Dictionary
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.
Me-lō'di-ous-ness, n. p. 827The quality of being melodious; musicalness.Mĕl'o-dīst, n. p. 827A composer or singer of melodies.Mĕl'o-dīze, v. t. p. 827To make melodious; to form into, or set to, melody.Mĕl'o-dīze, v. i. p. 827To make melodies; to compose melodies.Mĕl'o-drā'mă, n. p. 827A dramatic performance in which songs are intermixed, and effect is sought, by startling, exaggerated, or unnatural sentiment or situation; a melodrame.Mĕl'o-dra-măt'ic, a. p. 827Pertaining to a melodrame; of the nature of melodrama; unnatural or exaggerated in situation or action; coarsely represented; done for effect merely; overstrained.Mēl'o-drām'a-tīst, n. p. 827One skilled in melodrames, or who prepares them.Mĕl′o-drāme, n. p. 827The same as MELODRAMA.Mĕl'o-dy, n. p. 827(Mus.) A rhythmical succession of single tones, ranging for the most part within a given key, and so related together as to form a musical whole, having the unity of what is technically called a…Mē'lōe, n. p. 827(Entom.) A genus of insects without wings, but having short, oval elytra, which lap over one another at the base of the suture; the oil-beetle. They are sometimes used for raising blisters, instead…Mĕl'on, n. p. 827(Bot.) The fruit of a cucurbitaceous plant, which is eaten raw. The plant is also so called. The musk-melon (Cucumis melo) has a small fruit, with a yellow pulp, and an agreeable flavor. The…Mĕl'on-thĭs'tle, n. p. 827(Bot.) A kind of cactus of the genus Melocactus, of a roundish form, resembling a melon, growing close to the ground, and having neither stems, branches, nor leaves.Mel-o-poe'ia, n. p. 827(Mus.) The art of forming melody; melody. Moore.Mē-lō'sis, n. p. 827(Surg.) The act of probing, as a wound, ulcer, and the like. Dunglison.Mēl'o-týpe, n. p. 827A daguerreotype process, valuable to tourists, for the reason that the dark chamber is not needed in the field, because the pictures can be developed at any subsequent time.Mel-pŏm'e-nē, n. p. 827(Myth.) The Muse who presides over tragedy. 2. The eighteenth asteroid.Mēl'rōse, n. p. 827Honey of roses.Mĕlt, v. t. p. 827The old participle, molten, is used only as an adjective. Cf. SMELT. 1. To reduce from a solid to a liquid state by heat; to liquefy; to dissolve; as, to melt wax, tallow, or lead; to melt ice or…Mĕlt, v. i. p. 827To be changed from a fixed or solid to a flowing state; to become liquid; to dissolve. And whiter snow in minutes melts away. Dryden. 2. Hence, to be softened to love, pity, tenderness, or sympathy…Mĕlt'a-ble, a. p. 827Capable of being melted; fusible. [Rare.] Cudworth.Mĕlt'er, n. p. 827One who melts.Mēlt'ing, n. p. 827The act of softening; the act of rendering tender.Melting-point p. 827the temperature at which any fusible substance melts.Mēlt'ing-ly, adv. p. 827In a manner to melt or soften; like something melting.Mĕlt'ing-ness, n. p. 827The quality of being melting or softening.Mēlt'ing-pōt, n. p. 827A vessel in which any thing is melted; a crucible.Mēm'ber, n. p. 827A part of an animal body capable of performing a distinct office; a composing portion; a vital organ; a limb. 2. Hence, a part of a whole; an independent constituent of a body; as, (a.) A part of a…Mēm'bered, a. p. 827Having limbs;—chiefly used in composition. 2. (Her.) Having a different tint from that of the body;—said of the beak and legs of a bird so represented in a bearing.Mēm'ber-ship, n. p. 827The state of being a member. 