.pr. of vagari. See Vagary.]
Defn: Wandering much. [Obs.]
MULTIVALENCE Mul*tiv"a*lence, n. (Chem.)
Defn: Quality, state, or degree, of a multivalent element, atom, or radical.
MULTIVALENT Mul*tiv"a*lent, a. Etym: [Multi- + L. valens, p. pr. See Valence.] (Chem.) (a) Having a valence greater than one, as silicon. (b) Having more than one degree of valence, as sulphur.
MULTIVALVE Mul"ti*valve, n. Etym: [Cf. F. multivalve.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any mollusk which has a shell composed of more than two pieces.
MULTIVALVE; MULTIVALVULAR Mul"ti*valve, Mul`ti*val"vu*lar, a. Etym: [Multi- + valve, valvular: cf. F. multivalve.]
1. Having many valves.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Many-valved; having more than two valves; -- said of certain shells, as the chitons.
MULTIVERSANT Mul*tiv"er*sant, a. Etym: [Multi- + L. versans, p. pr. See Versant.]
Defn: Turning into many shapes; assuming many forms; protean.
MULTIVIOUS Mul*tiv"i*ous, a. & adv. Etym: [L. multivius; multus many + via way.]
Defn: Having many ways or roads; by many ways. [Obs.]
MULTIVOCAL Mul*tiv"o*cal, a. Etym: [Multi- + vocal.]
Defn: Signifying many different things; of manifold meaning; equivocal. "An ambiguous multivocal word." Coleridge. -- n.
Defn: A multivocal word. [R.] Fitzed. Hall.
MULTOCULAR Mul*toc"u*lar, a. Etym: [Multi- + L. oculus eye.]
Defn: Having many eyes, or more than two.
MULTUM Mul"tum, n.
Defn: An extract of quassia licorice, fraudulently used by brewers in order to economize malt and hops. Craig. Hard multum, a preparation made from Cocculus Indicus, etc., used to impart an intoxicating quality to beer.
MULTUNGULATE Mul*tun"gu*late, a. Etym: [Multi- + ungulate.]
Defn: Having many hoofs.
MULTURE Mul"ture, n. Etym: [OF. multure, moulture, F. mouture, fr. L. molitura a grinding, molere to grind. See Mill the machine.]
1. (Scots Law)
Defn: The toll for grinding grain. Erskine.
2. A grist or grinding; the grain ground.
MUM Mum, a. Etym: [Of imitative origin. Cf. Mumble.]
Defn: Silent; not speaking. Thackeray. The citizens are mum, and speak not a word. Shak.
MUM Mum, interj.
Defn: Be silent! Hush! Mum, then, and no more. Shak.
MUM Mum, n.
Defn: Silence. [R.] Hudibras.
MUM Mum, n. Etym: [G. mummere, fr. Christian Mumme, who first brewed it in 1492.]
Defn: A sort of strong beer, originally made in Brunswick, Germany. Addison. The clamorous crowd is hushed with mugs of mum. Pope.
MUMBLE Mum"ble, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mumbled; p. pr. & vb. n. Mumbling.] Etym: [OE. momelen; cf. D. mompelen, mommelen, G. mummelen, Sw. mumla, Dan. mumle. Cf. Mum, a., Mumm, Mump, v.]
1. To speak with the lips partly closed, so as to render the sounds inarticulate and imperfect; to utter words in a grumbling indistinct manner, indicating discontent or displeasure; to mutter. Peace, you mumbling fool. Shak. A wrinkled hag, with age grown double, Picking dry sticks, and mumbling to herself. Otway.
2. To chew something gently with closed lips.
MUMBLE Mum"ble, v. t.
1. To utter with a low, inarticulate voice. Bp. Hall.
2. To chew or bite gently, as one without teeth. Gums unarmed, to mumble meat in vain. Dryden.
3. To suppress, or utter imperfectly.
MUMBLENEWS Mum"ble*news`, n.
Defn: A talebearer. [Obs.]
MUMBLER Mum"bler, n.
Defn: One who mumbles.
MUMBLING Mum"bling, a.
Defn: Low; indistinct; inarticulate. -- Mum"bling*ly, adv.
MUMBO JUMBO Mum"bo Jum`bo.
Defn: An object of superstitious homage and fear. Carlyle. The miserable Mumbo Jumbo they paraded. Dickens.
MUM-CHANCE Mum"-chance`, n.
1. A game of hazard played with cards in silence. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Decker.
2. A silent, stupid person. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
MUM-CHANCE Mum"-chance`, a.
Defn: Silent and idle. [Colloq.] Boys can't sit mum-chance always. J. H. Ewing.
MUMM Mumm, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Mummed; p. pr. & vb. n. Mumming.] Etym: [D. mimmen to mask, mom a mask; akin to G. mumme disguise; prob. of imitative origin, and akin to E. mum, mumble, in allusion to the indistinctness of speech occasioned by talking from behind a mask. Cf. Mumble, Mummery.]
Defn: To sport or make diversion in a mask or disguise; to mask. With mumming and with masking all around. Spenser.
MUMMER Mumm"er, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. mommeur. See Mumm, and cf. Momier.]
Defn: One who mumms, or makes diversion in disguise; a masker; a buffon. Jugglers and dancers, antics, mummers. Milton.
