Chapter LI: Bella (34)

1. The expressed juice of the grape, or other fruit, before fermentation. "These men ben full of must." Wyclif (Acts ii. 13. ). No fermenting must fills ... the deep vats. Longfellow.

2. Etym: [Cf. Musty.]

Defn: Mustiness.

MUST Must, v. t. & i.

Defn: To make musty; to become musty.

MUSTAC Mus"tac, n. Etym: [F. moustac.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small tufted monkey.

MUSTACHE Mus*tache", n.; pl. Mustaches (. [Written also moustache.] Etym: [F. moustache, It. mostaccio visage, mostacchio mustache, fr. Gr. mostacho.]

1. That part of the beard which grows on the upper lip; hair left growing above the mouth.

2. (Zoöl.)

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

3. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any conspicuous stripe of color on the side of the head, beneath the eye of a bird.

MUSTACHO Mus*ta"cho, n.; pl. Mustachios (.

Defn: A mustache. Longfellow.

MUSTACHOED Mus*ta"choed, a.

Defn: Having mustachios.

MUSTAHFIZ Mus`tah"fiz`, n. [Turk. & Ar. mustahsfizs who trusts to another's keeping, a soldier of a garrison.]

Defn: See Army organization, above.

MUSTAIBA Mus`ta*i"ba, n.

Defn: A close-grained, neavy wood of a brownish color, brought from Brazil, and used in turning, for making the handles of tools, and the like. [Written also mostahiba.] MaElrath.

MUSTANG Mus"tang, n. Etym: [Sp. musteño belonging to the graziers, strayed, wild.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The half-wild horse of the plains in Mexico, California, etc. It is small, hardy, and easily sustained. Mustard grape (Bot.), a species of grape (Vitis candicans), native in Arkansas and Texas. The berries are small, light-colored, with an acid skin and a sweet pulp.

MUSTARD Mus"tard, n. Etym: [OF. moustarde, F. moutarde, fr. L. mustum must, - - mustard was prepared for use by being mixed with must. See Must, n.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: The name of several cruciferous plants of the genus Brassica (formerly Sinapis), as white mustard (B. alba), black mustard (B. Nigra), wild mustard or charlock (B. Sinapistrum).

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

2. A powder or a paste made from the seeds of black or white mustard, used as a condiment and a rubefacient. Taken internally it is stimulant and diuretic, and in large doses is emetic. Mustard oil (Chem.), a substance obtained from mustard, as a transparent, volatile and intensely pungent oil. The name is also extended to a number of analogous compounds produced either naturally or artificially.

MUSTEE Mus*tee", n.

Defn: See Mestee.

MUSTELINE Mus"te*line, a. Etym: [L. mustelinus, fr. mustela weasel.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Like or pertaining to the family Mustelidæ, or the weasels and martens.

MUSTER Mus"ter, n. Etym: [OE. moustre, OF. mostre, moustre, F. montre, LL. monstra. See Muster, v. t.]

1. Something shown for imitation; a pattern. [Obs.]

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

3. An assembling or review of troops, as for parade, verification of numbers, inspection, exercise, or introduction into service. The hurried muster of the soldiers of liberty. Hawthorne. See how in warlike muster they appear, In rhombs, and wedges, and half-moons, and wings. Milton.

4. The sum total of an army when assembled for review and inspection; the whole number of effective men in an army. And the muster was thirty thousands of men. Wyclif. Ye publish the musters of your own bands, and proclaim them to amount of thousands. Hooker.

5. Any assemblage or display; a gathering. Of the temporal grandees of the realm, mentof their wives and daughters, the muster was great and splendid. Macaulay. Muster book, a book in which military forces are registred. -- Muster file, a muster roll. -- Muster master (Mil.), one who takes an account of troops, and of their equipment; a mustering officer; an inspector. [Eng.] -- Muster roll (Mil.), a list or register of all the men in a company, troop, or regiment, present or accounted for on the day of muster. -- To pass muster, to pass through a muster or inspection without censure. Such excuses will not pass muster with God. South.

MUSTER Mus"ter, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mustered; p. pr. & vb. n. Mustering.] Etym: [OE. mustren, prop., to show, OF. mostrer, mustrer, moustrer, monstrer, F. montrer, fr. L. monstrare to show. See Monster.]

1. To collect and display; to assemble, as troops for parade, inspection, exercise, or the like. Spenser.

2. Hence: To summon together; to enroll in service; to get together. "Mustering all its force." Cowper. All the gay feathers he could muster. L'Estrange. To muster troops into service (Mil.), to inspect and enter troops on the muster roll of the army. -- To muster troops out of service (Mil.), to register them for final payment and discharge. -- To muster up, to gather up; to succeed in obtaining; to obtain with some effort or difficulty. One of those who can muster up sufficient sprightliness to engage in a game of forfeits. Hazlitt.

MUSTER Mus"ter, v. i.

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

MUSTILY Mus"ti*ly, a.

Defn: In a musty state.

MUSTINESS Mus"ti*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being musty.

MUSTY Mus"ty, a. [Compar. Mustier; superl. Mustiest.] Etym: [From L. mustum must; or perh. fr. E. moist. Cf. Must, n., Moist.]

1. Having the rank, pungent, offencive odor and taste which substances of organic origin acquire during warm, moist weather; foul or sour and fetid; moldy; as, musty corn; musty books. Harvey.

2. Spoiled by age; rank; stale. The proverb is somewhat musty. Shak.

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

MUTABILITY Mu`ta*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. mutabilitas: cf. F. mutabilité.]

Defn: The quality of being mutable, or subject to change or alteration, either in form, state, or essential character; susceptibility of change; changeableness; inconstancy; variation. Plato confessed that the heavens and the frame of the world are corporeal, and therefore subject to mutability. Stillingfleet.

MUTABLE Mu"ta*ble, a. Etym: [L. mutabilis, fr. mutare to change. See Move.]

1. Capable of alteration; subject to change; changeable in form, qualities, or nature. Things of the most accidental and mutable nature. South.

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

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

MUTABLENESS Mu"ta*ble*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being mutable.

MUTABLY Mu"ta*bly, adv.

Defn: Changeably.

MUTACISM Mu"ta*cism, n.

Defn: See Mytacism.

MUTAGE Mu"tage, n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: A process for checking the fermentation of the must of grapes.

MUTANDUM Mu*tan"dum, n.; pl. Mutanda. Etym: [L., fr. mutare to change.]

Defn: A thing which is to be changed; something which must be altered; -- used chiefly in the plural.

MUTATION Mu*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. mutatio, fr. mutare to change: cf. F. mutation. See Mutable.]

Defn: Change; alteration, either in form or qualities. The vicissitude or mutations in the superior globe are no fit matter for this present argument. Bacon.

MUTCH Mutch, n. Etym: [Cf. D. mutse a cap, G. mütze. Cf. Amice a cape.]

Defn: The close linen or muslin cap of an old woman. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

MUTCHKIN Mutch"kin, n.

