MAGNESIUM, mag-n[=e]'shi-um, or -si-um, _n._ a metal of a bright,
silver-white colour, which while burning gives a dazzling white light, and
forms magnesia.--_n._ MAGN[=E]'SIA, a light white powder, got by burning
magnesium, used as a medicine.--_adj._ MAGN[=E]'SIAN, belonging to,
containing, or resembling magnesia.--_n._ MAG'NESITE, native magnesium
carbonate.
MAGNET, mag'net, _n._ the lodestone, an iron ore which attracts iron, and,
when hung so that it can move freely, points to the poles: a bar or piece
of steel to which the properties of the lodestone have been
imparted.--_adjs._ MAGNET'IC, -AL, pertaining to the magnet: having the
properties of the magnet: attractive.--_adv._ MAGNET'ICALLY.--_ns._
MAGNETIC'IAN, MAG'NETIST, one versed in magnetism.--_adj._
MAGNETIS'ABLE.--_n._ MAGNETIS[=A]'TION.--_v.t._ MAG'NETISE, to render
magnetic: to attract as if by a magnet.--_v.i._ to become magnetic.--_ns._
MAG'NETISER, one who, or that which, imparts magnetism; MAG'NETISM, the
cause of the attractive power of the magnet: attraction: the science which
treats of the properties of the magnet--(ANIMAL MAGNETISM, Mesmer's name
for the phenomena of mesmerism; TERRESTRIAL MAGNETISM, the magnetic
properties possessed by the earth as a whole); MAG'NETIST, one skilled in
magnetism.--_adjs._ MAG'NETO-ELEC'TRIC, -AL, pertaining to
magneto-electricity.--_ns._ MAG'NETO-ELECTRIC'ITY, electricity produced by
the action of magnets: the science which treats of electricity produced by
magnetism; BAR'-MAG'NET, a magnet in the form of a bar.--MAGNETIC BATTERY,
several magnets placed with their like poles together, so as to act with
great force; MAGNETIC CURVES, the curves formed by iron-filings around the
poles of a magnet; MAGNETIC EQUATOR, the line round the earth where the
magnetic needle remains horizontal; MAGNETIC FIELD, the space over which
magnetic force is felt; MAGNETIC FLUID, a hypothetical fluid assumed to
explain the phenomena of magnetism; MAGNETIC MERIDIAN, the meridian lying
in the direction in which the magnetic needle points; MAGNETIC NEEDLE, the
light bar in the mariner's compass which, because it is magnetised, points
always to the north; MAGNETIC NORTH, that point of the horizon which is
indicated by the direction of the magnetic needle; MAGNETIC POLES, two
nearly opposite points on the earth's surface, where the dip of the needle
is 90°; MAGNETIC STORM, a disturbance in the magnetism of the earth or air,
which causes the magnetic needle to move rapidly backwards and
forwards.--ARTIFICIAL MAGNET, a magnet made by rubbing with other magnets;
HORSE-SHOE MAGNET, a magnet bent like a horse-shoe; PERMANENT MAGNET, a
magnet that keeps its magnetism after the force which magnetised it has
been removed. [Through O. Fr., from L. _magnes_, a magnet--Gr.
_magn[=e]s_=Magnesian stone, from _Magn[=e]sia_, in Lydia or Thessaly.]
MAGNIFICAT, mag-nif'i-kat, _n._ the song of the Virgin Mary, Luke, i.
46-55, beginning in the Vulgate with this word. [L. '(my soul) doth
magnify,' 3d pers. sing. pres. ind. of _magnific[=a]re_.]
MAGNIFICENT, mag-nif'i-sent, _adj._ great in deeds or in appearance: grand:
noble: pompous: displaying greatness of size or extent.--_n._
MAGNIF'ICENCE.--_adv._ MAGNIF'ICENTLY.--_n._ MAGNIF'ICO (_Shak._), a title
for a Venetian nobleman: a grandee.
MAGNIFY, mag'ni-f[=i], _v.t._ to make great or greater: to enlarge: to
cause to appear greater: to exaggerate: to praise highly:--_pa.p._
mag'nified.--_adjs._ MAG'NIFIABLE, that may be magnified; MAGNIF'IC, -AL,
great: splendid: noble.--_adv._ MAGNIF'ICALLY, in a magnificent
manner.--_ns._ MAGNIFIC[=A]'TION, act of magnifying: increase of visual
power in penetration as well as enlargement; MAG'NIFIER, one who, or that
which, magnifies or enlarges: one who extols.--MAGNIFY ONE'S SELF, show
great pride--AGAINST, oppose with pride; MAGNIFYING GLASS, in optics, a
convex lens, objects seen through it having their apparent dimensions
increased. [Fr.,--L. _magnific[=a]re_--_magnus_, great, _fac[)e]re_, to
make.]
MAGNILOQUENT, mag-nil'o-kwent, _adj._ speaking in a grand or pompous style:
bombastic.--_n._ MAGNIL'OQUENCE.--_adv._ MAGNIL'OQUENTLY. [L., from
_magnus_, great, _loqui_, to speak.]
MAGNITUDE, mag'ni-t[=u]d, _n._ greatness: size: extent: importance. [L.
_magnitudo_--_magnus_.]
