Part 76

MEET, m[=e]t, _v.t._ to come face to face: to encounter in conflict: to find or experience; to refute: be suitable to: satisfy, as by payment: to receive as a welcome.--_v.i._ to come together from different points: to assemble: to have an encounter: to balance or come out correct:--_pa.t._ and _pa.p._ met.--_n._ a meeting, as of huntsmen.--_ns._ MEET'ING, a coming face to face for friendly or hostile ends: an interview: an assembly: a crossing of two roads: a junction of two rivers; MEET'ING-HOUSE, a house or building where people, esp. Dissenters, meet for public worship; RACE'-MEET'ING, a stated occasion for horse-racing.--MEET HALF-WAY, to make mutual concessions; MEET THE EAR, or EYE, to be told, or shown, anything distinctly: to be readily apparent; MEET WITH, to come to or upon, esp. unexpectedly: (_Bacon_) to obviate (as an objection).--WELL MET, an old complimentary greeting. [A.S. _m['e]tan_, to meet--_m['o]t_, _ge-m['o]t_, a meeting.]

MEGACEPHALOUS, meg-a-sef'a-lus, _adj._ large-headed.

MEGAFARAD, meg'a-far-ad, _n._ in electrometry, a unit equal to a million farads.

MEGALICHTHYS, meg-a-lik'this, _n._ a genus of extinct ganoid fishes. [Gr. _megas_, _megal[=e]_, great, _ichthys_, a fish.]

MEGALITH, meg'a-lith, _n._ a huge stone.--_adj._ MEGALITH'IC. [Gr. _megas_, great, _lithos_, a stone.]

MEGALOMANIA, meg-a-l[=o]-m[=a]'ni-a, _n._ the delusion that one is great or powerful. [Gr. _megas_, great, _mania_.]

MEGALOSAURUS, meg-a-l[=o]-saw'rus, _n._ a gigantic extinct reptile of carnivorous habits.--_adj._ MEGALOSAU'RIAN. [Gr. _megas_, _megal[=e]_, great, _sauros_, a lizard.]

MEGAPHONE, meg'a-f[=o]n, _n._ an appliance for making words audible--a form of speaking-trumpet.

MEGAPODIDAE, meg-a-pod'i-d[=e], _n._ mound-birds (q.v.).

MEGASCOPE, meg'a-sk[=o]p, _n._ a form of solar microscope for throwing enlarged images on a screen: (_phot._) an enlarging camera.

MEGATHERIUM, meg-a-th[=e]'ri-um, _n._ a gigantic extinct quadruped of the order _Edentata_, found in the pampas of South America. [Gr. _megas_, great, _th[=e]rion_, wild beast.]

MEGILP, me-gilp'. See MAGILP.

MEGOHM, meg'[=o]m, _n._ a unit of electrical resistance, equal to one million ohms. [Gr. _megas_, great, and _ohm_.]

MEGRIM, m[=e]'grim, _n._ a pain affecting only one half of the head or face: lowness of spirits: a sudden sickness of a horse at work. [Fr. _migraine_--Gr. _h[=e]micrania_--_h[=e]mi_, half, _kranion_, skull.]

MEINY, m[=e]'ni, _n._ (_Shak._) a retinue or company of servants attending upon a person of high rank. [O. Fr. _mesnie_, a company, through Low L. forms, from L. _mansio_, a dwelling.]

MEIOCENE. Same as MIOCENE.

MEIOSIS, m[=i]-[=o]'sis, _n._ (_rhet._) a figure of speech representing a thing as less than it is. [Gr.]

MEISTERSINGER, m[=i]s't[.e]r-sing'[.e]r, _n._ one of the burgher poets and musicians of Germany in the 14th-16th centuries, the successors of the Minnesingers. [Ger.]

MELAMPODE, mel-am'p[=o]d, _n._ (_Spens._) the black hellebore. [Gr.]

MELANAEMIA, mel-a-n[=e]'mi-a, _n._ a morbid condition of the blood in which the vessels contain an unusual quantity of dark colouring matter.

MELANCHOLY, mel'an-kol-i, _n._ continued depression of spirits: dejection: a gloomy state of mind causing groundless fears: (_Milt._) pensiveness.--_adj._ gloomy: producing grief.--_n._ MELANCH[=O]'LIA, a form of insanity, in which there is continued depression or pain of mind.--_adjs._ MELANCHOL'IC, MELANCH[=O]'LIOUS, affected with, or caused by, melancholy: dejected: mournful. [Through Fr.,--L.,--Gr. _melancholia_--_melan_, black, _chol[=e]_, bile.]

