Chapter LI: Bella (32)

Defn: A cape, with a small hood; -- worn by the pope and other dignitaries of the Roman Catholic Church.

MR. Mr.. (.

Defn: The customary abbreviation of Mister in writing and printing. See Master, 4.

MRS. Mrs. (.

Defn: The customary abbreviation of Mistress when used as a title of courtesy, in writing and printing.

MUCAMIDE Mu*cam"ide, n. Etym: [Mucic + amide.] (Chem.)

Defn: The acid amide of mucic acid, obtained as a white crystalline substance.

MUCATE Mu"cate, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A salt of mucic acid.

MUCE Muce, n.

Defn: See Muse, and Muset.

MUCEDIN Mu*ce"din, n. Etym: [From Mucus.] (Bot. Chem.)

Defn: A yellowish white, amorphous, nitrogenous substance found in wheat, rye, etc., and resembling gluten; -- formerly called also mucin.

MUCH Much, a. [Compar. & superl. wanting, but supplied by More, and Most (, from another root.] Etym: [OE. moche, muche, miche, prob. the same as mochel, muchel, michel, mikel, fr. AS. micel, mycel; cf. Gr. mjök, adv., much. *103. See Mickle.]

1. Great in quantity; long in duration; as, much rain has fallen; much time. Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field, and shalt gather but little in. Deut. xxviii. 38.

2. Many in number. [Archaic] Edom came out against him with much people. Num. xx. 20.

3. High in rank or position. [Obs.] Chaucer.

MUCH Much, n.

1. A great quantity; a great deal; also, an indefinite quantity; as, you have as much as I. He that gathered much had nothing over. Ex. xvi. 18.

Note: Muchin this sense can be regarded as an adjective qualifying a word unexpressed, and may, therefore, be modified by as, so, too, very.

2. A thing uncommon, wonderful, or noticeable; something considerable. And [he] thought not much to clothe his enemies. Milton. To make much of, to treat as something of especial value or worth.

MUCH Much, adv. Etym: [Cf. Icel. mjök. See Much, a.]

Defn: To a great degree or extent; greatly; abundantly; far; nearly. "Much suffering heroes." Pope. Thou art much mightier than we. Gen. xxvi. 16. Excellent speech becometh not a fool, much less do lying lips a prince. Prov. xvii. 7. Henceforth I fly not death, nor would prolong Life much. Milton. All left the world much as they found it. Sir W. Temple.

MUCHEL Much"el, a. Etym: [*103. See Mickle.]

Defn: Much. [Obs.]

MUCHNESS Much"ness, n.

Defn: Greatness; extent. [Obs. or Colloq.] The quantity and muchness of time which it filcheth. W. Whately. Much of a muchness, much the same. [Colloq.] "Men's men; gentle or simple, they 're much of muchness." G. Eliot.

MUCHWHAT Much"what`, adv.

Defn: Nearly; almost; much. [Obs.] "Muchwhat after the same manner." Glanvill.

MUCIC Mu"cic, a. Etym: [L. mucus mucus: cf. F. mucique.] (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, gums and micilaginous substances; specif., denoting an acid obtained by the oxidation of gums, dulcite, etc., as a white crystalline substance isomeric with saccharic acid.

MUCID Mu"cid, a. Etym: [L. mucidus, fr. L. mucus mucus. See Mucus, and cf. Moist.]

Defn: Musty; moldy; slimy; mucous. -- Mu"cid*ness, n.

MUCIFIC Mu*cif"ic, a. Etym: [Mucus + L. -ficare (in comp.) to make. See -fy.]

1. (Med.)

Defn: Inducing or stimulating the secretion of mucus; blennogenous.

2. (Physiol.)

Defn: Secreting mucus.

MUCIFORM Mu"ci*form, a. Etym: [Mucus + -form.] (Physiol.)

Defn: Resembling mucus; having the character or appearance of mucus.

MUCIGEN Mu"ci*gen, n. Etym: [Mucin + -gen.] (Physiol.)

Defn: A substance which is formed in mucous epithelial cells, and gives rise to mucin.

MUCIGENOUS Mu*cig"e*nous, a. (Physiol.)

Defn: Connected with the formation of mucin; resembling mucin. The mucigenous basis is manufactured at the expense of the ordinary protoplasm of the cell. Foster.

MUCILAGE Mu"ci*lage, n. Etym: [F., from L. mucilago a musty juice, fr. mucus mucus, slime. See Mucus.]

1. (Bot. Chem.)

Defn: A gummy or gelatinous substance produced in certain plants by the action of water on the cell wall, as in the seeds of quinces, of flax, etc.

2. An aqueous solution of gum, or of substances allied to it; as, medicinal mucilage; mucilage for fastening envelopes.

MUCILAGINOUS Mu`ci*lag"i*nous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. mucilagineux. See Mucilage.]

1. Partaking of the nature of, or resembling, mucilage; moist, soft, and viscid; slimy; ropy; as, a mucilaginous liquid.

2. Of, pertaining to, or secreting, mucilage; as, the mucilaginous glands.

3. Soluble in water, but not in alcohol; yielding mucilage; as, mucilaginous gums or plants. -- Mu`ci*lag"i*nous*ness, n.

MUCIN Mu"cin, n. Etym: [From Mucus.]

1. (Bot. Chem.)

Defn: See Mucedin. [Obs.]

2. (Physiol. Chem.)

Defn: An albuminoid substance which is contained in mucus, and gives to the latter secretion its peculiar ropy character. It is found in all the secretions from mucous glands, and also between the fibers of connective tissue, as in tendons. See Illust. of Demilune.

MUCINOGEN Mu*cin"o*gen, n. Etym: [Mucin + -gen.] (Physiol.)

Defn: Same as Mucigen.

MUCIPAROUS Mu*cip"a*rous, a. Etym: [Mucus + L. parere to produce.] (Physiol.)

Defn: Secreting, or producing, mucus or mucin.

MUCIVORE Mu"ci*vore, n. Etym: [L. mucus slime, mucus + vorare to devour.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: An unsect which feeds on mucus, or the sap of plants, as certain Diptera, of the tribe Mucivora.

MUCK Muck

Defn: , abbreviation of Amuck. To run a muck. See Amuck.

MUCK Muck, n. Etym: [Icel. myki; akin to D. mög. Cf. Midden.]

1. Dung in a moist state; manure. Bacon.

2. Vegetable mold mixed with earth, as found in low, damp places and swamps.

3. Anything filthy or vile. Spenser.

4. Money; -- in contempt. The fatal muck we quarreled for. Beau. & Fl. Muck bar, bar iron which has been through the rolls only once. -- Muck iron, crude puddled iron ready for the squeezer or rollers. Knight.

MUCK Muck, a.

Defn: Like muck; mucky; also, used in collecting or distributing muck; as, a muck fork.

MUCK Muck, v. t.

Defn: To manure with muck.

MUCKENDER Muck"en*der, n. Etym: [Sp. mocador. Cf. Mokadour.]

Defn: A handkerchief. [Obs.] [Written also muckinder, muckiter, mockadour.]

MUCKER Muck"er, n.

Defn: A term of reproach for a low or vulgar labor person. [Slang]

MUCKER Muck"er, v. t.

Defn: To scrape together, as money, by mean labor or shifts. [Obs.] Udall.

MUCKERER Muck"er*er, n.

Defn: A miser; a niggard. [Obs.]

MUCKINESS Muck"i*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being mucky.

MUCKLE Muc"kle, a. Etym: [See Mickle.]

Defn: Much. [Obs.]

MUCKMIDDEN Muck"mid`den, n.

Defn: A dunghill. [Scot.]

MUCK RAKE Muck rake.

Defn: A rake for scraping up muck or dung. See Muckrake, v. i., below.

MUCK-RAKE; MUCKRAKE; MUCKRAKER Muck"rake`, v. i. [imp. & p. p. -raked; p. pr. & vb. n. -raking.]

