Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
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.Māg'nase, a. p. 800(Paint.) Characterized as a color which dries rapidly when mixed with oil, and is of intense body; as, magnase black. Fairholt.Māg'nāte, n. p. 800A person of rank; a noble or grandee; a person of note or distinction in any sphere; as, literary magnates. “More than one of the magnates who bore that wide-spread name.” Macaulay. 2. One of the…Māg'nēs, n. p. 800Magnet. [Obs.] “Mighty magnes-stone.” Spenser.Mag-nē'si-ā, n. p. 800(Chem.) An earth; the oxide of magnesium. It occurs in nature as periclase. Carbonate of magnesia (Med.), a white pulverulent earth, used as a mild cathartic. Calcined magnesia is the burnt…Mag-nē'sian, a. p. 800Pertaining to magnesia, or partaking of its qualities; containing magnesia; resembling magnesia. Magnesian limestone. See PERMIAN.Măg'ne-sīte, n. p. 800(Min.) A silicate of magnesia containing a large quantity of water. The name is also given to a carbonate of magnesia. Dana.Mag-nē'si-ŭm, n. p. 800(Chem.) The undecomposable metallic base of magnesia.Māg'nēz-stōne, n. p. 800A magnet. [Obs.] “A hideous rock of mighty magnes-stone.” Spenser.Măg'net, n. p. 800The loadstone; a species of iron ore (the protoxide or octahedral), which has the property of attracting iron and some of its ores, and, when freely suspended, of pointing to the poles; natural…Mag-nĕt'ic, n. p. 800Any metal, as iron, nickel, cobalt, &c., which may receive, by any means, the properties of the loadstone, and which then, when suspended, fixes itself in the direction of a magnetic meridian. Dana.Mag-nĕt'ic or Mag-nĕt'ic-al, a. p. 800Pertaining to the magnet; possessing the properties of the magnet, or corresponding properties; as, a magnetic bar of iron, or a magnetic needle. 2. Pertaining to the earth's magnetism; as, the…Mag-nĕt'ic-al-ly, adv. p. 800By means of magnetism; by the power of attraction. Burton.Mag-nēt'ic-al-ness, n. p. 800The quality of being magnetic.Măg'ne-tī'çian, n. p. 800One versed in the science of magnetism; a magnetist.Mag-nět'ic-ness, n. p. 800The state of being magnetic; magneticalness. [Obs.]Mag-nět'ies, n. sing. p. 800The science or principles of magnetism. [See Note under MATHEMATICS.]Măg'net-if'er-ōus, a. p. 800Producing or conducting magnetism.Măg'net-ism, n. p. 800The agent or force in nature which gives rise to the phenomena of attraction, polarity, &c., exhibited by the loadstone and other magnetic bodies; the property of being magnetic. 2. The science which…Măg'net-ist, n. p. 800One versed in magnetism.Măg'net-ite, n. p. 800(Min.) An ore of iron which possesses polarity, and is strongly magnetic.Măg'net-i-zā'tion, n. p. 800The act of magnetizing.Măg'net-īze, v. t. p. 800To communicate magnetic properties to; as, to magnetize a needle. 2. To attract as if by a magnet; to move; to influence. “Thoroughly fascinated, magnetized, as it were, by his character.” Motley.Măg'net-īze, v. i. p. 800To acquire magnetic properties; to become magnetic; as, a bar of iron standing some time in an inclined position will magnetize. [Rare.]Măg'net-īz-ē', n. p. 800A person subjected to the influence of animal magnetism. [Rare.] Brande.Măg'net-īz'er, n. p. 800One who, or that which, imparts magnetism.Măg'net-o-e-lē'etric or Măg'net-o-e-lē'etric-al, a. p. 800Pertaining to magneto-electricity; as, magneto-electric apparatus. Dana.Măg/net-o-e-lec-tric'i-ty, n. p. 800Electricity evolved by the action of magnets. 