Metacarpus – Milkscore

Metacarpus

METACARP'US, noun [Gr. beyond, and the wrist.] In anatomy, the part of the hand between the wrist and the fingers.

Metachronism

METACH'RONISM, noun [Gr. beyond, and time.] An error in chronology, by placing an event after its real time.

Metage

ME'TAGE, noun [from mete.] Measurement of coal; price of measuring.

Metagrammatism

METAGRAM'MATISM, noun [Gr. beyond, and a letter.]

Anagrammatism, or metagrammatism is a transposition of the letters of a name into such a connection as to express some perfect sense applicable to the person named.

Metal

METAL, noun met'l. [Latin metallum.] A simple, fixed, shining, opake body or substance, insoluble in water, fusible by heat, a good conductor of heat and electricity, capable when in the state of an oxyd, of uniting with acids and forming with them metallic salts. Many of the metals also malleable or extensible by the hammer, and some of them extremely ductile. Metals are mostly fossil, sometimes found native or pure, but more generally combined with other matter. Some metals are more malleable than others, and this circumstance gave rise to the distinction of metals and semi-metals; a distinction little regarded at the present day. Recent discoveries have enlarged the list of the metals, and the whole number now recognized is thirty, exclusive of those which have been recently discovered, as the bases of the earths and alkalies. Twelve of these are malleable, viz. platina, gold, silver, mercury, lead, copper, tin, iron, zink, palladium, nickel, and cadmium. The following sixteen are not sufficiently tenacious to bear extension by beating, viz. arsenic, antimony, bismuth, cobalt, manganese, tellurium, titanium, columbium, molybden, tungsten, chrome, osmium, iridium, rhodium, uranium, and cerium.

To these may be added potassium, sodium, barium, strontium, calcium, and lithium.

The following have not been exhibited in a separate form; magnesium, glucinum, yttrium, aluminum, thorinum, zirconium, and silicium.

1. Courage; spirit; so written by mistake for mettle.

Metalepsis

METALEP'SIS, noun [Gr. participation; beyond, and to take.]

In rhetoric, the continuation of a trope in one word through a succession of significations, or the union of two or more tropes of a different kind in one word, so that several gradations or intervening senses come between the word expressed and the thing intended by it; as 'in one Caesar there are many Mariuses.' Here Marius, by a synecdoche or antonomasy, is put for any ambitious, turbulent man, and this, by a metonymy of the cause, for the ill effects of such a temper to the public.

Metaleptic

METALEP'TIC, adjective Pertaining to a metalepsis or participation; translative.

1. Transverse; as the metaleptic motion of a muscle.

Metaleptically

METALEP'TICALLY, adverb By transposition.

Metallic

METAL'LIC, adjective [Latin metallicus.] Pertaining to a metal or metals; consisting of metal; partaking of the nature of metals; like a metal; as a metallic substance; metallic ore; metallic brightness.

Metalliferous

METALLIF'EROUS, adjective [Latin metallum, metal, and fero, to produce.]

Producing metals.

Metalliform

METAL'LIFORM, adjective Having the form of metals; like metal.

Metalline

MET'ALLINE, adjective Pertaining to a metal; consisting of metal.

1. Impregnated with metal; as metalline water.

Metallist

MET'ALLIST, noun A worker in metals, or one skilled in metals.

Metallization

METALLIZA'TION, noun The act or process of forming into a metal; the operation which gives to a substance its proper metallic properties.

Metallize

MET'ALLIZE, verb transitive To form into metal; to give to a substance its proper metallic properties.

Metallography

METALLOG'RAPHY, noun [Gr. metal, and description.] An account of metals, or a treatise on metallic substances.

Metalloid

MET'ALLOID, noun A name sometimes applied to the metallic bases of the alkalies and earths.

Metalloidal

METALLOID'AL, adjective Having the form or appearance of a metal.

Metallurgic

MET'ALLURGIC, adjective [See Metallurgy.] Pertaining to metallurgy, or the art of working metals.

Metallurgist

MET'ALLURGIST, noun One whose occupation is to work metals, or to purify, refine and prepare metals for use.

Metallurgy

MET'ALLURGY, noun [Gr. metal, and work.] The art of working metals, comprehending the whole process of separating them from other matters in the ore, smelting, refining and parting them. Gilding is also a branch of metallurgy But in a more limited and usual sense, metallurgy is the operation of separating metals from their ores.

The French include in metallurgy the art of drawing metals from the earth.

Metalman

MET'ALMAN, noun A worker in metals; a coppersmith or tinman.

Metamorphic

METAMORPH'IC

METAMORPH'OSE, verb transitive [Gr. over, beyond, and form.] To change into a different form; to transform; particularly, to change the form of insects, as from the larva to a winged animal. The ancients pretended that Jupiter was metamorphosed into a bull, and Lycaon into a wolf.

And earth was metamorphosed into man.

Metamorphose

METAMORPH'OSE, v.t. [Gr. over, beyond, and form.] To change into a different form; to transform; particularly, to change the form of insects, as from the larva to a winged animal. The ancients pretended that Jupiter was metamorphosed into a bull, and Lycaon into a wolf. And earth was metamorphosed into man.

