Chapter 960

Mec`ca*wee" (?) , a. Of or pertaining to Mecca, in Arabia. -- n. A native or inhabitant of Mecca.

Mechanic <Xpage=906>

Me*chan"ic (?) , n. [F. m\'82canique mechanics. See Mechanic , a. ] 1. The art of the application of the laws of motion or force to construction. [Obs.]

2. A mechanician; an artisan; an artificer; one who practices any mechanic art; one skilled or employed in shaping and uniting materials, as wood, metal, etc., into any kind of structure, machine, or other object, requiring the use of tools, or instruments.

An art quite lost with our mechanics . Sir T. Browne.

Mechanic <Xpage=906>

Me*chan"ic (?) , a. [F. m\'82canique , L. mechanicus , Gr. <?/, fr. <?/ a machine. See Machine .] 1. Having to do woth the application of the laws of motion in the art of constructing or making things; of or pertaining to mechanics; mechanical; as, the mechanic arts . "These mechanic philosophers."

Ray.

Mechanic slaves, With greasy aprons, rules, and hammers. Shak.

2. Of or pertaining to a mechanic or artificer, or to the class of artisans; hence, rude; common; vulgar.

To make a god, a hero, or a king Descend to a mechanic dialect. Roscommon.

Sometimes he ply'd the strong, mechanic tool. Thomson.

3. Base. [Obs.]

Whitlock.

Mechanical <Xpage=906>

Me*chan"ic*al (?) , a. [From Mechanic , a. ]

1. Pertaining to, governed by, or in accordance with, mechanics, or the laws of motion; pertaining to the quantitative relations of force and matter, as distinguished from mental , vital , chemical , etc.; as, mechanical principles; a mechanical theory; mechanical deposits.

2. Of or pertaining to a machine or to machinery or tools; made or formed by a machine or with tools; as, mechanical precision; mechanical products.

We have also divers mechanical arts. Bacon.

3. Done as if by a machine; uninfluenced by will or emotion; proceeding automatically, or by habit, without special intention or reflection; as, mechanical singing; mechanical verses; mechanical service.

4. Made and operated by interaction of forces without a directing intelligence; as, a mechanical universe .

5. Obtained by trial, by measurements, etc.; approximate; empirical. See the 2d Note under Geometric .

Mechanical effect , effective power; useful work exerted, as by a machine, in a definite time. -- Mechanical engineering . See the Note under Engineering . -- Mechanical maneuvers (Mil.) , the application of mechanical appliances to the mounting, dismounting, and moving of artillery. Farrow . -- Mechanical philosophy , the principles of mechanics applied to the inverstigation of physical phenomena. -- Mechanical powers , certain simple instruments, such as the lever and its modifications (the wheel and axle and the pulley), the inclined plane with its modifications (the screw and the wedge), which convert a small force acting throught a great space into a great force acting through a small space, or vice versa , and are used separately or in combination. -- Mechanical solution (Math.) , a solution of a problem by any art or contrivance not strictly geometrical, as by means of the ruler and compasses, or other instruments.

Mechanical <Xpage=906>

Me*chan"ic*al , n. A mechanic. [Obs.]

Shak.

Mechanicalize <Xpage=906>

Me*chan"ic*al*ize (?) , v. t. To cause to become mechanical.

Mechanically <Xpage=906>

Me*chan"ic*al*ly , adv. In a mechanical manner.

Mechanicalness <Xpage=906>

Me*chan"ic*al*ness , n. The state or quality of being mechanical.

Mechanician <Xpage=906>

Mech`a*ni"cian (?) , n. [Cf. F. m\'82canicien . See Mechanic .] One skilled in the theory or construction of machines; a machinist.

Boyle.

Mechanico-chemical <Xpage=906>

Me*chan`i*co-chem"ic*al (?) , a. Pertaining to, connected with, or dependent upon, both mechanics and chemistry; -- said especially of those sciences which treat of such phenomena as seem to depend on the laws both of mechanics and chemistry, as electricity and magnetism.

Mechanics <Xpage=906>

Me*chan"ics (?) , n. [Cf. F. m\'82canique .] That science, or branch of applied mathematics, which treats of the action of forces on bodies.

&hand; That part of mechanics which considers the action of forces in producing rest or equilibrium is called statics ; that which relates to such action in producing motion is called dynamics . The term mechanics includes the action of forces on all bodies, whether solid, liquid, or gaseous. It is sometimes, however, and formerly was often, used distinctively of solid bodies only: The mechanics of liquid bodies is called also hydrostatics , or hydrodynamics , according as the laws of rest or of motion are considered. The mechanics of gaseous bodies is called also pneumatics . The mechanics of fluids in motion, with special reference to the methods of obtaining from them useful results, constitutes hydraulics .

