Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
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- Illustrations
- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Me-sŷm'ni-cūm, n. p. 832(Anc. Poet.) A repetition at the end of a stanza.Mĕt, imp. & p. p. p. 832of meet; also, obsolete imp. of mete, to measure. Then Hector, Priam's martial son, stepped forth and met the ground. Chapman.Mēt'ō p. 832A prefix in words of Greek origin, signifying beyond, over, after, behind, with, between, reversely.Me-tăb'a-sis, n. p. 832(Rhet.) A passing from one thing to another; transition. 2. (Med.) The same as METABOLA.Me-tāb'o-lā, n. p. 832(Med.) A change of remedy, air, time, or disease. [Obs.]Mēt'a-bōl'i-an, n. p. 832(Entom.) An insect which undergoes a metamorphosis.Mĕt'a-bŏl'ic, a. p. 832Pertaining to metamorphosis; pertaining to, or involving, change.Mēt'a-cār'pāl, a. p. 832Belonging to the metacarpus.Mēt'a-cār'pus, n. p. 832(Anat.) The part of the hand between the wrist and the fingers.Mēt'a-cēn'ter, n. p. 832(Hydrostatics.) The point of intersection of the vertical line passing through the center of gravity of a floating body when in its position of equilibrium, and a vertical line through the center of…Me-tăc'e-tōne, n. p. 832(Chem.) A colorless liquid of an agreeable odor, obtained, mixed with acetone, when a mixture of one part of sugar and eight parts of finely powdered quicklime is distilled. It is composed of carbon…Me-tāch'ro-nĭsm, n. p. 832An error committed in chronology by placing an event after its real time.Mēt'a-cĭsm, n. p. 832A defect in pronouncing the letter m, or a too frequent use or repetition of it.Mĕt'a-găl'late, n. p. 832(Chem.) A salt formed by the union of metagallic acid with a base.Mĕt'a-gāl'lic, a. p. 832(Chem.) Pertaining to, or derived from gallic acid; as, metagallic acid.Mēt'age, n. p. 832Measurement of coal. 2. Charge for, or price of, measuring.Mĕt'a-gĕn'e-sĭs, n. p. 832(Physiol.) The production of sexual individuals by non-sexual means, either directly or through intervening sexless generations; alternation of generation; polymorphism. ☞ During the non-sexual…Mĕt'a-gĕ-nĕt'ic, a. p. 832Pertaining to metagenesis.Mĕt'a-gĕn'ic, a. p. 832Pertaining to metagenesis, or the production of changes in a species after its first origin, as it goes on to a more perfect state. R. Owen.Mĕt'a-grām'ma-tĭsm, n. p. 832The transposition of the letters of a name into such a connection as to express some perfect sense applicable to the person named; anagrammatism.Mēt'al, n. p. 832A substance having a peculiar luster, called the metallic, whether in the mass or in powder, insoluble in water, a good conductor of heat and electricity, and usually solid at ordinary temperatures.…Mĕt'al, v. t. p. 833To cover with broken stone, as roads, and the like.Me-tāl'de-hȳde, n. p. 833(Chem.) A substance crystallizing in long, four-sided prisms, resulting from the partial decomposition of aldehyde when kept in a close vessel at the ordinary temperature.Mĕt'al'ed, a. p. 833Having spirit or mettle; mettled.Mēt'a-lĕp'sis, n. p. 833(Rhet.) The continuation of a trope in one word through a succession of significations, or the union of two or more tropes of a different kind in one word, so that several gradations or intervening…Mēt'a-lĕp'sy, n. p. 833(Chem.) Change or variation in a series of compounds under a type, by substitutions of different elements or substances for an equivalent in the type, as when a substance contains hydrogen, and, when…Mĕt'a-lĕp'tĭc or Mĕt'a-lĕp'tĭc-al, a. p. 833Pertaining to a metalepsis or participation; translative. 2. Transverse; as, the metalep'tic motion of a muscle. 