Metamorphoser

METAMORPH'OSER, noun One that transforms or changes the shape.

Metamorphosic

METAMORPH'OSIC, adjective [See Metamorphose.]

Changing the form; transforming.

Metamorphosing

METAMORPH'OSING, participle present tense Changing the shape.

Metamorphosis

METAMORPH'OSIS, noun Change of form or shape; transformation; particularly, a change in the form of being; as the metamorphosis of an insect from the aurelia or chrysalis state into a winged animal.

1. Any change of form or shape.

Metamorphostical

METAMORPHOS'TICAL, adjective Pertaining to or effected by metamorphosis.

Metaphor

MET'APHOR, noun [Gr. to transfer, over, to carry.] A short similitude; a similitude reduced to a single word; or a word expressing similitude without the signs of comparison. Thus 'that man is a fox, ' is a metaphor; but 'that man is like a fox, ' is a similitude or comparison. So when I say, 'the soldiers fought like lions, ' I use a similitude. In metaphor the similitude is contained in the name; a man is a fox, means, a man is as crafty as a fox. So we say, a man bridles his anger, that is, restrains it as a bridle restrains a horse. Beauty awakens love or tender passions; opposition fires courage.

Metaphoric

METAPHOR'IC

METAPHOR'ICAL, adjective Pertaining to metaphor; comprising a metaphor; not literal; as a metaphorical use of words; a metaphorical expression; a metaphorical sense.

Metaphorical

METAPHOR'ICAL, a. Pertaining to metaphor; comprising a metaphor; not literal; as a metaphorical use of words; a metaphorical expression; a metaphorical sense.

Metaphorically

METAPHOR'ICALLY, adverb In a metaphorical manner; not literally.

Metaphorist

MET'APHORIST, noun One that makes metaphors.

Metaphrase

MET'APHRASE, noun [Gr. over, according to or with, and phrase.]

A verbal translation; a version or translation or one language into another, word for word.

Metaphrast

MET'APHRAST, noun A person who translates from one language into another, word for word.

Metaphrastic

METAPHRAS'TIC, adjective Close or literal in translation.

Metaphysic

METAPHYS'IC

METAPHYS'ICAL, adjective s as z. [See Metaphysics.]

1. Pertaining or relating to metaphysics.

2. According to rules or principles of metaphysics; as metaphysical reasoning.

3. Preternatural or supernatural. [Not used.]

Metaphysical

METAPHYS'ICAL, a. s as z. [See Metaphysics.] 1. Pertaining or relating to metaphysics.2. According to rules or principles of metaphysics; as metaphysical reasoning.3. Preternatural or supernatural. [Not used.]

Metaphysically

METAPHYS'ICALLY, adverb In the manner of metaphysical science.

Metaphysician

METAPHYSI'CIAN, noun s as z. One who is versed in the science of metaphysics.

Metaphysics

METAPHYS'ICS, noun s as z. [Gr. after, and physics. It is said that this name was given to the science by Aristotle or his followers, who considered the science of natural bodies, physics, as the first in the order of studies, and the science of mind or intelligence to be the second.]

The science of the principles and causes of all things existing; hence, the science of mind or intelligence. This science comprehends ontology, or the science which treats of the nature, essence, and qualities or attributes of being; cosmology, the science of the world, which treats of the nature and laws of matter and of motion; anthroposophy, which treats of the power of man, and the motions by which life is produced; psychology, which treats of the intellectual soul; pneumatology, or the science of spirits or angels, etc. Metaphysical theology, called by Leibnitz and others theodicy, treats of the existence of God, his essence and attributes. These divisions of the science of metaphysics which prevailed in the ancient schools, are now not much regarded. The natural division of things that exist is into body and mind, things material and immaterial. The former belong to physics, and the latter to the science of metaphysics

Metaplasm

MET'APLASM, noun [Gr. transformation; over, and to form.]

In grammar, a transmutation or change made in a word by transposing or retrenching a syllable or letter.

Metastasis

METAS'TASIS, noun [Gr. mutation; over, and to place.] A translation or removal of a disease form one part to another, or such an alteration as is succeeded by a solution.

Metatarsal

METATAR'SAL, adjective [from metatarsus.] Belonging to the metatarsus.

Metatarsus

METATAR'SUS, noun [Gr. beyond, and tarsus.] The middle of the foot, or part between the ankle and the toes.

Metathesis

METATH'ESIS, noun [Gr. over, and to set.]

1. Transposition; a figure by which the letters or syllables of a word are transposed; as pistris for pristis.

2. In medicine, a change or removal of a morbid cause, without expulsion.

Mete

METE, verb transitive [Latin metior; Heb. to measure.] To measure; to ascertain quantity, dimensions or capacity by any rule or standard. [Obsolescent.]

METE, noun Measure; limit; boundary; used chiefly in the plural, in the phrase, metes and bounds.

Metempsychose

METEMP'SYCHOSE, verb transitive To translate from one body to another, as the soul.

Metempsychosis

METEMPSYCHO'SIS, noun [Gr. beyond, and animation, life; to animate.]

