Part 78

MICROPYLE, m[=i]'kr[=o]-p[=i]l, _n._ (_bot._) the orifice in the coats of the ovule leading to the apex of the nucleus, through which the pollen-tube penetrates: (_zool._) the hilum of an ovum at the point of attachment to the ovary: any opening in the coverings of an ovum by which spermatozoa may find entrance. [Gr. _mikros_, small, _pyl[=e]_, a gate.]

MICROSCOPE, m[=i]'kr[=o]-sk[=o]p, _n._ an instrument which magnifies to the eye objects so minute as to be almost or quite undiscernible without its aid.--_adjs._ MICROSCOP'IC, -AL, pertaining to a microscope: made by, or as if by, a microscope: visible only by the aid of a microscope: working with, or as if with, a microscope.--_adv._ MICROSCOP'ICALLY.--_ns._ M[=I]'CROSCOPIST, one skilled in the use of the microscope; M[=I]'CROSCOPY.--BINOCULAR MICROSCOPE, a microscope with two eye-pieces, for viewing an object with both eyes at once; COMPOUND MICROSCOPE, a microscope with two sets of lenses so arranged that the image formed by the lower or object glass is again magnified by the upper or eye-piece. [Gr. _mikros_, little, _skopein_, to look at.]

MICROSEISM, m[=i]'kr[=o]-sizm, _n._ a slight earthquake tremor.--_adjs._ MICROSEIS'MIC, -AL.--_ns._ MICROSEIS'MOGRAPH; MICROSEISMOM'ETRY.

MICROSOMA, m[=i]-kr[=o]-s[=o]'ma, _n._ one of the minute granules embedded in the hyaline plasm of the protoplasm of vegetable cells:--_pl._ MICROS[=O]'MATA. [Gr. _mikros_, small, _s[=o]ma_, body.]

MICROSPECTROSCOPE, m[=i]-kr[=o]-spek'tr[=o]-sk[=o]p, _n._ a combination of the spectroscope with the microscope.

MICROSPORE, m[=i]'kr[=o]-sp[=o]r, _n._ (_bot._) a small asexually produced spore: (_zool._) one of the numerous very small spore-like elements produced through the encystment and subdivision of many monads.--_n._ MICROSPORAN'GIUM.--_adj._ M[=I]'CROSPOROUS. [Gr. _mikros_, small, _sporos_, a seed.]

MICROTOME, m[=i]'kr[=o]-t[=o]m, _n._ an instrument for cutting thin sections of objects for microscopic examination.--_adj._ MICROTOM'IC.--_ns._ MICROT'OMIST; MICROT'OMY. [Gr. _mikros_, little, _temnein_, to cut.]

MICROZOA, m[=i]-kr[=o]-z[=o]'[:a], _n.pl._ microscopic animals.--_n._ and _adj._ MICROZ[=O]'AN.--_n._ MICROZO[=A]'RIA, a name sometimes used for infusorians, &c.--_adj._ MICROZO[=A]'RIAN.--_n._ and _adj._ MICROZ[=O]'[:O]ID, a very minute free-swimming zo[:o]id, which buries itself in the body of a sedentary animalcule.--_ns._ MICROZ[=O]'[:O]N, any micro-organism of animal nature; MICROZ[=O]'[:O]SPORE, a zo[:o]spore of abnormally small size; M[=I]'CROZYME, a member of a class of extremely minute living organisms floating in the atmosphere, supposed to be the means of communicating certain epidemic and other zymotic diseases. [Gr. _mikros_, small, _z[=o]on_, an animal, _sporos_, seed, _zym[=e]_, leaven.]

MICTURITION, mik-t[=u]-rish'un, _n._ the act of passing, or the frequent desire to pass, urine.--_n._ MIC'TION, voiding urine.--_v.i._ MIC'TURATE. [L. _mictur[=i]re_, _-[=i]tum_, to pass urine.]

