Chapter LI: Bella (23)

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

MICROBAROGRAPH Mi`cro*bar"o*graph, n. [Micro-+ barograph.]

Defn: An instrument for recording minor fluctuations of atmospheric pressure, as opposed to general barometric surges.

MICROBE; MICROBION Mi"crobe, Mi*cro"bi*on, n. Etym: [NL. microbion, fr. Gr. (Biol.)

Defn: A microscopic organism; -- particularly applied to bacteria and especially to pathogenic forms; as, the microbe of fowl cholera.

MICROBIAN Mi*cro"bi*an, a. (Biol.)

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or caused by, microbes; as, the microbian theory; a microbian disease.

MICROBIC Mi*crob"ic, a. (Biol.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to a microbe.

MICROBICIDE Mi*crob"i*cide, n. Etym: [Microbe + L. caedere to kill.] (Biol.)

Defn: Any agent detrimental to, or destructive of, the life of microbes or bacterial organisms.

MICROBIOLOGY Mi`cro*bi*ol"o*gy, n. [See Microbe; -logy.]

Defn: The study of minute organisms, or microbes, as the bacteria. -- Mi`cro*bi`o*log"ic*al (#), a. -- Mi`cro*bi*ol"o*gist (#), n.

MICROCEPHALIC; MICROCEPHALOUS Mi`cro*ce*phal"ic, Mi`cro*ceph"a*lous, a. Etym: [Micro- + cephalic, cephalous.] (Anat.)

Defn: Having a small head; having the cranial cavity small; -- opposed to Ant: megacephalic.

MICRO-CHEMICAL Mi`cro-chem"ic*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to micro-chemistry; as, a micro-chemical test.

MICRO-CHEMISTRY Mi`cro-chem"is*try, n. Etym: [Micro- + chemistry.]

Defn: The application of chemical tests to minute objects or portions of matter, magnified by the use of the microscopy; -- distinguished from macro-chemistry.

MICROCHRONOMETER Mi`cro*chro*nom"e*ter, n.

Defn: A chronoscope.

MICROCLINE Mi"cro*cline, n. Etym: [Micro- + Gr. (Min.)

Defn: A mineral of the feldspar group, like orthoclase or common feldspar in composition, but triclinic in form.

MICROCOCCAL Mi`cro*coc"cal, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to micrococci; caused by micrococci. Nature.

MICROCOCCUS Mi`cro*coc"cus, n.; pl. Micrococci. Etym: [NL. See Micro-, and Coccus.] (Biol.)

Defn: A genus of Spherobacteria, in the form of very small globular or oval cells, forming, by transverse division, filaments, or chains of cells, or in some cases single organisms shaped like dumb-bells (Diplococcus), all without the power of motion. See Illust. of Ascoccus.

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

MICROCOSM Mi"cro*cosm, n. Etym: [F. microcosme, L. microcosmus, fr. Gr.

Defn: A little world; a miniature universe. Hence (so called by Paracelsus), a man, as a supposed epitome of the exterior universe or great world. Opposed to macrocosm. Shak.

MICROCOSMIC; MICROCOSMICAL Mi`cro*cos"mic, Mi`cro*cos"mic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. microcosmique.]

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

MICROCOSMOGRAPHY Mi`cro*cos*mog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Microcosm + -graphy.]

Defn: Description of man as a microcosm.

MICROCOULOMB Mi`cro*cou`lomb", n. Etym: [Micro- + coulomb.] (Elec.)

Defn: A measure of electrical quantity; the millionth part of one coulomb.

MICROCOUSTIC Mi`cro*cous"tic, a. Etym: [Micro- + acoustic: cf. F. microcoustique, micracoustique.]

Defn: Pertaining, or suited, to the audition of small sounds; fitted to assist hearing.

MICROCOUSTIC Mi`cro*cous"tic, n.

Defn: An instrument for making faint sounds audible, as to a partially deaf person.

MICROCRITH Mi`cro*crith", n. Etym: [Micro- + crith.] (Chem.)

Defn: The weight of the half hydrogen molecule, or of the hydrogen atom, taken as the standard in comparing the atomic weights of the elements; thus, an atom of oxygen weighs sixteen microcriths. See Crith. J. P. Cooke.

MICROCRYSTALLINE Mi`cro*crys"tal*line, a. Etym: [Micro- + crystalline.] (Crystallog.)

Defn: Crystalline on a fine, or microscopic, scale; consisting of fine crystals; as, the ground mass of certain porphyrics is microcrystalline.

MICROCYTE Mi"cro*cyte, n. Etym: [Micro- + Gr. (Physiol.)

Defn: One of the elementary granules found in blood. They are much smaller than an ordinary corpuscle, and are particularly noticeable in disease, as in anæmia.

MICRODONT Mic"ro*dont, a. Etym: [Micr- + Gr. (Anat.)

Defn: Having small teeth.

MICROFARAD Mi`cro*far"ad, n. Etym: [Micro- + farad.] (Elec.)

Defn: The millionth part of a farad.

MICROFORM Mi"cro*form, n. Etym: [Micro- + form, n.] (Biol.)

Defn: A microscopic form of life; an animal or vegetable organism microscopic size.

MICRO-GEOLOGICAL Mi`cro-ge`o*log"ic*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to micro-geology.

MICRO-GEOLOGY Mi`cro-ge*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Micro- + geology.]

Defn: The part of geology relating to structure and organisms which require to be studied with a microscope.

MICROGRAPH Mi"cro*graph, n. Etym: [See Micrography.]

Defn: An instrument for executing minute writing or engraving.

MICROGRAPHIC Mi`cro*graph"ic, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to micrography.

MICROGRAPHY Mi*crog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Micro- + -graphy: cf. F. micrographie.]

Defn: The description of microscopic objects.

MICROHM Mi*crohm", n. Etym: [Micr- + ohm.] (Elec.)

Defn: The millionth part of an ohm.

MICROLEPIDOPTERA Mi`cro*lep`i*dop"te*ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Micro-, and Lepidoptera.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A tribe of Lepidoptera, including a vast number of minute species, as the plume moth, clothes moth, etc.

MICROLESTES Mi`cro*les"tes, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Paleon.)

Defn: An extinct genus of small Triassic mammals, the oldest yet found in European strata.

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

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

2. (Min.)

Defn: A minute inclosed crystal, often observed when minerals or rocks are examined in thin sections under the microscope.

MICROLITH Mi"cro*lith, n. Etym: [Micro- + lith.] (Min.)

Defn: Same as Microlite, 2.

MICROLITHIC Mi`cro*lith"ic, a.

Defn: Formed of small stones.

MICROLOGIC; MICROLOGICAL Mi`cro*log"ic, Mi`cro*log"ic*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to micrology; very minute; as, micrologic examination. -- Mi`cro*log"ic*al*ly, adv.

MICROLOGY Mi*crol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Micro- + -logy.]

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

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

MICROMERE Mi"cro*mere, n. Etym: [Micro- + -mere.] (Biol.)

Defn: One of the smaller cells, or blastomeres, resulting from the complete segmentation of a telolecithal ovum.

MICROMETER Mi*crom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Micro- + -meter: cf. F. micromètre.]

