MECHANIC, -AL, me-kan'ik, -al, _adj._ pertaining to machines or mechanics:
constructed according to the laws of mechanics: possessing mechanical
talent: acting by physical power: done by a machine: pertaining to
artisans: done simply by force of habit, slavish, artificial: vulgar.--_n._
MECHAN'IC, one engaged in a mechanical trade: an artisan--(_Shak._)
MECHAN'ICAL.--_adv._ MECHAN'ICALLY.--_ns._ MECHANIC'IAN, MECH'ANIST, a
machine-maker: one skilled in mechanics; MECHAN'ICS, the science which
treats of machines: the science which treats of the nature of forces and of
their action on bodies, either directly or by the agency of
machinery.--_v.t._ MECH'ANISE, to make mechanical: to work out the details
of a machine.--_ns._ MECH'ANISM, the construction of a machine: the
arrangement and action of its parts, by which it produces a given result;
MECH'ANOGRAPH, a copy, esp. of a work of art produced by a mechanical
process on a machine.--_adj._ MECH'ANOGRAPHIC.--_ns._ MECHANOG'RAPHIST;
MECHANOG'RAPHY, the art of multiplying copies of a writing or work of art
by means of a machine; MECHANOL'OGY, a treatise on mechanics: the knowledge
of such.--MECHANICAL EFFECT, work produced by the use of mechanical power;
MECHANICAL PHILOSOPHY, the principles of mechanics applied to solve
questions or phenomena involving force; MECHANICAL POWERS, the elementary
forms or parts of machines--three _primary_, the lever, inclined plane, and
pulley; and three _secondary_, the wheel-and-axle, the wedge, and the
screw.--MECHANICS' INSTITUTE, an institution for mechanics, with lectures,
library, museum, &c. [O. Fr.,--L. _mechanicus_; Gr.
_m[=e]chanikos_--_m[=e]chane_, a contrivance.]
MECHLIN, meh'lin, _adj._ and _n._ produced at _Mechlin_ or Malines: lace
made at Mechlin.
MECONIC, me-kon'ik, _adj._ denoting an acid obtained from poppies.--_ns._
MEC'ONATE, a salt of meconic acid; MEC'ONINE, a white, fusible, neutral
substance existing in opium; MEC[=O]'NIUM, the first fæces of a new-born
child: opium. [Gr. _m[=e]k[=o]n_, the poppy.]
MEDAL, med'al, _n._ a piece of metal in the form of a coin bearing some
device or inscription, struck or cast: a reward of merit.--_v.t._ to
decorate with a medal.--_n._ MED'ALET, a small medal, esp. the
representation of saints, worn by Roman Catholics.--_adj._ MEDALL'IC,
pertaining to medals.--_ns._ MEDALL'ION, a large medal: a bas-relief of a
round (sometimes a square) form: a round ornament enclosing a portrait or
lock of hair; MED'ALLIST, MED'ALIST, one skilled in medals: an engraver of
medals: one who has gained a medal; MED'ALLURGY, the art of producing
medals and coins. [O. Fr. _medaille_--It. _medaglia_; through a Low L. form
_medalla_ or _medalia_, a small coin, from L. _metallum_, a metal.]
MEDDLE, med'l, _v.i._ to interfere unnecessarily (_with_ or _in_): to take
part in a matter with which one has nothing to do: to have to do
(_with_).--_n._ MEDD'LER, one who interferes with matters in which he has
no concern.--_adj._ MEDD'LESOME, given to meddling.--_n._
MEDD'LESOMENESS.--_adj._ MEDD'LING, interfering in the concerns of others:
officious--also _n._ [O. Fr. _medler_, a corr. of _mesler_ (Fr.
_mêler_)--Low L. _misculare_--L. _misc[=e]re_, to mix.]
MEDIA. See MEDIUM.
MEDIÆVAL, MEDIÆVALIST. See MEDIEVAL.
MEDIAL, m[=e]'di-al, _adj._ lying between two extremes, median: of or
pertaining to a mean or average.--_n._ one of the sonant-mute group, _g_,
_d_, _b_, intermediate between the surd or smooth group (_c_, _t_, _p_) and
the rough or aspirate group (_gh_, _dh_, _bh_, _kh_, _th_, _ph_). [Low L.
_medialis_--L. _medius_, middle.]
MEDIAN, m[=e]'di-an, _adj._ being in the middle, running through the
middle: situated in the median plane, that dividing the body longitudinally
into symmetrical halves.--_adv._ MED'IANLY.--_n._ MED'IANT (_mus._), the
third tone of a diatonic scale. [L. _medianus_--_medius_, middle.]