MELANGE, m[=a]-longzh', _n._ a mixture: a medley. [Fr.]

MELANIC, me-lan'ik, _adj._ black.--_n._ MEL'ANISM, an undue development of colouring matter in the skin and its appendages.--_adj._ MELANIS'TIC.--_n._ MEL'ANITE, a deep-black variety of garnet.--_adjs._ MELANOCHR[=O]'IC, MELANOCH'R[=O]OUS, dark-coloured; MEL'ANOID, dark-looking.--_n._ MELAN[=O]'SIS, an abnormal deposition of pigmentary matter in such organs as the spleen, liver, &c.: the condition of the system associated with such, black degeneration.--_adjs._ MELANOT'IC; MEL'ANOUS, dark-complexioned.--_n._ MELAN[=U]'RIA, the presence of a dark pigment in the urine.--_adj._ MELAN[=U]'RIC.--_ns._ MEL'APHYRE, a pre-Tertiary basalt, usually altered; MELAS'MA, a skin disease showing dark discolouration in spots.

M[^E]L['E]E, m[=a]-l[=a]', _n._ a fight in which the combatants are mingled together: a confused conflict: an affray. [Fr.,--_m[^e]ler_, to mix.]

MELIBEAN, MELIBOEAN, mel-i-b[=e]'an, _adj._ in poetry, alternately responsive--from the name of a shepherd in Virgil's first eclogue.

MELIC, mel'ik, _adj._ pertaining to song.

MELILOT, mel'i-lot, _n._ a genus of clover-like plants with white or yellow flowers and a peculiar sweet odour. [Gr. _melil[=o]tos_--_meli_, honey, _l[=o]tos_, lotus.]

MELINITE, m[=a]'lin-[=i]t, _n._ an explosive of great force obtained from picric acid. [Fr.]

MELIORATE, m[=e]'lyo-r[=a]t, _v.t._ to make better.--_v.i._ to grow better.--_ns._ MELIOR[=A]'TION, the act of making or becoming better; MELIOR[=A]'TOR, an improver; M[=E]'LIORISM, the doctrine that the world is capable of improvement, as opposed to _Optimism_ and _Pessimism_; M[=E]'LIORIST, one who holds this doctrine; MELIOR'ITY, the state of being better: betterness. [L. _melior[=a]re_, _-[=a]tum_, to make better.]

MELIPHAGOUS, mel-if'a-gus, _adj._ feeding upon honey. [Gr. _meli_, honey, _phagein_, to eat.]

MELL, mel, _v.i._ (_Spens._) to mingle: to be concerned with: to meddle. [_Meddle_.]

MELLAY, mel'[=a], _n._ another form of _m[^e]l['e]e_.

MELLIFEROUS, mel-if'[.e]r-us, _adj._ honey-producing.--_adj._ MELLIF'IC, honey-making.--_ns._ MELLIFIC[=A]'TION, the production of honey; MELLIF'LUENCE, a flow of sweetness: a smooth sweet flow.--_adjs._ MELLIF'LUENT, MELLIF'LUOUS, flowing with honey or sweetness: smooth.--_advs._ MELLIF'LUENTLY, MELLIF'LUOUSLY.--_adj._ MELLIG'ENOUS, producing honey.--_n._ MELL'ITE, honey stone.--_adjs._ MELLIT'IC; MELLIV'OROUS, eating honey. [L. _mellifer_--_mel_, honey, _ferre_, to bear.]

MELLOW, mel'[=o], _adj._ soft and ripe: well matured: soft to the touch, palate, ear, &c.: genial: half-tipsy.--_v.t._ to soften by ripeness or age: to mature.--_v.i._ to become soft: to be matured.--_adv._ MELL'OWLY.--_n._ MELL'OWNESS, softness: maturity.--_adj._ MELL'OWY, soft: friable. [A.S. _mearu_, soft; Dut. _murw_, _mollig_, L. _mollis_, Gr. _malakos_.]

MELOCOTON, mel'[=o]-kot-on, _n._ (_Bacon_) a quince: a large kind of peach.--Also MEL'OCOTOON. [Late L. _melum cotoneum_ (a corr. of _Cydonium_), a quince, lit. apple of _Cydonia_, in Crete.]

MELODRAMA, mel-o-dram'a, _n._ a kind of romantic and sensational drama, formerly largely intermixed with songs--also MEL'ODRAME.--_adj._ MELODRAMAT'IC, of the nature of melodrama: overstrained: sensational.--_n._ MELODRAM'ATIST, a writer of melodramas. [Gr. _melos_, a song, _drama_, a play.]

