Chapter L: F. Ward (21)

2. (Zoöl.) The musk deer. See Musk deer (below).

3. The perfume emitted by musk, or any perfume somewhat similar.

4. (Bot.) (a) The musk plant (Mimulus moschatus). (b) A plant of the genus Erodium (E. moschatum); -- called also musky heron's-bill. (c) A plant of the genus Muscari; grape hyacinth.

Musk beaver (Zoöl.), muskrat (1). -- Musk beetle (Zoöl.), a European longicorn beetle (Aromia moschata), having an agreeable odor resembling that of attar of roses. -- Musk cat. See Bondar. -- Musk cattle (Zoöl.), musk oxen. See Musk ox (below). -- Musk deer (Zoöl.), a small hornless deer (Moschus moschiferus), which inhabits the elevated parts of Central Asia. The upper canine teeth of the male are developed into sharp tusks, curved downward. The male has scent bags on the belly, from which the musk of commerce is derived. The deer is yellow or red-brown above, whitish below. The pygmy musk deer are chevrotains, as the kanchil and napu. -- Musk duck. (Zoöl.) (a) The Muscovy duck. (b) An Australian duck (Biziura lobata). -- Musk lorikeet (Zoöl.), the Pacific lorikeet (Glossopsitta australis) of Australia. -- Musk mallow (Bot.), a name of two malvaceous plants: (a) A species of mallow (Malva moschata), the foliage of which has a faint musky smell. (b) An Asiatic shrub. See Abelmosk. - - Musk orchis (Bot.), a European plant of the Orchis family (Herminium Minorchis); -- so called from its peculiar scent. -- Musk ox (Zoöl.), an Arctic hollow-horned ruminant (Ovibos moschatus), now existing only in America, but found fossil in Europe and Asia. It is covered with a thick coat of fine yellowish wool, and with long dark hair, which is abundant and shaggy on the neck and shoulders. The full-grown male weighs over four hundred pounds. -- Musk parakeet. (Zoöl.) Same as Musk lorikeet (above). -- Musk pear (Bot.), a fragrant kind of pear much resembling the Seckel pear. -- Musk plant (Bot.), the Mimulus moschatus, a plant found in Western North America, often cultivated, and having a strong musky odor. -- Musk root (Bot.), the name of several roots with a strong odor, as that of the nard (Nardostachys Jatamansi) and of a species of Angelica. -- Musk rose (Bot.), a species of rose (Rosa moschata), having peculiarly fragrant white blossoms. -- Musk seed (Bot.), the seed of a plant of the Mallow family (Hibiscus moschatus), used in perfumery and in flavoring. See Abelmosk. -- Musk sheep (Zoöl.), the musk ox. -- Musk shrew (Zoöl.), a shrew (Sorex murinus), found in India. It has a powerful odor of musk. Called also sondeli, and mondjourou. -- Musk thistle (Bot.), a species of thistle (Carduus nutans), having fine large flowers, and leaves smelling strongly of musk. -- Musk tortoise, Musk turtle (Zoöl.), a small American fresh- water tortoise (Armochelys, or Ozotheca, odorata), which has a distinct odor of musk; -- called also stinkpot.

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Musk (msk), v. t. To perfume with musk.

Mus"ka*del` (ms"k*dl`), n. See Muscadel.

Mus"kat (ms"kt), n. See Muscat.

Mus"kel*lunge (?), n. [From the Amer. Indian name.] (Zoöl.) A large American pike (Esox nobilior) found in the Great Lakes, and other Northern lakes, and in the St. Lawrence River. It is valued as a food fish. [Written also maskallonge, maskinonge, muskallonge, muskellonge, and muskelunjeh.]

Mus"ket (?), n. [F. mousquet, It. moschetto, formerly, a kind of hawk; cf. OF. mousket, moschet, a kind of hawk falcon, F. mouchet, prop., a little fly (the hawk prob. being named from its size), fr. L. musca a fly. Cf. Mosquito.] [Sometimes written also musquet.] 1. (Zoöl.) The male of the sparrow hawk.

2. A species of firearm formerly carried by the infantry of an army. It was originally fired by means of a match, or matchlock, for which several mechanical appliances (including the flintlock, and finally the percussion lock) were successively substituted. This arm has been generally superseded by the rifle.

Mus`ket*eer" (?), n. [F. mousquetaire; cf. It. moschettiere.] A soldier armed with a musket.

Mus*ke"to (?), n. See Mosquito.

Mus`ket*oon" (?), n. [F. mousqueton; cf. It. moschettone.] 1. A short musket.

2. One who is armed with such a musket.

Mus"ket*ry (?), n. [F. mousqueterie; cf. It. moschetteria.] 1. Muskets, collectively.

2. The fire of muskets. Motley.

Musk"i*ness (?), n. The quality or state of being musky; the scent of musk.

Musk"mel`on (?), n. [Musk + melon.] (Bot.) The fruit of a cucurbitaceous plant (Cucumis Melo), having a peculiar aromatic flavor, and cultivated in many varieties, the principal sorts being the cantaloupe (Cucumis Melo cantalupensis), of oval form and yellowish flesh, and the smaller nutmeg melon with greenish flesh. See Illust. of Melon.

Mus*ko"gees (?), n. pl.; sing. Muskogee (&?;). (Ethnol.) A powerful tribe of North American Indians that formerly occupied the region of Georgia, Florida, and Alabama. They constituted a large part of the Creek confederacy. [Written also Muscogees.]

Musk"rat` (?), n. 1. (Zoöl.) A North American aquatic fur-bearing rodent (Fiber zibethicus). It resembles a rat in color and having a long scaly tail, but the tail is compressed, the hind feet are webbed, and the ears are concealed in the fur. It has scent glands which secrete a substance having a strong odor of musk. Called also musquash, musk beaver, and ondatra.

2. (Zoöl.) The musk shrew.

3. (Zoöl.) The desman.

Musk"wood` (?), n. [So called from its fragrance.] (Bot.) (a) The wood of a West Indian tree of the Mahogany family (Moschoxylum Swartzii). (b) The wood of an Australian tree (Eurybia argophylla).

Musk"y (?), a. Having an odor of musk, or somewhat the like. Milton.

Mus"lim (?), n. See Moslem.

Mus"lin (?), n. [F. mousseline; cf. It. mussolino, mussolo, Sp. muselina; all from Mussoul a city of Mesopotamia, Ar. Mausil, Syr. Mauzol, Muzol, Mosul, where it was first manufactured. Cf. Mull a kind of cloth.] A thin cotton, white, dyed, or printed. The name is also applied to coarser and heavier cotton goods; as, shirting and sheeting muslins.

Muslin cambric. See Cambric. -- Muslin delaine, a light woolen fabric for women's dresses. See Delaine. [Written also mousseline de laine.]

Mus`lin*et" (?), n. [F. mousselinette.] A sort of coarse or light cotton cloth.

Mus"mon (?), n. [L. musmo, musimo, a Sardinian animal; cf. Gr. moy`smwn.] (Zoöl.) See Mouflon.

Mu`so*ma"ni*a (?), n. See Musicomania.

Mus"quash (?), n. [American Indian name.] (Zoöl.) See Muskrat.

Musquash root (Bot.), an umbelliferous plant (Cicuta maculata), having a poisonous root. See Water hemlock.

||Mus"quaw (?), n. [American Indian name.] (Zoöl.) The American black ||bear. See Bear.

Mus"quet (?), n. See Musket.