MUMMERY Mum"mer*y, n.; pl. Mummeries. Etym: [F. momerie, of Dutch or German origin. See Mumm.]
1. Masking; frolic in disguise; buffoonery. The mummery of foreign strollers. Fenton.
2. Farcical show; hypocritical disguise and parade or ceremonies. Bacon.
MUMMICHOG Mum"mi*chog, n. Etym: [Amer. Indian name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of several species of small American cyprinodont fishes of the genus Fundulus, and of allied genera; the killifishes; -- called also minnow. [Written also mummychog, mummachog.]
MUMMIFICATION Mum`mi*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [See Mummify.]
Defn: The act of making a mummy.
MUMMIFIED Mum"mi*fied, a.
Defn: Converted into a mummy or a mummylike substance; having the appearance of a mummy; withered.
MUMMIFORM Mum"mi*form, a. Etym: [Mummy + -form.]
Defn: Having some resemblance to a mummy; -- in zoölogy, said of the pupæ of certain insects.
MUMMIFY Mum"mi*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mummified; p. pr. & vb. n. Mummifying.] Etym: [Mummy + -fy: cf. F. momifier.]
Defn: To embalm and dry as a mummy; to make into, or like, a mummy. Hall (1646).
MUMMY Mum"my, n.; pl. Mummies. Etym: [F. momie; cf. Sp. & Pg. momia, It. mummia; all fr. Per. m, fr. m wax.]
1. A dead body embalmed and dried after the manner of the ancient Egyptians; also, a body preserved, by any means, in a dry state, from the process of putrefaction. Bacon.
2. Dried flesh of a mummy. [Obs.] Sir. J. Hill.
3. A gummy liquor that exudes from embalmed flesh when heated; -- formerly supposed to have magical and medicinal properties. [Obs.] Shak. Sir T. Herbert.
4. A brown color obtained from bitumen. See Mummy brown (below).
5. (Gardening)
Defn: A sort of wax used in grafting, etc.
6. One whose affections and energies are withered. Mummy brown, a brown color, nearly intermediate in tint between burnt umber and raw umber. A pigment of this color is prepared from bitumen, etc., obtained from Egyptian tombs. -- Mummy wheat (Bot.), wheat found in the ancient mummy cases of Egypt. No botanist now believes that genuine mummy wheat has been made to germinate in modern times. -- To beat to a mummy, to beat to a senseless mass; to beat soundly.
MUMMY Mum"my, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mummied; p. pr. & vb. n. Mummying.]
Defn: To embalm; to mummify.
MUMMYCHOG Mum"my*chog, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Mummichog.
MUMP Mump, v. i. Etym: [Akin to mumble; cf. D. mompen to cheat; perh. orig., to whine like a beggar, D. mompelen to mumble. See Mumble, Mum, and cf. Mumps.]
1. To move the lips with the mouth closed; to mumble, as in sulkiness. He mumps, and lovers, and hangs the lip. Taylor, 1630.
2. To talk imperfectly, brokenly, or feebly; to chatter unintelligibly.
3. To cheat; to deceive; to play the beggar. And then when mumping with a sore leg, ... canting and whining. Burke.
4. To be sullen or sulky. [Prov. Eng.]
MUMP Mump, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mumped; p. pr. & vb. n. Mumping.]
1. To utter imperfectly, brokenly, or feebly. Old men who mump their passion. Goldsmith.
2. To work over with the mouth; to mumble; as, to mump food.
3. To deprive of (something) by cheating; to impose upon.
MUMPER Mump"er, n.
Defn: A beggar; a begging impostor. Deceived by the tales of a Lincoln's Inn mumper. Macaulay.
MUMPISH Mump"ish, a.
Defn: Sullen, sulky. -- Mump"ish*ly, adv. -- Mump"ish*ness, n.
MUMPS Mumps, n. Etym: [Prov. E. mump to be sulky. Cf. Mump, Mumble, and Mum.]
1. pl.
Defn: Sullenness; silent displeasure; the sulks. Skinner.
2. Etym: [Prob. so called from the patient's appearance.] (Med.)
Defn: A specific infectious febrile disorder characterized by a nonsuppurative inflammation of the parotid glands; epidemic or infectious parotitis.
MUN Mun, n. Etym: [See Mouth.]
Defn: The mouth. [Obs.] One a penny, two a penny, hot cross buns, Butter them and sugar them and put them in your muns. Old Rhyme. Halliwell.
MUNCH Munch, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Munched; p. pr. & vb. n. Munching.] Etym: [Prob. akin to mumble: cf. also F. manger to eat (cf. Mange), and mâcher to cher (cf. Masticate). See Mumble.]
Defn: To chew with a grinding, crunching sound, as a beast chews provender; to chew deliberately or in large mouthfuls. [Formerly written also maunch and mounch.] I could munch your good dry oats. Shak.
MUNCHAUSENISM Mun*chau"sen*ism, n. Etym: [So called in allusion to Baron Munchausen's extravagant tales of travel.]
Defn: An extravagant fiction embodying an account of some marvelous exploit or adventure.
MUNCHER Munch"er, n.
Defn: One who munches.
MUND Mund, n.
