Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic a republic of the U.S.S.R.: now MOLDOVA

moldboard (mould´börd') •n. 1 a curved plate of iron attached to a plowshare, for turning over the soil Æ 2 a plate like this at the front of a bulldozer or snowplow, angled to push material aside 3 one of the boards used in making a mold for concrete [MOLD³ & BOARD]

molder (moul´dэr) •vi. to crumble into dust; decay; waste away: often with away •vt. [Now Rare] to cause to molder SYN. DECAY [freq. of obs. v. mold, to molder: see MOLD³ & -ER]

molding (moul´diŋ) •n. 1 the act or process of one that molds 2 something molded 3 a) any of various ornamental contours given to cornices, jambs, etc. b) a cornice or other projecting or sunk ornamentation, of wood, stone, brick, etc. c) a shaped strip of wood, etc., used for finishing or decorating walls (esp. near the ceiling), furniture, etc.

Moldova (möl dou´vэ) country in E Europe: became independent upon the breakup of the U.S.S.R. (1991): 13,000 sq. mi. (33,670 sq. km); pop. 4,100,000; cap. Kishinev: formerly, Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic

moldy (moul´di:) mold´i·er, mold´i·est •adj. 1 covered or overgrown with mold 2 musty or stale, as from age or decay mold´i·ness •n. [MOLD² + -Y³]

mole (mou´lei) •n. a spicy Mexican sauce for meat or poultry, made with chilies, chocolate, tomatoes, spices, ground nuts, etc.

mole cricket any of a family (Gryllotalpidae) of crickets having large front legs specialized for burrowing, and feeding chiefly on roots

mole fraction the ratio of the number of moles of one constituent of a mixture or solution to the total number of moles of all the constituents

mole¹ (moul) •n. a small, congenital spot on the human skin, usually dark-colored and slightly raised, often hairy [ME < OE mal, akin to Goth mail < IE base *mai-, to spot > Gr miainein, to sully]

mole² (moul) •n. 1 any of various small, burrowing insectivores (esp. family Talpidae) with small eyes and ears, shovel-like forefeet, and soft fur: moles live mainly underground 2 a) a spy who infiltrates and is assimilated into the ranks of an enemy intelligence agency, government staff, etc., usually long before engaging in any spying activities b) DOUBLE AGENT [ME molle, akin to or < MDu mol, < Gmc *mug- > MOW², OHG mol: orig. sense, mound maker]

mole³ (moul) •n. 1 a barrier of stone, etc. built in the water to protect from the force of the waves, as a breakwater 2 a harbor or anchorage so formed or protected [Fr môle < LGr mōlos < L moles, a mass, dam, mole < IE *mo-lo- < base *mo-, to strive > Gr mōlos, effort, Ger müde, tired]

mole4 (moul) •n. Chem. 1 the quantity of a chemical substance having a weight in grams numerically equal to its molecular weight: one mole of a substance contains 6.02214 X 10²³ molecules 2 the amount of a substance containing the same number of units, including molecules, atoms or ions, as there are atoms in 12 grams of pure carbon-12 [Ger mol, short for molekulargewicht, molecular weight]

mole5 (moul) •n. 1 a marked growth of grapelike masses of fetal placental tissue 2 any of various fleshy or bloody masses in the uterus [Fr môle < L mola, false conception, millstone: for IE base see MILL¹]

Molech (mou´lek') an ancient Phoenician and Ammonite god, to whom children were sacrificed by burning •n. anything demanding terrible sacrifice [LL(Ec) Moloch < Gr(Ec) (in LXX) < Heb mōlōkh, mōlekh]

molecular (mou lek´yu: lэr, mэ-, -yэ-) •adj. of, consisting of, produced by, or existing between molecules mo·lec'u·lar´i·ty (-lær´э ti:, -lær´э ti:) •n. mo·lec´u·lar·ly •adv. [MOLECUL(E) + -AR]

molecular biology a branch of biology that studies the chemical and physical principles associated with the composition, properties, and activities of molecules in living cells

molecular film MONOLAYER

molecular formula a formula which gives the kinds of atoms or radicals and the number of each kind in the molecule of a compound (Ex.: C6H6 for benzene)

molecular sieve any of a class of zeolites or similar materials, natural or synthetic, having small, precisely uniform, pores in their crystal lattices that can absorb molecules small enough to pass through the pores: used as for separating or drying gases and liquids

molecular weight the relative average weight of a molecule of a substance, expressed by a number equal to the sum of the atomic weights of all atoms in the molecule

molecule (mäl´i kyu:l') •n. 1 the smallest particle of an element or compound that can exist in the free state and still retain the characteristics of the element or compound: the molecules of elements consist of one atom or two or more similar atoms; those of compounds consist of two or more different atoms 2 a small particle [Fr molécule < ModL molecula, dim. of L moles, a mass: see MOLE³]

molehill (moul´hil') •n. a small ridge or mound of earth, formed by a burrowing mole make a mountain out of a molehill to treat a trivial problem as a great or important one

moleskin (-skin') •n. 1 the soft, dark-gray skin of the mole, used as fur 2 a) a strong, twilled cotton fabric with a soft nap, used for work clothes, etc. b) [pl.] trousers made of this fabric 3 a soft fabric, often with an adhesive backing, used for foot bandages

molest (mэ lest´, mou-) •vt. 1 to annoy, interfere with, or meddle with so as to trouble or harm, or with intent to trouble or harm Æ 2 to make improper advances to, esp. of a sexual nature 3 to assault or attack (esp. a child) sexually mo·les·ta·tion (mou'les tei´shэn; also mäl'эs-) •n. mo·lest´er •n. [ME molesten < OFr molester < L molestare < molestus, troublesome < moles, a burden: see MOLE³]

Molière (moul yer´, mou'li: er´; Fr mô lyeř´) (born Jean Baptiste Poquelin) 1622-73; Fr. dramatist

moline (mou´lin, mou lain´) •adj. designating a cross with each arm forked and curved back at the end {a cross moline} [< Anglo-Fr *moliné < OFr molin, a mill < VL *molinum, for LL molina, MILL¹: from its resemblance to the iron support for the upper millstone] Moline (mou li:n´) city in NW Ill., on the Mississippi: pop. 43,000 [< Sp molino, mill]

Molise (mou´li: zei') region of SC Italy: 4,438 sq. mi. (1,713 sq. km); pop. 329,000

moll (mäl) •n. 1 GUN MOLL 2 [Slang] a prostitute

mollah (mäl´э) •n. MULLAH

mollescent (mэ les´эnt) •adj. softening or tending to soften mol·les´cence •n. [L mollescens, prp. of mollescere, to soften < mollere, to be soft < mollis, soft: see MOLLIFY]

mollify (mäl´э fai') -fied', -fy'ing •vt. 1 to soothe the temper of; pacify; appease 2 to make less intense, severe, or violent SYN. PACIFY mol'li·fi·ca´tion •n. mol´li·fi'er •n. [ME molifien, MFr mollifier < LL mollificare, to soften < L mollis, soft (< IE *mldu-, soft < base *mel-, to crush > MILL¹) + facere, to make, DO¹]

mollusc (mäl´эsk) •n. MOLLUSK mol·lus·can (mэ lûs´kэn) •adj., n.

molluscoid (mэ lûs´koid') •adj. of or like a mollusk or mollusks

mollusk (mäl´эsk) •n. any of a large phylum (Mollusca) of invertebrate animals, including the chitons, gastropods, cephalopods, scaphopods, and bivalves characterized by a soft, unsegmented body, typically enclosed wholly or in part in a mantle and a calcareous shell, and usually having gills and a foot mol·lus·kan (mэ lûs´kэn) •adj., n. [Fr mollusque < ModL Mollusca, coined by CUVIER < L mollusca, a soft-shelled nut < molluscus, soft < mollis: see MOLLIFY]

Mollweide projection (möl´vai'dэ) an equal-area map projection with the whole earth on one map, showing the prime meridian and all parallels of latitude as straight lines and all other meridians as increasing in curvature toward the margins [after K. B. Mollweide (1774-1825), Ger mathematician]

molly (mäl´i:) pl. -lies any of various brightly colored livebearer fishes (genus Poecilia) often kept in aquariums: also sp. mol´lie •n. [short for ModL Mollienisia, after F. N. Mollien (1758-1850), Fr statesman] Molly (mäl´i:) nickname for MARY

Molly Maguires (mэ gwairz´) 1 a secret society organized in Ireland in 1843 to terrorize landlords' agents in order to prevent evictions Æ 2 a secret society of Irish-American miners in E Pennsylvania (c. 1865-75), which opposed oppressive industrial and social conditions, sometimes with physical force

mollycoddle (mäl´i: käd'ªl) •n. a man or boy used to being coddled, or protected, pampered, etc.; milksop •vt. -dled, -dling to pamper; coddle mol´ly·cod'dler •n. [prec. + CODDLE]

Molnár (moul´när', möl´-), Fe·renc (fe´rents) 1878-1952; Hung. playwright & novelist, later in the U.S.

Moloch (mou´läk') MOLECH •n. [m-] a spiny, brownish, ant-eating Australian lizard (Moloch horridus) similar to a horned toad but of another family (Agamidae)

Molokai (mou'lэ kai´, mäl'э-) an island of Hawaii, southeast of Oahu: 259 sq. mi. (671 sq. km); pop. 6,800 [Haw]

Molotov (mäl´э töf', mou´-; -töv'), V(yacheslav) M(ikhailovich) (born Vyacheslav Mikhailovich Skriabin) 1890-1986; Russ. statesman: foreign minister of the U.S.S.R. (1939-49; 1953-56)

Molotov cocktail [Slang] a bottle filled with gasoline, etc. and wrapped in a saturated rag or plugged with a wick, then ignited and hurled as a grenade [after prec.]

molt (moult) •vi. to cast off or shed the exoskeleton, hair, outer skin, horns, or feathers at certain intervals, prior to replacement of the castoff parts by a new growth: said of reptiles, birds, insects, etc. •vt. to replace by molting •n. 1 the act or process of molting 2 the parts so shed molt´er •n. [ME mouten (with unhistoric -l- after FAULT, in which the letter was orig. silent) < OE (be)mutian, to exchange < L mutare, to change: see MUTATE]

molten (moul´tэn, moult´ªn) •vt., vi. archaic pp. of MELT •adj. 1 melted or liquefied by heat 2 [Now Rare] made by being melted and cast in a mold [ME]

Moltke (môlt´kэ) 1 Count Hel·muth (Johannes Ludwig) von (hel´mu:t fôn) 1848-1916; Ger. general 2 Count Helmuth (Karl Bernhard) von 1800-91; Ger. field marshal: uncle of Helmuth

molto (moul´tou) •adv. Musical Direction very; much [It < L multum, much]

Moluccas (mou lûk´эz, mэ-) group of islands of Indonesia, between Celebes & New Guinea: c. 32,000 sq. mi. (82,880 sq. km); pop. 1,412,000: also Molucca Islands Mo·luc´ca or Mo·luc´can •adj.

moly¹ (mou´li:) •n. 1 Class. Myth. an herb of magic powers, as, in Homer's Odyssey, that given to Odysseus to protect him from Circe's incantation 2 a wild, garliclike European plant (Allium moly) of the lily family [L < Gr mōly]

moly² (mäl´i:) •n. short for MOLYBDENUM

molybdate (mэ lib´deit') •n. a salt of molybdic acid

molybdenite (mэ lib´dэ nait') •n. native molybdenum sulfide, MoS2, a scaly or foliated, lead-gray mineral, the chief ore of molybdenum

molybdenum (mэ lib´dэ nэm) •n. a very hard, lustrous, silver-white metallic chemical element, used in alloys, points for spark plugs, etc.: symbol, Mo; at. wt., 95.94; at. no., 42; sp. gr., 10.2; melt. pt., 2,626°C; boil. pt., 4,612°C [ModL: so named (1781) by K. W. Scheele (see SCHEELITE) after its isolation by P. J. Hjelm (1746-1813), Swed chemist < molybdaena, molybdenite, term used because of resemblance to lead ore < L molybdaena, lead, galena < Gr molybdaina, piece of lead < molybdos, lead]

molybdic (mэ lib´dik) •adj. Chem. designating or of compounds in which molybdenum has a higher valence (usually 3 or 6) than in the corresponding molybdous compounds

molybdous (mэ lib´dэs) •adj. Chem. designating or of compounds in which molybdenum has a lower valence than in the corresponding molybdic compounds

mom (mäm) •n. [Colloq.] MOTHER¹

mom and pop store (or stand, etc.) a small retail business, typically family-operated

MOMA (mou´mэ) Museum of Modern Art, in New York City

Mombasa (mäm bä´sэ, -bæs´э) seaport on the SE coast of Kenya, partly on an offshore island: pop. 341,000

mome (moum) •n. [Archaic] a blockhead, fool [< ?]

