M
M, Rom. number 1,000 (M or m). (em).
ma, n. Short form of MAMMA. (ma:).
ma'am, n. Short form of "madam."
(ma:m).
ma'cabre, a. Giving suggestion of death,
causing fear. (mə'ka:br).
ma'cadam, n., a. Small broken stones
crushed together, for covering roads.
(mə'kadəm).
maca'roni, n. Paste of powdered grain
formed into long pipes, used as food.
(makə'rouni).
maca'roon, n. Cake of powdered ALMONDS
and white part of egg. (makə'ru:n).
ma'caw, n. Sort of PARROT. (mə'kɔ:).
mace, n. [Hist.] Instrument of war with
metal head; metal-headed rod used as
sign of authority. (meis).
mace, n. Outer cover of NUTMEG, used in
cooking to give taste.
'macerate, v.t.&i. Make or become soft
by keeping in water; make thin by
keeping without food. ('masəreit).
Machia'vellian, a. Designing, tricking,
ready to take any steps, however wrong,
for some purpose, sp. political (like It.
writer, Machiavelli). (makiə'veliən).
machi'nation, n. Secret designing of low
tricks etc. (gen. mm.). (maki'neiʃən).
ma'chine, 1. n. Apparatus with moving
parts working together to do some
operation; controlling organization of
political group etc. 2. v.t. Do work on
with m., sp. one for stitching. m.-gun,
n. Gun which, when put in operation,
goes on firing. '-ry (mə'ʃi:nəri), n.
(Parts of) machines; system of working,
organization. ma'chinist, n. Maker,
worker, of machines. (mə'ʃi:n).
'mackerel, n. Silver and blue sea-fish.
('makrəl).
'mackintosh, n., a. (Coat of) cloth covered
with rubber to keep out wet.
('makintɔʃ).
'macrocosm, n. All existence looked on as
one. ('makroukɔzm).
mad, a. With a diseased mind; very
foolish; [Com.] angry. M. about, sp.,
greatly interested in; in love with.
'-cap, n. One acting on impulse, foolishly.
'-den, v.t. Sp., make angry.
'-house, n. Place for mad persons. (mad).
'madam, n. Name used in talking to a
woman with respect. Ma'dame, [F.] Used
like "Mrs." before name of married
woman who is not Eng. ('madəm).
'madder, n. (Sorts of plants giving) sorts
of red colouring substance. ('madə).
made. See MAKE.
ma'deira, n. Sweet white wine from
Madeira. M. cake, sort of sponge cake.
(mə'diərə).
'Mademoi'selle, [F.] Used like "Miss"
before name of unmarried woman who
is not Eng. ('madmwə'zel).
Ma'donna, n. (Picture etc. of) Mary, the
mother of Christ. (mə'dɔnə).
'madrigal, n. Short love song or verses;
[Mus.] song with parts, gen. 5 or 6, for
voices only. ('madrigəl).
'maelstrom, n. Violently circling current
of water; violent current of events,
thoughts etc. ('meilstroum).
'maenad, n. PRIESTESS of Bacchus;
woman in very worked-up condition.
('mi:nad).
'maestro, [It.] n. Great teacher, writer
etc. of music. ('maistrou).
'maffick, v.i. Give way to uncontrolled
pleasure-making in streets etc. on getting
good news in war etc. ('mafik).
maga'zine, n. Paper-covered book with
stories etc. by different writers, coming
out regularly. (magə'zi:n).
maga'zine, n. Store for gunpowder, arms
etc.; apparatus in gun for placing firing-material
automatically.
ma'genta, 1. n. (Colour of) deep red
colouring-substance got from coal. 2. a.
Coloured with or like this. (mə'dʒentə).
'maggot, n. LARVA, sp. of certain fly
getting into meat etc. ('magət).
'magic, n., a. The art of controlling
events by other than natural powers;
art of making things seem to take place
by stage tricks; quality producing effect
as if by m. Black (white) m., m. done with
(without) help of bad powers; m. lantern,
apparatus by which pictures are sent onto
a white cloth in a dark room. ma'gi-cian
(mə'djiʃən), n. Expert in magic.
('madʒik).
'magistrate, n. One in position of law
judge, sp., acting in lowest COURT.
magis'terial (madʒis'tiəriəl), a.
Of a magistrate; with (air of) authority.
'magistracy, n. The magistrates;
position of a magistrate. ('madʒistrit).
mag'nanimous, a. With high qualities of
feeling, mind, not moved by unkind feelings.
magna'nimity, n. (mag'naniməs).
'magnate, n. One having power through
money or position. ('magneit).
mag'nesium, n. A silver-white metal
burning with a bright light. mag'nesia,
n. A white powder with magnesium in
it, used medically. (mag'ni:ziəm).
'magnet, n. Bit of iron, freq. of horseshoe
form, having an attraction for iron and
pointing north and south when free to do
so. mag'netic, a. Of, like, produced by,
magnet; (of person) with great attraction.
'-ism, n. (Science of) magnetic attraction.
'-ize, v.t. Give properties of a
magnet to; be acting on like a magnet;
MESMERIZE. ('magnit).
mag'neto, n. Electric apparatus causing
firing in PETROL engine. (mag'ni:tou).
magnificent, a. Important-looking, on a
great scale, much and beautifully ornamented;
very good. (mag'nifisnt).
'magnify, v.t. Make size of seem greater,
sp. with special glass for purpose of
seeing more clearly; make seem more
important etc. ('magnifai).
mag'niloquent, a. (Of words) high-sounding,
over-important; using m. words.
(mag'niloukwənt).
'magnitude, n. Size; degree of being
important. ('magnitju:d).
mag'nolia, n. Tree with sweet-smelling,
wax-like flowers. (mag'nouliə).
'magnum, n. 2-quart wine bottle.
('magnəm).
'magpie, n. Black-and-white bird which
makes much noise; ring coming after
outside ring on TARGET. ('magpai).
'Magyar, n., a. (Language, person) of chief
nation-group of Hungary. ('magja:).
Maha'rajah, n. Indian ruler. Maha'ranee
(ma:ha'ra:ni:). n. Woman married
to Maharajah. (ma:hə'ra:dʒə).
ma'hatma, n. (In India etc.) name given
to man looked on as being very wise
or having more than natural powers.
(mə'hatmə).
'mah-'jongg, n. Chinese form of play for
4 persons, played with 144 flat bits of
wood, bone etc. ('ma:'dʒɔŋ).
ma'hogany, n. (Am. tree with) red-brown
wood; colour of m. (mə'hɔgəni).
Ma'hommedan, n., a. MOHAMMEDAN.
(mə'hɔmidən).
ma'hout, n. ELEPHANT-driver. (mə'haut).
maid, n. [Let.] Girl; [Old] unmarried
woman; female servant. M. of honour,
unmarried woman of good birth waiting
on QUEEN or PRINCESS; old m., old, unmarried
woman. '-en, n. [Old] Unmarried
woman; [Let.] girl, young woman.
M. lady, unmarried woman; m. name,
woman's family name before she was married;
m. speech, person's first talk given in
public; m. voyage, a ship's first journey.
'-servant, n. Female servant. (meid).
mail, n. Metal war-dress. '-ed, a. The m.
fist, armed force. (meil).
mail, 1. n. System by which letters are
sent through post; the letters sent by
post, sp. overseas. 2. v.t. Send by post.
'm.-cart, n. Sp., small, gen. 2-wheeled,
baby-carriage.
maim, v.t. Make wounded etc. in way
which keeps some part of the body from
being (fully) used. (meim).
main, 1. a. Chief. The m. chance, one's interests.
2. n. Force (only with might and
m.); [Let.] the sea; chief pipe in water- or
gas-system. '-land, n. Country, land
mass, without its islands. '-mast, n.
Chief MAST of ship. '-spring, n. Sp.,
chief driving-force. '-stay, n. Cord from
top of mainmast to foot of front MAST;
chief support or helper. (mein).
main'tain, v.t. Keep up (condition, way
of acting etc.); keep going, in good condition;
be supporting (family etc.); say
(that thing is so). 'maintenance
('meintənəns),
n. Sp., what
is necessary
for existence.
(men'tein).
maize, n. Sort
of grain plant.
(meiz).
'majesty, n.
Quality of,
language, behaviour
etc., giving it authority, causing
respect; power of a ruler. His,
Her, (Your) M., form used in talking
of (to) KING or QUEEN. ma'jestic, a.
(Of language etc.) having majesty.
('madʒisti).
ma'jolica, n. Sorts of ornamented It.
PORCELAIN. (mə'jɔlikə).
'major, 1. a. Greater of 2 things; older of
2 brothers (Jones M.); [Mus.] (of key,
scale) having 2 TONES between key-note
and third note played. 2. n. Military
man with position between CAPTAIN and
COLONEL. '-'domo ('meidʒə'doumou).
n. Manager of servants in great house.
m.-general, n. Man with army position
highest under LIEUTENANT-GENERAL.
ma'jority, n. The greater number or part
(of); [Law] point of becoming old enough
to do things having force of law, without
authority of father etc. (in England,
18); position of army major. ('meidʒə).
make (made), 1. v.t.&i. Give existence to,
get formed; give (certain quality, form)
to; get (person, thing, to do) sp., by force;
be the cause of; be, be equal to; be
good for the purpose of; m. good or
well-off. M. a bed, put covers in order
on it; m. a difference (to), be important
(to), have an effect (on); m. a face, give
one's face a twist as sign of disgust etc.;
m. a fuss of, be very kind to; m. a good
meal, sp., have quite enough food at a
meal; m. a name, become noted; m. away
with, put an end to, put to death; m. for,
go in the direction of; have tendency to
some effect; m. free with, m. use of
without right; m. from, of, m. with as
material; m. fun, game, sport, of, m. seem
foolish, be laughing at; m. good, do well;
put right (damage etc.); m. it, m. the train
etc., not be late for train etc.; m. it up,
become friend of person again after
trouble; m. it up to, do or give something
to in view of damage, loss; m. light, little,
nothing, of, take as unimportant, not
hard to do; m. love (to), be acting as a
lover (to); m. merry, have a happy time,
gen. with food and drink; m. money,
sp., get money by working etc.; m. much
of, m. a fuss of; take as important; m.
no bones about, m. no trouble about
(doing); m. nothing of, sp., be quite at a
loss about (statement etc.); m. off, get,
go running, away quickly; m. one's name,
become noted; m. out, get the sense of;
put details in on (form etc.); m. it seem
that, say; m. over (property) to, give to by
law agreement; m. the best of, put up with,
take a bright view of; m. the most of, get
the most possible out of; m. up, m. the
invention of (sp. a story); (of parts) be
forming; give, be, what is needed to m.
(amount); m. up for, COMPENSATE for; m.
up (one's face), put powder, paint etc. on
it; m. up one's mind, come to a decision;
m. up to, do one's best to be pleasing to; m.
use of, do something with for some purpose,
as an instrument etc.; not m. head or
tail of, not see the sense of; what do you m.
of it?, what sense do you get out of it? 2.
n. Way a thing is made, its form of structure.
On the m., [Com.] looking for profit,
position; someone's m., made by business
house of that name. 'm.-believe, n.
The acting of a part; fiction. '-r, n. Our
M., GOD. '-shift, n. Process, thing etc.,
used till something better may be got.
'm.-up, n. How a thing is put together,
its general design, sp., of page of print
etc.; powder and paint put on face of
actor, woman. '-weight, n. Small amount
put in to make weight right. 'making, n.
Be the m. of, be that which makes (thing)
good; the mm. of, the qualities for becoming.
(meik (meid)).
mal-, ad. -adjustment, -administration.
(mal-).
ma'lacca (cane), n. Sort of brown walking-stick.
(mə'lakə (kein)).
'malachite, n. Sort of green stone used
for ornaments. ('maləkait).
mala'droit, a. Not ADROIT. (malə'drɔit).
'malady, n. A disease. ('malədi).
ma'laise, n. Feeling of not being quite
well, not quite in comfort. (ma'leiz).
'malapert, [Old] a. Forward, without
respect. ('maləpə:t).
'malapropism, n. Use of wrong word
which is like the right one, causing
amusement. ('maləprɔpizm).
ma'laria, n. Disease caused by bite of
MOSQUITO. (mə'leəriə).
'malcontent, n. Person not pleased with
his conditions, ready to go against the
government. ('malkəntent).
male, a., n. Opp. female. (meil).
male'diction, n. Request to Higher
Power for the punishment, destruction,
of some person or thing. (mali'dikʃən).
'malefactor, n. Wrongdoer. ('malifaktə).
ma'leficent, a. Bad, damaging. (mə'lefisnt).
ma'levolent, a. Desiring pain, trouble,
for others. (mə'levələnt).
