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-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.Ma-hŏm'et-ĭst, n. p. 801A follower of, or believer in, Mohammed. [Obs.]Ma-hŏm'et-ry, n. p. 801Mohammedism. [Obs.]Ma-hōne', n. p. 801A large Turkish ship. Simmonds.Mä'hound, n. p. 801A contemptuous name for Mohammed; hence, also, an evil spirit; a devil. [Obs.] “Who's this, my mahound cousin?” Beau. & Fl.Ma-hout', n. p. 801The keeper and driver of an elephant. [East Indies.]Ma'ian, n. p. 801(Zoöl.) One of a tribe of decapod crustaceans; the spider-crab.Māid, n. p. 801(Ichth.) A fish of the genus Raia (R. clavata); a species of skate-fish, or thornback.Māid, n. p. 801An unmarried woman; a virgin; a maiden; rarely, also, a chaste young man. Beau. & Fl. 2. Hence, a female servant. ☞ Maid is used in composition, signifying female, as in maid-child, maid-servant.Maid'en, n. p. 801A maid. 2. An instrument resembling the guillotine, formerly used in Scotland for beheading criminals. Wharton. 3. A machine for washing linen.Maid'en, a. p. 801Pertaining to a young woman or virgin; as, maiden charms. 2. Consisting of young women or virgins. “Amid the maiden throng.” 3. Fresh; new; unused; unhackneyed; unpolluted; pure; virgin. He fleshed…Māid'en, v. i. p. 801To speak and act demurely or modestly. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.Māid'en-hâir, n. p. 801(Bot.) A plant of the genus Adiantum (A. pedatum), having very slender, graceful stalks. It is found in the United States, and is sometimes used in medicine. The name is also applied to a plant of…Māid'en-head or Māid'en-hood, n. p. 801The state of being a maid or virgin; virginity. “The modest lore of maidenhood.” Milton. 2. Newness; freshness; uncontaminated state. “The maidenhood of thy first fight.” Shak.Māid'en-li-ness, n. p. 801The quality of being a maid; the behavior that becomes a maid; modesty; gentleness.Māid'en-līp, n. p. 801A plant. Ainsworth.Māid'en-ly, a. p. 801Becoming a maid; gentle; modest; reserved.Māid'en-ly, adv. p. 801In a maiden-like manner. [Rare.]Maid'en-pĭnk, n. p. 801(Bot.) A plant of the genus Dianthus (D. virgineus).Māid'en-plūm, n. p. 801(Bot.) A tree of tropical America, whose juice gives an almost indelible black stain; the Comocladia.Māid'en-shīp, n. p. 801Maidenhood. [Obs.] Fuller.Māid'hōōd, n. p. 801The condition of being a maid; virginity; maidenhood.Māid-mā'ri-an, n. p. 801The lady of the May-games in a morris-dance; a May-queen. 2. A character personated by a man in woman's clothes. 3. A kind of dance. Sir W. Temple.Māid'-pāle, a. p. 801Pale, like a sick girl. Shak.Māid'-sĕrv'ant, n. p. 801A female servant.Ma·ieu'tic·al, a. p. 801Serving to assist or facilitate childbirth; hence, aiding or facilitating production; serving to elicit. [Obs.] Yet is all human teaching but maieutical, or obstetricious. Cudworth.Maï'gre, n. p. 801A fast. [Obs.] H. Walpole.Māi'gre, a. p. 801Belonging to a fast-day or fast. [Obs.] H. Walpole.Māi'gre-food, n. p. 801(Rom. Cath. Church.) Food allowed to be eaten upon fast-days.Māi'hem, n. p. 801See MAIM.Mail, n. p. 801Defensive armor composed of steel rings or plates intertwined with, or enveloping, one another. 2. Hence, generally, armor; defensive covering. We strip the lobster of his scarlet mail. Gay. 3.…Māil, v. t. p. 801To put a coat of mail or armor upon; to arm defensively.