Chapter L: F. Ward (10)

The statement, "that man is a fox," is a metaphor; but "that man is like a fox," is a simile, similitude, or comparison.

{ Met`a*phor"ic (?), Met`a*phor"ic*al (?), } a. [Gr. &?;: cf. F. métaphorique.] Of or pertaining to metaphor; comprising a metaphor; not literal; figurative; tropical; as, a metaphorical expression; a metaphorical sense. -- Met`a*phor"ic*al*ly, adv. -- Met`a*phor"ic*al*ness, n.

Met"a*phor*ist (?), n. One who makes metaphors.

Met`a*phos"phate (?), n. (Chem.) A salt of metaphosphoric acid.

Met`a*phos*phor"ic (?), a. [Pref. meta- + phosphoric.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, a monobasic acid, HPO3, analogous to nitric acid, and, by heating phosphoric acid, obtained as a crystalline substance, commonly called glacial phosphoric acid.

Met"a*phrase (mt"*frz), n. [Gr. meta`frasis, from metafra`zein to paraphrase; meta` beyond, over + fra`zein to speak: cf. F. métaphrase.] 1. A verbal translation; a version or translation from one language into another, word for word; -- opposed to paraphrase. Dryden.

2. An answering phrase; repartee. Mrs. Browning.

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Met"a*phrased (mt"*frzd), a. Translated literally.

Me*taph"ra*sis (m*tf"r*ss), n. [NL. See Metaphrase.] Metaphrase.

Met"a*phrast (?), n. [Gr. &?;: cf. F. métaphraste.] A literal translator.

{ Met`a*phras"tic (?), Met`a*phras"tic*al (?), } a. [Gr. &?;.] Close, or literal.

Met`a*phys"ic (?), n. [Cf. F. métaphysique.] See Metaphysics.

Met`a*phys"ic, a. Metaphysical.

Met`a*phys"ic*al (?), a. [Cf. F. métaphysique. See Metaphysics.] 1. Of or pertaining to metaphysics.

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

3. Preternatural or supernatural. [Obs.]

The golden round Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem To have
thee crowned withal.

Shak.

Met`a*phys"ic*al*ly, adv. In the manner of metaphysical science, or of a metaphysician. South.

Met`a*phy*si"cian (?), n. [Cf. F. métaphysicien.] One who is versed in metaphysics.

Met`a*phys"ics (?), n. [Gr. &?; &?; &?; after those things which relate to external nature, after physics, fr. &?; beyond, after + &?; relating to external nature, natural, physical, fr. &?; nature: cf. F. métaphysique. See Physics. The term was first used by the followers of Aristotle as a name for that part of his writings which came after, or followed, the part which treated of physics.] 1. The science of real as distinguished from phenomenal being; ontology; also, the science of being, with reference to its abstract and universal conditions, as distinguished from the science of determined or concrete being; the science of the conceptions and relations which are necessarily implied as true of every kind of being; philosophy in general; first principles, or the science of first principles.

Metaphysics is distinguished as general and special. General metaphysics is the science of all being as being. Special metaphysics is the science of one kind of being; as, the metaphysics of chemistry, of morals, or of politics. According to Kant, a systematic exposition of those notions and truths, the knowledge of which is altogether independent of experience, would constitute the science of metaphysics.

Commonly, in the schools, called metaphysics, as being part of the
philosophy of Aristotle, which hath that for title; but it is in
another sense: for there it signifieth as much as "books written or
placed after his natural philosophy." But the schools take them for
"books of supernatural philosophy;" for the word metaphysic will
bear both these senses.

Hobbes.

Now the science conversant about all such inferences of unknown
being from its known manifestations, is called ontology, or
metaphysics proper.

Sir W. Hamilton.

Metaphysics are [is] the science which determines what can and what
can not be known of being, and the laws of being, a priori.

Coleridge.

2. Hence: The scientific knowledge of mental phenomena; mental philosophy; psychology.

Metaphysics, in whatever latitude the term be taken, is a science
or complement of sciences exclusively occupied with mind.

Sir W. Hamilton.

Whether, after all, A larger metaphysics might not help Our
physics.

Mrs. Browning.

||Me*taph"y*sis (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; after + &?; nature.] Change ||of form; transformation.

Met"a*plasm (?), n. [L. metaplasmus, Gr. &?;; &?; beyond, over + &?; to mold: cf. F. métaplasme.] (Gram.) A change in the letters or syllables of a word.

Met"a*plast (?), n. [See Metaplasm.] (Gram.) A word having more than one form of the root.

Met"a*pode (?), n. [NL. metapodium, from Gr. &?; behind + &?;, dim. of poy`s, podo`s, foot.] (Zoöl.) The posterior division of the foot in the Gastropoda and Pteropoda.

Met`a*po"di*al (?), a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the metapodialia, or to the parts of the limbs to which they belong.

||Met`a*po`di*a"le (?), n.; pl. Metapodialia (#). [NL. See Metapode.] ||(Anat.) One of the bones of either the metacarpus or metatarsus.

||Met`a*po"di*um (?), n.; pl. Metapodia (#). [NL.] (Zoöl.) Same as ||Metapode.

||Met`a*poph"y*sis (?), n.; pl. Metapophyses (#). [NL. See Meta-, and ||Apophysis.] (Anat.) A tubercle projecting from the anterior articular ||processes of some vertebræ; a mammillary process.

||Me*tap`te*ryg"i*um (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; after + &?; fin.] ||(Anat.) The posterior of the three principal basal cartilages in the ||fins of fishes. -- Me*tap`ter*yg"i*al (#), a.

Met`a*sil"i*cate (?), n. (Chem.) A salt of metasilicic acid.

Met`a*si*lic"ic (?), a. [Pref. meta- + silicic.] (Chem.) Designating an acid derived from silicic acid by the removal of water; of or pertaining to such an acid.

The salts of metasilicic acid are often called bisilicates, in mineralogy, as Wollastonite (CaSiO3).

Metasilicic acid (Chem.), a gelatinous substance, or white amorphous powder, analogous to carbonic acid, and forming many stable salts.

Met`a*so"ma*tism (?), n. [Pref. meta- + Gr. &?;, &?;, body.] (Geol.) An alteration in a mineral or rock mass when involving a chemical change of the substance, as of chrysolite to serpentine; -- opposed to ordinary metamorphism, as implying simply a recrystallization. -- Met`a*so*mat"ic (#), a.

Met"a*some (?), n. [Pref. meta- + -some body.] (Zoöl.) One of the component segments of the body of an animal.

Met`a*stan"nate (?), n. (Chem.) A salt of metastannic acid.

Met`a*stan"nic (?), a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, a compound of tin (metastannic acid), obtained, as an isomeric modification of stannic acid, in the form of a white amorphous substance.

Me*tas"ta*sis (?), n.; pl. Metastases (#). [L., transition, fr. Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to place in another way; &?; after + &?; to place.]

1. (Theol.) A spiritual change, as during baptism.

2. (Med.) A change in the location of a disease, as from one part to another. Dunglison.

3. (Physiol.) The act or process by which matter is taken up by cells or tissues and is transformed into other matter; in plants, the act or process by which are produced all of those chemical changes in the constituents of the plant which are not accompanied by a production of organic matter; metabolism.

Met`a*stat"ic (?), a. Of, pertaining to, or caused by, metastasis; as, a metastatic abscess; the metastatic processes of growth.

Met`a*ster"nal (?), a. Of or pertaining to the metasternum.

||Met`a*ster"num (?), n. [Pref. meta- + sternum.] 1. (Anat.) The most ||posterior element of the sternum; the ensiform process; xiphisternum.

