Chapter LI: Bella (17)

MASTICH Mas"tich, n.

Defn: See Mastic.

MASTICIN Mas"ti*cin, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A white, amorphous, tenacious substance resembling caoutchouc, and obtained as an insoluble residue of mastic.

MASTICOT Mas"ti*cot, n. (Chem.)

Defn: Massicot. [Obs.]

MASTIFF Mas"tiff, n.; pl. Mastiffs (. [Mastives is irregular and unusual.] Etym: [Prob. fr. Prov. E. masty, adj., large, n., a great dog, prob. fr. mast fruit, and hence, lit., fattened with mast. There is perh. confusion with OF. mestif mongrel; cf. also F. mâtin mastiff, OF. mastin.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A breed of large dogs noted for strength and courage. There are various strains, differing in form and color, and characteristic of different countries. Mastiff bat (Zoöl.) , any bat of the genus Molossus; so called because the face somewhat resembles that of a mastiff.

MASTIGOPOD Mas"ti*go*pod, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the Mastigopoda.

MASTIGOPODA Mas`ti*gop"o*da, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The Infusoria.

MASTIGURE Mas"ti*gure, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of several large spiny-tailed lizards of the genus Uromastix. They inhabit Southern Asia and North Africa.

MASTING Mast"ing, n. (Naut.)

Defn: The act or process of putting a mast or masts into a vessel; also, the scientific principles which determine the position of masts, and the mechanical methods of placing them. Masting house (Naut.), a large building, with suitable mechanism overhanging the water, used for stepping and unstepping the masts of vessels.

MASTITIS Mas*ti"tis, n. Etym: [Gr. -itis.] (Med.)

Defn: Inflammation of the breast.

MASTLESS Mast"less, a. Etym: [See lst Mast.]

Defn: Bearing no mast; as, a mastless oak or beech. Dryden.

MASTLESS Mast"less, a. Etym: [See 2d Mast.]

Defn: Having no mast; as, a mastless vessel.

MASTLIN Mast"lin, n.

Defn: See Maslin.

MASTODON Mas"to*don, n. Etym: [Gr. (Paleon.)

Defn: An extinct genus of mammals closely allied to the elephant, but having less complex molar teeth, and often a pair of lower, as well as upper, tusks, which are incisor teeth. The species were mostly larger than elephants, and their romains occur in nearly all parts of the world in deposits ranging from Miocene to late Quaternary time.

MASTODONSAURUS Mas`to*don*sau"rus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. E. Mastodon + Gr. (Paleon.)

Defn: A large extinct genus of labyrinthodonts, found in the European Triassic rocks.

MASTODONTIC Mas`to*don"tic, a.

Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, a mastodon; as, mastodontic dimensions. Everett.

MASTODYNIA; MASTODYNY Mas`to*dyn"i*a, Mas*tod"y*ny (, n. Etym: [NL. mastodynia, fr. Gr. (Med.)

Defn: Pain occuring in the mamma or female breast, -- a form of neuralgia.

MASTOID Mas"toid, a. Etym: [Gr. mastoïde.] (Anat.) (a) Resembling the nipple or the breast; -- applied specifically to a process of the temporal bone behind the ear. (b) Pertaining to, or in the region of, the mastoid process; mastoidal.

MASTOIDAL Mas*toid"al, a.

Defn: Same as Mastoid.

MASTOIDITIS Mas`toid*i*tis, n. [NL. See Mastoid, and -itis.] (Med.)

Defn: Inflammation in the mastoid process of the temporal bone.

MASTOLOGY Mas*tol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy: cf. F. mastologie.]

Defn: The natural history of Mammalia.

MASTRESS Mas"tress, n.

Defn: Mistress. [Obs.] Chaucer.

MASTURBATION Mas`tur*ba"tion, n. Etym: [L. masturbatus, p. p. of masturbari to practice onanism: cf. F. masturbation.]

Defn: Onanism; self-pollution.

MASTY Mast"y, a. Etym: [See lst Mast.]

Defn: Full of mast; abounding in acorns, etc.

MASULA BOAT Ma*su"la boat`.

Defn: Same as Masoola boat.

MAT Mat, n. Etym: [Cf. Matte.]

Defn: A name given by coppersmiths to an alloy of copper, tin, iron, etc., usually called white metal. [Written also matt.]

MAT Mat, a. Etym: [OF. See 4th Mate.]

Defn: Cast down; dejected; overthrown; slain. [Obs.] When he saw them so piteous and so maat. Chaucer.

MAT Mat, n. Etym: [AS. matt, meatt, fr. L. matta a mat made of rushes.]

1. A fabric of sedge, rushes, flags, husks, straw, hemp, or similar material, used for wiping and cleaning shoes at the door, for covering the floor of a hall or room, and for other purposes.

2. Any similar fabric for various uses, as for covering plant houses, putting beneath dishes or lamps on a table, securing rigging from friction, and the like.

3. Anything growing thickly, or closely interwoven, so as to resemble a mat in form or texture; as, a mat of weeds; a mat of hair.

4. An ornamental border made of paper, pasterboard, metal, etc., put under the glass which covers a framed picture; as, the mat of a daguerreotype. Mat grass. (Bot.) (a) A low, tufted, European grass (Nardus stricta). (b) Same as Matweed. -- Mat rush (Bot.), a kind of rush (Scirpus lacustris) used in England for making mats.

MAT Mat, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Matted; p. pr. & vb. n. Matting.]

1. To cover or lay with mats. Evelyn.

2. To twist, twine, or felt together; to interweave into, or like, a mat; to entangle. And o'er his eyebrows hung his matted hair. Dryden.

MAT Mat, v. i.

Defn: To grow thick together; to become interwoven or felted together like a mat.

MATABELE; MATABELES Mat`a*be"le, or Mat`a*be"les, n. pl., sing. Matabele. [Written also Matabili.] (Ethnol.)

Defn: A warlike South African Kaffir tribe.

MATACHIN Ma`ta*chin", n. Etym: [Sp.]

Defn: An old dance with swords and bucklers; a sword dance.

MATACO Mat"a*co, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The three-banded armadillo (Tolypeutis tricinctus). See Illust. under Loricata.

MATADORE; MATADOR Mat"a*dore, Mat"a*dor, n. Etym: [Sp. matador, prop., a killer, fr. matar to kill, L. mactare to sacrifice, kill.]

1. The killer; the man appointed to kill the bull in bullfights.

2. (Card Playing)

Defn: In the game of quadrille or omber, the three principal trumps, the ace of spades being the first, the ace of clubs the third, and the second being the deuce of a black trump or the seven of a red one. When Lady Tricksey played a four, You took it with a matadore. Swift.

MATAGASSE Mat`a*gasse", n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A shrike or butcher bird; -- called also mattages. [Prov. Eng.]

MATAJUELO Ma`ta*jue"lo (mä`ta*hwa"lo; 239), n. [Cf. Sp. matajudío a kind of fish.]

Defn: A large squirrel fish (Holocentrus ascensionis) of Florida and the West Indies.

MATAJUELO BLANCO Ma`ta*jue"lo blan"co. [Sp. blanco white.]

Defn: A West Indian food fish (Malacanthus plumieri) related to the tilefish.

MATAMATA Ma`ta*ma"ta, n. Etym: [Pg.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The bearded tortoise (Chelys fimbriata) of South American rivers.

