Chapter 975

2. A stable or range of stables for horses; -- compound used in the plural, and so called from the royal stables in London, built on the site of the king's mews for hawks.

Mew <Xpage=920>

Mew , v. t. [From Mew a cage.] To shut up; to inclose; to confine, as in a cage or other inclosure.

More pity that the eagle should be mewed . Shak.

Close mewed in their sedans, for fear of air. Dryden.

Mew <Xpage=920>

Mew , v. i. [Of imitative origin; cf. G. miauen .] To cry as a cat. [Written also meaw , meow .]

Shak.

Mew <Xpage=920>

Mew , n. The common cry of a cat.

Shak.

Mewl <Xpage=920>

Mewl (?) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Mewled (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Mewling .] [Cf. F. miauler to mew, E. mew to cry as a cat. Cf. Miaul .] To cry, as a young child; to squall. [Written also meawl .]

Shak.

Mewler <Xpage=920>

Mewl"er (?) , n. One that mewls.

Mews <Xpage=920>

Mews (?) , n. sing. & pl. [Prop. pl. of mew . See Mew a cage.] An alley where there are stables; a narrow passage; a confined place. [Eng.]

Mr. Turveydrop's great room... was built out into a mews at the back. Dickens.

Mexal, Mexical <Xpage=920>

Mex*al" (?) , Mex"i*cal (#) , n. [Sp. mexcal. ] See Mescal .

Mexican <Xpage=920>

Mex"i*can (?) , a. Of or pertaining to Mexico or its people. -- n. A native or inhabitant of Mexico.

Mexican poppy (Bot.) , a tropical American herb of the Poppy family ( Argemone Mexicana ) with much the look of a thistle, but having large yellow or white blossoms. -- Mexican tea (Bot.) , an aromatic kind of pigweed from tropical America ( Chenopodium ambrosioides ).

Mexicanize <Xpage=920>

Mex"i*can*ize (?) , v. t. To cause to be like the Mexicans, or their country, esp. in respect of frequent revolutions of government.

Mexicanize <Xpage=920>

Mex"i*can*ize , v. i. To become like the Mexicans, or their country or government.

Neyne <Xpage=920>

Neyn"e (?) , n. [Obs.] Same as Meine .

Mezcal <Xpage=920>

Mez*cal" (?) , n. Same as Mescal .

Mezereon <Xpage=920>

Me*ze"re*on (?) , n. [F. m\'82z\'82r\'82on , Per. m\'bezriy&umac;n .] (Bot.) A small European shrub ( Daphne Mezereum ), whose acrid bark is used in medicine.

Mezquita <Xpage=920>

Mez*qui"ta (?) , n. [Sp.] A mosque.

Mezuzoth <Xpage=920>

Mez"u*zoth (?) , n. [Heb. m&ecr;z&umac;z&omac;th , pl. of m&ecr;z&umac;z\'beh doorpost.] A piece of parchment bearing the Decalogue and attached to the doorpost; -- in use among orthodox Hebrews. <-- now mezuzah or mezuzah, used for the scroll together with the case in which it is contained -->

Mezzanine <Xpage=920>

Mez"za*nine (?) , n. [F. mezzanine , It. mezzanino , fr. mezzano middle, fr. mezzo middle, half. See Mezzo .] (Arch.) (a) Same as Entresol . (b) A partial story which is not on the same level with the story of the main part of the edifice, as of a back building, where the floors are on a level with landings of the staircase of the main house.

Mezza voce <Xpage=920>

Mez"za vo"ce (?) . [It., fr. mezzo , fem. mezza middle, half + voce voice, L. vox .] (Mus.) With a medium fullness of sound.

Mezzo <Xpage=920>

Mez"zo (?) , a. [It., from L. medius middle, half. See Mid , a. ] (Mus.) Mean; not extreme.

Mezzo-relievo <Xpage=920>

Mez"zo-re*lie"vo (?) , n. Mezzo-rilievo.

Mezzo-rilievo <Xpage=920>

Mez"zo-ri*lie"vo (?) , n. [It.] (a) A middle degree of relief in figures, between high and low relief. (b) Sculpture in this kind of relief. See under Alto-rilievo .

Mezzo-soprano <Xpage=920>

Mez"zo-so*pra"no (?) , a. (Mus.) Having a medium compass between the soprano and contralto; -- said of the voice of a female singer. -- n. (a) A mezzo-soprano voice. (b) A person having such a voice.

Mezzotint <Xpage=920>

Mez"zo*tint (?) , n. [Cf. F. mezzo-tinto .] A manner of engraving on copper or steel by drawing upon a surface previously roughened, and then removing the roughness in places by scraping, burnishing, etc., so as to produce the requisite light and shade. Also, an engraving so produced.

