M M (em). (continued 13)

Defn: To sport with roughly; to rumple. [Written also mouzle.] [Obs.] Wycherley.

MOUSQUETAIRE Mous`que*taire", n. [F.]

1. A musketeer, esp. one of the French royal musketeers of the 17th and 18th centuries, conspicuous both for their daring and their fine dress.

2. A mosquetaire cuff or glove, or other article of dress fancied to resemble those worn by the French mosquetaires.

MOUSQUETAIRE CUFF Mousquetaire cuff.

Defn: A deep flaring cuff.

MOUSQUETAIRE GLOVE Mousquetaire glove.

Defn: A woman's glove with a long, loosely fitting wrist.

MOUSSE Mousse (moos), n. [F.] (Cookery)

Defn: A frozen dessert of a frothy texture, made of sweetened and flavored whipped cream, sometimes with the addition of egg yolks and gelatin. Mousse differs from ice cream in being beaten before — not during — the freezing process.

MOUSSELINE Mousse`line", n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: Muslin. Mousseline de laine (. Etym: [F., muslin of wool.] Muslin delaine. See under Muslin. — Mousseline glass, a kind of thin blown glassware, such as wineglasses, etc.

MOUSSELINE DE SOIE Mousse`line de soie". [F.]

Defn: A soft thin silk fabric with a weave like that of muslin.

MOUSTACHE Mous`tache", n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: Mustache.

MOUSY Mous"y, a.

Defn: Infested with mice; smelling of mice.

MOUTAN Mou"tan, n. (Bot.)

Defn: The Chinese tree peony (Pæonia Mountan), a shrub with large flowers of various colors.

MOUTH Mouth, n.; pl. Mouths. Etym: [OE. mouth, mu, AS. m; akin to D. mond, OS. m, G. mund, Icel. mu, munnr, Sw. mun, Dan. mund, Goth. mun, and possibly L. mentum chin; or cf. D. muil mouth, muzzle, G. maul, OHG. m, Icel. m, and Skr. mukha mouth.]

1. The opening through which an animal receives food; the aperture between the jaws or between the lips; also, the cavity, containing the tongue and teeth, between the lips and the pharynx; the buccal cavity.

2. Hence:

Defn: An opening affording entrance or exit; orifice; aperture; as: (a) The opening of a vessel by which it is filled or emptied, charged or discharged; as, the mouth of a jar or pitcher; the mouth of the lacteal vessels, etc. (b) The opening or entrance of any cavity, as a cave, pit, well, or den. (c) The opening of a piece of ordnance, through which it is discharged. (d) The opening through which the waters of a river or any stream are discharged. (e) The entrance into a harbor.

3. (Saddlery)

Defn: The crosspiece of a bridle bit, which enters the mouth of an animal.

4. A principal speaker; one who utters the common opinion; a mouthpiece. Every coffeehouse has some particular statesman belonging to it, who is the mouth of the street where he lives. Addison.

5. Cry; voice. [Obs.] Dryden.

6. Speech; language; testimony. That in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. Matt. xviii. 16.

7. A wry face; a grimace; a mow. Counterfeit sad looks, Make mouths upon me when I turn my back. Shak. Down in the mouth, chapfallen; of dejected countenance; depressed; discouraged. [Obs. or Colloq.] — Mouth friend, one who professes friendship insincerely. Shak. — Mouth glass, a small mirror for inspecting the mouth or teeth. — Mouth honor, honor given in words, but not felt. Shak. — Mouth organ. (Mus.) (a) Pan's pipes. See Pandean. (b) An harmonicon. — Mouth pipe, an organ pipe with a lip or plate to cut the escaping air and make a sound. — To stop the mouth, to silence or be silent; to put to shame; to confound. The mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped. Ps. lxiii. 11. Whose mouths must be stopped. Titus i. 11.

MOUTH Mouth, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mouthed; p. pr. & vb. n. Mouthing.]

1. To take into the mouth; to seize or grind with the mouth or teeth; to chew; to devour. Dryden.

2. To utter with a voice affectedly big or swelling; to speak in a strained or unnaturally sonorous manner. "Mouthing big phrases." Hare. Mouthing out his hollow oes and aes. Tennyson.

3. To form or cleanse with the mouth; to lick, as a bear her cub. Sir T. Browne.

4. To make mouths at. [R.] R. Blair.

MOUTH Mouth, v. i.

1. To speak with a full, round, or loud, affected voice; to vociferate; to rant. I'll bellow out for Rome, and for my country, And mouth at Cæsar, till I shake the senate. Addison.

2. To put mouth to mouth; to kiss. [R.] Shak.

3. To make grimaces, esp. in ridicule or contempt. Well I know, when I am gone, How she mouths behind my back. Tennyson.

MOUTHED Mouthed, a.

1. Furnished with a mouth.

2. Having a mouth of a particular kind; using the mouth, speech, or voice in a particular way; — used only in composition; as, wide- mouthed; hard-mouthed; foul-mouthed; mealy-mouthed.

MOUTHER Mouth"er, n.

Defn: One who mouths; an affected speaker.

MOUTH-FOOTED Mouth"-foot`ed, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having the basal joints of the legs converted into jaws.

MOUTHFUL Mouth"ful, n.; pl. Mouthfuls (.

1. As much as is usually put into the mouth at one time.

2. Hence, a small quantity.

MOUTHLESS Mouth"less, a. Etym: [AS. muedhleás.]

Defn: Destitute of a mouth.

MOUTH-MADE Mouth"-made`, a.

Defn: Spoken without sincerity; not heartfelt. "Mouth-made vows." Shak.

MOUTHPIECE Mouth"piece`, n.

1. The part of a musical or other instrument to which the mouth is applied in using it; as, the mouthpiece of a bugle, or of a tobacco pipe.

2. An appendage to an inlet or outlet opening of a pipe or vessel, to direct or facilitate the inflow or outflow of a fluid.

3. One who delivers the opinion of others or of another; a spokesman; as, the mouthpiece of his party. Egmont was imprudent enough to make himself the mouthpiece of their remonstrance. Motley.

MOVABILITY Mov`a*bil"i*ty, n.

Defn: Movableness.

MOVABLE Mov"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. OF. movable. See Move.]

1. Capable of being moved, lifted, carried, drawn, turned, or conveyed, or in any way made to change place or posture; susceptible of motion; not fixed or stationary; as, a movable steam engine.

2. Changing from one time to another; as, movable feasts, i. e., church festivals, the date of which varies from year to year. Movable letter (Heb. Gram.), a letter that is pronounced, as opposed to one that is quiescent.

MOVABLE Mov"a*ble, n.; pl. Movables (.

1. An article of wares or goods; a commodity; a piece of property not fixed, or not a part of real estate; generally, in the plural, goods; wares; furniture. Furnished with the most rich and princely movables. Evelyn.

2. (Rom. Law)

Defn: Property not attached to the soil.

Note: The word is not convertible with personal property, since rents and similar incidents of the soil which are personal property by our law are immovables by the Roman law. Wharton.

MOVABLENESS Mov"a*ble*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being movable; mobility; susceptibility of motion.

MOVABLY Mov"a*bly, adv.

Defn: In a movable manner or condition.

MOVE Move, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Moved; p. pr. & vb. n. Moving.] Etym: [OE. moven, OF. moveir, F. mouvoir, L. movere; cf. Gr. miv, p.p. muta, to move, push. Cf. Emotion, Mew to molt, Mob, Mutable, Mutiny.]

1. To cause to change place or posture in any manner; to set in motion; to carry, convey, draw, or push from one place to another; to impel; to stir; as, the wind moves a vessel; the horse moves a carriage.

2. (Chess, Checkers, etc.)

Defn: To transfer (a piece or man) from one space or position to another, according to the rules of the game; as, to move a king.

3. To excite to action by the presentation of motives; to rouse by representation, persuasion, or appeal; to influence. Minds desirous of revenge were not moved with gold. Knolles. No female arts his mind could move. Dryden.

4. To arouse the feelings or passions of; especially, to excite to tenderness or compassion; to touch pathetically; to excite, as an emotion. Shak. When he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them. Matt. ix. 36. [The use of images] in orations and poetry is to move pity or terror. Felton.

5. To propose; to recommend; specifically, to propose formally for consideration and determination, in a deliberative assembly; to submit, as a resolution to be adopted; as, to move to adjourn. Let me but move one question to your daughter. Shak. They are to be blamed alike who move and who decline war upon particular respects. Hayward.

6. To apply to, as for aid. [Obs.] Shak.

Syn. — To stir; agitate; trouble; affect; persuade; influence; actuate; impel; rouse; prompt; instigate; incite; induce; incline; propose; offer.

MOVE Move, v. i.

1. To change place or posture; to stir; to go, in any manner, from one place or position to another; as, a ship moves rapidly. The foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth. Ps. xviii. 7. On the green bank I sat and listened long, … Nor till her lay was ended could I move. Dryden.

2. To act; to take action; to stir; to begin to act; as, to move in a matter.

3. To change residence; to remove, as from one house, town, or state, to another.

4. (Chess, Checkers, etc.)

Defn: To change the place of a piece in accordance with the rules of the game.

MOVE Move, n.

1. The act of moving; a movement.

2. (Chess, Checkers, etc.)

Defn: The act of moving one of the pieces, from one position to another, in the progress of the game.

3. An act for the attainment of an object; a step in the execution of a plan or purpose. To make a move. (a) To take some action. (b) To move a piece, as in a game. — To be on the move, to bustle or stir about. [Colloq.]

MOVELESS Move`less, a.

Defn: Motionless; fixed. "Moveless as a tower." Pope.

MOVEMENT Move"ment, n. Etym: [F. mouvement. See Move, and cf. Moment.]

1. The act of moving; change of place or posture; transference, by any means, from one situation to another; natural or appropriate motion; progress; advancement; as, the movement of an army in marching or maneuvering; the movement of a wheel or a machine; the party of movement.

2. Motion of the mind or feelings; emotion.

3. Manner or style of moving; as, a slow, or quick, or sudden, movement.

4. (Mus.) (a) The rhythmical progression, pace, and tempo of a piece. "Any change of time is a change of movement." Busby. (b) One of the several strains or pieces, each complete in itself, with its own time and rhythm, which make up a larger work; as, the several movements of a suite or a symphony.

5. (Mech.)

Defn: A system of mechanism for transmitting motion of a definite character, or for transforming motion; as, the wheelwork of a watch. Febrille movement (Med.), an elevation of the body temperature; a fever. — Movement cure. (Med.) See Kinesiatrics. — Movement of the bowels, an evacuation or stool; a passage or discharge.