Defn: A liquid measure equal to four gills, or an imperial pint. [Scot.]

MUTE Mute, v. t. Etym: [L. mutare to change. See Molt.]

Defn: To cast off; to molt. Have I muted all my feathers Beau. & Fl.

MUTE Mute, v. t. & i. Etym: [F. mutir, émeutir, OF. esmeltir, fr. OD. smelten, prop., to melt. See Smelt.]

Defn: To eject the contents of the bowels; -- said of birds. B. Jonson.

MUTE Mute, n.

Defn: The dung of birds. Hudibras.

MUTE Mute, a. Etym: [L. mutus; cf. Gr. m bound, m dumb: cf. OE. muet, fr. F. muet, a dim. of OF. mu, L. mutus.]

1. Not speaking; uttering no sound; silent. All the heavenly choir stood mute, And silence was in heaven. Milton.

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

2. Incapable of speaking; dumb. Dryden.

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

4. Not giving a ringing sound when struck; -- said of a metal. Mute swan (Zoöl.), a European wild white swan (Cygnus gibbus), which produces no loud notes.

Syn. -- Silent; dumb; speechless. -- Mute, Silent, Dumb. One is silent who does not speak; one is dumb who can not, for want of the proper organs; as, a dumb beast, etc.; and hence, figuratively, we speak of a person as struck dumb with astonishment, etc. One is mute who is held back from speaking by some special cause; as, he was mute through fear; mute astonishment, etc. Such is the case with most of those who never speak from childhood; they are not ordinarily dumb, but mute because they are deaf, and therefore never learn to talk; and hence their more appropriate name is deaf-mutes. They spake not a word; But, like dumb statues, or breathing stones, Gazed each on other. Shak. All sat mute, Pondering the danger with deep thoughts. Milton.

MUTE Mute, n.

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

2. (Phon.)

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

3. (Mus.)

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

MUTE-HILL Mute"-hill`, n.

Defn: See Moot-hill. [Scot.]

MUTELY Mute"ly, adv.

Defn: Without uttering words or sounds; in a mute manner; silently.

MUTENESS Mute"ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being mute; speechlessness.

MUTESSARIF Mu*tes`sa*rif", n. [Turk. & Ar. muteçarif freely disposing of anything, master.]

Defn: In Turkey, an administrative authority of any of certain sanjaks. They are appointed directly by the Sultan.

MUTESSARIFAT Mu*tes`sa*ri*fat", n. [Turk. & Ar. muteçarifah office of a mutessarif.]

Defn: In Turkey, a sanjak whose head is a mutessarif.

MUTIC; MUTICOUS Mu"tic, Mu"ti*cous, a. Etym: [L. muticus, for mutilus. See Mutilate.] (Bot. & Zoöl.)

Defn: Without a point or pointed process; blunt.

MUTILATE Mu"ti*late, a. Etym: [L. mutilatus, p.p. of mutilare to mutilate, fr. mutilus maimed; cf. Gr. Mutton.]

1. Deprived of, or having lost, an important part; mutilated. Sir T. Browne.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having finlike appendages or flukes instead of legs, as a cetacean.

MUTILATE Mu"ti*late, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A cetacean, or a sirenian.

MUTILATE Mu"ti*late, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mutilated; p. pr. & vb. n. Mutilating.]

1. To cut off or remove a limb or essential part of; to maim; to cripple; to hack; as, to mutilate the body, a statue, etc.

2. To destroy or remove a material part of, so as to render imperfect; as, to mutilate the orations of Cicero. Among the mutilated poets of antiquity, there is none whose fragments are so beautiful as those of Sappho. Addison. Mutilated gear, Mutilated wheel (Mach.), a gear wheel from a portion of whose periphery the cogs are omitted. It is used for giving intermittent movements.

MUTILATION Mu`ti*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. mutilatio: cf. F. mutilation.]

Defn: The act of mutilating, or the state of being mutilated; deprivation of a limb or of an essential part.

MUTILATOR Mu"ti*la"tor, n. Etym: [Cf. F. mutilateur.]

Defn: One who mutilates.

MUTILOUS Mu"ti*lous, a. Etym: [L. mutilus. See Mutilate.]

Defn: Mutilated; defective; imperfect. [Obs.]

MUTINE Mu"tine, n. Etym: [F. mutin.]

Defn: A mutineer. [Obs.]

MUTINE Mu"tine, v. i. Etym: [F. mutiner.]

Defn: To mutiny. [Obs.]

MUTINEER Mu"ti*neer`, n. Etym: [See Mutiny.]

Defn: One guilty of mutiny.

MUTING Mut"ing, n.

Defn: Dung of birds.

MUTINOUS Mu"ti*nous, a. Etym: [See Mutiny.]

Defn: Disposed to mutiny; in a state of mutiny; characterized by mutiny; seditious; insubordinate. The city was becoming mutinous. Macaulay. -- Mu"ti*nous*ly, adv. -- Mu"ti*nous*ness, n.

MUTINY Mu"ti*ny, n.; pl. Mutinies. Etym: [From mutine to mutiny, fr. F. se mutiner, fr. F. mutin stubborn, mutinous, fr. OF. meute riot, LL. movita, fr. movitus, for L. motus, p.p. of movere to move. See Move.]

1. Insurrection against constituted authority, particularly military or naval authority; concerted revolt against the rules of discipline or the lawful commands of a superior officer; hence, generally, forcible resistance to rightful authority; insubordination. In every mutiny against the discipline of the college, he was the ringleader. Macaulay.

2. Violent commotion; tumult; strife. [Obs.] o raise a mutiny betwixt yourselves. Shak. Mutiny act (Law), an English statute reënacted annually to punish mutiny and desertion. Wharton.

Syn. -- See Insurrection.

MUTINY Mu"ti*ny, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Mutinied; p. pr. & vb. n. Mutinying.]

1. To rise against, or refuse to obey, lawful authority in military or naval service; to excite, or to be guilty of, mutiny or mutinous conduct; to revolt against one's superior officer, or any rightful authority.

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

MUTISM Mut"ism, n.

Defn: The condition, state, or habit of being mute, or without speech. Max Müller.

MUTOSCOPE Mu"to*scope, n. [L. mutare to change + -scope.]

Defn: A simple form of moving-picture machine in which the series of views, exhibiting the successive phases of a scene, are printed on paper and mounted around the periphery of a wheel. The rotation of the wheel brings them rapidly into sight, one after another, and the blended effect gives a semblance of motion.

MUTTER Mut"ter, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Muttered; p. pr. & vb. n. Muttering.] Etym: [Prob. of imitative origin; cf. L. muttire, mutire.]

1. To utter words indistinctly or with a low voice and lips partly closed; esp., to utter indistinct complains or angry expressions; to grumble; to growl. Wizards that peep, and that mutter. Is. viii. 19. Meantime your filthy foreigner will stare, And mutter to himself. Dryden.

2. To sound with a low, rumbling noise. Thick lightings flash, the muttering thunder rolls. Pope.

MUTTER Mut"ter, v. t.