MID, mid, _adj._ middle: situated between extremes.--_prep._ amid.--_n._ (_Shak._) middle.--_ns._ MID'-AGE (_Shak._), the middle time of life, a person in middle-life; MID'-AIR, MID'-HEAV'EN, the middle of the sky; MID'DAY, the middle of the day: noon.--_adj._ of or pertaining to noon.--_adj._ MID'DEST (_Spens._), most nearly in the middle: middlemost.--_n._ the midst, middle.--_n._ MID'-HOUR, the middle part of the day.--_adj._ MID'LAND, in the middle of, or surrounded by, land: distant from the coast: inland.--_n._ the interior of a country: (_pl._) esp. the central parts of England.--_n._ MID'-LENT, the middle or fourth Sunday in Lent.--_adj._ MID'MOST, middlemost.--_n._ MID'NIGHT, the middle of the night: twelve o'clock at night.--_adj._ being at midnight: dark as midnight.--_ns._ MID'NOON, noon; MID'-SEA, the open sea.--_adj._ MID'SHIP, being in the middle of a ship.--_n._ MID'SHIPMAN, in the British navy, an officer whose rank is next above that of a naval cadet: in the U.S. navy, the lowest grade of officers in the line of promotion, now called NAVAL CADET.--_adv._ MID'SHIPS.--_ns._ MID'SUMMER, the middle of summer: the summer solstice, about the 21st of June; MID'SUMMER-DAY, the 24th of June; MID'WAY, the middle of the way or distance.--_adj._ being in the middle of the way or distance.--_adv._ half-way.--_n._ MID'WINTER, the middle of winter: the winter solstice (21st or 22d December), or the time shortly before or after it. [A.S. (_mid-_), _middgen_; Ger. _mitte_ and _mittel_, L. _medius_, Gr. _mesos_.]

MIDAS, m[=i]'das, _n._ a fabulously rich man, from the king of Phrygia who got the power of turning everything he touched into gold, till he was like to be starved. His ears were changed by Apollo to those of an ass for deciding a musical contest in favour of Pan.

MIDDEN, mid'en, _n._ a heap of ashes or dung (see also KITCHEN-MIDDEN).--_n._ MIDD'ENSTEAD, a place where dung is heaped up. [Scand., as Dan. _m[:o]dding_--_m[:o]g_, dung; cf. _Muck_.]

MIDDLE, mid'l, _adj._ equally distant from the extremes: intermediate: intervening: (_gram._) intermediate between active and passive, reflexive.--_n._ the middle point or part: midst: central portion, waist.--_adjs._ MIDD'LE-AGED, of or about the middle period of life (from about 35 to 50); MIDD'LE-CLASS, pertaining to, or included in, the middle class.--_ns._ MIDD'LE-EARTH (_Shak._), the earth, considered as placed between the upper and lower regions; MIDD'LEMAN, one who stands in the middle between two persons: an agent who does business between two parties: in Ireland, one who rents land in large tracts, and lets it in small portions to the peasantry.--_adjs._ MIDD'LEMOST, MID'MOST (_B._), nearest the middle; MIDD'LE-SIZED, of middle or average size.--_ns._ MIDD'LE-WATCH, the period between midnight and 4 A.M.; MIDD'LE-WEIGHT, a boxer or jockey of intermediate weight, between light and heavy weight.--_adj._ MIDD'LING, of middle rate, state, size, or quality: about equally distant from the extremes: moderate: (_Scot._) not in very good health: fairly well or prosperous.--_adv._ moderately.--_n._ MIDD'LINGNESS, mediocrity.--_n.pl._ MIDD'LINGS, the coarser part of ground wheat.--MIDDLE AGES, the time between the downfall of the western Roman empire, about 476 A.D., and the Reformation in the first quarter of the 16th century, or even earlier--in the later half of the preceding century, when printing was invented, America discovered, and the revival of learning took place; MIDDLE CLASS, that part of the people which comes between the nobility and the working-class; MIDDLE DISTANCE (same as MIDDLE GROUND); MIDDLE ENGLISH, English as spoken and written from 1350 to 1500 or 1550; MIDDLE GROUND, the central portion of a picture--that is, between the foreground and background; MIDDLE KINGDOM, China; MIDDLE PASSAGE, the voyage across the Atlantic from Africa to the West Indies, which was a time of horror on board a slave-ship; MIDDLE STATES, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware; MIDDLE TERM (_logic_), that term of a syllogism which appears both in the major premise and the minor, but not in the conclusion.--MIDDLE-CLASS SCHOOLS, schools for the higher education of the middle class, intermediate between the primary schools and the large public schools or the universities. [A.S. _middel_--_mid_; Dut. _middel_, Ger. _mittel_.]

