minify (min´i fai') -fied', -fy'ing •vt. [Rare] to make or make seem smaller or less important min'i·fi·ca´tion •n. [< L minor, less, by assoc. with MAGNIFY]
minikin (min´i kin) •n. 1 [Obs.] a darling 2 [Rare] anything very small and delicate •adj. [Archaic] 1 diminutive 2 affected [MDu minneken, dim. of minne, love: see MINNESINGER & -KIN]
minim (min´im) •n. 1 the smallest liquid measure, equal to 1/60 fluid dram, or about a drop 2 a tiny portion 3 [Chiefly Brit.] HALF NOTE •adj. smallest; tiniest [ME mynym (in sense 3) < L minimus, least: see MINIMUM]
minima (min´i mэ) •n. alt. pl. of MINIMUM
minimal (min´i mэl) •adj. 1 smallest or least possible; of or constituting a minimum 2 of or having to do with minimalism or minimal art min´i·mal·ly •adv.
minimal art [often M- A-] art based on MINIMALISM (sense 2)
minimalism (min´i mэl iz'эm) •n. 1 action of a minimal or conservative kind 2 a movement in art, dance, music, etc., beginning in the 1960's, in which only the simplest design, structure, forms, etc. are used, often repetitiously, and the artist's individuality is minimized min´i·mal·ist •adj., n.
minimize (min´э maiz') -mized', -miz'ing •vt. 1 to reduce to a minimum; decrease to the least possible amount, degree, etc. 2 to estimate or make appear to be of the least possible amount, value, or importance SYN. DISPARAGE min'i·mi·za´tion •n. min´i·miz'er •n.
minimum (-mэm) pl. -mums or -ma (-mэ) •n. 1 the smallest quantity, number, or degree possible or permissible 2 the lowest degree or point (of a varying quantity, as temperature) reached or recorded; lowest limit of variation 3 Math. the smallest of a specified set of real numbers •adj. 1 smallest possible, permissible, or reached 2 of, marking, or setting a minimum or minimums [L, neut. of minimus, least, superl. < base of minor, MINOR]
minimum wage 1 a wage set by contract or by law as the lowest that may be paid to employees doing a specified job 2 LIVING WAGE
mining (main´iŋ) •n. 1 the act, process, or work of removing ores, coal, etc. from a mine 2 the act or process of laying explosive mines
minion¹ (min´yэn) •n. 1 a favorite, esp. one who is a fawning, servile follower: term of contempt 2 a subordinate official, deputy, or the like 3 [Obs.] a mistress or paramour •adj. [Rare] delicate, dainty, etc. [Fr mignon, favorite, darling: see MIGNON]
minion² (min´yэn) •n. MINYAN
miniscule (min´i skyu:l') •adj. erroneous sp. of MINUSCULE
miniseries or mini-series (min´i: sir'i:z) pl. -ries •n. a TV drama or docudrama broadcast serially in a limited number of episodes
minish (min´ish) •vt., vi. [Archaic] to make or become less; diminish [ME minusschen < OFr menuisier, to lessen, make small < VL *minutiare < L minutus, MINUTE²]
miniskirt (min´i: skørt') •n. a very short skirt ending well above the knee [MINI- + SKIRT]
ministate (min´i: steit') •n. a small country
minister (min´is tэr) •n. 1 a person acting for another as agent and carrying out given orders or designs; specif., a) a person appointed by the head of a government to take charge of some department b) a diplomatic officer sent to a foreign nation to represent his or her government, usually ranking below an ambassador 2 a) anyone authorized to carry out or assist in the spiritual functions of a church b) an ordained member of a Protestant church; esp., a pastor 3 the superior of certain Roman Catholic religious orders 4 a person or thing thought of as serving as the agent of some power, force, etc. {a minister of evil} •vt. [Archaic] [ME ministren < OFr ministrer < L ministrare] 1 to supply; provide 2 to administer •vi. 1 to serve as a minister in a church 2 to give help (to) [OFr ministre < L minister, an attendant, servant, in LL(Ec), Christian preacher < base of L minor, MINOR: formed prob. after magister, MASTER]
minister plenipotentiary pl. ministers plenipotentiary a diplomatic representative with full authority to negotiate
ministerial (min'is tir´i: эl) •adj. 1 of ministry, a minister, or ministers collectively 2 serving as a minister, or agent; subordinate 3 a) having the nature of or characteristic of the administrative functions of government; executive b) designating or of an administrative act carried out in a prescribed manner not allowing for personal discretion 4 being a cause; instrumental min'is·te´ri·al·ly •adv. [Fr ministériel < LL ministerialis]
ministerialist (-ist) •n. [Brit.] a supporter of the government ministry in office
ministrant (min´is trэnt) •adj. serving as a minister •n. a person who ministers, or serves [L ministrans, prp.: see MINISTER, vt.]
ministration (min'is trei´shэn) •n. 1 MINISTRY (sense 2a) 2 administration, as of a sacrament 3 the act or an instance of giving help or care; service min´is·tra'tive •adj. [ME ministracion < L ministratio < pp. of ministrare, to MINISTER]
ministry (min´is tri:) pl. -tries •n. 1 a) the act of ministering, or serving; ministration b) that which serves as a means; agency 2 a) the office, function, tenure, or service of a minister of religion b) ministers of religion collectively; clergy 3 a) the department under a minister of government b) the term of office of such a minister c) the building or buildings of such a department d) the ministers of a particular government as a group [ME mynysterie < L ministerium < minister, MINISTER]
minitrack (min´i træk') •n. a system for tracking artificial orbiting satellites by means of signals received from miniature transmitters in the satellites
minium (min´i: эm) •n. 1 the color vermilion 2 RED LEAD [L, of Iberian orig., as in Basque armineá]
minivan (min´i: væn') •n. a passenger vehicle like a van but smaller and with windows all around, from which the rear seats can be removed in order to haul larger articles: also min´i-van' [MINI- + VAN³]
miniver (min´э vэr) •n. a white fur used for trimming garments, esp. ceremonial robes, as of royalty [ME menyuere < OFr menu ver, miniver < menu, small (see MENU) < vair, VAIR]
mink (miŋk) pl. minks or mink •n. 1 any of several slim, erminelike musteline carnivores with partly webbed feet; esp., a common dark-brown North American species (Mustela vison) living in water part of the time 2 its valuable fur, soft, thick, and white to brown in color [LME minke < Scand, as in Swed menk]
minke whale (miŋ´kэ) a small, swift rorqual whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) with a dark body and a light belly
Minn Minnesota
Minneapolis (min'i: æp´эl is) city in E Minn., on the Mississippi, adjacent to St. Paul: pop. 368,000 (met. area with St. Paul 2,464,000) [after nearby Minnehaha Falls (< Dakota mní, water + xaxa, waterfall) + Gr polis, city]
minnesinger (min´i siŋ'эr) •n. any of a number of German lyric poets and singers of the 12th to the 14th cent. [Ger, altered (< singer < singen, SING) < MHG minnesenger < minne, love < OHG minna, orig., loving recollection (for IE base see MIND) + MHG senger, a singer < OHG sangari < sang, SONG + -ari, -ER]
Minnesota (min'э sout´э) Middle Western State of the U.S., adjoining the Canadian border: admitted, 1858; 84,068 sq. mi. (217,736 sq. km); pop. 4,375,000; cap. St. Paul: abbrev. MN or Minn Min'ne·so´tan •adj., n. [< Dakota mnísóta, Minnesota River, lit., whitish (cloudy or milky) water]
Minnewit (min´э wit), Peter alt. sp. of Peter MINUIT
minnow (min´ou) pl. -nows or -now •n. 1 any of various, usually small, freshwater cyprinoid fishes used commonly as bait 2 any very small fish Also [Colloq. or Dial.] min´ny (-i:), pl. -nies [ME menow < or akin to OE myne, akin to OHG muniwa, prob. < IE base *meni-, a kind of fish > Gr mainē, Russ men', eelpout]
Minoan (mi nou´эn, mai-) •adj. designating or of a Bronze Age culture that flourished in Crete from c. 3000-c. 1100 B.C. [< MINOS + -AN]
minor (mai´nэr) •adj. 1 a) lesser in size, amount, number, or extent b) lesser in importance or rank 2 under full legal age (usually either eighteen or twenty-one years) 3 [Archaic] constituting the minority: said of a party, etc. 4 sad; melancholy; plaintive: from the identification in Occidental music of the minor key with such qualities Æ 5 Educ. designating or of a field of study in which students specialize, but less so than in their major 6 Music a) designating an imperfect interval smaller than the corresponding major interval by a semitone b) characterized by minor intervals, scales, etc. {the minor key} c) designating a triad having a minor third d) based on the scale pattern of the minor mode (see MINOR SCALE) •vi. Æ Educ. to make some subject one's minor field of study {to minor in art} •n. 1 a person under full legal age, who has not yet acquired all civil rights Æ 2 Educ. a minor subject or field of study 3 Music a minor interval, key, etc. Æ the minors the minor leagues, esp. in baseball [ME menour < L minor < IE *minu-, small < base *mei-, to lessen > Gr meiōn, less, ON minni, smaller]
minor league any league in a professional sport other than the major leagues mi·nor-league (mai´nэr li:g´) •adj.
minor mode a progression, phrase, section, or composition of music predominantly using the intervals of the minor scale
minor orders [Historical] R.C.Ch. four clerical ranks (porter, lector, exorcist, acolyte) conferred before the subdiaconate
minor planet ASTEROID
minor premise the premise (in a syllogism) that contains the minor term
Minor Prophets 1 the twelve relatively short books of prophecy in the Bible, from Hosea to Malachi 2 the writers of these books
minor scale Music any of the twelve diatonic scales distinguished from the major scale with the same keynote by a half step between the second and third tones
minor seminary R.C.Ch. a seminary offering usually a high school education and the first two years of college
minor suit Bridge diamonds or clubs: so called from their lower value in scoring
minor term the subject of the conclusion of a syllogism
Minorca (mi nör´kэ) 2d largest island of the Balearic Islands, east of Majorca: 264 sq. mi. (684 sq. km): Sp. name MENORCA •n. any of a breed of large chicken with black, white, or buff feathers
Minorite (mai´nэr ait') •n. a Franciscan friar [MINOR, adj. + -ITE¹: they regarded themselves as a humbler rank than members of other orders]
minority (mai nör´э ti:, mi-; -när´-) pl. -ties •n. 1 the lesser part or smaller number; less than half of a total 2 a group, party, or faction with a smaller number of votes or adherents than the majority 3 a racial, religious, ethnic, or political group smaller than and differing from the larger, controlling group in a community, nation, etc. 4 the period or condition of being under full legal age [ML minoritas < L minor, MINOR]
Minos (mai´näs') Gr. Myth. a king of Crete, son of Zeus by Europa: after he dies he becomes one of the three judges of the dead in the lower world: see also MINOTAUR [Gr Minōs]
Minotaur (min´э tör') Gr. Myth. a monster with the body of a man and the head of a bull (in some versions, with the body of a bull and the head of a man), confined by Minos in a labyrinth built by Daedalus, and annually fed seven youths and seven maidens from Athens, until killed by Theseus: see also PASIPHAË [ME Minotaure < L Minotaurus < Gr Minōtauros < Minōs, Minos + tauros, a bull, akin to L taurus: see TAURUS]
Minsk (minsk) capital of Belarus, in the central part: pop. 1,472,000
minster (min´stэr) •n. any of various large churches or cathedrals: now chiefly in compounds {Westminster} [ME mynstre < OE mynster < LL(Ec) monasterium, MONASTERY]
minstrel (min´strэl) •n. 1 any of a medieval class of entertainers who traveled from place to place: known esp. for singing and reciting to musical accompaniment 2 [Old Poet.] a poet, singer, or musician Æ 3 a performer in a minstrel show [ME menestrel < OFr, minstrel, servant, orig., official < LL ministerialis, imperial officer < L ministerium, MINISTRY]
minstrel show a comic variety show presented by a company of performers in blackface, who sing songs, tell jokes, etc. [after the Christy Minstrels, the first such troupe, organized (c. 1842) by Edwin P. Christy at BUFFALO]
minstrelsy (-si:) pl. -sies •n. 1 the art or occupation of a minstrel 2 a group of minstrels 3 a collection of minstrels' ballads or songs [ME menestralcie < OFr menestralsie]
mint jelly (or sauce) a jelly (or sauce) flavored with mint leaves, served esp. with lamb
mint julep a frosted drink consisting of bourbon or brandy, sugar, and mint leaves in a tall glass packed with crushed ice
mint¹ (mint) •n. 1 a) a place where money is coined by authority of the government b) [M-] a government bureau in charge of this 2 an apparently unlimited supply; large amount {a mint of ideas} 3 a source of manufacture or invention •adj. new or in its original condition, as if freshly minted {a postage stamp in mint condition} •vt. 1 to coin (money) by stamping metal 2 to invent or create; fabricate mint´er •n. [ME mynt < OE mynet, coin, akin to OHG munizza < Gmc *munita < L moneta, place for coining money < Moneta, epithet of JUNO, in whose temple at Rome money was coined]