Mus*qui"to (?), n. (Zoöl.) See Mosquito.

{ Mus"role, Mus"rol } (?), n. [F. muserolle, fr. muserau a muzzle, OF. musel. See Muzzle.] The nose band of a horse's bridle.

Muss (?), n. [Cf. OF. mousche a fly, also, the play called muss, fr. L. musca a fly.] A scramble, as when small objects are thrown down, to be taken by those who can seize them; a confused struggle. Shak.

Muss, n. A state of confusion or disorder; -- prob. variant of mess, but influenced by muss, a scramble. [Colloq. U.S.]

Muss, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mussed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Mussing.] To disarrange, as clothing; to rumple. [Colloq. U.S.]

Muss, n. [Cf. OE. mus a mouse. See Mouse.] A term of endearment. [Obs.] See Mouse. B. Jonson.

Mus"sel (?), n. [See Muscle, 3.] 1. (Zoöl.) Any one of many species of marine bivalve shells of the genus Mytilus, and related genera, of the family Mytidæ. The common mussel (Mytilus edulis; see Illust. under Byssus), and the larger, or horse, mussel (Modiola modiolus), inhabiting the shores both of Europe and America, are edible. The former is extensively used as food in Europe.

2. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of Unio, and related fresh-water genera; -- called also river mussel. See Naiad, and Unio.

Mussel digger (Zoöl.), the grayback whale. See Gray whale, under Gray.

Mus`si*ta"tion (?), n. [L. mussitatio suppression of the voice, fr. mussitare to be silent, to murmur.] A speaking in a low tone; mumbling. [Obs.]

Mus"site (?), n. (Min.) A variety of pyroxene, from the Mussa Alp in Piedmont; diopside.

Mus"sul*man, n.; pl. Mussulmans (#). [Ar. muslimn, pl. of muslim: cf. F. & Sp. musulman. See Moslem.] A Mohammedan; a Moslem.

Mus`sul*man"ic (?), a. Of, pertaining to, or like, the Mussulmans, or their customs: Mohammedan.

Mus"sul*man*ish (?), a. Mohammedan.

Mus"sul*man*ism (?), n. Mohammedanism.

Mus"sul*man*ly, adv. In the manner of Moslems.

Muss"y (?), a. [From 2d Muss.] Disarranged; rumpled. [Colloq. U.S.]

Must (mst), v. i. or auxiliary. [OE. moste, a pret. generally meaning, could, was free to, pres. mot, moot, AS. mste, pret. mt, pres.; akin to D. moetan to be obliged, OS. mtan to be free, to be obliged, OHG. muozan, G. müssen to be obliged, Sw. måste must, Goth. gamtan to have place, have room, to able; of unknown origin.] 1. To be obliged; to be necessitated; - - expressing either physical or moral necessity; as, a man must eat for nourishment; we must submit to the laws.

2. To be morally required; to be necessary or essential to a certain quality, character, end, or result; as, he must reconsider the matter; he must have been insane.

Likewise must the deacons be grave.

1 Tim. iii. 8.

Morover, he [a bishop] must have a good report of them which are
without.

1 Tim. iii. 7.

The principal verb, if easily supplied by the mind, was formerly often omitted when must was used; as, I must away. "I must to Coventry." Shak.

Must, n. [AS. must, fr. L. mustum (sc. vinum), from mustus young, new, fresh. Cf. Mustard.] 1. The expressed juice of the grape, or other fruit, before fermentation. "These men ben full of must." Wyclif (Acts ii. 13. ).

No fermenting must fills . . . the deep vats.

Longfellow.

2. [Cf. Musty.] Mustiness.

Must, v. t. & i. To make musty; to become musty.

Mus"tac (?), n. [F. moustac.] (Zoöl.) A small tufted monkey.

Mus*tache" (ms*tsh"; 277), n.; pl. Mustaches (&?;). [Written also moustache.] [F. moustache, It. mostaccio visage, mostacchio mustache, fr. Gr. my`stax upper lip and the beard upon it; cf. ma`stax mouth: cf. Sp. mostacho.] 1. That part of the beard which grows on the upper lip; hair left growing above the mouth.

2. (Zoöl.) A West African monkey (Cercopithecus cephus). It has yellow whiskers, and a triangular blue mark on the nose.

3. (Zoöl.) Any conspicuous stripe of color on the side of the head, beneath the eye of a bird.

Mus*ta"cho (?), n.; pl. Mustachios (&?;). A mustache. Longfellow.

Mus*ta"choed (?), a. Having mustachios.

Mus`ta*i"ba (?), n. A close- grained, heavy wood of a brownish color, brought from Brazil, and used in turning, for making the handles of tools, and the like. [Written also mostahiba.] MaElrath.

Mus"tang (?), n. [Sp. musteño belonging to the graziers, strayed, wild.] (Zoöl.) The half-wild horse of the plains in Mexico, California, etc. It is small, hardy, and easily sustained.

Mustard grape (Bot.), a species of grape (Vitis candicans), native in Arkansas and Texas. The berries are small, light-colored, with an acid skin and a sweet pulp.

Mus"tard (?), n. [OF. moustarde, F. moutarde, fr. L. mustum must, -- mustard was prepared for use by being mixed with must. See Must, n.] 1. (Bot.) The name of several cruciferous plants of the genus Brassica (formerly Sinapis), as white mustard (B. alba), black mustard (B. Nigra), wild mustard or charlock (B. Sinapistrum).

There are also many herbs of the same family which are called mustard, and have more or less of the flavor of the true mustard; as, bowyer's mustard (Lepidium ruderale); hedge mustard (Sisymbrium officinale); Mithridate mustard (Thlaspi arvense); tower mustard (Arabis perfoliata); treacle mustard (Erysimum cheiranthoides).

2. A powder or a paste made from the seeds of black or white mustard, used as a condiment and a rubefacient. Taken internally it is stimulant and diuretic, and in large doses is emetic.

Mustard oil (Chem.), a substance obtained from mustard, as a transparent, volatile and intensely pungent oil. The name is also extended to a number of analogous compounds produced either naturally or artificially.

Mus*tee" (?), n. See Mestee.

Mus"te*line (?), a. [L. mustelinus, fr. mustela weasel.] (Zoöl.) Like or pertaining to the family Mustelidæ, or the weasels and martens.

Mus"ter (?), n. [OE. moustre, OF. mostre, moustre, F. montre, LL. monstra. See Muster, v. t.] 1. Something shown for imitation; a pattern. [Obs.]

2. A show; a display. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.

3. An assembling or review of troops, as for parade, verification of numbers, inspection, exercise, or introduction into service.

The hurried muster of the soldiers of liberty.

Hawthorne.

See how in warlike muster they appear, In rhombs, and wedges, and
half-moons, and wings.

Milton.

4. The sum total of an army when assembled for review and inspection; the whole number of effective men in an army.

And the muster was thirty thousands of men.

Wyclif.

Ye publish the musters of your own bands, and proclaim them to
amount of thousands.

Hooker.

5. Any assemblage or display; a gathering.

Of the temporal grandees of the realm, mentof their wives and
daughters, the muster was great and splendid.

Macaulay.

Muster book, a book in which military forces are registered. -- Muster file, a muster roll. -- Muster master (Mil.), one who takes an account of troops, and of their equipment; a mustering officer; an inspector. [Eng.] -- Muster roll (Mil.), a list or register of all the men in a company, troop, or regiment, present or accounted for on the day of muster. -- To pass muster, to pass through a muster or inspection without censure.