Syn. — Motion. — Movement, Motion. Motion expresses a general idea of not being at rest; movement is oftener used to express a definite, regulated motion, esp. a progress.

MOVENT Mo"vent, a. Etym: [L. movens, p.pr. of movere. See Move.]

Defn: Moving. [R.] Grew.

MOVENT Mo"vent, n.

Defn: That which moves anything. [R.]

MOVER Mov"er, n.

1. A person or thing that moves, stirs, or changes place.

2. A person or thing that imparts motion, or causes change of place; a motor.

3. One who, or that which, excites, instigates, or causes movement, change, etc.; as, movers of sedition. These most poisonous compounds, Which are the movers of a languishing death. Shak.

4. A proposer; one who offers a proposition, or recommends anything for consideration or adoption; as, the mover of a resolution in a legislative body.

MOVIE Mov"ie, n.

Defn: A moving picture or a moving picture show; — commonly used in pl. [Slang or Colloq.]

MOVING Mov"ing, a.

1. Changing place or posture; causing motion or action; as, a moving car, or power.

2. Exciting movement of the mind; adapted to move the sympathies, passions, or affections; touching; pathetic; as, a moving appeal. I sang an old moving story. Coleridge. Moving force (Mech.), a force that accelerates, retards, or deflects the motion of a body. — Moving plant (Bot.), a leguminous plant (Desmodium gyrans); — so called because its leaflets have a distinct automatic motion.

MOVING Mov"ing, n.

Defn: The act of changing place or posture; esp., the act of changing one's dwelling place or place of business. Moving day, a day when one moves; esp., a day when a large number of tenants change their dwelling place.

MOVINGLY Mov"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a moving manner. Addison.

MOVINGNESS Mov"ing*ness, n.

Defn: The power of moving.

MOVING PICTURE Moving picture.

Defn: A series of pictures, usually photographs taken with a special machine, presented to the eye in very rapid succession, with some or all of the objects in the picture represented in slightly changed positions, producing, by persistence of vision, the optical effect of a continuous picture in which the objects move in some manner, as that of some original scene. The usual form of moving pictures is that produced by the cinematograph.

MOW Mow, n. [Written also moe and mowe.] Etym: [F. moue pouting, a wry face; cf. OD. mouwe the protruded lip.]

Defn: A wry face. "Make mows at him." Shak.

MOW Mow, v. i.

Defn: To make mouths. Nodding, becking, and mowing. Tyndale.

MOW Mow, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Mew, a gull.

MOW Mow, v. [pres. sing. Mow, pl. Mowe, Mowen, Moun.] Etym: [AS. magan. See May, v.]

Defn: May; can. "Thou mow now escapen." [Obs.] Chaucer. Our walles mowe not make hem resistence. Chaucer.

MOW Mow, v. t. [imp. Mowed; p. p. Mowed or Mown (; p. pr. & vb. n. Mowing.] Etym: [OE. mowen, mawen, AS. mawan; akin to D. maaijen, G. mähen, OHG. majan, Dan. meie, L. metere to reap, mow, Gr. Math, Mead a meadow, Meadow.]

1. To cut down, as grass, with a scythe or machine.

2. To cut the grass from; as, to mow a meadow.

3. To cut down; to cause to fall in rows or masses, as in mowing grass; — with down; as, a discharge of grapeshot mows down whole ranks of men.

MOW Mow, v. i.

Defn: To cut grass, etc., with a scythe, or with a machine; to cut grass for hay.

MOW Mow, n. Etym: [OE. mowe, AS. m.]

1. A heap or mass of hay or of sheaves of grain stowed in a barn.

2. The place in a barn where hay or grain in the sheaf is stowed.

MOW Mow, v. t.

Defn: To lay, as hay or sheaves of grain, in a heap or mass in a barn; to pile and stow away.

MOWBURN Mow"burn`, v. i.

Defn: To heat and ferment in the mow, as hay when housed too green.

MOWE Mowe, v.

Defn: See 4th Mow. [Obs.] Chaucer.

MOWE Mowe, n. & v.

Defn: See 1st & 2d Mow. [Obs.]

MOWER Mow"er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, mows; a mowing machine; as, a lawn mower.

MOWING Mow"ing, n.

1. The act of one who, or the operation of that which, mows.

2. Land from which grass is cut; meadow land. Mowing machine, an agricultural machine armed with knives or blades for cutting standing grass, etc. It is drawn by a horse or horses, or propelled by steam.

MOWN Mown, p. p. & a.

Defn: Cut down by mowing, as grass; deprived of grass by mowing; as, a mown field.

MOWYER Mow"yer, n.

Defn: A mower. [Obs.]

MOXA Mox"a, n. Etym: [A corruption of Japan. mogusa (pronounced mongsa), an escharotic made from the plant yomigi: cf. F. moxa.]

1. (Med.)

Defn: A soft woolly mass prepared from the young leaves of Artemisia Chinensis, and used as a cautery by burning it on the skin; hence, any substance used in a like manner, as cotton impregnated with niter, amadou.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: A plant from which this substance is obtained, esp. Artemisia Chinensis, and A. moxa.

MOXIE Mox"ie, n. Etym: [fr. Moxie, a trade name for a beverage.]

1. energy; pep.

2. courage, determination.

3. Know-how, expertise. MW10.

MOYA Moy"a, n.

Defn: Mud poured out from volcanoes during eruptions; — so called in South America.

MOYLE Moyle, n. & v.

Defn: See Moil, and Moile.

MOZARAB; MOZARABIC Moz"a*rab, Moz`a*rab"ic.

Defn: Same as Muzarab, Muzarabic.

MOZETTA; MOZZETTA Mo*zet"ta, Moz*zet"ta, n. Etym: [It. mozzetta: cf. F. mosette. Cf. Amice a hood or cape.] (Eccl.)

Defn: A cape, with a small hood; — worn by the pope and other dignitaries of the Roman Catholic Church.

MR. Mr.. (.

Defn: The customary abbreviation of Mister in writing and printing. See Master, 4.

MRS. Mrs. (.

Defn: The customary abbreviation of Mistress when used as a title of courtesy, in writing and printing.

MUCAMIDE Mu*cam"ide, n. Etym: [Mucic + amide.] (Chem.)

Defn: The acid amide of mucic acid, obtained as a white crystalline substance.

MUCATE Mu"cate, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A salt of mucic acid.

MUCE Muce, n.

Defn: See Muse, and Muset.

MUCEDIN Mu*ce"din, n. Etym: [From Mucus.] (Bot. Chem.)

Defn: 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, and Most (, from another root.] Etym: [OE. moche, muche, miche, prob. the same as mochel, muchel, michel, mikel, fr. AS. micel, mycel; cf. Gr. mjök, adv., much. *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 Much, n.

1. A great quantity; a great deal; also, an indefinite quantity; as, you have as much as I. He that gathered much had nothing over. Ex. xvi. 18.

Note: Muchin this sense can be regarded as an adjective qualifying a word unexpressed, and may, therefore, be modified by as, so, too, very.

2. A thing uncommon, wonderful, or noticeable; something considerable. And [he] thought not much to clothe his enemies. Milton. To make much of, to treat as something of especial value or worth.

MUCH Much, adv. Etym: [Cf. Icel. mjök. See Much, a.]

Defn: 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. Etym: [*103. See Mickle.]

Defn: Much. [Obs.]

MUCHNESS Much"ness, n.

Defn: Greatness; extent. [Obs. or Colloq.] The quantity and muchness of time which it filcheth. W. Whately. Much of a muchness, much the same. [Colloq.] "Men's men; gentle or simple, they 're much of muchness." G. Eliot.

MUCHWHAT Much"what`, adv.

Defn: Nearly; almost; much. [Obs.] "Muchwhat after the same manner." Glanvill.

MUCIC Mu"cic, a. Etym: [L. mucus mucus: cf. F. mucique.] (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, gums and micilaginous substances; specif., denoting an acid obtained by the oxidation of gums, dulcite, etc., as a white crystalline substance isomeric with saccharic acid.

MUCID Mu"cid, a. Etym: [L. mucidus, fr. L. mucus mucus. See Mucus, and cf. Moist.]

Defn: Musty; moldy; slimy; mucous. — Mu"cid*ness, n.

MUCIFIC Mu*cif"ic, a. Etym: [Mucus + L. -ficare (in comp.) to make. See -fy.]

1. (Med.)

Defn: Inducing or stimulating the secretion of mucus; blennogenous.

2. (Physiol.)

Defn: Secreting mucus.

MUCIFORM Mu"ci*form, a. Etym: [Mucus + -form.] (Physiol.)

Defn: Resembling mucus; having the character or appearance of mucus.

MUCIGEN Mu"ci*gen, n. Etym: [Mucin + -gen.] (Physiol.)

Defn: A substance which is formed in mucous epithelial cells, and gives rise to mucin.

MUCIGENOUS Mu*cig"e*nous, a. (Physiol.)

Defn: Connected with the formation of mucin; resembling mucin. The mucigenous basis is manufactured at the expense of the ordinary protoplasm of the cell. Foster.

MUCILAGE Mu"ci*lage, n. Etym: [F., from L. mucilago a musty juice, fr. mucus mucus, slime. See Mucus.]

1. (Bot. Chem.)

Defn: 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. Etym: [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, n. Etym: [From Mucus.]

1. (Bot. Chem.)

Defn: See Mucedin. [Obs.]

2. (Physiol. Chem.)

Defn: 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, n. Etym: [Mucin + -gen.] (Physiol.)

Defn: Same as Mucigen.

MUCIPAROUS Mu*cip"a*rous, a. Etym: [Mucus + L. parere to produce.] (Physiol.)

Defn: Secreting, or producing, mucus or mucin.

MUCIVORE Mu"ci*vore, n. Etym: [L. mucus slime, mucus + vorare to devour.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: An unsect which feeds on mucus, or the sap of plants, as certain Diptera, of the tribe Mucivora.

MUCK Muck

Defn: , abbreviation of Amuck. To run a muck. See Amuck.

MUCK Muck, n. Etym: [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 Muck, a.

Defn: Like muck; mucky; also, used in collecting or distributing muck; as, a muck fork.

MUCK Muck, v. t.

Defn: To manure with muck.

MUCKENDER Muck"en*der, n. Etym: [Sp. mocador. Cf. Mokadour.]

Defn: A handkerchief. [Obs.] [Written also muckinder, muckiter, mockadour.]

MUCKER Muck"er, n.

Defn: A term of reproach for a low or vulgar labor person. [Slang]

MUCKER Muck"er, v. t.

Defn: To scrape together, as money, by mean labor or shifts. [Obs.] Udall.

MUCKERER Muck"er*er, n.