mint² (mint) •n. 1 any of various aromatic plants of the mint family, esp. any of a genus (Mentha) whose leaves are used for flavoring and in medicine 2 any of various candies flavored with mint •adj. designating a family (Lamiaceae, order Lamiales) of dicotyledonous plants with fragrant foliage, volatile oil, and square stems, including spearmint, peppermint, basil, and bergamot [ME mynte < OE minte, akin to OHG minza < WGmc *minta < L menta < or akin to Gr mintha]
mintage (mint´ij) •n. 1 the act or process of minting money 2 the act of inventing or making 3 money produced in a mint 4 the cost of minting money 5 the impression made on a coin
minty (mint´i:) mint´i·er, mint´i·est •adj. having the smell or taste of mint
minuend (min´yu: end') •n. Arith. the number or quantity from which another (the subtrahend) is to be subtracted [L minuendum, to be diminished, neut. ger. of minuere: see MINUTE²]
minuet (min'yu: et´) •n. 1 a slow, stately dance for groups of couples, introduced in France in the 17th cent. 2 the music for this, in ¾ time: often a movement of certain musical compositions [Fr menuet, orig., minute, tiny < OFr < menu (see MENU): from the small steps taken]
Minuit (min´yu: it), Peter c. 1580-1638; 1st Du. director of New Netherland (1626-31)
minus (main´эs) •prep. 1 reduced by the subtraction of; less {four minus two} 2 [Colloq.] without; lacking {minus a toe} •adj. 1 indicating or involving subtraction {a minus sign} 2 negative {a minus quantity} 3 somewhat less than {a grade of A minus} 4 Bot. designating one of two strains of certain fungi and algae which only mate with the opposite (plus) strain Æ 5 Elec. NEGATIVE •n. 1 a minus sign 2 a negative quantity [LME < L, less, neut. sing. of minor, MINOR]
minus sign Math. a sign (-), indicating subtraction or negative quantity
minuscule (mi nûs´kyu:l', min´i skyu:l') •n. 1 a small cursive script developed from the uncial and used in medieval manuscripts 2 a letter in this script 3 any small, or lower-case, letter •adj. 1 of, in, like, or having the nature of minuscules 2 very small; tiny; minute Cf. MAJUSCULE mi·nus´cu·lar •adj. [Fr < L minusculus, rather small, dim. < minor: see MINOR]
minute gun a cannon firing at intervals of a minute, as a distress signal or as part of a funeral ceremony
minute hand the longer hand of a clock or watch, which indicates the minutes and moves around the dial once every hour
minute steak (min´it) a small, thin steak that can be cooked quickly
minute¹ (min´it) •n. 1 the sixtieth part of any of certain units; specif., a) ¹/60 of an hour; sixty seconds b) ¹/60 of a degree of an arc; sixty seconds (symbol, ') 2 a very short period of time; moment; instant 3 a specific point in time 4 a measure of the distance usually covered in a minute {five minutes from downtown} 5 a) a note or memorandum b) [pl.] an official record of what was said and done at a meeting, convention, etc. •vt. -ut·ed, -ut·ing 1 to time to the minute 2 a) to make a minute, or memorandum, of; record b) to put in the minutes of a meeting, etc. the minute (that) just as soon as up to the minute in the latest style, fashion, etc. [OFr < ML minuta < L (pars) minuta (prima), (first) small (part), term used by Ptolemy for the sixtieth part of a unit in his system of fractions (of the circle, radius, day, later applied also to the hour): see MINUTE2]
minute² (mai nu:t´, -nyu:t´; mi-) •adj. 1 very small; tiny 2 of little importance or significance; petty; trifling 3 of, characterized by, or attentive to tiny details; exact; precise SYN. SMALL mi·nute´ness •n. [ME < L minutus, little, small, pp. of minuere, to lessen, diminish < minor: see MINOR]
minutely¹ (min´it li:) •adj. 1 occurring at intervals of a minute 2 occurring very often or continually •adv. 1 every minute 2 often or continually
minutely² (mai nu:t´li:, -nyu:t´-; mi-) •adv. 1 in a minute manner or in minute detail 2 into tiny pieces
minuteman (min´it mæn') pl. -men' (-men') •n. [also M-] any of the members of the American citizen army at the time of the Revolution who volunteered to be ready for military service at a minute's notice
minutiae (mi nu:´shi: i:', -nyu:´-; -shi: ai') sing. -ti·a (-shi: э, -shэ) •n.pl. small or relatively unimportant details [L, pl. of minutia, smallness < minutus, MINUTE²]
minx (miŋks) •n. a pert, saucy girl or young woman [Early ModE < ? LowG minsk, female servant, hussy, person, akin to Ger mensch: see MENSCH]
Minya (min´yэ), Al (æl) city in central Egypt, on the Nile: pop. 147,000
minyan (min´yэn, min yän´) pl. min'ya·nim´ (-yä ni:m´) •n.or min´yans a properly constituted group for a public Jewish prayer service, made up of at least ten Jewish males (in some congregations, males or females) over thirteen years of age [MHeb minyan < TalmudHeb, orig., number, quantity < root mnh, to number, count]
Miocene (mai´ou si:n', mai´э-) •adj. designating or of the fourth epoch of the Tertiary Period in the Cenozoic Era, marked by the evolution of many mammals of relatively modern form the Miocene the Miocene Epoch or its rocks: see GEOLOGY, chart [< Gr meiōn, less (see MINOR) + -CENE]
miosis (mai ou´sis) pl. -ses' (-si:z') •n. contraction of the pupil of the eye mi·ot´ic (-ät´ik) •adj., n. [ModL < Gr myein, to close (< IE base *mu-: see MUTE) + -OSIS]
MIPS (mips) •n. million instructions per second: used to describe the speed of a computer's central processing unit chip
Miquelon (mik'э län´; Fr mi: klouñ´) island in the Atlantic, off the S coast of Newfoundland: part of the French overseas territory of St. Pierre and Miquelon: 83 sq. mi. (215 sq. km)
mir (mir) •n. in czarist Russia, a village community of peasant farmers [Russ, lit., world] MIr Middle Irish
Mirabeau (mir´э bou'; Fr mi: řå bou´), Comte (Honoré Gabriel Riqueti) de 1749-91; Fr. revolutionist, orator, & statesman
mirabelle (mir'э bel´, mir´э bel') •n. 1 a European variety of plum tree 2 its sweet, small, golden fruit 3 a brandy made from these fruits [Fr, altered < L myrobalanum, fruit of a kind of palm tree < Gr myrobalanan < myron, unguent, perfume + balanos, acorn, date]
mirabile dictu (mi rä´bi: lei' dik´tu:') wonderful to tell [L]
miracle (mir´э kэl) •n. 1 an event or action that apparently contradicts known scientific laws and is hence thought to be due to supernatural causes, esp. to an act of God 2 a remarkable event or thing; marvel 3 a wonderful example {a miracle of tact} 4 MIRACLE PLAY [OFr < L miraculum, a strange thing, in LL(Ec), miracle < mirari, to wonder at < mirus, wonderful < IE base *(s)mei-, to SMILE]
miracle play any of a class of medieval religious dramas dealing with events in the lives of the saints: cf. MYSTERY PLAY
miraculous (mi ræk´yu: lэs, -yэ-) •adj. 1 having the nature of a miracle; supernatural 2 like a miracle; wonderful; marvelous 3 able to work miracles mi·rac´u·lous·ly •adv. mi·rac´u·lous·ness •n. [MFr miraculeux < ML miraculosus < L miraculum]
mirador (mir'э dör´, mir´э dör') •n. a balcony, turret, etc. that affords a fine view [Sp < mirar, to observe < L mirare, to wonder at, akin to mirari: see MIRACLE]
mirage (mi räzh´) •n. 1 an optical illusion in which the image of a distant object, as a ship or an oasis, is made to appear nearby, floating in air, inverted, etc.: it is caused by the refraction of light rays from the object through layers of air having different densities as the result of unequal temperature distributions 2 something that falsely appears to be real SYN. DELUSION [Fr < (se) mirer, to be reflected < VL mirare, to look at, for L mirari: see MIRACLE]
Miranda (mэ ræn´dэ) a feminine name: dim. Mandy Æ adj. designating, of, or ensuring the legal rights of an arrested person (as that of remaining silent or of being represented by counsel), of which such a person must be informed, according to the decision in a 1966 Supreme Court case [after the surname of the defendant in the case] [L, fem. of mirandus, strange, wonderful < mirari: see MIRACLE]
mire (mair) •n. 1 an area of wet, soggy ground; bog 2 deep mud; wet, soggy earth; slush •vt. mired, mir´ing 1 to cause to get stuck in or as in mire 2 to soil or splatter with mud or dirt •vi. to sink or stick in mud [ME < ON myrr, akin to mosi, MOSS]
mirex (mai´reks') •n. an insecticide consisting of a chlorinated hydrocarbon, C10Cl12, usually mixed with a bait and used esp. against fire ants [coined from initials of its three developers + -ex, arbitrary suffix (suggesting ME mire, ant: see PISMIRE & REX)]
Miriam (mir´i: эm) 1 a feminine name: see MARY 2 Bible the sister of Moses and Aaron: Ex. 15:20 [Heb miryām]
miriness (mair´i: nis) •n. a miry quality or condition
mirk (mørk) •n. alt. sp. of MURK mirk´y, mirk´i·er, mirk´i·est, •adj.
Miró (mi: rou´), Jo·an (zhu: än´, hwän) 1893-1983; Sp. painter
mirror (mir´эr) •n. 1 a smooth surface that reflects the images of objects; esp., a piece of glass coated on the reverse side as with silver or an amalgam; looking glass 2 anything that gives a true representation or description 3 [Rare] something to be imitated or emulated; model 4 [Archaic] a crystal used by fortune-tellers, sorcerers, etc. •vt. to reflect, as in a mirror; give or show a likeness of [ME mirour < OFr mireor < VL *miratorium < mirare: see MIRAGE]
mirror image 1 an image or view of someone or something as seen in a mirror, i.e., with the right side as though it were the left, and vice versa 2 loosely, IMAGE (n. 3)
mirth (mørθ) •n. joyfulness, gaiety, or merriment, esp. when characterized by laughter [ME myrthe < OE myrgth, pleasure, joy < base of myrig, pleasant: see MERRY]
mirthful (-fэl) •adj. full of, expressing, or causing mirth; merry mirth´ful·ly •adv. mirth´ful·ness •n.
mirthless (-lis) •adj. without mirth; humorless; sad; melancholy mirth´less·ly •adv. mirth´less·ness •n.
MIRV (mørv) pl. MIRV's •n. 1 an intercontinental ballistic missile with several warheads, each of which can be directed to a different target or to the same target at intervals 2 any such warhead •vt. MIRVed, MIRV´ing to load (a missile) with such warheads MIRVed •adj. [m(ultiple) i(ndependently targeted) r(eentry) v(ehicle)]
miry (mair´i:) mir´i·er, mir´i·est •adj. 1 full of, or having the nature of, mire; swampy 2 covered with mire; muddy
mirza (mir´zä') •n. a Persian title of honor placed after the name of a royal prince or before the name of a high official, scholar, etc. [Pers mīrza, contr. < mīrzādah < mir, prince (< Ar amīr, ruler) + zādah, son of < zādan, to be born < IE base *gen-, to beget > GENUS]
mis-¹ (mis) prefix 1 wrong, wrongly, bad, badly {misdo, misdemeanor} 2 no, not {misfire} [ME < OE & OFr: OE mis-, akin to OHG missa-, Goth missa- (for IE base see MISS¹); OFr mes- < Frank *missi-, akin to OHG missa-]
mis-² (mis) combining form MISO-: used before a vowel
misadventure (mis'эd ven´chэr) •n. an unlucky accident; mishap; an instance of bad luck [ME mesaventure < OFr: see MIS-¹ & ADVENTURE]
misadvise (-эd vaiz´) -vised´, -vis´ing •vt. to advise badly mis'ad·vice´ (-vais´) •n.
misalignment (-э lain´mэnt) •n. a condition of being badly or improperly aligned mis'a·ligned´ •adj.
misalliance (-э lai´эns) •n. an improper alliance; esp., an unsuitable marriage [after Fr mésalliance]
misally (-lai´) -lied´, -ly´ing •vt. to ally unsuitably or inappropriately
misandry (mis´æn'dri:) •n. [Rare] hatred of men [MIS-¹ + -andry (see POLYANDRY): modeled on MISOGYNY]
misanthrope (mis´эn θroup'; also miz´-) •n. a person who hates or distrusts all people: also mis·an·thro·pist (mis æn´θrэ pist; also mi zæn´-) [Gr misanthrōpos, hating mankind < misein, to hate + anthrōpos, a man: see ANTHROPO-]
misanthropic (mis'эn θräp´ik; also miz'эn-) •adj. of or like a misanthrope: also mis'an·throp´i·cal SYN. CYNICAL mis'an·throp´i·cal·ly •adv.
misanthropy (mis æn´θrэ pi:; also mi zæn´-) •n. hatred or distrust of all people [Gr misanthrōpia]
misapply (mis'э plai´) -plied´, -ply´ing •vt. 1 to use badly, incorrectly, or wastefully {to misapply one's energies} 2 to handle dishonestly or illegally {to misapply an employer's money} mis'ap·pli·ca´tion (-æp li kei´shэn) •n.
misapprehend (-æp ri: hend´) •vt. to fail to apprehend correctly; misunderstand mis'ap·pre·hen´sion (-hen´shэn) •n.
misappropriate (mis'э prou´pri: eit') -at'ed, -at'ing •vt. to appropriate to a bad, incorrect, or dishonest use mis'ap·pro'pri·a´tion •n.
misarrange (-э reinj´) -ranged´, -rang´ing •vt. to arrange wrongly or improperly mis'ar·range´ment •n.
misbecome (-bi: kûm´) -came´, -come´, -com´ing •vt. to be unbecoming to; be unsuitable or unfit for
misbegotten (-bi: gät´ªn) •adj. 1 wrongly or unlawfully begotten; specif., born out of wedlock: also mis'be·got´ 2 wrongly or badly conceived {misbegotten rules}
misbehave (-bi: heiv´) -haved´, -hav´ing •vi. to behave wrongly •vt. to conduct (oneself) improperly mis'be·hav´er •n. mis'be·hav´ior (-yэr) •n.
misbelieve (-bi: li:v´) -lieved´, -liev´ing •vi. [Archaic] to hold unorthodox or heretical beliefs or opinions, esp. in religion mis'be·lief´ •n. mis'be·liev´er •n.
misbrand (mis brænd´) •vt. to brand or label improperly
misc 1 miscellaneous 2 miscellany
miscalculate (mis kæl´kyu: leit', -kyэ-) -lat'ed, -lat'ing •vt., vi. to calculate incorrectly; miscount or misjudge mis'cal·cu·la´tion •n.