2. (Zoöl.) The ventral plate of the third or last segment of the thorax of insects.

{ ||Me*tas"to*ma (?), Met"a*stome (?), } n. [NL. metastoma, from Gr. meta` behind + sto`ma mouth.] (Zoöl.) A median elevation behind the mouth in the arthropods.

Met`a*tar"sal (?), a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the metatarsus. -- n. A metatarsal bone.

Met"a*tarse (?), n. (Anat.) Metatarsus.

Met`a*tar"sus (?), n.; pl. Metatarsi (#). [NL. See Meta-, and Tarsus.] (Anat.) That part of the skeleton of the hind or lower limb between the tarsus and phalanges; metatarse. It consists, in the human foot, of five bones. See Illustration in Appendix.

Me*tath"e*sis (?), n.; pl. Metatheses (&?;). [L., fr. Gr. meta`thesis, fr. metatithe`nai to place differently, to transpose; meta` beyond, over + tithe`nai to place, set. See Thesis.] 1. (Gram.) Transposition, as of the letters or syllables of a word; as, pistris for pristis; meagre for meager.

2. (Med.) A mere change in place of a morbid substance, without removal from the body.

3. (Chem.) The act, process, or result of exchange, substitution, or replacement of atoms and radicals; thus, by metathesis an acid gives up all or part of its hydrogen, takes on an equivalent amount of a metal or base, and forms a salt.

{ Met`a*thet"ic (?), Met`a*thet"ic*al (?), } a. Of or pertaining to metathesis.

Met`a*tho*rac"ic (?), a. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the metathorax.

Met`a*tho"rax (?), n. [NL.: cf. F. métathorax. See Meta-, and Thorax.] (Zoöl.) The last or posterior segment of the thorax in insects. See Illust. of Coleoptera.

Met`a*ti*tan"ic (?), a. [Pref. meta- + titanic.] (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or designating, an acid of titanium analogous to metasilicic acid.

Met`a*tung"state (?), n. (Chem.) A salt of metatungstic acid.

Met`a*tung"stic (?), a. [Pref. meta- + tungstic.] (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or designating, an acid known only in its salts (the metatungstates) and properly called polytungstic, or pyrotungstic, acid.

Met`a*van"a*date (?), n. (Chem.) A salt of metavanadic acid.

Met`a*va*nad"ic (?), a. [Pref. meta- + vanadic.] (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or designating, a vanadic acid analogous to metaphosphoric acid.

Met`a*xy"lene (?), n. [Pref. meta- + xylene.] (Chem.) That variety of xylene, or dimethyl benzene, in which the two methyl groups occupy the meta position with reference to each other. It is a colorless inflammable liquid.

||Mé`ta`yage" (?), n. [F. See Métayer.] A system of farming on halves. ||[France & Italy]

||Mé`ta`yer" (F. ?; E. ?), n. [F., fr. LL. medietarius, fr. L. medius ||middle, half. See Mid, a.] One who cultivates land for a share ||(usually one half) of its yield, receiving stock, tools, and seed ||from the landlord. [France & Italy] Milman.

||Met`a*zo"a (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; after + zo^,on an animal.] ||(Zoöl.) Those animals in which the protoplasmic mass, constituting ||the egg, is converted into a multitude of cells, which are ||metamorphosed into the tissues of the body. A central cavity is ||commonly developed, and the cells around it are at first arranged in ||two layers, -- the ectoderm and endoderm. The group comprises nearly ||all animals except the Protozoa.

Met`a*zo"an (?), n.; pl. Metazoans (&?;). (Zoöl.) One of the Metazoa.

Met`a*zo"ic (?), a. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the Metazoa.

||Met`a*zo"ön (?), n. [NL.] (Zoöl.) One of the Metazoa.

Mete (?), n. Meat. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Mete, v. t. & i. To meet. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Mete, v. i. & t. [imp. Mette (?); p. p. Met.] [AS. m&?;tan.] To dream; also impersonally; as, me mette, I dreamed. [Obs.] "I mette of him all night." Chaucer.

Mete (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Meted; p. pr. & vb. n. Meting.] [AS. metan; akin to D. meten, G. messen, OHG. mezzan, Icel. meta, Sw. mäta, Goth. mitan, L. modus measure, moderation, modius a corn measure, Gr. &?; to rule, &?; a corn measure, and ultimately from the same root as E. measure, L. metiri to measure; cf. Skr. m to measure. &radic;99. Cf. Measure, Meet, a., Mode.] To find the quantity, dimensions, or capacity of, by any rule or standard; to measure.

Mete (?), v. i. To measure. [Obs.] Mark iv. 24.

Mete, n. [AS. met. See Mete to measure.] Measure; limit; boundary; -- used chiefly in the plural, and in the phrase metes and bounds.

Mete"corn` (?), n. A quantity of corn formerly given by the lord to his customary tenants, as an encouragement to, or reward for, labor and faithful service.

Mete"ly, a. According to measure or proportion; proportionable; proportionate. [Obs.]

{ Met`em*pir"ic (?), Met`em*pir"ic*al (?), } a. [Pref. met- + empiric, - ical.] (Metaph.) Related, or belonging, to the objects of knowledge within the province of metempirics.

If then the empirical designates the province we include within the
range of science, the province we exclude may be fitly styled the
metempirical.

G. H. Lewes.

Met*em*pir"i*cism (?), n. The science that is concerned with metempirics.

Met`em*pir"ics (?), n. The concepts and relations which are conceived as beyond, and yet as related to, the knowledge gained by experience.

Me*temp"sy*chose (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Metempsychosed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Metempsychosing (?).] [See Metempsychosis.] To translate or transfer, as the soul, from one body to another. [R.] Peacham.

Me*temp`sy*cho"sis (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;; &?; beyond, over + &?; to animate; &?; in + &?; soul. See Psychology.] The passage of the soul, as an immortal essence, at the death of the animal body it had inhabited, into another living body, whether of a brute or a human being; transmigration of souls. Sir T. Browne.

Met`emp*to"sis (?), n. [NL., from Gr. &?; beyond, after + &?; a falling upon, fr. &?; to fall in or upon; &?; in + &?; to fall.] (Chron.) The suppression of a day in the calendar to prevent the date of the new moon being set a day too late, or the suppression of the bissextile day once in 134 years. The opposite to this is the proemptosis, or the addition of a day every 330 years, and another every 2,400 years.

Met`en*ceph"a*lon (?), n. [Met- + encephalon.] (Anat.) The posterior part of the brain, including the medulla; the afterbrain. Sometimes abbreviated to meten.

||Met`en*so`ma*to"sis (?), n. [L., a change of body (by the soul), fr. ||Gr. &?;.] (Biol.) The assimilation by one body or organism of the ||elements of another.

Me"te*or (?), n. [F. météore, Gr. &?;, pl. &?; things in the air, fr. &?; high in air, raised off the ground; &?; beyond + &?;, &?;, a suspension or hovering in the air, fr. &?; to lift, raise up.]

1. Any phenomenon or appearance in the atmosphere, as clouds, rain, hail, snow, etc.

Hail, an ordinary meteor.

Bp. Hall.

2. Specif.: A transient luminous body or appearance seen in the atmosphere, or in a more elevated region.

The vaulty top of heaven Figured quite o'er with burning meteors.

Shak.