Transmigration; the passing of the soul of a man after death into some other animal body. Pythagoras and his followers held that after death the soul of men pass into other bodies, and this doctrine still prevails in some parts of Asia, particularly in India and China.

Metemptosis

METEMP'TOSIS, noun [Gr. after, and to fall.] In chronology, the solar equation necessary to prevent the new moon from happening a day too late, or the suppression of the bissextile once in 134 years. The opposite to this is the proemptosis, or the addition of a day every 300 years, and another every 2400 years.

Meteor

ME'TEOR, noun [Gr. sublime, lofty.]

1. In a general sense, a body that flies or floats in the air, and in this sense it includes rain, hail, snow, etc. But in a restricted sense, in which it is commonly understood.

2. A fiery or luminous body or appearance flying or floating in the atmosphere, or in a more elevated region. We give this name to the brilliant globes or masses of matter which are occasionally seen moving rapidly through our atmosphere, and which throw off, with loud explosions, fragments that reach the earth, and are called falling stones. We call by the same name those fire balls which are usually denominated falling stars, supposed to be owning to gelatinous matter inflated by phosphureted hydrogen gas; also, the lights which appear over moist grounds and grave yards, called ignes fatui, which are ascribed to the same cause.

And meteor-like flame lawless through the sky.

Meteoric

METEOR'IC, adjective Pertaining to meteors; consisting of meteors.

1. Proceeding from a meteor; as meteoric stones.

Meteorize

ME'TEORIZE, verb intransitive To ascend in vapors. [Not used.]

Meteorolite

MET'EOROLITE

METEOROLOG'IC

METEOROLOG'ICAL, adjective Pertaining to the atmosphere and its phenomena. A meteorological table or register is an account of the state of the air and its temperature, weight, dryness or moisture, winds, etc. ascertained by the barometer, thermometer, hygrometer, anemometer and other meteorological instruments.

Meteorologic

METEOROLOG'IC

Meteorological

METEOROLOG'ICAL, a. Pertaining to the atmosphere and its phenomena. A meteorological table or register is an account of the state of the air and its temperature, weight, dryness or moisture, winds, &c. ascertained by the barometer, thermometer, hygrometer, anemometer and other meteorological instruments.

Meteorologist

METEOROL'OGIST

METEOROL'OGY, noun [Gr. lofty, and discourse.] The science which treats of the atmosphere and its phenomena, particularly in its relation to heat and moisture.

Meteorology

METEOROL'OGY, n. [Gr. lofty, and discourse.] The science which treats of the atmosphere and its phenomena, particularly in its relation to heat and moisture.

Meteoromancy

METEOROM'ANCY

METEOROS'COPY, noun [Gr. lofty, and to view.] That part of astronomy which treats of sublime heavenly bodies, distance of stars, etc.

Meteorous

METE'OROUS, adjective Having the nature of a meteor.

Meter

ME'TER, noun [from mete.] One who measures; used in compounds, as in coal-meter, land-meter.

ME'TER, noun [Latin metrum.]

1. Measure; verse; arrangement of poetical feet, or of long and short syllables in verse. Hexameter is a meter of six feet. This word is most improperly written metre. How very absurd to write the simple word in this manner, but in all its numerous compounds, meter as in diameter, hexameter, thermometer, etc.

2. A French measure of length, equal to 39 37/100 English inches, the standard of linear measure, being the ten millionth part of the distance from the equator to the North Pole, as ascertained by actual measurement of an arc of the meridian.

Meterolite

MET'EROLITE, noun A meteoric stone; a stone or solid compound of earthy and metallic matter which falls to the earth after the displosion of a luminous meteor or fire ball; called also aerolite.

Meterologist

METEROL'OGIST, noun A person skilled in meteors; one who studies the phenomena of meteors, or keeps a register of them.

Meteromancy

METEROM'ANCY, noun [Gr. a meteor, and divination.] A species of divination by meteors, chiefly by thunder and lightning; held in high estimation by the Romans.

Metewand

ME'TEWAND, noun [mete and wand.] A staff or rod of a certain length, used as a measure.

Meteyard

ME'TEYARD, noun A yard, staff or rod, used as a measure. [We now use yard.]

Metheglin

METHEG'LIN, noun A liquor made of honey and water boiled and fermented, often enriched with spices.

Methinks

METHINKS, v. impers. participle passive methought. [me and think.] It seems to me; it appears to me; I think. Me is here in the dative. The word is not antiquated, but is not elegant.

Method

METH'OD, noun [Latin methodus; Gr. with, and way.]

1. A suitable and convenient arrangement of things, proceedings or ideas; the natural or regular disposition of separate things or parts; convenient order for transacting business, or for comprehending any complicated subject. Without method business of any kind will fall into confusion. To carry on farming to advantage, to keep accounts correctly, method is indispensable.

2. Way; manner. Let us know the nature of the disease, and the method of cure.

3. Classification; arrangement of natural bodies according to their common characteristics; as the method of Theophrast; the method of Ray; the Linnean method

In natural arrangements a distinction is sometimes made between method and system. System is an arrangement founded, throughout all its parts, on some one principle. method is an arrangement less fixed and determinate, and founded on more general relations. Thus we say, the natural method and the artificial or sexual system of Linne, though the latter is not a perfect system.

