Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Mād'man, n. p. 799A man who is mad, disordered in intellect, or infatuated; a lunatic; a crazy person. When a man mistakes his thoughts for persons and things, he is mad. A madman is properly so defined. Coleridge.Mād'ness, n. p. 799The condition of being mad; disorder of intellect; distraction; infatuation with excitement or passion. 2. Wildness of passion; fury; rage; as, the madness of despair. Syn. — Insanity; distraction…Ma-dōn'na, n. p. 799Madam; my lady; a term of address; — the Italian equivalent of madame. 2. A picture of the Virgin Mary, to whom the title Our Lady especially belongs.Mād're-pō'ral, a. p. 799Of, pertaining to, or resembling, the madrepores. Dana.Mād're-pōre, n. p. 799(Min.) (a.) A coral of the genus Madrepora, the species of which usually branch like trees and shrubs, and have the surface covered with small prominences, each containing a cell. (b.) In a popular…Mād're-po-ri'te, n. p. 799Fossil coral, or limestone composed of fossil coral.Mād'rid-lē'ni-an, n. p. 799(Geog.) A native or inhabitant of Madrid in Spain.Mād'rid-lē'ni-an, a. p. 799(Geog.) Of, or pertaining to, Madrid or its inhabitants.Ma-driēr', or Mād'ri-er, n. p. 799A thick plank, used for several mechanical purposes; especially, to receive the mouth of a petard, with which it is applied to any thing intended to be broken down; a plank used for supporting the…Mād'rī-gal, n. p. 799A little amorous poem, sometimes called a pastoral poem, not confined to the scrupulous regularity of a sonnet, or the subtlety of the epigram, but containing some tender and delicate, though simple…Mād'ri-gal-er, n. p. 799One who composes madrigals.Măd'-wort, n. p. 799(Bot.) A plant of the genus Alyssum (A. maritimum).Mæg′bōte or Māg′bōte, n. p. 799(Anglo-Saxon Law.) A recompense or satisfaction for the slaying or murder of a kinsman. [Obs.] Spelman.Mäel'strom, n. p. 799(Geog.) A celebrated whirlpool on the coast of Norway.Mäj'es-tō'so, a. p. 799(Mus.) Majestic; — a direction to perform a passage or piece of music in a dignified and majestic manner.Mä-ēs'tro, n. p. 799A master in any art, especially in music; a composer.Māf'fle, v. i. p. 799To stammer. [Obs.] Barret.Māf'ler, n. p. 799A stammerer. [Obs.]Māg'a-zīne', n. p. 799A receptacle in which any thing is stored or deposited; a warehouse; especially, a storehouse for military stores, as ammunition, arms, provisions, &c. 2. The building or room in which the supply of…Māg/a-zīne', v. t. p. 799To store up or accumulate for future use; as, paper which has been exposed to the sun for a time retains or magazines the sun's influence, so that it may be used in the dark for making photographs.Măg'a-zīn'er, n. p. 799One who writes for a magazine. [Rare.] Goldsmith.Māg'a-zīn'ist, n. p. 799One who writes for a magazine; a magaziner.Māg'da-len, n. p. 799A reformed prostitute.Mag-dā'le-on, n. p. 799(Med.) (a.) A medicine, as a pill, prepared with bread crumb. (b.) A roll of plaster. Dunglison.Māge, n. p. 799A magician. [Obs.] Spenser.Măg'el-lăn'ic, a. p. 799Pertaining to Magellan. Magellanic clouds (Astron.), three conspicuous nebulæ situated near the south pole, resembling thin, white clouds, and so called from Magellan, the navigator.Maggiore, a. p. 799(Mus.) Greater, in respect to scales, intervals, &c., when used in opposition to minor: major. Moore.Măg'got, n. p. 799The larval form of a fly; a grub; a worm. 2. A whim; an odd fancy. [Low.] Unite them and their different maggots, As long and short sticks are in fagots. Hudibras.Măg'got-i-ness, n. p. 799The state of being maggoty.Măg'gōt-ish, a. p. 799Full of whims or fancies; maggoty.Măg'got-y, a. p. 799Full of maggots; infested with maggots. 