moment (mou´mэnt) •n. 1 an indefinitely brief period of time; instant 2 a definite point in time or in a series of events 3 a brief time of being important or outstanding 4 importance; consequence {news of great moment} 5 Mech. the product of some physical quantity and its distance from the origin of coordinates or an axis, as a torque 6 Philos. any constituent element of a complex entity or process SYN. IMPORTANCE the moment the present or the immediate future [ME < L momentum, movement, impulse, brief space of time, importance < *movimentum < movere, to MOVE]

moment of truth 1 the point in a bullfight when the matador faces the bull for the kill 2 a critical moment or time that tests and reveals one's true self or makes one face the truth

momentarily (mou'mэn ter´э li:, mou´mэn ter'-) •adv. 1 for a moment or short time 2 in an instant 3 from moment to moment; at any moment

momentary (mou´mэn ter'i:) •adj. 1 lasting for only a moment; passing; transitory 2 recurring every moment; constant 3 likely to occur at any moment SYN. TRANSIENT mo´men·tar'i·ness •n. [L momentarius]

momently (mou´mэnt li:) •adv. [Now Rare] 1 from instant to instant; every moment 2 at any moment 3 for a single moment

momento (mou men´tou, mэ-) •n. erroneous sp. of MEMENTO

momentous (mou men´tэs, mэ-) •adj. of great moment; very important {a momentous decision} mo·men´tous·ly •adv. mo·men´tous·ness •n.

momentum (mou men´tэm, mэ-) pl. -tums or -ta (-tэ) •n. 1 the impetus of a moving object 2 strength or force that keeps growing {a campaign that gained momentum} 3 Physics, Mech. the product of the mass of a particle, body, etc. and its velocity [ModL < L: see MOMENT]

momism (mäm´iz'эm) •n. excessive, esp. sentimentalized, devotion to mothers or motherhood, thought to result in a mother's domination over her children and their failure to mature psychologically [coined (1942) by P. Wylie, U.S. writer < MOM & -ISM]

Mommsen (mäm´zэn, -sэn), The·o·dor (tei´э dör') 1817-1903; Ger. historian

mommy (mäm´i:) pl. -mies •n. child's term for MOTHER¹

momser or momzer (mäm´zэr) •n. 1 a bastard 2 [Slang] a) a contemptible person b) someone variously thought of as being mischievous, clever, impudent, deceptive, etc. [< Yidd < Heb]

Momus (mou´mэs) Gr. Myth. the god of mockery and censure •n. a fault finder or caviling critic [L < Gr Mōmos, lit., blame, ridicule]

mon (män) •n. Scot. & North Eng. var. of MAN Mon abbrev. Monday mon abbrev. monetary Mon (moun) pl. Mons or Mon •n. 1 any member of a people living in Myanmar east of Yangon 2 their Mon-Khmer language

mon- (män) prefix MONO-: used before a vowel

mon Dieu (mouñ dyö´) my God: often an interjection [Fr]

Mona (mou´nэ) a feminine name [Ir Muadhnait, dim. of muadh, noble]

Mona Lisa (mou'nэ li: sэ, -zэ) a famous portrait of a faintly smiling woman, by Leonardo da Vinci: also called La Gioconda

monachal (män´э kэl) •adj. MONASTIC mon´a·chism' (-kiz'эm) •n. [ML(Ec) monachalis < LL(Ec) monachus: see MONK]

monacid (män æs´id) •adj., n. MONOACID

Monaco (män´э kou, mэ nä´kou) 1 country in S Europe on the Mediterranean: an independent principality & an enclave in SE France: .5 sq. mi. (1.3 sq. km); pop. 27,000 2 its capital, a commune Mon´a·can (-kэn) •adj., n. Mon·e·gasque (män'э gæsk´) •adj., n.

monad (mou´næd', män´æd') •n. 1 a unit; something simple and indivisible 2 Biol. a) any simple, single-celled organism, specif., a simple type of flagellated protozoan or protist b) any of the four nuclei formed at the completion of meiosis 3 Chem. a monovalent atom, element, or radical 4 Philos. an entity or elementary being thought of as a microcosm or ultimate unit •adj. of a monad or monads mo·nad´ic or mo·nad´i·cal •adj. [LL monas (gen. monadis) < Gr monas (gen. monados), a unit, unity < monos, alone: see MONO-]

monadelphous (män'э del´fэs) •adj. having the stamens united by their filaments into one set or bundle, as some legumes [< MON- + Gr adelphos, brother (< a-, copulative + delphys, womb: see DOLPHIN) + -OUS]

monadism (mou´næd´iz'эm, män´æd-) •n. Philos. the theory that the universe consists of monads

monadnock (mэ næd´näk') •n. Geol. an isolated rocky hill or mountain rising above a peneplain [after Mt. Monadnock, N.H.]

Monaghan (män´э gэn) county in NE Ireland, in Ulster province: 499 sq. mi. (1,293 sq. km); pop. 51,000

monandrous (mou næn´drэs, mэ-) •adj. 1 of or characterized by monandry 2 having only one stamen, as some flowers [Gr monandros, having one husband: see MON- & -ANDROUS]

monandry (-dri:) •n. 1 the state or practice of having only one male sex partner over a period of time 2 Bot. a monandrous condition

monanthous (mou næn´θэs, mэ-) •adj. Bot. having only one flower, as some plants [MON- + -ANTHOUS]

monarch (män´эrk, -ärk') •n. 1 the single or sole ruler of a state 2 the hereditary (often constitutional) head of a state; king, queen, etc. 3 a person or thing that surpasses others of the same kind 4 a large, migratory butterfly (Danaus plexippus) native to North America, having orange, black-edged wings: the larvae feed on milkweed [LME monarcha < LL < Gr monarchēs < monos, alone + archein, to rule: see MONO- & -ARCH]

monarchal (mou när´kэl, mэ-) •adj. of, like, suitable for, or characteristic of a monarch; royal; regal: also mo·nar´chi·al (-ki: эl) mo·nar´chal·ly •adv.

Monarchianism (-ki: эn iz'эm) •n. the doctrine of several 2d- and 3d-cent. Christian sects that denied the Trinity altogether or denied the equality of the three persons of the Trinity Mo·nar´chi·an •adj., n. [see MONARCH, -AN, & -ISM]

monarchical (mou när´ki kэl) •adj. 1 of, characteristic of, or like a monarch or monarchy 2 favoring a monarchy Also mo·nar´chic mo·nar´chi·cal·ly •adv.

monarchism (män´эr kiz'эm, -är-) •n. monarchical principles or the advocacy of these mon´ar·chist •n., adj. mon'ar·chis´tic •adj. [Fr monarchisme]

monarchy (män´эr ki:, -är-) pl. -ar·chies •n. 1 [Rare] rule by only one person 2 a government or state headed by a monarch: called absolute when there is no limitation on the monarch's power, constitutional when there is such limitation [ME monarchie < OFr < LL monarchia < Gr < monarchos: see MONARCH]

monarda (mou när´dэ, mэ-) •n. Æ HORSEMINT [ModL, after N. Monardes, (1493-1588), Sp botanist]

monastery (män´э ster'i:) pl. -ter'ies •n. 1 a building or residence for monks or others who have withdrawn from the world for religious reasons 2 those living there SYN. CLOISTER mon'as·te´ri·al (-stir´i: эl) •adj. [ME monasterie < LL(Ec) monasterium < LGr(Ec) monastērion < Gr monazein, to be alone < monos, alone: see MONO-]

monastic (mou næs´tik, mэ-) •adj. 1 of or characteristic of a monastery 2 of or characteristic of monks or nuns or their way of life; ascetic, austere, etc. Also mo·nas´ti·cal •n. one living a monastic life mo·nas´ti·cal·ly •adv. [ME monastik < ML(Ec) monasticus < LGr(Ec) < Gr monastikos < monazein: see MONASTERY]

monasticism (-tэ siz'эm) •n. the monastic system or way of life

Monastir (mô'nä stir´) Turk. name of BITOLJ

monatomic (män'э täm´ik) •adj. 1 a) consisting of one atom (said of a molecule) b) having one atom in the molecule 2 containing one replaceable atom or atomic group 3 MONOVALENT (sense 2) [MON- + ATOMIC]

monaural (män ör´эl) •adj. designating or of sound reproduction in which only one source of sound is used, giving a monophonic effect mon·au´ral·ly •adv. [MON- + AURAL²]

monaxial (-æk´si: эl) •adj. having only one axis; uniaxial

monazite (män´э zait') •n. a yellow or brownish-red native phosphate of the rare-earth metals, a major source of thorium, cerium, lanthanum, neodymium, etc. [Ger monazit < Gr monazein, to be alone (see MONASTERY) + Ger -it, -ITE¹: so named because of its isolated crystals]

Mönchen-Gladbach (mön´Hэn glät´bäkh') city in WC Germany, in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia: pop. 256,000

Monck , George alt. sp. of George MONK

Moncton (mûŋk´tэn) city in SE New Brunswick, Canada: pop. 63,000 [orig. Monckton, after R. Monckton (1726-82), Lt.-Governor of Nova Scotia]

Monday (mûn´dei; also, -di:) •n. the second day of the week: abbrev. Mon, Mo, or M [ME < OE monandæg, moon's day < monan, gen. of mona, MOON + dæg, DAY: transl. of LL Lunae dies]

Monday morning quarterback a person who, after the event, offers advice or criticism concerning decisions made by others; one who second-guesses

Mondays (-deiz'; also, -di:z') •adv. during every Monday or most Mondays

monde (mouñd) •n. the world; society [Fr < L mundus]

Mondrian (män´dri: än'), Piet (pi:t) (born Pieter Cornelis Mondriaan) 1872-1944; Du. painter, in France & the U.S.

monecious (mou ni:´shэs, mэ-) •adj. MONOECIOUS

Monel metal (mou nel´) Æ trademark for an alloy mainly of nickel and copper, very resistant to corrosion [after A. Monell (died 1921), U.S. manufacturer]

monellin (mou nel´in, mэ-) •n. an extremely sweet protein extracted from a W African red berry (Dioscoreophyllum cumminsii)

Monet (mou nei´, mэ-; Fr mô ne´), Claude 1840-1926; Fr. impressionist painter

monetarism (män´э tэr iz'эm) •n. a theory which holds that economic stability and growth result from maintaining a steady rate of growth in the supply of money

monetarist (-ist) •adj. Æ designating, of, or in accord with monetarism Æ n. an adherent of this theory

monetary (män´э ter'i:; also mûn´-) •adj. 1 of or having to do with the coinage or currency of a country 2 of or having to do with money or its means of circulation SYN. FINANCIAL mon´e·tar'i·ly •adv. [LL monetarius, of a mint < L moneta, a MINT¹]

monetize (-taiz') -tized', -tiz'ing •vt. 1 to coin into money 2 to legalize as money mon'e·ti·za´tion •n. [< L moneta, a MINT¹ + -IZE]

money (mûn´i:) pl. -eys or -ies •n. 1 a) standard pieces of gold, silver, copper, nickel, etc., stamped by government authority and used as a medium of exchange and measure of value; coin or coins (also called hard money) b) any paper note issued by a government or an authorized bank and used in the same way; bank notes; bills (also called paper money): see table on page 876 2 any substance or article used as money, as bank notes, checks, etc. 3 any definite or indefinite sum of money 4 property; possessions; wealth 5 very wealthy persons or groups 6 any form or denomination of legally current money 7 MONEY OF ACCOUNT 8 money won as a prize 9 [pl.] sums of money for one's money [Colloq.] for one's choice; in one's opinion have money to burn [Colloq.] to have more money than one needs, so that some can be spent foolishly in the money [Slang] 1 among the winners, as in a contest, race, etc. 2 prosperous; wealthy; successful make money to gain profits; become wealthy one's money's worth full value or benefit on the money [Slang] exact; correct {the prediction was right on the money} put money into to invest money in put money on to bet on mon´ey·less •adj. [OFr moneie < L moneta, a MINT¹]

money belt a belt with a compartment for holding money

money market the system for dealing with the lending and borrowing of funds, especially by governments and large corporations, on a short-term basis

money market (mutual) fund a mutual fund which invests in short-term financial instruments, as treasury bills and commercial paper: also money-market (mutual) fund

money of account a monetary denomination used in keeping accounts, etc., esp. one not issued as a coin or piece of paper money (e.g., the U.S. mill)

money order an order for the payment of a specified sum of money, as one issued for a fee at one post office, telegraph office, or bank and payable at another

moneybag (mûn´i: bæg') •n. 1 a bag for holding money 2 [pl., with sing. v.] [Colloq.] a rich person

money-changer (-chein´jэr) •n. 1 a person whose business is money-changing Æ 2 a device holding stacked coins for making change quickly

money-changing (-chein'jiŋ) •n. the business or act of exchanging currency, usually of different countries, esp. at an established or official rate

moneyed (mûn´i:d) •adj. 1 having much money; rich; wealthy 2 consisting of, derived from, or representing money {moneyed interests}

moneyer (mûn´i: эr) •n. 1 [Obs.] a banker or capitalist 2 [Archaic] a coiner of money [ME moneyour < OFr monoier < L monetarius, mint master < moneta, MINT¹]

money-grubber (mûn´i: grûb'эr) •n. a person who is greedily intent on accumulating money mon´ey-grub'bing •adj., n.

moneylender (-len'dэr) •n. a person whose business is lending money at interest

moneymaker (-meik'эr) •n. 1 a person successful at acquiring money 2 something that produces monetary gain, as a lucrative business mon´ey·mak'ing •adj., n.

moneywort (mûn´i: wørt') •n. a creeping, perennial European plant (Lysimachia nummularia) of the primrose family, with yellow flowers and roundish leaves [MONEY + WORT², after the ModL name Nummularia (see NUMMULAR): so called from its round leaves]

Mong 1 Mongolia 2 Mongolian

monger (mûŋ´gэr, mäŋ´-) •n. a dealer or trader: usually in compounds [fishmonger]: sometimes used figuratively and derogatorily [scandalmonger]: chiefly Brit, in literal uses [ME mongere < OE mangere < L mango, dealer in tricked-out wares < ? Gr *mangōn < manganon, device for deceiving: see MANGLE²]

mongo (mäŋ´gou) pl. -gos •n. a monetary unit of the Mongolian People's Republic, equal to ¹/100 of a tugrik