Defn: See Mun.
MUNDANE Mun"dane, a. Etym: [L. mundanus, fr. mundus the world, an implement, toilet adornments, or dress; cf. mundus, a., clean, neat, Skr. mansds to adorn, dress, mansdsa adornment. Cf. Monde, Mound in heraldry.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the world; worldly; earthly; terrestrial; as, the mundane sphere. -- Mun"dane*ly, adv. The defilement of mundane passions. I. Taylor.
MUNDANITY Mun*dan"i*ty, n.
Defn: Worldliness. [Obs.]
MUNDATION Mun*da"tion, n. Etym: [L. mundatio, fr. mundare to make clean.]
Defn: The act of cleansing. [Obs.]
MUNDATORY Mun"da*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. mundatorius.]
Defn: Cleansing; having power to cleanse. [Obs.]
MUNDIC Mun"dic, n.
Defn: Iron pyrites, or arsenical pyrites; -- so called by the Cornish miners.
MUNDIFICANT Mun*dif"i*cant, a. Etym: [L. mundificans, p.pr. of mundificare to make clean, fr. mundus clean + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See -fy.]
Defn: Serving to cleanse and heal. -- n.
Defn: A mundificant ointment or plaster.
MUNDIFICATION Mun`di*fi*ca"tion, n.
Defn: The act or operation of cleansing.
MUNDIFICATIVE Mun*dif"i*ca*tive, a.
Defn: Cleansing. -- n.
Defn: A detergent medicine or preparation.
MUNDIFY Mun"di*fy, v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. mondifier, L. mundificare. See Mundificant.]
Defn: To cleanse. [Obs.]
MUNDIL Mun"dil, n.
Defn: A turban ornamented with an imitation of gold or silver embroidery.
MUNDIVAGANT Mun*div"a*gant, a. Etym: [L. mundus the world + vagans wandering, p.pr. of vagari. See Vagary.]
Defn: Wandering over the world. [R.]
MUNDUNGUS Mun*dun"gus, n. Etym: [Cf. Sp. mondongo paunch, tripe, black pudding.]
Defn: A stinking tobacco.
MUNERARY Mu"ner*a*ry, a. Etym: [L. munerarius, from munus a gift.]
Defn: Having the nature of a gift. [Obs.]
MUNERATE Mu"ner*ate, v. t. Etym: [L. muneratus, p.p. of munerare to give, bestow, fr. munus a gift.]
Defn: To remunerate.
MUNERATION Mu`ner*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. muneratio.]
Defn: Remuneration. [Obs.]
MUNG Mung, n. Etym: [Hind. m.] (Bot.)
Defn: Green gram, a kind of pulse (Phaseolus Mungo), grown for food in British India. Balfour (Cyc. of India).
MUNGA Mun"ga, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Bonnet monkey, under Bonnet.
MUNGCORN Mung"corn`, n.
Defn: Same as Mangcorn.
MUNGO Mun"go, n.
Defn: A fibrous material obtained by deviling rags or the remnants of woolen goods.
Note: Mungo properly signifies the disintegrated rags of woolen cloth, as distinguished from those of worsted, which form shoddy. The distinction is very commonly disregarded. Beck (Draper's Dict. ).
MUNGOOSE; MUNGOOS Mun"goose, Mun"goos, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Mongoose.
MUNGREL Mun"grel, n. & a.
Defn: See Mongrel.
MUNICIPAL Mu*nic"i*pal, a. Etym: [L. municipalis, fr. municipium a town, particularly in Italy, which possessed the right of Roman citizenship, but was governed by its own laws, a free town, fr. municeps an inhabitant of a free town, a free citizen; munia official duties, functions + capere to take: cf. F. municipal. Cf. Immunity, and Capacoius.]
1. Of or pertaining to a city or a corporation having the right of administering local government; as, municipal rights; municipal officers.
2. Of or pertaining to a state, kingdom, or nation. Municipal law is properly defined to be a rule of civil conduct prescribed by the supreme power in a state. Blackstone.
MUNICIPALISM Mu*nic"i*pal*ism, n.
Defn: Municipal condition.
MUNICIPALITY Mu*nic`i*pal"i*ty, n.; pl. Municipalities. Etym: [Cf. F. municipalité.]
Defn: A municipal district; a borough, city, or incorporated town or village.
MUNICIPALIZE Mu*nic"i*pal*ize, v. t. [Municipal + -ize.]
Defn: To bring under municipal oversight or control; as, a municipalized industry.
London people are now determined to centralize and to municipalize such services. The Century.
MUNICIPALLY Mu*nic"i*pal*ly, adv.
Defn: In a municipal relation or condition.
MUNIFIC Mu*nif"ic, a. Etym: [See Munificent.]
Defn: Munificent; liberal. [Obs. or R.]
MUNIFICATE Mu*nif"i*cate, v. t. Etym: [L. munificatus, p.p. of munificare to present with a thing, fr. munificus. See Munificent.]
Defn: To enrich. [Obs.]
MUNIFICENCE Mu*nif"i*cence, n. Etym: [Cf. L. munire to fortify.]
Defn: Means of defense; fortification. [Obs.] Spenser.
MUNIFICENCE Mu*nif"i*cence, n. Etym: [L. munificentia: cf. F. munificence.]
