mahi-mahi (mä´hi: mä´hi:) pl. ma´hi-ma´hi DOLPHIN (sense 2): also mahimahi or mahi mahi •n. [Haw]

mah-jongg or mahjong (mä´jöŋ´, -jäŋ´, -zhöŋ´, -zhäŋ´) •n. a game of Chinese origin played with 136 or 144 pieces called tiles: the object is to accumulate winning sets of these tiles [< dial. form of Chin ma-ch'iao, lit., house sparrow, a figure on one of the tiles]

Mahler (mä´lэr), Gus·tav (gus´täf') 1860-1911; Austrian composer & conductor Mah·le·ri·an (mä ler´i: эn) •adj.

mahlstick (mäl´stik', möl´-) •n. a long, light stick used by painters to rest and steady the brush hand while at work [Du maalstok < malen, to paint (< mal, a spot, akin to OE mal: see MOLE¹) + stok, STICK]

mahogany (mэ häg´э ni:, -hög´-) pl. -nies •n. 1 a) any of a genus (Swietenia) of tropical trees of the mahogany family, with dark, heavy heartwood b) the wood of any of these trees; esp., the hard, reddish-brown to yellow wood of a tropical American tree (S. mahogani), valued for furniture, interior finishing, and cabinetwork 2 a) any of various trees of this family, as the African mahogany (genus Khaya), or other similar trees of other families, as the Australian red mahogany (genus Eucalyptus) of the myrtle family b) the wood of any of these trees 3 reddish brown •adj. 1 designating a family (Meliaceae, order Sapindales) of chiefly tropical, dicotyledonous plants, including baywood and chinaberry 2 made of mahogany 3 reddish-brown [earlier mohogeney < ?]

Mahomet (mэ häm´it) var. of MOHAMMED Ma·hom´et·an •adj., n.

mahonia (mэ hou´ni: э) •n. any of a genus (Mahonia) of low evergreen shrubs of the barberry family, with clusters of yellow flowers followed by blue berries [ModL, after B. McMahon (c. 1775-1816), U.S. botanist]

Mahound (mэ haund´, -hu:nd´) 1 archaic var. of MOHAMMED 2 [Scot.] the Devil [ME Mahun < OFr Mahon, contr. < Mahomet]

mahout (mэ haut´) •n. in India and the East Indies, an elephant driver or keeper [Hindi mahāut, mahāvat < Sans mahāmātra, lit., great in measure (hence, high officer) < mahā, great (see MAGNI-) + mātrā, measure: see METER¹]

Mahratta (mэ rät´э) •n. var. of MARATHA

Mahratti or Mahrati (-i:) •n. var. of MARATHI

mahzor (mäkh´zэr, mäkh zör´) pl. -zors or mah·zo·rim (mäkh zö ri:m´, -zör´im) •n. the Jewish prayer book that contains the liturgy for festivals and holy days: cf. SIDDUR [Yidd makhzer < MHeb machazor, lit., cycle < root hzr, to return]

mai tai (mai´tai´) [often M- T-] a cocktail made with rum and fruit juices, often garnished with pineapple or other fruit or with a tiny orchid [Tahitian, lit., good]

Maia (mei´э, mai´-) 1 Gr. Myth. one of the Pleiades, mother of Hermes by Zeus 2 Rom. Myth. an earth goddess, sometimes identified with the Greek Maia: the month of May was named in her honor [L, fem. of Maius, a deity (lit., ? he who brings increase, or the great one) < Magnus (see MAGNI-): later confused with Gr Maia] [Gr, lit., mother < ma, baby talk for mētēr, MOTHER¹]

maid (meid) •n. 1 a) [Now Chiefly Literary] a girl or young unmarried woman b) [Obs.] a virgin 2 [Now Rare] OLD MAID 3 a girl or woman servant: often in compounds {barmaid, housemaid} the Maid name for JOAN OF ARC [ME maide, contr. < maiden]

Maid Marian 1 a character in old May Day games and morris dances 2 Eng. Legend Robin Hood's sweetheart

maid of honor Æ 1 an unmarried woman acting as chief attendant to the bride at a wedding: cf. MATRON OF HONOR 2 an unmarried woman, usually of noble birth, attending a queen or princess

Maid of Orléans name for JOAN OF ARC

Maidanek (mai´dэ nek') Nazi concentration camp & extermination center in E Poland, near Lublin

maiden (meid´ªn) •n. 1 [Now Rare] a) a girl or young unmarried woman b) a virgin 2 a race horse that has never won a race 3 [M-] a device like the guillotine, formerly used in Scotland for beheading criminals 4 Cricket an over in which no runs are scored: in full, maiden over •adj. 1 of, characteristic of, or suitable for a maiden 2 a) unmarried b) virgin (now used only of older women) 3 inexperienced; untried; unused; new; fresh 4 first or earliest {a maiden speech, a maiden voyage} 5 a) never having won a race {a maiden horse} b) for such horses {a maiden race} [ME < OE mægden, dim. < base of mægeth, maid, virgin, akin to Goth magaths, OHG magad < IE base *maghu-, youngster, unmarried > OIr macc, son, MAC-]

maiden name the surname that a woman had when not yet married

maidenhair (-her') •n. any of a genus (Adiantum) of ferns with delicate fronds and slender black stalks: also maidenhair fern

maidenhair tree GINKGO

maidenhead (-hed') •n. 1 [Archaic] maidenhood; virginity 2 the hymen

maidenhood (-hud') •n. the state or time of being a maiden Also maid´hood' [ME maidenhod < OE mægdenhad: see MAIDEN & -HOOD]

maidenly (-li:) •adj. 1 of a maiden or maidenhood 2 like or characteristic of a maiden; modest, gentle, etc. maid´en·li·ness •n.

maidservant (-sør´vэnt) •n. a girl or woman servant

Maidstone (meid´stэn, -stoun') city in SE England: county seat of Kent: pop. 72,000

maieutic (mei yu:t´ik) •adj. designating or of the Socratic method of helping a person to bring forth and become aware of latent ideas or memories [Gr maieutikos < maia, midwife, orig., mother: see MAIA]

mail carrier a person whose work is carrying and delivering mail; letter carrier

mail order an order for goods to be sent by mail mail´-or'der •adj.

mail¹ (meil) •n. 1 a) [Now Scot.] a bag or piece of baggage b) [Archaic] a bag or packet of letters, etc. to be transported by post 2 a) letters, papers, packages, etc. handled, transported, and delivered by the post office Æ b) letters, papers, etc. received or sent by a person, company, etc. 3 [also pl.] the system of collection, transportation, and delivery of letters, packages, etc.; postal system 4 the collection or delivery of letters, packages, etc. at a certain time {late for the morning mail} 5 [Chiefly Brit.] a vehicle for mail •adj. of mail; esp., a) carrying, or used in the handling of, mail b) designating a person, or boat, train, etc. that transports letters, packages, etc. •vt. Æ to send by mail, as by putting into a mailbox; post mail'a·bil´i·ty •n. mail´a·ble •adj. [ME male < OFr < MHG malhe, a traveling bag < OHG malaha, wallet]

mail² (meil) •n. 1 flexible body armor made of small, overlapping metal rings, loops of chain, or scales 2 the hard protective covering of some animals, as turtles •vt. to cover or protect with or as with mail mailed •adj. [ME maile < OFr maille, a link, mesh < L macula, a spot, mesh of a net]

mail³ (meil) •n. [Chiefly Scot.] rent or payment of any kind [ME male, rent, tribute: see BLACKMAIL]

mailbag (meil´bæg') •n. 1 a bag, as of leather, used for deliveries by a mail carrier: also mail pouch 2 a heavy canvas bag in which mail is transported: also mail sack

mailbox (-bäks') •n. Æ 1 a box or compartment into which mail is put when delivered, as at one's home Æ 2 a box, as on a street corner, into which mail is put for collection Also mail box

mailed fist the use or threat of force, as between nations [calque of Ger eiserne faust]

mailer (meil´эr) •n. 1 a person who addresses and mails letters, packages, etc. 2 an envelope or container in which something is to be mailed 3 an advertising leaflet for mailing out Mailer (mei´lэr), Norman 1923- ; U.S. writer

Mailgram (meil´græm') trademark for a telegram delivered by the postal service with the regular mail •n. [also m-] such a telegram

mailing list a list of members, contributors, or potential buyers to whom literature or advertisements are mailed

mailing tube a pasteboard cylinder in which printed matter or fragile objects are inserted for mailing

mailing¹ (meil´iŋ) •n. [Scot.] a farm that is rented; also, the rent paid for it [see MAIL³ & -ING]

mailing² (meil´iŋ) •n. 1 a) the action of sending (something) by mail b) anything sent by mail 2 a batch of mail dispatched by a mailer at one time

Maillol (må yôl´), A·ris·tide (å ři:s ti:d´) 1861-1944; Fr. sculptor

maillot (mä you´, mai´ou', mai ou´) •n. 1 a swimming suit; esp., a one-piece swimming suit for women 2 a one-piece garment like this, worn by gymnasts, etc. [Fr, dim. < maille, knitted material, lit., mail: see MAIL²]

mailman (meil´mæn', -mэn) pl. -men' (-men', -mэn) •n. a man who is a mail carrier

mail-order house a business establishment that takes mail orders and sends goods by mail

maim (meim) •vt. to deprive of the use of some necessary part of the body; cripple; mutilate; disable •n. [Obs.] an injury causing the loss or crippling of some necessary part of the body; mutilation; disablement: see MAYHEM [ME mayme, maheym < OFr mahaing, main] maim´er •n. SYN.—maim implies an injuring of a person's body so as to deprive him of some member or its use [maimed in an auto accident]; to cripple is to cause to be legless, armless, or lame in any member [crippled by rheumatism]; to mutilate is to remove or severely damage a part of a person or thing essential to the completeness of that person or thing [a speech mutilated by censors]; mangle implies mutilation or disfigurement by or as by repeated tearing, hacking, or crushing [his arm was mangled in the press]; to disable is to make incapable of normal physical activity, as by crippling [disabled war veterans] [ME maymen < OFr mahaigner, mayner]

Maimonides (mai män´э di:z') (born Moses ben Maimon) 1135-1204; Sp. rabbi, physician, & philosopher, in Egypt

Main (main; E mein) river in SW Germany, flowing west into the Rhine at Mainz: 307 mi. (494 km) [G < Gaul Moenus < IE *moin-, river name < base *mei-, to go, wander > L meare, to go]

main chance, the one's own advantage or self-interest

main clause Gram. INDEPENDENT CLAUSE

main deck the principal deck of a ship, usually the topmost complete deck

main drag [Slang] the principal street of a city or town

main memory the primary memory of a computer: it is random-access and stores the programs and data while they are being processed

main stem [Slang] 1 MAIN DRAG 2 MAINLINE

Main Street 1 the principal street of any small town 2 the typical inhabitants of a small town, regarded as provincial and conservative

main yard the lowest yard on the mainmast, from which the mainsail is set

main¹ (mein) •n. 1 physical strength; force; power: now only in with might and main, with all one's strength 2 the principal or most important part or point: usually in the phrase in the main, mostly, chiefly [< the adj.] 3 a principal pipe, conduit, or line in a distributing system for water, gas, electricity, etc. 4 [Old Poet.] the high, or open, sea; ocean 5 [Archaic] the mainland: see SPANISH MAIN 6 [Obs.] any broad expanse 7 Naut. short for a) MAINMAST b) MAINSAIL •adj. [ME mayn < OE mægen- (in comp.) & ON meginn, strong] 1 [Obs.] strong; powerful 2 chief in size, extent, importance, etc.; principal; leading; specif., designating a large central unit on which subsidiaries or branches depend {the main post office} 3 of, near, or connected with the mainmast or mainsail 4 [Brit. Dial.] remarkable; considerable 5 [Obs.] designating a broad expanse of land, sea, or space SYN. CHIEF by main force (or strength) by sheer force (or strength) [ME < OE mægen, akin to ON magn: see MIGHT²]

main² (mein) •n. a series of matches between pairs of birds in cockfighting [prob. < prec., adj., as in main chance]

Maine (mein; for 2, Fr men) 1 New England State of the U.S.: admitted, 1820; 33,215 sq. mi. (86,027 sq. km); pop. 1,228,000; cap. Augusta: abbrev. ME or Me 2 historical region of NW France, south of Normandy Main·er (mei´nэr) •n. [orig. after Maine, region in NW France, but later interpreted as signifying its status as the main part of the New England region]

Maine coon (cat) any of a breed of domestic cat, thought to have been developed in Maine, with a thick, smooth, silky coat and a bushy tail

mainframe (mein´freim') •n. 1 the central processing unit of a large computer 2 a very large, relatively expensive computer, to which several terminals may be connected

Mainland (mein´lænd', -lэnd) 1 chief island of Japan: see HONSHU 2 largest of the Orkney Islands: c. 190 sq. mi. (492 sq. km) 3 largest of the Shetland Islands: 407 sq. mi. (1,055 sq. km) mainland (mein´lænd', -lэnd) •n. the principal land or largest part of a continent, as distinguished from a relatively small island or peninsula main´land'er •n.

mainline (-lain') •n. the principal road, course, etc. •adj. having a principal, prominent, or moderate position or status Æ -lined', -lin'ing •vt. [Slang] to inject (a narcotic drug) directly into a large vein main´lin'er •n.

mainly (-li:) •adv. chiefly; principally; in the main

mainmast (mein´mæst'; naut., -mэst) •n. the principal mast of a vessel: in a schooner, brig, bark, etc., the mast second from the bow; in a ketch or yawl, the larger mast nearer the bow: see MAST¹, illus.

mainsail (mein´seil'; naut., -sэl) •n. 1 in a square-rigged vessel, the sail set from the main yard 2 in a fore-and-aft-rigged vessel, the large sail set from the after side of the mainmast

mainsheet (-shi:t') •n. a sheet, or line, controlling the angle at which the mainsail is set

mainspring (-spriŋ') •n. 1 the principal spring in a clock, watch, or other mechanism; driving spring, whose steady uncoiling keeps the mechanism running 2 the chief motive or cause

mainstay (-stei') •n. 1 a stay, or line, extending forward from the mainmast, supporting it and holding it in position 2 a chief support

mainstream (-stri:m') •n. 1 the middle of a stream, where the current is strongest 2 the part of something considered to be the most active, productive, lively, busy, etc. {the mainstream of life} 3 a major or prevailing trend, as of thought, action, literature, music, etc. Æ 4 Jazz a style of playing that evolved in the 1950's, based on rhythmic and harmonic elements of swing modified slightly by those of bop •vt. to cause to undergo mainstreaming

mainstreaming (mæin´streæm´iŋ) •n. the placement of disabled people into regular school classes, work places, etc.