Defn: To seek for, expose, or charge, esp. habitually, corruption, real or alleged, on the part of public men and corporations. On April 14, 1906, President Roosevelt delivered a speech on "The Man with the Muck Rake," in which he deprecated sweeping and unjust charges of corruption against public men and corporations. The phrase was taken up by the press, and the verb to muck"rake`, in the above sense, and the noun muck"rak`er, to designate one so engaged, were speedily coined and obtained wide currency. The original allusion was to a character in Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress" so intent on raking up muck that he could not see a celestial crown held above him.

MUCKSY Muck"sy, a.

Defn: Somewhat mucky; soft, sticky, and dirty; muxy. [Prov. Eng.] R. D. Blackmore.

MUCKWORM Muck"worm`, n.

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A larva or grub that lives in muck or manure; -- applied to the larvæ of the tumbledung and allied beetles.

2. One who scrapes together money by mean labor and devices; a miser. "Misers are muckworms." Pope.

MUCKY Muck"y, a.

1. Filthy with muck; miry; as, a mucky road. "Mucky filth." Spenser.

2. Vile, in a moral sense; sordid. [Obs.] Spenser. Mucky money and false felicity. Latimer.

MUCOCELE Mu"co*cele, n. Etym: [Mucus + Gr. (Med.)

Defn: An enlargement or protrusion of the mucous membrane of the lachrymal passages, or dropsy of the lachrymal sac, dependent upon catarrhal inflammation of the latter. Dunglison.

MUCOID Mu"coid, a. Etym: [Mucus + -oid.]

Defn: Resembling mucus. Dunglison. Mucoid degeneration, a form of degeneration in which the tissues are transformed into a semisolid substance resembling mucus. Quain.

MUCONATE Mu"co*nate, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A salt of muconic acid.

MUCONIC Mu*con"ic, a. Etym: [Mucic + itaconic.] (Chem.)

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or designating, an organic acid, obtained indirectly from mucic acid, and somewhat resembling itaconic acid.

MUCOPURULENT Mu`co*pu"ru*lent, a. Etym: [Mucus + purulent.] (Med.)

Defn: Having the character or appearance of both mucus and pus. Dunglison.

MUCOR Mu"cor, n. Etym: [L., fr. mucere to be moldy or musty.] (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of minute fungi. The plants consist of slender threads with terminal globular sporangia; mold.

MUCOSITY Mu*cos"i*ty, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being mucous or slimy; mucousness.

MUCOUS Mu"cous, a. Etym: [L. mucosus, fr. mucus mucus.]

1. Of, pertaining to, or resembling, mucus; slimy, ropy, or stringy, and lubricous; as, a mucous substance.

2. Secreting a slimy or mucigenous substance; as, the mucous membrane. Mucous membrane. (Anat.) See under Membrane. -- Mucous patches (Med.), elevated patches found in the mucous membranes of the mouth and anus, usually due to syphilis. -- Mucous tissue (Anat.), a form of connective tissue in an early stage of development, found in the umbilical cord and in the embryo, and also in certain tumors called myxomata.

MUCOUSNESS Mu"cous*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being mucous; sliminess.

MUCRO Mu"cro, n. Etym: [L.] (Bot. & Zoöl.)

Defn: A minute abrupt point, as of a leaf; any small, sharp point or process, terminating a larger part or organ.

MUCRONATE; MUCRONATED Mu"cro*nate, Mu"cro*na`ted, a. Etym: [L. mucronatus, fr. mucro a sharp point: cf. F. mucroné.]

Defn: Ending abruptly in a sharp point; abruptly tipped with a short and sharp point; as, a mucronate leaf. -- Mu"cro*nate*ly, adv.

MUCRONULATE Mu*cron"u*late, a.

Defn: Having, or tipped with, a small point or points.

MUCULENT Mu"cu*lent, a. Etym: [L. muculentus, fr. mucus.]

Defn: Slimy; moist, and moderately viscous.

MUCUS Mu"cus, n. Etym: [L. mucus, muccus; cf. mucere 8be moldy or musty, Gr. muc to release. Cf. Match for striking fire, Moist, Mucilage.]

1. (Physiol.)

Defn: A viscid fluid secreted by mucous membranes, which it serves to moisten and protect. It covers the lining membranes of all the cavities which open externally, such as those of the mouth, nose, lungs, intestinal canal, urinary passages, etc.

2. (Physiol.)

Defn: Any other animal fluid of a viscid quality, as the synovial fluid, which lubricates the cavities of the joints; -- improperly so used.

3. (Bot.)

Defn: A gelatinous or slimy substance found in certain algæ and other plants.

MUCUSIN Mu"cus*in, n. (Physiol. Chem.)

Defn: Mucin. [R.]

MUD Mud, n. Etym: [Akin to LG. mudde, D. modder, G. moder mold, OSw. modd mud, Sw. modder mother, Dan. mudder mud. Cf. Mother a scum on liquors.]

Defn: Earth and water mixed so as to be soft and adhesive. Mud bass (Zoöl.), a fresh-water fish (Acantharchum pomotis) of the Eastern United States. It produces a deep grunting note. -- Mud bath, an immersion of the body, or some part of it, in mud charged with medicinal agents, as a remedy for disease. -- Mud boat, a large flatboat used in deredging. -- Mud cat. See Catfish. -- Mud crab (Zoöl.), any one of several American marine crabs of the genus Panopeus. -- Mud dab (Zoöl.), the winter flounder. See Flounder, and Dab. -- Mud dauber (Zoöl.), a mud wasp. -- Mud devil (Zoöl.), the fellbender. -- Mud drum (Steam Boilers), a drum beneath a boiler, into which sediment and mud in the water can settle for removal. -- Mud eel (Zoöl.), a long, slender, aquatic amphibian (Siren lacertina), found in the Southern United States. It has persistent external gills and only the anterior pair of legs. See Siren. -- Mud frog (Zoöl.), a European frog (Pelobates fuscus). -- Mud hen. (Zoöl.) (a) The American coot (Fulica Americana). (b) The clapper rail. -- Mud lark, a person who cleans sewers, or delves in mud. [Slang] - - Mud minnow (Zoöl.), any small American fresh-water fish of the genus Umbra, as U. limi. The genus is allied to the pickerels. -- Mud plug, a plug for stopping the mudhole of a boiler. -- Mud puppy (Zoöl.), the menobranchus. -- Mud scow, a heavy scow, used in dredging; a mud boat. [U.S.] -- Mud turtle, Mud tortoise (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of fresh-water tortoises of the United States. -- Mud wasp (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of hymenopterous insects belonging to Pepæus, and allied genera, which construct groups of mud cells, attached, side by side, to stones or to the woodwork of buildings, etc. The female places an egg in each cell, together with spiders or other insects, paralyzed by a sting, to serve as food for the larva. Called also mud dauber.

MUD Mud, v. t.

1. To bury in mud. [R.] Shak.

2. To make muddy or turbid. Shak.

MUDAR Mu"dar, n. Etym: [Hind. madar.] (Bot.)

Defn: Either one of two asclepiadaceous shrubs (Calotropis gigantea, and C. procera), which furnish a strong and valuable fiber. The acrid milky juice is used medicinally.

MUDARIN Mu"da*rin, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A brown, amorphous, bitter substance having a strong emetic action, extracted from the root of the mudar.

MUDDILY Mud"di*ly

Defn: , In a muddy manner; turbidly; without mixture; cloudily; obscurely; confusedly.

MUDDINESS Mud"di*ness, n.

1. The condition or quality of being muddy; turbidness; foulness casued by mud, dirt, or sediment; as, the muddiness of a stream.

2. Obscurity or confusion, as in treatment of a subject; intellectual dullness.

MUDDLE Mud"dle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Muddled; p. pr. & vb. n. Muddling.] Etym: [From Mud.]

1. To make turbid, or muddy, as water. [Obs.] He did ill to muddle the water. L'Estrange.

2. To cloud or stupefy; to render stupid with liquor; to intoxicate partially. Epicurus seems to have had brains so muddled and confounded, that he scarce ever kept in the right way. Bentley. Often drunk, always muddled. Arbuthnot.

3. To waste or misuse, as one does who is stupid or intoxicated. [R.] They muddle it [money] away without method or object, and without having anything to show for it. Hazlitt.