MEDIAN, m[=e]'di-an, _adj._ pertaining to _Media_ or the _Medes_, an
ancient Aryan race which became fused with the Persians under the
victorious Cyrus about 550 B.C.--_n._ MEDE, a member of this race.
MEDIASTINUM, m[=e]-di-as-t[=i]'num, _n._ a membranous septum or cavity
between two principal portions of an organ, esp. the folds of the pleura
and the space between the right and left lungs.--_adj._ MEDIAST[=I]'NAL.
[L., _medius_.]
MEDIATE, m[=e]'di-[=a]t, _adj._ middle: between two extremes: acting by or
as a means: not direct and independent: dependent on some intervening
thing.--_v.i._ to interpose between parties as a friend of each: to
intercede: to hold a mediate position: to act as a spiritualistic
medium.--_v.t._ to bring about by mediation: to effect a relation between
two things.--_n._ M[=E]'DIACY.--_adv._ M[=E]'DIATELY.--_ns._
M[=E]'DIATENESS, state of being mediate; MEDI[=A]'TION, the act of
mediating or coming between: entreaty for another;
MEDIATIS[=A]'TION.--_v.t._ M[=E]'DIAT[=I]SE, to cause to act in a
subordinate position or through an agent: to annex, or to subordinate, as a
smaller state to a larger neighbouring one.--_adj._ M[=E]'DIATIVE.--_n._
M[=E]'DIATOR, one who mediates between parties at strife:--_fem._
MEDIAT'RESS, M[=E]'DIATRIX.--_adj._ MEDIAT[=O]'RIAL, belonging to a
mediator or intercessor.--_adv._ MEDIAT[=O]'RIALLY.--_n._ MEDIAT'ORSHIP,
the office of a mediator.--_adj._ M[=E]'DIATORY. [Low L. _medi[=a]re_,
_-[=a]tum_--L. _medius_.]
MEDIC, med'ik, _n._ one of several plants of the genus _Medicago_, esp. the
purple medic or lucerne--leguminous plants, with leaves like those of
clover.--Also MED'ICK. [L. _medica_--Gr. _m[=e]dik[=e]_ (_poa_), 'median'
(grass).]
MEDICAL, med'i-kal, _adj._ relating to the art of healing diseases:
containing that which heals: intended to promote the study of
medicine.--_adv._ MED'ICALLY.--MEDICAL JURISPRUDENCE (see JURISPRUDENCE).
[Fr.,--Low L. _medicalis_--L. _medicus_, pertaining to healing, a
physician--_med[=e]ri_, to heal.]
MEDICATE, med'i-k[=a]t, _v.t._ to treat with medicine: to impregnate with
anything medicinal.--_adj._ MED'ICABLE, that may be healed.--_n._
MED'ICAMENT, anything used for healing: a medicine: healing power.--_adj._
MEDICAMEN'TAL.--_n._ MED'ICASTER, an ignorant physician.--_adj._
MED'ICATED, mixed with medicine: made medicinal: treated with
medicine.--_n._ MEDIC[=A]'TION, the act or process of medicating or of
mixing with medicinal substances: the use of medicine.--_adj._ MED'ICATIVE,
having the power of healing: tending to heal.--_n._ MEDIC[=A]'TOR, any
medical appliance. [L. _medic[=a]re_, to heal--_medicus_.]
MEDICEAN, med-i-s[=e]'an, _adj._ relating to the _Medici_, a distinguished
Florentine family which attained to sovereign power in the 15th century,
and became extinct in 1737.
MEDICINE, med'i-sin, or med'sin, _n._ anything applied for the cure or
lessening of disease or pain, whether simple or compound (made up of more
than one ingredient): the science which treats of the prevention or cure of
disease: a charm.--_v.t._ to treat or cure by medicine.--_adj._ MEDIC'INAL,
relating to medicine: fitted to cure or to lessen disease or pain.--_adv._
MEDIC'INALLY.--_ns._ MED'ICINE-BAG, a Red Indian's receptacle for charms;
MED'ICINE-CHEST, a chest for keeping medicines in a ship, &c.;
MED'ICINE-MAN, among savages, a witch-doctor or exorciser.--_adjs._
MED'ICO-CHIRUR'GICAL, relating to both medicine and surgery;
MED'ICO-L[=E]'GAL, relating to the application of medicine to questions of
law. [Fr.,--L. _medicina_--_medicus_.]
MEDIEVAL, MEDIÆVAL, m[=e]-di-[=e]'val, _adj._ relating to the Middle
Ages.--_ns._ MEDI[=E]'VALISM, the spirit of the Middle Ages, devotion to
medieval ideals; MEDI[=E]'VALIST, MEDIÆ'VALIST, one versed in the history
of the Middle Ages.--MEDIEVAL ARCHITECTURE, MEDIEVAL ART, the style of
architecture and art used in public buildings in Europe from the 4th to the
16th century. [L. _medius_, middle, _ævum_, age.]
