Part 4
Mah"di (?), n. [Ar., guide, leader.] Among Mohammedans, the last imam or leader of the faithful. The Sunni, the largest sect of the Mohammedans, believe that he is yet to appear.
The title has been taken by several persons in countries where Mohammedanism prevails, -- notably by Mohammad Ahmed, who overran the Egyptian Sudan, and in 1885 captured Khartum, his soldiers killing General Gordon, an Englishman, who was then the Egyptian governor of the region.
Mahl"-stick` (?), n. See Maul- stick.
Ma"hoe (?), n. (Bot.) A name given to several malvaceous trees (species of Hibiscus, Ochroma, etc.), and to their strong fibrous inner bark, which is used for strings and cordage.
Ma*hog"a*ny (?), n. [From the South American name.] 1. (Bot.) A large tree of the genus Swietenia (S. Mahogoni), found in tropical America.
Several other trees, with wood more or less like mahogany, are called by this name; as, African mahogany (Khaya Senegalensis), Australian mahogany (Eucalyptus marginatus), Bastard mahogany (Batonia apetala of the West Indies), Indian mahogany (Cedrela Toona of Bengal, and trees of the genera Soymida and Chukrassia), Madeira mahogany (Persea Indica), Mountain mahogany, the black or cherry birch (Betula lenta), also the several species of Cercocarpus of California and the Rocky Mountains.
2. The wood of the Swietenia Mahogoni. It is of a reddish brown color, beautifully veined, very hard, and susceptible of a fine polish. It is used in the manufacture of furniture.
3. A table made of mahogany wood. [Colloq.]
To be under the mahogany, to be so drunk as to have fallen under the table. [Eng.] -- To put one's legs under some one's mahogany, to dine with him. [Slang]
||Ma*ho"li (?), n. (Zoöl.) A South African lemur (Galago maholi), ||having very large ears. [Written also moholi.]
{ Ma*hom"ed*an (?), Ma*hom"et*an (?), } n. See Mohammedan.
Ma*hom"et*an*ism (?), n. See Mohammedanism.
Ma*hom"et*an*ize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mahometanized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Mahometanizing (?).] To convert to the religion of Mohammed; to Mohammedanize.
Ma*hom"et*ism (?), n. See Mohammedanism.
Ma*hom"et*ist, n. A Mohammedan. [R.]
Ma*hom"et*ry (?), n. Mohammedanism. [Obs.]
Ma*hone" (?), n. A large Turkish ship. Crabb.
Ma*ho"ni*a (?), n. [Named after Bernard McMahon.] (Bot.) The Oregon grape, a species of barberry (Berberis Aquifolium), often cultivated for its hollylike foliage.
Ma*hon" stock` (?). (Bot.) An annual cruciferous plant with reddish purple or white flowers (Malcolmia maritima). It is called in England Virginia stock, but the plant comes from the Mediterranean.
||Ma*hoo"hoo (?), n. (Zoöl.) The African white two-horned rhinoceros ||(Atelodus simus).
Ma"ho*ri (?), n. [Native name. Cf. Maori.] (Ethnol.) One of the dark race inhabiting principally the islands of Eastern Polynesia. Also used adjectively.
Ma`hound (?), n. A contemptuous name for Mohammed; hence, an evil spirit; a devil. [Obs.]
Who's this, my mahound cousin ?
Beau. & Fl.
||Ma*hout" (?), n. [Hind. mahwat, Skr. mahmtra; mahat great + mtr ||measure.] The keeper and driver of an elephant. [East Indies]
Ma*ho"vo (?), n. (Mach.) A device for saving power in stopping and starting a railroad car, by means of a heavy fly wheel.
Mah*rat"i (?), n. The language of the Mahrattas; the language spoken in the Deccan and Concan. [Written also Marathi.]
Mah*rat"ta (?), n. [Hind. Marhat, Marhtt, the name of a famous Hindoo race, from the old Skr. name Mah- rshtra.] One of a numerous people inhabiting the southwestern part of India. Also, the language of the Mahrattas; Mahrati. It is closely allied to Sanskrit. -- a. Of or pertaining to the Mahrattas. [Written also Maratha.]