MELODY, mel'o-di, _n._ an air or tune: music: an agreeable succession of single musical sounds, as distinguished from _harmony_ or the concord of a succession of simultaneous sounds.--_n._ MEL[=O]'DEON, a small reed organ: an improved variety of the accordeon.--_adj._ MELOD'IC--_n.pl._ MELOD'ICS, the branch of music concerned with melody.--_adj._ MEL[=O]'DIOUS, full of melody: agreeable to the ear.--_adv._ MEL[=O]'DIOUSLY.--_n._ MEL[=O]'DIOUSNESS.--_v.t._ MEL'ODISE, to make melodious: to reduce to the form of a melody.--_v.i._ to compose or sing melodies.--_n._ MEL'ODIST. [Fr.,--Late L.--Gr. _mel[=o]dia_--_melos_, a song, _[=o]d[=e]_, a lay.]

MELON, mel'un, _n._ a kind of cucumber and its fruit, which in shape resembles an apple. [Fr.,--L. _melo_, _-onis_--Gr. _m[=e]lon_, an apple.]

MELPOMENE, mel-pom'e-ne, _n._ the Muse of tragedy. [Gr. _melpom[)e]n[=e]_, songstress.]

MELROSE, mel'r[=o]z, _n._ honey of roses.

MELT, melt, _v.t._ to make liquid, to dissolve: to soften: to waste away.--_v.i._ to become liquid: to dissolve: to become tender or mild: to lose distinct form: to be discouraged:--_pa.p._ melted, or molten.--_n._ MELT'ING, the act of making liquid or of dissolving: the act of softening or rendering tender.--_adv._ MELT'INGLY.--_n._ MELT'ING-POT, a crucible. [A.S. _meltan_; Ice. _melta_, Gr. _meldein_.]

MELTON, mel'ton, _n._ a strong cloth for men's wear, the surface without nap, neither pressed nor finished.

MEMBER, mem'b[.e]r, _n._ an integral part of a whole, esp. a limb of an animal: a clause: one of a society: a representative in a legislative body.--_adj._ MEM'BERED, having limbs.--_n._ MEM'BERSHIP, the state of being a member or one of a society: the members of a body regarded as a whole.--_adj._ MEM'BRAL, pertaining to the limbs rather than the trunk. MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, a member of the House of Commons, M.P. [Fr. _membre_--L. _membrum_.]

MEMBRANE, mem'br[=a]n, _n._ (_anat._) one of the thin textures which cover the organs or line the cavities or canals of the body: the film containing the seeds of a plant.--_adjs._ MEMBRAN'EOUS, MEM'BRANOUS, MEMBRAN[=A]'CEOUS, relating to, consisting of, or like a membrane; MEMBRANIF'EROUS; MEM'BRANIFORM.--MUCOUS MEMBRANE, the membrane lining the various channels of the body which communicate with the outside. [Fr.,--L. _membrana_--_membrum_.]

MEMENTO, me-men't[=o], _n._ something to awaken memory: a reminder of what is past or of what is yet to come:--_pl._ MEMEN'TOS.--MEMENTO MORI, remember death: an ornament by its form reminding one of death. [L., imper. of _meminisse_, to remember.]

MEMNON, mem'non, _n._ a hero who fought for Troy against the Greeks: a statue at Thebes in Egypt which gave out a musical sound at sunrise. [Gr.]

MEMOIR, mem'wor, or me-moir', _n._ a sketch or description of something as remembered by the writer: a short biographical sketch of some one now dead: a record of facts personally found out on any subject: the transactions of a society.--_ns._ MEM'OIRISM, the act or art of writing memoirs; MEM'OIRIST, a writer of memoirs. [Fr. _m['e]moire_--L. _memoria_, memory--_memor_, mindful.]

MEMORY, mem'o-ri, _n._ the power of retaining and reproducing mental or sensory impressions: a having or keeping in the mind: time within which past things can be remembered: that which is remembered: commemoration: remembrance.--_n.pl._ MEMORABIL'IA, things worth remembering: noteworthy points.--_adj._ MEM'ORABLE, deserving to be remembered: remarkable.--_adv._ MEM'ORABLY.--_n._ MEMORAN'DUM, something to be remembered: a note to assist the memory: (_law_) a brief note of some transaction: (_diplomacy_) a summary of the state of a _question_:--_pl._ MEMORAN'DUMS, MEMORAN'DA.--_adjs._ MEM'OR[=A]TIVE, pertaining to memory: aiding the memory; MEM[=O]'RIAL, bringing to memory: contained in memory.--_n._ that which serves to keep in remembrance: a monument: a note to help the memory: a written statement forming the ground of a petition, laid before a legislative or other body: (_B._) memory.--_v.t._ MEM[=O]'RIALISE, to present a memorial to: to petition by a memorial.--_n._ MEM[=O]'RIALIST, one who writes, signs, or presents a memorial.--_v.t._ MEM'ORISE, to commit to memory: (_Shak._) to cause to be remembered.--_adv._ MEMOR'ITER, from memory: by heart.

