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.
Mē'di-ō'cral, a. p. 824Middling; ordinary; as, mediocral intellect. [Rare.] Addison.Mē'di-ō'cre, a. p. 824Of a middle quality; of but a moderate or low degree of excellence; indifferent; ordinary; commonplace. “A very mediocre poet.” Pope.Mē'di-ō'cre, n. p. 824A person of but a moderate or low degree of intellectual power; one of indifferent talents or ordinary abilities.Mē'di-ō'crist, n. p. 824A person of middling abilities. [Rare.] Swift.Mē'di-ōc're-ty, n. p. 824The quality of being mediocre or mediocral; a middle state or degree; a moderate degree or rate. Men of age seldom drive business home to the full period, but content themselves with a mediocrity of…Mēd′i-tance, n. p. 824Meditation. [Obs.] Your first thought is more Than others' labored meditance. Bean. & Fl.Mĕd'i-tāte, v. i. p. 824To dwell on any thing in thought; to contemplate; to study deliberately and continuously; to turn or revolve any subject in the mind; to reflect; to ruminate; to muse; to cogitate. His delight is in…Mĕd'i-tāte, v. t. p. 824To plan by revolving in the mind; to contrive; to intend. Some affirmed that I meditated a war. King Charles. I meditate to pass the remainder of life in a state of undisturbed repose. Washington.…Mĕd/i-tā'tion, n. p. 824The act of meditating; close or continued thought; the turning or revolving of a subject in the mind; serious contemplation; reflection; musing. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my…Mēd'i-tā'tist, n. p. 824One who is given to meditation; a thoughtful person.Mēd'i-tā'tive, a. p. 824Addicted to meditation; as, a man of meditative mind. 2. Expressing, devoted to, or appropriate to, meditation or design; as, a meditative mood.Mēd'i-tā'tive-ly, adv. p. 824In a meditative manner.Mēd'i-tā'tive-ness, n. p. 824State of being meditative.Mēd'i-ter-rāne', a. p. 824Mediterranean. [Obs.]Mēd'i-ter-rā'ne-an or Mēd'i-ter-rā'ne-ōŭs, a. p. 824Inclosed, or nearly inclosed, with land; as, the Mediterranean Sea, between Europe and Africa. 2. Inland; remote from the ocean or sea; as, mediterraneous mountains. 3. (Geog.) Pertaining to, or…Mē'di-ŭm, n. p. 825That which lies in the middle, or between other things; intervening body or quantity; hence, specifically, (a.) Middle place or degree; mean. The just medium of this case lies between pride and…Mē'di-ǚs, n. p. 825The middle long finger of the hand.Mēd'lar, n. p. 825A tree of the genus Mespilus (M. Germanica); also, the fruit of the tree. The fruit is eaten only when in a state of decay, and the peculiar flavor is highly esteemed by some.Mĕd'le, v. t. p. 825To mix; to mingle; to meddle. [Written also medly.] [Obs.]Mĕd'ley, n. p. 825A mixture; a mingled and confused mass of ingredients; a jumble; a hodge-podge; — used often or commonly with some degree of contempt. This medley of philosophy and war. Addison. Love is a medley of…Mĕd'ley, a. p. 825Mingled; confused. [Obs.] Dryden.Mĕd'ly, v. t. p. 825See MEDLE.Me-dŏc', n. p. 825A superior French wine, from Medoc, in the department of Gironde. Simmonds.Me-dri'sā, n. p. 825A Mohammedan high school for the instruction of youth.Me-dūl'la, n. p. 825Marrow; pith; hence, essence. [Obs.] Milton. 2. (Anat.) A fatty substance contained in the cavities of bones; marrow. 3. (Bot.) A soft, cellular tissue, occupying the center of the stem or branch of…Me-dŭl'lar or Mĕd'ul-la-ry, a. p. 825Pertaining to marrow; consisting of marrow; resembling marrow; as, medullary substance. 2. (Bot.) Filled with spongy pith; pithy. Medullary rays (Bot.), the rays of cellular tissue seen in a…Me-dŭl'līne, n. p. 825A form of lignine derived from the pith of certain plants, as the sunflower, lilac, &c.Me-dū'să, n. p. 825(Myth.) A personage who was fabled to possess the power of turning all who looked upon her into stone. 