MAINS, m[=a]nz, _n._ (_Scot._) the principal or home farm.
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MAINTAIN, men-t[=a]n', _v.t._ to keep in any state: to keep possession of: to preserve from capture or loss: to carry on: to keep up: to support: to make good: to support by argument: to affirm: to defend.--_v.i._ to affirm, as a position: to assert.--_adj._ MAINTAIN'ABLE, that can be supported or defended.--_ns._ MAINTAIN'ER, one who maintains; MAIN'TENANCE, the act of maintaining, supporting, or defending: continuance: the means of support: defence, protection: (_law_) an interference in a lawsuit, &c., in favour of one of the parties, by one who has no right or interest.--CAP OF MAINTENANCE, a cap of dignity borne by or before nobles and other persons of rank. [Fr. _maintenir_--L. _manu ten[=e]re_, to hold in the hand--_manus_, a hand, _ten[=e]re_, to hold.]
MAISTER, m[=a]s't[.e]r, _n._ an obsolete form of MASTER.--MAISTERY=MASTERY; MAISTRING=MASTERING; MAiTRE=MASTER.
MAIZE, m[=a]z, _n._ a plant, and its fruit, called also _Indian corn_ or _wheat._ [Sp.,--Haitian.]
MAJESTY, maj'es-ti, _n._ greatness: grandeur: dignity: elevation of manner or style: royal state: a title of kings and other sovereigns, esp. with possessive pronouns, as _His_ or _Her Majesty_, &c.: a symbolic representation of the first person of the Trinity enthroned: the canopy of a hearse: (_her._) an eagle crowned and sceptred.--_adjs._ MAJES'TIC, -AL, having or exhibiting majesty: stately: sublime.--_adv._ MAJES'TICALLY, in a majestic manner.--_n._ MAJES'TICALNESS, MAJES'TICNESS, majesty. [Fr.
_majeste_--L. _majestas_--_majus_, comp. of _magnus_, great.]
MAJOLICA, ma-jol'i-ka, _n._ name applied to decorative enamelled pottery, esp. that of Italy from the 15th to the 17th cent.: a modern ware in imitation, used for vases, &c. [From _Majorca_, where first made.]
MAJOR, m[=a]'jur, _adj._ greater in number, quantity, or size: more important: (_mus._) greater by a semitone.--_n._ a person of full age (21 years): an officer in rank between a captain and lieutenant-colonel.--_v.i._ to play the major, to talk big.--_ns._ MAJORAT (ma-zh[=o]-ra'), primogeniture; M[=A]'JORATE, M[=A]'JORSHIP, the office or rank of major: majority; M[=A]'JOR-D[=O]'MO, an official who has the general management in a large household: a general steward: a chief minister (Sp. _mayor-domo_, a house-steward--L. _major_, greater, _domus_, a house); M[=A]'JOR-GEN'ERAL, an officer in the army next in rank below a lieutenant-general; MAJOR'ITY, the greater number: the amount between the greater and the less number: full age (at 21): the office or rank of major.--MAJOR KEY (_mus._), a key in which the semitones lie between the third and fourth, and seventh and eighth; MAJOR PREMISE (_logic_), the principal or major statement in a syllogism; MAJOR SCALE (see MAJOR KEY).--GO OVER TO, or JOIN, THE MAJORITY, to die; THE MAJORITY, the GREAT MAJORITY, the dead. [L., comp. of _magnus_.]
MAJUSCULE, m[=a]-jus'k[=u]l, _n._ in paleography, a capital or uncial letter:--opp. to _Minuscule_. [L. _majuscula_ (_litera_), a somewhat larger letter.]