Defn: An instrument, used with a telescope or microscope, for measuring minute distances, or the apparent diameters of objects which subtend minute angles. The measurement given directly is that of the image of the object formed at the focus of the object glass. Circular, or Ring, micrometer, a metallic ring fixed in the focus of the object glass of a telescope, and used to determine differences of right ascension and declination between stars by observations of the times at which the stars cross the inner or outer periphery of the ring. -- Double image micrometer, a micrometer in which two images of an object are formed in the field, usually by the two halves of a bisected lens which are movable along their line of section by a screw, and distances are determined by the number of screw revolutions necessary to bring the points to be measured into optical coincidence. When the two images are formed by a bisected objects glass, it is called a divided-object-glass micrometer, and when the instrument is large and equatorially mounted, it is known as a heliometer. -- Double refraction micrometer, a species of double image micrometer, in which the two images are formed by the double refraction of rock crystal. -- Filar, or Bifilar, micrometer. See under Bifilar. -- Micrometer caliper or gauge (Mech.), a caliper or gauge with a micrometer screw, for measuring dimensions with great accuracy. -- Micrometer head, the head of a micrometer screw. -- Micrometer microscope, a compound microscope combined with a filar micrometer, used chiefly for reading and subdividing the divisions of large astronomical and geodetical instruments. -- Micrometer screw, a screw with a graduated head used in some forms of micrometers. -- Position micrometer. See under Position. -- Scale, or Linear, micrometer, a minute and very delicately graduated scale of equal parts used in the field of a telescope or microscope, for measuring distances by direct comparison.

MICROMETRIC; MICROMETRICAL Mi`cro*met"ric, Mi`cro*met"ric*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. micrométrique.]

Defn: Belonging to micrometry; made by the micrometer. -- Mi`cro*met"ric*al*ly, adv.

MICROMETRY Mi*crom"e*try, n.

Defn: The art of measuring with a micrometer.

MICROMILLIMETER Mi`cro*mil"li*me`ter, n. Etym: [Micro- + millimeter.]

Defn: The millionth part of a meter.

MICRON Mic"ron, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Physics)

Defn: A measure of length; the thousandth part of one millimeter; the millionth part of a meter.

MICRONESIAN Mi"cro*ne"sian, a. Etym: [From Micronesia, fr. Gr.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Micronesia, a collective designation of the islands in the western part of the Pacific Ocean, embracing the Marshall and Gilbert groups, the Ladrones, the Carolines, etc.

MICRONESIANS Mi`cro*ne"sians, n. pl.; sing. Micronesian. (Ethnol.)

Defn: A dark race inhabiting the Micronesian Islands. They are supposed to be a mixed race, derived from Polynesians and Papuans.

MICRONOMETER Mi`cro*nom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Micro- + chronometer.]

Defn: An instrument for noting minute portions of time.

MICROORGANISM; MICRO-ORGANISM Mi`cro*ör"gan*ism, n. Etym: [Micro- + organism.] (Biol.)

Defn: Any microscopic form of life; -- particularly applied to bacteria and similar organisms, esp. such are supposed to cause infectious diseases.

MICROPANTOGRAPH Mi`cro*pan"to*graph, n. Etym: [Micro- + pantograph.]

Defn: A kind of pantograph which produces copies microscopically minute.

MICROPARASITE Mi`cro*par"a*site, n.

Defn: A parasitic microörganism. -- Mi`cro*par`a*sit"ic (#), a.

MICROPEGMATITE Mi`cro*peg"ma*tite, n. Etym: [Micro- + pegmatite.] (Min.)

Defn: A rock showing under the microscope the structure of a graphic granite (pegmatite). -- Mi`cro*peg`ma*tit"ic, a.

MICROPHONE Mi"cro*phone, n. Etym: [Micro- + Gr. microphone.] (Physics)

Defn: An instrument for intensifying and making audible very feeble sounds. It produces its effects by the changes of intensity in an electric current, occasioned by the variations in the contact resistance of conducting bodies, especially of imperfect conductors, under the action of acoustic vibrations.

MICROPHONIC Mi`cro*phon"ic, a.

Defn: Of or pert. to a microphone; serving to intensify weak sounds.

MICROPHONICS Mi`cro*phon"ics, n. Etym: [See Microphone.]

Defn: The science which treats of the means of increasing the intensity of low or weak sounds, or of the microphone.

MICROPHONOUS Mi*croph"o*nous, a.

Defn: Serving to augment the intensity of weak sounds; microcoustic.

MICROPHOTOGRAPH Mi`cro*pho"to*graph, n. Etym: [Micro- + photograph.]

1. A microscopically small photograph of a picture, writing, printed page, etc.

2. An enlarged representation of a microscopic object, produced by throwing upon a sensitive plate the magnified image of an object formed by a microscope or other suitable combination of lenses.

Note: A picture of this kind is preferably called a photomicrograph.

MICROPHOTOGRAPHY Mi`cro*pho*tog"ra*phy, n.

Defn: The art of making microphotographs.

MICROPHTHALMIA; MICROPHTHALMY Mi`croph*thal"mi*a, Mi`croph*thal"my, n. Etym: [Micro- + Gr.

Defn: An unnatural smallness of the eyes, occurring as the result of disease or of imperfect development.

MICROPHYLLOUS Mi*croph"yl*lous, a. Etym: [Micro- + Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: Small-leaved.

MICROPHYTAL Mi*croph"y*tal, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or of the nature of, microphytes.

MICROPHYTE Mi"cro*phyte, n. Etym: [Micro- + Gr. microphyte.] (Bot.)

Defn: A very minute plant, one of certain unicellular algæ, such as the germs of various infectious diseases are believed to be.

MICROPYLE Mi"cro*pyle, n. Etym: [Micro- + Gr. micropyle.] (Biol.) (a) An opening in the membranes surrounding the ovum, by which nutrition is assisted and the entrance of the spermatozoa permitted. (b) An opening in the outer coat of a seed, through which the fecundating pollen enters the ovule. -- Mi*crop"y*lar, a.

MICROSCOPAL Mi*cros"co*pal, a.

Defn: Pertaining to microscopy, or to the use of the microscope. Huxley.

MICROSCOPE Mi"cro*scope, n. Etym: [Micro- + -scope.]

Defn: An optical instrument, consisting of a lens, or combination of lenses, for making an enlarged image of an object which is too minute to be viewed by the naked eye. Compound microscope, an instrument consisting of a combination of lenses such that the image formed by the lens or set of lenses nearest the object (called the objective) is magnified by another lens called the ocular or eyepiece. -- Oxyhydrogen microscope, and Solar microscope. See under Oxyhydrogen, and Solar. -- Simple, or Single, microscope, a single convex lens used to magnify objects placed in its focus.

MICROSCOPIAL Mi`cro*sco"pi*al, a.

Defn: Microscopic. [R.] Berkeley.

MICROSCOPIC; MICROSCOPICAL Mi`cro*scop"ic, Mi`cro*scop"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. microscopique.]

1. Of or pertaining to the microscope or to microscopy; made with a microscope; as, microscopic observation.

2. Able to see extremely minute objects. Why has not man a microscopic eye Pope.

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

MICROSCOPICALLY Mi`cro*scop"ic*al*ly, adv.

Defn: By the microscope; with minute inspection; in a microscopic manner.

MICROSCOPIST Mi*cros"co*pist, n.

