Historical source · 1908

Chambers’s Twentieth Century Dictionary of the English Language · page 87

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Page 87 of 179

Mean

Mean, mēn, adj. middle: coming between two others in size, degree, quantity, time, &c.: average: moderate.—n. the middle point, quantity, value, or degree: (math.) a term interpolated between two terms of a series, and c

English · e-38538-8375

Mean

Mean, mēn, v.t. to have in the mind or thoughts: to intend, to purpose: to signify.—v.i. to have in the mind: to have meaning or disposition:—pr.p. mean′ing; pa.t. and pa.p. meant (ment).—n. Mean′ing, that which is in th

English · e-38538-8376

Mean

Mean, mēn, v.i. (Shak.) to lament, to moan.

English · e-38538-8377 · brief source record

Meander

Meander, mē-an′dėr, n. a winding course: a maze: an intricate variety of fretwork: perplexity.—v.i. to flow, run, or proceed in a winding course: to be intricate.—v.t. to wind or flow round.—adjs. Mean′dered, formed into

English · e-38538-8378

Meant

Meant, pa.t. and pa.p. of mean (v.t.).

English · e-38538-8379 · brief source record

Mear

Mear, mēr, n. (Spens.) a boundary. [See Mere.]

English · e-38538-8380 · brief source record

Mease

Mease, mēs, or mēz, n. a tale of 500 herrings.

English · e-38538-8381 · brief source record

Measles

Measles, mē′zlz, n.sing. a contagious fever accompanied with eruptions of small red spots upon the skin: a disease of swine and cattle, caused by larval tapeworms: a disease of trees, the leaves being covered with spots.

English · e-38538-8382

Measure

Measure, mezh′ūr, n. that by which extent is ascertained or expressed: the size of anything: a rule or standard by which anything is adjusted (Apothecaries', Cubic, Decimal, Dry, Liquid, &c.): (politics) a proposal or pl

English · e-38538-8383

Meat

Meat, mēt, n. anything eaten as food, the edible part of anything: act of taking meat: (obs.) meal, flour: the flesh of animals used as food—sometimes beef, mutton, pork, veal, &c., as opposed to poultry, fish, &c.—ns. M

English · e-38538-8384

Meath

Meath, Meathe, mēth, n. a form of mead, liquor.

English · e-38538-8385 · brief source record

Meatus

Meatus, mē-ā′tus, n. a passage or canal, as the urethral meatus.—adj. Meā′tal.—n. Meat′oscope, an instrument for examining the urethral or other meatus. [L. meātus—meāre, to go.]

English · e-38538-8386

Meazel

Meazel, mē′zl, n. (Shak.) a leper. [Measles.]

English · e-38538-8387 · brief source record

Mechanic

Mechanic, -al, me-kan′ik, -al, adj. pertaining to machines or mechanics: constructed according to the laws of mechanics: possessing mechanical talent: acting by physical power: done by a machine: pertaining to artisans:

English · e-38538-8388

Mechlin

Mechlin, meh′lin, adj. and n. produced at Mechlin or Malines: lace made at Mechlin.

English · e-38538-8389 · brief source record

Meconic

Meconic, me-kon′ik, adj. denoting an acid obtained from poppies.—ns. Mec′onate, a salt of meconic acid; Mec′onine, a white, fusible, neutral substance existing in opium; Mecō′nium, the first fæces of a new-born child: op

English · e-38538-8390

Medal

Medal, med′al, n. a piece of metal in the form of a coin bearing some device or inscription, struck or cast: a reward of merit.—v.t. to decorate with a medal.—n. Med′alet, a small medal, esp. the representation of saints

English · e-38538-8391

Meddle

Meddle, med′l, v.i. to interfere unnecessarily (with or in): to take part in a matter with which one has nothing to do: to have to do (with).—n. Medd′ler, one who interferes with matters in which he has no concern.—adj.

English · e-38538-8392

Media

Media. See Medium.

English · e-38538-8393 · brief source record

Mediæval

Mediæval, Mediævalist. See Medieval.

English · e-38538-8394 · brief source record

Medial

Medial, mē′di-al, adj. lying between two extremes, median: of or pertaining to a mean or average.—n. one of the sonant-mute group, g, d, b, intermediate between the surd or smooth group (c, t, p) and the rough or aspirat

English · e-38538-8395

Median

Median, mē′di-an, adj. being in the middle, running through the middle: situated in the median plane, that dividing the body longitudinally into symmetrical halves.—adv. Med′ianly.—n. Med′iant (mus.), the third tone of a

English · e-38538-8396

Median

Median, mē′di-an, adj. pertaining to Media or the Medes, an ancient Aryan race which became fused with the Persians under the victorious Cyrus about 550 B.C.—n. Mede, a member of this race.

English · e-38538-8397

Mediastinum

Mediastinum, mē-di-as-tī′num, n. a membranous septum or cavity between two principal portions of an organ, esp. the folds of the pleura and the space between the right and left lungs.—adj. Mediastī′nal. [L., medius.]