The term is especially applied to fireballs, and the masses of stone or other substances which sometimes fall to the earth; also to shooting stars and to ignes fatui. Meteors are often classed as: aerial meteors, winds, tornadoes, etc.; aqueous meteors, rain, hail, snow, dew, etc.; luminous meteors, rainbows, halos, etc.; and igneous meteors, lightning, shooting stars, and the like.

Me`te*or"ic (?), a. [Cf. F. météorique.] 1. Of or pertaining to a meteor, or to meteors; atmospheric, as, meteoric phenomena; meteoric stones.

2. Influenced by the weather; as, meteoric conditions.

3. Flashing; brilliant; transient; like a meteor; as, meteoric fame. "Meteoric politician." Craik.

Meteoric iron, Meteoric stone. (Min.) See Meteorite. -- Meteoric paper, a substance of confervoid origin found floating in the air, and resembling bits of coarse paper; -- so called because formerly supposed to fall from meteors. -- Meteoric showers, periodical exhibitions of shooting stars, occuring about the 9th or 10th of August and 13th of November, more rarely in April and December, and also at some other periods.

Me`te*or"ic*al (?), a. Meteoric.

Me"te*or*ism (?), n. (Med.) Flatulent distention of the abdomen; tympanites.

Me"te*or*ite (?), n. [Cf. F. météorite.] (Min.) A mass of stone or iron which has fallen to the earth from space; an aërolite.

Meteorites usually show a pitted surface with a fused crust, caused by the heat developed in their rapid passage through the earth's atmosphere. A meteorite may consist: 1. Of metallic iron, alloyed with a small percentage of nickel (meteoric iron, holosiderite). When etched this usually exhibits peculiar crystalline figures, called Widmanstätten figures. 2. Of a cellular mass of iron with imbedded silicates (mesosiderite or siderolite). 3. Of a stony mass of silicates with little iron (meteoric stone, sporadosiderite). 4. Of a mass without iron (asiderite).

Me"te*or*ize (?), v. i. [Gr. &?; to raise to a height.] To ascend in vapors; to take the form of a meteor. Evelyn.

Me`te*or"o*graph (?), n. [Meteor + -graph.] An instrument which registers meteorologic phases or conditions.

Me`te*or`o*graph"ic (?), a. Of or pertaining to meteorography.

Me`te*or*og"ra*phy (?), n. [Meteor + -graphy.] The registration of meteorological phenomena.

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Me"te*or*oid (m"t*r*oid), n. [Meteor + -oid.] (Astron.) A small body moving through space, or revolving about the sun, which on entering the earth's atmosphere would be deflagrated and appear as a meteor.

These bodies [small, solid bodies] before they come into the air, I
call meteoroids.

H. A. Newton.

Me`te*or*oid"al (?), a. Of or pertaining to a meteoroid or to meteoroids.

Me`te*or"o*lite (?; 277), n. [Meteor + -lite : cf. F. météorolithe.] A meteoric stone; an aërolite; a meteorite.

{ Me`te*or`o*log"ic (?), Me`te*or`o*log"ic*al (?), } a. [Gr. &?;: cf. F. météorologique.] Of or pertaining to the atmosphere and its phenomena, or to meteorology.

Meteorological table, Meteorological register, a table or register exhibiting the state of the air and its temperature, weight, dryness, moisture, motion, etc.

Me`te*or*ol"o*gist (?), n. [Cf. F. météorologiste.] A person skilled in meteorology.

Me`te*or*ol"o*gy (?), n. [Gr. &?;; &?; + lo`gos discourse: cf. F. météorologie. See Meteor.] The science which treats of the atmosphere and its phenomena, particularly of its variations of heat and moisture, of its winds, storms, etc.

Me`te*or"o*man`cy (?), n. [Meteor + -mancy : cf. F. météoromancie.] A species of divination by meteors, chiefly by thunder and lightning, which was held in high estimation by the Romans.

Me`te*or*om"e*ter (?), n. [Meteor + -meter.] An apparatus which transmits automatically to a central station atmospheric changes as marked by the anemometer, barometer, thermometer, etc.

Me`te*or"o*scope (?; 277), n. [Gr. &?;, fr. &?; observing the heavenly bodies; &?; + &?; to view: cf. F. météoroscope. See Meteor.] (Astron.) (a) An astrolabe; a planisphere. [Obs.] (b) An instrument for measuring the position, length, and direction, of the apparent path of a shooting star.

Me*te"o*rous (? or ?), a. [See Meteor.] Of the nature or appearance of a meteor.

-me"ter (?). [L. metrum measure, or the allied Gr. &?;. See Meter rhythm.] A suffix denoting that by which anything is measured; as, barometer, chronometer, dynamometer.

Me"ter (?), n. [From Mete to measure.] 1. One who, or that which, metes or measures. See Coal-meter.

2. An instrument for measuring, and usually for recording automatically, the quantity measured.

Dry meter, a gas meter having measuring chambers, with flexible walls, which expand and contract like bellows and measure the gas by filling and emptying. -- Wet meter, a gas meter in which the revolution of a chambered drum in water measures the gas passing through it.

Me"ter, n. A line above or below a hanging net, to which the net is attached in order to strengthen it.

{ Me"ter, Me"tre } (?), n. [OE. metre, F. mètre, L. metrum, fr. Gr. &?;; akin to Skr. m to measure. See Mete to measure.] 1. Rhythmical arrangement of syllables or words into verses, stanzas, strophes, etc.; poetical measure, depending on number, quantity, and accent of syllables; rhythm; measure; verse; also, any specific rhythmical arrangements; as, the Horatian meters; a dactylic meter.

The only strict antithesis to prose is meter.

Wordsworth.

2. A poem. [Obs.] Robynson (More's Utopia).

3. A measure of length, equal to 39.37 English inches, the standard of linear measure in the metric system of weights and measures. It was intended to be, and is very nearly, the ten millionth part of the distance from the equator to the north pole, as ascertained by actual measurement of an arc of a meridian. See Metric system, under Metric.

Common meter (Hymnol.), four iambic verses, or lines, making a stanza, the first and third having each four feet, and the second and fourth each three feet; -- usually indicated by the initials C.M. -- Long meter (Hymnol.), iambic verses or lines of four feet each, four verses usually making a stanza; -- commonly indicated by the initials L. M. -- Short meter (Hymnol.), iambic verses or lines, the first, second, and fourth having each three feet, and the third four feet. The stanza usually consists of four lines, but is sometimes doubled. Short meter is indicated by the initials S. M.

Me"ter*age (?), n. [See 1st Meter.] The act of measuring, or the cost of measuring.

Me"ter*gram` (?), n. (Mech.) A measure of energy or work done; the power exerted in raising one gram through the distance of one meter against gravitation.

Mete"wand` (?), n. [Mete to measure + wand.] A measuring rod. Ascham.

Mete"yard` (?), n. [AS. metgeard. See Mete to measure, and Yard stick.] A yard, staff, or rod, used as a measure. [Obs.] Shak.

Meth (?), n. See Meathe. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Met`hæm*o*glo"bin (? or ?), n. [Pref. met- + hæmoglobin.] (Physiol. Chem.) A stable crystalline compound obtained by the decomposition of hemoglobin. It is found in old blood stains.

Meth"al (?), n. [Myristic + ether + alcohol.] (Chem.) A white waxy substance, found in small quantities in spermaceti as an ethereal salt of several fatty acids, and regarded as an alcohol of the methane series.

Meth"ane (?), n. [See Methal.] (Chem.) A light, colorless, gaseous, inflammable hydrocarbon, CH4; marsh gas. See Marsh gas, under Gas.