MIDDY, mid'i, _n._ for midshipman.

MIDGARD, mid'g[=a]rd, _n._ (_Scand. myth._) the abode of men, midway between heaven and hell. [Ice. _midhgardhr_=mid-yard.]

MIDGE, mij, _n._ the common name of several species of small two-winged insects, like gnats, but with a shorter proboscis.--_n._ MIDG'ET, a little midge: something very small of its kind: a very small person. [A.S. _micge_; Ger. _m[:u]cke_, a gnat.]

MIDRASH, mid'rash, _n._ the Hebrew exposition of the Old Testament--its two divisions, _Haggada_ and _Halakha_:--_pl._ MIDRASHIM (mid-r[:a]'sh[=e]m), commentaries to individual books or sections of the Old Testament. [Heb., 'exposition.']

MIDRIB, mid'rib, _n._ (_bot._) the continuation of the leaf-stalk to the point of a leaf.

MIDRIFF, mid'rif, _n._ the diaphragm. [A.S. _mid_, middle, _hrif_, the belly.]

MIDST, midst, _n._ the middle.--_adv._ in the middle.--_prep._ amidst. [From the M. E. phrase _in middle-s_, in the midst, with excrescent _t_ (cf. _whil-s-t_).]

MIDWIFE, mid'w[=i]f, _n._ a woman who assists others in childbirth:--_pl._ MIDWIVES (mid'w[=i]vz).--_n._ MID'WIFERY, art or practice of a midwife or accoucheuse: assistance at childbirth. [A.S. _mid_, together with (Ger. _mit_, Gr. _met-a_), _w['i]f_, woman.]

MIEN, m[=e]n, _n._ the look or appearance of a person: the expression of the face: manner: bearing. [Fr. _mine_--It. _mina_, deportment--Low L. _min[=a]re_, to conduct--L. _min[=a]ri_, to threaten.]

MIFF, mif, _n._ (_coll._) a slight feeling of resentment. [Akin to Ger. _muffen_, to sulk.]

MIGHT, m[=i]t, _pa.t._ of may.

MIGHT, m[=i]t, _n._ power: ability: strength: energy or intensity of purpose or feeling.--_adj._ MIGHT'FUL (_Shak._), mighty: powerful.--_adv._ MIGHT'ILY.--_n._ MIGHT'INESS, state of being mighty: power: greatness: great amount: a title of dignity: excellency.--_adj._ MIGHT'Y, having greater power: strong: valiant: very great: important: exhibiting might: wonderful.--MIGHT AND MAIN, utmost strength. [A.S. _meaht_, _miht_; Ger. _macht_; cf. _May_.]

MIGNONETTE, min-yo-net', _n._ an annual with sweet-scented flowers. [Fr.,--_mignon_, darling.]

MIGRAINE, mi-gr[=a]n', _n._ Same as MEGRIM.

MIGRATE, m[=i]'gr[=a]t, _v.i._ to pass from one place to another: to remove for residence from one country, college, &c. to another.--_adjs._ M[=I]'GRANT, M[=I]'GR[=A]TORY, migrating or accustomed to migrate: wandering.--_ns._ MIGR[=A]'TION, a change of abode: a removal from one country or climate to another: a number removing together; MIGR[=A]'TIONIST, MIGR[=A]'TOR.--MIGRATORY ANIMALS, animals that remove from one region to another as the seasons change. [L. _migr[=a]re_, -_[=a]tum_; cf. _me[=a]re_, to go.]

MIKADO, mi-k[:a]'d[=o], _n._ a title of the Emperor of Japan. [Jap., 'exalted gate.']

MIL, mil, _n._ a unit of length in measuring the diameter of wire. [L. _mille_, a thousand.]

MILADI, mi-l[=a]'di, _n._ my lady. [It.]

MILCH, milch, _adj._ giving milk: yielding liquid, tender. [_Milk_.]

