Chapter L: F. Ward (7)

Mec"o*nin (?), n. [Cf. F. méconine.] (Chem.) A substance regarded as an anhydride of meconinic acid, existing in opium and extracted as a white crystalline substance. Also erroneously called meconina, meconia, etc., as though it were an alkaloid.

Mec`o*nin"ic (?), a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, an acid which occurs in opium, and which may be obtained by oxidizing narcotine.

||Me*co"ni*um (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. &?;, fr. &?; poppy.] (Med.) (a) ||Opium. [Obs.] (b) The contents of the fetal intestine; hence, first ||excrement.

Med"al (?), n. [F. médaille, It. medaglia, fr. L. metallum metal, through (assumed) LL. metalleus made of metal. See Metal, and cf. Mail a piece of money.] A piece of metal in the form of a coin, struck with a device, and intended to preserve the remembrance of a notable event or an illustrious person, or to serve as a reward.

Med"al, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Medaled (?), or Medalled; p. pr. & vb. n. Medaling or Medalling.] To honor or reward with a medal. "Medaled by the king." Thackeray.

Med"al*et (?), n. A small medal.

Med"al*ist, n. [Cf. F. médailliste, It. medaglista.] [Written also medallist.]

1. A person that is skilled or curious in medals; a collector of medals. Addison.

2. A designer of medals. Macaulay.

3. One who has gained a medal as the reward of merit.

Me*dal"lic (?), a. Of or pertaining to a medal, or to medals. "Our medallic history." Walpole.

Me*dal"lion (?), n. [F. médaillion, It. medaglione, augm. of medaglia. See Medal.]

1. A large medal or memorial coin.

2. A circular or oval (or, sometimes, square) tablet bearing a figure or figures represented in relief.

Med"al*ur`gy (?), n. [Medal + the root of Gr. &?; work.] The art of making and striking medals and coins. [Written also medallurgy.]

Med"dle` (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Meddled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Meddling (?).] [OE. medlen to mix, OF. medler, mesler, F. mêler, LL. misculare, a dim. fr. L. miscere to mix. √271. See Mix, and cf. Medley, Mellay.]

1. To mix; to mingle. [Obs.]

More to know Did never meddle with my thoughts.

Shak.

2. To interest or engage one's self; to have to do; -- in a good sense. [Obs.] Barrow.

Study to be quiet, and to meddle with your own business.

Tyndale.

3. To interest or engage one's self unnecessarily or impertinently, to interfere or busy one's self improperly with another's affairs; specifically, to handle or distrub another's property without permission; -- often followed by with or in.

Why shouldst thou meddle to thy hurt?

2 Kings xiv. 10.

The civil lawyers . . . have meddled in a matter that belongs not
to them.

Locke.

To meddle and make, to intrude one's self into another person's concerns. [Archaic] Shak.

Syn. -- To interpose; interfere; intermeddle.

Med"dle, v. t. To mix; to mingle. [Obs.] Chaucer.

"Wine meddled with gall."

Wyclif (Matt. xxvii. 34).

Med"dler (?), n. One who meddles; one who interferes or busies himself with things in which he has no concern; an officious person; a busybody.

Med"dle*some (?), a. Given to meddling; apt to interpose in the affairs of others; officiously intrusive. -- Med"dle*some*ness, n.

Med"dling (?), a. Meddlesome. Macaulay.

Med"dling*ly, adv. In a meddling manner.

Mede (?), n. A native or inhabitant of Media in Asia.

Mede, n. See lst & 2d Mead, and Meed. [Obs.]

||Me"di*a (?), n., pl. of Medium.

||Me"di*a, n.; pl. Mediæ (-). [NL., fr. L. medius middle.] (Phonetics) ||One of the sonant mutes β, δ, γ (b, d, g), in Greek, ||or of their equivalents in other languages, so named as intermediate ||between the tenues, π, τ, κ (p, t, k), and the aspiratæ ||(aspirates) φ, θ, χ (ph or f, th, ch). Also called ||middle mute, or medial, and sometimes soft mute.

Me"di*a*cy (?), n. The state or quality of being mediate. Sir W. Hamilton.

Me`di*æ"val (?), a. [L. medius middle + aevum age. See Middle, and Age.] Of or relating to the Middle Ages; as, mediæval architecture. [Written also medieval.]

Me`di*æ"val*ism (?), n. The method or spirit of the Middle Ages; devotion to the institutions and practices of the Middle Ages; a survival from the Middle Ages. [Written also medievalism.]

Me`di*æ"val*ist, n. One who has a taste for, or is versed in, the history of the Middle Ages; one in sympathy with the spirit or forms of the Middle Ages. [Written also medievalist.]

Me`di*æ"val*ly, adv. In the manner of the Middle Ages; in accordance with mediævalism.

Me`di*æ"vals (?), n. pl. The people who lived in the Middle Ages. Ruskin.

Me"di*al (?), a. [L. medialis, fr. medius middle: cf. F. médial. See Middle.] Of or pertaining to a mean or average; mean; as, medial alligation.

Me"di*al, n. (Phonetics) See 2d Media.

||Me"di*a*lu"na (?), n. [Sp. media luna half-moon.] (Zoöl.) See Half- ||moon.

Me"di*an (?), a. [L. medianus, fr. medius middle. See Medial.] 1. Being in the middle; running through the middle; as, a median groove.

2. (Zoöl.) Situated in the middle; lying in a plane dividing a bilateral animal into right and left halves; -- said of unpaired organs and parts; as, median coverts.

Median line. (a) (Anat.) Any line in the mesial plane; specif., either of the lines in which the mesial plane meets the surface of the body. (b) (Geom.) The line drawn from an angle of a triangle to the middle of the opposite side; any line having the nature of a diameter. -- Median plane (Anat.), the mesial plane. -- Median point (Geom.), the point where the three median lines of a triangle mutually intersect.

Me"di*an, n. (Geom.) A median line or point.

Me"di*ant (?), n. [L. medians, p. p. of mediare to halve: cf. It. mediante, F. médiante.] (Mus.) The third above the keynote; -- so called because it divides the interval between the tonic and dominant into two thirds.

Me`di*as*ti"nal (?), a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to a mediastinum.

{ Me`di*as"tine (?), ||Me`di*as*ti"num (?), } n. [NL. mediastinum, fr. L. medius middle; cf. mediastinus helper, a menial servant, LL. mediastinus equiv. to medius: cf F. médiastin.] (Anat.) A partition; a septum; specifically, the folds of the pleura (and the space included between them) which divide the thorax into a right and left cavity. The space included between these folds of the pleura, called the mediastinal space, contains the heart and gives passage to the esophagus and great blood vessels.

Me"di*ate (?), a. [L. mediatus, p. p. of mediare, v. t., to halve, v. i., to be in the middle. See Mid, and cf. Moiety.] 1. Being between the two extremes; middle; interposed; intervening; intermediate. Prior.

2. Acting by means, or by an intervening cause or instrument; not direct or immediate; acting or suffering through an intervening agent or condition.

3. Gained or effected by a medium or condition. Bacon.

An act of mediate knowledge is complex.

Sir W. Hamilton.

Me"di*ate (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Mediated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Mediating.] [LL. mediatus, p. p. of mediare to mediate. See Mediate, a.]

1. To be in the middle, or between two; to intervene. [R.]

2. To interpose between parties, as the equal friend of each, esp. for the purpose of effecting a reconciliation or agreement; as, to mediate between nations.

Me"di*ate, v. t. 1. To effect by mediation or interposition; to bring about as a mediator, instrument, or means; as, to mediate a peace.

2. To divide into two equal parts. [R.] Holder.

Me"di*ate*ly (?), adv. In a mediate manner; by a secondary cause or agent; not directly or primarily; by means; -- opposed to immediately.