{ Ma*hu"met*an (?), Ma*hu"met*an*ism (?), n. } See Mohammedan, Mohammedanism.
Mah"wa tree` (?). (Bot.) An East Indian sapotaceous tree (Bassia latifolia, and also B. butyracea), whose timber is used for wagon wheels, and the flowers for food and in preparing an intoxicating drink. It is one of the butter trees. The oil, known as mahwa and yallah, is obtained from the kernels of the fruit.
||Ma"i*a (?), n. [From L. Maia, a goddess.] (Zoöl.) (a) A genus of ||spider crabs, including the common European species (Maia squinado). ||(b) A beautiful American bombycid moth (Eucronia maia).
Ma"ian (?), n. (Zoöl.) Any spider crab of the genus Maia, or family Maiadæ.
Maid (?), n. [Shortened from maiden. &?;. See Maiden.] 1. An unmarried woman; usually, a young unmarried woman; esp., a girl; a virgin; a maiden.
Would I had died a maid, And never seen thee, never borne thee son.
Shak.
Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me.
Jer. ii. 32.
2. A man who has not had sexual intercourse. [Obs.]
Christ was a maid and shapen as a man.
Chaucer.
3. A female servant.
Spinning amongst her maids.
Shak.
Maid is used either adjectively or in composition, signifying female, as in maid child, maidservant.
4. (Zoöl.) The female of a ray or skate, esp. of the gray skate (Raia batis), and of the thornback (R. clavata). [Prov. Eng.]
Fair maid. (Zoöl.) See under Fair, a. -- Maid of honor, a female attendant of a queen or royal princess; -- usually of noble family, and having to perform only nominal or honorary duties. -- Old maid. See under Old.
Maid"en (?), n. [OE. maiden, meiden, AS. mægden, dim. of AS. mæg&?;, fr. mago son, servant; akin to G. magd, mädchen, maid, OHG. magad, Icel. mögr son, Goth. magus boy, child, magaps virgin, and perh. to Zend. magu youth. Cf. Maid a virgin.] 1. An unmarried woman; a girl or woman who has not experienced sexual intercourse; a virgin; a maid.
She employed the residue of her life to repairing of highways, building of bridges, and endowing of maidens.
Carew.
A maiden of our century, yet most meek.
Tennyson.
2. A female servant. [Obs.]
3. An instrument resembling the guillotine, formerly used in Scotland for beheading criminals. Wharton.
4. A machine for washing linen.
Maid"en, a. 1. Of or pertaining to a maiden, or to maidens; suitable to, or characteristic of, a virgin; as, maiden innocence. "Amid the maiden throng." Addison.
Have you no modesty, no maiden shame ?
Shak.
2. Never having been married; not having had sexual intercourse; virgin; -- said usually of the woman, but sometimes of the man; as, a maiden aunt. "A surprising old maiden lady." Thackeray.
3. Fresh; innocent; unpolluted; pure; hitherto unused. "Maiden flowers." Shak.
Full bravely hast thou fleshed Thy maiden sword.
Shak.
4. Used of a fortress, signifying that it has never been captured, or violated. T. Warton. Macaulay.
Maiden assize (Eng. Law), an assize which there is no criminal prosecution; an assize which is unpolluted with blood. It was usual, at such an assize, for the sheriff to present the judge with a pair of white gloves. Smart. -- Maiden name, the surname of a woman before her marriage. -- Maiden pink. (Bot.) See under Pink. -- Maiden plum (Bot.), a West Indian tree (Comocladia integrifolia) with purplish drupes. The sap of the tree is glutinous, and gives a persistent black stain. -- Maiden speech, the first speech made by a person, esp. by a new member in a public body. -- Maiden tower, the tower most capable of resisting an enemy.
Maid"en, v. t. To act coyly like a maiden; -- with it as an indefinite object.
For had I maiden'd it, as many use. Loath for to grant, but loather to refuse.
Bp. Hall.
Maid"en*hair` (?), n. (Bot.) A fern of the genus Adiantum (A. pedatum), having very slender graceful stalks. It is common in the United States, and is sometimes used in medicine. The name is also applied to other species of the same genus, as to the Venus-hair.