maintain (mein tein´) •vt. 1 to keep or keep up; continue in or with; carry on 2 a) to keep in existence or continuance {food maintains life} b) to keep in a certain condition or position, esp. of efficiency, good repair, etc.; preserve {to maintain roads} 3 to keep or hold (a place, position, etc.) against attack; defend 4 a) to uphold or defend, as by argument; affirm b) to declare in a positive way; assert 5 to support by aid, influence, protection, etc. 6 to support by providing means of existence; bear the expenses of {to maintain a family} SYN. SUPPORT main·tain´a·ble •adj. main·tain´er •n. [ME mainteinen < OFr maintenir < ML manutenere < L manu tenere, to hold in the hand < manu, abl. of manus, hand + tenere, to hold: see MANUAL & TENANT]

maintenance (mein´tэ nэns, meint´ªn эns) •n. 1 a maintaining or being maintained; upkeep, support, defense, etc.; specif., the work of keeping a building, machinery, etc. in a state of good repair 2 means of support or sustenance; livelihood {a job that barely provides a maintenance} 3 Law the act of interfering unlawfully in a suit between others by helping either party, as by giving money, to carry it on [ME maintenaunce < OFr maintenance]

Maintenon (mæñt nouñ´), Marquise de (born Françoise d' Aubigné) 1635-1719; 2d wife of Louis XIV

maintop (mein´täp') •n. a platform at the head of the bottommost section of the mainmast

main-topmast (mein'täp´mæst'; naut., -mэst) •n. the section of the mainmast just above the bottommost section

main-topsail (-seil; naut., -sэl) •n. the sail set on the main-topmast above the mainsail

Mainz (maints) city in W Germany, on the Rhine: capital of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate: pop. 187,000

maisonette (mei'zэ net´) •n. 1 a small house; cottage 2 an apartment, esp. a duplex apartment [Fr, dim. of maison, house < L mansio: see MANSION]

maist (meist) •adj. [Scot.] most

Maitland (meit´lэnd), Frederic William 1850-1906; Eng. legal historian & jurist

maitre d' (meit'эr di:´) [Colloq.] a headwaiter [< fol.]

maître d'hôtel (me třª dô tel´) 1 a butler or steward; major-domo 2 a hotel manager 3 a headwaiter 4 (with) a sauce of melted butter, parsley, and lemon juice or vinegar [Fr, lit., master of the house]

maize (meiz) •n. 1 chiefly Brit. name for CORN¹ (sense 3) 2 the color of ripe corn; yellow [Sp maíz < WInd (Taino) mahiz]

Maj Major

majestic (mэ jes´tik) •adj. having or characterized by majesty; very grand or dignified; lofty; stately Also ma·jes´ti·cal SYN. GRAND ma·jes´ti·cal·ly •adv.

majesty (mæj´is ti:) pl. -ties •n. 1 a) the dignity or power of a sovereign b) sovereign power {the majesty of the law} 2 [M-] a title used in speaking to or of a sovereign, preceded by Your or by His or Her 3 grandeur or stateliness [ME maiesty < OFr majesté < L majestas < base of major, compar. of magnus, great: see MAGNI-]

majolica (mэ jäl´i kэ) •n. 1 a variety of Italian pottery, enameled, glazed, and richly colored and decorated 2 pottery like this [It maiolica < Maiolica, MAJORCA, where produced]

major (mei´jэr) •adj. 1 a) greater in size, amount, number, or extent b) greater in importance or rank 2 of full legal age 3 constituting the majority: said of a part, etc. Æ 4 Educ. designating or of a field of study in which a student specializes and receives a degree 5 Music a) designating an imperfect interval greater than the corresponding minor by a semitone b) characterized by major intervals, scales, etc. {in a major key} c) designating a triad having a major third d) based on the scale pattern of the major mode (see MAJOR SCALE) •vi. Æ Educ. to pursue a major subject or field of study; specialize {to major in physics} •n. 1 a superior in some class or group [< the adj.] 2 U.S. Mil. an officer ranking above a captain and below a lieutenant colonel [Fr] Æ 3 Educ. a) a major subject or field of study b) a student specializing in a specified subject {a music major} 4 Law a person who has reached full legal age 5 Music a major interval, key, etc. the Majors Æ Baseball the Major Leagues [ME maiour < L major, compar. of magnus, great: see MAGNI-] Major (mei´jэr), John 1943- ; Brit. politician: prime minister (1990- )

major general pl. major generals U.S. Mil. an officer, with the insignia of two stars, ranking above a brigadier general and below a lieutenant general

major league a principal league in a professional sport the Major Leagues the two main leagues of professional baseball clubs in the U.S., the National League and the American League ma´jor-league´ •adj.

major mode a progression, phrase, section, or composition of music predominantly using the intervals of the major scale

major orders the Christian clergy orders of deacon, priest, or bishop

major premise the premise (in a syllogism) that contains the major term

Major Prophets 1 the longer books of prophecy in the Bible: Ezekiel, Isaiah, and Jeremiah 2 these prophets

major scale Music any of the diatonic scales having the eight tones succeeding by whole steps, but with a half step between the third and fourth and seventh and eighth tones: there are twelve major scales, one in each key

major seminary R.C.Ch. a seminary offering usually the final six years of training for the priesthood

major suit Bridge spades or hearts: so called from their higher value in scoring

major term the predicate of the conclusion of a syllogism

Majorca (mэ jôr´kэ) island of Spain, largest of the Balearic Islands: 1,405 sq. mi. (3,653 sq. km); chief city, Palma: Sp. name MALLORCA Ma·jor·can (-jör kэn, -yor-) •adj., n.

major-domo (mei´jэr dou´mou) pl. -mos •n. 1 a man in charge of a great, royal, or noble household; chief steward 2 any steward or butler: humorous usage [Sp mayordomo or It maggiordomo < LL major domus < L major, greater (see MAJOR) + gen. of domus, house]

majorette (mei'jэr et´) •n. short for DRUM MAJORETTE

majoritarian (mэ jör'э ter´i: эn) •adj. of or decided by the majority •n. an advocate of majoritarian rule ma·jor'i·tar´i·an·ism' •n. [fol. + -ARIAN]

majority (mэ jör´э ti:, -jär´-) pl. -ties •n. 1 [also with pl. v.] the greater part or larger number; more than half of a total Æ 2 the number by which the votes cast for the candidate, bill, etc. receiving more than half of the votes, exceed the remaining votes (Ex.: if candidate A gets 100 votes, candidate B, 50, and candidate C, 30, A has a majority of 20): cf. PLURALITY (sense 4) 3 the group, party, or faction with more than half of the votes 4 the condition or time of having reached full legal age, with full legal rights and responsibilities 5 Mil. the rank or position of a major 6 [Obs.] the state or quality of being greater [Fr majorité < ML majoritas < L major: see MAJOR]

majuscule (mэ jûs´kyu:l', mæj´эs-) •n. 1 a large letter, capital or uncial, as in medieval manuscripts 2 writing in which such letters are used •adj. of, written in, or like a majuscule Cf. MINUSCULE ma·jus´cu·lar •adj. [Fr < L majuscula (littera), somewhat larger (letter), dim. < major: see MAJOR]

Makassar (mэ kæs´эr) old name of UJUNG PANDANG

make¹ (meik) made, mak´ing •vt. 1 to bring into being; specif., a) to form by shaping or putting parts or ingredients together, physically or mentally; build, construct, fabricate, fashion, create, compose, devise, formulate, etc. b) to fit or destine, as if by fashioning {they were made for each other} c) to cause; bring about; produce {to make corrections} d) to bring together materials for and start {to make a fire} e) to cause to be available; provide {to make change, to make room} f) to present for consideration {to make a suggestion} 2 to bring into a specified condition; specif., a) to cause to be or become; specif., to elect or appoint {make her director} b) to cause to seem {the portrait makes him an old man}: sometimes used reflexively {make yourself comfortable} 3 to prepare for use; arrange {make the beds} 4 a) to amount to; form as a total {two pints make a quart} b) to count as; constitute {this makes his fifth novel} 5 to turn out to be; have, or prove to have, the essential qualities of {to make a fine leader} 6 to set up; establish {to make rules} 7 a) to get or acquire, as by one's behavior {to make friends} b) to get by earning, investing, etc. {to make a fortune} 8 to cause the success of {that venture made her} 9 to understand or regard as the meaning (of) {what do you make of the poem?} 10 to estimate to be; regard as {I make the distance about 500 miles} 11 a) to do or perform (a specified action); execute; accomplish {to make a quick turn} b) to engage in; carry on {to make war} 12 to deliver (a speech) or utter (remarks, etc.) 13 to cause or force: followed by an infinitive without to {make the machine work, make him behave} 14 a) to arrive at; reach {the ship made port} b) to arrive at in time {to make a train} 15 to go or travel; traverse {to make 500 miles the first day, to make 90 miles an hour} 16 [Colloq.] to succeed in getting membership in, a position on, the status of, recognition in, etc. {to make the team, to make the headlines} Æ 17 [Slang] to succeed in becoming the lover of; seduce 18 [Archaic] to shut (a door) tight 19 Card Games a) to win (tricks) or fulfill (one's bid) b) to take a trick with (a specified card) c) to shuffle (the cards) 20 Elec. to close (a circuit); effect (a contact) 21 Games to score; get as a score 22 Law to perform, execute, or sign (a legal document) •vi. 1 to start (to do something) {she made to go} 2 to tend, extend, or point (to, toward, etc.) 3 to behave in a specified manner: with a following adjective {make bold, make merry, etc.} 4 to cause something to be in a specified condition {make ready, make fast, etc.} 5 to increase in depth or volume; rise or accumulate, as tide, snow, water in a ship, etc. 6 to mature: said of hay, etc. •n. 1 the act or process of making; esp., manufacture 2 the amount made; output, esp. of manufacture 3 the way in which something is made; style; build 4 type, sort, or brand: with reference to the maker or the place, time, etc. of making {a foreign make of car} 5 disposition; character; nature {a man of this make} 6 [Slang] identification of a person, fingerprintings, etc. in police work {do a make on the suspect} 7 Elec. the closing of a circuit by making contact Make is widely and variously used in idiomatic phrases, many of which are entered in this dictionary under the key word, as make fun of, make good, make the grade, make hay, etc. make a fool (or ass, etc.) of to cause to seem a fool (or ass, etc.) make after to chase or follow make a meal on (or of) to eat as a meal make as if (or as though) to behave as if make away with 1 to steal 2 to get rid of 3 to eat all of 4 to kill make believe to pretend; act a part Æ make one's day [Slang] to give pleasure that will be the high point of one's day make do to get along, or manage, with what is available make for 1 to head for; go toward 2 to charge at; attack 3 to tend toward; help effect make it 1 [Colloq.] to do or achieve a certain thing Æ 2 [Slang] to have sexual intercourse (with) Æ make like [Slang] to imitate; impersonate make off to go away; run away make off with to steal make or break to cause the success or failure of make out 1 to see with some difficulty; descry 2 to understand 3 to write out 4 to fill out (as a blank form) 5 to show or prove to be 6 to try to show, affirm, or imply to be 7 to succeed; get along Æ 8 [Slang] a) to kiss and caress as lovers b) to have sexual intercourse make over 1 to change; renovate 2 to transfer the ownership of by or as by signing a legal document 3 [Colloq.] to be demonstrative toward or about make up 1 to put together; compose; compound 2 to form; constitute 3 to invent; create 4 to complete by providing what is lacking 5 to compensate (for) 6 to arrange 7 a) to become friendly again after a disagreement or quarrel b) to settle (an argument or differences) in a friendly manner 8 a) to put on what is required for a role in a play, as a costume, wig, greasepaint, rouge, powder, etc. b) to put cosmetics on 9 to resolve or decide (one's mind) 10 to select and arrange type, illustrations, etc. for (a book, magazine, page, etc.) Æ 11 Educ. to take again (an examination or course that one has failed) or to take (an examination that one has missed) make up to to flatter, or try to be agreeable to, in order to become friendly or intimate with make with [Slang] 1 to use, or do something with, in the way indicated or implied 2 to produce or supply {to make with the jokes} Æ on the make 1 [Colloq.] trying to succeed financially, socially, etc., esp. in an aggressive way 2 [Slang] seeking a lover mak´a·ble •adj. SYN.—make is the general term meaning to bring into being and may imply a producing of something physically or mentally; form suggests a definite contour, structure, or design in the thing made; shape suggests the imparting of a specific form as by molding, cutting, hammering, etc.; fashion implies inventiveness, cleverness of design, the use of skill, etc.; construct implies a putting of parts together systematically according to some design; manufacture implies a producing from raw materials, now especially by machinery and on a large scale; fabricate implies a building or manufacturing, often by assembling standardized parts, and, in extended use, connotes fictitious invention [ME maken < OE macian, akin to Ger machen < IE base *maG-, to knead, press, stretch > MASON, Gr magis, kneaded mass, paste, dough, mageus, kneader]

make² (meik) •n. [Archaic] 1 an equal; peer 2 a mate, companion, or spouse [ME < OE gemaca (akin to Ger gemach, fitting, suitable) < base of macian: see MAKE1]

make-believe (meik´bэ li:v') •n. 1 pretense; feigning 2 a pretender •adj. pretended; feigned; sham

makefast (-fæst') •n. a buoy, post, pile, etc. to which a boat is fastened

maker (-эr) •n. 1 a person or thing that makes (in various senses) 2 [Archaic] a poet 3 a person who executes, as by signing, a check, contract, etc.; specif., a person who signs a promissory note [M-] God meet one's Maker to die

makeready (-red'i:) •n. Æ Printing the final adjustment of the printing surfaces on a press by the use of leveling devices, overlays, underlays, etc.

makeshift (-shift') •n. a thing that will do for a while as a substitute; temporary expedient •adj. that will do for a while as a substitute SYN. RESOURCE

makeup or make-up (-ûp') •n. 1 the way in which something is put together; composition; construction 2 nature; disposition; constitution {to have a stolid makeup} 3 a) the way in which an actor is made up for a role, as with a costume, wig, greasepaint, powder, etc. b) the costumes, wigs, greasepaint, etc. so used 4 a) cosmetics generally; rouge, lipstick, mascara, etc. b) the way in which these are applied or worn 5 the arrangement of type, illustrations, etc. in a book, newspaper, page, etc. Æ 6 [Colloq.] a special test that a student takes to make up for a test missed or failed •adj. of or for making up

makeweight (-weit') •n. 1 anything added to a scale to complete the required weight 2 an unimportant person or thing added to make up some lack

make-work (-wørk') •adj. designating a job, project, or assignment that serves no useful purpose other than to give an otherwise idle or unemployed person something to do

Makeyevka (mä kei´yif kä') city in SE Ukraine, in the Donets Basin: pop. 451,000

Makhachkala (mэ käch'kэ lä´) city and seaport of SW Russia, on the Caspian Sea: pop. 301,000

makimono (mä'ki mou´nou) •n. a Japanese art scroll with pictures or calligraphy intended to be held in the hands and unrolled from right to left while being examined

making (meik´iŋ) •n. 1 the act of one that makes or the process of being made; formation, construction, creation, production, composition, manufacture, development, performance, etc. 2 the cause or means of success or advancement {an experience that will be the making of him} 3 a) something made b) the quantity made at one time 4 [pl.] a) the material or qualities needed for the making or development of something {to have the makings of a good doctor} Æ b) [Colloq.] tobacco and paper for making one's own cigarettes (usually preceded by the)

-making (meik´iŋ) combining form forming adjectives [Chiefly Brit.] creating a (specified) state or condition {shy-making, angry-making}

mako (mei´kou, mä´-) pl. -kos a large, swift, dangerous mackerel shark (genus Isurus) •n.