MAKE, m[=a]k, _v.t._ to fashion, frame, or form: to produce: to bring about: to perform: to force: to render: to represent, or cause to appear to be: to turn: to occasion: to bring into any state or condition: to establish: to prepare: to obtain: to ascertain: to arrive in sight of: to reach: (_B._) to be occupied with: to do.--_v.i._ to tend or move: to contribute: (_B._) to feign or pretend:--_pa.t._ and _pa.p._ m[=a]de.--_n._ form or shape: structure, texture.--_v.i._ MAKE'-BELIEVE', to pretend, feign.--_n._ a mere pretence.--_ns._ MAKE'-PEACE (_Shak._), a peace-maker; MAK'ER, one who makes: the Creator: a poet; MAKE'SHIFT, something done or used to serve a shift or turn: something used only for a time.--_adj._ having the character of a temporary resource.--_ns._ MAKE'-UP, the way anything is arranged: an actor's materials for personating a part: (_print._) the arrangement of composed types into columns or pages, as in imposition; MAKE'-WEIGHT, that which is thrown into a scale to make up the weight: something of little value added to supply a deficiency; MAK'ING, the act of forming: structure: form.--MAKE ACCOUNT OF (see ACCOUNT); MAKE A FIGURE, to be conspicuous; MAKE AFTER, to follow or pursue; MAKE AMENDS, to render compensation or satisfaction; MAKE AS IF, to act as if, to pretend that; MAKE AT, to make a hostile movement against; MAKE AWAY, to put out of the way, to destroy; MAKE AWAY WITH, to squander; MAKE BELIEVE (see BELIEVE); MAKE BOLD (see BOLD); MAKE FOR, to move toward, to tend to the advantage of--so in _B._; MAKE FREE WITH, to treat freely or without ceremony; MAKE GOOD, to maintain, to justify, to fulfil; MAKE HEAD AGAINST, to oppose successfully; MAKE LIGHT of (see LIGHT); MAKE LITTLE OF, to treat as insignificant; MAKE LOVE TO (see LOVE); MAKE MUCH OF, to treat with fondness, to cherish, to foster; MAKE NO DOUBT, to have no doubt, to be confident; MAKE OF, to understand by, to effect: to esteem; MAKE OFF WITH, to run away with; MAKE ONE'S WAY, to proceed: to succeed; MAKE OUT, to discover: to prove: to furnish: to succeed; MAKE OVER, to remake, reconstruct: to transfer; MAKE PACE, to increase the speed; MAKE SAIL, to increase the quantity of sail: to set sail; MAKE SURE, to be certain of; MAKE SURE OF, to consider as certain, to secure to one's self; MAKE THE MOST OF, to use to the best advantage; MAKE UP, to fabricate: to feign: to collect into one: to complete, supplement: to assume a particular form of features: to determine: to reckon: to make good: to repair: to harmonise, adjust; MAKE UP FOR, to compensate; MAKE UP TO, to approach: to become friendly. [A.S. _macian_; Ger. _machen_.]
MAKE, m[=a]k, _n._ (_Spens._) a mate, consort, equal.--_adj._ MAKE'LESS (_Shak._), without a make or mate. [A.S. _ge-maca_; Ice. _maki_, a mate.]
MAKETH, m[=a]k'eth, old 3d pers. sing. pres. ind. of _make_.
MAKIMONO, mak-i-m[=o]'n[=o], _n._ a roll, as of silk, esp. a long picture or writing rolled up and not hung. [Jap.]
MAKWA, mak'wa, _n._ a Chinese short outer jacket.
MALACHITE, mal'a-k[=i]t, _n._ a green-coloured mineral, composed essentially of carbonate of copper, much used for inlaid-work. [Gr.
_malach[=e]_, a mallow, a plant of a green colour.]
MALACOLITE, mal'a-k[=o]-l[=i]t, _n._ a greenish lime-magnesia variety of pyroxene.
MALACOLOGY, mal-a-kol'o-ji, _n._ the branch of natural history which treats of the structure and habits of molluscs.--_adj._ MAL'ACOID, soft-bodied.--_n._ MALACOL'OGIST. [Gr. _malakos_, soft, _logia_, a discourse.]
MALACOPTERYGIAN, mal-a-kop-t[.e]r-ij'i-an, _adj._ having the rays of the fins soft, excepting the first ray of the dorsal and pectoral fins, as in the pike, salmon, &c.--Also MALACOPTERYG'IOUS. [Gr. _malakos_, soft, _pteryx_, _pterygos_, a wing.]
MALACOSTRACAN, mal-a-kos'tra-kan, _n._ an individual belonging to a sub-class of crustaceans, including the shrimps, lobsters, &c.--_adj._ belonging to this class--also MALACOS'TRACOUS.--_adj._ MALACOSTRACOLOG'ICAL.--_ns._ MALACOSTRACOL'OGIST; MALACOSTRACOL'OGY. [Gr.
_malakos_, soft, _ostrakon_, a shell.]
MALACOZOA, mal-a-ko-z[=o]'a, _n.pl._ soft-bodied animals, the Mollusca generally.--_adj._ MALACOZ[=O]'IC, possessing the common features of molluscan life.
MALADAPTATION, mal-ad-ap-t[=a]'shun, _n._ faulty adaptation.
MALADDRESS, mal-a-dres', _n._ awkwardness: clumsiness.
MALADJUSTMENT, mal-ad-just'ment, _n._ a wrong adjustment.
MALADMINISTRATION, mal-ad-min-is-tr[=a]'shun, _n._ bad management, esp. of public affairs.
MALADROIT, mal-a-droit', _adj._ not dexterous: unskilful: clumsy.--_adv._ MALADROIT'LY.--_n._ MALADROIT'NESS, want of adroitness: awkwardness.
MALADY, mal'a-di, _n._ illness: disease, either of the body or of the mind.
[Fr. _maladie_--_malade_, sick--L. _male habitus_, in ill condition--_male_, badly, _habitus_, pa.p. of _hab[=e]re_, have, hold.]
MALAGA, mal'a-ga, _n._ a wine imported from _Malaga_ in Spain.
MALAGASY, mal-a-gas'i, _adj._ of or pertaining to Madagascar or its inhabitants.--_n._ a native of Madagascar.--Also MALAGASH'.
