MAHOITRES ter. The principal importations of the timber into Great Britain are made from Honduras and Mexico. That which is imported from Cuba is called Spanish mahogany. The Mahogany (Swietenia Mahagoni). wood is of a reddish or brown colour, very hard, and susceptible of a fine polish. Of this are made many of our most beautiful and durable pieces of cabinet furniture.2. A dinner-table or table in general. Their presence . . . is odious to the gentlemen over the mahogany. Thackeray. Mahoitres (ma-hoi'trz), n. pl. [Fr.] The French term applied to the wadded and upraised shoulders in fashion during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Mahomedan, Mahometan (ma-hom'e-dan, ma-hom'e-tan), n. and a. See MOHAMMEDAN. Mahomedanism, Mahometanism (mahom'e-dan-izm, ma-hom'e-tan-izm), n. See MOHAMMEDANISM. Mahomedanize, Mahometanize(ma-hom'e-dan-iz, ma-hom'e-tan-iz), v.t. See MoHAMMEDANIZE. Mahometism, Mahometry (ma-hom'etizm, ma-hom'et-ri), n. Mohammedanism. 'Terrified into the profession of Mahometism.' E. Hamilton. [Rare.] Mahometist (ma-hom'et-ist), n. A follower of Mahomet or Mohammed. Fulke. [Rare.] Mahone (ma-hōn'), n. A Turkish ship of great burden. Mahonia (ma-ho'ni-a), n. [After Bernard M'Mahon, of North America, a patron of botanical science.] The pinnate-leaved barberries, a sub-genus of the genus Berberis, nat. order Berberidacea, commonly known as American barberries. M. aquifolium is commonly cultivated in this country in shrubberies. Mahoun (ma-hön'), n. An appellation of the devil: same as Mahound. [Scotch.] Burns. The deil cam fiddling through the town, And danced awa wi' the exciseman, And ilka wife cries-'Auld Mahoun, I wish you luck o' the prize, man!' Mahound (ma-hound'), n. An old corruption of Mohammed, and also applied to the devil or other evil spirit, or any character of great wickedness: used adjectively in following quotation. 'Who's this, my mahound cousin?' Beau. & Fl. Mahout (ma-höt'), n. In the East Indies, an elephant driver or keeper. The mahout of his elephant had been pulled off his seat by one of the infuriated animals. Thackeray. Mahratta (ma-rat'ta), n. One of a race of Hindus inhabiting Central India, supposed to have migrated or to have been pushed thither from the north. Mahwa-tree, Mohwa-tree (ma'wa-trē, mo'wa-tre), n. A tree belonging to the East Indies, the Bassia latifolia, nat. order Sapotacer. It furnishes a hard strong timber used for carriage-wheels; the flowers are sweet tasted and eaten raw, and they are often used in the distillation of an ardent spirit like whisky. The seeds yield an oil used for lamps, in the manufacture of soap, and for culinary purposes. Maian (ma'i-an), n. In zool. a member of the tribe of the Maiidae (which see). Maid (mad), n. [A. Sax. magth, a maid, of which magden, mæden, are diminutives; Goth. magaths, G. magd, maid. It is the feminine form of A. Sax. mag, magu, Goth. magus, Icel. mögr, a boy, a son; allied to Gael. mac, a son; W. magu, Armor. maga, to breed; Lith. meita, a maid.] 1. A young unmarried woman.-2. A virgin; an unmar 100 ried woman who has preserved her chastity: sometimes applied to a chaste young man. Would you not swear All you that see her that she were a maid By these exterior shews? But she is none. Shak. 3. A female servant. -4. The female of several species of skate.-Maid of all work, a female servant who does work of every kind. By such presumptuous pity... did you fearfully risk the place of maid of all work at a hedge-side hotel. Ferrold. Maid-child (mäd'child), n. A female child; a girl. Maiden (mãd'n), n. [See MAID.] 1. A maid in senses 1 and 2.-2. The name of an instrument of capital punishment formerly used at Halifax in Yorkshire, and in Scotland. It consisted of a loaded piece of iron with a sharp edge, which moved in grooves in a frame 10 feet high. This piece being raised to the top of the frame and let loose, descended and severed the criminal's head from his body.-3. An instrument for washing linen.-4. In the game of cricket, a maiden over; that is, an over in which no runs are made. See OVER. Maiden (mãd'n), a. 1. Pertaining to a young woman or virgin; as, maiden charms. 2. Consisting of young women or virgins. 'Amid the maiden throng.' Addison.3. Like a maiden. Maiden, Museum of the Society of Antiquaries, Edinburgh. Once I encountered him, and thus I said: 4. Fresh; new; unpolluted; unused. In this This hand of mine Is yet a maiden and an innocent hand. Maiden (mad'n), v.i. To speak and act demurely or modestly. Bp. Hall. [Rare.] Maiden-assize (mad'n-as-siz), n. See MAID EN, a. 4. Maidenhair (mād'n-har), n. Various species of the genus Adiantum, especially the A. capillus-veneris. It is an elegant fern, and is found growing on rocks and walls in England. It possesses demulcent and mucilaginous properties. Maidenhead (mäd'n-hed), n. [Maiden, and To her perpetual maidenhood 1. The state Tennyson. Like a maid; 2. Freshness; newness; uncontaminated or unstained state. 'The maidenhood of thy first fight.' Shak. Maidenlike (mād'n-lik), a. modest. Maidenliness (mad'n-li-nes), n. The behaviour that becomes a maid; modesty; gentleness. Maidenlip (mad'n-lip), n. Echinospermum Lappula, nat. order Boraginaceae, a plant much resembling forget-me-not. Maidenly (mãd'n-li), a. Like a maid; gentle; modest; reserved. Maidenly (mãd'n-li), adv. In a maidenlike manner. [Rare.] Maiden-meek (mad'n-mek), a. Meek as becomes or is natural to a maiden. 'Maidenmeek I prayed concealment.' Tennyson. Maiden-pink, Meadow-pink (mad'npingk, me'dō-pingk), n. A species of Dianthus, D. deltoides. Maiden-plum (mad'n-plum), n. The name of two West Indian plants of the genus Comocladia (the C. integrifolia and C. dentata), belonging to the nat. order Anacardiaceæ. They yield a milky juice which, on exposure to air, becomes an indelible black dye. Maiden-rents (mãd'n-rents), n. pl. In ancient times, a noble paid by the tenants of some manors on their marriage. See MER CHETA. Maidenship + (mad'n-ship), n. Maidenhood. Fuller. Maidhood (mad'hud), n. Virginity. 'By maidhood, honour, truth, and everything." Shak. Maid-mariant (mãd-ma'ri-an), n. 1. Originally the queen of May, one of the characters in the old morris-dance; but afterwards this dance degenerated into coarse buffoonery, and Maid-marian was personated by a buffoon.