Methane series (Chem.), a series of saturated hydrocarbons, of which methane is the first member and type, and (because of their general chemical inertness and indifference) called also the paraffin (little affinity) series. The lightest members are gases, as methane, ethane; intermediate members are liquids, as hexane, heptane, etc. (found in benzine, kerosene, etc.); while the highest members are white, waxy, or fatty solids, as paraffin proper.

Me*theg"lin (?), n. [W. meddyglyn; medd mead + llyn liquor, juice. See Mead a drink.] A fermented beverage made of honey and water; mead. Gay.

Meth"ene (?), n. [Methyl + ethylene.] (Chem.) See Methylene.

Meth"e*nyl (?), n. [Methene + -yl.] (Chem.) The hypothetical hydrocarbon radical CH, regarded as an essential residue of certain organic compounds.

Meth"ide (? or ?), n. [See Methyl.] (Chem.) A binary compound of methyl with some element; as, aluminium methide, Al2(CH3)6.

Me*thinks" (?), v. impers. [imp. Methought (?).] [AS. þyncan to seem, m þynceð, m þhte, OE. me thinketh, me thoughte; akin to G. dünken to seem, denken to think, and E. think. See Me, and Think.] It seems to me; I think. See Me. [R., except in poetry.]

In all ages poets have been had in special reputation, and,
methinks, not without great cause.

Spenser.

Me*thi"on*ate (?), n. (Chem.) A salt of methionic acid.

Meth`i*on"ic (?), a. [Methyl + thionic.] (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or designating, a sulphonic (thionic) acid derivative of methane, obtained as a stable white crystalline substance, CH2.(SO3H)2, which forms well defined salts.

Meth"od (?), n. [F. méthode, L. methodus, fr. Gr. meqodos method, investigation following after; meta` after + "odo`s way.] 1. An orderly procedure or process; regular manner of doing anything; hence, manner; way; mode; as, a method of teaching languages; a method of improving the mind. Addison.

2. Orderly arrangement, elucidation, development, or classification; clear and lucid exhibition; systematic arrangement peculiar to an individual.

Though this be madness, yet there's method in it.

Shak.

All method is a rational progress, a progress toward an end.

Sir W. Hamilton.

3. (Nat. Hist.) Classification; a mode or system of classifying natural objects according to certain common characteristics; as, the method of Theophrastus; the method of Ray; the Linnæan method.

Syn. -- Order; system; rule; regularity; way; manner; mode; course; process; means. -- Method, Mode, Manner. Method implies arrangement; mode, mere action or existence. Method is a way of reaching a given end by a series of acts which tend to secure it; mode relates to a single action, or to the form which a series of acts, viewed as a whole, exhibits. Manner is literally the handling of a thing, and has a wider sense, embracing both method and mode. An instructor may adopt a good method of teaching to write; the scholar may acquire a bad mode of holding his pen; the manner in which he is corrected will greatly affect his success or failure.

{ Me*thod"ic (?), Me*thod"ic*al (?), } a. [L. methodicus, Gr. &?;: cf. F. méthodique.] 1. Arranged with regard to method; disposed in a suitable manner, or in a manner to illustrate a subject, or to facilitate practical observation; as, the methodical arrangement of arguments; a methodical treatise. "Methodical regularity." Addison.

2. Proceeding with regard to method; systematic. "Aristotle, strict, methodic, and orderly." Harris.

3. Of or pertaining to the ancient school of physicians called methodists. Johnson.

-- Me*thod"ic*al*ly, adv. -- Me*thod"ic*al*ness, n.

Me*thod"ios (?), n. The art and principles of method.

Meth"o*dism (?), n. (Eccl.) The system of doctrines, polity, and worship, of the sect called Methodists. Bp. Warburton.

Meth"o*dist (?), n. [Cf. F. méthodiste. See Method.] 1. One who observes method. [Obs.]

2. One of an ancient school of physicians who rejected observation and founded their practice on reasoning and theory. Sir W. Hamilton.

3. (Theol.) One of a sect of Christians, the outgrowth of a small association called the "Holy Club," formed at Oxford University, A.D. 1729, of which the most conspicuous members were John Wesley and his brother Charles; -- originally so called from the methodical strictness of members of the club in all religious duties.

4. A person of strict piety; one who lives in the exact observance of religious duties; -- sometimes so called in contempt or ridicule.

Meth"o*dist, a. Of or pertaining to the sect of Methodists; as, Methodist hymns; a Methodist elder.

{ Meth`o*dis"tic (?), Meth`o*dis"tic*al (?), } a. Of or pertaining to methodists, or to the Methodists. -- Meth`o*dis"tic*al*ly, adv.

Meth`od*i*za"tion (?), n. The act or process of methodizing, or the state of being methodized.

Meth"od*ize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Methodized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Methodizing (?).] To reduce to method; to dispose in due order; to arrange in a convenient manner; as, to methodize one's work or thoughts. Spectator.

Meth"od*i`zer (?), n. One who methodizes.

Meth`od*o*log"ic*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to methodology.

Meth`od*ol"o*gy (?), n. [Gr. &?; method + -logy.] The science of method or arrangement; a treatise on method. Coleridge.

Meth"ol (?), n. [Gr. &?; wine + - ol.] (Chem.) The technical name of methyl alcohol or wood spirit; also, by extension, the class name of any of the series of alcohols of the methane series of which methol proper is the type. See Methyl alcohol, under Methyl.

Me*thought" (?), imp. of Methinks.

Meth*ox"yl (?), n. [Methyl + hydroxyl.] (Chem.) A hypothetical radical, CH3O, analogous to hydroxyl.

Meth"yl (?), n. [See Methylene.] (Chem.) A hydrocarbon radical, CH3, not existing alone but regarded as an essential residue of methane, and appearing as a component part of many derivatives; as, methyl alcohol, methyl ether, methyl amine, etc. [Formerly written also methule, methyle, etc.]

Methyl alcohol (Chem.), a light, volatile, inflammable liquid, CH3.OH, obtained by the distillation of wood, and hence called wood spirit; -- called also methol, carbinol, etc. -- Methyl amine (Chem.), a colorless, inflammable, alkaline gas, CH3.NH2, having an ammoniacal, fishy odor. It is produced artificially, and also occurs naturally in herring brine and other fishy products. It is regarded as ammonia in which a third of its hydrogen is replaced by methyl, and is a type of the class of substituted ammonias. -- Methyl ether (Chem.), a light, volatile ether CH3.O.CH3, obtained by the etherification of methyl alcohol; -- called also methyl oxide. -- Methyl green. (Chem.) See under Green, n. -- Methyl orange. (Chem.) See Helianthin. -- Methyl violet (Chem.), an artificial dye, consisting of certain methyl halogen derivatives of rosaniline.

Meth"yl*al (?), n. [Methylene + alcohol.] (Chem.) A light, volatile liquid, H2C(OCH3)2, regarded as a complex ether, and having a pleasant ethereal odor. It is obtained by the partial oxidation of methyl alcohol. Called also formal.

Meth`yl*am"ine (? or ?), n. (Chem.) See Methyl amine, under Methyl.

Meth"yl*ate (?), n. [Methyl + alcoholate.] (Chem.) An alcoholate of methyl alcohol in which the hydroxyl hydrogen is replaced by a metal, after the analogy of a hydrate; as, sodium methylate, CH3ONa.

Meth"yl*ate (?), v. t. To impregnate or mix with methyl or methyl alcohol.