4. To mix confusedly; to confuse; to make a mess of; as, to muddle matters; also, to perplex; to mystify. F. W. Newman.

MUDDLE Mud"dle, v. i.

1. To dabble in mud. [Obs.] Swift.

2. To think and act in a confused, aimless way.

MUDDLE Mud"dle, n.

Defn: A state of being turbid or confused; hence, intellectual cloudiness or dullness. We both grub on in a muddle. Dickens.

MUDDLEHEAD Mud"dle*head`, n.

Defn: A stupid person. [Colloq.] C. Reade. -- Mud"dle-head`ed, a. [Colloq.] Dickens.

MUDDLER Mud"dler, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, muddles.

MUDDY Mud"dy, a. [Compar. Muddier; superl. Muddiest.]

1. Abounding in mud; besmeared or dashed with mud; as, a muddy road or path; muddy boots.

2. Turbid with mud; as, muddy water.

3. Consisting of mud or earth; gross; impure. This muddy vesture of decay. Shak.

4. Confused, as if turbid with mud; cloudy in mind; dull; stupid; also, immethodical; incoherent; vague. Cold hearts and muddy understandings. Burke. Dost think I am so muddy, so unsettled. Shak.

5. Not clear or bright. Swift.

MUDDY Mud"dy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Muddied; p. pr. & vb. n. Muddying.]

1. To soil with mud; to dirty; to render turbid.

2. Fig.: To cloud; to make dull or heavy. Grew.

MUDDY-HEADED Mud"dy-head`ed, a.

Defn: Dull; stupid.

MUDDY-METTLED Mud"dy-met`tled, a.

Defn: Dull-spirited. Shak.

MUDFISH Mud"fish`, n. (Zoöl.) (a) The European loach. (b) The bowfin. (c) The South American lipedosiren, and the allied African species (Protopterus annectens). See Lipedosiren. (d) The mud minnow.

MUDHOLE Mud"hole`, n.

1. A hole, or hollow place, containing mud, as in a road.

2. (Steam Boilers)

Defn: A hole near the bottom, through which the sediment is withdrawn.

MUDIR Mu"dir, n.

Defn: Same as Moodir.

MUDSILL Mud"sill`, n.

Defn: The lowest sill of a structure, usually embedded in the soil; the lowest timber of a house; also, that sill or timber of a bridge which is laid at the bottom of the water. See Sill.

MUDSUCKER Mud"suck`er, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A woodcock.

MUDWALL Mud"wall`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The European bee-eater. See Bee-eater. [Written also modwall.]

MUDWORT Mud"wort`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A small herbaceous plant growing on muddy shores (Limosella aquatica).

MUE Mue, v. i.

Defn: To mew; to molt. [Obs.] Quarles.

MUEZZIN Mu*ez"zin, n. Etym: [Ar.]

Defn: A Mohammedan crier of the hour of prayer. [Written also mouezzin, mueddin, and muwazzin.]

MUFF Muff, n. Etym: [Cf. LG. muff, D. mof, G., Dan., & Sw. muff, F. moufle mitten, LL. muffula, MHG. mouwe sleeve, D. mouw, and E. muffle, v.]

1. A soft cover of cylindrical form, usually of fur, worn by women to shield the hands from cold.

2. (Mech.)

Defn: A short hollow cylinder surrounding an object, as a pipe.

3. (Glass Manuf.)

Defn: A blown cylinder of glass which is afterward flattened out to make a sheet.

4. Etym: [Perhaps a different word; cf. Prov. E. maffle to slammer.]

Defn: A stupid fellow; a poor-spirited person. [Colloq.] "A muff of a curate." Thackeray.

5. Etym: [See 4.] (Baseball)

Defn: A failure to hold a ball when once in the hands.

6. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The whitethroat. [Prov. Eng.]

MUFF Muff, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Muffed; p. pr. & vb. n. Muffing.]

Defn: To handle awkwardly; to fumble; to fail to hold, as a ball, in catching it.

MUFFETEE Muf`fe*tee", n.

Defn: A small muff worn over the wrist. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

MUFFIN Muf"fin, n. Etym: [From Muff.]

Defn: A light, spongy, cylindrical cake, used for breakfast and tea.

MUFFINEER Muf`fin*eer", n.

Defn: A dish for keeping muffins hot.

MUFFISH Muff"ish, a. Etym: [See Muff, 4 & 5.]

Defn: Stupid; awkward. [Colloq.]

MUFFLE Muf"fle, n.

Defn: The bare end of the nose between the nostrils; -- used esp. of ruminants.

MUFFLE Muf"fle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Muffled; p. pr. & vb. n. Muffling.] Etym: [Cf. F. moufle a mitten, LL. muffula, OD. moffel a muff. See Muff.]

1. To wrap up in something that conceals or protects; to wrap, as the face and neck, in thick and disguishing folds; hence, to conceal or cover the face of; to envelop; to inclose; -- often with up. South. The face lies muffled up within the garment. Addison. He muffled with a cloud his mournful eyes. Dryden. Muffled up in darkness and superstition. Arbuthnot.

2. To prevent seeing, or hearing, or speaking, by wraps bound about the head; to blindfold; to deafen.

3. To wrap with something that dulls or deadens the sound of; as, to muffle the strings of a drum, or that part of an oar which rests in the rowlock.

MUFFLE Muf"fle, v. i. Etym: [Cf. F. maffle, mumble, D. moffelen.]

Defn: To speak indistinctly, or without clear articulation.

MUFFLE Muf"fle, n. Etym: [F. moufle, prop., a mitten, from the resemblance in shape. See Muffle, v. t., Muff.]

1. Anything with which another thing, as an oar or drum, is muffled; also, a boxing glove; a muff.

2. (Metal.)

Defn: An earthenware compartment or oven, often shaped like a half cylinder, used in furnaces to protect objects heated from the direct action of the fire, as in scorification of ores, cupellation of ore buttons, etc.

3. (Ceramics)

Defn: A small oven for baking and fixing the colors of painted or printed pottery, without exposing the pottery to the flames of the furnace or kiln.

4. A pulley block containing several sheaves. Knight.

MUFFLER Muf"fler, n.

1. Anything used in muffling; esp., a scarf for protecting the head and neck in cold weather; a tippet. Fortune is painted blind, with a muffler above her eyes. Shak.

2. (Mus.)

Defn: A cushion for terminating or softening a note made by a stringed instrument with a keyboard.

3. A kind of mitten or boxing glove, esp. when stuffed.

4. One who muffles.

MUFLON Muf"lon, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Mouflon.

MUFTI Muf"ti, n.; pl. Muftis. Etym: [Ar. mufti.]

Defn: An official expounder of Mohammedan law.

MUFTI Muf"ti, n.

Defn: Citizen's dress when worn by a naval or military officer; -- a term derived from the British service in India. [Colloq. Eng.]

MUG Mug, n. Etym: [Cf. Ir. mugam a mug, mucog a cup.]

1. A kind of earthen or metal drinking cup, with a handle, -- usually cylindrical and without a lip.

2. The face or mouth. [Slang] Thackeray.

MUGGARD Mug"gard, a. Etym: [Cf. G. mucker a sulky person, muckish sullen, peevish, mucken to mutter, grumble.]

Defn: Sullen; displeased. [Obs.]

MUGGER; MUGGAR; MUGGUR Mug"ger, n. Also Mug"gar, Mug"gur. [Hind. magar, fr. Skr. makara sea monster.]

Defn: The common crocodile (Crocodilus palustris) of India, the East Indies, etc. It becomes twelve feet or more long.

MUGGET Mug"get, n.

Defn: The small entrails of a calf or a hog.

MUGGINESS Mug"gi*ness, n.

Defn: The condition or quality of being muggy.

MUGGINS Mug"gins, n. [Etym. unknown.]

1. A game of dominoes in which the object is to make the sum of the two ends of the line some multiple of five.

2. A game at cards which depends upon building in suits or matching exposed cards, the object being to get rid of one's cards.

MUGGINS Mug"gins, v. t.

Defn: In certain games, to score against, or take an advantage over (an opponent), as for an error, announcing the act by saying "muggins."

MUGGISH Mug"gish, a.