English · e-38538-8398

Mediate

Mediate, mē′di-āt, adj. middle: between two extremes: acting by or as a means: not direct and independent: dependent on some intervening thing.—v.i. to interpose between parties as a friend of each: to intercede: to hold

English · e-38538-8399

Medic

Medic, med′ik, n. one of several plants of the genus Medicago, esp. the purple medic or lucerne—leguminous plants, with leaves like those of clover.—Also Med′ick. [L. medica—Gr. mēdikē (poa), 'median' (grass).]

English · e-38538-8400

Medical

Medical, med′i-kal, adj. relating to the art of healing diseases: containing that which heals: intended to promote the study of medicine.—adv. Med′ically.—Medical jurisprudence (see Jurisprudence). [Fr.,—Low L. medicalis

English · e-38538-8401

Medicate

Medicate, med′i-kāt, v.t. to treat with medicine: to impregnate with anything medicinal.—adj. Med′icable, that may be healed.—n. Med′icament, anything used for healing: a medicine: healing power.—adj. Medicamen′tal.—n. M

English · e-38538-8402

Medicean

Medicean, med-i-sē′an, adj. relating to the Medici, a distinguished Florentine family which attained to sovereign power in the 15th century, and became extinct in 1737.

English · e-38538-8403

Medicine

Medicine, med′i-sin, or med′sin, n. anything applied for the cure or lessening of disease or pain, whether simple or compound (made up of more than one ingredient): the science which treats of the prevention or cure of d

English · e-38538-8404

Medieval

Medieval, Mediæval, mē-di-ē′val, adj. relating to the Middle Ages.—ns. Mediē′valism, the spirit of the Middle Ages, devotion to medieval ideals; Mediē′valist, Mediæ′valist, one versed in the history of the Middle Ages.—M

English · e-38538-8405

Medio-

Medio-, Medi-, middle, in compounds like mediocarpal, mediodorsal, mediotarsal, medioventral. [L. medius, middle.]

English · e-38538-8406 · brief source record

Mediocre

Mediocre, mē′di-ō-kėr, adj. of middling extent or quality: moderate.—n. Medioc′rity, a middle state or condition: a moderate degree: a person of little power or importance. [Fr.,—L. mediocris—medius, middle.]

English · e-38538-8407

Medism

Medism, mēd′izm, n. the adoption of Persian interests—to a Greek, a treachery to his country.

English · e-38538-8408 · brief source record

Meditate

Meditate, med′i-tāt, v.i. to consider thoughtfully: to purpose (with on, upon).—v.t. to think on: to revolve in the mind: to intend.—adj. Med′itated, thought of: planned.—n. Meditā′tion, the act of meditating: deep thoug

English · e-38538-8409

Mediterranean

Mediterranean, med-i-tėr-rā′ne-an, adj. situated in the middle of earth or land: inland—also Mediterrā′neous.—Mediterranean Sea, so called from being, as it were, in the middle of the land of the Old World. [L., medius,

English · e-38538-8410

Medium

Medium, mē′di-um, n. the middle: the middle place or degree: any intervening means, instrument, or agency: the substance in which bodies exist, or through which they move: in spiritualism, the person through whom spirits

English · e-38538-8411

Medius

Medius, mē′di-us, n. the middle finger of the hand.

English · e-38538-8412 · brief source record

Medjidie

Medjidie, me-jid′i-e, n. a Turkish order of knighthood instituted in 1852, having five classes. [Turk. mejīd, glorious.]

English · e-38538-8413

Medlar

Medlar, med′lar, n. a small tree of the rose family, or its fruit. [O. Fr. meslier, a medlar-tree—L. mespilum—Gr. mespilon.]

English · e-38538-8414

Medley

Medley, med′li, n. a mingled and confused mass: a miscellany: a song or piece of music made up of bits from various sources continuously: a cloth woven from yarn of different colours: (obs.) a mêlée, fight. [O. Fr. medle

English · e-38538-8415

Médoc

Médoc, me-dok′, n. a French wine produced in the district of Médoc, department of Gironde.

English · e-38538-8416 · brief source record

Medorrhea

Medorrhea, mē-dor-ē′a, n. mucous discharge from the genitals. [Gr. mēdos, bladder, rhoia, a flowing.]

English · e-38538-8417 · brief source record

Medulla

Medulla, me-dul′a, n. the inner portion of an organ or part, as the pith of a hair, spinal cord, or its continuation within the cranium, (medulla oblongata): the pith of a plant, the thallus in lichens, &c.—adjs. Medull′

English · e-38538-8418

Medusa

Medusa, me-dū′sa, n. one of the three Gorgons, whose head, cut off by Perseus, and placed in the ægis of Minerva, had the power of turning those who looked on it into stone: the name given to the common kinds of jelly-fi

English · e-38538-8419

Meed

Meed, mēd, n. wages: reward: what is bestowed for merit. [A.S. méd, meord; Ger. miethe.]

English · e-38538-8420 · brief source record

Meek

Meek, mēk, adj. mild and gentle of temper: submissive.—adv. Meek′ly.—n. Meek′ness, state or quality of being meek. [Ice. mjúkr; Dut. muik.]

English · e-38538-8421

Meer

Meer, mēr, n. a form of mere.

English · e-38538-8422 · brief source record

Meerschaum

Meerschaum, mēr′shawm, n. a fine light whitish clay making excellent tobacco-pipes—once supposed to be a petrified sea-scum: a pipe made of this material. [Ger. meer, sea, schaum, foam.]