miscall (-köl´) •vt. to call by a wrong name; misname
miscarriage (mis kær´ij, mis´kær'-) •n. 1 failure to carry out what was intended {a miscarriage of justice} 2 failure of mail, freight, etc. to reach its destination 3 the natural expulsion of an embryo or fetus from the womb before it is sufficiently developed to survive: see ABORTION
miscarry (-kær´i:) -ried, -ry·ing •vi. 1 a) to go wrong; fail: said of a plan, project, etc. b) to go astray; fail to arrive: said of mail, freight, etc. 2 to have a MISCARRIAGE (sense 3)
miscast (-kæst´) -cast´, -cast´ing •vt. 1 to cast (an actor) in an unsuitable role 2 to cast (a play) with actors unsuited to their roles
miscegenation (mis'i jэ nei´shэn, mi sej'э-) •n. marriage or sexual relations between a man and woman of different races, esp., in the U.S., between a white and a black [coined (c. 1863) < L miscere, MIX + genus, race (see GENUS) + -ATION]
miscellanea (mis'э lei´ni: э) •n.pl. [often with sing. v.] a miscellaneous collection, esp. of literary works; miscellany [L, neut. pl.: see MISCELLANEOUS]
miscellaneous (mis'э lei´ni: эs) •adj. 1 consisting or formed of various kinds; varied; mixed {a box of miscellaneous candies} 2 having various qualities, abilities, etc.; many-sided mis'cel·la´ne·ous·ly •adv. mis'cel·la´ne·ous·ness •n. [L miscellaneus < miscellus, mixed < miscere, MIX]
miscellany (mis´э lei'ni:; Brit mi sel´э ni:) pl. -nies •n. 1 a miscellaneous collection, esp. of literary works 2 [often pl.] such a collection of writings, as in a book [< Fr miscellanées, pl. < L miscellanea, neut. pl. of miscellaneus: see MISCELLANEOUS]
misch metal (mish) an alloy consisting of various rare-earth metals, esp. cerium and lanthanum, used in lighter flints, vacuum tubes, etc.
mischance (mis chæns´, mis´chæns') •n. 1 an unlucky accident; misadventure 2 bad luck or an instance of it [ME mescheance < OFr meschance: see MIS-¹ & CHANCE]
mischief (mis´chif) •n. 1 harm, damage, or injury, esp. that done by a person 2 a cause or source of harm, damage, or annoyance; specif., a) action or conduct that causes damage or trouble b) a person causing damage or annoyance 3 a tendency or disposition to annoy or vex with playful tricks 4 a) a troublesome or annoying act; prank; playful, vexing trick b) playful, harmless spirits; gay teasing [ME meschief < OFr < meschever, to come to grief < mes- (see MIS-¹) + chever, come to a head < chief, end, head (see CHIEF)]
mischief-maker (-meik'эr) •n. a person who causes mischief; esp., one who creates trouble by gossiping or talebearing mis´chief-mak'ing •n., adj.
mischievous (mis´chэ vэs) •adj. 1 causing mischief; specif., a) injurious; harmful b) prankish; teasing; full of tricks 2 inclined to annoy or vex with playful tricks; naughty: said esp. of a child mis´chie·vous·ly •adv. mis´chie·vous·ness •n. [ME mischevous < Anglo-Fr]
miscible (mis´э bэl) •adj. that can be mixed mis´ci·bil´i·ty •n. [ML miscibilis < L miscere, to MIX]
miscolor (mis'kûl´эr) •vt. 1 to give a wrong color to 2 to give a false account of; misrepresent
misconceive (mis'kэn si:v´) -ceived´, -ceiv´ing •vt., vi. to conceive wrongly; interpret incorrectly; misunderstand mis'con·cep´tion (-sep´shэn) •n.
misconduct (for v. mis'kэn dûkt´; for n. mis'kän´dûkt') •vt. 1 to manage badly or dishonestly 2 to conduct (oneself) improperly •n. 1 unlawful, bad, or dishonest management, esp. by a governmental or military official; specif., malfeasance 2 willfully improper behavior
misconstrue (mis'kэn stru:´) -strued´, -stru´ing •vt. to construe wrongly; misinterpret; misunderstand mis'con·struc´tion (-strûk´shэn) •n.
miscopy (mis käp´i:) -cop´ied, -cop´y·ing •vt., vi. to copy incorrectly
miscount (for v. mis'kaunt´, mis´kaunt'; for n. mis´kaunt') •vt., vi. to count incorrectly; miscalculate •n. an incorrect count, as of votes in an election
miscreant (mis´kri: эnt) •adj. 1 villainous; evil 2 [Archaic] unbelieving or heretical •n. 1 an evil person; criminal; villain 2 [Archaic] an unbeliever or heretic mis´cre·an·cy •n. [OFr, unbelieving < mes- (see MIS-¹) + creant, prp. of croire, to believe < L credere: see CREED]
miscreate (mis'kri: eit´) -at´ed, -at´ing •vt., vi. to create wrongly or improperly; form badly •adj. [Archaic] MISCREATED mis'cre·a´tion •n.
miscreated (-id) •adj. improperly formed; misshapen
miscue (mis´kyu:´, -kyu:') •n. 1 Billiards a faulty shot in which the tip of the cue slips off the ball 2 [Colloq.] a mistake; error •vi. -cued´, -cu´ing 1 to make a miscue 2 Theater to miss one's cue or answer the wrong cue
misdate (mis´deit´, -deit') -dat´ed, -dat´ing •vt. to put a wrong date on (a document, letter, etc.) or assign a wrong date to (an event); date incorrectly •n. a wrong date
misdeal (mis´di:l´, -di:l') -dealt´, -deal´ing •vt., vi. to deal (playing cards) incorrectly •n. an incorrect deal mis´deal´er •n.
misdeed (mis di:d´, mis´di:d') •n. a wrong or wicked act; crime, sin, etc.
misdemeanant (mis'di mi:n´эnt) •n. 1 a person who has misbehaved 2 Law a person guilty or convicted of a misdemeanor
misdemeanor (mis'di mi:n´эr) •n. 1 [Rare] the act of misbehaving 2 Law any minor offense, as the breaking of a municipal ordinance, for which statute provides a lesser punishment than for a felony: the penalty is usually a fine or imprisonment for a short time (usually less than one year) in a local jail, workhouse, etc.: Brit. sp. mis'de·mean´our [MIS-¹ + DEMEANOR]
misdiagnose (mis'dai'эg nous´, -dai´эg nous') -nosed´, -nos´ing •vt., vi. to make an incorrect diagnosis of (a disease, condition, etc.) mis'di'ag·no´sis (-nou´sis), pl. -ses, •n.
misdirect (mis'dэ rekt´) •vt. to direct wrongly or badly; specif., a) to aim (a blow, etc.) badly b) to address (a letter) incorrectly c) to give incorrect instructions to, esp. as a judge to a jury mis'di·rec´tion (-rek´shэn) •n.
misdo (mis du:´) -did´, -done´, -do´ing •vt. to do wrongly •vi. [Obs.] to do evil mis·do´er •n. mis·do´ing •n. [ME misdoen < OE misdon: see MIS-¹ & DO¹]
misdoubt (-daut´) •vt. [Archaic] 1 to have doubt or suspicion about; distrust 2 to fear •vi. [Archaic] to have doubts •n. [Archaic] suspicion; doubt
mise (mi:z, maiz) •n. 1 orig., an agreement or pact 2 Law the issue in a writ of right [LME < Anglo-Fr < OFr, a putting, placing (of expenses, etc.) mis, pp. of mettre, to put, lay < L mittere, to send: see MISSION]
mise en scène (mi: zäñ sen´) 1 a) the staging of a play, including the setting, arrangement of the actors, etc. b) the direction of a film, emphasizing the image created by setting, props, lighting, actors' movements, etc. 2 general surroundings; environment [Fr]
misease (mis i:z´) •n. 1 [Archaic] discomfort; distress 2 [Obs.] poverty [ME misese < OFr mesaise: see MIS-¹ & EASE]
misemploy (mis'эm ploi´) •vt. to employ, or use, wrongly or badly; misuse mis'em·ploy´ment •n.
miser (mai´zэr) •n. 1 a greedy, stingy person who hoards money for its own sake, even at the expense of personal comfort 2 [Obs.] a miserable person; wretch [L, wretched, unhappy, ill, worthless]
miserable (miz´эr э bэl; often miz´rэ-) •adj. 1 in a condition of misery; wretched, unhappy, suffering, etc. 2 causing misery, discomfort, or suffering {miserable weather} 3 bad; inferior; inadequate {a miserable performance} 4 pitiable 5 shameful; disgraceful •n. [Obs.] a miserable person mis´er·a·ble·ness •n. mis´er·a·bly •adv. [Fr misérable < L miserabilis, pitiable < miserari, to pity < miser, wretched]
Miserere (mi:'ze rer´ei') Bible the 51st Psalm, beginning, Have mercy upon me, O God •n. 1 a musical setting for this 2 [m-] MISERICORD (sense 1) [ME < LL(Ec), have mercy (imper. of L misereri, to feel pity < miser, wretched): first word of the psalm in the Vulg.]
misericord or misericorde (mi zэr´i körd'; also miz´эr i-) •n. 1 a narrow ledge on the underside of a hinged seat, as in a choir stall, designed to support a person standing at rest against the turned-up seat 2 a dagger used in the Middle Ages for giving the death stroke (coup de grâce) to a wounded knight [ME misericorde < OFr < L misericordia < misericors, merciful < base of misereri (see MISERERE) + cor, HEART]
miserly (mai´zэr li:) •adj. like or characteristic of a miser; greedy and stingy SYN. STINGY¹ mi´ser·li·ness •n.
misery (miz´эr i:) pl. -er·ies •n. 1 a condition of great wretchedness or suffering because of pain, sorrow, poverty, etc.; distress 2 a cause of such suffering; pain, sorrow, poverty, squalor, etc. 3 [Dial.] a pain (in some part of the body) [ME miserie < OFr < L miseria < miser, wretched]
misesteem (mis'e sti:m´) •vt. to fail to have the proper esteem for •n. a lack of proper esteem
misestimate (mis es´tэ meit'; for n., -mit) -mat'ed, -mat'ing •vt. to estimate incorrectly •n. an incorrect estimate mis·es'ti·ma´tion •n.
misfeasance (-fi:´zэns) •n. Law wrongdoing; specif., the doing of a lawful act in an unlawful or improper manner: distinguished from MALFEASANCE, NONFEASANCE mis·fea´sor (-zэr) •n. [OFr mesfaisance < mesfaire, to misdo: see MIS-¹ & FEASANCE]
misfile (mis'fail´, mis´fail') -filed´, -fil´ing •vt. to file (papers, etc.) in the wrong place or order
misfire (mis'fair´) -fired´, -fir´ing •vi. 1 to fail to ignite properly or at the right time: said of an internal-combustion engine 2 to fail to go off, or be discharged: said of a firearm, missile, etc. 3 to fail to achieve a desired effect •n. an act or instance of misfiring [MIS-¹ + FIRE, v.]
misfit (for v. mis´fit´, -fit'; for n. mis´fit') -fit´ted, -fit´ting •vt., vi. to fit badly •n. 1 the act or condition of misfitting 2 anything that misfits, as a badly fitting garment 3 a person not suited to a job, associates, etc.; maladjusted person
misfortune (mis'för´chэn) •n. 1 bad luck; ill fortune; trouble; adversity 2 an instance of this; unlucky accident; mishap; mischance SYN. AFFLICTION
misgive (mis'giv´) -gave´, -giv´en, -giv´ing •vt. to cause fear, doubt, or suspicion in: said usually of the heart, mind, conscience, etc. {his heart misgave him} •vi. to feel fear, doubt, suspicion, etc. [MIS-¹ + GIVE]
misgiving (-giv´iŋ) •n. [often pl.] a disturbed feeling of fear, doubt, apprehension, etc. SYN. QUALM [see MISGIVE]
misgovern (-gûv´эrn) •vt. to govern, administer, or manage badly mis'gov´ern·ment •n.
misguide (-gaid´) -guid´ed, -guid´ing •vt. to guide wrongly; lead into error or misconduct; mislead mis'guid´ance •n. mis'guid´ed·ly •adv. mis'guid´ed·ness •n.
mishandle (mis´hæn´dэl) -dled, -dling •vt. to handle badly or roughly; abuse, maltreat, or mismanage
mishanter (mi shæn´tэr) •n. [Scot.] mishap; misadventure [altered < MISADVENTURE]
mishap (mis´hæp') •n. 1 an unlucky or unfortunate accident 2 [Now Rare] bad luck; misfortune [ME (see MIS-¹ & HAP¹), prob. after OFr mescheance, mischance]
Mishawaka (mish э wö´kэ, -wäk´э) city in N Ind.: pop. 43,000
mishear (mis'hir´) -heard´, -hear´ing •vt., vi. to hear incorrectly or poorly
Mishima (mish´i mä'), Yu·ki·o (yu:´ki: ou') 1925-70; Jpn. writer
mishmash (mish´mæsh') •n. a hodgepodge; jumble: also mish´mosh' [redupl. of MASH (parallel with Ger mischmasch, LowG miskmask)]
Mishna or Mishnah (mish´nэ) pl. Mish·na·yot (mish'nä yout´) •n. 1 the first part of the Talmud, containing traditional oral interpretations of scriptural ordinances (halakhot), compiled by the rabbis about A.D. 200 2 any of these interpretations 3 the teachings of a distinguished rabbi Mish·na´ic (-nei´ik) •adj. [Heb mishna, lit., (oral) instruction < root šnh, to repeat, (later) learn, teach]
misimpression (mis'im presh´эn) •n. a mistaken impression
misinform (mis'in förm´) •vt. to supply with false or misleading information mis'in·form´ant or mis'in·form´er •n. mis'in'for·ma´tion •n.
misinterpret (-in tør´prit) •vt. to interpret wrongly; understand or explain incorrectly mis'in·ter'pre·ta´tion •n. mis'in·ter´pret·er •n.
misjoinder (-join´dэr) •n. Law the improper joining together of parties or of different causes of action in one lawsuit or other legal proceeding
misjudge (-jûj´) -judged´, -judg´ing •vt., vi. to judge wrongly or unfairly mis·judg´ment or mis·judge´ment •n.
misknow (mis nou´) -knew´, -known´, -know´ing •vt. to have a misconception of; misunderstand mis·knowl´edge •n.
