||Mag"ma (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to squeeze, knead.] 1. Any
||crude mixture of mineral or organic matters in the state of a thin
||paste. Ure.
2. (Med.) (a) A thick residuum obtained from certain substances after
the fluid parts are expressed from them; the grounds which remain after
treating a substance with any menstruum, as water or alcohol. (b) A
salve or confection of thick consistency. Dunglison.
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3. (Geol.) (a) The molten matter within the earth, the source of the
material of lava flows, dikes of eruptive rocks, etc. (b) The glassy
base of an eruptive rock.
4. (Chem.) The amorphous or homogenous matrix or ground mass, as
distinguished from well-defined crystals; as, the magma of porphyry.
||Mag"na Char"ta (?). [L., great charter.] 1. The great Charter, so
||called, obtained by the English barons from King John, A. D. 1215.
||This name is also given to the charter granted to the people of
||England in the ninth year of Henry III., and confirmed by Edward I.
2. Hence, a fundamental constitution which guaranties rights and
privileges.
Mag*nal"i*ty (?), n. [L. magnalis mighty, fr. magnus great.] A great
act or event; a great attainment. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
Mag`na*nim"i*ty (?), n. [F. magnanimité, L. magnanimitas.] The quality
of being magnanimous; greatness of mind; elevation or dignity of soul;
that quality or combination of qualities, in character, which enables
one to encounter danger and trouble with tranquility and firmness, to
disdain injustice, meanness and revenge, and to act and sacrifice for
noble objects.
Mag*nan"i*mous (?), a.[L. magnanimus; magnus great + animus mind. See
Magnate, and Animus.] 1. Great of mind; elevated in soul or in
sentiment; raised above what is low, mean, or ungenerous; of lofty and
courageous spirit; as, a magnanimous character; a magnanimous
conqueror.
Be magnanimous in the enterprise.
Shak.
To give a kingdom hath been thought Greater and nobler done, and to
lay down Far more magnanimous than to assume.
Milton.
2. Dictated by or exhibiting nobleness of soul; honorable; noble; not
selfish.
Both strived for death; magnanimous debate.
Stirling.
There is an indissoluble union between a magnanimous policy and the
solid rewards of public prosperity and felicity.
Washington.
Mag*nan"i*mous*ly, adv. In a magnanimous manner; with greatness of
mind.
Mag"nase black` (?). (Paint.) A black pigment which dries rapidly when
mixed with oil, and is of intense body. Fairholt.
Mag"nate (?), [F. magnat, L. (pl.) magnates, magnati, fr. magnus great.
See Master.] 1. A person of rank; a noble or grandee; a person of
influence or distinction in any sphere. Macaulay.
2. One of the nobility, or certain high officers of state belonging to
the noble estate in the national representation of Hungary, and
formerly of Poland.
Mag"nes (?), n. [L.] Magnet. [Obs.] Spenser.
Mag*ne"si*a (?; 277), n. [L. Magnesia, fem. of Magnesius of the country
Magnesia, Gr. h` Magnhsi`a li`qos a magnet. Cf. Magnet.] (Chem.) A
light earthy white substance, consisting of magnesium oxide, and
obtained by heating magnesium hydrate or carbonate, or by burning
magnesium. It has a slightly alkaline reaction, and is used in medicine
as a mild antacid laxative. See Magnesium.
Magnesia alba [L.] (Med. Chem.), a bulky white amorphous substance,
consisting of a hydrous basic carbonate of magnesium, and used as a
mild cathartic.
Mag*ne"sian (?), a. Pertaining to, characterized by, or containing,
magnesia or magnesium.
Magnesian limestone. (Min.) See Dolomite.
Mag*ne"sic (?), a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or containing, magnesium; as,
magnesic oxide.
Mag"ne*site (?), n. [Cf. F. magnésite.] (Min.) Native magnesium
carbonate occurring in white compact or granular masses, and also in
rhombohedral crystals.
Mag*ne"si*um (?), n. [NL. & F. See Magnesia.] (Chem.) A light
silver-white metallic element, malleable and ductile, quite permanent
in dry air but tarnishing in moist air. It burns, forming (the oxide)
magnesia, with the production of a blinding light (the so-called
magnesium light) which is used in signaling, in pyrotechny, or in
photography where a strong actinic illuminant is required. Its
compounds occur abundantly, as in dolomite, talc, meerschaum, etc.