MATANZA Ma*tan"za, n. Etym: [Sp., slaughter, fr. matar to kill.]

Defn: A place where animals are slaughtered for their hides and tallow. [Western U. S.]

MATCH Match, n. Etym: [OE. macche, F. mèche, F. mèche, fr. L. myxa a lamp nozzle, Gr. Mucus.]

Defn: Anything used for catching and retaining or communicating fire, made of some substance which takes fire readily, or remains burning some time; esp., a small strip or splint of wood dipped at one end in a substance which can be easily ignited by friction, as a preparation of phosphorus or chlorate of potassium. Match box, a box for holding matches. -- Match tub, a tub with a perforated cover for holding slow matches for firing cannon, esp. on board ship. The tub contains a little water in the bottom, for extinguishing sparks from the lighted matches. -- Quick match, threads of cotton or cotton wick soaked in a solution of gunpowder mixed with gum arabic and boiling water and afterwards strewed over with mealed powder. It burns at the rate of one yard in thirteen seconds, and is used as priming for heavy mortars, fireworks, etc. -- Slow match, slightly twisted hempen rope soaked in a solution of limewater and saltpeter or washed in a lye of water and wood ashes. It burns at the rate of four or five inches an hour, and is used for firing cannon, fireworks, etc.

MATCH Match, n. Etym: [OE. macche, AS. gemæcca; akin to gemaca, and to OS. gimako, OHG. gimah fitting, suitable, convenient, Icel. mark suitable, maki mate, Sw. make, Dan. mage; all from the root of E. make, v. See Make mate, and Make, v., and cf. Mate an associate.]

1. A person or thing equal or similar to another; one able to mate or cope with another; an equal; a mate. Government . . . makes an innocent man, though of the lowest rank, a match for the mightiest of his fellow subjects. Addison.

2. A bringing together of two parties suited to one another, as for a union, a trial of skill or force, a contest, or the like; as, specifically: (a) A contest to try strength or skill, or to determine superiority; an emulous struggle. "Many a warlike match." Drayton. A solemn match was made; he lost the prize. Dryden.

(b) A matrimonial union; a marriage.

3. An agreement, compact, etc. "Thy hand upon that match." Shak. Love doth seldom suffer itself to be confined by other matches than those of its own making. Boyle.

4. A candidate for matrimony; one to be gained in marriage. "She . . . was looked upon as the richest match of the West." Clarendon.

5. Equality of conditions in contest or competition. It were no match, your nail against his horn. Shak.

6. Suitable combination or bringing together; that which corresponds or harmonizes with something else; as, the carpet and curtains are a match.

7. (Founding)

Defn: A perforated board, block of plaster, hardened sand, etc., in which a pattern is partly imbedded when a mold is made, for giving shape to the surfaces of separation between the parts of the mold. Match boarding (Carp.), boards fitted together with tongue and groove, or prepared to be so fitted. -- Match game, a game arranged as a test of superiority. -- Match plane (Carp.), either of the two planes used to shape the edges of boards which are joined by grooving and tonguing. -- Match plate (Founding), a board or plate on the opposite sides of which the halves of a pattern are fastened, to facilitate molding. Knight. -- Match wheel (Mach.), a cogwheel of suitable pitch to work with another wheel; specifically, one of a pair of cogwheels of equal size.

MATCH Match, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Matched; p. pr. & vb. n. Matching.]

1. To be a mate or match for; to be able to complete with; to rival successfully; to equal. No settled senses of the world can match The pleasure of that madness. Shak.

2. To furnish with its match; to bring a match, or equal, against; to show an equal competitor to; to set something in competition with, or in opposition to, as equal. No history or antiquity can matchis policies and his conduct. South.

3. To oppose as equal; to contend successfully against. Eternal might To match with their inventions they presumed So easy, and of his thunder made a scorn. Milton.

4. To make or procure the equal of, or that which is exactly similar to, or corresponds with; as, to match a vase or a horse; to match cloth. "Matching of patterns and colors." Swift.

5. To make equal, proportionate, or suitable; to adapt, fit, or suit (one thing to another). Let poets match their subject to their strength. Roscommon.

6. To marry; to give in marriage. A senator of Rome survived, Would not have matched his daughter with a king. Addison.

7. To fit together, or make suitable for fitting together; specifically, to furnish with a tongue and a groove, at the edges; as, to match boards. Matching machine, a planing machine for forming a tongue or a groove on the edge of a board.

MATCH Match, v. i.

1. To be united in marriage; to mate. I hold it a sin to match in my kindred. Shak. Let tigers match with hinds, and wolves with sheep. Dryden.

2. To be of equal, or similar, size, figure, color, or quality; to tally; to suit; to correspond; as, these vases match.

MATCHABLE Match"a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being matched; comparable on equal conditions; adapted to being joined together; correspondent. -- Match"a*ble*ness, n. Sir Walter Raleigh . . . is matchable with the best of the ancients. Hakewill.

MATCH-CLOTH Match"-cloth`, n.

Defn: A coarse cloth.

MATCH-COAT Match"-coat`, n.

Defn: A coat made of match-cloth.

MATCHER Match"er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, matches; a matching machine. See under 3d Match.

MATCH GAME Match game.

Defn: A game arranged as a test of superiority; also, one of a series of such games.

MATCHLESS Match"less, a. Etym: [Cf. Mateless.]

1. Having no equal; unequaled. "A matchless queen." Waller.

2. Unlike each other; unequal; unsuited. [Obs.] "Matchless ears." Spenser. -- Match"less*ly, adv. -- Match"less*ness, n.

MATCHLOCK Match"lock`, n.

Defn: An old form of gunlock containing a match for firing the priming; hence, a musket fired by means of a match.

MATCHMAKER Match"mak`er, n.

1. One who makes matches for burning or kinding.

2. One who tries to bring about marriages.

MATCHMAKING Match"mak`ing, n.

1. The act or process of making matches for kindling or burning.

2. The act or process of trying to bring about a marriage for others.

MATCHMAKING Match"mak`ing, a.

Defn: Busy in making or contriving marriages; as, a matchmaking woman.

MATCH PLAY Match play. (Golf)

Defn: Play in which the score is reckoned by counting the holes won or lost by each side; -- disting. from medal play.

MATE Ma"te, n. Etym: [Sp.]

Defn: The Paraguay tea, being the dried leaf of the Brazilian holly (Ilex Paraguensis). The infusion has a pleasant odor, with an agreeable bitter taste, and is much used for tea in South America.

MATE Mate, n. Etym: [F. mat, abbrev. fr. échec et mat. See Checkmate.] (Chess)

Defn: Same as Checkmate.

MATE Mate, a.

Defn: See 2d Mat. [Obs.] Chaucer.

MATE Mate, v. t. Etym: [F. mater to fatigue, enfeeble, humiliate, checkmate. See Mate checkmate.]

1. To confuse; to confound. [Obs.] Shak.

2. To checkmate.

MATE Mate, n. Etym: [Perhaps for older make a companion; cf. also OD. maet companion, mate, D. maat. Cf. Make a companion, Match a mate.]

1. One who customarily associates with another; a companion; an associate; any object which is associated or combined with a similar object.

2. Hence, specifically, a husband or wife; and among the lower animals, one of a pair associated for propagation and the care of their young.