MEDIO-, MEDI-, middle, in compounds like _mediocarpal_, _mediodorsal_,
_mediotarsal_, _medioventral_. [L. _medius_, middle.]
MEDIOCRE, m[=e]'di-[=o]-k[.e]r, _adj._ of middling extent or quality:
moderate.--_n._ MEDIOC'RITY, a middle state or condition: a moderate
degree: a person of little power or importance. [Fr.,--L.
_mediocris_--_medius_, middle.]
MEDISM, m[=e]d'izm, _n._ the adoption of Persian interests--to a Greek, a
treachery to his country.
MEDITATE, med'i-t[=a]t, _v.i._ to consider thoughtfully: to purpose (with
on, upon).--_v.t._ to think on: to revolve in the mind: to intend.--_adj._
MED'ITATED, thought of: planned.--_n._ MEDIT[=A]'TION, the act of
meditating: deep thought: serious contemplation: the direction of the
thoughts of others, in a discourse, &c.: a literary or musical theme
treated in a meditative manner.--_adj._ MED'ITATIVE, given to meditation:
expressing design.--_adv._ MED'ITATIVELY.--_n._ MED'ITATIVENESS. [L.
_medit[=a]ri_, prob. cog. with L. _med[=e]ri_, to heal.]
MEDITERRANEAN, med-i-t[.e]r-r[=a]'ne-an, _adj._ situated in the middle of
earth or land: inland--also MEDITERR[=A]'NEOUS.--MEDITERRANEAN SEA, so
called from being, as it were, in the middle of the land of the Old World.
[L., _medius_, middle, _terra_, earth.]
MEDIUM, m[=e]'di-um, _n._ the middle: the middle place or degree: any
intervening means, instrument, or agency: the substance in which bodies
exist, or through which they move: in spiritualism, the person through whom
spirits are said to make themselves seen or heard:--_pl._ M[=E]'DIUMS, or
M[=E]'DIA.--_adjs._ M[=E]'DIUM, mediocre; MEDIUMIS'TIC, of or pertaining to
spiritualistic mediums.--CIRCULATING MEDIUM, money passing from hand to
hand, as coin, bank-notes, &c. [L.]
MEDIUS, m[=e]'di-us, _n._ the middle finger of the hand.
MEDJIDIE, me-jid'i-e, _n._ a Turkish order of knighthood instituted in
1852, having five classes. [Turk. _mej[=i]d_, glorious.]
MEDLAR, med'lar, _n._ a small tree of the rose family, or its fruit. [O.
Fr. _meslier_, a medlar-tree--L. _mespilum_--Gr. _mespilon_.]
MEDLEY, med'li, _n._ a mingled and confused mass: a miscellany: a song or
piece of music made up of bits from various sources continuously: a cloth
woven from yarn of different colours: (_obs._) a mêlée, fight. [O. Fr.
_medler_, _mesler_, to mix.]
MÉDOC, me-dok', _n._ a French wine produced in the district of _Médoc_,
department of Gironde.
MEDORRHEA, m[=e]-dor-[=e]'a, _n._ mucous discharge from the genitals. [Gr.
_m[=e]dos_, bladder, _rhoia_, a flowing.]
MEDULLA, me-dul'a, _n._ the inner portion of an organ or part, as the pith
of a hair, spinal cord, or its continuation within the cranium, (_medulla
oblongata_): the pith of a plant, the thallus in lichens, &c.--_adjs._
MEDULL'AR, -Y, consisting of, or resembling, marrow or pith; MED'ULLATED,
provided with a medullary sheath.--_n._ MEDULL'IN, the cellulose in the
medulla of plants like the lilac.--_adj._ MED'ULLOSE, like pith.--MEDULLARY
RAYS, the bands of cells in various trees extending across the wood from
the pith to the bark; MEDULLARY SHEATH (_bot._), a thin layer surrounding
the pith. [L. _medulla_, marrow.]
MEDUSA, me-d[=u]'sa, _n._ one of the three Gorgons, whose head, cut off by
Perseus, and placed in the ægis of Minerva, had the power of turning those
who looked on it into stone: the name given to the common kinds of
jelly-fishes, prob. from the likeness of their tentacles to the snakes on
Medusa's head:--_pl._ MED[=U]'SÆ, a division of hydrozoans.--_adjs._
MED[=U]'SIFORM, MED[=U]'SOID--also _ns._ [Gr., 'ruler,' fem.]