God worketh all things amongst us mediately.

Sir W. Raleigh.

The king grants a manor to A, and A grants a portion of it to B. In
this case. B holds his lands immediately of A, but mediately of the
king.

Blakstone.

Me"di*ate*ness, n. The state of being mediate.

Me`di*a"tion (?), n. [OE. mediacioun, F. médiation. See Mediate, a.] 1. The act of mediating; action or relation of anything interposed; action as a necessary condition, means, or instrument; interposition; intervention.

The soul [acts] by the mediation of these passions.

South.

2. Hence, specifically, agency between parties at variance, with a view to reconcile them; entreaty for another; intercession. Bacon.

Me"di*a*tive (?), a. Pertaining to mediation; used in mediation; as, mediative efforts. Beaconsfield.

Me`di*at`i*za"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. médiatisation.] The act of mediatizing.

Me"di*a*tize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mediatized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Mediatizing.] [Cf. F. médiatiser.] To cause to act through an agent or to hold a subordinate position; to annex; -- specifically applied to the annexation during the former German empire of a smaller German state to a larger, while allowing it a nominal sovereignty, and its prince his rank.

The misfortune of being a mediatized prince.

Beaconsfield.

Me"di*a`tor (?), n. [L. mediator: cf. E. médiateur.] One who mediates; especially, one who interposes between parties at variance for the purpose of reconciling them; hence, an intercessor.

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man
Christ Jesus.

1 Tim. ii. 5.

Me`di*a*to"ri*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to a mediator, or to mediation; mediatory; as, a mediatorial office. -- Me`di*a*to"ri*al*ly, adv.

My measures were . . . healing and mediatorial.

Burke.

Me"di*a`tor*ship (?), n. The office or character of a mediator.

Me"di*a*to*ry (?), a. Mediatorial.

{ Me`di*a"tress (?), Me`di*a*"trix (?), } n. [L. mediatrix, f. of mediator: cf. F. médiatrice.] A female mediator.

Med"ic (?), n. [L. medica, Gr. &?; (sc. &?;) a kind of clover introduced from Media, from &?; Median.] (Bot.) A leguminous plant of the genus Medicago. The black medic is the Medicago lupulina; the purple medic, or lucern, is M. sativa.

Med"ic, a. [L. medicus.] Medical. [R.]

Med"i*ca*ble (?), a. [L. medicabilis, from medicare, medicari, to heal, fr. medicus physician. See Medical.] Capable of being medicated; admitting of being cured or healed.

Med"ic*al (?), a. [LL. medicalis, L. medicus belonging to healing, fr. mederi to heal; cf. Zend madha medical science, wisdom, Gr. &?; to learn, E. mind: cf. F. médical.]

1. Of, pertaining to, or having to do with, the art of healing disease, or the science of medicine; as, the medical profession; medical services; a medical dictionary; medical jurisprudence.

2. Containing medicine; used in medicine; medicinal; as, the medical properties of a plant.

Med"ic*al*ly, adv. In a medical manner; with reference to healing, or to the principles of the healing art.

Med"i*ca*ment (?), n. [L. medicamentum, fr. medicare, medicari, to heal: cf. F. médicament. See Medicable.] Anything used for healing diseases or wounds; a medicine; a healing application.

Med`ica*men"tal (?), a. Of or pertaining to medicaments or healing applications; having the qualities of medicaments. -- Med`ica*men"tal*ly, adv.

Med"i*cas`ter (?), n. [Cf. F. médicastre. See Medical.] A quack. [R.] Whitlock.

Med"i*cate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Medicated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Medicating (?).] [L. medicatus, p. p. of medicare, medicari. See Medicable.]

1. To tincture or impregnate with anything medicinal; to drug. "Medicated waters." Arbuthnot.

2. To treat with medicine.

Med`i*ca"tion (?), [L. medicatio: cf. F. médication.] The act or process of medicating.

Med"i*ca*tive (?), a. Medicinal; acting like a medicine.

Med`i*ce"an (?), a. Of or relating to the Medici, a noted Italian family; as, the Medicean Venus.

Medicean planets (Astron.), a name given by Galileo to the satellites of Jupiter.

Me*dic"i*na*ble (?), a. Medicinal; having the power of healing. [Obs.] Shak.

Me*dic"i*nal (?), a. [L. medicinalis: cf. F. médicinal. See Medicine.] 1. Having curative or palliative properties; used for the cure or alleviation of bodily disorders; as, medicinal tinctures, plants, or springs.

Drop tears as fast as the Arabian trees Their medicinal gum.

Shak.

2. Of or pertaining to medicine; medical.

Me*dic"i*nal*ly, adv. In a medicinal manner.

Med"i*cine (?), n. [L. medicina (sc. ars), fr. medicinus medical, fr. medicus: cf. F. médecine. See Medical.] 1. The science which relates to the prevention, cure, or alleviation of disease.

2. Any substance administered in the treatment of disease; a remedial agent; a remedy; physic.

By medicine, life may be prolonged.

Shak.

3. A philter or love potion. [Obs.] Shak.

4. [F. médecin.] A physician. [Obs.] Shak.

Medicine bag, a charm; -- so called among the North American Indians, or in works relating to them. -- Medicine man (among the North American Indians), a person who professes to cure sickness, drive away evil spirits, and regulate the weather by the arts of magic. -- Medicine seal, a small gem or paste engraved with reversed characters, to serve as a seal. Such seals were used by Roman physicians to stamp the names of their medicines.

Med"i*cine, v. t. To give medicine to; to affect as a medicine does; to remedy; to cure. "Medicine thee to that sweet sleep." Shak.

Med`i*co-le"gal (?), a. Of or pertaining to law as affected by medical facts.

Med`i*com"mis*sure (?), n. [L. medius middle + E. commissure.] (Anat.) A large transverse commissure in the third ventricle of the brain; the middle or soft commissure. B. G. Wildex.

||Med`i*cor"nu (?), n.; pl. Medicornua (#). [NL., fr. L. medius middle ||+ cornu horn.] (Anat.) The middle or inferior horn of each lateral ||ventricle of the brain. B. G. Wilder.

Med"ics (?), n. Science of medicine. [Obs.]

Me*di"e*ty (?), n. [L. medietas.] The middle part; half; moiety. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

{ Me`di*e"val, Me`di*e"val*ism, Me`di*e"val*ist }. Same as Medi&?;val, Medi&?;valism, etc.

Me*di"na ep"och (?). [From Medina in New York.] (Geol.) A subdivision of the Niagara period in the American upper Silurian, characterized by the formations known as the Oneida conglomerate, and the Medina sandstone. See the Chart of Geology.

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Me*di"no (m*d"n), n. Same as Para.

Me"di*o`cral (?), a. Mediocre. [R.]

Me"di*o`cre (m"d*`kr), a. [F. médiocre, L. mediocris, fr. medius middle. See Mid.] Of a middle quality; of but a moderate or low degree of excellence; indifferent; ordinary. " A very mediocre poet." Pope.

Me"di*o`cre, n. 1. A mediocre person. [R.]

2. A young monk who was excused from performing a portion of a monk's duties. Shipley.

Me"di*o`crist (?), n. A mediocre person. [R.]

Me`di*oc"ri*ty (?), n. [F. médiocrité, L. mediocritas.]

1. The quality of being mediocre; a middle state or degree; a moderate degree or rate. "A mediocrity of success." Bacon.

2. Moderation; temperance. [Obs.] Hooker.

Me`di*o*sta*pe"di*al (?), a. [L. medius middle + E. stapedial.] (Anat.) Pertaining to that part of the columella of the ear which, in some animals, connects the stapes with the other parts of the columella. -- n. The mediostapedial part of the columella.

