MEDIaeVAL, MEDIaeVALIST. See MEDIEVAL.
MEDIAL, m[=e]'di-al, _adj._ lying between two extremes, median: of or pertaining to a mean or average.--_n._ one of the sonant-mute group, _g_, _d_, _b_, intermediate between the surd or smooth group (_c_, _t_, _p_) and the rough or aspirate group (_gh_, _dh_, _bh_, _kh_, _th_, _ph_). [Low L.
_medialis_--L. _medius_, middle.]
MEDIAN, m[=e]'di-an, _adj._ being in the middle, running through the middle: situated in the median plane, that dividing the body longitudinally into symmetrical halves.--_adv._ MED'IANLY.--_n._ MED'IANT (_mus._), the third tone of a diatonic scale. [L. _medianus_--_medius_, middle.]
MEDIAN, m[=e]'di-an, _adj._ pertaining to _Media_ or the _Medes_, an ancient Aryan race which became fused with the Persians under the victorious Cyrus about 550 B.C.--_n._ MEDE, a member of this race.
MEDIASTINUM, m[=e]-di-as-t[=i]'num, _n._ a membranous septum or cavity between two principal portions of an organ, esp. the folds of the pleura and the space between the right and left lungs.--_adj._ MEDIAST[=I]'NAL.
[L., _medius_.]
MEDIATE, m[=e]'di-[=a]t, _adj._ middle: between two extremes: acting by or as a means: not direct and independent: dependent on some intervening thing.--_v.i._ to interpose between parties as a friend of each: to intercede: to hold a mediate position: to act as a spiritualistic medium.--_v.t._ to bring about by mediation: to effect a relation between two things.--_n._ M[=E]'DIACY.--_adv._ M[=E]'DIATELY.--_ns._ M[=E]'DIATENESS, state of being mediate; MEDI[=A]'TION, the act of mediating or coming between: entreaty for another; MEDIATIS[=A]'TION.--_v.t._ M[=E]'DIAT[=I]SE, to cause to act in a subordinate position or through an agent: to annex, or to subordinate, as a smaller state to a larger neighbouring one.--_adj._ M[=E]'DIATIVE.--_n._ M[=E]'DIATOR, one who mediates between parties at strife:--_fem._ MEDIAT'RESS, M[=E]'DIATRIX.--_adj._ MEDIAT[=O]'RIAL, belonging to a mediator or intercessor.--_adv._ MEDIAT[=O]'RIALLY.--_n._ MEDIAT'ORSHIP, the office of a mediator.--_adj._ M[=E]'DIATORY. [Low L. _medi[=a]re_, _-[=a]tum_--L. _medius_.]
MEDIC, med'ik, _n._ one of several plants of the genus _Medicago_, esp. the purple medic or lucerne--leguminous plants, with leaves like those of clover.--Also MED'ICK. [L. _medica_--Gr. _m[=e]dik[=e]_ (_poa_), 'median'
(grass).]
MEDICAL, med'i-kal, _adj._ relating to the art of healing diseases: containing that which heals: intended to promote the study of medicine.--_adv._ MED'ICALLY.--MEDICAL JURISPRUDENCE (see JURISPRUDENCE).
[Fr.,--Low L. _medicalis_--L. _medicus_, pertaining to healing, a physician--_med[=e]ri_, to heal.]
MEDICATE, med'i-k[=a]t, _v.t._ to treat with medicine: to impregnate with anything medicinal.--_adj._ MED'ICABLE, that may be healed.--_n._ MED'ICAMENT, anything used for healing: a medicine: healing power.--_adj._ MEDICAMEN'TAL.--_n._ MED'ICASTER, an ignorant physician.--_adj._ MED'ICATED, mixed with medicine: made medicinal: treated with medicine.--_n._ MEDIC[=A]'TION, the act or process of medicating or of mixing with medicinal substances: the use of medicine.--_adj._ MED'ICATIVE, having the power of healing: tending to heal.--_n._ MEDIC[=A]'TOR, any medical appliance. [L. _medic[=a]re_, to heal--_medicus_.]
MEDICEAN, med-i-s[=e]'an, _adj._ relating to the _Medici_, a distinguished Florentine family which attained to sovereign power in the 15th century, and became extinct in 1737.