-2. The name of a dance. A set of morrice-dancers danced a maid-marian with a pipe and tabor. Sir W. Temple. Maidpale (mad'pal), a. Having the delicate Maidservant (mad'sér-vant), n. A female white complexion of a girl. Shak. servant. Maieutic (ma-u'tik), n. [Gr. maieutikos, pertaining to midwifery, from maia, a midwife.] A method pursued by Socrates in the investigation of truth, according to which he endeavoured to lead one to the truth by continual questioning. This positive side of the Socratic method is the maieutic (that is, maieutic or obstetric art). Socrates likened himself, namely, to his mother Phænarete, who was a midwife, because, if no longer able to bear thoughts himself, he was still quite able to help others to bear them, as well as to distinguish those that were sound from those that were unsound. F. Hutchison Stirling Maieutic, Maieutical (ma-u'tik, mā-ü'tikal), a. Serving to assist or accelerate childbirth; aiding in bringing forth, in a metaphorical sense; serving to educe or elicit. [Rare.] Yet is all human teaching but maieutical or obstetricious. Cudworth. Maigre (ma'gr), n. An acanthopterygious fish of the genus Sciana; more particularly, the S. aquila, a large and very powerful fish common in the Mediterranean and occasionally taken on our coasts. It is remarkable for making a sort of whirring noise as it moves through the water. Called also Shade-fish. Maigret (ma'gr), n. [See adjective.] A fast. Walpole. [Rare.] Maigre (ma'gr), a. [Fr., lean, spare, meagre.} 1. Pertaining to a fast or fast-day. - 2. In cookery, a term applied to a preparation of any kind made without butcher's meat, poultry, or game, and cooked merely with butter, where lard or dripping might at other times be proper. Maigre dishes, dishes used by Roman Catholics on the days when their church forbids flesh-meats, and comprehending all fish and vegetables, fruit, eggs, omelets, fritters, creams, jellies, &c. Maigre-food (ma'gr-föd), n. Food permitted to Roman Catholics on fast-days. Maihem (ma'hem), n. See MAIM, MAYHEM. Maiidæ (ma'i-i-dē), n. pl. [Gr. maia, a crab, and eidos, resemblance.] The second tribe of the family of Oxyrhynchi, according to the system of M. Milne Edwards, composed of brachyurous crustaceans whose carapace, nearly always very spiny, is, with some exceptions, much longer than it is wide. The species called Maia squinado is occasionally taken on our own coasts. It is commonly called the Sea-spider or Spider-crab. Maik (mák), n. [See MAKE, a companion.] A companion; an equal; a peer. [Scotch.] He was a leal true Scotsman and a gallant gentleman; lang it may be ere we see his maik again. James Grant. Mail (mäl), n. [Fr. maille, a stitch in knitting, the mesh of a net, a link of mail; Pr. malha, It. maglia, from L. macula, a spot, a mesh in a net.] 1. Armour; a defensive interlacing each other, and was sometimes divided into chain-mail and ring-mail; of this kind were shirts of mail. The third kind, plate-mail, was, as the name indicates, made up of plates usually of steel, but sometimes of brass, its parts riveted or bound together with thongs. Hence-2. Any defensive covering, as the shell of a lobster. And strip the lobster of his scarlet mail. Gay. 3. Naut. a square machine composed of rings interwoven like net-work, used for rubbing off the loose hemp on lines and white cordage.-4. See MAIL, a spot. Mail (mål), e.t. 1. To put on a coat of mail or armour; to arm defensively. The mailed Mars shall on his altar sit.' Shak.-2. To invest or envelop with a covering of any kind. Methinks I should not thus be led along, Mailed up in shame, with papers on my back. Shak Hence-3. To pinion or fasten down, as the wings of a hawk. Prince, by your leave, I'll have a circingle, And mail you like a hawk. Beau. & FI Mailt (mål), n. [A. Sax. mál, mæl, portion, share, meal; Icel. mál, Dan. maal, a measure.] An old Scotch law term signifying rent. Grass-mail, the rent payable for cattle sent to graze on the pasture of another. Blackmail. See BLACKMAIL. Mails and duties, the rents of an estate whether in money or grain. Mail (mål), n. [Fr. malle, Pr. Sp. Pg. mala, a trunk, a mail; it seems doubtful whether the word has entered the Romance languages from the Celtic or the German; comp. Ir. and Gael. mala, Armor. mal, a bag, a budget, a sack; O.H.G. malaha, malha, a saddle-bag, a wallet; Icel. malr, a knapsack.] 1. Originally, a bag; a bundle; specifically, a bag for the conveyance of letters and papers, particularly letters conveyed from one post-office to another under public authority. This lets me know, my pretty one, that you have not been always the bearer of your own mail. Sir W. Scott. 2 The letters, papers, &c., conveyed in such a bag.-3. The person or conveyance by which the mail is conveyed. Mail (mål), v.t. To put in the mail; to send by mail; to put into the post-office for transmission by mail; to post. That may be mailed A bag in which the Mail (mål), n. [Either same as Fr. maile, a spot on a bird's feathers, from L. macula (see MAIL, armour), or same as A. Sax. mal, G. mal, a spot.] A spot; a stain; a disfigurement. Mailable (mal'a-bl), a. or carried in the mail. Mail-bag (māl'bag), n. public mail is carried. Mail-boat (mālbōt), n. ries the public mail. Mail-clad (māl'klad), a. of mail. Mail-coach (mālkōch), n. conveys the public mails. Maile (mål), n. See MAILLE. A boat which car Clad with a coat A coach that Mixed. Mailed (mald), p. and a. 1. Covered with mail or with armour.-2. In zool. protected by an external coat or covering of scales or hard substance. - 3. Spotted; speckled. Mailed, Melled (mäld, meld), pp. [Scotch.] Mailed-cheeks (māld’chēks), n. pl. A name given to the Sclerogenidæ or Triglidæ, a family of acanthopterygious fishes, from their having certain bones of the head and gill-covers enlarged to form a defence for the cheeks. Gurnards and bull-heads are members of this family. Mail-guard (mål'gärd), n. An officer having charge of the mail. 101 Mailin, Mailling (māl′in, mål'ing), n. [See MAIL, rent.] A farm; a piece of land for which rent or feu-duty is paid. [Scotch.] Maille (mäl), n. [Fr., a piece of money; O. Fr. meaille, from L. metallum, metal.] A term given to several coins of different denominations: as, (a) a small copper coin current in France under the kings of the third race, of the value of half a denier; (b) a silver halfpenny in the time of Henry V. -Maille-noble, the half noble of the reign of Edward III., a gold coin of the value of forty pence sterling. Mail-master (māl'mas-tér), n. An officer who has charge of the mail. Mail-room (māl'röm), n. A room or apartment in which the letters composing the mails are sorted. Mail-route (māl'röt), n. A route by which the mails are conveyed. Mail-stage (mal'stāj), n. A mail-coach. [United States.] Mail-steamer (mal'stēm-er), n. A steamer, generally a fast sailer, for conveying the mails. Mail-train (māl'trān), n. A railway train, generally a fast one, that conveys the mails. Maim (mām), v. t. [In O. and Local E. main, to hurt or maim; O. E. maym, a hurt, in law language mayhem; O. Fr. mehaigner, Pr. maganhar, It. magagnare, to maim; It. magagna, O. Fr. mehaing, a defect, maim: ultimate origin very doubtful. Diez conjectures as the origin an O.G. manhamjan -man, man, and hamjan, to mutilate.] 