Methodic

METHOD'IC

METHOD'ICAL, adjective Arranged in convenient order; disposed in a just and natural manner, or in a manner to illustrate a subject, or to facilitate practical operations; as a methodical arrangement of the parts of a discourse or of arguments; a methodical treatise; methodical accounts.

Methodically

METHOD'ICALLY, adverb In a methodical manner; according to natural or convenient order.

Methodism

METH'ODISM, noun The doctrines and worship of the sect of christians called Methodists.

Methodist

METH'ODIST, noun One that observes method.

1. One of a sect of christians, founded by Morgan, or rather by John Wesley, and so called from the exact regularity of their lives, and the strictness of their principles and rules.

2. A physician who practices by method or theory.

3. In the cant of irreligious men, a person of strict piety; one who lives in the exact observance of religious duties.

Methodistic

METHODIS'TIC, adjective Resembling the Methodists; partaking of the strictness of Methodists.

Methodize

METH'ODIZE, verb transitive To reduce to method; to dispose in due order; to arrange in a convenient manner.

One who brings with him any observations he has made in reading the poets, will find his own reflections methodized and explained in the works of a good critic.

Methought

METHOUGHT, preterit tense of methinks. It seemed to me; I thought.

Metic

ME'TIC, noun [Gr. house.] In ancient Greece, a sojourner; a resident stranger in a Grecian city or place.

Meticulous

METIC'ULOUS, adjective [Latin Feticulosus.] Timid. [ Not used.]

METON'IC CYCLE

METON'IC YEAR, the cycle of the moon, or period of nineteen years, in which the lunations of the moon return to the same days of the month; so called from its discoverer Meton the Athenian.

Metonymic

METONYM'IC

METONYM'ICAL, adjective [See Metonymy.] Used by way of metonymy, by putting one word for another.

Metonymical

METONYM'ICAL, a. [See Metonymy.] Used by way of metonymy, by putting one word for another.

Metonymically

METONYM'ICALLY, adverb By putting one word for another.

Metonymy

MET'ONYMY, noun [Gr. over, beyond, and name.] In rhetoric, a trope in which one word is put for another; a change of names which have some relation to each other; as when we say, 'a man keeps a good table.' instead of good provisions. 'We read Virgil.' that is, his poems or writings. 'They have Moses and the prophets, ' that is, their books or writings. A man has a clear head, that is, understanding, intellect; a warm heart, that is affections.

Metope

METOPE, noun met'opy. [Gr. with, near or by, and an aperture or hollow.] In architecture, the space between the triglyphs of the Doric frieze, which among the ancients used to be painted or adorned with carved work.

Metoposcopist

METOPOS'COPIST, noun [infra.] One versed in physiognomy.

Metoposcopy

METOPOS'COPY, noun [Gr. the forehead, and to view.] The study of physiognomy; the art of discovering the character or the dispositions of men by their features, or the lines of the face.

Metre

METRE. [See Meter.]

Metrical

MET'RICAL, adjective [Latin metricus.]

1. Pertaining to measure, or due arrangement or combination of long and short syllables.

2. Consisting of verses; as metrical compositions.

Metrology

METROL'OGY, noun [Gr. measure, and discourse.]

1. A discourse on measures or mensuration; the description of measures.

2. An account of measures, or the science of weights and measures.

Metropolis

METROP'OLIS, noun [Latin from Gr. mother, and city. It has no plural.]

Literally, the mother-city, that is, the chief city or capital of a kingdom, state or country, as Paris in France, Madrid in Spain, London in Great Britain. In the United States, Washington, in the District of Columbia, is the metropolis as being the seat of government; but in several of the states, the largest cities are not the seats of the respective governments. Yet New York city, in the state of that name, and Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, are the chief cities, and may be called each the metropolis of the state in which it is situated, though neither of them is the seat of government in the state.

Metropolitan

METROPOL'ITAN, adjective Belonging to a metropolis, or to the mother church; residing in the chief city.

METROPOL'ITAN, noun The bishop of the mother church; an archbishop.

Metropolite

METROP'OLITE, adjective A metropolitan. [Not used.]

Metropolitic

METROPOL'ITIC

METROPOLIT'ICAL, adjective Pertaining to a metropolis; chief or principal of cities; archiepiscopal.

Metropolitical

METROPOLIT'ICAL, a. Pertaining to a metropolis; chief or principal of cities; archiepiscopal.

Mettle

METTLE, noun met'l. [usually supposed to be corrupted from metal.

Latin animus, animosus.] Spirit; constitutional ardor; that temperament which is susceptible of high excitement. It is not synonymous with courage, though it may be accompanied with it, and is sometimes used for it.

The winged courser, like a generous horse,

Shows most true mettle when you check his course.

Mettled

MET'TLED, adjective High spirited; ardent; full of fire.

Mettlesome

MET'TLESOME, adjective Full of spirit; possessing constitutional ardor; brisk; fiery; as a mettlesome horse.

Mettlesomeness

MET'TLESOMENESS, noun The state of being high spirited.

Mew

MEW, noun A seafowl of the genus Larus; a gull.

