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.
Mid'dle-eārth, n. p. 836The world, considered as lying between heaven and hell. [Obs.] Shak.Mid'dle-ground, n. p. 836(Paint.) That part of a picture between the fore-ground and the back-ground; the central part of a picture.Mid′dle-măn, n. p. 836An agent between two parties; a broker; a go-between; especially, in Ireland, one who takes land of the proprietors in large tracts, and then rents it out in small portions to the peasantry. 2. A…Mid'dle-mōst, a. p. 836In the middle, or nearest the middle; midmost.Mid'dling, a. p. 836Of middle rank, state, size, or quality; about equally distant from the extremes; moderate; mediocre; medium; ordinary.Mid'dling-ly, adv. p. 836Passively; indifferently.Mid'dlings, n. pl. p. 836The coarser part of flour.Mid'feath-er, n. p. 836(Steam-eng.) A vertical water space in a fire-box or combustion-chamber. See WATER-BRIDGE.Midge, n. p. 836(Entom.) A very delicate fly of the genus Chironomus, having a short proboscis and long legs. It undergoes a metamorphosis in the water, like the gnat, with which it is commonly confounded.Mĭd'-hēav'en, n. p. 836The midst or middle part of heaven, or the sky. 2. (Astron.) The meridian, or middle line of the heavens; the point of the ecliptic on the meridian.Mid'land, a. p. 836Being in the interior country; distant from the coast or sea-shore; as, midland towns or inhabitants. Howell. 2. Surrounded by the land; mediterranean. And on the midland sea the French had awed.…Mĭd'-lĕnt, n. p. 836The middle of Lent.Mĭd'-life, n. p. 836The middle of life, or of the usual age of man.Mid'-māin, n. p. 836The middle of the main or sea. [Obs.] Chapman.Mid'mōst, a. p. 836Middle; middlemost; as, the midmost battles. “Ere night's midmost, stillest hour was past.” Byron.Mid'night, n. p. 837The middle of the night; twelve o’clock at night. The iron tongue of midnight hath told twelve. Shak.Mid'night, a. p. 837Being in the middle of the night; as, midnight studies. Midnight shout and revelry. Milton. 2. Dark as midnight; very dark; as, midnight gloom.Mid'rib, n. p. 837(Bot.) A continuation of the petiole, extending from the base to the apex of the lamina of a leaf.Mid'riff, n. p. 837(Anat.) The diaphragm; the respiratory muscle which divides the trunk into two cavities, the thorax and abdomen. “A sight to shake the midriff of Despair with laughter.” Tennyson. Smote him into the…Mid'ship, a. p. 837Being in, or belonging to, the middle of a ship; as, a midship beam. Midship beam (Naut.), the beam or timber upon which the broadest part of a vessel is formed. — Midship bend, the broadest frame in…Mid'ship-man, n. p. 837A kind of naval cadet, in a ship of war, whose business is to second and transmit the orders of the superior officers, and assist in the management of the ship and its armament. Passed midshipman…Mid'ships, adv. p. 837(Naut.) In the middle of a ship; properly, amidships.Mid'ships, n. pl. p. 837(Naut.) The timbers at the broadest part of the vessel. Dana.Midst, n. p. 837The interior or central part; the middle. There is nothing said or done in the midst of the play which might not have been placed in the beginning. Dryden. In the midst of, among; amid; also…Midst, adv. p. 837In the middle. On earth, join all ye creatures to extol Him first, him last, him midst, and without end. Milton.Mid'sŭm'mer, n. p. 837The middle of summer; the summer solstice, about the 21st of June.Mid'wald, n. p. 837A kind of bird that feeds upon bees.Mid'ward, a. p. 837Situated in the middle. [Obs.]Mid'ward, adv. p. 837In or toward the midst. [Obs.]Mid’wāy, n. p. 837The middle of the way or distance. “Paths indirect, or in the midway faint.” Milton.Mid'way, a. p. 837Being in the middle of the way or distance; as, the midway air.Mid'wāy, adv. p. 837In the middle of the way or distance; half way. She met his glance midway. Dryden.Mid'wife, n. p. 837A woman that assists other women in childbirth; a female practitioner of the obstetric art.Mid'wīfe, v. i. p. 837To perform the office of midwife.Mid'wīfe, v. t. p. 837To assist in childbirth.Mid'wīfe-ry or Mid'wife-ry, n. p. 837The art or practice of assisting women in childbirth; obstetrics. 