3. A suitable companion; a match; an equal. Ye knew me once no mate For you; there sitting where you durst not soar. Milton.

4. (Naut.)

Defn: An officer in a merchant vessel ranking next below the captain. If there are more than one bearing the title, they are called, respectively, first mate, second mate, third mate, etc. In the navy, a subordinate officer or assistant; as, master's mate; surgeon's mate.

MATE Mate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mated; p. pr. & vb. n. Mating.]

1. To match; to marry. If she be mated with an equal husband. Shak.

2. To match one's self against; to oppose as equal; to compete with. There is no passion in the mind of man so weak but it mates and masters the fear of death. Bacon. I, . . . in the way of loyalty and truth, . . . Dare mate a sounder man than Surrey can be. Shak.

MATE Mate, v. i.

Defn: To be or become a mate or mates, especially in sexual companionship; as, some birds mate for life; this bird will not mate with that one.

MATELASSE Mate`las`sé", a. [F., p.p. of matelasser to cushion, to cover as with a mattress, fr. matelas mattress. See Mattress.]

Defn: Ornamented by means of an imitation or suggestion of quilting, the surface being marked by depressed lines which form squares or lozenges in relief; as, matelassé silks.

MATELASSE Mate`las`sé", n.

Defn: A quilted ornamented dress fabric of silk or silk and wool.

MATELESS Mate"less, a. Etym: [Cf. Matchless.]

Defn: Having no mate.

MATELOTE Mat"e*lote, n. Etym: [F., fr. matelot a sailor; properly, a dish such as sailors prepare.]

Defn: A dish of food composed of many kings of fish.

MATELOTE; MATELOTTE Mat"e*lote, Mat"e*lotte, n. [F. matelote, fr. matelot a sailor; properly, a dish such as a sailors prepare.]

1. A stew, commonly of fish, flavored with wine, and served with a wine sauce containing onions, mushrooms, etc.

2. An old dance of sailors, in double time, and somewhat like a hornpipe.

MATEOLOGY Ma`te*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. matéologie.]

Defn: A vain, unprofitable discourse or inquiry. [R.]

MATEOTECHNY Ma`te*o*tech"ny, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Any unprofitable science. [Obs.]

MATER Ma"ter, n. Etym: [L., mother. See Mother.]

Defn: See Alma mater, Dura mater, and Pia mater.

MATERIAL Ma*te"ri*al, a. Etym: [L. materialis, fr. materia stuff, matter: cf. F. matériel. See Matter, and cf. MatÉriel.]

1. Consisting of matter; not spiritual; corporeal; physical; as, material substance or bodies. The material elements of the universe. Whewell.

2. Hence: Pertaining to, or affecting, the physical nature of man, as distinguished from the mental or moral nature; relating to the bodily wants, interests, and comforts.

3. Of solid or weighty character; not insubstantial; of cinsequence; not be dispensed with; important. Discourse, which was always material, never trifling. Evelyn. I shall, in the account of simple ideas, set down only such as are most material to our present purpose. Locke.

4. (Logic.)

Defn: Pertaining to the matter, as opposed to the form, of a thing. See Matter. Material cause. See under Cause. -- Material evidence (Law), evidence which conduces to the proof or disproof of a relevant hypothesis. Wharton.

Syn. -- Corporeal; bodily; important; weighty; momentous; essential.

MATERIAL Ma*te"ri*al, n.

Defn: The substance or matter of which anything is made or may be made. Raw material, any crude, unfinished, or elementary materials that are adapted to use only by processes of skilled labor. Cotton, wool, ore, logs, etc., are raw material.

MATERIAL Ma*te"ri*al, v. t.

Defn: To form from matter; to materialize. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

MATERIALISM Ma*te"ri*al*ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. matérialisme.]

1. The doctrine of materialists; materialistic views and tenets. The irregular fears of a future state had been supplanted by the materialism of Epicurus. Buckminster.

2. The tendency to give undue importance to material interests; devotion to the material nature and its wants.

3. Material substances in the aggregate; matter. [R. & Obs.] A. Chalmers.

MATERIALIST Ma*te"ri*al*ist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. matérialiste.]

1. One who denies the existence of spiritual substances or agents, and maintains that spiritual phenomena, so called, are the result of some peculiar organization of matter.

2. One who holds to the existence of matter, as distinguished from the idealist, who denies it. Berkeley.

MATERIALISTIC; MATERIALISTICAL Ma*te`ri*al*is"tic, Ma*te`ri*al*is"tic*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to materialism or materialists; of the nature of materialism. But to me his very spiritualism seemed more materialistic than his physics. C. Kingsley.

MATERIALITY Ma*te`ri*al"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. matérialité.]

1. The quality or state of being material; material existence; corporeity.

2. Importance; as, the materiality of facts.

MATERIALIZATION Ma*te`ri*al*i*za"tion, n.

Defn: The act of materializing, or the state of being materialized.

MATERIALIZE Ma*te"ri*al*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Materialized; p. pr. & vb. n. Materializing.] Etym: [Cf. F. matérialiser.]

1. To invest wich material characteristics; to make perceptible to the senses; hence, to present to the mind through the medium of material objects. Having wich wonderful art and beauty materialized, if I may so call it, a scheme of abstracted notions, and clothed the most nice, refined conceptions of philosophy in sensible images. Tatler.

2. To regard as matter; to consider or explain by the laws or principles which are appropriate to matter.

3. To cause to assume a character appropriate to material things; to occupy with material interests; as, to materialize thought.

4. (Spiritualism)

Defn: To make visable in, or as in, a material form; -- said of spirits. A female spirit form temporarily materialized, and not distinguishable from a human being. Epes Sargent.

MATERIALIZE Ma*te"ri*al*ize, v. i.

Defn: To appear as a material form; to take substantial shape. [Colloq.]

MATERIALLY Ma*te"ri*al*ly, adv.

1. In the state of matter. I do not mean that anything is separable from a body by fire that was not materially preëxistent in it. Boyle.

2. In its essence; substantially. An ill intention is certainly sufficient to spoil . . . an act in itself materially good. South.

3. In an important manner or degree; essentaily; as, it materially concern us to know the real motives of our actions.

MATERIALNESS Ma*te"ri*al*ness, n.

Defn: The state of being material.

MATERIA MEDICA Ma*te"ri*a med"i*ca. Etym: [L. See Matter, and Medical.]

1. Material or substance used in the composition of remedies; -- a general term for all substances used as curative agents in medicine.

2. That branch of medical science which treats of the nature and properties of all the substances that are employed for the cure of diseases.

MATERIARIAN Ma*te`ri*a"ri*an, n. Etym: [L. materiarius.]

Defn: See Materialist. [Obs.]

MATERIATE; MATERIATED Ma*te"ri*ate, Ma*te"ri*a`ted, a. Etym: [L. materiatus, p. p. of materiare to build of wood.]

Defn: Consisting of matter. [Obs.] Bacon.

MATERIATION Ma*te`ri*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. materiatio woodwork.]

Defn: Act of forming matter. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

MATERIEL Ma`té`ri`el", n. Etym: [F. See Material.]

Defn: That in a complex system which constitutes the materials, or instruments employed, in distinction from the personnel, or men; as, the baggage, munitions, provisions, etc., of an army; or the buildings, libraries, and apparatus of a college, in distinction from its officers.

MATERIOUS Ma*te"ri*ous, a.