MEW, noun A cage for birds; an inclosure; a place of confinement.

MEW, verb transitive [from the noun.] To shut up; to inclose; to confine, as in a cage or other inclosure.

More pity that the eagle should be mew'd.

Close mew'd in their sedans, for fear of air.

MEW, verb transitive [Latin muto and moto.] To shed or cast; to change; to molt. The hawk mewed his feathers.

Nine times the moon had mew'd her horns--

MEW, verb intransitive [Latin mugio.] To cry as a cat.

MEW, verb intransitive To change; to put on a new appearance.

Mewing

MEW'ING, participle present tense Casting the feathers or skin; crying.

Mewl

MEWL, verb intransitive [Latin mugio, to low.] To cry or squall, as a child.

Mewler

MEWL'ER, noun One that squalls or mewls.

Mezereon

MEZE'REON, noun A plant of the genus Daphne; the spurge olive.

Mezzo

MEZZO, in music, denotes middle, mean.

Mezzorelievo

MEZZORELIE'VO, noun Middle relief.

Mezzotinto

MEZZOTINT'O, noun [Latin tinctus, painted.] A particular manner of engraving or representation of figures on copper, in imitation of painting in Indian ink. To perform this the plate is scratched and furrowed in different directions; the design is then drawn on the face, then the dents and furrows are erased from the parts where the lights of the piece are to be; the parts which are to represent shades being left.

Miasm

MI'ASM

MIAS'MA, noun [Gr. to pollute.] Infecting substances floating in the air; the effluvia or fine particles of any putrefying bodies, rising and floating in the atmosphere, and considered to be noxious to health.

Miasma

MIAS'MA, n. [Gr. to pollute.] Infecting substances floating in the air; the effluvia or fine particles of any putrefying bodies, rising and floating in the atmosphere, and considered to be noxious to health.

Miasmatic

MIASMAT'IC, adjective Pertaining to miasma; partaking of the qualities of noxious effluvia.

Mica

MI'CA, noun [Latin mica a grain or particle; mico, to shine.] A mineral of a foliated structure, consisting of thin flexible lamels or scales, having a shining surface. The scales are sometimes parallel, sometimes interwoven, sometimes wavy or undulated, sometimes representing filaments. It is called also talck, glimmer, muscovy-glass, and glist.

Jameson subdivides mica into ten subspecies, viz. mica pinite, lepidolite, chlorite, green earth, talck, nacrite, potstone, steatite and figure stone.

Micaceous

MICA'CEOUS, adjective Pertaining to mica; resembling mica or partaking of its properties.

Micarel

MIC'AREL, noun A species of argillaceous earth; a mineral of a brownish or blackish red color, commonly crystallized in rhomboidal prisms, or in prisms of six sides.

Mice

MICE, plural of mouse.

Michaelite

MI'CHAELITE, noun A subvariety of siliceous sinter, found in the isle of St. Michael.

Michaelmas

MICH'AELMAS, noun The feast of St. Michael, a festival of the Romish church, celebrated Sept.29; hence,

1. In colloquial language, autumn.

Miche

MICHE, verb intransitive

1. To lie hid; to skulk; to retire or shrink from view.

2. To pilfer.

Micher

MICH'ER, noun One who skulks, or creeps out of sight; a thief.

Michery

MICH'ERY, noun Theft, cheating.

Miching

MICH'ING, participle present tense Retiring; skulking; creeping from sight; mean; cowardly. [Vulgar.]

Mickle

MICK'LE, adjective Much; great. [Obsolete, but retained in the Scottish language.]

Mico

MI'CO, noun A beautiful species of monkey.

Microcosm

MIC'ROCOSM, noun [Gr. small, and world.] Literally, the little world; but used for man, supposed to be an epitome of the universe or great world.

Microcosmic salt, a triple salt of soda, ammonia and phosphoric acid, obtained from urine.

Microcosmical

MICROCOS'MICAL, adjective Pertaining to the microcosm.

Microcoustic

MICROCOUS'TIC, noun [Gr. small, and to hear.] An instrument to augment small sounds, and assist in hearing.

Micrography

MICROG'RAPHY, noun [Gr. small, and to describe.] The description of objects too small to be discerned without the aid of a microscope.

Micrometer

MICROM'ETER, noun [Gr. small, and measure.] An instrument for measuring small objects or spaces, by the help of which, the apparent magnitude of objects viewed through the microscope or telescope, is measured with great exactness.

Microphone

MIC'ROPHONE, noun [Gr. small, and sound.] An instrument to augment small sounds; a microcoustic.

Microscope

MIC'ROSCOPE, noun [Gr. small, and to view.] An optical instrument consisting of lenses or mirrors, which magnify objects, and thus render visible minute objects which cannot be seen by the naked eye, or enlarge the apparent magnitude of small visible bodies, so as to enable us to examine their texture or construction.

Microscopic

MICROSCOP'IC

MICROSCOP'ICAL, adjective Made by the aid of a microscope; as microscopic observation.

1. Assisted by a microscope.

Evading even the microscopic eye.

2. Resembling a microscope; capable of seeing small objects.

Why has not man a microscopic eye?