Defn: The quality or state of being munificent; a giving or bestowing with extraordinary liberality; generous bounty; lavish generosity. The virtues of liberality and munificence. Addison.
Syn. -- Benevolence; beneficence; liberality; generosity; bounty; bounteousness. See Benevolence.
MUNIFICENT Mu*nif"i*cent, a. Etym: [L. munificus; munus service, gift + -ficare (in comp.) to make. Cf. Immunity, -fy.]
Defn: Very liberal in giving or bestowing; lavish; as, a munificent benefactor. -- Mu*nif"i*cent*ly, adv.
Syn. -- Bounteous; bountiful; liberal; generous.
MUNIFY Mu"ni*fy, v. t. & i. Etym: [See Munificate.]
Defn: To prepare for defense; to fortify. [Obs.]
MUNIMENT Mu"ni*ment, n. Etym: [L. munimentum, fr. munire to fortify. See Munition.]
1. The act of supporting or defending. [Obs.]
2. That which supports or defends; stronghold; place or means of defense; munition; assistance. "Other muniments and petty helps." Shak.
3. (Law)
Defn: A record; the evidences or writings whereby a man is enabled to defend the title to his estate; title deeds and papers. Blount. Muniment house or room, that room in a cathedral, castle, or other public building, which is used for keeping the records, charters, seals, deeds, and the like. Gwilt.
MUNITE Mu*nite", v. t. Etym: [L. munitus, p.p. of munire to wall, fortify.]
Defn: To fortify; to strengthen. [Obs.]
MUNITION Mu*ni"tion, n. Etym: [F., munition of war, L. munitio a fortifying, fortification, fr. munire to fortify, defend with a wall; cf. moenia walls, murus (for moirus) a wall, and Skr. mi to fix, make firm. Cf. Ammunition.]
1. Fortification; stronghold. [Obs.] His place of defense shall be the munitions of rocks. Is. xxxiii. 16.
2. Whatever materials are used in war for drfense or for annoying an enemy; ammunition; also, stores and provisions; military stores of all kinds. The bodies of men, munition, and money, may justly be called the sinews of war. Sir W. Raleigh.
MUNITY Mu"ni*ty, n. Etym: [See Immunity.]
Defn: Freedom; security; immunity. [Obs.] W. Montagu.
MUNJEET Mun*jeet", n. Etym: [Hind. majitsh a drug used for dyeing red.]
Defn: See Indian madder, under Madder.
MUNJISTIN Mun"jis*tin, n. (Chem.)
Defn: An orangered coloring substance resembling alizarin, found in the root of an East Indian species of madder (Rubia munjista).
MUNNION Mun"nion, n.
Defn: See Mullion.
MUNTIN; MUNTING Mun"tin, Mun"ting, n. Etym: [CF. Montant.] (Arch.)
Defn: Same as Mullion; -- especially used in joiner's work.
MUNTJAC Munt"jac, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of several species of small Asiatic deer of the genus Cervulus, esp. C. muntjac, which occurs both in India and on the East Indian Islands. [Written also muntjak.]
MUNTZ METAL Muntz" met`al.
Defn: See under Metal.
MURAENA Mu*ræ"na, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of large eels of the family Mirænidæ. They differ from the common eel in lacking pectoral fins and in having the dorsal and anal fins continuous. The murry (Muræna Helenæ) of Southern Europe was the muræna of the Romans. It is highly valued as a food fish.
MURAENOID; MURENOID Mu*ræ"noid, Mu*re"noid, a. Etym: [NL. Muræna, the generic name + - oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like or pertaining to the genus Muræna, or family Murænidæ.
MURAGE Mu"rage, n. Etym: [F., fr. murer to wall, fr. mur wall, L. murus. See Mure a wall.]
Defn: A tax or toll paid for building or repairing the walls of a fortified town.
MURAL Mu"ral, a. Etym: [F., fr. L. muralis, fr. murus wall. See Mure a wall.]
1. Of or pertaining to a wall; being on, or in, a wall; growing on, or against, a wall; as, a mural quadrant. "Mural breach." Milton. "Mural fruit." Evelyn.
2. Resembling a wall; perpendicular or steep; as, a mural precipice. Mural circle (Astron.), a graduated circle, in the plane of the meridian, attached permanently to a perpendicular wall; -- used for measuring arcs of the meridian. See Circle, n., 3. -- Mural crown (Rom. Antiq.), a golden crown, or circle of gold indented so as to resemble a battlement, bestowed on him who first mounted the wall of a besieged place, and there lodged a standard.
MURDER Mur"der, n. Etym: [OE. morder, morther, AS. moredhor, fr. moredh murder; akin to D. moord, OS. moredh, G., Dan., & Sw. mord, Icel. moredh, Goth. maúrþr, OSlav. mreti to die, Lith. mirti, W. marw dead, L. mors, mortis, death, mori, moriri, to die, Gr. broto`s (for mroto`s) mortal, 'a`mbrotos immortal, Skr. mrs to die, mrsta death. *105. Cf. Amaranth, Ambrosia, Mortal.]
