Muce, n. See Muse, and Muset.
Mucedin
Mu•ce´din, n. [From Mucus.] (Bot. Chem.) A yellowish white, amorphous, nitrogenous substance found in wheat, rye, etc., and resembling gluten; — formerly called also mucin.
Much (much), a. [ Compar. & superl. wanting, but supplied by More (mor), and Most (most), from another root.] [OE. moche, muche, miche, prob. the same as mochel, muchel, michel, mikel, fr. AS. micel, mycel; cf. Gr. me•gas, fem. mega•lh, great, and Icel. mjök, adv., much. rad.103. See Mickle.]
1. Great in quantity; long in duration; as much rain has fallen; much time.
"Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field, and shalt gather but little in." Deut. xxviii. 38.
2. Many in number. [Archaic]
"Edom came out against him with much people." Num. xx. 20.
3. High in rank or position. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Much, adv. [Cf. Icel. mjök. See Much, a. ] To a great degree or extent; greatly; abundantly; far; nearly. "Much suffering heroes." Pope.
"Thou art much mightier than we." Gen. xxvi. 16.
"Excellent speech becometh not a fool, much less do lying lips a prince." Prov. xvii. 7.
"Henceforth I fly not death, nor would prolong
Life much." Milton.
"All left the world much as they found it." Sir W. Temple.
Muchel
Much´el, a. [rad.103. See Mickle.] Much. [Obs.]
Muchwhat
Much´what, adv. Nearly; almost; much. [Obs.] "Muchwhat after the same manner." Glanvill.
Mucid
Mu´cid, a. [L. mucidus, fr. L. mucus mucus. See Mucus, and cf. Moist.] Musty; moldy; slimy; mucous. — Mu´cid•ness, n.
Mucific
Mu•cif´ic, a. [ Mucus + L. -ficare (in comp.) to make. See -fy.]
1. (Med.) Inducing or stimulating the secretion of mucus; blennogenous.
2. (Physiol.) Secreting mucus.
Mucilage
Mu´ci•lage, n. [F., from L. mucilago a musty juice, fr. mucus mucus, slime. See Mucus.]
1. (Bot. Chem.) A gummy or gelatinous substance produced in certain plants by the action of water on the cell wall, as in the seeds of quinces, of flax, etc.
2. An aqueous solution of gum, or of substances allied to it; as medicinal mucilage; mucilage for fastening envelopes.
Mucilaginous
Mu•ci•lag´i•nous, a. [Cf. F. mucilagineux. See Mucilage.]
1. Partaking of the nature of, or resembling, mucilage; moist, soft, and viscid; slimy; ropy; as a mucilaginous liquid.
2. Of, pertaining to, or secreting, mucilage; as the mucilaginous glands.
3. Soluble in water, but not in alcohol; yielding mucilage; as mucilaginous gums or plants. — Mu•ci•lag´i•nous•ness, n.
Mucin
Mu´cin (mu"sin), n. [From Mucus.]
1. (Bot. Chem.) See Mucedin. [Obs.]
2. (Physiol. Chem.) An albuminoid substance which is contained in mucus, and gives to the latter secretion its peculiar ropy character. It is found in all the secretions from mucous glands, and also between the fibers of connective tissue, as in tendons. See Illust. of Demilune.
Mucinogen
Mu•cin´o•gen (mu•sin"o•jen), n. [ Mucin + -gen.] (Physiol.) Same as Mucigen.
Muck (muk), abbreviation of Amuck. To run a muck. See Amuck.
Muck, n. [Icel. myki; akin to D. mög. Cf. Midden.]
1. Dung in a moist state; manure. Bacon.
2. Vegetable mold mixed with earth, as found in low, damp places and swamps.
3. Anything filthy or vile. Spenser.
4. Money; — in contempt.
"The fatal muck we quarreled for." Beau. & Fl.Muck bar, bar iron which has been through the rolls only once. — Muck iron, crude puddled iron ready for the squeezer or rollers. Knight.
Muck, a. Like muck; mucky; also used in collecting or distributing muck; as a muck fork.
Muck rake. A rake for scraping up muck or dung. See Muckrake, v. i., below.
Muckender
Muck´en•der, n. [Sp. mocador. Cf. Mokadour.] A handkerchief. [Obs.] [Written also muckinder, muckiter, mockadour.]
Mucker
Muck´er, n. A term of reproach for a low or vulgar labor person. [Slang]
Mucker
Muck´er, v. t. To scrape together, as money, by mean labor or shifts. [Obs.] Udall.
Muckle
Muc´kle, a. [See Mickle.] Much. [Obs.]
Muckrake
Muck´rake, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. -raked p. pr. & vb. n. -raking ] To seek for, expose, or charge, esp. habitually, corruption, real or alleged, on the part of public men and corporations. On April 14, 1906, President Roosevelt delivered a speech on "The Man with the Muck Rake," in which he deprecated sweeping and unjust charges of corruption against public men and corporations. The phrase was taken up by the press, and the verb to muck´rake, in the above sense, and the noun muck´rak•er, to designate one so engaged, were speedily coined and obtained wide currency. The original allusion was to a character in Bunyan’s "Pilgrim’s Progress" so intent on raking up muck that he could not see a celestial crown held above him.
Mucksy
Muck´sy, a. Somewhat mucky; soft, sticky, and dirty; muxy. [Prov. Eng.] R. D. Blackmore.
Mucosity
Mu•cos´i•ty, n. The quality or state of being mucous or slimy; mucousness.
Mucous
Mu´cous, a. [L. mucosus, fr. mucus mucus.]
1. Of, pertaining to, or resembling, mucus; slimy, ropy, or stringy, and lubricous; as a mucous substance.
2. Secreting a slimy or mucigenous substance; as the mucous membrane. Mucous membrane. (Anat.) See under Membrane. — Mucous patches (Med.), elevated patches found in the mucous membranes of the mouth and anus, usually due to syphilis. — Mucous tissue (Anat.), a form of connective tissue in an early stage of development, found in the umbilical cord and in the embryo, and also in certain tumors called myxomata.
Mucousness
Mu´cous•ness, n. The quality or state of being mucous; sliminess.
Mucronulate
Mu•cron´u•late, a. Having, or tipped with, a small point or points.
Muculent
Mu´cu•lent, a. [L. muculentus, fr. mucus.] Slimy; moist, and moderately viscous.
Mucus
Mu´cus (mu"kus), n. [L. mucus, muccus; cf. mucere to be moldy or musty, Gr. my•xa mucus, and Skr. muc to release. Cf. Match for striking fire, Moist, Mucilage.]
1. (Physiol.) A viscid fluid secreted by mucous membranes, which it serves to moisten and protect. It covers the lining membranes of all the cavities which open externally, such as those of the mouth, nose, lungs, intestinal canal, urinary passages, etc.
2. (Physiol.) Any other animal fluid of a viscid quality, as the synovial fluid, which lubricates the cavities of the joints; — improperly so used.
3. (Bot.) A gelatinous or slimy substance found in certain algae and other plants.
Mud, n. [Akin to LG. mudde, D. modder, G. moder mold, OSw. modd mud, Sw. modder mother, Dan. mudder mud. Cf. Mother a scum on liquors.] Earth and water mixed so as to be soft and adhesive. Mud bass (Zoöl.), a fresh-water fish ( Acantharchum pomotis) of the Eastern United States. It produces a deep grunting note. — Mud bath, an immersion of the body, or some part of it, in mud charged with medicinal agents, as a remedy for disease. — Mud boat, a large flatboat used in dredging. — Mud cat. See Catfish. — Mud crab (Zoöl.), any one of several American marine crabs of the genus Panopeus. — Mud dab (Zoöl.), the winter flounder. See Flounder, and Dab. — Mud dauber (Zoöl.), a mud wasp. — Mud devil (Zoöl.), the fellbender. — Mud drum (Steam Boilers), a drum beneath a boiler, into which sediment and mud in the water can settle for removal. — Mud eel (Zoöl.), a long, slender, aquatic amphibian ( Siren lacertina), found in the Southern United States. It has persistent external gills and only the anterior pair of legs. See Siren. — Mud frog (Zoöl.), a European frog ( Pelobates fuscus). — Mud hen. (Zoöl.) (a) The American coot ( Fulica Americana). (b) The clapper rail. - - Mud lark, a person who cleans sewers, or delves in mud. [Slang] — Mud minnow (Zoöl.), any small American fresh-water fish of the genus Umbra, as U. limi. The genus is allied to the pickerels. — Mud plug, a plug for stopping the mudhole of a boiler. — Mud puppy (Zoöl.), the menobranchus. — Mud scow, a heavy scow, used in dredging; a mud boat. [U.S.] — Mud turtle, Mud tortoise (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of fresh-water tortoises of the United States. — Mud wasp (Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of hymenopterous insects belonging to Pepaeus, and allied genera, which construct groups of mud cells, attached, side by side, to stones or to the woodwork of buildings, etc. The female places an egg in each cell, together with spiders or other insects, paralyzed by a sting, to serve as food for the larva. Called also mud dauber.
Mud, v. t.
1. To bury in mud. [R.] Shak.
2. To make muddy or turbid. Shak.
Muddle
Mud´dle, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Muddled p. pr. & vb. n. Muddling ] [From Mud.]
1. To make turbid, or muddy, as water. [Obs.]
"He did ill to muddle the water." L’Estrange.
2. To cloud or stupefy; to render stupid with liquor; to intoxicate partially.
"Epicurus seems to have had brains so muddled and confounded, that he scarce ever kept in the right way." Bentley.
"Often drunk, always muddled." Arbuthnot.
3. To waste or misuse, as one does who is stupid or intoxicated. [R.]
"They muddle it [money] away without method or object, and without having anything to show for it." Hazlitt.
4. To mix confusedly; to confuse; to make a mess of; as to muddle matters; also to perplex; to mystify. F. W. Newman.
Muddy
Mud´dy, a. [ Compar. Muddier superl. Muddiest.]
1. Abounding in mud; besmeared or dashed with mud; as a muddy road or path; muddy boots.
2. Turbid with mud; as muddy water.
3. Consisting of mud or earth; gross; impure.
"This muddy vesture of decay." Shak.
4. Confused, as if turbid with mud; cloudy in mind; dull; stupid; also immethodical; incoherent; vague.
"Cold hearts and muddy understandings." Burke.
"Dost think I am so muddy, so unsettled." Shak.
5. Not clear or bright. Swift.
Muddy
Mud´dy, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Muddied p. pr. & vb. n. Muddying ]
1. To soil with mud; to dirty; to render turbid.
2. Fig.: To cloud; to make dull or heavy. Grew.
Mudfish
Mud´fish, n. (Zoöl.) (a) The European loach. (b) The bowfin. (c) The South American lipedosiren, and the allied African species ( Protopterus annectens). See Lipedosiren. (d) The mud minnow.
