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'lam, n. p. 826(Chem.) A white, insoluble powder, discovered by Liebig. It is prepared by fusing sulphocyanide of ammonia, or a mixture of two parts of sal ammoniac and one part of sulphocyanide of potassium.Mĕl'a-mīne, n. p. 826(Chem.) A base obtained from melam when decomposed by means of alkalies or dilute acids. Wright.Mĕl'am-pōde, n. p. 826The black hellebore. [Obs.] Spenser.Me-lăn'a-gōgue, n. p. 826(Med.) A medicine supposed to expel black bile or choler. [Obs.]Mēl'an-chōl'i-an, n. p. 826A person affected with melancholy; a melancholic. [Obs.]Mēl'an-chōl'ic, a. p. 826Given to melancholy; depressed; melancholy; dejected; mournful; unhappy. Just as the melancholic eye Sees fleets and armies in the sky. Prior.Mĕl'an-chōl'ie, n. p. 826One affected with a gloomy state of mind. Spenser. 2. A gloomy state of mind. Clarendon.Mēl'an-chōl'i-ly, adv. p. 826In a melancholy manner; dejectedly.Mēl'an-chōl'i-ness, n. p. 826The state of being melancholy; disposition to indulge gloominess of mind.Mēl'an-chōl'i-ōūs, n. p. 826Melancholy. [Rare.] “A lengthened, melancholicous squeal.” H. Miller.Mēl'an-chōl'ist, n. p. 826One affected with melancholy or dejection. [Obs.] Glanville.Mĕl'an-cho-līze, v. i. p. 826To become gloomy or dejected in mind. [Obs.] We shall be apt to melancholize and dote on our mischances. Barrow.Mēl'an-cho-līze, v. t. p. 826To make melancholy. [Obs.]Mĕl'an-chōl'y, n. p. 826A gloomy state of mind, often a gloomy state that is of some continuance, or habitual; depression of spirits induced by grief; dejection of spirits. 2. Hence, gloom of mind; great and continued…Mĕl'an-chŏl'y, a. p. 826Depressed in spirits; dejected; gloomy; dismal. 2. Producing great evil and grief; causing dejection; calamitous; afflictive. 3. Grave looking; somber. [Obs.] “A pretty, melancholy seat, well wooded…Mélange, n. p. 826A mixture; a medley.Me-lā'ni-an, n. p. 826(Zoöl.) One of a family of gastropodous mollusks, having a turret-shaped shell, with, in most species, a pointed spire.Me-lān'ic, n. p. 826The same as MELANOTIC.Mĕl'a-nĭsm, n. p. 826An excess of coloration of the skin or its appendages in men or in animals. 2. (Med.) A disease; black jaundice.Mēl'a-nīte, n. p. 826(Min.) A black variety of garnet.Mēl'an-īt'ic, a. p. 826Pertaining to melanite.Mĕl'an-ŏch'rō-īte, n. p. 826(Min.) A mineral of a red, or brownish, or yellowish red color, consisting of the protoxide of lead and chromic acid. Dana.Mēl'an-ōk'ō-mōŭs, a. p. 826Having very dark or black hair; black-haired. Pritchard.Mĕl'a-nō'mā, n. p. 826Melanosis.Mēl'an-ōp'sis, n. p. 826(Zoöl.) A genus of gasteropods, belonging to the family of the melanians.Mēl'a-nō'sis, n. p. 826(Med.) A morbid deposit of black matter, usually of a malignant character, in the organs of the body.Me-lān'o-spĕrm, n. p. 826(Bot.) An alga, of an olive-brown color.Mĕl/a-nŏt'ic, a. p. 826(Med.) Pertaining to, or of the character of, melanosis.Me-lān'o-tȳpe, n. p. 826A daguerreotype process, in which the picture is taken on an iron plate coated with collodion.Me-lăn′ter-īte, n. p. 826(Min.) A mineral of a green color and vitreous luster; native sulphate of iron.Mēl'an-thā'ce-æ, n. pl. p. 826(Bot.) An order of liliaceous plants, having flowers in some species