Mongol (mäŋ´gэl, män´-) •n. 1 a native or inhabitant of Mongolia 2 KHALKHA •adj. var. of MONGOLIAN [< a self-designation; cf. MOGUL]

Mongolia (mäŋ gou´li: э, män-; -goul´yэ) 1 region in EC Asia, consisting of Inner Mongolia & the Mongolian People's Republic 2 MONGOLIAN PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC

Mongolian (-эn, -yэn) •n. 1 a native or inhabitant of Mongolia; Mongol 2 a branch of the Altaic family of languages, including Kalmuck and Khalkha 3 Khalkha, the official language of the Mongolian People's Republic •adj. 1 designating or of Mongolia, its peoples, or their languages or cultures 2 [Obs.] designating or affected with Down's syndrome

Mongolian (or Mongoloid) idiot [Obs.] a person affected with Down's syndrome

Mongolian idiocy early term for DOWN'S SYNDROME

Mongolian People's Republic country in EC Asia, north of China: 592,280 sq. mi. (1,564,000 sq. km); pop. 1,942,000; cap. Ulan Bator

Mongolic (mäŋ gäl´ik, män-) •adj. var. of MONGOLIAN •n. Mongolian, a branch of the Altaic language family or any of the languages of this group

Mongolism (mäŋ´gэl iz'эm, män´-) •n. [often m-] early term for DOWN'S SYNDROME

Mongoloid (-oid') •adj. 1 var. of MONGOLIAN 2 designating or of one of the major geographical varieties of human beings, including most of the peoples of Asia, the Eskimos, the North American Indians, etc., who are generally characterized by straight black hair, dark eyes with epicanthic folds, and relatively small stature: see RACE² 3 [often m-] [Obs.] designating or affected with Down's syndrome •n. 1 a member of the Mongoloid population of human beings 2 [often m-] [Obs.] a person affected with Down's syndrome

mongoose (mäŋ´gu:s', män´-) pl. -goos'es •n. any of various civetlike, Old World carnivores (family Viverridae); esp., any of a sometimes domesticated genus (Herpestes) noted for their ability to kill poisonous snakes, rodents, etc. [Marathi mangūs]

mongrel (mûŋ´grэl, mäŋ´-) •n. 1 an animal or plant produced by the crossing of different breeds or varieties; esp., a dog of this kind 2 anything produced by indiscriminate mixture •adj. of mixed breed, race, origin, or character: often a derogatory usage [ME mengrell < base of OE mengan, to mix + dim. suffix -rel as in COCKEREL: form infl. by ME mong, aphetic < OE gemong, mixture: see AMONG]

mongrelize (-aiz') -ized', -iz'ing •vt. 1 to mix the type, breed, class, etc. of 2 to intermix in racial or ethnic character: a derogatory term used by racists mon'grel·i·za´tion •n.

'mongst or mongst (mûŋst) •prep. archaic var. of AMONGST

Monica (män´i kэ) a feminine name [LL < ?]

monied (mûn´i:d) •adj. MONEYED

monies (mûn´i:z) •n. alt. pl. of MONEY

moniker (män´i kэr) •n. [Slang] a person's name or nickname Also sp. mon´ick·er [orig. hobo term < ?]

moniliasis (män'э lai´э sis, moun'-) pl. -ses' (-si:z') •n. candidiasis

moniliform (mou nil´э förm', mэ-) •adj. shaped somewhat like a string of beads; specif., consisting of, or having, a series of alternate swellings and constrictions, as some plants stems and some insect antennae [< L monile (gen. monilis), necklace < IE base *mono-, neck (> MANE) + -FORM]

monish (män´ish) •vt. [Archaic] ADMONISH

monism (mou´niz'эm, män´iz'эm) •n. Philos. 1 the doctrine that there is only one ultimate substance or principle, whether mind (idealism), matter (materialism), or some third thing that is the basis of both 2 the doctrine that reality is an organic whole without independent parts Cf. DUALISM, PLURALISM mo´nist •n. mo·nis´tic or mo·nis´ti·cal •adj. mo·nis´ti·cal·ly •adv. [ModL monismus < Gr monos, single: see MONO-]

monition (mou nish´эn, mэ-) •n. 1 admonition; warning; caution 2 an official or legal notice; specif., an order issued by a court, as a summons or a command to refrain from doing some act [ME monicion < OFr monition < L monitio < pp. of monere, to warn: see MONITOR]

monitor (män´i tэr) •n. 1 a person who advises, warns, or cautions 2 in some schools, a student chosen to help keep order, record attendance, etc. 3 something that reminds or warns 4 any of a family (Varanidae) of usually very large, flesh-eating lizards of Africa, S Asia, and Australia: from the notion that they warn of the presence of crocodiles Æ 5 [Historical] a heavily armored warship with a low, flat deck and heavy guns fitted in one or more revolving turrets Æ [< the Monitor, first such ship, built in 1862] 6 a mounting for a nozzle that allows a stream of water to be played in any direction, as in fire fighting 7 a person who monitors a foreign broadcast, etc. 8 any of various devices for checking or regulating the performance of machines, aircraft, guided missiles, etc. 9 an instrument for measuring radioactive contamination by means of the ionizing radiation being emitted 10 Radio, TV a receiver or speaker, as in the control room of a broadcasting studio, for checking the quality of the transmission •vt., vi. 1 to watch or check on (a person or thing) as a monitor 2 to check on or regulate the performance of (a machine, airplane, etc.) 3 to test for radioactive contamination with a monitor 4 to listen in on (a foreign broadcast, telephone conversation, etc.) as for gathering political or military information 5 Radio, TV to check the quality of (transmission) with or as with a monitor mon´i·tor·ship' •n. [L < pp. of monere, to warn < IE *moni- < base *men-, to think > MIND]

monitorial (män'i tör´i: эl) •adj. 1 of a monitor or using a monitor or monitors 2 MONITORY

monitory (män´i tör'i:) •adj. giving or containing monition; admonishing •n. pl. -ries a monitory writing [LME manyterye < L monitorius < monitor: see MONITOR]

Monk (mûŋk) 1 George 1st Duke of Albemarle 1608-70; Eng. general & politician 2 The·lo·ni·ous (Sphere) (θэ lou´ni: эs) 1920-82; U.S. jazz pianist & composer monk (mûŋk) •n. a male religious ordinarily living in a monastery or hermitage, usually under vows and a common rule: distinguished from FRIAR [ME munec < OE munuc < LL(Ec) monachus < LGr(Ec) monachos < Gr, one who lives alone < monos, alone: see MONO-]

monkery (mûŋk´эr i:) pl. -er·ies •n. 1 a) the way of life, condition, behavior, etc. of monks b) [pl.] monastic practices or beliefs 2 a monastery A hostile term

monkey (mûŋ´ki:) pl. -keys •n. 1 a) any of several families of Old and New World primates usually having a flat, hairless face and a long tail b) other similar primates, as a gibbon or chimpanzee 2 the fur of some species of long-haired monkeys 3 a person regarded as somehow like a monkey, as a mischievous or imitative child 4 any of various mechanical devices, as the iron block raised and dropped in a pile driver •vi. Æ [Colloq.] to play, fool, trifle, or meddle: often followed by around, with, or around with •vt. [Rare] to mimic; ape Æ a monkey on one's back [Slang] 1 addiction to a drug 2 any trying, burdensome obsession, problem, etc. Æ make a monkey (out) of to make appear foolish or laughable [Early ModE, prob. < or akin to MLowG Moneke, name applied in the beast epic Reynard the Fox to the son of Martin the Ape < Fr or Sp mona, ape < ? Ar maimūn, ape, lit., lucky (euphemism: the ape was regarded as the devil) + LowG -ke, -KIN]

monkey bars an arrangement of horizontal and vertical bars erected as in a playground for children to climb on, swing from, etc.

monkey bread 1 the fruit of the African baobab tree, eaten by monkeys 2 BAOBAB

monkey business foolish, mischievous, or deceitful tricks or behavior

monkey flower any of a genus (Mimulus) of plants of the figwort family, with snapdragonlike flowers having a corolla whose appearance suggests a gape or grimace

monkey jacket [Colloq.] a man's short, closefitting jacket; often, specif., MESS JACKET [from the resemblance to coats worn by trained monkeys]

monkey puzzle any araucaria tree; esp., a tall tree (Araucaria araucana) with stiff pointed leaves, edible nuts, and hard wood, widely grown as an ornamental

monkey suit [Slang] 1 a uniform 2 a man's dress suit [see MONKEY JACKET]

monkey wrench a wrench with one movable jaw, adjusted by a screw to fit various sizes of a nut, etc.: see WRENCH, illus. Æ throw a monkey wrench into [Colloq.] to disrupt the orderly functioning or realization of

monkeypot (-pät') •n. 1 the large, bowl-shaped, woody seed vessel of any of various South American trees (genus Lecythis) of the lecythis family 2 any of these trees

monkeyshine (-shain') •n. [Colloq.] a mischievous or playful trick, joke, or prank: usually used in pl.

monkfish (mûŋk´fish') pl. (see FISH) -fish' •n.or -fish'es any of certain species of ANGLER (sense 3), esp. when used as food

Mon-Khmer (moun´kэ mer´) •adj. designating or of a branch of the Austro-Asiatic family of languages, spoken mainly in Indochina and including Mon and Khmer

monkhood (mûŋk´hud') •n. 1 the condition or profession of a monk 2 monks collectively Often a hostile term

monkish (mûŋk´ish) •adj. of or typical of a monk: a hostile term monk´ish·ly •adv.

monk's cloth 1 orig., a worsted cloth used for monks' garments 2 now, a heavy cloth, as of cotton, with a basket weave, used for drapes, etc.

monkshood (mûŋks´hud') •n. ACONITE

Monmouth (män´mэθ), Duke of (James Scott) 1649-85; illegitimate son of Charles II & pretender to the Eng. throne: led an insurrection against James II: executed

Monmouthshire (-shir', -shэr) former county of SE Wales: also Mon´mouth

mono (män´ou) short for MONOPHONIC (sense 2) •adj. •n. short for MONONUCLEOSIS [Gr mono- < monos, single, alone < IE base *men-, small, single > OIr menb, small]

mono- (män´ou, -э) prefix 1 one, alone, single {monocracy} 2 containing one atom or one chemical group {monohydric} 3 having a thickness of one molecule {monolayer} [< mono-molecular]

monoacid (män'ou æs´id) •adj. MONOACIDIC •n. an acid having only one replaceable hydrogen atom per molecule

monoacidic (-э sid´ik) •adj. 1 designating a base or alcohol one molecular weight of which can react with only one equivalent weight of an acid, or that has one hydroxyl group capable of replacing one acid hydrogen atom 2 having only one acid hydrogen atom per molecule

monoamine (-æm´i:n', -э mi:n´) •n. an amine with one amino group

monoamine oxidase MAO

monoatomic (-э täm´ik) •adj. MONATOMIC

monobasic (män'э beis´ik) •adj. Chem. 1 designating an acid the molecule of which contains one hydrogen atom replaceable by a metal or positive radical or capable of reacting with the hydroxyl group 2 designating a compound in which a metal or positive radical replaces one acid hydrogen atom mon'o·ba·sic´i·ty (-bэ sis´э ti:) •n.

monocarboxylic (-kär'bäks il´ik) •adj. having only one carboxylic acid group in the molecule

monocarpellary (-kär´pэ ler'i:) •adj. consisting of or having only a single carpel

monocarpic (-kär´pik) •adj. bearing fruit only once, and then dying: said of annuals, biennials, and some long-lived plants, as the bamboos and century plants Also mon'o·car´pous [MONO- + -CARPIC]