MEMPHIAN, mem'fi-an, _adj._ relating to _Memphis_, an ancient capital of Egypt.--Also MEM'PHITE, MEMPHIT'IC.

MEN, plural of _man_.

MENACE, men'[=a]s, _v.t._ to threaten.--_v.i._ to act in a threatening manner.--_n._ a threat or threatening: a show of an intention to do harm.--_adj._ MEN'ACING, overhanging: threatening.--_adv._ MEN'ACINGLY. [Fr.,--L. _minaciae_, threats--_minae_, the overhanging points of a wall.]

MENAGE, obsolete form of _manage_.

MENAGE, me-nazh', _n._ a household: the management of a house: a club of working-men. [Fr. through Late L.,--L. _mansio_, _-onis_, a dwelling.]

MENAGERIE, men-aj'[.e]r-i, _n._ a place for keeping wild animals for exhibition: a collection of such animals.--Also MENAG'ERY. [Fr., from _m['e]nage_.]

MENAGOGUE, men'a-gog, _n._ a medicine that promotes the menstrual flux.

MEND, mend, _v.t._ to remove a fault: to repair, as something broken or worn: to make better: to correct, improve.--_v.i._ to grow better.--_ns._ MEND'ER, one who mends; MEND'ING, the act of repairing: things requiring to be mended. [Short for _amend_.]

MENDACIOUS, men-d[=a]'shus, _adj._ given to lying: speaking falsely: of the nature of a lie.--_adv._ MEND[=A]'CIOUSLY.--_n._ MENDAC'ITY, a tendency to lying: a habit of lying: falsehood. [L. _mendax_, _-acis_, conn. with _ment[=i]ri_, to lie.]

MENDICANT, men'di-kant, _adj._ in the condition of a beggar: practising beggary.--_n._ one who is in extreme want: a beggar: a member of one of the R.C. orders who live by begging: a begging friar.--_ns._ MEN'DICANCY, MENDIC'ITY, the state of being a mendicant or beggar: the life of a beggar.--MENDICANT ORDERS, religious bodies who depended on begging for their support. [L. _mendicans_, _-antis_, pr.p. of _mendic[=a]re_, to beg--_mendicus_, a beggar.]

MENDS, mendz, for _amends_.

MENHADEN, men-h[=a]'dn, _n._ a species of herring or shad, found off the east coast of the United States.

MENHIR, men'h[=e]r, _n._ a tall, often massive, stone, set up on end as a monument in ancient times, either singly or in groups, circles, &c. [W. _maen_, a stone, _hir_, long.]

MENIAL, m[=e]'ni-al, _adj._ of or pertaining to a train of servants: doing servile work: low.--_n._ a domestic servant: one performing servile work: a person of servile disposition. [O. Fr., _mesnee_, a household. See MANSION.]

MENINX, m[=e]'ningks, _n._ one of three membranes that envelop the brain:--_pl._ MENINIGES (men-in'j[=e]z).--_adj._ MENING'EAL.--_ns._ MENINGITIS (-j[=i]'-), inflammation of the membranes investing the brain or spinal cord; MENING'OCELE, hernia of those membranes. [Gr. _meninx_, _meningos_, a membrane.]

MENISCUS, m[=e]-nis'kus, _n._ a crescent or a new moon: a lens hollow on one side and bulging on the other.--_adjs._ MENIS'CAL; MENIS'CATE; MENIS'CIFORM; MENIS'COID. [Gr. _m[=e]n[=e]_, the moon, _-iskos_, small.]

MENNONITE, men'on-[=i]t, _n._ one of a Protestant sect, combining some of the distinctive characteristics of the Baptists and Friends. [From _Menno_ Simons (died 1559), their chief founder.]

MENOLOGY, m[=e]-nol'o-ji, _n._ a register of months: a list or calendar of martyrs, with festivals celebrated, &c.

MENOPOME, men'o-p[=o]m, _n._ a large North American amphibian--from its persistent gill-aperture. [Gr. _menein_, to remain, _p[=o]ma_, lid.]