Defn: See Muggy.

MUGGLETONIAN Mug`gle*to"ni*an, n. (Eccl. Hist.)

Defn: One of an extinct sect, named after Ludovic Muggleton, an English journeyman tailor, who (about 1657) claimed to be inspired. Eadie.

MUGGY Mug"gy, a. [Compar. Muggier; superl. Muggiest.] Etym: [Cf. Icel. mugga mist, mugginess. Cf. 4th Mold.]

1. Moist; damp; moldy; as, muggy straw.

2. Warm, damp, and close; as, muggy air, weather.

MUGHOUSE Mug"house`, n.

Defn: An alehouse; a pothouse. Tickel.

MUGIENCY Mu"gi*en*cy, n.

Defn: A bellowing. [Obs.]

MUGIENT Mu"gi*ent, a. Etym: [L. mugiens, p.pr. of mugire to bellow.]

Defn: Lowing; bellowing. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

MUGIL Mu"gil, n. Etym: [L., a sort of fish.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of fishes including the gray mullets. See Mullet.

MUGILOID Mu"gi*loid, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Like or pertaining to the genus Mugil, or family Mugilidæ.

MUGWEED Mug"weed`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A slender European weed (Galium Cruciata); -- called also crossweed.

MUGWORT Mug"wort`, n. Etym: [AS. mucgwyrt. Cf. Midge.] (Bot.)

Defn: A somewhat aromatic composite weed (Artemisia vulgaris), at one time used medicinally; -- called also motherwort.

MUGWUMP Mug"wump`, n. Etym: [Cf. Algonquin mugquomp a chief.]

Defn: A bolter from the Republican party in the national election of 1884; an Independent. [Political Cant, U.S.]

MUGWUMPERY; MUGWUMPISM Mug"wump`er*y, Mug"wump*ism, n.

Defn: The acts and views of the mugwumps. [Political Cant, U.S.]

MUHAMMADAN; MUHAMMEDAN Mu*ham"mad*an, Mu*ham"med*an, a. & n.

Defn: Mohammedan.

MUHAMMADANISM Mu*ham"mad*an*ism, n.

Defn: Mohammedanism.

MULADA Mu*la"da, n.

Defn: A moor. [Scot.] Lockhart.

MULADA Mu*la"da, n. Etym: [Sp. Amer., fr. Sp. mulo, mula, a mule.]

Defn: A drove of mules. [Southwest. U.S.]

MULATTO Mu*lat"to, n.; pl. Mulattoes. Etym: [Sp. & Pg. mulato, masc., mulata, fem., of a mixed breed, fr. mulo mule, L. mulus. See Mule.]

Defn: The offspring of a negress by a white man, or of a white woman by a negro, -- usually of a brownish yellow complexion.

MULATTRESS Mu*lat"tress, n.

Defn: A female mulatto. G. W. Gable.

MULBERRY Mul"ber*ry, n.; pl. Mulberries. Etym: [OE. moolbery, murberie, AS. murberie, where the first part is fr. L. morum mulberry; cf. Gr. Murrey, Sycamore.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: The berry or fruit of any tree of the genus Morus; also, the tree itself. See Morus.

2. A dark pure color, like the hue of a black mulberry. Mulberry mass. (Biol.) See Morula. -- Paper mulberry, a tree (Broussonetia papyrifera), related to the true mulberry, used in Polynesia for making tapa cloth by macerating and pounding the inner bark, and in China and Japan for the manufacture of paper. It is seen as a shade tree in America.

MULBERRY-FACED Mul"ber*ry-faced` (-fast`), a.

Defn: Having a face of a mulberry color, or blotched as if with mulberry stains.

MULCH Mulch, n. Etym: [Cf. mull dirt, also Prov. G. mulsch, molsch, rotten, soft, mellow, as fruit.]

Defn: Half-rotten straw, or any like substance strewn on the ground, as over the roots of plants, to protect from heat, drought, etc., and to preserve moisture.

MULCH Mulch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mulched; p. pr. & vb. n. Mulching.]

Defn: To cover or dress with mulch.

MULCT Mulct, n. Etym: [L. mulcta, multa.]

1. A fine or penalty, esp. a pecuniary punishment or penalty.

2. A blemish or defect. [Obs.]

Syn. -- Amercement; forfeit; forfeiture; penalty.

MULCT Mulct, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mulcted; p. pr. & vb. n. Mulcting.] Etym: [L. mulctare, multare.]

1. To punish for an offense or misdemeanor by imposing a fine or forfeiture, esp. a pecuniary fine; to fine.

2. Hence, to deprive of; to withhold by way of punishment or discipline. [Obs.]

MULCTARY; MULCTUARY Mulc"ta*ry, Mulc"tu*a*ry, a.

Defn: Imposing a pecuniary penalty; consisting of, or paid as, a fine. Fines, or some known mulctuary punishments. Sir W. Temple.

MULE Mule, n. Etym: [F., a she-mule, L. mula, fem. of mulus; cf. Gr. m, fr. L. mulus. Cf. Mulatto.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A hybrid animal; specifically, one generated between an ass and a mare, sometimes a horse and a she-ass. See Hinny.

Note: Mules are much used as draught animals. They are hardy, and proverbial for stubbornness.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: A plant or vegetable produced by impregnating the pistil of one species with the pollen or fecundating dust of another; -- called also hybrid.

3. A very stubborn person.

4. A machine, used in factories, for spinning cotton, wool, etc., into yarn or thread and winding it into cops; -- called also jenny and mule-jenny. Mule armadillo (Zoöl.), a long-eared armadillo (Tatusia hybrida), native of Buenos Ayres; -- called also mulita. See Illust. under Armadillo. -- Mule deer (Zoöl.), a large deer (Cervus, or Cariacus, macrotis) of the Western United States. The name refers to its long ears. -- Mule pulley (Mach.), an idle pulley for guiding a belt which transmits motion between shafts that are not parallel. -- Mule twist, cotton yarn in cops, as spun on a mule; -- in distinction from yarn spun on a throstle frame.

MULE-JENNY Mule"-jen`ny, n.

Defn: See Mule, 4.

MULE KILLER Mule killer.

Defn: Any of several arthropods erroneously supposed to kill live stock, in the southern United States, by stinging or by being swallowed; as: (a) A whip scorpion. [Florida] (b) A walking-stick insect. [Texas] (c) A mantis. (d) A wheel bug.

MULETEER Mu`le*teer", n. Etym: [F. muletier, fr. mulet a mule, dim. fr. L. mulus.]

Defn: One who drives mules.

MULEWORT Mule"wort`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A fern of the genus Hemionitis.

MULEY Mu"ley, n. (Sawmills)

Defn: A stiff, long saw, guided at the ends but not stretched in a gate. Muley axle (Railroad), a car axle without collars at the outer ends of the journals. Forney.

MULEY Mul"ey, n.

Defn: See Mulley.

MULIEBRITY Mu`li*eb"ri*ty, n. Etym: [L. muliebritas, fr. muliebris belonging to a woman, fr. mulier a woman.]

1. The state of being a woman or of possessing full womanly powers; womanhood; -- correlate of virility.

2. Hence: Effeminancy; softness.

MULIER Mu"li*er, n. Etym: [L., a woman.]

1. A woman.

2. (Law) (a) Lawful issue born in wedlock, in distinction from an elder brother born of the same parents before their marriage; a lawful son. (b) (Civ. Law) A woman; a wife; a mother. Blount. Cowell.

MULIERLY Mu"li*er*ly, adv.

Defn: In the manner or condition of a mulier; in wedlock; legitimately. [Obs.]

MULIEROSE Mu"li*er*ose`, a. Etym: [L. mulierosus.]

Defn: Fond of woman. [R.] Charles Reade.

MULIEROSITY Mu`li*er*os"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. mulierositas.]

Defn: A fondness for women. [R.] Dr. H. More.

MULIERTY Mu"li*er*ty, n. (Law)

Defn: Condition of being a mulier; position of one born in lawful wedlock.

MULISH Mul"ish, a.

Defn: Like a mule; sullen; stubborn. -- Mul"ish*ly, adv. -- Mul"ish*ness, n.