English · e-38538-8423

Meet

Meet, mēt, adj. fitting: qualified.—adv. Meet′ly.—n. Meet′ness. [A.S. ge-met—metan, to measure.]

English · e-38538-8424 · brief source record

Meet

Meet, mēt, v.t. to come face to face: to encounter in conflict: to find or experience; to refute: be suitable to: satisfy, as by payment: to receive as a welcome.—v.i. to come together from different points: to assemble:

English · e-38538-8425

Megacephalous

Megacephalous, meg-a-sef′a-lus, adj. large-headed.

English · e-38538-8426 · brief source record

Megafarad

Megafarad, meg′a-far-ad, n. in electrometry, a unit equal to a million farads.

English · e-38538-8427 · brief source record

Megalichthys

Megalichthys, meg-a-lik′this, n. a genus of extinct ganoid fishes. [Gr. megas, megalē, great, ichthys, a fish.]

English · e-38538-8428 · brief source record

Megalith

Megalith, meg′a-lith, n. a huge stone.—adj. Megalith′ic. [Gr. megas, great, lithos, a stone.]

English · e-38538-8429 · brief source record

Megalomania

Megalomania, meg-a-lō-mā′ni-a, n. the delusion that one is great or powerful. [Gr. megas, great, mania.]

English · e-38538-8430 · brief source record

Megalosaurus

Megalosaurus, meg-a-lō-saw′rus, n. a gigantic extinct reptile of carnivorous habits.—adj. Megalosau′rian. [Gr. megas, megalē, great, sauros, a lizard.]

English · e-38538-8431

Megaphone

Megaphone, meg′a-fōn, n. an appliance for making words audible—a form of speaking-trumpet.

English · e-38538-8432 · brief source record

Megapodidæ

Megapodidæ, meg-a-pod′i-dē, n. mound-birds (q.v.).

English · e-38538-8433 · brief source record

Megascope

Megascope, meg′a-skōp, n. a form of solar microscope for throwing enlarged images on a screen: (phot.) an enlarging camera.

English · e-38538-8434

Megatherium

Megatherium, meg-a-thē′ri-um, n. a gigantic extinct quadruped of the order Edentata, found in the pampas of South America. [Gr. megas, great, thērion, wild beast.]

English · e-38538-8435

Megilp

Megilp, me-gilp′. See Magilp.

English · e-38538-8436 · brief source record

Megohm

Megohm, meg′ōm, n. a unit of electrical resistance, equal to one million ohms. [Gr. megas, great, and ohm.]

English · e-38538-8437 · brief source record

Megrim

Megrim, mē′grim, n. a pain affecting only one half of the head or face: lowness of spirits: a sudden sickness of a horse at work. [Fr. migraine—Gr. hēmicrania—hēmi, half, kranion, skull.]

English · e-38538-8438

Meiny

Meiny, mē′ni, n. (Shak.) a retinue or company of servants attending upon a person of high rank. [O. Fr. mesnie, a company, through Low L. forms, from L. mansio, a dwelling.]

English · e-38538-8439

Meiocene

Meiocene. Same as Miocene.

English · e-38538-8440 · brief source record

Meiosis

Meiosis, mī-ō′sis, n. (rhet.) a figure of speech representing a thing as less than it is. [Gr.]

English · e-38538-8441 · brief source record

Meistersinger

Meistersinger, mīs′tėr-sing′ėr, n. one of the burgher poets and musicians of Germany in the 14th-16th centuries, the successors of the Minnesingers. [Ger.]

English · e-38538-8442

Melampode

Melampode, mel-am′pōd, n. (Spens.) the black hellebore. [Gr.]

English · e-38538-8443 · brief source record

Melanæmia

Melanæmia, mel-a-nē′mi-a, n. a morbid condition of the blood in which the vessels contain an unusual quantity of dark colouring matter.

English · e-38538-8444

Melancholy

Melancholy, mel′an-kol-i, n. continued depression of spirits: dejection: a gloomy state of mind causing groundless fears: (Milt.) pensiveness.—adj. gloomy: producing grief.—n. Melanchō′lia, a form of insanity, in which t

English · e-38538-8445

Melange

Melange, mā-longzh′, n. a mixture: a medley. [Fr.]

English · e-38538-8446 · brief source record

Melanic

Melanic, me-lan′ik, adj. black.—n. Mel′anism, an undue development of colouring matter in the skin and its appendages.—adj. Melanis′tic.—n. Mel′anite, a deep-black variety of garnet.—adjs. Melanochrō′ic, Melanoch′rōous,

English · e-38538-8447

Mêlée

Mêlée, mā-lā′, n. a fight in which the combatants are mingled together: a confused conflict: an affray. [Fr.,—mêler, to mix.]

English · e-38538-8448

Melibean

Melibean, Melibœan, mel-i-bē′an, adj. in poetry, alternately responsive—from the name of a shepherd in Virgil's first eclogue.

English · e-38538-8449

Melic

Melic, mel′ik, adj. pertaining to song.