Such excuses will not pass muster with God.

South.

Mus"ter, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mustered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Mustering.] [OE. mustren, prop., to show, OF. mostrer, mustrer, moustrer, monstrer, F. montrer, fr. L. monstrare to show. See Monster.] 1. To collect and display; to assemble, as troops for parade, inspection, exercise, or the like. Spenser.

2. Hence: To summon together; to enroll in service; to get together. "Mustering all its force." Cowper.

All the gay feathers he could muster.

L'Estrange.

To muster troops into service (Mil.), to inspect and enter troops on the muster roll of the army. -- To muster troops out of service (Mil.), to register them for final payment and discharge. -- To muster up, to gather up; to succeed in obtaining; to obtain with some effort or difficulty.

One of those who can muster up sufficient sprightliness to engage
in a game of forfeits.

Hazlitt.

Mus"ter, v. i. To be gathered together for parade, inspection, exercise, or the like; to come together as parts of a force or body; as, his supporters mustered in force. "The mustering squadron." Byron.

Mus"ti*ly (?), a. In a musty state.

Mus"ti*ness, n. The quality or state of being musty.

Mus"ty (?), a. [Compar. Mustier (?); superl. Mustiest.] [From L. mustum must; or perh. fr. E. moist. Cf. Must, n., Moist.] 1. Having the rank, pungent, offensive odor and taste which substances of organic origin acquire during warm, moist weather; foul or sour and fetid; moldy; as, musty corn; musty books. Harvey.

2. Spoiled by age; rank; stale.

The proverb is somewhat musty.

Shak.

3. Dull; heavy; spiritless. "That he may not grow musty and unfit for conversation." Addison.

Mu`ta*bil"i*ty (?), n. [L. mutabilitas: cf. F. mutabilité.] The quality of being mutable, or subject to change or alteration, either in form, state, or essential character; susceptibility of change; changeableness; inconstancy; variation.

Plato confessed that the heavens and the frame of the world are
corporeal, and therefore subject to mutability.

Stillingfleet.

Mu"ta*ble (?), a. [L. mutabilis, fr. mutare to change. See Move.] 1. Capable of alteration; subject to change; changeable in form, qualities, or nature.

Things of the most accidental and mutable nature.

South.

2. Changeable; inconstant; unsettled; unstable; fickle. "Most mutable wishes." Byron.

Syn. -- Changeable; alterable; unstable; unsteady; unsettled; wavering; inconstant; variable; fickle.

Mu"ta*ble*ness, n. The quality of being mutable.

Mu"ta*bly, adv. Changeably.

Mu"ta*cism (?), n. See Mytacism.

Mu"tage (?), n. [F.] A process for checking the fermentation of the must of grapes.

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||Mu*tan"dum (m*tn"dm), n.; pl. Mutanda (#). [L., fr. mutare to ||change.] A thing which is to be changed; something which must be ||altered; -- used chiefly in the plural.

Mu*ta"tion (m*t"shn), n. [L. mutatio, fr. mutare to change: cf. F. mutation. See Mutable.] Change; alteration, either in form or qualities.

The vicissitude or mutations in the superior globe are no fit
matter for this present argument.

Bacon.

Mutch (much), n. [Cf. D. mutse a cap, G. mütze. Cf. Amice a cape.] The close linen or muslin cap of an old woman. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

Mutch"kin (?), n. A liquid measure equal to four gills, or an imperial pint. [Scot.]

Mute (mt), v. t. [L. mutare to change. See Molt.] To cast off; to molt.

Have I muted all my feathers?

Beau. & Fl.

Mute, v. t. & i. [F. mutir, émeutir, OF. esmeltir, fr. OD. smelten, prop., to melt. See Smelt.] To eject the contents of the bowels; -- said of birds. B. Jonson.

Mute, n. The dung of birds. Hudibras.

Mute, a. [L. mutus; cf. Gr. &?; to shut, Skr. m&?;ta bound, m&?;ka dumb: cf. OE. muet, fr. F. muet, a dim. of OF. mu, L. mutus.] 1. Not speaking; uttering no sound; silent.

All the heavenly choir stood mute, And silence was in heaven.

Milton.

In law a prisoner is said to stand mute, when, upon being arranged, he makes no answer, or does not plead directly, or will not put himself on trial.

2. Incapable of speaking; dumb. Dryden.

3. Not uttered; unpronounced; silent; also, produced by complete closure of the mouth organs which interrupt the passage of breath; -- said of certain letters. See 5th Mute, 2.

4. Not giving a ringing sound when struck; -- said of a metal.

Mute swan (Zoöl.), a European wild white swan (Cygnus gibbus), which produces no loud notes.

Syn. -- Silent; dumb; speechless. -- Mute, Silent, Dumb. One is silent who does not speak; one is dumb who can not, for want of the proper organs; as, a dumb beast, etc.; and hence, figuratively, we speak of a person as struck dumb with astonishment, etc. One is mute who is held back from speaking by some special cause; as, he was mute through fear; mute astonishment, etc. Such is the case with most of those who never speak from childhood; they are not ordinarily dumb, but mute because they are deaf, and therefore never learn to talk; and hence their more appropriate name is deaf-mutes.

They spake not a word; But, like dumb statues, or breathing stones,
Gazed each on other.

Shak.

All sat mute, Pondering the danger with deep thoughts.

Milton.

Mute, n. 1. One who does not speak, whether from physical inability, unwillingness, or other cause. Specifically: (a) One who, from deafness, either congenital or from early life, is unable to use articulate language; a deaf-mute. (b) A person employed by undertakers at a funeral. (c) A person whose part in a play does not require him to speak. (d) Among the Turks, an officer or attendant who is selected for his place because he can not speak.

2. (Phon.) A letter which represents no sound; a silent letter; also, a close articulation; an element of speech formed by a position of the mouth organs which stops the passage of the breath; as, p, b, d, k, t.

3. (Mus.) A little utensil made of brass, ivory, or other material, so formed that it can be fixed in an erect position on the bridge of a violin, or similar instrument, in order to deaden or soften the tone.

Mute"-hill` (?), n. See Moot- hill. [Scot.]

Mute"ly, adv. Without uttering words or sounds; in a mute manner; silently.

Mute"ness, n. The quality or state of being mute; speechlessness.

{ Mu"tic (?), Mu"ti*cous (?), } a. [L. muticus, for mutilus. See Mutilate.] (Bot. & Zoöl.) Without a point or pointed process; blunt.

Mu"ti*late (?), a. [L. mutilatus, p. p. of mutilare to mutilate, fr. mutilus maimed; cf. Gr. &?;, &?;. Cf. Mutton.] 1. Deprived of, or having lost, an important part; mutilated. Sir T. Browne.

2. (Zoöl.) Having finlike appendages or flukes instead of legs, as a cetacean.

Mu"ti*late, n. (Zoöl.) A cetacean, or a sirenian.

Mu"ti*late (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mutilated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Mutilating (?).] 1. To cut off or remove a limb or essential part of; to maim; to cripple; to hack; as, to mutilate the body, a statue, etc.

2. To destroy or remove a material part of, so as to render imperfect; as, to mutilate the orations of Cicero.

Among the mutilated poets of antiquity, there is none whose
fragments are so beautiful as those of Sappho.

Addison.

Mutilated gear, Mutilated wheel (Mach.), a gear wheel from a portion of whose periphery the cogs are omitted. It is used for giving intermittent movements.