Animal mechanics (Physiol.) , that portion of physiology which has for its object the investigation of the laws of equilibrium and motion in the animal body. The most important mechanical principle is that of the lever, the bones forming the arms of the levers, the contractile muscles the power, the joints the fulcra or points of support, while the weight of the body or of the individual limbs constitutes the weight or resistance. -- Applied mechanics , the principles of abstract mechanics applied to human art; also, the practical application of the laws of matter and motion to the construction of machines and structures of all kinds.

Mechanism <Xpage=906>

Mech"an*ism (?) , n. [Cf. F. m\'82canisme , L. mechanisma . See Mechanic .] 1. The arrangement or relation of the parts of a machine; the parts of a machine, taken collectively; the arrangement or relation of the parts of anything as adapted to produce an effect; as, the mechanism of a watch; the mechanism of a sewing machine; the mechanism of a seed pod.

2. Mechanical operation or action.

He acknowledges nothing besides matter and motion; so that all must be performed either by mechanism or accident. Bentley.

3. (Kinematics) An ideal machine; a combination of movable bodies constituting a machine, but considered only with regard to relative movements.

Mechanist <Xpage=906>

Mech"an*ist , n. 1. A maker of machines; one skilled in mechanics.

2. One who regards the phenomena of nature as the effects of forces merely mechanical.

Mechanize <Xpage=906>

Mech"an*ize (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Mechanized (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Mechanizing (?) .] [Cf. F. m\'82chaniser .] To cause to be mechanical.

Shelley.

Mechanograph <Xpage=906>

Mech"an*o*graph (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ machino + -graph .] One of a number of copies of anything multiplied mechanically.

<page="907"> Page 907

Mechanographic <Xpage=907>

Mech`an*o*graph`ic (?) , a. 1. Treating of mechanics. [R.]

2. Written, copied, or recorded by machinery; produced by mechanography; as, a mechanographic record of changes of temperature; mechanographic prints.

Mechanographist <Xpage=907>

Mech`an*og"ra*phist (?) , n. An artist who, by mechanical means, multiplies copies of works of art.

Mechanography <Xpage=907>

Mech`an*og"ra*phy (?) , n. The art of mechanically multiplying copies of a writing, or any work of art.

Mechanurgy <Xpage=907>

Mech"an*ur`gy (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ machine + the root of <?/ work.] That branch of science which treats of moving machines.

Mechitarist <Xpage=907>

Mech"i*tar*ist (?) , n. [From Mechitar , an Armenian., who founded the congregation in the early part of the eighteenth century.] (Eccl. Hist.) One of a religious congregation of the Roman Catholic Church devoted to the improvement of Armenians.

Mechlin <Xpage=907>

Mech"lin (?) , n. A kind of lace made at, or originating in, Mechlin , in Belgium.

Mechoacan <Xpage=907>

Me*cho"a*can (?) , n. A species of jalap, of very feeble properties, said to be obtained from the root of a species of Convolvulus ( C. Mechoacan ); -- so called from Michoacan , in Mexico, whence it is obtained.

Meckelian <Xpage=907>

Meck*e"li*an (?) , a. (Anat.) Pertaining to, or discovered by, J. F. Meckel , a German anatomist.

Meckelian cartilage , the cartilaginous rod which forms the axis of the mandible; -- called also Meckel's cartilage .

Meconate <Xpage=907>

Mec"o*nate (?) , n. [Cf. F. m\'82conate .] (Chem.) A salt of meconic acid.

Meconic <Xpage=907>

Me*con"ic (?) , a. [Gr. <?/ belonging to the poppy, fr. <?/ the poppy: cf. F. m\'82conique .] Pertaining to, or obtained from, the poppy or opium; specif. (Chem.) , designating an acid related to aconitic acid, found in opium and extracted as a white crystalline substance.

Meconidine <Xpage=907>

Me*con"i*dine (?) , n. (Chem) An alkaloid found in opium, and extracted as a yellow amorphous substance which is easily decomposed.

Meconidium <Xpage=907>

Mec`o*nid"i*um (?) , n. [NL., dim. of Gr. <?/ a poppy. So called in allusion to the shape of the seed capsules of the poppy.] (Zo\'94l.) A kind of gonophore produced by hydroids of the genus Gonothyr\'91a . It has tentacles, and otherwise resembles a free medusa, but remains attached by a pedicel.

