MATICO, ma-t[=e]'ko, _n._ a Peruvian shrub, used in medicine as a styptic
and astringent.
MATIN, mat'in, _adj._ morning: used in the morning.--_n._ in _pl._ the
daily morning service of the Church of England: one of the seven canonical
hours, usually sung between midnight and daybreak.--_adj._ MAT'INAL.--_n._
MATINÉE (mat-i-n[=a]'), a musical entertainment or reception held in the
day-time, usually in the afternoon: a woman's dress for wear in the
forenoon or before dinner. [Fr.,--L. _matutinus_, belonging to the
morning--_Matuta_, goddess of morning, prob. akin to _maturus_, early.]
MATRASS, mat'ras, _n._ a chemical vessel with a tapering neck, a cucurbit.
MATRIARCHY, m[=a]'tri-är-ki, _n._ government by a mother or by mothers,
esp. a primitive order of society existing in many Indian tribes, in which
the mother takes precedence of the father in tracing line of descent and in
inheritance: descent in the female line.--_ns._ M[=A]'TRIARCH, a woman in
whom matriarchy rests: a patriarch's wife.--_adj._ MATRIAR'CHAL.--_ns._
MATRIAR'CHALISM, the character of possessing matriarchal customs;
MATRIAR'CHATE, the position of a matriarch. [Gr. _m[=e]t[=e]r_, mother,
_archos_, a ruler.]
MATRICE, m[=a]'tris, _n._ Same as MATRIX.
MATRICIDE, mat'ri-s[=i]d, _n._ a murderer of one's own mother: the murder
of one's own mother.--_adj._ MAT'RICIDAL [Fr.,--L. _matricida_,
_matricidium_--_mater_, mother, _cæd[)e]re_, to kill.]
MATRICULATE, ma-trik'[=u]-l[=a]t, _v.t._ to admit to membership by entering
one's name in a register, esp. in a college.--_v.i._ to become a member of
a college, university, &c., by being enrolled.--_n._ one admitted to
membership in a society.--_n._ MATRICUL[=A]'TION, act of matriculating:
state of being matriculated. [Late L. _matricula_, a register, dim. of
_matrix_.]
MATRIMONY, mat'ri-mun-i, _n._ union of husband and wife, marriage: state of
marriage.--_adj._ MATRIM[=O]'NIAL, relating to, derived from,
marriage.--_adj._ MATRIM[=O]'NIALLY. [O. Fr.,--L. _matrimonium_--_mater_.]
MATRIX, m[=a]'triks, or mat'riks, _n._ (_anat._) the cavity in which an
animal is formed before its birth, the womb: the cavity in which anything
is formed, a mould: (_mining_) earthy or stony substances in which minerals
are found embedded: (_dyeing_) the five simple colours (black, white, blue,
red, and yellow) from which all the others are formed: (_math._) a
rectangular array of quantities, usually square--a multiple quantity having
as many dimensions as it has spaces:--_pl._ MATRICES (m[=a]'tri-sez or
mat'ri-sez). [L. _matrix_, _-icis_--_mater_, mother.]
MATRON, m[=a]'trun, _n._ an elderly married woman: an elderly lady of staid
and sober habits: a head-nurse in a hospital, or a female superintendent in
a school.--_ns._ M[=A]'TRONAGE, M[=A]'TRONHOOD, state of being a matron: a
body of matrons.--_adj._ M[=A]'TRONAL, pertaining or suitable to a matron:
motherly: grave.--_v.t._ M[=A]'TRONISE, to render matronly: to attend a
lady to public places, as protector: to chaperon.--_adjs._ M[=A]'TRON-LIKE,
M[=A]'TRONLY, like, becoming, or belonging to a matron: elderly:
sedate.--_n._ MATRONYM'IC, a name derived from a mother or maternal
ancestor--also _adj._ [Fr.,--L. _matrona_, a married lady--_mater_,
mother.]
MATROSS, ma-tros', _n._ formerly a soldier set to help the gunners in an
artillery train. [Dut. _matroos_--Fr. _matelot_, a sailor.]
MATTE, mat, _n._ a product of the smelting of sulphuretted ores.--Also
_Regulus_ and _Coarse metal_. [Fr.,--Ger.]
