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.
Mēx'i-can, n. p. 835(Geog.) A native or inhabitant of Mexico.Mēx'i-can, a. p. 835(Geog.) Of, or pertaining to, Mexico, or its inhabitants.Me-zē're-on, n. p. 835(Bot.) A small European shrub (the Daphne mezereum), whose extremely acrid bark is used in medicine.Mēz'ū-zoth, n. p. 835A piece of parchment anciently attached to the door-post of a house. Weale.Mĕz'za-nīne, n. p. 835A story of small height introduced between two higher ones. 2. A low window, less in height than in breadth.Mezza-voce p. 835(Mus.) With a medium fullness of sound.Mēz'zo, a. p. 835(Mus.) Middle; mean; not extreme.Mēz'zo-rĭ-lĭ-e'vo, n. p. 835A middle degree of relief in figures, between high and low relief.Mĕz'zō-so-prā'no, a. p. 835(Mus.) Having a medium compass between the soprano and contralto; — said of the voice of a female singer.Mēz'zo-so-prā'no, n. p. 835(Mus.) (a.) A female voice intermediate in compass between the soprano and contralto. (b.) A person having such a voice.Mēz'zo-tint or Mez-zo-tin'to, n. p. 835A particular manner of engraving on copper, in imitation of painting in India ink. To perform this, the drawing is made on a surface previously roughened, and the roughness then removed by scraping…Mēz'zo-tint'er, n. p. 835One who engraves in mezzotint.Mēz'zo-tin'to, v. t. p. 835To engrave in mezzotinto; to represent by mezzotinto.Mhōrr, n. p. 835See MOHR.Mī p. 835A syllable applied to the third tone of the scale in solmization.Mi-är'gy-rite, n. p. 835(Min.) A mineral of an iron-black color, and very sectile, consisting principally of sulphur, antimony, and silver. Dana.Mi'asm, n. p. 835The same as MIASMA. Harvey.Mi-ăṣ’ma, n. p. 835Infection floating in the air; the effluvia or fine particles of any putrefying bodies rising and floating in the atmosphere, and considered to be noxious to health; deadly exhalation.Mi-ăs'mal, a. p. 835Containing miasma; miasmatic.Mi'as-māt'ic or Mi'as-māt'ic-al, a. p. 835Pertaining to miasma; partaking of the qualities of noxious effluvia.Mi-ăs'ma-tist, n. p. 835One who is versed in the phenomena and nature of exhalations, or who understands the character and effects of miasmata.Mi-aul', v. i. p. 835To cry as a cat; to mew. I mind a squalling woman no more than a miauling kitten. W. Scott.Mi'că, n. p. 835(Min.) A mineral capable of being cleaved into elastic plates of extreme thinness. It is either colorless or presents some shade of light-brown, gray, smoky-brown, black, and occasionally green or…Mi-cā'ce-o-cal-cā're-oūs, a. p. 835(Geol.) Partaking of the nature of, or consisting of, mica and lime; — applied to a mica-schist containing carbonate of lime. Dana.Mi-cā'ceous, a. p. 835Pertaining to, or containing, mica; splitting into lamina or leaves like mica.Mi'ca-schist or Mi'ca-slāte, n. p. 835(Geol.) A schistose rock, consisting of mica and quartz, with, usually, some feldspar. Dana.Mice, n. p. 835pl. of mouse. See MOUSE.Mi'cha-el-ite, n. p. 835(Min.) A white, pearly, fibrous variety of opal; — so called from the Island of St. Michael's, Azores, where it is found. Dana.Mich'ael-mas, n. p. 835The feast of St. Michael, a festival of the Roman Catholic church, celebrated September 29th. 2. Hence, autumn. [Colloq.]Mich, v. i. p. 835Miche p. 835To lie hid; to skulk; to retire or shrink from view; to loiter out of sight of others; hence, to play truant. [Obs.] Or miche in corners among their friends idly. Spenser. To miche, or secretly to…Mich'er, n. p. 835One who