2. That branch of science which treats of phenomena in which the principles of both magnetism and electricity are involved;—the reverse or counterpart of…Mag-nĕt'o-grăph, n. p. 800An automatic instrument for registering, by photography or otherwise, the states and variations of any of the terrestrial magnetic elements.Măg'net-ŏm'e-ter, n. p. 800An instrument for measuring any of the terrestrial magnetic elements, as the dip, declination, and intensity, especially the latter. [Also magneto-moter.]Măg'net-o-mét'rĭc, a. p. 800Pertaining to, or employed in, the measurement of magnetic forces; as, magnetometric instruments; obtained by means of a magnetometer; as, magnetometric measurements.Mäg'net-o-mō'tor, n. p. 800A voltaic series of two or more large plates producing a great quantity of electricity of low tension, and hence adapted to the exhibition of magneto-electric phenomena.Măg'nĭ-fĭ'a-ble, a. p. 800Capable of being magnified; worthy of being magnified or extolled.Mag-nĭf'ic or Mag-nĭf'ic-al, a. p. 800Grand; splendid; illustrious; magnificent. “These are thy magnific deeds.” Milton.Mag-nĭf'ic-al-ly, adv. p. 800In a magnificent manner.Mag-nĭf'i-căt, n. p. 800The song of the Virgin Mary, Luke i. 46;—so called because it commences with this word in the Latin Vulgate.Mag-nĭf'i-cāte, v. t. p. 800To magnify or extol. [Obs.] Marston.Mag-nĭf'ĭ-çĕnce, n. p. 800The condition or quality of being magnificent; munificence; liberality; grandeur of appearance; greatness and splendor of show or state; pomp. [Verona] can boast of possessing one of the noblest…Mag-nĭf'ĭ-cent, a. p. 800On a grand scale; generous; munificent; imposing with splendor; grand in appearance; splendid; pompous. Man he made, and for him built Magnificent this world. Milton. 2. Exhibiting grandeur. Syn.—See…Mag-nĭf'ĭ-cent-ly, adv. p. 800In a magnificent manner; with magnificence; with splendor of appearance, or pomp of show.Mag-nĭf'ĭ-ĕo, n. p. 800A grandee or nobleman of Venice;—so called in courtesy. Shak. 2. A rector of a German university.Măg'ni-fi'er, n. p. 800One who, or that which, magnifies; that which enlarges or increases apparent size; one who extols or exalts. 2. An optical instrument, as a convex lens, a concave mirror, or a combination of lenses…Măg'nĭ-fīy, v. t. p. 800To make great or greater; to increase the apparent dimensions of; to enlarge; to augment; as, a convex lens magnifies the bulk of a body to the eye. 2. To increase the power or glory of; to exalt; to…Măg'nĭ-fy, v. i. p. 800To have the power of causing objects to appear larger than they really are; to increase the apparent dimensions of objects; as, some lenses magnify but little. 2. To have effect; to be of importance…Magnifying-glass p. 800a plano-convex or double-convex lens;—so called because objects seen through it have their apparent dimensions increased.Mag-nĭl'o-quence, n. p. 800The quality of being magniloquent; loftiness of speech; lofty speech; pompous discourse; grandiloquence.Mag-nĭl'o-quent, a. p. 800Speaking loftily or pompously; using swelling discourse; bombastic; tumid in style.Mag-nĭl'ō-quent-ly, adv. p. 800In a magniloquent manner.Mag-nĭl'ō-quoŭs, a. p. 800Magniloquent. [Obs.]Măg'nĭ-tūde, n. p. 800Extent of dimensions or parts; bulk; size;—applied to things that have length, breadth and thickness. 2. (Geom.) That which is extended, or which has one or more of the three dimensions, length…Mag-nō'li-ă, n. p. 801(Bot.) A tree having large fragrant flowers, found in the southern parts of the United States. The great magnolia is the M. grandiflora; the small is the M. glauca, or sweet bay.Māg'ot, n. p. 801(Zoöl.) A species of monkey of the genus Macacus (M. inuus); the Barbary ape. It is found along the southern shore of the Mediterranean and at Gibraltar, and is the only species of monkey at present…Māg'ot-pie, n. p. 801The magpie. [Obs.] Shak.Māg'pie, n. p. 801(Ornith.) A bird of the genus Pica (P. caudata), allied to the crow, but smaller, and snowy white below. It is noisy and mischievous, and may be taught to speak. It is common in Europe. The American…Māg'pie-mōth, n. p. 801(Entom.) A black and white moth, of the genus Abraxas (A. grossularia).Ma-guey', n. p. 801(Bot.) A species of aloe (Agave Mexicana and Agave Americana), in Mexico, which furnished the natives with a material for their buildings. Its leaves were used for covering the roofs of their houses…Mag'yar, n. p. 801(Geog.) One of the prevailing race in Hungary which came from the Ural and conquered that country.