Defn: See Material. [Obs.]

MATERNAL Ma*ter"nal, a. Etym: [F. maternel, L. maternus, fr. mater mother. See Mother.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to a mother; becoming to a mother; motherly; as, maternal love; maternal tenderness.

Syn. -- See Motherly.

MATERNALLY Ma*ter"nal*ly, adv.

Defn: In a motherly manner.

MATERNITY Ma*ter"ni*ty, n. Etym: [F. maternité, LL. maternitas.]

Defn: The state of being a mother; the character or relation of a mother.

MATFELON Mat"fel*on, n. Etym: [W. madfelen.] (Bot.)

Defn: The knapweed (Centaurea nigra).

MATH Math, n. Etym: [AS. mmawan to mow, G. mahd math. See Mow to cut (grass).]

Defn: A mowing, or that which is gathered by mowing; -- chiefly used in composition; as, an aftermath. [Obs.] The first mowing thereof, for the king's use, is wont to be sooner than the common math. Bp. Hall.

MATHEMATIC Math`e*mat"ic, a. Etym: [F. mathématique, L. mathematicus, Gr. mind. See Mind.]

Defn: See Mathematical.

MATHEMATICAL Math`e*mat"ic*al, a. Etym: [See Mathematic.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to mathematics; according to mathematics; hence, theoretically precise; accurate; as, mathematical geography; mathematical instruments; mathematical exactness. -- Math`e*mat"ic*al*ly, adv.

MATHEMATICIAN Math`e*ma*ti"cian, n. Etym: [Cf. F. mathématicien.]

Defn: One versed in mathematics.

MATHEMATICS Math`e*mat"ics, n. Etym: [F. mathématiques, pl., L. mathematica, sing., Gr. Mathematic, and -ics.]

Defn: That science, or class of sciences, which treats of the exact relations existing between quantities or magnitudes, and of the methods by which, in accordance with these relations, quantities sought are deducible from other quantities known or supposed; the science of spatial and quantitative relations.

Note: Mathematics embraces three departments, namely: 1. Arithmetic. 2. Geometry, including Trigonometry and Conic Sections. 3. Analysis, in which letters are used, including Algebra, Analytical Geometry, and Calculus. Each of these divisions is divided into pure or abstract, which considers magnitude or quantity abstractly, without relation to matter; and mixed or applied, which treats of magnitude as subsisting in material bodies, and is consequently interwoven with physical considerations.

MATHER Math"er, n.

Defn: See Madder.

MATHES Math"es, n. Etym: [Perh. corrupted fr. L. anthemis camomile, Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: The mayweed. Cf. Maghet.

MATHESIS Ma*the"sis, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.

Defn: Learning; especially, mathematics. [R.] Pope.

MATHURIN Math"u*rin, n. (R. C. Ch.)

Defn: See Trinitarian.

MATICO Ma*ti"co, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A Peruvian plant (Piper, or Artanthe, elongatum), allied to the pepper, the leaves of which are used as a styptic and astringent.

MATIE Mat"ie, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A fat herring with undeveloped roe. [Written also matty.] [Eng. & Scot.]

MATIN Ma`tin", n. Etym: [F. matin.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A French mastiff.

MATIN Mat"in, n. Etym: [F. fr. L. matutinum the morning, matutinus of the morning, Matuta the goddess of the morning. See Matutinal.]

1. Morning. [Obs.] Shak.

2. pl. Etym: [F. matines. See Etymol. above.]

Defn: Morning worship or service; morning prayers or songs. The winged choristers began To chirp their matins. Cleveland.

3. Time of morning service; the first canonical hour in the Roman Catholic Church.

MATIN Mat"in, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the morning, or to matins; used in the morning; matutinal.

MATINAL Mat"in*al, a.

Defn: Relating to the morning, or to matins; matutinal.

MATINEE Mat`i*née", n. Etym: [F., from matin. See Matin.]

Defn: A reception, or a musical or dramatic entertainment, held in the daytime. See SoirÉe.

MATRASS Ma*trass", n. Etym: [F. matras; perh. so called from its long narrow neck; cf. OF. matras large arrow, L. materis, mataris, matara, a Celtic javelin, pike; of Celtic origin.] (Chem.)

Defn: A round-bottomed glass flask having a long neck; a bolthead.

MATRESS Mat"ress, n.

Defn: See Matress.

MATRIARCH Ma"tri*arch, n. Etym: [L. mater mother + -arch.]

Defn: The mother and ruler of a family or of her descendants; a ruler by maternal right.

MATRIARCHAL Ma`tri*ar"chal, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to a matriarch; governed by a matriarch.

MATRIARCHATE Ma"tri*ar"chate, n.

Defn: The office or jurisdiction of a matriarch; a matriarchal form of government.

MATRICE Ma"trice, n. Etym: [Cf. F. matrice. See Matrix.]

Defn: See Matrix.

MATRICIDAL Mat"ri*ci`dal, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to matricide.

MATRICIDE Mat"ri*cide, n. Etym: [L. matricidium; mater mother + coedere to kill, slay: cf. F. matricide. See Mother, and cf. Homicide.]

1. The murder of a mother by her son or daughter.

2. Etym: [L. matricida: cf. F. matricide.]

Defn: One who murders one's own mother.

MATRICULATE Ma*tric"u*late, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Matriculated; p. pr. & vb. n. Matriculating.] Etym: [L. matricula a public roll or register, dim. of matrix a mother, in respect to propagation, also, a public register. See Matrix.]

Defn: To enroll; to enter in a register; specifically, to enter or admit to membership in a body or society, particularly in a college or university, by enrolling the name in a register. In discovering and matriculating the arms of commissaries from North America. Sir W. Scott.

MATRICULATE Ma*tric"u*late, v. i.

Defn: To go though the process of admission to membership, as by examination and enrollment, in a society or college.

MATRICULATE Ma*tric"u*late, a.

Defn: Matriculated. Skelton. -- n.

Defn: One who is matriculated. Arbuthnot.

MATRICULATION Ma*tric`u*la"tion, n.

Defn: The act or process of matriculating; the state of being matriculated.

MATRIMOINE Mat"ri*moine, n.

Defn: Matrimony. [Obs.]

MATRIMONIAL Mat`ri*mo"ni*al, a. Etym: [L. matrimonialis: cf. F. matrimonial. See Matrimony.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to marriage; derived from marriage; connubial; nuptial; hymeneal; as, matrimonial rights or duties. If he relied upon that title, he could be but a king at courtesy, and have rather a matrimonial than a regal power. Bacon.

Syn. -- Connubial; conjugal; sponsal; spousal; nuptial; hymeneal.

MATRIMONIALLY Mat`ri*mo"ni*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In a matrimonial manner.

MATRIMONIOUS Mat`ri*mo"ni*ous, a.

Defn: Matrimonial. [R.] Milton.

MATRIMONY Mat"ri*mo*ny, n. Etym: [OE. matrimoine, through Old French, fr. L. matrimonium, fr. mater mother. See Mother.]

1. The union of man and woman as husband and wife; the nuptial state; marriage; wedlock. If either of you know any impediment, why ye may not be lawfully joined together in matrimony, ye do now confessit. Book of Com. Prayer (Eng. Ed. )

2. A kind of game at cards played by several persons. Matrimony vine (Bot.), a climbing thorny vine (Lycium barbarum) of the Potato family. Gray.