Me`di*ox"u*mous (?), a. [L. medioxumus middlemost.] Intermediate. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.

Med"i*tance (?), n. Meditation. [Obs.]

Med"i*tate (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Meditated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Meditating.] [L. meditatus, p. p. of meditari to meditate; cf. Gr. &?; to learn, E. mind.] To keep the mind in a state of contemplation; to dwell on anything in thought; to think seriously; to muse; to cogitate; to reflect. Jer. Taylor.

In his law doth he meditate day and night.

Ps. i. 2.

Med"i*tate, v. t. 1. To contemplate; to keep the mind fixed upon; to study. "Blessed is the man that doth meditate good things." Ecclus. xiv. 20.

2. To purpose; to intend; to design; to plan by revolving in the mind; as, to meditate a war.

I meditate to pass the remainder of life in a state of undisturbed
repose.

Washington.

Syn. -- To consider; ponder; weigh; revolve; study. -- To Meditate, Contemplate, Intend. We meditate a design when we are looking out or waiting for the means of its accomplishment; we contemplate it when the means are at hand, and our decision is nearly or quite made. To intend is stronger, implying that we have decided to act when an opportunity may offer. A general meditates an attack upon the enemy; he contemplates or intends undertaking it at the earliest convenient season.

Med`i*ta"tion (?), n. [OE. meditacioun, F. méditation, fr. L. meditatio.] 1. The act of meditating; close or continued thought; the turning or revolving of a subject in the mind; serious contemplation; reflection; musing.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be
acceptable in thy sight.

Ps. xix. 14.

2. Thought; -- without regard to kind. [Obs.]

With wings as swift As meditation or the thoughts of love.

Shak.

Med"i*ta`tist, n. One who is given to meditation.

Med"i*ta*tive (?), a. [L. meditativus: cf. F. méditatif.] Disposed to meditate, or to meditation; as, a meditative man; a meditative mood. -- Med"i*ta*tive*ly, adv. -- Med"i*ta*tive*ness, n.

Med`i*ter*ra"ne*an (?), a. [L. mediterraneus; medius middle + terra land. See Mid, and Terrace.]

1. Inclosed, or nearly inclosed, with land; as, the Mediterranean Sea, between Europe and Africa.

2. Inland; remote from the ocean. [Obs.]

Cities, as well mediterranean as maritime.

Holland.

3. Of or pertaining to the Mediterranean Sea; as, Mediterranean trade; a Mediterranean voyage.

Med`i*ter*ra"ne*ous (?), a. Inland. Sir T. Browne.

Me"di*um (?), n.; pl. L. Media (#), E. Mediums (#). [L. medium the middle, fr. medius middle. See Mid, and cf. Medius.] 1. That which lies in the middle, or between other things; intervening body or quantity. Hence, specifically: (a) Middle place or degree; mean.

The just medium . . . lies between pride and abjection.

L'Estrange.

(b) (Math.) See Mean. (c) (Logic) The mean or middle term of a syllogism; that by which the extremes are brought into connection.

2. A substance through which an effect is transmitted from one thing to another; as, air is the common medium of sound. Hence: The condition upon which any event or action occurs; necessary means of motion or action; that through or by which anything is accomplished, conveyed, or carried on; specifically, in animal magnetism, spiritualism, etc., a person through whom the action of another being is said to be manifested and transmitted.

Whether any other liquors, being made mediums, cause a diversity of
sound from water, it may be tried.

Bacon.

I must bring together All these extremes; and must remove all
mediums.

Denham.

3. An average. [R.]

A medium of six years of war, and six years of peace.

Burke.

4. A trade name for printing and writing paper of certain sizes. See Paper.

5. (Paint.) The liquid vehicle with which dry colors are ground and prepared for application.

Circulating medium, a current medium of exchange, whether coin, bank notes, or government notes. -- Ethereal medium (Physics), the ether. -- Medium of exchange, that which is used for effecting an exchange of commodities -- money or current representatives of money.

Me"di*um, a. Having a middle position or degree; mean; intermediate; medial; as, a horse of medium size; a decoction of medium strength.

Me"di*um-sized` (?), a. Having a medium size; as, a medium-sized man.

||Me"di*us (?), n.; pl. Medii (#). [NL., fr. L. medius middle. See ||Medium.] (Anat.) The third or middle finger; the third digit, or that ||which corresponds to it.

Med"lar (?), n. [OE. medler medlar tree, OF. meslier, F. néflier, L. mespilum, mespilus, Gr. &?;, &?;. Cf. Naseberry.] A tree of the genus Mespilus (M. Germanica); also, the fruit of the tree. The fruit is something like a small apple, but has a bony endocarp. When first gathered the flesh is hard and austere, and it is not eaten until it has begun to decay.

Japan medlar (Bot.), the loquat. See Loquat. -- Neapolitan medlar (Bot.), a kind of thorn tree (Cratægus Azarolus); also, its fruit.

Med"le (?), v. t. [See Meddle.] To mix; to mingle; to meddle. [Written also medly.] [Obs.] Chaucer.

Med"ley (?), n.; pl. Medleys (#). [OE. medlee, OF. meslée, medlée, mellée, F. mêlée. See Meddle, and cf. MelÉe, Mellay.] 1. A mixture; a mingled and confused mass of ingredients, usually inharmonious; a jumble; a hodgepodge; -- often used contemptuously.

This medley of philosophy and war.

Addison.

Love is a medley of endearments, jars, Suspicions, reconcilements,
wars.

W. Walsh.

2. The confusion of a hand to hand battle; a brisk, hand to hand engagement; a mêlée. [Obs.] Holland.

3. (Mus.) A composition of passages detached from several different compositions; a potpourri.

Medley is usually applied to vocal, potpourri to instrumental, compositions.

4. A cloth of mixed colors. Fuller.

Med"ley, a. 1. Mixed; of mixed material or color. [Obs.] "A medlé coat." Chaucer.

2. Mingled; confused. Dryden.

Med"ly (?), v. t. See Medle. Johnson.

||Mé`doc" (?), n. [Cf. Mayduke.] A class of claret wines, including ||several varieties, from the district of Médoc in the department of ||Gironde.

Med"re*gal (?), n. (Zoöl.) See Bonito, 3.

Med"rick (?), n. [Etymol. uncertain.] (Zoöl.) A species of gull or tern. [Prov.] Lowell.

Me*dul"la (?), n. [L.] 1. Marrow; pith; hence, essence. [Obs.] Milton.

2. (Anat.) The marrow of bones; the deep or inner portion of an organ or part; as, the medulla, or medullary substance, of the kidney; specifically, the medula oblongata.

3. (Bot.) A soft tissue, occupying the center of the stem or branch of a plant; pith.

||Medulla oblongata. [L., oblong medulla] (Anat.), the posterior part ||of the brain connected with the spinal cord. It includes all the ||hindbrain except the cerebellum and pons, and from it a large part of ||the cranial nerves arise. It controls very largely respiration, ||circulation, swallowing, and other functions, and is the most vital ||part of the brain; -- called also bulb of the spinal cord. See Brain.

Me*dul"lar (?), a. See Medullary.

Med"ul*la*ry (?), a. [L. medullaris, fr. medulla marrow: cf. F. médullaire.] 1. (Anat.) (a) Pertaining to, consisting of, or resembling, marrow or medulla. (b) Pertaining to the medula oblongata.

2. (Bot.) Filled with spongy pith; pithy.