'malfor'mation, n. (Of part of body)
being wrongly formed. 'mal'formed, a.
('malfɔ:'meiʃən).
'malice, n. Desire to do damage, give
pain. M. aforethought, purposed m.
ma'licious, a. ('malis).
ma'lign, 1. a. Bad, doing damage; (of
disease) malignant. 2. v.t. Say false
things against (person). '-ant (mə'lignənt),
a. Full of hate, desire to do
damage; (of disease) serious, violent.
'-ity (mə'ligniti), n. (mə'lain).
ma'linger, v.i. Seem ill to get out of
doing work etc. (mə'liŋgə).
'mallard, n. Sort of DUCK. ('maləd).
'malleable, a. (Of metals) readily changed
in form by hammering; readily trained or
making adjustment. ('maliəbl).
'mallet, n. Wood-headed hammer. ('malit).
'mallow, n. Sorts of plant with red-blue
flowers. ('malou).
'malmsey, n. A sweet wine. ('ma:mzi).
'malnu'trition, n. Condition caused by
not getting enough, the right, food.
('malnju:'triʃən).
ma'lodorous, a. With a bad smell.
(ma'loudərəs).
'mal'practice, n. Wrongdoing.
('mal'praktis).
malt, 1. n. Grain ready for beer-making.
2. v.t.&i. Make into m. (mɔlt).
'Maltese 'cross, n. CROSS with equal arms
narrower at joining-point than at ends.
('mɔ:lti':z 'krɔs).
mal'treat, v.t. Be rough with, unkind,
cruel, to. (mal'tri:t).
malver'sation, n. Use of public, another's,
money without right. (malvə'seiʃən).
mam'ma, n. Mother, sp. as baby's word.
(mə'ma:).
'mammal, n. Any of the group of animals
producing milk for their young.
mam'malian (mə'meiliən), a. Of mammals.
'mammary, a. Of milk-producing
parts. ('maməl).
'mammon, n. Money, property, viewed
as bad. ('mamən).
'mammoth, n. Sort of great ELEPHANT no
longer in existence. ('maməθ).
'mammy, n. Baby's word for mother;
black woman, sp. one looking after white
baby. ('mami).
man (men), 1. n. 2-legged animal with
complex brain development, using instruments
and language; men as a group;
male of m.; male person as servant of, or
looked on as under control of, another;
manly person. M. about town, m. who is
much in society, clubs etc.; m. in the
street, common, normal person; m. of
letters, writer of LITERATURE; m. of the
world, experienced m. with wide views;
the inner m., the stomach. 2. v.t. Get
necessary mm. for (ship, army etc.).
'-ful, a. Manly; without fear. 'm.-handle,
v.t. Be rough with. 'm.-hole,
n. Hole for men to get through into
drain etc. '-hood, n. Sp., manly qualities;
the men of a country. -'kind, n.
Man, all men. '-ly, a. Having the qualities
looked for in a man. '-nish, a. (Of a
woman) man-like. 'm.-o'-'war, n. Warship.
'-slaughter, [Law] n. Causing the
death of a person without design as outcome
of some wrong act. (man (men)).
'manacle, 1. n. FETTER for hand or foot.
2. v.t. Put mm. on. ('manəkl).
'manage, v.t.&i. Be in control of; get
some way (to); do somehow what is
desired. Managing person, one who takes
pleasure in controlling. '-ment, n. Sp.,
the manager(s) of a business. '-r, n. One
responsible for managing a business etc.
('manidʒ).
mana'tee, n. Sort of sea-animal producing
milk for young. (mana'ti:).
'mandarin, n. [Hist.] High Chinese govern
ment servant; language talked by Chinese
of education. ('mandərin).
'mandarin, n. Small, deep-coloured
orange.
'mandate, n. Order given with authority;
control given to another, sp. by LEAGUE
OFNATIONS, over a nation not ready for
self-government; authority given to
political representatives by the public.
mandatary, [Law] n. One who has a
mandate. ('mandeit).
'mandible, n. Lower mouth-bone; one or
other of the hard parts of a bird's mouth
or of the parts of an insect's top mouth-bone.
('mandibl).
'mandolin, n. Sort of LUTE. ('mandəlin).
man'dragora, 'mandrake, nn. Plant
giving poison used for causing sleep.
(man'dragərə, 'mandreik).
'mandrill, n. Sort of great BABOON.
('mandril).
mane, n. Long hair on neck of horse etc.;
thick hair on the head. (mein).
'manganese, n. A light grey metal.
('maŋgani:z).
mange, n. A skin disease of dogs and cats.
'mangy, a. Sp., poor, dirty. (meindʒ).
'mangel- ('mangold-)'wurzel, n. Great
round root used as food for cows etc.
('maŋgl ('maŋgould)'wə:zl).
'manger, n. Long food-box for horses,
cows etc. ('meindʒə).
'mangle, v.t., n. (Put through) machine
with rollers for drying and smoothing
linen etc. after washing. ('maŋgl).
'mangle, v.t. Get badly cut, damaged.
'mango, n. (Fruit, deep yellow inside, of)
Indian tree. ('maŋgou).
'mangrove, n. Tree with network of roots
coming out of earth, needing wet, warm
place for growth. ('maŋgrouv).
'mania, n. Diseased condition of mind
marked by violent behaviour; strong
interest in one thing. '-c ('meiniak), n.
One made violent by mania. ma'niacal
(mə'naiəkl), a. ('meiniə).
'manicure, 1. n. Care of the hands and
nails. 2. v.t. Give m. to. ('manikjuə).
'manifest, 1. a. Clear to eye or mind. 2.
v.t. Make m.; give dear signs of. M.
itself, come to light. 3. n. Statement of
goods transported in ship. mani'festo,
n. Public statement of purposes etc.
made by ruler or body of persons.
('manifest).
'manifold, 1. a. Having different forms,
uses etc.; great in number and of different
sorts. 2. v.t. Make number of copies
of (letter etc.) on special machine.
('manifould).
'manikin, n. Little man. ('manikin).
ma'nilla, n. Plant material used for cords;
sort of CIGAR. (mə'nilə).
manipulate, v.t. Make use of, do something
with, (instrument etc.); get control
of (another etc.) in expert way.
(mə'nipjuleit).
'manna, n. (In BIBLE) food sent down to
persons of Israel in the waste-land.
('manə).
'mannequin, n. Woman who puts on
dresses to let them be viewed.
('manikin).
'manner, n. Way thing is done or takes
place; person's special way of painting,
writing etc.; way of behaviour; sort.
Mm., sp., polished behaviour; after this
m., in this way; by no m. of means, certainly
not. '-ed, a. Using mannerisms.
'-ism, n. Regular trick of behaviour,
talking etc. '-ly, a. With manners.
('manə).
ma'noeuvre, 1. n. The moving of ships,
forces etc., sp., for attack in war; move
to get what is desired. 2. v.i.&t. Do,
make do, mm.; get (oneself, another) into
or out of position by m. (mə'nu:və).
'manor, n. Land unit under FEUDAL
system; land property, gen. giving
certain rights to owner, in England.
ma'norial (mə'nɔ:riəl), a. ('manə).
manse, n. Scot. PRIEST'S house. (mans).
'mansion, n. Great house. ('manʃən).
'mantel, n. Structure round fireplace.
'-piece, n. (Shelf of) mantel. ('mantl).
man'tilla, n. Cloth used as woman's head-dress
in Spain. (man'tilə).
'mantis, n. A long-legged insect. ('mantis).
'mantle, 1. n. CLOAK; special net cover
put over gas-burner to make light brighter.
2. v.t.&i. Be covering, come over;
(of blood) make face red. ('mantl).
'manual, 1. a. Of, done with, the hands.
2. n. Handbook, school-book; part of
ORGAN touched by fingers in playing.
('manjuəl).
manu'facture, 1. n. The making of goods,
sp. on great scale by machines. 2. v.t.
Make (things, materials). manu'factory,
n. Works where things are manufactured.
(manj'u'faktjə).
ma'nure, 1. n. Animal waste or other
substance used for making the earth
fertile. 2. v.t. Put m. on (land). (mə'njuə).
'manuscript, n., a. Book etc. in handwriting,
not printed. ('manjuskript).
Manx, n., a. (Language) of Isle of Man.
(maŋks).
'many, 1. a. A great number of. As m. ...
(as), the same number of ... (as); how m.
... ? what number of ... ?; m. a ...,
much more than one ... 2. pron. M.
persons, things. 3. n. Only a great, good
m., a great number (of). m.-sided, a.
Sp., able to do many things. ('meni).
'Maori, n. Person, language, of New
Zealand nation-group. ('mauri).
map, 1. n. Flat design of (part of) the earth.
2. v.t. Make m. of. M. out, make designs
for. (map).
'maple, n. (Wood of)
sorts of tree, some
of which give
sugar. ('meipl).
mar, v.t. Do damage
to. (ma:).
'marabou, n. Long-legged
bird of
Africa; its small
feathers as edging-material
etc.
('marəbu:).
'marathon (race), n. Long-distance running
competition. ('marəθən (reis)).
ma'raud, v.i. Make an attack and take
property by force. '-ing, a. (mə'rɔ:d).
'marble, 1. n. Sorts of LIMESTONE which
are polished for use in building and for
works of art; ball of stone or glass used
in playing mm. Mm., works of art of m.;
a boys' sport. 2. v.t. Make designs on
like the marks in m. ('ma:bl).
March, n. 3rd month of year. (ma:tʃ).
march, 1. n. Edge, limits, of land. 2. v.i.
(Of land) have common limit (with).
march, 1. n. A military walk with measured
steps; distance marched; a going
forward (of events etc.); bit of music for
marching to. 2. v.i.&t. Go, make go, at
a m.; (of events) go forward. M. past, m.
in line in front of person viewing forces.
'marchioness. See MARQUIS.
mare, n. Female horse. M.'s nest, thing
which seems a discovery but is not. (meə).
marga'rine, n. Sorts of fat made to seem
like butter. (ma:dʒə'ri:n).
'margin, n. Edge; unprinted space round
printed page; amount in addition to
what is necessary; money placed with
STOCKBROKER as cover for possible loss
on business done. '-al, a. Sp., (of notes)
in the margin. ('ma:dʒin).
margue'rite, n. Sorts of great DAISY.
(ma:gə'ri:t).
'marigold, n. Sorts of plant with orange-yellow
flowers. ('marigould).
ma'rine, 1. a. Of, in, produced by, the
sea; of ships. 2. n. The ships of a country;
man in military force used on warships.
'mariner ('marinə), [Old] n.
Sailor. (mə'ri:n).
mario'nette, n. Form of person etc. cut in
wood and worked by cords on stage.
(mariə'net).
'marital, a. Of a married man; of the
married condition, between married
persons. ('maritl).
'maritime, a. Near the sea; to do with
the sea. ('maritaim).
'marjoram, n. Sort of plant used to give
taste in cooking. ('ma:dʒərəm).
mark, 1. n. Line, cut, damage etc., on
something; line, form, made on paper
etc. as sign; sign (of thing, quality);
thing fired at, at which blow is sent,
etc.; normal level, degree; unit for measuring
quality of school work. Beside,
wide of, the m., sp., off the point, question;
make one's m., sp., do well; man of m.,
noted man; up to (below) the m., as (not as)
good, well, as normal. 2. v.t.&i. Put a
m. against; make or be a m. on; give
mm. to (learner etc.); take note of, see.
M. off, sp., put limits to, make separate;
m. out, sp., get the limits of (a bit of
land etc.) fixed: m. time, [Mil.] be moving
feet up and down in turn in one place;
do nothing for a time. '-ed, a. Sp., clear,
strong, readily noted. M. man, one
watched, noted down for punishment,
attack. '-edly ('ma:kidli), adv. '-ing, n.
Sp., different colours of feathers, skin etc.
'-sman, n. Expert with a gun. (ma:k).
mark, n. Unit of G. money system.
'market, 1. n. Meeting for the exchange of
goods for money; space or building used
for this; request which there is for certain
goods at a price. In, on, the m.,
offered for money in trade. 2. v.t.&i.
Take or send to m., get money for in
trade; get goods at m. etc. '-able, a.
Able to be exchanged for money. m.-garden,
n. One for growth of produce
for market. ('ma:kit).
marl, n. Sort of very fertile earth. (ma:l).
'marline, n. Sailors' cord made with 2
threads. 'm.-spike, n. Pointed instrument
for separating threads of cord.
('ma:lin).
'marmalade, n. Orange etc. JAM.
('ma:məleid).