Defn: A miser; a niggard. [Obs.]

MUCKINESS Muck"i*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being mucky.

MUCKLE Muc"kle, a. Etym: [See Mickle.]

Defn: Much. [Obs.]

MUCKMIDDEN Muck"mid`den, n.

Defn: A dunghill. [Scot.]

MUCK RAKE Muck rake.

Defn: A rake for scraping up muck or dung. See Muckrake, v. i., below.

MUCK-RAKE; MUCKRAKE; MUCKRAKER Muck"rake`, v. i. [imp. & p. p. -raked; p. pr. & vb. n. -raking.]

Defn: 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.

Defn: Somewhat mucky; soft, sticky, and dirty; muxy. [Prov. Eng.] R. D. Blackmore.

MUCKWORM Muck"worm`, n.

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A larva or grub that lives in muck or manure; — applied to the larvæ of the tumbledung and allied beetles.

2. One who scrapes together money by mean labor and devices; a miser. "Misers are muckworms." Pope.

MUCKY Muck"y, a.

1. Filthy with muck; miry; as, a mucky road. "Mucky filth." Spenser.

2. Vile, in a moral sense; sordid. [Obs.] Spenser. Mucky money and false felicity. Latimer.

MUCOCELE Mu"co*cele, n. Etym: [Mucus + Gr. (Med.)

Defn: An enlargement or protrusion of the mucous membrane of the lachrymal passages, or dropsy of the lachrymal sac, dependent upon catarrhal inflammation of the latter. Dunglison.

MUCOID Mu"coid, a. Etym: [Mucus + -oid.]

Defn: Resembling mucus. Dunglison. Mucoid degeneration, a form of degeneration in which the tissues are transformed into a semisolid substance resembling mucus. Quain.

MUCONATE Mu"co*nate, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A salt of muconic acid.

MUCONIC Mu*con"ic, a. Etym: [Mucic + itaconic.] (Chem.)

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or designating, an organic acid, obtained indirectly from mucic acid, and somewhat resembling itaconic acid.

MUCOPURULENT Mu`co*pu"ru*lent, a. Etym: [Mucus + purulent.] (Med.)

Defn: Having the character or appearance of both mucus and pus. Dunglison.

MUCOR Mu"cor, n. Etym: [L., fr. mucere to be moldy or musty.] (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of minute fungi. The plants consist of slender threads with terminal globular sporangia; mold.

MUCOSITY Mu*cos"i*ty, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being mucous or slimy; mucousness.

MUCOUS Mu"cous, a. Etym: [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.

Defn: The quality or state of being mucous; sliminess.

MUCRO Mu"cro, n. Etym: [L.] (Bot. & Zoöl.)

Defn: A minute abrupt point, as of a leaf; any small, sharp point or process, terminating a larger part or organ.

MUCRONATE; MUCRONATED Mu"cro*nate, Mu"cro*na`ted, a. Etym: [L. mucronatus, fr. mucro a sharp point: cf. F. mucroné.]

Defn: Ending abruptly in a sharp point; abruptly tipped with a short and sharp point; as, a mucronate leaf. — Mu"cro*nate*ly, adv.

MUCRONULATE Mu*cron"u*late, a.

Defn: Having, or tipped with, a small point or points.

MUCULENT Mu"cu*lent, a. Etym: [L. muculentus, fr. mucus.]

Defn: Slimy; moist, and moderately viscous.

MUCUS Mu"cus, n. Etym: [L. mucus, muccus; cf. mucere 8be moldy or musty, Gr. muc to release. Cf. Match for striking fire, Moist, Mucilage.]

1. (Physiol.)

Defn: 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.)

Defn: Any other animal fluid of a viscid quality, as the synovial fluid, which lubricates the cavities of the joints; — improperly so used.

3. (Bot.)

Defn: A gelatinous or slimy substance found in certain algæ and other plants.

MUCUSIN Mu"cus*in, n. (Physiol. Chem.)

Defn: Mucin. [R.]

MUD Mud, n. Etym: [Akin to LG. mudde, D. modder, G. moder mold, OSw. modd mud, Sw. modder mother, Dan. mudder mud. Cf. Mother a scum on liquors.]

Defn: 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 deredging. — 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 Pepæus, 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 Mud, v. t.

1. To bury in mud. [R.] Shak.

2. To make muddy or turbid. Shak.

MUDAR Mu"dar, n. Etym: [Hind. madar.] (Bot.)

Defn: Either one of two asclepiadaceous shrubs (Calotropis gigantea, and C. procera), which furnish a strong and valuable fiber. The acrid milky juice is used medicinally.

MUDARIN Mu"da*rin, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A brown, amorphous, bitter substance having a strong emetic action, extracted from the root of the mudar.

MUDDILY Mud"di*ly

Defn: , In a muddy manner; turbidly; without mixture; cloudily; obscurely; confusedly.

MUDDINESS Mud"di*ness, n.

1. The condition or quality of being muddy; turbidness; foulness casued by mud, dirt, or sediment; as, the muddiness of a stream.

2. Obscurity or confusion, as in treatment of a subject; intellectual dullness.

MUDDLE Mud"dle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Muddled; p. pr. & vb. n. Muddling.] Etym: [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.

MUDDLE Mud"dle, v. i.

1. To dabble in mud. [Obs.] Swift.

2. To think and act in a confused, aimless way.

MUDDLE Mud"dle, n.

Defn: A state of being turbid or confused; hence, intellectual cloudiness or dullness. We both grub on in a muddle. Dickens.

MUDDLEHEAD Mud"dle*head`, n.

Defn: A stupid person. [Colloq.] C. Reade. — Mud"dle-head`ed, a. [Colloq.] Dickens.

MUDDLER Mud"dler, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, muddles.

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.

MUDDY-HEADED Mud"dy-head`ed, a.

Defn: Dull; stupid.

MUDDY-METTLED Mud"dy-met`tled, a.

Defn: Dull-spirited. Shak.

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.

MUDHOLE Mud"hole`, n.

1. A hole, or hollow place, containing mud, as in a road.

2. (Steam Boilers)

Defn: A hole near the bottom, through which the sediment is withdrawn.

MUDIR Mu"dir, n.

Defn: Same as Moodir.

MUDSILL Mud"sill`, n.

Defn: 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.

MUDSUCKER Mud"suck`er, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A woodcock.

MUDWALL Mud"wall`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The European bee-eater. See Bee-eater. [Written also modwall.]

MUDWORT Mud"wort`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A small herbaceous plant growing on muddy shores (Limosella aquatica).

MUE Mue, v. i.

Defn: To mew; to molt. [Obs.] Quarles.

MUEZZIN Mu*ez"zin, n. Etym: [Ar.]

Defn: A Mohammedan crier of the hour of prayer. [Written also mouezzin, mueddin, and muwazzin.]

MUFF Muff, n. Etym: [Cf. LG. muff, D. mof, G., Dan., & Sw. muff, F. moufle mitten, LL. muffula, MHG. mouwe sleeve, D. mouw, and E. muffle, v.]

1. A soft cover of cylindrical form, usually of fur, worn by women to shield the hands from cold.

2. (Mech.)

Defn: A short hollow cylinder surrounding an object, as a pipe.

3. (Glass Manuf.)

Defn: A blown cylinder of glass which is afterward flattened out to make a sheet.

4. Etym: [Perhaps a different word; cf. Prov. E. maffle to slammer.]

Defn: A stupid fellow; a poor-spirited person. [Colloq.] "A muff of a curate." Thackeray.

5. Etym: [See 4.] (Baseball)

Defn: A failure to hold a ball when once in the hands.

6. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The whitethroat. [Prov. Eng.]

MUFF Muff, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Muffed; p. pr. & vb. n. Muffing.]

Defn: To handle awkwardly; to fumble; to fail to hold, as a ball, in catching it.

MUFFETEE Muf`fe*tee", n.

Defn: A small muff worn over the wrist. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

MUFFIN Muf"fin, n. Etym: [From Muff.]

Defn: A light, spongy, cylindrical cake, used for breakfast and tea.

MUFFINEER Muf`fin*eer", n.

Defn: A dish for keeping muffins hot.

MUFFISH Muff"ish, a. Etym: [See Muff, 4 & 5.]

Defn: Stupid; awkward. [Colloq.]

MUFFLE Muf"fle, n.

Defn: 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.] Etym: [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 disguishing 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, v. i. Etym: [Cf. F. maffle, mumble, D. moffelen.]

Defn: To speak indistinctly, or without clear articulation.

MUFFLE Muf"fle, n. Etym: [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.)

Defn: 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)

Defn: 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.

MUFFLER Muf"fler, n.

1. Anything used in muffling; esp., a scarf for protecting the head and neck in cold weather; a tippet. Fortune is painted blind, with a muffler above her eyes. Shak.

2. (Mus.)

Defn: A cushion for terminating or softening a note made by a stringed instrument with a keyboard.

3. A kind of mitten or boxing glove, esp. when stuffed.

4. One who muffles.

MUFLON Muf"lon, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Mouflon.

MUFTI Muf"ti, n.; pl. Muftis. Etym: [Ar. mufti.]

Defn: An official expounder of Mohammedan law.

MUFTI Muf"ti, n.

Defn: Citizen's dress when worn by a naval or military officer; — a term derived from the British service in India. [Colloq. Eng.]

MUG Mug, n. Etym: [Cf. Ir. mugam a mug, mucog a cup.]

1. A kind of earthen or metal drinking cup, with a handle, — usually cylindrical and without a lip.

2. The face or mouth. [Slang] Thackeray.

MUGGARD Mug"gard, a. Etym: [Cf. G. mucker a sulky person, muckish sullen, peevish, mucken to mutter, grumble.]

Defn: Sullen; displeased. [Obs.]

MUGGER; MUGGAR; MUGGUR Mug"ger, n. Also Mug"gar, Mug"gur. [Hind. magar, fr. Skr. makara sea monster.]

Defn: The common crocodile (Crocodilus palustris) of India, the East Indies, etc. It becomes twelve feet or more long.

MUGGET Mug"get, n.

Defn: The small entrails of a calf or a hog.

MUGGINESS Mug"gi*ness, n.

Defn: The condition or quality of being muggy.

MUGGINS Mug"gins, n. [Etym. unknown.]

1. A game of dominoes in which the object is to make the sum of the two ends of the line some multiple of five.

2. A game at cards which depends upon building in suits or matching exposed cards, the object being to get rid of one's cards.

MUGGINS Mug"gins, v. t.

Defn: In certain games, to score against, or take an advantage over (an opponent), as for an error, announcing the act by saying "muggins."

MUGGISH Mug"gish, a.

Defn: See Muggy.