Medullary groove (Anat.), a groove, in the epiblast of the vertebrate blastoderm, the edges of which unite, making a tube (the medullary canal) from which the brain and spinal cord are developed. -- Medullary rays (Bot.), the rays of cellular tissue seen in a transverse section of exogenous wood, which pass from the pith to the bark. -- Medullary sheath (Anat.), the layer of white semifluid substance (myelin), between the primitive sheath and axis cylinder of a medullated nerve fiber.

Me*dul"la*ted (?), a. (Anat.) Furnished with a medulla or marrow, or with a medullary sheath; as, a medullated nerve fiber.

Me*dul"lin (?), n. [Cf. F. médulline.] (Bot. Chem.) A variety of lignin or cellulose found in the medulla, or pith, of certain plants. Cf. Lignin, and Cellulose.

||Me*du"sa (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. &?;.] 1. (Class. Myth.) The Gorgon; or ||one of the Gorgons whose hair was changed into serpents, after which ||all who looked upon her were turned into stone.

2. [pl. Medusae (&?;).] (Zoöl.) Any free swimming acaleph; a jellyfish.

The larger medusæ belong to the Discophora, and are sometimes called covered-eyed medusæ; others, known as naked-eyed medusæ, belong to the Hydroidea, and are usually developed by budding from hydroids. See Discophora, Hydroidea, and Hydromedusa.

Medusa bud (Zoöl.), one of the buds of a hydroid, destined to develop into a gonophore or medusa. See Athecata, and Gonotheca. -- Medusa's head. (a) (Zoöl.) An astrophyton. (b) (Astron.) A cluster of stars in the constellation Perseus. It contains the bright star Algol.

Me*du"si*an (?), n. (Zoöl.) A medusa.

Me*du"si*form (?), a. [Medusa + -form.] (Zoöl.) Resembling a medusa in shape or structure.

Me*du"soid (?), a. [Medusa + -oid.] (Zoöl.) Like a medusa; having the fundamental structure of a medusa, but without a locomotive disk; -- said of the sessile gonophores of hydroids. -- n. A sessile gonophore. See Illust. under Gonosome.

Meech (mch), v. i. See Mich. [Obs. or Colloq.]

Meed (md), n. [OE. mede, AS. md, meord; akin to OS. mda, OHG. miata, mieta, G. miethe hire, Goth. mizd reward, Bohem. & Russ. mzda, Gr. mistho`s, Skr. mdha. &radic;276.] 1. That which is bestowed or rendered in consideration of merit; reward; recompense.

A rosy garland was the victor's meed.

Spenser.

2. Merit or desert; worth.

My meed hath got me fame.

Shak.

3. A gift; also, a bride. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Meed, v. t. 1. To reward; to repay. [Obs.] Waytt.

2. To deserve; to merit. [Obs.] Heywood.

Meed"ful (?), a. Worthy of meed, reward, or recompense; meritorious. "Meedful works." Wiclif.

Meed"ful*ly, adv. According to merit; suitably.

Meek (mk), a. [Compar. Meeker (-r); superl. Meekest.] [OE. mek, meoc; akin to Icel. mj&?;kr mild, soft, Sw. mjuk, Dan. myg, D. muik, Goth. mukamdei gentleness.] 1. Mild of temper; not easily provoked or orritated; patient under injuries; not vain, or haughty, or resentful; forbearing; submissive.

Now the man Moses was very meek.

Num. xii. 3.

2. Evincing mildness of temper, or patience; characterized by mildness or patience; as, a meek answer; a meek face. "Her meek prayer." Chaucer.

Syn. -- Gentle; mild; soft; yielding; pacific; unassuming; humble. See Gentle.

{ Meek, Meek"en (-'n) }, v. t. To make meek; to nurture in gentleness and humility. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Meek"ly, adv. In a meek manner. Spenser.

Meek"ness, n. The quality or state of being meek.

Meer (mr), a. Simple; unmixed. See Mere, a. [Obs.]

Meer, n. See Mere, a lake.

Meer, n. A boundary. See Mere.

||Meer"kat (mr"kt), n. [D.] (Zoöl.) A South African carnivore (Cynictis ||penicillata), allied to the ichneumons.

Meer"schaum (mr"shm; 277), n. [G., lit., sea foam; meer sea + schaum foam; but it perh. is a corruption of the Tartaric name myrsen. Cf. Mere a lake, and Scum.] 1. (Min.) A fine white claylike mineral, soft, and light enough when in dry masses to float in water. It is a hydrous silicate of magnesia, and is obtained chiefly in Asia Minor. It is manufacturd into tobacco pipes, cigar holders, etc. Also called sepiolite.

2. A tobacco pipe made of this mineral.

Meet (mt), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Met (mt); p. pr. & vb. n. Meeting.] [OE. meten, AS. mtan, fr. mt, gemt, a meeting; akin to OS. mtian to meet, Icel. mæta, Goth. gamtjan. See Moot, v. t.] 1. To join, or come in contact with; esp., to come in contact with by approach from an opposite direction; to come upon or against, front to front, as distinguished from contact by following and overtaking.

2. To come in collision with; to confront in conflict; to encounter hostilely; as, they met the enemy and defeated them; the ship met opposing winds and currents.

3. To come into the presence of without contact; to come close to; to intercept; to come within the perception, influence, or recognition of; as, to meet a train at a junction; to meet carriages or persons in the street; to meet friends at a party; sweet sounds met the ear.

His daughter came out to meet him.

Judg. xi. 34.

4. To perceive; to come to a knowledge of; to have personal acquaintance with; to experience; to suffer; as, the eye met a horrid sight; he met his fate.

Of vice or virtue, whether blest or curst, Which meets contempt, or
which compassion first.

Pope.

5. To come up to; to be even with; to equal; to match; to satisfy; to ansver; as, to meet one's expectations; the supply meets the demand.

To meet half way, literally, to go half the distance between in order to meet (one); hence, figuratively, to yield or concede half of the difference in order to effect a compromise or reconciliation with.

Meet, v. t. 1. To come together by mutual approach; esp., to come in contact, or into proximity, by approach from opposite directions; to join; to come face to face; to come in close relationship; as, we met in the street; two lines meet so as to form an angle.

O, when meet now Such pairs in love and mutual honor joined !

Milton.

2. To come together with hostile purpose; to have an encounter or conflict.

Weapons more violent, when next we meet, May serve to better us and
worse our foes.

Milton.

3. To assemble together; to congregate; as, Congress meets on the first Monday of December.

They . . . appointed a day to meet together.

2. Macc. xiv. 21.

4. To come together by mutual concessions; hence, to agree; to harmonize; to unite.

To meet with. (a) To light upon; to find; to come to; -- often with the sense of unexpectedness.

We met with many things worthy of observation.

Bacon.

(b) To join; to unite in company. Shak. (c) To suffer unexpectedly; as, to meet with a fall; to meet with a loss. (d) To encounter; to be subjected to.

Prepare to meet with more than brutal fury From the fierce prince.

Rowe.

(e) To obviate. [Obs.] Bacon.

Meet, n. An assembling together; esp., the assembling of huntsmen for the hunt; also, the persons who so assemble, and the place of meeting.

Meet, a. [OE. mete fitting, moderate, scanty, AS. mte moderate; akin to gemet fit, meet, metan to mete, and G. mässig moderate, gemäss fitting. See Mete.] Suitable; fit; proper; appropriate; qualified; convenient.

It was meet that we should make merry.

Luke xv. 32.

To be meet with, to be even with; to be equal to. [Obs.]

<! p. 909 !>

Meet (mt), adv. Meetly. [Obs.] Shak.

Meet"en (mt"'n), v. t. To render fit. [R.]

Meet"er (mt"r), n. One who meets.

Meeth (mth), n. Mead. See Meathe. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Meet"ing, n. 1. A coming together; an assembling; as, the meeting of Congress.

