Chapter 970

Mes"on (?) , n. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ middle, neut. of <?/, a., middle.] (Anat.) The mesial plane dividing the body of an animal into similar right and left halves. The line in which it meets the dorsal surface has been called the dorsimeson , and the corresponding ventral edge the ventrimeson .

B. G. Wilder.

Mesonasal <Xpage=915>

Mes`o*na"sal (?) , a. [ Meso- + nasal .] (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the middle portion of the nasal region.

Mesonephric <Xpage=915>

Mes`o*neph"ric (?) , a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the mesonephros; as, the mesonephric , or Wolffian, duct .

Mesonephros <Xpage=915>

Mes`o*neph"ros (?) , n. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ middle + <?/ kidney.] (Anat.) The middle one of the three pairs of embryonic renal organs developed in most vertebrates; the Wolffian body.

Mesonotum <Xpage=915>

Mes`o*no"tum (?) , n. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ middle + <?/ the back.] (Zo\'94l.) The dorsal portion of the mesothorax of insects.

Mesophl</um <Xpage=915>

Mes`o*phl<?/"um (?) , n. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ middle + <?/ bark.] (Bot.) The middle bark of a tree; the green layer of bark, usually soon covered by the outer or corky layer, and obliterated.

Mesophryon <Xpage=915>

Me*soph"ry*on (?) , n. [NL., from Gr. <?/.] (Anat.) See Glabella .

Mesophyllum <Xpage=915>

Mes`o*phyl"lum (?) , n. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ middle + <?/ leaf.] (Bot.) The parenchyma of a leaf between the skin of the two surfaces.

Gray.

Mesoplast <Xpage=915>

Mes"o*plast (?) , n. [ Meso- + -plast .] (Biol.) The nucleus of a cell; mesoblast.

Agassix.

<page="916"> Page 916

Mesopodial <Xpage=916>

Mes`o*po"di*al (?) , a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the mesopodialia or to the parts of the limbs to which they belong.

Mesopodiale <Xpage=916>

Mes`o*po`di*a"le (?) , n. ; pl. Mesopodialia (#) . [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ middle + <?/, dim. of <?/, <?/, foot.] (Anat.) One of the bones of either the carpus or tarsus.

Mesopodium <Xpage=916>

Mes`o*po"di*um (?) , n. [NL. See Mesopodiale .] (Zo\'94l.) The middle portion of the foot in the Gastropoda and Pteropoda.

Mesopterygium <Xpage=916>

Me*sop`te*ryg"i*um (?) , n. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ middle + <?/ a fin.] (Anat.) The middle one of the three principal basal cartilages in the fins of fishes. -- Me*sop`ter*yg"i*al (#) , a.

Mesorchium <Xpage=916>

Me*sor"chi*um (?) , n. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ middle + <?/ a testicle.] (Anat.) The fold of peritoneum which attaches the testis to the dorsal wall of the body cavity or scrotal sac.

Mesorectum <Xpage=916>

Mes`o*rec"tum (?) , n. [ Meso- + rectum .] (Anat.) The fold of peritoneum, or mesentery, attached to the rectum. -- Mes`o*rec"tal (#) , a.

Mesorhine <Xpage=916>

Mes"o*rhine (?) , a. [ Meso- + Gr. <?/, <?/, the nose.] (Anat.) Having the nose of medium width; between leptorhine and platyrhine.

Mesosauria <Xpage=916>

Mes`o*sau"ri*a (?) , n. Same as Mosasauria .

Mesoscapula <Xpage=916>

Mes`o*scap"u*la (?) , n. [ Meso- + scapula .] (Anat.) A process from the middle of the scapula in some animals; the spine of the scapula.

Mesoscapular <Xpage=916>

Mes`o*scap"u*lar (?) , a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the mesoscapula.

Mesoscutum <Xpage=916>

Mes`o*scu"tum (?) , n. [ Meso- + scutum .] (Zo\'94l.) The scutum or dorsal plate of the middle thoracic segment of an insect. See Illust . of Butterfly .

Mesoseme <Xpage=916>

Mes"o*seme (?) , a. [ Meso- + Gr. <?/ sign, mark; cf. F. m\'82sos\'8ame .] (Anat.) Having a medium orbital index; having orbits neither broad nor narrow; between megaseme and microseme.

Mesosiderite <Xpage=916>

Mes`o*sid"er*ite (?) , n. [ Meso- + siderite .] (Min.) See the Note under Meteorite .

Mesosperm <Xpage=916>

Mes"o*sperm (?) , n. [ Meso- + Gr. <?/ seed: cf. F. m\'82sosperme .] (Bot.) A membrane of a seed. See Secundine .