Mu`ti*la"tion (?), n. [L. mutilatio: cf. F. mutilation.] The act of mutilating, or the state of being mutilated; deprivation of a limb or of an essential part.

Mu"ti*la"tor (?), n. [Cf. F. mutilateur.] One who mutilates.

Mu"ti*lous (?), a. [L. mutilus. See Mutilate.] Mutilated; defective; imperfect. [Obs.]

Mu"tine (?), n. [F. mutin.] A mutineer. [Obs.]

Mu"tine, v. i. [F. mutiner.] To mutiny. [Obs.]

Mu"ti*neer` (?), n. [See Mutiny.] One guilty of mutiny.

Mut"ing (?), n. Dung of birds.

Mu"ti*nous (?), a. [See Mutiny.] Disposed to mutiny; in a state of mutiny; characterized by mutiny; seditious; insubordinate.

The city was becoming mutinous.

Macaulay.

-- Mu"ti*nous*ly, adv. -- Mu"ti*nous*ness, n.

Mu"ti*ny (?), n.; pl. Mutinies (#). [From mutine to mutiny, fr. F. se mutiner, fr. F. mutin stubborn, mutinous, fr. OF. meute riot, LL. movita, fr. movitus, for L. motus, p. p. of movere to move. See Move.] 1. Insurrection against constituted authority, particularly military or naval authority; concerted revolt against the rules of discipline or the lawful commands of a superior officer; hence, generally, forcible resistance to rightful authority; insubordination.

In every mutiny against the discipline of the college, he was the
ringleader.

Macaulay.

2. Violent commotion; tumult; strife. [Obs.]

To raise a mutiny betwixt yourselves.

Shak.

Mutiny act (Law), an English statute reënacted annually to punish mutiny and desertion. Wharton.

Syn. -- See Insurrection.

Mu"ti*ny, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Mutinied (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Mutinying (?).] 1. To rise against, or refuse to obey, lawful authority in military or naval service; to excite, or to be guilty of, mutiny or mutinous conduct; to revolt against one's superior officer, or any rightful authority.

2. To fall into strife; to quarrel. [Obs.] Shak.

Mut"ism (?), n. The condition, state, or habit of being mute, or without speech. Max Müller.

Mut"ter (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Muttered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Muttering.] [Prob. of imitative origin; cf. L. muttire, mutire.] 1. To utter words indistinctly or with a low voice and lips partly closed; esp., to utter indistinct complaints or angry expressions; to grumble; to growl.

Wizards that peep, and that mutter.

Is. viii. 19.

Meantime your filthy foreigner will stare, And mutter to himself.

Dryden.

2. To sound with a low, rumbling noise.

Thick lightnings flash, the muttering thunder rolls.

Pope.

Mut"ter, v. t. To utter with imperfect articulations, or with a low voice; as, to mutter threats. Shak.

Mut"ter, n. Repressed or obscure utterance.

Mut"ter*er (?), n. One who mutters.

Mut"ter*ing*ly, adv. With a low voice and indistinct articulation; in a muttering manner.

Mut"ton (?), n. [OE. motoun, OF. moton, molton, a sheep, wether, F. mouton, LL. multo, by transposition of l fr. L. mutilus mutilated. See Mutilate.] 1. A sheep. [Obs.] Chapman.

Not so much ground as will feed a mutton.

Sir H. Sidney.

Muttons, beeves, and porkers are good old words for the living
quadrupeds.

Hallam.

2. The flesh of a sheep.

The fat of roasted mutton or beef.

Swift.

3. A loose woman; a prostitute. [Obs.]

Mutton bird (Zoöl.), the Australian short-tailed petrel (Nectris brevicaudus). -- Mutton chop, a rib of mutton for broiling, with the end of the bone at the smaller part chopped off. -- Mutton fish (Zoöl.), the American eelpout. See Eelpout. -- Mutton fist, a big brawny fist or hand. [Colloq.] Dryden. -- Mutton monger, a pimp. [Low & Obs.] Chapman. -- To return to one's muttons. [A translation of a phrase from a farce by De Brueys, revenons à nos moutons let us return to our sheep.] To return to one's topic, subject of discussion, etc. [Humorous]

I willingly return to my muttons.

H. R. Haweis.

Mut"ton*y (?), a. Like mutton; having a flavor of mutton.

Mu"tu*al (?), a. [F. mutuel, L. mutuus, orig., exchanged, borrowed, lent; akin to mutare to change. See Mutable.] 1. Reciprocally acting or related; reciprocally receiving and giving; reciprocally given and received; reciprocal; interchanged; as, a mutual love, advantage, assistance, aversion, etc.

Conspiracy and mutual promise.

Sir T. More.

Happy in our mutual help, And mutual love.

Milton.

A certain shyness on such subjects, which was mutual between the
sisters.

G. Eliot.

2. Possessed, experienced, or done by two or more persons or things at the same time; common; joint; as, mutual happiness; a mutual effort. Burke.

A vast accession of misery and woe from the mutual weeping, and
wailing, and gnashing of teeth.

Bentley.

This use of mutual as synonymous with common is inconsistent with the idea of interchange, or reciprocal relation, which properly belongs to it; but the word has been so used by many writers of high authority. The present tendency is toward a careful discrimination.

Mutual, as Johnson will tell us, means something reciprocal, a
giving and taking. How could people have mutual ancestors?

P. Harrison.

Mutual insurance, agreement among a number of persons to insure each other against loss, as by fire, death, or accident. -- Mutual insurance company, one which does a business of insurance on the mutual principle, the policy holders sharing losses and profits pro rata.

Syn. -- Reciprocal; interchanged; common.

Mu"tu*al*ism (?), n. (Ethics) The doctrine of mutual dependence as the condition of individual and social welfare. F. Harrison. H. Spencer. Mallock.

Mu`tu*al"i*ty (?), n. [Cf. F. mutualité.] 1. The quality of correlation; reciprocation; interchange; interaction; interdependence.

2. (Law) Reciprocity of consideration. Wharton.

Mu"tu*al*ly (?), adv. In a mutual manner.

Mu"tu*a*ry (?), n. [L. mutuarius mutual.See Mutuation.] (Law) One who borrows personal chattels which are to be consumed by him, and which he is to return or repay in kind. Bouvier.

Mu`tu*a"tion (?), n. [L. mutuatio, fr. mutuare, mutuari, to borrow, fr. mutuus. See Mutual.] The act of borrowing or exchanging. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

Mu"tule (?), n. [F., fr. L. mutulus.] (Arch.) A projecting block worked under the corona of the Doric corice, in the same situation as the modillion of the Corinthian and Composite orders. See Illust. of Gutta. Oxf. Gloss.

Mux (?), n. [Cf. Mixen.] Dirt; filth; muck. [Prov. Eng.] ose.

Mux, v. t. To mix in an untidy and offensive way; to make a mess of. [Prov. Eng.; Colloq. U.S.]

Mux"y (?), a. Soft; sticky, and dirty. [Prov. Eng.] See Mucky.

Muz"a*rab (?), n. [Sp. mozarabe, fr. Ar. mosta'rib, a name applied to strange tribes living among the Arabs.] (Eccl. Hist.) One of a denomination of Christians formerly living under the government of the Moors in Spain, and having a liturgy and ritual of their own. [Written also Mozarab, Mostarab.] Brande & C.