Meth"yl*a`ted (?), a. (Chem.) Impregnated with, or containing, methyl alcohol or wood spirit; as, methylated spirits.

Meth"yl*ene (?), n. [F. méthylène, from Gr. &?; wine + &?; wood; -- a word coined to correspond to the name wood spirit.] (Chem.) A hydrocarbon radical, CH2, not known in the free state, but regarded as an essential residue and component of certain derivatives of methane; as, methylene bromide, CH2Br2; -- formerly called also methene.

Methylene blue (Chem.), an artificial dyestuff consisting of a complex sulphur derivative of diphenyl amine; -- called also pure blue.

Me*thyl"ic (?), a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, derived from, or containing, methyl; specifically, designating methyl alcohol. See under Methyl.

Me*thys"ti*cin (?), n. (Chem.) A white, silky, crystalline substance extracted from the thick rootstock of a species of pepper (Piper methysticum) of the South Sea Islands; -- called also kanakin.

Met"ic (? or ?; 277), n. [Gr. &?;, prop., changing one's abode; &?;, indicating change + &?; house, abode: cf. L. metoecus, F. métèque.] (Gr. Antiq.) A sojourner; an immigrant; an alien resident in a Grecian city, but not a citizen. Mitford.

The whole force of Athens, metics as well as citizens, and all the
strangers who were then in the city.

Jowett (Thucyd. ).

Me*tic"u*lous (?), a. [L. meticulosus, fr. metus fear: cf. F. méticuleux.] Timid; fearful.

-- Me*tic"u*lous*ly, adv.

{ ||Mé`tif" (?), n. m. ||Mé`tive" (?), n. f. }[F.] See Métis.

{ ||Mé`tis" (?), n. m. ||Mé`tisse" (?), n. f. }[F.; akin to Sp. mestizo. See Mestizo.] 1. The offspring of a white person and an American Indian.

2. The offspring of a white person and a quadroon; an octoroon. [Local, U. S.] Bartlett.

Met"o*che (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; a sharing, fr. &?; to share in; &?; with + &?; to have.] (Arch.) (a) The space between two dentils. (b) The space between two triglyphs.

Me*ton"ic (?), a. [Cf. F. métonique.] Pertaining to, or discovered by, Meton, the Athenian.

Metonic cycle or year. (Astron.) See under Cycle.

{ Met`o*nym"ic (?), Met`o*nym"ic*al (?), } a. [See Metonymy.] Used by way of metonymy. -- Met`o*nym"ic*al*ly, adv.

Me*ton"y*my (m*tn"*m; 277), n. [L. metonymia, Gr. metwnymi`a; meta`, indicating change + 'o`nyma , for 'o`noma a name: cf. F. métonymie. See Name.] (Rhet.) A trope in which one word is put for another that suggests it; as, we say, a man keeps a good table instead of good provisions; we read Virgil, that is, his poems; a man has a warm heart, that is, warm affections.

Met"o*pe (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;; meta` with, between + &?; opening, hole, the hole in the frieze between the beam ends.] 1. (Arch.) The space between two triglyphs of the Doric frieze, which, among the ancients, was often adorned with carved work. See Illust. of Entablature.

2. (Zoöl.) The face of a crab.

In the Parthenon, groups of centaurs and heroes in high relief occupy the metopes.

Me*top"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?; the forehead.] (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the forehead or frontal bones; frontal; as, the metopic suture.

Met"o*po*man`cy (?), n. [Gr. &?; the forehead + -mancy.] Fortune telling by physiognomy. [R.] Urquhart.

{ Met`o*po*scop"ic (?), Met`o*po*scop"ic*al (?), } a. Of or relating to metoposcopy.

Met`o*pos"co*pist (?), n. One versed in metoposcopy.

Met`o*pos"co*py (?), n. [Gr. &?; observing the forehead; &?; the forehead + &?; to view: cf. F. métoposcopie.] The study of physiognomy; the art of discovering the character of persons by their features, or the lines of the face.

||Me*tos"te*on (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; after + &?; bone.] (Anat.) The ||postero-lateral ossification in the sternum of birds; also, the part ||resulting from such ossification.

<! p. 920 !>

Me"tre (m"tr), n. See Meter.

Met"ric (mt"rk), a. [L. metricus, Gr. &?;: cf. F. métrique. See Meter rhythm.] 1. Relating to measurement; involving, or proceeding by, measurement.

2. Of or pertaining to the meter as a standard of measurement; of or pertaining to the decimal system of measurement of which a meter is the unit; as, the metric system; a metric measurement.

Metric analysis (Chem.), analysis by volume; volumetric analysis. -- Metric system, a system of weights and measures originating in France, the use of which is required by law in many countries, and permitted in many others, including the United States and England. The principal unit is the meter (see Meter). From this are formed the are, the liter, the stere, the gram, etc. These units, and others derived from them, are divided decimally, and larger units are formed from multiples by 10, 100, 1,000, and 10,000. The successive multiplies are designated by the prefixes, deca- , hecto-, kilo-, and myria-; successive parts by deci-, centi-, and milli-. The prefixes mega- and micro- are sometimes used to denote a multiple by one million, and the millionth part, respectively. See the words formed with these prefixes in the Vocabulary. For metric tables, see p. 1682.

Met"ric*al (?), a. 1. Of or pertaining to the meter; arranged in meter; consisting of verses; as, metrical compositions.

2. Of or pertaining to measurement; as, the inch, foot, yard, etc., are metrical terms; esp., of or pertaining to the metric system.

Met"ric*al*ly, adv. In a metrical manner.

Me*tri"cian (?), n. [Cf. F. métricien. See Meter rhythm.] A composer of verses. [Obs.]

Met"ric sys"tem (?). See Metric, a.

Met`ri*fi*ca"tion (?), n. Composition in metrical form; versification. [R.] Tennyson.

Met"ri*fy (?), v. i. [L. metrum meter + -fy: cf. F. métrifier.] To make verse. [R.] Skelton.

Me"trist (?), n. A maker of verses. Bale.

Spenser was no mere metrist, but a great composer.

Lowell.

||Me*tri"tis (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; womb + -tis.] (Med.) ||Inflammation of the womb.

Met"ro*chrome (?), n. [Gr. &?; + &?; color.] An instrument for measuring colors.

Met"ro*graph (?), n. [Gr. &?; measure + -graph.] An instrument attached to a locomotive for recording its speed and the number and duration of its stops.

Met`ro*log"ic*al (?), a. [Cf. F. métrologique.] Of or pertaining to metrology.

Me*trol"o*gy (?), n. [Gr. &?; measure + -métrologie.] The science of, or a system of, weights and measures; also, a treatise on the subject.

Met`ro*ma"ni*a (?), n. [Gr. &?; measure + E. mania.] A mania for writing verses.

Met`ro*ma"ni*ac (?), n. One who has metromania.

Me*trom"e*ter (?), n. [Gr. &?; womb + -meter.] (Med.) An instrument for measuring the size of the womb. Knight.

Met"ro*nome (?), n. [Gr. &?; measure + &?; distribute, assign: cf. F. métronome, It. metronomo.] An instrument consisting of a short pendulum with a sliding weight. It is set in motion by clockwork, and serves to measure time in music.

Me*tron"o*my (?), n. [See Metronome.] Measurement of time by an instrument.

Met`ro*nym"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?;; &?; mother + &?;, for &?; name.] Derived from the name of one's mother, or other female ancestor; as, a metronymic name or appellation. -- n. A metronymic appellation.

