Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
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- 95,912
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Măt'ri-cī'dal, a. p. 819Pertaining to matricide.Māt'ri-cīde, n. p. 819The killing or murder of a mother. 2. The killer or murderer of his mother.Ma-trĭc'ū-lāte, v. t. p. 819To enter or admit to membership in a body or society, particularly in a college or university, by enrolling the name in a register; sometimes, more generally, to enroll. “In discovering and…Ma-tric'u-late, n. p. 819One who is matriculated or enrolled in a register, and thus admitted to membership in a society.Ma-trī'cu-lā'tion, n. p. 819The act of matriculating or of registering a name, and admitting to membership.Măt'ri-mō'ni-al, a. p. 819Pertaining to marriage; connubial; nuptial; hymeneal; as, matrimonial rights or duties. 2. Derived from marriage. If he relied on that title, he could be but a king at courtesy, and have rather a…Măt'ri-mō'ni-al-ly, adv. p. 819According to the manner or laws of marriage.Măt'ri-mō'ni-oŭs, a. p. 819Matrimonial. [Obs. and rare.] Milton.Măt'ri-mo-ny, n. p. 819The union of man and woman as husband and wife; the nuptial state; marriage; wedlock. If any man know cause why this couple should not be joined in holy matrimony, they are to declare it. Com.…Mā'trix, n. p. 819(Anat.) The cavity in which the fetus of an animal is formed and nourished till its birth; the womb. All that openeth the matrix is mine. Ex. xxxiv. 19. 2. Hence, that which gives form or modifies…Mā'tron, n. p. 819An elderly married woman; an elderly lady; the female head of a household. “Grave from her cradle, insomuch that she was a matron before she was a mother.” Fuller. 2. In an especial sense, a nurse in…Măt'ron-age, n. p. 819The state of a matron. Burke. 2. The collective body of matrons. Can a politician slight the feelings and convictions of the whole matronage of his country? Hare.Măt'ron-al or Mā'tron-al, a. p. 819Pertaining to a matron; suitable to an elderly lady or to a married woman; grave; motherly.Mā'tron-hōōd, n. p. 819State of a matron.Māt'ron-īze, v. t. p. 819To render matron-like.Mā'tron-ly, a. p. 819Advanced in years; elderly. 2. Like, or befitting, a matron; grave; sedate.Ma-trŏss’, n. p. 819(Mil.) One of the soldiers in a train of artillery, who are next to the gunners, and assist them in loading, firing, and sponging the guns. They carry firelocks, and march with the store-wagons as…Mātt, n. p. 819See MAT.Măt'ta-mōre', n. p. 819A subterranean repository for wheat.Mătte, n. p. 819Crude black copper reduced, but not refined from sulphur, &c.Măt'ter, n. p. 819That of which any thing is composed; constituent substance; material; hence, material or substantial part of any thing; the constituent elements of a conception; that into which a notion may be…Măt'ter, v. i. p. 820To be of importance; to import; to signify. It matters not how they are called, so we know who they are. Locke. 2. To form pus or matter, as an abscess; to maturate. Each slight sore mattereth.…Măt'ter, v. t. p. 820To regard. [Obs.]Măt'ter-less, a. p. 820Void of matter.Māt'ter-of-făct', a. p. 820Adhering to facts; not turning aside from absolute realities; not fanciful or imaginative; dry.Măt'ter-y, a. p. 820Generating pus; purulent; as, a mattery cough. 2. Important. [Obs.] B. Jonson.Măt'ting, n. p. 820Mats in general, or collectively; mat work; a mat-like texture, for use in covering floors, packing articles, and the like. 2. Materials for mats. 3. An ornamental border of thin rolled brass, placed…Măt'tock, n. p. 820A kind of pick-ax, having the iron ends broad, instead of pointed. 