Defn: To utter with imperfect articulations, or with a low voice; as, to mutter threats. Shak.

MUTTER Mut"ter, n.

Defn: Repressing or obscure utterance.

MUTTERER Mut"ter*er, n.

Defn: One who mutters.

MUTTERINGLY Mut"ter*ing*ly, adv.

Defn: With a low voice and indistinct articulation; in a muttering manner.

MUTTON Mut"ton, n. Etym: [OE. motoun, OF. moton, molton, a sheep, wether, F. mouton, LL. multo, by transposition of l fr. L. mutilus mutilated. See Mutilate.]

1. A sheep. [Obs.] Chapman. Not so much ground as will feed a mutton. Sir H. Sidney. Muttons, beeves, and porkers are good old words for the living quadrupeds. Hallam.

2. The flesh of a sheep. The fat of roasted mutton or beef. Swift.

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

MUTTONY Mut"ton*y, a.

Defn: Like mutton; having a flavor of mutton.

MUTUAL Mu"tu*al, a. Etym: [F. mutuel, L. mutuus, orig., exchanged, borrowed, lent; akin to mutare to change. See Mutable.]

1. Reciprocally acting or related; reciprocally receiving and giving; reciprocally given and received; reciprocal; interchanged; as, a mutual love, advantage, assistance, aversion, etc. Conspiracy and mutual promise. Sir T. More. Happy in our mutual help, And mutual love. Milton. A certain shyness on such subjects, which was mutual between the sisters. G. Eliot.

2. Possessed, experienced, or done by two or more persons or things at the same time; common; joint; as, mutual happiness; a mutual effort. Burke. A vast accession of misery and woe from the mutual weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth. Bentley.

Note: This use of mutual as synonymous with common is inconsistent with the idea of interchange, or reciprocal relation, which properly belongs to it; but the word has been so used by many writers of high authority. The present tendency is toward a careful discrimination. Mutual, as Johnson will tell us, means something reciprocal, a giving and taking. How could people have mutual ancestors P. Harrison. Mutual insurance, agreement among a number of persons to insure each other against loss, as by fire, death, or accident. -- Mutual insurance company, one which does a business of insurance on the mutual principle, the policy holders sharing losses and profits pro rata.

Syn. -- Reciprocal; interchanged; common.

MUTUALISM Mu"tu*al*ism, n. (Ethics)

Defn: The doctrine of mutual dependence as the condition of individual and social welfare. F. Harrison. H. Spencer. Mallock.

MUTUALITY Mu`tu*al"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. mutualité.]

1. The quality of correlation; reciprocation; interchange; interaction; interdependence.

2. (Law)

Defn: Reciprocity of consideration. Wharton.

MUTUALLY Mu"tu*al*ly, adv.

Defn: In a mutual manner.

MUTUARY Mu"tu*a*ry, n. Etym: [L. mutuarius mutual.See Mutuation.] (Law)

Defn: One who borrows personal chattels which are to be consumed by him, and which he is to return or repay in kind. Bouvier.

MUTUATION Mu`tu*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. mutuatio, fr. mutuare, mutuari, to borrow, fr. mutuus. See Mutual.]

Defn: The act of borrowing or exchanging. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

MUTULE Mu"tule, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. mutulus.] (Arch.)

Defn: A projecting block worked under the corona of the Doric corice, in the same situation as the modillion of the Corinthian and Composite orders. See Illust. of Gutta. Oxf. Gloss.

MUX Mux, n. Etym: [Cf. Mixen.]

Defn: Dirt; filth; muck. [Prov. Eng.] ose.

MUX Mux, v. t.

Defn: To mix in an unitidy and offensive way; to make a mess of. [Prov. Eng.; Colloq. U.S.]

MUXY Mux"y, a.

Defn: Soft; sticky, and dirty. [Prov. Eng.] See Mucky.

MUZARAB Muz"a*rab, n. Etym: [Sp. mozarabe, fr. Ar. mosta'rib, a name applied to strange tribes living among the Arabs.] (Eccl. Hist.)

Defn: One of a denomination of Christians formerly living under the government of the Moors in Spain, and having a liturgy and ritual of their own. [Written also Mozarab, Mostarab.] Brande & C.

MUZARABIC Muz`a*rab"ic, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to Muzarabs; as, the Muzarabic liturgy. [Written also Mozarabic.]

MUZZINESS Muz"zi*ness, n.

Defn: The state or quality of being muzzy.

MUZZLE Muz"zle, n. Etym: [OE. mosel, OF. musel, F. museau muzzle or snout, LL. musellus, fr. musus, morsus. See Muse, v. i., and cf. Morsel.]

1. The projecting mouth and nose of a quadruped, as of a horse; a snout.

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

3. A fastening or covering (as a band or cage) for the mouth of an animal, to prevent eating or vicious biting. With golden muzzles all their mouths were bound Dryden. Muzzle sight. (Gun.) See Dispart, n., 2.

MUZZLE Muz"zle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Muzzled; p. pr. & vb. n. Muzzling.] Etym: [F. museler.]

1. To bind the mouth of; to fasten the mouth of, so as to prevent biting or eating; hence, figuratively, to bind; to sheathe; to restrain from speech or action. "My dagger muzzled." Shak. Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn. Deut. xxv. 4.

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

MUZZLE Muz"zle, v. i.

Defn: To bring the mouth or muzzle near. The bear muzzles and smels to him. L'Estrange.

MUZZLE-LOADER Muz"zle-load`er, n.

Defn: A firearm which receives its charge through the muzzle, as distinguished from one which is loaded at the breech.

MUZZLE-LOADING Muz"zle-load`ing, a.

Defn: Receiving its charge through the muzzle; as, a muzzle-loading rifle.

MUZZY Muz"zy, a. Etym: [Cf. F. muse.]

Defn: Absent-minded; dazed; muddled; stupid. The whole company stared at me with a whimsical, muzzy look, like men whose senses were a little obfuscated by beer rather then wine. W. Irving.

MY My, a. & poss. pron. Etym: [OE. mi, fr. min. See Mine, and cf., for loss of n, A, a., An, a.]

Defn: Of or belonging to me; -- used always attributively; as, my body; my book; -- mine is used in the predicate; as, the book is mine. See Mine.

MYA My"a, n. Etym: [L. mya a kind of mussel.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of bivalve mollusks, including the common long, or soft-shelled, clam.

MYALGIA My*al"gi*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)

Defn: Pain in the muscles; muscular rheumatism or neuralgia.

MYALL WOOD My*all" wood`. (Bot.)

Defn: A durable, fragrant, and dark-colored Australian wood, used by the natives for spears. It is obtained from the small tree Acacia homolophylla.

MYARIA My*a"ri*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A division of bivalve mollusks of which the common clam (Mya) is the type.

MYCELIUM My*ce"li*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. my`khs a mushroom.] (Bot.)

Defn: The white threads or filamentous growth from which a mushroom or fungus is developed; the so-called mushroom spawn. -- My*ce"li*al, a.