MENSAL, men'sal, _adj._ occurring once in a month: monthly.--Also MEN'SUAL.

MENSAL, men'sal, _adj._ belonging to the table. [L.]

MENSE, mens, _n._ (_Scot._) propriety: ornament: credit.--_v.t._ to grace or set off something.--_adjs._ MENSE'FUL, decorous: respectable; MENSE'LESS, graceless, uncivil. [M. E. _mensk_--A.S. _mennisc_, mannish.]

MENSES, men's[=e]z, _n.pl._ the monthly discharge from the uterus.--_ns._ MEN'OPAUSE, the final cessation of the menses; MENORRH[=A]'GIA (_phys._), the ordinary flow of the menses: (_path._) an immoderate menstrual discharge.--_adj._ MENORRHAG'IC.--_n._ MENOS'TASIS, the retention of the menses.--_n.pl._ MEN'STRUA, the menses.--_adjs._ MEN'STRUAL, monthly; MEN'STRUANT, subject to menses.--_v.i._ MEN'STRU[=A]TE, to discharge the menses.--_n._ MENSTRU[=A]'TION.--_adj._ MEN'STRUOUS, having or belonging to menses. [Pl. of L. _mensis_, a month.]

MENSTRUUM, men'str[=oo]-um, _n._ any fluid substance which dissolves a solid body.

MENSURABLE, mens'[=u]-ra-bl, _adj._ that can be measured: measurable.--_n._ MENSURABIL'ITY, quality of being mensurable.--_adj._ MENS'URAL, pertaining to measure.--_n._ MENSUR[=A]'TION, the act or art of finding by measurement and calculation the length, area, volume, &c. of bodies.--_adj._ MENSUR[=A]'TIVE. [L. _mensur[=a]re_, to measure.]

MENT, ment (_obs._), _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ of _ming_, to mix.

MENTAL, men'tal, _adj._ pertaining to the mind: done in the mind.--_ns._ MENTAL'ITY, MENT[=A]'TION.--_adv._ MEN'TALLY.--_adjs._ MENTICUL'TURAL, improving the mind; MENTIF'EROUS, conveying thought, telepathic.--MENTAL ALIENATION, insanity; MENTAL ARITHMETIC, arithmetic performed without the help of written figures. [Fr.,--L. _mens_, _mentis_, the mind.]

MENTHOL, men'thol, _n._ a camphor obtained from oil of peppermint by cooling, which gives relief in neuralgia, &c. [L. _mentha_, mint.]

MENTION, men'shun, _n._ a brief notice: a hint.--_v.t._ to notice briefly: to remark: to name.--_adj._ MEN'TIONABLE, fit to be mentioned. [L. _mentio_, _-onis_.]

MENTONNI[`E]RE, men-ton-ny[=a]r', _n._ a piece of armour attached to the helmet, worn to protect the chin and throat. [Fr., _menton_, the chin--L. _mentum_.]

MENTOR, men'tor, _n._ a wise counsellor.--_adj._ MENTOR'IAL. [Gr. _Ment[=o]r_, the tutor of Telemachus.]

MENTUM, men'tum, _n._ the chin: the central part of the labium in insects: (_bot._) a projection in front of the flower in some orchids.--_n._ MENTAG'RA, an eruption about the chin forming a crust.--_adj._ MEN'TAL (_anat._), pertaining to the chin. [L., the chin.]

MENU, men'[:u], _n._ a bill of fare. [Fr.,--L. _minutus_, small.]

MEPHISTOPHELES, mef-is-tof'e-l[=e]z, _n._ the name of the devil in Marlowe's _Doctor Faustus_ and Goethe's _Faust_.--_adj._ MEPHISTOPH[=E]'LEAN, cynical, scoffing, malicious. [Ety. unknown; prob. formed from Gr. _m[=e]_, not, _ph[=o]s_ (_phot-_), light, _philos_, loving.]

MEPHITIS, me-f[=i]'tis, _n._ a poisonous exhalation from the ground or from decaying substances--also MEPH[=I]'TISM.--_adjs._ MEPHIT'IC, -AL. [L. _mephitis_.]