'marmoset, n. Small S. Am. monkey with
a thick tail. ('ma:məzet).
'marmot, n. Animal of SQUIRREL family.
('ma:mət).
'marocain, n. A dress-material of silk or
wool. ('marəkein).
ma'roon, n. Sort of firework. (mə'ru:n).
ma'roon, a., n. (Of) brown-red colour.
ma'roon, v.t. Put on an island without
company, food etc.
mar'quee, n. Great TENT. (ma:'ki:).
'marquetry, n. Ornamenting of wood by
putting in bits of other wood or material.
('ma:kitri).
'marquis, 'marquess, n. Man with highest
TITLE under DUKE. 'marchioness
('ma:ʃənis), n. Woman married to a
marquis. ('ma:kwis).
'marrow, n. Fat substance in hollow
parts of bones; sort of long GOURD
cooked for food (freq. vegetable m.).
('marou).
'marry, v.t.&i. Go through law or church
etc. form uniting oneself with (another)
for purpose of sex relations, living together;
make (man and woman) so united.
'marriage ('maridʒ), n. Act, form, of
marrying; condition of being married.
M. lines, statement by authority that
marriage of 2 persons has taken place.
'marriageable, a. Old enough for marriage.
'married, a. ('mart).
marsh, n. Stretch of low, wet land. M.
mallow, (sweet made from root of) a m.
plant. (ma:ʃ).
'marshal, 1. n. Name of persons in certain
positions of authority (sp. field m.,
provost m., etc.); one responsible for details
of important public event. 2. v.t.
Get (fighting forces, arguments etc.) in
right order; take, be guiding, (person)
with forms (into etc.). ('ma:ʃəl).
mar'supial, n., a. (Any) of group of
animals giving birth to their young
before development is complete and
taking them about in a bag-like part.
(ma:'sju:piəl).
mart, n. Place of trade, market. (ma:t).
mar'tello 'tower, n. Round military
building with guns, put up near sea to
keep off attack. (mar'telou 'tauə).
'marten, n. Small brown animal living on
others, valued for its skin. ('ma:tin).
'martial, a. Of, right for, loving, war.
M. law, military government stopping
operation of normal law for a time.
('ma:ʃəl).
'martin, n. Sort of SWALLOW. ('ma:tin).
marti'net, n. One in authority looking
on keeping of rules as very important.
(ma:ti'net).
'Martinmas, n. SAINT Martin's day, Nov.
11th. ('ma:tinməs).
'martyr, 1. n. Person put to death, undergoing
much. for cause or belief. Be a m.
to, undergo frequent pain etc. because
of. 2. v.t. Put to death for beliefs etc.
'-dom, n. Martyr's death; great pain,
trouble. ('ma:tə).
'marvel, 1. n. Thing causing great, pleasing
surprise; surprisingly good example
(of). 2. v.i. Be much surprised (at). '-lous,
a. Very surprising, sp. pleasingly; very
good, beautiful. ('ma:vəl).
marzi'pan, n. Substance made of crushed
ALMONDS and sugar etc. as sweet, cake.
(ma:zi'pan).
'mascot, n. Thing looked on as making
chance kind to owner. ('maskət).
'masculine, a. Of, like, the male sex;
[Lang.] of male GENDER. ('maskjulin).
mash, 1. n. Grain etc. cooked with water
and given warm to horses; soft, crushed
mass. 2. v.t. Get crushed into a m. (maʃ).
mask, 1. n. False face, bit of cloth, put on
over face; face pictured in wax or stone;
look put on to keep one's feelings secret.
Death m., m. made by putting material
over face of dead person. 2. v.t. Make
covered (as) with m. (ma:sk).
'mason, n. Builder in, cutter of, stone;
FREEMASON. ma'sonic, a. Of FREEMASONS.
'-ry, n. Stonework. ('meisn).
masque, n. Sort of play in verse in which
chief attention is given to stage effects,
dresses etc. (ma:sk).
masque'rade, 1. n. Dance at which all
have MASKS or are dressed up. 2. v.i. Be
acting as what one is not. (maskə'reid).
mass, 1. n. Body of material of no special
form; great amount or number (of);
[Sc.] amount of material in a body.
M. meeting, great meeting; the mm., the
workers, the public. 2. v.t.&i. Get,
come, together in a m. (mas).
mass, n. Church COMMUNION, sp. R.-C.
'massacre, v.t., n. Put to death in great
numbers. ('masəkə).
'massage, n., v.t. Rubbing of the body for
medical purposes. mas'seur (ma'sə:),
mas'seuse (ma'sa.'z), nn. Male, female,
massage expert.('masa:ʒ).
'massive, a.
Great, solid, of
great weight.
('masiv).
mast, n. Upright
support
for sails; tall
support for
flag etc.
(ma:st).
'master, 1. n.
Man with
others working
for him; male teacher; animal's owner;
male head of house; one who has control
(of); CAPTAIN of trading-vessel; one expert
at something. The old mm., sp., (pictures
of) the great painters of 1200-1700.
2. v.t. Get mastery of; get the better of.
'-ful, a. With a love of controlling. '-key,
n. Key opening a number of different
locks. '-ly, a. Of an expert. '-piece, n.
Great work of art; best example of a
person's work. '-y, n. Full knowledge,
control, (of). ('ma:stə).
'masticate, v.t. Make (food) soft by biting
it. ('mastikeit).
'mastiff, n. Sort of great dog. ('mastif).
'mastodon, n. Animal like an ELEPHANT,
no longer in existence. ('mastədɔn).
'mastoid, n. Bone at back of ear. ('mastɔid).
mat(t), a. (Of paper etc.) not smooth or
polished. (mat).
mat, n. Bit of cloth or other material for
covering part of floor or table to keep
it from damage. '-ted, a. (Of hair,
thread etc.) rough, knotted.
'matador, n. Man whose part it is to put
BULL to death in sport of BULL-fighting.
('matədɔ:).
match, n. Small stick with head which,
when rubbed, gives flame. 'm.-wood, n.
Small bits of broken wood. (matʃ).
match, 1. n. Person as strong or good at
something as another; thing like, the
same as, another in some quality; competition
in sport; a MARRIAGE. 2. v.t.&i.
Get, be, a m. for; put in competition
(against, with). (Badly) well matched, (of
2 fighters etc.) (not) equally expert;
(not) right for one another. '-boarding,
n. Boards so cut that their edges may be
fixed into one another. '-less, a. So good
as to have no equal. '-maker, n. One
taking steps to make others get married.
mate, 1. n. One of 2 lovers, married
persons, or animals having sex relation
with one another; workman working
with another or others; man in authority
under CAPTAIN on a trading-ship. 2. v.i.&t.
Have, make have, sex relation
(with); get married. (meit).
ma'terial, 1. a. Made of, to do with,
physical substance; to do with money,
physical comfort etc., not higher things;
important, necessary. 2. n. That from
which something is or may be made;
cloth. '-ism, n. Belief that nothing but
physical substance has existence; interest
in material values only. '-ize, v.t.&i.
Give, take on, a material form; become
fact. (mə'tiəriəl).
ma'ternal, a. Of, like, a mother; being a
relation on one's mother's side. ma'ternity,
n. Being a mother. (mə'tə:nəl).
mathe'matics, n. Science of relations of
space and numbers. mathe'matical, a.
mathema'tician, n. Mathematics expert.
(maθi'matiks).
'matinée, n. An acting of a play in
the day-time. ('matinei).
'matins, n. pl. Early morning SERVICE in
R.-C. Church; morning SERVICE in Eng.
Church. ('matinz).
'matriarch, n. Female head of family or
wider group. matri'archal, a. '-y, n.
(Society under) rule of matriarch.
('meitria:k).
'matricide, n. (One) putting mother to
death. ('matrisaid).
ma'triculate, v.t.&i. Let in, be let in, as
learner at a university after taking test;
get through matriculation. matricu'lation,
n. Sp., special test for matriculating.
(mə'trikjuleit).
'matrimony, n. Condition of being married.
('matriməni).
'matrix (matrices), n. Vessel into which
material in soft or liquid condition is put
to give it a form; substance in which
metal etc. is bedded in the earth.
('meitriks ('meitrisi:z)).
'matron, n. Married woman; woman controlling
hospital; housekeeper in school
etc. ('meitrən).
'matter, 1. n. Physical substance; question
for thought, discussion, attention;
substance of book, statement etc.; PUS.
A m. of course, event causing no surprise;
as a m. of fact, in fact, to say truly;
be the m. (with), be wrong (with); for that
m., as far as has to do with that; no m.
when (where, who), whenever etc., it's
not important when etc.; printed m.,
anything in print. 2. v.i. Be important (to
person). 'm.-of-'fact, a. Keeping to facts
as opp. opinions etc., uninteresting. '-y,
a. Full of, like, PUS. ('matə).
'matting, n. Material for floor MATS.
('matiŋ).
'mattock, n. Instrument having iron head
with blade on one side and point on the
other, for getting earth broken. ('matək).
'mattress, n.
Long flat
bed-cushion.
Spring m.,
wire frame
supporting
this; top m.
with springs
in it. ('matris).
ma'ture, 1. v.i.&t. Come to full development,
become ready for use; make m.
2. a. Having matured. (mə'tjuə).
matu'tinal, a. Of, in, the morning.
(matju'tainl).
'maudlin, a. With foolish feeling of love,
regret etc.; made foolish by strong
drink. ('mɔ:dlin).
maul, v.t. Do damage to by being rough.
(mɔ:l).
'maulstick, n. Stick used by painter to
keep hand from shaking. ('mɔ:lstik).
'maunder, v.i. Be talking off the point,
uninterestingly. ('mɔ:ndə).
mauso'leum, n. Building put up as last
resting-place in memory of dead.
(mɔ:sə'liəm).
mauve, a., n. (Of) light blue-red colour.
(mouv).
maw, n. Animal's throat or stomach. (mɔ:).
'mawkish, a. Full of foolish, soft feelings.
('mɔ:kiʃ).
'maxim, n. Wise saying; rule of behaviour.
('maksim).
'maxim, n. Sort of machine-gun.
'maximum (maxima), n., a. Greatest possible
or recorded degree, amount, (of).
('maksiməm).
may (might), v.aux. Used as sign of: 1.
being possible (it m. be true, paper m. be
burned); 2. letting, giving authority (you
m. go); 3. request (you might take this
for me); 4. desire (m. I be there to see it!).
'-be, adv. Possibly. (met (mait)).
May, n. 5th month of the year; flowers of
m.-tree (m.). M. queen, girl to whom
special respect is given in M.-day amusements.
'M.-day, n. May 1st. '-pole, n.
Upright support ornamented with flowers
and danced round on May-day.
'm.-tree, n. HAWTHORN.
mayon'naise, n. Cold food dressing of oil,
egg, and VINEGAR. (meiə'neiz).
mayor, n. Head of town government.
'-alty ('meərəiti), n. Time, position, of
being mayor. '-ess, n. Woman married
to mayor. (meə).
maze, n. Complex network of ways, lines,
or facts. (meiz).
ma'zurka, n. (Music for) dance in 3-time
for 8 or 16 persons. (mə'zə:kə).
mead, n. Strong drink made from HONEY.
'meadow, [Let.] mead, nn. Grass field.
'meadow-sweet, n. Sweet-smelling,
flowering plant. ('medou, mi:d).
'meagre, a. Thin; not enough. ('mi:gə).
meal, n. The taking of food sp. at a
regular time; the food for a m. (mi:l).
meal, n. Powdered grain. '-y-mouthed,
a. Not using straightforward language
for anything unpleasing.
mean (meant), v.t.&i. Have as purpose,
design; be purposing to say, say words
with the sense that; have the sense of; be
a sign of. M. business, be ready to do
something other than talking; m. much
(little) to one, be important (unimportant)
to one. '-ing, 1. n. What is meant; sense;
purpose, point. 2. a. (Of look) acting as
a sign. (mi:n (ment)).
mean, a. Of poor quality; not giving
readily; unkind, not upright.
mean, n., a. (Condition, quality) coming
between 2 opposites; (number) half-way
in value between others, AVERAGE. Mm.,
thing(s), process, by which something is
or may be effected (freq. a mm.); money,
property; by atl (no) mm., certainly
(not); by mm. of, by the help, use, of;
person of mm., well-off person. '-time,
'-while, advs. In the time between.
me'ander, v.i. Go twisting about, as a
river etc. (mi'andə).
'measles, n. Disease readily got by one
person from another, in which body becomes
covered with red SPOTS. ('mi:zlz).
'measly, [Hum.] a. Of poor quality, very
little. ('mi:zli).