Defn: One skilled in, or given to, microscopy.

MICROSCOPY Mi*cros"co*py, n.

Defn: The use of the microscope; investigation with the microscope.

MICROSEISM Mi"cro*seism, n. [Micro- + Gr. an earthquake, fr. to shake.]

Defn: A feeble earth tremor not directly perceptible, but detected only by means of specially constructed apparatus. -- Mi`cro*seis"mic (#), *seis"mic*al (#), a.

MICROSEISMOGRAPH Mi`cro*seis"mo*graph, n. [Microseiem + -graph.]

Defn: A microseismometer; specif., a microseismometer producing a graphic record.

MICROSEISMOLOGY Mi`cro*seis*mol"o*gy, n. [Microseiem + -logy.]

Defn: Science or study of microseisms.

MICROSEISMOMETER Mi`cro*seis*mom"e*ter, n. [Microseism + -meter.]

Defn: A seismometer for measuring amplitudes or periods, or both, of microseisms. --Mi`cro*seis*mom"e*try (#), n.

MICROSEME Mi"cro*seme, a. Etym: [Micro- + Gr. microsème.] (Anat.)

Defn: Having the orbital index relatively small; having the orbits broad transversely; -- opposed to Ant: megaseme.

MICROSPECTROSCOPE Mi`cro*spec"tro*scope, n. Etym: [Micro- + spectroscope.] (Physics)

Defn: A spectroscope arranged for attachment to a microscope, for observation of the spectrum of light from minute portions of any substance.

MICROSPORANGIUM Mi`cro*spo*ran"gi*um, n. Etym: [NL. See Micro-, and Sporangium.] (Bot.)

Defn: A sporangium or conceptacle containing only very minute spores. Cf. Macrosporangium.

MICROSPORE Mi"cro*spore, n. Etym: [Micro- + spore.] (Bot.)

Defn: One of the exceedingly minute spores found in certain flowerless plants, as Selaginella and Isoetes, which bear two kinds of spores, one very much smaller than the other. Cf. Macrospore.

MICROSPORIC Mi`cro*spor"ic, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to microspores.

MICROSTHENE Mi"cro*sthene, n. Etym: [Micro- + Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of a group of mammals having a small size as a typical characteristic. It includes the lower orders, as the Insectivora, Cheiroptera, Rodentia, and Edentata.

MICROSTHENIC Mi`cro*sthen"ic, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having a typically small size; of or pertaining to the microsthenes.

MICROTASIMETER Mi`cro*ta*sim"e*ter, n. Etym: [Micro- + ta.] (Physics)

Defn: A tasimeter, especially when arranged for measuring very small extensions. See Tasimeter.

MICROTOME Mi"cro*tome, n. Etym: [Micro- + Gr.

Defn: An instrument for making very thin sections for microscopical examination.

MICROTOMIC; MICROTOMICAL Mi`cro*tom"ic, Mi`cro*tom"ic*al, a.

Defn: Of or pert. to the microtome or microtomy; cutting thin slices.

MICROTOMIST Mi*crot"o*mist, n.

Defn: One who is skilled in or practices microtomy.

MICROTOMY Mi*crot"o*my, n.

Defn: The art of using the microtome; investigation carried on with the microtome.

MICROVOLT Mi`cro*volt", n. Etym: [Micro- + volt.] (Elec.)

Defn: A measure of electro-motive force; the millionth part of one volt.

MICROWEBER Mi`cro*we"ber, n. Etym: [Micro- + weber.] (Elec.)

Defn: The millionth part of one weber.

MICROZOA Mi`cro*zo"a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The Infusoria.

MICROZOOSPORE; MICROZOOESPORE Mi`cro*zo"ö*spore, n. Etym: [Micro- + zoöspore.] (Bot.)

Defn: A small motile spore furnished with two vibratile cilia, found in certain green algæ.

MICROZYME Mi"cro*zyme, n. Etym: [Micro- + Gr. (Biol.)

Defn: A microörganism which is supposed to act like a ferment in causing or propagating certain infectious or contagious diseases; a pathogenic bacterial organism.

MICTURITION Mic`tu*ri"tion, n. Etym: [L. micturire to desire to make water, v. desid. fr. mingere, mictum, to make water.]

Defn: The act of voiding urine; also, a morbidly frequent passing of the urine, in consequence of disease.

MID Mid, a. [Compar. wanting; superl. Midmost.] Etym: [AS. midd; akin to OS. middi, D. mid (in comp.), OHG. mitti, Icel. mi, Goth. midjis, L. medius, Gr. madhya. Amid, Middle, Midst, Mean, Mediate, Meridian, Mizzen, Moiety.]

1. Denoting the middle part; as, in mid ocean. No more the mounting larks, while Daphne sings, Shall list'ning in mid air suspend their wings. Pope.

2. Occupying a middle position; middle; as, the mid finger; the mid hour of night.

3. (Phon.)

Defn: Made with a somewhat elevated position of some certain part of the tongue, in relation to the palate; midway between the high and the low; -- said of certain vowel sounds; as, a (ale), ê (êll), o (old). See Guide to Pronunciation, §§ 10, 11.

Note: Mid is much used as a prefix, or combining form, denoting the middle or middle part of a thing; as, mid-air, mid-channel, mid-age, midday, midland, etc. Also, specifically, in geometry, to denote a circle inscribed in a triangle (a midcircle), or relation to such a circle; as, mid-center, midradius.

MID Mid, n.

Defn: Middle. [Obs.] About the mid of night come to my tent. Shak.

MID Mid, prep.

Defn: See Amid.

MIDA Mi"da, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The larva of the bean fly.

MIDAS Mi"das, n. Etym: [So called from L. Midas, a man fabled to have had ass's ears.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of longeared South American monkeys, including numerous species of marmosets. See Marmoset.

MIDAS'S EAR Mi"das's ear". Etym: [See Midas.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A pulmonate mollusk (Auricula, or Ellobium, aurismidæ); -- so called from resemblance to a human ear.

MIDBRAIN Mid"brain`, n. Etym: [Mid, a. + brain.] (Anat.)

Defn: The middle segment of the brain; the mesencephalon. See Brain.

MIDDAY Mid"day`, n. Etym: [AS. middæg. See Mid, a., and Day.]

Defn: The middle part of the day; noon.

MIDDAY Mid"day`, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to noon; meridional; as, the midday sun.

MIDDEN Mid"den, n. [Also midding.] Etym: [Cf. Dan. mögdynge, E. muck, and dung.]

1. A dunghill. [Prov. Eng.]

2. An accumulation of refuse about a dwelling place; especially, an accumulation of shells or of cinders, bones, and other refuse on the supposed site of the dwelling places of prehistoric tribes, -- as on the shores of the Baltic Sea and in many other places. See Kitchen middens.

MIDDEN CROW Mid"den crow". (Zoöl.)

Defn: The common European crow. [Prov. Eng.]

MIDDEST Mid"dest, a.; superl. of Mid. Etym: [See Midst.]

Defn: Situated most nearly in the middle; middlemost; midmost. [Obs.] " 'Mongst the middest crowd." Spenser.

MIDDEST Mid"dest, n.

Defn: Midst; middle. [Obs.] Fuller.

MIDDING Mid"ding, n.

Defn: Same as Midden.

