MAIN, m[=a]n, _adj._ chief, principal: first in importance: leading.--_n._
the chief or principal part: the ocean or main sea: a continent or a larger
island as compared with a smaller: a principal gas or water pipe in a
street, or the largest conductor in a system of electric lights.--_ns._
MAIN'BOOM, the spar which extends the foot of a fore-and-aft mainsail;
MAIN'DECK, the principal deck of a ship--so in MAIN'BRACE, the brace
attached to the mainyard (see SPLICE); MAIN'LAND, the principal or larger
land, as opposed to a smaller portion.--_adv._ MAIN'LY, chiefly,
principally.--_ns._ MAIN'MAST, the principal mast of a ship, second from
the prow; MAIN'SAIL, the principal sail generally attached to the mainmast;
MAIN'SHEET, the sheet or rope attached to the lower corner of the mainsail;
MAIN'SPRING, the spring which gives motion to any piece of machinery, esp.
that of a watch or a clock; MAIN'STAY, the rope which stretches forward
from the top of the mainmast: chief support; MAIN'TOP, a platform on the
top of the mainmast; MAIN'TOPMAST, the mast next above the lower mainmast;
MAIN'TOPSAIL, the sail above the mainsail, in square-rigged vessels;
MAIN'YARD, the lower yard on the mainmast. [O. Fr. _maine_ or _magne_,
great--L. _magnus_, great.]
MAIN, m[=a]n, _n._ a hand at dice: a match at cockfighting: a banker's
shovel for coin. [O. Fr. _main_--L. _manus_, hand.]
MAINOR, m[=a]'nor, _n._ act or fact, esp. of theft: that which is stolen.
MAINS, m[=a]nz, _n._ (_Scot._) the principal or home farm.
[Illustration]
MAINTAIN, men-t[=a]n', _v.t._ to keep in any state: to keep possession of:
to preserve from capture or loss: to carry on: to keep up: to support: to
make good: to support by argument: to affirm: to defend.--_v.i._ to affirm,
as a position: to assert.--_adj._ MAINTAIN'ABLE, that can be supported or
defended.--_ns._ MAINTAIN'ER, one who maintains; MAIN'TENANCE, the act of
maintaining, supporting, or defending: continuance: the means of support:
defence, protection: (_law_) an interference in a lawsuit, &c., in favour
of one of the parties, by one who has no right or interest.--CAP OF
MAINTENANCE, a cap of dignity borne by or before nobles and other persons
of rank. [Fr. _maintenir_--L. _manu ten[=e]re_, to hold in the
hand--_manus_, a hand, _ten[=e]re_, to hold.]
MAISTER, m[=a]s't[.e]r, _n._ an obsolete form of MASTER.--MAISTERY=MASTERY;
MAISTRING=MASTERING; MAÎTRE=MASTER.
MAIZE, m[=a]z, _n._ a plant, and its fruit, called also _Indian corn_ or
_wheat._ [Sp.,--Haitian.]
MAJESTY, maj'es-ti, _n._ greatness: grandeur: dignity: elevation of manner
or style: royal state: a title of kings and other sovereigns, esp. with
possessive pronouns, as _His_ or _Her Majesty_, &c.: a symbolic
representation of the first person of the Trinity enthroned: the canopy of
a hearse: (_her._) an eagle crowned and sceptred.--_adjs._ MAJES'TIC, -AL,
having or exhibiting majesty: stately: sublime.--_adv._ MAJES'TICALLY, in a
majestic manner.--_n._ MAJES'TICALNESS, MAJES'TICNESS, majesty. [Fr.
_majesté_--L. _majestas_--_majus_, comp. of _magnus_, great.]
MAJOLICA, ma-jol'i-ka, _n._ name applied to decorative enamelled pottery,
esp. that of Italy from the 15th to the 17th cent.: a modern ware in
imitation, used for vases, &c. [From _Majorca_, where first made.]