Maiden grass, the smaller quaking grass. -- Maiden tree. See Ginkgo.
Maid"en*head (?), n. [See Maidenhood.] 1. The state of being a maiden; maidenhood; virginity. Shak.
2. The state of being unused or uncontaminated; freshness; purity. [Obs.]
The maidenhead of their credit.
Sir H. Wotton.
3. The hymen, or virginal membrane.
Maid"en*hood (?), n. [AS. mægdenhd. See Maid, and -hood.] 1. The state of being a maid or a virgin; virginity. Shak.
2. Newness; freshness; uncontaminated state.
The maidenhood Of thy fight.
Shak.
Maid"en*like` (?), a. Like a maiden; modest; coy.
Maid"en*li*ness (?), n. The quality of being maidenly; the behavior that becomes a maid; modesty; gentleness.
Maid"en*ly, a. Like a maid; suiting a maid; maiden-like; gentle, modest, reserved.
Must you be blushing ? . . . What a maidenly man-at-arms are you become !
Shak.
Maid"en*ly, adv. In a maidenlike manner. "Maidenly demure." Skelton.
Maid"en*ship, n. Maidenhood. [Obs.] Fuller.
Maid"hood (?), n. [AS. mægðhd. See Maid, and -hood.] Maidenhood. Shak.
Maid`ma"ri*an (?), n. [Maid + Marian, relating to Mary, or the Virgin Mary.] 1. The lady of the May games; one of the characters in a morris dance; a May queen. Afterward, a grotesque character personated in sports and buffoonery by a man in woman's clothes.
2. A kind of dance. Sir W. Temple.
Maid"pale` (?), a. Pale, like a sick girl. Shak.
Maid"serv`ant (?), n. A female servant.
Maid's" hair` (?). (Bot.) The yellow bedstraw (Galium verum).
{ Ma*ieu"tic (m*"tk), Ma*ieu"tic*al (-t*kal), } a. [Gr. maieytiko`s, fr. mai^a midwife.] 1. Serving to assist childbirth. Cudworth.
2. Fig. : Aiding, or tending to, the definition and interpretation of thoughts or language. Payne.
Ma*ieu"tics (?), n. The art of giving birth (i. e., clearness and conviction) to ideas, which are conceived as struggling for birth. Payne.
Mai"ger (?), n. (Zoöl.) The meagre.
Mai"gre (?), a. [F. See Meager.] Belonging to a fast day or fast; as, a maigre day. Walpole.
Maigre food (R. C. Ch.), food allowed to be eaten on fast days.
<! p. 884 !>
Mai"hem (m"hm), n. See Maim, and Mayhem.
||Mai*kel" (mä*kl"), n. (Zoöl.) A South American carnivore of the genus ||Conepatus, allied to the skunk, but larger, and having a longer ||snout. The tail is not bushy.
||Mai*kong" (?), n. (Zoöl.) A South American wild dog (Canis ||cancrivorus); the crab- eating dog.
Mail (ml), n. A spot. [Obs.]
Mail, n. [F. maille, OF. also maaille, LL. medalia. See Medal.] 1. A small piece of money; especially, an English silver half-penny of the time of Henry V. [Obs.] [Written also maile, and maille.]
2. Rent; tribute. [Obs., except in certain compounds and phrases, as blackmail, mails and duties, etc.]
Mail and duties (Scots Law), the rents of an estate, in whatever form paid.
Mail, n. [OE. maile, maille, F. maille a ring of mail, mesh, network, a coat of mail, fr. L. macula spot, a mesh of a net. Cf. Macle, Macula, Mascle.] 1. A flexible fabric made of metal rings interlinked. It was used especially for defensive armor. Chaucer.
Chain mail, Coat of mail. See under Chain, and Coat.
2. Hence generally, armor, or any defensive covering.
3. (Naut.) A contrivance of interlinked rings, for rubbing off the loose hemp on lines and white cordage.
4. (Zoöl.) Any hard protective covering of an animal, as the scales and plates of reptiles, shell of a lobster, etc.