Monoceros (mэ näs´эr эs) a S constellation between Orion and Canis Minor [L, the unicorn < Gr monokeras < mono-, MONO- + keras, HORN]

monochasium (män'ou kei zi: эm, -zhi:-; män'э-) pl. -si·a (-э) •n. Bot. a cymose or determinate inflorescence having only a single main axis mon'o·cha´si·al •adj. [ModL < MONO- + Gr chasis, division, akin to chainein, to yawn, GAPE]

monochlamydeous (-klэ mid´i: эs) •adj. having only one series of perianth parts, usually designated as sepals, in the flower [< ModL Monochlamydeae < MONO- + Gr chlamyd-, base of chlamys, a mantle + -OUS]

monochloride (-klör´aid') •n. a chloride containing one chlorine atom per molecule

monochord (män´э körd') •n. an acoustical instrument consisting of a wooden sounding box with a single string and a movable bridge set on a graduated scale: used for determining musical intervals mathematically by dividing the string into separate parts whose vibrations can be measured [ME monocorde < MFr < LL monochordon < Gr: see MONO- & CHORD¹]

monochromat (män´э krou'mæt') •n. a person who has monochromatism [< L monochromatos, one-colored < Gr monochrōmatos < mono-, MONO- + chrōma: see CHROMA]

monochromatic (män'э krou mæt´ik) •adj. 1 of or having one color: also mon'o·chro´ic (-krou´ik) 2 of or producing electromagnetic radiation of one wavelength or of a very small range of wavelengths 3 of, having, or having to do with monochromatism mon'o·chro·mat´i·cal·ly •adv. [< L monochromatos < Gr monochrōmatos: see MONOCHROME & -IC]

monochromatism (-krou´mэ tiz'эm) •n. total colorblindness in which all objects appear as shades of gray [< prec. + -ISM]

monochrome (män´э kroum') •n. 1 a painting, drawing, design, or photograph in one color or shades of one color 2 the art or process of making these •adj. of or done in one color or shades of one color mon'o·chro´mic •adj. mon´o·chro'mist •n. [ML monochroma < Gr monochrōmos, of one color: see MONO- & -CHROME]

monocle (män´э kэl) •n. an eyeglass for one eye only mon´o·cled •adj. [Fr < LL monoculus, one-eyed < Gr monos, single (see MONO-) + L oculus, EYE]

monoclinal (män'ou klai´nэl, män'э-) •adj. Geol. 1 dipping in one direction: said of strata, or rock layers 2 of strata dipping in the same direction •n. MONOCLINE

monocline (män´ou klain', män´э-) •n. a monoclinal rock fold or structure [< MONO- + Gr klinein, to incline: see LEAN¹]

monoclinic (män'ou klin´ik, män'э-) •adj. designating or of a system of crystallization characterized by three axes of unequal length, two of which intersect obliquely and are perpendicular to the third [see MONOCLINE & -IC]

monoclinous (-klai´nэs) •adj. having stamens and pistils in the same flower [ModL monoclinus < MONO- + Gr klinē, a bed, couch: see CLINIC]

monoclonal (-kloun´эl) •adj. of cells derived or cloned from one cell [MONO- + CLONAL]

monoclonal antibody Immunology an antibody produced by a hybridoma for a specific antigen

monocoque (män´э käk', -kouk') •adj. 1 designating or of a kind of construction, as of a rocket, in which the skin or outer shell bears all or most of the stresses 2 designating or of a kind of construction, as of a racing car in which the body and chassis are one unit [Fr < mono-, MONO- + coque, a shell < L coccum, scarlet berry < Gr kokkos, a seed]

monocotyledon (män'ou kät´ªl i:d´ªn, män'э-) Bot. any of a class (Liliopsida) of angiosperms having an embryo containing only one cotyledon, and usually having parallel-veined leaves, flower parts in multiples of three, and no secondary growth in stems and roots, as lilies, orchids, and grasses: often clipped to mon´o·cot' •n. mon'o·cot'y·le´don·ous •adj.

monocracy (mou näk´rэ si:, mэ-) pl. -cies •n. government by one person; autocracy Æ mon·o·crat (män´э kræt') •n. mon'o·crat´ic •adj. [MONO- + -CRACY]

monocular (mou näk´yu: lэr, -yэ-) •adj. 1 having only one eye 2 of, or for use by, only one eye •n. a field glass or telescopic device with a single eyepiece [< LL monoculus (see MONOCLE) + -AR]

monoculture (män´ou kûl´chэr, män´э-) •n. the raising of only one crop or product without using the land for other purposes [MONO- + CULTURE]

monocycle (-sai'kэl) •n. UNICYCLE

monocyclic (män'ou saik´lik) •adj. 1 of or forming one cycle, circle, whorl, etc. 2 Chem. containing one ring of atoms in the molecule

monocyte (män´ou sait', män´э-) •n. a large, mononuclear, nongranular white blood cell with a round or kidney-shaped nucleus mon'o·cyt´ic (-sit´ik) •adj. [MONO- + -CYTE]

Monod (mô nou´), Jacques Lu·ci·en (zhäk lü syæñ´) 1910-76; Fr. biochemist

monodist (män´э dist) •n. a writer or singer of a monody

monodrama (män´ou drä'mэ, -dræm'э; män´э-) •n. drama acted, or written to be acted, by only one performer mon'o·dra·mat´ic (-drэ mæt´ik) •adj.

monody (män´э di:) pl. -dies •n. 1 in ancient Greek literature, an ode sung by a single voice, as in a tragedy; lyric solo, generally a lament or dirge 2 a poem in which the poet mourns someone's death 3 a monotonous sound or tone, as of waves 4 Music a) an early vocal style having a single voice part with continuo accompaniment, as in Baroque opera b) a composition in this style 5 MONOPHONY mo·nod·ic (mou näd´ik, mэ-) or mo·nod´i·cal •adj. mo·nod´i·cal·ly •adv. [LL monodia < Gr monōidia < monōidos, singing alone < monos, alone (see MONO-) + aeidein, to sing: see ODE]

monoecious (mou ni:´shэs, mэ-) •adj. 1 Bot. having separate male flowers and female flowers on the same plant, as in corn 2 Zool. having both male and female reproductive organs in the same individual; hermaphroditic mo·noe´cism' (-siz'эm) •n. [< MON- + Gr oikos, a house (see ECO-) + -IOUS]

monofilament (män'ou fil´э mэnt, män'э-) •n. a single untwisted strand of synthetic material Also mon´o·fil'

monogamy (mou näg´э mi:, mэ-) •n. 1 the practice or state of being married to only one person at a time 2 [Rare] the practice of marrying only once during life 3 Zool. the practice of having only one mate mo·nog´a·mist •n. mo·nog´a·mous or mon·o·gam·ic (män'ou gæm´ik) •adj. [Fr monogamie < LL(Ec) monogamia < Gr: see MONO- & -GAMY]

monogenesis (män'ou jen´э sis, män'э-) •n. Biol. 1 the hypothetical descent of all living organisms from a single original organism or cell 2 asexual reproduction, as by budding or spore formation [ModL: see MONO- & GENESIS]

monogenetic (-ji net´ik) •adj. 1 of or pertaining to monogenesis 2 designating or of animals without alternating asexual and sexual generations

monogenic (-jen´ik) •adj. 1 Biol. designating or of a mode of inheritance in which a character is controlled by one pair of genes [MONO- + GEN(E) + -IC] 2 Zool. producing offspring of one sex only, as females only in some species of aphids [MONO- + -GEN + -IC] mo·nog·e·ny (mou näj´э ni:) •n.

monogenism (mou näj´э niz'эm, mэ-) •n. theory that all human beings are descended from a single pair of ancestors: see POLYGENISM [MONO- + -GEN + -ISM]

monoglot (män´ou glät', män´э-) •adj. speaking or writing only one language •n. a monoglot person [Gr monoglōttos: see MONO- & (POLY)GLOT]

monogram (män´э græm') •n. a character or figure made up of two or more letters, often initials of a name, combined in a single design: used on writing paper, ornaments, clothing, etc. •vt. -grammed', -gram'ming to put a monogram on mon'o·gram·mat´ic (-grэ mæt´ik) •adj. [LL monogramma < Gr mono-, MONO- + gramma, letter: see GRAM¹]

monograph (män´э græf') •n. 1 orig., a treatise on a single genus, species, etc. of plant or animal 2 a book or long article, esp. a scholarly one, on a single subject or a limited aspect of a subject mon'o·graph´ic •adj. [MONO- + -GRAPH]

monogynous (mou näj´э nэs, mэ-) •adj. 1 of or characterized by monogyny 2 Bot. having one style or pistil

monogyny (-ni:) •n. the practice or state of being married to only one woman at a time [MONO- + -GYNY]

monohydrate (män'ou hai´dreit') •n. a hydrate containing one molecule of water per molecule of combining compound

monohydric (-hai´drik) •adj. 1 MONOHYDROXY 2 [Rare] having one atom of replaceable hydrogen [MONO- + -HYDRIC]

monohydroxy (-hai dräk´si:) •adj. having one hydroxyl group in the molecule [MONO- + HYDROXY]

monolayer (män´ou lei'эr) •n. a layer or film one molecule thick

monolingual (män'ou liŋ´gwэl, män'э-) •adj. 1 of or in one language 2 using or knowing only one language [MONO- + LINGUAL]

monolith (män´э liθ') •n. 1 a single large block or piece of stone, as in architecture or sculpture 2 something made of a single block of stone, as an obelisk 3 something like a monolith in size, unity of structure or purpose, unyielding quality mon'o·lith´ic •adj. mon´o·lith'ism' •n. [Fr monolithe < L monolithus < Gr monolithos, made of one stone < monos, single (see MONO-) + lithos, stone]

monologue or monolog (män´э lög') •n. 1 a long speech by one speaker, esp. one monopolizing the conversation 2 a passage or composition, in verse or prose, presenting the words or thoughts of a single character 3 a part of a play in which one character speaks alone; soliloquy 4 a play, skit, or recitation for one actor only mon´o·logu'ist or mo·nol·o·gist (mэ näl´э jist) •n. [Fr < Gr monologos, speaking alone < monos, single (see MONO-) + legein, to speak (see LOGIC)]

monomania (män'ou mei´ni: э) •n. 1 an excessive interest in or enthusiasm for some one thing; craze 2 a mental disorder characterized by irrational preoccupation with one subject mon'o·ma´ni·ac' (-mei´ni: æk') •n. mon'o·ma·ni´a·cal (-mэ nai´э kэl) •adj. [ModL: see MONO- & MANIA]

monomer (män´э mэr) •n. a simple molecule that can form polymers by combining with identical or similar molecules mon'o·mer´ic (-mer´ik) •adj. [MONO- + Gr meros, a part: see MERIT]

monomerous (mou näm´эr эs, mэ-) •adj. having one member, as a fruit of one carpel [ModL monomerus < Gr monomerēs, single (< mono-, MONO- + meros, a part: see MERIT) + -OUS]

monometallic (män'ou mэ tæl´ik, män'э-) •adj. 1 of or using one metal 2 of or based on monometallism

monometallism (-met´ªl iz'эm) •n. 1 the use of only one metal, usually gold or silver, as the monetary standard 2 the doctrine or policies supporting this mon'o·met´al·list •n.

monomial (mou nou´mi: эl, mä-) •adj. 1 Algebra consisting of only one term 2 Biol. consisting of only one word: said of a taxonomic name •n. a monomial expression, quantity, or name [MO(NO)- + (BI)NOMIAL]

monomolecular (män'ou mou lek´yu: lэr) •adj. 1 of a single molecule 2 designating or of a layer one molecule thick

monomorphic (män'ou mör´fik) •adj. 1 having only one form 2 having the same or an essentially similar type of structure Also mon'o·mor´phous (-fэs) [MONO- + -MORPHIC]

Monongahela (mэ nän'gэ hi:´lэ, -näŋ'-) river in N W.Va. & SW Pa., flowing north to join the Allegheny at Pittsburgh & form the Ohio: 128 mi. (206 km) [< Algonquian]

mononuclear (män'ou nu:´kli: эr, -nyu:´-) •adj. 1 Bot. having one nucleus in a cell 2 Chem. MONOCYCLIC (sense 2)

mononucleosis (män'ou nu:'kli: ou´sis, -nyu:'-) •n. 1 INFECTIOUS MONONUCLEOSIS 2 the presence in the blood of an excessive number of cells having a single nucleus [MONO- + NUCLE(US) + -OSIS]

monophagous (mou näf´э gэs, mэ-) •adj. feeding on only one kind of food, as on a certain plant [MONO- + -PHAGOUS]

monophobia (män'ou fou´bi: э, män'э-) •n. an abnormal fear of being alone [ModL: see MONO- & -PHOBIA]

monophonic (män'ou fän´ik, män'э-) •adj. 1 of, or having the nature of, monophony 2 designating or of sound reproduction using a single channel to carry and reproduce sounds through one or more loudspeakers

monophony (mou näf´э ni:, mэ-) •n. 1 music having a single melody without accompaniment or harmonizing parts, as in plainsong 2 MONODY [MONO- + -PHONY]

monophthong (män´эf θöŋ') •n. a simple vowel sound during the utterance of which the vocal organs remain in a relatively unchanging position, as (ä), (u), or (i) mon'oph·thong´al (-θöŋ´эl, -thöŋ gэl) •adj. [< Gr monophthongos, of or with one sound < monos, single (see MONO-) + phthongos, a sound, voice]

monophyletic (män'ou fai let´ik, män'э-) •adj. 1 of a single stock 2 developed from a single ancestral type mon'o·phy´le·tism' (-fai´lэ tiz'эm) •n. [see MONO- & PHYLETIC]

monophyllous (män'ou fil´эs) •adj. Bot. 1 having or consisting of only one leaf 2 having united sepals or petals [Gr monophyllos < monos, single (see MONO-) + phyllon, leaf (see BLOOM¹)]

Monophysite (mou näf´э sait', mэ-) •n. an adherent of an orig. 4th- and 5th-cent. theory asserting the existence of only one nature (divine or divine-human) in Christ and opposing the orthodox doctrine of the existence of two distinct natures (one wholly divine, the other wholly human) in the one person of Christ Mo·noph'y·sit´ic (-sit´ik, män'э fэ-) •adj. [LGr(Ec) monophysitēs < Gr monos, single (see MONO-) + physis, nature (see PHYSIC)]

monoplane (män´э plein') •n. an airplane or glider with only one main supporting surface, or pair of wings

monoplegia (män'э pli:´ji: э, -pli:´jэ) •n. paralysis of a single limb or part of the body mon'o·ple´gic (-pli:´jik, -plej´ik) •adj. [ModL < MONO- + Gr plēgē, a stroke < IE *plēg-, var. of *plāk-, to strike > L plangere: see FLAW²]

monoploid (män´ou ploid') •adj., n. Biol. HAPLOID [MONO- + -PLOID]

monopode (män´э poud') •adj. having only one foot •n. 1 a monopode creature; specif., a member of a fabled race of monopode men 2 MONOPODIUM [LL monopedius < Gr *monopodios, for monopous < monos, (see MONO-) + pous (gen. podos), FOOT]

monopodium (män'ou pou´di: эm) pl. -di·a (-э) •n. Bot. a single main stem that continues to extend at the apex in its original line of growth, giving off lateral branches or axes, as the trunk of certain pine trees mon'o·po´di·al •adj. [ModL: see MONO- & -PODIUM]

monopole (män´э poul') •n. a hypothetical elementary particle of great mass, that has only one pole of magnetic charge: in full magnetic monopole [MONO- + POLE²]

monopolist (mэ näp´э list) •n. 1 one who monopolizes or has a monopoly 2 a person who favors monopoly mo·nop'o·lis´tic •adj. mo·nop'o·lis´ti·cal·ly •adv.