MILD, m[=i]ld, _adj._ gentle in temper and disposition: not sharp or bitter: acting gently: gently and pleasantly affecting the senses: soft: calm.--_v.t._ MILD'EN, to render mild.--_v.i._ to become mild.--_adv._ MILD'LY.--_n._ MILD'NESS.--_adj._ MILD'-SPOK'EN, having a mild manner of speech.--MILD ALE, ale newly brewed, which has not got the taste that comes from keeping. [A.S. _milde_, mild; cf. Ger. _mild_, Ice. _mildr_, gracious, &c.]

MILDEW, mil'd[=u], _n._ a disease on plants, caused by the growth of minute fungi.--_v.t._ to taint with mildew.--_v.i._ to become so tainted. [A.S. _melede['a]w_, _mele_, honey, _de['a]w_, dew.]

MILE, m[=i]l, _n._ 1760 yards.--_ns._ MILE'AGE, length in miles: (_U.S._) compensation for expense of travel reckoned by the mile; MIL'ER, something the length of a mile; MILE'STONE, a stone set up to mark the distance of a mile. [A.S. _mil_; Fr. _mille_; both a contr. of L. _mille passuum_, a thousand paces.]

MILESIAN, mi-l[=e]'zhan, _adj._ of or pertaining to Ireland or to the Irish race.--_n._ an Irishman. [_Milesius_, a fabulous king of Spain, whose sons seized Ireland.]

MILFOIL, mil'foil, _n._ the herb yarrow, remarkable for the numerous divisions of its leaf. [L. _millefolium_--_mille_, thousand, _folium_, a leaf.]

MILIARY, mil'yar-i, _adj._ like a millet-seed: having formations of the size of millet-seeds, as miliary glands. [L. _milium_, millet.]

MILITANT, mil'i-tant, _adj._ fighting: engaged in warfare.--_n._ MIL'ITANCY, the state of being militant.--_adv._ MIL'ITANTLY.--_ns._ MIL'ITARISM, an excess of the military spirit; MIL'ITARIST (_Shak._), a military man.--_adj._ MIL'ITARY, pertaining to soldiers or to warfare: warlike: becoming a soldier: engaged in the profession of arms: derived from service as a soldier--(_obs._) MIL'ITAR.--_n._ soldiery: the army.--_v.i._ MIL'ITATE, to contend: to stand opposed: to have force for or against.--CHURCH MILITANT (see Church). [L. _militans_, -_antis_, pr.p. of _milit[=a]re_.]

MILITIA, mi-lish'a, _n._ a body of men enrolled and drilled as soldiers, but only liable to home service: (_U.S._) the whole body of citizens capable of bearing arms.--_n._ MILIT'IAMAN, a man or soldier in the militia force. [L. _militia_--_miles_, _militis_.]

MILK, milk, _v.t._ to squeeze or draw milk from: to supply with milk.--_n._ a white liquid secreted by female mammals for the nourishment of their young: a milk-like juice of certain plants.--_adj._ MILK'EN, consisting of milk, or like milk.--_ns._ MILK'EN-WAY (_Bacon_), the milky-way, the galaxy; MILK'ER, one who milks: a machine for milking cows: a cow that gives milk; MILK'-F[=E]'VER, a fever accompanying the secretion of milk shortly after childbirth.--_adv._ MILK'ILY.--_ns._ MILK'INESS; MILK'ING, the amount of milk drawn at one time; MILK'ING-STOOL, a stool on which the milker sits while milking; MILK'ING-TIME; MILK'ING-TUBE, a perforated tube inserted in a cow's teat to let the milk flow without pressing the udder; MILK'-KIN'SHIP, the kinship arising from fostering.--_adj._ MILK'-LIV'ERED (_Shak._), white-livered: cowardly.--_ns._ MILK'MAID, a woman who milks: a dairymaid; MILK'MAN, a man who sells milk, esp. from door to door; MILK'-M[=O]'LAR, one of the grinders or back teeth in young animals, early shed and replaced by another; MILK'-PORR'IDGE, porridge made with milk instead of water; MILK'-PUNCH, an excellent but very heady drink made of milk, rum or whisky, sugar, and nutmeg; MILK'-SICK'NESS (_U.S._), a kind of malignant fever affecting cattle, also men; MILK'SOP, a piece of bread sopped or soaked in milk: an effeminate, silly fellow; MILK'-THIS'TLE, the lady's thistle; MILK'-TOOTH, one of the first fore-teeth of a foal: one of the first teeth of a child; MILK'-TREE, a tree yielding a milk-like, nourishing juice, as the cow-tree of South America; MILK'-VETCH, a plant sometimes cultivated as food for cattle; MILK'-WALK, a milkman's route.--_adj._ MILK'-WARM, warm as new milk.--_ns._ MILK'-WEED, a general name for plants of the genus Asclepias, from their milky juice; MILK'-WORT, a genus of handsome flowering plants, containing a milk-like juice.--_adj._ MILK'Y, made of, full of, like, or yielding milk: soft: gentle.--_n._ MILK'Y-WAY (_astron._), the galaxy, a broad, luminous zone in the sky, caused by the light of innumerable fixed stars. [A.S. _meolc_, milk; Ger. _milch_, milk.]