3. (Nat. Science.) Pertaining to, concerned in, or occurring by, metalepsy, or the…Mět'a-lěp'tic-al-ly, adv. p. 833By transposition.Mĕt'al-ing, n. p. 833The putting on of broken stone for macadamizing roads; also, the stone itself. [Eng.] Wright.Me-tăl'lic, a. p. 833Pertaining to a metal or metals; consisting of metal; partaking of the nature of metals; like a metal; as, a metallic substance; metallic brightness. Metallic paper, paper covered with a thin…Me-tăl'lic-al, a. p. 833The same as METALLIC. [Obs.]Me-tăl'lĭ-făc'tŭre, n. p. 833That branch of practical mechanics which relates to the production and working of metals. [Rare.] R. Parke.Mĕt'al-lĭf'er-ous, a. p. 833Producing metals; yielding metals.Mĕ-tăl'li-fōrm, a. p. 833Having the form of metals; like metal.Mět'al-līne, a. p. 833Pertaining to a metal; consisting of metal. 2. Impregnated with metal; as, metalline water.Mět'al-līst, n. p. 833A worker in metals, or one skilled in metals.Mĕt'al-li-zā'tion, n. p. 833The act or process of forming into a metal; the operation which gives to a substance its proper metallic properties.Mĕt'al-līze, v. t. p. 833To form into metal; to give to a substance its proper metallic properties.Mĕt'al-lōch'ro-my, n. p. 833The art or process of coloring metals.Mět'al-lŏg'ra-phist, n. p. 833One who writes on the subject of metals.Mĕt'al-lŏg'ra-phy, n. p. 833An account of metals, or a treatise on metallic substances.Mĕt'al-loid, n. p. 833(Chem.) (a.) An inflammable, non-metallic body, such as sulphur, phosphorus, &c. (b.) The metallic base of a fixed alkali, or alkaline earth.Mĕt'al-loid, a. p. 833Like metal; pertaining to the metalloids.Mĕt'al-loid'al, a. p. 833Having a form or appearance like that of a metal.Mĕt'al-lur'gie or Mĕt'al-lur'gie-al, a. p. 833Pertaining to metallurgy, or the art of working metals.Mĕt'al-lŭr'gist, n. p. 833One whose occupation is to work metals; one skilled in metallurgy.Mĕt'al-lūr'gy, n. p. 833The art of working metals, comprehending the whole process of separating them from other matters in the ore, smelting, refining, and parting them; in a more limited and usual sense, the operation of…Mĕt'al-man, n. p. 833A worker in metals; a copper-smith or tinman, &c.Mĕt'a-mér'ic, a. p. 833(Chem.) Having the same chemical composition, but different physical properties. It is supposed to depend on a different molecular arrangement.Mĕt'a-môr'phic, a. p. 833Subject to change; changeable; variable. 2. (Geol.) Pertaining to, produced by, or exhibiting, certain changes which minerals or rocks may have undergone since their original deposition;—usually…Mět'a-mōr'phijm, n. p. 833(Geol.) The state or quality of being metamorphic.Mĕt'a-môr'phist, n. p. 833(Theol.) One who believes that the body of Christ was transformed into the Deity when he ascended.Mĕt'a-mōr'phīze, v. t. p. 833The same as METAMORPHOSE. Smart.Mĕt'a-môr'phose, v. t. p. 833To change into a different form; to transform; to transmute. Now you are metamorphosed, that when I look on you I can hardly think you are my master. Shak. And earth was metamorphosed into man.…Mĕt'a-môr'phose, n. p. 833Same as METAMORPHOSIS.Mĕt'a-môr'pho-ser, n. p. 833One who metamorphoses, or changes the shape.Mĕt'a-môr'pho-sie or Mĕt'a-mor-phō'sie, a. p. 833Changing the form; transforming.Mĕt'a-môr'pho-sĭs, n. p. 833Change of form or shape; transformation. 2. A change in the form or function of a living body, by a normal process of growth, and usually occurring but once in its life. It is more than a difference…Mĕt'a-mor-phōs'ti-cal, a. p. 833Pertaining to, or effected by, metamorphosis. [Obs.] Pope.Mĕt'a-phor, n. p. 833(Rhet.) A short similitude; a similitude reduced to a single word; or a word expressing similitude without the signs of comparison. Thus, “that man is a fox,” is a metaphor; but “that man is like a…