MUGGLETONIAN Mug`gle*to"ni*an, n. (Eccl. Hist.)

Defn: One of an extinct sect, named after Ludovic Muggleton, an English journeyman tailor, who (about 1657) claimed to be inspired. Eadie.

MUGGY Mug"gy, a. [Compar. Muggier; superl. Muggiest.] Etym: [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`, n.

Defn: An alehouse; a pothouse. Tickel.

MUGIENCY Mu"gi*en*cy, n.

Defn: A bellowing. [Obs.]

MUGIENT Mu"gi*ent, a. Etym: [L. mugiens, p.pr. of mugire to bellow.]

Defn: Lowing; bellowing. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

MUGIL Mu"gil, n. Etym: [L., a sort of fish.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of fishes including the gray mullets. See Mullet.

MUGILOID Mu"gi*loid, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Like or pertaining to the genus Mugil, or family Mugilidæ.

MUGWEED Mug"weed`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A slender European weed (Galium Cruciata); — called also crossweed.

MUGWORT Mug"wort`, n. Etym: [AS. mucgwyrt. Cf. Midge.] (Bot.)

Defn: A somewhat aromatic composite weed (Artemisia vulgaris), at one time used medicinally; — called also motherwort.

MUGWUMP Mug"wump`, n. Etym: [Cf. Algonquin mugquomp a chief.]

Defn: A bolter from the Republican party in the national election of 1884; an Independent. [Political Cant, U.S.]

MUGWUMPERY; MUGWUMPISM Mug"wump`er*y, Mug"wump*ism, n.

Defn: The acts and views of the mugwumps. [Political Cant, U.S.]

MUHAMMADAN; MUHAMMEDAN Mu*ham"mad*an, Mu*ham"med*an, a. & n.

Defn: Mohammedan.

MUHAMMADANISM Mu*ham"mad*an*ism, n.

Defn: Mohammedanism.

MULADA Mu*la"da, n.

Defn: A moor. [Scot.] Lockhart.

MULADA Mu*la"da, n. Etym: [Sp. Amer., fr. Sp. mulo, mula, a mule.]

Defn: A drove of mules. [Southwest. U.S.]

MULATTO Mu*lat"to, n.; pl. Mulattoes. Etym: [Sp. & Pg. mulato, masc., mulata, fem., of a mixed breed, fr. mulo mule, L. mulus. See Mule.]

Defn: The offspring of a negress by a white man, or of a white woman by a negro, — usually of a brownish yellow complexion.

MULATTRESS Mu*lat"tress, n.

Defn: A female mulatto. G. W. Gable.

MULBERRY Mul"ber*ry, n.; pl. Mulberries. Etym: [OE. moolbery, murberie, AS. murberie, where the first part is fr. L. morum mulberry; cf. Gr. Murrey, Sycamore.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: 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.

MULBERRY-FACED Mul"ber*ry-faced` (-fast`), a.

Defn: Having a face of a mulberry color, or blotched as if with mulberry stains.

MULCH Mulch, n. Etym: [Cf. mull dirt, also Prov. G. mulsch, molsch, rotten, soft, mellow, as fruit.]

Defn: Half-rotten straw, or any like substance strewn on the ground, as over the roots of plants, to protect from heat, drought, etc., and to preserve moisture.

MULCH Mulch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mulched; p. pr. & vb. n. Mulching.]

Defn: To cover or dress with mulch.

MULCT Mulct, n. Etym: [L. mulcta, multa.]

1. A fine or penalty, esp. a pecuniary punishment or penalty.

2. A blemish or defect. [Obs.]

Syn. — Amercement; forfeit; forfeiture; penalty.

MULCT Mulct, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mulcted; p. pr. & vb. n. Mulcting.] Etym: [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.]

MULCTARY; MULCTUARY Mulc"ta*ry, Mulc"tu*a*ry, a.

Defn: Imposing a pecuniary penalty; consisting of, or paid as, a fine. Fines, or some known mulctuary punishments. Sir W. Temple.

MULE Mule, n. Etym: [F., a she-mule, L. mula, fem. of mulus; cf. Gr. m, fr. L. mulus. Cf. Mulatto.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A hybrid animal; specifically, one generated between an ass and a mare, sometimes a horse and a she-ass. See Hinny.

Note: Mules are much used as draught animals. They are hardy, and proverbial for stubbornness.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: 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 Ayres; — 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.

MULE-JENNY Mule"-jen`ny, n.

Defn: See Mule, 4.

MULE KILLER Mule killer.

Defn: Any of several arthropods erroneously supposed to kill live stock, in the southern United States, by stinging or by being swallowed; as: (a) A whip scorpion. [Florida] (b) A walking-stick insect. [Texas] (c) A mantis. (d) A wheel bug.

MULETEER Mu`le*teer", n. Etym: [F. muletier, fr. mulet a mule, dim. fr. L. mulus.]

Defn: One who drives mules.

MULEWORT Mule"wort`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A fern of the genus Hemionitis.

MULEY Mu"ley, n. (Sawmills)

Defn: A stiff, long saw, guided at the ends but not stretched in a gate. Muley axle (Railroad), a car axle without collars at the outer ends of the journals. Forney.

MULEY Mul"ey, n.

Defn: See Mulley.

MULIEBRITY Mu`li*eb"ri*ty, n. Etym: [L. muliebritas, fr. muliebris belonging to a woman, fr. mulier a woman.]

1. The state of being a woman or of possessing full womanly powers; womanhood; — correlate of virility.

2. Hence: Effeminancy; softness.

MULIER Mu"li*er, n. Etym: [L., a woman.]

1. A woman.

2. (Law) (a) Lawful issue born in wedlock, in distinction from an elder brother born of the same parents before their marriage; a lawful son. (b) (Civ. Law) A woman; a wife; a mother. Blount. Cowell.

MULIERLY Mu"li*er*ly, adv.

Defn: In the manner or condition of a mulier; in wedlock; legitimately. [Obs.]

MULIEROSE Mu"li*er*ose`, a. Etym: [L. mulierosus.]

Defn: Fond of woman. [R.] Charles Reade.

MULIEROSITY Mu`li*er*os"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. mulierositas.]

Defn: A fondness for women. [R.] Dr. H. More.

MULIERTY Mu"li*er*ty, n. (Law)

Defn: Condition of being a mulier; position of one born in lawful wedlock.

MULISH Mul"ish, a.

Defn: Like a mule; sullen; stubborn. — Mul"ish*ly, adv. — Mul"ish*ness, n.

MULL Mull, n. Etym: [Perh. contr. fr. mossul. See Muslin.]

Defn: A thin, soft kind of muslin.

MULL Mull, n. Etym: [Icel. m 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 Mull, n. Etym: [Prob. akin to mold. *108. See Mold.]

Defn: Dirt; rubbish. [Obs.] Gower.

MULL Mull, v. t. Etym: [OE. mullen. See 2d Muller.]

Defn: To powder; to pulverize. [Prov. Eng.]

MULL Mull, v. i.

Defn: To work (over) mentally; to cogitate; to ruminate; — usually with over; as, to mull over a thought or a problem. [Colloq. U.S.]

MULL Mull, n.

Defn: An inferior kind of madder prepared from the smaller roots or the peelings and refuse of the larger.

MULL Mull, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mulled; p. pr. & vb. n. Mulling.] Etym: [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.

MULLA Mul"la, n.

Defn: Same as Mollah.

MULLAGATAWNY Mul`la*ga*taw"ny, n. Etym: [Tamil milagu-tannir pepper water.]

Defn: An East Indian curry soup.

MULLAH Mul"lah, n.

Defn: See Mollah.

MULLAR Mul"lar, n.

Defn: A die, cut in intaglio, for stamping an ornament in relief, as upon metal.

MULLEIN Mul"lein, n. Etym: [OE. moleyn, AS. molegn.] (Bot.)

Defn: 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.

MULLEN Mul"len, n. (Bot.)

Defn: See Mullein.

MULLER Mull"er, n.

1. One who, or that which, mulls.

2. A vessel in which wine, etc., is mulled over a fire.

MULLER Mull"er, n. Etym: [OE. mullen to pulverize, bruise; cf. Icel. mylja; prob. akin to E. mold soil. See Mold soil, and cf. Mull dirt.]

Defn: 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.

MULLERIAN; MUELLERIAN Mül*le"ri*an, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or discovered by, Johannes Müller. Müllerian ducts (Anat.), a pair of embryonic ducts which give rise to the genital passages in the female, but disappear in the male. — Müllerian fibers (Anat.), the sustentacular or connective-tissue fibers which form the framework of the retina.

MULLET Mul"let, n. Etym: [OE. molet, mulet, F. mulet, fr. L. mullus.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: 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.)

Defn: Any species of the genus Mullus, or family Mullidæ; 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).

MULLET Mul"let, n. Etym: [F. molette.] (Her.)

Defn: A star, usually five pointed and pierced; — when used as a difference it indicates the third son.

MULLET Mul"let, n. Etym: [Cf. F. molet a sort of pinchers.]

Defn: Small pinchers for curling the hair. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

MULLEY; MOOLLEY Mul"ley, Mool"ley, n. Etym: [CF. Gael. maolag a hornless cow, maol bald, hornless, blunt.]

1. A mulley or polled animal. [U. S.]

2. A cow. [Prov. Eng.; U.S., a child's word.] Leave milking and dry up old mulley, thy cow. Tusser.

MULLEY; MOOLLEY Mul"ley, Mool"ley, a.

Defn: Destitute of horns, although belonging to a species of animals most of which have horns; hornless; polled; as, mulley cattle; a mulley (or moolley) cow. [U. S.] [Written also muley.]

MULLIGATAWNY Mul`li*ga*taw"ny, n.

Defn: See Mullagatawny.

MULLIGRUBS Mul"li*grubs, n. Etym: [Cf. Prov. E. mull to squeeze, pull about, mulling numb or dull.]

1. A griping of the intestines; colic. [Slang] Whose dog lies sick of the mulligrubs Beau. & Fl.

2. Hence, sullenness; the sulks. [Slang]

MULLINGONG Mul"lin*gong, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Duck mole, under Duck. [Written also mollingong.]

MULLION Mul"lion, n. Etym: [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.

Defn: To furnish with mullions; to divide by mullions.

MULLOCK Mul"lock, n. Etym: [From Mull dirt: cf. Scot. mulloch, mulock, crumb. *108.]

Defn: Rubbish; refuse; dirt. [Obs.] All this mullok [was] in a sieve ythrowe. Chaucer.

MULLOID Mul"loid, a. Etym: [NL. Mullus, generic name (fr. L. mullus surmullet) + -oid.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Like or pertaining to the genus Mullus, which includes the surmullet, or red mullet.