English · e-38538-8450 · brief source record

Melilot

Melilot, mel′i-lot, n. a genus of clover-like plants with white or yellow flowers and a peculiar sweet odour. [Gr. melilōtos—meli, honey, lōtos, lotus.]

English · e-38538-8451

Melinite

Melinite, mā′lin-īt, n. an explosive of great force obtained from picric acid. [Fr.]

English · e-38538-8452 · brief source record

Meliorate

Meliorate, mē′lyo-rāt, v.t. to make better.—v.i. to grow better.—ns. Meliorā′tion, the act of making or becoming better; Meliorā′tor, an improver; Mē′liorism, the doctrine that the world is capable of improvement, as opp

English · e-38538-8453

Meliphagous

Meliphagous, mel-if′a-gus, adj. feeding upon honey. [Gr. meli, honey, phagein, to eat.]

English · e-38538-8454 · brief source record

Mell

Mell, mel, v.i. (Spens.) to mingle: to be concerned with: to meddle. [Meddle.]

English · e-38538-8455 · brief source record

Mellay

Mellay, mel′ā, n. another form of mêlée.

English · e-38538-8456 · brief source record

Melliferous

Melliferous, mel-if′ėr-us, adj. honey-producing.—adj. Mellif′ic, honey-making.—ns. Mellificā′tion, the production of honey; Mellif′luence, a flow of sweetness: a smooth sweet flow.—adjs. Mellif′luent, Mellif′luous, flowi

English · e-38538-8457

Mellow

Mellow, mel′ō, adj. soft and ripe: well matured: soft to the touch, palate, ear, &c.: genial: half-tipsy.—v.t. to soften by ripeness or age: to mature.—v.i. to become soft: to be matured.—adv. Mell′owly.—n. Mell′owness,

English · e-38538-8458

Melocoton

Melocoton, mel′ō-kot-on, n. (Bacon) a quince: a large kind of peach.—Also Mel′ocotoon. [Late L. melum cotoneum (a corr. of Cydonium), a quince, lit. apple of Cydonia, in Crete.]

English · e-38538-8459

Melodrama

Melodrama, mel-o-dram′a, n. a kind of romantic and sensational drama, formerly largely intermixed with songs—also Mel′odrame.—adj. Melodramat′ic, of the nature of melodrama: overstrained: sensational.—n. Melodram′atist,

English · e-38538-8460

Melody

Melody, mel′o-di, n. an air or tune: music: an agreeable succession of single musical sounds, as distinguished from harmony or the concord of a succession of simultaneous sounds.—n. Melō′deon, a small reed organ: an impr

English · e-38538-8461

Melon

Melon, mel′un, n. a kind of cucumber and its fruit, which in shape resembles an apple. [Fr.,—L. melo, -onis—Gr. mēlon, an apple.]

English · e-38538-8462

Melpomene

Melpomene, mel-pom′e-ne, n. the Muse of tragedy. [Gr. melpomĕnē, songstress.]

English · e-38538-8463 · brief source record

Melrose

Melrose, mel′rōz, n. honey of roses.

English · e-38538-8464 · brief source record

Melt

Melt, melt, v.t. to make liquid, to dissolve: to soften: to waste away.—v.i. to become liquid: to dissolve: to become tender or mild: to lose distinct form: to be discouraged:—pa.p. melted, or molten.—n. Melt′ing, the ac

English · e-38538-8465

Melton

Melton, mel′ton, n. a strong cloth for men's wear, the surface without nap, neither pressed nor finished.

English · e-38538-8466 · brief source record

Member

Member, mem′bėr, n. an integral part of a whole, esp. a limb of an animal: a clause: one of a society: a representative in a legislative body.—adj. Mem′bered, having limbs.—n. Mem′bership, the state of being a member or

English · e-38538-8467

Membrane

Membrane, mem′brān, n. (anat.) one of the thin textures which cover the organs or line the cavities or canals of the body: the film containing the seeds of a plant.—adjs. Membran′eous, Mem′branous, Membranā′ceous, relati

English · e-38538-8468

Memento

Memento, me-men′tō, n. something to awaken memory: a reminder of what is past or of what is yet to come:—pl. Memen′tos.—Memento mori, remember death: an ornament by its form reminding one of death. [L., imper. of meminis

English · e-38538-8469

Memnon

Memnon, mem′non, n. a hero who fought for Troy against the Greeks: a statue at Thebes in Egypt which gave out a musical sound at sunrise. [Gr.]

English · e-38538-8470

Memoir

Memoir, mem′wor, or me-moir′, n. a sketch or description of something as remembered by the writer: a short biographical sketch of some one now dead: a record of facts personally found out on any subject: the transactions

English · e-38538-8471

Memory

Memory, mem′o-ri, n. the power of retaining and reproducing mental or sensory impressions: a having or keeping in the mind: time within which past things can be remembered: that which is remembered: commemoration: rememb

English · e-38538-8472

Memphian

Memphian, mem′fi-an, adj. relating to Memphis, an ancient capital of Egypt.—Also Mem′phite, Memphit′ic.

English · e-38538-8473 · brief source record

Men

Men, plural of man.

