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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- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
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.Māg'y-dāre, n. p. 801(Bot.) A plant of the genus Laserpitium; laser-wort.Măhā-bhā'rā-tā or Măhābhā'rā-tăm, n. p. 801A celebrated epic poem of the Hindoos. It is of great length, and is chiefly devoted to the history of a civil war between two dynasties of ancient India.Ma-hā'leb, n. p. 801A species of cherry (Cerasus mahaleb), whose fruit affords a violet dye, and a fermented liquor like kirschwasser. Ure.Māhl'-stick, n. p. 801See MAUL-STICK.Ma-hōg'a-nīze, v. t. p. 801To cause to resemble mahogany, whether by painting or by veneering.Ma-hōg'a-ny, n. p. 801(Bot.) (a.) A large tree of the genus Swietenia (S. mahagoni), found in tropical America. (b.) The wood of the S. mahogani. It is of a reddish-brown color, beautifully veined, very hard, and…Ma-hŏm'ed-an or Ma-hŏm'et-an, n. p. 801See MOHAMMEDAN.Ma-hŏm'et-an-ism, n. p. 801See MOHAMMEDISM.Ma-hŏm'et-an-īze, v. t. p. 801To convert to the religion of Mohammed; to cause to conform to Mohammedism.Ma-hŏm'et-ĭsm, n. p. 801The same as MOHAMMEDISM.