miches, or skulks, lies hid, or keeps out of sight; hence, a loiterer, a truant, an idler. [Obs.] Shall the blessed sun of heaven turn micher, and eat blackberries? Shak. 2. Hence, one who…Mich'er-y, n. p. 836Theft; cheating. [Obs.] Gower.Mich'ing, p. a. p. 836Retiring; skulking; creeping from sight; mean; cowardly. [Colloq.] [Written also meaching and meeching.]Mick'le, a. p. 836Much; great. [Obsolete, but retained in the Scottish language.] “A man of mickle might.” Spenser.Mī'co, n. p. 836(Zoöl.) A small, South American monkey, allied to the marmoset (Jacchus argentatus), with hair shining and entirely white, the tail black, and the face and hands of a deep flesh-color.Mi'cro-cĕph'a-loūs, n. p. 836Having a small or imperfectly developed cranium; having a small head.Mī'cro-cōsm, n. p. 836A little world; a miniature society or institution. “More judicious politicians of this micro-cosm.” W. Scott. 2. Hence, man, supposed to be an epitome of the universe or great world. Since God…Mi'cro-cōs'mic or Mi'cro-cōs'mic-al, a. p. 836Pertaining to the microcosm. Microcosmic salt (Chem.), a triple salt of soda, ammonia, and phosphoric acid;—so called in reference to man as the microcosm, it having been originally obtained from…Mī'cro-cos-mōg'ra-phy, n. p. 836The description of man as a little world.Mī'cro-cous'tic, n. p. 836An instrument to augment small sounds, and assist in hearing.Mī'cro-eous'tic, a. p. 836Serving to augment small or weak sounds; pertaining to instruments for increasing the intensity of feeble sounds.Mī'cro-dōn, n. p. 836(Paleon.) A genus of extinct fishes, belonging to the thick-toothed family. Brande.Mī'cro-ge-o-lōg'ie-al, a. p. 836Pertaining or belonging to micro-geology;—said of a class of facts in geology, made known by microscopic investigations.Mī'cro-ge-ōl'o-gy, n. p. 836The part of geological facts ascertained by means of the microscope, especially that relating to microscopic organisms.Mī'cro-grāph'ic, a. p. 836Pertaining to micrography.Mī-crōg'ra-phy, n. p. 836The description of microscopic objects.Mī'cro-līte, n. p. 836(Min.) A mineral, so called on account of the small size of its crystals; pyrochlore. See PYROCHLORE.Mī-crōl'o-gy, n. p. 836That part of science which pertains to microscopic objects. 2. Hence, undue attention to small, unimportant matters. “The micrology of the Pharisees.” W. Adams.Mī-crōm'e-ter, n. p. 836An instrument, used with a telescope or microscope, for measuring very small distances, or the apparent diameters of objects which subtend very small angles. The measurement given directly is that of…Mi'cro-mĕt'rĭc-al, a. p. 836Belonging to the micrometer; made by the micrometer.Mi'cro-mēt'ric-al-ly, adv. p. 836By means of a micrometer.Mi-crôm'e-try, n. p. 836The art of measuring minute objects, or small angular distances, with a micrometer. Dana.Mi'cro-phōne, n. p. 836An instrument to augment small sounds; a microacoustic.Mi'cro-phōn'ies, n. sing. p. 836The science which treats of the means of increasing the intensity of low or weak sounds. [See Note under MATHEMATICS.]Mi-crŏph'o-noüs, a. p. 836Serving to augment the intensity of weak sounds; microacoustic.Mi-crōph'o-ny, n. p. 836Weakness of voice.Mi-crōph'thal-my, n. p. 836An unnatural smallness of the eyes, occurring as the result of disease or of imperfect development.Mī-crōph'y'l-lōus or Mī'cro-phȳl'lōus, a. p. 836(Bot.) Having small leaves.Mi'cro-pȳle, n. p. 836(Bot.) The nearly or quite closed orifice or foramen, as it exists in the ripened seed.