MERCANTILE, m[.e]r'kan-t[=i]l, _adj._ pertaining to merchants: having to do with trade: commercial.--_ns._ MER'CANTILISM; MER'CANTILIST.--MERCANTILE AGENCY, a means of getting information about the circumstances of merchants all over the country, for the use of those who sell to them; MERCANTILE LAW, the points of law referring to the dealings of merchants with each other; MERCANTILE MARINE, the ships and their crews which in any country are employed in commerce; MERCANTILE SYSTEM (_polit. econ._), the system of encouraging exportation and restricting importation, so that more may be received than is paid away. [Fr.,--Low L.--L. _mercans_, _-antis_, pr.p. of _merc[=a]ri_, to trade--_merx_, _mercis_, merchandise--_mer[=e]re_, to gain.]

MERCATOR'S PROJECTION. See under PROJECT.

MERCENARY, m[.e]r'se-nar-i, _adj._ hired for money: actuated by the hope of reward: greedy of gain: sold or done for money.--_n._ one who is hired: a soldier hired into foreign service.--_adv._ MER'CENARILY. [Fr.,--L., _mercenarius_--_merces_, hire.]

MERCER, m[.e]r's[.e]r, _n._ a merchant in silks and woollen cloths, or in small wares.--_n._ MER'CERY, the trade of a mercer: the goods of a mercer. [Fr. _mercier_.]

MERCHANT, m[.e]r'chant, _n._ one who carries on trade, esp. on a large scale: one who buys and sells goods: a trader: (_obs._) a supercargo: a merchant-vessel.--_adj._ pertaining to trade or merchandise.--_v.i._ MERCH'AND (_Bacon_), to trade or traffic.--_n._ MER'CHAND[=I]SE, goods bought and sold for gain: (_B._ and _Shak._) trade: dealing.--_adjs._ MER'CHANTABLE, suitable for sale: inferior to the very best, but suitable for ordinary purposes; MER'CHANT-LIKE (_Shak._), like a merchant.--_ns._ MER'CHANTMAN, a trading-ship: (_B._) a merchant:--_pl._ MER'CHANTMEN; MER'CHANTRY, the business of a merchant; merchants collectively.--MERCHANT PRINCE, one who has made a great fortune as a merchant; MERCHANT SERVICE, the ships, &c., engaged in commerce: the commerce which is carried on by sea; MERCHANT SHIP or VESSEL, a ship used for carrying goods; MERCHANT TAILOR, a tailor who supplies the cloth for the clothes which he makes. [Fr. _marchand_.]

MERCURY, m[.e]r'k[=u]-ri, _n._ the god of merchandise and eloquence, and the messenger of the gods: the planet nearest the sun: a white, liquid metal, also called _quicksilver_: the column of mercury in a thermometer or barometer: a messenger: a newspaper.--_adj._ MERC[=U]'RIAL, having the qualities said to belong to the god Mercury: active: sprightly: often changing: of or pertaining to trade: containing, or consisting of, mercury--also MERC[=U]'RIC.--_v.t._ MERC[=U]'RIALISE (_med._), to affect with mercury: to expose to the vapour of mercury.--_n._ MERC[=U]'RIALIST.--_adv._ MERC[=U]'RIALLY.--_n._ MERCURIFIC[=A]'TION.--_v.t._ MERC[=U]'RIFY.--_adj._ MER'C[=U]ROUS. [Fr.,--L. _Mercurius_--_merx_, _mercis_, merchandise.]

MERCY, m[.e]r'si, _n._ tenderness and forbearance shown in sparing an offender in one's power: a forgiving disposition: clemency: an act of mercy: an undeserved blessing: compassion or benevolence.--_adjs._ MER'CIABLE (_Spens._), merciful; MER'CIFUL, full of, or exercising, mercy.--_adv._ MER'CIFULLY.--_n._ MER'CIFULNESS.--_v.t._ MER'CIFY (_Spens._), to deal mercifully with, to pity.--_adj._ MER'CILESS, without mercy: unfeeling: cruel.--_adv._ MER'CILESSLY.--_ns._ MER'CILESSNESS, want of mercy; MER'CY-SEAT, the seat or place of mercy; the covering of the Jewish Ark of the Covenant: the throne of God.--AT THE MERCY OF (another), wholly in the power of; FOR MERCY! or FOR MERCY'S SAKE! an exclamatory appeal to pity; GREAT MERCY=_Gramercy_; SISTERS OF MERCY, members of female religious communities who tend the sick, &c. [Fr. _merci_, grace--L. _merces_, _mercedis_, pay, in later L. also 'favour.']

MERE, m[=e]r, _n._ a pool or lake.--Also MEER. [A.S. _mere_; Ger. and Dut. _meer_, L. _mare_, the sea.]

MERE, m[=e]r, _adj._ unmixed: pure: only this and nothing else: alone: absolute.--_adj._ MERED (_Shak._), only, entire.--_adv._ MERE'LY, purely, simply: only: thus and no other way: solely. [L. _merus_, unmixed (of wine).]