Meconin <Xpage=907>

Mec"o*nin (?) , n. [Cf. F. m\'82conine .] (Chem.) A substance regarded as an anhydride of meconinic acid, existing in opium and extracted as a white crystalline substance. Also erroneously called meconina , meconia , etc., as though it were an alkaloid.

Meconinic <Xpage=907>

Mec`o*nin"ic (?) , a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, an acid which occurs in opium, and which may be obtained by oxidizing narcotine.

Meconium <Xpage=907>

Me*co"ni*um (?) , n. [L., fr. Gr. <?/, fr. <?/ poppy.] (Med.) (a) Opium. [Obs.] (b) The contents of the fetal intestine; hence, first excrement.

Medal <Xpage=907>

Med"al (?) , n. [F. m\'82daille , It. medaglia , fr. L. metallum metal, through (assumed) LL. metalleus made of metal. See Metal , and cf. Mail a piece of money.] A piece of metal in the form of a coin, struck with a device, and intended to preserve the remembrance of a notable event or an illustrious person, or to serve as a reward.

Medal <Xpage=907>

Med"al , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Medaled (?) , or Medalled ; p. pr. & vb. n. Medaling or Medalling .] To honor or reward with a medal. " Medaled by the king."

Thackeray.

Medalet <Xpage=907>

Med"al*et (?) , n. A small medal.

Medalist <Xpage=907>

Med"al*ist , n. [Cf. F. m\'82dailliste , It. medaglista .] [Written also medallist .]

1. A person that is skilled or curious in medals; a collector of medals.

Addison.

2. A designer of medals.

Macaulay.

3. One who has gained a medal as the reward of merit.

Medallic <Xpage=907>

Me*dal"lic (?) , a. Of or pertaining to a medal, or to medals. "Our medallic history."

Walpole.

Medallion <Xpage=907>

Me*dal"lion (?) , n. [F. m\'82daillion , It. medaglione , augm. of medaglia . See Medal .]

1. A large medal or memorial coin.

2. A circular or oval (or, sometimes, square) tablet bearing a figure or figures represented in relief.

Medalurgy <Xpage=907>

Med"al*ur`gy (?) , n. [ Medal + the root of Gr. <?/ work.] The art of making and striking medals and coins. [Written also medallurgy .]

Meddle <Xpage=907>

Med"dle` (?) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Meddled (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Meddling (?) .] [OE. medlen to mix, OF. medler , mesler , F. m\'88ler , LL. misculare , a dim. fr. L. miscere to mix. <?/ See Mix , and cf. Medley , Mellay .]

1. To mix; to mingle. [Obs.]

More to know Did never meddle with my thoughts. Shak.

2. To interest or engage one's self; to have to do; -- <?/ a good sense. [Obs.]

Barrow.

Study to be quiet, and to meddle with your own business. Tyndale.

3. To interest or engage one's self unnecessarily or impertinently, to interfere or busy one's self improperly with another's affairs; specifically, to handle or distrub another's property without permission; -- often followed by with or in .

Why shouldst thou meddle to thy hurt? 2 Kings xiv. 10.

The civil lawyers . . . have meddled in a matter that belongs not to them. Locke.

To meddle and make , to intrude one's self into another person's concerns. [Archaic]

Shak.

Syn. -- To interpose; interfere; intermeddle.

Meddle <Xpage=907>

Med"dle , v. t. To mix; to mingle. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

"Wine meddled with gall." Wyclif (Matt. xxvii. 34).

Meddler <Xpage=907>

Med"dler (?) , n. One who meddles; one who interferes or busies himself with things in which he has no concern; an officious person; a busybody.

Meddlesome <Xpage=907>

Med"dle*some (?) , a. Given to meddling; apt to interpose in the affairs of others; officiously intrusive. -- Med"dle*some*ness , n.

Meddling <Xpage=907>

Med"dling (?) , a. Meddlesome.

Macaulay.

Meddlingly <Xpage=907>

Med"dling*ly , adv. In a meddling manner.

Mede <Xpage=907>

Mede (?) , n. A native or inhabitant of Media in Asia.

Mede <Xpage=907>

Mede , n. See lst & 2d Mead , and Meed . [Obs.]

Media <Xpage=907>

Me"di*a (?) , n. , pl. of Medium .