Defn: The offense of killing a human being with malice prepense or aforethought, express or implied; intentional and unlawful homicide. "Mordre will out." Chaucer. The killing of their children had, in the account of God, the guilt of murder, as the offering them to idols had the guilt of idolatry. Locke. Slaughter grows murder when it goes too far. Dryden.
Note: Murder in the second degree, in most jurisdictions, is a malicious homicide committed without a specific intention to take life. Wharton.
MURDER Mur"der, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Murdered; p. pr. & vb. n. Murdering.] Etym: [OE. mortheren, murtheren, AS. myr; akin to OHG. murdiren, Goth. maúr. See Murder, n.]
1. To kill with premediated malice; to kill (a human being) willfully, deliberately, and unlawfully. See Murder, n.
2. To destroy; to put an end to. [Canst thou] murder thy breath in middle of a word Shak.
3. To mutilate, spoil, or deform, as if with malice or cruelty; to mangle; as, to murder the king's English.
Syn. -- To kill; assassinate; slay. See Kill.
MURDERER Mur"der*er, n.
1. One guilty of murder; a person who, in possession of his reason, unlawfully kills a human being with premeditated malice.
2. A small cannon, formerly used for clearing a ship's decks of boarders; -- called also murdering piece. [Obs.]
MURDERESS Mur"der*ess, n.
Defn: A woman who commits murder.
MURDERMENT Mur"der*ment, n.
Defn: Murder. [Obs.] Farfax.
MURDEROUS Mur"der*ous, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to murder; characterized by, or causing, murder or bloodshed; having the purpose or quality of murder; bloody; sanguinary; as, the murderous king; murderous rapine; murderous intent; a murderous assault. "Murderous coward." Shak. -- Mur"der*ous*ly, adv.
Syn. -- Bloody; sanguinary; bloodguilty; bloodthirsty; fell; savage; cruel.
MURDRESS Mur"dress, n.
Defn: A battlement in ancient fortifications with interstices for firing through.
MURE Mure, n. Etym: [L. murus; or F. mur, fr. L. murus. Cf. Munition.]
Defn: A wall. [Obs.] Shak.
MURE Mure, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mured.] Etym: [F. murer, L. murare. See Mure, n.]
Defn: To inclose in walls; to wall; to immure; to shut up. Spenser. The five kings are mured in a cave. John. x. (Heading).
MURENGER Mu"ren*ger, n.
Defn: One who had charge of the wall of a town, or its repairs.
MUREX Mu"rex, n.; pl. Murices. Etym: [L., the purple fish.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of marine gastropods, having rough, and frequently spinose, shells, which are often highly colored inside; the rock shells. They abound in tropical seas.
MUREXAN Mu*rex"an, n. Etym: [From Murexide.] (Chem.)
Defn: A complex nitrogenous substance obtained from murexide, alloxantin, and other ureids, as a white, or yellowish, crystalline which turns red on exposure to the air; -- called also uramil, dialuramide, and formerly purpuric acid.
MUREXIDE Mu*rex"ide, n. Etym: [L. murex the purple fish, purple.] (Chem.)
Defn: A crystalline nitrogenous substance having a splendid dichroism, being green by reflected light and garnet-red by transmitted light. It was formerly used in dyeing calico, and was obtained in a large quantities from guano. Formerly called also ammonium purpurate.
MUREXOIN Mu*rex"o*ïn, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A complex nitrogenous compound obtained as a scarlet crystalline substance, and regarded as related to murexide.
MURIATE Mu"ri*ate, n. Etym: [See Muriatic.] (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of muriatic hydrochloric acid; a chloride; as, muriate of ammonia.
Note: This term, as also the word muriatic, was formerly applied to the chlorides before their true composition was understood, and while they were erroneously supposed to be compounds of an acid with an oxide. Muriate and muriatic are still occasionally used as commercial terms, but are obsolete in scientific language.
MURIATED Mu"ri*a`ted, a.
1. Put in brine. Evelyn.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: Combined or impregnated with muriatic or hydrochloric acid.
3. (Photog.)
Defn: Prepared with chloride of silver through the agency of common salt.
MURIATIC Mu`ri*at"ic, a. Etym: [L. muriaticus pickled, from muria brine: cf. F. muriatique.] (Chem.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or obtained from, sea salt, or from chlorine, one of the constituents of sea salt; hydrochloric. Muriatic acid, hydrochloric acid, HCl; -- formerly called also marine acid, and spirit of salt. See hydrochloric, and the Note under Muriate.
MURIATIFEROUS Mu`ri*a*tif"er*ous, a. Etym: [Muriatic + -ferous.] (Old Chem.)
Defn: Producing muriatic substances or salt. [Obs.]
MURICATE; MURICATED Mu"ri*cate, Mu"ri*ca`ted, a. Etym: [L. muricatus, fr. murex a pointed rock or stone.]
Defn: Formed with sharp points; full of sharp points or of pickles; covered, or roughened, as a surface, with sharp points or excrescences.
MURICOID Mu"ri*coid, a. Etym: [Murex + -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like, or pertaining to, the genus Murex, or family Muricidæ.
MURICULATE Mu*ric"u*late, a.
Defn: Minutely muricate.
MURIDE Mu"ride, n. Etym: [L. muria brine.] (Old Chem.)
Defn: Bromine; -- formerly so called from its being obtained from sea water.