Mezzotint <Xpage=920>

Mez"zo*tint , v. t. To engrave in mezzotint.

Mezzotinter <Xpage=920>

Mez"zo*tint`er (?) , n. One who engraves in mezzotint.

Mezzotinto <Xpage=920>

Mez`zo*tin"to (?) , n. [It. mezzo half + tinto tinted, p. p. of tingere to dye, color, tinge, L. tingere . See Mezzo .] Mezzotint.

Mezzotinto <Xpage=920>

Mez`zo*tin"to , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Mezzotintoed (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Mezzotintoing (?) .] To engrave in mezzotint; to represent by mezzotint.

Mhorr <Xpage=920>

Mhorr (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) See Mohr .

Mi <Xpage=920>

Mi (?) , n. [It.] (Mus.) A syllable applied to the third tone of the scale of C, i. e. , to E, in European solmization, but to the third tone of any scale in the American system.

Miamis <Xpage=920>

Mi*a"mis (?) , n. pl. ; sing. Miami (<?/) . (Ethnol.) A tribe of Indians that formerly occupied the country between the Wabash and Maumee rivers.

Miargyrite <Xpage=920>

Mi*ar"gy*rite (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ less + <?/ silver. So called because it contains less silver than some kindred ore.] (Min.) A mineral of an iron-black color, and very sectile, consisting principally of sulphur, antimony, and silver.

Mias <Xpage=920>

Mi"as (?) , n. [Malayan.] The orang-outang.

Miascite <Xpage=920>

Mi*asc"ite (?) , n. [Named from Miask , in the Ural Mountains.] (Min.) A granitoid rock containing feldspar, biotite, el\'91olite, and sodalite.

Miasm <Xpage=920>

Mi"asm (?) , n. [Cf. F. miasme .] Miasma.

Miasma <Xpage=920>

Mi*as"ma (?) , n. ; pl. Miasmata (#) . [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ defilement, fr. <?/ to pollute.] Infectious particles or germs floating in the air; air made noxious by the presence of such particles or germs; noxious effluvia; malaria.

Miasmal <Xpage=920>

Mi*as"mal (?) , a. Containing miasma; miasmatic.

Miasmatic, Miasmatical <Xpage=920>

Mi`as*mat"ic (?) , Mi`as*mat"ic*al (?) , a. [Cf. F. miasmatique .] Containing, or relating to, miasma; caused by miasma; as, miasmatic diseases .

Miasmatist <Xpage=920>

Mi*as"ma*tist (?) , n. One who has made a special study of miasma.

Miasmology <Xpage=920>

Mi`as*mol"o*gy (?) , n. [ Miasma + -logy .] That department of medical science which treats of miasma.

Miaul <Xpage=920>

Mi*aul" (?) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Miauled (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Miauling .] [Cf. F. miauler , of imitative origin, and E. mew . Cf. Mewl .] To cry as a cat; to mew; to caterwaul.

Sir W. Scott.

Miaul <Xpage=920>

Mi*aul" , n. The crying of a cat.

Mica <Xpage=920>

Mi"ca (?) , n. [L. mica crumb, grain, particle; cf. F. mica .] (Min.) The name of a group of minerals characterized by highly perfect cleavage, so that they readily separate into very thin leaves, more or less elastic. They differ widely in composition, and vary in color from pale brown or yellow to green or black. The transparent forms are used in lanterns, the doors of stoves, etc., being popularly called isinglass . Formerly called also cat-silver , and glimmer .

&hand; The important species of the mica group are: muscovite , common or potash mica, pale brown or green, often silvery, including damourite (also called hydromica ); biotite , iron-magnesia mica, dark brown, green, or black; lepidomelane , iron, mica, black; phlogopite , magnesia mica, colorless, yellow, brown; lepidolite , lithia mica, rose-red, lilac.

Mica (usually muscovite, also biotite) is an essential constituent of granite, gneiss, and mica slate; biotite is common in many eruptive rocks; phlogopite in crystalline limestone and serpentine.

Mica diorite (Min.) , an eruptive rock allied to diorite but containing mica (biotite) instead of hornblende. -- Mica powder , a kind of dynamite containing fine scales of mica. -- Mica schist , Mica slate (Geol.) , a schistose rock, consisting of mica and quartz with, usually, some feldspar.

Micaceo-calcareous <Xpage=920>

Mi*ca`ce*o-cal*ca"re*ous (?) , a. (Geol.) Partaking of the nature of, or consisting of, mica and lime; -- applied to a mica schist containing carbonate of lime.

Micaceous <Xpage=920>

Mi*ca"ceous (?) , a. [Cf. F. micac\'82 .] Pertaining to, or containing, mica; splitting into lamin\'91 or leaves like mica.

Mice <Xpage=920>

Mice (?) , n. , pl of Mouse .

