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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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Mĕt'a-stăt'ic, a. p. 833Arising by metastasis, or change of locality; as, a metastatic abscess.Mēt'a-tār'sal, a. p. 833Belonging to the metatarsus.Mĕt'a-tär'sus, n. p. 833(Anat.) The middle of the foot, or part between the ankle and the toes, corresponding to the metacarpus.Me-tāth'e-sīs, n. p. 833<br>1. (Gram.) Transposition; a figure by which the letters or syllables of a word are transposed; as, pistris for pristis; meagre for meager.<br>2. (Med.) A mere change in place of a morbid…Mĕt'a-thō'rax, n. p. 833(Entom.) The last or posterior segment of the thorax in insects.Mēt'a-tōme, n. p. 833(Arch.) The space between one dentil, or denticle, and another.Me-tā'yer, n. p. 834A farmer holding land on condition of yielding half the produce to the proprietor, from whom he receives stock and tools. [France and Italy.] “Vast estates accumulated by one proprietor, and…Mēte, v. t. p. 834To ascertain the quantity, dimensions, or capacity of, by any rule or standard; to measure. Their memory shall as a measure live, By which his grace must mete the loves of others. Shak.Mēte, n. p. 834Measure; limit; boundary;—used chiefly in the plural, in the phrase metes and bounds.Mēte'-côrn, n. p. 834A certain quantity of corn formerly given by the lord to his customary tenants, as an encouragement to, or reward for, labor and faithful service.Mēte'ly, a. p. 834According to measure or proportion; proportionable. [Obs.]Me-tĕmp'sy-chōse, v. t. p. 834To translate from one body to another, as the soul.Me-tēm'psy-chō'sis, n. p. 834The passing of the soul of a man after death into some other animal body; transmigration.Mét'emp-tō'sis, n. p. 834(Chron.) The solar equation necessary to prevent the new moon from happening a day too late, or the suppression of the bissextile once in 134 years. The opposite to this is the proemptosis, or the…Mē'te-or, n. p. 834Any phenomenon or appearance in the atmosphere, as clouds, rain, hail, snow, &c. 2. Specifically, a transient fiery or luminous body or appearance seen in the atmosphere, or in a more elevated…Mē'te-ōr'ic, a. p. 834Pertaining to meteors; consisting of meteors. 2. Proceeding from a meteor; as, meteoric stones. 3. Influenced by the weather. Meteoric iron, iron in the metallic state, usually combined with nickel…Mē'te-ōr'ie-al, a. p. 834Meteoric.Mē'te-or-īsm, n. p. 834(Med.) Flatulent distention of the abdomen.Mē'te-or-īte, n. p. 834A meteorolite.Mē'te-or-īze, v. i. p. 834To ascend in vapors. [Obs.] Evelyn.Mē'te-ōr'o-grāph'ic, a. p. 834Pertaining to meteorography.Mē'te-or-ōg'ra-phy, n. p. 834The registration of meteorological phenomena.Me-te-ōr'o-līte, n. p. 834A meteoric stone; a stone or solid compound of earthy and metallic matter which has fallen to the earth from space; an aërolite; a meteorite.Mē'te-ōr'o-lōg'ie or Mē'te-ōr'o-lōg'ie-al, a. p. 834Pertaining to the atmosphere and its phenomena, or to meteorology. Meteorological table, or register, a table or register exhibiting the state of the air and its temperature, weight, dryness, or…Mē'te-or-ŏl'o-gīst, n. p. 834A person skilled in meteorology.Mē'te-or-ōl'o-gy, n. p. 834The science which treats of the atmosphere and its phenomena, particularly in its relation to heat and moisture.Mē'te-ōr'o-man-cy, n. p. 834A species of divination by meteors, chiefly by thunder and lightning, which was held in high estimation by the Romans.Mē'te-ōr'o-scōpe, n. p. 834An instrument for taking the magnitude and distances of heavenly bodies. [Obs.]Mē'te-or-ōs'eo-py, n. p. 834That part of astronomy which treats