English · e-38538-8474 · brief source record

Menace

Menace, men′ās, v.t. to threaten.—v.i. to act in a threatening manner.—n. a threat or threatening: a show of an intention to do harm.—adj. Men′acing, overhanging: threatening.—adv. Men′acingly. [Fr.,—L. minaciæ, threats—

English · e-38538-8475

Menage

Menage, obsolete form of manage.

English · e-38538-8476 · brief source record

Menage

Menage, me-nazh′, n. a household: the management of a house: a club of working-men. [Fr. through Late L.,—L. mansio, -onis, a dwelling.]

English · e-38538-8477

Menagerie

Menagerie, men-aj′ėr-i, n. a place for keeping wild animals for exhibition: a collection of such animals.—Also Menag′ery. [Fr., from ménage.]

English · e-38538-8478

Menagogue

Menagogue, men′a-gog, n. a medicine that promotes the menstrual flux.

English · e-38538-8479 · brief source record

Mend

Mend, mend, v.t. to remove a fault: to repair, as something broken or worn: to make better: to correct, improve.—v.i. to grow better.—ns. Mend′er, one who mends; Mend′ing, the act of repairing: things requiring to be men

English · e-38538-8480

Mendacious

Mendacious, men-dā′shus, adj. given to lying: speaking falsely: of the nature of a lie.—adv. Mendā′ciously.—n. Mendac′ity, a tendency to lying: a habit of lying: falsehood. [L. mendax, -acis, conn. with mentīri, to lie.]

English · e-38538-8481

Mendicant

Mendicant, men′di-kant, adj. in the condition of a beggar: practising beggary.—n. one who is in extreme want: a beggar: a member of one of the R.C. orders who live by begging: a begging friar.—ns. Men′dicancy, Mendic′ity

English · e-38538-8482

Mends

Mends, mendz, for amends.

English · e-38538-8483 · brief source record

Menhaden

Menhaden, men-hā′dn, n. a species of herring or shad, found off the east coast of the United States.

English · e-38538-8484 · brief source record

Menhir

Menhir, men′hēr, n. a tall, often massive, stone, set up on end as a monument in ancient times, either singly or in groups, circles, &c. [W. maen, a stone, hir, long.]

English · e-38538-8485

Menial

Menial, mē′ni-al, adj. of or pertaining to a train of servants: doing servile work: low.—n. a domestic servant: one performing servile work: a person of servile disposition. [O. Fr., mesnee, a household. See Mansion.]

English · e-38538-8486

Meninx

Meninx, mē′ningks, n. one of three membranes that envelop the brain:—pl. Meniniges (men-in′jēz).—adj. Mening′eal.—ns. Meningitis (-jī′-), inflammation of the membranes investing the brain or spinal cord; Mening′ocele, he

English · e-38538-8487

Meniscus

Meniscus, mē-nis′kus, n. a crescent or a new moon: a lens hollow on one side and bulging on the other.—adjs. Menis′cal; Menis′cate; Menis′ciform; Menis′coid. [Gr. mēnē, the moon, -iskos, small.]

English · e-38538-8488

Mennonite

Mennonite, men′on-īt, n. one of a Protestant sect, combining some of the distinctive characteristics of the Baptists and Friends. [From Menno Simons (died 1559), their chief founder.]

English · e-38538-8489

Menology

Menology, mē-nol′o-ji, n. a register of months: a list or calendar of martyrs, with festivals celebrated, &c.

English · e-38538-8490 · brief source record

Menopome

Menopome, men′o-pōm, n. a large North American amphibian—from its persistent gill-aperture. [Gr. menein, to remain, pōma, lid.]

English · e-38538-8491

Mensal

Mensal, men′sal, adj. occurring once in a month: monthly.—Also Men′sual.

English · e-38538-8492 · brief source record

Mensal

Mensal, men′sal, adj. belonging to the table. [L.]

English · e-38538-8493 · brief source record

Mense

Mense, mens, n. (Scot.) propriety: ornament: credit.—v.t. to grace or set off something.—adjs. Mense′ful, decorous: respectable; Mense′less, graceless, uncivil. [M. E. mensk—A.S. mennisc, mannish.]

English · e-38538-8494

Menses

Menses, men′sēz, n.pl. the monthly discharge from the uterus.—ns. Men′opause, the final cessation of the menses; Menorrhā′gia (phys.), the ordinary flow of the menses: (path.) an immoderate menstrual discharge.—adj. Meno

English · e-38538-8495

Menstruum

Menstruum, men′strōō-um, n. any fluid substance which dissolves a solid body.

English · e-38538-8496 · brief source record

Mensurable

Mensurable, mens′ū-ra-bl, adj. that can be measured: measurable.—n. Mensurabil′ity, quality of being mensurable.—adj. Mens′ural, pertaining to measure.—n. Mensurā′tion, the act or art of finding by measurement and calcul

English · e-38538-8497

Ment

Ment, ment (obs.), pa.t. and pa.p. of ming, to mix.

English · e-38538-8498 · brief source record

Mental

Mental, men′tal, adj. pertaining to the mind: done in the mind.—ns. Mental′ity, Mentā′tion.—adv. Men′tally.—adjs. Menticul′tural, improving the mind; Mentif′erous, conveying thought, telepathic.—Mental alienation, insani

English · e-38538-8499

Menthol

Menthol, men′thol, n. a camphor obtained from oil of peppermint by cooling, which gives relief in neuralgia, &c. [L. mentha, mint.]