Makua (mä ku:´ä) •n. 1 pl. -ku´as or -ku´a a member of a people of N Mozambique and adjacent Tanzania 2 their Bantu language

makuta (mä ku:´tä) •n. pl. of LIKUTA

Mal abbrev. 1 Bible Malachi 2 Malay 3 Malayan 4 Malaysia 5 Malaysian

mal- (mæl) prefix bad or badly, wrong, ill {maladroit} [Fr < L male- < male, badly, malus, bad, evil]

mal de mer (mål dэ meř´) seasickness [Fr]

Malabar Coast (mæl´э bär') coastal region in SW India on the Arabian Sea, extending from Cape Comorin to Goa & inland to the Western Ghats: c. 450 mi. (725 km) long: also Malabar

Malabo (mä lä´bou) capital of Equatorial Guinea: seaport on the island portion of the country: pop. 37,000

malabsorption (mæl'эb sörp´shэn, -zörp-) •n. the poor absorption of nutrients by the alimentary canal

Malacca (mэ læk´э) 1 state of Malaysia in W Peninsular Malaysia, on the strait of Malacca: 637 sq. mi. (1,650 sq. km); pop. 453,000 2 seaport in this state: its capital: pop. 88,000 3 Strait of strait between Sumatra & the Malay Peninsula: c. 500 mi. (805 km) long

Malacca cane a lightweight walking stick of rattan, often mottled brown [after prec.]

Malachi (mæl´э kai') Bible 1 a Hebrew prophet of the 5th cent. B.C. 2 the book containing prophecies attributed to him: abbrev. Mal [Heb mal'ākhī, lit., my messenger]

malachite (mæl´э kait') •n. native basic copper carbonate, CuCO3·Cu(OH)2, a green mineral used as a source of copper ore or for ornamental objects [ME melochites < L molochites < Gr molochitēs, a stone (? malachite) < malachē, molochē, mallow (its color is like that of mallow leaves): < ? Heb malluah, a lettuce-like plant > L malva, MALLOW]

malaco- (mæl´э kou', -kэ) combining form 1 soft 2 mollusks {malacology} [< Gr malakos, soft < IE *mlāk- < base *mel-, to crush, grind > MILL¹]

malacology (mæl'э käl´э ji:) •n. the branch of zoology dealing with mollusks [Fr malacologie: see MALACO- & -LOGY]

malacostracan (mæl'э käs´trэ kэn) •adj. of a large class (Malacostraca) of highly evolved crustaceans typically consisting of 19 segments, including the decapods, krill, and isopods: also mal'a·cos´tra·cous (-kэs) •n. such a crustacean [< ModL Malacostraca < Gr malakostrakos, soft-shelled < malakos, soft (see MALACO-) + ostrakon, shell + -AN]

maladaptation (mæl'æd эp tei´shэn) •n. inadequate or faulty adaptation mal'a·dap´tive (-э dæp´tiv) •adj.

maladapted (mæl'э dæp´tid) •adj. not suited or properly adapted (to a function, situation, etc.)

maladjusted (mæl'э jûs´tid) •adj. poorly adjusted, esp. to the environment; specif., unable to adjust properly to the stresses, etc. of daily life mal'ad·just´ment •n.

maladjustive (-tiv) •adj. not leading to proper adjustment

maladminister (-æd min´э stэr) •vt. to administer badly; conduct (as public affairs) corruptly or inefficiently mal'ad·min'is·tra´tion (-э strei´shэn) •n.

maladroit (mæl'э droit´) •adj. awkward; clumsy; bungling SYN. AWKWARD mal'a·droit´ly •adv. mal'a·droit´ness •n. [Fr: see MAL- & ADROIT]

malady (mæl´э di:) pl. -dies •n. a disease; illness; sickness: often used figuratively SYN. DISEASE [ME maladie < OFr < malade, sick < VL male habitus, badly kept, out of condition: see MAL- & HABIT]

Malaga (mæl´э gэ) •n. 1 a large, white, oval table grape, grown esp. in California 2 any of several fortified wines made orig. in Málaga [after fol.]

Málaga (mä´lä gä'; E mæl´э gэ) seaport in S Spain, on the Mediterranean: pop. 503,000

Malagasy (mæl'э gæs´i:) pl. -gas´y or -gas´ies •n. 1 a native or inhabitant of Madagascar 2 the Western Austronesian language of the Malagasy •adj. of the Malagasy or their language [< native name, var. of the base Madagas- in MADAGASCAR]

Malagasy Republic old name of MADAGASCAR (the country) malaguena (mæl'э gein´yэ) •n. any of several Spanish folk tunes or dances, esp. one like the fandango [Sp malagueña, orig. fem. of malagueño, of MÁLAGA]

malaise (mæ leiz´, mэ-) •n. 1 a vague feeling of physical discomfort or uneasiness, as early in an illness 2 a vague awareness of moral or social decline [Fr < mal, bad (see MAL-) + aise, EASE]

Malamud (mæl´э mэd, -mûd'), Bernard 1914-86; U.S. writer

malamute (mæl´э myu:t') •n. ALASKAN MALAMUTE [< Malemute, name of an Eskimo tribe]

malanders (mæl´эn dэrz) •n.pl. a variety of eczema around the knee of a horse's foreleg: see SALLENDERS [ME malawnder < MFr malandre < L malandria, blisters or pustules on the neck, esp. of horses]

Malang (mä läŋ´) city in E Java, Indonesia: pop. 511,000

malanga (mэ læŋ´gэ) •n. YAUTIA

malapert (mæl´э pørt') •adj. [Archaic] saucy; impudent; pert •n. [Archaic] a saucy, impudent person mal´a·pert'ly •adv. [OFr < mal, badly (see MAL-) + appert, var. of espert, experienced, deft (see EXPERT): infl. by apert, open, bold (< L apertus: see APERTURE)]

malapportion (mæl'э pör´shэn) •vt. to apportion improperly or unfairly (voting districts, a legislature, etc.) mal'ap·por´tion·ment •n.

Malaprop (mæl´э präp'), Mrs. a character in Sheridan's play The Rivals, who makes ludicrous blunders in her use of words [< MALAPROPOS] malaprop (mæl´э präp') •adj. using or characterized by malapropisms: also mal'a·prop´i·an (-i: эn) •n. MALAPROPISM [< fol.]

malapropism (mæl´э präp'iz'эm) •n. 1 ludicrous misuse of words, esp. through confusion caused by resemblance in sound 2 an instance of this (Ex.: progeny for prodigy) [< prec. + -ISM]

malapropos (mæl'æp rэ pou´) •adj. at an awkward or improper time or place; inopportune; inappropriate •adv. in an inopportune or inappropriate manner [Fr mal à propos: see MAL- & APROPOS]

malar (mei´lэr) •adj. of the cheek, cheekbone, or side of the head •n. the cheekbone [ModL < L mala, the cheek]

Mälar (mel´är) lake in SE Sweden: 440 sq. mi. (1,140 sq. km): Swed. name Mäl·ar·en (mel´ä řэn)

malaria (mэ ler´i: э) •n. 1 [Archaic] unwholesome or poisonous air, as from marshy ground; miasma 2 an infectious disease, generally intermittent and recurrent, caused by any of various protozoans (genus Plasmodium) that are parasitic in the red blood corpuscles and are transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito, esp. the anopheles: it is characterized by severe chills and fever [from the former notion that it was caused by the bad air of swamps] ma·lar´i·al, ma·lar´i·an, or ma·lar´i·ous •adj. [It, contr. < mala aria, bad air: see MAL- & ARIA]

malarkey or malarky (mэ lär´ki:) •n. [Slang] insincere, meaningless, or deliberately misleading talk; nonsense [< ?]

malate (mæl´eit', mei´leit') •n. a salt or ester of malic acid

malathion (mæl'э θai´än', -эn) •n. an organic phosphate, C10H19O6S2P, of relatively low toxicity for mammals, used as an insecticide [< MAL(IC) A(CID) + THION(IC)]

Malatya (mä'lä tyä´) city in EC Turkey: pop. 179,000

Malawi (mä´lä wi:) 1 country in SE Africa, on Lake Malawi: a former British protectorate, it became independent & member of the Commonwealth (1964); a republic since 1966: 45,746 sq. mi. (118,484 sq. km); pop. 7,293,000; cap. Lilongwe 2 Lake lake in SE central Africa bounded by Malawi, Tanzania, & Mozambique: c. 11,600 sq. mi. (30,040 sq. km) Ma·la´wi·an •adj., n.

Malay (mei´lei', mэ lei´) •n. 1 a member of a large group of indigenous peoples of the Malay Peninsula, the Malay Archipelago, and nearby islands 2 the Western Austronesian language of these peoples, used as the official language of Malaysia and Indonesia; Bahasa Indonesia •adj. of the Malays or their country, language, culture, etc. [Malay melaya < ?]

Malay Archipelago large group of islands between SE Asia & Australia, including Indonesia, the Philippines, &, sometimes, New Guinea

Malay Peninsula peninsula in SE Asia, extending from Singapore to the Isthmus of Kra: it includes Peninsular Malaysia & part of Thailand: c. 700 mi. (1,100 km) long

Malaya (mэ lei´э) 1 MALAY PENINSULA 2 Federation of former federation of states on the S end of the Malay Peninsula: formerly a British colony, it became independent & member of the Commonwealth (1957); since 1963 a territory of Malaysia called PENINSULAR MALAYSIA: see MALAYSIA

Malayalam (mæl'э yä´lэm) •n. a Dravidian language spoken on the Malabar Coast, SW India, related to Tamil [Malayalam malayālam]

Malayan (mэ lei´эn) •adj. var. of MALAY •n. any of a breed of domestic cat related to the Burmese, differing only in the color of the coat which is solid but in any of several lighter shades

Malayo- (mэ lei´ou) combining form Malay and

Malayo-Polynesian (mэ lei'ou päl'э ni:´zhэn, -shэn) •n., adj. AUSTRONESIAN

Malaysia (mэ lei´zhэ, -shэ) 1 MALAY ARCHIPELAGO 2 country in SE Asia, a union (1963) of the former Federation of MALAYA, Sabah, Sarawak, & Singapore (which seceded in 1965 to become an independent nation); a member of the Commonwealth: c. 129,000 sq. mi. (334,000 sq. km); pop. 15,270,000; cap. Kuala Lumpur Ma·lay´sian •adj., n.

Malcolm (mæl´kэm) a masculine name [Celt Maolcolm, lit., servant of (St.) Columba]

Malcolm X (mæl´kэm eks') (born Malcolm Little) 1925-65; U.S. civil rights leader

malcontent (mæl´kэn tent') •adj. discontented, dissatisfied, or rebellious: applied esp. to critics of the government •n. a discontented, dissatisfied, or rebellious person [OFr: see MAL- & CONTENT¹]

Malden (möl´dэn) city in E Mass.: suburb of Boston: pop. 54,000 [after Maldon, town in England]

maldevelopment (mæl'di vel´эp mэnt) •n. MALFORMATION mal'de·vel´oped •adj.

maldistribution (mæl'dis trэ byu:´shэn) •n. inadequate or faulty distribution, as of wealth or income among people

Maldives (mæl´daivz) country on a group of islands in the Indian Ocean, southwest of Sri Lanka: a former sultanate under British protection, it became independent in 1965, a republic in 1968, & member of the Commonwealth in 1982: 115 sq. mi. (298 sq. km); pop. 184,000; cap. Malé Mal·div´i·an •adj., n.

male (meil) •adj. 1 designating or of the sex that fertilizes the ovum of the female and begets offspring: biological symbol, ♂: cf. FEMALE 2 of, characteristic of, or suitable for members of this sex; masculine; virile 3 consisting of men or boys 4 designating or having a part shaped to fit into a corresponding hollow part (called female): said of pipe fittings, electric plugs, etc. 5 Bot. a) having stamens or antheridia and no carpels, archegonia, or oogonia b) designating or of a reproductive structure or part producing spermatozoids that can fertilize the female eggs •n. 1 a male person; man or boy 2 a male animal or plant male´ness •n. SYN.—male is the basic term applied to members of the sex that is biologically distinguished from the female sex and is used of animals and plants as well as of human beings; masculine is applied to qualities, such as strength and vigor, traditionally ascribed to men, or to things appropriate to men; manly suggests the noble qualities, such as courage and independence, that a culture ideally associates with a man who has maturity of character; mannish, used chiefly of women, is most often used derogatorily and implies the possession or adoption of the traits and manners thought to be more appropriate to a man; virile stresses qualities such as robustness, vigor, and, specif., sexual potency, that belong to a physically mature man [ME < OFr male, masle < L masculus < mas (gen. maris), a male, man]

Malé (mä´lei) chief island and capital of the Maldives: pop. 42,000: also Ma·le (mä´li:)

male chauvinist pig [Slang] a man who is perceived as approving of an inferior status of women in society: a disparaging term

male fern a fern (Dryopteris filix-mas) of the Northern Hemisphere: source of an oleoresin used to expel tapeworms