resembling crocuses, in others, lilies, the roots being bulbs, corms, or fasciculated. Most of the plants of the order are…Mĕl'an-thā'çeōus, a. p. 826(Bot.) Belonging, or relating, to the Melanthaceae.Mĕl'a-nūre or Mĕl'a-nū'rus, n. p. 826(Ichth.) A small fish of the Mediterranean, a species of Sparus, or gilt-head.Mēl'a-phȳre, n. p. 826(Min.) A kind of rock, of very compact texture and reddish-brown or black color, composed of pyroxene with labradorite or oligoclase. Dana.Mēl'as, n. p. 826(Med.) A disease of the skin, characterized by livid or black spots.Me-lā'sma, n. p. 826(Med.) A black spot or ecchymosis on the lower extremities, especially on those of old people. Dunglison.Me-lās'ses, n. p. 826See MOLASSES. ☞ This is unquestionably the most correct mode of spelling the word, while molasses is more commonly used.Me-lās'sic, a. p. 826(Chem.) Pertaining to, or obtained from, molasses.Melassic acid p. 826an acid obtained as the product of the simultaneous action of heat and alkalies on solutions of grape-sugar.Me-lās'to-mă, n. p. 826(Bot.) A genus of evergreen shrubs;—so called from the black berries of some species, which stain the mouth.Mēl'as-to-mā'ceōs, a. p. 826(Bot.) Belonging, or relating, to the genus Melastoma, or to plants of that genus.Mel-chis'e-di'cian, n. p. 826(Eccl. Hist.) One of a certain sect of the second century who believed Melchisedec to be a divine power, superior to Christ, and an intercessor in heaven for the angels. [Written also Melchizedecian.]Mēl'chite, n. p. 826(Eccl. Hist.) One of a certain religious sect in the East;—a term applied to the Greek Catholic church, or to such members of the Greek community as are Romanists. Eudic.Mel-chiz'e-dē'cian, n. p. 826See MELCHISEDECIAN.Mēl'e-ā'gris, n. p. 826(Ornith.) A genus of gallinaceous birds, including the common turkey (M. gallopavo). M. fera is the wild turkey.Mêlée, n. p. 826A fight in which the combatants are mingled in one confused mass;—a hand-to-hand conflict; an affray.Mēl'ic, a. p. 826Of, or pertaining to, song; lyric; tuneful. [Obs.]Mēl'i-ē'ris, n. p. 826(Med.) An encysted tumor, containing a substance resembling honey.Me-lĭg-er-ōīs, a. p. 826Consisting of matter like honey;—said of a tumor inclosed in a cyst.Mĕl'ic-grāss, n. p. 826(Bot.) A plant of the genus Melica: a species of perennial grass.Mĕl'i-co-tōn', n. p. 826See MELOCOTON.Me-lĭc'ra-to-ry, n. p. 826A mixture of honey, water, &c., forming a kind of mead.Mĕl'i-līte, n. p. 826(Min.) A mineral occurring in small yellow crystals, found in the lavas of Vesuvius. Dana.Mēl'i-lōt, n. p. 826(Bot.) A plant of the genus Melilotus (M. officinalis), having yellow flowers of a peculiar odor and flavor. It is now used in the manufacture of sapsago cheese. It is a native of Europe, but now…Mēl'ior-āte, v. t. p. 826To make better; to improve; to ameliorate; to soften; to render less acrid and offensive; as, to meliorate fruit by grafting, or soil by cultivation. Nature by art we nobly meliorate. Denham. The…Mēl'ior-āte, v. i. p. 826To grow better.Mēl'ior-ā'ter, n. p. 826The same as MELIORATOR.Mēl'ior-ā'tion, n. p. 826The act or operation of meliorating, or the state of being meliorated; improvement.Mēl'ior-ā'tor, n. p. 826One who meliorates.Mēl-iōr'i-ty, n. p. 826The state of being better. [Obs.] Bacon.