Ma*ter"nal (?), a. [F. maternel, L. maternus, fr. mater mother. See
Mother.] Of or pertaining to a mother; becoming to a mother; motherly;
as, maternal love; maternal tenderness.
Syn. -- See Motherly.
Ma*ter"nal*ly, adv. In a motherly manner.
Ma*ter"ni*ty (?), n. [F. maternité, LL. maternitas.] The state of being
a mother; the character or relation of a mother.
Mat"fel*on (?), n. [W. madfelen.] (Bot.) The knapweed (Centaurea
nigra).
Math (?), n. [AS. mð; akin to mwan to mow, G. mahd math. See Mow to cut
(grass).] A mowing, or that which is gathered by mowing; -- chiefly
used in composition; as, an aftermath. [Obs.]
The first mowing thereof, for the king's use, is wont to be sooner
than the common math.
Bp. Hall.
Math`e*mat"ic (?), a. [F. mathématique, L. mathematicus, Gr. &?;
disposed to learn, belonging to learning or the sciences, especially to
mathematics, fr. &?; that which is learned, learning, pl. &?; things
learned, learning, science, especially mathematical science, fr. &?;,
&?;, to learn; akin to E. mind. See Mind.] See Mathematical.
Math`e*mat"ic*al (?), a. [See Mathematic.] Of or pertaining to
mathematics; according to mathematics; hence, theoretically precise;
accurate; as, mathematical geography; mathematical instruments;
mathematical exactness. -- Math`e*mat"ic*al*ly, adv.
Math`e*ma*ti"cian (?), n. [Cf. F. mathématicien.] One versed in
mathematics.
Math`e*mat"ics (?), n. [F. mathématiques, pl., L. mathematica, sing.,
Gr. &?; (sc. &?;) science. See Mathematic, and -ics.] That science, or
class of sciences, which treats of the exact relations existing between
quantities or magnitudes, and of the methods by which, in accordance
with these relations, quantities sought are deducible from other
quantities known or supposed; the science of spatial and quantitative
relations.
Mathematics embraces three departments, namely: 1. Arithmetic. 2.
Geometry, including Trigonometry and Conic Sections. 3. Analysis, in
which letters are used, including Algebra, Analytical Geometry, and
Calculus. Each of these divisions is divided into pure or abstract,
which considers magnitude or quantity abstractly, without relation to
matter; and mixed or applied, which treats of magnitude as subsisting
in material bodies, and is consequently interwoven with physical
considerations.
Math"er (?), n. See Madder.
Math"es (?), n. [Perh. corrupted fr. L. anthemis camomile, Gr. &?; .]
(Bot.) The mayweed. Cf. Maghet.
||Ma*the"sis (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. &?;, from &?;, &?;, to learn.]
||Learning; especially, mathematics. [R.] Pope.
Math"u*rin (?), n. (R. C. Ch.) See Trinitarian.
Ma*ti"co (?), n. (Bot.) A Peruvian plant (Piper, or Artanthe,
elongatum), allied to the pepper, the leaves of which are used as a
styptic and astringent.
Mat"ie (?), n. (Zoöl.) A fat herring with undeveloped roe. [Written
also matty.] [Eng. & Scot.]
||Mâ`tin" (?), n. [F. mâtin.] (Zoöl.) A French mastiff.
Mat"in (?), n. [F. fr. L. matutinum the morning, matutinus of the
morning, Matuta the goddess of the morning. See Matutinal.] 1. Morning.
[Obs.] Shak.
2. pl. [F. matines. See Etymol. above.] Morning worship or service;
morning prayers or songs.
The winged choristers began To chirp their matins.
Cleveland.
3. Time of morning service; the first canonical hour in the Roman
Catholic Church.
Mat"in, a. Of or pertaining to the morning, or to matins; used in the
morning; matutinal.
Mat"in*al (?), a. Relating to the morning, or to matins; matutinal.
Mat`i*née" (?), n. [F., from matin. See Matin.] A reception, or a
musical or dramatic entertainment, held in the daytime. See SoirÉe.
Ma*trass" (?), n. [F. matras; perh. so called from its long narrow
neck; cf. OF. matras large arrow, L. materis, mataris, matara, a Celtic
javelin, pike; of Celtic origin.] (Chem.) A round- bottomed glass flask
having a long neck; a bolthead.
Mat"ress (?), n. See Matress.
Ma"tri*arch (?), n. [L. mater mother + -arch.] The mother and ruler of
a family or of her descendants; a ruler by maternal right.
Ma`tri*ar"chal (?), a. Of or pertaining to a matriarch; governed by a
matriarch.
Ma"tri*ar"chate (?), n. The office or jurisdiction of a matriarch; a
matriarchal form of government.
Ma"trice (?), n. [Cf. F. matrice. See Matrix.] See Matrix.
Mat"ri*ci`dal (?), a. Of or pertaining to matricide.
Mat"ri*cide (?), n. [L. matricidium; mater mother + coedere to kill,
slay: cf. F. matricide. See Mother, and cf. Homicide.] 1. The murder of
a mother by her son or daughter.