MEDICINE, med'i-sin, or med'sin, _n._ anything applied for the cure or lessening of disease or pain, whether simple or compound (made up of more than one ingredient): the science which treats of the prevention or cure of disease: a charm.--_v.t._ to treat or cure by medicine.--_adj._ MEDIC'INAL, relating to medicine: fitted to cure or to lessen disease or pain.--_adv._ MEDIC'INALLY.--_ns._ MED'ICINE-BAG, a Red Indian's receptacle for charms; MED'ICINE-CHEST, a chest for keeping medicines in a ship, &c.; MED'ICINE-MAN, among savages, a witch-doctor or exorciser.--_adjs._ MED'ICO-CHIRUR'GICAL, relating to both medicine and surgery; MED'ICO-L[=E]'GAL, relating to the application of medicine to questions of law. [Fr.,--L. _medicina_--_medicus_.]
MEDIEVAL, MEDIaeVAL, m[=e]-di-[=e]'val, _adj._ relating to the Middle Ages.--_ns._ MEDI[=E]'VALISM, the spirit of the Middle Ages, devotion to medieval ideals; MEDI[=E]'VALIST, MEDIae'VALIST, one versed in the history of the Middle Ages.--MEDIEVAL ARCHITECTURE, MEDIEVAL ART, the style of architecture and art used in public buildings in Europe from the 4th to the 16th century. [L. _medius_, middle, _aevum_, age.]
MEDIO-, MEDI-, middle, in compounds like _mediocarpal_, _mediodorsal_, _mediotarsal_, _medioventral_. [L. _medius_, middle.]
MEDIOCRE, m[=e]'di-[=o]-k[.e]r, _adj._ of middling extent or quality: moderate.--_n._ MEDIOC'RITY, a middle state or condition: a moderate degree: a person of little power or importance. [Fr.,--L.
_mediocris_--_medius_, middle.]
MEDISM, m[=e]d'izm, _n._ the adoption of Persian interests--to a Greek, a treachery to his country.
MEDITATE, med'i-t[=a]t, _v.i._ to consider thoughtfully: to purpose (with on, upon).--_v.t._ to think on: to revolve in the mind: to intend.--_adj._ MED'ITATED, thought of: planned.--_n._ MEDIT[=A]'TION, the act of meditating: deep thought: serious contemplation: the direction of the thoughts of others, in a discourse, &c.: a literary or musical theme treated in a meditative manner.--_adj._ MED'ITATIVE, given to meditation: expressing design.--_adv._ MED'ITATIVELY.--_n._ MED'ITATIVENESS. [L.
_medit[=a]ri_, prob. cog. with L. _med[=e]ri_, to heal.]
MEDITERRANEAN, med-i-t[.e]r-r[=a]'ne-an, _adj._ situated in the middle of earth or land: inland--also MEDITERR[=A]'NEOUS.--MEDITERRANEAN SEA, so called from being, as it were, in the middle of the land of the Old World.
[L., _medius_, middle, _terra_, earth.]
MEDIUM, m[=e]'di-um, _n._ the middle: the middle place or degree: any intervening means, instrument, or agency: the substance in which bodies exist, or through which they move: in spiritualism, the person through whom spirits are said to make themselves seen or heard:--_pl._ M[=E]'DIUMS, or M[=E]'DIA.--_adjs._ M[=E]'DIUM, mediocre; MEDIUMIS'TIC, of or pertaining to spiritualistic mediums.--CIRCULATING MEDIUM, money passing from hand to hand, as coin, bank-notes, &c. [L.]
MEDIUS, m[=e]'di-us, _n._ the middle finger of the hand.
MEDJIDIE, me-jid'i-e, _n._ a Turkish order of knighthood instituted in 1852, having five classes. [Turk. _mej[=i]d_, glorious.]
MEDLAR, med'lar, _n._ a small tree of the rose family, or its fruit. [O.
Fr. _meslier_, a medlar-tree--L. _mespilum_--Gr. _mespilon_.]
MEDLEY, med'li, _n._ a mingled and confused mass: a miscellany: a song or piece of music made up of bits from various sources continuously: a cloth woven from yarn of different colours: (_obs._) a melee, fight. [O. Fr.
_medler_, _mesler_, to mix.]
MeDOC, me-dok', _n._ a French wine produced in the district of _Medoc_, department of Gironde.
MEDORRHEA, m[=e]-dor-[=e]'a, _n._ mucous discharge from the genitals. [Gr.
_m[=e]dos_, bladder, _rhoia_, a flowing.]