1. To deprive of the use of a limb, so as to render a person less able to defend himself in fighting, or to annoy his adversary; to mutilate. By the ancient law of England, he that maimed any man, whereby he lost any part of his body, was sentenced to lose the like part. Blackstone. 2. To deprive of a necessary or constituent part; to cripple; to disable. You maim'd the jurisdiction of all bishops. Shak. SYN. To mutilate, mangle, cripple. Maim (mām), n. [Written in law language mayhem.] 1. In old English law, an injury done to the body of a man by forcibly depriving him of the use of some member serviceable in fight, as a means either of defence or offence, and permanently disabling him from offering such an effectual resistance to further attacks upon his person as he otherwise might have done. It was distinguished from an injury which merely disfigured.-2. The privation of any necessary part; a crippling; mutilation. Surely there is more cause to fear lest the want thereof be a maim, than the use a blemish. Hooker. 3. Injury; mischief. Not so deep a maim 4. Essential defect. Shak. A noble author esteems it to be a maim in history. Sir F. Hayward. Maimedness (mām'ed-nes), n. A state of being maimed. Dr. H. More. Feigned and counterfeited maimedness and inability. Main (man), a. [Icel. megn, meginn, main, strong, mighty; megin, might, main, the main part of a thing; A. Sax. mægn, mægen, power, strength; there seems to be no corresponding adjective in Anglo-Saxon. From a root meaning to be able or strong. (See MAY.) The Icel. megin forms the first element in a great many compound words quite analogous to those in which E. main forms the first part.] 1. Principal; chief; that which has most power in producing an effect, or which is mostly regarded in prospect; first in size, rank, importance, &c.; as, the main branch or tributary stream of a river; the main timbers of an edifice; a main object; mainland, &c. Our main interest is to be as happy as we can, and as long as possible. Tillotson. 2. Mighty; vast. Nor all the chains Heap'd on him there, nor yet the main abyss Wide interrupt, can hold. Millon. 3. Important; powerful. This young prince, with a train of young noblemen and gentlemen, but not with any main army, came over to take possession of his new patrimony. Sir F. Davies. 4. Directly applied; sheer; pure; as, main strength.-5. Absolute; mere; direct. It's a main untruth.' Sir W. Scott.-Main body (milit.), the line or corps of an army which MAINOUR marches between the advance and rear guard; in camp, the body which lies between the two wings.-Main chance, the chance of making gain; one's own interests generally. 'Speeches in which fashion and the main chance were blended together.' Thackeray. -Main guard (milit.), a body of horse posted before a camp for the safety of the army; in a garrison, it is that guard to which all the rest are subordinate.-SYN. Principal, chief, leading, cardinal, capital. Main (mān), n. [A. Sax. magn, mægen, power, strength; Icel. megin, might, main, the main part of a thing. See the adjective.] 1. Strength; force; violent effort; as in the phrase, with might and main.'-2. That which is chief or principal; the chief or main portion; the gross; the bulk; the greater part. The main of them may be reduced to language and an improvement in wisdom. Locke. Specifically, (a) the ocean, the great sea, as distinguished from rivers, bays, sounds, and the like; the high sea. Dryden. He fell, and struggling in the main, Cry'd out for helping hands. (b) A continent, as distinguished from an island; the mainland. In 1589 we turned challengers, and invaded the main of Spain. Bacon. (c) A great duct, channel, or pipe, as distinguished from the smaller ones supplied by it, as a water or gas pipe running along a street in a town. Blessed if I don't think he's got a main in his head, as is always turned on. Dickens. (d) The principal point; that which is of most importance. Let's make haste away and look unto the main. Shak. -For the main, in the main, for the most part; in the greatest part.-Main of light, mass; flood of light. Shak. Main (man), adv. [Comp. mighty in this sense, and Icel. megin in such compounds as megin-fjarri, 'main' far off, megin-gódr, very good, megin-grimmr, very grim or fierce.] Very. [Now vulgar.] A draught of ale, friend; for I'm main dry. Foote. Main (man), n. [L. manus, hand; Fr. main.] 1. A hand at dice. When that statesman was in opposition I am not sure that he had not flung a main with him. Thackeray. 2. A match at cock-fighting.-3. A hamper. See MAIN-HAMPER. Main-boom (män'böm), n. Naut. the spar of a small vessel on which the main-sail is extended. Main-breadth (man'bredth), n. In shipbuilding, the broadest part at any particular frame. In arch. the Main-couple (mān'ku-pl), n. principal truss in a roof. Main-deck (mān'dek), n. Naut. that part of the upper deck between the forecastle and poop. Maine-port (mān'pōrt), n. In law, a small duty or tribute, commonly of loaves of bread, which in some places the parishioners paid to the rector in lieu of small tithes. Main-hamper (mān'ham-pèr), n. [Fr. main, hand, and hamper.] A hand-basket for carrying grapes to the press; a main. Main-hatch (man'hach), n. Naut. the hatch in or near the middle of a ship. See HATCH. Main-hold (mān'hōld), n. Naut. that part of a ship's hold which lies near the mainhatch. Main-keel (man'kel), n. The principal keel, as distinguished from the false keel. Mainland (man'land), n. The continent; Main-link (man'lingk), n. the principal land: opposed to island. In mach, one of the links in the parallel motion which connect the piston-rod to the beam of a steamengine. Weale. Mainly (man'li), adv. 1. Chiefly; principally; as, he is mainly occupied with domestic concerns.