'measure, 1. n. Size, amount, degree, of
thing; unit or system used in statement
of this; vessel, rod etc., for testing size or
amount; verse rhythm, time in music;
step, act; a law. In a, some, m., in some
degree; made to m., made specially for
person after measuring; short (full) m.,
less (not less) than right amount. 2. v.t.
Get size, amount, value, of; be (certain
size, amount). M. out, give measured
amount of. '-d, a. Sp., in slow, regular
rhythm, motion, with care. '-less, a.
Unlimited, very great. ('meʒə).
meat, n. Muscle and fat of animal as food;
[Old] food. '-y, a. Sp., (of book etc.) full
of substance. (mi:t).
'Mecca, n. That on which one's hopes are
fixed (from name of Mohammed's
birthplace). ('mekə).
me'chanic, n. Trained workman, sp. one
making or using machines. '-al, a. Of,
like, working, produced by, machine.
-s, n. Science of motion and tendencies
to motion; science of machines. 'mechanism,
n. Structure, way of working, of
a machine; machine (-part). 'mechanize,
v.t. Make mechanical, make use of
machines in, for. (mi'kanik).
'medal, n. Flat bit of metal, gen. round,
stamped with design, given in memory
of some event etc. or as reward. me'dallion,
n. Great medal; round picture.
'-list, n. One rewarded with medal in
competition; designer of medals. ('medl).
'meddle, v.i. Take overmuch part in
another person's business. '-some, a.
Given to meddling. ('medl).
'media. See MEDIUM.
'mediate, v.i. Be acting as go-between,
peacemaker, (between). ('mi:dieit).
'medical, a. To do with medicine. M.
man, expert on medicine. me'dicament,
n. Substance used medically. 'medicate,
v.t. Put a substance with medical
properties on, into (cloth, liquid etc.).
me'dicinal (me'disinəl), a. Having
medical properties. 'medicine ('medsin),
n. Art, science, of overcoming disease,
keeping persons healthy; (any of the)
substances used in m. 'medicine-man, n.
(In simple societies) MAGICIAN. ('medikl).
medi'(a)eval, a. Of the time between
about A.D. 600 and 1500. (medi'i:vl).
'mediocre, a. Not very good, of poor
quality. medi'ocrity (mi:di'ɔkriti), n.
Sp., mediocre person. ('rni:dioukə).
'meditate, v.t.&i. Give thought to; give
oneself up to thought; have in mind (doing
something). ('mediteit).
'medium, 1. n. Middle quality or degree;
(pl. freq. media) substance in which
thing is living, moving, taking place, or
in SOLUTION; that by which thing is
done; one acting as go-between in
SPIRITUALISM. 2. a. In middle position in
size, degree etc. ('mi:diəm).
'medlar, n. (Tree producing) small brown
fruit used when going bad. ('medlə).
'medley, n. Mixed mass or group. ('medli).
meed, [Let.] n. Reward; right amount (of
credit etc.). (mi:d).
meek, a. Quiet, unprotesting. (mi:k).
'meerschaum, n. (Smoker's pipe of) sort
of hard, white CLAY. ('miəʃəm).
meet, [Old] a. Right, good. (mi:t).
meet (met), 1. v.t.&i. Come across or
into company with; come together from
different points; be present when train
etc. of (person) comes in; come into
agreement with (person's desires). M. a
bill, make payment of it; m. the case, be
right, enough, for; m. the eye, be seen;
m. with, have experience of. 2. n. Meeting
of persons before a HUNT. '-ing, n. Sp.,
a coming together of a number of persons
for some purpose. (mi:t (met)).
'megalith, n. Great stone, sp., put up in
memory of person in very early times.
('megəliθ).
megalo'mania, n. Diseased condition of
mind giving belief that one is very great,
important. (megəlou'meiniə).
megalo'saurus, n. Great REPTILE no
longer in existence. (megəlou'sɔ:rəs).
'megaphone, n. Horn for talking through
to make voice louder. ('megəfoun).
'megrim, n. MIGRAINE. Mm., low, unhappy
condition of mind. ('mi:grim).
'melancholy, n., a. (Being) sad, unhappy.
melan'cholia, n. Mind disease marked
by this. melan'cholic, a. Of, with
tendency to, melancholia. ('melənkəli).
'mêlée, [F.] n. Fight or mass of persons
without order, organization. ('melei).
mel'lifluous, mel'lifluent, aa. (Of voice,
words etc.) very sweet. (me'lifluəs,
me'lifluənt).
'mellow, 1. a. Soft and sweet in taste,
soft and full in colour or sound, sp. as
effect of time; made kind, warm in
feeling, by experience. 2. v.t.&i. Make,
become, m. ('melou).
'melodrama, n. Play working up the
feelings in violent way, gen. with happy
ending. melodra'matic, a. Sp., (of
behaviour) as of actor. ('melədra:mə).
'melody, n. Sweet music; song; [Mus.]
chief part or thread
of bit of music in
harmony. me'lodious
(mi'loudjəs), a.
('melədi).
'melon, n. Great
round fruit with
mass of seeds in the
middle. ('melən).
melt, v.t.&i. Make
or be made liquid by heat; make (feelings),
become, soft; go slowly away, from
view. 'molten ('moultən), a. (Of metals)
melted. (melt).
'member, n. Part of body, such as arm or
tongue; one of society, group. '-ship, n.
Being a society member; number of
members in a society. ('membə).
'membrane, n. Thin, soft skin covering
inside or joining parts of animal or plant
body. mem'braneous, 'membranous,
aa. ('membrein).
me'mento, n. Thing kept in memory of a
person or event. (mi'mentou).
'memo, n. Short form of MEMORANDUM.
('memou).
'memoir, n. History of person, sp. based
on first-hand knowledge. Mm., person's
account in writing of his history, experiences.
('memwa:).
'memory, n. Power of keeping facts etc.
in conscious mind or making them
come back to it; picture, idea, of
past thing produced by in.; time-range
of one's m. In m. of, to keep (dead
person, etc.) in the m. 'memorable, a.
Rightly to be kept in memory. memo'randum,
n. Note or record for future
use; business note. me'morial, n., a.
(Thing) made, done, in memory of person,
event; statement in writing made to
authorities for or against something.
me'morialize, v.t. Send such statement
to. 'memorize, v.t. Get by heart, fixed
in the memory. ('meməri).
men. See MAN.
'menace, 1. n. THREAT. 2. v.t. Be a danger
to; give signs that one is about to make
use of force against. ('menəs).
mée'nage, [F.] n. HOUSEHOLD. (me'na:ʒ).
me'nagerie, n. Number of animals of
different sorts got together and put on
public view. (mi'nadʒəri).
mend, 1. v.t.&i. Put right, into working
condition; get stitched up; become
better. M. one's ways, become better in
behaviour. 2. n. Mended hole, crack,
cut etc. (mend).
men'dacious, a. Given to consciously
making untrue statements. men'dacity
(men'dasiti), n. (men'deiʃəs).
'mendicant, n., a. (One) living by requesting
money etc. from others. ('mendikənt).
'menial, a., n. (Only rightly to be done
by) a servant. ('mi:niəl).
menin'gitis, n. Disease marked by INFLAMMATION
of skin covering brain.
(menin'dʒaitis).
mensu'ration, n. Branch of mathematics
to do with measuring. 'mensurable, a.
Able to be measured. (mensjuə'reiʃən).
'mental, a. Of or in the mind. M. arithmetic,
arithmetic done in one's head, not
on paper; m. patient, one with a diseased
mind; m. reservation, limiting thought,
condition, not put into words. men'tality,
n. General quality of a person's
mind, outlook. ('mentl).
'menthol, n. Sort of white CRYSTALS used
medically, sp. breathed up nose for colds.
('menθɔl).
'mention, v.t., n. Say something about;
say the name of. ('menʃən).
'mentor, n. Guide and helper to unexperienced
person. ('mentɔ:).
'menu, n. List of food at a meal. ('menju:).
'mercantile, a. Trading, of trade or
traders. M. marine, trading or transport
ships of a nation. ('mə:kəntail).
'mercenary, 1. a. Working only for
money or reward; based on desire for
profit. 2. n. Man fighting for another
country for payment. ('mə:sinəri).
'mercer, n. Trader in silk and such
material. '-ized, a. (Of cotton) made
silk-like by a chemical process. '-y, n.
Material traded in by mercer. ('mə:sə).
'merchandise, n. Trade goods.
('mə:tʃəndaiz).
'merchant, n. Trader. M. service, organization
Of the MERCANTILE MARINE. '-man,
n. Ship transporting goods. ('mə:tʃənt).
'mercury, n. White, normally liquid,
metal. mer'curial, a. Sp., (of person)
quickly changing in feelings. ('mə:kjəri).
'mercy, n. (Quality of) keeping from
giving pain which one has right, power,
to give; that which comes to one by
good chance. At the m. of, in the power
of; have m. on, be kind, acting with m.,
to; the tender mm. of, [Hum.] the little or
no m. which may be looked for from.
'merciful, a. Acting with, marked by,
mercy. 'merciless, a. Cruel. ('mə:si).
mere, [Let.] n. LAKE. (miə).
mere, a. Only, not more than; no better
than. '-ly, adv. Only.
mere'tricious, a. With an outside attraction
but little value. (meri'triʃəs).
merge, v.t.&i. Make, become, part of
some other, greater thing. '-r, n. A
uniting of business companies. (mə:dʒ).
me'ridian, n., a. (Sun's position at) 12
a.m.; star's highest point; point of greatest
development, power etc.; great circle
round the earth through a given place
and through the 2 POLES; half such circle.
me'ridional, a. Of the S., of S. France
or Europe; of a meridian. (mə'ridiən).
me'ringue, n. Cake made of white part of
egg and sugar cooked in slow oven.
(mə'raŋ).
me'rino, n. Sort of sheep; soft thread or
cloth made of its wool or of thin wool
and cotton. (mə'ri:nou).
'merit, 1. n. Good quality. 2. v.t. Have a
right to (reward, punishment etc.).
meri'torious, a. With a right to reward
or approval. ('merit).
'mermaid, 'merman, [Fict.] nn. Fish-tailed
woman, man, living in the sea.
('mə:meid, 'mə:man).
'merry, a. Laughing, happy, bright. Make
m., have time of pleasure-making,
amusement. 'merriment, n. Amusement,
pleasure; being merry. 'm.-goround,
n. Turning circle of wood horses
etc. in amusement place. 'm.-making,
n. Pleasure-making. '-thought, n.
Forked chest-bone of fowl. ('meri).
me'seems, [Old] v. It seems to me.
(mi'si:mz).
mesh, 1. n. One of the spaces in a net.
Mm., sp., net; designing trick. 2. v.t.&i.
Take in a net; (of toothed wheels) be
fixed one into another. (meʃ).
'mesmerism, n. (Power of producing)
condition (as) of sleep caused by suggestion
on part of another. mes'meric, a.
'mesmerize, v.t. Make use of mesmerism
on. ('mezmərizm).
mess, 1. n. Unordered or dirty condition;
trouble, condition of doing badly;
group of men in army or ship taking
their meals together; their meal or
room for meals; [Old] plate of food.
2. v.t.&i. Make in a m. M. about, do a
little work here and there. 'm.-mate,
n. One of the same mess, sp. on a ship.
'-y, a. In a mess. (mes).
'message, n. News, words, sent to a person.
'messenger, n. One who takes a
message. ('mesidʒ).
Mes'siah, n. One whose coming was
looked for by Jews so that they might be
made free; Christ. (mi'saiə).
Messrs. See MR.
'messuage, [Law] n. House with outbuildings
and land. ('meswidʒ).
met. See MEET.
me'tabolism, n. Chemical building up and
destruction of the substance of a living
body. meta'bolic, a. (mi'tabəlizm).
'metal, 1. n. Any of a certain division of
chemically simple substances, such as
gold, iron, tin; substance of mixed
metal; broken stone for road-making.
Mm., rails of a railway. 2. v.t. Put m. on
(road). me'tallic, a. (As) of metal.
me'tallurgy ('metələ:dʒi), n. Art of
separating metal from ORE, or of working
in metal. ('metl).
meta'morphosis, n. Marked change of
form or qualities. meta'morphose
(metə'mɔ:fouz), v.t. Get completely
changed. (metə'mɔ:fəsis).
'metaphor, n. (Example of) the use of
words about something other than what
is normally named by them, but looked
on as like, parallel. ('metəfə).
meta'physics, n. (Branch of knowledge
to do with) theories about questions of
knowledge, being, etc., of which no test
is possible. meta'physical, a. metaphy'sician,
n. (metə'fiziks).
mete, v.t. [Old] Get measured. M. out,
give (punishment, reward etc.). (mi:t).