Syn. -- Marriage; wedlock. See Marriage.

MATRIX Ma"trix, n.; pl. Matrices. Etym: [L., fr. mater mother. See Mother, and cf. Matrice.]

1. (Anat.)

Defn: The womb. All that openeth the matrix is mine. Ex. xxxiv. 19.

2. Hence, that which gives form or origin to anything; as: (a) (Mech.) The cavity in which anything is formed, and which gives it shape; a die; a mold, as for the face of a type. (b) (Min.) The earthy or stony substance in which metallic ores or crystallized minerals are found; the gangue. (c) pl. (Dyeing)

Defn: The five simple colors, black, white, blue, red, and yellow, of which all the rest are composed.

3. (Biol.)

Defn: The lifeless portion of tissue, either animal or vegetable, situated between the cells; the intercellular substance.

4. (Math.)

Defn: A rectangular arrangement of symbols in rows and columns. The symbols may express quantities or operations.

MATRON Ma"tron, n. Etym: [F. matrone, L. matrona, fr. mater mother. See Mother.]

1. A wife or a widow, especially, one who has borne children; a woman of staid or motherly manners. Your wives, your daughters, Your matrons, and your maids. Shak. Grave from her cradle, insomuch that she was a matron before she was a mother. Fuller.

2. A housekeeper; esp., a woman who manages the domestic economy of a public instution; a head nurse in a hospital; as, the matron of a school or hospital. Jury of matrons (Law), a jury of experienced women called to determine the question of pregnancy when set up in bar of execution, and for other cognate purposes.

MATRONAGE Mat"ron*age, n.

1. The state of a matron.

2. The collective body of matrons. Burke. Can a politician slight the feelings and convictions of the whole matronage of his country Hare.

MATRONAL Mat"ron*al, a. Etym: [L. matronalis.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to a matron; suitable to an elderly lady or to a married woman; grave; motherly.

MATRONHOOD Ma"tron*hood, n.

Defn: The state of being a matron.

MATRONIZE Mat"ron*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Matronized; p. pr. & vb. n. Matronizing.]

1. To make a matron of; to make matronlike. Childbed matronizes the giddiest spirits. Richardson.

2. To act the part of a marton toward; to superintend; to chaperone; as, to matronize an assembly.

MATRONLIKE Ma"tron*like`, a.

Defn: Like a matron; sedate; grave; matronly.

MATRONLY Ma"tron*ly, a.

1. Advanced in years; elderly.

2. Like, or befitting, a matron; grave; sedate.

MATRONYMIC Mat`ro*nym"ic, n. Etym: [L. mater mother + -nymic, as in patronimic.]

Defn: See Metronymic.

MATROSS Ma*tross", n. Etym: [D. matroos, fr. F. matelot.] (Mil.)

Defn: Formerly, in the British service, a gunner or a gunner's mate; one of the soldiers in a train of artillery, who assisted the gunners in loading, firing, and sponging the guns. [Obs.]

MATT Matt, n.

Defn: See Matte. Knight.

MATTAGES Mat`ta*ges", n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A shrike or butcher bird; -- written also matagasse. [Prov. Eng.]

MATTAMORE Mat"ta*more`, n. Etym: [F. matamore, from Ar. matm.]

Defn: A subterranean repository for wheat.

MATTE Matte, n. Etym: [F. matte; cf. F. mat, masc., matte, fem., faint, dull, dim; -- said of metals. See Mate checkmate.]

1. (Metallurgy)

Defn: A partly reduced copper sulphide, obtained by alternately roasting and melting copper ore in separating the metal from associated iron ores, and called coarse metal, fine metal, etc., according to the grade of fineness. On the exterior it is dark brown or black, but on a fresh surface is yellow or bronzy in color.

2. A dead or dull finish, as in gilding where the gold leaf is not burnished, or in painting where the surface is purposely deprived of gloss.

MATTED Mat"ted, a. Etym: [See Matte.]

Defn: Having a dull surface; unburnished; as, matted gold leaf or gilding. Matted glass, glass ornamented with figures on a dull ground.

MATTED Mat"ted, a. Etym: [See 3d Mat.]

1. Covered with a mat or mats; as, a matted floor.

2. Tangled closely together; having its parts adhering closely together; as, matted hair.

MATTER Mat"ter, n. Etym: [OE. matere, F. matière, fr. L. materia; perh. akin to L. mater mother. Cf. Mother, Madeira, Material.]

1. That of which anything is composed; constituent substance; material; the material or substantial part of anything; the constituent elements of conception; that into which a notion may be analyzed; the essence; the pith; the embodiment. He is the matter of virtue. B. Jonson.

2. That of which the sensible universe and all existent bodies are composed; anything which has extension, occupies space, or is perceptible by the senses; body; substance.

Note: Matter is usually divided by philosophical writers into three kinds or classes: solid, liquid, and aëriform. Solid substances are those whose parts firmly cohere and resist impression, as wood or stone. Liquids have free motion among their parts, and easily yield to impression, as water and wine. Aëriform substances are elastic fluids, called vapors and gases, as air and oxygen gas.

3. That with regard to, or about which, anything takes place or is done; the thing aimed at, treated of, or treated; subject of action, discussion, consideration, feeling, complaint, legal action, or the like; theme. "If the matter should be tried by duel." Bacon. Son of God, Savior of men ! Thy name Shall be the copious matter of my song. Milton. Every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge. Ex. xviii. 22.

4. That which one has to treat, or with which one has to do; concern; affair; business. To help the matter, the alchemists call in many vanities out of astrology. Bacon. Some young female seems to have carried matters so far, that she is ripe for asking advice. Spectator.

5. Affair worthy of account; thing of consequence; importance; significance; moment; -- chiefly in the phrases what matter no matter, and the like. A prophet some, and some a poet, cry; No matter which, so neither of them lie. Dryden.

6. Inducing cause or occasion, especially of anything disagreeable or distressing; difficulty; trouble. And this is the matter why interpreters upon that passage in Hosea will not consent it to be a true story, that the prophet took a harlot to wife. Milton.

7. Amount; quantity; portion; space; -- often indefinite. Away he goes, . . . a matter of seven miles. L' Estrange. I have thoughts to tarry a small matter. Congreve. No small matter of British forces were commanded over sea the year before. Mi lton.

8. Substance excreted from living animal bodies; that which is thrown out or discharged in a tumor, boil, or abscess; pus; purulent substance.

9. (Metaph.)

Defn: That which is permanent, or is supposed to be given, and in or upon which changes are effected by psychological or physical processes and relations; -- opposed to form. Mansel.

10. (Print.)

Defn: Written manuscript, or anything to be set in type; copy; also, type set up and ready to be used, or which has been used, in printing. Dead matter (Print.), type which has been used, or which is not to be used, in printing, and is ready for distribution. -- Live matter (Print.), type set up, but not yet printed from. -- Matter in bar, Matter of fact. See under Bar, and Fact. -- Matter of record, anything recorded. -- Upon the matter, or Upon the whole matter, considering the whole; taking all things into view. Waller, with Sir William Balfour, exceeded in horse, but were, upon the whole matter, equal in foot. Clarendon.

MATTER Mat"ter, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Mattered; p. pr. & vb. n. Mattering.]