MIDDLE Mid"dle, a. Etym: [OE. middel, AS. middel; akin to D. middel, OHG. muttil, G. mittel. Mid, a.]

1. Equally distant from the extreme either of a number of things or of one thing; mean; medial; as, the middle house in a row; a middle rank or station in life; flowers of middle summer; men of middle age.

2. Intermediate; intervening. Will, seeking good, finds many middle ends. Sir J. Davies.

Note: Middle is sometimes used in the formation of selfexplaining compounds; as, middle-sized, middle-witted. Middle Ages, the period of time intervening between the decline of the Roman Empire and the revival of letters. Hallam regards it as beginning with the sixth and ending with the fifteenth century. -- Middle class, in England, people who have an intermediate position between the aristocracy and the artisan class. It includes professional men, bankers, merchants, and small landed proprietors The middle-class electorate of Great Britain. M. Arnold. -- Middle distance. (Paint.) See Middle-ground. -- Middle English. See English, n., 2. -- Middle Kingdom, China. -- Middle oil (Chem.), that part of the distillate obtained from coal tar which passes over between 170º and 230º Centigrade; -- distinguished from the light, and the heavy or dead, oil. -- Middle passage, in the slave trade, that part of the Atlantic Ocean between Africa and the West Indies. -- Middle post. (Arch.) Same as King-post. -- Middle States, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware; which, at the time of the formation of the Union, occupied a middle position between the Eastern States (or New England) and the Southern States. [U.S.] -- Middle term (Logic), that term of a syllogism with which the two extremes are separately compared, and by means of which they are brought together in the conclusion. Brande. -- Middle tint (Paint.), a subdued or neutral tint. Fairholt. -- Middle voice. (Gram.) See under Voice. -- Middle watch, the period from midnight to four A. M.; also, the men on watch during that time. Ham. Nav. Encyc. -- Middle weight, a pugilist, boxer, or wrestler classed as of medium weight, i. e., over 140 and not over 160 lbs., in distinction from those classed as light weights, heavy weights, etc.

MIDDLE Mid"dle, n. Etym: [AS. middel. See Middle, a.]

Defn: The point or part equally distant from the extremities or exterior limits, as of a line, a surface, or a solid; an intervening point or part in space, time, or order of series; the midst; central portion; specif., the waist. Chaucer. "The middle of the land." Judg. ix. 37. In this, as in most questions of state, there is a middle. Burke.

Syn. -- See Midst.

MIDDLE-AGE Mid"dle-age`, Etym: [Middle + age. Cf. Mediæval.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Middle Ages; mediæval.

MIDDLE-AGED Mid"dle-aged`, a.

Defn: Being about the middle of the ordinary age of man; between 30 and 50 years old.

MIDDLE-EARTH Mid"dle-earth`, n.

Defn: The world, considered as lying between heaven and hell. [Obs.] Shak.

MIDDLE-GROUND Mid"dle-ground`, n. (Paint.)

Defn: That part of a picture between the foreground and the background.

MIDDLEMAN Mid"dle*man, n.; pl. Middlemen (.

1. An agent between two parties; a broker; a go-between; any dealer between the producer and the consumer; in Ireland, one who takes land of the proprietors in large tracts, and then rents it out in small portions to the peasantry.

2. A person of intermediate rank; a commoner.

3. (Mil.)

Defn: The man who occupies a central position in a file of soldiers.

MIDDLEMOST Mid"dle*most`, a. Etym: [Cf. Midmost.]

Defn: Being in the middle, or nearest the middle; midmost.

MIDDLER Mid"dler, n.

Defn: One of a middle or intermediate class in some schools and seminaries.

MIDDLING Mid"dling, a.

Defn: Of middle rank, state, size, or quality; about equally distant from the extremes; medium; moderate; mediocre; ordinary. "A town of but middling size." Hallam. Plainly furnished, as beseemed the middling circumstances of its inhabitants. Hawthorne. -- Mid"dling*ly, adv. -- Mid"dling*ness, n.

MIDDLINGS Mid"dlings, n. pl.

1. A combination of the coarser parts of ground wheat the finest bran, separated from the fine flour and coarse bran in bolting; -- formerly regarded as valuable only for feed; but now, after separation of the bran, used for making the best quality of flour. Middlings contain a large proportion of gluten.

2. In the southern and western parts of the United States, the portion of the hog between the ham and the shoulder; bacon; -- called also middles. Bartlett.

MIDDY Mid"dy, n.; pl. Middies (.

Defn: A colloquial abbreviation of midshipman.

MIDFEATHER Mid"feath`er, n.

1. (Steam Boilers)

Defn: A vertical water space in a fire box or combustion chamber.

2. (Mining)

Defn: A support for the center of a tunnel.

MIDGARD Mid"gard`, n. Etym: [Icel. miedhgaredhr.] (Scand. Myth.)

Defn: The middle space or region between heaven and hell; the abode of human beings; the earth.

MIDGARD; MIDGARTH; MITHGARTHR Mid"gard (mid"gärd), n. Also Mid"garth (-gärth), Mith"garthr (Icel. meth"gärthr'). [Icel. miðgarðr.] (Teut. Myth.)

Defn: The middle space or region between heaven and hell, the abode of human beings; the earth.

MIDGE Midge, n. Etym: [OE. migge, AS. mycge; akin to OS. muggia, D. mug, G. mücke, OHG. mucca, Icel. m, Sw. mygga, mygg, Dan. myg; perh. named from its buzzing; cf. Gr. (Zoöl.)

1. Any one of many small, delicate, long-legged flies of the Chironomus, and allied genera, which do not bite. Their larvæ are usually aquatic.

2. A very small fly, abundant in many parts of the United States and Canada, noted for the irritating quality of its bite.

Note: The name is also applied to various other small flies. See Wheat midge, under Wheat.

MIDGET Midg"et, n. Etym: [Dim. of midge.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A minute bloodsucking fly. [Local, U. S.]

2. A very diminutive person.

MIDGUT Mid"gut`, n. Etym: [Mid, a. + gut.] (Anat.)

Defn: The middle part of the alimentary canal from the stomach, or entrance of the bile duct, to, or including, the large intestine.

MIDHEAVEN Mid"heav`en, n.

1. The midst or middle of heaven or the sky.

2. (Astron.)

Defn: The meridian, or middle line of the heavens; the point of the ecliptic on the meridian.

MIDLAND Mid"land, a.

1. Being in the interior country; distant from the coast or seashore; as, midland towns or inhabitants. Howell.

2. Surrounded by the land; mediterranean. And on the midland sea the French had awed. Dryden.

MIDLAND Mid"land, n.

Defn: The interior or central region of a country; -- usually in the plural. Drayton.

MIDMAIN Mid"main`, n.

Defn: The middle part of the main or sea. [Poetic] Chapman.

MIDMOST Mid"most`, a. Etym: [OE. middemiste. Cf. Foremost.]

Defn: Middle; middlemost. Ere night's midmost, stillest hour was past. Byron.

MIDNIGHT Mid"night`, n. Etym: [AS. midniht.]

Defn: The middle of the night; twelve o'clock at night. The iron tongue of midnight hath told twelve. Shak.

MIDNIGHT Mid"night`, a.

Defn: Being in, or characteristic of, the middle of the night; as, midnight studies; midnight gloom. "Midnight shout and revelry." Milton.