Mudsill
Mud´sill, n. The lowest sill of a structure, usually embedded in the soil; the lowest timber of a house; also that sill or timber of a bridge which is laid at the bottom of the water. See Sill.
Mudwall
Mud´wall, n. (Zoöl.) The European bee-eater. See Bee-eater. [Written also modwall.]
Mudwort
Mud´wort, n. (Bot.) A small herbaceous plant growing on muddy shores ( Limosella aquatica).
Muff, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Muffed p. pr. & vb. n. Muffing.] To handle awkwardly; to fumble; to fail to hold, as a ball, in catching it.
Muffetee
Muf•fe•tee´, n. A small muff worn over the wrist. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
Muffin
Muf´fin, n. [From Muff.] A light, spongy, cylindrical cake, used for breakfast and tea.
Muffish
Muff´ish, a. [See Muff, 4 & 5.] Stupid; awkward. [Colloq.]
Muffle
Muf´fle (muf"f’l), n. The bare end of the nose between the nostrils; — used esp. of ruminants.
Muffle
Muf´fle, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Muffled p. pr. & vb. n. Muffling ] [Cf. F. moufle a mitten, LL. muffula, OD. moffel a muff. See Muff.]
1. To wrap up in something that conceals or protects; to wrap, as the face and neck, in thick and disguising folds; hence, to conceal or cover the face of; to envelop; to inclose; — often with up. South.
"The face lies muffled up within the garment." Addison.
"He muffled with a cloud his mournful eyes." Dryden.
"Muffled up in darkness and superstition." Arbuthnot.
2. To prevent seeing, or hearing, or speaking, by wraps bound about the head; to blindfold; to deafen.
3. To wrap with something that dulls or deadens the sound of; as to muffle the strings of a drum, or that part of an oar which rests in the rowlock.
Muffle
Muf´fle, n. [F. moufle, prop., a mitten, from the resemblance in shape. See Muffle, v. t., Muff.]
1. Anything with which another thing, as an oar or drum, is muffled; also a boxing glove; a muff.
2. (Metal.) An earthenware compartment or oven, often shaped like a half cylinder, used in furnaces to protect objects heated from the direct action of the fire, as in scorification of ores, cupellation of ore buttons, etc.
3. (Ceramics) A small oven for baking and fixing the colors of painted or printed pottery, without exposing the pottery to the flames of the furnace or kiln.
4. A pulley block containing several sheaves. Knight.
Mufti
Muf´ti, n. ; pl. Muftis (#). [Ar. mufti.] An official expounder of Mohammedan law.
Mugginess
Mug´gi•ness, n. The condition or quality of being muggy.
Muggy
Mug´gy (mug"gy), a. [ Compar. Muggier (-gi•er); superl. Muggiest.] [Cf. Icel. mugga mist, mugginess. Cf. 4th Mold.]
1. Moist; damp; moldy; as muggy straw.
2. Warm, damp, and close; as muggy air, weather.
Mughouse
Mug´house (mug"hous•), n. An alehouse; a pothouse. Tickel.
Mugil
Mu´gil, n. [L., a sort of fish.] (Zoöl.) A genus of fishes including the gray mullets. See Mullet.
Mugiloid
Mu´gi•loid, a. (Zoöl.) Like or pertaining to the genus Mugil, or family Mugilidae.
Mugweed
Mug´weed, n. (Bot.) A slender European weed ( Galium Cruciata); — called also crossweed.
Mugwort
Mug´wort, n. [AS. mucgwyrt. Cf. Midge.] (Bot.) A somewhat aromatic composite weed ( Artemisia vulgaris), at one time used medicinally; — called also motherwort.
Mulada
Mu•la´da, n. A moor. [Scot.] Lockhart.
Mulada
Mu•la´da, n. [Sp. Amer., fr. Sp. mulo, mula, a mule.] A drove of mules. [Southwest. U.S.]
Mulatto
Mu•lat´to, n. ; pl. Mulattoes (#). [Sp. & Pg. mulato, masc., mulata, fem., of a mixed breed, fr. mulo mule, L. mulus. See Mule.] The offspring of a negress by a white man, or of a white woman by a negro, — usually of a brownish yellow complexion.
Mulberry
Mul´ber•ry, n. ; pl. Mulberries (#). [OE. moolbery, murberie, AS. murberie, where the first part is fr. L. morum mulberry; cf. Gr., . Cf. Murrey, Sycamore.]
1. (Bot.) The berry or fruit of any tree of the genus Morus; also the tree itself. See Morus.
2. A dark pure color, like the hue of a black mulberry. Mulberry mass. (Biol.) See Morula. — Paper mulberry, a tree ( Broussonetia papyrifera), related to the true mulberry, used in Polynesia for making tapa cloth by macerating and pounding the inner bark, and in China and Japan for the manufacture of paper. It is seen as a shade tree in America.
Mulch, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Mulched p. pr. & vb. n. Mulching.] To cover or dress with mulch.
Mulct, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Mulcted; p. pr. & vb. n. Mulcting.] [L. mulctare, multare.]
1. To punish for an offense or misdemeanor by imposing a fine or forfeiture, esp. a pecuniary fine; to fine.
2. Hence, to deprive of; to withhold by way of punishment or discipline. [Obs.] { Mulc´ta•ry, Mulc´tu•a•ry } a. Imposing a pecuniary penalty; consisting of, or paid as a fine.
"Fines, or some known mulctuary punishments." Sir W. Temple.
Mule (mul), n. [F., a she-mule, L. mula, fem. of mulus; cf. Gr. my•klos, mychlo•s. Cf. AS. mul, fr. L. mulus. Cf. Mulatto.]
1. (Zoöl.) A hybrid animal; specifically, one generated between an ass and a mare, sometimes a horse and a she-ass. See Hinny. Mules are much used as draught animals. They are hardy, and proverbial for stubbornness.
2. (Bot.) A plant or vegetable produced by impregnating the pistil of one species with the pollen or fecundating dust of another; — called also hybrid.
3. A very stubborn person.
4. A machine, used in factories, for spinning cotton, wool, etc., into yarn or thread and winding it into cops; — called also jenny and mule-jenny. Mule armadillo (Zoöl.), a long- eared armadillo (Tatusia hybrida), native of Buenos Aires; — called also mulita. See Illust. under Armadillo. — Mule deer (Zoöl.), a large deer ( Cervus, or Cariacus, macrotis) of the Western United States. The name refers to its long ears. — Mule pulley (Mach.), an idle pulley for guiding a belt which transmits motion between shafts that are not parallel. — Mule twist, cotton yarn in cops, as spun on a mule; — in distinction from yarn spun on a throstle frame.
Muleteer
Mu•le•teer´, n. [F. muletier, fr. mulet a mule, dim. fr. L. mulus.] One who drives mules.
Mulewort
Mule´wort, n. (Bot.) A fern of the genus Hemionitis.
Mulierly
Mu´li•er•ly, adv. In the manner or condition of a mulier; in wedlock; legitimately. [Obs.]
Mulierose
Mu´li•er•ose, a. [L. mulierosus.] Fond of woman. [R.] Charles Reade.
Mulierosity
Mu•li•er•os´i•ty, n. [L. mulierositas.] A fondness for women. [R.] Dr. H. More.
Mulierty
Mu´li•er•ty, n. (Law) Condition of being a mulier; position of one born in lawful wedlock.
Mulish
Mul´ish (mul"ish), a. Like a mule; sullen; stubborn. — Mul´ish•ly, adv. — Mul´ish•ness, n.
Mull (mul), n. [Perh. contr. fr. mossul. See Muslin.] A thin, soft kind of muslin.
Mull, n. [Icel. muli a snout, muzzle, projecting crag; or cf. Ir. & Gael. meall a heap of earth, a mound, a hill or eminence, W. moel. Cf. Mouth.]
1. A promontory; as the Mull of Cantyre. [Scot.]
2. A snuffbox made of the small end of a horn.
Mull, n. [Prob. akin to mold. rad.108. See Mold.] Dirt; rubbish. [Obs.] Gower.
Mull, v. t. [OE. mullen. See 2d Muller.] To powder; to pulverize. [Prov. Eng.]
Mull, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Mulled (muld); p. pr. & vb. n. Mulling.] [From mulled, for mold, taken as a p. p.; OE. mold-ale funeral ale or banquet. See Mold soil.]
1. To heat, sweeten, and enrich with spices; as to mull wine.
"New cider, mulled with ginger warm." Gay.
2. To dispirit or deaden; to dull or blunt. Shak.
Mullagatawny
Mul•la•ga•taw´ny, n. [Tamil milagu-tannir pepper water.] An East Indian curry soup.
Mullar
Mul´lar, n. A die, cut in intaglio, for stamping an ornament in relief, as upon metal.
Mullein
Mul´lein, n. [OE. moleyn, AS. molegn.] (Bot.) Any plant of the genus Verbascum. They are tall herbs having coarse leaves, and large flowers in dense spikes. The common species, with densely woolly leaves, is Verbascum Thapsus. Moth mullein. See under Moth. — Mullein foxglove, an American herb ( Seymeria macrophylla) with coarse leaves and yellow tubular flowers with a spreading border. — Petty mullein, the cowslip. Dr. Prior.
Muller
Mull´er, n. [OE. mullen to pulverize, bruise; cf. Icel. mylja; prob. akin to E. mold soil. See Mold soil, and cf. Mull dirt.] A stone or thick lump of glass, or kind of pestle, flat at the bottom, used for grinding pigments or drugs, etc., upon a slab of similar material.
Mullet
Mul´let, n. [OE. molet, mulet, F. mulet, fr. L. mullus.]
1. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous fishes of the genus Mugil; — called also gray mullets. They are found on the coasts of both continents, and are highly esteemed as food. Among the most valuable species are Mugil capito of Europe, and M. cephalus which occurs both on the European and American coasts.
2. (Zoöl.) Any species of the genus Mullus, or family Mullidae; called also red mullet, and surmullet, esp. the plain surmullet ( Mullus barbatus), and the striped surmullet ( M. surmulletus) of Southern Europe. The former is the mullet of the Romans. It is noted for the brilliancy of its colors. See Surmullet. French mullet. See Ladyfish (a).
Mullingong
Mul´lin•gong, n. (Zoöl.) See Duck mole, under Duck. [Written also mollingong.]
Mullion
Mul´lion, n. [A corruption of munnion, F. moignon stump of an amputated limb, stump, OF. moing mutilated; cf. Armor. moñ, mouñ, mank, monk, and also L. mancus maimed.] (Arch.) (a) A slender bar or pier which forms the division between the lights of windows, screens, etc. (b) An upright member of a framing. See Stile.
Mullion
Mul´lion, v. t. To furnish with mullions; to divide by mullions.
Mullock
Mul´lock, n. [From Mull dirt: cf. Scot. mulloch, mulock, crumb. rad.108.] Rubbish; refuse; dirt. [Obs.]