MILL, mil, _n._ a machine for grinding any substance, as grain, by crushing it between two hard, rough surfaces: a place where corn is ground, or manufacture of some kind is carried on: a contest at boxing.--_v.t._ to grind: to press or stamp in a mill: to stamp or turn up the edge of coin, and put ridges and furrows on the rim: to put furrows and ridges on any edge: to clean, as cloth: to beat severely with the fists.--_ns._ MILL'-BOARD, stout pasteboard, used esp. in binding books; MILL'COG, a cog of a mill-wheel; MILL'DAM, MILL'POND, a dam or pond to hold water for driving a mill.--_adj._ MILLED, prepared by a grinding-mill or a coining-press: transversely grooved: treated by machinery, esp. smoothed by calendering rollers in a paper-mill.--_ns._ MILL'-HORSE, a horse that turns a mill; MILL'ING, the act of passing anything through a mill: the act of fulling cloth: the process of turning up the edge of coin and of putting the rows of ridges and furrows on it: indenting coin on the edge; MILL'RACE, the current of water that turns a mill-wheel, or the channel in which it runs; MILL-SIX'PENCE (_Shak._), a milled sixpence; MILL'STONE, one of the two stones used in a mill for grinding corn; MILL'STONE-GRIT (_geol._), a hard gritty variety of sandstone suitable for millstones; MILL'-TOOTH, a molar; MILL'-WHEEL, the water-wheel used for driving a mill; MILL'-WORK, the machinery of a mill: the planning and putting up of machinery in mills; MILL'WRIGHT, a wright or mechanic who builds and repairs mills.--GO THROUGH THE MILL, to undergo suffering or experience sufficient to fit one for certain duties or privileges; SEE THROUGH A MILLSTONE, to see far into or through difficult questions. [A.S. _miln_--L. _mola_, a mill--_mol[=a]re_, to grind.]

MILL, mil, _n._ (_U.S._) the thousandth part of a dollar. [L. _mille_, a thousand.]

MILLENNIUM, mil-len'i-um, _n._ a thousand years: the thousand years during which, as some believe, Christ will personally reign on the earth.--_adj._ MILLEN[=A]'RIAN, lasting a thousand years: pertaining to the millennium.--_n._ one believing in the millennium.--_ns._ MILLEN[=A]'RIANISM, MIL'LENARISM, the doctrine of millenarians.--_adj._ MILL'ENARY, consisting of a thousand.--_n._ a thousand years.--_adj._ MILLENN'IAL, pertaining to a thousand years, or to the millennium.--_ns._ MILLENN'IALIST, a believer in the millennium; MILLENN'IANISM, MILLENN'IARISM, belief in the millennium. [L. _mille_, 1000, _annus_, a year.]

MILLEPED. See MILLIPED.

MILLEPORE, mil'e-p[=o]r, _n._ a species of branching coral, having a smooth surface with numerous minute, distinct pores or cells.--_n._ MILL'EPORITE, a fossil millepore. [Fr.; L. _mille_, 1000, _porus_, a pore.]

