He could attain to a mastery in all languages.
Tillotson.
The learning and mastery of a tongue, being unpleasant in itself,
should not be cumbered with other difficulties.
Locke.
Mast"ful (?), a. [See lst Mast.] Abounding in mast; producing mast in
abundance; as, the mastful forest; a mastful chestnut. Dryden.
Mast"head` (?), n. (Naut.) The top or head of a mast; the part of a
mast above the hounds.
Mast"head", v. t. (Naut.) To cause to go to the masthead as a
punishment. Marryat.
Mast"house` (?), n. A building in which vessels' masts are shaped,
fitted, etc.
Mas"tic (?), n. [F., fr. L. mastiche, mastichum, Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to
chew, because of its being used in the East for chewing.] [Written also
mastich.]
1. (Bot.) A low shrubby tree of the genus Pistacia (P. Lentiscus),
growing upon the islands and coasts of the Mediterranean, and producing
a valuable resin; -- called also, mastic tree.
2. A resin exuding from the mastic tree, and obtained by incision. The
best is in yellowish white, semitransparent tears, of a faint smell,
and is used as an astringent and an aromatic, also as an ingredient in
varnishes.
3. A kind of cement composed of burnt clay, litharge, and linseed oil,
used for plastering walls, etc.
Barbary mastic (Bot.), the Pistachia Atlantica. -- Peruvian mastic tree
(Bot.), a small tree (Schinus Molle) with peppery red berries; --
called also pepper tree. -- West Indian mastic (Bot.), a lofty tree
(Bursera gummifera) full of gum resin in every part.
Mas"ti*ca*ble (?), a. Capable of being masticated.
Mas`ti*ca"dor (?), n. [Cf. Sp. mastigador. See Masticate.] (Man.) A
part of a bridle, the slavering bit. [Written also mastigador.]
Mas"ti*cate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Masticated (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Masticating (?).] [L. masticatus, p. p. of masticare to chew, prob. fr.
mastiche mastic. See Mastic.] To grind or crush with, or as with, the
teeth and prepare for swallowing and digestion; to chew; as, to
masticate food.
Mas"ti*ca`ter (?), n. One who masticates.
Mas`ti*ca"tion (?), n. [L. masticatio: cf. F. mastication.] The act or
operation of masticating; chewing, as of food.
Mastication is a necessary preparation of solid aliment, without
which there can be no good digestion.
Arbuthnot.
Mas"ti*ca`tor (?), n. 1. One who masticates.
2. A machine for cutting meat into fine pieces for toothless people;
also, a machine for cutting leather, India rubber, or similar tough
substances, into fine pieces, in some processes of manufacture.
Mas"ti*ca*to*ry (?), a. [Cf. F. masticatoire.] Chewing; adapted to
perform the office of chewing food.
Mas"ti*ca*to*ry, n.; pl. -ries (&?;). (Med.) A substance to be chewed
to increase the saliva. Bacon.
Mas"tich (?), n. See Mastic.
Mas"ti*cin (?), n. (Chem.) A white, amorphous, tenacious substance
resembling caoutchouc, and obtained as an insoluble residue of mastic.