"All this mullok [was] in a sieve ythrowe." Chaucer.
Multarticulate
Mul•tar•tic´u•late, a. [ Mult- + articulate.] Having many articulations or joints.
Multicarinate
Mul•ti•car´i•nate, a. [ Multi- + carinate.] (Zoöl.) Many- keeled.
Multicellular
Mul•ti•cel´lu•lar, a. Consisting of, or having, many cells or more than one cell.
Multicolor
Mul´ti•col•or, a. [See Multi-, and Color.] Having many, or several, colors.
Multicuspid
Mul•ti•cus´pid, a. [See Multi-, and Cuspid.] Multicuspidate; — said of teeth.
Multicuspidate
Mul•ti•cus´pi•date, a. [ Multi- + cuspidate.] Having many cusps or points.
Multidentate
Mul•ti•den´tate, a. [ Multi- + dentate.] Having many teeth, or toothlike processes.
Multifaced
Mul´ti•faced, a. [ Multi- + face.] Having many faces.
Multifarious
Mul•ti•fa´ri•ous, a. [L. multifarius; multus much, many. Cf. Bifarious.]
1. Having multiplicity; having great diversity or variety; of various kinds; diversified; made up of many differing parts; manifold.
"There is a multifarious artifice in the structure of the meanest animal." Dr. H. More.
2. (Bot.) Having parts, as leaves, arranged in many vertical rows.
Multiflue
Mul´ti•flue (mul"ti•flu), a. [ Multi- + flue.] Having many flues; as a multiflue boiler. See Boiler.
Multifoil
Mul´ti•foil, n. [ Multi- + foil.] (Arch.) An ornamental foliation consisting of more than five divisions or foils. [R.] See Foil.
Multifoil
Mul´ti•foil, a. Having more than five divisions or foils.
Multifold
Mul´ti•fold, a. [ Multi- + fold.] Many times doubled; manifold; numerous.
Multigranulate
Mul•ti•gran´u•late, a. [ Multi- + granulate.] Having, or consisting of, many grains.
Multijugate
Mul•tij´u•gate, a. Having many pairs of leaflets.
Multijugous
Mul•tij´u•gous, a. [L. multijugus; multus + jugum yoke.]
1. Consisting of many parts.
2. (Bot.) Same as Multijugate.
Multilateral
Mul•ti•lat´er•al, a. [ Multi- + lateral.] Having many sides; many-sided.
Multilineal
Mul•ti•lin´e•al, a. [ Multi- + lineal.] Having many lines. Steevens.
Multilobar
Mul•ti•lo´bar, a. [ Multi- + lobar.] Consisting of, or having, many lobes.
Multiloquy
Mul•til´o•quy, n. [L. multiloquium.] Excess of words or talk. [R.]
Multinodate
Mul•ti•no´date, a. [ Multi- + nodate.] Having many knots or nodes.
Multinodous
Mul•ti•no´dous, a. [L. multinodus.] Same as Multinodate.
Multinomial
Mul•ti•no´mi•al, n. & a. [ Multi- + -nomial, as in binomial. See Binomial.] (Alg.) Same as Polynomial. { Mul•ti•nom´i•nal, Mul•ti•nom´i•nous } a. [L. multinominis; multus many + nomen nominis name.] Having many names or terms.
Multipartite
Mul•tip´ar•tite, a. [L. multipartitus multus much, many partitus divided, p. p.: cf. F. multipartite. See Partite.] Divided into many parts; having several parts.
Multiplane
Mul´ti•plane, a. Having several or many planes or plane surfaces; as a multiplane kite.
Multiple
Mul´ti•ple, a. [Cf. F. multiple, and E. quadruple, and multiply.] Containing more than once, or more than one; consisting of more than one; manifold; repeated many times; having several, or many, parts. Law of multiple proportion (Chem.), the generalization that when the same elements unite in more than one proportion, forming two or more different compounds, the higher proportions of the elements in such compounds are simple multiples of the lowest proportion, or the proportions are connected by some simple common factor; thus, iron and oxygen unite in the proportions FeO, Fe2O3, Fe3O4, in which compounds, considering the oxygen, 3 and 4 are simple multiplies of 1. Called also the Law of Dalton, from its discoverer. — Multiple algebra, a branch of advanced mathematics that treats of operations upon units compounded of two or more unlike units. — Multiple conjugation (Biol.), a coalescence of many cells (as where an indefinite number of amœboid cells flow together into a single mass) from which conjugation proper and even fertilization may have been evolved. — Multiple fruits. (Bot.) See Collective fruit, under Collective. — Multiple star (Astron.), several stars in close proximity, which appear to form a single system.
Multiplex
Mul´ti•plex, a. [L. multiplex, -plicis. See Multiply.] Manifold; multiple.
Multiplicable
Mul´ti•pli•ca•ble, a. [L. multiplicabilis.] Capable of being multiplied; multipliable.
Multiplicand
Mul´ti•pli•cand, n. [L. multiplicandus to be multiplied: cf. F. multiplicande.] (Math.) The number which is to be multiplied by another number called the multiplier. See Note under Multiplication.
Multiplicate
Mul´ti•pli•cate, a. [L. multiplicatus, p. p. of multiplicare. See Multiply.] Consisting of many, or of more than one; multiple; multifold. Multiplicate flower (Bot.), a flower that is double, or has an unusual number of petals in consequence of the abnormal multiplication of the parts of the floral whorls.
Multiplication
Mul•ti•pli•ca´tion, n. [L. multiplicatio: cf. F. multiplication. See Multiply.]
1. The act or process of multiplying, or of increasing in number; the state of being multiplied; as the multiplication of the human species by natural generation.
"The increase and multiplication of the world." Thackeray.
2. (Math.) The process of repeating, or adding to itself, any given number or quantity a certain number of times; commonly, the process of ascertaining by a briefer computation the result of such repeated additions; also the rule by which the operation is performed; — the reverse of division. The word multiplication is sometimes used in mathematics, particularly in multiple algebra, to denote any distributive operation expressed by one symbol upon any quantity or any thing expressed by another symbol. Corresponding extensions of meaning are given to the words multiply, multiplier, multiplicand, and product. Thus, since φ( x + y) = φ x + φ y (see under Distributive), where φ( x + y), φ x, and φ y indicate the results of any distributive operation represented by the symbol φ upon x + y, x, and y, severally, then because of many very useful analogies φ( x + y) is called the product of φ and x + y, and the operation indicated by φ is called multiplication. Cf. Facient, n. , 2.
3. (Bot.) An increase above the normal number of parts, especially of petals; augmentation.
4. The art of increasing gold or silver by magic, — attributed formerly to the alchemists. [Obs.] Chaucer. Multiplication table, a table giving the product of a set of numbers multiplied in some regular way; commonly, a table giving the products of the first ten or twelve numbers multiplied successively by 1, 2, 3, etc., up to 10 or 12.
Multiplicatively
Mul´ti•pli•ca•tive•ly, adv. So as to multiply.
Multiplicator
Mul´ti•pli•ca•tor, n. [L.: cf. F. multiplicateur. Cf. Multiplier.] The number by which another number is multiplied; a multiplier.
Multiplicious
Mul•ti•pli´cious, a. [See Multiplex.] Manifold. [Obs.]
Multiplier
Mul´ti•pli•er, n. [Cf. F. multiplier. Cf. Multiplicator.]
1. One who, or that which, multiplies or increases number.
2. (Math.) The number by which another number is multiplied. See the Note under Multiplication.
3. (Physics) An instrument for multiplying or increasing by repetition or accumulation the intensity of a force or action, as heat or electricity. It is particularly used to render such a force or action appreciable or measurable when feeble. See Thermomultiplier.
Multiply
Mul´ti•ply, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Multiplied p. pr. & vb. n. Multiplying ] [F. multiplier, L. multiplicare, fr. multiplex manifold. See Multitude, Complex.]
1. To increase in number; to make more numerous; to add quantity to.
"Impunity will multiply motives to disobedience." Ames.
2. (Math.) To add (any given number or quantity) to itself a certain number of times; to find the product of by multiplication; thus 7 multiplied by 8 produces the number 56; to multiply two numbers. See the Note under Multiplication.
3. To increase (the amount of gold or silver) by the arts of alchemy. [Obs.] Multiplying gear (Mach.), gear for increasing speed. — Multiplying lens. (Opt.) See under Lens.
Multipotent
Mul•tip´o•tent, a. [L. multipotens; multus much + potens powerful. See Potent.] Having manifold power, or power to do many things. "Jove multipotent." Shak.
Multiradiate
Mul•ti•ra´di•ate, a. [ Multi- + radiate.] Having many rays.
Multiramified
Mul•ti•ram´i•fied, a. [ Multi- + p. p. of ramify.] Divided into many branches.
Multiramose
Mul•ti•ra•mose´, a. [ Multi- + ramose.] Having many branches.
Multistriate
Mul•ti•stri´ate, a. [ Multi- + striate.] Having many streaks.
Multisulcate
Mul•ti•sul´cate, a. [ Multi- + sulcate.] Having many furrows.
Multititular
Mul•ti•tit´u•lar, a. [ Multi- + titular.] Having many titles.
Multitubular
Mul•ti•tu´bu•lar, a. [ Multi- + tubular.] Having many tubes; as a multitubular boiler.
Multitude
Mul´ti•tude, n. [F. multitude, L. multitudo, multitudinis, fr. multus much, many; of unknown origin.]
1. A great number of persons collected together; a numerous collection of persons; a crowd; an assembly.
"But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them." Matt. ix. 36.
2. A great number of persons or things, regarded collectively; as the book will be read by a multitude of people; the multitude of stars; a multitude of cares.
"It is a fault in a multitude of preachers, that they utterly neglect method in their harangues." I. Watts.
"A multitude of flowers
As countless as the stars on high." Longfellow.
3. The state of being many; numerousness.
"They came as grasshoppers for multitude." Judg. vi. 5.The multitude, the populace; the mass of men.
Syn. — Throng; crowd; assembly; assemblage; commonalty; swarm; populace; vulgar. See Throng.
Multitudinous
Mul•ti•tu´di•nous, a.
1. Consisting of a multitude; manifold in number or condition; as multitudinous waves. "The multitudinous seas." Shak.
"A renewed jingling of multitudinous chains." G. Kennan.
2. Of or pertaining to a multitude. "The multitudinous tongue." Shak. — Mul•ti•tu´di•nous•ly, adv. — Mul•ti•tu´di•nous•ness, n. { Mul•tiv´a•gant, Mul•tiv´a•gous } a. [L. multivagus; multus much + vagus wandering; cf. vagans, p. pr. of vagari. See Vagary.] Wandering much. [Obs.]
Multivalent
Mul•tiv´a•lent, a. [ Multi- + L. valens, p. pr. See Valence.] (Chem.) (a) Having a valence greater than one, as silicon. (b) Having more than one degree of valence, as sulphur.