MURIFORM Mu"ri*form, a. Etym: [L. murus a wall + -form.] (Bot.)
Defn: Resembling courses of bricks or stones in squareness and regular arrangement; as, a muriform variety of cellular tissue.
MURINE Mu"rine, a. Etym: [L. murinus, from mus, muris, mouse: cf. F. murin.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Pertaining to a family of rodents (Muridæ), of which the mouse is the type.
MURINE Mu"rine, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of a tribe of rodents, of which the mouse is the type.
MURINGER Mu"rin*ger, n.
Defn: See Murenger. Jacob.
MURK Murk, a. Etym: [See Murky.]
Defn: Dark; murky. He can not see through the mantle murk. J. R. Drake.
MURK Murk, n.
Defn: Darkness; mirk. [Archaic] Shak.
MURK Murk, n.
Defn: The refuse of fruit, after the juice has been expressed; marc.
MURKILY Murk"i*ly, adv.
Defn: Darkly; gloomily.
MURKINESS Murk"i*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being murky.
MURKY Murk"y, a. [Compar. Murkier; superl. Murkiest.] Etym: [OE. mirke, merke, AS. myrce, mirce; akin to Icel. myrkr, Dan. & Sw. mörk.]
Defn: Dark; obscure; gloomy. "The murkiest den." Shak. A murky deep lowering o'er our heads. Addison.
MURLINS Mur"lins, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A seaweed. See Baddrelocks.
MURMUR Mur"mur, n. Etym: [F. murmure: cf. L. murmur. CF. Murmur, v. i.]
1. A low, confused, and indistinct sound, like that of running water.
2. A complaint half suppressed, or uttered in a low, muttering voice. Chaucer. Some discontents there are, some idle murmurs. Dryden.
MURMUR Mur"mur, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Murmured; p. pr. & vb. n. Murmuring.] Etym: [F. murmurer, L. murmurare, murmurari, fr. murmur murmur; cf. Gr.marmara a rustling sound; prob. of imitative origin.]
1. To make a low continued noise, like the hum of bees, a stream of water, distant waves, or the wind in a forest. They murmured as doth a swarm of bees. Chaucer.
2. To utter complaints in a low, half-articulated voice; to feel or express dissatisfaction or discontent; to grumble; -- often with at or against. "His disciples murmured at it." John vi. 61. And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron. Num. xiv. 2. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured. 1 Cor. x. 10.
MURMUR Mur"mur, v. t.
Defn: To utter or give forth in low or indistinct words or sounds; as, to murmur tales. Shak. The people murmured such things concerning him. John vii. 32.
MURMURATION Mur`mur*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. murmuratio.]
Defn: The act of murmuring; a murmur. [Obs.] Skelton.
MURMURER Mur"mur*er, n.
Defn: One who murmurs.
MURMURING Mur"mur*ing, a. & n.
Defn: Uttering murmurs; making low sounds; complaining. -- Mur"mur*ing*ly, adv.
MURMUROUS Mur"mur*ous, a. Etym: [Cf. L. murmuriosus, OF. murmuros.]
Defn: Attended with murmurs; exciting murmurs or complaint; murmuring. [Archaic or Poetic] The lime, a summer home of murmurous wings. Tennyson.
MURNIVAL Mur"ni*val, n. Etym: [Perh. fr. F. mornifle a game at cards.]
Defn: In the game of gleek, four cards of the same value, as four aces or four kings; hence, four of anything. [Obs.] [Written also mournival.]
MURPHY Mur"phy, n.
Defn: A potato. [Humorous] Thackeray.
MURR Murr, n. Etym: [Prob. abbrev. from murrain.]
Defn: A catarrh. [Obs.] Gascoigne.
MURRAIN Mur"rain, n. Etym: [OE. moreine, OF. morine, fr. OF. morir, murir, 8die, L. mori, moriri.] (Far.)
Defn: An infectious and fatal disease among cattle. Bacon. A murrain on you, may you be afflicted with a pestilent disease. Shak.
MURRAIN Mur"rain, a.
Defn: Having, or afflicted with, murrain.
MURRAYIN Mur"ray*in, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A glucoside found in the flowers of a plant (Murraya exotica) of South Asia, and extracted as a white amorphous slightly bitter substance.
MURRE Murre, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of several species of sea birds of the genus Uria, or Catarractes; a guillemot.
Note: The murres are allied to the auks, and are abundant on the northern coasts of Europe and America. They often breed in large communities on the projecting ledges of precipituous cliffs, laying one or two large eggs on the bare rocks.
MURRELET Murre"let, n. Etym: [Murre + -let.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of several species of sea birds of the genera Synthliboramphus and Brachyramphus, inhabiting the North Pacific. They are closely related to the murres.
MURREY Mur"rey, n. Etym: [OF. morée a dark red color, mor blackish brown, fr. L. morum mulberry, blackberry, or fr. Maurus a Moor. Cf. Mulberry, Moor, Morelle.]
Defn: A dark red color. -- a.
Defn: Of a dark red color. Bacon.
MURRHINE Mur"rhine, a. Etym: [L. murrhinus, fr. murrha: cf. F. murrhin.]