Micella <Xpage=920>

Mi*cel"la (?) , n. ; pl. Micell\'91 (#) . [NL., dim. of L. mica a morsel, grain.] (Biol.) A theoretical aggregation of molecules constituting a structural particle of protoplasm, capable of increase or diminution without change in chemical nature.

Mich, Miche <Xpage=920>

Mich , Miche (?) , v. i. [OE. michen ; cf. OE. muchier , mucier , to conceal, F. musser , and OHG. m&umac;hhen to waylay. Cf. Micher , Curmudgeon , Muset .] To lie hid; to skulk; to act, or carry one's self, sneakingly. [Obs. or Colloq.] [Written also meach and meech .]

Spenser.

Michaelmas <Xpage=920>

Mich"ael*mas (?) , n. [ Michael + mass religious service; OE. Mighelmesse .] The feat of the archangel Michael, a church festival, celebrated on the 29th of September. Hence, colloquially, autumn.

Michaelmas daisy . (Bot.) See under Daisy .

Micher <Xpage=920>

Mich"er (?) , n. [OE. michare , muchare . See Mich .] One who skulks, or keeps out of sight; hence, a truant; an idler; a thief, etc. [Obs.]

Shak.

Michery <Xpage=920>

Mich"er*y (?) , n. Theft; cheating. [Obs.]

Gower.

Miching <Xpage=920>

Mich"ing , a. Hiding; skulking; cowardly. [Colloq.] [Written also meaching and meeching .]

<page="921"> Page 921

Mickle <Xpage=921>

Mic"kle (?) , a. [OE. mikel , muchel , mochel , mukel , AS. micel , mycel ; akin to OS. mikil , OHG. mihil , mihhil , Icel. mikill , mykill , Goth. mikils , L. magnus , Gr. <?/, gen. <?/; cf. Skr. mahat . &root;103. Cf. Much , Muckle , Magnitude .] Much; great. [Written also muckle and mockle .] [Old Eng. & Scot.] "A man of mickle might."

Spenser.

Micmacs <Xpage=921>

Mic"macs (?) , n. pl. ; sing. Micmac (<?/) . (Ethnol.) A tribe of Indians inhabiting Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. [Written also Mikmaks .]

Mico <Xpage=921>

Mi"co (?) , n. [Sp. or Pg. mico .] (Zo\'94l.) A small South American monkey ( Mico melanurus ), allied to the marmoset. The name was originally applied to an albino variety.

Micracoustic <Xpage=921>

Mi`cra*cous"tic (?) , a. Same as Microustic .

Micraster <Xpage=921>

Mi*cras"ter (?) , n. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ small + <?/ star.] (Paleon.) A genus of sea urchins, similar to Spatangus, abounding in the chalk formation; -- from the starlike disposal of the ambulacral furrows.

Micrencephalous <Xpage=921>

Mi`cren*ceph"a*lous (?) , [ Micr- + Gr. <?/ brain.] Having a small brain.

Micro-, Micr- <Xpage=921>

Mi"cro- (?) , Mi"cr- . [Gr. <?/ small.] A combining form signifying: (a) Small , little , trivial , slight ; as, micro cosm, micro scope . (b) (Metric System, Elec., Mech., etc.) A millionth part of ; as, micro farad, micro ohm, micro meter .

Microamp\'8are <Xpage=921>

Mi`cro*am`p\'8are" (?) , n. [ Micr- + amp\'8are .] (Elec.) One of the smaller measures of electrical currents; the millionth part of one amp\'8are.

Microbacteria <Xpage=921>

Mi`cro*bac*te"ri*a (?) , n. pl. [NL. See Micro- , and Bacterium .] (Biol.) In the classification of Cohn, one of the four tribes of Bacteria.

&hand; In this classification bacteria are divided into four tribes: 1. Spherobacteria , or spherical bacteria, as the genus Micrococcus . 2. Microbacteria , or bacteria in the form of short rods, including the genus Bacterium . 3. Desmobacteria , or bacteria in straight filaments, of which the genus Bacillus is a type. 4. Spirobacteria , or bacteria in spiral filaments, as the genus Vibrio .

Microbe, Microbion <Xpage=921>

Mi"crobe (?) , Mi*cro"bi*on (?) , n. [NL. microbion , fr. Gr. <?/ little + <?/ life.] (Biol.) A microscopic organism; -- particularly applied to bacteria and especially to pathogenic forms; as, the microbe of fowl cholera .

Microbian <Xpage=921>

Mi*cro"bi*an (?) , a. (Biol.) Of, pertaining to, or caused by, microbes; as, the microbian theory; a microbian disease.

Microbic <Xpage=921>

Mi*crob"ic (?) , a. (Biol.) Of or pertaining to a microbe.