MIDNIGHT SUN Mid"night` sun.

Defn: The sun shining at midnight in the arctic or antarctic summer.

MIDRASH Mid*rash", n.; pl. Midrashim, Midrashoth. Etym: [Heb., explanation.]

Defn: A talmudic exposition of the Hebrew law, or of some part of it.

MIDRIB Mid"rib`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A continuation of the petiole, extending from the base to the apex of the lamina of a leaf.

MIDRIFF Mid"riff, n. Etym: [AS. midhrif; midd mid, middle + hrif bowels, womb; akin to OFries. midref midriff, rif, ref, belly, OHG. href body, and to L. corpus body. See Corpse.] (Anat.)

Defn: See Diaphragm, n., 2. Smote him into the midriff with a stone. Milton.

MID SEA; MID-SEA Mid" sea", or; Mid"-sea".

Defn: The middle part of the sea or ocean. Milton. The Mid-sea, the Mediterranean Sea. [Obs.]

MIDSHIP Mid"ship`, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to, or being in, the middle of a ship. Midship beam (Naut.), the beam or timber upon which the broadest part of a vessel is formed. -- Midship bend, the broadest frame in a vessel. Weale.

MIDSHIPMAN Mid"ship`man, n.; pl. Midshipmen (.

1. (a) Formerly, a kind of naval cadet, in a ship of war, whose business was to carry orders, messages, reports, etc., between the officers of the quarter-deck and those of the forecastle, and render other services as required. (b) In the English naval service, the second rank attained by a combatant officer after a term of service as naval cadet. Having served three and a half years in this rank, and passed an examination, he is eligible to promotion to the rank of lieutenant. (c) In the United States navy, the lowest grade of officers in line of promotion, being graduates of the Naval Academy awaiting promotion to the rank of ensign.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An American marine fish of the genus Porichthys, allied to the toadfish. Cadet midshipman, formerly a title distinguishing a cadet line officer from a cadet engineer at the U. S. Naval Academy. See under Cadet. -- Cadet midshipman, formerly, a naval cadet who had served his time, passed his examinations, and was awaiting promotion; -- now called, in the United States, midshipman; in England, sublieutenant.

MIDSHIPS Mid"ships`, adv. Etym: [For amidships.] (Naut.)

Defn: In the middle of a ship; -- properly amidships.

MIDSHIPS Mid"ships`, n. pl. (Naut.)

Defn: The timbers at the broadest part of the vessel. R. H. Dana, Jr.

MIDST Midst, n. Etym: [From middest, in the middest, for older in middes, where -s is adverbial (orig. forming a genitive), or still older a midde, a midden, on midden. See Mid, and cf. Amidst.]

1. The interior or central part or place; the middle; -- used chiefly in the objective case after in; as, in the midst of the forest. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him. Luke iv. 35. There is nothing... in the midst [of the play] which might not have been placed in the beginning. Dryden.

2. Hence, figuratively, the condition of being surrounded or beset; the press; the burden; as, in the midst of official duties; in the midst of secular affairs.

Note: The expressions in our midst, in their midst, etc., are avoided by some good writers, the forms in the midst of us, in the midst of them, etc., being preferred.

Syn. -- Midst, Middle. Midst in present usage commonly denotes a part or place surrounded on enveloped by or among other parts or objects (see Amidst); while middle is used of the center of length, or surface, or of a solid, etc. We say in the midst of a thicket; in the middle of a line, or the middle of a room; in the midst of darkness; in the middle of the night.

MIDST Midst, prep.

Defn: In the midst of; amidst. Shak.

MIDST Midst, adv.

Defn: In the middle. [R.] Milton.

MIDSUMMER Mid"sum`mer, n. Etym: [AS. midsumor.]

Defn: The middle of summer. Shak. Midsummer daisy (Bot.), the oxeye daisy.

MIDWARD Mid"ward, a.

Defn: Situated in the middle.

MIDWARD Mid"ward, adv.

Defn: In or toward the midst.

MIDWAY Mid"way`, n.

Defn: The middle of the way or distance; a middle way or course. Shak. Paths indirect, or in the midway faint. Milton.

MIDWAY Mid"way`, a.

Defn: Being in the middle of the way or distance; as, the midway air. Shak.

MIDWAY Mid"way`, adv.

Defn: In the middle of the way or distance; half way. "She met his glance midway." Dryden.

MIDWEEK Mid"week`, n.

Defn: The middle of the week. Also used adjectively.

MIDWIFE Mid"wife`, n.; pl. Midwives. Etym: [OE. midwif, fr. AS. mid with (akin to Gr. Meta-, and Wife.]

Defn: A woman who assists other women in childbirth; a female practitioner of the obstetric art.

MIDWIFE Mid"wife`, v. t.

Defn: To assist in childbirth.

MIDWIFE Mid"wife`, v. i.

Defn: To perform the office of midwife.

MIDWIFERY Mid"wife`ry, n.

1. The art or practice of assisting women in childbirth; obstetrics.

2. Assistance at childbirth; help or coöperation in production.

MIDWINTER Mid"win`ter, n. Etym: [AS. midwinter.]

Defn: The middle of winter. Dryden.

MIDWIVE Mid"wive`, v. t.

Defn: To midwife. [Obs.]

MIEN Mien, n. Etym: [F. mine; perh. from sane source as mener to lead; cf. E. demean, menace, mine, n.]

Defn: Aspect; air; manner; demeanor; carriage; bearing. Vice is a monster of so frightful mien, As, to be hated, needs but to be seen. Pope.

MIFF Miff, n. Etym: [Cf. Prov. G. muff sullenness, sulkiness, muffen to be silky, muffïg sullen, pouting.]

Defn: A petty falling out; a tiff; a quarrel; offense. Fielding.

MIFF Miff, v. t.

Defn: To offend slightly. [Colloq.]

MIGHT Might,

Defn: imp. of May. Etym: [AS. meahte, mihte.]

MIGHT Might, n. Etym: [AS. meaht, miht, from the root of magan to be able, E. may; akin to D. magt, OS. maht, G. macht, Icel. mattr, Goth. mahts. May, v.]

Defn: Force or power of any kind, whether of body or mind; energy or intensity of purpose, feeling, or action; means or resources to effect an object; strength; force; power; ability; capacity. What so strong, But wanting rest, will also want of might Spenser. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. Deut. vi. 5. With might and main. See under 2d Main.

MIGHTFUL Might"ful, a.

Defn: Mighty. [Obs.] Shak.

MIGHTILY Might"i*ly, adv. Etym: [From Mighty.]

1. In a mighty manner; with might; with great earnestness; vigorously; powerfully. Whereunto I also labor, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily. Col. i. 29.

2. To a great degree; very much. Practical jokes amused us mightily. Hawthorne.

MIGHTINESS Might"i*ness, n.

1. The quality of being mighty; possession of might; power; greatness; high dignity. How soon this mightiness meets misery. Shak.

2. Highness; excellency; -- with a possessive pronoun, a title of dignity; as, their high mightinesses.

MIGHTLESS Might"less, a.

Defn: Without; weak. [Obs.]

MIGHTY Might"y, a. [Compar. Mightier; superl. Mightiest.] Etym: [AS. meahtig, mihtig; akin to G. mächtig, Goth. mahteigs. See Might, n.]