MYCELOID Myc"e*loid, a. Etym: [Mycelium + -oid.] (Bot.)

Defn: Resembling mycelium.

MYCETES My*ce"tes, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. mykhth`s a bellower, fr. myka^sqai to bellow.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of South American monkeys, including the howlers. See Howler, 2, and Illust.

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

Defn: Resembling a fungus.

MYCETOZOA My*ce`to*zo"a, n. pl. [NL.; Gr. , , fungus + pl. of an animal.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The Myxomycetes; -- so called by those who regard them as a class of animals. -- My*ce`to*zo"an (#), a.

MYCODERMA My`co*der"ma, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. my`khs a fungus + de`rma skin.]

1. (Biol.)

Defn: One of the forms in which bacteria group themselves; a more or less thick layer of motionless but living bacteria, formed by the bacteria uniting on the surface of the fluid in which they are developed. This production differs from the zoöloea stage of bacteria by not having the intermediary mucous substance.

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

MYCOLOGIC; MYCOLOGICAL My`co*log"ic, My`co*log"ic*al, a.

Defn: Of or relating to mycology, or the fungi.

MYCOLOGIST My*col"o*gist, n.

Defn: One who is versed in, or who studies, mycology.

MYCOLOGY My*col"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. my`khs fungus + -logy.]

Defn: That branch of botanical science which relates to the musgrooms and other fungi.

MYCOMELIC My`co*mel"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (spirious) mucus) + (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, a complex nitrogenous acid of the alloxan group, obtained as a honey-yellow powder. Its solutions have a gelatinous consistency.

MYCOPROTEIN My`co*pro"te*in, n. Etym: [Gr. (spirious) mucus) + E. protein.] (Biol.)

Defn: The protoplasmic matter of which bacteria are composed.

MYCOSE My"cose, n. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)

Defn: A variety of sugar, isomeric with sucrose and obtained from certain lichens and fungi. Called also trehalose. [Written also mykose.]

MYCOTHRIX Myc"o*thrix, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (spurious) mucus) + (Biol.)

Defn: The chain of micrococci formed by the division of the micrococci in multiplication.

MYDALEINE My*da"le*ine, n. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol. Chem.)

Defn: A toxic alkaloid (ptomaine) obtained from putrid flesh and from herring brines. As a poison it is said to execute profuse diarrhoea, vomiting, and intestinal inflammation. Brieger.

MYDATOXIN Myd`a*tox"in, n. Etym: [Gr. toxic + in.] (Physiol. Chem.)

Defn: A poisonous amido acid, C6H13NO2, separated by Brieger from decaying horseflesh. In physiological action, it is similar to curare.

MYDAUS Myd"a*us, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The teledu.

MYDRIASIS My*dri"a*sis, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Physiol. & Med.)

Defn: A long-continued or excessive dilatation of the pupil of the eye.

MYDRIATIC Myd`ri*at"ic, a.

Defn: Causing dilatation of the pupil. -- n.

Defn: A mydriatic medicine or agent, as belladonna.

MYELENCEPHALA My`e*len*ceph"a*la, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Myelencephalon.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Vertebrata.

MYELENCEPHALIC My`e*len`ce*phal"ic, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the myelencephalon; cerebro-spinal.

MYELENCEPHALON My`e*len*ceph"a*lon, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. encephalon.] (Anat.) (a) The brain and spinal cord; the cerebro-spinal axis; the neuron. Sometimes abbreviated to myelencephal. (b) The metencephalon. Huxley.

MYELENCEPHALOUS My`e*len*ceph"a*lous, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Myelencephala.

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

MYELITIS My`e*li"tis, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. -itis.] (Med.)

Defn: Inflammation of the spinal marrow or its membranes.

MYELOCOELE My"e*lo*coele`, n. Etym: [Gr. (Anat.)

Defn: The central canal of the spinal cord.

MYELOGENIC My`e*lo*gen"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol.)

Defn: Derived from, or pertaining to, the bone marrow.

MYELOID My"e*loid, a. Etym: [Gr. -oid.]

Defn: Resembling marrow in appearance or consistency; as, a myeloid tumor.

MYELOIDIN My`e*loid"in, n. Etym: [Myelin + -oid + -in.] (Physiol. Chem.)

Defn: A substance, present in the protoplasm of the retinal epithelium cells, and resembling, if not identical with, the substance (myelin) forming the medullary sheaths of nerve fibers.

MYELON My"e*lon, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)

Defn: The spinal cord. (Sometimes abbrev. to myel.)

MYELONAL My"e*lo`nal, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the myelon; as, the myelonal, or spinal, nerves.

MYELONEURA My`e*lo*neu"ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The Vertebrata.

MYELOPLAX My*el"o*plax, n.; pl. E. Myeloplaxes, L. Myeloplaces. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)

Defn: One of the huge multinucleated cells found in the marrow of bone and occasionally in other parts; a giant cell. See Osteoclast.

MYGALE Myg"a*le, n. Etym: [L., a field mouse, Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of very large hairy spiders having four lungs and only four spinnerets. They do not spin webs, but usually construct tubes in the earth, which are often furnished with a trapdoor. The South American bird spider (Mygale avicularia), and the crab spider, or matoutou (M. cancerides) are among the largest species. Some of the species are erroneously called tarantulas, as the Texas tarantula (M. Hentzii).

MYKISS My"kiss, n. [Russ. muikize, prob. fr. a native name.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A salmon (Salmo mykiss, syn. S. purpuratus) marked with black spots and a red throat, found in most of the rivers from Alaska to the Colorado River, and in Siberia; -- called also black-spotted trout, cutthroat trout, and redthroat trout.

MYLODON Myl"o*don, n. Etym: [Gr. (Paleon.)

Defn: An extinct genus of large slothlike American edentates, allied to Megatherium.

MYLOHYOID My`lo*hy"oid, a. Etym: [Gr. hyoid.] (Anat.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or in the region of, the lower jaw and the hyoid apparatus; as, the mylohyoid nerve.

MYNA My"na, n. Etym: [See Mino bird.] (Zoöl.)

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

MYNCHEN Myn"chen, n. Etym: [AS. mynecen, fr. munec monk. See Monk.]

Defn: A nun. [Obs.]

MYNCHERY Myn"cher*y, n.

Defn: A nunnery; -- a term still applied to the ruins of certain nunneries in England.

MYNHEER Myn*heer", n. Etym: [D. mijnheer.]

Defn: The Dutch equivalent of Mr. or Sir; hence, a Dutchman.

MYO- My"o-.

Defn: A combining form of Gr. muscle; as, myograph, myochrome.

MYOCARDITIS My`o*car*di"tis, n. Etym: [NL. see Myocardium.] (Med.)

Defn: Inflammation of the myocardium.

MYOCARDIUM My`o*car"di*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)

Defn: The main substance of the muscular wall of the heart inclosed between the epicardium and endocardium.

MYOCHROME My"o*chrome, n. Etym: [Myo- + Gr. (Physiol.)