MILLER, mil'[.e]r, _n._ one who has, or who attends to, a corn-mill.--_ns._ MILL'ER'S-THUMB, a small fresh-water fish with a large, broad, and rounded head like a miller's thumb, the river bull-head.

MILLESIMAL, mil-les'im-al, _adj._ thousandth: consisting of thousandth parts.--_adv._ MILLES'IMALLY. [L. _millesimus_--_mille_, a thousand.]

MILLET, mil'et, _n._ a grass yielding grain which is used for food. [Fr. _millet_--L. _milium_.]

MILLIARD, mil'yard, _n._ a thousand millions. [Fr.,--L. _mille_, a thousand.]

MILLIARE, mil'yar, _n._ the one-thousandth part of an are.

MILLIARY, mil'i-[=a]-ri, _adj._ pertaining to a Roman mile.--_n._ a Roman milestone.

MILLIER, m[=e]l-y[=a]', _n._ a weight of 1000 kilogrammes.

MILLIGRAM, mil'i-gram, _n._ the 1/1000th part of a gramme.

MILLILITRE, mil'i-l[=e]-t[.e]r, _n._ the thousandth part of a litre.

MILLIMETER, MILLIMETRE, mil'i-m[=e]-t[.e]r, _n._ the thousandth part of a metre.

MILLINER, mil'in-[.e]r, _n._ one who makes head-dresses, bonnets, &c. for women.--_n._ MILL'INERY, the articles made or sold by milliners: the industry of making these. [Prob. orig. _Milaner_, a trader in Milan wares, esp. silks and ribbons.]

MILLION, mil'yun, _n._ a thousand thousands (1,000,000): a very great number.--_n._ MILL'IONAIRE, a man worth a million of money or more.--_adj._ MILL'IONARY, pertaining to, or consisting of, millions.--_adj._ and _n._ MILL'IONTH, the ten hundred thousandth.--THE MILLION, the great body of the people generally. [Fr.,--Low L. _millio_--L. _mille_, 1000.]

MILLIPED, MILLEPED, mil'e-ped, _n._ a small worm-like animal, with a great number of legs.--Also MILL'IPEDE, MILL'EPEDE. [L. _millepeda_--_mille_, a thousand, _pes, pedis_, a foot.]

MILLOCRAT, mil'[=o]-krat, _n._ a wealthy mill-owner.--_n._ MILL'OCRATISM.

MILORD, mi-lord', _n._ my lord: a rich Englishman on the Continent.

MILREIS, mil'r[=e]s, _n._ a thousand reals: a Portuguese coin worth about 4s. 5d.

MILSEY, mil'si, _n._ (_prov._) a milk-strainer.

MILT, milt, _n._ the soft roe of male fishes: (_anat._) the spleen.--_v.t._ to impregnate, as the spawn of the female fish.--_n._ MILT'ER, a male fish. [A corr. of _milk_, as in Sw. _mj[:o]lke_, milt of fishes.]

MILTONIC, mil-ton'ik, _adj._ relating to _Milton_ (1608-74), or to his poetry.

MILVINE, mil'vin, _adj._ pertaining to, or like, birds of the kite family. [L. _milvinus_--_milvus_, a kite.]

MIM, mim, _adj._ (_prov._) demure, precise.

MIMBAR, mim'bar, _n._ the pulpit in a mosque.

MIME, m[=i]m, _n._ a farce in which scenes from actual life were represented by gesture: an actor in such a farce.--_n._ MIM'ESIS, a mimicking of the speech, gestures, &c. of a person or a people: (_biol._) mimicry.--_adjs._ MIMET'IC, -AL, apt to imitate.--_v.t._ MIM'IC, to imitate: simulate:--_pr.p._ mim'icking; _pa.p._ mim'icked.--_n._ one who mimics: a buffoon: a servile imitator.--_adjs._ MIM'IC, -AL, imitative: mock: miniature.--_ns._ MIM'ICKER; MIM'ICRY, act of mimicking: an imitative resemblance in one animal to another or to some inanimate object. [Gr. _mimos_.]