MALAGUETTA PEPPER. See PEPPER.
MALAISE, ma-l[=a]z', _n._ uneasiness: a feeling of discomfort or of sickness. [O. Fr. _malaise_.]
MALAPERT, mal'a-p[.e]rt, _adj._ bold: forward: saucy: impudent.--_adv._ MAL'APERTLY.--_n._ MAL'APERTNESS. [O. Fr., _mal_--L. _malus_, bad, _apert_, well-bred--L. _apertus_, open.]
MALAPPROPRIATE, mal-a-pr[=o]'pri-[=a]t, _v.t._ to misuse.--_adj._ MALAPROPOS (mal-ap-ro-p[=o]'), out of place: unsuitable: inapt.--_adv._ badly apropos: not suited to the purpose: unseasonably.
MALAPROPISM, mal'a-prop-izm, _n._ the act of misapplying words, in the attempt to use fine language, from Mrs _Malaprop_ in Sheridan's play, _The Rivals_.
MALAR, m[=a]'lar, _adj._ pertaining to the cheek.--_n._ the bone which forms the prominence of the cheek. [L. _mala_, the cheek--_mand[)e]re_, to chew.]
MALARIA, ma-l[=a]'ri-a, _n._ the poisonous air arising from marshy districts, producing fever, &c.: miasma: the fever so caused.--_adjs._ MAL[=A]'RIOUS, MAL[=A]'RIAL, MAL[=A]'RIAN. [It. _mal' aria_--L. _malus_, bad, _aer_, air.]
MALASSIMILATION, mal-a-sim-i-l[=a]'shun, _n._ imperfect assimilation or nutrition.
MALAY, -AN, ma-l[=a]', -an, _n._ a native or inhabitant of _Malacca_, or of the _Malay_ Archipelago.--_adj._ of or pertaining to the Malays.--_n._ MALAYa'LAM, the language of Malabar, a Dravidian dialect.--_adj._ MALAY'SIAN, relating to the Malay Peninsula, or to the Malays.
MALCONFORMATION, mal-kon-for-m[=a]'shun, _n._ bad conformation or form: imperfection or disproportion of parts.
MALCONTENT, mal'kon-tent, _adj._ discontented, dissatisfied, esp. in political matters.--_n._ one discontented--also MALCONTENT'ED.--_adv._ MALCONTENT'EDLY.--_n._ MALCONTENT'EDNESS.--_adv._ MALCONTENT'LY.
MALE, m[=a]l, _n._ (_Spens._) mail, armour.
MALE, m[=a]l, _adj._ masculine: pertaining to the sex that begets (not bears) young: (_bot._) bearing stamens.--_n._ one of the male sex: a he-animal: a stamen-bearing plant.--_n._ MALE'-FERN, an elegant fern, with the fronds growing in a crown.--MALE ORDER, in architecture, the Doric order; MALE RHYMES, those in which only the final syllables correspond; MALE SCREW, a screw whose threads correspond to and enter the spiral grooves of the female screw. [O. Fr. _male_--L. _masculus_, male--_mas_, a male.]
MALEDICTION, mal-e-dik'shun, _n._ evil-speaking: a calling down of evil: curse: execration or imprecation.--_adjs._ MALEDICT'ORY, imprecatory; MALEDIKT', accursed. [O. Fr.,--L. _malediction-em_--_male_, badly, _dic[)e]re_, _dictum_, to speak.]
MALEFACTOR, mal'e-fak-tur, or mal-e-fak'tur, _n._ an evil-doer: a criminal.--_n._ MALEFAC'TION (_Shak._), a crime, an offence.--_adj._ MALEF'IC, doing mischief: producing evil.--_adv._ MALEF'ICALLY.--_v.t._ MALEF'ICATE, to bewitch.--_ns._ MAL'EFICE (_obs._), an evil deed: enchantment; MALEF'ICENCE, the character of being maleficent.--_adjs._ MALEF'ICENT, MALEFIC'IENT. [L., _male_, badly, _fac[)e]re_, to do.]
MALEIC, ma-l[=e]'ik, _adj._ obtained from malic acid.
MALENGINE, ma-len'jin, _n._ (_Spens._) evil device, deceit. [L. _malus_, bad, _ingenium_, ingenuity.]
MALETOTE, mal'e-t[=o]t, _n._ an illegal exaction.--Also MAL'ETOLT. [O. Fr.]
MALEVOLENT, mal-ev'o-lent, _adj._ wishing evil: ill-disposed towards others: rejoicing in another's misfortune: envious: malicious--also MALEV'OLOUS.--_n._ MALEV'OLENCE.--_adv._ MALEV'OLENTLY. [L. _male_, badly, _volens_, pr.p. of _velle_, to wish.]
MALFEASANCE, mal-f[=e]'zans, _n._ evil-doing: the doing of what one ought not to do: an illegal deed. [Fr. _malfaisance_--L. _male_, evil, _fac[)e]re_, to do.]