MAJOR, m[=a]'jur, _adj._ greater in number, quantity, or size: more
important: (_mus._) greater by a semitone.--_n._ a person of full age (21
years): an officer in rank between a captain and
lieutenant-colonel.--_v.i._ to play the major, to talk big.--_ns._ MAJORAT
(ma-zh[=o]-rä'), primogeniture; M[=A]'JORATE, M[=A]'JORSHIP, the office or
rank of major: majority; M[=A]'JOR-D[=O]'MO, an official who has the
general management in a large household: a general steward: a chief
minister (Sp. _mayor-domo_, a house-steward--L. _major_, greater, _domus_,
a house); M[=A]'JOR-GEN'ERAL, an officer in the army next in rank below a
lieutenant-general; MAJOR'ITY, the greater number: the amount between the
greater and the less number: full age (at 21): the office or rank of
major.--MAJOR KEY (_mus._), a key in which the semitones lie between the
third and fourth, and seventh and eighth; MAJOR PREMISE (_logic_), the
principal or major statement in a syllogism; MAJOR SCALE (see MAJOR
KEY).--GO OVER TO, or JOIN, THE MAJORITY, to die; THE MAJORITY, the GREAT
MAJORITY, the dead. [L., comp. of _magnus_.]
MAJUSCULE, m[=a]-jus'k[=u]l, _n._ in paleography, a capital or uncial
letter:--opp. to _Minuscule_. [L. _majuscula_ (_litera_), a somewhat larger
letter.]
MAKE, m[=a]k, _v.t._ to fashion, frame, or form: to produce: to bring
about: to perform: to force: to render: to represent, or cause to appear to
be: to turn: to occasion: to bring into any state or condition: to
establish: to prepare: to obtain: to ascertain: to arrive in sight of: to
reach: (_B._) to be occupied with: to do.--_v.i._ to tend or move: to
contribute: (_B._) to feign or pretend:--_pa.t._ and _pa.p._ m[=a]de.--_n._
form or shape: structure, texture.--_v.i._ MAKE'-BELIEVE', to pretend,
feign.--_n._ a mere pretence.--_ns._ MAKE'-PEACE (_Shak._), a peace-maker;
MAK'ER, one who makes: the Creator: a poet; MAKE'SHIFT, something done or
used to serve a shift or turn: something used only for a time.--_adj._
having the character of a temporary resource.--_ns._ MAKE'-UP, the way
anything is arranged: an actor's materials for personating a part:
(_print._) the arrangement of composed types into columns or pages, as in
imposition; MAKE'-WEIGHT, that which is thrown into a scale to make up the
weight: something of little value added to supply a deficiency; MAK'ING,
the act of forming: structure: form.--MAKE ACCOUNT OF (see ACCOUNT); MAKE A
FIGURE, to be conspicuous; MAKE AFTER, to follow or pursue; MAKE AMENDS, to
render compensation or satisfaction; MAKE AS IF, to act as if, to pretend
that; MAKE AT, to make a hostile movement against; MAKE AWAY, to put out of
the way, to destroy; MAKE AWAY WITH, to squander; MAKE BELIEVE (see
BELIEVE); MAKE BOLD (see BOLD); MAKE FOR, to move toward, to tend to the
advantage of--so in _B._; MAKE FREE WITH, to treat freely or without
ceremony; MAKE GOOD, to maintain, to justify, to fulfil; MAKE HEAD AGAINST,
to oppose successfully; MAKE LIGHT of (see LIGHT); MAKE LITTLE OF, to treat
as insignificant; MAKE LOVE TO (see LOVE); MAKE MUCH OF, to treat with
fondness, to cherish, to foster; MAKE NO DOUBT, to have no doubt, to be
confident; MAKE OF, to understand by, to effect: to esteem; MAKE OFF WITH,
to run away with; MAKE ONE'S WAY, to proceed: to succeed; MAKE OUT, to
discover: to prove: to furnish: to succeed; MAKE OVER, to remake,
reconstruct: to transfer; MAKE PACE, to increase the speed; MAKE SAIL, to
increase the quantity of sail: to set sail; MAKE SURE, to be certain of;
MAKE SURE OF, to consider as certain, to secure to one's self; MAKE THE
MOST OF, to use to the best advantage; MAKE UP, to fabricate: to feign: to
collect into one: to complete, supplement: to assume a particular form of
features: to determine: to reckon: to make good: to repair: to harmonise,
adjust; MAKE UP FOR, to compensate; MAKE UP TO, to approach: to become
friendly. [A.S. _macian_; Ger. _machen_.]