MULMUL Mul"mul, n.

Defn: A fine, soft muslin; mull.

MULSE Mulse, n. Etym: [L. mulsum (sc. vinum), fr. mulsus mixed with honey, honey-sweet, p.p. of mulcere to sweeten, soften.]

Defn: Wine boiled and mingled with honey.

MULT- Mult-.

Defn: See Multi-.

MULTANGULAR Mul*tan"gu*lar, a. Etym: [L. multangulus; multus much, many + angulus angle: cf. F. multangulaire.]

Defn: Having many angles. — Mul*tan"gu*lar*ly, adv. — Mul*tan"gu*lar*ness, n.

MULTANIMOUS Mul*tan"i*mous, a. Etym: [Mult- + L. animus mind.]

Defn: Many-minded; many-sided. The multanimous nature of the poet. J. R. Lowell.

MULTARTICULATE Mul`tar*tic"u*late, a. Etym: [Mult- + articulate.]

Defn: Having many articulations or joints.

MULTEITY Mul*te"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. multus much, many.]

Defn: Multiplicity. [R.] Coleridge.

MULTI-; MULT- Mul"ti-, Mult-. Etym: [L. multus much.]

Defn: A prefix signifying much or many; several; more than one; as, multiaxial, multocular.

MULTIAXIAL Mul`ti*ax"i*al, a. Etym: [Multi- + axial.] (Biol.)

Defn: Having more than one axis; developing in more than a single line or plain; — opposed to Ant: monoaxial.

MULTICAPSULAR Mul`ti*cap"su*lar, a. Etym: [Multi- + capsular: cf. F. multicapsulaire.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having many, or several, capsules.

MULTICARINATE Mul`ti*car"i*nate, a. Etym: [Multi- + carinate.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Many-keeled.

MULTICAVOUS Mul`ti*ca"vous, a. Etym: [L. multicavus; multus much, many + cavum, cavus, a cavity, hole, fr. cavus hollow.]

Defn: Having many cavities.

MULTICELLULAR Mul`ti*cel"lu*lar, a.

Defn: Consisting of, or having, many cells or more than one cell.

MULTICENTRAL Mul`ti*cen"tral, a. Etym: [Multi- + central.]

Defn: Having many, or several, centers; as, a multicentral cell. Multicental development (Biol.), growth, or development, from several centers. According as the insubordination to a single center is more or less pronounced, the resultant organism will be more or less irregular in form and may even discontinuous.

MULTICIPITAL Mul`ti*cip"i*tal, a. Etym: [Multi- + L. caput head.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having many heads or many stems from one crown or root. Gray.

MULTICOLOR Mul"ti*col`or, a. Etym: [See Multi-, and Color.]

Defn: Having many, or several, colors.

MULTICOSTATE Mul`ti*cos"tate, a. Etym: [Multi- + costate.]

Defn: Having numerous ribs, or costæ, as the leaf of a plant, or as certain shells and corals.

MULTICUSPID Mul`ti*cus"pid, a. Etym: [See Multi-, and Cuspid.]

Defn: Multicuspidate; — said of teeth.

MULTICUSPIDATE Mul`ti*cus"pi*date, a. Etym: [Multi- + cuspidate.]

Defn: Having many cusps or points.

MULTIDENTATE Mul`ti*den"tate, a. Etym: [Multi- + dentate.]

Defn: Having many teeth, or toothlike processes.

MULTIDIGITATE Mul`ti*dig"i*tate, a. Etym: [Multi- + digitate.]

Defn: Having many fingers, or fingerlike processes.

MULTIFACED Mul"ti*faced`, a. Etym: [Multi- + face.]

Defn: Having many faces.

MULTIFARIOUS Mul`ti*fa"ri*ous, a. Etym: [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.)

Defn: Having parts, as leaves, arranged in many vertical rows.

MULTIFARIOUSLY Mul`ti*fa"ri*ous*ly, adv.

Defn: With great multiplicity and diversity; with variety of modes and relations.

MULTIFARIOUSNESS Mul`ti*fa"ri*ous*ness, n.

1. Multiplied diversity.

2. (Law)

Defn: The fault of improperly uniting in one bill distinct and independent matters, and thereby confounding them. Burrill.

MULTIFEROUS Mul*tif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. multifer; multus much, many + ferre to bear.]

Defn: Bearing or producing much or many. [R.]

MULTIFID Mul"ti*fid, a. Etym: [L. multifidus; multus much, many + findere to split: cf. F. multifide.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having many segments; cleft into several parts by linear sinuses; as, a multifid leaf or corolla.

MULTIFLOROUS Mul`ti*flo"rous, a. Etym: [L. multiflorus; multus much, many + flos, floris, flower: cf. F. multiflore.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having many flowers.

MULTIFLUE Mul"ti*flue, a. Etym: [Multi- + flue.]

Defn: Having many flues; as, a multiflue boiler. See Boiler.

MULTIFOIL Mul"ti*foil, n. Etym: [Multi- + foil.] (Arch.)

Defn: An ornamental foliation consisting of more than five divisions or foils. [R.] See Foil.

MULTIFOIL Mul"ti*foil, a.

Defn: Having more than five divisions or foils.

MULTIFOLD Mul"ti*fold, a. Etym: [Multi- + fold.]

Defn: Many times doubled; manifold; numerous.

MULTIFORM Mul"ti*form, a. Etym: [L. multiformis; multus much, many + forma shape: cf. F. multiforme.]

Defn: Having many forms, shapes, or appearances. A plastic and multiform unit. Hare.

MULTIFORMITY Mul`ti*form"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. multiformitas.]

Defn: The quality of being multiform; diversity of forms; variety of appearances in the same thing. Purchas.

MULTIFORMOUS Mul`ti*form"ous, a.

Defn: Multiform. [Obs.]

MULTIGENEROUS Mul`ti*gen"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. multigenerus; multus + genus, generis, kind.]

Defn: Having many kinds.

MULTIGRANULATE Mul`ti*gran"u*late, a. Etym: [Multi- + granulate.]

Defn: Having, or consisting of, many grains.

MULTIGRAPH Mul"ti*graph, n. [Multi- + -graph.]

Defn: A combined rotary type-setting and printing machine for office use. The type is transferred semi-automatically by means of keys from a type-supply drum to a printing drum. The printing may be done by means of an inked ribbon to print "typewritten" letters, or directly from inked type or a stereotype plate, as in a printing press.

MULTIJUGATE Mul*tij"u*gate, a.

Defn: Having many pairs of leaflets.

MULTIJUGOUS Mul*tij"u*gous, a. Etym: [L. multijugus; multus + jugum yoke.]

1. Consisting of many parts.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: Same as Multijugate.

MULTILATERAL Mul`ti*lat"er*al, a. Etym: [Multi- + lateral.]

Defn: Having many sides; many-sided.

MULTILINEAL Mul`ti*lin"e*al, a. Etym: [Multi- + lineal.]

Defn: Having many lines. Steevens.

MULTILOBAR Mul`ti*lo"bar, a. Etym: [Multi- + lobar.]

Defn: Consisting of, or having, many lobes.

MULTILOCULAR Mul`ti*loc"u*lar, a. Etym: [Multi- + locular: cf. F. multiloculaire.]

Defn: Having many or several cells or compartments; as, a multilocular shell or capsule.

MULTILOQUENCE Mul*til"o*quence, n.

Defn: Quality of being multiloquent; use of many words; talkativeness.

MULTILOQUENT; MULTILOQUOUS Mul*til"o*quent, Mul*til"o*quous, a. Etym: [L. multiloquus; multus much, many + loqui to speak.]

Defn: Speaking much; very talkative; loquacious.

MULTILOQUY Mul*til"o*quy, n. Etym: [L. multiloquium.]

Defn: Excess of words or talk. [R.]

MULTINODATE Mul`ti*no"date, a. Etym: [Multi- + nodate.]

Defn: Having many knots or nodes.

MULTINODOUS Mul`ti*no"dous, a. Etym: [L. multinodus.]

Defn: Same as Multinodate.

MULTINOMIAL Mul`ti*no"mi*al, n. & a. Etym: [Multi- + -nomial, as in binomial. See Binomial.] (Alg.)

Defn: Same as Polynomial.

MULTINOMINAL; MULTINOMINOUS Mul`ti*nom"i*nal, Mul`ti*nom"i*nous, a. Etym: [L. multinominis; multus many + nomen nominis name.]

Defn: Having many names or terms.

MULTINUCLEAR Mul`ti*nu"cle*ar, a. Etym: [Multi- + nuclear.] (Biol.)

Defn: Containing many nuclei; as, multinuclear cells.

MULTINUCLEATE; MULTINUCLEATED Mul`ti*nu"cle*ate, Mul`ti*nu"cle*a`ted, a. (Biol.)

Defn: Multinuclear.

MULTIPAROUS Mul*tip"a*rous, a. Etym: [Multi- + L. parere to produce: cf. F. multipare.]

Defn: Producing many, or more than one, at a birth.

MULTIPARTITE Mul*tip"ar*tite, a. Etym: [L. multipartitus multus much, many partitus divided, p.p.: cf. F. multipartite. See Partite.]

Defn: Divided into many parts; having several parts.

MULTIPED Mul"ti*ped, n. Etym: [L. multipes, multipeda; multus much, many + pes, pedis, foot: cf. F. multipède.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: An insect having many feet, as a myriapod.

MULTIPED Mul"ti*ped, a.

Defn: Having many feet.

MULTIPHASE Mul"ti*phase, a. [Multi- + phase.]

Defn: Having many phases; specif. (Elec.),

Defn: pertaining to, or designating, a generator producing, or any system conveying or utilizing, two or more waves of pressure, or electromotive force, not in phase with each other; polyphase.

MULTIPLANE Mul"ti*plane, a.

Defn: Having several or many planes or plane surfaces; as, a multiplane kite.

MULTIPLANE Mul"ti*plane, n. [Multi- + plane.] (Aëronautics)

Defn: An aëroplane with three or more superposed main planes.

MULTIPLE Mul"ti*ple, a. Etym: [Cf. F. multiple, and E. quadruple, and multiply.]

Defn: 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 multiplies 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 amoeboid 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.

MULTIPLE Mul"ti*ple, n. (Math.)

Defn: A quantity containing another quantity a number of times without a remainder.

Note: A common multiple of two or more numbers contains each of them a number of times exactly; thus, 24 is a common multiple of 3 and 4. The least common multiple is the least number that will do this; thus, 12 is the least common multiple of 3 and 4.

MULTIPLEX Mul"ti*plex, a. Etym: [L. multiplex, -plicis. See Multiply.]