Multiversant
Mul•tiv´er•sant, a. [ Multi- + L. versans, p. pr. See Versant.] Turning into many shapes; assuming many forms; protean.
Multocular
Mul•toc´u•lar, a. [ Multi- + L. oculus eye.] Having many eyes, or more than two.
Multungulate
Mul•tun´gu•late, a. [ Multi- + ungulate.] Having many hoofs.
Multure
Mul´ture, n. [OF. multure, moulture, F. mouture, fr. L. molitura a grinding, molere to grind. See Mill the machine.]
1. (Scots Law) The toll for grinding grain. Erskine.
2. A grist or grinding; the grain ground.
Mum, a. [Of imitative origin. Cf. Mumble.] Silent; not speaking. Thackeray.
"The citizens are mum, and speak not a word." Shak.
Mum, interj. Be silent! Hush!
"Mum, then, and no more." Shak.
Mumble
Mum´ble, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Mumbled p. pr. & vb. n. Mumbling ] [OE. momelen; cf. D. mompelen, mommelen, G. mummelen, Sw. mumla, Dan. mumle. Cf. Mum, a. , Mumm, Mump, v. ]
1. To speak with the lips partly closed, so as to render the sounds inarticulate and imperfect; to utter words in a grumbling indistinct manner, indicating discontent or displeasure; to mutter.
"Peace, you mumbling fool." Shak.
"A wrinkled hag, with age grown double,
Picking dry sticks, and mumbling to herself." Otway.
2. To chew something gently with closed lips.
Mumbling
Mum´bling, a. Low; indistinct; inarticulate. — Mum´bling•ly, adv.
Mumm, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Mummed p. pr. & vb. n. Mumming.] [D. mimmen to mask, mom a mask; akin to G. mumme disguise; prob. of imitative origin, and akin to E. mum, mumble, in allusion to the indistinctness of speech occasioned by talking from behind a mask. Cf. Mumble, Mummery.] To sport or make diversion in a mask or disguise; to mask.
"With mumming and with masking all around." Spenser.
Mummer
Mumm´er, n. [Cf. OF. mommeur. See Mumm, and cf. Momier.] One who mumms, or makes diversion in disguise; a masker; a buffon.
"Jugglers and dancers, antics, mummers." Milton.
Mummery
Mum´mer•y, n. ; pl. Mummeries (#). [F. momerie, of Dutch or German origin. See Mumm.]
1. Masking; frolic in disguise; buffoonery.
"The mummery of foreign strollers." Fenton.
2. Farcical show; hypocritical disguise and parade or ceremonies. Bacon.
Mummification
Mum•mi•fi•ca´tion, n. [See Mummify.] The act of making a mummy.
Mummify
Mum´mi•fy, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Mummified p. pr. & vb. n. Mummifying ] [ Mummy + -fy: cf. F. momifier.] To embalm and dry as a mummy; to make into, or like, a mummy. Hall (1646).
Mummy
Mum´my, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Mummied p. pr. & vb. n. Mummying.] To embalm; to mummify.
Mump, v. i. [Akin to mumble; cf. D. mompen to cheat; perh. orig., to whine like a beggar, D. mompelen to mumble. See Mumble, Mum, and cf. Mumps.]
1. To move the lips with the mouth closed; to mumble, as in sulkiness.
"He mumps, and lovers, and hangs the lip." Taylor, 1630.
2. To talk imperfectly, brokenly, or feebly; to chatter unintelligibly.
3. To cheat; to deceive; to play the beggar.
"And then when mumping with a sore leg, … canting and whining." Burke.
4. To be sullen or sulky. [Prov. Eng.]
Mump, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Mumped p. pr. & vb. n. Mumping.]
1. To utter imperfectly, brokenly, or feebly.
"Old men who mump their passion." Goldsmith.
2. To work over with the mouth; to mumble; as to mump food.
3. To deprive of (something) by cheating; to impose upon.
Mumpish
Mump´ish, a. Sullen, sulky. — Mump´ish•ly, adv. — Mump´ish•ness, n.
Mumps, n. [Prov. E. mump to be sulky. Cf. Mump, Mumble, and Mum.]
1. pl. Sullenness; silent displeasure; the sulks. Skinner.
2. [Prob. so called from the patient’s appearance.] (Med.) A specific infectious febrile disorder characterized by a nonsuppurative inflammation of the parotid glands; epidemic or infectious parotitis.
Mun, n. [See Mouth.] The mouth. [Obs.]
"One a penny, two a penny, hot cross buns,
Butter them and sugar them and put them in your muns." Old Rhyme. Halliwell.
Munch, v. t. & i. [ imp. & p. p. Munched p. pr. & vb. n. Munching.] [Prob. akin to mumble: cf. also F. manger to eat (cf. Mange), and mâcher to cher (cf. Masticate). See Mumble.] To chew with a grinding, crunching sound, as a beast chews provender; to chew deliberately or in large mouthfuls. [Formerly written also maunch and mounch.]
"I could munch your good dry oats." Shak.
Mundane
Mun´dane, a. [L. mundanus, fr. mundus the world, an implement, toilet adornments, or dress; cf. mundus, a., clean, neat, Skr. mand to adorn, dress, manda adornment. Cf. Monde, Mound in heraldry.] Of or pertaining to the world; worldly; earthly; terrestrial; as the mundane sphere. — Mun´dane•ly, adv.
"The defilement of mundane passions." I. Taylor.
Mundation
Mun•da´tion, n. [L. mundatio, fr. mundare to make clean.] The act of cleansing. [Obs.]
Mundatory
Mun´da•to•ry, a. [L. mundatorius.] Cleansing; having power to cleanse. [Obs.]
Mundic
Mun´dic, n. Iron pyrites, or arsenical pyrites; — so called by the Cornish miners.
Mundificant
Mun•dif´i•cant, a. [L. mundificans, p. pr. of mundificare to make clean, fr. mundus clean + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See - fy.] Serving to cleanse and heal. — n. A mundificant ointment or plaster.
Mundification
Mun•di•fi•ca´tion, n. The act or operation of cleansing.
Mundificative
Mun•dif´i•ca•tive, a. Cleansing. — n. A detergent medicine or preparation.
Mundify
Mun´di•fy, v. t. [Cf. F. mondifier, L. mundificare. See Mundificant.] To cleanse. [Obs.]
Mundil
Mun´dil, n. A turban ornamented with an imitation of gold or silver embroidery.
Mundivagant
Mun•div´a•gant, a. [L. mundus the world + vagans wandering, p. pr. of vagari. See Vagary.] Wandering over the world. [R.]
Mundungus
Mun•dun´gus, n. [Cf. Sp. mondongo paunch, tripe, black pudding.] A stinking tobacco.
Munerary
Mu´ner•a•ry, a. [L. munerarius, from munus a gift.] Having the nature of a gift. [Obs.]
Muneration
Mu•ner•a´tion, n. [L. muneratio.] Remuneration. [Obs.]
Mungo
Mun´go, n. A fibrous material obtained by deviling rags or the remnants of woolen goods. Mungo properly signifies the disintegrated rags of woolen cloth, as distinguished from those of worsted, which form shoddy. The distinction is very commonly disregarded. Beck (Draper’s Dict. ). { Mun´goose, Mun´goos }, n. (Zoöl.) See Mongoose.
Municipal
Mu•nic´i•pal, a. [L. municipalis, fr. municipium a town, particularly in Italy, which possessed the right of Roman citizenship, but was governed by its own laws, a free town, fr. municeps an inhabitant of a free town, a free citizen; munia official duties, functions + capere to take: cf. F. municipal. Cf. Immunity, and Capacoius.]
1. Of or pertaining to a city or a corporation having the right of administering local government; as municipal rights; municipal officers.
2. Of or pertaining to a state, kingdom, or nation.
"Municipal law is properly defined to be a rule of civil conduct prescribed by the supreme power in a state." Blackstone.
Municipally
Mu•nic´i•pal•ly, adv. In a municipal relation or condition.
Munific
Mu•nif´ic, a. [See Munificent.] Munificent; liberal. [Obs. or R.]
Munificate
Mu•nif´i•cate, v. t. [L. munificatus, p. p. of munificare to present with a thing, fr. munificus. See Munificent.] To enrich. [Obs.]
Munificence
Mu•nif´i•cence, n. [L. munificentia: cf. F. munificence.] The quality or state of being munificent; a giving or bestowing with extraordinary liberality; generous bounty; lavish generosity.
"The virtues of liberality and munificence." Addison.
Syn. — Benevolence; beneficence; liberality; generosity; bounty; bounteousness. See Benevolence.
Munificent
Mu•nif´i•cent, a. [L. munificus; munus service, gift + -ficare (in comp.) to make. Cf. Immunity, -fy.] Very liberal in giving or bestowing; lavish; as a munificent benefactor. — Mu•nif´i•cent•ly, adv.
Syn. — Bounteous; bountiful; liberal; generous.
Munify
Mu´ni•fy, v. t. & i. [See Munificate.] To prepare for defense; to fortify. [Obs.]
Muniment
Mu´ni•ment, n. [L. munimentum, fr. munire to fortify. See Munition.]
1. The act of supporting or defending. [Obs.]
2. That which supports or defends; stronghold; place or means of defense; munition; assistance. "Other muniments and petty helps." Shak.
3. (Law) A record; the evidences or writings whereby a man is enabled to defend the title to his estate; title deeds and papers. Blount. Munimenthouse or room, that room in a cathedral, castle, or other public building, which is used for keeping the records, charters, seals, deeds, and the like. Gwilt.
Munition
Mu•ni´tion, n. [F., munition of war, L. munitio a fortifying, fortification, fr. munire to fortify, defend with a wall; cf. moenia walls, murus (for moirus) a wall, and Skr. mi to fix, make firm. Cf. Ammunition.]
1. Fortification; stronghold. [Obs.]
"His place of defense shall be the munitions of rocks." Is. xxxiii. 16.
2. Whatever materials are used in war for defense or for annoying an enemy; ammunition; also stores and provisions; military stores of all kinds.
"The bodies of men, munition, and money, may justly be called the sinews of war." Sir W. Raleigh.
Munity
Mu´ni•ty, n. [See Immunity.] Freedom; security; immunity. [Obs.] W. Montagu.
Munjeet
Mun•jeet´, n. [Hind. majith a drug used for dyeing red.] See Indian madder, under Madder.
Munnion
Mun´nion, n. See Mullion. { Mun´tin, Mun´ting } n. [CF. Montant.] (Arch.) Same as Mullion; — especially used in joiner’s work.
Murage
Mu´rage, n. [F., fr. murer to wall, fr. mur wall, L. murus. See Mure a wall.] A tax or toll paid for building or repairing the walls of a fortified town.
Mural
Mu´ral, a. [F., fr. L. muralis, fr. murus wall. See Mure a wall.]