Malebranche (mål břäñsh´, må lэ-), Ni·co·las (de) (ni: kô lä´) 1638-1715; Fr. philosopher

maledict (mæl´э dikt') •adj. [Archaic] accursed; hateful •vt. [Archaic] to curse [L maledictus, pp. of maledicere: see MALEDICTION]

malediction (mæl'э dik´shэn) •n. 1 a calling down of evil on someone; curse 2 evil talk about someone; slander mal'e·dic´to·ry •adj. [ME malediccioun < OFr malediction < LL(Ec) maledictio < L, abuse, reviling: see MAL- & DICTION]

malefaction (mæl'э fæk´shэn) •n. wrongdoing; crime [LL malefactio < pp. of malefacere: see MALEFACTOR]

malefactor (mæl´э fæk'tэr) •n. an evildoer or criminal [Now Rare] mal´e·fac'tress •n.fem. [L < pp. of malefacere < male, evil (see MAL-) + facere, to DO¹]

malefic (mэ lef´ik) •adj. causing disaster; harmful; evil [L maleficus < malefacere: see MALEFACTOR]

maleficent (mэ lef´э sэnt) •adj. harmful; hurtful; evil ma·lef´i·cence •n. [back-form. < maleficence < L maleficentia < maleficus: see MALEFIC]

maleic acid (mэ li:´ik) a colorless, crystalline, poisonous acid, HOOCCH: CHCOOH, an isomer of fumaric acid, used in organic syntheses, in textile dyeing, etc. [< Fr maléique, altered (1834) by T. J. Pelouze (1807-1867), Fr chemist < malique, MALIC (ACID), to indicate a relationship between the two acids]

maleic hydrazide a slightly soluble solid, C4H4N2O2, used to inhibit plant growth, to stop the sprouting of vegetables in storage, etc.

malemute or malemiut (mæl´э myu:t´) •n. ALASKAN MALAMUTE

malentendu (må läñ täñ dü´) •adj. misunderstood; poorly conceived •n. a misunderstanding [Fr]

malevolence (mэ lev´э lэns) •n. the quality or state of being malevolent; malice; spitefulness; ill will [ME malyvolence < OFr malivolence < L malevolentia]

malevolent (-lэnt) •adj. wishing evil or harm to others; having or showing ill will; malicious ma·lev´o·lent·ly •adv. [OFr malivolent < L malevolens (gen. malevolentis) < male, evil (see MAL-) + volens, prp. of velle, to wish: see WILL²]

malfeasance (mæl fi:´zэns) •n. wrongdoing or misconduct, esp. by a public official; commission of an act that is positively unlawful: distinguished from MISFEASANCE, NONFEASANCE mal·fea´sant •adj. [obs. Fr malfaisance < malfaisant < mal, evil (see MAL-) + faisant, prp. of faire < L facere, to DO¹]

malformation (mæl'för mei´shэn) •n. faulty, irregular, or abnormal formation or structure of a body or part mal·formed´ (-förmd´) •adj.

malfunction (mæl fûŋk´shэn) •vi. to fail to function as it should •n. the act or an instance of malfunctioning [MAL- + FUNCTION]

malgré (mål gřei´) in spite of [Fr]

Mali (mä´li:) country in W Africa, south & east of Mauritania: a former French territory (FRENCH SUDAN), it joined the French Community as the autonomous Sudanese Republic (1958); it joined with Senegal to form the Mali Federation (1959); union dissolved & full independence proclaimed (1960): 478,786 sq. mi. (1,240,000 sq. km); pop. 7,898,000; cap. Bamako

malic acid (mæl´ik, mei´lik) a crystalline acid, COOHCH2CH(OH)COOH, occurring in apples and other fruits [Fr acide malique < L malum < Gr mēlon, apple]

malice (mæl´is) •n. 1 active ill will; desire to harm another or to do mischief; spite 2 Law evil intent; state of mind shown by intention to do, or intentional doing of, something unlawful malice aforethought (or prepense) a deliberate intention and plan to do something unlawful, as murder [OFr < L malitia < malus, bad: see MAL-]

malicious (mэ lish´эs) •adj. having, showing, or caused by malice; spiteful; intentionally mischievous or harmful ma·li´cious·ly •adv. ma·li´cious·ness •n. [ME < OFr malicios < L malitiosus < malitia: see MALICE]

malicious mischief the willful destruction of another's property

malign (mэ lain´) •vt. to speak evil of; defame; slander; traduce •adj. 1 showing ill will; malicious 2 evil; baleful {a malign influence} 3 very harmful; malignant SYN. SINISTER ma·lign´er •n. [ME malignen < OFr malignier, to plot, deceive < LL malignare < LL malignus, wicked, malicious < male, ill (see MAL-) + base of genus, born: see GENUS]

malignancy (mэ lig´nэn si:) •n. 1 the quality or condition of being malignant: also ma·lig´nance 2 pl. -cies a malignant tumor

malignant (-nэnt) •adj. 1 having an evil influence; malign 2 wishing evil; very malevolent or malicious 3 very harmful 4 very dangerous or virulent; causing or likely to cause death; not benign {a cancer is a malignant growth} 5 [Obs.] malcontent; rebellious; disaffected •n. [Archaic] a malcontent ma·lig´nant·ly •adv. [LL malignans (gen. malignantis), prp. of malignare: see MALIGN]

malignity (-nэ ti:) •n. 1 persistent, intense ill will or desire to harm others; great malice 2 the quality of being very harmful or dangerous; malignancy 3 pl. -ties a malignant act, event, or feeling [ME malignitee < OFr malignité < L malignitas: see MALIGN]

malihini (mä'lэ hi:´ni:) •n. a newcomer to Hawaii [Haw]

malines (mэ li:n´; Fr må li:n´) •n. 1 MECHLIN 2 a thin, somewhat stiff, silk net used in dressmaking, etc.: also ma·line´ [Fr, after fol.] Malines (må li:n´) Fr. name of MECHELEN

malinger (mэ liŋ´gэr) •vi. to pretend to be ill or otherwise incapacitated in order to escape duty or work; shirk ma·lin´ger·er •n. [< Fr malingre, sickly, infirm < mal, bad (see MAL-) + ? OFr heingre, lean, haggard]

Malinke (mä'liŋ kei´) •n. 1 pl. -kes´ or -ke´ a member of a Mande people of WC Africa 2 their Mande language

Malinowski (mä'li nôf´ski:), Bro·ni·slaw (Kaspar) (břô ni:´släf) 1884-1942; U.S. anthropologist, born in Poland

malison (mæl´э zэn, -sэn) •n. [Archaic] a curse [ME < OFr maleison < L maledictio: see MALEDICTION]

malkin (mö´kin) •n. 1 [Now Brit. Dial.] a slovenly or sluttish woman 2 a mop 3 a scarecrow 4 a hare 5 a cat [ME malkyn, orig. dim. of Malde, Maud, dim. of Matilda]

mall (möl, mäl) •n. 1 orig., a) a large, heavy mallet, used to strike the ball in the game of pall-mall b) the game itself [< PALL-MALL] c) a lane or alley where the game was played2 a shaded walk or public promenade Æ 3 a) a street for pedestrians only, with shops on each side, and often with decorative plantings, benches, etc. b) a completely enclosed, air-conditioned shopping center like this 4 a median strip: see MEDIAN (n. 3) [var. of MAUL, esp. assoc. in 17th c. with (PALL)-MALL]

mallard (mæl´эrd) pl. -lards •n.or -lard the common wild duck (Anas platyrhynchos), from which the domestic duck is descended: the male has a green or bluish-black head, a thin band of white around the neck, and a rusty breast [ME < OFr malart < *maslart < masle: see MALE]

Mallarmé (må låř mei´), Sté·phane (stei fån´) 1842-98; Fr. symbolist poet

malleable (mæl´i: э bэl) •adj. 1 that can be hammered, pounded, or pressed into various shapes without breaking: said of metals 2 capable of being changed, molded, trained, etc.; adaptable SYN. PLIABLE mal'le·a·bil´i·ty or mal´le·a·ble·ness •n. [ME malliable < ML malleabilis < L malleare, to beat with a hammer < malleus, a hammer < IE base *mel-, to grind, beat > MILL¹]

malleable iron cast iron made from pig iron by long heating at a high temperature and slow cooling: it is especially strong and malleable Also malleable cast iron

mallee (mæl´i:) •n. 1 any of several shrubby species of Australian eucalyptus (as Eucalyptus dumosa and E. oleosa) 2 in Australia, dense thicket formed by such plants [native name in Australia]

mallemuck (mæl´э mûk') •n. any of the large, docile, tubenose ocean birds [Du mallemok < mal, foolish + mok, a gull]

malleolus (mэ li:´э lэs) pl. -li' (-lai') •n. the rounded bony protuberance on each side of the ankle joint mal·le´o·lar •adj. [L, dim. of malleus, a hammer: see MALLEABLE]

mallet (mæl´эt) •n. 1 a kind of hammer, usually with a heavy wooden head and a short handle, for driving a chisel, etc.: see HAMMER, illus. 2 a) a long-handled hammer with a cylindrical wooden head, used in playing croquet b) a similar instrument, but with a longer, flexible handle, used in playing polo 3 a small, light hammer, usually with a felt-covered head, used for playing a vibraphone, xylophone, etc. [ME malyet < MFr maillet, dim. of mail < OFr maile: see MAUL]

malleus (mæl´i: эs) pl. mal´le·i' (-ai') •n. the largest and outermost of the three small bones in the middle ear of mammals, shaped somewhat like a hammer: see EAR¹, illus. [L, a hammer: see MALLEABLE]

malling (möl´iŋ, mäl´-) •n. [Colloq.] 1 the construction of indoor shopping malls: often used pejoratively, esp. by those who regard the proliferation of such malls as undesirable 2 the act or an instance of shopping or spending time at a MALL (sense 3 b)

Mallorca (mäl yôř´kä, mä-) Sp. name of MAJORCA

mallow (mæl´ou) •n. 1 any of a genus (Malva) of plants of the mallow family, with dissected or lobed leaves 2 any of various other plants of the mallow family, as the marsh mallow or rose mallow •adj. designating a family (Malvaceae, order Malvales) of dicotyledonous plants, including the hollyhock, cotton, marsh mallow, and okra, typically having large, showy flowers with many stamens borne on a tube, and a sticky juice in their stems, leaves, and roots [ME malwe < OE mealuwe < L malva (> Ger malve, Fr mauve): see MALACHITE]

mallow rose ROSE MALLOW

malm (mäm) •n. 1 [Brit.] a) a soft, crumbly, grayish-white limestone b) a soft, chalky loam formed from this 2 a mixture of clay and chalk used in making bricks [ME malme < OE mealm-, sand, akin to Goth malma, sand, ON malmr, ore < IE base *mel-, to grind > MILL¹]

Malmesbury (mämz´bэr i:, -bri:), William of see WILLIAM OF MALMESBURY

Malmö (mälm´ö; E mæl´mou) seaport in S Sweden, on the Öresund: pop. 229,000

malmsey (mäm´zi:) •n. 1 the darkest and sweetest type of Madeira 2 the white grape from which this is made 3 any other wine made from this grape [ME malmesey < ML malmasia < Malmasia < Gr Monembasia, Monemvasia, or Malvasia, small town on the coast of Laconia, Greece, formerly noted for exporting wine]

malnourished (mæl nør´isht) •adj. improperly nourished

malnutrition (mæl'nu: trish´эn) •n. inadequate nutrition; poor nourishment resulting from insufficient food, improper diet, etc.

malocclusion (-э klu:´zhэn) •n. improper meeting of the upper and lower teeth; faulty occlusion

malodor (mæl'ou´dэr) •n. a bad odor; stench

malodorous (-ou´dэr эs) •adj. having a bad odor; stinking mal·o´dor·ous·ly •adv. mal·o´dor·ous·ness •n.

Malone (mэ loun´), Edmund (or Edmond) 1741-1812; Ir. literary critic & editor of Shakespeare's works

malonic acid (mэ lou´nik, -län´ik) a crystalline, dibasic acid, HOOCCH2COOH, obtained from malic acid by oxidation and used in synthesizing barbiturates [Fr malonique, altered < malique: see MALIC ACID]

Malory (mæl´э ri:), Sir Thomas died c. 1471; Eng. writer: author of Morte Darthur, the first prose account in Eng. of the Arthurian legend

maloti (mэ lu:´ti:) •n. pl. of LOTI

Malpighi (mäl pi:´gi:), Mar·cel·lo (mäř chel´lô) 1628-94; It. physiologist & pioneer in microscopic anatomy Mal·pigh·i·an (mæl pig´i: эn) •adj.

malpighia (mæl pig´i: э) •adj. designating a family (Malpighiaceae, order Polygalales) of dicotyledonous tropical trees, shrubs, and vines

Malpighian body (or corpuscle) 1 any nodule of lymphatic tissue in the spleen 2 any of a number of small masses of blood vessels in the kidney, enclosed by a capsule that is an enlargement of the end of a tubule through which urine passes

Malpighian layer the soft, lowest layer of the epidermis, from which the outer layers are formed

Malpighian tubules a group of small, tubular, excretory and water-regulating glands that open into the hind part of the alimentary canal in most insects and spiders

malposition (mæl'pэ zish´эn) •n. faulty or abnormal position, esp. of the fetus in the uterus

malpractice (mæl præk´tis) •n. 1 injurious or unprofessional treatment or culpable neglect of a patient by a physician or surgeon 2 misconduct or improper practice in any professional or official position mal'prac·ti´tion·er (-tish´эn эr) •n.

Malraux (mål řou´), An·dré (äñ dřei´) 1901-76; Fr. writer & art historian

malt (mölt) •n. 1 barley or other grain softened by soaking in water until it sprouts and then kiln-dried: used for brewing and distilling certain alcoholic beverages or liquors 2 a beverage or liquor made from malt, esp. beer, ale, or the like Æ 3 [Colloq.] MALTED MILK •adj. made with malt •vt. 1 to change (barley, etc.) into malt or something maltlike 2 to treat or prepare (milk, etc.) with malt or malt extract •vi. 1 to be changed into malt or something maltlike 2 to change barley, etc. into malt [ME malte < OE mealt, akin to Ger malz < IE *mel-d, soft < base *mel-, to crush, grind > MELT, MILL¹]

malt extract a sticky, sugary substance obtained from malt soaked in water: it is used as a medicinal food

malt liquor beer, ale, or the like made from malt by fermentation

malt sugar MALTOSE

Malta (möl´tэ) 1 country on a group of islands in the Mediterranean, south of Sicily: a former British colony, it became independent & a member of the Commonwealth (1964); 122 sq. mi. (317 sq. km); pop. 354,000; cap. Valletta 2 main island of this group: 95 sq. mi. (247 sq. km)

Malta fever UNDULANT FEVER [so named because prevalent in Malta and nearby areas]

maltase (möl´teis') •n. an enzyme found in the small intestine, in yeast, etc., that hydrolyzes maltose into glucose [MALT + -ASE]

malted milk (mölt´id) 1 a powdered preparation of dried milk and malted cereals 2 a drink made by mixing this with milk and, usually, ice cream and flavoring: also malted •n.