1. Possessing might; having great power or authority. Wise in heart, and mighty in strength. Job ix. 4.

2. Accomplished by might; hence, extraordinary; wonderful. "His mighty works." Matt. xi. 20.

3. Denoting and extraordinary degree or quality in respect of size, character, importance, consequences, etc. "A mighty famine." Luke xv. 14. "Giants of mighty bone." Milton. Mighty was their fuss about little matters. Hawthorne.

MIGHTY Might"y, n.; pl. Mighties.

Defn: A warrior of great force and courage. [R. & Obs.] 1 Chron. xi. 12.

MIGHTY Might"y, adv.

Defn: In a great degree; very. [Colloq.] "He was mighty methodical." Jeffrey. We have a mighty pleasant garden. Doddridge.

MIGNIARD Mign"iard, a. Etym: [F. mignard, akin to mignon. See Minion.]

Defn: Soft; dainty. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

MIGNIARDISE Mign"iard*ise, n. Etym: [F. mignardise.]

Defn: Delicate fondling. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

MIGNON Mi"gnon, a. Etym: [F.]

Defn: See 3d Minion.

MIGNON Mi"gnon, v. t.

Defn: To flatter. [R. & Obs.] Danie

MIGNONETTE Mi`gnon*ette", n. Etym: [F. mignonnette, dim. of mignon darling. See 2d Minion.] (Bot.)

Defn: A plant (Reseda odorata) having greenish flowers with orange- colored stamens, and exhaling a delicious fragrance. In Africa it is a low shrub, but further north it is usually an annual herb. Mignonette pepper, coarse pepper.

MIGRAINE Mi*graine", n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: Same as Megrim. -- Mi*grain"ous, a.

MIGRANT Mi"grant, a. Etym: [L. migrans, p. pr. of migrare. See Migrate.]

Defn: Migratory. Sir T. Browne. -- n.

Defn: A migratory bird or other animal.

MIGRATE Mi"grate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Migrated; p. pr. & vb. n. Migrating.] Etym: [L. migratus, p. p. of migrare to migrate, transfer.]

1. To remove from one country or region to another, with a view to residence; to change one's place of residence; to remove; as, the Moors who migrated from Africa into Spain; to migrate to the West.

2. To pass periodically from one region or climate to another for feeding or breeding; -- said of certain birds, fishes, and quadrupeds.

MIGRATION Mi*gra"tion, n. Etym: [L. migratio: cf. F. migration.]

Defn: The act of migrating.

MIGRATORY Mi"gra*to*ry, a. Etym: [Cf. F. migratoire.]

1. Removing regularly or occasionally from one region or climate to another; as, migratory birds.

2. Hence, roving; wandering; nomad; as, migratory habits; a migratory life. Migratory locust (Zoöl.) See Locust. -- Migratory thrush (Zoöl.), the American robin. See Robin.

MIKADO Mi*ka"do, n. Etym: [Jap.]

Defn: The popular designation of the hereditary sovereign of Japan.

MIKMAKS Mik"maks, n.

Defn: Same as Micmacs.

MILADY Mi*la"dy, n. [F., fr. English.]

Defn: Lit., my lady; hence (as used on the Continent), an English noblewoman or gentlewoman.

MILAGE Mil"age (; 48), n.

Defn: Same as Mileage.

MILANESE Mil`an*ese", a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Milan in Italy, or to its inhabitants. -- n. sing. & pl.

Defn: A native or inhabitant of Milan; people of Milan.

MILCH Milch, a. Etym: [OE. milche; akin to G. melk, Icel. milkr, mj, and to E. milk. See Milk.]

1. Giving milk; -- now applied only to beasts. "Milch camels." Gen. xxxii. "Milch kine." Shak.

2. Tender; pitiful; weeping. [Obs.] Shak.

MILD Mild, a. [Compar. Milder; superl. Mildest.] Etym: [AS. milde; akin to OS. mildi, D. & G. mild, OHG. milti, Icel. mildr, Sw. & Dan. mild, Goth. milds; cf. Lith. melas dear, Gr.

Defn: Gentle; pleasant; kind; soft; bland; clement; hence, moderate in degree or quality; -- the opposite of harsh, severe, irritating, violent, disagreeable, etc.; -- applied to persons and things; as, a mild disposition; a mild eye; a mild air; a mild medicine; a mild insanity. The rosy morn resigns her light And milder glory to the noon. Waller. Adore him as a mild and merciful Being. Rogers. Mild, or Low, steel, steel that has but little carbon in it and is not readily hardened.

Syn. -- Soft; gentle; bland; calm; tranquil; soothing; pleasant; placid; meek; kind; tender; indulgent; clement; mollifying; lenitive; assuasive. See Gentle.

MILDEN Mild"en, v. t.

Defn: To make mild, or milder. Lowell.

MILDEW Mil"dew, n. Etym: [AS. meledeáw; akin to OHG. militou, G. mehlthau, mehltau; prob. orig. meaning, honeydew; cf. Goth. milip honey. See Mellifluous, and Dew.] (Bot.)

Defn: A growth of minute powdery or webby fungi, whitish or of different colors, found on various diseased or decaying substances.

MILDEW Mil"dew, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mildewed; p. pr. & vb. n. Mildewing.]

Defn: To taint with mildew. He... mildews the white wheat. Shak.

MILDEW Mil"dew, v. i.

Defn: To become tainted with mildew.

MILDLY Mild"ly, adv.

Defn: In a mild manner.

MILDNESS Mild"ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being mild; as, mildness of temper; the mildness of the winter.

MILE Mile, n. Etym: [AS. mil, fr. L. millia, milia; pl. of mille a thousand, i. e., milia passuum a thousand paces. Cf. Mill the tenth of a cent, Million.]

Defn: A certain measure of distance, being equivalent in England and the United States to 320 poles or rods, or 5,280 feet.

Note: The distance called a mile varies greatly in different countries. Its length in yards is, in Norway, 12,182; in Brunswick, 11,816; in Sweden, 11,660; in Hungary, 9,139; in Switzerland, 8,548; in Austria, 8,297; in Prussia, 8,238; in Poland, 8,100; in Italy, 2,025; in England and the United States, 1,760; in Spain, 1,552; in the Netherlands, 1,094. Geographical, or Nautical mile, one sixtieth of a degree of a great circle of the earth, or 6080.27 feet. -- Mile run. Same as Train mile. See under Train. -- Roman mile, a thousand paces, equal to 1,614 yards English measure. -- Statute mile, a mile conforming to statute, that is, in England and the United States, a mile of 5,280 feet, as distinguished from any other mile.

MILEAGE Mile"age (; 48), n.

1. An allowance for traveling expenses at a certain rate per mile.

2. Aggregate length or distance in miles; esp., the sum of lengths of tracks or wires of a railroad company, telegraph company, etc. [Written also milage.] Constructive mileage, a mileage allowed for journeys supposed to be made, but not actually made. Bartlett.

MILEPOST Mile"post`, n.

Defn: A post, or one of a series of posts, set up to indicate spaces of a mile each or the distance in miles from a given place.

MILESIAN Mi*le"sian, a. Etym: [L. Milesius, Gr.

1. (Anc. Geog.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to Miletus, a city of Asia Minor, or to its inhabitants.