Met"ro*pole (?), n. [Cf. F. métropole. See Metropolis.] A metropolis. [Obs.] Holinshed.

Me*trop"o*lis (?), n. [L. metropolis, Gr. &?;, prop., the mother city (in relation to colonies); &?; mother + &?; city. See Mother, and Police.]

1. The mother city; the chief city of a kingdom, state, or country.

[Edinburgh] gray metropolis of the North.

Tennyson.

2. (Eccl.) The seat, or see, of the metropolitan, or highest church dignitary.

The great metropolis and see of Rome.

Shak.

Met`ro*pol"i*tan (?; 277), a. [L. metropolitanus: cf. F. métropolitain.]

1. Of or pertaining to the capital or principal city of a country; as, metropolitan luxury.

2. (Eccl.) Of, pertaining to, or designating, a metropolitan or the presiding bishop of a country or province, his office, or his dignity; as, metropolitan authority. "Bishops metropolitan." Sir T. More.

Met`ro*pol"i*tan, n. [LL. metropolitanus.] 1. The superior or presiding bishop of a country or province.

2. (Lat. Church.) An archbishop.

3. (Gr. Church) A bishop whose see is a civil metropolis. His rank is intermediate between that of an archbishop and a patriarch. Hook.

Met`ro*pol"i*tan*ate (?), n. The see of a metropolitan bishop. Milman.

Me*trop"o*lite (?), n. [L. metropolita, Gr. &?;.] A metropolitan. Barrow.

Met`ro*po*lit"ic*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to a metropolis; being a metropolis; metropolitan; as, the metropolitical chair. Bp. Hall.

||Met`ror*rha"gi*a (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; womb + &?; to break.] ||(Med.) Profuse bleeding from the womb, esp. such as does not occur at ||the menstrual period.

Met"ro*scope (?), n. [Gr. &?; womb + -scope.] A modification of the stethoscope, for directly auscultating the uterus from the vagina.

||Met`ro*si*de"ros (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; heart of a tree + &?; ||iron.] (Bot.) A myrtaceous genus of trees or shrubs, found in ||Australia and the South Sea Islands, and having very hard wood. ||Metrosideros vera is the true ironwood.

Met"ro*tome (?), n. [See Metrotomy.] (Surg.) An instrument for cutting or scarifying the uterus or the neck of the uterus.

Me*trot"o*my (?), n. [Gr. &?; womb + &?; to cut: cf. F. métrotomie.] (Surg.) The operation of cutting into the uterus; hysterotomy; the Cæsarean section.

-me*try (?). [See -meter.] A suffix denoting the art, process, or science, of measuring; as, acidimetry, chlorometry, chronometry.

Mette (?), obs. imp. of Mete, to dream. Chaucer.

Met"tle (?), n. [E. metal, used in a tropical sense in allusion to the temper of the metal of a sword blade. See Metal.] Substance or quality of temperament; spirit, esp. as regards honor, courage, fortitude, ardor, etc.; disposition; -- usually in a good sense.

A certain critical hour which shall . . . try what mettle his heart
is made of.

South.

Gentlemen of brave mettle.

Shak.

The winged courser, like a generous horse, Shows most true mettle
when you check his course.

Pope.

To put one one's mettle, to cause or incite one to use one's best efforts.

Met"tled (?), a. Having mettle; high-spirited; ardent; full of fire. Addison.

Met"tle*some (?), a. Full of spirit; possessing constitutional ardor; fiery; as, a mettlesome horse.

-- Met"tle*some*ly, adv. -- Met"tle*some*ness, n.

Meute (?), n. A cage for hawks; a mew. See 4th Mew, 1. Milman.

Meve (?), v. t. & i. To move. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Mew (?), n. [AS. m&?;w, akin to D. meeuw, G. möwe, OHG. m&?;h, Icel. mr.] (Zoöl.) A gull, esp. the common British species (Larus canus); called also sea mew, maa, mar, mow, and cobb.

Mew, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mewed; p. pr. & vb. n. Mewing.] [OE. muen, F. muer, fr. L. mutare to change, fr. movere to move. See Move, and cf. Mew a cage, Molt.] To shed or cast; to change; to molt; as, the hawk mewed his feathers.

Nine times the moon had mewed her horns.

Dryden.

Mew, v. i. To cast the feathers; to molt; hence, to change; to put on a new appearance.

Now everything doth mew, And shifts his rustic winter robe.

Turbervile.

Mew, n. [OE. mue, F. mue change of feathers, scales, skin, the time or place when the change occurs, fr. muer to molt, mew, L. mutare to change. See 2d Mew.]

1. A cage for hawks while mewing; a coop for fattening fowls; hence, any inclosure; a place of confinement or shelter; -- in the latter sense usually in the plural.

Full many a fat partrich had he in mewe.

Chaucer.

Forthcoming from her darksome mew.

Spenser.

Violets in their secret mews.

Wordsworth.

2. A stable or range of stables for horses; - - compound used in the plural, and so called from the royal stables in London, built on the site of the king's mews for hawks.

Mew, v. t. [From Mew a cage.] To shut up; to inclose; to confine, as in a cage or other inclosure.

More pity that the eagle should be mewed.

Shak.

Close mewed in their sedans, for fear of air.

Dryden.

Mew, v. i. [Of imitative origin; cf. G. miauen.] To cry as a cat. [Written also meaw, meow.] Shak.

Mew, n. The common cry of a cat. Shak.

Mewl (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Mewled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Mewling.] [Cf. F. miauler to mew, E. mew to cry as a cat. Cf. Miaul.] To cry, as a young child; to squall. [Written also meawl.] Shak.

Mewl"er (?), n. One that mewls.

Mews (?), n. sing. & pl. [Prop. pl. of mew. See Mew a cage.] An alley where there are stables; a narrow passage; a confined place. [Eng.]

Mr. Turveydrop's great room . . . was built out into a mews at the
back.

Dickens.

||Mex*al" (?), Mex"i*cal (#), n. [Sp. mexcal.] See Mescal.

Mex"i*can (?), a. Of or pertaining to Mexico or its people. -- n. A native or inhabitant of Mexico.

Mexican poppy (Bot.), a tropical American herb of the Poppy family (Argemone Mexicana) with much the look of a thistle, but having large yellow or white blossoms. -- Mexican tea (Bot.), an aromatic kind of pigweed from tropical America (Chenopodium ambrosioides).

Mex"i*can*ize (?), v. t. To cause to be like the Mexicans, or their country, esp. in respect of frequent revolutions of government.

Mex"i*can*ize, v. i. To become like the Mexicans, or their country or government.

Meyn"e (mn"), n. [Obs.] Same as Meine.

Mez*cal" (?), n. Same as Mescal.

Me*ze"re*on (?), n. [F. mézéréon, Per. mzriyn.] (Bot.) A small European shrub (Daphne Mezereum), whose acrid bark is used in medicine.

||Mez*qui"ta (?), n. [Sp.] A mosque.

Mez"u*zoth (?), n. [Heb. mzzth, pl. of mzzh doorpost.] A piece of parchment bearing the Decalogue and attached to the doorpost; -- in use among orthodox Hebrews.

Mez"za*nine (?), n. [F. mezzanine, It. mezzanino, fr. mezzano middle, fr. mezzo middle, half. See Mezzo.] (Arch.) (a) Same as Entresol. (b) A partial story which is not on the same level with the story of the main part of the edifice, as of a back building, where the floors are on a level with landings of the staircase of the main house.

||Mez"za vo"ce (?). [It., fr. mezzo, fem. mezza middle, half + voce ||voice, L. vox.] (Mus.) With a medium fullness of sound.

||Mez"zo (?), a. [It., from L. medius middle, half. See Mid, a.] (Mus.) ||Mean; not extreme.