2. A junction, crossing, or union; as, the meeting of the roads or of two rivers.

3. A congregation; a collection of people; a convention; as, a large meeting; an harmonious meeting.

4. An assembly for worship; as, to attend meeting on Sunday; -- in England, applied distinctively and disparagingly to the worshiping assemblies of Dissenters.

Syn. -- Conference; assembly; company; convention; congregation; junction; confluence; union.

Meet"ing*house` (?), n. A house used as a place of worship; a church; -- in England, applied only to a house so used by Dissenters.

Meet"ly, adv. Fitly; suitably; properly.

Meet"ness, n. Fitness; suitableness; propriety.

{ Meg- (mg-), Meg"a (mg"- ), Meg"a*lo- (-l-) }. [Gr. me`gas, gen. mega`loy, great.] Combining forms signifying: (a) Great, extended, powerful; as, megascope, megacosm. (b) (Metric System, Elec., Mech., etc.) A million times, a million of; as, megameter, a million meters; megafarad, a million farads; megohm, a million ohms.

{ Meg`a*ce*phal"ic (mg`*s*fl"k), Meg`a*ceph"a*lous (-sf"*ls) }, a. [Mega- + Gr. kefalh` head.] (Biol.) Large headed; -- applied to animals, and to plants when they have large flower heads.

||Me*gac"e*ros (m*gs"*rs), n. [NL., fr. Gr. me`gas great + ke`ras ||horn.] (Paleon.) The Irish elk.

Meg"a*chile (?), n. [Mega- + Gr. &?; lip.] (Zoöl.) A leaf-cutting bee of the genus Megachilus. See Leaf cutter, under Leaf.

Meg"a*cosm (?), n. [Mega- + Gr. &?; world.] See Macrocosm. Croft.

Meg`a*cou`lomb" (?), n. [Mega- + coulomb.] (Elec.) A million coulombs.

Meg"a*derm (?), n. [Mega- + Gr. &?; skin.] (Zoöl.) Any one of several species of Old World blood-sucking bats of the genus Megaderma.

Meg"a*dyne (?), n. [Mega- + dyne.] (Physics) One of the larger measures of force, amounting to one million dynes.

Meg"a*far`ad (?), n. [Mega- + farad.] (Elec.) One of the larger measures of electrical capacity, amounting to one million farads; a macrofarad.

Meg"a*lerg (?), n. [Megalo- + erg.] (Physics) A million ergs; a megerg.

Meg`a*le"sian (?), a. [L. Megalesius, fr. Gr. Mega`lh the Great, a surname of Cybele, the Magna Mater.] Pertaining to, or in honor of, Cybele; as, the Megalesian games at Rome.

Meg`a*leth"o*scope (?), n. [Mega- + alethoscope.] An optical apparatus in which pictures are viewed through a large lens with stereoptical effects. It is often combined with the stereoscope.

Meg"a*lith (?), n. [Mega- + - lith; cf. F. mégalithe.] A large stone; especially, a large stone used in ancient building. -- Meg`a*lith"ic (#), a.

Meg"a*lo- (?). See Meg-.

Meg"a*lo*cyte (?), n. [Megalo- + Gr. &?; a hollow vessel.] (Physiol.) A large, flattened corpuscle, twice the diameter of the ordinary red corpuscle, found in considerable numbers in the blood in profound anæmia.

Meg`a*lo*ma"ni*a (?), n. [NL., fr. megalo- + mania.] (Pathol.) A form of mental alienation in which the patient has grandiose delusions.

||Meg`a*lon"yx (?), n. [NL., from Gr. me`gas, mega`lh, great + 'o`nyx ||claw.] (Paleon.) An extinct quaternary mammal, of great size, allied ||to the sloth.

Meg`a*loph"o*nous (mg`*lf"*ns), a. [Megalo- + Gr. fwnh` voice.] Having a loud voice.

Meg`a*lop"o*lis (-lp"*ls), n. [NL., fr. Gr. megalo`polis; me`gas, mega`lh, great + po`lis city.] A chief city; a metropolis. [R.]

Meg"a*lops (mg"*lps), n. [NL., fr. Gr. me`gas, - a`loy, large + 'w`ps eye.] (Zoöl.) 1. A larva, in a stage following the zoëa, in the development of most crabs. In this stage the legs and abdominal appendages have appeared, the abdomen is relatively long, and the eyes are large. Also used adjectively.

2. A large fish; the tarpum.

Meg`a*lop"sy*chy (?), n. [Megalo- + Gr. &?; soul, mind.] Greatness of soul. [Obs. & R.]

{ Meg"a*lo*saur` (?), ||Meg`a*lo*sau"rus (?), } n. [NL. megalosaurus, fr. Gr. me`gas, mega`lh, great + say^ros lizard: cf. F. mégalosaure.] (Paleon.) A gigantic carnivorous dinosaur, whose fossil remains have been found in England and elsewhere.

Me*gam"e*ter (?), n. [Mega- + -meter: cf. F. mégamètre.] (Physics) 1. An instrument for determining longitude by observation of the stars.

2. A micrometer. [R.] Knight.

{ Meg"a*me`ter, Meg"a*me`tre } (?), n. [Mega- + meter, metre, n., 2.] In the metric system, one million meters, or one thousand kilometers.

Meg`am`père" (?), n. [Mega- + ampère.] (Elec.) A million ampères.

Meg"a*phone (?), n. [Mega- + Gr. fwnh` voice.] A device to magnify sound, or direct it in a given direction in a greater volume, such as a very large funnel used as an ear trumpet or as a speaking trumpet.

||Me*gaph"y*ton (?), n. [NL., from Gr. me`gas great + fyto`n plant.] ||(Paleon.) An extinct genus of tree ferns with large, two-ranked ||leaves, or fronds.

Meg"a*pode (?), n. [Mega- + Gr. poy`s, podo`s, foot.] (Zoöl.) Any one of several species of large-footed, gallinaceous birds of the genera Megapodius and Leipoa, inhabiting Australia and other Pacific islands. See Jungle fowl (b) under Jungle, and Leipoa.

Me*gap"o*lis (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. me`gas great + po`lis city.] A metropolis. [Obs.] Sir T. Herbert.

{ Me*ga"ri*an (?), Me*gar"ic (?), } a. Belonging, or pertaining, to Megara, a city of ancient Greece.

Megarian, or Megaric, school, a school of philosophy established at Megara, after the death of Socrates, by his disciples, and remarkable for its logical subtlety.

Meg"a*scope (?), n. [Mega- + -scope: cf. F. mégascope.] A modification of the magic lantern, used esp. for throwing a magnified image of an opaque object on a screen, solar or artificial light being used. [archaic]

Meg"a*seme (?), a. [Mega- + Gr. &?; sing, mark: cf. F. mégasème.] (Anat.) Having the orbital index relatively large; having the orbits narrow transversely; -- opposed to microseme.

{ Me"gass" (?), Me*gasse" }, n. See Bagasse.

Meg"as*thene (?), n. [Gr. me`gas great + sthe`nos strength.] (Zoöl.) One of a group which includes the higher orders of mammals, having a large size as a typical characteristic.

Meg`as*then"ic (?), a. (Zoöl.) Having a typically large size; belonging to the megasthenes.

Meg"a*stome (?), n. [Gr. me`gas great + sto`ma mouth.] (Zoöl.) One of a group of univalve shells, having a large aperture or mouth.

{ Meg"a*there (?), ||Meg`a*the"ri*um (?), } n. [NL. megatherium, fr. Gr. me`gas great + thyri`on beast.] (Paleon.) An extinct gigantic quaternary mammal, allied to the ant-eaters and sloths. Its remains are found in South America.