MIMEOGRAPH, mim'[=e]-[=o]-graf, _n._ an apparatus in which a thin fibrous paper coated with paraffin is used as a stencil for reproducing copies of written or printed matter.--_v.t._ to reproduce such by this means. [Gr. _mimeisthai_, to imitate, _graphein_, to write.]

MIMOGRAPHY, mim-og'ra-fi, _n._ the art of writing gesture-languages by means of pictorial symbols constituting ideographs.--_n._ MIMOG'RAPHER.

MIMOSA, m[=i]-m[=o]'za, _n._ a genus of leguminous plants, including the sensitive plant. [Gr. _mimos_.]

MIMULUS, mim'[=u]-lus, _n._ a genus of figworts.

MINA, m[=i]'na, _n._ a weight in silver at Athens=100 drachmas: (_B._) a weight of money valued at fifty shekels. [L. _mina_--Gr. _mna_.]

MINA, m[=i]'na, _n._ one of several different sturnoid passerine birds of India.

MINARET, min'a-ret, _n._ a turret on a Mohammedan mosque, from which the people are summoned to prayers. [Sp. _minarete_--Ar. _manarat_, lighthouse--_nar_, fire.]

MINATORY, min'a-tor-i, _adj._ threatening, menacing.--Also MIN[=A]'CIOUS. [L. _min[=a]ri_, _-[=a]tus_, to threaten.]

MINAUDERIE, min-[=o]'de-r[=e], _n._ a display of affectation. [Fr.]

MINCE, mins, _v.t._ to cut into small pieces: to chop fine: to diminish or suppress a part in speaking: to pronounce affectedly.--_v.i._ to walk with affected nicety: to speak affectedly:--_pr.p._ minc'ing; _pa.p._ minced (minst).--_ns._ MINCE'-MEAT, meat chopped small--hence anything thoroughly broken or cut to pieces; MINCE'-PIE, a pie made with minced meat, &c.--_adj._ MINC'ING, not speaking fully out: speaking or walking with affected nicety.--_adv._ MINC'INGLY.--MINCE MATTERS, to speak of things with affected delicacy, or to soften an account unduly.--MINCED COLLOPS (see COLLOPS). [A.S. _minsian_--_min_, small; prob. cog. with Fr. _mince_, thin, also Teut.]

MIND, m[=i]nd, _n._ the faculty by which we think, &c.: the understanding: the whole spiritual nature: memory: choice: intention: thoughts or sentiments: belief: cast of thought and feeling: (_B._) disposition.--_v.t._ to attend to: to obey: (_orig._) to remind: (_Scot._) to remember.--_v.i._ (_B._) to intend.--_adj._ MIND'ED, having a mind: disposed: determined.--_ns._ MIND'EDNESS, inclination toward anything; MIND'ER, a care-taker: one taken care of, as a pauper child by a private person.--_adj._ MIND'FUL, bearing in mind: taking thought or care: attentive: observant.--_adv._ MIND'FULLY.--_n._ MIND'FULNESS.--_adj._ MIND'LESS, without mind: stupid.--_n._ MIND'-TRANS'FERENCE, thought-transference.--MIND ONE'S P'S AND Q'S, to be accurate and precise; MIND YOUR EYE (_slang_), take care what you are about.--ABSENCE OF MIND, inattention to what is going on at the time; BEAR IN MIND, to remember; BE OUT OF ONE'S MIND, to be forgotten: to be insane; HAVE A MIND, to wish or to be inclined strongly; HAVE HALF A MIND, to be somewhat inclined; LOSE, or BE OUT OF, ONE'S MIND, to become insane; MAKE UP ONE'S MIND, to determine; MONTH'S MIND, continual prayer on a dead person's behalf for a month after death, with masses esp. on 3d, 7th, and 30th days (also A MONTHLY MIND): any very strong desire or inclination; NEVER MIND, do not concern yourself; OF ONE MIND, agreed; Of two minds, uncertain what to think or do; PRESENCE OF MIND, a state of calmness in which all the powers of the mind are on the alert and ready for action; PUT IN MIND, to warn or remind; YEAR'S MIND, a commemorative service of a similar kind to the month's mind, on the anniversary of a death. [A.S. _ge-mynd_--_munan_, to think; Ger. _meinen_, to think, L. _mens_, the mind.]