2. (Irish Legendary Hist.)

Defn: Descended from King Milesius of Spain, whose two sons are said to have conquered Ireland about 1300 b. c.; or pertaining to the descendants of King Milesius; hence, Irish.

MILESIAN Mi*le"sian, n.

1. A native or inhabitant of Miletus.

2. A native or inhabitant of Ireland.

MILESTONE Mile"stone`, n.

Defn: A stone serving the same purpose as a milepost.

MILFOIL Mil"foil, n. Etym: [F. mille-feuille, L. millefolium; mille thousand + folium leaf. See Foil a leaf.] (Bot.)

Defn: A common composite herb (Achillea Millefolium) with white flowers and finely dissected leaves; yarrow. Water milfoil (Bot.), an aquatic herb with dissected leaves (Myriophyllum).

MILIARIA Mil`i*a"ri*a, n. Etym: [NL. See Miliary.] (Med.)

Defn: A fever accompanied by an eruption of small, isolated, red pimples, resembling a millet seed in form or size; miliary fever.

MILIARY Mil"ia*ry, a. Etym: [L. miliarius, fr. milium millet: cf. F. miliaire.]

1. Like millet seeds; as, a miliary eruption.

2. (Med.)

Defn: Accompanied with an eruption like millet seeds; as, a miliary fever.

3. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Small and numerous; as, the miliary tubercles of Echini.

MILIARY Mil"ia*ry, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the small tubercles of Echini.

MILICE Mi`lice", n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: Militia. [Obs.]

MILIEU Mi`lieu", n. [F., fr. mi middle (L. medius) + lieu place. See Demi-, Lieu.]

Defn: Environment.

The intellectual and moral milieu created by multitudes of self- centered, cultivated personalities. J. A. Symonds.

It is one of the great outstanding facts of his progressive relation to the elements of his social milieu. J. M. Baldwin.

MILIOLA Mil"i*o`la, n. Etym: [NL., dim. of L. milium millet. So named from its resemblance to millet seed.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of Foraminifera, having a porcelanous shell with several longitudinal chambers.

MILIOLITE Mil"i*o*lite, n. (Paleon.)

Defn: A fossil shell of, or similar to, the genus Miliola.

MILIOLITE Mil"i*o*lite, a.

Defn: The same Milliolitic. Miliolite limestone (Geol.), a building stone, one of the group of the Paris basin, almost entirely made up of many-chambered microscopic shells.

MILIOLITIC Mil`i*o*lit"ic, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the genus Miliola; containing miliolites.

MILITANCY Mil"i*tan*cy, n. Etym: [See Militant.]

1. The state of being militant; warfare.

2. A military spirit or system; militarism. H. Spencer.

MILITANT Mil"i*tant, a. Etym: [L. militans, -antis, p. pr. of militare to be soldier: cf. F. militant. See Militate.]

Defn: Engaged in warfare; fighting; combating; serving as a soldier. -- Mil"i*tant*ly, adv. At which command the powers militant... Moved on in silence. Milton. Church militant, the Christian church on earth, which is supposed to be engaged in a constant warfare against its enemies, and is thus distinguished from the church triumphant, in heaven.

MILITAR Mil"i*tar, a.

Defn: Military. [Obs.] Bacon.

MILITARILY Mil"i*ta*ri*ly, adv.

Defn: In a military manner.

MILITARISM Mil"i*ta*rism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. militarisme.]

1. A military state or condition; reliance on military force in administering government; a military system.

2. The spirit and traditions of military life. H. Spencer.

MILITARIST Mil"i*ta*rist, n.

Defn: A military man. [Obs.] Shak.

MILITARY Mil"i*ta*ry, a. Etym: [L. militaris, militarius, from miles, militis, soldier: cf. F. militaire.]

1. Of or pertaining to soldiers, to arms, or to war; belonging to, engaged in, or appropriate to, the affairs of war; as, a military parade; military discipline; military bravery; military conduct; military renown. Nor do I, as an enemy to peace, Troop in the throngs of military men. Shak.

2. Performed or made by soldiers; as, a military election; a military expedition. Bacon. Military law. See Martial law, under Martial. -- Military order. (a) A command proceeding from a military superior. (b) An association of military persons under a bond of certain peculiar rules; especially, such an association of knights in the Middle Ages, or a body in modern times taking a similar form, membership of which confers some distinction. -- Military tenure, tenure of land, on condition of performing military service.

MILITARY Mil"i*ta*ry, n. Etym: [Cf. F. militaire.]

Defn: The whole body of soldiers; soldiery; militia; troops; the army.

MILITATE Mil"i*tate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Militated; p. pr. & vb. n. Militating.] Etym: [L. militare, militatum, to be a soldier, fr. miles, militis, soldier.]

Defn: To make war; to fight; to contend; -- usually followed by against and with. These are great questions, where great names militate against each other. Burke. The invisible powers of heaven seemed to militate on the side of the pious emperor. Gibbon.

MILITIA Mi*li"tia, n. Etym: [L., military service, soldiery, fr. miles, militis, soldier: cf. F. milice.]

1. In the widest sense, the whole military force of a nation, including both those engaged in military service as a business, and those competent and available for such service; specifically, the body of citizens enrolled for military instruction and discipline, but not subject to be called into actual service except in emergencies. The king's captains and soldiers fight his battles, and yet... the power of the militia is he. Jer. Taylor.

2. Military service; warfare. [Obs.] Baxter.

MILITIAMAN Mi*li"tia*man, n.; pl. Militiamen (.

Defn: One who belongs to the militia.

MILITIATE Mi*li"ti*ate, v. i.

Defn: To carry on, or prepare for, war. [Obs.] Walpole.

MILK Milk, n. Etym: [AS. meoluc, meoloc, meolc, milc; akin to OFries. meloc, D. melk, G. milch, OHG. miluh, Icel. mj, Sw. mjölk, Dan. melk, Goth. miluks, G. melken to milk, OHG. melchan, Lith. milszti, L. mulgere, Gr. Milch, Emulsion, Milt soft roe of fishes.]

1. (Physiol.)

Defn: A white fluid secreted by the mammary glands of female mammals for the nourishment of their young, consisting of minute globules of fat suspended in a solution of casein, albumin, milk sugar, and inorganic salts. "White as morne milk." Chaucer.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: A kind of juice or sap, usually white in color, found in certain plants; latex. See Latex.