Defn: Made of the stone or material called by the Romans murrha; -- applied to certain costly vases of great beauty and delicacy used by the luxurious in Rome as wine cups; as, murrhine vases, cups, vessels. Murrhine glass, glassware made in imitation of murrhine vases and cups.
MURRION Mur"ri*on, a. Etym: [See Murrain.]
Defn: Infected with or killed by murrain. [Obs.] Shak.
MURRION Mur"ri*on, n.
Defn: A morion. See Morion.
MURRY Mur"ry, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Muræna.
MURTH Murth, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]
Defn: Plenty; abundance. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
MURTHER Mur"ther, n. & v.
Defn: Murder, n. & v. [Obs. or Prov.] "The treason of the murthering." Chaucer.
MURTHERER Mur"ther*er, n.
Defn: A murderer. [Obs. or Prov.]
MURZA Mur"za, n.
Defn: One of the hereditary nobility among the Tatars, esp. one of the second class.
Note: This word must not be confounded with the Persian Mirza, though perhaps of the same origin.
MUS Mus, n.; pl. Mures. Etym: [L., a mouse.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of small rodents, including the common mouse and rat.
MUSA Mu"sa, n.; pl. Musæ. Etym: [NL., fr. Ar. mauz, mauza, banana.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of perennial, herbaceous, endogenous plants of great size, including the banana (Musa sapientum), the plantain (M. paradisiaca of Linnæus, but probably not a distinct species), the Abyssinian (M. Ensete), the Philippine Island (M. textilis, which yields Manila hemp), and about eighteen other species. See Illust. of Banana and Plantain.
MUSACEOUS Mu*sa"ceous, a.
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, plants of the genus Musa.
MUSAL Mus"al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Muses, or to Poetry. [R.]
MUSANG Mu*sang", n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small animal of Java (Paradoxirus fasciatus), allied to the civets. It swallows, but does not digest, large quantities of ripe coffee berries, thus serving to disseminate the coffee plant; hence it is called also coffee rat.
MUSAR Mu"sar, n.
Defn: An itinerant player on the musette, an instrument formerly common in Europe.
MUSARD Mu"sard, n. Etym: [F., fr. muser to loiter, trifle. See Muse, v. i.]
Defn: A dreamer; an absent-minded person. [Obs.] Rom. of R.
MUSCA Mus"ca, n.; pl. Muscæ. Etym: [L., a fly.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of dipterous insects, including the common house fly, and numerous allied species.
Note: Formerly, a large part of the Diptera were included under the genus Musca.
2. (Astron.)
Defn: A small constellation situated between the Southern Cross and the Pole. Muscæ volitantes (. Etym: [L., flying flies.] (Med.) Specks or filaments apparently seen moving or glinding about in the field of vision. Their appearance is often a symptom of disease of the eye, or of disorder of the nervous system.
MUSCADEL Mus"ca*del`, n. Etym: [It. moscadello, moscatello, LL. muscatellum or muscadellum (sc. vinum), fr. muscatellus nutmeglike, dim. of muscatus smelling like musk, muscatum and muscata (sc. nux) nutmeg: cf. F. muscadelle, fr. Italian. See Musk and cf. Moschatel, Muscardin, Muscat, Nutmeg.]
Defn: See Muscatel, n. Quaffed off the muscadel. Shak.
MUSCADINE Mus"ca*dine, n. Etym: [See Muscadel.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A name given to several very different kinds of grapes, but in America used chiefly for the scuppernong, or southern fox grape, which is said to be the parent stock of the Catawba. See Grapevine.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: A fragrant and delicious pear.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Muscardin. Northern muscadine (Bot.), a derivative of the northern fox grape, and scarcely an improvement upon it. -- Royal muscadine (Bot.), a European grape of great value. Its berries are large, round, and of a pale amber color. Called also golden chasselas.
MUSCALES Mus*ca"les, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. muscus moss.] (Bot.)
Defn: An old name for mosses in the widest sense, including the true mosses and also hepaticæ and sphagna.
MUSCALLONGE Mus"cal*longe, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Muskellunge.
MUSCARDIN Mus"car*din, n. Etym: [F., fr. muscadin a musk-scented lozenge, fr. muscade nutmeg, fr. L. muscus musk. See Muscadel.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The common European dormouse; -- so named from its odor. [Written also muscadine.]
MUSCARDINE Mus`car*dine", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A disease which is very destructive to silkworms, and which sometimes extends to other insects. It is attended by the development of a fungus (provisionally called Botrytis bassiana). Also, the fungus itself.
MUSCARIFORM Mus*car"i*form, a. Etym: [L. muscarium fly brush + -form.]
Defn: Having the form of a brush.
MUSCARIN Mus*ca"rin, n. (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: A solid crystalline substance, C5H13NO2, found in the toadstool (Agaricus muscarius), and in putrid fish. It is a typical ptomaine, and a violent poison.
MUSCAT Mus"cat, n. Etym: [F. See Muscadel.] (Bot.)
Defn: A name given to several varieties of Old World grapes, differing in color, size, etc., but all having a somewhat musky flavor. The muscat of Alexandria is a large oval grape of a pale amber color. [Written also muskat.]
MUSCATEL Mus"ca*tel`, a.