MULL Mull, n. Etym: [Perh. contr. fr. mossul. See Muslin.]

Defn: A thin, soft kind of muslin.

MULL Mull, n. Etym: [Icel. m a snout, muzzle, projecting crag; or cf. Ir. & Gael. meall a heap of earth, a mound, a hill or eminence, W. moel. Cf. Mouth.]

1. A promontory; as, the Mull of Cantyre. [Scot.]

2. A snuffbox made of the small end of a horn.

MULL Mull, n. Etym: [Prob. akin to mold. *108. See Mold.]

Defn: Dirt; rubbish. [Obs.] Gower.

MULL Mull, v. t. Etym: [OE. mullen. See 2d Muller.]

Defn: To powder; to pulverize. [Prov. Eng.]

MULL Mull, v. i.

Defn: To work (over) mentally; to cogitate; to ruminate; -- usually with over; as, to mull over a thought or a problem. [Colloq. U.S.]

MULL Mull, n.

Defn: An inferior kind of madder prepared from the smaller roots or the peelings and refuse of the larger.

MULL Mull, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mulled; p. pr. & vb. n. Mulling.] Etym: [From mulled, for mold, taken as a p.p.; OE. mold-ale funeral ale or banquet. See Mold soil.]

1. To heat, sweeten, and enrich with spices; as, to mull wine. New cider, mulled with ginger warm. Gay.

2. To dispirit or deaden; to dull or blunt. Shak.

MULLA Mul"la, n.

Defn: Same as Mollah.

MULLAGATAWNY Mul`la*ga*taw"ny, n. Etym: [Tamil milagu-tannir pepper water.]

Defn: An East Indian curry soup.

MULLAH Mul"lah, n.

Defn: See Mollah.

MULLAR Mul"lar, n.

Defn: A die, cut in intaglio, for stamping an ornament in relief, as upon metal.

MULLEIN Mul"lein, n. Etym: [OE. moleyn, AS. molegn.] (Bot.)

Defn: Any plant of the genus Verbascum. They are tall herbs having coarse leaves, and large flowers in dense spikes. The common species, with densely woolly leaves, is Verbascum Thapsus. Moth mullein. See under Moth. -- Mullein foxglove, an American herb (Seymeria macrophylla) with coarse leaves and yellow tubular flowers with a spreading border. -- Petty mullein, the cowslip. Dr. Prior.

MULLEN Mul"len, n. (Bot.)

Defn: See Mullein.

MULLER Mull"er, n.

1. One who, or that which, mulls.

2. A vessel in which wine, etc., is mulled over a fire.

MULLER Mull"er, n. Etym: [OE. mullen to pulverize, bruise; cf. Icel. mylja; prob. akin to E. mold soil. See Mold soil, and cf. Mull dirt.]

Defn: A stone or thick lump of glass, or kind of pestle, flat at the bottom, used for grinding pigments or drugs, etc., upon a slab of similar material.

MULLERIAN; MUELLERIAN Mül*le"ri*an, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or discovered by, Johannes Müller. Müllerian ducts (Anat.), a pair of embryonic ducts which give rise to the genital passages in the female, but disappear in the male. -- Müllerian fibers (Anat.), the sustentacular or connective-tissue fibers which form the framework of the retina.

MULLET Mul"let, n. Etym: [OE. molet, mulet, F. mulet, fr. L. mullus.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of numerous fishes of the genus Mugil; -- called also gray mullets. They are found on the coasts of both continents, and are highly esteemed as food. Among the most valuable species are Mugil capito of Europe, and M. cephalus which occurs both on the European and American coasts.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any species of the genus Mullus, or family Mullidæ; called also red mullet, and surmullet, esp. the plain surmullet (Mullus barbatus), and the striped surmullet (M. surmulletus) of Southern Europe. The former is the mullet of the Romans. It is noted for the brilliancy of its colors. See Surmullet. French mullet. See Ladyfish (a).

MULLET Mul"let, n. Etym: [F. molette.] (Her.)

Defn: A star, usually five pointed and pierced; -- when used as a difference it indicates the third son.

MULLET Mul"let, n. Etym: [Cf. F. molet a sort of pinchers.]

Defn: Small pinchers for curling the hair. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

MULLEY; MOOLLEY Mul"ley, Mool"ley, n. Etym: [CF. Gael. maolag a hornless cow, maol bald, hornless, blunt.]

1. A mulley or polled animal. [U. S.]

2. A cow. [Prov. Eng.; U.S., a child's word.] Leave milking and dry up old mulley, thy cow. Tusser.

MULLEY; MOOLLEY Mul"ley, Mool"ley, a.

Defn: Destitute of horns, although belonging to a species of animals most of which have horns; hornless; polled; as, mulley cattle; a mulley (or moolley) cow. [U. S.] [Written also muley.]

MULLIGATAWNY Mul`li*ga*taw"ny, n.

Defn: See Mullagatawny.

MULLIGRUBS Mul"li*grubs, n. Etym: [Cf. Prov. E. mull to squeeze, pull about, mulling numb or dull.]

1. A griping of the intestines; colic. [Slang] Whose dog lies sick of the mulligrubs Beau. & Fl.

2. Hence, sullenness; the sulks. [Slang]

MULLINGONG Mul"lin*gong, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Duck mole, under Duck. [Written also mollingong.]

MULLION Mul"lion, n. Etym: [A corruption of munnion, F. moignon stump of an amputated limb, stump, OF. moing mutilated; cf. Armor. moñ, mouñ, mank, monk, and also L. mancus maimed.] (Arch.) (a) A slender bar or pier which forms the division between the lights of windows, screens, etc. (b) An upright member of a framing. See Stile.

MULLION Mul"lion, v. t.

Defn: To furnish with mullions; to divide by mullions.

MULLOCK Mul"lock, n. Etym: [From Mull dirt: cf. Scot. mulloch, mulock, crumb. *108.]

Defn: Rubbish; refuse; dirt. [Obs.] All this mullok [was] in a sieve ythrowe. Chaucer.

MULLOID Mul"loid, a. Etym: [NL. Mullus, generic name (fr. L. mullus surmullet) + -oid.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Like or pertaining to the genus Mullus, which includes the surmullet, or red mullet.

MULMUL Mul"mul, n.

Defn: A fine, soft muslin; mull.

MULSE Mulse, n. Etym: [L. mulsum (sc. vinum), fr. mulsus mixed with honey, honey-sweet, p.p. of mulcere to sweeten, soften.]

Defn: Wine boiled and mingled with honey.

MULT- Mult-.

Defn: See Multi-.

MULTANGULAR Mul*tan"gu*lar, a. Etym: [L. multangulus; multus much, many + angulus angle: cf. F. multangulaire.]

Defn: Having many angles. -- Mul*tan"gu*lar*ly, adv. -- Mul*tan"gu*lar*ness, n.

MULTANIMOUS Mul*tan"i*mous, a. Etym: [Mult- + L. animus mind.]

Defn: Many-minded; many-sided. The multanimous nature of the poet. J. R. Lowell.

MULTARTICULATE Mul`tar*tic"u*late, a. Etym: [Mult- + articulate.]

Defn: Having many articulations or joints.

MULTEITY Mul*te"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. multus much, many.]

Defn: Multiplicity. [R.] Coleridge.

MULTI-; MULT- Mul"ti-, Mult-. Etym: [L. multus much.]

Defn: A prefix signifying much or many; several; more than one; as, multiaxial, multocular.

MULTIAXIAL Mul`ti*ax"i*al, a. Etym: [Multi- + axial.] (Biol.)

Defn: Having more than one axis; developing in more than a single line or plain; -- opposed to Ant: monoaxial.

MULTICAPSULAR Mul`ti*cap"su*lar, a. Etym: [Multi- + capsular: cf. F. multicapsulaire.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having many, or several, capsules.

MULTICARINATE Mul`ti*car"i*nate, a. Etym: [Multi- + carinate.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Many-keeled.

MULTICAVOUS Mul`ti*ca"vous, a. Etym: [L. multicavus; multus much, many + cavum, cavus, a cavity, hole, fr. cavus hollow.]