MEED, m[=e]d, _n._ wages: reward: what is bestowed for merit. [A.S. _méd_,
_meord_; Ger. _miethe_.]
MEEK, m[=e]k, _adj._ mild and gentle of temper: submissive.--_adv._
MEEK'LY.--_n._ MEEK'NESS, state or quality of being meek. [Ice. _mjúkr_;
Dut. _muik_.]
MEER, m[=e]r, _n._ a form of _mere_.
MEERSCHAUM, m[=e]r'shawm, _n._ a fine light whitish clay making excellent
tobacco-pipes--once supposed to be a petrified sea-scum: a pipe made of
this material. [Ger. _meer_, sea, _schaum_, foam.]
MEET, m[=e]t, _adj._ fitting: qualified.--_adv._ MEET'LY.--_n._ MEET'NESS.
[A.S. _ge-met_--_metan_, to measure.]
MEET, m[=e]t, _v.t._ to come face to face: to encounter in conflict: to
find or experience; to refute: be suitable to: satisfy, as by payment: to
receive as a welcome.--_v.i._ to come together from different points: to
assemble: to have an encounter: to balance or come out correct:--_pa.t._
and _pa.p._ met.--_n._ a meeting, as of huntsmen.--_ns._ MEET'ING, a coming
face to face for friendly or hostile ends: an interview: an assembly: a
crossing of two roads: a junction of two rivers; MEET'ING-HOUSE, a house or
building where people, esp. Dissenters, meet for public worship;
RACE'-MEET'ING, a stated occasion for horse-racing.--MEET HALF-WAY, to make
mutual concessions; MEET THE EAR, or EYE, to be told, or shown, anything
distinctly: to be readily apparent; MEET WITH, to come to or upon, esp.
unexpectedly: (_Bacon_) to obviate (as an objection).--WELL MET, an old
complimentary greeting. [A.S. _métan_, to meet--_mót_, _ge-mót_, a
meeting.]
MEGACEPHALOUS, meg-a-sef'a-lus, _adj._ large-headed.
MEGAFARAD, meg'a-far-ad, _n._ in electrometry, a unit equal to a million
farads.
MEGALICHTHYS, meg-a-lik'this, _n._ a genus of extinct ganoid fishes. [Gr.
_megas_, _megal[=e]_, great, _ichthys_, a fish.]
MEGALITH, meg'a-lith, _n._ a huge stone.--_adj._ MEGALITH'IC. [Gr. _megas_,
great, _lithos_, a stone.]
MEGALOMANIA, meg-a-l[=o]-m[=a]'ni-a, _n._ the delusion that one is great or
powerful. [Gr. _megas_, great, _mania_.]
MEGALOSAURUS, meg-a-l[=o]-saw'rus, _n._ a gigantic extinct reptile of
carnivorous habits.--_adj._ MEGALOSAU'RIAN. [Gr. _megas_, _megal[=e]_,
great, _sauros_, a lizard.]
MEGAPHONE, meg'a-f[=o]n, _n._ an appliance for making words audible--a form
of speaking-trumpet.
MEGAPODIDÆ, meg-a-pod'i-d[=e], _n._ mound-birds (q.v.).
MEGASCOPE, meg'a-sk[=o]p, _n._ a form of solar microscope for throwing
enlarged images on a screen: (_phot._) an enlarging camera.
MEGATHERIUM, meg-a-th[=e]'ri-um, _n._ a gigantic extinct quadruped of the
order _Edentata_, found in the pampas of South America. [Gr. _megas_,
great, _th[=e]rion_, wild beast.]
MEGILP, me-gilp'. See MAGILP.
MEGOHM, meg'[=o]m, _n._ a unit of electrical resistance, equal to one
million ohms. [Gr. _megas_, great, and _ohm_.]
MEGRIM, m[=e]'grim, _n._ a pain affecting only one half of the head or
face: lowness of spirits: a sudden sickness of a horse at work. [Fr.
_migraine_--Gr. _h[=e]micrania_--_h[=e]mi_, half, _kranion_, skull.]
MEINY, m[=e]'ni, _n._ (_Shak._) a retinue or company of servants attending
upon a person of high rank. [O. Fr. _mesnie_, a company, through Low L.
forms, from L. _mansio_, a dwelling.]
MEIOCENE. Same as MIOCENE.
MEIOSIS, m[=i]-[=o]'sis, _n._ (_rhet._) a figure of speech representing a
thing as less than it is. [Gr.]
MEISTERSINGER, m[=i]s't[.e]r-sing'[.e]r, _n._ one of the burgher poets and
musicians of Germany in the 14th-16th centuries, the successors of the
Minnesingers. [Ger.]