Meg`a*the"roid (?), n. [Megatherium + -oid.] (Paleon.) One of a family of extinct edentates found in America. The family includes the megatherium, the megalonyx, etc.

Meg`a*volt" (?), n. [Mega- + volt.] (Elec.) One of the larger measures of electro-motive force, amounting to one million volts.

Meg`a*we"ber (?), n. [Mega- + weber.] (Elec.) A million webers.

Meg"erg` (?), n. [Mega- + erg.] (Physics) One of the larger measures of work, amounting to one million ergs; -- called also megalerg.

{ Me*gilp" (?), Me*gilph" (?) }, n. (Paint.) A gelatinous compound of linseed oil and mastic varnish, used by artists as a vehicle for colors. [Written also magilp, and magilph.]

Meg"ohm" (?), n. [Mega- + ohm.] (Elec.) One of the larger measures of electrical resistance, amounting to one million ohms.

Me"grim (?), n. [OE. migrim, migrene, F. migraine, LL. hemigrania, L. hemicrania, hemicranium, Gr. "hmikrani`a; "hmi- half + krani`on skull. See Hemi- and Cranium, and cf. Hemicrania, Migraine.] 1. A kind of sick or nervous headache, usually periodical and confined to one side of the head.

2. A fancy; a whim; a freak; a humor; esp., in the plural, lowness of spirits.

These are his megrims, firks, and melancholies.

Ford.

3. pl. (Far.) A sudden vertigo in a horse, succeeded sometimes by unconsciousness, produced by an excess of blood in the brain; a mild form of apoplexy. Youatt.

Me"grim, n. [Etymol. uncertain.] (Zoöl.) The British smooth sole, or scaldfish (Psetta arnoglossa).

Mei*bo"mi*an (?), a. (Anat.) Of, pertaining to, or discovered by, Meibomius.

Meibomian glands, the slender sebaceous glands of the eyelids, which discharge, through minute orifices in the edges of the lids, a fatty secretion serving to lubricate the adjacent parts.

Meine (?), v. t. See Menge.

{ Mein"e, Mein"y, (&?;), } n. [OF. maisniée, maisnie. See Menial.] 1. A family, including servants, etc.; household; retinue; train. [Obs.] Chaucer. Shak.

2. Company; band; army. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Mei"o*cene (?), a. (Geol.) See Miocene.

Mei"o*nite (?), n. [Gr. mei`wn smaller. So called in a allusion to the low pyramids of the crystals.] (Min.) A member of the scapolite group, occuring in glassy crystals on Monte Somma, near Naples.

||Mei*o"sis (m*"ss), n. [NL., fr. Gr. mei`wsis, fr. meioy^n to make ||smaller, from mei`wn. See Meionite.] (Rhet.) Diminution; a species of ||hyperbole, representing a thing as being less than it really is.

Mei`o*stem"o*nous (?), a. [Gr. mei`wn smaller + &?; warp, thread.] (Bot.) Having fever stamens than the parts of the corolla.

||Meis"ter*sing`er (?), n. [G.] See Mastersinger.

Mekh"i*tar*ist (?), n. (Eccl. Hist.) See Mechitarist.

Me*lac"o*nite (?), n. [Gr. me`las black + &?; dust.] (Min.) An earthy black oxide of copper, arising from the decomposition of other ores.

{ ||Me*la"da (?), ||Me*la"do (?), } n. [Sp., prop. p. p. of melar to sugar, candy, fr. L. mel honey. See Molasses.] A mixture of sugar and molasses; crude sugar as it comes from the pans without being drained.

||Me*læ"na (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. me`las, m., me`laina, f., black.] ||(Med.) A discharge from the bowels of black matter, consisting of ||altered blood.

Mel"ain (?), n. [See Melæna.] The dark coloring matter of the liquid of the cuttlefish.

Me*lai"no*type (?), n. See Melanotype.

Me"lam (m"lm), n. [Cf. F. mélam.] (Chem.) A white or buff-colored granular powder, C6H9N11, obtained by heating ammonium sulphocyanate.

Me*lam"ine (?), n. (Chem.) A strong nitrogenous base, C3H6N6, produced from several cyanogen compounds, and obtained as a white crystalline substance, -- formerly supposed to be produced by the decomposition of melam. Called also cyanuramide.

Mel"am*pode (?), n. [Gr. melampo`dion; of uncertain origin.] The black hellebore. [Obs.] Spenser.

{ Mel`am*py"rin (?), Mel`am*py"rite (?), } n. [NL. Melampyrum cowwheat; Gr. me`las black + pyro`s wheat.] (Chem.) The saccharine substance dulcite; -- so called because found in the leaves of cowwheat (Melampyrum). See Dulcite.

||Mel`a*næ"mi*a (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. me`las, -anos, black + a"i^ma ||blood.] (Med.) A morbid condition in which the blood contains black ||pigment either floating freely or imbedded in the white blood ||corpuscles.

Me*lan"a*gogue (?), n. [Gr. me`las, -anos, black + &?; leading, driving, &?; to lead.] (Med.) A medicine supposed to expel black bile or choler. [Obs.]

||Mel`an*cho"li*a (?), n. [L. See Melancholy.] (Med.) A kind of mental ||unsoundness characterized by extreme depression of spirits, ||ill-grounded fears, delusions, and brooding over one particular ||subject or train of ideas.

Mel`an*cho"li*an (?), n. A person affected with melancholy; a melancholic. [Obs.] Dr. J. Scott.

Mel"an*chol`ic (?), a. [L. melancholicus, Gr. &?;: cf. F. mélancholique.] Given to melancholy; depressed; melancholy; dejected; unhappy.

Just as the melancholic eye Sees fleets and armies in the sky.

Prior.

Mel"an*chol`ic, n. [Obs.] 1. One affected with a gloomy state of mind. J. Spenser.

2. A gloomy state of mind; melancholy. Clarendon.

Mel"an*chol`i*ly (?), adv. In a melancholy manner.

Mel"an*chol`i*ness, n. The state or quality of being melancholy. Hallywell.

Mel`an*cho"li*ous (?), a. [Cf. OF. melancholieux.] Melancholy. [R.] Milton.

Mel"an*chol*ist (?), n. One affected with melancholy or dejection. [Obs.] Glanvill.

Mel"an*cho*lize (?), v. i. To become gloomy or dejected in mind. Barrow.

Mel"an*cho*lize, v. t. To make melancholy.

Mel"an*chol*y (?), n. [OE. melancolie, F. mélancolie, L. melancholia, fr. Gr. &?;; me`las, -anos, black + &?; gall, bile. See Malice, and 1st Gall.]

1. Depression of spirits; a gloomy state continuing a considerable time; deep dejection; gloominess. Shak.

2. Great and continued depression of spirits, amounting to mental unsoundness; melancholia.

3. Pensive maditation; serious thoughtfulness. [Obs.] "Hail, divinest Melancholy !" Milton.

4. Ill nature. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Mel"an*chol*y, a. 1. Depressed in spirits; dejected; gloomy dismal. Shak.

2. Producing great evil and grief; causing dejection; calamitous; afflictive; as, a melancholy event.

3. Somewhat deranged in mind; having the jugment impaired. [Obs.] Bp. Reynolds.

4. Favorable to meditation; somber.

A pretty, melancholy seat, well wooded and watered.

Evelin.

Syn. -- Gloomy; sad; dispirited; low-spirited; downhearted; unhappy; hypochondriac; disconsolate; heavy, doleful; dismal; calamitous; afflictive.

Mel`a*ne"sian (?), a. [Gr. me`las, -anos, black + &?; island. Melanesia was so called from the dark complexion of the natives.] Of or pertaining to Melanesia.

||Mé`lange" (?), n. [F. See Mell, Meddle.] A mixture; a medley.

