METIF, m[=e]'tif, _n._ the offspring of a white and a quadroon.--_n._
M[=E]'TIS, a half-breed of French and Indian parentage in Canada. [Cf.
_Mastiff_.]
METIS, m[=e]'tis, _n._ a Greek personification of prudence.
METONIC, me-ton'ik, _adj._ pertaining to the lunar cycle of nineteen years,
after which the new and full moon happen again on the same day of the year
as at its beginning. [From _Meton_, c. 430.]
METONYMY, me-ton'i-mi, _n._ (_rhet._) a trope in which the name of one
thing is put for that of another related to it, the effect for the cause,
&c., as 'the heart' for 'the affections,' 'the bottle' for 'drink,'
&c.--_adjs._ METONYM'IC, -AL, used by way of metonymy.--_adv._
METONYM'ICALLY. [L.,--Gr. _met[=o]nymia_--_meta_, expressing change,
_onoma_, a name.]
METOPE, met'o-p[=e], _n._ (_archit._) the space between the triglyphs in
the frieze of the Doric order, generally ornamented with carved work: the
face, forehead, frontal surface generally.--_adj._ METOP'IC.--_ns._
MET'OPISM, the condition of having a persistent metopic or frontal suture.
[Gr.,--_meta_, between, and _op[=e]_, the hole in the frieze receiving one
of the beam-ends.]
METOPOSCOPY, met-[=o]-pos'k[=o]-pi, _n._ the study of character from the
physiognomy.--_adjs._ METOPOSCOP'IC, -AL.--_n._ METOPOS'COPIST.
METRA, met'ra, _n._ a pocket-instrument, combining the uses of thermometer,
level, plummet, and lens. [Gr., pl. of _metron_, measure.]
METRE, m[=e]'t[.e]r, _n._ that regulated succession of certain groups of
syllables in which poetry is usually written--these groups of long and
short (_classical_) or accented (_English_) syllables being called _feet_:
rhythm: verse, or poetry generally: a plan of versification, the character
of a stanza as consisting of a given number of lines composed of feet of a
given number, construction, and accent: musical time.--_adjs._ MET'RIC,
-AL, pertaining to metre or to metrology: consisting of verses.--_adv._
MET'RICALLY.--_ns._ METRIC'IAN, MET'RICIST, one skilled in metres, one who
writes in metre; MET'RICS, the art or science of versification;
METRIFIC[=A]'TION. (_Tenn._), the act of making verses; MET'RIFIER, a
versifier; MET'RIST, one skilled in metres, a skilful versifier;
METROM[=A]'NIA, a mania for writing verses.--COMMON METRE, the stanza
forming a quatrain in eights and sixes, of four and of three iambic feet
alternately--also SERVICE METRE, from its use in the metrical psalms, &c.,
and BALLAD METRE, from its use in old romances and ballads; LONG METRE, an
octosyllabic quatrain, the four lines with four feet each; SHORT METRE, the
quatrain in sixes, with the third line octosyllabic. [Fr.,--L.
_metrum_--Gr. _metron_.]
MÈTRE, m[=a]'tr, _n._ the fundamental unit of length in the metric
system--one ten-millionth of a quadrant of the Meridian--39.3707904 English
inches.--_adj._ MET'RIC.--METRIC SYSTEM, the French system of weights and
measures, founded on the French mètre--dividing or multiplying by ten, and
therefore a decimal system.
METRE. Same as METER.
METRIC, met'rik, _adj._ quantitative.--_adj._ MET'RICAL, pertaining to
measurement.--_n.pl._ MET'RICS, the theory of measurement.--_ns._
MET'ROGRAPH, an apparatus for registering the speed of a railway-train and
the places and duration of stops; METROL'OGY, the science of weights and
measures; MET'RONOME, an instrument like an inverted pendulum which
measures musical time.--_adj._ METRONOM'IC.--_n._ METRON'OMY, measurement
of time by a metronome.
METRONYMIC, met-ro-nim'ik, _adj._ derived from the name of one's mother, or
other female ancestor.--_n._ an appellation so derived; cf. _Patronymic_.
[Gr. _m[=e]t[=e]r_, a mother, _onoma_, name.]
METROPOLIS, me-trop'o-lis, _n._ the capital of a country; the chief
cathedral city, as Canterbury of England: the mother-city of an ancient
Greek colony: a generic focus in the distribution of plants or
animals:--_pl._ METROP'OLISES.--_adj._ METROPOL'ITAN, belonging to a
metropolis: pertaining to the mother-church.--_n._ the bishop of a
metropolis, presiding over the other bishops of a province: an
archbishop.--_n._ METROPOL'ITANATE.--_adjs._ METROPOL'ITIC, -AL. [L.,--Gr.
_m[=e]t[=e]r_, mother, _polis_, a city.]
METTLE, met'l, _n._ ardent temperament: spirit: sprightliness:
courage.--_adjs._ METT'LED, METT'LESOME, high-spirited: ardent.--_n._
METT'LESOMENESS, quality or state of being mettlesome.--PUT ONE ON HIS
METTLE, to rouse a person up to putting forth his best efforts. [From the
_metal_ of a blade.]
MEUM, m[=a]'um, _n._ mine--in the phrase MEUM AND TUUM, mine and thine.
[L.]
MEUTE, m[=u]t, _n._ a mew, a place where hawks are mewed or confined.
[_Mew_, a cage for hawks.]
MEW, m[=u], _n._ a sea-fowl: a gull. [A.S. _m['æ]w_; Dut. _meeuw_, Ice.
_mâr_, Ger. _möwe_; all imit.]
MEW, m[=u], _v.i._ to cry as a cat.--_n._ the cry of a cat.
MEW, m[=u], _v.t._ to change, as the covering or dress: to shed or cast: to
confine, as in a cage.--_v.i._ to change: to cast the feathers: to
moult.--_n._ a place for confining: a cage for hawks while mewing:
generally in _pl._ a stable, because the royal stables were built where the
king's falcons were kept. [O. Fr. _mue_, a changing, esp. of the coat or
skin--_muer_, to mew--L. _mut[=a]re_, to change.]