Mesostate <Xpage=916>

Mes"o*state (?) , n. [ Meso- + Gr. <?/ to make to stand.] (Physiol.) A product of metabolic action.

&hand; Every mesostate is either an anastate or katastate , according as it is formed by an anabolic or katabolic process. See Metabolism .

Mesosternal <Xpage=916>

Mes`o*ster"nal (?) , a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the mesosternum.

Mesosternum <Xpage=916>

Mes`o*ster"num (?) , n. [ Meso- + sternum .]

1. (Anat.) The middle portion, or body, of the sternum.

2. (Zo\'94l.) The ventral piece of the middle segment of the thorax in insects.

Mesotartaric <Xpage=916>

Mes`o*tar*tar"ic (?) , a. [ Meso- + tartaric .] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, an acid called also inactive tartaric acid .

Mesotheca <Xpage=916>

Mes`o*the"ca (?) , n. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ middle + <?/ box.] (Zo\'94l.) The middle layer of the gonophore in the Hydrozoa.

Mesothelium <Xpage=916>

Mes`o*the"li*um (?) , n. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ middle + E. epi thelium .] (Biol.) Epithelial mesoderm; a layer of cuboidal epithelium cells, formed from a portion of the mesoderm during the differetiation of the germ layers. It constitutes the boundary of the c&oe;lum.

Mesothoracic <Xpage=916>

Mes`o*tho*rac"ic (?) , a. (Zo\'94l.) Of or pertaining to the mesothorax.

Mesothorax <Xpage=916>

Mes`o*tho"rax (?) , n. [ Meso- + thorax : cf. F. m\'82sothorax .] (Zo\'94l.) The middle segment of the thorax in insects. See Illust . of Coleoptera .

Mesotrochal <Xpage=916>

Mes"o*tro`chal (?) , a. [ Meso- + Gr. <?/ anything round, a hoop.] (Zo\'94l.) Having the middle of the body surrounded by bands of cilia; -- said of the larv\'91 of certain marine annelids.

Mesotype <Xpage=916>

Mes"o*type (?) , n. [ Meso- + -type : cf. F. m\'82sotype .] (Min.) An old term covering natrolite or soda mesolite , scolecite or lime mesotype , and mesolite or lime-soda mesotype .

Mesovarium <Xpage=916>

Mes`o*va"ri*um (?) , n. [NL. See Meso- , and Ovary .] (Anat.) The fold of peritoneum connecting the ovary with the wall of the abdominal cavity.

Mesoxalate <Xpage=916>

Mes*ox"a*late (?) , n. (Chem.) A salt of mesoxalic acid.

Mesoxalic <Xpage=916>

Mes`ox*al"ic (?) , a. [ Mes- + oxalic .] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, an acid, CH2O2(CO2H)2 , obtained from amido malonic acid.

Mesozoa <Xpage=916>

Mes`o*zo"a (?) , n. pl. [NL. See Mesozoic .] (Zo\'94l.) A group of very lowly organized, wormlike parasites, including the Dicyemata. They are found in cephalopods. See Dicyemata .

Mesozoic <Xpage=916>

Mes`o*zo"ic (?) , a. [ Meso- + Gr. <?/ life, fr. <?/ to live.] (Geol.) Belonging, or relating, to the secondary or reptilian age, or the era between the Paleozoic and Cenozoic. See Chart of Geology .

Mesozoic <Xpage=916>

Mes`o*zo"ic , n. The Mesozoic age or formation.

Mesprise <Xpage=916>

Mes*prise" (?) , n. [OF. mespris , F. m\'82pris . See Misprize .] 1. Contempt; scorn. [Obs.]

2. [Perh. for F. m\'82prise mistake. Cf. Misprision .] Misadventure; ill-success. [Obs.]

Spenser.

Mesquite, Mesquit <Xpage=916>

Mes*qui"te (?) , Mes*quit" (?) , n. [Sp. mezquite ; said to be a Mexican Indian word.] (Bot.) A name for two trees of the southwestern part of North America, the honey mesquite, and screw-pod mesquite.

Honey mesquite . See Algaroba (b) . -- Screw-pod mesquite , a smaller tree ( Prosopis pubescens ), having spiral pods used as fodder and sometimes as food by the Indians. -- Mesquite grass , a rich native grass in Western Texas ( Bouteloua oligostachya , and other species); -- so called from its growing in company with the mesquite tree; -- called also muskit grass , grama grass .

Mess <Xpage=916>

Mess (?) , n. Mass; church service. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Mess <Xpage=916>

Mess (?) , n. [OE. mes , OF. mets , LL. missum , p. p. of mittere to put, place ( e . g ., on the table), L. mittere to send. See Mission , and cf. Mass religious service.] 1. A quantity of food set on a table at one time; provision of food for a person or party for one meal; as, a mess of pottage ; also, the food given to a beast at one time.