-2. Greatly; to a great degree; mightily. Bacon. Main-mast (man'mast), n. Naut. the principal mast in a ship or other vessel. In three-masted vessels it is the middle mast; in those carrying two it is the mast next the stem. Mainour, Mainor (män'èr), n. [Norm. mainoure, manour, O.Fr. manovre, manoeuvre, work of the hand, handwork. See MANOEUVRE.] In old English law, a thing taken away or stolen which is found in the hands of the person taking or stealing it.-To be taken with the mainour, to be taken in the very act of killing venison or stealing MAIN-PENDANT wood, or in preparing so to do; or to be taken with the thing stolen in one's possession. Main-pendant (man'pen-dant), n. Naut. a stout piece of rope fixed on each side under the shrouds to the top of the mainmast, having an iron thimble spliced into an eye at the lower end to receive the hooks of the main-tackle. Mainpernable (män'pèrn-a-bl),a. [Fr. main, hand, and O. Fr. pernable, for prenable, that may be taken.] Capable of being admitted to give surety by mainpernors; able to be mainprized. Mainpernor (man'pêrn-èr), n. [Fr. main, the hand, and pernor for preneur, a taker, from prendre, to take.] In law, formerly a surety for a prisoner's appearance in court at a day. Mainpernors differed from bail, in that a man's bail may imprison or surrender him before the stipulated day of appearance; mainpernors could do neither; they were bound to produce him to answer all charges whatsoever. See MAINPRISE. Main-post (mān'pōst), n. The stern-post of a ship. Mainprise, Mainprize (man'priz), n. [Fr. main, hand, and prise, taken, from prendre, to take.] In law, (a) a writ formerly directed to the sheriff, commanding him to take sureties for the prisoner's appearance and to let him go at large. These sureties were called mainpernors. This writ is now superseded by bail and writ of habeas corpus. (b) Deliverance of a prisoner on security for his appearance at a day. Mainprise, Mainprize (män'priz), v.t. To suffer, as a prisoner, to go at large, on his finding sureties or mainpernors for his appearance at a day. Main-rigging (man'rig-ing), n. Naut. the shrouds and ratlines of the main-mast. Mains (mānz), n. [From L. mansio, a dwelling; a form of manse (which see).] The farm attached to a mansion-house; the homefarm. [Scotch.] Main-sail (man'sāl), n. Naut. the principal sail in a ship. The main-sail of a ship or brig is extended by a yard attached to the main-mast, and that of a sloop by the boom. See SAIL. Main-sheet (man'shēt), n. Naut. the sheet of a main-sail, that is, a rope at one or both of the lower corners to keep it properly extended. Mainspring (män'spring), n. 1. The principal spring of any piece of mechanism; specifically, the coiled moving spring of a watch or time-piece. Hence 2. The main cause of any action; the most powerfully inciting motive. It was no longer the savage love of plunder or the necessities of providing subsistence, the main-spring of the barbarian's inroads, that excited men to warlike enterprise. Brougham. Mainstay (mān'stā), n. 1. Naut. the stay extending from the main-top to the foot of the foremast. Hence-2. Chief support; that on which one principally relies; main dependence. Mainswear (man'swär), v. i. [A. Sax. mânswerian-man, sin, evil, and swerian, to swear.] To swear falsely; to perjure one's self. Mainswornt (man'swōrn), a. Forsworn. Main-tack (män'tak), n. "The tack belonging to a main-sail. Main-tackle (mån'tak-1), n. Naut. a large, strong tackle, hooked occasionally upon the main-pendant, and used especially in securing the mast by setting up stays, &c. Maintain (man-tan'), v. t. [Fr. maintenir main, L. manus, the hand, and Fr. tenir, L. teneo, to hold.] 1. To hold, preserve, or keep in any particular state or condition; to support; to sustain; not to suffer to fail or decline; as, to maintain a certain degree of heat in a furnace; to maintain the digestive process or powers of the stomach; to maintain the fertility of soil; to maintain present character or reputation.-2. To keep possession of; to hold; to keep; not to lose or surrender; as, to maintain a place or post.-3. To continue; not to suffer to cease; as, to maintain a conversation. Maintain talk with the duke.' Shak.-4. To support with food, clothing, and other conveniences; to support the expense of; to keep up; to uphold; as, to maintain a family by one's labour; to maintain state or equipage. What maintains one vice would bring up two children. Franklin. 5. To support by intellectual powers or by force of reason; to defend; to vindicate; to justify; as, to maintain one's right or cause. 102 These possessions being unlawfully gotten, could not be maintained by the just and honourable law of England. Sir J. Davies. 6. To assert as a tenet or opinion; to allege. Unless this general evil they maintain, All men are bad, and in their badness reign. Shak. Maintainable (mān-tān'a-bl), a. Capable of being maintained, upheld, or kept up; sustainable; vindicable; defensible. Maintainer (män-tan'èr), n. One who maintains, supports, preserves, sustains, or vindicates. The maintainers and cherishers of a regular devotion, a true and decent piety. South. Maintainor (män-tan'èr), n. In law, one who, not being interested in the cause, maintains or seconds a cause, depending between others, by disbursing or making friends for either party, &c. Maintenance (män'ten-ans), n. 1. The act of maintaining, supporting, upholding, defending, or keeping up; sustenance; sustentation; support; defence; vindication; as, his labour contributed little to the maintenance of his family; the maintenance of right. Whatsoever is granted to the church for God's honour and the maintenance of his service, is granted to God. South. 2. That which maintains or supports; means of support; that which supplies conveni 4. In law, an officious intermeddling in a suit in which the person has no interest, by assisting either party with money or means to prosecute or defend it. This is a punishable offence. A person may, however, with impunity maintain a suit in which he has any interest, actual or contingent; and also a suit of his near kinsman, servant, or poor neighbour, out of charity and compassion. -Cap of maintenance, a cap of dignity carried before the sovereigns of England at their coronation; a kind of abacot. The term Cap of Maintenance. is also applied to an ornament borne before the mayors of certain cities on state occasions, and to a device in heraldry. Main-top (män'top), n. Naut. a platform placed over the head of the main-mast, resting on the trestle-trees to spread the rigging, and for the convenience of men aloft. See Top. Main-yard (män'yärd), n. Naut. the yard on which the main-sail is extended, supported by the main-mast. Mair (már), a. More. [Scotch.] Chaucer. Maister, a. Principal; chief; main. Mais ter strete, maister tour' (that is, principal street, chief tower). Chaucer. Maisterful,+ a. Imperious; headstrong. Chaucer. Maistrie, n. Mastery; skill; skilful management; power; superiority.