English · e-38538-8500

Mention

Mention, men′shun, n. a brief notice: a hint.—v.t. to notice briefly: to remark: to name.—adj. Men′tionable, fit to be mentioned. [L. mentio, -onis.]

English · e-38538-8501

Mentonnière

Mentonnière, men-ton-nyār′, n. a piece of armour attached to the helmet, worn to protect the chin and throat. [Fr., menton, the chin—L. mentum.]

English · e-38538-8502

Mentor

Mentor, men′tor, n. a wise counsellor.—adj. Mentor′ial. [Gr. Mentōr, the tutor of Telemachus.]

English · e-38538-8503 · brief source record

Mentum

Mentum, men′tum, n. the chin: the central part of the labium in insects: (bot.) a projection in front of the flower in some orchids.—n. Mentag′ra, an eruption about the chin forming a crust.—adj. Men′tal (anat.), pertain

English · e-38538-8504

Mephistopheles

Mephistopheles, mef-is-tof′e-lēz, n. the name of the devil in Marlowe's Doctor Faustus and Goethe's Faust.—adj. Mephistophē′lean, cynical, scoffing, malicious. [Ety. unknown; prob. formed from Gr. mē, not, phōs (phot-),

English · e-38538-8506

Mephitis

Mephitis, me-fī′tis, n. a poisonous exhalation from the ground or from decaying substances—also Mephī′tism.—adjs. Mephit′ic, -al. [L. mephitis.]

English · e-38538-8507

Mercantile

Mercantile, mėr′kan-tīl, adj. pertaining to merchants: having to do with trade: commercial.—ns. Mer′cantilism; Mer′cantilist.—Mercantile agency, a means of getting information about the circumstances of merchants all ove

English · e-38538-8508

Mercator's projection

Mercator's projection. See under Project.

English · e-38538-8509 · brief source record

Mercenary

Mercenary, mėr′se-nar-i, adj. hired for money: actuated by the hope of reward: greedy of gain: sold or done for money.—n. one who is hired: a soldier hired into foreign service.—adv. Mer′cenarily. [Fr.,—L., mercenarius—m

English · e-38538-8510

Mercer

Mercer, mėr′sėr, n. a merchant in silks and woollen cloths, or in small wares.—n. Mer′cery, the trade of a mercer: the goods of a mercer. [Fr. mercier.]

English · e-38538-8511

Mercerise

Mercerise, mėr′cėr-īz, v.t. to treat cotton so as to make it appear like silk. [From Mercer (1791-1866), the inventor of the process.]

English · e-38700-10039

Merchant

Merchant, mėr′chant, n. one who carries on trade, esp. on a large scale: one who buys and sells goods: a trader: (obs.) a supercargo: a merchant-vessel.—adj. pertaining to trade or merchandise.—v.i. Merch′and (Bacon), to

English · e-38538-8512

Mercury

Mercury, mėr′kū-ri, n. the god of merchandise and eloquence, and the messenger of the gods: the planet nearest the sun: a white, liquid metal, also called quicksilver: the column of mercury in a thermometer or barometer:

English · e-38538-8513

Mercy

Mercy, mėr′si, n. tenderness and forbearance shown in sparing an offender in one's power: a forgiving disposition: clemency: an act of mercy: an undeserved blessing: compassion or benevolence.—adjs. Mer′ciable (Spens.),

English · e-38538-8514

Mere

Mere, mēr, n. a pool or lake.—Also Meer. [A.S. mere; Ger. and Dut. meer, L. mare, the sea.]

English · e-38538-8515 · brief source record

Mere

Mere, mēr, adj. unmixed: pure: only this and nothing else: alone: absolute.—adj. Mered (Shak.), only, entire.—adv. Mere′ly, purely, simply: only: thus and no other way: solely. [L. merus, unmixed (of wine).]

English · e-38538-8516

Mere

Mere, mēr, n. a boundary.—v.t. to limit or bound.—ns. Mere′stead, the land within the boundaries of a farm: Mere′stone, a stone which marks a boundary. [A.S. ge-mǽre.]

English · e-38538-8517

Meretricious

Meretricious, mer-e-trish′us, adj. of or pertaining to harlots: alluring by false show: gaudy and deceitful: false.—adv. Meretric′iously.—ns. Meretric′iousness; Mer′etrix, a harlot. [L. meretricius—meretrix, a harlot, me

English · e-38538-8518

Merganser

Merganser, mėr-gan′sėr, n. a diving bird, sea-duck. [L. mergus, a diving bird, anser, a goose.]

English · e-38538-8519 · brief source record

Merge

Merge, mėrj, v.t. to dip or plunge in: to sink: to cause to be swallowed up.—v.i. to be swallowed up, or lost.—n. Mer′ger (law), a sinking of an estate or a security in one of larger extent or of higher value. [L. mergĕr

English · e-38538-8520

Mericarp

Mericarp, mer′i-karp, n. one carpel or part of the fruit of an umbelliferous plant. [Gr. meros, a part, karpos, fruit.]