of the more remote heavenly bodies, the distances of the fixed stars, &c.Me-tē'or-oŭs, a. p. 834Having the nature of a meteor. The cherubim descended, on the ground Gliding meteorous, as evening mist Risen from a river. Milton.Mē'ter, n. p. 834One who, or that which, metes or measures; specifically, (a.) An instrument for measuring the consumption of gas; a gas-meter. Two kinds are used, the water, or wet meter, and the dry meter; the…Mē'ter or Mē'tre, n. p. 834Rhythmical arrangement of syllables into verses, stanzas, strophes, &c.; poetical measure, depending on number, quantity, and accent of syllables; rhythm; measure; verse. The only strict antithesis…Mē'ter-age, n. p. 834The act of measuring.Mēte'wānd, n. p. 834A staff or rod of a certain length, used as a measure; a measuring rod. [Obs.] Ascham. The degree of his moral guilt is not the true index or metewand of his condemnation. Coleridge.Mēte'yārd, n. p. 834A yard, staff, or rod, used as a measure. [Obs.]Me-thĕg'lin, n. p. 834A liquor made of honey and water boiled and fermented, often enriched with spices; mead.Me-thinks', v. impers. p. 834It seems to me; it appears to me; I think. [Rare, except in poetry.]Mēth'od, n. p. 834An orderly procedure or process; a rational way of investigating or exhibiting truth; regular mode or manner of doing any thing; characteristic manner. Though this be madness, yet there's method in…Me-thôd'ie, n. p. 834The science and principles of method.Me-thōd'ic or Me-thōd'ic-al, a. p. 834Arranged in convenient order; disposed in a just and natural manner, or in a manner to illustrate a subject, or to facilitate practical observations; as, the methodical arrangement of the parts of a…Me-thŏd'ic-al-ly, adv. p. 834In a methodical manner; according to natural or convenient order.Mēth'od-ism, n. p. 834The doctrines and worship of the Methodists.Mēth'od-ist, n. p. 834One who observes method. [Obs.] 2. One of an ancient school of physicians. The opposite extreme was adopted by another sect, who, rejecting observation, founded their doctrine exclusively on…Mĕth'od-ist'ic, a. p. 834Resembling the Methodists; partaking of the strictness of Methodists.Mĕth'od-ist'ic or Mĕth'od-ist'ic-al, a. p. 834Relating to method, or the Methodists.Mēth'od-ist'ic-al-ly, adv. p. 834After the manner of Methodists.Mēth'od-i-zā'tion, n. p. 834The act or process of methodizing, or the state of being methodized.Mēth'od-īze, v. t. p. 834To reduce to method; to dispose in due order; to arrange in a convenient manner. One who brings with him any observations he has made in reading the poets, will find his own reflections methodized…Mēth'od-īz'er, n. p. 834One who methodizes, or puts in order.Mēth'od-ŏl'o-gy, n. p. 834The science of method, or arranging in due order; a treatise on method. Coleridge.Mē'thol, n. p. 834(Chem.) A colorless liquid, obtained from wood by distillation.Me-thought', imp. p. 834of methinks. See METHINKS.Mēth'üle, n. p. 834(Chem.) See METHYL.Mēth'yl or Mēth'yle, n. p. 834(Chem.) A gas of an ethereal smell, consisting of two equivalents of carbon and three of hydrogen. It is contained in oil of winter-green combined with oxygen and salicylic acid. [Written also…Mĕth'yl-ēne, n. p. 834(Chem.) A highly volatile and inflammable liquid, procured by the destructive distillation of wood.Me-thŷl'ic, a. p. 834Of, or pertaining to, methyl. Methylic alcohol, alcohol obtained by the destructive distillation of wood.Mĕt'ic or Mē'tic, n. p. 834A sojourner; a resident stranger in a Grecian city or place. Mitford.Me-tĭc'ū-lous, a. p. 834Timid; fearful. [Obs.]Me-tic'ū-lous-ly, adv. p. 834Timidly; fearfully. [Obs.]Mē'tif, n. p. 834The offspring of a white and a quarteron.