3. Very small; visible only by the aid of a microscope; as a microscopic insect.

Microscopical

MICROSCOP'ICAL, a. Made by the aid of a microscope; as microscopic observation. 1. Assisted by a microscope. Evading even the microscopic eye.2. Resembling a microscope; capable of seeing small objects. Why has not man a microscopic eye?3. Very small; visible only by the aid of a microscope; as a microscopic insect.

Microscopically

MICROSCOP'ICALLY, adverb By the microscope; with minute inspection.

Micturition

MICTURI'TION, noun [Latin micturio.] The act of making water, or passing the urine.

Mid

MID, adjective [Latin medius.]

1. Middle; at equal distance from extremes; as the mid hour of night.

2. Intervening.

No more the mounting larks, while Daphne sings,

Shall, lifting in mid air, suspend their wings.

Mid-Course

MID-COURSE, noun The middle of the course or way.

Mid-Day

MID'-DAY, adjective Being at noon; meridional; as the mid-day sun.

MID'-DAY, noun The middle of the day; noon.

Mida

MI'DA, noun [Gr.] A worm, or the beanfly.

MID'-AGE, noun The middle of life, or persons of that age.

Middest

MID'DEST, adjective superlative of mid.

Among the middest crowd. [Not used.]

Middle

MIDDLE, adjective mid'l. [Latin medius.]

1. Equally distant from the extremes; as the middle point of a line or circle; the middle station of life. The middle path or course is most safe.

2. Intermediate; intervening.

Will, seeking good, finds many middle ends.

MIDDLE ages, the ages or period of time about equally distant from the decline of the Roman empire and the revival of letters in Europe, or from the eighth to the fifteenth century of the christian era.

MID'DLE, noun The point or part equally distant from the extremities.

See, there come people down by the middle of the land. Judges 9:37.

1. The time that passes, or events that happen between the beginning and the end.

Middle-Aged

MID'DLE-AGED, adjective Being about the middle of the ordinary age of man. A middle-aged man is so called from the age of thirty five or forty to forty five or fifty.

Middle-Earth

MID'DLE-EARTH, noun The world.

Middlemost

MID'DLEMOST, adjective Being in the middle, or nearest the middle of a number of things that are near the middle. If a thing is in the middle, it cannot be more so, and in this sense the word is improper. But when two or more things are near the middle, one may be nearer than another.

Middling

MID'DLING, adjective Of middle rank, state, size or quality; about equally distant from the extremes; moderate. Thus we speak of people of the middling class or sort, neither high nor low; of a man of middling capacity or understanding; a man of middling size; fruit of a middling quality.

Midge

MIDGE, noun A gnat or flea. [Not used.]

MID'-HEAVEN, noun The middle of the sky or heaven.

Midland

MID'LAND, adjective Being in the interior country; distant from the coast or sea shore; as midland towns or inhabitants.

1. Surrounded by the sea; mediterranean.

And on the midland sea the French had aw'd.

Midleg

MID'LEG, noun Middle of the leg.

Midmost

MID'MOST, adjective Middle; as the midmost battles.

Midnight

MID'NIGHT, noun The middle of the night; twelve o'clock at night.

MID'NIGHT, adjective Being in the middle of the night; as midnight studies.

1. Dark as midnight; very dark; as midnight gloom.

Midriff

MID'RIFF, noun In anatomy, the diaphragm; the muscle which divides the trunk into two cavities, the thorax and abdomen.

Midsea

MID'SEA, noun The Mediterranean sea.

Midship

MID'SHIP, adjective Being or belonging to the middle of a ship; as a midship beam.

Midshipman

MID'SHIPMAN, noun In ships of war, a kind of naval cadet, whose business is to second the orders of the superior officers and assist in the necessary business of the ship, particularly in managing the sails, that he may be trained to a knowledge of the machinery, discipline and operations of ships of war, and qualified for naval service.

Midships

MID'SHIPS, adverb In the middle of a ship; properly amidships.

Midst

MIDST, noun [contracted from middest, the superlative of mid.]

The middle.

There is nothing said or done in the midst of the play, which might not have been placed in the beginning.

The phrase, in the midst often signifies involved in, surrounded or overwhelmed by, or in the thickest part, or in the depths of; as in the midst of afflictions, troubles or cares; in the midst of our contemplations; in the midst of the battle; in the midst of pagan darkness and error; in the midst of gospel light; in the midst of the ocean; in the midst of civil dissensions.

From the midst from the middle, or from among. Deuteronomy 18:15.

MIDST, adverb In the middle.

On earth, join all ye creatures to extol

Him first, Him last, Him midst and without end.

Midstream

MID'STREAM, noun The middle of the stream.

Midsummer

MID'SUMMER, noun The middle of summer; the summer solstice, about the 21st of June.

Midward

MID'WARD, adverb Midst. [Not in use.]

Midway

MID'WAY, noun The middle of the way or distance.

Paths indirect, or in the midway faint.

MID'WAY, adjective Being in the middle of the way or distance; as the midway air.

MID'WAY, adverb In the middle of the way or distance; half way.