MINDERERUS SPIRIT, min-der-[=e]'rus spir'it, _n._ acetate of ammonia, much used in cases of fever.

MINE, m[=i]n, _adj. pron._ belonging to me: my. [A.S. _m['i]n;_ Ger. _mein._]

MINE, m[=i]n, _v.i._ and _v.t._ to dig for metals: to excavate: to dig under a wall or building in order to overturn it: to ruin or destroy by secret means.--_n._ a place from which metals are dug: an excavation dug under a fortification to blow it up with gunpowder: a rich source of wealth.--_ns._ MINE'-CAP'TAIN, the overseer of a mine; M[=I]'NER, one who digs in a mine.--_adj._ M[=I]'NY, rich in mines: like a mine.--See also SUBMARINE MINE. [Low L. _min[=a]re,_ to lead, open a mine.]

MINERAL, min'[.e]r-al, _n._ an inorganic substance found in the earth or at its surface: any substance containing a metal.--_adj._ relating to minerals: having the nature of minerals: impregnated with minerals, as water: denoting inorganic substances.--_n._ MINERALIS[=A]'TION.--_v.t._ MIN'ERALISE, to make into a mineral: to give the properties of a mineral to: to impregnate with mineral matter.--_v.i._ to collect minerals.--_ns._ MIN'ERALISER, an element that combines with a metal to form an ore, as sulphur: a volatile or other substance, as water, which facilitates the recrystallisation of rocks; MIN'ERALIST, one versed in or employed about minerals.--_adj._ MINERALOG'ICAL, pertaining to mineralogy.--_adv._ MINERALOG'ICALLY.--_v.i._ MINERAL'OGISE, to collect or study minerals.--_ns._ MINERAL'OGIST, one versed in mineralogy; MINERAL'OGY, the science which treats of minerals: the art of describing and classifying minerals.--MINERAL ACIDS, a name applied to sulphuric, nitric, and hydrochloric acids; MINERAL BLACK, an impure carbon used as a pigment; MINERAL CAOUTCHOUC, a variety of bitumen--also _Elaterite_; MINERAL KINGDOM, that department of nature which comprises substances that are neither animal nor vegetable; MINERAL OIL, oil which is forced up or pumped from the earth, as petroleum, naphtha, &c.; MINERAL SALT, a salt of a mineral acid; MINERAL WATER, the water of certain springs having the taste of various kinds of minerals, and used as medicines. [Fr.,--_miner_, to mine--Low L. _min[=a]re;_ cf. _Mine._]

MINERVA, mi-n[.e]r'va, _n._ the Roman goddess of wisdom, of the arts and sciences, and of war--identified with the Greek Athena.--MINERVA PRESS, a printing-office in Leadenhall Street, London, whence were issued about the close of the 18th century a long series of highly sentimental novels. [L., prob. from root of _mens_, _mentis_, the mind.]

MINEVER, min'e-v[.e]r, _n._ Same as MINIVER.

MING, ming, _v.t._ to mix:--old _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ meint, ment. [A.S. _mengan;_ Ger. _mengen_.]

MINGLE, ming'gl, _v.t._ to mix: to unite into one mass: to confuse: to join in mutual intercourse.--_v.i._ to become mixed or confused.--_n._ a medley.--_n._ MING'LE-MANG'LE, a medley, jumble.--_v.t._ to confuse, jumble together.--_ns._ MING'LEMENT; MING'LER; MING'LING, mixture: a mixing or blending together.--_adv._ MING'LINGLY. [Freq. of _ming_.]

MINIATURE, min'i-a-t[=u]r, or min'i-t[=u]r, _n._ a painting on a very small scale, on ivory, vellum, or thick paper: a small or reduced copy of anything.--_adj._ on a small scale: minute.--_v.t._ to represent on a small scale.--_n._ MIN'IATURIST, one who paints miniatures. [It. _miniatura_--_miniare_, to write with red lead--L. _minium_, vermilion.]

MINIBUS, min'i-bus, _n._ a small four-wheeled carriage.

MINI['E] RIFLE. See Rifle.

MINIFY, min'i-f[=i], _v.t._ to make little or less: to depreciate.