1. To be of importance; to import; to signify. It matters not how they were called. Locke.

2. To form pus or matter, as an abscess; to maturate. [R.] "Each slight sore mattereth." Sir P. Sidney.

MATTER Mat"ter, v. t.

Defn: To regard as important; to take account of; to care for. [Obs.] He did not matter cold nor hunger. H. Brooke.

MATTERLESS Mat"ter*less, a.

1. Not being, or having, matter; as, matterless spirits. Davies (Wit's Pilgr. ).

2. Unimportant; immaterial. [Obs.]

MATTER-OF-FACT Mat"ter-of-fact", a.

Defn: Adhering to facts; not turning aside from absolute realities; not fanciful or imaginative; commonplace; dry.

MATTERY Mat"ter*y, a.

1. Generating or containing pus; purulent.

2. Full of substance or matter; important. B. Jonson.

MATTING Mat"ting, n. Etym: [From Mat, v. t. & i.]

1. The act of interweaving or tangling together so as to make a mat; the process of becoming matted.

2. Mats, in general, or collectively; mat work; a matlike fabric, for use in covering floors, packing articles, and the like; a kind of carpeting made of straw, etc.

3. Materials for mats.

4. An ornamental border. See 3d Mat, 4.

MATTING Mat"ting, n. Etym: [See Matte.]

Defn: A dull, lusterless surface in certain of the arts, as gilding, metal work, glassmaking, etc.

MATTOCK Mat"tock, n. Etym: [AS. mattuc; cf. W. matog.]

Defn: An implement for digging and grubbing. The head has two long steel blades, one like an adz and the other like a narrow ax or the point of a pickax. 'T is you must dig with mattock and with spade. Shak.

MATTOID Mat"toid, n. [It. matto mad (cf. L. mattus, matus, drunk) + -oid.]

Defn: A person of congenitally abnormal mind bordering on insanity or degeneracy.

MATTOIR Mat*toir", n. [F. matoir.] (Engraving)

Defn: A kind of coarse punch with a rasplike face, used for making a rough surface on etching ground, or on the naked copper, the effect after biting being very similar to stippled lines.

MATTOWACCA Mat`to*wac"ca, n. Etym: [Indian name.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: An American clupeoid fish (Clupea mediocris), similar to the shad in habits and appearance, but smaller and less esteemed for food; -- called also hickory shad, tailor shad, fall herring, and shad herring.

MATTRESS Mat"tress, n. Etym: [OF. materas, F. matelas, LL. matratium; cf. Sp. & Pg. almadraque, Pr. almatrac; all from Ar. matsrah a place where anything is thrown, what is thrown under something, fr. tsaraha to throw.]

1. A quilted bed; a bed stuffed with hair, moss, or other suitable material, and quilted or otherwise fastened. [Written also matress.]

2. (Hydraulic Engin.)

Defn: A mass of interwoven brush, poles, etc., to protect a bank from being worn away by currents or waves.

MATURANT Mat"u*rant, n. Etym: [L. maturans, p. pr. See Maturate.] (Med.)

Defn: A medicine, or application, which promotes suppuration.

MATURATE Mat"u*rate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Maturated; p. pr. & vb. n. Maturating.] Etym: [L. maturatus, p. p. of maturare to make ripe, fr. maturus ripe, mature. See Mature, v. & a.]

1. To bring to ripeness or maturity; to ripen. A tree may be maturated artificially. Fuller.

2. To promote the perfect suppuration of (an abscess).

MATURATE Mat"u*rate, v. i.

Defn: To ripen; to become mature; specif

MATURATION Mat`u*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. maturatio a hastening: cf. F. maturation.]

Defn: The process of bringing, or of coming, to maturity; hence, specifically, the process of suppurating perfectly; the formation of pus or matter.

MATURATIVE Mat"u*ra*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. maturatif.]

Defn: Conducing to ripeness or maturity; hence, conducing to suppuration.

MATURATIVE Mat"u*ra*tive, n. (Med.)

Defn: A remedy promoting maturation; a maturant.

MATURE Ma*ture", a. [Compar. Maturer; superl. Maturest.] Etym: [L. maturus; prob. akin to E. matin.]

1. Brought by natural process to completeness of growth and development; fitted by growth and development for any function, action, or state, appropriate to its kind; full-grown; ripe. Now is love mature in ear. Tennison. How shall I meet, or how accost, the sage, Unskilled in speech, nor yet mature of age Pope.

2. Completely worked out; fully digested or prepared; ready for action; made ready for destined application or use; perfected; as, a mature plan. This lies glowing, . . . and is almost mature for the violent breaking out. Shak.

3. Of or pertaining to a condition of full development; as, a man of mature years.

4. Come to, or in a state of, completed suppuration.

Syn. -- Ripe; perfect; completed; prepared; digested; ready. -- Mature, Ripe. Both words describe fullness of growth. Mature brings to view the progressiveness of the process; ripe indicates the result. We speak of a thing as mature when thinking of the successive stayes through which it has passed; as ripe, when our attention is directed merely to its state. A mature judgment; mature consideration; ripe fruit; a ripe scholar.

MATURE Ma*ture", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Matured; p. pr. & vb. n. Maturing.] Etym: [See Maturate, Mature.]

Defn: To bring or hasten to maturity; to promote ripeness in; to ripen; to complete; as, to mature one's plans. Bacon.

MATURE Ma*ture", v. i.

1. To advance toward maturity; to become ripe; as, wine matures by age; the judgment matures by age and experience.

2. Hence, to become due, as a note.

MATURELY Ma*ture"ly, adv.

1. In a mature manner; with ripeness; completely.

2. With caution; deliberately. Dryden.

3. Early; soon. [A Latinism, little used] Bentley.

MATURENESS Ma*ture"ness, n.

Defn: The state or quality of being mature; maturity.

MATURER Ma*tur"er, n.

Defn: One who brings to maturity.

MATURESCENT Mat`u*res"cent, a. Etym: [L. maturescens, p. pr. of maturescere to become ripe, v. incho. from maturus. See Mature, a.]

Defn: Approaching maturity.

MATURING Ma*tur"ing, a.

Defn: Approaching maturity; as, maturing fruits; maturing notes of hand.

MATURITY Ma*tu"ri*ty, n. Etym: [L. maturitas: cf. F. maturité.]

1. The state or quality of being mature; ripeness; full development; as, the maturity of corn or of grass; maturity of judgment; the maturity of a plan.

2. Arrival of the time fixed for payment; a becoming due; termination of the period a note, etc., has to run.

MATUTINAL Mat`u*ti"nal, a. Etym: [L. matutinalis, matutinus: cf. F. matutinal. See Matin.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to the morning; early.

MATUTINARY Ma*tu"ti*na*ry, a.

Defn: Matutinal. [R.]

MATUTINE Mat"u*tine, a.

Defn: Matutinal. [R.]

MATWEED Mat"weed`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A name of several maritime grasses, as the sea sand-reed (Ammophila arundinacea) which is used in Holland to bind the sand of the seacoast dikes (see Beach grass, under Beach); also, the Lygeum Spartum, a Mediterranean grass of similar habit.

MATY Mat"y, n. Etym: [Etymology uncertain.]

Defn: A native house servant in India. Balfour (Cyc. of India).

MATZOTH Matz"oth, n. Etym: [Heb. matstsoth, pl. of matstsah unleavened.]

Defn: A cake of unleavened bread eaten by the Jews at the feast of the Passover.