She met his glance midway

Midwife

MID'WIFE, noun [supposed by Junius and Skinner to be meedwife, a woman that has a reward. This is probably a mistake. The word is a compound of mid, with, and wif, a woman; in analogy with the Latin obstetrix, from obsto, obstiti, to stand before. Latin cum, with, and madre, mother, which is precisely analogous to midwife ]

A woman that assists other women in childbirth.

MID'WIFE, verb intransitive To perform the office of midwife

MID'WIFE, verb transitive To assist in childbirth.

Midwifery

MID'WIFERY, noun The art or practice of assisting women in childbirth; obstetrics.

1. Assistance at childbirth.

2. Help or cooperation in production.

MID'-WINTER, noun The middle of winter, or the winter solstice, December 21. As the severity of winter in North America falls in January and February, the word ordinarily denotes this period, or some weeks after the winter solstice.

Miemite

MI'EMITE, noun Granular miemite is a sub-variety of magnesian limestone, first found at Miemo, in Tuscany. It occurs massive, or crystallized in flat, double, three-sided pyramids. Its color is light green or greenish white.

Mien

MIEN, noun Look; air; manner; external appearance; carriage; as a lofty mien; a majestic mien

Miffed

MIF'FED, adjective Slightly offended.

Mightily

MI'GHTILY, adverb [from mighty.] With great power, force of strength; vigorously; as, to strive mightily

1. Vehemently; with great earnestness.

Cry mightily to God. Jonah 3:8.

2. Powerfully; with great energy.

Whereto I also labor, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily Colossians 1:29.

3. With great strength of argument.

He mightily convinced the Jews. Acts 18:28.

4. With great or irresistible force; greatly; extensively.

So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed. Acts 19:20.

5. With strong means of defense.

Fortify the power mightily Nahum 2.

6. Greatly; to a great degree; very much.

I was mightily pleased with a story applicable to this piece of philosophy.

[Admissible in colloquial and familiar language.]

Mightiness

MI'GHTINESS, noun Power; greatness; highth of dignity.

How soon this mightiness meets misery!

1. A title of dignity; as their High Mightinesses.

Mighty

MI'GHTY, adjective Having great bodily strength or physical power; very strong or vigorous; as a mighty arm.

1. Very strong; valiant; bold; as a mighty man of valor. Judges 6:12.

2. Very powerful; having great command.

Cush begat Nimrod; he began to be a mighty one on the earth. Genesis 10:8.

3. Very strong in numbers; as a mighty nation. Genesis 18:18.

4. Very strong or great in corporeal power; very able.

Wo to them that are mighty to drink wine. Isaiah 5:15.

5. Violent; very loud; as mighty thunderings. Exodus 9:28. Psalms 68:33.

6. Vehement; rushing with violence; as a mighty wind or tempest. Exodus 10:19. Revelation 6:13.

7. Very great; vast; as mighty waters. Nehemiah 9:11.

8. Very great or strong; as mighty power. 2 Chronicles 26:12.

9. Very forcible; efficacious; as, great is truth and mighty

10. Very great or eminent in intellect or acquirements; as the mighty Scaliger and Selden.

11. Great; wonderful; performed with great power; as mighty works. Matthew 11:20.

12. Very severe and distressing; as a mighty famine. Luke 15:14.

13. Very great, large or populous; as a mighty city. Revelation 18:10.

14. Important; momentous.

I'll sing of heroes and of kings,

In mighty numbers mighty things.

MI'GHTY, adverb In a great degree; very; as might wise; mighty thoughtful. [Colloquial.]

Migrate

MI'GRATE, verb intransitive [Latin migro.] To pass or remove from one country or from one state to another, with a view to permanent residence, or residence of some continuance. The first settlers of New England migrated first to Holland, and afterwards to America. Some species of fowls migrate in autumn to a warmer climate for a temporary residence. To change residence in the same city or state is not to migrate

1. To pass or remove from one region or district to another for a temporary residence; as, the Tartars migrate for the sake of finding pasturage.

Migrating

MI'GRATING, participle present tense Removing from one state to another for a permanent residence. The people of the eastern states are continually migrating to the western states.

Migratory

MI'GRATORY, adjective Removing or accustomed to remove from one state or country to another for permanent residence.

1. Roving; wandering; occasionally removing for pasturage; as the migratory Tartars.

2. Passing from one climate to another; as fowls.

Milch

MILCH, adjective Giving milk; as a milch cow. It is now applied only to beasts.

Mild

MILD, adjective [The primary sense is soft or smooth, Latin mollis, Eng. mellow.]

1. Soft; gently and pleasantly affecting the senses; not violent; as a mild air; a mild sun; a mild temperature; a mild light.

The rosy morn resigns her light

And milder glory to the noon.

And with a milder gleam refreshed the sight.

2. Not acrid, pungent, corrosive or drastic; operating gently; not acrimonious; demulcent; mollifying; lenitive; assuasive; as a mild liquor; a mild cataplasm; a mild cathartic or emetic.

3. Tender and gentle in temper or disposition; kind; compassionate; merciful; clement; indulgent; not severe or cruel.

It teaches us to adore him as a mild and merciful Being.

