3. A measure of length, equal to 39.37 English inches, the standard of
linear measure in the metric system of weights and measures. It was
intended to be, and is very nearly, the ten millionth part of the
distance from the equator to the north pole, as ascertained by actual
measurement of an arc of a meridian. See Metric system, under Metric.
Common meter (Hymnol.), four iambic verses, or lines, making a stanza,
the first and third having each four feet, and the second and fourth
each three feet; -- usually indicated by the initials C.M. -- Long
meter (Hymnol.), iambic verses or lines of four feet each, four verses
usually making a stanza; -- commonly indicated by the initials L. M. --
Short meter (Hymnol.), iambic verses or lines, the first, second, and
fourth having each three feet, and the third four feet. The stanza
usually consists of four lines, but is sometimes doubled. Short meter
is indicated by the initials S. M.
Me"ter*age (?), n. [See 1st Meter.] The act of measuring, or the cost
of measuring.
Me"ter*gram` (?), n. (Mech.) A measure of energy or work done; the
power exerted in raising one gram through the distance of one meter
against gravitation.
Mete"wand` (?), n. [Mete to measure + wand.] A measuring rod. Ascham.
Mete"yard` (?), n. [AS. metgeard. See Mete to measure, and Yard stick.]
A yard, staff, or rod, used as a measure. [Obs.] Shak.
Meth (?), n. See Meathe. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Met`hæm*o*glo"bin (? or ?), n. [Pref. met- + hæmoglobin.] (Physiol.
Chem.) A stable crystalline compound obtained by the decomposition of
hemoglobin. It is found in old blood stains.
Meth"al (?), n. [Myristic + ether + alcohol.] (Chem.) A white waxy
substance, found in small quantities in spermaceti as an ethereal salt
of several fatty acids, and regarded as an alcohol of the methane
series.
Meth"ane (?), n. [See Methal.] (Chem.) A light, colorless, gaseous,
inflammable hydrocarbon, CH4; marsh gas. See Marsh gas, under Gas.
Methane series (Chem.), a series of saturated hydrocarbons, of which
methane is the first member and type, and (because of their general
chemical inertness and indifference) called also the paraffin (little
affinity) series. The lightest members are gases, as methane, ethane;
intermediate members are liquids, as hexane, heptane, etc. (found in
benzine, kerosene, etc.); while the highest members are white, waxy, or
fatty solids, as paraffin proper.
Me*theg"lin (?), n. [W. meddyglyn; medd mead + llyn liquor, juice. See
Mead a drink.] A fermented beverage made of honey and water; mead. Gay.
Meth"ene (?), n. [Methyl + ethylene.] (Chem.) See Methylene.
Meth"e*nyl (?), n. [Methene + -yl.] (Chem.) The hypothetical
hydrocarbon radical CH, regarded as an essential residue of certain
organic compounds.
Meth"ide (? or ?), n. [See Methyl.] (Chem.) A binary compound of methyl
with some element; as, aluminium methide, Al2(CH3)6.
Me*thinks" (?), v. impers. [imp. Methought (?).] [AS. þyncan to seem, m
þynceð, m þhte, OE. me thinketh, me thoughte; akin to G. dünken to
seem, denken to think, and E. think. See Me, and Think.] It seems to
me; I think. See Me. [R., except in poetry.]
In all ages poets have been had in special reputation, and,
methinks, not without great cause.
Spenser.
Me*thi"on*ate (?), n. (Chem.) A salt of methionic acid.
Meth`i*on"ic (?), a. [Methyl + thionic.] (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or
designating, a sulphonic (thionic) acid derivative of methane, obtained
as a stable white crystalline substance, CH2.(SO3H)2, which forms well
defined salts.
Meth"od (?), n. [F. méthode, L. methodus, fr. Gr. meqodos method,
investigation following after; meta` after + "odo`s way.] 1. An orderly
procedure or process; regular manner of doing anything; hence, manner;
way; mode; as, a method of teaching languages; a method of improving
the mind. Addison.
2. Orderly arrangement, elucidation, development, or classification;
clear and lucid exhibition; systematic arrangement peculiar to an
individual.
Though this be madness, yet there's method in it.
Shak.
All method is a rational progress, a progress toward an end.
Sir W. Hamilton.