'Tis you must dig with mattock and with spade. Shak.Măt'tress, n. p. 820A quilted bed; a bed stuffed with hair, moss, or other soft material, and quilted. [Written also matress.]Măt'ū-rant, n. p. 820(Med.) A medicine, or application, which promotes suppuration.Măt'ū-rāte, v. t. p. 820To bring to ripeness or maturity. By pouring every night warm water on the root thereof, a tree may be maturated artificially to bud out in the midst of winter. Fuller. 2. To promote the perfect…Māt'ū-rāte, v. i. p. 820To suppurate perfectly.Măt'ū-rā'tion, n. p. 820The process of ripening or coming to maturity; ripeness. 2. The process of suppurating perfectly; suppuration; the forming of pus.Măt'ū-rā'tive, a. p. 820Conducing to ripeness; ripening. 2. Conducing to perfect suppuration, or the formation of matter in an abscess.Māt'ü-rā'tive, n. p. 820(Med.) A remedy promoting maturation; a maturant.Ma-tūre', a. p. 820Brought by natural process to completeness or perfection of growth or development; prepared or fitted by growth or development for any situation or function; full-grown; ripe. Their prince is a man…Ma-tūre′, v. t. p. 820To bring or hasten to perfection or maturity; to promote ripeness in; to perfect; to ripen. Prick an apple with a pin full of holes, not deep, and smear it with sack, to see if the virtual heat of…Ma-tūre', v. i. p. 820To advance toward ripeness; to become ripe or perfect; as, wine matures by age, or by agitation in a long voyage; the judgment matures by age and experience. 2. Hence, specifically, to reach the time…Ma-tūre'ly, adv. p. 820In a mature manner; with ripeness; completely. 2. Early; soon. [A Latinism, little used.] Bentley.Ma-tūre'ness, n. p. 820The state or quality of being mature; maturity.Măt'ū-rĕs'cent, a. p. 820Approaching to maturity.Ma-tūr'ing, a. p. 820Approaching to maturity; as, maturing fruits; maturing notes of hand.Ma-tū'ri-ty, n. p. 820The state of being mature; ripeness; a state of perfection or completeness; as, the maturity of age or of judgment; the maturity of corn or of grass; the maturity of a plan or scheme. 2. Arrival at…Măt'ū-tī'nal or Măt'ū-tīne, a. p. 820Pertaining to the morning; early.Măt'weed, n. p. 820(Bot.) A plant of the genus Lygeum.Măt'y, n. p. 820A native servant in India. Simmonds.Maud, n. p. 820A wrapping plaid or shawl made of undyed wool; also, a gray striped plaid in Scotland.Maud'le, v. t. p. 820To throw into confusion or disorder; to render maudlin or besotted. [Obs.].Maud'lin, a. p. 820Approaching to intoxication; drunk; fuddled; stupid. And the kind maudlin crowd melts in her praise. Southern. 2. Weak or silly, as if half drunk; sickly sentimental. “Elegant sentimentalists…Maud'lin, n. p. 820(Bot.) A plant of the genus Achillea.Mau'ger or Mau'gre, prep. p. 820In spite of; in opposition to; notwithstanding. This, mauger all the world, will I keep safe. Shak. Mauger all our regulations to prevent it, the simple name of “man,” applied properly, never fails…Mau'gre, v. t. p. 820To defy. [Obs. and rare.] Deeply fixed, To maugre all gusts and impending storms. Webster, 1654.Mau'kin, n. p. 820See MALKIN.Maul, n. p. 820A heavy wooden hammer. [Written also mall.]Maul, v. t. p. 820To beat and bruise with a heavy stick or cudgel; to wound in a coarse manner. Meek, modern faith to murder, hack, and maul. Pope. 2. To deform greatly; to do much harm to. It mauls not only the…Maul'ing, n. p. 820A severe beating with a stick, cudgel, or the like. [Low.]Maul'-stick, n. p. 820The stick used by painters to keep the hand steady in working. [Written also mahl-stick.]Mäunch, n. p. 820A loose sleeve. [Obs.] Herbert. 2. (Her.) A sleeve.Maunch, v. t. p. 820To munch. [Obs.] See MUNCH.Măund, n. p. 820A hand-basket. [Scot.] 2. [From Hind. & Per. man.] An East Indian weight, varying in different localities from 24 to about 82 pounds avoirdupois. The Madras maund is 24 or 25 pounds; the Bombay…