Defn: Having many cavities.

MULTICELLULAR Mul`ti*cel"lu*lar, a.

Defn: Consisting of, or having, many cells or more than one cell.

MULTICENTRAL Mul`ti*cen"tral, a. Etym: [Multi- + central.]

Defn: Having many, or several, centers; as, a multicentral cell. Multicental development (Biol.), growth, or development, from several centers. According as the insubordination to a single center is more or less pronounced, the resultant organism will be more or less irregular in form and may even discontinuous.

MULTICIPITAL Mul`ti*cip"i*tal, a. Etym: [Multi- + L. caput head.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having many heads or many stems from one crown or root. Gray.

MULTICOLOR Mul"ti*col`or, a. Etym: [See Multi-, and Color.]

Defn: Having many, or several, colors.

MULTICOSTATE Mul`ti*cos"tate, a. Etym: [Multi- + costate.]

Defn: Having numerous ribs, or costæ, as the leaf of a plant, or as certain shells and corals.

MULTICUSPID Mul`ti*cus"pid, a. Etym: [See Multi-, and Cuspid.]

Defn: Multicuspidate; -- said of teeth.

MULTICUSPIDATE Mul`ti*cus"pi*date, a. Etym: [Multi- + cuspidate.]

Defn: Having many cusps or points.

MULTIDENTATE Mul`ti*den"tate, a. Etym: [Multi- + dentate.]

Defn: Having many teeth, or toothlike processes.

MULTIDIGITATE Mul`ti*dig"i*tate, a. Etym: [Multi- + digitate.]

Defn: Having many fingers, or fingerlike processes.

MULTIFACED Mul"ti*faced`, a. Etym: [Multi- + face.]

Defn: Having many faces.

MULTIFARIOUS Mul`ti*fa"ri*ous, a. Etym: [L. multifarius; multus much, many. Cf. Bifarious.]

1. Having multiplicity; having great diversity or variety; of various kinds; diversified; made up of many differing parts; manifold. There is a multifarious artifice in the structure of the meanest animal. Dr. H. More.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: Having parts, as leaves, arranged in many vertical rows.

MULTIFARIOUSLY Mul`ti*fa"ri*ous*ly, adv.

Defn: With great multiplicity and diversity; with variety of modes and relations.

MULTIFARIOUSNESS Mul`ti*fa"ri*ous*ness, n.

1. Multiplied diversity.

2. (Law)

Defn: The fault of improperly uniting in one bill distinct and independent matters, and thereby confounding them. Burrill.

MULTIFEROUS Mul*tif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. multifer; multus much, many + ferre to bear.]

Defn: Bearing or producing much or many. [R.]

MULTIFID Mul"ti*fid, a. Etym: [L. multifidus; multus much, many + findere to split: cf. F. multifide.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having many segments; cleft into several parts by linear sinuses; as, a multifid leaf or corolla.

MULTIFLOROUS Mul`ti*flo"rous, a. Etym: [L. multiflorus; multus much, many + flos, floris, flower: cf. F. multiflore.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having many flowers.

MULTIFLUE Mul"ti*flue, a. Etym: [Multi- + flue.]

Defn: Having many flues; as, a multiflue boiler. See Boiler.

MULTIFOIL Mul"ti*foil, n. Etym: [Multi- + foil.] (Arch.)

Defn: An ornamental foliation consisting of more than five divisions or foils. [R.] See Foil.

MULTIFOIL Mul"ti*foil, a.

Defn: Having more than five divisions or foils.

MULTIFOLD Mul"ti*fold, a. Etym: [Multi- + fold.]

Defn: Many times doubled; manifold; numerous.

MULTIFORM Mul"ti*form, a. Etym: [L. multiformis; multus much, many + forma shape: cf. F. multiforme.]

Defn: Having many forms, shapes, or appearances. A plastic and multiform unit. Hare.

MULTIFORMITY Mul`ti*form"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. multiformitas.]

Defn: The quality of being multiform; diversity of forms; variety of appearances in the same thing. Purchas.

MULTIFORMOUS Mul`ti*form"ous, a.

Defn: Multiform. [Obs.]

MULTIGENEROUS Mul`ti*gen"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. multigenerus; multus + genus, generis, kind.]

Defn: Having many kinds.

MULTIGRANULATE Mul`ti*gran"u*late, a. Etym: [Multi- + granulate.]

Defn: Having, or consisting of, many grains.

MULTIGRAPH Mul"ti*graph, n. [Multi- + -graph.]

Defn: A combined rotary type-setting and printing machine for office use. The type is transferred semi-automatically by means of keys from a type-supply drum to a printing drum. The printing may be done by means of an inked ribbon to print "typewritten" letters, or directly from inked type or a stereotype plate, as in a printing press.

MULTIJUGATE Mul*tij"u*gate, a.

Defn: Having many pairs of leaflets.

MULTIJUGOUS Mul*tij"u*gous, a. Etym: [L. multijugus; multus + jugum yoke.]

1. Consisting of many parts.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: Same as Multijugate.

MULTILATERAL Mul`ti*lat"er*al, a. Etym: [Multi- + lateral.]

Defn: Having many sides; many-sided.

MULTILINEAL Mul`ti*lin"e*al, a. Etym: [Multi- + lineal.]

Defn: Having many lines. Steevens.

MULTILOBAR Mul`ti*lo"bar, a. Etym: [Multi- + lobar.]

Defn: Consisting of, or having, many lobes.

MULTILOCULAR Mul`ti*loc"u*lar, a. Etym: [Multi- + locular: cf. F. multiloculaire.]

Defn: Having many or several cells or compartments; as, a multilocular shell or capsule.

MULTILOQUENCE Mul*til"o*quence, n.

Defn: Quality of being multiloquent; use of many words; talkativeness.

MULTILOQUENT; MULTILOQUOUS Mul*til"o*quent, Mul*til"o*quous, a. Etym: [L. multiloquus; multus much, many + loqui to speak.]

Defn: Speaking much; very talkative; loquacious.

MULTILOQUY Mul*til"o*quy, n. Etym: [L. multiloquium.]

Defn: Excess of words or talk. [R.]

MULTINODATE Mul`ti*no"date, a. Etym: [Multi- + nodate.]

Defn: Having many knots or nodes.

MULTINODOUS Mul`ti*no"dous, a. Etym: [L. multinodus.]

Defn: Same as Multinodate.

MULTINOMIAL Mul`ti*no"mi*al, n. & a. Etym: [Multi- + -nomial, as in binomial. See Binomial.] (Alg.)

Defn: Same as Polynomial.

MULTINOMINAL; MULTINOMINOUS Mul`ti*nom"i*nal, Mul`ti*nom"i*nous, a. Etym: [L. multinominis; multus many + nomen nominis name.]

Defn: Having many names or terms.

MULTINUCLEAR Mul`ti*nu"cle*ar, a. Etym: [Multi- + nuclear.] (Biol.)

Defn: Containing many nuclei; as, multinuclear cells.

MULTINUCLEATE; MULTINUCLEATED Mul`ti*nu"cle*ate, Mul`ti*nu"cle*a`ted, a. (Biol.)

Defn: Multinuclear.

MULTIPAROUS Mul*tip"a*rous, a. Etym: [Multi- + L. parere to produce: cf. F. multipare.]

Defn: Producing many, or more than one, at a birth.

MULTIPARTITE Mul*tip"ar*tite, a. Etym: [L. multipartitus multus much, many partitus divided, p.p.: cf. F. multipartite. See Partite.]

Defn: Divided into many parts; having several parts.

MULTIPED Mul"ti*ped, n. Etym: [L. multipes, multipeda; multus much, many + pes, pedis, foot: cf. F. multipède.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: An insect having many feet, as a myriapod.

MULTIPED Mul"ti*ped, a.

Defn: Having many feet.

MULTIPHASE Mul"ti*phase, a. [Multi- + phase.]

Defn: Having many phases; specif. (Elec.),

Defn: pertaining to, or designating, a generator producing, or any system conveying or utilizing, two or more waves of pressure, or electromotive force, not in phase with each other; polyphase.

