The proverb is somewhat musty.
Shak.
3. Dull; heavy; spiritless. "That he may not grow musty and unfit for
conversation." Addison.
Mu`ta*bil"i*ty (?), n. [L. mutabilitas: cf. F. mutabilité.] The quality
of being mutable, or subject to change or alteration, either in form,
state, or essential character; susceptibility of change;
changeableness; inconstancy; variation.
Plato confessed that the heavens and the frame of the world are
corporeal, and therefore subject to mutability.
Stillingfleet.
Mu"ta*ble (?), a. [L. mutabilis, fr. mutare to change. See Move.] 1.
Capable of alteration; subject to change; changeable in form,
qualities, or nature.
Things of the most accidental and mutable nature.
South.
2. Changeable; inconstant; unsettled; unstable; fickle. "Most mutable
wishes." Byron.
Syn. -- Changeable; alterable; unstable; unsteady; unsettled; wavering;
inconstant; variable; fickle.
Mu"ta*ble*ness, n. The quality of being mutable.
Mu"ta*bly, adv. Changeably.
Mu"ta*cism (?), n. See Mytacism.
Mu"tage (?), n. [F.] A process for checking the fermentation of the
must of grapes.
<! p. 958 !>
||Mu*tan"dum (m*tn"dm), n.; pl. Mutanda (#). [L., fr. mutare to
||change.] A thing which is to be changed; something which must be
||altered; -- used chiefly in the plural.
Mu*ta"tion (m*t"shn), n. [L. mutatio, fr. mutare to change: cf. F.
mutation. See Mutable.] Change; alteration, either in form or
qualities.
The vicissitude or mutations in the superior globe are no fit
matter for this present argument.
Bacon.
Mutch (much), n. [Cf. D. mutse a cap, G. mütze. Cf. Amice a cape.] The
close linen or muslin cap of an old woman. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]
Mutch"kin (?), n. A liquid measure equal to four gills, or an imperial
pint. [Scot.]
Mute (mt), v. t. [L. mutare to change. See Molt.] To cast off; to molt.
Have I muted all my feathers?
Beau. & Fl.
Mute, v. t. & i. [F. mutir, émeutir, OF. esmeltir, fr. OD. smelten,
prop., to melt. See Smelt.] To eject the contents of the bowels; --
said of birds. B. Jonson.
Mute, n. The dung of birds. Hudibras.
Mute, a. [L. mutus; cf. Gr. &?; to shut, Skr. m&?;ta bound, m&?;ka
dumb: cf. OE. muet, fr. F. muet, a dim. of OF. mu, L. mutus.] 1. Not
speaking; uttering no sound; silent.
All the heavenly choir stood mute, And silence was in heaven.
Milton.
In law a prisoner is said to stand mute, when, upon being arranged, he
makes no answer, or does not plead directly, or will not put himself on
trial.