'meteor, n. Small body moving quickly
from far-off space and becoming bright
near the earth. mete'oric, a. Sp., bright
and sudden as a meteor. '-ite, n. Meteor
which has come to earth. ('mi:tiə).
meteo'rology, n. Science of weather.
(mi :tiə'rɔlədʒi).
'meter, n. Apparatus recording automatically
the amount of gas etc. going
through it. ('mi:tə).
me'thinks (methought). [Old] v. It seems
tome. (mi'θiŋks (mi'θɔ:t)).
'method, n. Way of doing something; a
system, order, in doing, acting. me'thodical,
a. (Given to) using, marked
by, a system. ('meθəd).
'Methodist, n. One of any of the groups
of Christians supporting teaching of
John Wesley. ('meθədist).
'methylated 'spirit, n. Form of alcohol
made unpleasing to taste and used for
burning. ('meθileitid 'spirit).
me'ticulous, a. Giving great attention to
details. (mi'tikjuləs).
'métier, [F.] n. One's special work, what
one does best. ('metiei).
'metre, n. (Any special) verse rhythm; unit
of measure, 39.37 inches. 'metric ('metrik),
a. M. system, system of weights
and measures based
on the metre, in
which units go up in
tens, hundreds etc.
'metrical, a. Of or in
verse rhythm; using
measuring. ('mi:tə).
'metronome, n. Instrument
for marking
time in music.
('metrənoum).
me'tropolis, n. Chief
town of a country.
metro'politan, 1. a. Of a metropolis.
2. n. ARCHBISHOP in Church of Rome.
(mi'trɔpəlis).
'mettle, n. The power, quality, which a
person, horse etc., has of putting up
with things, being without fear etc. On
one's m., moved to do one's best. '-d,
'-some, aa. Having much mettle.
('metl).
mew, [Let.] n. GULL. (mju:).
mew, v.t. Keep shut up in prison etc.
mew, mi'aow, nn., vv.i. Sound made
by a cat. (mju:, mi:'au).
mews, n. Square or street with buildings
for horses, carriages etc. (mju:z).
'mezzanine, n., a. (Floor) between street
level and ist floor. ('mezəni:n).
'mezzo, [Mus.] adv. Half, in part.
'm.-so'prano, n., a. (One with) voice
between SOPRANO and CONTRALTO.
('medzou).
'mezzotint, n. (Picture made by) printing
from metal plate which has been made
rough. ('medzoutint).
mi'asma, n. Unhealthy mist, gas, going
up from low, wet land. (mi'azmə).
'mica, n. Hard, glass-like substance present
in certain sorts of stone, readily
broken into thin leaves. ('maikə).
mice. See MOUSE.
'Michaelmas, n. SAINT Michael's day,
September 29th. ('miklməs).
'microbe, n. Very small plant or animal,
sp. as cause of disease or making things
go bad. ('maikroub).
'microcosm, n. Something, sp. man, in
which all existence may be seen on a
small scale; system etc. like some other
but on a very small scale.
('maikroukɔzm).
mi'crometer, n. Instrument for measuring
very small things. (mai'krɔmitə).
'microphone, n. Instrument for making
sounds louder, as used in telephone,
radio etc. ('maikrəfoun).
'microscope, n. Apparatus with special
glass(es) by which very small things may
be seen as of greater size. micro'scopic,
a. Sp., able to be seen only with a microscope.
('maikrəskoup).
'microtome, [Sc.] n. Instrument for cutting
material into very thin leaves.
('maikrətoum).
mid, a. In the middle, between. In m. air,
up in the air. '-lands, n. pl. Middle part
of England. '-most, a. Completely in the
middle. -way, adv. In the middle, halfway.
(mid).
mid-, (In) the middle of. ('-day, '-night,
-summer, -winter).
'midden, n. Mass of waste material.
('midn).
'middle, 1. a. At an equal distance from 2
or more points; having the same number
of things on 2 or more opposite sides;
between 2 opposite qualities, degrees etc.
2. n. M. point, position, part. M. Ages,
time between 1000 and 1400 or, in wider
sense, 600 and 1500; m. class(es), that or
those between highest and lowest orders
of society. m.-aged, a. Not young or
old. '-man, n. Trader marketing goods
got from producers. '-weight, n. BOXER
of highest weight under HEAVYWEIGHT.
'middling, a. Not very good or very
bad. ('midl).
midge, n. Very small insect. '-t, n. Very
small person. (midʒ).
'midriff, [Old] n. DIAPHRAGM of body.
('midrif).
'midshipman, 'middy, nn. Man having
lowest position with COMMISSION in sea
force, still undergoing training.
('midʃipmən, 'midi).
midst, 1. n. Only in the m. of, in the middle
of; in our m., among us. 2. [Let.] prep.
Among. (midst).
'midwife, n. Woman who takes care of
women who are giving birth. '-ry ('midwifəri),
n. OBSTETRICS. ('midwaif).
mien, [Let.] n. Person's look, general
air. (mi:n).
might. See MAY.
might, n Great power, force. With m.
and main, with all one's power. '-y, a.
Sp., of great size; [Com.] very. (mait).
migno'nette, n. Plant with sweet-smelling,
green-brown flowers. (minjə'net).
'migraine, n. Bad nerve-pain in the head.
('mi:grein).
mi'grate, v.i. Make a change in one's
living-place; (of birds etc.) come and go
at different times of the year. 'migrant,
n., a. (Bird) which migrates. 'migratory,
a. (mai'greit).
mi'kado, n. Old name for ruler of Japan.
(mi'ka:dou).
milch, a. Giving, kept for, milk. (miltʃ).
mild, a. Kind, soft; (of taste) not strong or
sharp; (of weather) not cold. (maild).
'mildew, n. Growth of very small FUNGI
forming on plants, or on paper, leather
etc., kept in wet place. ('mildju:).
mile, n. Unit of measure, 1,760 yards.
'mil(e)age, n. Distance in miles.
'-stone, n. Roadside stone giving
number of miles to some place. (mail).
'militant, a. Ready for fighting. ('militənt).
'military, a. Of, for, the army or war on
land. The m., men of the army. 'militarism,
n. Military outlook; the
valuing of military force overmuch.
('militəri).
'militate, v.i. Be acting as an argument,
a force, (against). ('militeit).
mi'litia, n. Force of trained men not in
the regular army, for use in time of
need. (mi'liʃə).
milk, 1. n. White liquid produced in the
bodies of some sorts of female animals
as food for their young, sp. that of
cows. 2. v.t. Get the m. from. '-maid,
n. Woman milking cows, making butter
etc. '-man, n. Trader in milk. '-sop, n.
Man who is soft, feeble. 'm.-tooth, n.
Any of the first teeth a baby or young
animal gets. '-y, a. Sp., white like milk.
The M. Way, the GALAXY. (milk).
mill, 1. n. (Building housing) machine for
crushing sp. grain; sorts of machine for
other processes; great building where
goods are made by machine. 2. v.t. Get
crushed etc. in a m. Milled edge, edge of
bit of money etc. with lines cut on it by
machine. '-board, n. Thick cardboard.
'-stone, n. One or other of the 2 between
which grain is crushed. (mil).
mil'lennium, n. 1,000 years. The m., the
future time when everyone will be completely
happy. (mi'leniəm).
'millepede, n. Small worm-like animal
with great number of legs. ('milipi:d).
'millet, n. Grain plant with very small
seeds. ('milit).
'milli-, 1/1,000th of. ('-gram, '-litre,
'-metre). ('mill-).
'milliard, n. 1,000,000,000. ('milja:d).
'milliner, n. Maker of, trader in, women's
hats. '-y, n. (The making of) hats.
('milinə).
'million, n. 1,000,000. -'aire, n. Man with
1,000,000 pounds, dollars etc.; man who
is very well-off. ('miljən).
milt, n. SOFT ROE. (milt).
'mimeograph, n. Apparatus for copying
letters etc. with STENCIL. ('mimiougra:f).
'mimic, 1. a. Seeming only, acted. 2. n.
Person who mimics others. 3. v.t.
(mimicked). Be copying talk, behaviour,
of, sp. to give amusement; be
very like. mime (maim), 1. n. Sort of
Gk. or Rom. play in which actors mimicked
great persons etc. 2. v.i. Mimic.
mi'metic (mi'metik). a. Of, given to,
mimicking. ('mimik).
mi'mosa, n. Sorts of plant with ball-like
yellow flowers. (mi'mouzə).
'minaret, n. Tall round structure on top
of MOSQUE. ('minəret).
'minatory, a. THREATENING. ('minətəri).
mince, 1. v.t.&i. Get (meat etc.) cut up
very small; take short, delicate steps;
say (words) with unnatural care. Not m.
matters, say openly what is in one's
mind. 2. n. Minced meat. '-meat, n.
Dry, minced fruit mixed with sugar, fat
etc. -'pie, n. One with mincemeat in it.
(mins).
mind, 1. n. Seat of conscious thought,
feeling, desire; power of thought; desire,
purpose; memory. Of one m., in complete
agreement; on one's m., troubling one.
2. v.t. Keep in one's m.; take care of,
give attention to; be against, have feeling
against (doing, person's behaviour, etc.).
Have a (good) m. to, be almost moved,
ready, to; m. one's P.s and Q.s, take care
what one does, says; m. you come etc., be
certain to come etc. '-ful, a. Only m.
of, giving thought or care to. (maind).
mine, pron., a. (The ones which are) to
do with me, my property. (main).
mine, 1. n. Deep hole made in earth
to get coal, metals etc.; hole under earth
where gunpowder etc. is placed ready to
go off when desired; apparatus put in
sea for damaging ships by bursting.
M. of (knowledge etc.), that from which
much knowledge etc. may be got. 2. v.t.
Get from a m.; make a hole under; put
a m. under or in. 'm.-field, n. Part of sea
where mines are. '-layer, n. Ship putting
down mines. '-r, n. Sp., worker in a mine.
'-sweeper, n. Ship getting up mines.
'mineral, n., a. Substance, not animal or
plant, got from earth by mining. 'm.-water,
n. Water with mineral(s) in.
('minərəl).
'mingle, v.t.&i. Make or become mixed,
or mixed with. M. with, sp., go among.
'-d, a. Mixed. ('miŋgl).
'miniature, 1. n. Picture of person painted
on small scale; small-scale copy. 2. a.
Small-scale, very small. ('minitʃə).
'minim, [Mus.] n. Note equal to 1/2 SEMI-BREVE;
very small unit of liquid
measure. ('minim).
'minimize, v.t. Make, take to be, the
minimum. 'minimum (minima), n., a.
Least possible or recorded degree or
amount (of). ('minimaiz).
'minion, n. One made much of by, the
servant of, person in high position.
('minjən).
'minister, 1. n. Person at head of branch
of government; government representative
in another country; Christian
PRIEST. 2. v.i. Give help (to) by waiting
on, taking care of when ill. minis'terial
(minis'tiəriəl), a. Sp., of or on side of
Government in power. minis'tration, n.
Giving of help, sp. to the ill and poor.
'ministry, n. Position of, time of being,
a church minister; the ministers of a
Church; position of a government
minister; the ministers forming a
Government. ('ministə).
mink, n. (Much-valued skin of) sort of
small, dark-brown animal. (miŋk).
'minnow, n. Very small river-fish.
('minou).
'minor, 1. a. Smaller, less important, of 2
units or groups; the younger of 2
brothers (Jones m.); [Mus.] (of key,
scale) having 1 1/2 TONES between keynote
and 3rdnote played. 2. [Law] n. Person
in his minority. mi'nority, n. [Law] opp.
MAJORITY; the smaller of 2 groups of
persons, sp. giving different decision on
some question. ('mainə).
'minster, n. Church, used sp. as name of
great church (York M., etc.). ('minstə).
'minstrel, [Hist.] n. Journeying song-maker
or player of music. '-sy, n.
Minstrel's art, songs. ('minstrəl).
mint, n. Sort of plant whose leaves are
used in cooking to give a taste. (mint).
mint, 1. n. Place where money is made by
government authority. M. of money,
great amount of it. 2. v.t. Make
(money) by stamping metal.
minu'et, n. (Music for) old-time slow dance
for 2 persons. (minju'et).
'minus, 1. prep. Taking away; less by (for
which [Math.] the sign is "-"); without.
2. a. Only a m. quantity, one less than 0;
m. sign, the sign "-" ('mainəs).
'minute, n. 1/60 of an hour; a short time;
1/60 of a DEGREE in angle-measure. ('minit).