Media <Xpage=907>

Me"di*a , n. ; pl. Medi\'91 (-&emac;) . [NL., fr. L. medius middle.] (Phonetics) One of the sonant mutes &beta;, &delta;, &gamma; ( b , d , g ), in Greek, or of their equivalents in other languages, so named as intermediate between the tenues , &pi;, &tau;, &kappa; ( p , t , k ), and the aspirat\'91 (aspirates) &phi;, &theta;, &chi; ( ph or f , th , ch ). Also called middle mute , or medial , and sometimes soft mute .

Mediacy <Xpage=907>

Me"di*a*cy (?) , n. The state or quality of being mediate.

Sir W. Hamilton.

Medi\'91val <Xpage=907>

Me`di*\'91"val (?) , a. [L. medius middle + aevum age. See Middle , and Age .] Of or relating to the Middle Ages; as, medi\'91val architecture . [Written also medieval .]

Medi\'91valism <Xpage=907>

Me`di*\'91"val*ism (?) , n. The method or spirit of the Middle Ages; devotion to the institutions and practices of the Middle Ages; a survival from the Middle Ages. [Written also medievalism .]

Medi\'91valist <Xpage=907>

Me`di*\'91"val*ist , n. One who has a taste for, or is versed in, the history of the Middle Ages; one in sympathy with the spirit or forms of the Middle Ages. [Written also medievalist .]

Medi\'91vally <Xpage=907>

Me`di*\'91"val*ly , adv. In the manner of the Middle Ages; in accordance with medi\'91valism.

Medi\'91vals <Xpage=907>

Me`di*\'91"vals (?) , n. pl. The people who lived in the Middle Ages.

Ruskin.

Medial <Xpage=907>

Me"di*al (?) , a. [L. medialis , fr. medius middle: cf. F. m\'82dial . See Middle .] Of or pertaining to a mean or average; mean; as, medial alligation .

Medial <Xpage=907>

Me"di*al , n. (Phonetics) See 2d Media .

Medialuna <Xpage=907>

Me"di*a*lu"na (?) , n. [Sp. media luna half-moon.] (Zo\'94l.) See Half-moon .

Median <Xpage=907>

Me"di*an (?) , a. [L. medianus , fr. medius middle. See Medial .] 1. Being in the middle; running through the middle; as, a median groove .

2. (Zo\'94l.) Situated in the middle; lying in a plane dividing a bilateral animal into right and left halves; -- said of unpaired organs and parts; as, median coverts .

Median line . (a) (Anat.) Any line in the mesial plane; specif., either of the lines in which the mesial plane meets the surface of the body. (b) (Geom.) The line drawn from an angle of a triangle to the middle of the opposite side; any line having the nature of a diameter. -- Median plane (Anat.) , the mesial plane. -- Median point (Geom.) , the point where the three median lines of a triangle mutually intersect.

Median <Xpage=907>

Me"di*an , n. (Geom.) A median line or point.

Mediant <Xpage=907>

Me"di*ant (?) , n. [L. medians , p. p. of mediare to halve: cf. It. mediante , F. m\'82diante .] (Mus.) The third above the keynote; -- so called because it divides the interval between the tonic and dominant into two thirds.

Mediastinal <Xpage=907>

Me`di*as*ti"nal (?) , a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to a mediastinum.

Mediastine, Mediastinum <Xpage=907>

Me`di*as"tine (?) , Me`di*as*ti"num (?) , n. [NL. mediastinum , fr. L. medius middle; cf. mediastinus helper, a menial servant, LL. mediastinus equiv. to medius : cf F. m\'82diastin .] (Anat.) A partition; a septum; specifically, the folds of the pleura (and the space included between them) which divide the thorax into a right and left cavity. The space included between these folds of the pleura, called the mediastinal space , contains the heart and gives passage to the esophagus and great blood vessels.

Mediate <Xpage=907>

Me"di*ate (?) , a. [L. mediatus , p. p. of mediare , v. t., to halve, v. i., to be in the middle. See Mid , and cf. Moiety .] 1. Being between the two extremes; middle; interposed; intervening; intermediate.

Prior.

2. Acting by means, or by an intervening cause or instrument; not direct or immediate; acting or suffering through an intervening agent or condition.

3. Gained or effected by a medium or condition.

Bacon.

An act of mediate knowledge is complex. Sir W. Hamilton.

Mediate <Xpage=907>

Me"di*ate (?) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Mediated (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Mediating .] [LL. mediatus , p. p. of mediare to mediate. See Mediate , a. ]