MULTIPLANE Mul"ti*plane, a.

Defn: Having several or many planes or plane surfaces; as, a multiplane kite.

MULTIPLANE Mul"ti*plane, n. [Multi- + plane.] (Aëronautics)

Defn: An aëroplane with three or more superposed main planes.

MULTIPLE Mul"ti*ple, a. Etym: [Cf. F. multiple, and E. quadruple, and multiply.]

Defn: Containing more than once, or more than one; consisting of more than one; manifold; repeated many times; having several, or many, parts. Law of multiple proportion (Chem.), the generalization that when the same elements unite in more than one proportion, forming two or more different compounds, the higher proportions of the elements in such compounds are simple multiplies of the lowest proportion, or the proportions are connected by some simple common factor; thus, iron and oxygen unite in the proportions FeO, Fe2O3, Fe3O4, in which compounds, considering the oxygen, 3 and 4 are simple multiplies of 1. Called also the Law of Dalton, from its discoverer. -- Multiple algebra, a branch of advanced mathematics that treats of operations upon units compounded of two or more unlike units. -- Multiple conjugation (Biol.), a coalescence of many cells (as where an indefinite number of amoeboid cells flow together into a single mass) from which conjugation proper and even fertilization may have been evolved. -- Multiple fruits. (Bot.) See Collective fruit, under Collective. -- Multiple star (Astron.), several stars in close proximity, which appear to form a single system.

MULTIPLE Mul"ti*ple, n. (Math.)

Defn: A quantity containing another quantity a number of times without a remainder.

Note: A common multiple of two or more numbers contains each of them a number of times exactly; thus, 24 is a common multiple of 3 and 4. The least common multiple is the least number that will do this; thus, 12 is the least common multiple of 3 and 4.

MULTIPLEX Mul"ti*plex, a. Etym: [L. multiplex, -plicis. See Multiply.]

Defn: Manifold; multiple.

MULTIPLIABLE Mul"ti*pli`a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. multipliable.]

Defn: Capable of being multiplied. -- Mul"ti*pli`a*ble*ness, n.

MULTIPLICABLE Mul"ti*pli*ca*ble, a. Etym: [L. multiplicabilis.]

Defn: Capable of being multiplied; multipliable.

MULTIPLICAND Mul"ti*pli*cand`, n. Etym: [L. multiplicandus to be multiplied: cf. F. multiplicande.] (Math.)

Defn: The number which is to be multiplied by another number called the multiplier. See Note under Multiplication.

MULTIPLICATE Mul"ti*pli*cate, a. Etym: [L. multiplicatus, p.p. of multiplicare. See Multiply.]

Defn: Consisting of many, or of more than one; multiple; multifold. Multiplicate flower (Bot.), a flower that is double, or has an unusual number of petals in consequence of the abnormal multiplication of the parts of the floral whorls.

MULTIPLICATION Mul`ti*pli*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. multiplicatio: cf. F. multiplication. See Multiply.]

1. The act or process of multiplying, or of increasing in number; the state of being multiplied; as, the multiplication of the human species by natural generation. The increase and multiplication of the world. Thackeray.

2. (Math.)

Defn: The process of repeating, or adding to itself, any given number or quantity a certain number of times; commonly, the process of ascertaining by a briefer computation the result of such repeated additions; also, the rule by which the operation is performed; -- the reverse of division.

Note: The word multiplication is sometimes used in mathematics, particularly in multiple algebra, to denote any distributive operation expressed by one symbol upon any quantity or any thing expressed by another symbol. Corresponding extensions of meaning are given to the words multiply, multiplier, multiplicand, and product. Thus, since f(x + y) = fx + fy (see under Distributive), where f(x + y), fx, and fy indicate the results of any distributive operation represented by the symbol f upon x + y, x, and y, severally, then because of many very useful analogies f(x + y) is called the product of f and x + y, and the operation indicated by f is called multiplication. Cf. Facient, n., 2.

3. (Bot.)

Defn: An increase above the normal number of parts, especially of petals; augmentation.

4. The art of increasing gold or silver by magic, -- attributed formerly to the alchemists. [Obs.] Chaucer. Multiplication table, a table giving the product of a set of numbers multiplied in some regular way; commonly, a table giving the products of the first ten or twelve numbers multiplied successively by 1, 2, 3, etc., up to 10 or 12.

MULTIPLICATIVE Mul"ti*pli*ca*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. multiplicatif.]

Defn: Tending to multiply; having the power to multiply, or incease numbers.

MULTIPLICATIVELY Mul"ti*pli*ca*tive*ly, adv.

Defn: So as to multiply.

MULTIPLICATOR Mul"ti*pli*ca`tor, n. Etym: [L.: cf. F. multiplicateur. Cf. Multiplier.]

Defn: The number by which another number is multiplied; a multiplier.

MULTIPLICIOUS Mul`ti*pli"cious, a. Etym: [See Multiplex.]

Defn: Manifold. [Obs.]

MULTIPLICITY Mul`ti*plic"ity, n. Etym: [Cf. F. multiplicité.]

Defn: The quality of being multiple, manifold, or various; a state of being many; a multitude; as, a multiplicity of thoughts or objects. "A multiplicity of goods." South.

MULTIPLIER Mul"ti*pli`er, n. Etym: [Cf. F. multiplier. Cf. Multiplicator.]

1. One who, or that which, multiplies or increases number.

2. (Math.)

Defn: The number by which another number is multiplied. See the Note under Multiplication.

3. (Physics)

Defn: An instrument for multiplying or increasing by repetition or accumulation the intensity of a force or action, as heat or electricity. It is particularly used to render such a force or action appreciable or measurable when feeble. See Thermomultiplier.

MULTIPLY Mul"ti*ply, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Multiplied; p. pr. & vb. n. Multiplying.] Etym: [F. multiplier, L. multiplicare, fr. multiplex manifold. See Multitude, Complex.]

1. To increase in number; to make more numerous; to add quantity to. Impunity will multiply motives to disobedience. Ames.

2. (Math.)

Defn: To add (any given number or quantity) to itself a certain number of times; to find the product of by multiplication; thus 7 multiplied by 8 produces the number 56; to multiply two numbers. See the Note under Multiplication.

3. To increase (the amount of gold or silver) by the arts of alchemy. [Obs.] Multiplying gear (Mach.), gear for increasing speed. -- Multiplying lens. (Opt.) See under Lens.

MULTIPLY Mul"ti*ply, v. i.

1. To become greater in number; to become numerous. When men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them. Gen. vi. 1.

2. To increase in extent and influence; to spread. The word of God grew and multiplied. Acts xii. 24.

3. To increase amount of gold or silver by the arts of alchemy. [Obs.] Chaucer.

MULTIPOLAR Mul`ti*po"lar, a. Etym: [Multi- + polar.] (Biol.)

Defn: Having many poles; -- applied especially to those ganglionic nerve cells which have several radiating processes.

MULTIPOTENT Mul*tip"o*tent, a. Etym: [L. multipotens; multus much + potens powerful. See Potent.]

Defn: Having manifold power, or power to do many things. "Jove multipotent." Shak.

MULTIPRESENCE Mul`ti*pres"ence, n.

Defn: The state or power of being multipresent. The multipresence of Christ's body. Bp. Hall.

MULTIPRESENT Mul`ti*pres"ent, a. Etym: [Multi- + present, a.]

Defn: Being, or having the power to be, present in two or more places at once.

MULTIRADIATE Mul`ti*ra"di*ate, a. Etym: [Multi- + radiate.]

Defn: Having many rays.

MULTIRAMIFIED Mul`ti*ram"i*fied, a. Etym: [Multi- + p.p. of ramify.]

Defn: Divided into many branches.

MULTIRAMOSE Mul`ti*ra*mose", a. Etym: [Multi- + ramose.]

Defn: Having many branches.

MULTISCIOUS Mul*tis"cious, a. Etym: [L. multiscius; multus much + scius knowing, fr. scire to know.]

Defn: Having much or varied knowledge. [Obs.]

MULTISECT Mul"ti*sect, a. Etym: [Multi- + L. sectus, p.p. of secare to cut.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Divided into many similar segments; -- said of an insect or myriapod.