4. Not fierce, rough or angry; as mild words.

5. Placid; not fierce; not stern; not frowning; as a mild look or aspect.

6. Not sharp, tart, sour or bitter; moderately sweet or pleasant to the taste; as mild fruit.

7. Calm; tranquil. When passion subsides the temper becomes mild

8. Moderate; not violent or intense; as a mild heat.

Mild-Spirited

MILD-SPIR'ITED, adjective Having a mild temper.

Mildly

MILDLY, adverb Softly; gently; tenderly; not roughly or violently; moderately; as, to speak mildly; to burn mildly; to operate mildly

Mildness

MILDNESS, noun Softness; gentleness; as the mildness of words or speech; mildness of voice.

1. Tenderness; mercy; clemency; as mildness of temper.

2. Gentleness of operation; as the mildness of a medicine.

3. Softness; the quality that affects the senses pleasantly; as the mildness of fruit or of liquors.

4. Temperateness; moderate state; as the mildness of weather.

Mile

MILE, noun [Latin mille passus, a thousand paces; passus being dropped in common usage.] A measure of length or distance, containing eight furlongs, 320 rods, poles or perches, 1760 yards, 5280 feet, or 80 chains. The Roman mile was a thousand paces, equal to 1600 yards English measure.

Mileage

MI'LEAGE, noun Fees paid for travel by the mile.

Milestone

MI'LESTONE, noun A stone set to mark the distance or space of a mile.

Milice

MILICE, for militia, is not in use.

Miliolite

MIL'IOLITE, noun Fossil remains of the Miliola, a genus of univalve shells.

Militancy

MIL'ITANCY, noun Warfare. [Little used.]

Militant

MIL'ITANT, adjective [Latin militans, milito, to fight.]

1. Fighting; combating; serving as a soldier.

2. The church militant is the christian church on earth, which is supposed to be engaged in a constant warfare against its enemies; thus distinguished from the church triumphant, or in heaven.

Militarily

MIL'ITARILY, adverb In a soldierly manner.

Military

MIL'ITARY, adjective [Latin militaris, from miles, a soldier; milito, to fight.]

1. Pertaining to soldiers or to arms; as a military parade or appearance; military discipline.

2. Engaged in the service of soldiers or arms; as a military man.

3. Warlike; becoming a soldier; as military virtue; military bravery.

4. Derived from the services or exploits of a soldier; as military renown.

5. Conformable to the customs or rules of armies or militia. The conduct of the officer was not military

6. Performed or made by soldiers; as a military election.

Military tenure, a tenure of land, on condition of performing military service.

MIL'ITARY, noun The whole body of soldiers; soldiery; militia; an army.

Militate

MIL'ITATE, verb intransitive [Latin milito.] To militate against, is to oppose; to be or to act in opposition.

Paley writes, to militate with; but in America, against is generally used.

Militia

MILI'TIA, noun [Latin from miles, a soldier; Gr. war, to fight, combat, contention. The primary sense of fighting is to strive, struggle, drive, or to strike, to beat, Eng. moil, Latin molior; Heb. to labor or toil.] The body of soldiers in a state enrolled for discipline, but not engaged in actual service except in emergencies; as distinguished from regular troops, whose sole occupation is war or military service. The militia of a country are the able bodied men organized into companies, regiments and brigades, with officers of all grades, and required by law to attend military exercises on certain days only, but at other times left to pursue their usual occupations.

Milk

MILK, noun

1. A white fluid or liquor, secreted by certain glands in female animals, and drawn from the breasts for the nourishment of their young.

2. The white juice of certain plants.

3. Emulsion made by bruising seeds.

MILK, verb transitive [Latin mulgeo.]

1. To draw or press milk from the breasts by the hand, as, to milk a cow.

2. To suck. [Not used.]

Milk-Trefoil

MILK-TRE'FOIL, noun A plant, the cytisus.

MILK'-VETCH, noun A plant of the genus Astragalus.

MILK'-WORT, noun A plant of the genus Euphorbia; spurge.

MILK'-WEED, noun A plant, the Asclepias Syriaca.

Milken

MILK'EN, adjective Consisting of milk. [Not used.]

Milker

MILK'ER, noun One that milks.

MILK'-FEVER, noun A fever which accompanies the first flowing of milk in females after childbirth.

MILK'-HEDGE, noun A shrub growing on the Coromandel coast, containing a milky juice.

Milkiness

MILK'INESS, noun Qualities like those of milk; softness.

MILK'-LIVERED, adjective Cowardly; timorous.

Milkmaid

MILK'MAID, noun A woman that milks or is employed in the dairy.

Milkman

MILK'MAN, noun A man that sells milk or carries milk to market.

Milkpail

MILK'PAIL, noun A pail which receives the milk drawn from cows.

Milkpan

MILK'PAN, noun A pan in which milk is set.

Milkporridge

MILK'PORRIDGE

MILK'POTTAGE, noun A species of food composed of milk or milk and water, boiled with meal or flour.

Milkpottage

MILK'POTTAGE, n. A species of food composed of milk or milk and water, boiled with meal or flour.

Milkscore

MILK'SCORE, noun An account of milk sold or purchased in small quantities, scored or marked.