Miskolc (mish´költs') city in NE Hungary: pop. 212,000
mislabel (mis'lei´bэl) -beled or -belled, -bel·ing or -bel·ling •vt. to label incorrectly or improperly
mislay (-lei´) -laid´, -lay´ing •vt. to put in a place afterward forgotten or not easily found [see MIS-¹ & LAY¹, v.]
mislead (-li:d´) -led´, -lead´ing •vt. 1 to lead in a wrong direction; lead astray 2 to lead into error (of judgment); deceive or delude 3 to lead into wrongdoing; influence badly SYN. DECEIVE mis·lead´ing •adj. mis·lead´ing·ly •adv.
mislike (mis'laik´) -liked´, -lik´ing •vt. 1 [Archaic] DISPLEASE 2 [Now Rare] to be displeased at; dislike •n. [Now Rare] dislike; disapproval
mismanage (mis´mæn´ij) -aged, -ag·ing •vt., vi. to manage or administer badly or dishonestly mis´man´age·ment •n.
mismatch (for v. mis'mæch´; for n. mis´mæch') •vt. to match badly or unsuitably •n. a bad or unsuitable match
mismate (mis'meit´) -mat´ed, -mat´ing •vt., vi. to mate badly or unsuitably
misname (mis'neim´) -named´, -nam´ing •vt. to give or apply an inappropriate name to
misnomer (mis nou´mэr, mis´nou'-) •n. 1 a) the act of applying a wrong name or epithet to some person or thing b) such a name or epithet 2 an error in naming a person or place in a legal document [ME misnoumer < OFr mesnommer, inf. used as n. < mes-, MIS-¹ + nommer, to name < L nominare: see NOMINATE]
miso (mi:´sou) •n. a food paste made of soybeans, salt, and, usually, fermented grain, used esp. in Japanese cooking
miso- (mis´ou, -э) combining form hatred of {misogyny} [Gr miso- < misein, to hate]
misogamy (mi säg´э mi:) •n. hatred of marriage mi·sog´a·mist •n. [prec. + -GAMY]
misogyny (mi säj´э ni:) •n. hatred of women, esp. by a man mi·sog´y·nist •n. mi·sog´y·nous, mi·sog´y·nic, or mi·sog´y·nis´tic •adj. [Gr misogynia: see MISO- & -GYNY]
misology (mi säl´э ji:) •n. hatred of argument, debate, or reasoning mi·sol´o·gist •n. [Gr misologia: see MISO- & -LOGY]
misoneism (mis'ou ni:´iz'эm) •n. hatred of innovation or change mis'o·ne´ist •n. [It misoneismo < Gr miso-, MISO- + neos, NEW + It -ismo, -ISM]
misperceive (mis'pэr si:v´) -ceived´, -ceiv´ing •vt. to perceive incorrectly mis'per·cep´tion •n.
misplace (mis pleis´) -placed´, -plac´ing •vt. 1 to put in a wrong place 2 to bestow (one's trust, affection, etc.) on an unsuitable or undeserving object 3 MISLAY mis·place´ment •n.
misplay (for v. mis plei´, mis´plei'; for n. mis´plei') •vt., vi. to play wrongly or badly, as in games or sports Æ n. a wrong or bad play
misplead (mis pli:d´, mis´pli:d') -pled´, -plead´ing •vt., vi. to plead incorrectly
mispleading (-iŋ) •n. Law an incorrect statement or an omission in pleading, as a misstatement of a cause of action
misprice (mis prais´) -priced´, -pric´ing •vt. to price incorrectly
misprint (mis print´; for n., usually mis´print') •vt. to print incorrectly •n. an error in printing
misprision (mis prizh´эn) •n. 1 a mistake, now especially one due to misreading, either deliberate or unintended, or to misunderstanding 2 scorn; contempt 3 Law a) misconduct or neglect of duty, esp. by a public official b) act of contempt against a government or court [ME mesprision < OFr < pp. of mesprendre, to take wrongly < mes-, MIS-¹ + prendre < L prehendere, to take: see PREHENSILE]
misprision of felony (or treason) Law the offense of concealing knowledge of a felony (or treason) by one who has not participated or assisted in it
misprize (mis'praiz´) -prized´, -priz´ing •vt. to despise or undervalue [ME mesprisen < OFr mesprisier < mes-, MIS-¹ + prisier < LL pretiare, to value < L pretium, a PRICE]
mispronounce (mis'prou nauns´, -prэ-) -nounced´, -nounc´ing •vt., vi. to give (a word or words) a pronunciation different from any of the accepted standard pronunciations; pronounce incorrectly mis'pro·nun'ci·a´tion (-nûn'si: ei´shэn) •n.
misquote (mis'kwout´) -quot´ed, -quot´ing •vt., vi. to quote incorrectly mis'quo·ta´tion •n.
misread (-ri:d´) -read´ (-red´), -read´ing (-ri:d´iŋ) •vt., vi. to read wrongly, esp. so as to misinterpret or misunderstand
misreckon (-rek´эn) •vt. to reckon or calculate incorrectly
misremember (mis'ri: mem´bэr) •vt., vi. 1 to make an error in remembering 2 [Dial.] to forget
misreport (-ri: pört´) •vt. to report incorrectly or falsely •n. an incorrect or false report
misrepresent (mis'rep ri: zent´) •vt. 1 to represent falsely; give an untrue or misleading idea of 2 to be an improper or bad representative of mis'rep·re·sen·ta´tion •n.
misrule (for v. mis´ru:l´, mis'-; for n. mis´ru:l', mis'ru:l´) -ruled´, -rul´ing •vt. to rule badly or unjustly ; misgovern •n. 1 misgovernment 2 disorder or riot
Miss abbrev. Mississippi
miss¹ (mis) •vt. 1 to fail to hit or land on (something aimed at) 2 to fail to meet, reach, attain, catch, accomplish, see, hear, perceive, understand, etc. 3 to overlook; let (an opportunity, etc.) go by 4 to escape; avoid {he just missed being struck} 5 to fail or forget to do, keep, have, be present at, etc. {to miss an appointment} 6 to notice the absence or loss of {to suddenly miss one's wallet} 7 to feel or regret the absence or loss of; want {to miss one's friends} 8 to be without; lack: now used only in present participle {this book is missing a page} •vi. 1 to fail to hit something aimed at; go wide of the mark 2 to fail to be successful 3 to misfire, as an engine 4 [Archaic] to fail to obtain, receive, etc.: with of or in •n. a failure to hit, meet, obtain, see, etc. a miss is as good as a mile missing by a narrow margin has the same practical effect as missing by a wide one miss one's guess to fail to guess or predict accurately [ME missen < OE missan, akin to Ger missen < IE base *meit(h)-, to change, exchange > L mutare, to change]
miss² (mis) pl. miss´es •n. 1 [M-] a) a title used in speaking to or of an unmarried woman or girl and placed before the name {Miss Smith, the Misses Smith} b) a title used in speaking to an unmarried woman or girl but used without the name Æ c) a title given to a young woman winning a particular beauty contest or promoting a particular product {Miss Ohio, Miss Cotton} 2 a young, unmarried woman or girl 3 [pl.] a series of sizes in clothing for women and girls of average proportions {coats in misses' sizes} [contr. of MISTRESS]
missal (mis´эl) •n. 1 [often M-] a large book containing the prayers, readings, and rubrics authorized by the Roman Catholic Church for the celebration of Mass 2 any small book with such a content for use by people attending Mass [ME missale < ML(Ec) neut. of missalis, of Mass < LL(Ec) missa, MASS]
missay (mis'sei´) -said´, -say´ing •vt., vi. [Archaic] 1 to say or speak wrongly 2 to speak evil (of); vilify; abuse; slander
missent (mis sent´) •adj. designating or of misdirected mail
misshape (mis'sheip´) -shaped´, -shap´ing •vt. to shape badly; deform [ME mysshapen: see MIS-¹ & SHAPE]
misshapen (mis sheip´эn) •adj. badly shaped; deformed mis·shap´en·ly •adv. mis·shap´en·ness •n. [ME: see MISSHAPE]
missile (mis´эl; chiefly Brit, -ail') •adj. 1 that can be, or is, thrown or shot, as from a gun 2 [Rare] throwing or shooting missiles •n. a weapon or other object, as a spear, bullet, rocket, etc., designed to be thrown, fired, or launched toward a target; often, specif., a guided or ballistic missile [L missilis < missus: see MISSION]
missileman (-mэn) pl. -men (-mэn) one who builds or launches guided or ballistic missiles: also mis'sil·eer´ (-ir´) •n.
missilery or missilry (mis´эl ri:) •n. 1 the science of building and launching guided or ballistic missiles 2 guided or ballistic missiles collectively [see -RY]
missing (mis´iŋ) •adj. absent; lost; lacking; specif., absent after combat, but not definitely known to be dead or taken prisoner
missing link something necessary for completing a series; specif., an animal not yet found in the fossil record, that is an intermediate form of two animals, as such an animal coming between an ape and a human
mission (mish´эn) •n. 1 a sending out or being sent out with authority to perform a special service; specif., a) the sending out of persons by a religious organization to preach, teach, and convert b) the sending out of persons to a foreign government to conduct negotiations c) the work done by such persons 2 a) a group of persons sent by a religious body to spread its religion, esp. in a foreign land b) its organization, headquarters, or place of residency c) [pl.] organized missionary work 3 a group of persons sent to a foreign government to conduct negotiations; diplomatic delegation; embassy 4 a group of technicians, specialists, etc. sent to a foreign country 5 the special duty or function for which someone is sent as a messenger or representative; errand 6 the special task or purpose for which a person is apparently destined in life; calling 7 any charitable, educational, or religious organization for helping persons in need 8 a series of special religious services designed to increase faith or bring about conversion 9 a district without a church of its own, served by a nearby church Æ 10 Mil. a specific combat operation assigned to an individual or unit; esp., a single combat flight by an airplane or group of airplanes •adj. 1 of a mission or missions Æ 2 of or in the style of the early Spanish missions in the SW U.S.; specif., designating a type of heavy, dark furniture with simple, square lines •vt. 1 to send on a mission 2 to establish a religious mission in (district) or among (a people) [L missio, a sending, sending away < missus, pp. of mittere, to send < IE base *smeit-, to throw > Avestan hamista-, cast down]
Mission Viejo (mish´эn vi: ei´hou') city in SW Calif.: pop. 73,000 [< Sp misión, mission + viejo, old]
missionary (-er'i:) •adj. of or characteristic of missions or missionaries, esp. religious ones •n. pl. -ar'ies a person sent on a mission, esp. on a religious mission: also mis´sion·er (-эr) [ModL (Ec) missionarius]
missionary position a position used in sexual intercourse in which the female lies on her back and the male lies on top of her, their faces opposite each other
Missionary Ridge ridge in SE Tenn. & NW Ga.: site of a Union victory (1863) in the Civil War [after the Brainerd Mission there]
missionize (-aiz') -ized', -iz'ing •vi., vt. to do missionary work (in or among)
missis (mis´iz) •n. [Colloq. or Dial.] 1 one's wife: also used with the 2 the mistress of a household: used with the [altered < MISTRESS, MRS.]
Mississauga (mis'э sö´gэ) city in S Ontario, Canada, southwest of Toronto: pop. 374,000 [< Ojibwa < misi, large + sauk, river mouth]
Mississippi (mis'э sip´i:) 1 river in central U.S., flowing from NC Minn. south into the Gulf of Mexico: 2,348 mi. (3,757 km): see also MISSOURI 2 Southern State of the U.S., on the Gulf of Mexico: admitted, 1817; 47,716 sq. mi. (123,584 sq. km); pop. 2,573,000; cap. Jackson: abbrev. MS or Miss [< Fr < Illinois missisipioui, lit., big river]
Mississippian (-эn) •adj. 1 of the Mississippi River 2 of the State of Mississippi 3 designating or of the first coal-forming period of the Paleozoic Era in North America, after the Devonian and before the Pennsylvanian •n. a native or inhabitant of Mississippi the Mississippian the Mississippian Period or its rocks: see GEOLOGY, chart
missive (mis´iv) •n. a letter or written message [Fr (lettre) missive < ML missivus < L missus, pp. of mittere, to send: see MISSION]
Missouri (mi zur´i:, -э) 1 river in WC U.S., flowing from SW Mont. southeast into the Mississippi: 2,714 mi. (4,342 km) 2 Middle Western State of the central U.S.: admitted, 1821; 69,686 sq. mi. (180,486 sq. km); pop. 5,117,000; cap. Jefferson City: abbrev. MO or Mo Mis·sou´ri·an •adj., n. [< prec.] Missouri (mi zur´i:) •n. 1 pl. -ri a member of a North American Indian people who formerly lived on the Missouri River in Nebraska and later in Oklahoma 2 their Siouan language [Fr, earlier ouemessourit < Illinois, lit., person who has a canoe] Missouri (mi zur´i:, -э) 1 river in WC U.S., flowing from SW Mont. southeast into the Mississippi: 2,714 mi. (4,342 km) 2 Middle Western State of the central U.S.: admitted, 1821; 69,686 sq. mi. (180,486 sq. km); pop. 5,117,000; cap. Jefferson City: abbrev. MO or Mo Mis·sou´ri·an •adj., n. [< prec.]
misspeak (mis spi:k´) -spoke´, -spok´en, -speak´ing •vt., vi. to speak or say incorrectly
misspell (-spel´) -spelled´ or -spelt´, -spell´ing •vt., vi. to spell incorrectly
misspelling (-spel´iŋ) •n. (an) incorrect spelling
misspend (-spend´) -spent´, -spend´ing •vt. to spend improperly or wastefully
misstate (-steit´) -stat´ed, -stat´ing •vt. to state incorrectly or falsely mis·state´ment •n.
misstep (mis'step´, mis´step') •n. 1 a wrong or awkward step 2 a mistake in conduct; faux pas
missus (mis´эz) •n. [Colloq. or Dial.] MISSIS
missy (mis´i:) pl. miss´ies •n. miss: diminutive form, used in speaking to or of a young girl
mist (mist) •n. 1 a large mass of water vapor at or just above the earth's surface resembling a fog, but less dense 2 a thin film of moisture condensed on a surface in droplets 3 a) a cloud of dust, smoke, gas, etc. b) a fine spray, as of medication or perfume 4 a cloudiness or film before the eyes, dimming or blurring the vision {through a mist of tears} 5 anything that dims or obscures the understanding, memory, etc. •vt. 1 to make misty; dim or obscure as with a mist 2 to spray the leaves of (a house plant) with water from a mister •vi. to be or become misty SYN.—mist applies to a visible atmospheric vapor of rather fine density, that blurs the vision; haze suggests a thin dispersion of smoke, dust, etc. that makes objects indistinct; fog suggests a greater density of moisture particles than mist, sometimes suggesting a thickness impenetrable by the vision; smog is applied to a mixture of fog and smoke of a kind that sometimes appears in industrial centers The first three terms are also used figuratively [lost in the mists of the past, a troublesome haze of confusion, in a fog of doubt] [ME < OE, darkness, mist, akin to ON mistr, dark weather < IE base *meigh-, to blink, be dim > Sans *mēghá-, cloud]
mistake (mi steik´) -took´, -tak´en or •vt. [Obs.] -took´, -tak´ing 1 to understand or perceive wrongly; interpret or judge incorrectly {mistake someone's motives} 2 to take (someone or something) to be another; recognize or identify incorrectly {to mistake one twin for the other} •vi. to make a mistake •n. 1 a fault in understanding, perception, interpretation, etc. 2 an idea, answer, act, etc. that is wrong; error SYN. ERROR and no mistake [Colloq.] certainly mis·tak´a·ble •adj. mis·tak´a·bly •adv. [ME mistaken < ON mistaka, to take wrongly: see MIS-¹ & TAKE]
mistaken (mi steik´эn) •adj. 1 wrong; having an incorrect understanding, perception, etc.: said of persons 2 incorrect; misunderstood; erroneous: said of ideas, etc. mis·tak´en·ly •adv.