2. The collective body of members; community; society.Mĕm'brāne, n. p. 827(Anat.) A thin, extended, soft, transparent tissue, formed by fibers interwoven like net-work, and serving to cover some part of the body, or to absorb or secrete certain fluids. The term is also…Mēm'bra-nā'ceōūs or Mem-brā'ne-oūs, a. p. 828Belonging to, or resembling, a membrane; consisting of membranes; as, a membranaceous covering. Birds of prey have membranaceous stomachs, not muscular. Aristot. 2. (Bot.) Thin, like membrane, and…Mēm'bra-nif'er-oūs, a. p. 828Having or producing membranes.Mem-brā'ni-fōrm, a. p. 828Having the form of a membrane or of parchment.Mēm'bra-nŏl'o-gy, n. p. 828The science which relates to membranes.Mĕm'bra-noŭs, a. p. 828Pertaining to, consisting of, or resembling membrane; membranous.Me-mēn'to, n. p. 828A hint, suggestion, notice, or memorial, to awaken memory; that which reminds; a souvenir. He is but a man, and seasonable mementos may be useful. Bacon.Mĕm′non, n. p. 828(Antiq.) A celebrated Egyptian statue, supposed to have the property of emitting a harp-like sound at sunrise.Mĕm'oir, n. p. 828A memorial account; a history composed from personal experience and memory; an account of transactions in which the narrator bore a part; a history lacking method and completeness. 2. A memorial of…Mĕm'oir-ĭst, n. p. 828A writer of memoirs.Mĕm'o-ra-bĭl'i-ȧ, n. pl. p. 828Things remarkable and worthy of remembrance or record.Mĕm'o-ra-bĭl'i-ty, n. p. 828The state of being memorable.Mĕm'o-ra-ble, a. p. 828Worthy to be remembered; illustrious; celebrated; distinguished. “By tombs, by books, by memorable deeds.” Davies. Syn.—Illustrious; celebrated; signal; distinguished; extraordinary; remarkable…Mĕm'o-ra-ble-ness, n. p. 828The state or quality of being memorable.Mĕm'o-ra-bly, adv. p. 828In a memorable manner.Mēm'o-rān'dum, n. p. 828A record of something which it is desired to remember; a note to help the memory. I entered a memorandum in my pocket-book. Guardian. 2. (Law.) A brief note in writing of some transaction, or an…Mĕm'o-rāte, v. t. p. 828To mention for remembrance; to commemorate. [Obs.]Mĕm'o-ra-tĭve, a. p. 828Adapted or tending to preserve the memory of any thing. [Obs.] Hammond.Me-mō'ri-a, n. p. 828Memory. Memoria technica, technical memory; a contrivance for aiding the memory.Me-mō'ri-al, a. p. 828Preservative of memory. There high in air, memorial of my name. Fix the smooth oar, and bid me live to fame. Pope. 2. Contained in memory; as, memorial possession. Watts.Me-mō'ri-al, n. p. 828Any thing intended to preserve the memory of a person, an occurrence, or the like; something which serves to keep something else in remembrance; a monument. “A more desirable memorial of his friend.”…Me-mō’ri-al-ist, n. p. 828One who writes a memorial. 2. One who presents a memorial to a legislative or any other body, or to a person.Me-mō’ri-al-ize, v. t. p. 828To present a memorial to; to petition by memorial.Mēm'o-rist, n. p. 828One who causes to be remembered. [Obs.] Browne.Me-mŏr'ĭ-al, adv. p. 828By memory.Mēm'o-rīze, v. t. p. 828To cause to be remembered; especially, to record; to hand down to memory by writing. They neglect to memorize their conquest of the Indians. Spencer. They meant to memorize another Golgotha. Shak. 2.…Mĕm'o-ry, n. p. 828The faculty of the mind by which it retains the knowledge of previous thoughts or events; the actual and distinct retention and recognition of past ideas in the mind; remembrance; as, events that…Mĕm'o-ry, v. t. p. 828To lay up in the mind or memory. [Obs.] Chaucer.Mĕm'phi-an, a. p. 828Of, or pertaining to, Memphis. 2. Very dark, in allusion to the preternatural darkness in the time of Moses.Mĕn, n. p. 828pl. of man. See MAN.Me-nāe'en-ite, n. p. 828(Min.) A black or steel gray mineral, consisting chiefly of the titanate of iron. Dana.