MULTISEPTATE Mul`ti*sep"tate, a. Etym: [Multi- + septate.] (Bot.)

Defn: Divided into many chambers by partitions, as the pith of the pokeweed.

MULTISERIAL Mul`ti*se"ri*al, a. Etym: [Multi- + serial.] (Bot.)

Defn: Arranged in many rows, or series, as the scales of a pine cone, or the leaves of the houseleek.

MULTISILIQUOUS Mul`ti*sil"i*quous, a. Etym: [Multi- + siliquious.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having many pods or seed vessels.

MULTISONOUS Mul*tis"o*nous, a. Etym: [L. multisonus; multus much, many + sonus sound.]

Defn: Having many sounds, or sounding much.

MULTISPIRAL Mul`ti*spi"ral, a. Etym: [Multi- + spiral.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having numerous spiral coils round a center or nucleus; -- said of the opercula of certain shells.

MULTISTRIATE Mul`ti*stri"ate, a. Etym: [Multi- + striate.]

Defn: Having many streaks.

MULTISULCATE Mul`ti*sul"cate, a. Etym: [Multi- + sulcate.]

Defn: Having many furrows.

MULTISYLLABLE Mul"ti*syl`la*ble, n. Etym: [Multi- + syllable.]

Defn: A word of many syllables; a polysyllable. [R.] -- Mul`ti*syl*lab"ic, a.

MULTITITULAR Mul`ti*tit"u*lar, a. Etym: [Multi- + titular.]

Defn: Having many titles.

MULTITUBULAR Mul`ti*tu"bu*lar, a. Etym: [Multi- + tubular.]

Defn: Having many tubes; as, a multitubular boiler.

MULTITUDE Mul"ti*tude, n. Etym: [F. multitude, L. multitudo, multitudinis, fr. multus much, many; of unknown origin.]

1. A great number of persons collected together; a numerous collection of persons; a crowd; an assembly. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them. Matt. ix. 36.

2. A great number of persons or things, regarded collectively; as, the book will be read by a multitude of people; the multitude of stars; a multitude of cares. It is a fault in a multitude of preachers, that they uttery neglect method in their harangues. I. Watts. A multitude of flowers As countless as the stars on high. Longfellow.

3. The state of being many; numerousness. They came as grasshoppers for multitude. Judg. vi. 5. The multitude, the populace; the mass of men.

Syn. -- Throng; crowd; assembly; assemblage; commonalty; swarm; populace; vulgar. See Throng.

MULTITUDINARY Mul`ti*tu"di*na*ry, a.

Defn: Multitudinous.

MULTITUDINOUS Mul`ti*tu"di*nous, a.

1. Consisting of a multitude; manifold in number or condition; as, multitudinous waves. "The multitudinous seas." Shak. A renewed jingling of multitudinous chains. G. Kennan.

2. Of or pertaining to a multitude. "The multitudinous tongue." Shak. -- Mul`ti*tu"di*nous*ly, adv. -- Mul`ti*tu"di*nous*ness, n.

MULTIVAGANT; MULTIVAGOUS Mul*tiv"a*gant, Mul*tiv"a*gous, a. Etym: [L. multivagus; multus much + vagus wandering; cf. vagans, p.pr. of vagari. See Vagary.]

Defn: Wandering much. [Obs.]

MULTIVALENCE Mul*tiv"a*lence, n. (Chem.)

Defn: Quality, state, or degree, of a multivalent element, atom, or radical.

MULTIVALENT Mul*tiv"a*lent, a. Etym: [Multi- + L. valens, p. pr. See Valence.] (Chem.) (a) Having a valence greater than one, as silicon. (b) Having more than one degree of valence, as sulphur.

MULTIVALVE Mul"ti*valve, n. Etym: [Cf. F. multivalve.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any mollusk which has a shell composed of more than two pieces.

MULTIVALVE; MULTIVALVULAR Mul"ti*valve, Mul`ti*val"vu*lar, a. Etym: [Multi- + valve, valvular: cf. F. multivalve.]

1. Having many valves.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Many-valved; having more than two valves; -- said of certain shells, as the chitons.

MULTIVERSANT Mul*tiv"er*sant, a. Etym: [Multi- + L. versans, p. pr. See Versant.]

Defn: Turning into many shapes; assuming many forms; protean.

MULTIVIOUS Mul*tiv"i*ous, a. & adv. Etym: [L. multivius; multus many + via way.]

Defn: Having many ways or roads; by many ways. [Obs.]

MULTIVOCAL Mul*tiv"o*cal, a. Etym: [Multi- + vocal.]

Defn: Signifying many different things; of manifold meaning; equivocal. "An ambiguous multivocal word." Coleridge. -- n.

Defn: A multivocal word. [R.] Fitzed. Hall.

MULTOCULAR Mul*toc"u*lar, a. Etym: [Multi- + L. oculus eye.]

Defn: Having many eyes, or more than two.

MULTUM Mul"tum, n.

Defn: An extract of quassia licorice, fraudulently used by brewers in order to economize malt and hops. Craig. Hard multum, a preparation made from Cocculus Indicus, etc., used to impart an intoxicating quality to beer.

MULTUNGULATE Mul*tun"gu*late, a. Etym: [Multi- + ungulate.]

Defn: Having many hoofs.

MULTURE Mul"ture, n. Etym: [OF. multure, moulture, F. mouture, fr. L. molitura a grinding, molere to grind. See Mill the machine.]

1. (Scots Law)

Defn: The toll for grinding grain. Erskine.

2. A grist or grinding; the grain ground.

MUM Mum, a. Etym: [Of imitative origin. Cf. Mumble.]

Defn: Silent; not speaking. Thackeray. The citizens are mum, and speak not a word. Shak.

MUM Mum, interj.

Defn: Be silent! Hush! Mum, then, and no more. Shak.

MUM Mum, n.

Defn: Silence. [R.] Hudibras.

MUM Mum, n. Etym: [G. mummere, fr. Christian Mumme, who first brewed it in 1492.]

Defn: A sort of strong beer, originally made in Brunswick, Germany. Addison. The clamorous crowd is hushed with mugs of mum. Pope.

MUMBLE Mum"ble, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mumbled; p. pr. & vb. n. Mumbling.] Etym: [OE. momelen; cf. D. mompelen, mommelen, G. mummelen, Sw. mumla, Dan. mumle. Cf. Mum, a., Mumm, Mump, v.]

1. To speak with the lips partly closed, so as to render the sounds inarticulate and imperfect; to utter words in a grumbling indistinct manner, indicating discontent or displeasure; to mutter. Peace, you mumbling fool. Shak. A wrinkled hag, with age grown double, Picking dry sticks, and mumbling to herself. Otway.

2. To chew something gently with closed lips.

MUMBLE Mum"ble, v. t.

1. To utter with a low, inarticulate voice. Bp. Hall.

2. To chew or bite gently, as one without teeth. Gums unarmed, to mumble meat in vain. Dryden.

3. To suppress, or utter imperfectly.

MUMBLENEWS Mum"ble*news`, n.

Defn: A talebearer. [Obs.]

MUMBLER Mum"bler, n.

Defn: One who mumbles.

MUMBLING Mum"bling, a.

Defn: Low; indistinct; inarticulate. -- Mum"bling*ly, adv.

MUMBO JUMBO Mum"bo Jum`bo.

Defn: An object of superstitious homage and fear. Carlyle. The miserable Mumbo Jumbo they paraded. Dickens.

MUM-CHANCE Mum"-chance`, n.

1. A game of hazard played with cards in silence. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Decker.

2. A silent, stupid person. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

MUM-CHANCE Mum"-chance`, a.

Defn: Silent and idle. [Colloq.] Boys can't sit mum-chance always. J. H. Ewing.

MUMM Mumm, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Mummed; p. pr. & vb. n. Mumming.] Etym: [D. mimmen to mask, mom a mask; akin to G. mumme disguise; prob. of imitative origin, and akin to E. mum, mumble, in allusion to the indistinctness of speech occasioned by talking from behind a mask. Cf. Mumble, Mummery.]