Muz`a*rab"ic (?), a. Of or pertaining to Muzarabs; as, the Muzarabic liturgy. [Written also Mozarabic.]

Muz"zi*ness (?), n. The state or quality of being muzzy.

Muz"zle (?), n. [OE. mosel, OF. musel, F. museau muzzle or snout, LL. musellus, fr. musus, morsus. See Muse, v. i., and cf. Morsel.] 1. The projecting mouth and nose of a quadruped, as of a horse; a snout.

2. The mouth of a thing; the end for entrance or discharge; as, the muzzle of a gun.

3. A fastening or covering (as a band or cage) for the mouth of an animal, to prevent eating or vicious biting.

With golden muzzles all their mouths were bound

Dryden.

Muzzle sight. (Gun.) See Dispart, n., 2.

Muz"zle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Muzzled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Muzzling (?).] [F. museler.] 1. To bind the mouth of; to fasten the mouth of, so as to prevent biting or eating; hence, figuratively, to bind; to sheathe; to restrain from speech or action. "My dagger muzzled." Shak.

Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn.

Deut. xxv. 4.

2. To fondle with the closed mouth. [Obs.] L'Estrange.

Muz"zle, v. i. To bring the mouth or muzzle near.

The bear muzzles and smells to him.

L'Estrange.

Muz"zle-load`er (?), n. A firearm which receives its charge through the muzzle, as distinguished from one which is loaded at the breech.

Muz"zle-load`ing, a. Receiving its charge through the muzzle; as, a muzzle-loading rifle.

Muz"zy (?), a. [Cf. F. muse.] Absent-minded; dazed; muddled; stupid.

The whole company stared at me with a whimsical, muzzy look, like
men whose senses were a little obfuscated by beer rather than wine.

W. Irving.

My (?), a. & poss. pron. [OE. mi, fr. min. See Mine, and cf., for loss of n, A, a., An, a.] Of or belonging to me; -- used always attributively; as, my body; my book; -- mine is used in the predicate; as, the book is mine. See Mine.

||My"a (?), n. [L. mya a kind of mussel.] (Zoöl.) A genus of bivalve ||mollusks, including the common long, or soft-shelled, clam.

||My*al"gi*a (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; muscle + &?; pain.] (Med.) Pain ||in the muscles; muscular rheumatism or neuralgia.

My*all" wood` (?). (Bot.) A durable, fragrant, and dark-colored Australian wood, used by the natives for spears. It is obtained from the small tree Acacia homolophylla.

||My*a"ri*a (?), n. pl. [NL.] (Zoöl.) A division of bivalve mollusks of ||which the common clam (Mya) is the type.

||My*ce"li*um (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. my`khs a mushroom.] (Bot.) The ||white threads or filamentous growth from which a mushroom or fungus ||is developed; the so-called mushroom spawn. -- My*ce"li*al (#), a.

Myc"e*loid (?), a. [Mycelium + -oid.] (Bot.) Resembling mycelium.

||My*ce"tes (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. mykhth`s a bellower, fr. myka^sqai to ||bellow.] (Zoöl.) A genus of South American monkeys, including the ||howlers. See Howler, 2, and Illust.

Myc"e*toid (?), [Gr. my`khs, -htos, a fungus + -oid.] (Bot.) Resembling a fungus.

||My`co*der"ma (?), n. [NL., from Gr. my`khs a fungus + de`rma skin.] ||1. (Biol.) One of the forms in which bacteria group themselves; a ||more or less thick layer of motionless but living bacteria, formed by ||the bacteria uniting on the surface of the fluid in which they are ||developed. This production differs from the zoöglœa stage of bacteria ||by not having the intermediary mucous substance.

2. A genus of microörganisms of which the acetic ferment (Mycoderma aceti), which converts alcoholic fluids into vinegar, is a representative. Cf. Mother.

{ My`co*log"ic (?), My`co*log"ic*al (?), } a. Of or relating to mycology, or the fungi.

My*col"o*gist (?), n. One who is versed in, or who studies, mycology.

My*col"o*gy (?), n. [Gr. my`khs fungus + -logy.] That branch of botanical science which relates to the mushrooms and other fungi.

My`co*mel"ic (?), a. [Gr. (spurious) my^kos mucus (L. mucus) + me`li honey.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, a complex nitrogenous acid of the alloxan group, obtained as a honey-yellow powder. Its solutions have a gelatinous consistency.

My`co*pro"te*in (?), n. [Gr. (spurious) my^kos mucus (L. mucus) + E. protein.] (Biol.) The protoplasmic matter of which bacteria are composed.

My"cose (-ks), n. [Gr. my`khs a mushroom.] (Chem.) A variety of sugar, isomeric with sucrose and obtained from certain lichens and fungi. Called also trehalose. [Written also mykose.]

<! p. 959 !>

||Myc"o*thrix (mk"*thrks), n. [NL., fr. Gr. (spurious) my`khs mucus (L. ||mucus) + qri`x, tricho`s, hair.] (Biol.) The chain of micrococci ||formed by the division of the micrococci in multiplication.

My*da"le*ine (?), n. [Gr. myda^n to be clammy (from decay).] (Physiol. Chem.) A toxic alkaloid (ptomaine) obtained from putrid flesh and from herring brines. As a poison it is said to execute profuse diarrhœa, vomiting, and intestinal inflammation. Brieger.

Myd`a*tox"in (?), n. [Gr. myda^n to be clammy (from decay) + toxic + in.] (Physiol. Chem.) A poisonous amido acid, C6H13NO2, separated by Brieger from decaying horseflesh. In physiological action, it is similar to curare.

||Myd"a*us (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. myda^n to be clammy or damp.] (Zoöl.) ||The teledu.

||My*dri"a*sis (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. &?;.] (Physiol. & Med.) A ||long-continued or excessive dilatation of the pupil of the eye.

Myd`ri*at"ic (?), a. Causing dilatation of the pupil. -- n. A mydriatic medicine or agent, as belladonna.

||My`e*len*ceph"a*la (?), n. pl. [NL. See Myelencephalon.] (Zoöl.) Same ||as Vertebrata.

My`e*len`ce*phal"ic (?), a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the myelencephalon; cerebro- spinal.

||My`e*len*ceph"a*lon (?), n. [NL., from Gr. myelo`s marrow + E. ||encephalon.] (Anat.) (a) The brain and spinal cord; the ||cerebro-spinal axis; the neuron. Sometimes abbreviated to ||myelencephal. (b) The metencephalon. Huxley.

My`e*len*ceph"a*lous (?), a. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the Myelencephala.

My"e*lin (?), n. [Gr. marrow.] (Physiol. Chem.) (a) A soft white substance constituting the medullary sheaths of nerve fibers, and composed mainly of cholesterin, lecithin, cerebrin, albumin, and some fat. (b) One of a group of phosphorized principles occurring in nerve tissue, both in the brain and nerve fibers.

||My`e*li"tis (?), n. [NL., from Gr. myelo`s marrow + -itis.] (Med.) ||Inflammation of the spinal marrow or its membranes.

My"e*lo*cœle` (?), n. [Gr. myelo`s marrow + koi^los hollow.] (Anat.) The central canal of the spinal cord.

My`e*lo*gen"ic (?), a. [Gr. myelo`s marrow + the root of &?; to be born.] (Physiol.) Derived from, or pertaining to, the bone marrow.

My"e*loid (?), a. [Gr. myelo`s marrow + -oid.] Resembling marrow in appearance or consistency; as, a myeloid tumor.

