Part 86
MYRIOSCOPE, mir'i-o-sk[=o]p, _n._ a variety of kaleidoscope, esp. a form of it consisting of mirrors so arranged as by multiplied reflection from a small piece of carpet to show how it looks covering a whole floor. [Gr. _myrios_, numberless, _skopein_, to view.]
MYRISTICA, m[=i]-ris'ti-ka, _n._ a genus of fragrant apetalous trees--the nutmegs: the kernel of the seed of _Myristica fragrans_, as used in cookery. [Gr. _myrizein_, to anoint.]
MYRMIDON, m[.e]r'mi-don, _n._ one of a tribe of warriors who accompanied Achilles to Troy: one of a ruffianly band under a daring leader: one who carries out another's orders without fear or pity.--_adj._ MYRMID[=O]'NIAN.--MYRMIDONS OF THE LAW, policemen, bailiffs, &c. [L.,--Gr.]
MYROBALAN, m[=i]-rob'a-lan, _n._ the astringent fruit of certain Indian mountain species of _Terminalia_. [Gr. _myron_, an unguent, _balanos_, a corn.]
MYRRH, m[.e]r, _n._ a bitter, aromatic, transparent gum, exuded from the bark of a shrub in Arabia.--_adj._ MYR'RHIC.--_ns._ MYR'RHIN, the fixed resin of myrrh; MYR'RHOL, the volatile oil of myrrh. [O. Fr. _mirre_ (Fr. _myrrhe_)--L. and Gr. _myrrha_--Ar. _murr_.]
MYRRHINE. Same as MURRINE.
MYRTLE, m[.e]r'tl, _n._ an evergreen shrub with beautiful and fragrant leaves.--_n._ MYR'TLE-WAX, wax from the candle-berry. [O. Fr. _myrtil_, dim. of _myrte_--L. and Gr. _myrtus_.]
MYSELF, m[=i]-self', or me-self', _pron._ I or me, in person--used for the sake of emphasis and also as the reciprocal of me.
MYSTAGOGUE, mis'ta-g[=o]g, _n._ an initiator into religious mysteries, a teacher or catechist--also MYSTAG[=O]'GUS.--_adj._ MYSTAGOG'IC (-goj'-).--_n._ MYS'TAGOGY (-goj-), the practice of a mystagogue: the sacraments. [Gr. _myst[=e]s_, one initiated, _ag[=o]gos_, a leader.]
MYSTERY, mis't[.e]r-i, _n._ a secret doctrine: anything very obscure: that which is beyond human knowledge to explain: anything artfully made difficult: (_pl._) secret rites, in ancient religions rites known only to and practised by initiated persons, as the Eleusinian mysteries in Greece, &c.: a sacrament: a rude medieval drama founded on the historical parts of the Bible and the lives of the saints--the Basque _pastorales_ are a survival.--_adj._ MYST[=E]'RIOUS, containing mystery: obscure: secret: incomprehensible.--_adv._ MYST[=E]'RIOUSLY.--_n._ MYST[=E]'RIOUSNESS. [M. E. _mysterie_--L. _mysterium_--Gr. _myst[=e]rion_--_myst[=e]s_, one initiated--_muein_, to close the eyes.]
MYSTERY, mis't[.e]r-i, _n._ a trade, handicraft. [M. E. _mistere_--O. Fr. _mestier_ (Fr. _m['e]tier_)--L. _ministerium_--_minister_. Prop. _mistery_; the form _mystery_ is due to confusion with the above.]
MYSTIC, -AL, mis'tik, -al, _adj._ relating to, or containing, mystery: sacredly obscure or secret: involving a sacred or a secret meaning hidden from the eyes of the ordinary reader, only revealed to a spiritually enlightened mind, allegorical: belonging to mysticism.--_n._ MYS'TIC, one who seeks for direct intercourse with God in elevated religious feeling or ecstasy.--_adv._ MYS'TICALLY.--_ns._ MYS'TICALNESS, the quality of being mystical; MYS'TICISM, the doctrine of the mystics, a tendency of religious feeling marked by an effort to attain to direct and immediate communion with God: obscurity of doctrine; MYSTIFIC[=A]'TION.--_v.t._ MYS'TIFY, to make mysterious, obscure, or secret: to involve in mystery:--_pr.p._ mys'tifying; _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ mys'tified.--MYSTIC RECITATION, the recitation of parts of the Greek liturgy in an inaudible voice; MYSTICAL THEOLOGY, the knowledge of divine things attained by spiritual insight and experience only, without authority, the process of reason, &c. [L. _mysticus_--Gr. _mystikos_. Cf. _Mystery_, a secret doctrine.]
MYTACISM, m[=i]'ta-sizm, _n._ a too recurrent use of the letter _m_ in speech or writing.