Microbicide <Xpage=921>

Mi*crob"i*cide (?) , n. [ Microbe + L. caedere to kill.] (Biol.) Any agent detrimental to, or destructive of, the life of microbes or bacterial organisms.

Microcephalic, Microcephalous <Xpage=921>

Mi`cro*ce*phal"ic (?) , Mi`cro*ceph"a*lous (?) , a. [ Micro- + cephalic , cephalous .] (Anat.) Having a small head; having the cranial cavity small; -- opposed to megacephalic .

Micro-chemical <Xpage=921>

Mi`cro-chem"ic*al (?) , a. Of or pertaining to micro-chemistry; as, a micro-chemical test .

Micro-chemistry <Xpage=921>

Mi`cro-chem"is*try (?) , n. [ Micro- + chemistry .] The application of chemical tests to minute objects or portions of matter, magnified by the use of the microscopy; -- distinguished from macro-chemistry .

Microchronometer <Xpage=921>

Mi`cro*chro*nom"e*ter (?) , n. A chronoscope.

Microcline <Xpage=921>

Mi"cro*cline (?) , n. [ Micro- + Gr. <?/ to incline.] (Min.) A mineral of the feldspar group, like orthoclase or common feldspar in composition, but triclinic in form.

Micrococcal <Xpage=921>

Mi`cro*coc"cal (?) , a. Of or pertaining to micrococci; caused by micrococci.

Nature.

Micrococcus <Xpage=921>

Mi`cro*coc"cus (?) , n. ; pl. Micrococci (#) . [NL. See Micro- , and Coccus .] (Biol.) A genus of Spherobacteria , in the form of very small globular or oval cells, forming, by transverse division, filaments, or chains of cells, or in some cases single organisms shaped like dumb-bells ( Diplococcus ), all without the power of motion. See Illust . of Ascoccus .

&hand; Physiologically, micrococci are divided into three groups; chromogenic , characterized by their power of forming pigment; zymogenic , including those associated with definite chemical processes; and pathogenic , those connected with disease.

Microcosm <Xpage=921>

Mi"cro*cosm (?) , n. [F. microcosme , L. microcosmus , fr. Gr. <?/ small + <?/ the world.] A little world; a miniature universe. Hence (so called by Paracelsus), a man, as a supposed epitome of the exterior universe or great world. Opposed to macrocosm .

Shak.

Microcosmic, Microcosmical <Xpage=921>

Mi`cro*cos"mic (?) , Mi`cro*cos"mic*al (?) , a. [Cf. F. microcosmique .] Of or pertaining to the microcosm.

Microcosmic salt (Chem.) , a white crystalline substance obtained by mixing solutions of sodium phosphate and ammonium phosphate, and also called hydric-sodic-ammonic-phosphate . It is a powerful flux, and is used as a substitute for borax as a blowpipe reagent in testing for the metallic oxides. Originally obtained by the alchemists from human urine, and called sal microcosmicum .

Microcosmography <Xpage=921>

Mi`cro*cos*mog"ra*phy (?) , n. [ Microcosm + -graphy .] Description of man as a microcosm.

Microcoulomb <Xpage=921>

Mi`cro*cou`lomb" (?) , n. [ Micro- + coulomb .] (Elec.) A measure of electrical quantity; the millionth part of one coulomb.

Microcoustic <Xpage=921>

Mi`cro*cous"tic (?) , a. [ Micro- + acoustic : cf. F. microcoustique , micracoustique .] Pertaining, or suited, to the audition of small sounds; fitted to assist hearing.

Microcoustic <Xpage=921>

Mi`cro*cous"tic , n. An instrument for making faint sounds audible, as to a partially deaf person.

Microcrith <Xpage=921>

Mi`cro*crith" (?) , n. [ Micro- + crith .] (Chem.) The weight of the half hydrogen molecule, or of the hydrogen atom, taken as the standard in comparing the atomic weights of the elements; thus, an atom of oxygen weighs sixteen microcriths . See Crith .

J. P. Cooke.

Microcrystalline <Xpage=921>

Mi`cro*crys"tal*line (?) , a. [ Micro- + crystalline .] (Crystallog.) Crystalline on a fine, or microscopic, scale; consisting of fine crystals; as, the ground mass of certain porphyrics is microcrystalline .

Microcyte <Xpage=921>

Mi"cro*cyte (?) , n. [ Micro- + Gr. <?/ a hollow vessel.] (Physiol.) One of the elementary granules found in blood. They are much smaller than an ordinary corpuscle, and are particularly noticeable in disease, as in an\'91mia.

Microdont <Xpage=921>

Mic"ro*dont (?) , a. [ Micr- + Gr. <?/, <?/, a tooth.] (Anat.) Having small teeth.

Microfarad <Xpage=921>

Mi`cro*far"ad (?) , n. [ Micro- + farad .] (Elec.) The millionth part of a farad.