We . . . strip the lobster of his scarlet mail.
Gay.
Mail, v. t. 1. To arm with mail.
2. To pinion. [Obs.]
Mail, n. [OE. male bag, OF. male, F. malle bag, trunk, mail, OHG. malaha, malha, wallet; akin to D. maal, male; cf. Gael. & Ir. mala, Gr. molgo`s hide, skin.] 1. A bag; a wallet. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. The bag or bags with the letters, papers, or other matter contained therein, conveyed under public authority from one post office to another; the whole system of appliances used by government in the conveyance and delivery of mail matter.
There is a mail come in to-day, with letters dated Hague.
Tatler.
3. That which comes in the mail; letters, etc., received through the post office.
4. A trunk, box, or bag, in which clothing, etc., may be carried. [Obs.] Sir W. Scott.
Mail bag, a bag in which mailed matter is conveyed under public authority. -- Mail boat, a boat that carries the mail. -- Mail catcher, an iron rod, or other contrivance, attached to a railroad car for catching a mail bag while the train is in motion. -- Mail guard, an officer whose duty it is to guard the public mails. [Eng.] -- Mail train, a railroad train carrying the mail.
Mail, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mailed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Mailing.] To deliver into the custody of the postoffice officials, or place in a government letter box, for transmission by mail; to post; as, to mail a letter. [U. S.]
In the United States to mail and to post are both in common use; as, to mail or post a letter. In England post is the commoner usage.
Mail"a*ble (?), a. Admissible lawfully into the mail. [U.S.]
Mail"clad` (?), a. Protected by a coat of mail; clad in armor. Sir W. Scott.
Mailed (?), a. (Zoöl.) Protected by an external coat, or covering, of scales or plates.
Mailed, a. [See 1st Mail.] Spotted; speckled.
Mail"ing (?), n. [Scot., fr. mail tribute, rent. See 2d Mail.] A farm. [Scot.] Sir W. Scott.
Mail"-shell` (?), n. (Zoöl.) A chiton.
Maim (mm), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Maimed (mmd);p. pr. & vb. n. Maiming.] [OE. maimen, OF. mahaignier, mehaignier, meshaignier, cf. It. magagnare, LL. mahemiare, mahennare; perh. of Celtic origin; cf. Armor. mac'haña to mutilate, mc'ha to crowd, press; or cf. OHG. mangn to lack, perh. akin to E. mangle to lacerate. Cf. Mayhem.] 1. To deprive of the use of a limb, so as to render a person in fighting less able either to defend himself or to annoy his adversary.
By the ancient law of England he that maimed any man whereby he lost any part of his body, was sentenced to lose the like part.
Blackstone.
2. To mutilate; to cripple; to injure; to disable; to impair.
My late maimed limbs lack wonted might.
Spenser.
You maimed the jurisdiction of all bishops.
Shak.
Syn. -- To mutilate; mangle; cripple.
Maim, n. [Written in law language maihem, and mayhem.] [OF. mehaing. See Maim, v.] 1. The privation of the use of a limb or member of the body, by which one is rendered less able to defend himself or to annoy his adversary.
2. The privation of any necessary part; a crippling; mutilation; injury; deprivation of something essential. See Mayhem.
Surely there is more cause to fear lest the want there of be a maim than the use of it a blemish.
Hooker.
A noble author esteems it to be a maim in history that the acts of Parliament should not be recited.
Hayward.
Maim"ed*ly (?), adv. In a maimed manner.
Maim"ed*ness, n. State of being maimed. Bolton.
Main (?), n. [F. main hand, L. manus. See Manual.] 1. A hand or match at dice. Prior. Thackeray.
2. A stake played for at dice. [Obs.] Shak.
3. The largest throw in a match at dice; a throw at dice within given limits, as in the game of hazard.
4. A match at cockfighting. "My lord would ride twenty miles . . . to see a main fought." Thackeray.
5. A main-hamper. [Obs.] Ainsworth.
Main, n. [AS. mægen strength, power, force; akin to OHG. magan, Icel. megin, and to E. may, v. &?;. See May, v.] 1. Strength; force; might; violent effort. [Obs., except in certain phrases.]
