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.
Mean'ing, n. p. 822That which is meant or intended; intent; purpose; aim; object. I am no honest man, if there be any good meaning toward you. Shak. 2. That which is signified, whether by act or language…Mēan'ing-less, a. p. 822Having no meaning.Mēan'ing-ly, adv. p. 822Significantly; intendingly.Mēan'ly, adv. p. 822Moderately; not in a great degree. [Obs.] In the reign of Domitian, poetry was meanly cultivated. Dryden. 2. In a mean manner; low in dignity, rank, or social position; in a manner indicating…Mēan'ness, n. p. 822The quality of being mean; want of excellence, eminence, or dignity; poorness; lowness; humility; baseness; sordidness. This figure is of a later date, by the meanness of the workmanship. Addison.…Mēans, n. pl. p. 822Resources or income. See MEAN. 2. Instrument for gaining an end; as, by this means. See MEAN, No. 3.Mēant, imp. & p. p. p. 822of mean.Mēan'time or Mēan'while, adv. p. 822In the intervening time; during the interval.Mēar, n. p. 822A boundary or limit. See MERE. 2. (Derbyshire Mining.) Thirty-two yards of ground in the vein.Mēase, n. p. 822The number of five hundred; as, a mease of herrings.Mēa'sel-ry, n. p. 822Leprosy. [Obs.] “For foul measelry he communed with no man.” R. Brunne.Mēa'sle, n. p. 822A leper. [Obs.] [Written also meazel and messel.] Wycliffe.Mē'a'sled, a. p. 822Infected or spotted with measles.Mēa'sled-ness, n. p. 822The state of being measled;—said especially of swine.Mea'sles, n. pl. p. 822Leprosy. [Obs.] Chaucer. 2. (Med.) A contagious febrile disorder, commencing with catarrhal symptoms, and marked by the appearance on the third day of an eruption of distinct red circular spots…Mēas'ly, a. p. 822Infected with measles or eruptions.Mēas'ūr-a-ble, a. p. 822Capable of being measured; susceptible of mensuration or computation. 2. Moderate; in small quantity or extent.Mēa'sūr-a-ble-ness, n. p. 822The quality of being measurable.Meas'ur-a-bly, adv. p. 822In a measurable manner; to a limited extent; moderately. Yet do it measurably, as it becometh Christians. Latimer.Mēas'ure, n. p. 822The dimensions of any thing, reckoned according to some standard; size or extent, determined and stated; estimated extent. The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea. Job…Mĕas/ure, v. t. p. 823To compute or ascertain the extent, quantity, dimensions, or capacity of, by a certain rule or standard; to take the dimensions of; hence, to estimate; to judge of; to value; to appraise. Great are…Mĕas'ūre, v. i. p. 823To be of a certain extent, or to have a certain length, breadth, or thickness; as, cloth measures three fourths of a yard; a tree measures three feet in diameter.Mĕas'ured, a. p. 823Regulated or determined by a standard; hence, moderated; moderate; equal; uniform; steady; as, he walked with measured steps. 2. Limited or restricted; as, in no measured terms.Mĕas'ure-less, a. p. 823Without measure; unlimited; immeasurable. Syn.—Boundless; limitless; endless; unbounded; unlimited; vast; immense; infinite; immeasurable.Mēas'ure-ment, n. p. 823The act of measuring; mensuration. 2. The amount or quantity ascertained by measuring; the quantity; the area.Mĕas'ūr-er, n. p. 823One who measures; one whose occupation or duty is to measure commodities in market.Mĕas'ūr-ing, a. p. 823Used in measuring; as, a measuring rod. Measuring cast, a throw or cast, in the game of bowls, that requires to be measured, or that can not be distinguished from another without measuring.Mēat, n. p. 823Food in general; any thing eaten for nourishment, either by man or beast. And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb; . . . to you it shall be for meat. Gen. i. 29. Every moving thing that…Mēat, v. t. p. 823To supply with food; to feed. [Obs. and rare.] “His shield well lined, his horses meated well.” Chapman.Mēat'-bĭs'cuit, n. p. 823An extract of the most nutritive parts of meat boiled down and thickened with flour, and then formed into the shape of biscuit, for long voyages, travels, &c. Simmonds.Meat'ed, a. p. 823Fed; fattened. [Obs.] Tusser. 