1. Of or pertaining to a wall; being on, or in, a wall; growing on, or against, a wall; as a mural quadrant. "Mural breach." Milton. "Mural fruit." Evelyn.
2. Resembling a wall; perpendicular or steep; as a mural precipice. Mural circle (Astron.), a graduated circle, in the plane of the meridian, attached permanently to a perpendicular wall; — used for measuring arcs of the meridian. See Circle, n. , 3. — Mural crown (Rom. Antiq.), a golden crown, or circle of gold indented so as to resemble a battlement, bestowed on him who first mounted the wall of a besieged place, and there lodged a standard.
Murder
Mur´der (mûr"der), n. [OE. morder, morther, AS. morðor, fr. morð murder; akin to D. moord, OS. morð, G., Dan., & Sw. mord, Icel. morð, Goth. maúrþr, OSlav. mreti to die, Lith. mirti, W. marw dead, L. mors, mortis, death, mori, moriri, to die, Gr. broto•s (for mroto•s) mortal, ’a•mbrotos immortal, Skr. mr to die, mrta death. rad.105. Cf. Amaranth, Ambrosia, Mortal.] The offense of killing a human being with malice prepense or aforethought, express or implied; intentional and unlawful homicide. "Mordre will out." Chaucer.
"The killing of their children had, in the account of God, the guilt of murder, as the offering them to idols had the guilt of idolatry." Locke.
"Slaughter grows murder when it goes too far." Dryden. Murder in the second degree, in most jurisdictions, is a malicious homicide committed without a specific intention to take life. Wharton.
Murder
Mur´der, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Murdered p. pr. & vb. n. Murdering.] [OE. mortheren, murtheren, AS. myrðrian; akin to OHG. murdiren, Goth. maúrþrjan. See Murder, n. ]
1. To kill with premediated malice; to kill (a human being) willfully, deliberately, and unlawfully. See Murder, n.
2. To destroy; to put an end to.
"[Canst thou] murder thy breath in middle of a word?" Shak.
3. To mutilate, spoil, or deform, as if with malice or cruelty; to mangle; as to murder the king’s English.
Syn. — To kill; assassinate; slay. See Kill.
Murdress
Mur´dress, n. A battlement in ancient fortifications with interstices for firing through.
Mure, n. [L. murus; or F. mur, fr. L. murus. Cf. Munition.] A wall. [Obs.] Shak.
Mure, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Mured ] [F. murer, L. murare. See Mure, n. ] To inclose in walls; to wall; to immure; to shut up. Spenser.
"The five kings are mured in a cave." John. x. (Heading).
Murenger
Mu´ren•ger, n. One who had charge of the wall of a town, or its repairs.
Murexan
Mu•rex´an, n. [From Murexide.] (Chem.) A complex nitrogenous substance obtained from murexide, alloxantin, and other ureids, as a white, or yellowish, crystalline which turns red on exposure to the air; — called also uramil, dialuramide, and formerly purpuric acid.
Muriate
Mu´ri•ate, n. [See Muriatic.] (Chem.) A salt of muriatic hydrochloric acid; a chloride; as muriate of ammonia. This term, as also the word muriatic, was formerly applied to the chlorides before their true composition was understood, and while they were erroneously supposed to be compounds of an acid with an oxide. Muriate and muriatic are still occasionally used as commercial terms, but are obsolete in scientific language.
Muriatic
Mu•ri•at´ic, a. [L. muriaticus pickled, from muria brine: cf. F. muriatique.] (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or obtained from, sea salt, or from chlorine, one of the constituents of sea salt; hydrochloric. Muriatic acid, hydrochloric acid, HCl; — formerly called also marine acid, and spirit of salt. See hydrochloric, and the Note under Muriate.
Murine
Mu´rine, n. (Zoöl.) One of a tribe of rodents, of which the mouse is the type.
Muringer
Mu´rin•ger, n. See Murenger. Jacob.
Murk, a. [See Murky.] Dark; murky.
"He can not see through the mantle murk." J. R. Drake.
Murk, n. Darkness; mirk. [Archaic] Shak.
Murk, n. The refuse of fruit, after the juice has been expressed; marc.
Murky
Murk´y, a. [ Compar. Murkier superl. Murkiest.] [OE. mirke, merke, AS. myrce, mirce; akin to Icel. myrkr, Dan. & Sw. mörk.] Dark; obscure; gloomy. "The murkiest den." Shak.
"A murky deep lowering o’er our heads." Addison.
Murmur
Mur´mur, n. [F. murmure: cf. L. murmur. CF. Murmur, v. i.]
1. A low, confused, and indistinct sound, like that of running water.
2. A complaint half suppressed, or uttered in a low, muttering voice. Chaucer.
"Some discontents there are, some idle murmurs." Dryden.
Murmur
Mur´mur, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Murmured p. pr. & vb. n. Murmuring.] [F. murmurer, L. murmurare, murmurari, fr. murmur murmur; cf. Gr. to roar and boil, said of water, Skr. marmara a rustling sound; prob. of imitative origin.]
1. To make a low continued noise, like the hum of bees, a stream of water, distant waves, or the wind in a forest.
"They murmured as doth a swarm of bees." Chaucer.
2. To utter complaints in a low, half- articulated voice; to feel or express dissatisfaction or discontent; to grumble; — often with a. or against. "His disciples murmured at it." John vi. 61.
"And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron." Num. xiv. 2.
"Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured." 1 Cor. x. 10.
Murmuration
Mur•mur•a´tion, n. [L. murmuratio.] The act of murmuring; a murmur. [Obs.] Skelton.
Murr, n. [Prob. abbrev. from murrain.] A catarrh. [Obs.] Gascoigne.
Murrey
Mur´rey, n. [OF. moree a dark red color, mor blackish brown, fr. L. morum mulberry, blackberry, or fr. Maurus a Moor. Cf. Mulberry, Moor, Morelle.] A dark red color. — a. Of a dark red color. Bacon.
Murrion
Mur´ri•on, a. [See Murrain.] Infected with or killed by murrain. [Obs.] Shak.
Murth, n. [Etymol. uncertain.] Plenty; abundance. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
Murther
Mur´ther, n. & v. Murder, n. & v. [Obs. or Prov.] "The treason of the murthering." Chaucer.
Musa
Mu´sa, n. ; pl. Musae (#). [NL., fr. Ar. mauz, mauza, banana.] (Bot.) A genus of perennial, herbaceous, endogenous plants of great size, including the banana ( Musa sapientum), the plantain ( M. paradisiaca of Linnaeus, but probably not a distinct species), the Abyssinian ( M. Ensete), the Philippine Island ( M. textilis, which yields Manila hemp), and about eighteen other species. See Illust. of Banana and Plantain.
Musaceous
Mu•sa´ceous, a. Of, pertaining to, or resembling, plants of the genus Musa.
Musal
Mus´al, a. Of or pertaining to the Muses, or to Poetry. [R.]
Musar
Mu´sar, n. An itinerant player on the musette, an instrument formerly common in Europe.
Musard
Mu´sard, n. [F., fr. muser to loiter, trifle. See Muse, v. i.] A dreamer; an absent-minded person. [Obs.] Rom. of R.
Muscadel
Mus´ca•del, n. [It. moscadello, moscatello, LL. muscatellum or muscadellum (sc. vinum), fr. muscatellus nutmeglike, dim. of muscatus smelling like musk, muscatum and muscata (sc. nux) nutmeg: cf. F. muscadelle, fr. Italian. See Musk and cf. Moschatel, Muscardin, Muscat, Nutmeg.] See Muscatel, n.
"Quaffed off the muscadel." Shak.
Muscadine
Mus´ca•dine, n. [See Muscadel.]
1. (Bot.) A name given to several very different kinds of grapes, but in America used chiefly for the scuppernong, or southern fox grape, which is said to be the parent stock of the Catawba. See Grapevine.
2. (Bot.) A fragrant and delicious pear.
3. (Zoöl.) See Muscardin. Northern muscadine (Bot.), a derivative of the northern fox grape, and scarcely an improvement upon it. — Royal muscadine (Bot.), a European grape of great value. Its berries are large, round, and of a pale amber color. Called also golden chasselas.
Muscardin
Mus´car•din, n. [F., fr. muscadin a musk-scented lozenge, fr. muscade nutmeg, fr. L. muscus musk. See Muscadel.] (Zoöl.) The common European dormouse; — so named from its odor. [Written also muscadine.]
Muscariform
Mus•car´i•form, a. [L. muscarium fly brush + -form.] Having the form of a brush.
Muscat
Mus´cat, n. [F. See Muscadel.] (Bot.) A name given to several varieties of Old World grapes, differing in color, size, etc., but all having a somewhat musky flavor. The muscat of Alexandria is a large oval grape of a pale amber color. [Written also muskat.]
Muschelkalk
Musch´el•kalk, n. [G., from muschel shell + kalk limestone.] (Geol.) A kind of shell limestone, whose strata form the middle one of the three divisions of the Triassic formation in Germany. See Chart, under Geology.
Musci
Mus´ci, n. pl. [L. muscus moss.] (Bot.) An order or subclass of cryptogamous plants; the mosses. See Moss, and Cryptogamia.
Muscid
Mus´cid, n. Any fly of the genus Musca, or family Muscidae.
Musciform
Mus´ci•form, a. [ Muscus + - form.] (Bot.) Having the appearance or form of a moss.
Muscle
Mus´cle, n. [F., fr. L. musculus a muscle, a little mouse, dim. of mus a mouse. See Mouse, and cf. sense 3 (below).]
1. (Anat.) (a) An organ which, by its contraction, produces motion. See Illust. of Muscles of the Human Body, in Appendix. (b) The contractile tissue of which muscles are largely made up. Muscles are of two kinds, striated and nonstriated. The striated muscles, which, in most of the higher animals, constitute the principal part of the flesh, exclusive of the fat, are mostly under the control of the will, or voluntary, and are made up of great numbers of elongated fibres bound together into bundles and inclosed in a sheath of connective tissue, the perimysium. Each fiber is inclosed in a delicate membrane (the sarcolemma), is made up of alternate segments of lighter and darker material which give it a transversely striated appearance, and contains, scattered through its substance, protoplasmic nuclei, the so-called muscle corpuscles. The nonstriated muscles are involuntary. They constitute a large part of the walls of the alimentary canal, blood vessels, uterus, and bladder, and are found also in the iris, skin, etc. They are made up of greatly elongated cells, usually grouped in bundles or sheets.
2. Muscular strength or development; as to show one’s muscle by lifting a heavy weight. [Colloq.]
3. [AS. muscle, L. musculus a muscle, mussel. See above.] (Zoöl.) See Mussel. Muscle curve (Physiol.), contraction curve of a muscle; a myogram; the curve inscribed, upon a prepared surface, by means of a myograph when acted upon by a contracting muscle. The character of the curve represents the extent of the contraction.
