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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- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
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…Mĕt'a-phŏr'ĭe or Mĕt'a-phŏr'ĭe-al, a. p. 833Pertaining to metaphor; comprising a metaphor; not literal; figurative; tropical; as, a metaphorical use of words; a metaphorical expression; a metaphorical sense.Mět'a-phōr'ie-al-ly, adv. p. 833In a metaphorical manner; not literally; tropically.Mĕt'a-phŏr'ĭc-al-ness, n. p. 833The quality of being metaphorical.Mĕt'a-phor'ist, n. p. 833One who makes metaphors.Mĕt'a-phōs'phate, n. p. 833(Chem.) A salt formed by the combination of metaphosphoric acid and a base.Mĕt'a-phos-phōr'ic, a. p. 833Pertaining to, obtained from, or resembling phosphorus or phosphoric acid;—applied to a dry, flaky acid, obtained by burning phosphorus under a bell-glass filled with air or oxygen. Brande.Mĕt'a-phrāse, n. p. 833A verbal translation; a version or translation from one language into another, word for word;—opposed to paraphrase. 2. A phrase answering to, or in reply to, another phrase; a repartee. I'm somewhat…Me-tāph'ra-sis, n. p. 833Metaphrase.Mēt'a-phrāst, n. p. 833A person who translates from one language into another, word for word.Mēt'a-phrăst'ic or Mēt'a-phrăst'ic-al, a. p. 833Close, or literal, in translation.Mĕt'a-phy̆s'ic, n. p. 833Metaphysics. [Obs.]Mĕt'a-phy̆s'ic or Mĕt'a-phy̆s'ic-al, a. p. 833Pertaining, or relating, to metaphysics. 2. According to rules or principles of metaphysics; as, metaphysical reasoning. 3. Preternatural or supernatural. [Obs.] Which fate and metaphysical aid doth…Mĕt'a-phy̆s'ic-al-ly, adv. p. 833In the manner of metaphysical science.Mĕt'a-phy-sĭ'cian, n. p. 833One who is versed in the science of metaphysics.Mĕt′a-phȳs′ies, n. sing. p. 833—rarely used as plural. [Gr. μετά τὰ φυσικά, after those things which relate to external nature, after physics, from μετά, beyond, after, and φυσικός, relating to external nature, natural, physical…Me-tăph'y-sĭs, n. p. 833Change of form; transformation.