2. Having meat;—used chiefly in composition; as, thick-meated.Mēathe, n. p. 823A sweet liquor or drink; mead. [Obs.] Milton. 2. Choice; option; preference. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.Meat'i-ness, n. p. 823The state or quality of being meaty; fleshiness; muscularity. The diaphaneity of Babet contrasted with the meatiness of Guelphener. C. E. Wilson.Mēat'less, a. p. 823Having no meat; without food. “Leave these beggars meatless.” Sir T. More.Mēat'-ŏf'fer-ing, n. p. 823(Script.) An offering consisting of meat or food, in distinction from a drink-offering.Mē-ā'tus, n. p. 823(Anat.) A natural passage or canal, wider than a duct. It may be closed at one end, or perforated.Mēat'y, a. p. 823Abounding in meat; fleshy.Meaw, v. i. p. 823See MEW.Meawl, v. i. p. 823See MEWL.Mēa'zel, n. p. 823See MEASLE. [Obs.]Mēaz'ling, a. p. 823Falling in small drops; mistling; mizzling.Mēc'ca-wee', n. p. 823(Geog.) A native or inhabitant of Mecca, or Mekka, in Arabia.Mĕc'ca-wee',, a. p. 823(Geog.) Of, or pertaining to, Mecca or its inhabitants.Me-chān'ic, n. p. 823One who works with machines or instruments; a workman or laborer other than agricultural; an artisan; an artificer; more specifically, one who practices any mechanic art; one skilled or employed in…Me-chăn'ic or Me-chăn'ic-al, a. p. 823Pertaining to, governed by, or in accordance with, mechanics, or the laws of motion; depending upon mechanism or machinery. 2. Hence, done as if by a machine, or without conscious exertion of will…Mechanical effect or Mechanical philosophy or Mechanical powers p. 823the measure of effective power; the power to raise a certain weight through a foot-space in a definite time. Nichol. — Mechanical philosophy, the principles of mechanics applied to the investigation…Mechanical Powers p. 8231, lever; 2, inclined plane; 3, wheel and axle; 4, screw; 5, pulley; 6, wedge.Me-chān'ic-al, n. p. 823A mechanic. [Obs.] “Rude mechanicks.” Shak.Me-chān′ic-al-ize, v. t. p. 823To cause to become mechanical; hence, to render base, low, or mean. [Obs.]Me-chăn'ic-al-ly, adv. p. 823In a mechanical manner; according to the laws of mechanism or good workmanship; by physical force or power; by the laws of motion, without intelligence or design, or by the force of habit.Me-chăn'ic-al-ness, n. p. 823The state of being mechanical, or governed by mechanism.Mĕch'a-nĭ'cian, n. p. 823One skilled in mechanics; a machinist.Me·chān'i·co·chēm'ic·al, a. p. 823Pertaining to, connected with, or dependent upon, both mechanics and chemistry; — said especially of those sciences which treat of such phenomena as require for their explanation the application of…Me-chăn'ics, n. sing. p. 823That science, or branch of applied mathematics, which treats of the action of forces on bodies. [See Note under MATHEMATICS.] That part of mechanics which considers the action of forces in producing…Mēch'an-īzm, n. p. 823Movement according to mechanical laws; mechanical action. [Hare.] 2. The construction of a machine; the arrangement and connection of moving and other parts in a machine, so as to answer a given…Mĕch'an-ist, n. p. 823A maker of machines; one skilled in mechanics.Mēch'an-ize, v. t. p. 823To subject to contrivance, art, or skill; to form by contrivance or design.Mĕch'an-o-grāph'ic, a. p. 823Pertaining to, or treating of, mechanics.Měch'an-ŏg'ra-phist, n. p. 823An artist who, by mechanical means, multiplies copies of works of art.Mĕch'an-ŏg'ra-phy, n. p. 823The art of multiplying copies of a writing, or any work of art, by the use of a machine.