There were in this battle of most might and main.
R. of Gl.
He 'gan advance, With huge force, and with importable main.
Spenser.
2. The chief or principal part; the main or most important thing. [Obs., except in special uses.]
Resolved to rest upon the title of Lancaster as the main, and to use the other two . . . but as supporters.
Bacon.
3. Specifically: (a) The great sea, as distinguished from an arm, bay, etc. ; the high sea; the ocean. "Struggling in the main." Dryden. (b) The continent, as distinguished from an island; the mainland. "Invaded the main of Spain." Bacon. (c) principal duct or pipe, as distinguished from lesser ones; esp. (Engin.), a principal pipe leading to or from a reservoir; as, a fire main.
Forcing main, the delivery pipe of a pump. -- For the main, or In the main, for the most part; in the greatest part. -- With might and main, or With all one's might and main, with all one's strength; with violent effort.
With might and main they chased the murderous fox.
Dryden.
Main (?), a. [From Main strength, possibly influenced by OF. maine, magne, great, L. magnus. Cf. Magnate.] 1. Very or extremely strong. [Obs.]
That current with main fury ran.
Daniel.
2. Vast; huge. [Obs.] "The main abyss." Milton.
3. Unqualified; absolute; entire; sheer. [Obs.] "It's a man untruth." Sir W. Scott.
4. Principal; chief; first in size, rank, importance, etc.
Our main interest is to be happy as we can.
Tillotson.
5. Important; necessary. [Obs.]
That which thou aright Believest so main to our success, I bring.
Milton.
By main force, by mere force or sheer force; by violent effort; as, to subdue insurrection by main force.
That Maine which by main force Warwick did win.
Shak.
-- By main strength, by sheer strength; as, to lift a heavy weight by main strength. -- Main beam (Steam Engine), working beam. -- Main boom (Naut.), the boom which extends the foot of the mainsail in a fore and aft vessel. -- Main brace. (a) (Mech.) The brace which resists the chief strain. Cf. Counter brace. (b) (Naut.) The brace attached to the main yard. -- Main center (Steam Engine), a shaft upon which a working beam or side lever swings. -- Main chance. See under Chance. -- Main couple (Arch.), the principal truss in a roof. -- Main deck (Naut.), the deck next below the spar deck; the principal deck. -- Main keel (Naut.), the principal or true keel of a vessel, as distinguished from the false keel.
Syn. -- Principal; chief; leading; cardinal; capital.
Main, adv. [See Main, a.] Very; extremely; as, main heavy. "I'm main dry." Foote. [Obs. or Low]
Maine (?), n. One of the New England States.
Maine law, any law prohibiting the manufacture and sale of intoxicating beverages, esp. one resembling that enacted in the State of Maine.
Main`-gauche" (mN`gsh"), n. [F., the left hand.] (Ancient Armor) The dagger held in the left hand, while the rapier is held in the right; -- used to parry thrusts of the adversary's rapier.
Main"-ham`per (?), n. [F. main hand (see Main a hand at dice) + E. hamper.] A hamper to be carried in the hand; a hand basket used in carrying grapes to the press.
Main"land` (?), n. The continent; the principal land; -- opposed to island, or peninsula. Dryden.
After the two wayfarers had crossed from the peninsula to the mainland.
Hawthorne.
Main"ly (?), adv. [From main strong. See Main strength.] Very strongly; mightily; to a great degree. [Obs.] Bacon. Shak.
Main"ly, adv. [From main principal, chief.] Principally; chiefly.
Main"mast` (?), n. (Naut.) The principal mast in a ship or other vessel.
Main"or (?), n. [Anglo-Norm. meinoure, OF. manuevre. See Maneuver.] (O. Eng. Law) A thing stolen found on the person of the thief.
A thief was said to be "taken with the mainor," when he was taken with the thing stolen upon him, that is, in his hands. Wharton. Bouvier.
Main"per*na*ble (?), a. [OF. main hand + pernable, for prenable, that may be taken, pregnable. See Mainpernor.] (Law) Capable of being admitted to give surety by mainpernors; able to be mainprised.