3. (Nat. Hist.) Classification; a mode or system of classifying natural
objects according to certain common characteristics; as, the method of
Theophrastus; the method of Ray; the Linnæan method.
Syn. -- Order; system; rule; regularity; way; manner; mode; course;
process; means. -- Method, Mode, Manner. Method implies arrangement;
mode, mere action or existence. Method is a way of reaching a given end
by a series of acts which tend to secure it; mode relates to a single
action, or to the form which a series of acts, viewed as a whole,
exhibits. Manner is literally the handling of a thing, and has a wider
sense, embracing both method and mode. An instructor may adopt a good
method of teaching to write; the scholar may acquire a bad mode of
holding his pen; the manner in which he is corrected will greatly
affect his success or failure.
{ Me*thod"ic (?), Me*thod"ic*al (?), } a. [L. methodicus, Gr. &?;: cf.
F. méthodique.] 1. Arranged with regard to method; disposed in a
suitable manner, or in a manner to illustrate a subject, or to
facilitate practical observation; as, the methodical arrangement of
arguments; a methodical treatise. "Methodical regularity." Addison.
2. Proceeding with regard to method; systematic. "Aristotle, strict,
methodic, and orderly." Harris.
3. Of or pertaining to the ancient school of physicians called
methodists. Johnson.
-- Me*thod"ic*al*ly, adv. -- Me*thod"ic*al*ness, n.
Me*thod"ios (?), n. The art and principles of method.
Meth"o*dism (?), n. (Eccl.) The system of doctrines, polity, and
worship, of the sect called Methodists. Bp. Warburton.
Meth"o*dist (?), n. [Cf. F. méthodiste. See Method.] 1. One who
observes method. [Obs.]
2. One of an ancient school of physicians who rejected observation and
founded their practice on reasoning and theory. Sir W. Hamilton.
3. (Theol.) One of a sect of Christians, the outgrowth of a small
association called the "Holy Club," formed at Oxford University, A.D.
1729, of which the most conspicuous members were John Wesley and his
brother Charles; -- originally so called from the methodical strictness
of members of the club in all religious duties.
4. A person of strict piety; one who lives in the exact observance of
religious duties; -- sometimes so called in contempt or ridicule.
Meth"o*dist, a. Of or pertaining to the sect of Methodists; as,
Methodist hymns; a Methodist elder.
{ Meth`o*dis"tic (?), Meth`o*dis"tic*al (?), } a. Of or pertaining to
methodists, or to the Methodists. -- Meth`o*dis"tic*al*ly, adv.
Meth`od*i*za"tion (?), n. The act or process of methodizing, or the
state of being methodized.
Meth"od*ize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Methodized (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Methodizing (?).] To reduce to method; to dispose in due order; to
arrange in a convenient manner; as, to methodize one's work or
thoughts. Spectator.
Meth"od*i`zer (?), n. One who methodizes.
Meth`od*o*log"ic*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to methodology.
Meth`od*ol"o*gy (?), n. [Gr. &?; method + -logy.] The science of method
or arrangement; a treatise on method. Coleridge.
Meth"ol (?), n. [Gr. &?; wine + - ol.] (Chem.) The technical name of
methyl alcohol or wood spirit; also, by extension, the class name of
any of the series of alcohols of the methane series of which methol
proper is the type. See Methyl alcohol, under Methyl.
Me*thought" (?), imp. of Methinks.
Meth*ox"yl (?), n. [Methyl + hydroxyl.] (Chem.) A hypothetical radical,
CH3O, analogous to hydroxyl.
Meth"yl (?), n. [See Methylene.] (Chem.) A hydrocarbon radical, CH3,
not existing alone but regarded as an essential residue of methane, and
appearing as a component part of many derivatives; as, methyl alcohol,
methyl ether, methyl amine, etc. [Formerly written also methule,
methyle, etc.]
Methyl alcohol (Chem.), a light, volatile, inflammable liquid, CH3.OH,
obtained by the distillation of wood, and hence called wood spirit; --
called also methol, carbinol, etc. -- Methyl amine (Chem.), a
colorless, inflammable, alkaline gas, CH3.NH2, having an ammoniacal,
fishy odor. It is produced artificially, and also occurs naturally in
herring brine and other fishy products. It is regarded as ammonia in
which a third of its hydrogen is replaced by methyl, and is a type of
the class of substituted ammonias. -- Methyl ether (Chem.), a light,
volatile ether CH3.O.CH3, obtained by the etherification of methyl
alcohol; -- called also methyl oxide. -- Methyl green. (Chem.) See
under Green, n. -- Methyl orange. (Chem.) See Helianthin. -- Methyl
violet (Chem.), an artificial dye, consisting of certain methyl halogen
derivatives of rosaniline.