Mistassini (mis'tэ si:´ni:) lake in SC Quebec, Canada: 840 sq. mi. (2,176 sq. km) [< Cree mista-assini, lit., the great stone lake]
mister¹ (mis´tэr) •n. 1 [M-] a) a title used in speaking to or of a man and placed before the name or title of office (usually written Mr.) Æ b) a title before a name of a place, occupation, activity, etc. to designate a certain man as eminently representative of a group {Mr. Television} Æ 2 Mil. the official title of address for a) a warrant officer in the army b) a cadet in a U.S. service academy c) a naval officer below the rank of commander 3 [Colloq.] sir: in direct address, not followed by a name 4 [Colloq. or Dial.] one's husband: also used with the [weakened form of MASTER]
mister² (mis´tэr) •n. a bottle with a nozzle for spraying a mist of water, as onto houseplants
misterioso (mi: ster'i: ou´sou) •adj., adv. Musical Direction in a manner suggesting mystery
mistflower (mist´flau'эr) •n. a perennial E American plant (Eupatorium coelestinum) of the composite family, with small, purple-flowered heads lacking ray flowers
misthink (mis'θiŋk´) -thought´, -think´ing •vi. [Archaic] to think mistakenly •vt. [Archaic] to have a bad opinion of
Misti see EL MISTI
mistime (mis'taim´, mis´-) -timed´, -tim´ing •vt. 1 to time wrongly; do or say at an inappropriate time 2 to judge incorrectly the time of
mistle thrush (mis´эl) a large grayish European thrush (Turdus viscivorus) with blackish-brown spots on the breast, that may feed on mistletoe berries
mistletoe (mis´эl tou') •n. 1 any of various evergreen plants (genera Phoradendron and Viscum) of the mistletoe family, parasitic on deciduous or evergreen trees, with small, yellowish-green leaves, yellowish flowers, and shiny, white, poisonous berries 2 a sprig of such a plant, hung as a Christmas decoration: men by custom kiss women standing under it •adj. designating a family (Loranthaceae, order Santalales) of parasitic, dicotyledonous shrubs and small trees [OE misteltan (akin to ON mistilteinn) < mistel, mistletoe (prob. < Gmc *mista, dung: from being propagated by seeds in bird dung) + tan, a twig]
mistook (mis tuk´) •vt., vi. pt. & obs. pp. of MISTAKE
mistral (mi sträl´, mis´trэl; Fr mi:s třål´) •n. a cold, dry north wind that blows over the Mediterranean coast of France and nearby regions [Fr < Prov, lit., master-wind < L magistralis < magister, MASTER] Mistral (mi:s třäl´) 1 Fré·dé·ric (fřei dei ři:k´) 1830-1914; Fr. Provençal poet 2 Ga·bri·e·la (gä'bři: ei´lä) (born Lucila Godoy Alcayaga) 1889-1957; Chilean poet
mistranslate (mis'træns leit´, -trænz-; mis træns´leit', -trænz´-) -lat´ed, -lat´ing •vt. to translate incorrectly mis'trans·la´tion •n.
mistreat (mis tri:t´) •vt. to treat wrongly or badly mis·treat´ment •n.
mistress (mis´tris) •n. 1 a woman who rules others or has control, authority, or power over something; specif., a) a woman who is head of a household or institution b) [Chiefly Brit.] a female schoolteacher 2 a woman very skilled and able in some work, profession, science, art, etc. 3 [sometimes M-] something personified as a woman that has control, power, etc. {England was mistress of the seas} 4 a woman who has sexual intercourse with and, often, is supported by a man for a period of time without being married to him 5 [Archaic] a sweetheart 6 [M-] [Obs.] a title used in speaking to or of a woman and placed before the name: now replaced by Mrs., Miss, or Ms. [ME maistresse < OFr, fem. of maistre, MASTER]
mistrial (mis´trai'эl, mis´trai´-) •n. Law a trial made void because of a) a prejudicial error in the proceedings or lack of jurisdiction by the court Æ b) the inability of the jury to agree upon a verdict
mistrust (mis´trûst´, mis trûst´) •n. lack of trust or confidence; suspicion; doubt •vt., vi. to have no trust or confidence in (someone or something); doubt mis·trust´ful •adj.
misty (mis´ti:) mist´i·er, mist´i·est •adj. 1 of, or having the nature of, mist 2 characterized by or covered with mist 3 a) blurred or dimmed, as by mist; indistinct b) obscure or vague mist´i·ly •adv. mist´i·ness •n. [ME misti < OE mistig]
misunderstand (mis'ûn dэr stænd´) -stood´, -stand´ing •vt. to fail to understand correctly; misinterpret
misunderstanding (-stæn´diŋ) •n. 1 a failure to understand; mistake of meaning or intention 2 a quarrel or disagreement
misunderstood (-stud´) •adj. 1 not properly understood 2 not properly appreciated
misusage (mis'yu:´sij, mis´-) •n. 1 incorrect usage; misapplication, as of words 2 bad or harsh treatment
misuse (for v. mis´yu:z´, mis yu:z´; for n., -yu:s´) -used´, -us´ing •vt. 1 to use incorrectly or improperly; misapply 2 to treat badly or harshly; abuse •n. 1 incorrect or improper use 2 [Obs.] bad or harsh treatment
misuser (-yu:´zэr) •n. 1 a person who misuses 2 Law unlawful use of some privilege, right, benefit, etc.
misvalue (-væl´yu:) -ued, -u·ing •vt. to fail to value properly or adequately
misword (mis wørd´) •vt. to word incorrectly
miswrite (-rait´) -wrote´, -writ´ten, -writ´ing •vt. to write incorrectly
Mitchell , Mount mountain of the Black Mountains, W N.C.: highest peak of the E U.S.: 6,684 ft. (2,037 m) [after Elisha Mitchell (1793-1857), Am geologist] Mitchell (mich´эl) 1 Maria 1818-89; U.S. astronomer 2 Peter Dennis 1920-92; Eng. chemist 3 William (called Billy) 1879-1936; U.S. army officer & aviation pioneer
mite¹ (mait) •n. any of a large subclass (Acari) of tiny, sometimes microscopic, arachnids often parasitic upon animals, insects, or plants, or infesting prepared foods, including many species that transmit diseases [ME < OE, akin to OHG miza, a gnat < IE base *mai-, to cut, cut off > MAD]
mite² (mait) •n. 1 a) a very small sum of money or contribution (see WIDOW'S MITE) b) a coin of very small value 2 BIT² (n. 1b) 3 a very small creature or object [ME < MDu, ult. same as prec.]
miter box a device used to guide the saw in cutting wood at an angle for a miter joint
miter square a tool used to mark out angles for miter joints, with two blades set at a 45° angle or adjustable to any angle
miter¹ (mait´эr) •n. 1 a headdress; specif., a) a tall, ornamented cap with peaks in front and back, worn by the pope, bishops, and abbots as a mark of office b) the official headdress of the ancient Jewish high priest c) in ancient Greece, a headband worn by women 2 the office or rank of a bishop; bishopric •vt. to invest with the office of bishop by placing a miter on [ME mitre < OFr < L mitra < Gr, a belt, fillet, headband, turban < IE *mitro, a band < base *mei-, to bind, tie]
miter² (mait´эr) •n. Carpentry 1 a kind of joint formed by fitting together two pieces, beveled to a specified angle (usually 45°) to form a corner (usually a right angle): now usually miter joint 2 either of the facing surfaces of such a joint 3 MITER SQUARE •vt. 1 to fit together in a miter joint 2 to bevel the ends or edges of to form a miter joint [prob. < prec.]
miterwort (mait´эr wørt') •n. BISHOP'S-CAP
mither (mið´эr) •n. chiefly Scot. var. of MOTHER¹
Mithraic (miθ rei´ik) •adj. of Mithras or Mithraism
Mithraism (miθ´rei iz'эm, -rэ-) •n. the ancient Persian religion based on worship of Mithras Mith´ra·ist •n., adj. Mith'ra·is´tic •adj.
Mithras (miθ´rэs, -ræs') the ancient Persian god of light and truth, opponent of darkness and evil: also Mith´ra (-rэ) [L < Gr Mithras < OPers Mithra]
mithridate (miθ´rэ deit') •n. a substance supposed to be an antidote against all poisons [ML mithridatum < LL mithridatium < Mithridatius, of Mithridates VI, said to have become immune to poisons by taking them in gradually increased doses]
Mithridates VI (miθ'rэ deit´i:z) c. 132-63 B.C.; king of Pontus (120-63): called the Great
miticide (mait´i said') •n. any substance used for destroying mites mi'ti·ci´dal •adj. [< MITE¹ + -CIDE]
mitigate (mit´э geit') -gat'ed, -gat'ing •vt., vi. 1 to make or become milder, less severe, less rigorous, or less painful; moderate 2 to operate or work (against): generally considered a loose or erroneous usage [< confusion with MILITATE] SYN. RELIEVE mit´i·ga·ble (-i gэ bэl) •adj. mit'i·ga´tion •n. mit´i·ga'tive •adj. mit´i·ga'tor •n. mit´i·ga·to'ry (-gэ tör'i:) •adj. [ME mitigaten < L mitigatus, pp. of mitigare, to make mild, soft, or tender < mitis, soft (see MIGNON) + agere, to drive: see ACT]
Mitilíni (mit'ªl i:´ni:) 1 chief city of Lesbos, on the SE coast: pop. 26,000 2 LESBOS
mitochondrion (mait'ou kän´dri: эn) pl. -dri·a (-э) •n. any of various very small, usually rodlike structures found in the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells and that serve as a center of intracellular enzyme activity which produces the ATP needed to power the cell: see CELL, illus. mi'to·chon´dri·al •adj. [ModL < Gr mitos, a thread + chondrion, a small cartilage < chondros: see CHONDRO-]
mitosis (mai tou´sis, mi-) pl. -ses' (-si:z') •n. Biol. the indirect and more common method of nuclear division of cells, consisting typically of prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase: the nuclear chromatin first appears as long threads which shorten and thicken to form the typical number of chromosomes, each of which splits lengthwise to double in number with half of each set then moving toward opposite poles of the cell to become reorganized into two new nuclei with the normal number of chromosomes mi·tot´ic (-tät´ik) •adj. mi·tot´i·cal·ly •adv. [ModL < Gr mitos, thread + -OSIS]
mitral (mai´trэl) •adj. of or like a miter or the mitral valve [Fr < ModL mitralis < L mitra, MITER¹]
mitral valve the valve between the left atrium and left ventricle of the heart, preventing a flow of blood back into the atrium during systole
mitre (mait´эr) -tred, -tring •n., vt. Brit., etc. sp. of MITER¹
Mitropoulos (mэ trä´pэ lэs, -trö´pu: lös'), Di·mi·tri (dэ mi:´tri:) 1896-1960; U.S. conductor, born in Greece
mitt (mit) •n. 1 a woman's glove, often of lace or net, covering part of the arm, the hand, and sometimes part of the fingers 2 MITTEN 3 a padded glove or mitten for a specified use {dusting mitt} Æ 4 [Slang] a hand Æ 5 a) Baseball a padded glove, with a thumb but usually without separate fingers, worn for protection {catcher's mitt} b) a boxing glove [contr. < MITTEN]
Mitteleuropa (mit'ªl yu: rou´pэ, -yэ-; -oi rou´-) Central Europe, esp. with reference to its culture, style, or customs: also Mit'tel-Eu·ro´pa or Mit'tel Eu·ro´pa •adj. of or pertaining to Central Europe or its culture, etc. Mit'tel·eu'ro·pe´an or Mit'tel-Eu'ro·pe´an (-yur'э pi:´эn) •adj.