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or designating, or derived from, a muscat grapes or similar grapes; a muscatel grapes; muscatel wine, etc.
MUSCATEL Mus"ca*tel`, n.
1. A common name for several varieties of rich sweet wine, made in Italy, Spain, and France.
2. pl.
Defn: Finest raisins, dried on the vine; "sun raisins." [Variously written moscatel, muscadel, etc.]
MUSCHELKALK Musch"el*kalk`, n. Etym: [G., from muschel shell + kalk limestone.] (Geol.)
Defn: A kind of shell limestone, whose strata form the middle one of the three divisions of the Triassic formation in Germany. See Chart, under Geology.
MUSCI Mus"ci, n. pl. Etym: [L. muscus moss.] (Bot.)
Defn: An order or subclass of cryptogamous plants; the mosses. See Moss, and Cryptogamia.
MUSCICAPINE Mus*cic"a*pine, a. Etym: [L. musca a fly + capere to catch.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Muscicapidæ, a family of birds that includes the true flycatchers.
MUSCID Mus"cid, n.
Defn: Any fly of the genus Musca, or family Muscidæ.
MUSCIFORM Mus"ci*form, a. Etym: [Musca + -form.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the form or structure of flies of the genus Musca, or family Muscidæ.
MUSCIFORM Mus"ci*form, a. Etym: [Muscus + -form.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having the appearance or form of a moss.
MUSCLE Mus"cle, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. musculus a muscle, a little mouse, dim. of mus a mouse. See Mouse, and cf. sense 3 (below).]
1. (Anat.) (a) An organ which, by its contraction, produces motion. See Illust. of Muscles of the Human Body, in Appendix. (b) The contractile tissue of which muscles are largely made up.
Note: Muscles are of two kinds, striated and nonstriated. The striated muscles, which, in most of the higher animals, constitute the principal part of the flesh, exclusive of the fat, are mostly under the control of the will, or voluntary, and are made up of great numbers of elongated fibres bound together into bundles and inclosed in a sheath of connective tissue, the perimysium. Each fiber is inclosed in a delicate membrane (the sarcolemma), is made up of alternate segments of lighter and darker material which give it a transversely striated appearance, and contains, scattered through its substance, protoplasmic nuclei, the so-called muscle corpuscles. The nonstriated muscles are involuntary. They constitute a large part of the walls of the alimentary canal, blood vessels, uterus, and bladder, and are found also in the iris, skin, etc. They are made up of greatly elongated cells, usually grouped in bundles or sheets.
2. Muscular strength or development; as, to show one's muscle by lifting a heavy weight. [Colloq.]
3. Etym: [AS. muscle, L. musculus a muscle, mussel. See above.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Mussel. Muscle curve (Physiol.), contraction curve of a muscle; a myogram; the curve inscribed, upon a prepared surface, by means of a myograph when acted upon by a contracting muscle. The character of the curve represents the extent of the contraction.
MUSCLED Mus"cled, a.
Defn: Furnished with muscles; having muscles; as, things well muscled.
MUSCLE READING Mus"cle read`ing.
Defn: The art of making discriminations between objects of choice, of discovering the whereabouts of hidden objects, etc., by inference from the involuntary movements of one whose hand the reader holds or with whom he is otherwise in muscular contact.
MUSCLING Mus"cling, n. (Fine Arts)
Defn: Exhibition or representation of the muscles. [R.] A good piece, the painters say, must have good muscling, as well as coloring and drapery. Shaftesbury.
MUSCOGEES Mus*co"gees, n. pl.
Defn: See Muskogees.
MUSCOID Mus"coid, a. Etym: [Muscus + -oid: cf. F. muscoide.] (Bot.)
Defn: Mosslike; resembling moss.
MUSCOID Mus"coid, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A term formerly applied to any mosslike flowerless plant, with a distinct stem, and often with leaves, but without any vascular system.
MUSCOLOGY Mus*col"o*gy, n. Etym: [Muscus + -logy.]
Defn: Bryology.
MUSCOSITY Mus*cos"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. muscosus mossy, fr. muscus moss.]
Defn: Mossiness. Jonhson.
MUSCOVADO Mus`co*va"do, a. Etym: [Corrupted fr. Sp. mascabado; cf. Pg. mascavado, F. moscouade, n., formerly also mascovade, It. mascavato.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or of the nature of, unrefined or raw sugar, obtained from the juice of the sugar cane by evaporating and draining off the molasses. Muscovado sugar contains impurities which render it dark colored and moist.
MUSCOVADO Mus`co*va"do, n.
Defn: Unrefined or raw sugar.
MUSCOVITE Mus"co*vite, n. Etym: [See Muscovy glass.]
1. A native or inhabitant of Muscovy or ancient Russia; hence, a Russian.
2. (Min.)
Defn: Common potash mica. See Mica.
MUSCOVY DUCK Mus"co*vy duck`. Etym: [A corruption of musk duck.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A duck (Cairina moschata), larger than the common duck, often raised in poultry yards. Called also musk duck. It is native of tropical America, from Mexico to Southern Brazil.
MUSCOVY GLASS Mus"co*vy glass`. Etym: [From Muscovy, the old name of Russia: cf. F. verre de Moscovie.]
Defn: Mica; muscovite. See Mica.