3. An emulsion made by bruising seeds; as, the milk of almonds, produced by pounding almonds with sugar and water.

4. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The ripe, undischarged spat of an oyster. Condensed milk. See under Condense, v. t. -- Milk crust (Med.), vesicular eczema occurring on the face and scalp of nursing infants. See Eczema. -- Milk fever. (a) (Med.) A fever which accompanies or precedes the first lactation. It is usually transitory. (b) (Vet. Surg.) A form puerperal peritonitis in cattle; also, a variety of meningitis occurring in cows after calving. -- Milk glass, glass having a milky appearance. -- Milk knot (Med.), a hard lump forming in the breast of a nursing woman, due to obstruction to the flow of milk and congestion of the mammary glands. -- Milk leg (Med.), a swollen condition of the leg, usually in puerperal women, caused by an inflammation of veins, and characterized by a white appearance occasioned by an accumulation of serum and sometimes of pus in the cellular tissue. -- Milk meats, food made from milk, as butter and cheese. [Obs.] Bailey. -- Milk mirror. Same as Escutcheon, 2. -- Milk molar (Anat.), one of the deciduous molar teeth which are shed and replaced by the premolars. -- Milk of lime (Chem.), a watery emulsion of calcium hydrate, produced by macerating quicklime in water. -- Milk parsley (Bot.), an umbelliferous plant (Peucedanum palustre) of Europe and Asia, having a milky juice. -- Milk pea (Bot.), a genus (Galactia) of leguminous and, usually, twining plants. -- Milk sickness (Med.), a peculiar malignant disease, occurring in some parts of the Western United States, and affecting certain kinds of farm stock (esp. cows), and persons who make use of the meat or dairy products of infected cattle. Its chief symptoms in man are uncontrollable vomiting, obstinate constipation, pain, and muscular tremors. Its origin in cattle has been variously ascribed to the presence of certain plants in their food, and to polluted drinking water. -- Milk snake (Zoöl.), a harmless American snake (Ophibolus triangulus, or O. eximius). It is variously marked with white, gray, and red. Called also milk adder, chicken snake, house snake, etc. -- Milk sugar. (Physiol. Chem.) See Lactose, and Sugar of milk (below). -- Milk thistle (Bot.), an esculent European thistle (Silybum marianum), having the veins of its leaves of a milky whiteness. -- Milk thrush. (Med.) See Thrush. -- Milk tooth (Anat.), one of the temporary first set of teeth in young mammals; in man there are twenty. -- Milk tree (Bot.), a tree yielding a milky juice, as the cow tree of South America (Brosimum Galactodendron), and the Euphorbia balsamifera of the Canaries, the milk of both of which is wholesome food. -- Milk vessel (Bot.), a special cell in the inner bark of a plant, or a series of cells, in which the milky juice is contained. See Latex. -- Rock milk. See Agaric mineral, under Agaric. -- Sugar of milk. The sugar characteristic of milk; a hard white crystalline slightly sweet substance obtained by evaporation of the whey of milk. It is used in pellets and powder as a vehicle for homeopathic medicines, and as an article of diet. See Lactose.

MILK Milk, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Milked; p. pr. & vb. n. Milking.]

1. To draw or press milk from the breasts or udder of, by the hand or mouth; to withdraw the milk of. "Milking the kine." Gay. I have given suck, and know How tender 't is to love the babe that milks me. Shak.

2. To draw from the breasts or udder; to extract, as milk; as, to milk wholesome milk from healthy cows.

3. To draw anything from, as if by milking; to compel to yield profit or advantage; to plunder. Tyndale. They [the lawyers] milk an unfortunate estate as regularly as a dairyman does his stock. London Spectator. To milk the street, to squeeze the smaller operators in stocks and extract a profit from them, by alternately raising and depressing prices within a short range; -- said of the large dealers. [Cant] -- To milk a telegram, to use for one's own advantage the contents of a telegram belonging to another person. [Cant]

MILK Milk, v. i.

Defn: To draw or to yield milk.

MILKEN Milk"en, a.

Defn: Consisting of milk. [Obs.]

MILKER Milk"er, n.

1. One who milks; also, a mechanical apparatus for milking cows.

2. A cow or other animal that gives milk.

MILKFUL Milk"ful, a.

Defn: Full of milk; abounding with food. [R.] "Milkful vales." Sylvester.

MILKILY Milk"i*ly, adv.

Defn: In a milky manner.

MILKINESS Milk"i*ness, n.

Defn: State or quality of being milky.

MILK-LIVERED Milk"-liv`ered, a.

Defn: White-livered; cowardly; timorous.

MILKMAID Milk"maid`, n.

Defn: A woman who milks cows or is employed in the dairy.

MILKMAN Milk"man, n.; pl. Milkmen (.

Defn: A man who sells milk or delivers is to customers.

MILK SICKNESS Milk sickness. (Veter.)

Defn: A peculiar malignant disease, occurring in parts of the western United States, and affecting certain kinds of farm stock (esp. cows), and persons using the meat or dairy products of infected cattle. Its chief symptoms in man are uncontrollable vomiting, obstinate constipation, pain, and muscular tremors. Its origin in cattle has been variously ascribed to the presence of certain plants in their food, and to polluted water.

MILKSOP Milk"sop`, n.

Defn: A piece of bread sopped in milk; figuratively, an effeminate or weak-minded person. Shak. To wed a milksop or a coward ape. Chaucer.

MILK VETCH Milk" vetch`. (Bot.)

Defn: A leguminous herb (Astragalus glycyphyllos) of Europe and Asia, supposed to increase the secretion of milk in goats.

Note: The name is sometimes taken for the whole genus Astragalus, of which there are about two hundred species in North America, and even more elsewhere.

MILKWEED Milk"weed`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: Any plant of the genera Asclepias and Acerates, abounding in a milky juice, and having its seed attached to a long silky down; silkweed. The name is also applied to several other plants with a milky juice, as to several kinds of spurge.

MILKWORT Milk"wort`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of plants (Polygala) of many species. The common European P. vulgaris was supposed to have the power of producing a flow of milk in nurses.

Note: The species of Campanula, or bellflower, are sometimes called milkwort, from their juice.

MILKY Milk"y, a.

1. Consisting of, or containing, milk. Pails high foaming with a milky flood. Pope.

2. Like, or somewhat like, milk; whitish and turbid; as, the water is milky. "Milky juice." Arbuthnot.

3. Yielding milk. "Milky mothers." Roscommon.

4. Mild; tame; spiritless. Has friendship such a faint and milky heart Shak. Milky Way. (Astron.) See Galaxy, 1.

MILL Mill, n. Etym: [L. mille a thousand. Cf. Mile.]

Defn: A money of account of the United States, having the value of the tenth of a cent, or the thousandth of a dollar.

MILL Mill, n. Etym: [OE. mille, melle, mulle, milne, AS. myln, mylen; akin to D. molen, G. mühle, OHG. muli, mulin, Icel. mylna; all prob. from L. molina, fr. mola millstone; prop., that which grinds, akin to molere to grind, Goth. malan, G. mahlen, and to E. meal. Meal flour, and cf. Moline.]

1. A machine for grinding or commuting any substance, as grain, by rubbing and crushing it between two hard, rough, or intented surfaces; as, a gristmill, a coffee mill; a bone mill.

2. A machine used for expelling the juice, sap, etc., from vegetable tissues by pressure, or by pressure in combination with a grinding, or cutting process; as, a cider mill; a cane mill.

3. A machine for grinding and polishing; as, a lapidary mill.

4. A common name for various machines which produce a manufactured product, or change the form of a raw material by the continuous repetition of some simple action; as, a sawmill; a stamping mill, etc.

5. A building or collection of buildings with machinery by which the processes of manufacturing are carried on; as, a cotton mill; a powder mill; a rolling mill.

6. (Die Sinking)

Defn: A hardened steel roller having a design in relief, used for imprinting a reversed copy of the design in a softer metal, as copper.

7. (Mining) (a) An excavation in rock, transverse to the workings, from which material for filling is obtained. (b) A passage underground through which ore is shot.

8. A milling cutter. See Illust. under Milling.