Defn: A colored albuminous substance in the serum from red-colored muscles. It is identical with hemoglobin.

MYOCOMMA My`o*com"ma, n.; pl. L. Myocommata, E. Myocommas. Etym: [NL. See Myo- , and Comma.] (Anat.)

Defn: A myotome.

MYODYNAMICS My`o*dy*nam"ics, n. Etym: [Myo- + dynamics.] (Physiol.)

Defn: The department of physiology which deals with the principles of muscular contraction; the exercise of muscular force or contraction.

MYODYNAMIOMETER My`o*dy*na`mi*om"e*ter, n.

Defn: A myodynamometer.

MYODYNAMOMETER My`o*dy`na*mom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Myo- + E. dynamometer.] (Physiol.)

Defn: An instrument for measuring the muscular strength of man or of other animals; a dynamometer. Dunglison.

MYOEPITHELIAL My`o*ep`i*the"li*al, a. Etym: [Myo- + epithelial.]

1. (Biol.)

Defn: Derived from epithelial cells and destined to become a part of the muscular system; -- applied to structural elements in certain embryonic forms.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having the characteristics of both muscle and epithelium; as, the myoepithelial cells of the hydra.

MYOGALID My*og"a*lid, n. Etym: [Myo- + Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the Myogalodæ, a family of Insectivora, including the desman, and allied species.

MYOGRAM My"o*gram, n. Etym: [Myo- + -gram.] (Physiol.)

Defn: See Muscle curve, under Muscle.

MYOGRAPH My"o*graph, n. Etym: [Myo- + -graph.] (Physiol.)

Defn: An instrument for determining and recording the different phases, as the intensity, velocity, etc., of a muscular contraction.

MYOGRAPHIC; MYOGRAPHICAL My`o*graph"ic, My`o*graph"ic*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to myography.

MYOGRAPHY My*og"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Cf. F. myographie.]

Defn: The description of muscles, including the study of muscular contraction by the aid of registering apparatus, as by some form of myograph; myology.

MYOHAEMATIN My`o*hæm"a*tin, n. Etym: [Myo- + hæmatin.] (Physiol.)

Defn: A red-colored respiratory pigment found associated with hemoglobin in the muscle tissue of a large number of animals, both vertebrate and invertebrate.

MYOID My"oid, a. Etym: [Myo- + -oid.]

Defn: Composed of, or resembling, muscular fiber.

MYOLEMMA My`o*lem"ma, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)

Defn: Sarcolemma.

MYOLIN My"o*lin, n. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol.)

Defn: The essential material of muscle fibers.

MYOLOGIC; MYOLOGICAL My`o*log"ic, My`o*log"ic*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to myology.

MYOLOGIST My*ol"o*gist, n.

Defn: One skilled in myology.

MYOLOGY My*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Myo- + -logy: cf. F. myologie.]

Defn: That part of anatomy which treats of muscles.

MYOMA My*o"ma, n. Etym: [NL. See Myo-, and -oma.] (Med.)

Defn: A tumor consisting of muscular tissue.

MYOMANCY My"o*man`cy, n. Etym: [Gr. -mancy.]

Defn: Divination by the movements of mice.

MYOMORPH My"o*morph, n.

Defn: One of the Myomorpha.

MYOMORPHA My`o*mor"pha, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: An extensive group of rodents which includes the rats, mice, jerboas, and many allied forms.

MYOPATHIA My`o*pa*thi"a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)

Defn: Any affection of the muscles or muscular system.

MYOPATHIC My`o*path"ic, a. (Med.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to myopathia.

MYOPATHY My*op"a*thy, n.

Defn: Same as Myopathia.

MYOPE My"ope, n. Etym: [F., fr. Gr.

Defn: A person having myopy; a myops.

MYOPHAN My"o*phan, n. Etym: [Myo- + Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A contractile striated layer found in the bodies and stems of certain Infusoria.

MYOPIA My*o"pi*a, n. Etym: [NL. See Myope.] (Med.)

Defn: Nearsightedness; shortsightedness; a condition of the eye in which the rays from distant object are brought to a focus before they reach the retina, and hence form an indistinct image; while the rays from very near objects are normally converged so as to produce a distinct image. It is corrected by the use of a concave lens.

MYOPIC My*op"ic, a.

Defn: Pertaining to, or affected with, or characterized by, myopia; nearsighted. Myopic astigmatism, a condition in which the eye is affected with myopia in one meridian only.

MYOPS My"ops, n. Etym: [NL.]

Defn: See Myope.

MYOPSIS My*op"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)

Defn: The appearance of muscæ volitantes. See Muscæ volitantes, under Musca.

MYOPY My"o*py, n. Etym: [F. myopie.] (Med.)

Defn: Myopia.

MYOSIN My"o*sin, n. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol. Chem.)

Defn: An albuminous body present in dead muscle, being formed in the process of coagulation which takes place in rigor mortis; the clot formed in the coagulation of muscle plasma. See Muscle plasma, under Plasma.

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

MYOSIS My*o"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)

Defn: Long-continued contraction of the pupil of the eye.

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

Defn: Myotic.

MYOSITIS My`o*si"tis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. -itis.] (Med.)

Defn: Inflammation of the muscles.

MYOSOTIS My`o*so"tis, n. Etym: [NL.; Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of plants. See Mouse-ear.

MYOTIC My*ot"ic, a. Etym: [See Myosis.] (Med.)

Defn: Producing myosis, or contraction of the pupil of the eye, as opium, calabar bean, etc. -- n.

Defn: A myotic agent.

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

MYOTOMIC My`o*tom"ic, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to a myotome or myotomes.

MYOTOMY My*ot"o*my, n. Etym: [Myo- + Gr. myotomie.]

Defn: The dissection, or that part of anatomy which treats of the dissection, of muscles.

MYRCIA Myr"ci*a, n. Etym: [NL.] (Bot.)

Defn: A large genus of tropical American trees and shrubs, nearly related to the true myrtles (Myrtus), from which they differ in having very few seeds in each berry.

MYRIA- Myr"i*a-. Etym: [Gr. Myriad.]

Defn: A prefix, esp. in the metric system, indicating ten thousand, ten thousand times; as, myriameter.

MYRIACANTHOUS Myr`i*a*can"thous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having numerous spines, as certain fishes.

MYRIAD Myr"i*ad, n. Etym: [Gr. myriade.]

1. The number of ten thousand; ten thousand persons or things.

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

MYRIAD Myr"i*ad, a.

Defn: Consisting of a very great, but indefinite, number; as, myriad stars.

MYRIAGRAM; MYRIAGRAMME Myr"i*a*gram, Myr"i*a*gramme, n. Etym: [F. myriagramme. See Myria-, and 3d Gram.]

Defn: A metric weight, consisting of ten thousand grams or ten kilograms. It is equal to 22.046 lbs. avoirdupois.

MYRIALITER; MYRIALITRE Myr"i*a*li`ter, Myr"i*a*li`tre, n. Etym: [F. myrialitre. See Myria-, and Liter.]