-A maistrie, a masterly operation. Chaucer. In Chaucer's Prologue we find the line, A monk there was a fair for the maistrie;' a fair for the maistrie seems to mean a fair one, that is, one who might fairly claim the mastery or superiority among others. Maistring+ (mas'tring), a. Mastering; superior; controlling. And her white palfrey, having conquered The maistring raines out of her weary wrest, Perforce her carried where ever he thought best. Spenser. Maistrise, † n. Masterly workmanship. Chaucer. Maize (mäz), n. [Sp. maiz, from Haytian mahiz, the native name of the plant.] Indian corn, a genus of plants commonly cultivated in the warmer parts of the world, where it answers a purpose similar to that of wheat in more northern countries. The common maize or Indian corn is the Zea MAJESTY Mays of botanists, a monoecious grass, of vigorous growth, with stems not more than 2 feet high in some varieties, and reaching the height of 8 or even 10 feet in others. The grains are large, compressed, and packed closely in regular parallel rows along the sides of a receptacle many inches long. In large varieties the ear or cob is often 1 foot long and 2 or 3 inches in thickness. Maize is extensively cultivated in America, where it forms almost the only bread eaten by many of the people. Its flour, though exceedingly nourishing, is not glutinous, and must accordingly be mixed with wheat, rye, or other flour before it can be baked. In America large quantities of unripe grains are roasted till they split, and are then eaten under the name of popcorn. From the green stems a syrup is expressed, which is fermented and converted into a kind of spirits. Paper has been made from maize fibres. It is also cultivated throughout a great part of Asia and Africa, and in several countries of the south of Europe, as Spain and Italy. The green stems and leaves form nutritious food for cattle, and in this country it is sown and cut green for this purpose. Z. Curagua, a smaller species, is the Chili maize or Valparaiso corn. Maizena (maz-e'na), n. The starch prepared from maize; corn-flour. Majestatic, Majestatical (maj-es-tat'ik, maj-es-tat'ik-al), a. Of majestic appearance; having dignity. Pococke. Maize (Zea Mays). Majestic (ma-jes'tik), a. Possessing or exhibiting majesty: (a) having dignity of person or appearance; august; grand; princely; as, the prince was majestic in person and appearance. In his face (b) Splendid; grand; sublime. Shak. Get the start of the majestic world. (c) Elevated; lofty; stately. "The majestic pomp or the tender music of its language.' Dr. Caird.-SYN. August, splendid, grand, sublime, magnificent, imperial, regal, royal, stately, lofty, dignified, elevated. Majestical (ma-jes'tik-al), a. Majestic. [Rare.] If I were to fall in love again, it would be, I think, with prettiness, rather than with majestical beauty. Cowley. Majestically (ma-jes'tik-al-li), adv. In a majestic manner; with dignity; with grandeur; with a lofty air or appearance. So have I seen in black and white A prating thing, a magpie hight, Majestically stalk. Pope. Majesticalness (ma-jes'tik-al-nes), n. State Majesticness (ma-jes'tik-nes), n. State or or manner of being majestic. quality of being majestic. Majesty (maj'es-ti), n. [L. majestas, from majus, compar. form of magnus, great. See MAGISTER.] 1. Grandeur or dignity of rank, character, or manner; the quality or state of a person or thing which inspires awe or reverence in the beholder; imposing loftiness; stateliness. The Lord reigneth, he is clothed with majesty. 2. Dignity or elevation of literary style. 3. A title of emperors, kings, and queens: generally with a possessive pronoun; as, may it please your majesty. In this sense it admits of the plural; as, their majesties attended the concert. MAJOLICA borne by the former kings of France.-Most Faithful Majesty, the title of the kings of Portugal. Majolica (ma-jol'i-ka), n. [From Maiolica or Maiorica, for Majorca, whence the first specimens came.] A name given to a kind of earth used for making dishes, vases, &c.; afterwards applied to the ware itself, which resembles porcelain. tant. My major vow lies here. Major (ma'jer), a. [L., compar. of magnus, great. See MAJESTY, MAGISTER.] 1. Greater in number, quantity, or extent; as, the major part of the assembly; the major part of the revenue; the major part of the territory.-2. Greater in dignity; more imporShak. 3. In music, an epithet applied to the modes in which the third is four semitones above the tonic or key-note, and to intervals consisting of four semitones; thus C, C, D, De, E. The major mode takes a major or sharp third, and is thus distinguished from that having a minor or flat one. The major mode has always a greater third, that is, a third consisting of two tones, and the minor mode has always a minor third, that is, a third consisting of a tone and a semitone. See MODE.-Major and minor are applied to imperfect concords, which differ from each other by a semitone minor. They are used in the same sense when applied to discords. -Major tone or interval, an interval represented by the ratio of 8 to 9, while a minor tone is represented by the ratio of 9 to 10. Thus in the natural scale, the interval G to A is a major tone, while the interval D to E is a minor tone. The major tone surpasses the minor by a comma-Major term of a syllogism, in logic, the predicate of the conclusion; the major premise is that which contains the major term. See under MAJOR, n. Major (ma'jer), n. 1. Milit. an officer next in rank above a captain and below a lieutenant-colonel; the lowest field-officer. His chief duties consist in superintending the exercises of his regiment or battalion, and in putting in execution the commands of his superior officer.-2. In law, a person of full age to manage his own concerns, which both in male and female is the age of twenty-one years complete.