Chapter 965

Melton <Xpage=911>

Mel"ton (?) , [Etymol. uncertain.] A kind of stout woolen cloth with unfinished face and without raised nap. A commoner variety has a cotton warp.

Member <Xpage=911>

Mem"ber (?) , v. t. [See Remember .] To remember; to cause to remember; to mention. [Obs.]

Member <Xpage=911>

Mem"ber , n. [OE. membre , F. membre , fr. L. membrum ; cf. Goth. mimz flesh, Skr. mamsa .]

1. (Anat.) A part of an animal capable of performing a distinct office; an organ; a limb.

We have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office. Rom. xii. 4.

2. Hence, a part of a whole; an independent constituent of a body ; as: (a) A part of a discourse or of a period or sentence; a clause; a part of a verse. (b) (Math.) Either of the two parts of an algebraic equation, connected by the sign of equality. (c) (Engin.) Any essential part, as a post, tie rod, strut, etc., of a framed structure, as a bridge truss. (d) (Arch.) Any part of a building, whether constructional, as a pier, column, lintel, or the like, or decorative, as a molding, or group of moldings. (e) One of the persons composing a society, community, or the like; an individual forming part of an association; as, a member of the society of Friends .

Compression member , Tension member (Engin.) , a member, as a rod, brace, etc., which is subjected to compression or tension, respectively.

Membered <Xpage=911>

Mem"bered (?) , a. 1. Having limbs; -- chiefly used in composition.

2. (Her.) Having legs of a different tincture from that of the body; -- said of a bird in heraldic representations.

Membership <Xpage=911>

Mem"ber*ship , n. 1. The state of being a member.

2. The collective body of members, as of a society.

Membral <Xpage=911>

Mem"bral (?) , a. (Anat.) Relating to a member.

Membranaceous <Xpage=911>

Mem`bra*na"ceous (?) , a. [L. membranaceus .]

1. Same as Membranous .

Arbuthnot.

2. (Bot.) Thin and rather soft or pliable, as the leaves of the rose, peach tree, and aspen poplar.

Membrane <Xpage=911>

Mem"brane (?) , n. [F., fr. L. membrana the skin that covers the separate members of the body, fr. L. membrum . See Member .] (Anat.) A thin layer or fold of tissue, usually supported by a fibrous network, serving to cover or line some part or organ, and often secreting or absorbing certain fluids.

&hand; The term is also often applied to the thin, expanded parts, of various texture, both in animals and vegetables.

Adventitious membrane , a membrane connecting parts not usually connected, or of a different texture from the ordinary connection; as, the membrane of a cicatrix. -- Jacob's membrane . See under Retina . -- Mucous membranes (Anat.) , the membranes lining passages and cavities which communicate with the exterior, as well as ducts and receptacles of secretion, and habitually secreting mucus. -- Schneiderian membrane . (Anat.) See Schneiderian . -- Serous membranes (Anat.) , the membranes, like the peritoneum and pleura, which line, or lie in, cavities having no obvious outlet, and secrete a serous fluid.

Membraneous <Xpage=911>

Mem*bra"ne*ous (?) , a. [L. membraneus of parchment.] See Membranous .

Membraniferous <Xpage=911>

Mem`bra*nif"er*ous (?) , a. [ Membrane + -ferous .] Having or producing membranes.

Membraniform <Xpage=911>

Mem*bra"ni*form (?) , a. [ Membrane + -form : cf. F. membraniforme .] Having the form of a membrane or of parchment.

Membranology <Xpage=911>

Mem`bra*nol"o*gy (?) , n. [ Membrane + -logy .] The science which treats of membranes.

Membranous <Xpage=911>

Mem"bra*nous (?) , a. [Cf. F. membraneux .]

1. Pertaining to, consisting of, or resembling, membrane; as, a membranous covering or lining .

2. (Bot.) Membranaceous.

Membranous croup (Med.) , true croup. See Croup .

Memento <Xpage=911>

Me*men"to (?) , n. ; pl. Mementos (#) . [L., remember, be mindful, imper. of meminisse to remember. See Mention .] A hint, suggestion, token, or memorial, to awaken memory; that which reminds or recalls to memory; a souvenir.

Seasonable mementos may be useful. Bacon.

Meminna <Xpage=911>

Me*min"na (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) A small deerlet, or chevrotain, of India.