MEDULLA, me-dul'a, _n._ the inner portion of an organ or part, as the pith of a hair, spinal cord, or its continuation within the cranium, (_medulla oblongata_): the pith of a plant, the thallus in lichens, &c.--_adjs._ MEDULL'AR, -Y, consisting of, or resembling, marrow or pith; MED'ULLATED, provided with a medullary sheath.--_n._ MEDULL'IN, the cellulose in the medulla of plants like the lilac.--_adj._ MED'ULLOSE, like pith.--MEDULLARY RAYS, the bands of cells in various trees extending across the wood from the pith to the bark; MEDULLARY SHEATH (_bot._), a thin layer surrounding the pith. [L. _medulla_, marrow.]
MEDUSA, me-d[=u]'sa, _n._ one of the three Gorgons, whose head, cut off by Perseus, and placed in the aegis of Minerva, had the power of turning those who looked on it into stone: the name given to the common kinds of jelly-fishes, prob. from the likeness of their tentacles to the snakes on Medusa's head:--_pl._ MED[=U]'Sae, a division of hydrozoans.--_adjs._ MED[=U]'SIFORM, MED[=U]'SOID--also _ns._ [Gr., 'ruler,' fem.]
MEED, m[=e]d, _n._ wages: reward: what is bestowed for merit. [A.S. _med_, _meord_; Ger. _miethe_.]
MEEK, m[=e]k, _adj._ mild and gentle of temper: submissive.--_adv._ MEEK'LY.--_n._ MEEK'NESS, state or quality of being meek. [Ice. _mjukr_; Dut. _muik_.]
MEER, m[=e]r, _n._ a form of _mere_.
MEERSCHAUM, m[=e]r'shawm, _n._ a fine light whitish clay making excellent tobacco-pipes--once supposed to be a petrified sea-scum: a pipe made of this material. [Ger. _meer_, sea, _schaum_, foam.]
MEET, m[=e]t, _adj._ fitting: qualified.--_adv._ MEET'LY.--_n._ MEET'NESS.
[A.S. _ge-met_--_metan_, to measure.]
MEET, m[=e]t, _v.t._ to come face to face: to encounter in conflict: to find or experience; to refute: be suitable to: satisfy, as by payment: to receive as a welcome.--_v.i._ to come together from different points: to assemble: to have an encounter: to balance or come out correct:--_pa.t._ and _pa.p._ met.--_n._ a meeting, as of huntsmen.--_ns._ MEET'ING, a coming face to face for friendly or hostile ends: an interview: an assembly: a crossing of two roads: a junction of two rivers; MEET'ING-HOUSE, a house or building where people, esp. Dissenters, meet for public worship; RACE'-MEET'ING, a stated occasion for horse-racing.--MEET HALF-WAY, to make mutual concessions; MEET THE EAR, or EYE, to be told, or shown, anything distinctly: to be readily apparent; MEET WITH, to come to or upon, esp.
unexpectedly: (_Bacon_) to obviate (as an objection).--WELL MET, an old complimentary greeting. [A.S. _metan_, to meet--_mot_, _ge-mot_, a meeting.]
MEGACEPHALOUS, meg-a-sef'a-lus, _adj._ large-headed.
MEGAFARAD, meg'a-far-ad, _n._ in electrometry, a unit equal to a million farads.
MEGALICHTHYS, meg-a-lik'this, _n._ a genus of extinct ganoid fishes. [Gr.
_megas_, _megal[=e]_, great, _ichthys_, a fish.]
MEGALITH, meg'a-lith, _n._ a huge stone.--_adj._ MEGALITH'IC. [Gr. _megas_, great, _lithos_, a stone.]
MEGALOMANIA, meg-a-l[=o]-m[=a]'ni-a, _n._ the delusion that one is great or powerful. [Gr. _megas_, great, _mania_.]
MEGALOSAURUS, meg-a-l[=o]-saw'rus, _n._ a gigantic extinct reptile of carnivorous habits.--_adj._ MEGALOSAU'RIAN. [Gr. _megas_, _megal[=e]_, great, _sauros_, a lizard.]
MEGAPHONE, meg'a-f[=o]n, _n._ an appliance for making words audible--a form of speaking-trumpet.
MEGAPODIDae, meg-a-pod'i-d[=e], _n._ mound-birds (q.v.).
MEGASCOPE, meg'a-sk[=o]p, _n._ a form of solar microscope for throwing enlarged images on a screen: (_phot._) an enlarging camera.
MEGATHERIUM, meg-a-th[=e]'ri-um, _n._ a gigantic extinct quadruped of the order _Edentata_, found in the pampas of South America. [Gr. _megas_, great, _th[=e]rion_, wild beast.]
MEGILP, me-gilp'. See MAGILP.
MEGOHM, meg'[=o]m, _n._ a unit of electrical resistance, equal to one million ohms. [Gr. _megas_, great, and _ohm_.]