Maltese (möl ti:z´, -ti:s´) •adj. 1 of Malta, its people, their language, etc. 2 of the medieval Knights of Malta •n. 1 pl. Mal·tese´ a native or inhabitant of Malta 2 the variety of Arabic spoken in Malta, strongly influenced by Italian 3 pl. Mal·tese´ a) any of a breed of toy dog with a coat of long, silky, white hair that hangs nearly to the ground and with a tail that curls over the back b) any of a variety of shorthaired domestic cat with bluish-gray fur

Maltese cross 1 a cross whose arms look like arrowheads pointing inward: see CROSS, illus. 2 a perennial garden flower (Lychnis chalcedonica) of the pink family, having brilliant red five-parted flowers [from its use as an emblem by the medieval Knights of Malta]

maltha (mæl´θэ) •n. 1 any of several black, semisolid bitumens between petroleum and asphalt in consistency 2 any of several natural, viscous hydrocarbon mixtures, as ozokerite [L < Gr, mixture of wax and pitch < IE *meldh-, become soft < base *mel-, to grind > MILL¹]

Malthus (mæl´θэs), Thomas Robert 1766-1834; Eng. economist

Malthusian (mæl θu:´zhэn, -zi: эn) •adj. of Malthus and his theory that the world population tends to increase faster than the food supply with inevitable disastrous results unless natural restrictions, such as war, famine, and disease reduce the population or the increase is checked by moral restraint Mal·thu´sian·ism' •n.

maltose (möl´tous') •n. a white, crystalline, dextrorotatory disaccharide obtained by the action of the diastase of malt on starch [MALT + -OSE²]

maltreat (mæl tri:t´) •vt. to treat roughly or unkindly; abuse mal·treat´ment •n. [Fr maltraiter: see MAL- & TREAT]

maltster (mölt´stэr) •n. one who makes or sells malt

malty (möl´ti:) malt´i·er, malt´i·est •adj. of, like, or containing malt

Maluku (mэ lu:´ku:') Indonesian name of MOLUCCAS

malvasia (mæl'vэ si:´э) •n. MALMSEY mal'va·si´an •adj. [It: see MALMSEY]

Malvern Hill (mæl´vэrn) plateau near Richmond, Va.: site of a battle (1862) of the Civil War in which Union troops repulsed Confederate attacks but withdrew the next day [after Malvern Hills, England]

malversation (mæl'vэr sei´shэn) •n. Law corrupt conduct or fraudulent practices, as in public office [Fr < malverser, to commit malpractices < L male, badly + versari, to turn, occupy oneself: see MAL- & VERSE]

mama (mä´mэ; also mэ mä´) •n. child's term for MOTHER¹

mamaliga (mä'mä li:´gэ) •n. a porridge of cornmeal, orig. of Romania

mamba (mäm´bэ) •n. any of a genus (Dendroaspis) of extremely poisonous, elapine, African tree snakes similar to the cobras but not hooded; esp., a long, green E African snake (D. angusticeps) [Zulu imamba]

mambo (mäm´bou) pl. -bos •n. 1 a rhythmic musical form, of Caribbean origin, in 4/4 syncopated time and with a heavy accent on the second and fourth beats 2 a ballroom dance to such music •vi. to dance the mambo [AmSp: musicians' slang term equivalent to riff]

Mameluke (mæm´э lu:k') •n. 1 a member of a military caste, orig. made up of slaves, that ruled in Egypt from 1250 until 1517 and remained powerful until 1811: also Mam·luk (mæm´lu:k) 2 [m-] in Muslim countries, a slave [obs Fr mameluk < Ar mamlūk, slave, lit., one possessed < malaka, to possess]

mamma¹ (mä´mэ; also mэ mä´) •n. MAMA [like L mamma, mother, Sans mā, Gr mammē < baby talk]

mamma² (mæm´э) pl. -mae (-i:) •n. a gland for secreting milk, present in the female of all mammals; mammary gland: it is rudimentary in the male [L, breast, prob. identical with prec.]

mammal (mæm´эl) •n. any of a large class (Mammalia) of warmblooded, usually hairy vertebrates whose offspring are fed with milk secreted by the female mammary glands mam·ma·li·an (mэ mei´li: эn, mæ-) •adj., n. [< ModL Mammalia < LL mammalis, of the breasts < L mamma: see MAMMA2]

mammalogy (mэ mæl´э ji:, mæ-) •n. the branch of zoology dealing with mammals mam·mal´o·gist •n.

mammaplasty (mæm´э plæs'ti:) •n. plastic surgery to make breasts larger or smaller [MAMMA² + -PLASTY]

mammary (mæm´э ri:) •adj. designating or of the milk-secreting glands; of the mammae

mammee (mä mei´, -mi:´) •n. 1 a) any of a genus (Mammea) of West Indian trees of the Saint Johnswort family; specif., a tall, tropical, American tree (M. americana) bearing a large, russet, apricot-flavored fruit (also mammee apple) b) the fruit 2 MARMALADE TREE Also sp. ma·mey´, mam·mey´, or ma·mie´ [Sp mamey < Taino]

mammiferous (mæ mif´эr эs, mэ-) •adj. having mammae, or breasts [see -FEROUS]

mammilla (mæ mil´э, mэ-) pl. -lae (-i:) •n. 1 a nipple 2 any nipple-shaped or breast-shaped protuberance mam·mil·lar·y (mæm´э ler'i:) •adj. [L mam(m)illa, dim. of mamma: see MAMMA²]

mammillate (mæm´э leit') •adj. 1 having mammillae 2 nipple-shaped Also mam´mil·lat'ed mam'mil·la´tion •n.

mammock (mæm´эk) •n. [Now Chiefly Dial.] a fragment; shred; scrap •vt. [Now Chiefly Dial.] to break or tear into fragments or shreds [< ?]

mammogram (mæm´э græm') •n. an X-ray obtained from mammography

mammography (mэ mäg´rэ fi:) •n. an X-ray technique for the detection of breast tumors before they can be seen or felt [< MAMMA² + -GRAPHY]

mammon (mæm´эn) •n. [often M-] riches regarded as an object of worship and greedy pursuit; wealth or material gain as an evil, more or less deified mam´mon·ism' •n. [ME mammon(as) < LL(Ec) < Gr(Ec) mammōnas (see Matt. 6:24) < Aram māmōnā, riches, prob. < mā'mon, that which is made secure or deposited < 'amān, to trust]

mammoth (mæm´эθ) •n. any of a genus (Mammuthus) of extinct elephants with a hairy skin and long tusks curving upward: remains have been found in North America, Europe, and Asia Æ adj. very big; huge; enormous SYN. ENORMOUS [altered < Russ mamont, mammot < Yakut mamont, prob. < mama, earth: from the notion that the animal had burrowed in the ground]

Mammoth Cave National Park national park in SW Ky., containing enormous limestone caverns: 79 sq. mi. (205 sq. km)

mammy (mæm´i:) pl. -mies •n. [Colloq. or Dial.] 1 child's term for MOTHER¹ Æ 2 [Obs.] a black woman who took care of white children, esp. in the South: now often considered an offensive term [dial. var. of MAMMA¹]

mammy wagon (or bus) a small, open, brightly decorated bus or truck used for public transportation in W Africa

Mamoré (mä'mô ře´) river in NC Bolivia, flowing north to join the Beni & form the Madeira: c. 1,200 mi. (1,931 km)

Man abbrev. 1 Manila (paper) 2 Manitoba Man (mæn), Isle of one of the British Isles, between Northern Ireland & England: 227 sq. mi. (587 sq. km); pop. 60,000; cap. Douglas man (mæn) pl. men (men) •n. 1 a human being; person; specif., a) a hominid (Homo sapiens) having an opposable thumb, the ability to make and use specialized tools, articulate speech, and a highly developed brain with the faculty of abstract thought: the only living hominid b) any extinct hominid, as Neanderthal man 2 the human race; mankind: used without the or a 3 a) an adult male human being b) sometimes, a boy 4 a) an adult male servant, follower, attendant, or subordinate b) a male employee; workman c) [usually pl.] a soldier, sailor, etc.; esp., one of the rank and file d) [Archaic] a vassal 5 a) a husband b) a lover 6 a person with qualities conventionally regarded as manly, such as strength, courage, etc. 7 a player on a team 8 any of the pieces used in chess, checkers, etc. 9 [Slang] fellow; chap: used in direct address 10 Naut. a ship: used in compounds {man-of-war, merchantman} •vt. manned, man´ning 1 to furnish with a labor force for work, defense, etc. {to man a ship} 2 to take assigned places in, on, or at for work or defense {man the guns!} 3 to strengthen; brace; fortify; nerve {to man oneself for an ordeal} 4 Falconry to tame or accustom (a hawk) to the presence of men •interj. [Slang] an exclamation of emphasis: often used in a neutral way to preface or resume one's remark •adj. male as a (or one) man in unison; unanimously be one's own man 1 to be free and independent 2 to be in full control of one's powers, senses, etc. man and boy first as a boy and then as a man Æ the Man 1 [Slang] the person having power or authority over one; esp., as orig. used by U.S. blacks, a white man 2 a policeman to a man with no one as an exception; everyone [ME < OE mann, akin to Ger mann, Goth manna < IE base *manu- (> Sans mánu-, Russ muž): akin ? to *men-, to think > MIND]

-man (mэn, mæn) combining form man or person of a (specified) kind, in a (specified) activity, etc. Now often replaced by -PERSON or -WOMAN to avoid the masculine implication

man about town a worldly man who spends much time in fashionable restaurants, clubs, etc.

man Friday see FRIDAY

man in the street the average person; ordinary citizen

man jack see phr. under JACK

Man of Galilee name for JESUS

man of God 1 a holy man; saint, hermit, etc. 2 a clergyman; minister, priest, rabbi, etc.

man of letters a writer, scholar, editor, etc., esp. one whose work is in the field of literature

Man of Sorrows a person alluded to by Isaiah (Isa. 53:3) and interpreted as being the Messiah: regarded by Christians as a name for Jesus

man of the world a man familiar with and tolerant of various sorts of people and their ways; worldly man

man on horseback a military man with such influence and power over the people as to be, or seem to be, able to seize control and rule as a dictator

mana (mä´nä) •n. in some indigenous beliefs, as in Polynesia, a dynamic supernatural power or influence dwelling in and flowing from certain individuals, spirits, or things and capable of producing great good or evil [native Polynesian term]

manacle (mæn´э kэl) •n. 1 a handcuff; fetter or shackle for the hand 2 any restraint Usually used in pl. •vt. -cled, -cling 1 to put handcuffs on; fetter 2 to restrain; hamper [ME manicle < OFr < L manicula, dim. of manus, hand: see MANUAL]

manage (mæn´ij) -aged, -ag·ing •vt. 1 orig., to train (a horse) in its paces; cause to do the exercises of the manège 2 to control the movement or behavior of; handle; manipulate 3 to have charge of; direct; conduct; administer {to manage a household} 4 [Rare] to handle or use carefully; husband 5 to get (a person) to do what one wishes, esp. by skill, tact, flattery, etc.; make docile or submissive 6 to bring about by contriving; contrive; succeed in accomplishing: often used ironically [he managed to make a mess of it] •vi. 1 to conduct or direct affairs; carry on business 2 to contrive to get along; succeed in handling matters •n. [Archaic] [It maneggio < maneggiare: infl. by Fr ménage: see MÉNAGE] 1 MANÈGE 2 MANAGEMENT SYN. CONDUCT [It maneggiare < mano, hand < L manus: see MANUAL]

manageable (mæn´ij э bэl) •adj. that can be managed; controllable, tractable, contrivable, etc. man'age·a·bil´i·ty or man´age·a·ble·ness •n. man´age·a·bly •adv.

managed currency a currency regulated by various governmental agencies through procedures that alter the amount of money in circulation so as to control credit, the price structure, etc.

management (mæn´ij mэnt) •n. 1 the act, art, or manner of managing, or handling, controlling, directing, etc. 2 skillful managing; careful, tactful treatment 3 skill in managing; executive ability 4 a) the person or persons managing a business, institution, etc. {the problems of labor and management} b) such persons collectively, regarded as a distinct social group with special interests, characteristic economic views, etc.

manager (-ij эr) •n. a person who manages; esp., a) one who manages a business, institution, etc. b) one who manages affairs or expenditures, as of a household, a client (as an entertainer or athlete), an athletic team, etc. Æ c) Baseball the person in overall charge of a team and the strategy in games d) in a school or college, a student in charge of the equipment and records of a team under the supervision of a coach man´ag·er·ess •n.fem. man´ag·er·ship' •n.

managerial (mæn'э jir´i: эl) •adj. 1 of, like, or characteristic of a manager 2 of management man'a·ge´ri·al·ism' •n. man'a·ge´ri·al·ly •adv.

managing editor an editor having certain supervisory controls over the editorial staff of a publication or book publisher

Managua (mä nä´gwä) 1 lake in W Nicaragua: c. 390 sq. mi. (1,010 sq. km) 2 capital of Nicaragua, on this lake: pop. 650,000

manakin (mæn´э kin) •n. 1 any of a family (Pipridae) of brightly colored, small passerine birds of Central and South America, with short beaks 2 MANIKIN [var. of MANIKIN]

Manama (mэ næm´э) capital of Bahrain: pop. 121,000

mañana (mä nyä´nä) •n. tomorrow •adv. 1 tomorrow 2 at some indefinite time in the future [Sp < VL *maneana < L (cras)mane, (tomorrow) morning, orig. loc. of manis, good (in sense: in good time), akin to manus, good < IE base mā, good, early < L maturus]

Manassas (mэ næs´эs) city in NE Va., near Bull Run: site of two Civil War battles in which Union forces were defeated: pop. 28,000 [< ?]