monopolize (mэ näp´э laiz') -lized', -liz'ing •vt. 1 to get, have or exploit a monopoly of 2 to get full possession or control of; dominate completely {to monopolize a conversation} mo·nop'o·li·za´tion •n. mo·nop´o·liz'er •n.

monopoly (mэ näp´э li:) pl. -lies •n. 1 exclusive control of a commodity or service in a given market, or control that makes possible the fixing of prices and the virtual elimination of free competition 2 an exclusive privilege of engaging in a particular business or providing a service, granted by a ruler or by the state 3 exclusive possession or control of something 4 something that is held or controlled as a monopoly 5 a company or combination that has a monopoly Æ 6 [M-] a game played on a special board by two or more players: they move according to the throw of dice, engaging in mock real estate transactions with play money SYN.—monopoly applies to the exclusive control of a commodity, etc., as defined above; a trust is a combination of corporations, organized for the purpose of gaining a monopoly, in which stock is turned over to trustees who issue stock certificates to the stockholders: trusts are now illegal in the U.S.; cartel, the European term for a trust, now usually implies an international trust; a syndicate is now usually a group of bankers, corporations, etc. organized to buy large blocks of securities, afterward selling them in small parcels to the public at a profit; a corner is a temporary speculative monopoly of some stock or commodity for the purpose of raising the price [L monopolium < Gr monopōlion, right of exclusive sale, monopōlia, exclusive sale < monos, single (see MONO-) + pōlein, to sell < IE base *pel- > Lith pejnas, wages]

monopropellant (män'ou prou pel´эnt) •n. a liquid or solid propellant consisting of a single substance or an intimate mixture of substances, which combines both fuel and oxidizer [MONO- + PROPELLANT]

monopsony (mou näp´sэ ni:) pl. -nies •n. Econ. a situation in which there is only one buyer for a particular commodity or service [MON(O)- + Gr opsōnia, a purchase of fish, catering < opsōnein, to buy victuals < opson, cooked food, fish < o-, with + base of psōmos, a morsel]

monorail (män´ou reil', män´э-) •n. 1 a single rail serving as a track for cars suspended from it or balanced on it 2 a railway with such a track

monosaccharide (män'ou sæk´э raid') •n. a carbohydrate, CxH2xOx, not decomposable by hydrolysis; esp., a hexose sugar, C6H12O6, as glucose, fructose, or galactose [MONO- + SACCHARIDE]

monosepalous (-sep´эl эs) •adj. Bot. GAMOSEPALOUS

monosodium glutamate (män'ou sou´di: эm glu:´tэ meit') a white crystalline powder, NaC5H8NO4 derived from vegetable protein and used in foods as a flavor intensifier

monosome (män´э soum') •n. an unpaired chromosome in an otherwise diploid cell; esp., an unpaired sex chromosome mon'o·so´mic •adj. [MONO- + -SOME³]

monospermous (män'ou spør´mэs) •adj. Bot. having only one seed [MONO- + -SPERMOUS]

monospermy (män´ou spør'mi:) •n. Zool. the system in which a single sperm cell fertilizes an ovum mon'o·sper´mic •adj. [MONO- + SPERM¹ + -Y4]

monostele (män'ou sti:´li:, -sti:l') •n. a stem or root having a single vascular cylinder mon'o·ste´lic •adj. [MONO- + STELE]

monostich (män´ou stik', män´э-) •n. 1 a poem consisting of one metrical line 2 one line of poetry [LL monostichum < Gr monostichon < monos, single (see MONO-) + stichos, a line, verse: see STILE²]

monostome (-stoum') •adj. having one mouth or sucker, as some larval flatworms Also mo·nos·to·mous (mou näs´tэ mэs, mэ-) [MONO- + -STOME]

monostrophe (män´ou strou'fi:, mэ näs´trэ-) •n. a poem in which all the stanzas have the same metrical form mon·o·stroph·ic (män'ou sträf´ik) •adj. [< Gr monostrophos: see MONO- & STROPHE]

monostylous (män'ou stai´lэs) •adj. Bot. having only one style

monosyllabic (män'ou si læb´ik, män'э-) •adj. 1 having only one syllable {a monosyllabic word} 2 consisting of monosyllables 3 using, or speaking in, monosyllables, often so as to seem terse or uncommunicative mon'o·syl·lab´i·cal·ly •adv. [ML monosyllabicus]

monosyllable (män´ou sil´э bэl, män´э-) •n. a word of one syllable [altered < ML monosyllaba, ult. < Gr monosyllabos: see MONO- & SYLLABLE]

monosymmetric (män'ou si met´rik) •adj. 1 MONOCLINIC 2 ZYGOMORPHIC Also mon'o·sym·met´ri·cal

monotheism (män´ou θi: iz'эm, män´э-) •n. the belief or doctrine that there is only one God mon´o·the·ist' •n. mon'o·the·is´tic or mon'o·the·is´ti·cal •adj. mon'o·the·is´ti·cal·ly •adv. [MONO- + THEISM]

monotint (män´ou tint') •n. MONOCHROME

monotocous (mэ nät´э kэs) •adj. UNIPAROUS (sense 2)

monotone (män´э toun') •n. 1 uninterrupted repetition of the same tone; utterance of successive syllables or words without change of pitch or key 2 monotony or sameness of tone, style, manner, color, etc. 3 a single, unchanging musical tone 4 recitation, chanting, or singing in such a tone 5 a person who can sing only in such a tone •adj. MONOTONOUS mon'o·ton´ic (-tän´ik) •adj. [< LL monotonus: see MONOTONOUS]

monotonous (mэ nät´ªn эs) •adj. 1 going on in the same tone without variation 2 having little or no variation or variety 3 tiresome because unvarying mo·not´o·nous·ly •adv. mo·not´o·nous·ness •n. [LL monotonus < Gr monotonos: MONO- & TONE]

monotony (mэ nät´ªn i:) •n. 1 sameness of tone or pitch, or continuance of the same tone without variation 2 lack of variation or variety 3 tiresome sameness or uniformity [Fr monotonie < Gr monotonia: see MONOTONOUS]

monotreme (män´ou tri:m', män´э-) •n. any of the lowest order (Monotremata) of mammals, consisting of the platypus and the echidnas, which lay eggs and have a single opening for the digestive and urinary tracts and for the genital organs mon'o·trem´a·tous (-trem´э tэs, -tri:´mэ-) •adj. [< ModL Monotremata < Gr monos, single (see MONO-) + trēma, a hole < IE base *ter-, to rub, drill > THROW]

monotrichous (mэ nä´tri kэs) •adj. having a single flagellum at one end, as some bacteria [MONO- + TRICH(O)- + -OUS]

monotype (män´ou taip', män´э-) •n. 1 Biol. the only type of its group, as a single species constituting a genus, a single genus constituting a family, etc. 2 Art a) a unique print from a metal or glass plate on which a picture has been made, as with paint or ink b) the method of making such prints 3 Printing type produced by Monotype Æ [M-] trademark for either of a pair of machines for casting and setting up type in separate characters on individual bodies: one, a casting machine, is controlled by a paper tape perforated on the other, a keyboard machine [MONO- + -TYPE]

monotypic (män'ou tip´ik) •adj. 1 having only one type, as a genus consisting of only one species 2 having the nature of a monotype

monovalent (män'ou vei´lэnt; män´ou vei'-, män´ou vei´-) •adj. 1 designating an antibody, or antigen, that combines with only one specific antigen, or antibody 2 a) having one valence b) having a valence of one (see -VALENT) mon'o·va´lence or mon'o·va´len·cy •n.

monoxide (mэ näks´aid') •n. an oxide with one atom of oxygen in each molecule

monozygotic (mä'nou zai gät´ik) •adj. of or from one fertilized egg, as identical twins Also mon·o·zy·gous (mä'nэ zai´gэs)

Monroe (mэn rou´) city in N La.: pop. 55,000 [after prec.] Monroe (mэn rou´) 1 James 1758-1831; 5th president of the U.S. (1817-25) 2 Marilyn (born Norma Jean Mortenson, later changed to Norma Jean Baker) 1926-62; U.S. film actress

Monroe Doctrine the doctrine, essentially stated by President Monroe in a message to Congress (Dec., 1823), that the U.S. would regard as an unfriendly act any attempt by a European nation to interfere in the affairs of the American countries or increase its possessions on the American continents

Monrovia (mэn rou´vi: э) capital of Liberia: seaport on the Atlantic: pop. 425,000

mons (mänz) pl. mon·tes (män´ti:z') •n. 1 MONS PUBIS 2 MONS VENERIS [ModL < L, hill, MOUNT¹] Mons abbrev. Monsieur Mons (mouñs´) city in SW Belgium: pop. 95,000

mons pubis (mänz' pyu:´bis) the fleshy, rounded elevation, covered with pubic hair, at the lower part of the adult human abdomen [see MONS & PUBES¹]

mons veneris (mänz' ven´эr is) the mons pubis of the human female [L, lit., mount of Venus]

Monseigneur (män'sen yør´; Fr mouñ se nyëř´) pl. Mes·sei·gneurs (mes'en yørz´; Fr mei se nyëř´) •n. 1 a French title of honor given to persons of high birth or rank, as princes, or to important church officers, as bishops, cardinals, etc. 2 [often m-] a person with this title [Fr, lit., my lord < mon, my + seigneur, lord < L senior, older: see SENIOR]

monsieur (mэ syør´; Fr mэ syö´) pl. mes·sieurs (mes´эrz; Fr mei syö´) •n. 1 a man; gentleman 2 [M-] French title, equivalent to Mr. or Sir Abbrev. M or Mons [Fr, lit., my lord (see SIRE): orig. applied to men of high position]

Monsig 1 Monseigneur 2 Monsignor

Monsignor (män si:n´yэr; It mô'si: nyôř´) pl. -gnors (-yэrz) or -gno´ri (-nyô´ři:) •n. 1 a title given to certain dignitaries of the Roman Catholic Church 2 [often m-] a person who has this title [It, lit., my lord, MONSEIGNEUR]

monsoon (män su:n´) •n. 1 a seasonal wind of the Indian Ocean and S Asia, blowing from the southwest from April to October, and from the northeast during the rest of the year 2 the season during which this wind blows from the southwest, characterized by heavy rains 3 any wind that reverses its direction seasonally or blows constantly between land and adjacent water mon·soon´al •adj. [MDu monssoen < Port monção < Ar mausim, a time, a season]

monster (män´stэr) •n. 1 any plant or animal of abnormal shape or structure, as one greatly malformed or lacking some parts; monstrosity 2 any imaginary creature part human and part animal in form, as a centaur, or made up of the parts of two or more different animals, as a dragon 3 something monstrous 4 a person so cruel, wicked, depraved, etc. as to horrify others 5 any huge animal or thing 6 Pathology an malformed fetus, esp. one with an excess or deficiency of limbs or parts; teratism •adj. huge; enormous; monstrous [ME monstre < OFr < L monstrum, divine portent of misfortune, monster < monere, to admonish, warn: see MONITOR]

monstera (män´ster э) •n. any of a genus (Monstera) of tropical American plants of the arum family; esp., a tall species (M. deliciosa) with huge, deeply lobed leaves and an edible fruit

monstrance (män´strэns) •n. R.C.Ch. a receptacle in which the consecrated Host is exposed for adoration [ME munstraunce < OFr monstrance < ML monstrantia < L monstrare, to show, akin to monstrum: see MONSTERA]

monstrosity (män sträs´э ti:) •n. 1 the state or quality of being monstrous 2 pl. -ties a monstrous thing or creature [LL monstrositas]

monstrous (män´strэs) •adj. 1 abnormally or prodigiously large; huge; enormous 2 very unnatural or abnormal in shape, type, or character 3 having the character or appearance of a monster 4 horrible; hideous; shocking 5 hideously wrong or evil; atrocious •adv. [Chiefly Dial.] very; extremely SYN. OUTRAGEOUS mon´strous·ly •adv. mon´strous·ness •n. [LME < OFr monstreux < L monstrosus < monstrum: see MONSTER]

Mont Montana

Mont Blanc see BLANC, Mont

Mont Cervin see CERVIN, Mont

montage (mouñ täzh´, moun-; män täzh´) •n. 1 a) the art or process of making a composite picture by bringing together into a single composition a number of different pictures or parts of pictures and arranging these, as by superimposing one on another, so that they form a blended whole while remaining distinct b) a picture so made 2 Film a) the process of editing b) the art or process of producing a sequence of abruptly alternating scenes or images or a sequence in which superimposed images are shown whirling about, flashing into focus, etc., to convey an idea c) a part of a film in which this is used 3 a) any similar technique, as in literature or music, of juxtaposing discrete or contrasting elements b) anything that is or is like the result of such a process •vt. -taged´, -tag´ing to incorporate in a montage [Fr, a mounting, setting together < monter, MOUNT²]