Defn: A metric measure of capacity, containing ten thousand liters. It is equal to 2641.7 wine gallons.

MYRIAMETER; MYRIAMETRE Myr"i*a*me`ter, Myr"i*a*me`tre, n. Etym: [F. myriamètre. See Myria-, and Meter.]

Defn: A metric measure of length, containing ten thousand meters. It is equal to 6.2137 miles.

MYRIAPOD Myr"i*a*pod, n. Etym: [Cf. F. myriapode.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the Myriapoda.

MYRIAPODA Myr`i*ap"o*da, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. -poda.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A class, or subclass, of arthropods, related to the hexapod insects, from which they differ in having the body made up of numerous similar segments, nearly all of which bear true jointed legs. They have one pair of antennæ, three pairs of mouth organs, and numerous trachaæ, similar to those of true insects. The larvæ, when first hatched, often have but three pairs of legs. See Centiped, Galleyworm, Milliped.

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

MYRIARCH Myr"i*arch, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: A captain or commander of ten thousand men.

MYRIARE Myr"i*are, n. Etym: [F. See Myria-, and 2d Are.]

Defn: A measure of surface in the metric system containing ten thousand ares, or one million square meters. It is equal to about 247.1 acres.

MYRICA My*ri"ca, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: A widely dispersed genus of shrubs and trees, usually with aromatic foliage. It includes the bayberry or wax myrtle, the sweet gale, and the North American sweet fern, so called.

MYRICIN Myr"i*cin, n. Etym: [Cf. F. myricine. Prob. so called from a fancied resemblance to the wax of the bayberry (Myrica).] (Chem.)

Defn: A silky, crystalline, waxy substance, forming the less soluble part of beeswax, and regarded as a palmitate of a higher alcohol of the paraffin series; -- called also myricyl alcohol.

MYRICYL Myr"i*cyl, n. Etym: [Myricin + -yl.] (Chem.)

Defn: A hypothetical radical regarded as the essential residue of myricin; -- called also melissyl.

MYRIOLOGICAL Myr`i*o*log"ic*al, a.

Defn: Of or relating to a myriologue.

MYRIOLOGIST Myr`i*ol"o*gist, n.

Defn: One who composes or sings a myriologue.

MYRIOLOGUE Myr"i*o*logue, n. Etym: [F. myriologue, myriologie, NGr.

Defn: An extemporaneous funeral song, composed and sung by a woman on the death of a friend. [Modern Greece]

MYRIOPHYLLOUS Myr`i*oph"yl*lous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: Having an indefinitely great or countless number of leaves.

MYRIOPODA Myr`i*op"o*da, n. pl.

Defn: See Myriapoda.

MYRIORAMA Myr`i*o*ra"ma, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: A picture made up of several smaller pictures, drawn upon separate pieces in such a manner as to admit of combination in many different ways, thus producing a great variety of scenes or landscapes.

MYRIOSCOPE Myr"i*o*scope, n. Etym: [Gr. -scope.]

Defn: A form of kaleidoscope.

MYRISTATE My*ris"tate, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A salt of myristic acid.

MYRISTIC My*ris"tic, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, the nutmeg (Myristica). Specifically, designating an acid found in nutmeg oil and otoba fat, and extracted as a white crystalline waxy substance.

MYRISTIN My*ris"tin, n. (Chem.)

Defn: The myristate of glycerin, -- found as a vegetable fat in nutmeg butter, etc.

MYRISTONE My*ris"tone, n. Etym: [Myristc + -one.] (Chem.)

Defn: The ketone of myristic acid, obtained as a white crystalline substance.

MYRMECOPHYTE Myr"me*co*phyte`, n. [Gr. my`rmhx, my`rmhkos, ant + fyto`n plant.] (Bot.)

Defn: A plant that affords shelter and food to certain species of ants which live in symbiotic relations with it. Special adaptations for this purpose exist; thus, Acacia spadicigera has large hollows thorns, and species of Cecropia have stem cavities. -- Myr`me*co*phyt"ic (#), a.

MYRMICINE Myr"mi*cine, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to Myrmica, a genus of ants including the small house ant (M. molesta), and many others.

MYRMIDON Myr"mi*don, n. Etym: [L. Myrmidones, Gr.

1. One of a fierce tribe or troop who accompained Achilles, their king, to the Trojan war.

2. A soldier or a subordinate civil officer who executes cruel orders of a superior without protest or pity; -- sometimes applied to bailiffs, constables, etc. Thackeray. With unabated ardor the vindictive man of law and his myrmidons pressed forward. W. H. Ainsworth.

MYRMIDONIAN Myr`mi*do"ni*an, a.

Defn: Consisting of, or like, myrmidons. Pope.

MYRMOTHERINE Myr`mo*the"rine, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Feeding upon ants; -- said of certain birds.

MYROBALAN; MYROBOLAN My*rob"a*lan, My*rob"o*lan, n. Etym: [L. myrobalanum the fruit of a palm tree from which a balsam was made, Gr. myrobolan.]

Defn: A dried astringent fruit much resembling a prune. It contains tannin, and was formerly used in medicine, but is now chiefly used in tanning and dyeing. Myrobolans are produced by various species of Terminalia of the East Indies, and of Spondias of South America.

MYRONIC My*ron"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or obtained from, mustard; -- used specifically to designate a glucoside called myronic acid, found in mustard seed.

MYROPOLIST My*rop"o*list, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: One who sells unguents or perfumery. [Obs.] Jonhson.

MYROSIN Myr"o*sin, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A ferment, resembling diastase, found in mustard seeds.

MYROXYLON My*rox"y*lon, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of leguminous trees of tropical America, the different species of which yield balsamic products, among which are balsam of Peru, and balsam of Tolu. The species were formerly referred to Myrospermum.

MYRRH Myrrh, n. Etym: [OE. mirre, OF. mirre, F. myrrhe, L. myrrha, murra, Gr. murr bitter, also myrrh, Heb. mar bitter.]

Defn: A gum resin, usually of a yellowish brown or amber color, of an aromatic odor, and a bitter, slightly pungent taste. It is valued for its odor and for its medicinal properties. It exuds from the bark of a shrub of Abyssinia and Arabia, the Balsamodendron Myrrha. The myrrh of the Bible is supposed to have been partly the gum above named, and partly the exudation of species of Cistus, or rockrose. False myrrh. See the Note under Bdellium.

MYRRHIC Myr"rhic, a.

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or obtained from, myrrh.

MYRRHINE Myr"rhine, a.

Defn: Murrhine.

MYRTACEOUS Myr*ta"ceous, a. Etym: [L. myrtaceus.] (Bot.)

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a large and important natural order of trees and shrubs (Myrtaceæ), of which the myrtle is the type. It includes the genera Eucalyptus, Pimenta, Lechythis, and about seventy more.

MYRTIFORM Myr"ti*form, a. Etym: [L. myrtus myrtle + -form: cf. F. myrtiforme.]