Manasseh (mэ næs´э) 1 Bible the elder son of Joseph: Gen. 41:52 2 the tribe of Israel descended from him: Num. 1:34 3 a king of Judah in the 7th cent. B.C. 2 Kings 21:1-18 [Heb měnasseh, lit., causing to forget]

man-at-arms (mæn´æt ärmz´) pl. men´-at-arms´ (men´-) •n. a soldier; esp., a heavily armed medieval soldier on horseback

manatee (mæn´э ti:', mæn'э ti:´) •n. any of a family (Trichechidae) of sirenians living in shallow tropical waters near the coasts of North and South America and W Africa; sea cow [Sp manatí < native (Carib) name]

Manaus (mä naus´) city in NW Brazil, on the Negro River: capital of Amazonas state: pop. 175,000

Manchester (mæn´ches'tэr, -chi stэr) 1 city & port in NW England, connected by canal (Manchester Ship Canal), 35 mi. (56 km) long, with the Irish Sea: pop. 458,000 2 county of NW England, surrounding this city: 497 sq. mi. (1,287 sq. km); pop. 2,588,000: in full Greater Manchester 3 city in S N.H., on the Merrimack River: pop. 100,000 [after Eng city]

Manchester terrier any of a breed of terrier, orig. bred in Manchester, England, with a short, glossy coat, black with tan markings: there are two varieties (standard and toy), the principal difference being in size

manchet (mæn´chэt) •n. [Archaic] a roll or small loaf of white bread made of the finest wheat flour [ME manchete < maine (same sense), aphetic < OFr paindemaine < L panis dominicus, lit., lord's bread + chet < Anglo-Fr, wheat bread of lower quality < ?]

man-child (mæn´chaild') pl. men´-chil'dren (-chil´drэn) •n. a male child; boy; son

manchineel (mæn'chэ ni:l´) •n. 1 a tropical American tree (Hippomane mancinella) of the spurge family, with a milky, irritant juice and plumlike, poisonous fruit 2 its wood [Fr mancenille < Sp manzanilla, dim. of manzana, apple < L matianum (pomum), (apple), of Matius, Roman author of a cookery manual]

Manchu (mæn chu:´, mæn´chu:) •n. 1 pl. -chus´ or -chu´ a member of a people of Manchuria: the Manchus conquered China in 1643-44 and set up a dynasty that ruled until 1912 2 the Tungusic language of this people •adj. designating or of the Manchus or their language or culture [Manchu, lit., pure]

Manchukuo (mæn chu:´kwou) former country (1932-45), a Japanese puppet state consisting mainly of Manchuria

Manchuria (mæn chur´i: э) region & former administrative division of NE China coextensive with the provinces of Heilongjiang, Jilin, & Liaoning, & the NE section of Inner Mongolia Man·chu´ri·an •adj., n.

manciple (mæn´sэ pэl) •n. a steward or buyer of provisions, as for an English college, a monastery, etc. [ME < OFr manciple, mancipe < ML mancipium, office of a purchaser < L, legal purchase, possession < manceps, buyer, contractor < manus, a hand + base of capere, to take: see MANUAL & HAVE]

Mancunian (mæn kyu:´ni: эn) •adj. of Manchester, England •n. a native or inhabitant of Manchester, England [< ML Mancunium, Manchester < Celt Mancenion]

-mancy (mæn´si:) combining form divination {chiromancy} [ME < OFr -mancie < LL -mantia < Gr manteia, divination < mantis, prophet: see MANTIS]

Mandaean (mæn di:´эn) •n., adj. alt. sp. of MANDEAN

mandala (mûn´dэ lэ) •n. a circular design containing concentric geometric forms, images of deities, etc. and symbolizing the universe, totality, or wholeness in Hinduism and Buddhism [Sans mandala, a circle]

Mandalay (mæn´dэ lei', mæn'dэ lei´) city in central Myanmar, on the Irrawaddy River: pop. 417,000

mandamus (mæn dei´mэs) •n. Law a writ commanding that a specified thing be done, issued by a higher court to a lower one, or to a private or municipal corporation, government agency, official, etc. •vt. [Colloq.] to serve with or command by such a writ [L, we command, 1st pers. pl., pres. indic., of mandare: see MANDATE]

Mandan (mæn´dæn) •n. 1 pl. -dans or -dan a member of a North American Indian people of North Dakota 2 the Siouan language of this people [Fr Mandanes, Mantanes, pl., perhaps ult. < Dakota mawátanna]

mandarin (mæn´dэ rin) •n. 1 in the Chinese empire, a member of any of the nine ranks of high officials, each rank distinguished by a characteristic jeweled button worn on the cap 2 a member of any elite group; leading intellectual, political figure, etc., sometimes one who is pompous, arbitrary, etc. 3 [M-] the most widely spoken language of China, comprising a northern, an eastern, and a southwestern variety 4 a) a small, sweet orange with loose rind (in full, mandarin orange) b) the orange tree (Citrus reticulata) on which it grows 5 a deep-orange color •adj. 1 designating or of a Chinese style of dress, esp. a narrow, closefitting, stand-up collar parted in the front 2 characterized by a highly formal, self-conscious, and subtle use of language man´da·rin·ism' •n. [Port mandarim, altered (infl. by mandar, to command < L mandare: see MANDATE) < Hindi mantrī, minister of state < Sans mantrin, counselor < mantár-, thinker < IE base *men-, to think > MIND, Gr mentór, Sans mantra]

mandarin duck a bright-colored, crested, Asian duck (Aix galericulata), sometimes domesticated

mandate (mæn´deit') •n. 1 an authoritative order or command, esp. a written one 2 [Historical] a) a commission from the League of Nations to a country to administer some region, colony, etc. (cf. TRUSTEESHIP, sense 2) b) the area so administered (cf. TRUST TERRITORY) 3 the wishes of constituents expressed to a representative, legislature, etc., as through an election and regarded as an order 4 Law a) an order from a higher court or official to a lower one: a mandate on remission is a mandate from an appellate court to the lower court, communicating its decision in a case appealed b) in English law, a bailment of personal property with no consideration c) in Roman law, a commission or contract by which a person undertakes to do something for another, without recompense but with indemnity against loss d) any contract of agency •vt. -dat'ed, -dat'ing to assign (a region, etc.) as a mandate man·da´tor •n. [L mandatum, neut. pp. of mandare, lit., to put into one's hand, command, entrust < manus, a hand + pp. of dare, to give: see MANUAL & DATE¹]

mandatory (mæn´dэ tör'i:) •adj. 1 of, having the nature of, or containing a mandate 2 authoritatively commanded or required; obligatory 3 having received a mandate over some territory •n. pl. -ries a country assigned to administer a mandate Also man´da·tar'y (-ter'i:) man´da·to'ri·ly •adv. [LL mandatorius]

Mande (män´dei', -di:') •n. 1 pl. -des' or -de' a member of a group of Negroid peoples of W Africa, including the Malinkes, Susus, etc. 2 a branch of the Niger-Congo subfamily of languages •adj. of the Mandes or their languages

Mandean (mæn di:´эn) •n. 1 a member of an ancient Gnostic sect still extant in southern Iraq 2 the Eastern Aramaic dialect used in the writings of the Mandeans: it was spoken along the Euphrates from the 7th to the 9th cent. A.D. •adj. 1 of the Mandeans, their doctrines, etc. 2 of Mandean [< Mandean mandayyā, lit., having knowledge (used as transl. of Gr gnōstikoi, Gnostics) < mandā, knowledge + -AN]

Mandela (mæn del´э), Nelson (Rolihlahla) 1918- ; South Afr. leader in the anti-apartheid movement

Mandeville (mæn´dэ vil'), Sir John 14th cent.; putative English author of a romanticized book of travels

mandible (mæn´dэ bэl) •n. the jaw; specif., a) the lower jaw of a vertebrate (see SKULL, illus.) b) either of a pair of biting jaws of an insect or other arthropod c) either jaw of a beaked animal, as a cephalopod man·dib´u·lar (-dib´yu: lэr) •adj. [OFr < LL mandibula < mandibulum, a jaw < L mandere, to chew < IE base *menth-, to chew > MOUTH]

mandibulate (mæn dib´yu: lit, -leit') •adj. 1 having a mandible or mandibles, as some insects 2 adapted for chewing •n. a mandibulate insect

Mandingo (mæn diŋ´gou) pl. -gos, -goes •n. or -go MANDE [< the native name]

mandolin (mæn'dэ lin´, mæn´dэ lin) •n. a musical instrument of the lute family, with four to six pairs of strings stretched over a fretted neck and a deep, rounded sound box: it is played with a plectrum, which is moved rapidly back and forth to give a tremolo effect man'do·lin´ist •n. [Fr mandoline < It mandolino, dim. of mandola, mandora < LL pandura, kind of lute < LGr pandoura, prob. < Ar tanbur]

mandragora (mæn dræg¿€ rэ) •n. MANDRAKE (senses 1 & 2)

mandrake (mæn´dreik') •n. 1 a poisonous plant (Mandragora officinarum) of the nightshade family, found in Mediterranean regions: it has purple or white flowers and a thick root, often forked, formerly used in medicine for its narcotic and emetic properties 2 the root, formerly thought to have magic powers because of its fancied resemblance to the human body Æ 3 MAY APPLE [ME mondrake, altered by folk etym. (by assoc. with man + drake, dragon) < mandrag(g)e < OE mandragora < LL < L mandragoras < Gr]

mandrel or mandril (mæn´drэl) •n. 1 a metal spindle or bar, often tapered, inserted into a lathe center to support work while it is being machined or turned 2 a metal rod or bar used as a core around which metal, wire, glass, etc. is cast, molded, forged, or shaped [earlier manderil; prob. < Fr mandrin < Prov mandre, spindle, winch, beam (of a balance) < L mamphur, a bow drill < IE base *menth-, to twirl > ON mọndull, handle of a quern]

mandrill (mæn´dril) •n. a large, fierce, strong baboon (Mandrillus sphinx) of W Africa: the male has blue and scarlet patches on the face and rump [MAN + DRILL4]

manducate (mæn´du: keit', -dyu:-) -cat'ed, -cat'ing •vt. [Rare] to chew; masticate man'du·ca´tion •n. man´du·ca·to'ry (-kэ tör'i:) •adj. [< L manducatus, pp. of manducare: see MANGER]

Mandy (mæn´di:) a feminine name See AMANDA, MIRANDA

mane (mein) •n. 1 the long hair growing from the top or sides of the neck of certain animals, as the horse or lion 2 long, thick human hair maned •adj. mane´less •adj. [ME < OE manu, akin to Ger mähne < IE *mono-, neck (> Sans mányā, nape of the neck, Welsh mwn, neck), prob. < base *men-, to project > MENACE]

man-eater (mæn´i:t'эr) •n. 1 a cannibal 2 an animal that eats, or is thought to eat, human flesh, as a shark, lion, or tiger man´-eat'ing •adj.

manège or manege (mæ nezh´, -neizh´; mэ-) •n. 1 the art of riding and training horses; horsemanship 2 the paces and exercises of a trained horse 3 a school for training horses and teaching riders; riding academy [Fr < It maneggio: see MANAGE]

manes (mei´ni:z') •n.pl. [often M-] 1 in ancient Roman belief, the deified souls of the dead, esp. of dead ancestors 2 [with sing. v.] the soul or spirit of a dead person [ME < L < IE base *mā-, good: see MAÑANA] Manes (mei´ni:z') var. of MANI

Manet (må nei´), É·douard (ei dwåř´) 1832-83; Fr. impressionist painter

maneuver (mэ nu:´vэr, -nyu:´-) •n. 1 a planned and controlled tactical or strategic movement of troops, warships, aircraft, etc. 2 [pl.] large-scale practice movements and exercises of troops, warships, aircraft, etc. under simulated combat conditions 3 any skillful change of movement or direction in driving a vehicle, controlling a spacecraft, etc.; specif., a) any change of movement by a flying aircraft b) a series of movements by an aircraft according to a specific pattern, as a roll, a loop, etc. 4 any movement or procedure intended as a skillful or shrewd step toward some objective; stratagem; artifice; scheme •vi., vt. 1 to perform or cause to perform a maneuver or maneuvers 2 to manage or plan skillfully or shrewdly; manipulate or scheme 3 a) to direct or guide (a vehicle, tool, etc.) with skill and dexterity b) to move, lead, get, put, make, compel, etc. (a person or thing) by some stratagem or scheme SYN. TRICK ma·neu'ver·a·bil´i·ty •n. ma·neu´ver·a·ble •adj. ma·neu´ver·er •n. [Fr manœuvre, orig., hand labor < VL manuopera < L manu operare, to work by hand < manus, a hand (see MANUAL) + opera, pl. of opus, a work: see OPUS]

manful (mæn´fэl) •adj. manly; brave, resolute, strong, etc. man´ful·ly •adv. man´ful·ness •n.

mangabey (mæŋ´gэ bei', -bi:) •n. any of a genus (Cercocebus) of large African monkeys having a silky, gray coat, white eyelids, and a long tail [after Mangabey, Madagascar]

Mangalore (mäŋ´gэ lör') city in SW Karnataka, India, on Malabar Coast: pop. 306,000

manganate (mæŋ´gэ neit') •n. a salt of manganic acid containing the divalent, negative radical MnO4

manganese (mæŋ´gэ ni:s', -ni:z') •n. a grayish-white, metallic chemical element, usually hard and brittle, which rusts like iron but is not magnetic: it is used in the manufacture of alloys of iron, aluminum, and copper: symbol, Mn; at. wt., 54.9380; at. no., 25; sp. gr., 7.4; melt. pt., 1,244°C; boil. pt., 2,060°C [Fr manganèse < It manganese, by metathesis < ML magnesia: see MAGNESIA]

manganese bronze an alloy of copper and zinc containing up to about 3 percent manganese, used in making steamship propellers, toothed wheels, gears, etc.

manganese steel a hard, malleable and ductile steel containing 12 to 14 percent of manganese, used in drill bits, crushers, etc.