Montagnais (män'tэn yei´) •n. 1 pl. -gnais (-yei´, -yeiz´) or -gnaises´ (-yeiz´) a member of a North American Indian people of N Quebec 2 the Algonquian language of this people [Fr, lit., mountaineer]

Montagnard (män'tэn yärd´, moun-) •n. a member of a people living in the hills of central Vietnam [Fr, lit., mountaineer < montagne, MOUNTAIN + -ard, -ARD]

Montagu (män´tэ gyu:´), Lady Mary Wort·ley (wørt´li:) (born Mary Pierrepont) 1689-1762; Eng. writer

Montague (män´tэ gyu:') the family name of Romeo in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

Montaigne (män tein´; Fr mouñ ten´yª), Mi·chel Ey·quem de (mi: shel e kem´ dэ) 1533-92; Fr. essayist

Montale (môn tä´lei), Eu·ge·nio (ei'u: jei´nyô) 1896-1981; It. poet

montan wax (män´tæn) a brown or whitish hydrocarbon wax extracted from lignite and peat, and used in making candles, polishes, etc. [< L montanus, of a mountain (see MOUNTAIN) + WAX¹]

Montana (män tæn´э) Mountain State of the NW U.S.: admitted, 1889; 147,138 sq. mi. (381,087 sq. km); pop. 799,000; cap. Helena: abbrev. MT or Mont Mon·tan´an •adj., n. [L montana, mountainous regions: see MOUNTAIN]

montane (män´tein', män tein´) •adj. of or designating a cool, moist ecological zone usually located near the timberline and usually dominated by evergreen trees

Montauk Point (män´tök') promontory at the easternmost tip of Long Island, N.Y. [< Algonquian tribal name + POINT]

Montcalm (mänt´käm'; Fr mouñ kålm´), Lou·is Jo·seph de (lwi: zhou zef´ dэ) (full name Louis Joseph de Montcalm-Gozon, Marquis de Saint Véran) 1712-59; Fr. general defeated & killed by Brit. forces under Wolfe at Quebec

mont-de-piété (mouñd pyei tei´) pl. monts-de-pié·té´ (mouñd-) •n. in France, a public pawnshop, authorized and controlled by the government, for lending money to the poor at a low rate of interest [Fr < It monte di pietà, charitable bank, lit., mount of pity]

monte (män´ti:) •n. 1 a gambling game of Spanish origin, played with a special deck of forty cards in which the players bet against a banker on the suit of cards to be turned up from the deck 2 see THREE-CARD MONTE [Sp monte, lit., mountain, hence heap of cards (left after players have their shares) < L mons (gen. montis), MOUNT¹]

Monte Carlo (mänt'э kär´lou) town in Monaco: gambling resort: pop. 12,500

Monte Carlo method a technique for obtaining an approximate solution to certain mathematical and physical problems, characteristically involving the replacement of a probability distribution by sample values and usually done on a computer

Montebello (mänt'э bel´ou) city in SW Calif.: suburb of Los Angeles: pop. 60,000 [It, lit., beautiful mountain]

monteith (män ti:θ´) •n. a large punch bowl, usually of silver, with a notched brim from which glasses and ladles are hung [said to be named after a 17th-c. Scot who wore a coat with a notched hem]

Montenegro (mänt'э ni:´grou, -neg´rou) constituent republic of S Yugoslavia: formerly a kingdom: 5,333 sq. mi. (13,812 sq. km); pop. 584,000; cap. Podgorica Mon'te·ne´grin (-grin) •adj., n.

Monterey (mänt'э rei´) city on the coast of central Calif.: former capital (until 1846) of Calif. region: pop. 32,000 [< Sp Puerto de Monterrey, lit., port of Monterrey, after the viceroy of New Spain (1602)]

Monterey Jack a semisoft, light-yellow, mild cheese [after Monterey County, Calif., where first made + JACK]

Monterey Park city in SW Calif.: suburb of Los Angeles: pop. 61,000 [see MONTEREY]

montero (män ter´ou) pl. -ros •n. a round cap with a flap, of a style worn by Spanish huntsmen [Sp, hunter, lit., mountaineer < monte, hill < L mons, MOUNT¹]

Monterrey (mänt'э rei´; Sp môn´teř řei´) city in NE Mexico: capital of Nuevo Léon: pop. 1,006,000 (met. area 1,916,000)

Montesquieu (mouñ tes kyö´; E män´tэs kyu:'), (Baron de la Brède et de) (born Charles Louis de Secondat) 1689-1755; Fr. jurist & political philosopher

Montessori (mänt'э sör´i:; It môn'tes sô´ři:), Maria 1870-1952; It. educator

Montessori method (or system) a system of training and teaching young children, devised in 1907 by Maria Montessori, which emphasizes training of the senses and guidance rather than rigid control of the child's activity, so as to encourage self-education

Monteux (mouñ tö´), Pierre 1875-1964; U.S. orchestra conductor, born in France

Monteverdi (mänt'э ver´di:; It môn'te veř´di:), Clau·dio (Giovanni Antonio) (klau´dyô) 1567-1643 It. composer

Montevideo (mänt'э vэ dei´ou) capital & seaport of Uruguay: pop. 1,360,000

Montezuma II (mänt'э zu:´mэ) c. 1480-1520; Aztec emperor of Mexico (1502-20)

Montezuma's revenge [Slang] acute infectious diarrhea, esp. when contracted in Mexico

Montfort (mänt´fэrt) 1 Simon de c. 1160-1218; Fr. soldier: led crusade against Albigenses 2 Simon de Earl of Leicester, c. 1208-65; Eng. statesman & soldier: son of Simon (Fr. soldier)

Montgomery (mûnt gûm´эr i:) capital of Ala., in the SC part, on the Alabama River: pop. 187,000 Montgomery (mûnt gûm´эr i:), Bernard Law (lö) 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein 1887-1976; Brit. field marshal in World War II

Montgomeryshire (-shir', -shэr) former county of central Wales, now mostly in Powys county: also Montgomery

month (mûnθ) •n. 1 any of the main parts (usually twelve) into which the calendar year is divided: also calendar month 2 a) the time from any date of one month to the corresponding date of the next b) a period of four weeks or 30 days 3 the period of a complete revolution of the moon around the earth with respect to some object; esp., a) the period (synodic month) marked by two successive lunar conjunctions with the sun, equal on the average to 29.53 days (also called lunar month) b) the sidereal month 4 one twelfth of the solar year: in full solar month month after month every month or for many successive months month by month each month month in, month out every month month of Sundays [Colloq.] a long time [ME < OE monath, akin to Ger monat, ON manuthr < Gmc *menōth- < IE *mēnōt, month, moon, var. of mēn: see MOON]

Montherlant (mouñ teř läñ´), Hen·ri (Millon) de (äñ ři:´ dэ) 1896-1972; Fr. novelist & playwright

monthly (mûnθ´li:) •adj. 1 done, happening, payable, etc. once a month, or every month {a monthly magazine} 2 of a month, or of each month •n. pl. -lies 1 a periodical published once a month 2 [also pl.] [Colloq.] the menses •adv. once a month; every month

month's mind R.C.Ch. a Mass said for the repose of the soul of a person on about the 30th day after the person's death

Monticello (män'tэ sel´ou, -chel´ou) home & burial place of Thomas Jefferson, near Charlottesville, Va. [It, little mountain]

monticule (män´ti kyu:l') •n. 1 a small mountain or hill 2 a secondary cone of a volcano [Fr < LL monticulus, dim. of L mons, MOUNT¹]

Montmartre (mouñ måř´třª) district of Paris, in N part, noted for its cafés and as an artists' quarter

montmorillonite (mänt'mэ ril´э nait') •n. any of a group of related clay minerals with the general formula, Al2Si4O10(OH)2, which swell greatly in water [Fr, after Montmorillon, France + -ite, -ITE¹]

Montparnasse (mouñ påř nås´) section of Paris, on the left bank of the Seine

Montpelier (mänt pi:l´yэr) capital of Vt., in the NC part: pop. 8,200 [after fol.]

Montpellier (mouñ pэl yei´) city in S France, near the Gulf of Lions: pop. 201,000

Montrachet (män'rэ shei´, mänt'-; Fr mouñ řå she´) •n. 1 a dry white wine of northern Burgundy 2 a soft goat cheese of northern Burgandy [Fr, after Le Montrachet, vineyard where it is produced]

Montreal (män'tri: öl´, mûn'-) 1 city & seaport in SW Quebec, Canada, on an island in the St. Lawrence River: pop. 980,000 (met. area 2,921,000) 2 this island: 201 sq. mi. (520 sq. km) Fr. name Mont·ré·al (mouñ řei ål´) Mon'tre·al´er •n. [Fr Montréal, after Mont Royal, Mount Royal, at its center]

Montreal North city in SW Quebec, Canada: suburb of Montreal, on Montreal Island: pop. 90,000: Fr. name Montréal Nord (nôř)

Montreuil (mouñ třë´yª) city in NC France: suburb of Paris: pop. 93,000

Montserrat (mänt'sэ ræt´) British island of the Leeward group, in the West Indies: 33 sq. mi. (86 sq. km); pop. 12,000

Mont-St-Michel (mouñ sæñ mi: shel´) islet just off the NW coast of France, noted for its fortified abbey

monument (män´yu: mэnt, -yэ-) •n. 1 something set up to keep alive the memory of a person or event, as a tablet, statue, pillar, building, etc. 2 a structure surviving from a former period 3 a writing or the like serving as a memorial 4 a) a work, production, etc. of enduring value or significance {monuments of learning} b) lasting or outstanding evidence or example Æ 5 a stone shaft or other object set in the earth to mark a boundary 6 [Obs.] a) a tomb; sepulcher b) a statue; effigy See also NATIONAL MONUMENT [OFr < L monumentum < monere, to remind, warn: see MONITOR]

monumental (män'yu: ment´ªl, -yэ-) •adj. 1 of, suitable for, or serving as a monument or monuments 2 like a monument; massive, enduring, etc. 3 historically notable, important, or of lasting value 4 very great; colossal {monumental ineptitude} 5 Art larger than life-size mon'u·men·tal´i·ty (-tæl´э ti:) •n. mon'u·men´tal·ly •adv. [LL monumentalis]

monumentalize (-aiz') -ized', -iz'ing •vt. to make a lasting memorial or record of, as by a monument

-mony (mou´ni:) suffix a resulting condition, state, or thing [L -monia, -monium]

Monza (môn´tsä) commune in N Italy: pop. 123,000

monzonite (män´zэ nait') •n. an igneous rock containing orthoclase and plagioclase in nearly equal quantities, a small amount of quartz, and some biotite [Ger monzonit, after Mt. Monzoni (in Tyrol), where it occurs]

moo (mu:) pl. moos •n. the characteristic vocal sound made by a cow; lowing sound •vi. mooed, moo´ing to make this sound; low [echoic]

moo goo gai pan (mu:´ gu:´ gai´ pæn´) a Chinese dish consisting of slices of chicken sautéed with black mushrooms, lotus root, and assorted vegetables [Chin, lit., mushroom chicken slice]

moo shu pork (mu:´ shu:' pörk´) a Chinese dish made of shredded pork and vegetables and beaten eggs, sautéed and usually served in a crêpe with hoisin sauce

mooch (mu:ch) •vi. [Slang] 1 to skulk or sneak 2 to loiter, loaf, or rove about 3 to get food, money, etc. by begging or sponging •vt. [Slang] 1 to steal; pilfer 2 to get by begging or sponging; cadge mooch´er •n. [ME mowchen, dial. var. of mychen, to pilfer: see MICHE]

mood¹ (mu:d) •n. 1 a particular state of mind or feeling; humor, or temper 2 a predominant or pervading feeling, spirit, or tone 3 [pl.] fits of morose, sullen, or uncertain temper 4 [Obs.] anger SYN.—mood is the broadest of these terms referring to a temporary state of mind and emphasizes the constraining or pervading quality of the feeling [she's in a merry mood]; humor emphasizes the variability or capriciousness of the mood [he wept and laughed as his humor moved him]; temper, in this comparison, applies to a mood characterized by a single, strong emotion, esp. that of anger [my, he's in a nasty temper!]; vein stresses the transient nature of the mood [if I may speak in a serious vein for a moment] [ME < OE mod, mind, soul, courage, akin to Ger mut, mental disposition, spirit, courage < IE base *me-, to strive strongly, be energetic > L mos, custom, customary behavior]

mood² (mu:d) •n. 1 Gram. a) a characteristic of verbs that involves the speaker's attitude toward the action expressed, indicating whether this is regarded as a fact (indicative mood), as a matter of supposition, desire, possibility, etc. (subjunctive mood), or as a command (imperative mood); also, an analytic category based on this characteristic (mood is shown by inflection, as in Latin, or analytically with auxiliaries, as English may, might, should, or by both) b) any of the forms a verb takes to indicate this characteristic 2 Logic any of the various forms of valid syllogisms, as determined by the quantity and quality of their constituent propositions [< MODE, altered after prec.]