Muscled
Mus´cled, a. Furnished with muscles; having muscles; as things well muscled.
Muscoid
Mus´coid, a. [ Muscus + - oid: cf. F. muscoide.] (Bot.) Mosslike; resembling moss.
Muscosity
Mus•cos´i•ty, n. [L. muscosus mossy, fr. muscus moss.] Mossiness. Jonhson.
Muscovite
Mus´co•vite, n. [See Muscovy glass.]
1. A native or inhabitant of Muscovy or ancient Russia; hence, a Russian.
2. (Min.) Common potash mica. See Mica.
Muscovy glass
Mus"co•vy glass [From Muscovy, the old name of Russia: cf. F. verre de Moscovie.] Mica; muscovite. See Mica.
Muscular
Mus´cu•lar, a. [Cf. F. musculaire. See Muscle.]
1. Of or pertaining to a muscle, or to a system of muscles; consisting of, or constituting, a muscle or muscles; as muscular fiber.
"Great muscular strength, accompanied by much awkwardness." Macaulay.
2. Performed by, or dependent on, a muscle or the muscles. "The muscular motion." Arbuthnot.
3. Well furnished with muscles; having well- developed muscles; brawny; hence, strong; powerful; vigorous; as a muscular body or arm. Muscular Christian, one who believes in a part of religious duty to maintain a healthful and vigorous physical state. T. Hughes. — Muscular Christianity. (a) The practice and opinion of those Christians who believe that it is a part of religious duty to maintain a vigorous condition of the body, and who therefore approve of athletic sports and exercises as conductive to good health, good morals, and right feelings in religious matters. T. Hughes. (b) An active, robust, and cheerful Christian life, as opposed to a meditative and gloomy one. C. Kingsley. — Muscular excitability (Physiol.), that property in virtue of which a muscle shortens, when it is stimulated; irritability. — Muscular sense (Physiol.), muscular sensibility; the sense by which we obtain knowledge of the condition of our muscles and to what extent they are contracted, also of the position of the various parts of our bodies and the resistance offering by external objects.
Muscularity
Mus•cu•lar´i•ty, n. The state or quality of being muscular. Grew.
Musculation
Mus•cu•la´tion, n. (Anat.) The muscular system of an animal, or of any of its parts.
Musculature
Mus´cu•la•ture, n. [Cf. F. musculature.] (Anat.) Musculation.
Musculin
Mus´cu•lin, n. [L. musculus a muscle.] (Physiol. Chem.) See Syntonin.
Musculosity
Mus•cu•los´i•ty, n. The quality or state of being musculous; muscularity. [Obs.]
Musculous
Mus´cu•lous, a. [L. musculosus: cf. F. musculeux.] Muscular. [Obs.] Jonhson.
Muse, n. [From F. musse. See Muset.] A gap or hole in a hedge, hence, wall, or the like, through which a wild animal is accustomed to pass; a muset.
"Find a hare without a muse." Old Prov.
Muse, n. [F. Muse, L. Musa, Gr. . Cf. Mosaic, n. , Music.]
1. (Class. Myth.) One of the nine goddesses who presided over song and the different kinds of poetry, and also the arts and sciences; — often used in the plural.
"Granville commands; your aid, O Muses, bring:
What Muse for Granville can refuse to sing?" Pope. The names of the Muses were Calliope, Clio, Erato, Euterpe, Melpomene, Polymnia or Polyhymnia, Terpsichore, Thalia, and Urania.
2. A particular power and practice of poetry. Shak.
3. A poet; a bard. [R.] Milton.
Muse, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Mused p. pr. & vb. n. Musing.] [F. muser to loiter or trifle, orig., to stand with open mouth, fr. LL. musus, morsus, muzzle, snout, fr. L. morsus a biting, bite, fr. mordere to bite. See Morsel, and cf. Amuse, Muzzle, n. ]
1. To think closely; to study in silence; to meditate. "Thereon mused he." Chaucer.
"He mused upon some dangerous plot." Sir P. Sidney.
2. To be absent in mind; to be so occupied in study or contemplation as not to observe passing scenes or things present; to be in a brown study. Daniel.
3. To wonder. [Obs.] Spenser. B. Jonson.
Syn. — To consider; meditate; ruminate. See Ponder.
Muset
Mu´set, n. [OF. mussette, dim. of musse, muce, a hiding place, fr. F. musser, OF. mucier, muchier, to conceal, hide. Cf. Micher.] A small hole or gap through which a wild animal passes; a muse. Shak.
Museum
Mu•se´um, n. [L., a temple of the Muses, hence, a place of study, fr. Gr., fr. a Muse.] A repository or a collection of natural, scientific, or literary curiosities, or of works of art. Museum beetle, Museum pest. (Zoöl.) See Anthrenus.
Mush, n. [Cf. Gael. mus, muss, pap, porridge, any thick preparation of fruit, OHG. muos; akin to AS. & OS. mos food, and prob, to E. meat. See Meat.] Meal (esp. Indian meal) boiled in water; hasty pudding; supawn. [U.S.]
Mush, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Mushed p. pr. & vb. n. Mushing.] To travel on foot, esp. across the snow with dogs. — v. t. To cause to travel or journey. [Rare] [Colloq., Alaska & Northwestern U. S.]
Mush, v. t. To notch, cut, or indent, as cloth, with a stamp.
Mushroom
Mush´room, n. [OE. muscheron, OF. mouscheron, F. mousseron; perhaps fr. mousse moss, of German origin. See Moss.]
1. (Bot.) (a) An edible fungus ( Agaricus campestris), having a white stalk which bears a convex or oven flattish expanded portion called the pileus. This is whitish and silky or somewhat scaly above, and bears on the under side radiating gills which are at first flesh-colored, but gradually become brown. The plant grows in rich pastures and is proverbial for rapidity of growth and shortness of duration. It has a pleasant smell, and is largely used as food. It is also cultivated from spawn. (b) Any large fungus, especially one of the genus Agaricus; a toadstool. Several species are edible; but many are very poisonous.
2. One who rises suddenly from a low condition in life; an upstart. Bacon.
Mushroom
Mush´room, a.
1. Of or pertaining to mushrooms; as mushroom catchup.
2. Resembling mushrooms in rapidity of growth and shortness of duration; short-lived; ephemerial; as mushroom cities. Mushroom anchor, an anchor shaped like a mushroom, capable of grasping the ground in whatever way it falls. — Mushroom coral (Zoöl.), any coral of the genus Fungia. See Fungia. — Mushroom spawn (Bot.), the mycelium, or primary filamentous growth, of the mushroom; also cakes of earth and manure containing this growth, which are used for propagation of the mushroom.
Music
Mu´sic, n. [F. musique, fr. L. musica, Gr. (sc. ), any art over which the Muses presided, especially music, lyric poetry set and sung to music, fr. belonging to Muses or fine arts, fr. Muse.]
1. The science and the art of tones, or musical sounds, i. e., sounds of higher or lower pitch, begotten of uniform and synchronous vibrations, as of a string at various degrees of tension; the science of harmonical tones which treats of the principles of harmony, or the properties, dependences, and relations of tones to each other; the art of combining tones in a manner to please the ear. Not all sounds are tones. Sounds may be unmusical and yet please the ear. Music deals with tones, and with no other sounds. See Tone.
2. (a) Melody; a rhythmical and otherwise agreeable succession of tones. (b) Harmony; an accordant combination of simultaneous tones.
3. The written and printed notation of a musical composition; the score.
4. Love of music; capacity of enjoying music.
"The man that hath no music in himself
Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds,
Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils." Shak.
5. (Zoöl.) A more or less musical sound made by many of the lower animals. See Stridulation. Magic music, a game in which a person is guided in finding a hidden article, or in doing a specific art required, by music which is made more loud or rapid as he approaches success, and slower as he recedes. Tennyson. — Music box. See Musical box, under Musical. — Music hall, a place for public musical entertainments. — Music loft, a gallery for musicians, as in a dancing room or a church. - - Music of the spheres, the harmony supposed to be produced by the accordant movement of the celestial spheres. — Music paper, paper ruled with the musical staff, for the use of composers and copyists. — Music pen, a pen for ruling at one time the five lines of the musical staff. — Music shell (Zoöl.), a handsomely colored marine gastropod shell ( Voluta musica) found in the East Indies; — so called because the color markings often resemble printed music. Sometimes applied to other shells similarly marked. — To face the music, to meet any disagreeable necessity without flinching. [Colloq. or Slang]
Musical
Mu´sic•al, a. [Cf. F. musical.] Of or pertaining to music; having the qualities of music; or the power of producing music; devoted to music; melodious; harmonious; as musical proportion; a musical voice; musical instruments; a musical sentence; musical persons. Musical, or Music, box, a box or case containing apparatus moved by clockwork so as to play certain tunes automatically. — Musical fish (Zoöl.), any fish which utters sounds under water, as the drumfish, grunt, gizzard shad, etc. — Musical glasses, glass goblets or bowls so tuned and arranged that when struck, or rubbed, they produce musical notes. Cf. Harmonica, 1.
Musicale
Mu•si•cale´, n. [F. Cf. Soiree musicale.] A social musical party. [Colloq.]
Musimon
Mus´i•mon, n. [See Musmon.] (Zoöl.) See Mouflon.
Musk, n. [F. musc, L. muscus, Per. musk, fr. Skr. mushka testicle, orig., a little mouse. See Mouse, and cd. Abelmosk, Muscadel, Muscovy duck, Nutmeg.]
1. A substance of a reddish brown color, and when fresh of the consistence of honey, obtained from a bag being behind the navel of the male musk deer. It has a slightly bitter taste, but is specially remarkable for its powerful and enduring odor. It is used in medicine as a stimulant antispasmodic. The term is also applied to secretions of various other animals, having a similar odor.
2. (Zoöl.) The musk deer. See Musk deer (below).