MYTH, mith, _n._ a fable, a legend, a fabulous narrative founded on a remote event, esp. those made in the early period of a people's existence: an invented story: a falsehood.--_adjs._ MYTH'IC, -AL, relating to myths: fabulous: untrue.--_adv._ MYTH'ICALLY.--_ns._ MYTH'ICIST, MYTH'ICISER, an adherent of the mythical theory; MYTH'IST, a maker of myths; MYTHOGEN'ESIS, the production of, or the tendency to originate, myths; MYTHOG'RAPHER, a writer or narrator of myths; MYTHOG'RAPHY, representation of myths in graphic or plastic art, art-mythology; MYTHOL'OGER, MYTHOL[=O]'GIAN, a mythologist.--_adjs._ MYTHOLOG'IC, -AL, relating to mythology, fabulous.--_adv._ MYTHOLOG'ICALLY.--_v.t._ MYTHOL'OGISE, to interpret or explain myths: to render mythical.--_ns._ MYTHOL'OGISER, one who, or that which, mythologises; MYTHOL'OGIST, one versed in, or who writes on, mythology; MYTHOL'OGY, the myths or stories of a country: a treatise regarding myths: a collection of myths: the science which investigates myths; MYTHON'OMY, the deductive and predictive stage of mythology; MYTH'OPLASM, a narration of mere fable; MYTHOPOE'IST, a myth-maker.--_adjs._ MYTHOPOET'IC, MYTHOPOE'IC, myth-making, tending to generate myth.--_n._ MYTH'US, the same as _myth_:--_pl._ MYTH'[=I].--MYTHICAL THEORY, the theory of D. F. Strauss (1808-74) and his school, that the Gospels are mainly a collection of myths, developed during the first two centuries, from the imagination of the followers of Jesus; COMPARATIVE MYTHOLOGY, the science which investigates myths and seeks to relate those of different races. [Gr. _mythos_.]
MYTILUS, mit'i-lus, _n._ a genus of bivalves, or an individual bivalve belonging to it.--_adjs._ MYTIL'IFORM, MYT'ILOID.
MYXOEDEMA, mik-s[=e]-d[=e]'ma, _n._ a diseased condition occurring in adults, generally females, characterised by a thickening of the subcutaneous tissue, most noticeable in the face, with a simultaneous dulling of all the faculties and slowing of the movements of the body. A precisely similar condition occurs in many cases where the thyroid gland has been removed for disease. [Gr. _myxa_, mucus, and Eng. _edema_.]
MYXOMA, mik-s[=o]'ma, _n._ a tumour consisting of mucous tissue--also _Collonema_. [Gr. _myxa_, mucus.]
MYXOMYCETES, mik-s[=o]-m[=i]-s[=e]'t[=e]z, _n.pl._ a class of very simple organisms, often claimed by botanists as fungi, generally regarded by zoologists as primitive Protozoa, living on damp surfaces exposed to air, esp. on rotting wood, and feeding on organic d['e]bris forming composite masses or _plasmodia_. [Gr. _myxa_, mucus, _myk[=e]tes_, pl. of _myk[=e]s_, a mushroom.]
MYXOPOD, mik'so-pod, _n._ and _adj._ a protozoan animal having pseudopodia, as distinguished from a _mastigopod_, which has cilia or flagella.--_n.pl._ MYXOP'ODA, protozoans whose locomotive appendages are pseudopodia--the same as _Rhizopoda_.--_adj._ MYXOP'ODOUS. [Gr. _myxa_, mucus, _pous_, _podos_, a foot.]
MYXOSARCOMA, mik-s[=o]-s[:a]r-k[=o]'ma, _n._ a tumour composed of mucous and sarcomatous tissue:--_pl._ MYXOSARC[=O]'MATA. [Gr. _myxa_, mucus, _sarc[=o]ma_, a fleshy lump.]
MYZONTES, m[=i]-zon't[=e]z, _n.pl._ a class of vertebrates with an incomplete cartilaginous skull, no lower jaw, and pouch-like gills--including the lampreys and hags.--_adj._ and _n._ suctorial as the lamprey, belonging to the Myzontes. [Gr. _myz[=o]n_, _myzontos_, pr.p. of _myzein_, to suck.]
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Corrections made to printed original.
Under "Egophony":--"Aegoph'ony", printed as "Aegoph'any" in original.
Under "Empiric":--"empiricism", printed as "empericism" in original.
Under "Enterprise" (before Enterprisingly):--"adv.", printed as "adj." in original.
Under "Experiment":--"Experiment'al", printed as "Eperiment'al" in original.
Under "Friend":--"acquaintance", printed as "acqaintance" in original.
Under "Gabbatha":--"tessellated", printed as "tesselated" in original.
Under "Heterochrony":--"ontogenetic", printed as "octogenetic" in original.
Under "Hither":--"to come", printed as "to come thither" in original.
Under "Hot" (before Hotspur):--"n.", printed as "ns." in original.
Under "In":--"Gr.", printed as "Ger." in original.
Under "Jowl" (etymology):--"the jaw", printed as "the law" in original.
Under "Jungermannia":--"Jungermann", printed as "Junggermann" in original.
Under "Kantian":--"philosophy", printed as "philosphy" in original.
Under "Libken" (pronunciation):--"lib'ken", printed as "lik'ken" in original.