MAKE, m[=a]k, _n._ (_Spens._) a mate, consort, equal.--_adj._ MAKE'LESS
(_Shak._), without a make or mate. [A.S. _ge-maca_; Ice. _maki_, a mate.]
MAKETH, m[=a]k'eth, old 3d pers. sing. pres. ind. of _make_.
MAKIMONO, mak-i-m[=o]'n[=o], _n._ a roll, as of silk, esp. a long picture
or writing rolled up and not hung. [Jap.]
MAKWA, mak'wa, _n._ a Chinese short outer jacket.
MALACHITE, mal'a-k[=i]t, _n._ a green-coloured mineral, composed
essentially of carbonate of copper, much used for inlaid-work. [Gr.
_malach[=e]_, a mallow, a plant of a green colour.]
MALACOLITE, mal'a-k[=o]-l[=i]t, _n._ a greenish lime-magnesia variety of
pyroxene.
MALACOLOGY, mal-a-kol'o-ji, _n._ the branch of natural history which treats
of the structure and habits of molluscs.--_adj._ MAL'ACOID,
soft-bodied.--_n._ MALACOL'OGIST. [Gr. _malakos_, soft, _logia_, a
discourse.]
MALACOPTERYGIAN, mal-a-kop-t[.e]r-ij'i-an, _adj._ having the rays of the
fins soft, excepting the first ray of the dorsal and pectoral fins, as in
the pike, salmon, &c.--Also MALACOPTERYG'IOUS. [Gr. _malakos_, soft,
_pteryx_, _pterygos_, a wing.]
MALACOSTRACAN, mal-a-kos'tra-kan, _n._ an individual belonging to a
sub-class of crustaceans, including the shrimps, lobsters, &c.--_adj._
belonging to this class--also MALACOS'TRACOUS.--_adj._
MALACOSTRACOLOG'ICAL.--_ns._ MALACOSTRACOL'OGIST; MALACOSTRACOL'OGY. [Gr.
_malakos_, soft, _ostrakon_, a shell.]
MALACOZOA, mal-a-ko-z[=o]'a, _n.pl._ soft-bodied animals, the Mollusca
generally.--_adj._ MALACOZ[=O]'IC, possessing the common features of
molluscan life.
MALADAPTATION, mal-ad-ap-t[=a]'shun, _n._ faulty adaptation.
MALADDRESS, mal-a-dres', _n._ awkwardness: clumsiness.
MALADJUSTMENT, mal-ad-just'ment, _n._ a wrong adjustment.
MALADMINISTRATION, mal-ad-min-is-tr[=a]'shun, _n._ bad management, esp. of
public affairs.
MALADROIT, mal-a-droit', _adj._ not dexterous: unskilful: clumsy.--_adv._
MALADROIT'LY.--_n._ MALADROIT'NESS, want of adroitness: awkwardness.
MALADY, mal'a-di, _n._ illness: disease, either of the body or of the mind.
[Fr. _maladie_--_malade_, sick--L. _male habitus_, in ill
condition--_male_, badly, _habitus_, pa.p. of _hab[=e]re_, have, hold.]
MALAGA, mal'a-ga, _n._ a wine imported from _Malaga_ in Spain.
MALAGASY, mal-a-gas'i, _adj._ of or pertaining to Madagascar or its
inhabitants.--_n._ a native of Madagascar.--Also MALAGASH'.
MALAGUETTA PEPPER. See PEPPER.
MALAISE, ma-l[=a]z', _n._ uneasiness: a feeling of discomfort or of
sickness. [O. Fr. _malaise_.]