Defn: Resembling myrtle or myrtle berries; having the form of a myrtle leaf.

MYRTLE Myr"tle, n. Etym: [F. myrtil bilberry, prop., a little myrtle, from myrte myrtle, L. myrtus, murtus, Gr. m.] (Bot.)

Defn: A species of the genus Myrtus, especially Myrtus communis. The common myrtle has a shrubby, upright stem, eight or ten feet high. Its branches form a close, full head, thickly covered with ovate or lanceolate evergreen leaves. It has solitary axillary white or rosy flowers, followed by black several-seeded berries. The ancients considered it sacred to Venus. The flowers, leaves, and berries are used variously in perfumery and as a condiment, and the beautifully mottled wood is used in turning.

Note: The name is also popularly but wrongly applied in America to two creeping plants, the blue-flowered periwinkle and the yellow- flowered moneywort. In the West Indies several myrtaceous shrubs are called myrtle. Bog myrtle, the sweet gale. -- Crape myrtle. See under Crape. -- Myrtle warbler (Zoöl.), a North American wood warbler (Dendroica coronata); -- called also myrtle bird, yellow-rumped warbler, and yellow-crowned warbler. -- Myrtle wax. (Bot.) See Bayberry tallow, under Bayberry. -- Sand myrtle, a low, branching evergreen shrub (Leiophyllum buxifolium), growing in New Jersey and southward. -- Wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera). See Bayberry.

MYSELF My*self", pron.; pl. Ourselves (.

Defn: I or me in person; -- used for emphasis, my own self or person; as I myself will do it; I have done it myself; -- used also instead of me, as the object of the first person of a reflexive verb, without emphasis; as, I will defend myself.

MYSELVEN My*selv"en, pron.

Defn: Myself. [Obs.]

MYSIS My"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of small schizopod shrimps found both in fresh and salt water; the opossum shrimps. One species inhabits the Great Lakes of North America, and is largely eaten by the whitefish. The marine species form part of the food of right whales.

MYSTACAL Mys"ta*cal, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to the upper lip, or mustache.

MYSTAGOGIC; MYSTAGOGICAL Mys`ta*gog"ic, Mys`ta*gog"ic*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to interpretation of mysteries or to mystagogue; of the nature of mystagogy.

MYSTAGOGUE Mys"ta*gogue, n. Etym: [L. mystagogus, Gr. mystagogue. See 1st Mystery.]

1. interprets mysteries, especially of a religious kind.

2. One who keeps and shows church relics.

MYSTAGOGY Mys"ta*go`gy, n.

Defn: The doctrines, principles, or practice of a mystagogue; interpretation of mysteries.

MYSTERIAL Mys*te"ri*al, a.

Defn: Mysterious. [Obs.]

MYSTERIARCH Mys*te"ri*arch, n. Etym: [L. mysteriarches, Gr.

Defn: One presiding over mysteries. [Obs.]

MYSTERIOUS Mys*te"ri*ous, a. Etym: [F. mystèrieux. See 1st Mystery.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to mystery; containing a mystery; difficult or impossible to understand; obscure not revealed or explained; enigmatical; incomprehensible. God at last To Satan, first in sin, his doom applied, Thought in mysterious terms. Milton.

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

MYSTERIOUSLY Mys*te"ri*ous*ly, adv.

Defn: In a mysterious manner.

MYSTERIOUSNESS Mys*te"ri*ous*ness, n.

1. The state or quality of being mysterious.

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

MYSTERIZE Mys"ter*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mysterized; p. pr. & vb. n. Mysterizing.]

Defn: To make mysterious; to make a mystery of.

MYSTERY Mys"ter*y, n.; pl. Mysteries. Etym: [L. mysterium, Gr. Mute, a.]

1. A profound secret; something wholly unknown, or something kept cautiously concealed, and therefore exciting curiosity or wonder; something which has not been or can not be explained; hence, specifically, that which is beyond human comprehension. We speak the wisdom of God in a mystery. 1 Cor. ii. 7. If God should please to reveal unto us this great mystery of the Trinity, or some other mysteries in our holy religion, we should not be able to understand them, unless he would bestow on us some new faculties of the mind. Swift.

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

3. pl.

Defn: The consecrated elements in the eucharist.

4. Anything artfully made difficult; an enigma.

MYSTERY Mys"ter*y, n.; pl. Mysteries. Etym: [OE. mistere, OF. mestier, F. métier, L. ministerium. See Ministry.]

1. A trade; a handicraft; hence, any business with which one is usually occupied. Fie upon him, he will discredit our mystery. Shak. And that which is the noblest mystery Brings to reproach and common infamy. Spenser.

2. A dramatic representation of a Scriptural subject, often some event in the life of Christ; a dramatic composition of this character; as, the Chester Mysteries, consisting of dramas acted by various craft associations in that city in the early part of the 14th century. "Mystery plays," so called because acted by craftsmen. Skeat.

MYSTIC; MYSTICAL Mys"tic, Mys"tic*al, a. Etym: [L. mysticus, Gr. mystique. See 1st Mystery, Misty.]

1. Remote from or beyond human comprehension; baffling human understanding; unknowable; obscure; mysterious. Heaven's numerous hierarchy span The mystic gulf from God to man. Emerson. God hath revealed a way mystical and supernatural. Hooker.

2. Importing or implying mysticism; involving some secret meaning; allegorical; emblematical; as, a mystic dance; mystic Babylon. Thus, then, did the spirit of unity and meekness inspire every joint and sinew of the mystical body. Milton. -- Mys"tic*al*ly, adv. -- Mys"tic*al*ness, n.

MYSTIC Mys"tic, n.

Defn: One given to mysticism; one who holds mystical views, interpretations, etc.; especially, in ecclesiastical history, one who professed mysticism. See Mysticism.

MYSTICETE Mys"ti*cete, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any right whale, or whalebone whale. See Cetacea.

MYSTICISM Mys"ti*cism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. mysticisme.]

1. Obscurity of doctrine.

2. (Eccl. Hist.)

Defn: The doctrine of the Mystics, who professed a pure, sublime, and wholly disinterested devotion, and maintained that they had direct intercourse with the divine Spirit, and aquired a knowledge of God and of spiritual things unattainable by the natural intellect, and such as can not be analyzed or explained.

3. (Philos.)

Defn: The doctrine that the ultimate elements or principles of knowledge or belief are gained by an act or process akin to feeling or faith.

MYSTIFICATION Mys`ti*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. mystification.]

Defn: The act of mystifying, or the state of being mystied; also, something designed to, or that does, mystify. The reply of Pope seems very much as though he had been playing off a mystification on his Grace. De Quincey.

MYSTIFICATOR Mys"ti*fi*ca`tor, n.

Defn: One who mystifies.

MYSTIFY Mys"ti*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mystified; p. pr. & vb. n. Mystifying.] Etym: [F. mystifier, fr. Gr. -ficare (in comp.) to make. See 1st Mystery, and -fy.]