MATTER, mat'[.e]r, _n._ that which occupies space, and with which we become
acquainted by our bodily senses: that out of which anything is made: that
which receiving a form becomes a substance: the subject or thing treated
of: anything engaging the attention: that with which one has to do: cause
of a thing: thing of consequence: something requiring remedy or
explanation: any special allegation in law: importance: a measure, &c., of
indefinite amount: (_print._) material for work, type set up: mere dead
substance, that which is thrown off by a living body, esp. pus, or the
fluid in boils, tumours, and festering sores.--_v.i._ to be of importance:
to signify: to form or discharge matter in a sore:--_pr.p._ matt'ering;
_pa.p._ matt'ered.--_adjs._ MATT'ERFUL, full of matter, pithy; MATT'ERLESS;
MATT'ER-OF-FACT, adhering to the matter of fact: not fanciful: dry;
MATT'ERY, significant: purulent.--MATTER OF COURSE, occurring in natural
time and order, as a thing to be expected; MATTER OF FACT, really happening
and not fanciful or supposed: not wandering beyond realities. [O. Fr.
_matiere_--L. _materia_, matter.]
MATTING, mat'ing, _n._ a covering with mats: a texture like a mat, but
larger: material for mats.
MATTINS. Same as MATINS, _pl._ of MATIN.
MATTOCK, mat'uk, _n._ a kind of pickaxe for loosening the soil, having the
iron ends broad instead of pointed. [A.S. _mattuc_--W. _matog_.]
MATTRESS, mat'res, _n._ a bed made of a bag stuffed with wool, horse-hair,
&c.: a mass of brushwood, &c., used to form a foundation for roads, &c., or
for the walls of embankments, &c.--SPRING MATTRESS, a mattress in which
springs of twisted wire are used to support the stuffed part; WIRE
MATTRESS, one whose elasticity is produced by a sheet of tightly-stretched
wire. [O. Fr. _materas_ (Fr. _matelas_)--Ar. _matrah_, a place where
anything is thrown.]
MATURATE, mat'[=u]-r[=a]t, _v.t._ to make mature: (_med._) to promote the
suppuration of.--_v.i._ (_med._) to suppurate perfectly.--_ns._ MAT'URANT,
a maturative; MATUR[=A]'TION, a bringing or a coming to maturity: the
process of suppurating fully.--_adj._ MAT[=U]'RATIVE, maturing or ripening:
(_med._) promoting suppuration.--_n._ a medicine promoting suppuration. [L.
_matur[=a]re_--_maturus_, ripe.]
MATURE, ma-t[=u]r', _adj._ grown to its full size: perfected: ripe:
(_med._) come to suppuration: fully digested, as a plan.--_v.t._ to ripen:
to bring to perfection: to prepare for use.--_v.i._ to become ripe: to
become payable, as a bill.--_adj._ MATUR'ABLE, capable of being
matured.--_adv._ MATURE'LY.--_ns._ MATURE'NESS, state or quality of being
ripe or ready for use; MATUR'ITY, ripeness: a state of completeness or
readiness for use. [L. _maturus_, ripe.]
MATURESCENT, mat-[=u]-res'ent, _adj._ becoming ripe: approaching maturity.
[L. _maturesc[)e]re_, to become ripe--_maturus_.]
MATUTINAL, mat-[=u]-t[=i]'nal, _adj._ pertaining to the morning: happening
early in the day.--Also MAT'UTINE. [L. _matutinalis_, _matutinus_. See
MATIN.]
MAUD, mawd, _n._ a Scotch shepherd's woollen plaid.
MAUDLIN, mawd'lin, _adj._ silly: sickly-sentimental: fuddled, half-drunk:
(_obs._) tearful.--_n._ MAUD'LINISM, the tearful stage of drink. [Contr.
from M. E. _Maudelein_, which comes through O. Fr. and L. from Gr.
_Magdal[=e]n[=e]_, the orig. sense being 'tearful from penitence,' hence
'with eyes red and swollen with weeping,' like Mary Magdalene, erroneously
identified with the penitent woman of Luke vii. 37.]
MAUGRE, maw'g[.e]r, _prep._ in spite of.--_n._ (_obs._) ill-will: spite.
[O. Fr. _malgré_--L._ male gratum_--_male,_ badly, _gratum_, agreeable.]
MAUL, mawl, _v.t._ to beat with a mall or a heavy stick: to injure greatly
by beating.--_n._ a heavy wooden hammer: a struggle for the ball in
football, when it has been carried across the goal-line, but has not yet
been touched down. [_Mall_.]
MAULSTICK. See MAHL-STICK.
MAUMET, MAMMET. Same as MAWMET.