2. (pl. MEDUSÆ.) (Zoöl.) An animal of one of the divisions of radiates; — called also…Mē-dū'si-an, n. p. 825(Zoöl.) One of the medusæ; a medusa.Meech, v. i. p. 825To lie hid; to conceal one's self; to skulk; hence, to be servilely humble or mean; to cower. See MICHE.Meech'ing, p. pr. & a. p. 825Skulking; cowering; servilely humble; mean. See MICHING.Meed, n. p. 825That which is bestowed or rendered in consideration of merit; reward; recompense. Thanks to men Of noble minds is honorable meed. Shak. Peace to the perished! may the warrior’s meed And tears of…Meed, v. t. p. 825To deserve or be worthy of; to merit. [Obs.] And yet thy body meeds a better grave. Heywood.Meed'ful-ly, adv. p. 825According to desert or merit; suitably. [Obs.] A wight, without needful compulsion, ought meedfully to be rewarded. Chaucer.Meek, a. p. 825Mild of temper; not easily provoked or irritated; given to forbearance under injuries; soft; gentle; yielding. Now the man Moses was very meek, above all men. Num. xii. 3. 2. Specifically, submissive…Meek or Meek'en (mēk'n), v. t. p. 825To make meek; to soften; to render mild. [Obs.] “To nurture him, to humble, to meek, and to teach him God's ways.” Tyndale.Meek'ly, adv. p. 825In a meek manner; mildly; gently; submissively; humbly. And this misseeming discord meekly lay aside. Spencer.Meek'ness, n. p. 825The quality of being meek; forbearance under injuries and provocations; softness of temper; mildness; gentleness. Meekness is a grace which Jesus alone inculcated, and which no ancient philosopher…Meer, a. p. 825Simple; unmixed. See MERE.Meer, n. p. 825A lake; a boundary. See MERE.Meered, a. p. 825Relating to a boundary. [Obs.] See MERE. Shak.Meer'schaum, n. p. 825(Min.) A fine white clay, consisting of one part each of magnesia, silica, and water. It occurs in various parts of Europe, but particularly in Natolia, and, when first taken out, is soft, and makes…Meet, v. t. p. 825To come together with, by approach from an opposite direction; to come upon or against; to happen upon; to fall in with. His daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances. Judg. xi. 34.…Meet, v. i. p. 825To come together by mutual approach; to fall in with another; to come face to face; hence, to converge; to join. O, when meet now Such pairs in love and mutual honor joined! Milton. We can as easily…Meet, a. p. 825Prepared or adapted, as to a use or purpose; fit; suitable; proper; qualified; convenient. Ye shall pass over armed before your brethren, the children of Israel, all that are meet for the war. Deut.…Meet, n. p. 825A meeting of huntsmen for coursing. [Eng.]Meet'en, v. t. p. 825To render meet or fit for.Meet'er, n. p. 825One who meets or accosts.Meet'ing, n. p. 825A coming together; an interview; an assembly; as, a happy meeting of friends. 2. A congregation; a collection of people; a convention; as, the meeting was numerous; the meeting was clamorous; the…Meet'ing-house, n. p. 825A place of worship; a church; in England, a place of worship for dissenters.Meet'ly, adv. p. 825Fitly; suitably; properly.Meet'ness, n. p. 825Fitness; suitableness; propriety.Mēg'a-cōsm, n. p. 825The great world; macrocosm. Bp. Croft.Mĕg'a-lē'sian, a. p. 825Pertaining to, or in honor of, Cybele. Megalesian games (Rom. Antiq.), a festival, with magnificent scenic exhibitions, in honor of Cybele.Mĕg'a-lĭch'thys, n. p. 825(Palæon.) An extinct genus of fishes, some of which were of great size. Brande.Mēg'a-lith'ic, a. p. 825Formed of large stones.Mēg'a-lō'don, n. p. 825(Palæon.) An extinct genus of conchifera, found fossil in Devonian or old red sandstone strata. (Craig.)Mēg'a-lōn'yx or Mēg'a-lō'nyx, n. p. 825(Palæon.) A fossil mammal, of great size, allied to the sloth. Its bones have been found in the tertiary of the Middle United States. Dana.Mēg'a-lōph'o-noüs, a. p. 825Having a loud voice.Mĕg'a-lōp'o-lĭs, n. p. 825A chief city; a metropolis. [Obs.] Herbert.