MAGNOLIA, mag-n[=o]l'i-a, or -ya, _n._ a North American tree with beautiful
foliage, and large, white or purplish, sweet-scented flowers. [From Pierre
_Magnol_ (1638-1715), a Montpellier botanist.]
MAGNUM, mag'num, _n._ a bottle holding two quarts: the quantity of wine
filling such. [L.]
MAGOT, mag'ot, _n._ the Barbary ape, the only species of monkey existing in
Europe: a small grotesque figure, crouching on the covers of vases; &c.
MAGPIE, mag'p[=i], _n._ a chattering bird, of a genus allied to the crow,
with pied or coloured feathers: (_slang_) a halfpenny--(_Shak._)
MAG'OT-PIE, MAGG'OT-PIE. [_Mag_, a familiar contr. of _Margaret_ (cf.
_Robin-Redbreast_, _Jenny Wren_), _pie_, from L. _pica_, a
magpie--_ping[)e]re_, _pictum_, to paint.]
MAGYAR, ma-jär', or mag'yär, _n._ one of the prevailing race in Hungary:
the native speech of Hungary.
MAHABHARATA, ma-hä-bä'ra-tä, _n._ the name of one of the two great epic
poems of ancient India, the other being the _Ramayana_. [Sans.; prob. 'the
great history of the descendants of _Bharata_.']
MAHADEVA, ma-ha-d[=a]'va, _n._ one of the names of the Hindu god Siva.
[Sans. _mah[=a]_, great, _deva_, god.]
MAHARAJAH, ma-ha-rä'jä, _n._ the title given to a great Indian
prince:--_fem._ MAHARA'NI, MAHARA'NEE. [Sans. _mah[=a]_, great, _r[=a]ja_,
prince or king.]
MAHATMA, ma-hat'ma, _n._ one skilled in mysteries or religious secrets: an
adept. [Sans., 'high-souled.']
MAHDI, mä'd[=e], _n._ the great leader of the faithful Mohammedans, who is
to appear in the last days--one pretended Mahdi overthrew the Egyptian
power in the Soudan in 1884-85.--_ns._ MAH'DISM; MAH'DIST.
MAHL-STICK, mäl'-stik, _n._ a tapering staff used by painters as a rest for
the right hand.--Also MAL'STICK, MAUL'STICK. [Ger. _mahlstock_.]
MAHOGANY, ma-hog'a-ni, _n._ a tree of tropical America: its wood, which is
of great value for making furniture.--_n._ MAHOG'ANY-TREE, same as
mahogany: (_hum._) the dinner-table. [_Mahogoni_, the native South American
name.]
MAHOMEDAN, MAHOMETAN. See MOHAMMEDAN.
MAHOUN, MAHOUND, ma-hown', ma-hownd', or mä'-, _n._ an old form of the name
of _Mohammed_: an evil spirit: the devil.
MAHOUT, ma-h[=oo]t', _n._ the keeper and driver of an elephant. [Hind.
_mah[=a]ut_, _mah[=a]wat_.]
MAHRATTA, ma-rat'a, _n._ one of a once powerful race of Hindus in Western
and Central India.
MAID, m[=a]d, _n._ an unmarried woman, esp. one young: a virgin: a female
servant.--_ns._ MAID'-CHILD (_B._), a female child; MAID'-M[=A]'RIAN, the
May-queen; a character in the old Morris-dance, usually represented by a
man in woman's clothes (_Marian_, relating to Mary or to the Virgin
Mary).--_adj._ MAID'-PALE (_Shak._), pale, like a sick girl.--_n._
MAID'SERVANT, a female servant.--MAID OF ALL WORK, a domestic who does
general housework; OLD MAID, a woman left unmarried: a card game. [A.S.
_mægden_--_mægeð_, a maid; cf. _magu_, son, _m['æ]g_, may.]
MAIDAN, m[=i]'dan, _n._ an esplanade or parade-ground near a town in Persia
and India. [Pers.]
MAIDEN, m[=a]d'n, _n._ a maid: in Scotland, a machine like the guillotine,
formerly used for beheading criminals.--_adj._ pertaining to a virgin or
young woman: consisting of maidens: (_fig._) unpolluted: fresh: new:
unused: first: that has never been captured, said of a fortress.--_ns._
MAID'ENHAIR, a name given to a fern from the fine hair-like stalks of its
fronds; MAID'ENHOOD, MAID'ENHEAD, the state of being a maid: virginity:
purity: freshness; MAID'ENLINESS.--_adjs._ MAID'ENLY, maiden-like: becoming
a maiden: gentle: modest; MAID'EN-MEEK (_Tenn._), meek as a maiden;
MAID'EN-TONGUED, gentle in voice like a girl; MAID'EN-WID'OWED, widowed
while still a virgin.--_n._ MAID'HOOD (_Shak._).--MAIDEN ASSIZE, an assize
at which there are no criminal cases; MAIDEN BATTLE, a first contest;
MAIDEN FORTRESS, a fortress that has never been captured; MAIDEN NAME, the
family name of a married woman before her marriage; MAIDEN OVER, in
cricket, an over in which no runs are made; MAIDEN SPEECH, the first public
speech made by a person, esp. in Parliament; MAIDEN STAKES, in
horse-racing, the money contended for in a race between horses that have
never run before.