1. To involve in mystery; to make obscure or difficult to understand; as, to mystify a passage of Scripture.

2. To perplex the mind of; to puzzle; to impose upon the credulity of ; as, to mystify an opponent. He took undue advantage of his credulity and mystified him exceedingly. Ld. Campbell.

MYTACISM My"ta*cism, n. Etym: [Gr. Metacism.]

Defn: Too frequent use of the letter m, or of the sound represented by it.

MYTH Myth, n. [Written also mythe.] Etym: [Gr. mythe.]

1. A story of great but unknown age which originally embodied a belief regarding some fact or phenomenon of experience, and in which often the forces of nature and of the soul are personified; an ancient legend of a god, a hero, the origin of a race, etc.; a wonder story of prehistoric origin; a popular fable which is, or has been, received as historical.

2. A person or thing existing only in imagination, or whose actual existence is not verifiable. As for Mrs. Primmins's bones, they had been myths these twenty years. Ld. Lytton. Myth history, history made of, or mixed with, myths.

MYTHE Mythe, n.

Defn: See Myth. Grote.

MYTHIC; MYTHICAL Myth"ic, Myth"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. mythicus, Gr. Myth.]

Defn: Of or relating to myths; described in a myth; of the nature of a myth; fabulous; imaginary; fanciful. -- Myth"ic*al*ly, adv. The mythic turf where danced the nymphs. Mrs. Browning. Hengist and Horsa, Vortigern and Rowena, Arthur and Mordred, are mythical persons, whose very existence may be questioned. Macaulay.

MYTHOGRAPHER My*thog"ra*pher, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: A composer of fables.

MYTHOLOGER My*thol"o*ger, n.

Defn: A mythologist.

MYTHOLOGIAN Myth`o*lo"gi*an, n.

Defn: A mythologist.

MYTHOLOGIC; MYTHOLOGICAL Myth`o*log"ic, Myth`o*log"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. mythologicus: cf. F. mytholigique.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to mythology or to myths; mythical; fabulous. -- Myth`o*log"ic*al*ly, adv.

MYTHOLOGIST My*thol"o*gist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. mythologiste.]

Defn: One versed in, or who writes on, mythology or myths.

MYTHOLOGIZE My*thol"o*gize, v. i. Etym: [Cf. F. mythologiser.]

1. To relate, classify, and explain, or attempt to explain, myths; to write upon myths.

2. To construct and propagate myths.

MYTHOLOGIZER My*thol"o*gi`zer, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, mythologizes. Imagination has always been, and still is, in a narrower sense, the great mythologizer. Lowell.

MYTHOLOGUE Myth"o*logue, n. Etym: [See Mythology.]

Defn: A fabulous narrative; a myth. [R.] May we not ... consider his history of the fall as an excellent mythologue, to account for the origin of human evil Geddes.

MYTHOLOGY My*thol"o*gy, n.; pl. Mythologies. Etym: [F. mythologie, L. mythologia, Gr.

1. The science which treats of myths; a treatise on myths.

2. A body of myths; esp., the collective myths which describe the gods of a heathen people; as, the mythology of the Greeks.

MYTHOPLASM Myth"o*plasm, n. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: A narration of mere fable.

MYTHOPOEIC Myth`o*poe"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Making or producing myths; giving rise to mythical narratives. The mythopoeic fertility of the Greeks. Grote.

MYTHOPOETIC Myth`o*po*et"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.

Defn: Making or producing myths or mythical tales.

MYTILOID Myt"i*loid, a. Etym: [Mytilus + -oid.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Like, or pertaining to, the genus Mytilus, or family Mytilidæ.

MYTILOTOXINE Myt`i*lo*tox"ine, n. Etym: [Mytilus + toxic.] (Physiol. Chem.)

Defn: A poisonous base (leucomaine) found in the common mussel. It either causes paralysis of the muscles, or gives rise to convulsions, including death by an accumulation of carbonic acid in the blood.

MYTILUS Myt"i*lus, n. Etym: [L., a sea mussel, Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of marine bivalve shells, including the common mussel. See Illust. under Byssus.

MYXA Myx"a, n. Etym: [L., a lamp nozzle, Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The distal end of the mandibles of a bird.

MYXINE Myx"ine, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of marsipobranchs, including the hagfish. See Hag, 4.

MYXINOID Myx"i*noid, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Like, or pertaining to, the genus Myxine. -- n.

Defn: A hagfish.

MYXOCYSTODEA Myx`o*cys*to"de*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A division of Infusoria including the Noctiluca. See Noctiluca.

MYXOEDEMA Myx`o*de"ma, n. [NL. fr. Gr. mucus + odema.] (Med.)

Defn: A disease producing a peculiar cretinoid appearance of the face, slow speech, and dullness of intellect, and due to failure of the functions of the thyroid gland. -- Myx`o*dem"a*tous (#), a., Myx`o*dem"ic (#), a.

MYXOMA Myx*o"ma, n.; pl. Myxomata. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. -oma.] (Med.)

Defn: A tumor made up of a gelatinous tissue resembling that found in the umbilical cord.

MYXOMYCETES Myx`o*my*ce"tes, n. pl. [NL.; Gr. mucus, slime + myceles.] (Bot.)

Defn: A class of peculiar organisms, the slime molds, formerly regarded as animals (Mycetozoa), but now generally thought to be plants and often separated as a distinct phylum (Myxophyta). They are found on damp earth and decaying vegetable matter, and consist of naked masses of protoplasm, often of considerable size, which creep very slowly over the surface and ingest solid food. -- Myx`o*my*ce"tous (#), a.

MYXOPHYTA Myx*oph"y*ta, n. pl. [NL.; Gr. mucus, slime + plant.] (Bot.)

Defn: A phylum of the vegetable kingdom consisting of the class Myxomycetes. By some botanists it is not separated from the Thallophyta.

MYXOPOD Myx"o*pod, n. Etym: [Gr. -pod.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A rhizopod or moneran. Also used adjectively; as, a myxopod state.

MYZONTES My*zon"tes, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The Marsipobranchiata.

MYZOSTOMATA My`zo*stom"a*ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. my`zein to suck + sto`ma, -atos, mouth.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: An order of curious parasitic worms found on crinoids. The body is short and disklike, with four pairs of suckers and five pairs of hook-bearing parapodia on the under side.

N

Defn: N, the fourteenth letter of English alphabet, is a vocal consonent, and, in allusion to its mode of formation, is called the dentinasal or linguanasal consonent. Its commoner sound is that heard in ran, done; but when immediately followed in the same word by the sound of g hard or k (as in single, sink, conquer), it usually represents the same sound as the digraph ng in sing, bring, etc. This is a simple but related sound, and is called the gutturo-nasal consonent. See Guide to Pronunciation, §§ 243-246. The letter N came into English through the Latin and Greek from the Phoenician, which probably derived it from the Egyptian as the ultimate origin. It is etymologically most closely related to M. See M.

N N, n. (Print.)

Defn: A measure of space equal to half an M (or em); an en.

NA Na, a. & adv.