At their savory dinner set Of herbs and other country messes . Milton.

2. A number of persons who eat together, and for whom food is prepared in common; especially, persons in the military or naval service who eat at the same table; as, the wardroom mess .

Shak.

3. A set of four; -- from the old practice of dividing companies into sets of four at dinner. [Obs.]

Latimer.

4. The milk given by a cow at one milking. [U.S.]

5. [Perh. corrupt. fr. OE. mesh for mash : cf. muss .] A disagreeable mixture or confusion of things; hence, a situation resulting from blundering or from misunderstanding; as, he made a mess of it . [Colloq.]

Mess <Xpage=916>

Mess (?) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Messed (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Messing .] To take meals with a mess; to belong to a mess; to eat (with others); as, I mess with the wardroom officers .

Marryat.

Mess <Xpage=916>

Mess , v. t. To supply with a mess.

Message <Xpage=916>

Mes"sage (?; 48) , n. [F., fr. LL. missaticum , fr. L. mittere , missum , to send. See Mission , and cf. Messenger .] 1. Any notice, word, or communication, written or verbal, sent from one person to another.

Ehud said, I have a message from God unto thee. Judg. iii. 20.

2. Hence, specifically, an official communication, not made in person, but delivered by a messenger; as, the President's message .

Message shell . See Shell .

Message <Xpage=916>

Mes"sage , v. t. To bear as a message. [Obs.]

Message <Xpage=916>

Mes"sage , n. [OE., fr. OF. message , fr. LL. missaticus . See 1st Message .] A messenger. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Messager <Xpage=916>

Mes"sa*ger (?) , n. [OE.] A messenger. [Obs.]

Messenger <Xpage=916>

Mes"sen*ger (?) , n. [OE. messager , OF. messagier , F. messager . See Message .] 1. One who bears a message; the bearer of a verbal or written communication, notice, or invitation, from one person to another, or to a public body; specifically, an office servant who bears messages.

2. One who, or that which, foreshows, or foretells.

Yon gray lines That fret the clouds are messengers of day. Shak.

3. (Naut.) A hawser passed round the capstan, and having its two ends lashed together to form an endless rope or chain; -- formerly used for heaving in the cable.

4. (Law) A person appointed to perform certain ministerial duties under bankrupt and insolvent laws, such as to take charge og the estate of the bankrupt or insolvent.

Bouvier. Tomlins.

Syn. -- Carrier; intelligencer; courier; harbinger; forerunner; precursor; herald.

Messenger bird , the secretary bird, from its swiftness.

Messet <Xpage=916>

Mes"set (?) , n. A dog. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

Messiad <Xpage=916>

Mes*si"ad (?) , n. A German epic poem on the Messiah, by Klopstock.

Messiah <Xpage=916>

Mes*si"ah (?) , n. [Heb. m\'besh\'c6akh anointed, fr. m\'beshakh to anoint. Cf. Messias .] The expected king and deliverer of the Hebrews; the Savior; Christ.

And told them the Messiah now was born. Milton.

Messiahship <Xpage=916>

Mes*si"ah*ship , n. The state or office of the Messiah.

Messianic <Xpage=916>

Mes`si*an"ic (?) , a. Of or relating to the Messiah; as, the Messianic office or character .

Messias <Xpage=916>

Mes*si"as (?) , n. [LL., fr. Gr. <?/. See Messiah .] The Messiah.

I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ. John iv. 25.

Messidor <Xpage=916>

Mes`si`dor" (F. ?; E. ?) , n. [F., fr. L. messis harvest.] The tenth month of the French republican calendar dating from September 22, 1792. It began June 19, and ended July 18. See Vend\'90miaire .

Messieurs <Xpage=916>

Mes"sieurs (?; F. ?; 277) , n. pl. [F.; pl. of monsieur .] Sirs; gentlemen; -- abbreviated to Messrs ., which is used as the plural of Mr .

Messinese <Xpage=916>

Mes`si*nese" (? &or; ?) , a. Of or pertaining to Messina, or its inhabitans.

Messmate <Xpage=916>

Mess"mate` (?) , n. An associate in a mess.

Messuage <Xpage=916>

Mes"suage (?; 48) , n. [Cf. OF. mesuage , masnage , LL. messuagium , mansionaticum , fr. L. mansio , -onis , a staying, remaining, dwelling, fr. manere , mansum , to stay, remain, E. mansion , manse .] (Law) A dwelling house, with the adjacent buildings and curtilage, and the adjoining lands appropriated to the use of the household.

Cowell. Bouvier.

