Mel"i*lite (ml"*lt), n. [Gr. me`li honey + -lite; cf. F. mélilithe.]
(Min.) A mineral occurring in small yellow crystals, found in the lavas
(melilite basalt) of Vesuvius, and elsewhere. [Written also mellilite.]
Mel"i*lot (-lt), n. [F. mélilot, L. melilotus, fr. Gr. &?;, &?;, a kind
of clover containing honey; me`li honey + &?; lotus.] (Bot.) Any
species of Melilotus, a genus of leguminous herbs having a vanillalike
odor; sweet clover; hart's clover. The blue melilot (Melilotus cærulea)
is used in Switzerland to give color and flavor to sapsago cheese.
Mel`i*lot"ic (?), a. (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or obtained from, sweet
clover or melilot; specifically, designating an acid of the aromatic
series, obtained from melilot as a white crystalline substance.
Mel"io*rate (ml"y*rt), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Meliorated (- r`td); p. pr.
& vb. n. Meliorating.] [L. melioratus, p. p. of meliorare to meliorate,
fr. melior better; akin to Gr. ma^llon rather, ma`la very. Cf.
Ameliorate.] To make better; to improve; to ameliorate; to soften; to
make more tolerable.
Nature by art we nobly meliorate.
Denham.
The pure and benign light of revelation has had a meliorating
influence on mankind.
Washington.
Mel"io*rate, v. i. To grow better.
Mel"io*ra`ter (?), n. Same as Meliorator.
Mel`io*ra"tion (?), n. [L. melioratio.] The act or operation of
meliorating, or the state of being meliorated; improvement. Bacon.
Mel"io*ra`tor (?), n. One who meliorates.
Mel"io*rism (?), n. [From L. melior better.] The doctrine that there is
a tendency throughout nature toward improvement. J. Sully.
Mel*ior"i*ty (?), n. [LL. melioritas, fr. L. melior. See Meliorate.]
The state or quality of being better; melioration. [Obs.] Bacon.
Me*liph"a*gan (?), a. [Gr. me`li honey + &?; to eat.] (Zoöl.) Belonging
to the genus Meliphaga.
Me*liph"a*gan, n. (Zoöl.) Any bird of the genus Meliphaga and allied
genera; a honey eater; -- called also meliphagidan.
Me*liph"a*gous (?), a. [See Meliphagan.] (Zool.) Eating, or feeding
upon, honey.
||Me*lis"ma (?), n.; pl. Melismata (#). [NL., fr. Gr. me`lisma a song.]
||(Mus.) (a) A piece of melody; a song or tune, -- as opposed to
||recitative or musical declamation. (b) A grace or embellishment.
||Me*lis"sa (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. me`lissa a bee, honey.] (Bot.) A
||genus of labiate herbs, including the balm, or bee balm (Melissa
||officinalis).
Me*lis"sic (?), a. [Gr. me`lissa a bee, honey.] (Chem.) Pertaining to,
or derived from, beeswax; specif., denoting an acid obtained by
oxidation of myricin.
Me*lis"syl (?), n. [Melissic +yl.] (Chem.) See Myricyl.
Me*lis"sy*lene (?), n. [Melissic + -yl + -ene.] (Chem.) See Melene.
Mel"i*tose` (?), n. [Gr. me`li honey.] (Chem.) A variety of sugar
isomeric with sucrose, extracted from cotton seeds and from the so-
called Australian manna (a secretion of certain species of Eucalyptus).
Mell (?), v. i. & t. [F. mêler, OF. meller, mester. See Meddle.] To
mix; to meddle. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Mell, n. [See Mellifluous.] Honey. [Obs.] Warner.
Mell, n. A mill. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Mel"late (?), n. [L. mel, mellis, honey. Cf. Mellitate.] (Chem.) A
mellitate. [R.]
Mel"lay (?), n. A mêlée; a conflict. Tennyson.