-3. In logic, the first proposition of a regular syllogism, containing the major term. See SYLLOGISM.Major and minor in a libel. In Scots law, the major proposition in a criminal libel names the crime to be charged; or, if it have no proper name, describes it at large, and as a crime severely punishable. The minor proposition avers the panel's guilt of this crime, and supports the averment by a narrative of the fact alleged to have been committed, it being necessary that the minor agree with the major. And the conclusion infers that on conviction he ought to be punished with the pains of law applicable to his offence.-Aid-major, Brigademajor, Drum-major, Fife-major, Sergeantmajor. See under these terms. Major (mā'jer), v.i. To look and talk big, or with a military air. Sir W. Scott. Majorat (mä-zhō-rä), n. [Fr.; L.L. majoratus, from major (which see).] 1. The right of succession to property according to age: so called in some of the countries of Europe. 2. In French law, property landed or funded, which may be reserved by persons holding hereditary titles, and attached to the title so as to descend with it. Majorate (mā'jèr-āt), n. The office or rank of major. Majoration (mã-jèr-ä'shon), n. [L.L. majoratio, majorationis, from majoro, to augment, from L. major, greater.] Increase; enlargement. Majorcan (ma-jor'kan), n. A native or inhabitant of Majorca. Majorcan (ma-jor'kan), a. Of or pertaining to Majorca. Major-domo (mā-jér-dō'mō),n. [Fr. majordome, It. maggiordomo-L. major, greater, and domus, a house.] A man who takes charge of the management of a household; a steward; also, a chief minister or great officer of a palace. Let him have nothing to do with any house or family... where the devil is major-domo, and governs South. all. N. 103 Major-generalship (mā-jèr-jen'èr-al-ship), The office of a major-general. Majority (ma-jor'i-ti), n. [Fr. majorité, from major (which see).] 1. The state of being major or greater. It is not plurality of parts without majority of parts that maketh the total greater. Grew. 2. The greater number; more than half; as, a majority of mankind; a majority of votes in parliament.-3. The number by which one quantity which can be counted exceeds another; as, the measure was carried by a majority of twenty votes; he had a majority of seventy.-4. Full age; the age at which the laws of a country permit a young person to manage his own affairs. This prince (Henry III.) was no sooner come to his majority but the barons raised a cruel war against him. Sir F. Davies. 5. The office, rank, or commission of a major.-6. [L. majores.] Ancestors; ancestry. Sir T. Browne. A posterity not unlike their majority. Office or rank 7. Chief rank. Shak.-To go over to or to join the majority, to join the dead or departed; to die. Majorship (mā'jër-ship), n. of major; majority. Same as Madjoun. Majoun (maj'un), n. Majuscula (ma-jus'ku-la), n. A capital letter used in ancient Latin manuscripts; a majuscule. Majuscule (ma-jus’kūl), n. [L. majuscula (litera, letter, understood), from majusculus, somewhat great, dim. from major, majus, greater.] In diplomatics, a capital letter: opposed to minuscule.-Majuscule writing, writing composed entirely of capital letters, as in Latin manuscripts of the sixth century and earlier. Makable (mak'a-bl), a. Capable of being made; effectible; feasible. [Rare.] Make (māk), v. t. pret. & pp. made; ppr. making. [A. Sax. macian, O. Fris. makia, L. G. and D. maken, G. machen, to make; G. gemach, a room; allied perhaps to L. magnus, Gr. megas, Skr. mahā, great. 'A root word quite alien from the northern languages. Vigfusson.] 1. To cause to exist as a distinct thing; to bring into being; to produce; to create; to frame; to fashion; to fabricate; as, to make a table, a chair, a statue, bricks, clothes: generally with of before the word denoting the material. 'If my breast had not been made of faith and my heart of steel.' Shak. And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. Gen. i. 16. This hand was made to handle nought but gold. Shak. The verb may take two accusatives, as in the following extract. He... fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf. Ex. xxxii. 4. 2. To produce or effect, as agent or cause; to be productive of; to cause. Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. 3. To cause to be or to become; to put into a given state or condition, which is expressed by a noun, adjective, participle, or a phrase or clause; to constitute; as, to make known; to make public; to make of none effect. To make a wonder of a poor drunkard.' Shak. Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? Ex. ii. 14. See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh. Ex. vii. 4. Whate'er they catch, Their fury makes an instrument of war. Dryden. Under this head may be classed such phrases as: to make much, little, nothing, &c., of, (also, what do you make of that?) to make out, and the like (see below); also the meanings: (a) to cause to appear to be; to esteem, suppose, or represent. Make not impossible that which but seems unlike. Shak. Make me not sighted like the basilisk. Shak. (b) To require; to constrain; to compel; to force; to cause; to occasion. MAKE They should be made to rise at their early hour. Locke. Here Mary laughed, and said the cook had made her, and the cook laughed and said she hadn't. Dickens. 4. Joined periphrastically to substantives to express action of some sort, the nature of the action being determined by the substantive, and both together being equivalent to a verb corresponding to the substantive; thus, to make complaint to complain; to make haste to hasten. A large number of such expressions might be quoted; Shakspere has to make abode, answer, appeal, appearance, assault, atonement, bargain, boast, challenge, confession, conquest, delay, delivery, demand, &c.-5. To raise, as profit from anything; to make acquisition of; to gain; to acquire; rarely, to have to result to one, as a loss or misfortune; to suffer; as, to make money; to make a large profit; to make a loss. He accuseth Neptune unjustly who makes shipwreck a second time. Bacon. 6. To get, as the result of computation or calculation; to ascertain by enumeration; to find the number or amount of by reckoning, weighing, measuring, and the like; as, he made the weight about a stone; he made the total to be £900.-7. To pass over the distance of; to travel over; as, the ship makes 10 knots an hour; he made the distance in two days.