They wedded her to sixty thousand pounds, To lands in Kent, and messuages in York. Tennyson.

Mest <Xpage=916>

Mest (?) , a. Most. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Mestee <Xpage=916>

Mes*tee" (?) , n. [See Mestizo .] The offspring of a white person and a quadroon; -- so called in the West Indies. [Written also mustee .]

Mester <Xpage=916>

Mes"ter (?) , n. [Obs.] See Mister , a trade.

Mestino <Xpage=916>

Mes*ti"no (?) , n. ; pl. Mestinos (<?/) . See Mestizo .

Mestizo <Xpage=916>

Mes*ti"zo (?) , n. ; pl. Mestizos (#) . [Sp. mestizo ; akin to OF. mestis , F. m\'82tis ; all fr. (assumed) LL. mixtitius , fr. L. mixtus mixed, p. p. of miscere to mix. See Mix , and cf. Mestee , M\'90tif , M\'90tis , Mustee .] The offspring of an Indian or a negro and a European or person of European stock. [Spanish America]

Mestizo wool , wool imported from South America, and produced by mixed breeds of sheep.

Mestling <Xpage=916>

Mest"ling (?) , n. A kind of brass. See Maslin . [Obs.]

Mesymnicum <Xpage=916>

Me*sym"ni*cum (?) , n. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ middle + <?/ a festive song. See Hymn .] (Anc. Poetry) A repetition at the end of a stanza.

Met <Xpage=916>

Met (?) , imp. & p. p. of Meet .

Met <Xpage=916>

Met , obs. imp. & p. p. of Mete , to measure.

Chapman.

Met <Xpage=916>

Met , obs. p. p. of Mete , to dream.

Chaucer.

Meta-, Met- <Xpage=916>

Met"a- (?) , Met- (?) . [Gr. <?/ between, with, after; akin to AS. mid with, G. mit , Goth. mi\'ed , E. mid , in midwife .] 1. A prefix meaning between , with , after , behind , over , about , reversely ; as, meta chronism, the error of placing after the correct time; meta phor, lit., a carrying over; meta thesis, a placing reversely.

2. (Chem.) A prefix denoting: (a) Other ; duplicate , corresponding to ; resembling ; hence, metameric ; as, meta -arabinic, met aldehyde . (b) (Organic Chem.) That two replacing radicals, in the benzene nucleus, occupy the relative positions of 1 and 3, 2 and 4, 3 and 5, 4 and 6, 5 and 1, or 6 and 2; as, meta cresol, etc. See Ortho- , and Para- . (c) (Inorganic Chem.) Having less than the highest number of hydroxyl groups; -- said of acids; as, meta phosphoric acid . Also used adjectively.

<-- 3. A prefix meaning at a level above , as metaphysics, metalanguage. -->

Metabasis <Xpage=916>

Me*tab"a*sis (?) , n. ; pl. Metabases (#) . [NL., fr. Gr. <?/, fr. <?/ to pass over; <?/ beyond, over + <?/ to go.] 1. (Rhet.) A transition from one subject to another.

2. (Med.) Same as Metabola .

Metabola, Metabole <Xpage=916>

Me*tab"o*la (?) , Me*tab"o*le (?) , n. [NL., from Gr. <?/ change; <?/ beyond + <?/ to throw.] (Med.) A change or mutation; a change of disease, symptoms, or treatment.

Metabola, Metabolia <Xpage=916>

Me*tab"o*la (?) , Met`a*bo"li*a (?) , n. pl. [NL. See 1st Metabola .] (Zo\'94l.) A comprehensive group of insects, including those that undegro a metamorphosis.

Metabolian <Xpage=916>

Met`a*bo"li*an (?) , n. [See Metabola .] (Zo\'94l.) An insect which undergoes a metamorphosis.

Metabolic <Xpage=916>

Met`a*bol"ic (?) , a. [Gr. <?/. See Metabola .] 1. (Biol.) Of or pertaining to metamorphosis; pertaining to, or involving, change.

2. (Physiol.) Of or pertaining to metabolism; as, metabolic activity; metabolic force.

Metabolisis <Xpage=916>

Met`a*bol"i*sis (?) , n. [NL.] Metabolism. [R.]

Metabolism <Xpage=916>

Me*tab"o*lism (?) , n. (Physiol.) The act or process, by which living tissues or cells take up and convert into their own proper substance the nutritive material brought to them by the blood, or by which they transform their cell protoplasm into simpler substances, which are fitted either for excretion or for some special purpose, as in the manufacture of the digestive ferments. Hence, metabolism may be either constructive ( anabolism ), or destructive ( katabolism ). <-- now sp. catabolism -->

Metabolite <Xpage=916>