3. The perfume emitted by musk, or any perfume somewhat similar.
4. (Bot.) (a) The musk plant ( Mimulus moschatus). (b) A plant of the genus Erodium ( E. moschatum); — called also musky heron’s-bill. (c) A plant of the genus Muscari; grape hyacinth. Musk beaver (Zoöl.), muskrat (1). — Musk beetle (Zoöl.), a European longicorn beetle ( Aromia moschata), having an agreeable odor resembling that of attar of roses. — Musk cat. See Bondar. — Musk cattle (Zoöl.), musk oxen. See Musk ox (below). — Musk deer (Zoöl.), a small hornless deer ( Moschus moschiferus), which inhabits the elevated parts of Central Asia. The upper canine teeth of the male are developed into sharp tusks, curved downward. The male has scent bags on the belly, from which the musk of commerce is derived. The deer is yellow or red-brown above, whitish below. The pygmy musk deer are chevrotains, as the kanchil and napu. — Musk duck. (Zoöl.) (a) The Muscovy duck. (b) An Australian duck ( Biziura lobata). — Musk lorikeet (Zoöl.), the Pacific lorikeet ( Glossopsitta australis) of Australia. — Musk mallow (Bot.), a name of two malvaceous plants: (a) A species of mallow ( Malva moschata), the foliage of which has a faint musky smell. (b) An Asiatic shrub. See Abelmosk. - - Musk orchis (Bot.), a European plant of the Orchis family ( Herminium Minorchis); — so called from its peculiar scent. — Musk ox (Zoöl.), an Arctic hollow-horned ruminant ( Ovibos moschatus), now existing only in America, but found fossil in Europe and Asia. It is covered with a thick coat of fine yellowish wool, and with long dark hair, which is abundant and shaggy on the neck and shoulders. The full-grown male weighs over four hundred pounds. — Musk parakeet. (Zoöl.) Same as Musk lorikeet (above). — Musk pear (Bot.), a fragrant kind of pear much resembling the Seckel pear. — Musk plant (Bot.), the Mimulus moschatus, a plant found in Western North America, often cultivated, and having a strong musky odor. — Musk root (Bot.), the name of several roots with a strong odor, as that of the nard ( Nardostachys Jatamansi) and of a species of Angelica. — Musk rose (Bot.), a species of rose ( Rosa moschata), having peculiarly fragrant white blossoms. — Musk seed (Bot.), the seed of a plant of the Mallow family ( Hibiscus moschatus), used in perfumery and in flavoring. See Abelmosk. — Musk sheep (Zoöl.), the musk ox. — Musk shrew (Zoöl.), a shrew ( Sorex murinus), found in India. It has a powerful odor of musk. Called also sondeli, and mondjourou. — Musk thistle (Bot.), a species of thistle ( Carduus nutans), having fine large flowers, and leaves smelling strongly of musk. — Musk tortoise, Musk turtle (Zoöl.), a small American fresh- water tortoise ( Armochelys, or Ozotheca, odorata), which has a distinct odor of musk; — called also stinkpot.
Musket
Mus´ket, n. [F. mousquet, It. moschetto, formerly, a kind of hawk; cf. OF. mousket, moschet, a kind of hawk falcon, F. mouchet, prop., a little fly (the hawk prob. being named from its size), fr. L. musca a fly. Cf. Mosquito.] [Sometimes written also musquet.]
1. (Zoöl.) The male of the sparrow hawk.
2. A species of firearm formerly carried by the infantry of an army. It was originally fired by means of a match, or matchlock, for which several mechanical appliances (including the flintlock, and finally the percussion lock) were successively substituted. This arm has been generally superseded by the rifle.
Musketeer
Mus•ket•eer´, n. [F. mousquetaire; cf. It. moschettiere.] A soldier armed with a musket.
Muskiness
Musk´i•ness, n. The quality or state of being musky; the scent of musk.
Muskmelon
Musk´mel•on, n. [ Musk + melon.] (Bot.) The fruit of a cucurbitaceous plant ( Cucumis Melo), having a peculiar aromatic flavor, and cultivated in many varieties, the principal sorts being the cantaloupe ( Cucumis Melo cantalupensis), of oval form and yellowish flesh, and the smaller nutmeg melon with greenish flesh. See Illust. of Melon.
Musky
Musk´y, a. Having an odor of musk, or somewhat the like. Milton.
Muslin
Mus´lin, n. [F. mousseline; cf. It. mussolino, mussolo, Sp. muselina; all from Mussoul a city of Mesopotamia, Ar. Mausil, Syr. Mauzol, Muzol, Mosul, where it was first manufactured. Cf. Mull a kind of cloth.] A thin cotton, white, dyed, or printed. The name is also applied to coarser and heavier cotton goods; as shirting and sheeting muslins. Muslin cambric. See Cambric. — Muslin delaine, a light woolen fabric for women’s dresses. See Delaine. [Written also mousseline de laine.]
Muslinet
Mus•lin•et´, n. [F. mousselinette.] A sort of coarse or light cotton cloth.
Musmon
Mus´mon, n. [L. musmo, musimo, a Sardinian animal; cf. Gr. moy•smwn.] (Zoöl.) See Mouflon.
Musquash
Mus´quash, n. [American Indian name.] (Zoöl.) See Muskrat. Musquash root (Bot.), an umbelliferous plant ( Cicuta maculata), having a poisonous root. See Water hemlock.
Musquaw
Mus´quaw, n. [American Indian name.] (Zoöl.) The American black bear. See Bear.
Musquito
Mus•qui´to, n. (Zoöl.) See Mosquito. { Mus´role, Mus´rol }, n. [F. muserolle, fr. muserau a muzzle, OF. musel. See Muzzle.] The nose band of a horse’s bridle.
Muss, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Mussed p. pr. & vb. n. Mussing.] To disarrange, as clothing; to rumple. [Colloq. U.S.]
Muss, n. [Cf. OE. mus a mouse. See Mouse.] A term of endearment. [Obs.] See Mouse. B. Jonson.
Mussel
Mus´sel, n. [See Muscle, 3.]
1. (Zoöl.) Any one of many species of marine bivalve shells of the genus Mytilus, and related genera, of the family Mytidae. The common mussel ( Mytilus edulis; see Illust. under Byssus), and the larger, or horse, mussel ( Modiola modiolus), inhabiting the shores both of Europe and America, are edible. The former is extensively used as food in Europe.
2. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of Unio, and related fresh-water genera; — called also river mussel. See Naiad, and Unio. Mussel digger (Zoöl.), the grayback whale. See Gray whale, under Gray.
Mussite
Mus´site, n. (Min.) A variety of pyroxene, from the Mussa Alp in Piedmont; diopside.
Mussulman
Mus´sul•man, n. ; pl. Mussulmans (#). [Ar. muslimin, pl. of muslim: cf. F. & Sp. musulman. See Moslem.] A Mohammedan; a Moslem.
Mussy
Muss´y, a. [From 2d Muss.] Disarranged; rumpled. [Colloq. U.S.]
Must, n. [AS. must, fr. L. mustum (sc. vinum), from mustus young, new, fresh. Cf. Mustard.]
1. The expressed juice of the grape, or other fruit, before fermentation. "These men ben full of must." Wyclif (Acts ii. 13. ).
"No fermenting must fills … the deep vats." Longfellow.
2. [Cf. Musty.] Mustiness.
Mustac
Mus´tac, n. [F. moustac.] (Zoöl.) A small tufted monkey.
Mustacho
Mus•ta´cho, n. ; pl. Mustachios . A mustache. Longfellow.
Mustahfiz
Mus•tah´fiz, n. [Turk. & Ar. mustahfiz who trusts to another’s keeping, a soldier of a garrison.] See Army organization, above.
Mustard
Mus´tard, n. [OF. moustarde, F. moutarde, fr. L. mustum must, — mustard was prepared for use by being mixed with must. See Must, n. ]
1. (Bot.) The name of several cruciferous plants of the genus Brassica (formerly Sinapis), as white mustard ( B. alba), black mustard ( B. Nigra), wild mustard or charlock ( B. Sinapistrum). There are also many herbs of the same family which are called mustard, and have more or less of the flavor of the true mustard; as bowyer’s mustard ( Lepidium ruderale); hedge mustard ( Sisymbrium officinale); Mithridate mustard ( Thlaspi arvense); tower mustard ( Arabis perfoliata); treacle mustard ( Erysimum cheiranthoides).
2. A powder or a paste made from the seeds of black or white mustard, used as a condiment and a rubefacient. Taken internally it is stimulant and diuretic, and in large doses is emetic. Mustard oil (Chem.), a substance obtained from mustard, as a transparent, volatile and intensely pungent oil. The name is also extended to a number of analogous compounds produced either naturally or artificially.
Muster
Mus´ter, n. [OE. moustre, OF. mostre, moustre, F. montre, LL. monstra. See Muster, v. t.]
1. Something shown for imitation; a pattern. [Obs.]
2. A show; a display. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.
3. An assembling or review of troops, as for parade, verification of numbers, inspection, exercise, or introduction into service.
"The hurried muster of the soldiers of liberty." Hawthorne.
"See how in warlike muster they appear,
In rhombs, and wedges, and half-moons, and wings." Milton.
4. The sum total of an army when assembled for review and inspection; the whole number of effective men in an army.
"And the muster was thirty thousands of men." Wyclif.
"Ye publish the musters of your own bands, and proclaim them to amount of thousands." Hooker.
5. Any assemblage or display; a gathering.
"Of the temporal grandees of the realm, mentof their wives and daughters, the muster was great and splendid." Macaulay. Muster book, a book in which military forces are registered. — Muster file, a muster roll. — Muster master (Mil.), one who takes an account of troops, and of their equipment; a mustering officer; an inspector. [Eng.] — Muster roll (Mil.), a list or register of all the men in a company, troop, or regiment, present or accounted for on the day of muster. — To pass muster, to pass through a muster or inspection without censure.
"Such excuses will not pass muster with God." South.
Muster
Mus´ter, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Mustered p. pr. & vb. n. Mustering.] [OE. mustren, prop., to show, OF. mostrer, mustrer, moustrer, monstrer, F. montrer, fr. L. monstrare to show. See Monster.]
1. To collect and display; to assemble, as troops for parade, inspection, exercise, or the like. Spenser.
2. Hence: To summon together; to enroll in service; to get together. "Mustering all its force." Cowper.
"All the gay feathers he could muster." L’Estrange.To muster troops into service (Mil.), to inspect and enter troops on the muster roll of the army. — To muster troops out of service (Mil.), to register them for final payment and discharge. — To muster up, to gather up; to succeed in obtaining; to obtain with some effort or difficulty.
"One of those who can muster up sufficient sprightliness to engage in a game of forfeits." Hazlitt.
Mustiness
Mus´ti•ness, n. The quality or state of being musty.
Musty
Mus´ty, a. [ Compar. Mustier superl. Mustiest.] [From L. mustum must; or perh. fr. E. moist. Cf. Must, n. , Moist.]
1. Having the rank, pungent, offensive odor and taste which substances of organic origin acquire during warm, moist weather; foul or sour and fetid; moldy; as musty corn; musty books. Harvey.
2. Spoiled by age; rank; stale.
"The proverb is somewhat musty." Shak.
3. Dull; heavy; spiritless. "That he may not grow musty and unfit for conversation." Addison.
Mutable
Mu´ta•ble, a. [L. mutabilis, fr. mutare to change. See Move.]
1. Capable of alteration; subject to change; changeable in form, qualities, or nature.
"Things of the most accidental and mutable nature." South.
2. Changeable; inconstant; unsettled; unstable; fickle. "Most mutable wishes." Byron.
Syn. — Changeable; alterable; unstable; unsteady; unsettled; wavering; inconstant; variable; fickle.
Mutage
Mu´tage, n. [F.] A process for checking the fermentation of the must of grapes.