Moody (mu:d´i:) 1 Dwight Ly·man (lai´mэn) 1837-99; U.S. evangelist 2 William Vaughn (vön) 1869-1910; U.S. poet & playwright moody (mu:´di:) mood´i·er, mood´i·est •adj. 1 subject to or characterized by gloomy, sullen moods or changes of mood 2 resulting from or indicating such a mood mood´i·ly •adv. mood´i·ness •n. [ME modi < OE modig]

Moog (synthesizer) (moug) trademark for an early musical synthesizer [after R. A. Moog (1934- ), U.S. engineer]

moola or moolah (mu:´lэ) •n. [Slang] money [< ?]

moon (mu:n) •n. 1 the celestial body that revolves around the earth from west to east in c. 27¹/3 days with reference to the stars and once in c. 29½ days with reference to the sun, and that accompanies the earth in its yearly revolution about the sun: diameter, c. 3,476 km (c. 2,160 mi.); mean distance from the earth, c. 384,404 km (c. 238,857 mi.); mean density, c. ³/5 that of the earth; mass, c. ¹/81; volume, c. ¹/49 2 this body as it appears during a particular lunar month or period of time, or at a particular time of the month: see NEW MOON, CRESCENT, HALF-MOON, FULL MOON, OLD MOON, FIRST QUARTER, LAST QUARTER 3 a month; esp., a lunar month 4 MOONLIGHT 5 anything shaped like the moon (i.e., an orb or crescent) 6 any natural satellite of a planet •vi. [from the notion of behaving as if moonstruck] 1 to behave in an idle, dreamy, or abstracted way, as when in love 2 [Slang] to engage in the prank of momentarily baring one's buttocks in public [from an earlier slang use of the noun, meaning buttocks] •vt. 1 to pass (time) in mooning 2 [Slang] to expose one's buttocks to (someone) as a prank [ME mone < OE mona, akin to Goth mēna < IE *mēn-, month, moon (> L mensis, Gr mēn, month, mēne, moon) < base mē-, to MEASURE]

moon blindness 1 night blindness: formerly attributed to the effects of moonlight 2 a disease of horses, of undetermined cause, characterized by recurrent inflammation of the eyes and, eventually, blindness

moon child Astrol. a person born under the sign of Cancer

moon gate a large, circular opening in a wall, through which one can step: orig. a feature of Chinese architecture

moonbeam (mu:n´bi:m') •n. a ray of moonlight

moon-blind (-blaind') •adj. having moon blindness

mooncalf (-kæf') •n. 1 an idiot or fool 2 a person, esp. a youth, who spends time mooning about 3 [Obs.] a monstrosity [from the notion of being influenced by the moon: see LUNATIC]

mooned (mu:nd) •adj. 1 round or crescent like the moon 2 decorated with moon-shaped marks

moon-eyed (mu:n´aid') •adj. 1 MOON-BLIND 2 having the eyes wide open, as from fright or wonder

moon-faced (-feist') •adj. having a round face

moonfish (mu:n´fish') pl. (see FISH) -fish' or -fish'es •n. 1 either of two species (genus Selene) of deep-bodied, sharply compressed jack fishes of the coastal waters of North and South America Æ 2 OPAH

moonflower (-flau'эr) •n. any of a genus (Calonyction) of tropical American, perennial twining vines of the morning-glory family, with heart-shaped leaves and large, fragrant white or purple flowers that bloom at night

Moonie (mu:n´i:) •n. popular name for a follower of Sun Myung Moon (1920- ), Korean evangelist and founder of the Unification Church

moonish (mu:n´ish) •adj. like the moon; changeable; fickle; capricious moon´ish·ly •adv.

moonlet (mu:n´lit') •n. a small moon or artificial satellite

moonlight (mu:n´lait') •n. the light of the moon •adj. 1 of moonlight 2 lighted by the moon 3 done or occurring by moonlight, or at night •vi. Æ to engage in moonlighting

moonlighting (-lait'iŋ) •n. the practice of holding a second regular job in addition to one's main job moon´light'er •n. [from the usual night hours of such jobs]

moonlit (-lit') •adj. lighted by the moon

moonport (mu:n´pört') •n. an installation for launching rockets to the moon [MOON + (AIR)PORT]

moonquake (-kweik') •n. a trembling of the surface of the moon, thought to be caught by internal rock slippage or, possibly, meteorite impact

moonrise (-raiz') •n. 1 the rising of the upper limb of the moon above the horizon Æ 2 the time of this

moonscape (-skeip') •n. the surface of the moon or a representation of it [MOON + (LAND)SCAPE]

moonseed (mu:n´si:d') •n. any of a genus (Menispermum) of twining vines of the moonseed family, with small clusters of purple berries and crescent-shaped seeds •adj. designating a family (Menispermaceae, order Ranunculales) of tropical dicotyledonous lianas, shrubs, and trees

moonset (mu:n´set') •n. 1 the passing of the upper limb of the moon below the horizon 2 the time of this

moonshine (-shain') •n. 1 MOONLIGHT 2 foolish or empty talk, notions, plans, etc.; nonsense 3 [Colloq.] a) smuggled whiskey Æ b) whiskey unlawfully distilled

moonshiner (-shain'эr) •n. Æ [Colloq.] a person who makes and sells alcoholic liquor unlawfully

moonshiny (-shain'i:) •adj. 1 lighted by the moon 2 like or suggestive of moonlight 3 unreal, visionary, etc.

moonshot (mu:n´shät') •n. the launching of a spacecraft to the moon

moonstone (mu:n´stoun') •n. a milky-white, translucent feldspar with a pearly luster, used as a gem

moonstruck (mu:n´strûk') •adj. affected mentally in some way, supposedly by the influence of the moon; specif., a) crazed; lunatic; insane b) romantically dreamy c) dazed or distracted Also moon´strick'en (-strik'эn)

moonwalk (mu:n´wök') •n. a walking about by an astronaut on the surface of the moon

moonwort (-wørt') •n. 1 any of a genus (Botrychium, family Ophioglossaceae) of ferns bearing a leafy part that is divided into sterile and fertile segments 2 HONESTY (sense 2)

moony (mu:n´i:) moon´i·er, moon´i·est •adj. 1 of or characteristic of the moon 2 like the moon, esp. in shape; round or crescent-shaped 3 lighted by the moon 4 like moonlight 5 mooning; listless; dreamy

Moor (mur) •n. 1 a member of a Muslim people of mixed Arab and Berber descent living in NW Africa 2 a member of a group of this people that invaded and occupied Spain in the 8th cent. A.D. Moor´ish •adj. [ME More < OFr More, Maure < L Maurus, a Moor, Mauritanian < Gr Mauros]

moor¹ (mur) •n. 1 a tract of open, rolling wasteland, usually covered with heather and often marshy or peaty; heath 2 a tract of land with game preserves [ME more < OE mor, wasteland, akin to LowG mor < IE base *mori-, sea > MARSH, MERE², L mare, sea: basic sense swampy coastland]

moor² (mur) •vt. 1 to hold (a ship, etc.) in place by cables or chains attached as to a pier or special buoy (mooring buoy), or by two anchors 2 to cause to be held in place; secure •vi. 1 to moor a ship, etc. 2 to be secured as by cables [Early ModE < or akin to MDu maren, LowG moren, to tie]

moorage (-ij) •n. 1 a mooring or being moored 2 a place for mooring 3 a charge for the use of such a place

moorcock (-käk') •n. [Brit.] the male moorfowl, or red grouse

Moore (mur) 1 George (Augustus) 1852-1933; Ir. novelist, playwright, & critic 2 G(eorge) E(dward) 1873-1958; Eng. philosopher 3 Henry 1898-1986; Eng. sculptor 4 Marianne (Craig) 1887-1972; U.S. poet 5 Thomas 1779-1852; Ir. poet

moorfowl (mur´faul') •n. [Brit.] RED GROUSE

moorhen (-hen') •n. 1 [Brit.] the female moorfowl, or red grouse 2 the nearly worldwide common gallinule (Gallinula chloropus)

mooring (mur´iŋ) •n. 1 the act of a person or thing that moors 2 [often pl.] the lines, cables, etc. by which a ship, etc. is moored 3 [pl.] a place where a ship, etc. is or can be moored 4 [often pl.] beliefs, habits, ties, etc. that make one feel secure

moorland (-lænd') •n. [Brit.] MOOR¹

moose (mu:s) pl. moose •n. a deer (Alces alces) of N regions, the male of which has huge spatulate antlers, weighs up to 815 kg (c. 1,800 lbs.), and is the largest deer; elk [< Eastern Abenaki mos]

moosebird (-børd') •n. [Cdn.] CANADA JAY

Moosehead Lake (mu:s´hed') lake in WC Me.: 117 sq. mi. (303 sq. km) [transl. of AmInd name]

moot (mu:t) •n. 1 an early English assembly of freemen to administer justice, decide community problems, etc. 2 a discussion or argument, esp. of a hypothetical law case, as in a law school •adj. 1 subject to or open for discussion or debate; debatable 2 not worthy of consideration or discussion because it has been resolved or no longer needs to be resolved •vt. 1 to debate or discuss 2 to propose or bring up for discussion or debate 3 to make so hypothetical as to deprive of significance; make academic or theoretical [ME mote < OE mot, gemot, a meeting & prob. ON mot < Gmc base *mot- > Goth gamotjan, to meet]

moot court a mock court in which hypothetical cases are argued, usually as an academic exercise for law students

mop¹ (mäp) •n. 1 a bundle of loose rags, yarns, a sponge, etc. fastened to the end of a stick, as for washing or wiping floors 2 anything suggestive of this, as a thick head of hair •vt. mopped, mop´ping to wash, rub, wipe, or remove with or as with a mop mop up 1 [Colloq.] a) to bring or come to an end; finish b) to defeat completely 2 Mil. to clear out or round up isolated or scattered remnants of beaten enemy forces from (a town, battle area, etc.) mop (up) the floor with [Slang] to defeat decisively mop´per •n. [Early ModE mappe, naut. term < ? Walloon mappe < L mappa, napkin: see MAP]

mop² (mäp) mopped, mop´ping •n., vi. [Archaic] GRIMACE [< or akin to MDu moppen, MHG muffen, to grimace: for base see MOPE]

mopboard (mäp´börd') •n. BASEBOARD

mope (moup) moped, mop´ing •vi. to be gloomy, dull, apathetic, and dispirited •vt. 1 to make gloomy, dull, etc.: used reflexively and in the passive 2 to pass in gloom, dullness, etc.: with away •n. 1 a person who mopes or is inclined to mope 2 [pl.] low spirits mop´er •n. mop´ey, mop´y, or mop´ish •adj. mop´ish·ly •adv. [akin to MDu mopen, Swed dial. mopa < IE base *mu-, echoic of sound made with tightly closed lips > MUTTER, L mutus]

moped (mou´ped') •n. a bicycle propelled by a small motor [Ger < mo(torisiertes) ped(al), lit., motorized pedal]

mopery (mou´pэr´i:) •n. [Slang] a trivial or imaginary violation of law [MOP(E) + -ERY]

moppet (mäp´it) •n. [Colloq.] a little child: a term of affection [dim. of ME moppe, rag doll < ?]

mop-up (mäp´ûp') •n. a clearing out or rounding up of scattered remnants of beaten enemy forces in an area

moquette (mou ket´) •n. a kind of carpet or upholstery fabric with a thick, soft, napped surface [Fr]

Mor 1 Morocco 2 Moroccan MOR middle-of-the-road: used variously in radio broadcasting to designate styles of popular music that are not extreme mor (mör) •n. a layer of humus, usually matted or compact, just above the mineral soil [Dan, humus < or akin to ON morth, a quantity, mass < IE base *mer-, to rub, grind: see MORDANT]

mora (mour´э, mör´э) pl. -rae (-i:) or -ras •n. 1 Linguis. an arbitrary unit of syllabic length 2 Prosody the unit of metrical time, equal to the ordinary short syllable, usually indicated by a breve () [L, delay: see MERIT]

Moradabad (mэ räd´э bäd') city in N India, in Uttar Pradesh: pop. 348,000

moraine (mэ rein´, mö-) •n. a mass of rocks, gravel, sand, clay, etc. carried and deposited directly by a glacier, along its side (lateral moraine), at its lower end (terminal moraine), or beneath the ice (ground moraine) mo·rain´al or mo·rain´ic •adj. [Fr < dial. morêna < morre, muzzle, akin to Sp morro, snout, headland < VL *murru, echoic word for snout]

moral (mör´эl, mär´-; for n 4, mэ ræl´) •adj. 1 relating to, dealing with, or capable of making the distinction between, right and wrong in conduct 2 relating to, serving to teach, or in accordance with, the principles of right and wrong 3 good or right in conduct or character; sometimes, specif., virtuous in sexual conduct 4 designating support, etc. that involves approval and sympathy without action 5 being virtually such because of its effect on thoughts, attitudes, etc., or because of its general results {a moral victory} 6 based on strong probability {a moral certainty} 7 based on the principle of right conduct rather than legality {a moral obligation} 8 Law based on general observation of people, on analogy, etc. rather than on what is demonstrable {moral evidence} •n. 1 a moral implication or moral lesson taught by a fable, event, etc. 2 the conclusion of a fable or story containing a moral lesson 3 [pl.] principles, standards, or habits with respect to right or wrong in conduct; ethics; sometimes, specif.; standards of sexual behavior 4 [Rare] MORALE mor´al·ly •adv. SYN.—moral implies conformity with the generally accepted standards of goodness or rightness in conduct or character, sometimes, specif., in sexual conduct [a moral person]; ethical implies conformity with an elaborated, ideal code of moral principles, sometimes, specif., with the code of a particular profession [an ethical lawyer]; virtuous implies a morally excellent character, connoting justice, integrity, and often, specif., chastity; righteous implies a being morally blameless or justifiable [righteous anger] —ANT. immoral [ME < L moralis, of manners or customs < mos (gen. moris), pl. mores, manners, morals (see MOOD¹): used by CICERO as transl. of Gr ēthikos]

moral hazard risk (to an insurance company) arising from the possible dishonesty or imprudence of the insured

moral philosophy ETHICS

morale (mэ ræl´, mö-) •n. 1 moral or mental condition with respect to courage, discipline, confidence, enthusiasm, willingness to endure hardship, etc. within a group, in relation to a group, or within an individual 2 [Rare] MORALITY [Fr, fem. of moral < L moralis: see MORAL]

moralism (mör´эl iz'эm, mär´-) •n. 1 moral teaching; moralizing 2 a moral maxim 3 belief in or practice of a system of ethics apart from religion

moralist (-ist) •n. 1 a teacher of or writer on morals; person who moralizes 2 a person who adheres to a system of moralism 3 a person who seeks to impose personal morals on others

moralistic (mör'эl is´tik, mär'-) •adj. 1 moralizing 2 of moralism or moralists mor'al·is´ti·cal·ly •adv.