My`e*loid"in (?), n. [Myelin + -oid + -in.] (Physiol. Chem.) A substance, present in the protoplasm of the retinal epithelium cells, and resembling, if not identical with, the substance (myelin) forming the medullary sheaths of nerve fibers.

||My"e*lon (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. myelo`s marrow.] (Anat.) The spinal ||cord. (Sometimes abbrev. to myel.)

My"e*lo`nal (?), a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the myelon; as, the myelonal, or spinal, nerves.

||My`e*lo*neu"ra (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. myelo`s + ney^ron a nerve.] ||(Zoöl.) The Vertebrata.

||My*el"o*plax (?), n.; pl. E. Myeloplaxes (#), L. Myeloplaces (#). ||[NL., fr. Gr. myelo`s marrow + &?; anything flat and broad.] (Anat.) ||One of the huge multinucleated cells found in the marrow of bone and ||occasionally in other parts; a giant cell. See Osteoclast.

||Myg"a*le (?), n. [L., a field mouse, Gr. &?;.] (Zoöl.) A genus of ||very large hairy spiders having four lungs and only four spinnerets. ||They do not spin webs, but usually construct tubes in the earth, ||which are often furnished with a trapdoor. The South American bird ||spider (Mygale avicularia), and the crab spider, or matoutou (M. ||cancerides) are among the largest species. Some of the species are ||erroneously called tarantulas, as the Texas tarantula (M. Hentzii).

Myl"o*don (?), n. [Gr. &?; a mill + 'odoy`s, 'odo`ntos, a tooth.] (Paleon.) An extinct genus of large slothlike American edentates, allied to Megatherium.

My`lo*hy"oid (?), a. [Gr. &?; the molar teeth + E. hyoid.] (Anat.) Pertaining to, or in the region of, the lower jaw and the hyoid apparatus; as, the mylohyoid nerve.

My"na (?), n. [See Mino bird.] (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of Asiatic starlings of the genera Acridotheres, Sturnopastor, Sturnia, Gracula, and allied genera. In habits they resemble the European starlings, and like them are often caged and taught to talk. See Hill myna, under Hill, and Mino bird. [Spelt also mynah.]

Myn"chen (?), n. [AS. mynecen, fr. munec monk. See Monk.] A nun. [Obs.]

Myn"cher*y (?), n. A nunnery; -- a term still applied to the ruins of certain nunneries in England.

Myn*heer" (?), n. [D. mijnheer.] The Dutch equivalent of Mr. or Sir; hence, a Dutchman.

My"o- (?). A combining form of Gr. &?;, &?;, a muscle; as, myograph, myochrome.

||My`o*car*di"tis (?), n. [NL. see Myocardium.] (Med.) Inflammation of ||the myocardium.

||My`o*car"di*um (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;, &?;, muscle + &?; heart.] ||(Anat.) The main substance of the muscular wall of the heart inclosed ||between the epicardium and endocardium.

My"o*chrome (?), n. [Myo- + Gr. &?; color.] (Physiol.) A colored albuminous substance in the serum from red-colored muscles. It is identical with hemoglobin.

||My`o*com"ma (?), n.; pl. L. Myocommata (#), E. Myocommas (#). [NL. ||See Myo-, and Comma.] (Anat.) A myotome.

My`o*dy*nam"ics (?), n. [Myo- + dynamics.] (Physiol.) The department of physiology which deals with the principles of muscular contraction; the exercise of muscular force or contraction.

My`o*dy*na`mi*om"e*ter (?), n. A myodynamometer.

My`o*dy`na*mom"e*ter (?), n. [Myo- + E. dynamometer.] (Physiol.) An instrument for measuring the muscular strength of man or of other animals; a dynamometer. Dunglison.

My`o*ep`i*the"li*al (?), a. [Myo- + epithelial.] 1. (Biol.) Derived from epithelial cells and destined to become a part of the muscular system; -- applied to structural elements in certain embryonic forms.

2. (Zoöl.) Having the characteristics of both muscle and epithelium; as, the myoepithelial cells of the hydra.

My*og"a*lid (?), n. [Myo- + Gr. &?; a weasel.] (Zoöl.) One of the Myogalodæ, a family of Insectivora, including the desman, and allied species.

My"o*gram (?), n. [Myo- + - gram.] (Physiol.) See Muscle curve, under Muscle.

My"o*graph (?), n. [Myo- + - graph.] (Physiol.) An instrument for determining and recording the different phases, as the intensity, velocity, etc., of a muscular contraction.

{ My`o*graph"ic (?), My`o*graph"ic*al (?), } a. Of or pertaining to myography.

My*og"ra*phy (?), n. [Cf. F. myographie.] The description of muscles, including the study of muscular contraction by the aid of registering apparatus, as by some form of myograph; myology.

My`o*hæm"a*tin (?), n. [Myo- + hæmatin.] (Physiol.) A red-colored respiratory pigment found associated with hemoglobin in the muscle tissue of a large number of animals, both vertebrate and invertebrate.

My"oid (?), a. [Myo- + - oid.] Composed of, or resembling, muscular fiber.

||My`o*lem"ma (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;, &?;, a muscle + &?; skin.] ||(Anat.) Sarcolemma.

My"o*lin (?), n. [Gr. &?;, &?;, muscle.] (Physiol.) The essential material of muscle fibers.

{ My`o*log"ic (?), My`o*log"ic*al (?), } a. Of or pertaining to myology.

My*ol"o*gist (?), n. One skilled in myology.

My*ol"o*gy (?), n. [Myo- + - logy: cf. F. myologie.] That part of anatomy which treats of muscles.

||My*o"ma (?), n. [NL. See Myo-, and -oma.] (Med.) A tumor consisting ||of muscular tissue.

My"o*man`cy (?), n. [Gr. my^s mouse + -mancy.] Divination by the movements of mice.

My"o*morph (?), n. One of the Myomorpha.

||My`o*mor"pha (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. my^s, myo`s, a mouse + &?; ||form.] (Zoöl.) An extensive group of rodents which includes the rats, ||mice, jerboas, and many allied forms.

||My`o*pa*thi"a (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;, &?;, a muscle + &?;, &?;, to ||suffer.] (Med.) Any affection of the muscles or muscular system.

My`o*path"ic (?), a. (Med.) Of or pertaining to myopathia.

My*op"a*thy (?), n. Same as Myopathia.

My"ope (?), n. [F., fr. Gr. &?;, &?;; &?; to close, shut the eyes + &?;, &?;, the eye.] A person having myopy; a myops.

My"o*phan (?), n. [Myo- + Gr. &?; to show.] (Zoöl.) A contractile striated layer found in the bodies and stems of certain Infusoria.

My*o"pi*a (?), n. [NL. See Myope.] (Med.) Nearsightedness; shortsightedness; a condition of the eye in which the rays from distant object are brought to a focus before they reach the retina, and hence form an indistinct image; while the rays from very near objects are normally converged so as to produce a distinct image. It is corrected by the use of a concave lens.

My*op"ic (?), a. Pertaining to, or affected with, or characterized by, myopia; nearsighted.

Myopic astigmatism, a condition in which the eye is affected with myopia in one meridian only.

||My"ops (m"ps), n. [NL.] See Myope.

||My*op"sis (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; fly + &?; sight.] (Med.) The ||appearance of muscæ volitantes. See Muscæ volitantes, under Musca.

My"o*py (?), n. [F. myopie.] (Med.) Myopia.