manganic (mæn gæn´ik) •adj. designating or of chemical compounds containing trivalent manganese

manganic acid an acid, H2MnO4, known only in the form of its salts

Manganin (mæŋ´gэ nin) trademark for an alloy consisting mainly of copper with some manganese and nickel: used in rheostats, resistors, etc. [MANGAN(ESE) + -IN¹]

manganite (-nait') •n. 1 hydrous manganese trioxide, Mn2O3·H2O, a steel-gray or black, crystalline mineral with a metallic luster 2 any of a series of salts that may be considered as derivatives of manganous acid, the hydroxide of tetravalent manganese

manganous (mæŋ´gэ nэs; mæn gæn´эs) •adj. designating or of chemical compounds containing divalent manganese

mange (meinj) •n. any of various skin diseases of mammals caused by parasitic mites and characterized by intense itching, lesions and scabs, and a loss of hair [ME manjewe < OFr mangeue, an itch, eating < mangier < L manducare: see MANGER]

mangel-wurzel (mæŋ´gэl wør'zэl, -wørt'-) •n. a variety of large beet, used as food for cattle, esp. in Europe Also mangel [Ger, altered by assoc. with mangel, lack < mangoldwurzel < mangold, beet + wurzel, ROOT¹]

manger (mein´jэr) •n. a box or trough to hold fodder for horses or cattle to eat [ME < OFr mangeure < VL *manducatoria, feeding trough < pp. of L manducare, to eat < mandere, to chew < IE base *menth-, to chew > MOUTH]

mangle¹ (mæŋ´gэl) -gled, -gling •vt. 1 to mutilate or disfigure by repeatedly and roughly cutting, tearing, hacking, or crushing; lacerate and bruise badly 2 to spoil; botch; mar; garble {to mangle a text} SYN. MAIM man´gler •n. [ME manglen < Anglo-Fr mangler, prob. freq. of OFr mehaigner, MAIM]

mangle² (mæŋ´gэl) •n. a machine for pressing and smoothing cloth, esp. sheets and other flat pieces, between heated rollers •vt. -gled, -gling to press in a mangle man´gler •n. [Du mangel < Ger < MHG, dim. of mange, a mangle < L manganum < Gr manganon, war machine, orig. deceptive device < IE base *meng-, to embellish deceptively > MIr meng, deceit, L mango, falsifying dealer]

mango (mæŋ´gou) pl. -goes or -gos •n. 1 a yellow-red, oblong tropical fruit with thick rind, somewhat acid and juicy pulp, and a hard stone: it is eaten when ripe, or preserved or pickled when unripe 2 the tropical, evergreen, Asiatic tree (Mangifera indica) of the cashew family on which it grows [Port manga < Malay manga < Tamil mān-kāy < mān, mango tree + kāy, fruit]

mangonel (mæŋ´gэ nel') •n. an obsolete military apparatus for hurling heavy stones and other missiles [OFr, dim. < L manganum: see MANGLE²]

mangosteen (mæŋ´gэ sti:n') •n. 1 an edible East Indian fruit somewhat like an orange, with a thick, reddish-brown rind and sweet, white, juicy, segmented pulp 2 the tree (Garcinia mangostana) of the Saint Johnswort family, on which it grows [Malay mangustan]

mangrove (mæŋ´grouv) •n. any of various coastal or aquatic tropical trees or shrubs, esp. of the mangrove family, that form large colonies in swamps or shallow water and provide a habitat for young fish and shrimp •adj. designating a family (Rhizophoraceae, order Rhizophorales) of dicotyledonous trees and shrubs that inhabit tidal marshes and river mouths in the tropics [altered (infl. by GROVE) < earlier mangrowe < Port mangue < Sp mangle < the WInd (Taino) name]

mangy (mein´ji:) -gi·er, -gi·est •adj. 1 having, resembling, or caused by mange 2 shabby and filthy; sordid; squalid 3 mean and low; despicable man´gi·ly •adv. man´gi·ness •n.

manhandle (mæn´hæn'dэl) -dled, -dling •vt. 1 to move or do by human strength only, without mechanical aids 2 to handle roughly

Manhattan (mæn hæt´ªn, mэn-) 1 island in SE N.Y., between the Hudson & East rivers, forming part of New York City: 13 mi. (21 km) long: also Manhattan Island 2 borough of New York City, consisting of this island, some small nearby islands, & a small bit of the mainland: 22 sq. mi. (57 sq. km); pop. 1,488,000 •n. 1 a member of a tribe of Algonquian Indians who lived on Manhattan Island Æ 2 [often m-] a cocktail made of whiskey and sweet vermouth, usually with a dash of bitters and a maraschino cherry [< Du prob. < the native name < manah, island + atin, hill]

Manhattan clam chowder a thick soup made with clams, onions, salt pork, tomatoes, various seasonings, and sometimes potatoes

Manhattan District a division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, established in 1942, and assigned the project (Manhattan Project) of producing the atomic bomb

Manhattanize (-aiz') -ized', -iz'ing •vt. to alter the architectural appearance of (a city) by the construction of skyscrapers and high-rise buildings Man·hat'tan·i·za´tion •n. [after MANHATTAN borough]

manhole (mæn´houl') •n. an opening, often with a cover, through which a person can enter a sewer, conduit, ship's tank, etc. for repair work or inspection

manhood (mæn´hud') •n. 1 the state or time of being a man (human being or, esp., adult male human being) 2 manly qualities; manliness 3 men collectively [ME manhod, manhede: see MAN + -HOOD]

man-hour (-aur') •n. an industrial time unit equal to one hour of work done by one person

manhunt (-hûnt') •n. a hunt for a fugitive or criminal suspect Also man hunt

Mani (mä´ni:) c. A.D. 216-c. 276; Persian prophet: see MANICHAEISM

mania (mei´ni: э, mein´yэ) •n. 1 wild or violent mental disorder; specif., the manic phase of manic-depressive psychosis, characterized generally by abnormal excitability, exaggerated feelings of well-being, flight of ideas, excessive activity, etc. 2 an excessive, persistent enthusiasm, liking, craving, or interest; obsession; craze {a mania for dancing} SYN.—mania in its basic sense (see definition above) describes the phase of manic-depressive psychosis that is distinguished from depression; delirium denotes a temporary state of extreme mental disturbance (marked by restlessness, incoherence, and hallucinations) that occurs during fevers, in alcoholic psychosis, etc.; frenzy, not used technically in psychiatry, implies extreme emotional agitation in which self-control is lost; hysteria is applied in psychiatry to certain psychogenic disorders characterized by excitability, anxiety, sensory and motor disturbances, and the involuntary simulation of blindness, deafness, etc. In extended use, mania suggests a craze for something [a mania for surfing], delirium, rapturous excitement [a delirium of joy], and hysteria, an outburst of wild, uncontrolled feeling [she laughed and cried in her hysteria] [ME < LL < Gr, madness < mainesthai, to rage < IE base *men-, to think, be mentally excited > MIND]

-mania (mei´ni: э, mein´yэ) combining form forming nouns 1 a (specified) type of mental disorder characterized by an abnormal preoccupation, compulsion, etc. {pyromania} 2 a continuing, intense enthusiasm, craving, or liking for (a specified thing) {bibliomania} [see MANIA]

maniac (mei´ni: æk') •adj. of, having, or showing mania; maniacal •n. 1 a wildly or violently insane person; madman; lunatic 2 a person who has an excessive or persistent enthusiasm, liking, or desire for something {a football maniac} [ML maniacus]

-maniac (mei´ni: æk') combining form 1 forming nouns a person affected by a (specified) mania {kleptomaniac} 2 forming adjectives affected by a (specified) mania

maniacal (mэ nai´э kэl) •adj. 1 of, having, or showing mania; wildly insane; raving 2 characterized by excessive or persistent enthusiasm ma·ni´a·cal·ly •adv.

manic (mæn´ik, mein´-) •adj. Psychiatry having, characterized by, or like mania

manic-depressive (-di: pres´iv) •adj. designating, of, or having a psychosis characterized by alternating periods of mania and mental depression •n. a person who has this psychosis

Manichaeism or Manicheism (mæn´i ki:'iz'эm) •n. a syncretistic, dualistic religious system originated in the 3d cent. A.D. by Mani (Manichaeus), combining Zoroastrian, Gnostic, and other elements Also Man'i·chae´an·ism' Man'i·chae´an •n., adj. Man´i·chee' •n.

Manichaeus or Manicheus (mæn'i ki:´эs) var. of MANI

manicotti (mæn'i kät´i:; It mä'ni: kôt´ti:) •n.pl. [usually with sing. v.] pasta, in the form of long, broad tubes, usually boiled, stuffed with cheese, and baked with a tomato sauce [It, lit., muffs, pl. of manicotto < manica, sleeve < L, sleeve, muff < manus, hand: see MANUAL]

manicure (mæn´i kyur') •n. 1 the care of the hands 2 a trimming, cleaning, and sometimes polishing of the fingernails, esp. when done by a manicurist •vt. -cured', -cur'ing 1 a) to trim, polish, etc. (the fingernails) b) to give a manicure to 2 [Colloq.] to trim, clip, etc. meticulously {to manicure a lawn} [Fr < L manus, a hand + cura, care: see CURE]

manicurist (-ist) •n. a person whose work is giving manicures

manifest (mæn´э fest') •adj. apparent to the senses, esp. that of sight, or to the mind; evident; obvious; clear; plain •vt. [ME manifesten < OFr manifester < L manifestare] 1 to make clear or evident; show plainly; reveal; evince 2 to prove; be evidence of 3 to enter in a ship's manifest •vi. to appear to the senses; show itself •n. 1 a) an itemized list of a ship's cargo, to be shown to customs officials b) a list of the passengers and cargo on an airplane 2 [Rare] a manifestation SYN. EVIDENT man´i·fest'a·ble •adj. man´i·fest'ly •adv. [ME < OFr manifeste < L manifestus, earlier manufestus, lit., struck by the hand, palpable, evident < manus, a hand (see MANUAL) + base akin to (in)festus: see INFEST]

Manifest Destiny the 19th-cent. doctrine postulating the continued territorial expansion of the U.S. as its obvious destiny: term current during the annexation of territories in the Southwest and Northwest and of islands in the Pacific and Caribbean

manifestation (mæn'э fes tei´shэn, -fэs-) •n. 1 a manifesting or being manifested 2 something that manifests or is manifested {his smile was a manifestation of joy} 3 a form in which a being manifests itself or is thought to manifest itself, esp. the material or bodily form of a spirit 4 a public demonstration, as by a government or party for political effect [LL manifestatio]

manifesto (mæn'э fes´tou) pl. -toes •n.or -tos a public declaration of motives and intentions by a government or by a person or group regarded as having some public importance [It < manifestare, MANIFEST]

manifold (mæn´э fould') •adj. 1 having many and various forms, features, parts, etc. {manifold wisdom} 2 of many sorts; many and varied; multifarious: used with a plural noun {manifold duties} 3 being such in many and various ways or for many reasons {a manifold villain} 4 comprising, consisting of, or operating several units or parts of one kind: said of certain devices •n. 1 something that is manifold 2 a pipe with one inlet and several outlets or with one outlet and several inlets, for connecting with other pipes, as, in an automobile, for conducting exhausts from each cylinder into a single exhaust pipe •vt. 1 to make manifold; multiply 2 to make more than one copy of {to manifold a letter with carbon paper} man´i·fold'er •n. man´i·fold'ly •adv. man´i·fold'ness •n. [ME < OE manigfeald: see MANY & -FOLD]

manikin (mæn´i kin) •n. 1 a little man; dwarf 2 an anatomical model of the human body, usually with movable and detachable parts, used in medical schools, art classes, etc. 3 MANNEQUIN [Du manneken < man, MAN + -ken, -KIN]

Manila (mэ nil´э) capital & seaport of the Philippines, in SW Luzon, on an inlet (Manila Bay) of the South China Sea: pop. 1,630,000 (met. area 5,926,000) •n. [often m-] 1 MANILA HEMP 2 MANILA PAPER 3 MANILA ROPE Also, for n., Ma·nil´la

Manila hemp [often m- h-] 1 a Philippine plant (Musa textilis) of the banana family 2 a strong, tough fiber from the leafstalks of this plant, used for making high-quality rope, paper, clothing, etc.

Manila paper [often m- p-] buff or light brownish-yellow paper used for envelopes, wrapping paper, etc., orig. made of Manila hemp, now of various fibers

Manila rope [often m- r-] strong rope made of Manila hemp

manioc (mæn´i: äk') •n. CASSAVA [Fr < Tupi manioca]

maniple (mæn´э pэl) •n. 1 a subdivision of the ancient Roman legion; one third of a cohort, consisting of either 60 or 120 men 2 a small cloth band formerly worn hanging from the left forearm by the celebrant of a Mass [ME manaple < MFr < ML(Ec) manipulus < L] [L manipulus, orig., a handful, bundle < manus, a hand (see MANUAL) + base of plere, to fill: from use of bundles of hay as standards of the maniples]

manipular (mэ nip´yu: lэr, -yэ-) •adj. 1 of a maniple (in the ancient Roman army) 2 of manipulation •n. a soldier of a maniple [L manipularis]

manipulate (mэ nip´yu: leit', -yэ-) -lat'ed, -lat'ing •vt. 1 to work, operate, or treat with or as with the hand or hands; handle or use, esp. with skill 2 to manage or control artfully or by shrewd use of influence, often in an unfair or fraudulent way {to manipulate an election by bribing the voters} 3 a) to falsify (figures, accounts, etc.) for one's own purposes or profit; rig; b) to cause (prices of stock, etc.) to fall or rise by wash sales, matched orders, etc. SYN. HANDLE ma·nip´u·la·ble or ma·nip´u·lat'a·ble •adj. ma·nip´u·la'tive or ma·nip´u·la·to'ry •adj. [back-form. < fol.]

manipulation (mэ nip'yu: lei´shэn, -yэ-) •n. a manipulating or being manipulated; skillful handling or operation, artful management or control, etc. [Fr < manipuler, to manipulate < manipule, pharmacist's term for a handful, orig., a bundle of herbs < L manipulus: see MANIPLE]

manipulator (mэ nip´yu: leit'эr, -yэ-) •n. 1 a person or thing that manipulates Æ 2 a mechanical device that is operated by remote control, as for handling radioactive materials

Manipur (mûn´э pur') state of NE India, on the Myanmar border: 8,631 sq. mi. (22,356 sq. km); pop. 1,434,000; cap. Imphal

Manisa (mä'ni sä´) city in W Turkey: as Magnesia, site of a battle (190 B.C.) in which the Romans defeated Antiochus the Great: pop. 94,000

Manitoba (mæn'э tou´bэ) 1 province of SC Canada: 251,000 sq. mi. (652,000 sq. km); pop. 1,064,000; cap. Winnipeg: abbrev. MB or Man 2 Lake lake in S Manitoba: 1,817 sq. mi. (4,706 sq. km) Man'i·to´ban •adj., n. [Cree manitoowapaaw, the narrows (of Lake Manitoba), lit., god narrows]

manitou (mæn´э tu:') •n. any of various spirits or supernatural forces believed in by the Algonquian Indians and variously conceived of as nature spirits of both good and evil influence Also man´i·tu' or man´i·to' (-tou´) [Fr, replacing earlier manito, etc. < Delaware manðt˙u: cf. Ojibwa manidoo]

Manitoulin Island (mæn'э tu:´lin) Canadian island in N Lake Huron: 1,068 sq. mi. (2,766 sq. km) [earlier Manitoualin < 18th-c. Ojibwa dial. manitoowaalink, lit., at the god's den]

Manizales (mä'ni: sä´les) city in WC Colombia: pop. 328,000

mankind (mæn'kaind´; also, & for 2 always, mæn´kaind') •n. 1 all human beings; the human race 2 all human males; the male sex [altered (by assoc. with KIND < mankin < OE mancynn < man, MAN, + cynn, KIN]

manlike (mæn´laik') •adj. 1 like or characteristic of a human being 2 like or fit for a man; masculine

manly (mæn´li:) -li·er, -li·est •adj. 1 having the qualities generally regarded as those that a man should have; virile; strong, brave, resolute, honorable, etc. 2 fit for a man; masculine {manly sports} •adv. [Obs.] in a manly way SYN. MALE man´li·ness •n. [ME: see MAN & -LY¹]

man-made (-meid´) •adj. made by people; artificial or synthetic

Mann (män; for 2 mæn) 1 (Luis) Hein·rich (hain´riH) 1871-1950; Ger. writer: brother of Thomas 2 Horace 1796-1859; U.S. educator 3 Thomas (Ger tou´mäs) 1875-1955; Ger. novelist, in U.S. 1938-52