Memnon <Xpage=911>

Mem"non (?) , n. [L., from Gr. <?/, lit., the Steadfast, Resolute, the son of Tithonus and Aurora, and king of the Ethiopians, killed by Achilles.] (Antiq.) A celebrated Egyptian statue near Thebes, said to have the property of emitting a harplike sound at sunrise.

Memoir, or pl. Memoirs <Xpage=911>

Mem"oir (?) , or pl. Mem"oirs (?) , n. [F. m\'82moire , m., memorandum, fr. m\'82moire , f., memory, L. memoria . See Memory .] 1. A memorial account; a history composed from personal experience and memory; an account of transactions or events (usually written in familiar style) as they are remembered by the writer. See History , 2.

2. A memorial of any individual; a biography; often, a biography written without special regard to method and completeness.

3. An account of something deemed noteworthy; an essay; a record of investigations of any subject; the journals and proceedings of a society.

Memoirist <Xpage=911>

Mem"oir*ist , n. A writer of memoirs.

Memorabilia <Xpage=911>

Mem`o*ra*bil"i*a (?) , n. pl. [L., fr. memorabilis memorable. See Memorable .] Things remarkable and worthy of remembrance or record; also, the record of them.

Memorability <Xpage=911>

Mem`o*ra*bil"i*ty (?) , n. The quality or state of being memorable.

Memorable <Xpage=911>

Mem"o*ra*ble (?) , a. [L. memorabilis , fr. memorare to bring to remembrance, fr. memor mindful, remembering. See Memory , and cf. Memorabilia .] Worthy to be remembered; very important or remarkable. -- Mem"o*ra*ble*ness , n. -- Mem"o*ra*bly , adv.

Surviving fame to gain, Buy tombs, by books, by memorable deeds. Sir J. Davies.

Memorandum <Xpage=911>

Mem`o*ran"dum (?) , n. ; pl. E. Memorandums , L. Memoranda (#) . [L., something to be remembered, neut. of memorandus , fut. pass. p. of memorare . See Memorable .]

1. A record of something which it is desired to remember; a note to help the memory.

I . . . entered a memorandum in my pocketbook. Guardian.

I wish you would, as opportunity offers, make memorandums of the regulations of the academies. Sir J. Reynolds.

2. (Law) A brief or informal note in writing of some transaction, or an outline of an intended instrument; an instrument drawn up in a brief and compendious form.

Memorandum check , a check given as an acknowledgment of indebtedness, but with the understanding that it will not be presented at bank unless the maker fails to take it up on the day the debt becomes due. It usually has Mem . written on its face.

Memorate <Xpage=911>

Mem"o*rate (?) , v. t. [L. memoratus , p. p. of memorare . See Memorable .] To commemorate. [Obs.]

Memorative <Xpage=911>

Mem"o*ra*tive (?) , a. [Cf. F. m\'82moratif .] Commemorative. [Obs.]

Hammond.

Memoria <Xpage=911>

Me*mo"ri*a (?) , n. [L.] Memory.

Memoria technica , technical memory; a contrivance for aiding the memory.

Memorial <Xpage=911>

Me*mo"ri*al (?) , a. [F. m\'82morial , L. memorialis , fr. memoria . See Memory .]

1. Serving to preserve remembrance; commemorative; as, a memorial building .

There high in air, memorial of my name, Fix the smooth oar, and bid me live to fame. Pope.

2. Contained in memory; as, a memorial possession .

3. Mnemonic; assisting the memory.

This succession of Aspirate, Soft, and Hard, may be expressed by the memorial word ASH. Skeat.

Memorial Day . Same as Decoration Day . [U.S.]

Memorial <Xpage=911>

Me*mo"ri*al , n. [Cf. F. m\'82morial .]

1. Anything intended to preserve the memory of a person or event; something which serves to keep something else in remembrance; a monument.

Macaulay.

Churches have names; some as memorials of peace, some of wisdom, some in memory of the Trinity itself. Hooker.

2. A memorandum; a record. [Obs. or R.]

Hayward.

3. A written representation of facts, addressed to the government, or to some branch of it, or to a society, etc., -- often accompanied with a petition.

4. Memory; remembrance. [Obs.]

Precious is the memorial of the just. Evelyn.