English · e-38538-8521 · brief source record

Meridian

Meridian, me-rid′i-an, adj. pertaining to midday: being on the meridian or at midday: raised to the highest point.—n. midday: a midday dram: the highest point, as of success: an imaginary circle on the earth's surface pa

English · e-38538-8522

Meringue

Meringue, me-rang′, n. a mixture of sugar and white of eggs slightly browned for garnishing other confections: a pudding or tart covered with this.—Meringue glacé, ice-cream with a casing of meringue. [Fr., prob. from Me

English · e-38538-8523

Merino

Merino, me-rē′no, n. a variety of sheep having very fine wool, originally from Spain: a fine French all-wool dress fabric for women, originally of merino wool.—adj. belonging to the merino sheep or their wool. [Sp.,—meri

English · e-38538-8524

Meristem

Meristem, mer′is-tem, n. the formative tissue of plants, distinguished from the permanent tissues by the power its cells have of dividing and forming new cells.—adj. Meristemat′ic. [Gr. meristos, verbal adj. of merizein,

English · e-38538-8525

Merit

Merit, mer′it, n. excellence that deserves honour or reward: worth: value: that which one has earned.—v.t. to earn: to have a right to claim as a reward: to deserve: (pl., in law) the right or wrong of a case, apart from

English · e-38538-8526

Merk

Merk, mėrk, n. an old Scotch silver coin, worth 13s. 4d. Scots, or 13⅓d. sterling. [Mark.]

English · e-38538-8527 · brief source record

Merle

Merle, mėrl, n. the blackbird. [Fr.,—L. merula.]

English · e-38538-8528 · brief source record

Merlin

Merlin, mėr′lin, n. a species of small hawk. [Fr. émerillon, prob. from L. merula.]

English · e-38538-8529 · brief source record

Merling

Merling, mer′ling, n. a small gadoid fish, the whiting.

English · e-38538-8530 · brief source record

Merlon

Merlon, mėr′lon, n. (fort.) the part of a wall with battlements which lies between two openings. [Fr., prob. through Low L. forms from L. murus, a wall.]

English · e-38538-8531

Mermaid

Mermaid, mėr′mād, n. a sea-woman, having the head and body of a lovely woman to the waist, ending in the tail of a fish.—ns. Mer′maiden (Tenn.):—masc. Mer′man; Mer′maid's-glove, the largest kind of British sponge. [A.S.

English · e-38538-8532

Meroblast

Meroblast, mer′ō-blast, n. a meroblastic ovum.—adj. Meroblast′ic, undergoing segmentation only in the germinal disc, as the eggs of birds.

English · e-38538-8533

Merognostic

Merognostic, mer-og-nos′tik, n. one who claims to know in part.—n. Merognos′ticism.

English · e-38538-8534 · brief source record

Meropidan

Meropidan, me-rop′i-dan, n. a bird of the family of bee-eaters. [L. merops, the bee-eater—Gr.]

English · e-38538-8535 · brief source record

Merosome

Merosome, mer′ō-sōm, n. one of the serial segments of which a body is composed, as the ring of a worm, a metamere, a somite.

English · e-38538-8536

Merovingian

Merovingian, mer-o-vin′ji-an, adj. pertaining to the first dynasty of Frankish kings in Gaul, named from Merwig, king of the western or Salian Franks (448-457), grandfather of Clovis.

English · e-38538-8537

Merry

Merry, mer′i, adj. sportive: cheerful: noisily gay: causing laughter: lively.—adv. Merr′ily.—ns. Merr′imake, Merr′y-make (Spens.), a meeting for making merry, a festival, mirth.—v.i. to make merry, to feast.—ns. Merr′ime

English · e-38538-8538

Merry

Merry, mer′i, n. an English wild-cherry. [Fr. merise.]

English · e-38538-8539 · brief source record

Mersion

Mersion, mėr′shun, n. Same as Immersion.

English · e-38538-8540 · brief source record

Merulidan

Merulidan, me-rōō′li-dan, n. a bird of the thrush family (Turdidæ), the typical genus of which is the Mer′ula. [Merle.]

English · e-38538-8541 · brief source record

Merycism

Merycism, mer′i-sizm, n. rumination in the human species. [Gr., mērykizein, to chew the cud.]

English · e-38538-8542 · brief source record

Mesail

Mesail, mes′āl, n. the vizor of a helmet, esp. when made in two parts.

English · e-38538-8543 · brief source record

Mesal

Mesal, mes′al, adj. See Mesial.

English · e-38538-8544 · brief source record

Mésalliance

Mésalliance, mā-zal-lē-an(g)s′, n. a marriage with a person of lower rank or social condition. [Fr.]

English · e-38538-8545 · brief source record

Mesaraic

Mesaraic, mes-a-rā′ik, adj. mesenteric. [Gr. mesos, middle, araia, the belly.]

English · e-38538-8546 · brief source record

Meseems

Meseems, me-sēmz′, v.impers. it seems to me (used only in poetry). [Me, the dative of I, and seems used impersonally.]

English · e-38538-8547 · brief source record

Mesembryanthemum

Mesembryanthemum, me-zem-bri-an′the-mum, n. a genus of succulent plants, mostly belonging to South Africa. [Gr. mesēmbria, midday—mesos, middle, hēmera, day, anthemon, a flower.]