Defn: Manifold; multiple.

MULTIPLIABLE Mul"ti*pli`a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. multipliable.]

Defn: Capable of being multiplied. — Mul"ti*pli`a*ble*ness, n.

MULTIPLICABLE Mul"ti*pli*ca*ble, a. Etym: [L. multiplicabilis.]

Defn: Capable of being multiplied; multipliable.

MULTIPLICAND Mul"ti*pli*cand`, n. Etym: [L. multiplicandus to be multiplied: cf. F. multiplicande.] (Math.)

Defn: The number which is to be multiplied by another number called the multiplier. See Note under Multiplication.

MULTIPLICATE Mul"ti*pli*cate, a. Etym: [L. multiplicatus, p.p. of multiplicare. See Multiply.]

Defn: 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. Etym: [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.)

Defn: 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.

Note: 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 f(x + y) = fx + fy (see under Distributive), where f(x + y), fx, and fy indicate the results of any distributive operation represented by the symbol f upon x + y, x, and y, severally, then because of many very useful analogies f(x + y) is called the product of f and x + y, and the operation indicated by f is called multiplication. Cf. Facient, n., 2.

3. (Bot.)

Defn: 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.

MULTIPLICATIVE Mul"ti*pli*ca*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. multiplicatif.]

Defn: Tending to multiply; having the power to multiply, or incease numbers.

MULTIPLICATIVELY Mul"ti*pli*ca*tive*ly, adv.

Defn: So as to multiply.

MULTIPLICATOR Mul"ti*pli*ca`tor, n. Etym: [L.: cf. F. multiplicateur. Cf. Multiplier.]

Defn: The number by which another number is multiplied; a multiplier.

MULTIPLICIOUS Mul`ti*pli"cious, a. Etym: [See Multiplex.]

Defn: Manifold. [Obs.]

MULTIPLICITY Mul`ti*plic"ity, n. Etym: [Cf. F. multiplicité.]

Defn: The quality of being multiple, manifold, or various; a state of being many; a multitude; as, a multiplicity of thoughts or objects. "A multiplicity of goods." South.

MULTIPLIER Mul"ti*pli`er, n. Etym: [Cf. F. multiplier. Cf. Multiplicator.]

1. One who, or that which, multiplies or increases number.

2. (Math.)

Defn: The number by which another number is multiplied. See the Note under Multiplication.

3. (Physics)

Defn: 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.] Etym: [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.)

Defn: 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.

MULTIPLY Mul"ti*ply, v. i.

1. To become greater in number; to become numerous. When men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them. Gen. vi. 1.

2. To increase in extent and influence; to spread. The word of God grew and multiplied. Acts xii. 24.

3. To increase amount of gold or silver by the arts of alchemy. [Obs.] Chaucer.

MULTIPOLAR Mul`ti*po"lar, a. Etym: [Multi- + polar.] (Biol.)

Defn: Having many poles; — applied especially to those ganglionic nerve cells which have several radiating processes.

MULTIPOTENT Mul*tip"o*tent, a. Etym: [L. multipotens; multus much + potens powerful. See Potent.]

Defn: Having manifold power, or power to do many things. "Jove multipotent." Shak.

MULTIPRESENCE Mul`ti*pres"ence, n.

Defn: The state or power of being multipresent. The multipresence of Christ's body. Bp. Hall.

MULTIPRESENT Mul`ti*pres"ent, a. Etym: [Multi- + present, a.]

Defn: Being, or having the power to be, present in two or more places at once.

MULTIRADIATE Mul`ti*ra"di*ate, a. Etym: [Multi- + radiate.]

Defn: Having many rays.

MULTIRAMIFIED Mul`ti*ram"i*fied, a. Etym: [Multi- + p.p. of ramify.]

Defn: Divided into many branches.

MULTIRAMOSE Mul`ti*ra*mose", a. Etym: [Multi- + ramose.]

Defn: Having many branches.

MULTISCIOUS Mul*tis"cious, a. Etym: [L. multiscius; multus much + scius knowing, fr. scire to know.]

Defn: Having much or varied knowledge. [Obs.]

MULTISECT Mul"ti*sect, a. Etym: [Multi- + L. sectus, p.p. of secare to cut.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Divided into many similar segments; — said of an insect or myriapod.

MULTISEPTATE Mul`ti*sep"tate, a. Etym: [Multi- + septate.] (Bot.)

Defn: Divided into many chambers by partitions, as the pith of the pokeweed.

MULTISERIAL Mul`ti*se"ri*al, a. Etym: [Multi- + serial.] (Bot.)

Defn: Arranged in many rows, or series, as the scales of a pine cone, or the leaves of the houseleek.

MULTISILIQUOUS Mul`ti*sil"i*quous, a. Etym: [Multi- + siliquious.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having many pods or seed vessels.

MULTISONOUS Mul*tis"o*nous, a. Etym: [L. multisonus; multus much, many + sonus sound.]

Defn: Having many sounds, or sounding much.

MULTISPIRAL Mul`ti*spi"ral, a. Etym: [Multi- + spiral.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Having numerous spiral coils round a center or nucleus; — said of the opercula of certain shells.

MULTISTRIATE Mul`ti*stri"ate, a. Etym: [Multi- + striate.]

Defn: Having many streaks.

MULTISULCATE Mul`ti*sul"cate, a. Etym: [Multi- + sulcate.]

Defn: Having many furrows.

MULTISYLLABLE Mul"ti*syl`la*ble, n. Etym: [Multi- + syllable.]

Defn: A word of many syllables; a polysyllable. [R.] — Mul`ti*syl*lab"ic, a.

MULTITITULAR Mul`ti*tit"u*lar, a. Etym: [Multi- + titular.]

Defn: Having many titles.

MULTITUBULAR Mul`ti*tu"bu*lar, a. Etym: [Multi- + tubular.]

Defn: Having many tubes; as, a multitubular boiler.

MULTITUDE Mul"ti*tude, n. Etym: [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 uttery 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.

MULTITUDINARY Mul`ti*tu"di*na*ry, a.

Defn: Multitudinous.

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.

MULTIVAGANT; MULTIVAGOUS Mul*tiv"a*gant, Mul*tiv"a*gous, a. Etym: [L. multivagus; multus much + vagus wandering; cf. vagans, p.pr. of vagari. See Vagary.]

Defn: Wandering much. [Obs.]

MULTIVALENCE Mul*tiv"a*lence, n. (Chem.)

Defn: Quality, state, or degree, of a multivalent element, atom, or radical.

MULTIVALENT Mul*tiv"a*lent, a. Etym: [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.

MULTIVALVE Mul"ti*valve, n. Etym: [Cf. F. multivalve.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any mollusk which has a shell composed of more than two pieces.

MULTIVALVE; MULTIVALVULAR Mul"ti*valve, Mul`ti*val"vu*lar, a. Etym: [Multi- + valve, valvular: cf. F. multivalve.]

1. Having many valves.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Many-valved; having more than two valves; — said of certain shells, as the chitons.

MULTIVERSANT Mul*tiv"er*sant, a. Etym: [Multi- + L. versans, p. pr. See Versant.]

Defn: Turning into many shapes; assuming many forms; protean.

MULTIVIOUS Mul*tiv"i*ous, a. & adv. Etym: [L. multivius; multus many + via way.]

Defn: Having many ways or roads; by many ways. [Obs.]

MULTIVOCAL Mul*tiv"o*cal, a. Etym: [Multi- + vocal.]

Defn: Signifying many different things; of manifold meaning; equivocal. "An ambiguous multivocal word." Coleridge. — n.

Defn: A multivocal word. [R.] Fitzed. Hall.

MULTOCULAR Mul*toc"u*lar, a. Etym: [Multi- + L. oculus eye.]

Defn: Having many eyes, or more than two.

MULTUM Mul"tum, n.

Defn: An extract of quassia licorice, fraudulently used by brewers in order to economize malt and hops. Craig. Hard multum, a preparation made from Cocculus Indicus, etc., used to impart an intoxicating quality to beer.

MULTUNGULATE Mul*tun"gu*late, a. Etym: [Multi- + ungulate.]

Defn: Having many hoofs.

MULTURE Mul"ture, n. Etym: [OF. multure, moulture, F. mouture, fr. L. molitura a grinding, molere to grind. See Mill the machine.]

1. (Scots Law)

Defn: The toll for grinding grain. Erskine.

2. A grist or grinding; the grain ground.

MUM Mum, a. Etym: [Of imitative origin. Cf. Mumble.]

Defn: Silent; not speaking. Thackeray. The citizens are mum, and speak not a word. Shak.

MUM Mum, interj.

Defn: Be silent! Hush! Mum, then, and no more. Shak.

MUM Mum, n.

Defn: Silence. [R.] Hudibras.

MUM Mum, n. Etym: [G. mummere, fr. Christian Mumme, who first brewed it in 1492.]

Defn: A sort of strong beer, originally made in Brunswick, Germany. Addison. The clamorous crowd is hushed with mugs of mum. Pope.

MUMBLE Mum"ble, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mumbled; p. pr. & vb. n. Mumbling.] Etym: [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.

MUMBLE Mum"ble, v. t.

1. To utter with a low, inarticulate voice. Bp. Hall.

2. To chew or bite gently, as one without teeth. Gums unarmed, to mumble meat in vain. Dryden.

3. To suppress, or utter imperfectly.

MUMBLENEWS Mum"ble*news`, n.

Defn: A talebearer. [Obs.]

MUMBLER Mum"bler, n.

Defn: One who mumbles.

MUMBLING Mum"bling, a.

Defn: Low; indistinct; inarticulate. — Mum"bling*ly, adv.

MUMBO JUMBO Mum"bo Jum`bo.

Defn: An object of superstitious homage and fear. Carlyle. The miserable Mumbo Jumbo they paraded. Dickens.

MUM-CHANCE Mum"-chance`, n.

1. A game of hazard played with cards in silence. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Decker.

2. A silent, stupid person. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

MUM-CHANCE Mum"-chance`, a.

Defn: Silent and idle. [Colloq.] Boys can't sit mum-chance always. J. H. Ewing.

MUMM Mumm, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Mummed; p. pr. & vb. n. Mumming.] Etym: [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.]

Defn: To sport or make diversion in a mask or disguise; to mask. With mumming and with masking all around. Spenser.

MUMMER Mumm"er, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. mommeur. See Mumm, and cf. Momier.]

Defn: 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. Etym: [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.

MUMMICHOG Mum"mi*chog, n. Etym: [Amer. Indian name.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of several species of small American cyprinodont fishes of the genus Fundulus, and of allied genera; the killifishes; — called also minnow. [Written also mummychog, mummachog.]