'minute, 1. n. Note, statement, on question
for use of authorities. Mm., sp.,
record of society's meeting(s). 2. v.t.
Put in the mm. 'm.-book, n. One for
society's minutes.
mi'nute, a. Very small; going into every
detail. (mai'nju:t).
mi'nutiae, n. pl. Unimportant points,
small details. (mai'nju:ʃii:).
minx, n. Forward girl using tricks.
(miŋks).
'miracle, n. Event looked on as caused
by other than natural powers; strange
event; surprisingly good example of
some quality. 'm.-play, n. Play based on
story of Christ. mi'raculous (mi'rakjuləs),
a. ('mirəkl).
'mirage, n. Effect giving seeming existence
to something, such as water and trees in
a sand waste, produced by condition of
the air. ('mira:ʒ).
'mire, n. Wet land; wet earth. ('maiə).
'mirror, 1. n. Looking-glass. 2. v.t. Give
back a picture of. ('mirə).
mirth, n. Being happy and bright, laughing.
(mə:θ).
mis-, Bad(ly), wrong(ly). -appropriate
(v.t.), -behave, -calculate, -chance
(n.), -count, -deed, -direct (v.t.),
-govern, -inform, -interpret,
-judge (v.t.), -quote, -read, -spell,
(v.t.), -state (v.t.).
misad'venture, n. (Event marked by) unhappy
chance. (misəd'ventjə).
misal'liance, n. Being married to someone
lower in society. (misə'laiəns).
'misanthrope, n. Hater of man. misan'thropic,
a. ('mizənθroup).
'misap'ply, v.t. Make use of (knowledge
etc.) in wrong way. ('misə'plai).
'misappre'hend, v.t. Get a wrong idea
of (what is said, etc.). ('misapri'hend).
mis'carry, v.i. Not have desired outcome;
(of letter) not get to where it is sent.
mis'carriage, n. Sp., giving birth before
the right time. M. of justice, wrong
judging, punishment, of person.
(mis'kari).
miscel'laneous, a. Of different sorts.
mis'cellany (mi'seləni), n. Group of
different sorts of things, sp., a book with
writings of different persons. (misi'leinjəs).
'mischief, n. Damage done on purpose;
tricks etc. designed to give trouble. Get
into, be up to, m., be moved to, be doing,
some m., not very serious wrongdoing;
make m., be a cause of bad feeling
between others by unwise talk etc.
'mischievous, a. Causing trouble,
damage; full of tricks. ('mistʃif).
'miscon'ceive, v.t. Get a wrong idea of.
('miskən'si:v).
mis'conduct, n. Bad behaviour. miscon'duct,
v.t. CONDUCT (undertaking,
oneself) badly. (mis'kɔndʌkt).
'miscon'strue, v.t. Take in wrong sense.
('miskən'stru:).
'miscreant, n. Very bad person.
('miskriənt).
'mis'deal, v.i., n. (In card play) give out
cards wrongly. ('mis'di:l).
misde'meanour, n. Not very serious
crime. (misdi'mi:nə).
mis'doubt, [Old] v.t. Have doubts, fears,
about. (mis'daut).
'miser, n. Person who keeps his money
stored up without using it. '-ly, a. Like
a miser. ('maizə).
'miserable, a. Very unhappy; poor in
quality, amount. 'misery, n. Being very
unhappy or very poor. ('mizərəbl).
'mis'fire, v.i., n. (Of gun etc.) not go off
at the right time. ('mis'faiə).
'misfit, n. Bit of clothing etc. which is the
wrong size, form. ('misfit).
mis'fortune, n. (Event marked by) unhappy
chance. (mis'fɔitʃən).
mis'giving, n. Doubt, fear. (mis'giviŋ).
mis'guided, a. Foolish, badly guided.
(mis'gaidid).
'mis'handle, v.t. HANDLE (undertaking,
person) badly; be rough with (person,
thing). ('mis'handl).
mis'hap, n. Unhappy chance event.
(mis'hap).
mis'lay, v.t. Put (thing) where one is
unable to come across it. (mis'lei).
mis'lead, v.t. Give the wrong idea to.
(mis'li:d).
mis'manage, v.t. MANAGE (undertaking
etc.) badly. (mis'manidʒ).
mis'nomer, n. (Use of a) wrong name,
word, for something. (mis'noumə).
mi'sogyny, n. Hate for women. mi'sogynist,
n. (mi'sɔdʒini).
'mis'place, v.t. Put in the wrong place;
give (love etc.) to person who has no
right to it. ('mis'pleis).
'mis'print, v.t., n. (Make) error in printing.
('mis'print).
mispro'nounce, v.t. PRONOUNCE (word)
wrongly. (misprə'nauns).
'rnisrepre'sent, v.t. Give a wrong idea of.
('misrepri'zent).
'mis'rule, n. Bad government. ('mis'ru:l).
miss, v.t.&i. Not get BULLET etc. to
(place desired); not get or see etc. (what
is desired); not be present at (event,
meeting); not see (a point); have regret
for being without. M. out a word etc., not
say or put in. '-ing, a. Not in place where
looked for, not able to be come across,
not present. (mis).
miss, n. Unmarried girl or woman; used
before name of such (M. Brown, M.
Jane).
'mis'shapen, a. (Of body) wrongly formed.
('mis'ʃeipən).
'missile, n. Thing sent through the air to
do damage. ('misail).
'mission, n. Body of persons sent on
special work, sp. of religion; their work;
some special work which it seems to one
right to do. '-ary, n., a. (One) teaching
religion of Christ to those without knowledge
of it. ('miʃən).
'missive, n. Letter. ('misiv).
mist, n. Water present in air in drops
smaller than rain. '-y, a. Sp., with uncertain
outline, not clear. (mist).
mis'take, 1. n. Error, wrong opinion or
act. 2. v.t. Be wrong, have wrong idea,
about (person's purpose etc.); take (a
person, thing) for some other. '-n, a. In
error; badly judged. (mis'teik).
'mistletoe, n. White-berried plant living
on trees, used for ornament at Christmas.
('misltou).
'mistress, n. Woman in relation to her
servants; woman having control of;
woman teacher; woman a man regularly
has sex relations with but is not married
to. ('mistris).
mis'trust, v.t., n. Have no belief in,
doubts about. (mis'trʌst).
'misunder'stand, v.t. Take in the wrong
sense. '-ing, n. Sp., bad feeling caused
by getting wrong idea of something.
('misʌndə'stand).
'mis'use, 1. v.t. Make wrong use of; be
cruel to. 2. ('mis'ju:s), n. Wrong use.
('mis'ju:z).
mite, n. Small boy or girl; sorts of very
small insect; [Old] 1/2 farthing. (mait).
'mitigate, v.t. Make less violent, damaging,
or bad. ('mitigeit).
'mitre, n. Tall hat used by BISHOPS (see
COPE); sort of join made between 2 bits
of wood meeting at right angles. ('maitə).
'mitt(en), n. Glove with one division for
thumb and one for the 4 fingers; glove
with no tops to the fingers. ('mit(n)).
mix, v.t.&i. Put (different things, substances)
together to make one mass;
put (one substance) in or with another;
become mixed with another substance
etc. M. up, make completely mixed;
make out of order. '-ed, a. Sp., having
qualities, substances, of different sorts.
M. up about, not clear about. '-ture, n.
Mixing; mixed substance. (miks).
'mizzen, n. Lowest square sail of sailing-ship's
m.-mast. 'm.-mast, n. The one
placed farthest back in a ship with 3
MASTS. ('mizn).
mne'monic, a. Of, designed for helping,
the memory. -s, n. pl. Art of, system for,
helping the memory. (ni'mɔnik).
moan, v.i., n. (Give) low sound of pain,
regret. (moun).
moat, n. Deep cut with water in it, put
round a building or town to keep it safe
from attack. (mout).
mob, 1. n. Mass of rough persons; the
masses. 2. v.t. Come round as m., make
mass attack on (person). (mɔb).
'mob-cap, [Hist.] n. Woman's indoor head-dress,
covering all her hair. ('mɔbkap).
'mobile, a. Readily moving its position,
not fixed. ('moubail).
'mobilize, v.t.&i. Get (forces) ready for
war. ('moubilaiz).
'moccasin, n. Am. Indian soft leather
shoe. ('mɔkəsin).
mock, 1. v.t.&i. Make sport of, sp. by
copying. M. at, make sport of, be laughing
at. 2. [Old] n. A mockery. 3. a. False,
seeming. '-ery, n. Mocking; thing
mocked at; a bad copy of some feeling,
quality etc. (mɔk).
mode, n. Way in which a thing is done;
current way of dressing; form (of something);
[Mus.] one or other of the 2
sorts of key, scale. (moud).
'model, 1. n. Copy of a thing made to
scale; design to be copied; person or
thing (rightly) to be copied; one acting as
painter's m. for payment. 2. a. Giving a
good example. 3. v.t. Give form to (a soft
substance); make in this way; make from
a m. ('mɔdl).
'moderate, 1. a. Keeping to the middle
way, not given to overdoing anything;
of middle range in quality, amount.
2. n. One with m. political views.
3. ('mɔdareit), v.t.&i. Make, become,
less violent, less in amount, degree.
mode'ration, n. Sp., quality of being
moderate. In m., in a moderate way,
amount. ('mɔdərit).
'modern, 1. a. Of the present time; new,
of the latest sort. 2. n. One living in the
present time. ('mɔdn).
'modest, a. Not over-valuing oneself, not
putting oneself forward; (of request)
for something not very great; clean in
thought and behaviour, not loud or
loose. ('mɔdist).
'modicum, n. A small amount, no more
than enough. ('mɔdikəm).
'modify, v.t. Make less in degree etc.;
make small changes in. ('mɔdifai).
mo'diste, n. Dressmaker. (mou'di:st).
'modulate, v.t.&i. Make an adjustment
in sound of; [Mus.] make a change in
key (from, to). ('mɔdjuleit).
'mohair, n. (Thread, cloth, made from)
hair of Angora goat. ('mouheə).
Mo'hammedan, n., a. (One with belief
in religion) of Mohammed. (mə'hamidn).
'moiety, [Law] n. Half. ('mɔiəti).
moil, v.i. Only toil and m., do hard work.
(mɔil).
moist, a. A little wet. '-en ('mɔisn), v.t.
'-ure, n. Liquid in form of mist or in
small drops on something. (mɔist).
'molar, n., a. (One) of the back teeth
used for crushing. ('moulə).
mo'lasses, n. Thick, sticky liquid drained
off from sugar. (mou'lasiz).
mole, n. Small dark-grey animal making
long holes in the earth. '-hill, n. Mass of
earth sent up by a
mole when making a hole. (moul).
mole, n. Small dark mark on the skin.
mole, n. Stone structure for keeping back
waves at harbour mouth or joining
places with water between.
'molecule, n. The smallest unit into
which any substance may be broken up
without changing its chemical form.
mo'lecular (mɔ'lekjulə), a. Of molecules.
('mɔlikju:l).
mo'lest, v.t. Give trouble to, do damage
to, (person).
(mou'lest).
'mollify, v.t. Make
(person, angry
feelings) quiet,
less worked up.
('mɔlifai).
'mollusc, n. One
of a group of soft-bodied
animals,
gen. with hard outer coverings. ('mɔlask).
'mollycoddle, 1. n. One taking over-great
care of himself. 2. v.t. Take over-great
care of (person). ('mɔlikɔdl).
'molten. See MELT.
'molto, [Mus.] adv. Very. ('mɔltou).
'moment, n. Point or short space of time;
degree of being important (of great,
little, no, m.). '-ary, a. Going on only for
a very short time. mo'mentous, a.
Very important. mo'mentum, n. [Sc.]
Amount of motion of a moving body;
force produced by motion. ('moumənt).
'monarch, n. Ruler of country, sp., KING
or QUEEN. '-ist, n. Supporter of monarchy.
'-y, n. (Country with) system of
government by a monarch. ('mɔnək).
'monastery, n. House of order of religion.
mo'nastic, a. Of monasteries or orders
of religion. ('mɔnəstri).
'Monday, n. 2nd day of week. ('mʌndi).
'money, n. Stamped metal or printed
paper with value marked on it, which is
given and taken in exchange for goods
etc.; anything regularly used for this
purpose. M. order, order got and exchanged
at post-office, for payment of
named amount. 'monetary, a. Of money.
'-ed, a. Well-off. 'm.-grubber, n. One
whose chief thought is for profit. 'm.-market,
n. (Places used for) operations
of traders in STOCKS etc. ('mʌni).
'Mongol, n., a. (One) of RACE now in
Mongolia. ('mɔŋgɔl).