Mutation
Mu•ta´tion (mu•ta"shun), n. [L. mutatio, fr. mutare to change: cf. F. mutation. See Mutable.] Change; alteration, either in form or qualities.
"The vicissitude or mutations in the superior globe are no fit matter for this present argument." Bacon.
Mutch (much), n. [Cf. D. mutse a cap, G. mütze. Cf. Amice a cape.] The close linen or muslin cap of an old woman. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]
Mutchkin
Mutch´kin, n. A liquid measure equal to four gills, or an imperial pint. [Scot.]
Mute (mut), v. t. [L. mutare to change. See Molt.] To cast off; to molt.
"Have I muted all my feathers?" Beau. & Fl.
Mute, v. t. & i. [F. mutir, emeutir, OF. esmeltir, fr. OD. smelten, prop., to melt. See Smelt.] To eject the contents of the bowels; — said of birds. B. Jonson.
Mute, n. The dung of birds. Hudibras.
Mute, a. [L. mutus; cf. Gr. to shut, Skr. mta bound, mka dumb: cf. OE. muet, fr. F. muet, a dim. of OF. mu, L. mutus.]
1. Not speaking; uttering no sound; silent.
"All the heavenly choir stood mute,
And silence was in heaven." Milton. In law a prisoner is said to stand mute, when, upon being arranged, he makes no answer, or does not plead directly, or will not put himself on trial.
2. Incapable of speaking; dumb. Dryden.
3. Not uttered; unpronounced; silent; also produced by complete closure of the mouth organs which interrupt the passage of breath; — said of certain letters. See 5th Mute, 2.
4. Not giving a ringing sound when struck; — said of a metal. Mute swan (Zoöl.), a European wild white swan ( Cygnus gibbus), which produces no loud notes.
Syn. — Silent; dumb; speechless. — Mute, Silent, Dumb. One is silent who does not speak; one is dumb who can not, for want of the proper organs; as a dumb beast, etc.; and hence, figuratively, we speak of a person as struck dumb with astonishment, etc. One is mute who is held back from speaking by some special cause; as he was mute through fear; mute astonishment, etc. Such is the case with most of those who never speak from childhood; they are not ordinarily dumb, but mute because they are deaf, and therefore never learn to talk; and hence their more appropriate name is deaf-mutes.
"They spake not a word;
But, like dumb statues, or breathing stones,
Gazed each on other." Shak.
"All sat mute,
Pondering the danger with deep thoughts." Milton.
Mute-hill
Mute´-hill, n. See Moot- hill. [Scot.]
Mutely
Mute´ly, adv. Without uttering words or sounds; in a mute manner; silently.
Muteness
Mute´ness, n. The quality or state of being mute; speechlessness. { Mu´tic, Mu´ti•cous } a. [L. muticus, for mutilus. See Mutilate.] (Bot. & Zoöl.) Without a point or pointed process; blunt.
Mutilate
Mu´ti•late, a. [L. mutilatus, p. p. of mutilare to mutilate, fr. mutilus maimed; cf. Gr., . Cf. Mutton.]
1. Deprived of, or having lost, an important part; mutilated. Sir T. Browne.
2. (Zoöl.) Having finlike appendages or flukes instead of legs, as a cetacean.
Mutilate
Mu´ti•late, n. (Zoöl.) A cetacean, or a sirenian.
Mutilate
Mu´ti•late, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Mutilated p. pr. & vb. n. Mutilating ]
1. To cut off or remove a limb or essential part of; to maim; to cripple; to hack; as to mutilate the body, a statue, etc.
2. To destroy or remove a material part of, so as to render imperfect; as to mutilate the orations of Cicero.
"Among the mutilated poets of antiquity, there is none whose fragments are so beautiful as those of Sappho." Addison. Mutilated gear, Mutilated wheel (Mach.), a gear wheel from a portion of whose periphery the cogs are omitted. It is used for giving intermittent movements.
Mutilator
Mu´ti•la´tor, n. [Cf. F. mutilateur.] One who mutilates.
Mutilous
Mu´ti•lous, a. [L. mutilus. See Mutilate.] Mutilated; defective; imperfect. [Obs.]
Mutineer
Mu´ti•neer, n. [See Mutiny.] One guilty of mutiny.
Mutinous
Mu´ti•nous, a. [See Mutiny.] Disposed to mutiny; in a state of mutiny; characterized by mutiny; seditious; insubordinate.
"The city was becoming mutinous." Macaulay. — Mu´ti•nous•ly, adv. — Mu´ti•nous•ness, n.
Mutiny
Mu´ti•ny, n. ; pl. Mutinies (#). [From mutine to mutiny, fr. F. se mutiner, fr. F. mutin stubborn, mutinous, fr. OF. meute riot, LL. movita, fr. movitus, for L. motus, p. p. of movere to move. See Move.]
1. Insurrection against constituted authority, particularly military or naval authority; concerted revolt against the rules of discipline or the lawful commands of a superior officer; hence, generally, forcible resistance to rightful authority; insubordination.
"In every mutiny against the discipline of the college, he was the ringleader." Macaulay.
2. Violent commotion; tumult; strife. [Obs.]
"To raise a mutiny betwixt yourselves." Shak. Mutiny act (Law), an English statute reënacted annually to punish mutiny and desertion. Wharton.
Syn. — See Insurrection.
Mutiny
Mu´ti•ny, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Mutinied p. pr. & vb. n. Mutinying ]
1. To rise against, or refuse to obey, lawful authority in military or naval service; to excite, or to be guilty of, mutiny or mutinous conduct; to revolt against one’s superior officer, or any rightful authority.
2. To fall into strife; to quarrel. [Obs.] Shak.
Mutism
Mut´ism, n. The condition, state, or habit of being mute, or without speech. Max Müller.
Mutter
Mut´ter, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Muttered p. pr. & vb. n. Muttering.] [Prob. of imitative origin; cf. L. muttire, mutire.]
1. To utter words indistinctly or with a low voice and lips partly closed; esp., to utter indistinct complaints or angry expressions; to grumble; to growl.
"Wizards that peep, and that mutter." Is. viii. 19.
"Meantime your filthy foreigner will stare,
And mutter to himself." Dryden.
2. To sound with a low, rumbling noise.
"Thick lightnings flash, the muttering thunder rolls." Pope.
Mutteringly
Mut´ter•ing•ly, adv. With a low voice and indistinct articulation; in a muttering manner.
Mutton
Mut´ton, n. [OE. motoun, OF. moton, molton, a sheep, wether, F. mouton, LL. multo, by transposition of l fr. L. mutilus mutilated. See Mutilate.]
1. A sheep. [Obs.] Chapman.
"Not so much ground as will feed a mutton." Sir H. Sidney.
"Muttons, beeves, and porkers are good old words for the living quadrupeds." Hallam.
2. The flesh of a sheep.
"The fat of roasted mutton or beef." Swift.
3. A loose woman; a prostitute. [Obs.] Mutton bird (Zoöl.), the Australian short-tailed petrel ( Nectris brevicaudus). — Mutton chop, a rib of mutton for broiling, with the end of the bone at the smaller part chopped off. — Mutton fish (Zoöl.), the American eelpout. See Eelpout. — Mutton fist, a big brawny fist or hand. [Colloq.] Dryden. — Mutton monger, a pimp. [Low & Obs.] Chapman. — To return to one’s muttons. [A translation of a phrase from a farce by De Brueys, revenons à nos moutons let us return to our sheep.] To return to one’s topic, subject of discussion, etc. [Humorous]
"I willingly return to my muttons." H. R. Haweis.
Muttony
Mut´ton•y, a. Like mutton; having a flavor of mutton.
Mutual
Mu´tu•al, a. [F. mutuel, L. mutuus, orig., exchanged, borrowed, lent; akin to mutare to change. See Mutable.]
1. Reciprocally acting or related; reciprocally receiving and giving; reciprocally given and received; reciprocal; interchanged; as a mutual love, advantage, assistance, aversion, etc.
"Conspiracy and mutual promise." Sir T. More.
"Happy in our mutual help,
And mutual love." Milton.
"A certain shyness on such subjects, which was mutual between the sisters." G. Eliot.
2. Possessed, experienced, or done by two or more persons or things at the same time; common; joint; as mutual happiness; a mutual effort. Burke.
"A vast accession of misery and woe from the mutual weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth." Bentley. This use of mutual as synonymous with common is inconsistent with the idea of interchange, or reciprocal relation, which properly belongs to it; but the word has been so used by many writers of high authority. The present tendency is toward a careful discrimination.
"Mutual, as Johnson will tell us, means something reciprocal, a giving and taking. How could people have mutual ancestors?" P. Harrison.Mutual insurance, agreement among a number of persons to insure each other against loss, as by fire, death, or accident. — Mutual insurance company, one which does a business of insurance on the mutual principle, the policy holders sharing losses and profits pro rata.
Syn. — Reciprocal; interchanged; common.
Mutuary
Mu´tu•a•ry, n. [L. mutuarius mutual.See Mutuation.] (Law) One who borrows personal chattels which are to be consumed by him, and which he is to return or repay in kind. Bouvier.
Mutuation
Mu•tu•a´tion, n. [L. mutuatio, fr. mutuare, mutuari, to borrow, fr. mutuus. See Mutual.] The act of borrowing or exchanging. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
Mutule
Mu´tule, n. [F., fr. L. mutulus.] (Arch.) A projecting block worked under the corona of the Doric corice, in the same situation as the modillion of the Corinthian and Composite orders. See Illust. of Gutta. Oxf. Gloss.
Mux, n. [Cf. Mixen.] Dirt; filth; muck. [Prov. Eng.] ose.
Mux, v. t. To mix in an untidy and offensive way; to make a mess of. [Prov. Eng.; Colloq. U.S.]
Muxy
Mux´y, a. Soft; sticky, and dirty. [Prov. Eng.] See Mucky.
Muzziness
Muz´zi•ness, n. The state or quality of being muzzy.
Muzzle
Muz´zle, n. [OE. mosel, OF. musel, F. museau muzzle or snout, LL. musellus, fr. musus, morsus. See Muse, v. i., and cf. Morsel.]
1. The projecting mouth and nose of a quadruped, as of a horse; a snout.
2. The mouth of a thing; the end for entrance or discharge; as the muzzle of a gun.
3. A fastening or covering (as a band or cage) for the mouth of an animal, to prevent eating or vicious biting.
"With golden muzzles all their mouths were bound" Dryden. Muzzle sight. (Gun.) See Dispart, n. , 2.
Muzzle
Muz´zle, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Muzzled p. pr. & vb. n. Muzzling ] [F. museler.]
1. To bind the mouth of; to fasten the mouth of, so as to prevent biting or eating; hence, figuratively, to bind; to sheathe; to restrain from speech or action. "My dagger muzzled." Shak.
"Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn." Deut. xxv. 4.
2. To fondle with the closed mouth. [Obs.] L’Estrange.