mitten (mit´ªn) •n. 1 a glovelike covering for the hand, with a thumb but no separately divided fingers 2 early var. of MITT (sense 1) give (or get) the mitten [Old Colloq.] to reject (or be rejected) as a lover [ME mytten < OFr mitaine < mite (in same sense), prob. orig. metaphorical use of mite, cat]
Mitterrand (mi: te řäñ´; E mi:t´эr änd', mit´-), Fran·çois (Maurice) (fřäñ swå´) 1916- ; Fr. statesman: president of France (1981- )
mittimus (mit´i mэs) •n. Law a warrant or writ for putting into prison a person convicted of crime [L, we send < mittere: see MISSION]
mitzvah (mits´vэ, mits vä´) pl. mitz´vahs or mitz·voth´ (-vout´) •n. Judaism 1 a commandment or precept, as in the Bible or from the rabbis 2 an act fulfilling such a command or the spirit of such commands {an act of charity is a mitzvah} Also mits·vah´ (-vä´) [Heb mitsva, lit., commandment < root cwh, to command, order]
mix (miks) mixed or mixt, mix´ing •vt. 1 to put or blend together in a single mass, collection, or compound 2 to make by putting ingredients together {to mix a cake} 3 to join; combine {to mix work and play} 4 to cause to join or associate {to mix the boys with the girls in a school} 5 to hybridize 6 to combine or blend electronically (the various sounds of a recording or live performance) on (a tape, record, etc.) •vi. 1 to be mixed or capable of being mixed; be blended; mingle 2 to associate or get along {to mix with other people} 3 to hybridize •n. 1 a mixing or being mixed 2 a muddle; state of confusion Æ 3 a) a product of mixing; mixture {cement mix} b) a commercial mixture of ingredients for preparing a food, usually by adding liquid {cake mix} 4 a beverage, as soda or ginger ale, for mixing with alcoholic liquor 5 the blend or combination of sounds in a recording or live performance 6 [Colloq.] a mixture of dissimilar components, elements, parts, ideas, etc. mix up 1 to mix thoroughly; mingle together 2 to confuse; specif., a) to cause confusion in b) to mistake for another (with with) 3 to involve or implicate (in some matter): usually used in the passive mix´a·ble •adj. SYN.—mix implies a combining of things so that the resulting substance is uniform in composition, whether or not the separate elements can be distinguished [to mix paints]; mingle usually implies that the separate elements can be distinguished [mingled feelings of joy and sorrow]; blend implies a mixing of different varieties to produce a desired quality [a blended tea, whiskey, etc.] or the mingling of different elements to form a harmonious whole [a novel blending fact and fiction]; merge stresses the loss of distinction of elements by combination or may suggest the total absorption of one thing in another [the companies merged to form a large corporation]; coalesce implies a union or growing together of things into a single body or mass [the factions coalesced into a party of opposition]; fuse means to unite by melting together and stresses the indissoluble nature of the union [prob. back-form. < mixt, mixed, taken as pp. < Fr mixte < L mixtus, pp. of miscere, to mix (> OE miscian) < IE base *meik- > Gr meignynai, Welsh mysgu, to mix]
mixed (mikst) •adj. 1 joined or mingled in a single mass or compound; blended 2 made up of different or incongruous parts, groups, elements, classes, races, etc. 3 consisting of or involving both sexes {a mixed class, mixed company} 4 confused; muddled 5 Phonet. central: said of a vowel [earlier mixt: see MIX]
mixed bag an assortment or mixture, esp. of diverse elements, types of people, etc. brought together at random
mixed bud a bud which produces both leaves and flowers
mixed marriage marriage between persons of different religions or races
mixed media 1 Painting the use of different media, as watercolors and crayon, in the same composition 2 MULTIMEDIA (senses 1 & 2)
mixed metaphor the use of two or more inconsistent metaphors in a single expression (Ex.; the storm of protest was nipped in the bud)
mixed number a number consisting of a whole number and a fraction, as 3²/3
mixer (miks´эr) •n. 1 a person or thing that mixes; specif., Æ a) a person with reference to the ability to get along with others {a good mixer} b) an electric appliance for mixing or beating foods c) a machine for mixing {concrete mixer} d) a person responsible for combining and balancing visual or sound sources, as for film soundtracks, radio or TV broadcasts, etc. 2 a social gathering, as a dance, for getting people acquainted with one another 3 Electronics a) a device or circuit for combining carriers of differing frequencies to produce a desired carrier b) an electrical apparatus in which signals from various audio sources are combined in desired proportions
mixologist (miks äl´э jist) •n. [Slang] a bartender [MIX + -ologist, as in biologist]
mixt (mikst) •vt., vi. alt. pt. & pp. of MIX
Mixtec (mi:s´tek') pl. -tecs' or -tec' •n. 1 a member of an Amerindian people who live in the Mexican states of Oaxaca, Guerrero, and Puebla 2 the Mixtecan language of this people
Mixtecan (mi:s tek´эn) •n. any of a family of three Amerindian languages spoken in Mexico
mixture (miks´chэr) •n. 1 a mixing or being mixed 2 something made by mixing; esp., a) a combination of ingredients, kinds, etc. b) a yarn or fabric made of two or more different fibers, often of different colors 3 Chem. a substance containing two or more ingredients: distinguished from a chemical compound in that the constituents are not in fixed proportions, do not lose their individual characteristics, and can be separated by physical means [LME < L mixtura < mixtus: see MIX]
mix-up (miks´ûp') •n. 1 a condition or instance of confusion; tangle 2 [Colloq.] a fight
Miyazaki (mi:'yä zä´ki:) city in SE Kyushu, Japan: pop. 268,000
Mizar (mai´zär') a multiple star with a magnitude of 2.2: it is the brighter companion of an optical double star at the middle of the Big Dipper's handle [Ar mīzār, lit., waist-cloth, apron]
Mizoram (mэ zör´эm) territory of NE India, between Myanmar & Bangladesh: 8,142 sq. mi. (21,087 sq. km); pop. 488,000
mizzen or mizen (miz´эn) •adj. of the mizzenmast •n. 1 a fore-and-aft sail set on the mizzenmast 2 MIZZENMAST [LME meseyn < or akin to MFr misaine < It mezzana, fem. of mezzano, middle < L medianus: see MEDIAN]
mizzenmast (miz´эn mæst'; naut., -mэst) •n. 1 the mast third from the bow in a ship with three or more masts 2 the smaller, after mast in a ketch or yawl See MAST¹, illus. [see MIZEN]
mizzle (miz´эl) -zled, -zling •vt., vi. [Dial.] to rain in a fine mist; drizzle •n. [Dial.] a misty rain; drizzle miz´zly •adj. [LME misellen, prob. < LowG, as in Du dial. miezelen, LowG miseln: for IE base see MIST]
mk 1 mark (the monetary unit) 2 markka Mk Bible Mark
mks meter-kilogram-second
mkt market
ml milliliter(s) ML Medieval (or Middle) Latin
MLA Modern Language Association
MLD minimum (or minimal) lethal dose
MLG Middle Low German
Mlle Mademoiselle
MLowG Middle Low German
MLS or M.L.S. Master of Library Science
MM 1 Messieurs 2 Majesties mm millimeter(s) mm (эm, эñ; ûm, ûñ) •interj. an exclamation indicating: a) a noncommittal response b) an affirmative response c) hesitation before replying to a question or remark
Mme Madame
Mmes Mesdames
mmf magnetomotive force
Mn Chem. symbol for manganese MN Minnesota
mnemonic (ni: män´ik) •adj. 1 helping, or meant to help, the memory {a mnemonic device} 2 of mnemonics or memory mne·mon´i·cal·ly •adv. [Gr mnēmonikos < mnēmōn, mindful < mnasthai, to remember < IE base *men-, to think > MIND]
mnemonics (-iks) •n.pl. 1 [with sing. v.] a technique or system of improving the memory by the use of certain formulas 2 such formulas [see MNEMONIC]
Mnemosyne (ni: mäs´i ni:', -mäz´-) Gr. Myth. the goddess of memory, and mother (by Zeus) of the Muses [L < Gr mnēmosynē, memory < mnasthai, to remember: see MNEMONIC]
MO 1 Medical Officer 2 Missouri 3 mode of operation [L modus operandi] 4 money order mo 1 money order 2 month mo (mou) •n. [Colloq.] short for MOMENT (sense 1) Mo 1 Missouri 2 Chem. symbol for molybdenum 3 Monday
-mo (mou) suffix forming nouns a book, pamphlet, etc. having (a specified number of) leaves as a result of the folding of a sheet of paper a given number of times {12mo, duodecimo, or twelvemo} [< ending of L abl. forms of ordinals, after prep. in, as in duodecimo (< duodecimus, twelfth)]
moa (mou´э) •n. any of an extinct order (Dinornithiformes) of ostrichlike flightless birds of New Zealand [< native (Maori) name]
Moab (mou´æb') 1 Bible a son of Lot: Gen. 19:37 2 ancient kingdom east & south of the Dead Sea, now the SW part of Jordan [LL(Ec) < Gr(Ec) < Heb mō'ābh]
Moabite (mou´эb ait') •n. 1 a native or inhabitant of Moab 2 the extinct Semitic language of the Moabites •adj. of Moab or the Moabites: also Mo´ab·it'ish (-bait'ish) [ME < LL(Ec) Moabita < Gr(Ec) mōabitis]
moan (moun) •n. 1 [Archaic] a complaint; lamentation 2 a low, mournful sound of sorrow or pain 3 any sound like this {the moan of the wind} •vi. 1 to utter a moan or moans 2 to complain, lament, grieve, etc. •vt. 1 to say with a moan 2 to complain about; bewail {to moan one's fate} SYN. CRY [ME mone, prob. < base of OE mænan, to complain: see MEAN¹]
moat (mout) •n. a deep, broad ditch dug around a fortress or castle, and often filled with water, for protection against invasion •vt. to surround with or as with a moat [ME mote < OFr, orig., mound, embankment, prob. < Gmc *motta, heap of earth]
mob (mäb) •n. 1 a disorderly and lawless crowd; rabble 2 any crowd 3 the masses; common people collectively: a contemptuous term 4 [Slang] a gang of criminals •vt. mobbed, mob´bing 1 to crowd around and attack 2 to crowd around and jostle, annoy, etc., as in curiosity or anger 3 to fill with many people; throng SYN. CROWD¹ mob´bish •adj. [< L mobile (vulgus), movable (crowd)]
mobcap (mäb´kæp') •n. a woman's indoor cap, esp. of the 18th cent., having a high, puffy crown and often tied under the chin [< MDu mop, woman's cap + CAP]
mobile (mou´bэl; also, -bil, -bi:l' &, chiefly Brit & Cdn, -bail'; for adj. 5 & n., usually, -bi:l') •adj. 1 a) moving, or capable of moving or being moved, from place to place b) movable by means of a motor vehicle or vehicles {a mobile X-ray unit} 2 very fluid, as mercury 3 capable of changing rapidly or easily, as in response to different moods, feelings, conditions, needs, or influences; flexible, adaptable, etc. 4 a) designating or of a society in which one may change in social status, and in which social groups mingle freely b) designating a person who is experiencing a change in social status {the upwardly mobile professional} 5 Art that is or has to do with a mobile or mobiles •n. a piece of abstract sculpture which aims to depict movement, i.e., kinetic rather than static rhythms, as by an arrangement of thin forms, rings, rods, etc. balanced and suspended in midair and set in motion by air currents mo·bil·i·ty (mou bil´э ti:) •n. [OFr < L mobilis, movable < movere, to MOVE] Mobile (mou bi:l´, mou´bi:l') 1 seaport in SW Ala., on Mobile Bay: pop. 196,000 2 river in SW Ala., formed by the Alabama & Tombigbee rivers & flowing into Mobile Bay: c. 45 mi. (73 km) [< Fr < AmInd < ?]
-mobile (mou bi:l') combining form motorized vehicle designed for a (specified) purpose {bookmobile, snowmobile} [< (AUTO)MOBILE]
Mobile Bay arm of the Gulf of Mexico, extending into SW Ala.: c. 35 mi. (56 km) long
mobile home (mou´bэl) a movable dwelling with no permanent foundation, but connected to utility lines and set more or less permanently at a location: cf. MOTOR HOME
mobilize (mou´bэ laiz') -lized', -liz'ing •vt. 1 a) to make mobile, or movable b) to put into motion, circulation, or use 2 to bring into readiness for immediate active service in war 3 to organize (people, resources, etc.) for active service or use in any emergency, drive, etc. •vi. to become organized and ready, as for war mo´bi·liz'a·ble •adj. mo'bi·li·za´tion •n. mo´bi·liz'er •n. [Fr mobiliser]
Möbius strip (mei´bi: эs, mou´-) a one-edged geometric surface with only one continuous side, formed by giving a 180° twist to a narrow, rectangular strip of paper and then connecting the two ends together: also Möbius band [after A. F. Möbius (1790-1868), Ger mathematician]
mobocracy (mäb äk´rэ si:) pl. -cies •n. 1 rule or domination by a mob 2 the mob as ruler mob'o·crat´ic •adj. [MOB + (DEM)OCRACY]
mobster (mäb´stэr) •n. [Slang] a member of a criminal mob; gangster
Moçambique (mu'sэm bi:´kэ) Port. name of MOZAMBIQUE
moccasin (mäk´э sэn) •n. 1 a heelless slipper of soft, flexible leather, worn orig. by North American Indians 2 any slipper more or less like this but with a hard sole and heel 3 WATER MOCCASIN [< AmInd (Algonquian), as in Narragansett mokussin, Massachusett mohkisson]
moccasin flower CYPRIPEDIUM (sense 1)
Mocha (mou´kэ) seaport in SW Yemen, on the Red Sea: pop. 6,000 •n. [m-] 1 a choice grade of coffee grown orig. in Arabia 2 [Colloq.] any coffee 3 a flavoring made from an infusion of coffee, or of coffee and chocolate 4 a soft, velvety leather of Egyptian sheepskin, used esp. for gloves 5 chocolate brown •adj. [m-] 1 flavored with coffee or coffee and chocolate 2 chocolate-brown
mock (mäk) •vt. 1 to hold up to scorn or contempt; ridicule 2 to imitate or mimic, as in fun or derision; burlesque 3 to lead on and disappoint; deceive 4 to defy and make futile; defeat {the fortress mocked the invaders} •vi. to show or express scorn, ridicule, or contempt; jeer: often with at •n. 1 an act of mocking; jibe; sneer 2 a person or thing receiving or deserving ridicule or derision 3 an imitation or counterfeit •adj. 1 sham; false; imitation; pretended {a mock battle} 2 of or designating a food that imitates another {mock mince meat} •adv. in a false or insincere manner {mock-sympathetic words} SYN. IMITATE, RIDICULE mock´er •n. mock´ing·ly •adv. [ME mokken < OFr mocquer, to mock]
mock orange Æ any of a genus (Philadelphus) of shrubs of the saxifrage family, with fragrant, white flowers resembling those of the orange
mock turtle soup a soup made from calf's head, veal, etc., spiced so as to taste like green turtle soup
mockery (mäk´эr i:) pl. -er·ies •n. 1 a mocking (in various senses) 2 a person or thing receiving or deserving ridicule 3 a false, derisive, or impertinent imitation; travesty; burlesque 4 vain or disappointing effort; futility [ME moquerye < OFr moquerie]
mock-heroic (mäk'hi rou´ik) •adj. mocking, or burlesquing, any style, action, or character •n. a burlesque of something heroic mock´-he·ro´i·cal·ly •adv.