MAUCACO Mau*ca"co, n. Etym: [From the native name.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A lemur; -- applied to several species, as the White-fronted, the ruffed, and the ring-tailed lemurs.

MAUD Maud, n.

Defn: A gray plaid; -- used by shepherds in Scotland.

MAUDLE Mau"dle, v. t.

Defn: To throw onto confusion or disorder; to render maudlin. [Obs.]

MAUDLIN Maud"lin, a. Etym: [From Maudlin, a contr. of Magdalen, OE. Maudeleyne, who is drawn by painters with eyes swelled and red with weeping.]

1. Tearful; easily moved to tears; exciting to tears; excessively sentimental; weak and silly. "Maudlin eyes." Dryden. "Maudlin eloquence." Roscommon. "A maudlin poetess." Pope. "Maudlin crowd." Southey.

2. Drunk, or somewhat drunk; fuddled; given to drunkenness. Maudlin Clarence in his malmsey butt. Byron.

MAUDLIN; MAUDELINE Maud"lin, Maude"line, n. (Bot.)

Defn: An aromatic composite herb, the costmary; also, the South European Achillea Ageratum, a kind of yarrow.

MAUDLINISM Maud"lin*ism, n.

Defn: A maudlin state. Dickens.

MAUDLINWORT Maud"lin*wort`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: The oxeye daisy.

MAUGER; MAUGRE Mau"ger, Mau"gre, prep. Etym: [OF. maugré, malgré, F. malgré. See Mal-, Malice, and Agree.]

Defn: In spite of; in opposition to; notwithstanding. A man must needs love maugre his heed. Chaucer. This mauger all the world will I keep safe. Shak.

MAUGRE Mau"gre, v. t.

Defn: To defy. [Obs.] J. Webster.

MAUKIN Mau"kin, n.

1. See Malkin.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A hare. [Scot.]

MAUL Maul, n. Etym: [See Mall a hammer.]

Defn: A heavy wooden hammer or beetle. [Written also mall.]

MAUL Maul, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mauled; p. pr. & vb. n. Mauling.]

1. To beat and bruise with a heavy stick or cudgel; to wound in a coarse manner. Meek modern faith to murder, hack, and maul. Pope.

2. To injure greatly; to do much harm to. It mauls not only the person misrepreseted, but him also to whom he is misrepresented. South.

MAULE Maule, n. (Bot.)

Defn: The common mallow.

MAULING Maul"ing, n.

Defn: A severe beating with a stick, cudgel, or the fist.

MAUL-STICK Maul"-stick`, n. Etym: [G. malerstock; maler a painter + stock stick.]

Defn: A stick used by painters as a rest for the hand while working. [Written also mahl-stick.]

MAUMET Mau"met, n.

Defn: See Mawmet. [Obs.] Chaucer.

MAUNCH Maunch, v. t.

Defn: To munch. [Obs.]

MAUNCH Maunch, n.

Defn: See Manche.

MAUND Maund, n. Etym: [AS. mand, mond.]

Defn: A hand basket. [Obs.] Herrick.

MAUND Maund, n. Etym: [Hind, & Per. man.]

Defn: An East Indian weight, varying in different localities from 25 to about 82 pounds avoirdupois.

MAUND; MAUNDER Maund, Maund"er, v. i. Etym: [Cf. F. mendier to beg, E. mendicant.]

1. To beg. [Obs.] B. Jonson. Beau. & Fl.

2. To mutter; to mumble; to grumble; to speak indistinctly or disconnectedly; to talk incoherently. He was ever maundering by the how that he met a party of scarlet devils. Sir W. Scott.

MAUNDER Maund"er, v. t.

Defn: To utter in a grumbling manner; to mutter.

MAUNDER Maund"er, n.

Defn: A beggar. [Obs.]

MAUNDERER Maund"er*er, n.

Defn: One who maunders.

MAUNDRIL Maun"dril, n. Etym: [Cf. Mandrel.] (Coa

Defn: A pick with two prongs, to pry with.

MAUNDY COINS; MAUNDY MONEY Maundy coins or money.

Defn: Silver coins or money of the nominal value of 1d., 2d., 3d., and 4d., struck annually for the Maundy alms.

MAUNDY THURSDAY Maun"dy Thurs"day. Etym: [OE. maunde a command, OF. mandé, L. mandatum, from mandare to command. See called from the ancient custom of washing the feet of the poor on this day, which was taken to be the fulfillment of the "new commandment," John xiii. 5, 34.] (Eccl.)

Defn: The Thursday in Passion week, or next before Good Friday.

MAUNGY Maun"gy, a.

Defn: Mangy. [Obs.] Skelton.

MAURESQUE Mau*resque", a. & n.

Defn: See Moresque.

MAURIST Maur"ist, n. Etym: [From Maurus, the favorite disciple of St. Benedict.]

Defn: A member of the Congregation of Saint Maur, an offshoot of the Benedictines, originating in France in the early part of the seventeenth century. The Maurists have been distinguished for their interest in literature.

MAUSOLEAN Mau`so*le"an, a. Etym: [L. Mausoleus. See Mausoleum.]

Defn: Pertaining to a mausoleum; monumental.

MAUSOLEUM Mau`so*le"um, n.; pl. E. Mausoleums, L. -lea. Etym: [L. mausoleum, Gr.

Defn: A magnificent tomb, or stately sepulchral monument.

MAUTHER Mau"ther, n. Etym: [Cf. AS. mæg a maid.] [Also spelled mawther, mother.]

Defn: A girl; esp., a great, awkward girl; a wench. [Prov. Eng.]

MAUVANILINE Mauv`an"i*line, n. (Chem.)

Defn: See Mauve aniline, under Mauve.

MAUVE Mauve, n. Etym: [F., mallow, L. malva. So named from the similarity of the color to that of the petals of common mallow, Malva sylvestris. See Mallow.]

Defn: A color of a delicate purple, violet, or lilac. Mauve aniline (Chem.), a dyestuff produced artificially by the oxidation of commercial aniline, and the first discovered of the so-called coal- tar, or aniline, dyes. It consists of the sulphate of mauveïne, and is a dark brown or bronze amorphous powder, which dissolves to a beatiful purple color. Called also aniline purple, violine, etc.

MAUVEINE Mauve"ïne, n. (Chem.)

Defn: An artificial organic base, obtained by oxidizing a mixture of aniline and toluidine, and valuable for the dyestuffs it forms. [Written also mauvine.]

MAUVINE Mauv"ine, a.

Defn: Mauve-colored.

MAVERICK Mav"er*ick, n.

Defn: In the southwestern part of the united States, a bullock or heifer that has not been branded, and is unclaimed or wild; -- said to be from Maverick, the name of a cattle owner in Texas who naglected to brand his cattle.

MAVERICK BRAND Maverick brand.

Defn: A brand originated by a dishonest cattleman, who, without owning any stock, gradually accumulates a herd by finding mavericks. [Western U. S.]

MAVIS Ma"vis (ma"vîs), n. Etym: [F. mauvis, Arm. milvid, milfid, milc'hhouid, Corn. melhuez.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The European throstle or song thrush (Turdus musicus).

MAVOURNIN; MAVOURNEEN Ma*vour"nin, Ma*vour"neen (ma*voor"nen), n. [Ir. mo mhuirnin my darling; mo my + mhuirnin darling.]