2. Full of whims; capricious; whimsical.Mā'gi'ā, n. pl. p. 799The caste of priests among the Persians; hence, holy men or sages of the East.Mă'gi-an, a. p. 799Pertaining to the Magi, a sect of philosophers in Persia.Ma'gi-an, n. p. 799One of the Magi, or priests of the Zoroastrian religion in Persia; an adherent of the Zoroastrian religion.Mā'gi-an-ism, n. p. 799The philosophy or doctrines of the Magi.Măġ'ic, n. p. 799The magical arts; the science or practice of evoking spirits or educing the occult powers of nature, and performing things wonderful by their aid; enchantment; sorcery; necromancy. Celestial magic, a…Măġ'ic or Măġ'ic-al, a. p. 799Pertaining to the hidden wisdom supposed to be possessed by the Magi; relating to the occult powers of nature, and the producing of effects by their agency; necromantic. 2. Performed by, or…Măġ'ic-al-ly, adv. p. 799By the arts of magic; according to the rules or rites of magic; by enchantment.Ma-ġĭ'cian, n. p. 799One skilled in magic; one who practices the black art; an enchanter; a necromancer; a sorcerer or sorceress.Ma-gĭlp’ or Ma-gĭlph’, n. p. 799(Paint.) A gelatinous compound of linseed oil and mastic varnish, used by artists as a vehicle for colors. [Written also megilp, and megilph.]Māg'ī-lis, n. p. 799(Zool.) A genus of gasteropodous mollusks, embracing but a single species (M. antiquus), found in the substance of masses of coral. It has a thin, spiral shell, consisting of four whorls, the last…Ma-gis'ter, n. p. 799Master; sir;—a title of the middle ages, equivalent to the modern title of doctor.Māg'is-tē'ri-al, a. p. 799Pertaining to a master; appropriate to a master; authoritative; hence, proud; lofty; imperious; domineering. Pretenses go a great way with men that take fair words and magisterial looks for current…Māg'is-tē'ri-al-ly, adv. p. 799With the air of a master; arrogantly; authoritatively.Măg'is-tē'ri-al-ness, n. p. 799The air and manner of a master; haughtiness; imperiousness; peremptoriness.Māg'is-tēr'y, n. p. 799Mastery of disease; powerful medical influence; renowned efficacy. Holland. 2. (Chem.) A precipitate; a fine substance deposited by precipitation;—usually applied to particular kinds of precipitate…Māg'is-tra-cy, n. p. 799The office or dignity of a magistrate. Dueling is not only a usurpation of the divine prerogative, but it is an insult upon magistracy. S. Richardson. 2. The body of magistrates.Māg'is-tral, a. p. 799Suiting a magistrate; magisterial; authoritative. 2. Pertaining to a sovereign medicine or remedy. [Obs.] “Some magistral opiate.” Bacon. Magistral line (Fort.), a magistral. See MAGISTRAL.Măg'is-tral, n. p. 799A sovereign medicine or remedy. [Obs.] 2. (Fort.) The line where the scarp of a permanent fortification, if prolonged, would intersect the top of the coping or cordon. It is the master line, which…Māg'is-trăl'i-ty, n. p. 799Despotic authority in opinion. [Obs.] Bacon.Māg'is-tral-ly, adv. p. 799Authoritatively; with imperiousness. [Obs.] Bramhall.Măg'is-trāte, n. p. 799A person clothed with power as a public civil officer; a public civil officer, invested with the executive government, or some branch of it. The magistrate must have his reverence; the laws, their…Măg'is-trāt'ic or Măg'is-trāt'ic-al, a. p. 800Having the authority of a magistrate. [R.] Bp. Taylor.Māg'is-trā'tūre, n. p. 800Magistracy. [Obs.]Māg'mā, n. p. 800Any crude mixture of mineral or organic matters, in the state of a thin paste. (Ore.) 2. (Med.) (a.) A thick residuum obtained from certain substances after the fluid parts are expressed from them…Māg'nā Chār'tā p. 800The great charter, so called, obtained by the English barons from King John, A. D. 1215. This name is also given to the charter granted to the people of England in the ninth year of Henry III., and…Mag-nā'l-i-ty, n. p. 800A great deed or feat; a grand or striking act. [Obs.] Browne.Māg'na-nīm'i-ty, n. p. 800The quality of being magnanimous; greatness of mind; elevation or dignity of soul, which encounters danger and trouble with tranquillity and firmness, which raises the possessor above revenge, which…Mag-nān'i-moŭs, a. p. 800Great of mind; elevated in soul or in sentiment; raised above what is low, mean, or ungenerous; of lofty spirit; as, a magnanimous prince or general. 2. Dictated by magnanimity; exhibiting nobleness…Mag-năn'i-moŭs-ly, adv. p. 800In a magnanimous manner; with greatness of mind.