Main"per*nor (?), n. [OF. main hand + pernor, for preneor, a taker, F. preneur, fr. prendre to take.] (Law) A surety, under the old writ of mainprise, for a prisoner's appearance in court at a day.
Mainpernors differ from bail in that a man's bail may imprison or surrender him before the stipulated day of appearance; mainpernors can do neither; they are bound to produce him to answer all charges whatsoever. Blackstone.
Main"pin (?), n. (Vehicles) A kingbolt.
Main"prise (?), n. [F. main hand + prise a taking, fr. prendre, p. p. pris to take, fr. L. prehendere, prehensum.] (Law) (a) A writ directed to the sheriff, commanding him to take sureties, called mainpernors, for the prisoner's appearance, and to let him go at large. This writ is now obsolete. Wharton. (b) Deliverance of a prisoner on security for his appearance at a day.
Main"prise, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mainprised (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Mainprising.] (Law) To suffer to go at large, on his finding sureties, or mainpernors, for his appearance at a day; -- said of a prisoner.
Mains (mnz), n. [Scot. See Manse.] The farm attached to a mansion house. [Scot.]
Main"sail` (mn"sl`), n. (Naut.) The principal sail in a ship or other vessel.
[They] hoised up the mainsail to the wind.
Acts xxvii. 40.
The mainsail of a ship is extended upon a yard attached to the mainmast, and that of a sloop or schooner upon the boom.
Main"sheet` (?), n. (Naut.) One of the ropes by which the mainsail is hauled aft and trimmed.
Main"spring` (?), n. The principal or most important spring in a piece of mechanism, especially the moving spring of a watch or clock or the spring in a gunlock which impels the hammer. Hence: The chief or most powerful motive; the efficient cause of action.
Main"stay` (?), n. 1. (Naut.) The stay extending from the foot of the foremast to the maintop.
2. Main support; principal dependence.
The great mainstay of the Church.
Buckle.
Main"swear` (?), v. i. [AS. mnswerian to forswear; mn sin, crime + swerian to swear.] To swear falsely. [Obs.] Blount.
Main*tain (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Maintained (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Maintaining.] [OE. maintenen, F. maintenir, properly, to hold by the hand; main hand (L. manus) + F. tenir to hold (L. tenere). See Manual, and Tenable.] 1. To hold or keep in any particular state or condition; to support; to sustain; to uphold; to keep up; not to suffer to fail or decline; as, to maintain a certain degree of heat in a furnace; to maintain a fence or a railroad; to maintain the digestive process or powers of the stomach; to maintain the fertility of soil; to maintain present reputation.
2. To keep possession of; to hold and defend; not to surrender or relinquish.
God values . . . every one as he maintains his post.
Grew.
3. To continue; not to suffer to cease or fail.
Maintain talk with the duke.
Shak.
4. To bear the expense of; to support; to keep up; to supply with what is needed.
Glad, by his labor, to maintain his life.
Stirling.
What maintains one vice would bring up two children.
Franklin.
5. To affirm; to support or defend by argument.
It is hard to maintain the truth, but much harder to be maintained by it.
South.
Syn. -- To assert; vindicate; allege. See Assert.
Main*tain"a*ble (?), a. That may be maintained.
Main*tain"er (?), n. One who maintains.
Main*tain"or (?), n. [OF. mainteneor, F. mainteneur.] (Crim. Law) One who, not being interested, maintains a cause depending between others, by furnishing money, etc., to either party. Bouvier. Wharton.
Main"te*nance (?), n. [OF. maintenance. See Maintain.] 1. The act of maintaining; sustenance; support; defense; vindication.
Whatsoever is granted to the church for God's honor and the maintenance of his service, is granted to God.
South.
2. That which maintains or supports; means of sustenance; supply of necessaries and conveniences.
Those of better fortune not making learning their maintenance.
Swift.
3. (Crim. Law) An officious or unlawful intermeddling in a cause depending between others, by assisting either party with money or means to carry it on. See Champerty. Wharton.
Cap of maintenance. See under Cap.
Main"top` (?), n. (Naut.) The platform about the head of the mainmast in square-rigged vessels.