English · e-38538-8548

Mesencephalon

Mesencephalon, mes-en-sef′a-lon, n. the mid-brain.—adj. Mesencephal′ic.

English · e-38538-8549 · brief source record

Mesentery

Mesentery, mes′en-tėr-i, or mez′-, n. a membrane in the cavity of the abdomen, attached to the backbone, and serving to keep the intestines in their place.—adj. Mesenter′ic.—n. Mesenterī′tis, inflammation of the mesenter

English · e-38538-8550

Mesfaith

Mesfaith, mes′fāth, n. (Tenn.) wrong faith, error of belief. [Fr. mes—L. mis, wrong, and faith.]

English · e-38538-8551 · brief source record

Mesh

Mesh, mesh, n. the opening between the threads of a net: the threads and knots which bound the opening: network.—v.t. to catch in a net: to engage or interlock, as gear-teeth.—v.i. to become engaged thus.—n. Mesh′-work,

English · e-38538-8552

Mesial

Mesial, mē′zi-al, adj. pertaining to the middle: median—also Mes′al, Mes′ian.—advs. Mes′ally, Mes′ially. [Gr. mesos, middle.]

English · e-38538-8553

Mesmerise

Mesmerise, mez′mėr-īz, v.t. to induce an extraordinary state of the nervous system, in which the operator is supposed to control the actions and thoughts of the subject.—n. Mesmeree′, one mesmerised.—adjs. Mesmer′ic, -al

English · e-38538-8554

Mesne

Mesne, mēn, adj. intermediate: applied to a writ issued between the beginning and end of a suit.—Mesne lord, one who held land of a superior, but had granted part of it to another person. [Norm. Fr. mesne, middle.]

English · e-38538-8555

Mesoblast

Mesoblast, mes′o-blast, n. the middle one of the three germinal layers of any metazoic embryo between the epiblast and the hypoblast: the mesoderm.—adj. Mesoblas′tic.

English · e-38538-8556

Mesocarp

Mesocarp, mes′o-kärp, n. (bot.) the middle one of the three layers of a seed-vessel.

English · e-38538-8557 · brief source record

Mesocephalic

Mesocephalic, mes-ō-sē-fal′ik, adj. of medium breadth or capacity—of the skull—also Mesoceph′alous.—ns. Mesoceph′alism, Mesoceph′aly.

English · e-38538-8558

Mesoderm

Mesoderm, mes′o-derm, n. Same as Mesoblast.

English · e-38538-8559 · brief source record

Mesodic

Mesodic, me-sod′ik, adj. (pros.) pertaining to a system of different form intervening between a strophe and its antistrophe.

English · e-38538-8560

Mesogastric

Mesogastric, mes-o-gas′trik, adj. of or belonging to the middle of the stomach: denoting the membrane which sustains the stomach.

English · e-38538-8561

Mesophlœum

Mesophlœum, mes-ō-flē′um, n. (bot.) the middle or green layer of bark.

English · e-38538-8562 · brief source record

Mesothorax

Mesothorax, mes-o-thō′raks, n. the middle one of the three segments of an insect's thorax.—adj. Mesothorac′ic.

English · e-38538-8563 · brief source record

Mesozoic

Mesozoic, mes-o-zō′ik, adj. of the Secondary geological period, including the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous systems. [Gr. mesos, middle, zōē, life.]

English · e-38538-8564

Mesprise

Mesprise, mes-prīz′, n. (Spens.) contempt, scorn. [O. Fr. mespriser, to despise—L. minus, less, pretiāre, to prize.]

English · e-38538-8565 · brief source record

Mesquite

Mesquite, mes′kēt, mes-kēt′, n. a leguminous tree or shrub of America, with nutritious pods. [Sp.]

English · e-38538-8566 · brief source record

Mess

Mess, mes, n. a mixture disagreeable to the sight or taste: a medley: disorder: confusion.—v.t. to make a mess of: to muddle.—adj. Mess′y, confused, untidy. [A form of mash.]

English · e-38538-8567

Mess

Mess, mes, n. a dish or quantity of food served up at one time: a number of persons who take their meals together at the same table, esp. in the army and navy: the take of fish at one time.—v.t. to supply with a mess.—v.

English · e-38538-8568

Mess

Mess, mes, n.=mass.—Mess John, a domestic chaplain.

English · e-38538-8569 · brief source record

Message

Message, mes′āj, n. any communication sent from one person to another: an errand: an official communication, of advice, &c., as a President's Message in the United States.—n. Mess′enger, the bearer of a message: a foreru

English · e-38538-8570

Messiah

Messiah, mes-sī′a, n. the anointed One, the Christ—also Messī′as.—n. Messī′ahship, the character and work of Christ as the Saviour of the world.—adj. Messian′ic, relating to the Messiah. [Heb. māshīach, anointed—māshach,

English · e-38538-8571

Messidor

Messidor, mes-si-dōr′, n. the tenth month of the French revolutionary calendar, June 19th-July 18th. [Fr.,—L. messis, harvest, Gr. dōron, a gift.]

English · e-38538-8572

Messieurs

Messieurs, plural of Monsieur (q.v.).

English · e-38538-8573 · brief source record

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