My"o*sin (?), n. [Gr. &?;, a muscle.] (Physiol. Chem.) An albuminous body present in dead muscle, being formed in the process of coagulation which takes place in rigor mortis; the clot formed in the coagulation of muscle plasma. See Muscle plasma, under Plasma.

Myosin belongs to the group of globulins. It is insoluble in water, but soluble in dilute solution of salt, and is especially characterized by being completely precipitated by saturation of its solutions with salt.

||My*o"sis (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; to close the eyes or lips.] (Med.) ||Long-continued contraction of the pupil of the eye.

My`o*sit"ic (?), a. (Med.) Myotic.

||My`o*si"tis (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;, &?;, muscle + -itis.] (Med.) ||Inflammation of the muscles.

||My`o*so"tis (?), n. [NL.; Gr. &?;, lit., mouse ear.] (Bot.) A genus ||of plants. See Mouse- ear.

My*ot"ic (?), a. [See Myosis.] (Med.) Producing myosis, or contraction of the pupil of the eye, as opium, calabar bean, etc. -- n. A myotic agent.

My"o*tome (?), n. [See Myotomy.] (Anat.) (a) A muscular segment; one of the zones into which the muscles of the trunk, especially in fishes, are divided; a myocomma. (b) One of the embryonic muscular segments arising from the protovertebræ; also, one of the protovertebræ themselves. (c) The muscular system of one metamere of an articulate.

My`o*tom"ic (?), a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to a myotome or myotomes.

My*ot"o*my (?), n. [Myo- + Gr. &?; to cut: cf. F. myotomie.] The dissection, or that part of anatomy which treats of the dissection, of muscles.

||Myr"ci*a (?), n. [NL.] (Bot.) A large genus of tropical American ||trees and shrubs, nearly related to the true myrtles (Myrtus), from ||which they differ in having very few seeds in each berry.

Myr"i*a- (?). [Gr. &?; a myriad. See Myriad.] A prefix, esp. in the metric system, indicating ten thousand, ten thousand times; as, myriameter.

Myr`i*a*can"thous (?), a. [Gr. &?; numberless + 'a`kanqa a spine.] (Zoöl.) Having numerous spines, as certain fishes.

Myr"i*ad (?), n. [Gr. &?;, &?;, fr. &?; numberless, pl. &?; ten thousand: cf. F. myriade.] 1. The number of ten thousand; ten thousand persons or things.

2. An immense number; a very great many; an indefinitely large number.

Myr"i*ad, a. Consisting of a very great, but indefinite, number; as, myriad stars.

{ Myr"i*a*gram, Myr"i*a*gramme } (?), n. [F. myriagramme. See Myria-, and 3d Gram.] A metric weight, consisting of ten thousand grams or ten kilograms. It is equal to 22.046 lbs. avoirdupois.

{ Myr"i*a*li`ter, Myr"i*a*li`tre } (?), n. [F. myrialitre. See Myria-, and Liter.] A metric measure of capacity, containing ten thousand liters. It is equal to 2641.7 wine gallons.

{ Myr"i*a*me`ter, Myr"i*a*me`tre } (?), n. [F. myriamètre. See Myria-, and Meter.] A metric measure of length, containing ten thousand meters. It is equal to 6.2137 miles.

Myr"i*a*pod (?), n. [Cf. F. myriapode.] (Zoöl.) One of the Myriapoda.

||Myr`i*ap"o*da (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; numberless + -poda.] ||(Zoöl.) A class, or subclass, of arthropods, related to the hexapod ||insects, from which they differ in having the body made up of ||numerous similar segments, nearly all of which bear true jointed ||legs. They have one pair of antennæ, three pairs of mouth organs, and ||numerous tracheæ, similar to those of true insects. The larvæ, when ||first hatched, often have but three pairs of legs. See Centiped, ||Galleyworm, Milliped.

The existing Myriapoda are divided into three orders: Chilopoda, Chilognatha or Diplopoda, and Pauropoda (see these words in the Vocabulary). Large fossil species (very different from any living forms) are found in the Carboniferous formation.

Myr"i*arch (?), n. [Gr. &?;, &?;; &?; ten thousand + &?; chief.] A captain or commander of ten thousand men.

Myr"i*are (?), n. [F. See Myria- , and 2d Are.] A measure of surface in the metric system containing ten thousand ares, or one million square meters. It is equal to about 247.1 acres.

||My*ri"ca (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. &?; tamarisk.] (Bot.) A widely ||dispersed genus of shrubs and trees, usually with aromatic foliage. ||It includes the bayberry or wax myrtle, the sweet gale, and the North ||American sweet fern, so called.

Myr"i*cin (?), n. [Cf. F. myricine. Prob. so called from a fancied resemblance to the wax of the bayberry (Myrica).] (Chem.) A silky, crystalline, waxy substance, forming the less soluble part of beeswax, and regarded as a palmitate of a higher alcohol of the paraffin series; -- called also myricyl alcohol.

Myr"i*cyl (?), n. [Myricin + -yl.] (Chem.) A hypothetical radical regarded as the essential residue of myricin; -- called also melissyl.

Myr`i*o*log"ic*al (?), a. Of or relating to a myriologue.

Myr`i*ol"o*gist (?), n. One who composes or sings a myriologue.

Myr"i*o*logue (?), n. [F. myriologue, myriologie, NGr. &?;, &?;, fr. Gr. Moi^ra the goddess of fate or death + lo`gos speech, discourse.] An extemporaneous funeral song, composed and sung by a woman on the death of a friend. [Modern Greece]

Myr`i*oph"yl*lous (?), a. [Gr. &?; numberless + fy`llon leaf.] (Bot.) Having an indefinitely great or countless number of leaves.

||Myr`i*op"o*da (?), n. pl. See Myriapoda.

Myr`i*o*ra"ma (?), n. [Gr. &?; numberless + &?; a sight, fr. &?; to see.] A picture made up of several smaller pictures, drawn upon separate pieces in such a manner as to admit of combination in many different ways, thus producing a great variety of scenes or landscapes.

Myr"i*o*scope (?), n. [Gr. &?; numberless + -scope.] A form of kaleidoscope.

<! p. 960 !>

My*ris"tate (m*rs"tt), n. (Chem.) A salt of myristic acid.

My*ris"tic (m*rs"tk), a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or derived from, the nutmeg (Myristica). Specifically, designating an acid found in nutmeg oil and otoba fat, and extracted as a white crystalline waxy substance.

My*ris"tin (?), n. (Chem.) The myristate of glycerin, -- found as a vegetable fat in nutmeg butter, etc.

My*ris"tone (?), n. [Myristic + -one.] (Chem.) The ketone of myristic acid, obtained as a white crystalline substance.

Myr"mi*cine (?), a. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to Myrmica, a genus of ants including the small house ant (M. molesta), and many others.

Myr"mi*don (?), n. [L. Myrmidones, Gr. &?;, pl.] 1. One of a fierce tribe or troop who accompanied Achilles, their king, to the Trojan war.

2. A soldier or a subordinate civil officer who executes cruel orders of a superior without protest or pity; -- sometimes applied to bailiffs, constables, etc. Thackeray.

With unabated ardor the vindictive man of law and his myrmidons
pressed forward.

W. H. Ainsworth.

Myr`mi*do"ni*an (?), a. Consisting of, or like, myrmidons. Pope.

Myr`mo*the"rine (?), a. [Gr. &?; an ant + &?; to hunt.] (Zoöl.) Feeding upon ants; -- said of certain birds.

