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An American Dictionary of the English Language

Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)

Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865

Entries
95,912
Pages
1,538
Illustrations
2,133

Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.

  1. Mēa'sūr-a-ble-ness, n.p. 822The quality of being measurable.
  2. Meas'ur-a-bly, adv.p. 822In a measurable manner; to a limited extent; moderately. Yet do it measurably, as it becometh Christians. Latimer.
  3. 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…
  4. 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…
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. Mĕas'ure-less, a.p. 823Without measure; unlimited; immeasurable. Syn.—Boundless; limitless; endless; unbounded; unlimited; vast; immense; infinite; immeasurable.
  8. Mēas'ure-ment, n.p. 823The act of measuring; mensuration. 2. The amount or quantity ascertained by measuring; the quantity; the area.
  9. Mĕas'ūr-er, n.p. 823One who measures; one whose occupation or duty is to measure commodities in market.
  10. 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.
  11. 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…
  12. Mēat, v. t.p. 823To supply with food; to feed. [Obs. and rare.] “His shield well lined, his horses meated well.” Chapman.
  13. 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.
  14. Meat'ed, a.p. 823Fed; fattened. [Obs.] Tusser. 2. Having meat;—used chiefly in composition; as, thick-meated.
  15. Mēathe, n.p. 823A sweet liquor or drink; mead. [Obs.] Milton. 2. Choice; option; preference. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
  16. 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.
  17. Mēat'less, a.p. 823Having no meat; without food. “Leave these beggars meatless.” Sir T. More.
  18. Mēat'-ŏf'fer-ing, n.p. 823(Script.) An offering consisting of meat or food, in distinction from a drink-offering.
  19. 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.
  20. Mēat'y, a.p. 823Abounding in meat; fleshy.
  21. Meaw, v. i.p. 823See MEW.
  22. Meawl, v. i.p. 823See MEWL.
  23. Mēa'zel, n.p. 823See MEASLE. [Obs.]
  24. Mēaz'ling, a.p. 823Falling in small drops; mistling; mizzling.
  25. Mēc'ca-wee', n.p. 823(Geog.) A native or inhabitant of Mecca, or Mekka, in Arabia.
  26. Mĕc'ca-wee',, a.p. 823(Geog.) Of, or pertaining to, Mecca or its inhabitants.
  27. 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…
  28. 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…
  29. Mechanical effect or Mechanical philosophy or Mechanical powersp. 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…
  30. Mechanical Powersp. 8231, lever; 2, inclined plane; 3, wheel and axle; 4, screw; 5, pulley; 6, wedge.
  31. Me-chān'ic-al, n.p. 823A mechanic. [Obs.] “Rude mechanicks.” Shak.
  32. Me-chān′ic-al-ize, v. t.p. 823To cause to become mechanical; hence, to render base, low, or mean. [Obs.]
  33. 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.
  34. Me-chăn'ic-al-ness, n.p. 823The state of being mechanical, or governed by mechanism.
  35. Mĕch'a-nĭ'cian, n.p. 823One skilled in mechanics; a machinist.
  36. 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…
  37. 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…
  38. 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…
  39. Mĕch'an-ist, n.p. 823A maker of machines; one skilled in mechanics.
  40. Mēch'an-ize, v. t.p. 823To subject to contrivance, art, or skill; to form by contrivance or design.
  41. Mĕch'an-o-grāph'ic, a.p. 823Pertaining to, or treating of, mechanics.
  42. Měch'an-ŏg'ra-phist, n.p. 823An artist who, by mechanical means, multiplies copies of works of art.
  43. 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.
  44. Mĕch'an-ŭr'gy, n.p. 823That branch of science which treats of moving machines.
  45. Mĕch'lin, n.p. 823A beautiful, light kind of lace;—so called because made at Mechlin, in Belgium.
  46. Me-chō'a-can, n.p. 823A species of jalap, of very feeble properties, obtained from the root of a species of Convolvulus (C. Mechoacan);—so called from Mechoacan, in Mexico, whence it is obtained.
  47. Me-cōm'e-ter, n.p. 823(Med.) An instrument sometimes used to measure the length of new-born infants. Dunglison.
  48. Mĕc'o-nate, n.p. 823(Chem.) A salt consisting of meconic acid and a base.
  49. Me-cō'ni-ă, n.p. 823The same as MECONINA.
  50. Me-cōn'ic, a.p. 823(Chem.) Pertaining to, or derived from, poppies; as, meconic acid, a peculiar acid contained in opium.
  51. Me-cōn'i-nā or Mĕc'o-nine, n.p. 823(Chem.) A white crystalline substance produced by the oxidation of narcotine. It also exists in small quantity in opium. Miller.
  52. Me-cō'ni-ŭm, n.p. 823(Med.) The inspissated juice of the poppy. [Obs.] 2. The first feces of infants.
  53. Mē'con-ŏp'sis, n.p. 823(Bot.) A genus of plants allied to the poppy, of which one species (M. Cambricae) is the Welsh poppy.
  54. Mĕd'al, n.p. 823A coin struck with a device intended as a memento of any event or person; a piece of metal in the form of a coin, so struck, but not intended for circulation as money; a reward of merit.
  55. Mĕd'al-ĕt, n.p. 823A small medal.
  56. Mĕd'al-ist, n.p. 823A person that is skilled or curious in medals. 2. One who has gained a medal as the reward of merit.
  57. Me-dăl'lic, a.p. 823Pertaining to a medal, or to medals. Admiral Vernon will shine in our medallic history. H. Walpole.
  58. Me-dăll'ion, n.p. 823A large antique medal or memorial coin. 2. Any thing resembling in form such a coin; as, (Arch.) a circular tablet on which figures are embossed. Weale.
  59. Mĕd'al-ūr'gy, n.p. 823The art of making and striking medals and other coins. [Written also medallurgy.]
  60. Mĕd'dle, v. i.p. 823To mix one's self in an unnecessary, impertinent, or improper manner; to take part in a thing with which one should have nothing to do; to interpose officiously; to thrust one's self in offensively.…