mockingbird (mäk´iŋ børd') •n. any of various New World passerine birds (family Mimidae); esp., a species (Mimus polyglottos) of the U.S. noted for its song and its ability to imitate the calls of many other birds
mock-up (mäk´ûp') •n. a scale model, usually a full-sized replica, of a structure or apparatus used for instructional or experimental purposes [altered (< MOCK & UP¹) < Fr maquette, a sketch, mock-up < maquiller, to pretend, orig. a cant term, to work < dial. makier, to make, do < MDu maken, akin to MAKE¹]
mod (mäd) •n. [also M-] any of the young people in England in the mid-1960s noted for their emphasis on stylish dress, often as a symbol of their alienation from conventional society •adj. 1 [also M-] of or characteristic of the mods or the styles they favored 2 of or relating to anything up-to-date, fashionable, stylish, etc., esp. clothes [< MOD(ERN)] mod abbrev. 1 moderate 2 Music moderato 3 modern
modacrylic (mäd'э kril´ik) •adj. designating or of any of various synthetic fibers that resist combustion, made from long-chain polymers composed primarily of acrylonitrile modified by other polymers: used in making fabrics, carpets, etc. [mod(ified) acrylic]
modal (moud´ªl) •adj. 1 of or indicating a mode or mood 2 Gram. of or expressing mood {a modal auxiliary} 3 a) Jazz of or relating to compositions or improvisations based on an arrangement of modes rather than a series of chord progressions b) in popular music, of or characterized by the repetition of one or two chords as a harmonic base 4 Logic expressing or characterized by modality 5 Music of or composed in any of the medieval church modes 6 Philos. of mode, or form, as opposed to substance 7 Statistics having to do with a statistical mode •n. Gram. MODAL AUXILIARY mod´al·ly •adv. [ML modalis < L modus, MODE]
modal auxiliary an auxiliary verb that is used with another verb to indicate its mood, as can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, and would: it has no special form in the third person singular and no present or past participle [the modal auxiliary would indicates the subjunctive mood in We would go if we could]
modality (mou dæl´э ti:) pl. -ties •n. 1 the fact, state, or quality of being modal 2 a special attribute, emphasis, etc. that marks certain individuals, things, groups, etc. 3 Logic the qualification in a proposition that indicates that what is affirmed or denied is possible, impossible, necessary, contingent, etc. 4 Med. a) the employment of, or the method of employment of, a therapeutic agent b) a specific sensory channel, as vision or hearing [ML modalitas]
mode (moud) •n. 1 a manner or way of acting, doing, or being; method or form 2 customary usage, or current fashion or style, as in manners or dress [Fr < L modus] 3 Geol. the actual mineral composition of an unaltered igneous rock 4 Gram. MOOD² (sense 1) 5 Logic a) modality or the form of a proposition with reference to its modality b) MOOD¹ (sense 2) 6 Metaphysics the form, or way of being, of something, as distinct from its substance 7 Music a) the selection and arrangement of tones and semitones in a scale, esp. any of such arrangements in medieval church music b) a rhythmical system of the 13th cent. c) either of the two forms of scale arrangement in later music (MAJOR MODE and MINOR MODE) 8 Statistics the value, number, etc. that occurs most frequently in a given series SYN. FASHION [ME moede < L modus, measure, manner, mode < IE base *med-, to measure: see MEDICAL]
model (mäd´ªl) •n. 1 a) a small copy or imitation of an existing object, as a ship, building, etc., made to scale b) a preliminary representation of something, serving as the plan from which the final, usually larger, object is to be constructed c) ARCHETYPE (sense 1) d) a hypothetical or stylized representation, as of an atom e) a generalized, hypothetical description, often based on an analogy, used in analyzing or explaining something f) a piece of sculpture in wax or clay from which a finished work in bronze, marble, etc. is to be made 2 a person or thing considered as a standard of excellence to be imitated 3 a style or design; specif., any of a series of different styles or designs of a particular product {a two-door model, a heavy-duty model, a 1969 model} 4 a) a person who poses for an artist or photographer b) any person or thing serving as a subject for an artist or writer c) a person employed to display clothes by wearing them; mannequin •adj. 1 serving as a model, pattern, or standard of excellence {a model student} 2 representative of others of the same kind, style, etc. {a model home} •vt. -eled or -elled, -el·ing or -el·ling 1 a) to make a model of b) to plan, form, or design after a model c) to make conform to a standard of excellence {to model one's behavior on that of one's elders} 2 to shape or form in or as in clay, wax, etc. 3 to display (a dress, suit, etc.) by wearing 4 Drawing, Painting, etc. to create a three-dimensional image of on a flat surface through the use of color, shading, etc. •vi. 1 to make a model or models {to model in clay} Æ 2 to serve as a MODEL (sense 4) mod´el·er or mod´el·ler •n. SYN.—model refers to a representation made to be copied or, more generally, to any person or thing to be followed or imitated because of excellence, worth, etc.; example suggests that which is presented as a sample, or that which sets a precedent for imitation, whether good or bad; a pattern is a model, guide, plan, etc. to be strictly followed; paradigm is common now only in its grammatical sense of an example of a declension or conjugation, giving all the inflectional forms of a word; archetype applies to the original pattern serving as the model for all later things of the same kind; standard refers to something established for use as a rule or a basis of comparison in judging quality, etc. [Fr modèle < It modello, dim. of modo < L modus, prec.]
modem (mou´dэm, -dem) •n. a device that converts data to a form that can be transmitted, as by telephone, to data-processing equipment where a similar device reconverts it [MO(DULATOR) + DEM(ODULATOR)]
Modena (moud´ªn э, möd´-; -ä') commune in N Italy, in Emilia-Romagna: pop. 180,000
moderate (for adj. & n., mäd´эr it; for v., -eit') •adj. 1 within reasonable limits; avoiding excesses or extremes; temperate or restrained 2 mild; calm; gentle; not violent {moderate weather} 3 of average or medium quality, amount, scope, range, etc. {moderate skills, moderate prices} •n. a person holding moderate views or opinions, as in politics or religion •vt. -at'ed, -at'ing 1 to cause to become moderate; make less extreme, violent, etc.; restrain 2 to preside over (a meeting, etc.) •vi. 1 to become moderate 2 to serve as a moderator mod´er·ate·ly •adv. mod´er·ate·ness •n. SYN.—moderate and temperate are often interchangeable in denoting a staying within reasonable limits, but in strict discrimination, moderate implies merely an absence of excesses or extremes, while temperate suggests deliberate self-restraint [moderate demands, a temperate reply] —ANT. excessive, extreme [ME moderat < L moderatus, pp. of moderare, to keep within bounds, restrain < modus: see MODE]
moderate breeze a wind whose speed is 13 to 18 miles per hour: see BEAUFORT SCALE
moderate gale a wind whose speed is 32 to 38 miles per hour: see BEAUFORT SCALE
moderation (mäd'эr ei´shэn) •n. 1 a moderating, or bringing within bounds 2 avoidance of excesses or extremes 3 absence of violence; calmness in moderation to a moderate degree; without excess
moderato (mäd'э rä´tou, moud'-) •adj., adv. Musical Direction with moderation in tempo [It]
moderator (mäd´эr eit'эr) •n. a person or thing that moderates; specif., a) a person who presides at a town meeting, debate, assembly, etc. b) the presiding officer of a governing body, as of the Presbyterian Church c) a substance, as graphite or heavy water, used to slow down high-energy neutrons in a nuclear reactor [ME moderatour < L moderator]
modern (mäd´эrn) •adj. 1 of the present or recent times; specif., a) of or having to do with the latest styles, methods, or ideas; up-to-date b) designating or of certain contemporary trends and schools of art, music, literature, dance, etc. 2 of or relating to the period of history after the Middle Ages, from c. A.D. 1450 to the present day 3 [often M-] designating the form of a language in its most recent stage of development •n. 1 a person living in modern times 2 a person having modern ideas, beliefs, standards, etc. 3 Printing a style of typeface characterized by heavy down strokes contrasting with narrow cross strokes SYN. NEW mod´ern·ly •adv. mod´ern·ness •n. [Fr moderne < LL modernus < L modo, just now, orig. abl. of modus: see MODE]
modern dance a form of dance as a performing art, variously developed in the 20th cent. by Isadora Duncan, Ruth St. Denis, Martha Graham, etc., and characterized by bodily movements and rhythms less formalized than in classical ballet and less firmly bound to predetermined musical form
Modern English the English language since about the mid-15th cent.: cf. EARLY MODERN ENGLISH
Modern Greek the Greek language as spoken and written in Greece since about 1500
Modern Hebrew Hebrew as spoken and written in post-Biblical times; esp., the language of modern Israel
Modern Latin the Latin that has come into use since about 1500, chiefly in scientific literature
modernism (mäd´эrn iz'эm) •n. 1 a) modern practices, trends, ideas, etc., or sympathy with any of these b) an instance of this; a modern idiom, practice, or usage 2 [often M-] any of several movements variously attempting to redefine Biblical and Christian dogma and traditional teachings in the light of modern science, historical research, etc.: condemned in the Roman Catholic Church in 1907 as a negation of faith 3 the general trend in the methods, styles, and philosophy of modern artists and writers involving a break with the traditions of the past and a search for new modes of expression mod´ern·ist •n., adj.
modernistic (mäd'эrn is´tik) •adj. 1 of or characteristic of modernism or modernists 2 modern: used esp. to designate certain contemporary trends and schools of art, music, etc., sometimes in a deprecatory sense SYN. NEW mod'ern·is´ti·cal·ly •adv.
modernity (mä dør´nэ ti:, mэ-) •n. 1 the state or quality of being modern 2 pl. -ties something modern
modernize (mäd´эrn aiz') -ized', -iz'ing •vt. to make modern; bring up to date in style, design, methods, etc. •vi. to adopt modern ways; become modern mod'ern·i·za´tion •n. mod´ern·iz'er •n. [Fr moderniser]
modest (mäd´ist) •adj. 1 having or showing a moderate opinion of one's own value, abilities, achievements, etc.; not vain or boastful; unassuming 2 not forward; shy or reserved {modest behavior} 3 behaving, dressing, speaking, etc. in a way that is considered proper or decorous; decent 4 moderate or reasonable; not extreme {a modest request} 5 quiet and humble in appearance, style, etc.; not pretentious {a modest home} SYN. CHASTE, SHY¹ mod´est·ly •adv. [Fr modeste < L modestus, keeping due measure, modest < modus: see MODE]
Modesto (mэ des´tou) city in central Calif.: pop. 165,000 [Sp, lit., modest: said to be with reference to Wm. C. Ralston's modest refusal to have the place named after him]
modesty (mäd´is ti:) •n. the quality or state of being modest; specif., a) unassuming or humble behavior b) lack of excesses or pretensions; moderation c) decency; decorum [Fr modestie < L modestia]
ModGr Modern Greek
ModHeb Modern Hebrew
modicum (mäd´i kэm) •n. a small amount; bit [LME < L, neut. of modicus, moderate < modus: see MODE]
modification (mäd'э fi kei´shэn) •n. a modifying or being modified; specif., a) a partial or slight change in form b) a product of such a change c) a slight reduction; moderation d) a qualification or limitation of meaning e) Biol. a change in an organism caused by its environment and not inheritable f) Linguis. a change in the form of a morpheme (Ex.: foot, feet; bath, bathe) mod·i·fi·ca·to·ry (mäd´э fik'э tör'i:, -fi kэ-; -fi keit'эr i:) •adj. [MFr < L modificatio < pp. of modificare: see MODIFY]
modifier (mäd´э fai'эr) •n. a person or thing that modifies; esp., a word, phrase, or clause that limits the meaning of another word or phrase {adjectives and adverbs are modifiers}
modify (mäd´э fai') -fied', -fy'ing •vt. 1 to change or alter; esp., to change slightly or partially in character, form, etc. 2 to limit or reduce slightly; moderate {to modify a penalty} 3 Gram. to limit the meaning of; qualify {old modifies man in old man} 4 Linguis. to change the form of a morpheme to indicate grammatical relations or derivation •vi. to be modified SYN. CHANGE mod´i·fi'a·ble •adj. [ME modifien < MFr < L modificare, to limit, regulate < modus, measure (see MODE) + facere, to make: see DO¹]
Modigliani (mou'di:l yä´ni:), A·me·de·o (ä'mei dei´ou) 1884-1920; It. painter, in France
modillion (mou dil´yэn) •n. Archit. an ornamental block or bracket placed under a projecting cornice, esp. in the Corinthian order [It modiglione < LL *mutilio < L mutulus, modillion, prob. < Etr base *mut-, a projection]
modiolus (mou dai´э lэs) pl. -o·li' (-lai') •n. the central bony axis of the cochlea of the ear [ModL, dim. of L modius, measure for grain < modus, measure: see MODE]
modish (moud´ish) •adj. in the current mode; in the latest style; fashionable mod´ish·ly •adv. mod´ish·ness •n.