{ My*rob"a*lan (?), My*rob"o*lan (?), } n. [L. myrobalanum the fruit of a palm tree from which a balsam was made, Gr. &?;; &?; any sweet juice distilling from plants, any prepared unguent or sweet oil + &?; an acorn or any similar fruit: cf. F. myrobolan.] A dried astringent fruit much resembling a prune. It contains tannin, and was formerly used in medicine, but is now chiefly used in tanning and dyeing. Myrobolans are produced by various species of Terminalia of the East Indies, and of Spondias of South America.

My*ron"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?; a sweet- smelling unguent.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or obtained from, mustard; -- used specifically to designate a glucoside called myronic acid, found in mustard seed.

My*rop"o*list (?), n. [Gr. &?;; &?; unguent + &?; to sell.] One who sells unguents or perfumery. [Obs.] Jonhson.

Myr"o*sin (?), n. (Chem.) A ferment, resembling diastase, found in mustard seeds.

||My*rox"y*lon (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; a sweet juice distilling from ||a plant + &?; wood.] (Bot.) A genus of leguminous trees of tropical ||America, the different species of which yield balsamic products, ||among which are balsam of Peru, and balsam of Tolu. The species were ||formerly referred to Myrospermum.

Myrrh (?), n. [OE. mirre, OF. mirre, F. myrrhe, L. myrrha, murra, Gr. &?;; cf. Ar. murr bitter, also myrrh, Heb. mar bitter.] A gum resin, usually of a yellowish brown or amber color, of an aromatic odor, and a bitter, slightly pungent taste. It is valued for its odor and for its medicinal properties. It exudes from the bark of a shrub of Abyssinia and Arabia, the Balsamodendron Myrrha. The myrrh of the Bible is supposed to have been partly the gum above named, and partly the exudation of species of Cistus, or rockrose.

False myrrh. See the Note under Bdellium.

Myr"rhic (?), a. Of, pertaining to, or obtained from, myrrh.

Myr"rhine (?), a. Murrhine.

Myr*ta"ceous (?), a. [L. myrtaceus.] (Bot.) Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a large and important natural order of trees and shrubs (Myrtaceæ), of which the myrtle is the type. It includes the genera Eucalyptus, Pimenta, Lechythis, and about seventy more.

Myr"ti*form (?), a. [L. myrtus myrtle + -form: cf. F. myrtiforme.] Resembling myrtle or myrtle berries; having the form of a myrtle leaf.

Myr"tle (mr"t'l), n. [F. myrtil bilberry, prop., a little myrtle, from myrte myrtle, L. myrtus, murtus, Gr. my`rtos; cf. Per. mrd.] (Bot.) A species of the genus Myrtus, especially Myrtus communis. The common myrtle has a shrubby, upright stem, eight or ten feet high. Its branches form a close, full head, thickly covered with ovate or lanceolate evergreen leaves. It has solitary axillary white or rosy flowers, followed by black several-seeded berries. The ancients considered it sacred to Venus. The flowers, leaves, and berries are used variously in perfumery and as a condiment, and the beautifully mottled wood is used in turning.

The name is also popularly but wrongly applied in America to two creeping plants, the blue-flowered periwinkle and the yellow- flowered moneywort. In the West Indies several myrtaceous shrubs are called myrtle.

Bog myrtle, the sweet gale. -- Crape myrtle. See under Crape. -- Myrtle warbler (Zoöl.), a North American wood warbler (Dendroica coronata); -- called also myrtle bird, yellow-rumped warbler, and yellow- crowned warbler. -- Myrtle wax. (Bot.) See Bayberry tallow, under Bayberry. -- Sand myrtle, a low, branching evergreen shrub (Leiophyllum buxifolium), growing in New Jersey and southward. -- Wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera). See Bayberry.

My*self" (?), pron.; pl. Ourselves (&?;). I or me in person; -- used for emphasis, my own self or person; as I myself will do it; I have done it myself; -- used also instead of me, as the object of the first person of a reflexive verb, without emphasis; as, I will defend myself.

My*selv"en (?), pron. Myself. [Obs.]

||My"sis (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; a closing of the lips or eyes.] ||(Zoöl.) A genus of small schizopod shrimps found both in fresh and ||salt water; the opossum shrimps. One species inhabits the Great Lakes ||of North America, and is largely eaten by the whitefish. The marine ||species form part of the food of right whales.

Mys"ta*cal (?), a. [Gr. my`stax mustache.] (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the upper lip, or mustache.

{ Mys`ta*gog"ic (?), Mys`ta*gog"ic*al (?), } a. Of or pertaining to interpretation of mysteries or to mystagogue; of the nature of mystagogy.

Mys"ta*gogue (?), n. [L. mystagogus, Gr. &?;; &?; one initiated in mysteries + &?; leading, n., a leader, fr. &?; to lead: cf. F. mystagogue. See 1st Mystery.] 1. One who interprets mysteries, especially of a religious kind.

2. One who keeps and shows church relics.

Mys"ta*go`gy (?), n. The doctrines, principles, or practice of a mystagogue; interpretation of mysteries.

Mys*te"ri*al (?), a. Mysterious. [Obs.]

Mys*te"ri*arch (?), n. [L. mysteriarches, Gr. &?;; &?; mystery + &?; chief.] One presiding over mysteries. [Obs.]

Mys*te"ri*ous (?), a. [F. mystèrieux. See 1st Mystery.] Of or pertaining to mystery; containing a mystery; difficult or impossible to understand; obscure; not revealed or explained; enigmatical; incomprehensible.

God at last To Satan, first in sin, his doom applied, Thought in
mysterious terms.

Milton.

Syn. -- Obscure; secret; occult; dark; mystic; cabalistic; enigmatical; unintelligible; incomprehensible.

Mys*te"ri*ous*ly, adv. In a mysterious manner.

Mys*te"ri*ous*ness, n. 1. The state or quality of being mysterious.

2. Something mysterious; a mystery. [R.] Jer. Taylor.

Mys"ter*ize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mysterized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Mysterizing (?).] To make mysterious; to make a mystery of.

Mys"ter*y (ms"tr*), n.; pl. Mysteries (- z). [L. mysterium, Gr. mysth`rion, fr. my`sths one initiated in mysteries; cf. myei^n to initiate into the mysteries, fr. my`ein to shut the eyes. Cf. Mute, a.] 1. A profound secret; something wholly unknown, or something kept cautiously concealed, and therefore exciting curiosity or wonder; something which has not been or can not be explained; hence, specifically, that which is beyond human comprehension.

We speak the wisdom of God in a mystery.

1 Cor. ii. 7.

If God should please to reveal unto us this great mystery of the
Trinity, or some other mysteries in our holy religion, we should
not be able to understand them, unless he would bestow on us some
new faculties of the mind.

Swift.

2. A kind of secret religious celebration, to which none were admitted except those who had been initiated by certain preparatory ceremonies; -- usually plural; as, the Eleusinian mysteries.

3. pl. The consecrated elements in the eucharist.

4. Anything artfully made difficult; an enigma.

Mys"ter*y, n.; pl. Mysteries. [OE. mistere, OF. mestier, F. métier, L. ministerium. See Ministry.] 1. A trade; a handicraft; hence, any business with which one is usually occupied.

Fie upon him, he will discredit our mystery.

Shak.

And that which is the noblest mystery Brings to reproach and common
infamy.

Spenser.