-8. To put in a desired or desirable position or condition; to make the fortune of; to cause to thrive; as, he is a made man. Who makes or ruins with a smile or frown. Dryden. 9. To put into a proper state; to prepare for use; as, to make a bed; to make a fire. 10. To compose, as parts, materials, or ingredients, united in a whole; to constitute; to form. The heaven, the air, the earth, and boundless sea, Make but one temple for the Deity. Waller. Shak. This bottle makes an angel. 14. Naut. to reach, attain, or arrive at; also, to come near so as to have within sight; to come in sight of; as, to make a port or harbour. They that sail in the middle can make no land of either side. Sir T. Browne. -To make away, (a)† to kill; to destroy. (b) To alienate; to transfer; as, to make away property.-To make away with, to put out of the way; to remove; also, to destroy; to kill. To make believe, to pretend; to act as if; as, he made believe to read; he was only making believe.-To make the doors, to make fast or bar the doors. Make the doors upon a woman's wit, and it will out at the casement. Shak. -To make free with, to treat with freedom; to treat without ceremony.-To make good, (a) to maintain; to defend. I'll either die or I'll make good the place. Dryden. (b) To fulfil; to accomplish; as, to make good one's word, promise, or engagement. (c) To make compensation for; to supply an equivalent; as, to make good a loss or damage. To make light of, to consider as of no consequence; to treat with indifference or contempt. -To make little of, to consider as of little or no value; to treat as insignificant; not to understand fully. See To make nothing of.-To make love to, to court; to attempt to gain the favour or affection.--To make much (more, a great deal, and the like) of, (a) to treat with fondness or esteem; to consider as of great value, or as giving great pleasure. Makes she no more of me than of a slave? Dryden. A slightly varied form of this expression is given in the following extract. He is so made on here within as if he were son and heir to Mars. Shak. (b) See To make nothing of.-To make no difference, to be a matter of indifference.-To MAKE make no doubt, to have no doubt; to be confident. To make no matter, to have no weight or importance; to make no difference: said of things.-To make nothing for, to have no effect in assisting, supporting, or confirming; as, mere assertions make nothing for an argument. To make nothing of, (a) to regard or think as nothing; as, she makes nothing of leaping over a six-bar gate. (b) To be unable to understand; to obtain no satisfactory result from; as, I can make nothing of him. (c) To treat as of no value. [Much, little, &c., are used as qualifying words in the same way as nothing in (a), (b), and (c). I am astonished that those who have appeared against this paper have made so very little of it. Addison.] - To make oath, to swear in a prescribed form of law. To make out, (a) to learn; to discover; to obtain a clear understanding of; to decipher; as, I cannot make out the meaning or sense of this difficult passage. (b) To prove; to evince; to cause to appear, or be esteemed; to establish by evidence or argument; as, the plaintiff, not being able to make out his case, withdrew the suit; you would make him out to be a fool. In the passages from divines, most of the reasonings which make out both my propositions are already suggested. Atterbury. (c) To find or supply to the full; as, he promised to pay, but was not able to make out the money or the whole sum. To make over, to transfer the title of; to convey; to alienate; as, he made over his estate in trust or in fee. To make sail (naut.), (a) to increase the quantity of sail already extended. (b) To set sail or start.-To make sure of, (a) to consider as certain. (b) To secure to one's possession; as, to make sure of the game.To make up, (a) to collect into a sum or mass; as, to make up the amount of rent; to make up a bundle or package. (b) To reconcile; to compose; as, to make up a difference or quarrel. (c) To repair; as, to make up a hedge. Ezek. xiii. 5. (d) To supply what is wanting; as, £1 is wanted to make up the stipulated sum. (e) To compose, as ingredients or parts. Oh, he was all made up of love and charms! 104 or argument against; to afford evidence against; to tend to disprove. There can be no doubt that this text makes against Austria having been the proposer of the Brougham. measure. -To make as if, to show; to appear; to carry appearance. Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten before them, and fled. Josh. viii. 15. -To make at, to aim at; to make a hostile movement against; as, the tiger made at the sportsman.-To make out, to make a shift; to succeed and no more; to have success at last; as, he made out to reconcile the contending parties. To make to, to make up to. Shak. Look, how he makes to Cæsar. -To make up, to dress, &c., as an actor, for a particular part.-To make up to, (a) to approach; as, he made up to us with boldness. (b) To court; as, to make up to a girl. "Young Bullock, who had been making up to Miss Maria the last two seasons.' Thackeray. To make up for, to compensate; to supply by an equivalent. Have you a supply of friends to make up for those who are gone? Swift. -To make up with, to settle differences; to become friends. Make (māk), n. Structure; constitution of parts; construction; shape; form; as, a man of slender make or feeble make. Is our perfection of so frail a make, As every plot can undermine and shake? Dryden. Maket (māk), n. [A. Sax. maca, gemaca, gemæcca, a mate, a companion, a husband; Icel. maki (masc.), maka (fem.), a mate, a match; Dan. mage, a fellow or match, an equal. Match is a different form of this word, as church of kirk, and so perhaps is mate.] A companion; a mate; a fellow; a husband; a wife. And of faire Britomart ensample take, Makebate (mak'bat), n. [Make, and bate, contention. One who excites contentions and quarrels. Love in her passions, like a right makebate, whispered to both sides arguments of quarrel. Sir P. Sidney. Make-believe (māk bē-lev), n. 1. The act of making believe or pretending; the act of behaving as if a thing were what it is not. The charm they (the creations of the imagination) once had for us is impossible when we must get ourselves into an attitude of make-believe in order to feel it. Dr. Caird. The parties among us are made up on one side of moderate Whigs, and on the