modiste (mou di:st´, mö-) •n. [Old-fashioned] a person who makes or deals in fashionable clothes, hats, etc. for women [Fr < mode: see MODE]
ModL Modern Latin
Modred (mou´dred') Arthurian Legend treacherous nephew of King Arthur: they kill each other in battle
modular (mäj´э lэr) •adj. 1 of a module or modulus Æ 2 designating or of units of standardized size, design, etc. that can be arranged or fitted together in a variety of ways [ModL modularis]
modulate (mäj´э leit') -lat'ed, -lat'ing •vt. 1 to regulate, adjust, or adapt to the proper degree 2 to vary the pitch, intensity, etc. of (the voice), often specif. to a lower degree 3 Radio to vary the amplitude, frequency, or phase of (an oscillation, as a carrier wave) in accordance with some signal •vi. to shift to another key within a musical composition mod´u·la'tor •n. mod´u·la·to'ry •adj. [< L modulatus, pp. of modulari, to regulate, measure off, arrange < modulus, dim. of modus: see MODE]
modulation (mäj'э lei´shэn) •n. 1 a modulating or being modulated; specif., a) Music a shifting from one key to another b) Radio a variation in the amplitude, frequency, or phase of a wave in accordance with some signal 2 a variation in stress or pitch in speaking, as in distinguishing between the merely auxiliary and the lexical uses of a word (Ex.: There is a post office on Main Street, as contrasted with There is the post office) [ME modulacioun < L modulatio]
module (mäj´u:l') •n. 1 a standard or unit of measurement; specif., a) in classical architecture, the diameter, or one half the diameter, of a column at the base of the shaft, used to determine the proportions or the structure b) any of several standardized units of measurement used in architectural planning, in the construction of building materials, etc. {4-inch module, 2-foot module} Æ 2 a) any of a set of units, as cabinets, designed to be arranged or joined in a variety of ways b) a detachable section, compartment, or unit with a specific purpose or function, as in a spacecraft c) Electronics a compact assembly that is a component of a larger unit [Fr module < L modulus, dim. of modus: see MODE]
modulus (mäj´э lэs) pl. -u·li' (-lai') •n. 1 Math. a) the absolute value of a complex number, computed by adding the squares of each part and taking the positive square root of the sum (i.e.: the modulus of a + bi is √a² + b²) b) a quantity which gives the same remainders when it is the divisor of two quantities c) the factor by which a logarithm to one base is multiplied to change it to a logarithm to another base 2 Physics a quantity expressing the response of a sample of material to an external stimulus, as mechanical stress: the response is usually expressed as a fractional change in the physical quantity being affected [ModL < L: see MODULE]
modus operandi (mou´dэs ou'pэ rän´di:) a way of doing or accomplishing something [L]
modus vivendi (mou´dэs vi: ven´di:) 1 a way of living or of getting along 2 a temporary agreement in a dispute pending final settlement; compromise [L]
Moebius strip (mei´bi: эs, mou´-) MÖBIUS STRIP: also Moebius band
Moesia (mi:´shi: э, -shэ) ancient Roman province in SE Europe, between the Danube & the Balkan Mountains
Moeso-Goth or Moesogoth (mi:´sou gäθ', -göθ') •n. a member of a Gothic tribe that lived in Moesia (c. 300 A.D.)
Moeso-Gothic or Moesogothic (mi:'sou gäθ´ik) •adj. of the Moeso-Goths or their extinct, East Germanic language
moeurs (mëřs) •n.pl. the manners, customs, behavior, etc. of a given group [Fr]
mofette or moffette (mou fet´) •n. a vent or fissure in an area of recent volcanic activity, emitting steam, carbon dioxide, and, sometimes, other gases [Fr < It muffare, to be moldy < Ger muff, mold]
mog (mäg) mogged, mog´ging •vi. [Dial.] 1 to plod (along) steadily 2 to decamp; move away [< ?]
Mogadishu (mou'gä di:´shu:) capital of Somalia: seaport on the Indian Ocean: pop. 371,000: It. name Mo'ga·di´scio (-shou)
Mogen David (mou´gэn dei´vid, mö´gэn dö´vid) alt. sp. of MAGEN DAVID
Mogilev (mou´gэ lef') city in E Belarus, on the Dnepr: pop. 343,000
Mogul (mou´gûl', -gэl, mou gûl´) •n. 1 a Mongol, or Mongolian; esp. any of the Mongolian conquerors of India or their descendants 2 [m-] a powerful or important person, esp. one with autocratic power [Pers Mughul < Mongolian Mongol, a Mongol] mogul (mou´gэl) •n. Skiing a bump or ridge of closely packed snow, built up on a curve where skiers turn [< fol.: reason for use uncert.]
mohair (mou´her') •n. 1 the long, silky hair of the Angora goat 2 yarn, or any of several fabrics for clothing or upholstery, made from this hair, often mixed with other fibers •adj. made of or upholstered with mohair [altered (by assoc. with HAIR) < earlier mocayare < OIt mocajarro < Ar mukhayyar, fine cloth, lit., choice < pp. of khayyara, to select]
Moham Mohammedan
Mohammed (mou hæm´id) 1 c. A.D. 570-632; Arab prophet: founder of Islam 2 Mo·ham´med II 1430-81; sultan of Turkey (1451-81): captured Constantinople (1453) [Ar Muhammad, lit., praiseworthy]
Mohammed Ali var. of MEHEMET ALI
Mohammed Reza Pahlavi (ri: zä´ pä´lэ vi:) 1919-80; shah of Iran (1941-79); deposed
Mohammedan (mou hæm´i dэn) •adj. of Mohammed or Islam •n. MUSLIM This term used, esp. formerly, by non-Muslims
Mohammedanism (mou hæm´i dэn iz'эm) •n. ISLAM: term used, esp. formerly, by non-Muslims
Mohave (mou hä´vi:) •n. 1 pl. -ves or -ve a member of a North American Indian people who live along the Colorado River in Arizona 2 the Yuman language of this people •adj. designating or of the Mohaves or their language or culture [prob. self-designation < ?]
Mohave Desert alt. sp. of MOJAVE DESERT
Mohawk (mou´hök') •n. 1 pl. -hawks' or -hawk' a member of a North American Indian people who lived in the Mohawk Valley, New York, and now live in Ontario, Quebec, and New York: see FIVE NATIONS 2 the Iroquoian language of this people •adj. designating or of the Mohawks or their language or culture [Narragansett mohowawog, lit., man-eaters: orig. so named by enemy tribes] Mohawk (mou´hök') river in central & E N.Y., flowing into the Hudson: c. 140 mi. (225 km) [after prec.]
Mohegan (mou hi:´gэn) pl. -gans •n.or -gan a member of a North American Indian people who lived in Connecticut, along the Thames River •adj. designating or of the Mohegans or their culture [earlier Monahegan < Massachusett, a local place name]
mohel (mou´эl; Heb mô heil´) pl. mo´hel·im (-im; Heb mô'hei li:m´) •n. Judaism a person qualified to perform the brith milah, or rite of circumcision [Heb]
Mohenjo-Daro (mou hen´jou dä´rou) an archaeological site in the Indus valley of Pakistan, NE of Karachi, containing ruins of cities from c. 3000 to c. 1500 B.C.
Mohican (mou hi:´kэn) •n., adj. var. of MAHICAN
Moho (mou´hou') short for MOHOROVIČIČ DISCONTINUITY
Mohock (mou´häk') •n. any of a gang of rowdy young men of fashion who attacked and terrorized people in the streets of London in the early 18th cent. [var. of MOHAWK]
Mohole (mou´houl') •n. a proposed hole to be drilled beneath the sea through the earth's crust and the Mohorovičić discontinuity to the mantle [MO(HO) + HOLE]
Mohorovičić discontinuity (mou'hou rou´vэ chich') Geol. an irregular dividing line separating the earth's crust from its underlying mantle, situated c. 35 km (c. 21.7 mi.) below the continents and c. 5 to 10 km (c. 3.1 to 6.2 mi.) below the ocean floor [after A. Mohorovičić (1857-1936), Yugoslav geologist]
Mohs' scale (mouz) Mineralogy 1 an arbitrary scale used to indicate relative hardness, arranged in 10 ascending degrees: 1, talc; 2, gypsum; 3, calcite; 4, fluorite; 5, apatite; 6, orthoclase; 7, quartz; 8, topaz; 9, corundum; 10, diamond 2 a modification of this scale, retaining its first six minerals and continuing: 7, pure silica glass; 8, quartz; 9, topaz; 10, garnet; 11, fused zircon; 12, corundum; 13, silicon carbide; 14, boron carbide; 15, diamond [after F. Mohs (1773-1839), Ger mineralogist]
mohur (mou´hэr) •n. a former gold coin of India, equal to 15 rupees [Hindi muhur, muhr < Pers muhr, a seal, akin to Sans mudrā, a seal]
moidore (moi´dör') •n. a former gold coin of Portugal and Brazil [Port moeda d'ouro, lit., coin of gold < L moneta, money + aurum, gold]
moiety (moi´э ti:) pl. -ties •n. 1 a half; either of two equal, or more or less equal, parts 2 an indefinite share or part 3 Anthrop. either of two primary subdivisions in some tribes [ME moite < OFr < L medietas, the middle (in LL, half, moiety) < medius: see MID¹]
moil (moil) •vi. [Dial.] to toil; drudge •vt. [Archaic] to moisten or soil •n. 1 drudgery; hard work 2 confusion; turmoil moil´er •n. [ME moillen, to moisten, make wet < OFr moillier < VL *molliare, to soften < L mollis, soft: see MOLLIFY]
Moira (moi´rэ) Gr. Myth. fate or destiny [Gr: see MERIT]
moire (mwär, mör) •n. a fabric, esp. silk, rayon, or acetate, having a watered, or wavy, pattern [Fr, watered silk < MOHAIR]
moiré (mwä rei´, mö-; mör´ei) •adj. having a watered, or wavy, pattern, as certain fabrics, stamps, or metal surfaces •n. 1 a watered pattern pressed into cloth, etc. with engraved rollers 2 MOIRE [Fr, pp. of moirer, to water < moire: see MOIRE]
moist (moist) •adj. 1 slightly wet; damp 2 suggestive of the presence of liquid {a moist sound} 3 tearful SYN. WET moist´ly •adv. moist´ness •n. [OFr moiste < VL *muscidus, altered (prob. infl. by L musteus, of new wine, fresh < mustum, MUST³) < L mucidus, moldy < mucus, MUCUS]
moisten (mois´эn) •vt., vi. to make or become moist mois´ten·er •n.
moisture (mois´chэr) •n. water or other liquid causing a slight wetness or dampness mois´ture·less •adj. [OFr moisteur < moiste: see MOIST]
moisturize (-aiz') -ized', -iz'ing •vt., vi. to add, provide, or restore moisture to (the skin, air, etc.) mois´tur·iz'er •n.
Mojave (mou hä´vi:) •n., adj. MOHAVE
Mojave Desert desert in SE Calif.: c. 15,000 sq. mi. (38,850 sq. km)
mojo (mou´jou) •n. 1 a charm or amulet thought to have magic powers 2 [Black Slang] power, luck, etc., as of magical or supernatural origin [prob. of creole orig.; cf. Gullah moco, witchcraft]
moke (mouk) •n. 1 [Brit. Slang] a) a donkey b) a stupid fellow 2 [Austral.] an inferior horse; nag [< ?]
mol (moul) •n. MOLE4 mol abbrev. 1 molecular 2 molecule
mol wt molecular weight
mola¹ (mou´lэ) pl. mo´las •n.or mo´la OCEAN SUNFISH [ModL < L, a millstone (see MILL¹): so named from its rough skin and round shape]
mola² (mou´lэ, -lä) •n. a fabric made by Panamanian Indians with designs cut through several layers, used for clothing, wall hangings, etc.
molal (mou´lэl) •adj. Chem. relating to the mole or gram-molecular weight; specif., designating a solution with a concentration equal to one mole of the solute in 1,000 grams of the solvent
molar¹ (mou´lэr) •adj. 1 used for or capable of grinding 2 designating or of a tooth or teeth adapted for grinding •n. a molar tooth: in humans there are usually twelve permanent molars, three on each side of each jaw behind the bicuspids: see TEETH, illus. [L molaris, a mill < mola, millstone: see MILL¹]
molar² (mou´lэr) •adj. 1 Chem. relating to the mole, or gram-molecular weight; specif., designating a solution containing one mole of solute per liter of solution [MOL(E)4 + -AR] 2 Physics of a body (of matter) as a whole [< L moles, mass (see MOLE³) + -AR]
molasses (mэ læs´iz) •n. a thick, usually dark-brown syrup produced during the refining of sugar, or from sorghum, etc. [< Port melaço < LL mellaceum, must < L mellaceus, resembling honey < mel, honey: see MILDEW]
mold¹ (mould) •n. 1 a pattern, hollow form, or matrix for giving a certain shape to something in a plastic or molten state 2 a frame, shaped core, etc. on or around which something is modeled 3 a pattern after which something is formed; model 4 something formed or shaped in or on, or as if in or on, a mold; often, specif., a gelatin dessert, aspic, etc. so prepared 5 a) the form or shape given by a mold b) form or shape in general 6 distinctive character or nature {men of his mold} 7 Archit. a molding or group of moldings •vt. 1 to make or shape in or on, or as if in or on, a mold 2 to work into a certain form or shape; shape 3 to have a strong or important influence on (public opinion, thought, etc.) 4 to fit closely to the outline or contours of 5 to ornament by or with molding 6 to make a mold of or from in order to make a casting mold´a·ble •adj. mold´er •n. [ME moolde < OFr molle, earlier modle < L modulus: see MODULE]
mold² (mould) •n. 1 a downy or furry growth on the surface of organic matter, caused by fungi, esp. in the presence of dampness or decay 2 any fungus producing such a growth •vt., vi. to make or become moldy [< ME moulen (with unhistoric -d-] [ME moul, mowlde, mold, mildew < or akin to ON mygla < IE base *meug-, *meuk-: see MEEK; sp. prob. infl. by fol.]
mold³ (mould) •n. 1 loose, soft, easily worked soil, esp. when rich with decayed animal or vegetable matter and good for growing plants 2 [Archaic] earth or ground [ME mold < OE molde, dust, ground, earth, akin to Goth mulda < IE base *mel-, to rub away, grind > L molere, to grind, MILL¹]
Moldau (môl´dau') Ger. name of VLTAVA
Moldavia (mäl dei´vi: э, -deiv´yэ) 1 region & former principality in E Europe, east of the Carpathians: merged with Walachia (1861) to form Romania 2 MOLDAVIAN SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLIC Mol·da´vi·an •adj., n.