'mongoose, n. Small Indian animal noted
for its destruction of snakes. ('mɔŋgu:s).
''mongrel, n., a. (Animal or plant, sp.
dog) of mixed sort. ('mʌŋgrəl).
'monitor, n. Person who gives suggestions
for guiding one; schoolboy with position
of authority in a school; sort of
warship with great guns. ('mɔnitə).
monk, n. One of a group of men of religion
living together in an order away
from other society. '-ish, a. (As) of
a monk. (mʌŋk).
'monkey, 1. n. Sorts of animal nearest to
man in form and behaviour; boy, girl,
full of tricks. 2. [Hum.] v.i. Be playing
about (with). 'm.-jacket, n. Short, tight
coat used by sailors, 'm.-nut, n. PEANUT.
'm.-puzzle, n. Evergreen tree
whose branches are covered with stiff,
needle-like leaves. 'm.-wrench, n.
SPANNER in which adjustments may be
made for nuts of different size. ('mʌŋki).
'mono-, One. '-chrome, n., a. (Painting)
in one colour only. '-cle, n. Eye-glass for
one eye. 'monocoty'ledon, n. Plant
with one COTYLEDON. mo'nogamy
(mɔ'nɔgəmi), n. System by which man
(or, loosely, woman) is married to only
one person at a time. '-gram, n. Group of
letters, sp. first letters of name, made
into design. '-graph, n. Account in
writing of some one thing or question.
'-lith, n. Upright made of one bit of
stone, as support or in memory of something.
'-logue, n. Talk, play etc. in
which only one takes part. -mania, n.
Unbalanced condition of mind in connection
with some one question. '-plane,
n. Airplane with one PLANE. mo'nopoly
(mə'nɔpəli), n. Right, position, of being
the only person doing trade in certain
goods; goods of which someone has a
m.; complete control etc. of something.
mo'nopolist, n. One with a monopoly.
mo'nopolize, v.t. Get a monopoly of.
'-rail, n. Railway with one rail. -syllable,
n. Word with only one SYLLABLE.
-syllabic, a. '-theism, n. Belief that
there is only one GOD. '-tone, n. Sounds,
words, coming one after another without
change of note. mo'notonous (mə'nɔtənəs),
a. Without change, uninteresting.
mo'notony, n. ('mɔnou-).
Mon'siew, [F.] Word used like "Mr."
before name of man who is not Eng.
(mə'sjə:).
mon'soon, n. Wind blowing in the Indian
Ocean from S.W. in summer and N.E.
in winter. (mɔn'su:n).
'monster, 1. n. Wrongly formed animal or
plant; person, thing, having unnatural
size, qualities; very cruel, bad person;
[Fict.] sorts of being half animal, half
man. 2. a. Of great size. mon'strosity, n.
Sp., badly formed, not normal, animal or
plant. 'monstrous, a. Of great size; (as)
of a monster. ('mɔnstə).
month, n. Any of the 12 divisions of the
year. '-ly, 1. a., adv. (Done, taking
place, etc.) once a month. 2. n. Paper
which comes out once a month. (mʌnθ).
'monument, n. Record, building etc.,
(designed for) keeping person, event, in
memory. monu'mental, a. Sp., (of book
etc.) full of learning; (of qualities) great.
('mɔnjumənt).
moo, n., v.i. Cry of a cow. (mu:).
mooch, [Com.] v.i. Be waiting, walking,
about doing nothing, with hands in pockets,
etc. (mu:tʃ).
mood, n. Condition of mind, feelings. '-y,
a. Given to changes of mood; in a bad
mood. (mu:d).
mood, [Lang.] n. Any of certain groups
of VERB forms, used for different sorts
of statements making clear that things
are looked on as certain, possible etc.
moon, 1. n. Body which goes round the earth
once in a month, and gives back light
from the sun; such a body going round
another star. 2. v.i. Go about with one's
thoughts far away, not giving attention.
'-shine, n. Light of moon; foolish ideas,
fiction; [Am.] whisky etc. made or got
into country against the law. 'm.-stone,
n. Yellow jewel-stone. 'm.-struck, a.
Sent off one's head by the moon. '-y, a.
Given to mooning. (mu:n).
moor, n. Stretch of open waste land.
'-hen, n. Small water-bird. (muə).
Moor, n. One of a Mohammedan nation-group
of N.W. Africa.
moor, v.t. Get (boat, airship) fixed by a
chain, cord, to land etc. '-ing, n. Chain
etc. by which, place to which, boat or
(air)ship is moored (gen. mm.).
moose, n. N. Am. sort of DEER. (mu:s).
moot, 1. a. Open to discussion (m. point,
question). 2. v.t. Put forward (question)
for discussion. 3. [Hist.] n. Meeting to
make laws, make decisions about government.
(mu:t).
mop, 1. n. Stick with mass of thick threads
or cloth fixed to the end, for use in cleaning.
2. v.t. Go over or take up (as) with a
m. (mɔp).
mope, v.i. Be unhappy, feeling low. (moup).
'moral, 1. a. To do with questions of right
and wrong; doing what is right. A m.
victory, outcome of fight etc. in which
person seemingly overcome in fact makes
best effect; m. certainty, thing which is
almost certain; m. philosophy, science of
ETHICS; m. sense, power of judging between
right and wrong. 2. n. The
teaching-point of a story, event etc.
Mm., person's behaviour as right or
wrong, sp. on questions of sex. mo'rale
(mɔ'ra:l), n. Self-control, belief in one's
powers, etc., sp. in army or other body.
'-ist, n. One given to moralizing.
mo'rality (mə'raliti), n. Rules of
ethics; good behaviour. M. play, old sort
of play with moral point. '-ize, v.i. Give
attention to the moral side of things, be
pointing out the moral of some experience
etc. ('mɔrəl).
mo'rass, n. Bit of low, wet land. (mə'ras).
mora'torium, [Law] n. Authority to put
off payment of debts etc. (mɔrə'tɔ.'riəm).
'morbid, a. Diseased; (of mind, ideas) not
healthy or natural; given to m. feelings.
('mɔ:bid).
'mordant, 1. a. (Of words) bitter; (of
pain) sharp; (of acids etc.) biting or
cleaning; used to get colours fixed.
2. n. A m. substance. ('mɔ:dənt).
more, 1. a. A greater number or amount of,
in addition. 2. pron. More of something.
3. adv. To a greater degree or amount;
longer, again (never m.). Be no m., be no
longer in existence; ever m., for ever; m.
or less, to an uncertain degree, about.
-'over, adv. In addition to this. (mɔ:).
morga'natic, a. M. marriage, one in
which the person to whom a man or
woman of high birth is married, and
their offspring, have no part in his or her
rights, property. (mɔ:gə'natik).
morgue, n. Building where bodies of dead
persons are kept till it has been made
certain who they are. (mɔ:g).
'moribund, a. Almost dead. ('mɔribʌnd).
'Mormon, n. One of a group of Am.
Christians at one time noted for letting
men be married to more than one woman.
('mɔrmən).
'morning, n. Time from sun-up or 12 p.m.
till the middle of the day. M. coat,
tailcoat with the front sloped away.
morn, [Let.] n. Morning. ('mɔ:niŋ).
mo'rocco, n. Sort of leather made from
goatskin. (mə'rɔkou).
'moron, n. Person of full physical development
with mind still at stage of
one from 8 to 12 years old. ('mɔ:rɔn).
mo'rose, a. Bad-humoured, bitter.
(mə'rous).
'morphia, 'morphine, nn. Substance
used medically for producing sleep and
taking away pain. ('mɔ:nə, 'mɔ:fi:n).
mor'phology, n. Branch of biology or
science of language to do with forms.
(mɔ:'fɔlədʒi).
'morris dance, n. Old Eng. country dance
for a number of men. ('mɔris da:ns).
'morrow, [Let.] n. Day coming after some
day or event. ('mɔrou).
'Morse ('code), n. System of long and
short signs used in sending news, orders,
by radio, flags etc. ('mɔ:s ('koud)).
'morsel, n. Small bit. ('mɔ:səl).
'mortal, 1. a. To which death will come;
causing death; (of hate etc.) to be ended
only by death. M. combat, fight only to
be ended by death; m. fear, great
fear. 2. n. A person. mor'tality, n. Sp., number
of deaths caused by some event;
death-rate. ('mɔ:tl).
'mortar, n. Vessel in which medical or
food substances etc. are crushed; short
gun firing high; paste of LIME, sand etc.,
and water, used in building. 'm.-board,
n. Sp., square college hat. ('mɔ:tə).
'mortgage, 1. v.t. Give creditor right to
take (property) if payment has not been
made of debt. 2. n. Mortgaging; agreement
mortgaging something. ('mɔ:gidʒ).
mor'tician, [Am.] n. UNDERTAKER.
(mɔ:'tiʃən).
'mortify, v.t.&i. Get control of (feelings
etc.) by giving them no outlet; put to
shame; (of living part) go bad. ('mɔ:tifai).
'mortise, 'mortice, 1. n. Hole made in
bit of wood etc. to take end of another
bit. M. lock, one let into wood of door. 2.
v.t. Make m. in; get joined by m. ('mɔ:tis).
'mortuary, n. Building where dead bodies
are kept for a time. ('mɔ:tjuəri).
Mo'saic, a. Of Moses. (mou'zeiik).
mo'saic, n., a. (Form, work, of art), in
which designs are produced by joining bits
of glass, stone etc., of different colours.
'Moslem, n., a. Mohammedan. ('mɔzləm).
mosque, n. Mohammedan place of religion.
(mɔsk).
mos'quito, n. Sorts of winged, biting insect,
sp. one giving MALARIA. (mɔs'ki:tou).
moss, n. Sorts of small plant without
flowers, coming up in thick masses on
wet stones, earth etc. (mɔs).
most, 1. pron., a. The greatest number
or amount (of). At (the) m., not more
than; for the m. part, mostly. 2. adv.
To the greatest degree or amount, very.
'-ly, adv. Chiefly, generally. (moust).
mote, n. Small bit, sp. of dust. (mout).
moth, n. Sorts of winged night insect for
which lights have attraction, sp., small
sort making holes in cloth. (mɔθ).
'mother, 1. n. Female having offspring.
M. country, country in relation to dependent
countries; land of one's birth;
m. of pearl, bright inside part of hard
outer cover of OYSTERS etc.; m.
tongue, one's natural language. 2. v.t.
Take care of like a m. 'm.-in-law, n.
Mother of person one is married to.
('mʌðə).
mo'tif, n. Chief idea, design, in work of
art. (mou'ti:f).
'motion, 1. n. (Way of) moving; sign
made by moving hand etc.; suggestion
put before meeting for decision; act of
sending waste material out of the
body. In m., moving. 2. v.i.&t. Make
a sign to (a person). ('mouʃən).
'motive, 1. a. Producing motion. 2. n.
Feeling, idea, giving impulse to do
something. 'motivate, v.t. Give a
motive to; be the motive of. ('moutiv).
'motley, 1. a. Of different colours or sorts.
2. [Hist.] n. JESTER's m. dress. ('mɔtli).
'motor, 1. n. Machine giving driving-power,
motion; [Sc.] muscle or nerve
producing motion. 2. a. Worked by a
m.; to do with motion. 3. v.i.&t. Go,
take (person), by m.-car. 'm.-car, n.
Automobile. ('moutə).
'mottle, 1. v.t. Make marked with different
colours making no regular design. 2. n.
Mark(s) mottling. '-d, a. ('mɔtl).
'motto, n. Saying taken as guiding idea
or rule of behaviour. ('mɔtou).
mould, n. Loose earth; soft, fertile earth.
(mould).
mould, n. Wool-like growth of FUNGI
formed on wet things. '-y, a. Sp., old, bad.
mould, 1. n. Vessel into which metal or
other substance
is put in liquid
or soft condition
to give it a form
which it will keep
when hard. 2. v.t.
Give a certain
form to. '-ing,
n. Sp., line of
ornament round
window, wall etc.
'moulder, v.i. Become dust as effect of
time. ('mouldə).
moult, v.t.&i., n. (Of birds) undergo
loss of (feathers) before growth of
new ones. (moult).
mound, n. Small mountain-like mass of
earth etc. (maund).
mount, 1. n. [Old] Mountain or slope; card
etc. on which picture is fixed to give it
wider edge; person's horse for going on
horseback. 2. v.t.&i. Go up (steps,
slope etc.); get on (horse etc.); put
(person) on, or give use of, a horse; put
(picture) on m. M. a gun, put it in
position; m. a jewel, put it in an ornament;
m. guard, keep watch (over); m. up,
become greater in amount. (maunt).
'mountain, n. Very high bit of land going
up to point etc.; great mass of something.