MERE, m[=e]r, _n._ a boundary.--_v.t._ to limit or bound.--_ns._ MERE'STEAD, the land within the boundaries of a farm: MERE'STONE, a stone which marks a boundary. [A.S. _ge-m['ae]re_.]

MERETRICIOUS, mer-e-trish'us, _adj._ of or pertaining to harlots: alluring by false show: gaudy and deceitful: false.--_adv._ MERETRIC'IOUSLY.--_ns._ MERETRIC'IOUSNESS; MER'ETRIX, a harlot. [L. _meretricius_--_meretrix_, a harlot, _mer[=e]re_, to earn.]

MERGANSER, m[.e]r-gan's[.e]r, _n._ a diving bird, sea-duck. [L. _mergus_, a diving bird, _anser_, a goose.]

MERGE, m[.e]rj, _v.t._ to dip or plunge in: to sink: to cause to be swallowed up.--_v.i._ to be swallowed up, or lost.--_n._ MER'GER (_law_), a sinking of an estate or a security in one of larger extent or of higher value. [L. _merg[)e]re_, _mersum_.]

MERICARP, mer'i-karp, _n._ one carpel or part of the fruit of an umbelliferous plant. [Gr. _meros_, a part, _karpos_, fruit.]

MERIDIAN, me-rid'i-an, _adj._ pertaining to midday: being on the meridian or at midday: raised to the highest point.--_n._ midday: a midday dram: the highest point, as of success: an imaginary circle on the earth's surface passing through the poles and any given place: (_astron._) an imaginary circle, passing through the poles of the heavens, and the zenith of the spectator, which the sun crosses at midday.--_adj._ MERID'IONAL, pertaining to the meridian: southern: having a southern aspect.--_n._ MERIDIONAL'ITY.--_adv._ MERID'IONALLY.--MERIDIAN SPLENDOUR, fullest point of brightness; MERIDIAN SUN, the sun at its full height, as at midday.--FIRST MERIDIAN, the meridian passing through Greenwich, from which longitudes are measured east or west; MAGNETIC MERIDIAN (see MAGNETIC). [Fr.,--L. _meridianus_, from _meridies_ (orig. _medidies_), midday--_medius_, middle, _dies_, day.]

MERINGUE, me-rang', _n._ a mixture of sugar and white of eggs slightly browned for garnishing other confections: a pudding or tart covered with this.--MERINGUE GLAC['E], ice-cream with a casing of meringue. [Fr., prob. from _Mehringen_.]

MERINO, me-r[=e]'_no_, _n._ a variety of sheep having very fine wool, originally from Spain: a fine French all-wool dress fabric for women, originally of merino wool.--_adj._ belonging to the merino sheep or their wool. [Sp.,--_merino_, inspector of sheep-walks--Low L. _majorinus_, a head-man--L. _major_, greater.]

MERISTEM, mer'is-tem, _n._ the formative tissue of plants, distinguished from the permanent tissues by the power its cells have of dividing and forming new cells.--_adj._ MERISTEMAT'IC. [Gr. _meristos_, verbal adj. of _merizein_, to divide--_meros_, a part.]

MERIT, mer'it, _n._ excellence that deserves honour or reward: worth: value: that which one has earned.--_v.t._ to earn: to have a right to claim as a reward: to deserve: (_pl._, _in law_) the right or wrong of a case, apart from questions of procedure.--_adj._ MERIT[=O]'RIOUS, possessing merit or desert: deserving of reward, honour, or praise.--_adv._ MERIT[=O]'RIOUSLY.--_n._ MERIT[=O]'RIOUSNESS.--ORDER FOR MERIT, a Prussian order, the military class founded by Frederick the Great in 1740--the civil class, by Frederick William IV. in 1842 for eminence in science and art; ORDER OF MERIT, place in a class or list in which the best is placed first, the next best second, and so on. [Fr.,--L. _meritum_--_mer[=e]re_, _-[)i]tum_, to obtain as a lot, to deserve.]

MERK, m[.e]rk, _n._ an old Scotch silver coin, worth 13s. 4d. Scots, or 13-1/3d. sterling. [_Mark_.]

MERLE, m[.e]rl, _n._ the blackbird. [Fr.,--L. _merula_.]

MERLIN, m[.e]r'lin, _n._ a species of small hawk. [Fr. _['e]merillon_, prob. from L. _merula_.]

MERLING, mer'ling, _n._ a small gadoid fish, the whiting.