Defn: My darling; -- an Irish term of endearment for a girl or woman. "Erin mavournin." Campbell.

MAW Maw, n. Etym: [See Mew a gull.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A gull.

MAW Maw, n. Etym: [OE. mawe, AS. maga stomach; akin to D. maag, OHG. mago, G. magen, Icel. magi, Sw. mage, Dan. mave.

1. A stomach; the receptacle into which food is taken by swallowing; in birds, the craw; -- now used only of the lower animals, exept humorously or in contempt. Chaucer. Bellies and maws of living creatures. Bacon.

2. Appetite; inclination. [Obs.] Unless you had more maw to do me good. Beau. & Fl. Fish maw. (Zoöl.) See under Fish.

MAW Maw, n.

Defn: An old game at cards. Sir A. Weldon.

MAWK Mawk, n. Etym: [OE. mauk, ma, Icel. ma; akin to Dan. maddik, and E. mad an earthworm. See Mad, n.]

1. A maggot. [Scot.]

2. A slattern; a mawks. [Prov. Eng.]

MAWKIN Maw"kin, n.

Defn: See Malkin, and Maukin.

MAWKINGLY Mawk"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: Slatternly. [Obs.]

MAWKISH Mawk"ish, a. Etym: [Orig., maggoty. See Mawk.]

1. Apt to cause satiety or loathing; nauseous; disgusting. So sweetly mawkish', and so smoothly dull. Pope.

2. Easily disgusted; squeamish; sentimentally fastidious. J. H. Newman.

MAWKISHLY Mawk"ish*ly, adv.

Defn: In a mawkish way.

MAWKISHNESS Mawk"ish*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being mawkish. J. H. Newman.

MAWKS Mawks, n.

Defn: A slattern; a mawk. [Prov. Eng.]

MAWKY Mawk"y, a.

Defn: Maggoty. [Prov. Eng.]

MAWMET Maw"met, n. Etym: [Contr. fr. Mahomet.]

Defn: A puppet; a doll; originally, an idol, because in the Middle Ages it was generally believed that the Mohammedans worshiped images representing Mohammed. [Obs.] Wyclif. Beau. & Fl.

MAWMETRY Maw"met*ry, n.

Defn: The religion of Mohammed; also, idolatry. See Mawmet. [Obs.] Chaucer.

MAWMISH Maw"mish, a. Etym: [Prov. E. maum soft, mellow, rotten; cf. OD. molm rotten wood, G. mulm.]

Defn: Nauseous. [Obs.] L' Estrange.

MAWSEED Maw"seed`, n. Etym: [Cf. G. magsamen.] (Bot.)

Defn: The seed of the opium poppy.

MAWWORM Maw"worm`, n. Etym: [Maw the belly + worm.] (Zoöl.) (a) Any intestinal worm found in the stomach, esp. the common round worm (Ascaris lumbricoides), and allied species. (b) One of the larvæ of botflies of horses; a bot.

MAXILLA Max*il"la, n.; pl. Maxillæ. Etym: [L., dim. of mala jaw, jawbone.]

1. (Anat.) (a) The bone of either the upper or the under jaw. (b) The bone, or principal bone, of the upper jaw, the bone of the lower jaw being the mandible. [Now commonly used in this restricted sense.]

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the lower or outer jaws of arthropods.

Note: There are usually two pairs in Crustacea and one pair in insects. In certain insects they are not used as jaws, but may form suctorial organs. See Illust. under Lepidoptera, and Diptera.

MAXILLAR; MAXILLARY Max"il*lar, Max"il*la*ry, a. Etym: [L. maxillaris, fr. maxilla jawbone, jaw: cf. F. maxillaire.]

1. (Anat.)

Defn: Pertaining to either the upper or the lower jaw, but now usually applied to the upper jaw only. -- n.

Defn: The principal maxillary bone; the maxilla.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to a maxilla.

MAXILLIFORM Max*il"li*form, a. Etym: [Maxilla + -form: cf. F. maxilliforme.]

Defn: Having the form, or structure, of a maxilla.

MAXILLIPED Max*il"li*ped, n. Etym: [Maxilla + L. pes, pedis, foot.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the mouth appendages of Crustacea, situated next behind the maxillæ. Crabs have three pairs, but many of the lower Crustacea have but one pair of them. Called also jawfoot, and foot jaw.

MAXILLO-MANDIBULAR Max*il`lo-man*dib"u*lar, a. Etym: [Maxilla + mandibular.] (Anat.)

Defn: Pertaining to the maxilla and mandible; as, the maxillo- mandibular nerve.

MAXILLO-PALATINE Max*il`lo-pal"a*tine, a. Etym: [Maxilla + palatine.] (Anat.)

Defn: Pertaining to the maxillary and palatine regions of the skull; as, the maxillo-palatine process of the maxilla. Also used as n.

MAXILLOTURBINAL Max*il`lo*tur`bi*nal, a. Etym: [Maxilla + turbinal.] (Anat.)

Defn: Pertaining to the maxillary and turbinal regions of the skull. -- n.

Defn: The maxillo-turbinal, or inferior turbinate, bone.

MAXIM Max"im, n. Etym: [F. maxime, L. maxima (sc. sententia), the greatest sentence, proposition, or axiom, i. e., of the greatest weight or authority, fem. fr. maximus greatest, superl. of magnus great. See Magnitude, and cf. Maximum.]

1. An established principle or proposition; a condensed proposition of important practical truth; an axiom of practical wisdom; an adage; a proverb; an aphorism. 'T is their maxim, Love is love's reward. Dryden.

2. (Mus.)

Defn: The longest note formerly used, equal to two longs, or four breves; a large.

Syn. -- Axiom; aphorism; apothegm; adage; proverb; saying. See Axiom.

MAXIM GUN Max"im gun`.

Defn: A kind of machine gun; -- named after its inventor, Hiram S. Maxim.

MAXIMILIAN Max`i*mil"ian, n. Etym: [From the proper name.]

Defn: A gold coin of Bavaria, of the value of about 13s. 6d. sterling, or about three dollars and a quarter.

MAXIMIZATION Max`i*mi*za"tion, n.

Defn: The act or process of increasing to the highest degree. Bentham.

MAXIMIZE Max"i*mize, v. t. Etym: [L. maximus greatest.]

Defn: To increase to the highest degree. Bentham.

MAXIMUM Max"i*mum, n.; pl. Maxima. Etym: [L., neut. from maximus the greatest. See Maxim.]

Defn: The greatest quantity or value attainable in a given case; or, the greatest value attained by a quantity which first increases and then begins to decrease; the highest point or degree; -- opposed to Ant: minimum. Good legislation is the art of conducting a nation to the maximum of happiness, and the minimum of misery. P. Colquhoun. Maximum thermometer, a thermometer that registers the highest degree of temperature attained in a given time, or since its last adjustment.

MAXIMUM Max"i*mum, a.

Defn: Greatest in quantity or highest in degree attainable or attained; as, a maximum consumption of fuel; maximum pressure; maximum heat.

MAY May, v. [imp. Might] Etym: [AS. pres. mæg I am able, pret. meahte, mihte; akin to D. mogen, G. mögen, OHG. mugan, magan, Icel. mega, Goth. magan, Russ. moche. Dismay, Main strength, Might. The old imp. mought is obsolete, except as a provincial word.]