Mann Act (mæn) an act of Congress (June, 1910) prohibiting the interstate transportation of women for immoral purposes, as white slavery [after J. R. Mann (1856-1922), U.S. Congressman]

manna (mæn´э) •n. 1 a) Bible food miraculously provided for the Israelites in the wilderness: Ex. 16:14-36 b) divine aid, spiritual sustenance, etc. 2 anything badly needed that comes unexpectedly 3 a) a sweet, gummy juice obtained from a European ash tree (Fraxinus ornus), formerly used as a laxative b) any of various similar substances exuded by certain plants and insects [OE < LL(Ec) < Gr(Ec) < Aram mannā < Heb mān, orig., prob. man hu, lit., what is it?]

mannequin (mæn´i kin) •n. 1 a model of the human body, used by tailors, window dressers, artists, etc. 2 a woman whose work is modeling clothes in stores, etc. [Fr < Du manneken: see MANIKIN]

manner (mæn´эr) •n. 1 a way or method in which something is done or happens; mode or fashion of procedure 2 a) a way of acting; personal, esp. customary, behavior or bearing {a sarcastic manner} b) distinguished bearing or behavior 3 [pl.] a) ways of social life; prevailing social conditions or customs {a comedy of manners} b) ways of social behavior; deportment, esp. with reference to polite conventions {good manners, bad manners} c) polite ways of social behavior; deportment conforming with polite conventions {a child who has no manners} 4 characteristic style or method in art, music, literature, etc. 5 a) kind; sort {what manner of man is he?} b) [with pl. v.] kinds; sorts {all manner of things} SYN. BEARING by all manner of means of course; surely by any manner of means in any way; at all by no manner of means in no way; definitely not in a manner of speaking so to speak; in a certain sense or way to the manner born 1 accustomed from birth to the way or usage spoken of 2 naturally fitted for a certain thing [ME manere < OFr maniere < VL *manaria < L manuarius, of the hand < manus, a hand: see MANUAL]

mannered (-эrd) •adj. 1 having manners of a specified sort: used in hyphenated compounds {ill-mannered} 2 having or showing a specified manner {a solemnly mannered ceremony} 3 artificial, stylized, or affected {a mannered literary style}

mannerism (mæn´эr iz'эm) •n. 1 excessive use of some distinctive, often affected, manner or style in art, literature, speech, or behavior 2 a peculiarity of manner in behavior, speech, etc. that has become a habit 3 [M-] a 16th-cent. style in art characterized by distortion of realistic proportions, contorted figures, an avoidance of classical balance, etc. SYN. POSE¹ man´ner·ist •n., adj. man'ner·is´tic •adj.

mannerless (-lis) •adj. lacking good manners; impolite; unmannerly

mannerly (-li:) •adj. having or showing good manners; well-behaved; polite; courteous •adv. politely man´ner·li·ness •n.

Mannheim (mæn´haim; Ger män´-) city in SW Germany, on the Rhine, in the state of Baden-Württemberg: pop. 297,000

mannikin (mæn´i kin) •n. alt. sp. of MANIKIN

mannish (mæn´ish) •adj. having a quality usually regarded as belonging to or right for a man: used sometimes with mild contempt, in referring to a woman SYN. MALE man´nish·ly •adv. man´nish·ness •n.

mannite (mæn´ait') •n. MANNITOL man·nit·ic (mэ nit´ik) •adj. [MANN(A) + -ITE²]

mannitol (mæn´э töl', -toul') •n. a colorless, crystalline sugar alcohol, C6H8(OH)6, occurring in various plants and animals [< prec. + -OL¹]

mannose (mæn´ous') •n. a monosaccharide found in some plants and produced by the oxidation of mannitol [< prec. + -OSE²]

mano a mano (mä´nou э mä´nou; Sp mä´nô ä mä´nô) 1 in or into direct, personal confrontation 2 a duel or other confrontation between two individuals [Sp, lit., hand to hand]

manoeuvre (mэ nu:´vэr, -nyu:´-) -vred, -vring •n., vi., vt. chiefly Brit., etc. sp. of MANEUVER

man-of-war (mæn'эv wör´, -э wör´) pl. men'-of-war´ •n. an armed naval vessel; warship

man-of-war bird FRIGATE BIRD

manometer (mэ näm´эt эr) •n. an instrument for measuring the pressure of gases or liquids man·o·met·ric (mæn'э met´rik) or man'o·met´ri·cal •adj. [Fr manomètre: coined (1705) by P. Varignon (1654-1722), Fr mathematician < Gr manos, rare (taken in sense thin, sparse) + Fr -mètre, -METER]

manor (mæn´эr) •n. 1 in England a) in feudal times, the district over which a lord held authority and which was subject to the jurisdiction of his court b) more recently, a landed estate, usually with a main residence, the owner of which still holds some feudal rights over the land 2 in America during colonial times, a district granted as a manor and leased to tenants at a set rental 3 a) a mansion b) the main residence on an estate or plantation c) a lord's mansion with its land ma·no·ri·al (mэ nör´i: эl) •adj. [ME maner < OFr manoir < manoir, to stay, dwell < L manere, to remain < IE base *men-, to remain (> Sans man-, to delay, stand still), prob. orig. identical with *men-, to think (> MIND): sense prob. from stand in thought]

manor house the house of the lord of a manor

manpower (mæn´pau'эr) •n. 1 power furnished by human physical strength 2 the collective strength or availability for work of the people in any given area, nation, etc. Also man power

manqué (mäñ kei´) •adj. 1 that falls short of the goal; unsuccessful or defective 2 potential but unrealized; would-be: placed after the noun it modifies [a scholar manqué] man·quée´ (-kei´) •adj.fem. [Fr < pp. manquer, to fail, be lacking < It mancare < manco, deficient < L mancus, infirm, defective < base of manus, hand: see MANUAL]

manrope (mæn´roup') •n. Naut. a rope serving as a handrail along a gangway, ladder, etc.

mansard (roof) (mæn´särd) a roof with two slopes on each of the four sides, the lower steeper than the upper [Fr mansarde, after F. Mansard (1598-1666), Fr architect, who revived the use of such roofs]

manse (mæns) •n. 1 the residence of a minister, esp. a Presbyterian minister; parsonage 2 [Archaic] a large, imposing house; mansion [LME manss < ML mansus (or mansum, mansa), a dwelling < pp. of L manere, to remain, dwell: see MANOR]

manservant (mæn´sør'vэnt) pl. men·ser·vants (men´sør'vэnts) a male servant: also man servant •n.

Mansfield (mæns´fi:ld'), Katherine (born Kathleen Mansfield Beauchamp) 1888-1923; Brit. short-story writer, born in New Zealand Mansfield (mænz´fi:ld', mæns´-) 1 city in Nottinghamshire, NC England: pop. 58,000 2 city in NC Ohio: pop. 51,000 [after J. Mansfield (1759-1830), surveyor]

-manship (mэn ship) combining form talent or skill (esp. in gaining advantage) in connection with: used freely in nonce words {grantsmanship, quotesmanship} [< (GAMES)MANSHIP]

mansion (mæn´shэn) •n. 1 a manor house 2 a large, imposing house; stately residence 3 [Archaic] a) a dwelling place b) a separate dwelling place or lodging in a large house or structure: usually used in pl. 4 [pl.] [Brit.] an apartment house 5 [Obs.] a stay; sojourn 6 Astrol. a) HOUSE n. 11) b) any of the 28 parts of the moon's course occupied on successive days [ME mansioun < OFr mansion < L mansio, a sojourn, dwelling < pp. of manere, to remain, dwell: see MANOR]

man-sized (mæn´saizd') •adj. [Colloq.] of a size fit for a man; large; big: also man´-size'

manslaughter (-slöt'эr) •n. the killing of a human being by another; esp., such killing when unlawful but without malice: see also MURDER, HOMICIDE

mansuetude (mæn´swi tu:d', -tyu:d') •n. gentleness; tameness [ME < L mansuetudo < pp. of mansuescere, to tame < manus, a hand (see MANUAL) + suescere, to accustom < IE base *swedh-, custom > Gr ēthos]

Mansur (mæn sur´) c. A.D. 712-775; Arab caliph (754-775): founder of Baghdad: also al-Mansur (æl'-)

Mansura (mæn su:r´э) city in N Egypt, on the Nile delta: pop. 256,000

manta (mæn´tэ; Sp män´tä) •n. Æ 1 a) coarse cotton cloth used for cheap shawls, capes, etc. in Spanish America b) a shawl, cape, etc. made of this Æ 2 a horse blanket or horse cloth 3 any of a family (Mobulidae, order Myliobatiformes) of usually giant rays with winglike pectoral fins, living near the surface of warm seas while feeding on plankton or small fish; devilfish: also manta ray [Sp < LL mantum, a cloak, prob. back-form. < L mantellum: see MANTLE]

manteau (mæn´tou'; Fr mäñ tou´) pl. -teaus or Fr. -teaux´ (-tou´) •n. [Obs.] cloak or mantle, esp. one worn by a woman [Fr < OFr mantel: see MANTLE]

Mantegna (män te´nyä), An·dre·a (än dře´ä) 1431-1506; It. painter & engraver

mantel (mæn´tэl, mænt´ªl) •n. 1 the facing of stone, marble, etc. about a fireplace, including a projecting shelf or slab above it 2 the shelf or slab [var. of MANTLE]

mantelet (mænt´ªl it, mænt´lit) •n. 1 a short mantle, cape, or cloak 2 a protective shelter or screen; esp., a) a movable roof or screen formerly used to protect besiegers from the enemy b) any of various bulletproof shields or screens [OFr, dim. of mantel: see MANTLE]

mantelletta (mæn'tэ let´э, mænt'ªl et´э) •n. R.C.Ch. a sleeveless vestment worn by cardinals, bishops, etc. [It, dim. < mantello < L mantellum: see MANTLE]

mantelpiece (mæn´tэl pi:s', mænt´ªl-) •n. the projecting shelf of a mantel, or this shelf and the side elements framing the fireplace in front

manteltree (-tri:) •n. 1 a beam, stone, or arch above the opening of a fireplace, supporting the masonry above 2 [Archaic] MANTELPIECE

mantic (mæn´tik) •adj. of, or having powers of, divination; prophetic [Gr mantikos < mantis, seer, soothsayer: see MANTIS]

-mantic (mæn´tik) combining form forming adjectives of or relating to divination [< Gr mantikos: see MANTIC]

mantilla (mæn til´э, -ti:´э) •n. 1 a woman's scarf, as of lace, worn over the hair and shoulders, as in Spain, Mexico, etc. 2 a short mantle, cape, or cloak [Sp, dim. of manta: see MANTA]

mantis (mæn´tis) pl. -tis·es or -tes' (-ti:z') •n. any of an order (Mantodea) of slender, elongated insects that feed on other insects and grasp their prey with stout, spiny forelegs often held up together as if praying: see PRAYING MANTIS, illus. [ModL < Gr, prophet, seer, kind of insect < IE base *men-, to think > MIND]

mantis shrimp STOMATOPOD

mantissa (mæn tis´э) •n. the decimal part of a logarithm to base 10 as distinguished from the integral part (called the characteristic) {.7193 is the mantissa of the logarithm 4.7193} [L, (useless) addition, makeweight, gain, ? via Etr < Celt: ? so named because it supplements the integral]

mantle (mæn´tэl, mænt´ªl) •n. 1 a loose, sleeveless cloak or cape: sometimes used figuratively, in allusion to royal robes of state, as a symbol of authority or responsibility 2 anything that cloaks, envelops, covers, or conceals {hidden under the mantle of night} 3 a small meshwork hood made of a noncombustible substance, such as a thorium or cerium compound, which when placed over a flame, as in a lantern, gives off a brilliant incandescent light 4 the outer wall and casing of a blast furnace, above the hearth 5 MANTEL 6 Anat. old term for the cortex of the cerebrum 7 Geol. a) the layer of the earth's interior between the crust and the core b) MANTLEROCK 8 Zool. a) a major part of a mollusk or similar organism consisting of a sheet of epithelial tissue with muscular, neural, and glandular elements: it covers the viscera and foot under the shell of univalve or bivalve mollusks, secretes the shell, and forms the body of cephalopods b) the soft outer body wall of a tunicate or barnacle c) the plumage on the back and folded wings of certain birds when it is all the same color •vt. -tled, -tling to cover with or as with a mantle; envelop; cloak; conceal •vi. 1 to be or become covered, as a surface with scum or froth 2 to spread like a mantle, as a blush over the face 3 to blush or flush 4 Falconry to spread first one wing, then the other, over the outstretched legs: said of a perched hawk [ME mantel < OE mentel & OFr mantel, both < L mantellum, mantelum, a cloth, napkin, cloak, mantle < ? Celt]

mantlerock (-räk') •n. the loose, unconsolidated material, residual or transported, that rests on the solid rock of the earth's crust

mantlet (mænt´lit) •n. MANTELET (sense 2)

Mantoux test (mæn tu:´, mæn´tu:') a test for present or past tuberculosis, in which a small amount of protein from tuberculosis bacteria is injected into the skin [after C. Mantoux (1877-1947), Fr physician]

mantra (mæn´trэ, män´-, mûn´-) •n. Hinduism a hymn or portion of text, esp. from the Veda, chanted or intoned as an incantation or prayer [Sans, akin to mantár-, thinker: see MANDARIN]

Mantua (mæn´chu wэ, -tu wэ) commune in Lombardy, N Italy: birthplace of Virgil: pop. 62,000: It. name Man·to·va (män´tô vä) Man´tu·an •adj., n. mantua (mæn´tyu: э, -tu: wэ) •n. a mantle or loose gown or cloak formerly worn by women [altered (after fol.) < Fr manteau < OFr mantel, MANTLE]

manual (mæn´yu: эl) •adj. 1 a) of or having to do with a hand or the hands b) made, done, worked, or used by the hands c) involving or doing hard physical work that requires use of the hands 2 without electrical or other power {a manual typewriter} •n. [ME manuele < ML manuale, manual, service book < LL, case or covering for a book < L manualis: see adj.] 1 a handy book of facts, instructions, etc. for use as a guide or reference; handbook 2 any of the separate keyboards of an organ console or harpsichord 3 prescribed drill in the handling of a weapon, esp. a rifle: also manual of arms man´u·al·ly •adv. [ME manuel < OFr < L manualis < manus, a hand < IE *mð-n-és (akin to *mntos > Gmc *mund- > ON & OE mund, a hand) < base < *mðr-, *mðn-, hand]

manual alphabet a system of communication for deaf persons in which positions of the fingers indicate the letters of the alphabet