MUMMIFICATION Mum`mi*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [See Mummify.]

Defn: The act of making a mummy.

MUMMIFIED Mum"mi*fied, a.

Defn: Converted into a mummy or a mummylike substance; having the appearance of a mummy; withered.

MUMMIFORM Mum"mi*form, a. Etym: [Mummy + -form.]

Defn: Having some resemblance to a mummy; — in zoölogy, said of the pupæ of certain insects.

MUMMIFY Mum"mi*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mummified; p. pr. & vb. n. Mummifying.] Etym: [Mummy + -fy: cf. F. momifier.]

Defn: To embalm and dry as a mummy; to make into, or like, a mummy. Hall (1646).

MUMMY Mum"my, n.; pl. Mummies. Etym: [F. momie; cf. Sp. & Pg. momia, It. mummia; all fr. Per. m, fr. m wax.]

1. A dead body embalmed and dried after the manner of the ancient Egyptians; also, a body preserved, by any means, in a dry state, from the process of putrefaction. Bacon.

2. Dried flesh of a mummy. [Obs.] Sir. J. Hill.

3. A gummy liquor that exudes from embalmed flesh when heated; — formerly supposed to have magical and medicinal properties. [Obs.] Shak. Sir T. Herbert.

4. A brown color obtained from bitumen. See Mummy brown (below).

5. (Gardening)

Defn: A sort of wax used in grafting, etc.

6. One whose affections and energies are withered. Mummy brown, a brown color, nearly intermediate in tint between burnt umber and raw umber. A pigment of this color is prepared from bitumen, etc., obtained from Egyptian tombs. — Mummy wheat (Bot.), wheat found in the ancient mummy cases of Egypt. No botanist now believes that genuine mummy wheat has been made to germinate in modern times. — To beat to a mummy, to beat to a senseless mass; to beat soundly.

MUMMY Mum"my, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mummied; p. pr. & vb. n. Mummying.]

Defn: To embalm; to mummify.

MUMMYCHOG Mum"my*chog, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Mummichog.

MUMP Mump, v. i. Etym: [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 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.

MUMPER Mump"er, n.

Defn: A beggar; a begging impostor. Deceived by the tales of a Lincoln's Inn mumper. Macaulay.

MUMPISH Mump"ish, a.

Defn: Sullen, sulky. — Mump"ish*ly, adv. — Mump"ish*ness, n.

MUMPS Mumps, n. Etym: [Prov. E. mump to be sulky. Cf. Mump, Mumble, and Mum.]

1. pl.

Defn: Sullenness; silent displeasure; the sulks. Skinner.

2. Etym: [Prob. so called from the patient's appearance.] (Med.)

Defn: A specific infectious febrile disorder characterized by a nonsuppurative inflammation of the parotid glands; epidemic or infectious parotitis.

MUN Mun, n. Etym: [See Mouth.]

Defn: 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 Munch, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Munched; p. pr. & vb. n. Munching.] Etym: [Prob. akin to mumble: cf. also F. manger to eat (cf. Mange), and mâcher to cher (cf. Masticate). See Mumble.]

Defn: 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.

MUNCHAUSENISM Mun*chau"sen*ism, n. Etym: [So called in allusion to Baron Munchausen's extravagant tales of travel.]

Defn: An extravagant fiction embodying an account of some marvelous exploit or adventure.

MUNCHER Munch"er, n.

Defn: One who munches.

MUND Mund, n.

Defn: See Mun.

MUNDANE Mun"dane, a. Etym: [L. mundanus, fr. mundus the world, an implement, toilet adornments, or dress; cf. mundus, a., clean, neat, Skr. mansds to adorn, dress, mansdsa adornment. Cf. Monde, Mound in heraldry.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to the world; worldly; earthly; terrestrial; as, the mundane sphere. — Mun"dane*ly, adv. The defilement of mundane passions. I. Taylor.

MUNDANITY Mun*dan"i*ty, n.

Defn: Worldliness. [Obs.]

MUNDATION Mun*da"tion, n. Etym: [L. mundatio, fr. mundare to make clean.]

Defn: The act of cleansing. [Obs.]

MUNDATORY Mun"da*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. mundatorius.]

Defn: Cleansing; having power to cleanse. [Obs.]

MUNDIC Mun"dic, n.

Defn: Iron pyrites, or arsenical pyrites; — so called by the Cornish miners.

MUNDIFICANT Mun*dif"i*cant, a. Etym: [L. mundificans, p.pr. of mundificare to make clean, fr. mundus clean + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See -fy.]

Defn: Serving to cleanse and heal. — n.

Defn: A mundificant ointment or plaster.

MUNDIFICATION Mun`di*fi*ca"tion, n.

Defn: The act or operation of cleansing.

MUNDIFICATIVE Mun*dif"i*ca*tive, a.

Defn: Cleansing. — n.

Defn: A detergent medicine or preparation.

MUNDIFY Mun"di*fy, v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. mondifier, L. mundificare. See Mundificant.]

Defn: To cleanse. [Obs.]

MUNDIL Mun"dil, n.

Defn: A turban ornamented with an imitation of gold or silver embroidery.

MUNDIVAGANT Mun*div"a*gant, a. Etym: [L. mundus the world + vagans wandering, p.pr. of vagari. See Vagary.]

Defn: Wandering over the world. [R.]

MUNDUNGUS Mun*dun"gus, n. Etym: [Cf. Sp. mondongo paunch, tripe, black pudding.]

Defn: A stinking tobacco.

MUNERARY Mu"ner*a*ry, a. Etym: [L. munerarius, from munus a gift.]

Defn: Having the nature of a gift. [Obs.]

MUNERATE Mu"ner*ate, v. t. Etym: [L. muneratus, p.p. of munerare to give, bestow, fr. munus a gift.]

Defn: To remunerate.

MUNERATION Mu`ner*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. muneratio.]

Defn: Remuneration. [Obs.]

MUNG Mung, n. Etym: [Hind. m.] (Bot.)

Defn: Green gram, a kind of pulse (Phaseolus Mungo), grown for food in British India. Balfour (Cyc. of India).

MUNGA Mun"ga, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Bonnet monkey, under Bonnet.

MUNGCORN Mung"corn`, n.

Defn: Same as Mangcorn.

MUNGO Mun"go, n.

Defn: A fibrous material obtained by deviling rags or the remnants of woolen goods.

Note: 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. ).

MUNGOOSE; MUNGOOS Mun"goose, Mun"goos, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Mongoose.

MUNGREL Mun"grel, n. & a.

Defn: See Mongrel.

MUNICIPAL Mu*nic"i*pal, a. Etym: [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.

MUNICIPALISM Mu*nic"i*pal*ism, n.

Defn: Municipal condition.

MUNICIPALITY Mu*nic`i*pal"i*ty, n.; pl. Municipalities. Etym: [Cf. F. municipalité.]

Defn: A municipal district; a borough, city, or incorporated town or village.

MUNICIPALIZE Mu*nic"i*pal*ize, v. t. [Municipal + -ize.]

Defn: To bring under municipal oversight or control; as, a municipalized industry.

London people are now determined to centralize and to municipalize such services. The Century.

MUNICIPALLY Mu*nic"i*pal*ly, adv.

Defn: In a municipal relation or condition.

MUNIFIC Mu*nif"ic, a. Etym: [See Munificent.]

Defn: Munificent; liberal. [Obs. or R.]

MUNIFICATE Mu*nif"i*cate, v. t. Etym: [L. munificatus, p.p. of munificare to present with a thing, fr. munificus. See Munificent.]

Defn: To enrich. [Obs.]

MUNIFICENCE Mu*nif"i*cence, n. Etym: [Cf. L. munire to fortify.]

Defn: Means of defense; fortification. [Obs.] Spenser.

MUNIFICENCE Mu*nif"i*cence, n. Etym: [L. munificentia: cf. F. munificence.]

Defn: 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. Etym: [L. munificus; munus service, gift + -ficare (in comp.) to make. Cf. Immunity, -fy.]

Defn: 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. Etym: [See Munificate.]

Defn: To prepare for defense; to fortify. [Obs.]

MUNIMENT Mu"ni*ment, n. Etym: [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)

Defn: A record; the evidences or writings whereby a man is enabled to defend the title to his estate; title deeds and papers. Blount. Muniment house 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.

MUNITE Mu*nite", v. t. Etym: [L. munitus, p.p. of munire to wall, fortify.]

Defn: To fortify; to strengthen. [Obs.]

MUNITION Mu*ni"tion, n. Etym: [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 drfense 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. Etym: [See Immunity.]

Defn: Freedom; security; immunity. [Obs.] W. Montagu.

MUNJEET Mun*jeet", n. Etym: [Hind. majitsh a drug used for dyeing red.]

Defn: See Indian madder, under Madder.

MUNJISTIN Mun"jis*tin, n. (Chem.)

Defn: An orangered coloring substance resembling alizarin, found in the root of an East Indian species of madder (Rubia munjista).

MUNNION Mun"nion, n.

Defn: See Mullion.

MUNTIN; MUNTING Mun"tin, Mun"ting, n. Etym: [CF. Montant.] (Arch.)

Defn: Same as Mullion; — especially used in joiner's work.

MUNTJAC Munt"jac, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of several species of small Asiatic deer of the genus Cervulus, esp. C. muntjac, which occurs both in India and on the East Indian Islands. [Written also muntjak.]

MUNTZ METAL Muntz" met`al.

Defn: See under Metal.

MURAENA Mu*ræ"na, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of large eels of the family Mirænidæ. They differ from the common eel in lacking pectoral fins and in having the dorsal and anal fins continuous. The murry (Muræna Helenæ) of Southern Europe was the muræna of the Romans. It is highly valued as a food fish.

MURAENOID; MURENOID Mu*ræ"noid, Mu*re"noid, a. Etym: [NL. Muræna, the generic name + - oid.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Like or pertaining to the genus Muræna, or family Murænidæ.

MURAGE Mu"rage, n. Etym: [F., fr. murer to wall, fr. mur wall, L. murus. See Mure a wall.]

Defn: A tax or toll paid for building or repairing the walls of a fortified town.

MURAL Mu"ral, a. Etym: [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, n. Etym: [OE. morder, morther, AS. moredhor, fr. moredh murder; akin to D. moord, OS. moredh, G., Dan., & Sw. mord, Icel. moredh, 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. mrs to die, mrsta death. *105. Cf. Amaranth, Ambrosia, Mortal.]

Defn: 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.

Note: 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.] Etym: [OE. mortheren, murtheren, AS. myr; akin to OHG. murdiren, Goth. maúr. 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.