-'eer, n. One living in the mountains;
one expert in getting up mountains.
'-ous, a. With number of mountains; of
great size. ('mauntin).
'mountebank, n. Person falsely putting
himself forward as an expert, sp., on
medical questions. ('mauntibaŋk).
mourn, v.i.&t. Be sad about a death or
loss. '-er, n. Sp., one who is present
when body of dead person is put in the
earth etc. '-ful, a. Sad, unhappy. '-ing,
n. Sp., black clothing put on as sign
that one mourns. (mɔ:n).
mouse (mice), n. Sorts of small, rat-like
animal. '-r ('mauzə). n. Cat etc. which
goes after mice. (maus (mais)).
mouth, 1. n. (Opening into) part of head
used in taking in food, talking; opening
in bag, bottle etc.; part of river where
it goes into sea. 2. v.t.&i. Be moving
mouth much in saying, talking. 'm.-organ,
n. Music instrument played
with the lips. 'm.-piece, n. Mouth-part
of music instrument or tobacco pipe;
one voicing opinions etc. for another.
'm.-wash, n. Liquid for washing mouth.
(mauθ).
move, 1. v.t.&i. (Make) undergo change in
position, place; take step(s) to do a thing;
be working on softer feelings of; put
forward as a motion that. M. heaven
and earth to, do everything possible to;
m. in, get one's things into a new house.
2. n. A moving. On the m., moving
about. '-ment, n. Sp., moving part of
machine; united attempt to get something
done; chief division of work of
music; act of sending waste from body.
'-r, n. Sp., one putting forward a motion
at a meeting. 'movies, n. pl. Motion
pictures. (mu:v).
mow, v.t. Get (grass etc.) cut. (mou).
mow, n. STACK of dry grass etc.
Mr. (Messrs.), Mrs., Word put before
name of man, married woman. Mrs.
Grundy, [Fict.] woman representative of
society's view of right behaviour in the
1800's. ('mistə ('mesəz). 'misiz).
much, 1. pron., a. A great amount (of).
Be too m. for, sp., be over-strong for; not
m. of a, a poor sort of. 2. adv. To a great
degree. M. the same, almost the same.
(mʌtʃ).
'mucilage, n. Sticky substance got from
plants. ('mju:silidʒ).
muck, 1. n. Animal waste, material looked
on as dirty; dirty condition; food etc.
of poor quality. 2. v.t.&i. Make dirty;
[Hum.] do (something) badly. M. about,
be wasting time, doing nothing of value.
(mʌk).
'mucus, n. Thick liquid produced by a
mucous membrane. 'mucous, a. M.
membrane, special skin covering inside
of nose, mouth, and certain other inside
parts of body. ('mju:kəs).
mud, n. Dust or earth mixed with water.
Fling, throw, m. at, say damaging things
about. '-dy, a. Sp., (of liquid) not clear.
'-guard, n. Structure over wheel of automobile
etc. to keep mud down. (mʌd).
'muddle, 1. v.t.&i. Put out of order, get
mixed, do (something) badly. 2. n.
Muddled, mixed, condition. ('mʌdl).
mu'ezzin, n. One crying out the hours for
Mohammedan PRAYER. (mu:'ezin).
muff, n. Cover of animal's skin etc., to keep
hands warm in. (mʌf).
muff, 1. n. Foolish person, one who does
things badly. 2. v.t. Do badly, let
chance of (something) go.
'muffin, n. Flat round tea-cake taken
warm with butter. ('mʌfin).
'muffle, 1. v.t. Put warm cover round (m.
up); make sound of (bell etc.) less by
putting a cloth etc. round it. '-r, n.
Cloth for keeping neck warm. 2. n. Sort
of box in which pots etc. are put to be
heated in fire. ('mʌfl).
'mufti, n. (For army man etc.) clothing
which is not a UNIFORM. ('mʌfti).
mug, 1. n. Straight-sided cup; [Hum.]
foolish person; [Hum.] mouth or face.
2. [Hum.] v.i.&t. Be working hard at
learning (freq. m. at, m. up). (mʌg).
'muggy, a. (Of weather) warm, wet.
('mʌgi).
'mugwump, [Am.] n. One supporting no
political group. ('mʌgwʌmp).
mu'latto, n. One who is the offspring of a
black person and a white. (mju:'latou).
'mulberry, n. (Fruit of) tree whose leaves
are used as food for silkworms.
('mʌlbəri).
mulch, n., v.t. Wet leaves etc. put round
a plant's roots. (mʌltʃ).
mulct, v.t. Take money from as punishment;
take (something) away from (m.
of). (mʌlkt).
mule, a. Offspring of female horse and
male ASS. -'teer (mju:li'tiə), n. Mule
driver. 'mulish, a. Foolishly fixed in
purpose, decision, not ready to be
guided. (mju:l).
mull, v.t. Make (wine, beer) warm and
put sugar etc. into it. (mʌl).
'mullet, n. Sorts of sea-fish valued as
food (red, grey, m.). ('mʌlit).
mulliga'tawny, n. A soup with a burning
taste. (mʌligə'tɔ:ni).
'mullion, n. Stone etc. upright, making
division in window. ('mʌliən).
'multi-, Having a number of. ('-coloured,
'-form, a.) -'farious, a. Of a number of
different sorts. -millionaire, n. One with
2 or more millions of money. '-ple,
1. a. Having a number of parts. 2. n.
Number into which another goes a
certain number of times with nothing
over. '-plex, a. Having a number of different
parts, forms. '-pli'cand, n. Number to
be multiplied. '-pli'cation, n. -'plicity,
n. Being multiplex, being great in
number. '-plier, n. Sp., amount by which
multiplicand is to be multiplied. '-ply,
v.t.&i. Make, become, greate; in number,
sp., by births; m. numbers. M. x by y,
[Math.] get by the use of TABLES the
amount produced by the addition of x
to itself y-1 times. '-tude, n. A great
number of sp. persons. -'tudinous, a.
Great in number. ('mʌlti-).
mum, a. Not saying anything, keeping
something secret. (mʌm).
'mumble, v.t.&i., n. Say (words) in way
not clear to hearer; be biting (food) as if
without teeth. ('mʌmbl).
'mummer, [Hist.] n. Actor in play without
words. '-y, n. Acting of mummers;
foolish, unnecessary forms in religion etc.
('mʌmə).
'mummy, n. Dead body kept from going
bad by wax and chemicals, as in early
Egypt. ('mʌmi).
'mummy, n. Baby's name for its
mother.
mumps, n. Disease, given by touch,
increasing size of certain GLANDS at
sides of neck and face. (mʌmps).
munch, v.t.&i. Give regular bites to
(food). (mʌntʃ).
'mundane, a. Of this earth, material.
('mʌndein).
mu'nicipal, a. Of, done by, municipality.
munici'pality, n. Town with self-government
in town business; town
government. '-ize, v.t. Sp., put under
municipal control. (mju:'nisipl).
mu'nificent, a. Giving much, freely; (of
thing given) great in amount, quality.
(mju:'nifisənt).
'muniments, n. pl. Records in writing of
rights to property etc. ('mju:nimənts).
mu'nitions, n. pl. Guns, firing-material,
military stores etc. (mju:'niʃənz).
'mural, 1. a. Of, on, a wall. 2. n. Painting
done on wall. ('mjuərəl).
'murder, v.t., n. Put (person) to death on
purpose against the law. '-ous, a. Designing,
desiring, murder; (of knife
etc.) death-giving. ('mə:da).
'murky, a. Very dark. ('mə:ki).
'murmur, v.i.&t., n. (Make) long, low
sound as of bees, water in river; say,
be talking, in low voice. ('mə:mə).
'murrain, n. A disease of cows. ('mʌrin).
'muscle, n. (Band, group of threads, of)
elastic substance producing motion in
animal body. 'muscular, a. Of, in, the
muscles; having much muscle. ('mʌsl).
Muse, [Gk. Fict.] n. Any of the 9 sister
GODDESSES representative of different
branches of art and learning. (mju:z).
muse, v.i. Be in deep thought (on).
mu'seum, n. Building where things representative
of art,
science, history
etc., are kept on
view. (miu:'ziəm).
mush, n. Soft wet
mass. (mʌʃ).
'mushroom, n.
FUNGUS valued as
food, noted for
quick growth.
('mʌʃrum).
'music, n. Art of
putting together
sounds in rhythm and harmony; sounds
so produced; any pleasing sound; printed
notes of music. '-al, a. Sp., with a love of,
expert at music. '-al-box, n. Instrument
with toothed CYLINDER playing short
bits of music. 'm.-hall, n. Place of
amusement where songs, dances etc., are
given. mu'sician, n. ('mju:zik).
musk, n. Liquid produced by sort of
male DEER, used in making sweet-smelling
substances; sorts of plant with
m.-like smell. m.-deer, n. One producing
musk. m.-rat, n. One with smell as of
musk. (mʌsk).
'musket, n. Sorts of military hand-gun.
-'eer, [Hist.] n. Military man armed
with this. '-ry, n. (Science of) RIFLE-firing.
('mʌskit).
'muslin, n. Very thin cotton cloth used
for dresses, curtains etc. ('mʌzlin).
'musquash, n. (Skin of) MUSK-RAT.
('mʌskwɔʃ).
'mussel, n. Sorts of a group of MOLLUSCS
with hard covering in 2 parts. ('mʌsl).
'Mussulman, a., n. Mohammedan.
('mʌslmən).
must, n. Liquid of crushed GRAPES, new
wine. (mʌst).
must, v.aux. Have to (do).
'mustang, n. Horse living in natural conditions
in Mexico etc. ('mʌstaŋ).
'mustard, n. Sorts of plant; powdered
seeds of these mixed with water etc. to
give burning taste to food. ('mʌstəd).
'muster, n., v.t.&i. The getting or coming
together of a number of persons, sp.
army. M. up one's courage, overcome
one's fears; pass m., be good enough.
('mʌstə).
'musty, a. Covered with MOULD, old.
('mʌsti).
'mutable, a. Able, with tendency, to
undergo change. mu'tation, n. A
change. ('mju:təbl).
mute, 1. a. Making no sound; without
power of talking; (of letter in word) not
sounded. 2. n. Person without power of
talking; thing put over cords etc. of
instrument of music to make sound
softer. (mju:t).
'mutilate, v.t. Do damage to, get a part of
cut off, etc. ('mju:tileit).
'mutiny, v.i., n. (Of body of persons) go
against those in authority, sp. in army
or ship. muti'neer, n. One who mutinies.
('mju:tini).
'mutter, v.i.&t., n. Be talking, say, in
low voice with almost shut lips. ('mʌtə).
'mutton, n. Meat of sheep. ('mʌtn).
'mutual, a. Done by 2 or more to one
another; in the same relation to; (of feelings)
in existence between, one another;
common to 2 or more. ('mju:tjuəl).
'muzzle, 1. n. Animal's nose and mouth;
open front end of a gun; apparatus put
on animal's m. to keep it from biting.
2. v.t. Put a m. on; keep (person) from
talking. ('mʌzl).
'muzzy, a. Foolish with drink; with mind
not clear, mixed. ('mʌzi).
mycology, n. Science of FUNGI.
(mai'kɔlədʒi).
my'opia, n. Condition of being unable to
see far-off things clearly. my'opic
(mai'ɔpik), a. (mai'oupiə).
'myriad, n., a. A very great number (of).
('miriəd).
'myrmidon, [Let.] n. Servant, sp. one
doing what he is ordered without question.
('mə:midn).
myrrh, n. Sweet-smelling, sticky liquid
got from trees. (mə:).
'myrtle, n. Evergreen with sweet-smelling
white flowers. ('mə:tl).
my'self. See SELF.
'mystery, n. Event, act, the cause of
which is not (able to be made) clear;
condition of not being clear; (air of
being) a secret. Mm., sp., Gk., Rom. etc.,
secret forms of religion; m. play,
MXRACLE-PLAY. mys'terious, a. Full of,
covered in, with air of, mystery.
('mistəri).
'mystic(al), a. To do with the experience of
getting in touch with, coming face
to face with, GOD; having a deep, secret sense,
having a strange power, MYSTERIOUS.
'mystic, n. One who has (belief in)
mystical experiences. 'mysticism
('mistisizm), n. Belief in, the having of,
mystic experiences. ('mistik(l)).
'mystify, v.t. Make at a loss, not clear
about something. ('mistifai).
myth, n. Story handed down from very
early times about cause of some natural
event, the GODS etc.; false belief; a
fiction. '-ical, a. Sp., without existence
in fact. -'ology, n. Body of, learning to
do with, myths. (miθ).