5. (Diplomacy) A species of informal state paper, much used in negotiation.

Memorialist <Xpage=911>

Me*mo"ri*al*ist , n. [Cf. F. m\'82morialiste .] One who writes or signs a memorial.

Memorialize <Xpage=911>

Me*mo"ri*al*ize (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Memorialized (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Memorializing (?) .] To address or petition by a memorial; to present a memorial to; as, to memorialize the legislature .

T. Hook.

Memorializer <Xpage=911>

Me*mo"ri*al*i`zer (?) , n. One who petitions by a memorial.

T. Hook.

Memorist <Xpage=911>

Mem"o*rist (?) , n. [See Memorize .] One who, or that which, causes to be remembered. [Obs.]

Memoriter <Xpage=911>

Me*mor"i*ter (?) , adv. [L., fr. memor mindful. See Memorable .] By, or from, memory.

Memorize <Xpage=911>

Mem"o*rize (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Memorized (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Memorizing (?) .] [See Memory .]

1. To cause to be remembered ; hence, to record. [Obs.]

They neglect to memorize their conquest. Spenser.

They meant to . . . memorize another Golgotha. Shak.

2. To commit to memory; to learn by heart.

Memory <Xpage=911>

Mem"o*ry (?) , n. ; pl. Memories (#) . [OE. memorie , OF. memoire , memorie , F. m\'82moire , L. memoria , fr. memor mindful; cf. mora delay. Cf. Demur , Martyr , Memoir , Remember .]

1. The faculty of the mind by which it retains the knowledge of previous thoughts, impressions, or events.

Memory is the purveyor of reason. Rambler.

2. The reach and positiveness with which a person can remember; the strength and trustworthiness of one's power to reach and represent or to recall the past; as, his memory was never wrong .

3. The actual and distinct retention and recognition of past ideas in the mind; remembrance; as, in memory of youth; memories of foreign lands.

4. The time within which past events can be or are remembered; as, within the memory of man .

And what, before thy memory , was done From the begining. Milton.

5. Something, or an aggregate of things, remembered; hence, character, conduct, etc., as preserved in remembrance, history, or tradition; posthumous fame; as, the war became only a memory .

The memory of the just is blessed. Prov. x. 7.

That ever-living man of memory , Henry the Fifth. Shak.

The Nonconformists . . . have, as a body, always venerated her [Elizabeth's] memory . Macaulay.

6. A memorial. [Obs.]

These weeds are memories of those worser hours. Shak.

Syn. -- Memory , Remembrance , Recollection , Reminiscence . Memory is the generic term, denoting the power by which we reproduce past impressions. Remembrance is an exercise of that power when things occur spontaneously to our thoughts. In recollection we make a distinct effort to collect again , or call back, what we know has been formerly in the mind. Reminiscence is intermediate between remembrance and recollection , being a conscious process of recalling past occurrences, but without that full and varied reference to particular things which characterizes recollection . "When an idea again recurs without the operation of the like object on the external sensory, it is remembrance ; if it be sought after by the mind, and with pain and endeavor found, and brought again into view, it is recollection ."

Locke.

To draw to memory , to put on record; to record. [Obs.]

Chaucer. Gower.

Memphian <Xpage=911>

Mem"phi*an (?) , a. Of or pertaining to the ancient city of Memphis in Egypt; hence, Egyptian; as, Memphian darkness .

Men <Xpage=911>

Men (?) , n. , pl. of Man .

Men <Xpage=911>

Men , pron. [OE. me , men . "Not the plural of man , but a weakened form of the word man itself." Skeat .] A man; one; -- used with a verb in the singular, and corresponding to the present indefinite one or they . [Obs.]

Piers Plowman.

Men moot give silver to the poure triars. Chaucer.

A privy thief, men clepeth death. Chaucer.

Menaccanite <Xpage=911>

Me*nac"can*ite (?) , n. [From Menaccan , in Cornwall, where it was first found.] (Min.) An iron-black or steel-gray mineral, consisting chiefly of the oxides of iron and titanium. It is commonly massive, but occurs also in rhombohedral crystals. Called also titanic iron ore , and ilmenite .

Menace <Xpage=911>

Men"ace (?) , n. [F., fr. L. minaciae threats, menaces, fr. minax , -acis , projecting, threatening, minae projecting points or pinnacles, threats. Cf. Amenable , Demean , Imminent , Minatory .] The show of an intention to inflict evil; a threat or threatening; indication of a probable evil or catastrophe to come.