MURDERER Mur"der*er, n.

1. One guilty of murder; a person who, in possession of his reason, unlawfully kills a human being with premeditated malice.

2. A small cannon, formerly used for clearing a ship's decks of boarders; — called also murdering piece. [Obs.]

MURDERESS Mur"der*ess, n.

Defn: A woman who commits murder.

MURDERMENT Mur"der*ment, n.

Defn: Murder. [Obs.] Farfax.

MURDEROUS Mur"der*ous, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to murder; characterized by, or causing, murder or bloodshed; having the purpose or quality of murder; bloody; sanguinary; as, the murderous king; murderous rapine; murderous intent; a murderous assault. "Murderous coward." Shak. — Mur"der*ous*ly, adv.

Syn. — Bloody; sanguinary; bloodguilty; bloodthirsty; fell; savage; cruel.

MURDRESS Mur"dress, n.

Defn: A battlement in ancient fortifications with interstices for firing through.

MURE Mure, n. Etym: [L. murus; or F. mur, fr. L. murus. Cf. Munition.]

Defn: A wall. [Obs.] Shak.

MURE Mure, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mured.] Etym: [F. murer, L. murare. See Mure, n.]

Defn: 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.

Defn: One who had charge of the wall of a town, or its repairs.

MUREX Mu"rex, n.; pl. Murices. Etym: [L., the purple fish.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of marine gastropods, having rough, and frequently spinose, shells, which are often highly colored inside; the rock shells. They abound in tropical seas.

MUREXAN Mu*rex"an, n. Etym: [From Murexide.] (Chem.)

Defn: 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.

MUREXIDE Mu*rex"ide, n. Etym: [L. murex the purple fish, purple.] (Chem.)

Defn: A crystalline nitrogenous substance having a splendid dichroism, being green by reflected light and garnet-red by transmitted light. It was formerly used in dyeing calico, and was obtained in a large quantities from guano. Formerly called also ammonium purpurate.

MUREXOIN Mu*rex"o*ïn, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A complex nitrogenous compound obtained as a scarlet crystalline substance, and regarded as related to murexide.

MURIATE Mu"ri*ate, n. Etym: [See Muriatic.] (Chem.)

Defn: A salt of muriatic hydrochloric acid; a chloride; as, muriate of ammonia.

Note: 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.

MURIATED Mu"ri*a`ted, a.

1. Put in brine. Evelyn.

2. (Chem.)

Defn: Combined or impregnated with muriatic or hydrochloric acid.

3. (Photog.)

Defn: Prepared with chloride of silver through the agency of common salt.

MURIATIC Mu`ri*at"ic, a. Etym: [L. muriaticus pickled, from muria brine: cf. F. muriatique.] (Chem.)

Defn: 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.

MURIATIFEROUS Mu`ri*a*tif"er*ous, a. Etym: [Muriatic + -ferous.] (Old Chem.)

Defn: Producing muriatic substances or salt. [Obs.]

MURICATE; MURICATED Mu"ri*cate, Mu"ri*ca`ted, a. Etym: [L. muricatus, fr. murex a pointed rock or stone.]

Defn: Formed with sharp points; full of sharp points or of pickles; covered, or roughened, as a surface, with sharp points or excrescences.

MURICOID Mu"ri*coid, a. Etym: [Murex + -oid.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Like, or pertaining to, the genus Murex, or family Muricidæ.

MURICULATE Mu*ric"u*late, a.

Defn: Minutely muricate.

MURIDE Mu"ride, n. Etym: [L. muria brine.] (Old Chem.)

Defn: Bromine; — formerly so called from its being obtained from sea water.

MURIFORM Mu"ri*form, a. Etym: [L. murus a wall + -form.] (Bot.)

Defn: Resembling courses of bricks or stones in squareness and regular arrangement; as, a muriform variety of cellular tissue.

MURINE Mu"rine, a. Etym: [L. murinus, from mus, muris, mouse: cf. F. murin.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: Pertaining to a family of rodents (Muridæ), of which the mouse is the type.

MURINE Mu"rine, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of a tribe of rodents, of which the mouse is the type.

MURINGER Mu"rin*ger, n.

Defn: See Murenger. Jacob.

MURK Murk, a. Etym: [See Murky.]

Defn: Dark; murky. He can not see through the mantle murk. J. R. Drake.

MURK Murk, n.

Defn: Darkness; mirk. [Archaic] Shak.

MURK Murk, n.

Defn: The refuse of fruit, after the juice has been expressed; marc.

MURKILY Murk"i*ly, adv.

Defn: Darkly; gloomily.

MURKINESS Murk"i*ness, n.

Defn: The state of being murky.

MURKY Murk"y, a. [Compar. Murkier; superl. Murkiest.] Etym: [OE. mirke, merke, AS. myrce, mirce; akin to Icel. myrkr, Dan. & Sw. mörk.]

Defn: Dark; obscure; gloomy. "The murkiest den." Shak. A murky deep lowering o'er our heads. Addison.

MURLINS Mur"lins, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A seaweed. See Baddrelocks.

MURMUR Mur"mur, n. Etym: [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.] Etym: [F. murmurer, L. murmurare, murmurari, fr. murmur murmur; cf. Gr.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 at 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.

MURMUR Mur"mur, v. t.

Defn: To utter or give forth in low or indistinct words or sounds; as, to murmur tales. Shak. The people murmured such things concerning him. John vii. 32.

MURMURATION Mur`mur*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. murmuratio.]

Defn: The act of murmuring; a murmur. [Obs.] Skelton.

MURMURER Mur"mur*er, n.

Defn: One who murmurs.

MURMURING Mur"mur*ing, a. & n.

Defn: Uttering murmurs; making low sounds; complaining. — Mur"mur*ing*ly, adv.

MURMUROUS Mur"mur*ous, a. Etym: [Cf. L. murmuriosus, OF. murmuros.]

Defn: Attended with murmurs; exciting murmurs or complaint; murmuring. [Archaic or Poetic] The lime, a summer home of murmurous wings. Tennyson.

MURNIVAL Mur"ni*val, n. Etym: [Perh. fr. F. mornifle a game at cards.]

Defn: In the game of gleek, four cards of the same value, as four aces or four kings; hence, four of anything. [Obs.] [Written also mournival.]

MURPHY Mur"phy, n.

Defn: A potato. [Humorous] Thackeray.

MURR Murr, n. Etym: [Prob. abbrev. from murrain.]

Defn: A catarrh. [Obs.] Gascoigne.

MURRAIN Mur"rain, n. Etym: [OE. moreine, OF. morine, fr. OF. morir, murir, 8die, L. mori, moriri.] (Far.)

Defn: An infectious and fatal disease among cattle. Bacon. A murrain on you, may you be afflicted with a pestilent disease. Shak.

MURRAIN Mur"rain, a.

Defn: Having, or afflicted with, murrain.

MURRAYIN Mur"ray*in, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A glucoside found in the flowers of a plant (Murraya exotica) of South Asia, and extracted as a white amorphous slightly bitter substance.

MURRE Murre, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Any one of several species of sea birds of the genus Uria, or Catarractes; a guillemot.

Note: The murres are allied to the auks, and are abundant on the northern coasts of Europe and America. They often breed in large communities on the projecting ledges of precipituous cliffs, laying one or two large eggs on the bare rocks.

MURRELET Murre"let, n. Etym: [Murre + -let.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of several species of sea birds of the genera Synthliboramphus and Brachyramphus, inhabiting the North Pacific. They are closely related to the murres.

MURREY Mur"rey, n. Etym: [OF. morée a dark red color, mor blackish brown, fr. L. morum mulberry, blackberry, or fr. Maurus a Moor. Cf. Mulberry, Moor, Morelle.]

Defn: A dark red color. — a.

Defn: Of a dark red color. Bacon.

MURRHINE Mur"rhine, a. Etym: [L. murrhinus, fr. murrha: cf. F. murrhin.]

Defn: Made of the stone or material called by the Romans murrha; — applied to certain costly vases of great beauty and delicacy used by the luxurious in Rome as wine cups; as, murrhine vases, cups, vessels. Murrhine glass, glassware made in imitation of murrhine vases and cups.

MURRION Mur"ri*on, a. Etym: [See Murrain.]

Defn: Infected with or killed by murrain. [Obs.] Shak.

MURRION Mur"ri*on, n.

Defn: A morion. See Morion.

MURRY Mur"ry, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: See Muræna.

MURTH Murth, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]

Defn: Plenty; abundance. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

MURTHER Mur"ther, n. & v.

Defn: Murder, n. & v. [Obs. or Prov.] "The treason of the murthering." Chaucer.

MURTHERER Mur"ther*er, n.

Defn: A murderer. [Obs. or Prov.]

MURZA Mur"za, n.

Defn: One of the hereditary nobility among the Tatars, esp. one of the second class.

Note: This word must not be confounded with the Persian Mirza, though perhaps of the same origin.

MUS Mus, n.; pl. Mures. Etym: [L., a mouse.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of small rodents, including the common mouse and rat.

MUSA Mu"sa, n.; pl. Musæ. Etym: [NL., fr. Ar. mauz, mauza, banana.] (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of perennial, herbaceous, endogenous plants of great size, including the banana (Musa sapientum), the plantain (M. paradisiaca of Linnæus, 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.

Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, plants of the genus Musa.

MUSAL Mus"al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to the Muses, or to Poetry. [R.]

MUSANG Mu*sang", n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A small animal of Java (Paradoxirus fasciatus), allied to the civets. It swallows, but does not digest, large quantities of ripe coffee berries, thus serving to disseminate the coffee plant; hence it is called also coffee rat.

MUSAR Mu"sar, n.

Defn: An itinerant player on the musette, an instrument formerly common in Europe.

MUSARD Mu"sard, n. Etym: [F., fr. muser to loiter, trifle. See Muse, v. i.]

Defn: A dreamer; an absent-minded person. [Obs.] Rom. of R.

MUSCA Mus"ca, n.; pl. Muscæ. Etym: [L., a fly.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of dipterous insects, including the common house fly, and numerous allied species.

Note: Formerly, a large part of the Diptera were included under the genus Musca.

2. (Astron.)

Defn: A small constellation situated between the Southern Cross and the Pole. Muscæ volitantes (. Etym: [L., flying flies.] (Med.) Specks or filaments apparently seen moving or glinding about in the field of vision. Their appearance is often a symptom of disease of the eye, or of disorder of the nervous system.

MUSCADEL Mus"ca*del`, n. Etym: [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.]

Defn: See Muscatel, n. Quaffed off the muscadel. Shak.

MUSCADINE Mus"ca*dine, n. Etym: [See Muscadel.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: 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.