Me*la"ni*an (?), n. (Zoöl.) One of a family of fresh-water pectinibranchiate mollusks, having a turret-shaped shell.

Me*lan"ic (?), a. [Gr. me`las, -anos, black.] 1. Melanotic.

2. (Ethnol.) Of or pertaining to the black-haired races. Prichard.

Me*lan"i*line (?), n. (Chem.) A complex nitrogenous hydrocarbon obtained artificially (as by the action of cyanogen chloride on aniline) as a white, crystalline substance; -- called also diphenyl guanidin.

Mel"a*nin (?), n. [Gr. me`las, -anos, black.] (Physiol.) A black pigment found in the pigment-bearing cells of the skin (particularly in the skin of the negro), in the epithelial cells of the external layer of the retina (then called fuscin), in the outer layer of the choroid, and elsewhere. It is supposed to be derived from the decomposition of hemoglobin.

<! p. 910 !>

Mel"a*nism (ml"*nz'm), n. [Gr. me`las, -anos, black.]

1. An undue development of dark-colored pigment in the skin or its appendages; -- the opposite of albinism.

2. (Med.) A disease; black jaundice. See Melæna.

Mel`a*nis"tic (?), a. Affected with melanism; of the nature of melanism.

Mel"a*nite (?), n. [Gr. me`las, -anos, black: cf. F. mélanite.] (Min.) A black variety of garnet.

||Mel`a*noch"ro*i (?), n. pl. [NL. See Melanochroic.] (Ethnol.) A group ||of the human race, including the dark whites.

Mel`a*no*chro"ic (?), a. [Gr. melana`chroos; me`las, -anos, black + chroa` color.] Having a dark complexion; of or pertaining to the Melanochroi.

Mel`a*no*chro"ite (?), n. [See Melanochroic.] (Min.) A mineral of a red, or brownish or yellowish red color. It is a chromate of lead; -- called also phœnicocroite.

Mel`a*noc"o*mous (?), a. [Gr. me`las, -anos, black + &?; hair.] Having very dark or black hair; black-haired. Prichard.

||Mel`a*nor*rhœ"a (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. me`las, -anos, black + &?; to ||flow.] (Bot.) An East Indian genus of large trees. Melanorrhœa ||usitatissima is the lignum-vitæ of Pegu, and yields a valuable black ||varnish.

Me*lan"o*scope (?), n. [Gr. me`las, -anos, black + -scope.] (Opt.) An instrument containing a combination of colored glasses such that they transmit only red light, so that objects of other colors, as green leaves, appear black when seen through it. It is used for viewing colored flames, to detect the presence of potassium, lithium, etc., by the red light which they emit.

||Mel`a*no"sis (?), [NL., fr. Gr. &?; a growing black, fr. me`las, ||-anos, black.] (Med.) The morbid deposition of black matter, often of ||a malignant character, causing pigmented tumors.

Me*lan"o*sperm (?), n. [Gr. me`las, -anos, black + spe`rma seed.] (Bot.) An alga of any kind that produces blackish spores, or seed dust. The melanosperms include the rockweeds and all kinds of kelp. -- Mel`a*no*sper"mous (#), a.

Mel`a*not"ic (?), a. Melanistic.

Me*lan"o*type (?), n. [Gr. me`las, -anos, black + -type.] (Photog.) A positive picture produced with sensitized collodion on a smooth surface of black varnish, coating a thin plate of iron; also, the process of making such a picture. [Written also melainotype.]

Me*lan"ter*ite (?), n. (Min.) A hydrous sulphate of iron of a green color and vitreous luster; iron vitriol.

Mel"a*nure (?), n. [NL. melanurus, fr. Gr. me`las, -anos, black + o'ura` tail.] (Zoöl.) A small fish of the Mediterranean; a gilthead. See Gilthead (a).

Mel`a*nu"ric (?), a. [Melam + urea.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, a complex nitrogenous acid obtained by decomposition of melam, or of urea, as a white crystalline powder; -- called also melanurenic acid.

Mel"a*phyre (?), n. [F., fr. Gr. me`las, -anos, black + porphyre porphyry.] (Min.) Any one of several dark-colored augitic, eruptive rocks allied to basalt.

||Me*las"ma (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; black spot.] (Med.) A dark ||discoloration of the skin, usually local; as, Addison's melasma, or ||Addison's disease. -- Me*las"mic (#), a.

Me*las"ses (?), n. See Molasses.

Me*las"sic (?), a. [See Molasses.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, an acid obtained from molasses or glucose, and probably identical with saccharic acid. See Saccharic.

||Me*las"to*ma (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. me`las black + sto`ma mouth.] ||(Bot.) A genus of evergreen tropical shrubs; -- so called from the ||black berries of some species, which stain the mouth.

Mel`a*sto*ma"ceous (?), a. (Bot.) Belonging to the order of which Melastoma is the type.

Mel"chite (?), n. [Heb. melek king.] (Eccl. Hist.) One of a sect, chiefly in Syria and Egypt, which acknowledges the authority of the pope, but adheres to the liturgy and ceremonies of the Eastern Church.

Mel`e*a"grine (?), a. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the genus Meleagris.

||Mel`e*a"gris (?), n. [L., the Guinea fowl.] (Zoöl.) A genus of ||American gallinaceous birds, including the common and the wild ||turkeys.

||Mê`lée" (m`l"), n. [F., fr. mêler to mix. See Meddle, Mell, and cf. ||Mellay.] A fight in which the combatants are mingled in one confused ||mass; a hand to hand conflict; an affray.

||Me*le"na (?), n. (Med.) See Melæna.

Mel"ene (?), n. [Melissic + ethylene.] (Chem.) An unsaturated hydrocarbon, C30H60, of the ethylene series, obtained from beeswax as a white, scaly, crystalline wax; -- called also melissene, and melissylene.

Mel"e*nite (?), n. [Gr. me`li honey.] An explosive of great destructive power; -- so called from its color, which resembles honey.

Mel"e*tin (?), n. (Chem.) See Quercitin.

Me*lez"i*tose` (?), n. [F. mélèze the larch + melitose.] (Chem.) A variety of sugar, isomeric with sucrose, extracted from the manna of the larch (Larix). [Written also melicitose.]

Me`li*a"ceous (?), a. (Bot.) Pertaining to a natural order (Meliacæ) of plants of which the genus Melia is the type. It includes the mahogany and the Spanish cedar.

{ Mel`i*be"an (?), Mel`i*b&?;"an }, a. [From L. Meliboeus, one of the interlocutors in Virgil's first Eclogue.] (Rhet.) Alternately responsive, as verses.

Mel"ic (?), [Gr. &?;, fr. &?; song.] Of or pertaining to song; lyric; tuneful.

Me*lic"er*ous (?), a. [L. meliceris a kind of tumor, fr. Gr. &?;; me`li honey + &?; wax.] (Med.) Consisting of or containing matter like honey; -- said of certain encysted tumors.

Mel"ic grass` (?). (Bot.) A genus of grasses (Melica) of little agricultural importance.

Mel`i*co*toon" (?), n. (Bot.) See Melocoton.

Me*lic"ra*to*ry (?), n. [Gr. meli`kraton.] A meadlike drink. [Obs.]

Mel"i*lite (ml"*lt), n. [Gr. me`li honey + -lite; cf. F. mélilithe.] (Min.) A mineral occurring in small yellow crystals, found in the lavas (melilite basalt) of Vesuvius, and elsewhere. [Written also mellilite.]