Mez"zo-re*lie"vo (?), n. Mezzo- rilievo.

||Mez"zo-ri*lie"vo (?), n. [It.] (a) A middle degree of relief in ||figures, between high and low relief. (b) Sculpture in this kind of ||relief. See under Alto-rilievo.

Mez"zo-so*pra"no (?), a. (Mus.) Having a medium compass between the soprano and contralto; -- said of the voice of a female singer. -- n. (a) A mezzo-soprano voice. (b) A person having such a voice.

Mez"zo*tint (?), n. [Cf. F. mezzo- tinto.] A manner of engraving on copper or steel by drawing upon a surface previously roughened, and then removing the roughness in places by scraping, burnishing, etc., so as to produce the requisite light and shade. Also, an engraving so produced.

Mez"zo*tint, v. t. To engrave in mezzotint.

Mez"zo*tint`er (?), n. One who engraves in mezzotint.

Mez`zo*tin"to (?), n. [It. mezzo half + tinto tinted, p. p. of tingere to dye, color, tinge, L. tingere. See Mezzo.] Mezzotint.

Mez`zo*tin"to, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mezzotintoed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Mezzotintoing (?).] To engrave in mezzotint; to represent by mezzotint.

Mhorr (?), n. (Zoöl.) See Mohr.

Mi (?), n. [It.] (Mus.) A syllable applied to the third tone of the scale of C, i. e., to E, in European solmization, but to the third tone of any scale in the American system.

Mi*a"mis (?), n. pl.; sing. Miami (&?;). (Ethnol.) A tribe of Indians that formerly occupied the country between the Wabash and Maumee rivers.

Mi*ar"gy*rite (?), n. [Gr. &?; less + &?; silver. So called because it contains less silver than some kindred ore.] (Min.) A mineral of an iron-black color, and very sectile, consisting principally of sulphur, antimony, and silver.

Mi"as (?), n. [Malayan.] The orang-outang.

Mi*asc"ite (?), n. [Named from Miask, in the Ural Mountains.] (Min.) A granitoid rock containing feldspar, biotite, elæolite, and sodalite.

Mi"asm (?), n. [Cf. F. miasme.] Miasma.

Mi*as"ma (?), n.; pl. Miasmata (#). [NL., fr. Gr. &?; defilement, fr. &?; to pollute.] Infectious particles or germs floating in the air; air made noxious by the presence of such particles or germs; noxious effluvia; malaria.

Mi*as"mal (?), a. Containing miasma; miasmatic.

{ Mi`as*mat"ic (?), Mi`as*mat"ic*al (?), } a. [Cf. F. miasmatique.] Containing, or relating to, miasma; caused by miasma; as, miasmatic diseases.

Mi*as"ma*tist (?), n. One who has made a special study of miasma.

Mi`as*mol"o*gy (?), n. [Miasma + -logy.] That department of medical science which treats of miasma.

Mi*aul" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Miauled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Miauling.] [Cf. F. miauler, of imitative origin, and E. mew. Cf. Mewl.] To cry as a cat; to mew; to caterwaul. Sir W. Scott.

Mi*aul", n. The crying of a cat.

Mi"ca (?), n. [L. mica crumb, grain, particle; cf. F. mica.] (Min.) The name of a group of minerals characterized by highly perfect cleavage, so that they readily separate into very thin leaves, more or less elastic. They differ widely in composition, and vary in color from pale brown or yellow to green or black. The transparent forms are used in lanterns, the doors of stoves, etc., being popularly called isinglass. Formerly called also cat-silver, and glimmer.

The important species of the mica group are: muscovite, common or potash mica, pale brown or green, often silvery, including damourite (also called hydromica); biotite, iron-magnesia mica, dark brown, green, or black; lepidomelane, iron, mica, black; phlogopite, magnesia mica, colorless, yellow, brown; lepidolite, lithia mica, rose- red, lilac.

Mica (usually muscovite, also biotite) is an essential constituent of granite, gneiss, and mica slate; biotite is common in many eruptive rocks; phlogopite in crystalline limestone and serpentine.

Mica diorite (Min.), an eruptive rock allied to diorite but containing mica (biotite) instead of hornblende. -- Mica powder, a kind of dynamite containing fine scales of mica. -- Mica schist, Mica slate (Geol.), a schistose rock, consisting of mica and quartz with, usually, some feldspar.

Mi*ca`ce*o-cal*ca"re*ous (?), a. (Geol.) Partaking of the nature of, or consisting of, mica and lime; -- applied to a mica schist containing carbonate of lime.

Mi*ca"ceous (?), a. [Cf. F. micacé.] Pertaining to, or containing, mica; splitting into laminæ or leaves like mica.

Mice (?), n., pl of Mouse.

||Mi*cel"la (?), n.; pl. Micellæ (#). [NL., dim. of L. mica a morsel, ||grain.] (Biol.) A theoretical aggregation of molecules constituting a ||structural particle of protoplasm, capable of increase or diminution ||without change in chemical nature.

{ Mich, Miche } (?), v. i. [OE. michen; cf. OE. muchier, mucier, to conceal, F. musser, and OHG. mhhen to waylay. Cf. Micher, Curmudgeon, Muset.] To lie hid; to skulk; to act, or carry one's self, sneakingly. [Obs. or Colloq.] [Written also meach and meech.] Spenser.

Mich"ael*mas (?), n. [Michael + mass religious service; OE. Mighelmesse.] The feast of the archangel Michael, a church festival, celebrated on the 29th of September. Hence, colloquially, autumn.

Michaelmas daisy. (Bot.) See under Daisy.

Mich"er (?), n. [OE. michare, muchare. See Mich.] One who skulks, or keeps out of sight; hence, a truant; an idler; a thief, etc. [Obs.] Shak.

Mich"er*y (?), n. Theft; cheating. [Obs.] Gower.

Mich"ing, a. Hiding; skulking; cowardly. [Colloq.] [Written also meaching and meeching.]

<! p. 921 !>

Mic"kle (mk"k'l), a. [OE. mikel, muchel, mochel, mukel, AS. micel, mycel; akin to OS. mikil, OHG. mihil, mihhil, Icel. mikill, mykill, Goth. mikils, L. magnus, Gr. me`gas, gen. mega`loy; cf. Skr. mahat. &radic;103. Cf. Much, Muckle, Magnitude.] Much; great. [Written also muckle and mockle.] [Old Eng. & Scot.] "A man of mickle might." Spenser.

Mic"macs (?), n. pl.; sing. Micmac (&?;). (Ethnol.) A tribe of Indians inhabiting Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. [Written also Mikmaks.]

Mi"co (?), n. [Sp. or Pg. mico.] (Zoöl.) A small South American monkey (Mico melanurus), allied to the marmoset. The name was originally applied to an albino variety.

Mi`cra*cous"tic (?), a. Same as Microustic.

||Mi*cras"ter (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. mikro`s small + &?; star.] ||(Paleon.) A genus of sea urchins, similar to Spatangus, abounding in ||the chalk formation; -- from the starlike disposal of the ambulacral ||furrows.

Mi`cren*ceph"a*lous (?), [Micr- + Gr. &?; brain.] Having a small brain.