2. Assistance at childbirth; help or co-operation in production.Mid’wīn-ter, n. p. 837The middle of winter, or the winter solstice, December 21; also, the middle of severe winter weather, which is, usually, much later.Mid'wīve, v. t. p. 837To perform the duties of a midwife to; to midwife. [Obs.] South.Miēn, n. p. 837Look; air; manner; external appearance; carriage; bearing. Vice is a monster of so frightful mien, As to be hated, needs but to be seen. Pope. Syn.—Look; air; countenance; aspect; demeanor…Miff, n. p. 837A slight degree of resentment. [Colloq.]Miffed, a. p. 837Slightly offended. [Colloq.]Might, imp. p. 837of may. [A-S. meahte, mihte.]Might (mīt), n. p. 837Force or power of any kind, whether of body or mind; energy or intensity of purpose or feeling; means or resources to effect an object; strength; force; power; ability; capacity. Thou shalt love the…Might'i-ly, adv. p. 837In a mighty manner; with might; with great earnestness; vigorously; powerfully. Let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God. Jonah iii. 8. So mightily grew the word of God…Might'i-ness, n. p. 837The quality of being mighty; possession of might; power; greatness; height of dignity. How soon this mightiness meets misery! Shak. 2. Highness; excellency;—used chiefly with a personal pronoun, as a…Might'less, a. p. 837Having no might or power; weak. [Obs.] “The rose is mightless.” Brunne.Might'y, a. p. 837Possessing might; having great power; forcible; strong; vigorous; valiant. “The fat beeves which they roasted, and the mighty ale that they brewed.” W. Scott. I'll sing of heroes and of kings, In…Might'y, adv. p. 837In a great degree; very; as, mighty wise; mighty thoughtful. [Collog.] He was mighty methodical, too, in ordering his household. Jeffreys.Migniard, a. p. 837Soft; dainty; delicate; pretty. [Obs.] B. Jonson.Mign'iard-ise, n. p. 837Delicacy; gentleness. [Obs.] “With all the migniardise and quaint caresses you can put upon them.” B. Jonson.Mign'on-nĕtte', n. p. 837(Bot.) An annual flowering plant, having a delicate and an agreeable fragrance; Reseda odorata.Mĭ'grant, a. p. 837Making migrations; migratory.Mī'grant, n. p. 837A bird or other animal which is migratory.Mi'grâte, v. i. p. 837To remove from one country or state to another, with a view to residence; to change one's place of residence; to go to another home; to pass from a colder to a warmer climate in the autumn, returning…Mi-grā'tion, n. p. 837The act of migrating or removing from one kingdom, state, or country to another.Mi'gra-to-ry, a. p. 837Removing or accustomed to remove from one state or country to another. 2. Regularly or occasionally removing from one place to another; roving; wandering; occasionally removing for pasturage; as, the…Mil′age, n. p. 837The same as MILEAGE.Mil'an-ēse', n., sing. & pl. p. 837(Geog.) A native or inhabitant of Milan in Italy; in the plural, the people of Milan.Mil'an-ēse', a. p. 837(Geog.) Of, or pertaining to, Milan, or the inhabitants of Milan.Milch, a. p. 837Giving or furnishing milk;—now applied only to beasts. Not above fifty-one have been starved, excepting infants at nurse, caused rather by carelessness and infirmity of the milch women. Grant. I have…