Mel"i*lot (-lt), n. [F. mélilot, L. melilotus, fr. Gr. &?;, &?;, a kind of clover containing honey; me`li honey + &?; lotus.] (Bot.) Any species of Melilotus, a genus of leguminous herbs having a vanillalike odor; sweet clover; hart's clover. The blue melilot (Melilotus cærulea) is used in Switzerland to give color and flavor to sapsago cheese.

Mel`i*lot"ic (?), a. (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or obtained from, sweet clover or melilot; specifically, designating an acid of the aromatic series, obtained from melilot as a white crystalline substance.

Mel"io*rate (ml"y*rt), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Meliorated (- r`td); p. pr. & vb. n. Meliorating.] [L. melioratus, p. p. of meliorare to meliorate, fr. melior better; akin to Gr. ma^llon rather, ma`la very. Cf. Ameliorate.] To make better; to improve; to ameliorate; to soften; to make more tolerable.

Nature by art we nobly meliorate.

Denham.

The pure and benign light of revelation has had a meliorating
influence on mankind.

Washington.

Mel"io*rate, v. i. To grow better.

Mel"io*ra`ter (?), n. Same as Meliorator.

Mel`io*ra"tion (?), n. [L. melioratio.] The act or operation of meliorating, or the state of being meliorated; improvement. Bacon.

Mel"io*ra`tor (?), n. One who meliorates.

Mel"io*rism (?), n. [From L. melior better.] The doctrine that there is a tendency throughout nature toward improvement. J. Sully.

Mel*ior"i*ty (?), n. [LL. melioritas, fr. L. melior. See Meliorate.] The state or quality of being better; melioration. [Obs.] Bacon.

Me*liph"a*gan (?), a. [Gr. me`li honey + &?; to eat.] (Zoöl.) Belonging to the genus Meliphaga.

Me*liph"a*gan, n. (Zoöl.) Any bird of the genus Meliphaga and allied genera; a honey eater; -- called also meliphagidan.

Me*liph"a*gous (?), a. [See Meliphagan.] (Zool.) Eating, or feeding upon, honey.

||Me*lis"ma (?), n.; pl. Melismata (#). [NL., fr. Gr. me`lisma a song.] ||(Mus.) (a) A piece of melody; a song or tune, -- as opposed to ||recitative or musical declamation. (b) A grace or embellishment.

||Me*lis"sa (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. me`lissa a bee, honey.] (Bot.) A ||genus of labiate herbs, including the balm, or bee balm (Melissa ||officinalis).

Me*lis"sic (?), a. [Gr. me`lissa a bee, honey.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or derived from, beeswax; specif., denoting an acid obtained by oxidation of myricin.

Me*lis"syl (?), n. [Melissic +yl.] (Chem.) See Myricyl.

Me*lis"sy*lene (?), n. [Melissic + -yl + -ene.] (Chem.) See Melene.

Mel"i*tose` (?), n. [Gr. me`li honey.] (Chem.) A variety of sugar isomeric with sucrose, extracted from cotton seeds and from the so- called Australian manna (a secretion of certain species of Eucalyptus).

Mell (?), v. i. & t. [F. mêler, OF. meller, mester. See Meddle.] To mix; to meddle. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Mell, n. [See Mellifluous.] Honey. [Obs.] Warner.

Mell, n. A mill. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Mel"late (?), n. [L. mel, mellis, honey. Cf. Mellitate.] (Chem.) A mellitate. [R.]

Mel"lay (?), n. A mêlée; a conflict. Tennyson.

Mel"lic (?), a. (Chem.) See Mellitic. [R.]

Mel*lif"er*ous (?), a. [L. mellifer; mel, mellis, honey + ferre to bear.] Producing honey.

Mel*lif"ic (?), a. [L. mel, mellis, honey + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See - fy.] Producing honey.

Mel`li*fi*ca"tion (?), n. [L. mellificare to make honey: cf. F. mellification. See Mellific.] The making or production of honey.

Mel*lif"lu*ence (?), n. A flow of sweetness, or a sweet, smooth flow.

Mel*lif"lu*ent (?), a. [L. mellifluens. See Mellifluous.] Flowing as with honey; smooth; mellifluous.

Mel*lif"lu*ent*ly, adv. In a mellifluent manner.

Mel*lif"lu*ous (?), a. [L. mellifluus; mel, mellis, honey (akin to Gr. &?;, Goth. milip) + fluere to flow. See Mildew, Fluent, and cf. Marmalade.] Flowing as with honey; smooth; flowing sweetly or smoothly; as, a mellifluous voice. -- Mel*lif"lu*ous*ly, adv.

Mel*lig"e*nous (?), a. [L. mel, mellis + -genous.] Having the qualities of honey. [R.]

||Mel*li"go (?), n. [L.] Honeydew.

Mel*lil"o*quent (?), a. [L. mel, mellis honey + loquens speaking, p. pr. of loqui to speak.] Speaking sweetly or harmoniously.

Mel*liph"a*gan (?), n. See Meliphagan.

Mel*liph"a*gous (?), a. See Meliphagous.

Mel"li*tate (?), n. [Cf. F. mellitate. See Mellitic.] (Chem.) A salt of mellitic acid.

Mel"lite (?), n. [L. mel, mellis, honey: cf. F. mellite.] (Min.) A mineral of a honey color, found in brown coal, and partly the result of vegetable decomposition; honeystone. It is a mellitate of alumina.

Mel*lit"ic (?), a. [Cf. F. mellitique. See Mellite.] (Chem.) (a) Containing saccharine matter; marked by saccharine secretions; as, mellitic diabetes. (b) Pertaining to, or derived from, the mineral mellite.

Mellitic acid (Chem.), a white, crystalline, organic substance, C6(CO2H)6, occurring naturally in combination with aluminium in the mineral mellite, and produced artificially by the oxidation of coal, graphite, etc., and hence called also graphitic acid.

Mel"lone (?), n. (Chem.) A yellow powder, C6H3N9, obtained from certain sulphocyanates. It has acid properties and forms compounds called mellonides.

Mel"lon*ide (?), n. See Mellone.

Mel"low (?), a. [Compar. Mellower (?); superl. Mellowest.] [OE. melwe; cf. AS. mearu soft, D. murw, Prov. G. mollig soft, D. malsch, and E. meal flour.]

1. Soft or tender by reason of ripeness; having a tender pulp; as, a mellow apple.

2. Hence: (a) Easily worked or penetrated; not hard or rigid; as, a mellow soil. "Mellow glebe." Drayton (b) Not coarse, rough, or harsh; subdued; soft; rich; delicate; -- said of sound, color, flavor, style, etc. "The mellow horn." Wordsworth. "The mellow-tasted Burgundy." Thomson.

The tender flush whose mellow stain imbues Heaven with all freaks
of light.

Percival.

3. Well matured; softened by years; genial; jovial.

May health return to mellow age.

Wordsworth.

As merry and mellow an old bachelor as ever followed a hound.

W. Irving.

4. Warmed by liquor; slightly intoxicated. Addison.

Mel"low, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mellowed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Mellowing.] To make mellow. Shak.

If the Weather prove frosty to mellow it [the ground], they do not
plow it again till April.

Mortimer.

The fervor of early feeling is tempered and mellowed by the
ripeness of age.

J. C. Shairp.

Mel"low, v. i. To become mellow; as, ripe fruit soon mellows. "Prosperity begins to mellow." Shak.

Mel"low*ly, adv. In a mellow manner.

Mel"low*ness, n. Quality or state of being mellow.

Mel"low*y (?), a. Soft; unctuous. Drayton.

||Mel*lu"co (?), n. (Bot.) A climbing plant (Ullucus officinalis) of ||the Andes, having tuberous roots which are used as a substitute for ||potatoes.

Mel"ne (?), n. A mill. [Obs.] Chaucer.