MALAPERT, mal'a-p[.e]rt, _adj._ bold: forward: saucy: impudent.--_adv._
MAL'APERTLY.--_n._ MAL'APERTNESS. [O. Fr., _mal_--L. _malus_, bad, _apert_,
well-bred--L. _apertus_, open.]
MALAPPROPRIATE, mal-a-pr[=o]'pri-[=a]t, _v.t._ to misuse.--_adj._
MALAPROPOS (mal-ap-ro-p[=o]'), out of place: unsuitable: inapt.--_adv._
badly apropos: not suited to the purpose: unseasonably.
MALAPROPISM, mal'a-prop-izm, _n._ the act of misapplying words, in the
attempt to use fine language, from Mrs _Malaprop_ in Sheridan's play, _The
Rivals_.
MALAR, m[=a]'lar, _adj._ pertaining to the cheek.--_n._ the bone which
forms the prominence of the cheek. [L. _mala_, the cheek--_mand[)e]re_, to
chew.]
MALARIA, ma-l[=a]'ri-a, _n._ the poisonous air arising from marshy
districts, producing fever, &c.: miasma: the fever so caused.--_adjs._
MAL[=A]'RIOUS, MAL[=A]'RIAL, MAL[=A]'RIAN. [It. _mal' aria_--L. _malus_,
bad, _aër_, air.]
MALASSIMILATION, mal-a-sim-i-l[=a]'shun, _n._ imperfect assimilation or
nutrition.
MALAY, -AN, ma-l[=a]', -an, _n._ a native or inhabitant of _Malacca_, or of
the _Malay_ Archipelago.--_adj._ of or pertaining to the Malays.--_n._
MALAYÄ'LAM, the language of Malabar, a Dravidian dialect.--_adj._
MALAY'SIAN, relating to the Malay Peninsula, or to the Malays.
MALCONFORMATION, mal-kon-for-m[=a]'shun, _n._ bad conformation or form:
imperfection or disproportion of parts.
MALCONTENT, mal'kon-tent, _adj._ discontented, dissatisfied, esp. in
political matters.--_n._ one discontented--also MALCONTENT'ED.--_adv._
MALCONTENT'EDLY.--_n._ MALCONTENT'EDNESS.--_adv._ MALCONTENT'LY.
MALE, m[=a]l, _n._ (_Spens._) mail, armour.
MALE, m[=a]l, _adj._ masculine: pertaining to the sex that begets (not
bears) young: (_bot._) bearing stamens.--_n._ one of the male sex: a
he-animal: a stamen-bearing plant.--_n._ MALE'-FERN, an elegant fern, with
the fronds growing in a crown.--MALE ORDER, in architecture, the Doric
order; MALE RHYMES, those in which only the final syllables correspond;
MALE SCREW, a screw whose threads correspond to and enter the spiral
grooves of the female screw. [O. Fr. _male_--L. _masculus_, male--_mas_, a
male.]
MALEDICTION, mal-e-dik'shun, _n._ evil-speaking: a calling down of evil:
curse: execration or imprecation.--_adjs._ MALEDICT'ORY, imprecatory;
MALEDIKT', accursed. [O. Fr.,--L. _malediction-em_--_male_, badly,
_dic[)e]re_, _dictum_, to speak.]
MALEFACTOR, mal'e-fak-tur, or mal-e-fak'tur, _n._ an evil-doer: a
criminal.--_n._ MALEFAC'TION (_Shak._), a crime, an offence.--_adj._
MALEF'IC, doing mischief: producing evil.--_adv._ MALEF'ICALLY.--_v.t._
MALEF'ICATE, to bewitch.--_ns._ MAL'EFICE (_obs._), an evil deed:
enchantment; MALEF'ICENCE, the character of being maleficent.--_adjs._
MALEF'ICENT, MALEFIC'IENT. [L., _male_, badly, _fac[)e]re_, to do.]
MALEIC, ma-l[=e]'ik, _adj._ obtained from malic acid.
MALENGINE, ma-len'jin, _n._ (_Spens._) evil device, deceit. [L. _malus_,
bad, _ingenium_, ingenuity.]