other of Presbyterians. Swift. (f) To shape; as, to make up a mass into pills. (g) To assume a particular form of features; as, to make up a face; whence, to make up a lip is to pout. (h) To compensate; to make good; as, to make up a loss. (i) To settle; to adjust or to arrange for settlement; as, to make up accounts. (5) To determine; to bring to a definite conclusion; as, to make up one's mind. (k) To dress, &c., as an actor, so as to suit the character he is to represent. To make water, (a) (naut.) Makeless (mak'les), a. Matchless; withto leak, as a ship. (b) To void the urine. To make way, (a) to make progress; to advance. (b) To open a passage; to clear the way. To make words, to multiply words. Make (māk), v.i. 1. To do; to act; to be active; to interfere. For such kind of men, the less you meddle or make with them, why, the more is for your honesty, Shak Under this heading may be classed sundry uses of the verb with adjectives, nearly in the sense of to be or assume to be; to act in the manner expressed by the adjective; as, to make bold; to make merry, &c. 'She that makes dainty (that is, plays the prude).' Shak.-2. To have effect; to contribute; to tend; to be of advantage; to favour: followed by to or for, now generally by for. A thing may make to my present purpose. Boyle. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace. Rom. xiv. 19. 3. To tend; to proceed; to move; to direct one's course: with various words expressing direction; as, he made toward home; he made after the boy as fast as he could. Thither I made, and there was I disarm'd By maidens each as fair as any flower. Tennyson. 4. To rise; to flow toward land; as, the tide makes fast.-5. To invent; to compose poetry; to versify. 2. A mere pretence or pretext; a sham; a fancied representative. 'Make-believes for Edith and himself.' Tennyson. Make-believe (mak'bē-lev), a. sham; professed but not real. Unreal; Real not make-believe dancing was going on. Warren. out a mate; widowed. The Greeks named the poet words, which name, as the most excellent, hath gone through other languages. It cometh of this word oui, to make; wherein, I know not whether by luck or wisdom, we Englishmen have met well the Greeks in calling him a maker. Sir P. Sidney. 3. In law, the person who signs a promissory note, who stands in the same situation, after the note is endorsed, as the acceptor of a bill of exchange. Makeshift (mak'shift), n. That with which one makes shift; an expedient adopted to serve a present purpose or turn; a temporary substitute. The whole plan is a makeshift, but will last Make-up (māk-up'), n. The manner in which one is dressed for a part in a play; the whole personal appearance. Makeweight (mak'wat), n. That which is thrown into a scale to make weight or to make an equipoise; that which contributes to something not sufficient of itself; a thing or person of little account made use of merely for the sake of appearance or to fill a A poet is a maker, as the word signifies; and who' cannot make, that is, invent, hath his name for nothing. Dryden. Called her song 'The Song of Love and Death;' And sang it: sweetly could she make and sing. Tennyson. -To make against, (a) to tend to injure; to be adverse to; as, this argument makes against his cause. (b) To form a proof gap. The colonel was in conversation with somebody, of a cat. Ring-tailed Maki (Lemur Catta). ing the macaco, the mongooz, and the vari. The ring-tailed maki (L. Catta) is of the size Making (mak'ing), n. 1. The act of forming, causing, or constituting; workmanship; construction; as, this is cloth of your own making.-2. What has been made, especially at one time; as, the whole making is before you.-3. Composition; structure.-4. † A poetical composition; a poem; poetry. And thou mediest with makinges. Piers Plowman.-5. Material from which anything may be made; anything capable of being developed into something more advanced: often in plural. There was the making of a good rider in many of them. Lawrence. Making-iron (mak'ing-i-ern), n. A tool, somewhat resembling a chisel with a groove in it, used by caulkers of ships to finish the seams after the oakum has been driven in. Making-up (mak'ing-up), n. 1. In distilling, the reducing of spirits to a standard of strength, usually called proof.-2. The act of becoming reconciled or friendly. Mal-, Male- (mal, mal'e), two prefixes denoting ill, badly, from L. malus, bad, male, badly, the former through Fr. mal, ill. The form male is properly used in words that existed in Latin, or in words modelled on such, and can hardly be regarded as a separable prefix like mal, which may be prefixed to already existing English words, as occasion seems to require, as malodour, maladministration, &c. The spelling male (with e silent), for mal, is now nearly or quite obsolete. Malabar (mal'a-bär), a. Of or pertaining to Malabar; pertaining to the west coast of India or its inhabitants.-Malabar plum, a tree and its fruit, the Eugenia Jambos, nat. order Myrtaceae. It grows plentifully on the Malabar coast, and its fruit is much esteemed. Called also Rose-apple. - Malabar leaf, the leaf of the Cinnamomum malabathrum of Malabar, formerly used in European medicine. Malacatune (mal-a-ka-tün). Same as Melo coton. Malacca (ma-lak'ka), a. Of or pertaining to Malacca, on the south-west coast of the Malay Peninsula.-Malacca bean, the fruit of the Semecarpus Anacardium, or marking-nut tree of India, belonging to the nat. order Anacardiaceæ. The fruit is eaten, and is reputed to stimulate the memory. It is called also Marsh-nut, and closely resembles the cashew-nut.-Malacca cane, a cane made of the brown mottled or clouded stem of a palm (Calamus scipionum) brought from Singapore and Malacca, but chiefly produced in Sumatra. Malachite (mal'a-kit), n. [Fr. malachite,. from Gr. malache, a mallow, so named from its colour resembling that of the leaf of a mallow.] A carbonate of copper found in solid masses of a beautiful green colour; hence it is commonly called the Green Carbonate of Copper. It consists of layers in the form of nipples or needles converging towards a common centre. The finest specimens come from the Siberian mines. It is also common in Cornwall and in South Australia, and is believed to be a copper stalactite or stalagmite. It takes a good polish, and is often manufactured into toys. Blue malachite or azurite contains a larger proportion of carbonic acid. Malachodendron (mal'a-kō-den"dron), n. |