MERLON, m[.e]r'lon, _n._ (_fort._) the part of a wall with battlements which lies between two openings. [Fr., prob. through Low L. forms from L. _murus_, a wall.]

MERMAID, m[.e]r'm[=a]d, _n._ a sea-woman, having the head and body of a lovely woman to the waist, ending in the tail of a fish.--_ns._ MER'MAIDEN (_Tenn._):--_masc._ MER'MAN; MER'MAID'S-GLOVE, the largest kind of British sponge. [A.S. _mere_, a lake (influenced by Fr. _mer_, the sea), _maegden_, maid.]

MEROBLAST, mer'[=o]-blast, _n._ a meroblastic ovum.--_adj._ MEROBLAST'IC, undergoing segmentation only in the germinal disc, as the eggs of birds.

MEROGNOSTIC, mer-og-nos'tik, _n._ one who claims to know in part.--_n._ MEROGNOS'TICISM.

MEROPIDAN, me-rop'i-dan, _n._ a bird of the family of bee-eaters. [L. _merops_, the bee-eater--Gr.]

MEROSOME, mer'[=o]-s[=o]m, _n._ one of the serial segments of which a body is composed, as the ring of a worm, a metamere, a somite.

MEROVINGIAN, mer-o-vin'ji-an, _adj._ pertaining to the first dynasty of Frankish kings in Gaul, named from _Merwig_, king of the western or Salian Franks (448-457), grandfather of Clovis.

MERRY, mer'i, _adj._ sportive: cheerful: noisily gay: causing laughter: lively.--_adv._ MERR'ILY.--_ns._ MERR'IMAKE, MERR'Y-MAKE (_Spens._), a meeting for making merry, a festival, mirth.--_v.i._ to make merry, to feast.--_ns._ MERR'IMENT, MERR'INESS, gaiety with laughter and noise: mirth: hilarity; MERR'Y-AN'DREW, one who makes sport for others: a buffoon: one who goes round with a mountebank or a quack doctor--also MERR'YMAN; MERR'Y-GO-ROUND, a revolving ring of hobby-horses, &c., on which children ride round at fairs, &c.; MERR'Y-MAK'ING, a merry entertainment, a festival; MERR'Y-THOUGHT, the forked bone of a fowl's breast, which two persons pull at in play, the one who breaks off the longer part being thought likely to be first married. [A.S. _merg_, from the Celtic, as in Gael. and Ir. _mear_, _merry_, Gael. _mir_, to sport.]

MERRY, mer'i, _n._ an English wild-cherry. [Fr. _merise_.]

MERSION, m[.e]r'shun, _n._ Same as IMMERSION.

MERULIDAN, me-r[=oo]'li-dan, _n._ a bird of the thrush family (_Turdidae_), the typical genus of which is the MER'ULA. [_Merle_.]

MERYCISM, mer'i-sizm, _n._ rumination in the human species. [Gr., _m[=e]rykizein_, to chew the cud.]

MESAIL, mes'[=a]l, _n._ the vizor of a helmet, esp. when made in two parts.

MESAL, mes'al, _adj._ See MESIAL.

M['E]SALLIANCE, m[=a]-zal-l[=e]-an(g)s', _n._ a marriage with a person of lower rank or social condition. [Fr.]

MESARAIC, mes-a-r[=a]'ik, _adj._ mesenteric. [Gr. _mesos_, middle, _araia_, the belly.]

MESEEMS, me-s[=e]mz', _v.impers._ it seems to me (used only in poetry). [_Me_, the dative of _I_, and _seems_ used impersonally.]

MESEMBRYANTHEMUM, me-zem-bri-an'the-mum, _n._ a genus of succulent plants, mostly belonging to South Africa. [Gr. _mes[=e]mbria_, midday--_mesos_, middle, _h[=e]mera_, day, _anthemon_, a flower.]

MESENCEPHALON, mes-en-sef'a-lon, _n._ the mid-brain.--_adj._ MESENCEPHAL'IC.

MESENTERY, mes'en-t[.e]r-i, or mez'-, _n._ a membrane in the cavity of the abdomen, attached to the backbone, and serving to keep the intestines in their place.--_adj._ MESENTER'IC.--_n._ MESENTER[=I]'TIS, inflammation of the mesentery. [L.,--Gr. _mesenterion_--_mesos_, middle, _enteron_, intestines.]

MESFAITH, mes'f[=a]th, _n._ (_Tenn._) wrong faith, error of belief. [Fr. _mes_--L. _mis_, wrong, and _faith_.]