morality (mou ræl´i ti:; mэ-; mör æl´-) pl. -ties •n. 1 moral quality or character; rightness or wrongness, as of an action 2 the character of being in accord with the principles or standards of right conduct; right conduct; sometimes, specif., virtue in sexual conduct 3 principles of right and wrong in conduct; ethics 4 a particular system of such principles 5 moral instruction or a moral lesson 6 a narrative with a moral lesson 7 MORALITY PLAY [ME moralite < OFr < LL moralitas < L moralis]

morality play any of a class of allegorical dramas of the 15th and 16th cent., the characters of which personify abstractions, as Everyman, Vice, Virtue, etc.

moralize (mör´эl aiz', mär´-) -ized', -iz'ing •vi. to think, write, or speak about matters of right and wrong, often in a self-righteous or tedious way •vt. 1 a) to interpret or explain in terms of right and wrong b) to point out the moral in or draw a moral from 2 to improve the morals of mor'al·i·za´tion •n. mor´al·iz'er •n. [Fr moraliser < LL moralizare < L moralis]

morass (mэ ræs´, mö-) •n. a tract of low, soft, watery ground; bog; marsh; swamp: often used figuratively of a difficult, troublesome, or perplexing state of affairs [Du moeras, a marsh, fen; earlier marasch < OFr maresc < Frank *marisk, a swamp, akin to MARSH]

moratorium (mör'э tör´i: эm) pl. -ri·ums or -ri·a (-э) •n. 1 a legal authorization, usually by a law passed in an emergency, to delay payment of money due, as by a bank or debtor nation 2 the effective period of such an authorization 3 any authorized delay or stopping of some specified activity [ModL < neut. of LL moratorius, delaying < L morari, to delay < mora, a delay: see MERIT]

moratory (mör´э tör'i:) •adj. delaying or postponing; esp., designating or of a law authorizing a moratorium [LL moratorius: see MORATORIUM]

Morava (mor´э vэ) 1 Czech name of MORAVIA 2 river in Moravia flowing south along the Austrian border, into the Danube: c. 230 mi. (368 km) 3 river in E Yugoslavia, flowing north into the Danube: 134 mi. (216 km)

Moravia (mö rei´vi: э, mэ-) region in E Czech Republic: chief city, Brno Moravia (mou rei´vi: э; It mô rä´vyä), Al·ber·to (äl beř´tô) (born Alberto Pincherle) 1907-90; It. writer

Moravian (mou rei´vi: эn, mэ-) •adj. 1 of Moravia, its people, etc. 2 of the religious sect of Moravians •n. 1 a native or inhabitant of Moravia 2 the Czech dialect of Moravia 3 a member of a Protestant sect founded in Saxony (c. 1722) by disciples from Moravia, of John Huss

Moravská Ostrava (mô´řäf skä) see OSTRAVA

Moray (mør´i:) former county of NE Scotland, now in the region of Grampian: also Mor´ay·shire' (-shir', -shэr') moray (mör´ei; mö rei´, mэ-) •n. any of a family (Muraenidae, order Anguilliformes) of voracious eels of warm seas, characterized by brilliant coloring and found esp. among coral reefs: the Mediterranean moray is valued as a food fish In full moray eel [Port moreia < L muraena, kind of fish < Gr myraina]

Moray Firth inlet of the North Sea, on the NE coast of Scotland

morbid (mör´bid) •adj. 1 of, having, or caused by disease; unhealthy; diseased 2 resulting from or as from a diseased state of mind; esp., having or showing an unwholesome tendency to dwell on gruesome or gloomy matters 3 gruesome; grisly; horrible {the morbid details of a story} 4 of diseased parts; pathological {morbid anatomy} 5 [Rare] causing disease mor´bid·ly •adv. mor´bid·ness •n. [L morbidus, sickly, diseased < morbus, disease < IE base *mer-, to rub, wear away, destroy > MARE³, L mortarium, OIr meirb, lifeless]

morbidity (mör bid´э ti:) pl. -ties •n. 1 state, quality, or instance of being morbid 2 the rate of disease or proportion of diseased persons in a given locality, nation, etc.

morbific (mör bif´ik) •adj. causing or leading to disease: also mor·bif´i·cal [Fr morbifique < LL morbificare, to produce disease < L morbus, disease (see MORBID) + facere, to make, DO¹]

morbilli (mör bil´ai') •n.pl. early term for MEASLES [ML, pl. of morbillus, dim. of L morbus, disease]

morceau (môř sou´) pl. -ceaux´ (-sou´) •n. 1 a morsel; bit; fragment 2 a short composition, passage, or excerpt, as of poetry or music [Fr: see MORSEL]

mordacious (mör dei´shэs) •adj. biting, sharp, acrid, or caustic mor·da´cious·ly •adv. mor·dac´i·ty (-dæs´э ti:) •n. [< L mordax (gen. mordacis), biting < base of mordere, to bite: see MORDANT & -OUS]

mordant (mör´dэnt, mörd´ªnt) •adj. 1 biting, cutting, caustic, or sarcastic, as speech, wit, etc. 2 causing corrosion 3 acting as a mordant •n. 1 a substance used in dyeing to fix the coloring matter, as a metallic compound that combines with the organic dye to form an insoluble colored compound, or lake, in the fiber of the fabric 2 an acid or other corrosive substance used in etching to bite lines, areas, etc. into the surface •vt. to treat or impregnate with a mordant mor´dan·cy •n. mor´dant·ly •adv. [ME mordent < OFr mordant, prp. of mordre, to bite < L mordere < IE *merd-, var. of base *mer-: see MORBID]

Mordecai (mör´dэ kai') 1 a masculine name: dim. Mordy 2 Bible the cousin of Esther (in the Book of Esther), who saved the Jews from the destruction planned by Haman: cf. PURIM [Heb mordĕkhai]

mordent (mör´dэnt, mörd´ªnt) •n. Music an ornament made by a single rapid alternation of a principal tone with a subsidiary tone a half step or whole step below: in a double mordent there are two alternations: in an inverted mordent the subsidiary tone is a half step or whole step above the principal tone [Ger < It mordente, prp. of mordere < L, to bite: see MORDANT]

mordida (môř ði:´ðä) •n. a bribe [AmSp, lit., a bite]

Mordred (mör´dred') MODRED

More (mör) 1 Hannah 1745-1833; Eng. writer, esp. of religious tracts 2 Sir Thomas 1478-1535; Eng. statesman & writer: executed: canonized in 1935: also called Saint Thomas More more (mör) •adj. 1 greater in amount, degree, or number: often used as the comparative of MUCH or MANY {we have more time than we thought} 2 additional; further {take more tea} •n. 1 a greater amount, quantity, or degree 2 [with pl. v.] a) a greater number (of persons or things) {more of us are going} b) a greater number of persons or things 3 something additional or further {more can be said} 4 something of greater importance •adv. [< the above, replacing earlier mo (OE ma) < IE positive *me-ro-s, *mō-ro-s < *mē-, *mō-] 1 in or to a greater degree or extent: used with many adjective and adverbs (regularly with those of three or more syllables) to form the comparative degree {more satisfying, more intensely} 2 in addition; further; again; longer more and more 1 to an increasing degree; increasingly 2 a constantly increasing amount, quantity, degree, or number (of persons or a specified thing) more or less 1 to some extent 2 approximately [ME < OE mara, greater, used as compar. of mycel, big, much (see MUCH): akin to Goth maiza < IE base *mē-, *mō-, big]

Morea (mö ri:´э) old name of PELOPONNESUS

moreen (mou ri:n´, mэ-) •n. a strong fabric, as of wool or cotton, having, esp. formerly, a moiré, or watered, finish [prob. < MOIRÉ + -een, as in VELVETEEN]

morel (mэ rel´, mou-) •n. any of a genus (Morchella) of edible ascomycete mushrooms resembling a sponge on a stalk [Fr morille < MDu morilhe < OHG morhila, dim. of morha, carrot, akin to OE more < Gmc *morhon < IE base *mrk-, edible root > Gr brakana, wild herbs]

Morelia (mô ře´lyä) city in central Mexico: capital of Michoacán state: pop. 353,000

morello (mou rel´ou) pl. -los •n. any of several varieties of sour cherry with dark-red skin and red juice [Fl marelle, aphetic < amarelle < Ger: see AMARELLE]

Morelos (mô ře´lôs) state in SC Mexico: 1,911 sq. mi. (4,950 sq. km); pop. 947,000; cap. Cuernavaca

Moreno Valley (mэ ri:´nou) city in S Calif.: pop 119,000

moreover (mör ou´vэr) •adv. in addition to what has been said; besides; further; also: used with conjunctive force

mores (mour´i:z', -eiz'; mör´-; -eis) •n.pl. folkways that are considered conducive to the welfare of society and so, through general observance, develop the force of law, often becoming part of the formal legal code [L, pl. of mos, custom: see MOOD¹]

Moresque (mou resk´, mэ-) •adj. Moorish in design or decoration, etc. •n. Moorish design or decoration, characterized by intricate tracery, bright colors, gilt, etc. [Fr < Sp morisco < Moro < L Maurus, MOOR]

Morgan (mör´gэn) •n. Æ any of a breed of strong, light riding horse, usually bay, chestnut, or black in color [after Justin Morgan (1747-98), New Englander who owned the sire of the breed] Morgan (mör´gэn) 1 a masculine name 2 Daniel 1736-1802; Am. Revolutionary general 3 Sir Henry c. 1635-88; Welsh buccaneer in the Spanish Main 4 John Hunt 1825-64; Confederate general in the Civil War 5 J(ohn) P(ierpont) 1837-1913; U.S. financier 6 John Pier·pont (pir´pänt') 1867-1943; U.S. financier: son of J. P. Morgan 7 Lewis Henry 1818-81; U.S. anthropologist 8 Thomas Hunt 1866-1945; U.S. geneticist [Welsh, lit., sea dweller (< mor, sea: see MARE²), akin to Ir Muirgen]

Morgan le Fay (mör'gэn lэ fei´) Arthurian Legend the evil fairy half sister of King Arthur; in other legends, variously a water spirit, lake fairy, etc. [OFr Morgain la fée, lit., Morgan the fairy < Celt, as in OIr Morrigain, queen of the incubi, sorceress < *mor- < IE base *mori- (see MARE³) + OIr rigain, queen < IE base *reg-, to rule: see REGAL]

morganatic (mör'gэ næt´ik) •adj. designating or of a form of marriage between a royal or noble person and a person of inferior rank, with the provision that neither the spouse of inferior rank nor the children of the marriage, if any, may lay claim to the rank or property of the other spouse mor'ga·nat´i·cal·ly •adv. [< ML (matrimonium ad) morganaticam, (marriage with) morning gift < morganaticum, altered < OHG morgengeba, morning gift, gift given to the wife on the day after marriage (in lieu of any share in the husband's property)]

morganite (mör´gэn ait') •n. a transparent, rose-colored variety of beryl, used as a gem [after J(ohn) P(ierpont) MORGAN]

morgen (mör´gэn) pl. -gen or -gens •n. 1 a unit of land measure formerly used in the Netherlands and its possessions, and still used in South Africa, equal to about 2 acres 2 a unit of land measure formerly used in Prussia, Denmark, and Norway, equal to about ²/3 acre [Du & Ger, lit., MORNING: hence area plowed in one morning]

Morgenthau (mör´gэn θö'), Henry, Jr. 1891-1967; U.S. public official: secretary of the treasury (1934-45)

morgue (mörg) •n. 1 a place where the bodies of unknown dead persons or those dead of unknown causes are kept to be examined, identified, etc. before burial or cremation Æ 2 the collection of back numbers, photographs, clippings, etc. kept in the office of a newspaper, magazine, etc. [so named in ref. to the dead news it contains] [Fr, morgue, earlier, identification room of a prison: orig., haughty air < dial. morre, snout: see MORAINE]

moribund (mör´i bûnd') •adj. 1 dying 2 coming to an end 3 having little or no vital force left mor'i·bund´i·ty •n. [L moribundus, dying < mori, to die: see MORTAL]

morion¹ (mour´i: än', mör´-) •n. a hatlike, crested helmet without beaver or visor and with a curved brim coming to a peak in front and in back, worn in the 16th and 17th cent. [OFr < Sp morrión < morra, crown of the head, snout: see MORAINE]

morion² (mour´i: än', mör´-) •n. a variety of quartz, dark-brown to black in color [misreading of L mormorion (in early editions of PLINY)]

Morisco (mou ris´kou, mэ-) •adj. Moorish •n. pl. -cos or -coes a Moor; esp., one of the Moors of Spain, specif., one forced to convert to Christianity [Sp < Moro < L Maurus, MOOR]