Symbol Mg. Atomic weight, 24.4. Specific gravity, 1.75.
Magnesium sulphate. (Chem.) Same as Epsom salts.
Mag"net (mg"nt), n. [OE. magnete, OF. magnete, L. magnes, - etis, Gr.
Magnh^tis li`qos a magnet, metal that looked like silver, prop.,
Magnesian stone, fr. Gr. Magnhsi`a, a country in Thessaly. Cf.
Magnesia, Manganese.] 1. The loadstone; a species of iron ore (the
ferrosoferric or magnetic ore, Fe3O4) which has the property of
attracting iron and some of its ores, and, when freely suspended, of
pointing to the poles; -- called also natural magnet.
Dinocrates began to make the arched roof of the temple of Arsinoë
all of magnet, or this loadstone.
Holland.
Two magnets, heaven and earth, allure to bliss, The larger
loadstone that, the nearer this.
Dryden.
2. (Physics) A bar or mass of steel or iron to which the peculiar
properties of the loadstone have been imparted; -- called, in
distinction from the loadstone, an artificial magnet.
An artificial magnet, produced by the action of a voltaic or electrical
battery, is called an electro-magnet.
Field magnet (Physics & Elec.), a magnet used for producing and
maintaining a magnetic field; -- used especially of the stationary or
exciting magnet of a dynamo or electromotor in distinction from that of
the moving portion or armature.
{ Mag*net"ic (?), Mag*net"ic*al (?), } a. [L. magneticus: cf. F.
magnétique.] 1. Pertaining to the magnet; possessing the properties of
the magnet, or corresponding properties; as, a magnetic bar of iron; a
magnetic needle.
2. Of or pertaining to, or characterized by, the earth's magnetism; as,
the magnetic north; the magnetic meridian.
3. Capable of becoming a magnet; susceptible to magnetism; as, the
magnetic metals.
4. Endowed with extraordinary personal power to excite the feelings and
to win the affections; attractive; inducing attachment.
She that had all magnetic force alone.
Donne.
5. Having, susceptible to, or induced by, animal magnetism, so called;
as, a magnetic sleep. See Magnetism.
Magnetic amplitude, attraction, dip, induction, etc. See under
Amplitude, Attraction, etc. -- Magnetic battery, a combination of bar
or horseshoe magnets with the like poles adjacent, so as to act
together with great power. -- Magnetic compensator, a contrivance
connected with a ship's compass for compensating or neutralizing the
effect of the iron of the ship upon the needle. -- Magnetic curves,
curves indicating lines of magnetic force, as in the arrangement of
iron filings between the poles of a powerful magnet. -- Magnetic
elements. (a) (Chem. Physics) Those elements, as iron, nickel, cobalt,
chromium, manganese, etc., which are capable or becoming magnetic. (b)
(Physics) In respect to terrestrial magnetism, the declination,
inclination, and intensity. (c) See under Element. -- Magnetic equator,
the line around the equatorial parts of the earth at which there is no
dip, the dipping needle being horizontal. -- Magnetic field, or Field
of magnetic force, any space through which a magnet exerts its
influence. -- Magnetic fluid, the hypothetical fluid whose existence
was formerly assumed in the explanations of the phenomena of magnetism.
-- Magnetic iron, or Magnetic iron ore. (Min.) Same as Magnetite. --
Magnetic needle, a slender bar of steel, magnetized and suspended at
its center on a sharp-pointed pivot, or by a delicate fiber, so that it
may take freely the direction of the magnetic meridian. It constitutes
the essential part of a compass, such as the mariner's and the
surveyor's. -- Magnetic poles, the two points in the opposite polar
regions of the earth at which the direction of the dipping needle is
vertical. -- Magnetic pyrites. See Pyrrhotite. -- Magnetic storm
(Terrestrial Physics), a disturbance of the earth's magnetic force
characterized by great and sudden changes. -- Magnetic telegraph, a
telegraph acting by means of a magnet. See Telegraph.