His (the pope's) commands, his rebukes, his menaces . Milman.

The dark menace of the distant war. Dryden.

<page="912"> Page 912

Menace <Xpage=912>

Men"ace (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Menaced (\'best) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Menacing (?) .] [OF. menacier , F. menacer . See Menace , n. ] 1. To express or show an intention to inflict, or to hold out a prospect of inflicting, evil or injury upon; to threaten; -- usually followed by with before the harm threatened; as, to menace a country with war .

My master . . . did menace me with death. Shak.

2. To threaten, as an evil to be inflicted.

By oath he menaced Revenge upon the cardinal. Shak.

Menace <Xpage=912>

Men"ace , v. i. To act in threatening manner; to wear a threatening aspect.

Who ever knew the heavens menace so? Shak.

Menacer <Xpage=912>

Men"a*cer (?) , n. One who menaces.

Menacingly <Xpage=912>

Men"a*cing*ly , adv. In a threatening manner.

M\'82nage <Xpage=912>

M\'82`nage" (?) , n. See Manage .

M\'82nage <Xpage=912>

M\'82`nage" (?) , n. [See Menagerie .] A collection of animals; a menagerie. [Obs.]

Addison.

Menagerie <Xpage=912>

Men*ag"er*ie (?) , n. [F. m\'82nagerie , fr. m\'82nager to keep house, m\'82nage household. See Menial , Mansion .] 1. A piace where animals are kept and trained.

2. A collection of wild or exotic animals, kept for exhibition.

Menagogue <Xpage=912>

Men"a*gogue (?) , n. [F. m\'82nagogue , fr. Gr. <?/ month + <?/ leading.] (Med.) Emmenagogue.

Menaion <Xpage=912>

Me*na"ion (?) , n. ; pl. Menaia (-y\'86) . [NL., from Gr. <?/ monthly.] (Eccl.) A work of twelve volumes, each containing the offices in the Greek Church for a month; also, each volume of the same.

Shipley.

Menald, Menild <Xpage=912>

Men"ald (?) , Men"ild (?) , a. Covered with spots; speckled; variegated. [Obs.]

Mend <Xpage=912>

Mend (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Mended ; p. pr. & vb. n. Mending .] [Abbrev. fr. amend . See Amend .]

1. To repair, as anything that is torn, broken, defaced, decayed, or the like; to restore from partial decay, injury, or defacement; to patch up; to put in shape or order again; to re-create; as, to mend a garment or a machine .

2. To alter for the better; to set right; to reform; hence, to quicken; as, to mend one's manners or pace .

The best service they could do the state was to mend the lives of the persons who composed it. Sir W. Temple.

3. To help, to advance, to further; to add to.

Though in some lands the grass is but short, yet it mends garden herbs and fruit. Mortimer.

You mend the jewel by the wearing it. Shak.

Syn. -- To improve; help; better; emend; amend; correct; rectify; reform.

Mend <Xpage=912>

Mend , v. i. To grow better; to advance to a better state; to become improved.

Shak.

Mendable <Xpage=912>

Mend"a*ble (?) , a. Capable of being mended.

Mendacious <Xpage=912>

Men*da"cious (?) , a. [L. mendax , -acis , lying, cf. mentiri to lie.] 1. Given to deception or falsehood; lying; as, a mendacious person .

2. False; counterfeit; containing falsehood; as, a mendacious statement .

-- Men*da"cious*ly , adv. -- Men*da"cious*ness , n.

Mendacity <Xpage=912>

Men*dac"i*ty (?) , n. ; pl. Mendacities (#) . [L. mendacitas .] 1. The quality or state of being mendacious; a habit of lying.

Macaulay.

2. A falsehood; a lie.

Sir T. Browne.

Syn. -- Lying; deceit; untruth; falsehood.

Mender <Xpage=912>

Mend"er (?) , n. One who mends or repairs.

Mendiant <Xpage=912>

Men"di*ant (?) , n. See Mendinant . [Obs.]

Mendicancy <Xpage=912>

Men"di*can*cy (?) , n. The condition of being mendicant; beggary; begging.

Burke.

Mendicant <Xpage=912>