{ Mi"cro- (?), Mi"cr- }. [Gr. mikro`s small.] A combining form signifying: (a) Small, little, trivial, slight; as, microcosm, microscope. (b) (Metric System, Elec., Mech., etc.) A millionth part of; as, microfarad, microohm, micrometer.

Mi`cro*am`père" (?), n. [Micr- + ampère.] (Elec.) One of the smaller measures of electrical currents; the millionth part of one ampère.

||Mi`cro*bac*te"ri*a (?), n. pl. [NL. See Micro-, and Bacterium.] ||(Biol.) In the classification of Cohn, one of the four tribes of ||Bacteria.

In this classification bacteria are divided into four tribes: 1. Spherobacteria, or spherical bacteria, as the genus Micrococcus. 2. Microbacteria, or bacteria in the form of short rods, including the genus Bacterium. 3. Desmobacteria, or bacteria in straight filaments, of which the genus Bacillus is a type. 4. Spirobacteria, or bacteria in spiral filaments, as the genus Vibrio.

{ Mi"crobe (?), ||Mi*cro"bi*on (?), } n. [NL. microbion, fr. Gr. &?; little + &?; life.] (Biol.) A microscopic organism; -- particularly applied to bacteria and especially to pathogenic forms; as, the microbe of fowl cholera.

Mi*cro"bi*an (?), a. (Biol.) Of, pertaining to, or caused by, microbes; as, the microbian theory; a microbian disease.

Mi*crob"ic (?), a. (Biol.) Of or pertaining to a microbe.

Mi*crob"i*cide (?), n. [Microbe + L. caedere to kill.] (Biol.) Any agent detrimental to, or destructive of, the life of microbes or bacterial organisms.

{ Mi`cro*ce*phal"ic (?), Mi`cro*ceph"a*lous (?), } a. [Micro- + cephalic, cephalous.] (Anat.) Having a small head; having the cranial cavity small; -- opposed to megacephalic.

Mi`cro-chem"ic*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to micro-chemistry; as, a micro-chemical test.

Mi`cro-chem"is*try (?), n. [Micro- + chemistry.] The application of chemical tests to minute objects or portions of matter, magnified by the use of the microscopy; -- distinguished from macro-chemistry.

Mi`cro*chro*nom"e*ter (?), n. A chronoscope.

Mi"cro*cline (?), n. [Micro- + Gr. &?; to incline.] (Min.) A mineral of the feldspar group, like orthoclase or common feldspar in composition, but triclinic in form.

Mi`cro*coc"cal (?), a. Of or pertaining to micrococci; caused by micrococci. Nature.

||Mi`cro*coc"cus (?), n.; pl. Micrococci (#). [NL. See Micro-, and ||Coccus.] (Biol.) A genus of Spherobacteria, in the form of very small ||globular or oval cells, forming, by transverse division, filaments, ||or chains of cells, or in some cases single organisms shaped like ||dumb-bells (Diplococcus), all without the power of motion. See ||Illust. of Ascoccus.

Physiologically, micrococci are divided into three groups; chromogenic, characterized by their power of forming pigment; zymogenic, including those associated with definite chemical processes; and pathogenic, those connected with disease.

Mi"cro*cosm (?), n. [F. microcosme, L. microcosmus, fr. Gr. mikro`s small + ko`smos the world.] A little world; a miniature universe. Hence (so called by Paracelsus), a man, as a supposed epitome of the exterior universe or great world. Opposed to macrocosm. Shak.

{ Mi`cro*cos"mic (?), Mi`cro*cos"mic*al (?), } a. [Cf. F. microcosmique.] Of or pertaining to the microcosm.

Microcosmic salt (Chem.), a white crystalline substance obtained by mixing solutions of sodium phosphate and ammonium phosphate, and also called hydric-sodic- ammonic-phosphate. It is a powerful flux, and is used as a substitute for borax as a blowpipe reagent in testing for the metallic oxides. Originally obtained by the alchemists from human urine, and called sal microcosmicum.

Mi`cro*cos*mog"ra*phy (?), n. [Microcosm + -graphy.] Description of man as a microcosm.

Mi`cro*cou`lomb" (?), n. [Micro- + coulomb.] (Elec.) A measure of electrical quantity; the millionth part of one coulomb.

Mi`cro*cous"tic (?), a. [Micro- + acoustic: cf. F. microcoustique, micracoustique.] Pertaining, or suited, to the audition of small sounds; fitted to assist hearing.

Mi`cro*cous"tic, n. An instrument for making faint sounds audible, as to a partially deaf person.

Mi`cro*crith" (?), n. [Micro- + crith.] (Chem.) The weight of the half hydrogen molecule, or of the hydrogen atom, taken as the standard in comparing the atomic weights of the elements; thus, an atom of oxygen weighs sixteen microcriths. See Crith. J. P. Cooke.

Mi`cro*crys"tal*line (?), a. [Micro- + crystalline.] (Crystallog.) Crystalline on a fine, or microscopic, scale; consisting of fine crystals; as, the ground mass of certain porphyrics is microcrystalline.

Mi"cro*cyte (?), n. [Micro- + Gr. &?; a hollow vessel.] (Physiol.) One of the elementary granules found in blood. They are much smaller than an ordinary corpuscle, and are particularly noticeable in disease, as in anæmia.

Mic"ro*dont (?), a. [Micr- + Gr. 'odoy`s, 'odo`ntos, a tooth.] (Anat.) Having small teeth.

Mi`cro*far"ad (?), n. [Micro- + farad.] (Elec.) The millionth part of a farad.

Mi"cro*form (?), n. [Micro- + form, n.] (Biol.) A microscopic form of life; an animal or vegetable organism of microscopic size.

Mi`cro-ge`o*log"ic*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to micro-geology.

Mi`cro-ge*ol"o*gy (?), n. [Micro- + geology.] The part of geology relating to structure and organisms which require to be studied with a microscope.

Mi"cro*graph (?), n. [See Micrography.] An instrument for executing minute writing or engraving.

Mi`cro*graph"ic (?), a. Of or pertaining to micrography.

Mi*crog"ra*phy (?), n. [Micro- + -graphy: cf. F. micrographie.] The description of microscopic objects.

Mi*crohm" (?), n. [Micr- + ohm.] (Elec.) The millionth part of an ohm.

||Mi`cro*lep`i*dop"te*ra (?), n. pl. [NL. See Micro-, and Lepidoptera.] ||(Zoöl.) A tribe of Lepidoptera, including a vast number of minute ||species, as the plume moth, clothes moth, etc.

||Mi`cro*les"tes (?), n. [NL., from Gr. mikro`s small + &?; a robber.] ||(Paleon.) An extinct genus of small Triassic mammals, the oldest yet ||found in European strata.

Mi"cro*lite (?), n. [Micro- + -lite.] (Min.)

1. A rare mineral of resinous luster and high specific gravity. It is a tantalate of calcium, and occurs in octahedral crystals usually very minute.

2. (Min.) A minute inclosed crystal, often observed when minerals or rocks are examined in thin sections under the microscope.

Mi"cro*lith (?), n. [Micro- + lith.] (Min.) Same as Microlite, 2.

Mi`cro*lith"ic (?), a. Formed of small stones.

{ Mi`cro*log"ic (?), Mi`cro*log"ic*al (?), } a. Of or pertaining to micrology; very minute; as, micrologic examination. -- Mi`cro*log"ic*al*ly, adv.

Mi*crol"o*gy (?), n. [Micro- + -logy.]

1. That part of science which treats of microscopic objects, or depends on microscopic observation.

2. Attention to petty items or differences. W. Taylor.