Meth"yl*al (?), n. [Methylene + alcohol.] (Chem.) A light, volatile
liquid, H2C(OCH3)2, regarded as a complex ether, and having a pleasant
ethereal odor. It is obtained by the partial oxidation of methyl
alcohol. Called also formal.
Meth`yl*am"ine (? or ?), n. (Chem.) See Methyl amine, under Methyl.
Meth"yl*ate (?), n. [Methyl + alcoholate.] (Chem.) An alcoholate of
methyl alcohol in which the hydroxyl hydrogen is replaced by a metal,
after the analogy of a hydrate; as, sodium methylate, CH3ONa.
Meth"yl*ate (?), v. t. To impregnate or mix with methyl or methyl
alcohol.
Meth"yl*a`ted (?), a. (Chem.) Impregnated with, or containing, methyl
alcohol or wood spirit; as, methylated spirits.
Meth"yl*ene (?), n. [F. méthylène, from Gr. &?; wine + &?; wood; -- a
word coined to correspond to the name wood spirit.] (Chem.) A
hydrocarbon radical, CH2, not known in the free state, but regarded as
an essential residue and component of certain derivatives of methane;
as, methylene bromide, CH2Br2; -- formerly called also methene.
Methylene blue (Chem.), an artificial dyestuff consisting of a complex
sulphur derivative of diphenyl amine; -- called also pure blue.
Me*thyl"ic (?), a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, derived from, or containing,
methyl; specifically, designating methyl alcohol. See under Methyl.
Me*thys"ti*cin (?), n. (Chem.) A white, silky, crystalline substance
extracted from the thick rootstock of a species of pepper (Piper
methysticum) of the South Sea Islands; -- called also kanakin.
Met"ic (? or ?; 277), n. [Gr. &?;, prop., changing one's abode; &?;,
indicating change + &?; house, abode: cf. L. metoecus, F. métèque.]
(Gr. Antiq.) A sojourner; an immigrant; an alien resident in a Grecian
city, but not a citizen. Mitford.
The whole force of Athens, metics as well as citizens, and all the
strangers who were then in the city.
Jowett (Thucyd. ).
Me*tic"u*lous (?), a. [L. meticulosus, fr. metus fear: cf. F.
méticuleux.] Timid; fearful.
-- Me*tic"u*lous*ly, adv.
{ ||Mé`tif" (?), n. m. ||Mé`tive" (?), n. f. }[F.] See Métis.
{ ||Mé`tis" (?), n. m. ||Mé`tisse" (?), n. f. }[F.; akin to Sp.
mestizo. See Mestizo.] 1. The offspring of a white person and an
American Indian.
2. The offspring of a white person and a quadroon; an octoroon. [Local,
U. S.] Bartlett.
Met"o*che (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?; a sharing, fr. &?; to share in; &?;
with + &?; to have.] (Arch.) (a) The space between two dentils. (b) The
space between two triglyphs.
Me*ton"ic (?), a. [Cf. F. métonique.] Pertaining to, or discovered by,
Meton, the Athenian.
Metonic cycle or year. (Astron.) See under Cycle.
{ Met`o*nym"ic (?), Met`o*nym"ic*al (?), } a. [See Metonymy.] Used by
way of metonymy. -- Met`o*nym"ic*al*ly, adv.
Me*ton"y*my (m*tn"*m; 277), n. [L. metonymia, Gr. metwnymi`a; meta`,
indicating change + 'o`nyma , for 'o`noma a name: cf. F. métonymie. See
Name.] (Rhet.) A trope in which one word is put for another that
suggests it; as, we say, a man keeps a good table instead of good
provisions; we read Virgil, that is, his poems; a man has a warm heart,
that is, warm affections.
Met"o*pe (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. &?;; meta` with, between + &?; opening,
hole, the hole in the frieze between the beam ends.] 1. (Arch.) The
space between two triglyphs of the Doric frieze, which, among the
ancients, was often adorned with carved work. See Illust. of
Entablature.