METER, m[=e]'t[.e]r, _n._ one who, or that which, measures, esp. an apparatus for recording automatically the quantity of a fluid passing through it, as in _gas-meter_, _water-meter_, &c.--_v.t._ to measure by a meter.--_n._ M[=E]'TERAGE.--DRY METER, a gas-meter with bellows-like apparatus and no liquid. [_Metre_.]
METHANE, meth'[=a]n, _n._ marsh-gas, the simplest hydrocarbon, found wherever the decomposition of vegetable matter is taking place under water, also in coal-mines, forming when mixed with air the deadly fire-damp.--_n._ METHANOM'ETER.
METHEGLIN, meth-eg'lin, _n._ mead, a fermented liquor made from honey.--_n._ METHER (-th'-) a vessel for mead. [W. _meddyglyn_--_medd_, mead, _llyn_, liquor.]
METHINKS, me-thingks', (_B._) METHINK'ETH, _v.impers._ it seems to me: I think:--_pa.t._ methought (me-thawt'). [A.S. _me thyncth_, it seems to me.
_yncan_, to seem, is often confused with _encan_, to think. Cf. Ger.
_dunken_, to seem, _denken_, to think.]
METHOD, meth'ud, _n._ the mode or rule of accomplishing an end: orderly procedure: manner: orderly arrangement: system, rule, classification: manner of performance: an instruction-book systematically arranged.--_adjs._ METHOD'IC, -AL, arranged with method: disposed in a just and natural manner: formal.--_adv._ METHOD'ICALLY.--_v.t._ METH'ODISE, to reduce to method: to dispose in due order.--_ns._ METH'ODISM, the principles and practice of the Methodists; METH'ODIST, one who observes method: one of a sect of Christians founded by John Wesley (1703-91), noted for the strictness of its discipline: one who is very strict in religion.--_adjs._ METHODIST'IC, -AL, resembling the Methodists: strict in religious matters.--_adv._ METHODIST'ICALLY.--_n._ METHODOL'OGY, the science of method in scientific procedure. [Fr.,--L. _methodus_--Gr.
_methodos_--_meta_, after, _hodos_, a way.]
METHOMANIA, meth-o-m[=a]'ni-a, _n._ morbid craving for alcohol. [Gr.
_methy_, drink, _mania_, madness.]
METHOUGHT. See METHINKS.
METHUSELAH, me-th[=u]'ze-la, _n._ a patriarch said to have lived 969 years (Gen. v. 27): any very aged person.
METHYL, meth'il, _n._ (_chem._) the name given to the hypothetical radical of methylic alcohol or wood spirit.--_n._ METH'YLENE, a highly inflammable and volatile liquid, obtained by the destructive distillation of wood.--_adj._ METHYL'IC, denoting alcohol obtained by the destructive distillation of wood.--METHYLATED SPIRIT, a mixture of nine parts of alcohol with one of pyroxylic or wood spirit (to prevent people drinking it), used for spirit-lamps, varnishes, &c. [Gr. _meta_, after, with, _hyl[=e]_, wood.]
METHYSIS, meth'i-sis, _n._ (_path._) drunkenness.--_adj._ METHYS'TIC, intoxicating. [Gr.]
METIC, met'ik, _n._ an immigrant, a resident alien. [Gr. _meta_, over, _oikos_, a house.]
METICULOUS, m[=e]-tik'[=u]-lus, _adj._ (_arch._) timid, over careful.--_adv._ METIC'ULOUSLY. [L. _metus_, fear.]
MeTIER, met'y[=a]r, _n._ one's calling or business. [Fr.]
METIF, m[=e]'tif, _n._ the offspring of a white and a quadroon.--_n._ M[=E]'TIS, a half-breed of French and Indian parentage in Canada. [Cf.
_Mastiff_.]
METIS, m[=e]'tis, _n._ a Greek personification of prudence.
METONIC, me-ton'ik, _adj._ pertaining to the lunar cycle of nineteen years, after which the new and full moon happen again on the same day of the year as at its beginning. [From _Meton_, c. 430.]
METONYMY, me-ton'i-mi, _n._ (_rhet._) a trope in which the name of one thing is put for that of another related to it, the effect for the cause, &c., as 'the heart' for 'the affections,' 'the bottle' for 'drink,'
&c.--_adjs._ METONYM'IC, -AL, used by way of metonymy.--_adv._ METONYM'ICALLY. [L.,--Gr. _met[=o]nymia_--_meta_, expressing change, _onoma_, a name.]
METOPE, met'o-p[=e], _n._ (_archit._) the space between the triglyphs in the frieze of the Doric order, generally ornamented with carved work: the face, forehead, frontal surface generally.--_adj._ METOP'IC.--_ns._ MET'OPISM, the condition of having a persistent metopic or frontal suture.
[Gr.,--_meta_, between, and _op[=e]_, the hole in the frieze receiving one of the beam-ends.]
METOPOSCOPY, met-[=o]-pos'k[=o]-pi, _n._ the study of character from the physiognomy.--_adjs._ METOPOSCOP'IC, -AL.--_n._ METOPOS'COPIST.
METRA, met'ra, _n._ a pocket-instrument, combining the uses of thermometer, level, plummet, and lens. [Gr., pl. of _metron_, measure.]
METRE, m[=e]'t[.e]r, _n._ that regulated succession of certain groups of syllables in which poetry is usually written--these groups of long and short (_classical_) or accented (_English_) syllables being called _feet_: rhythm: verse, or poetry generally: a plan of versification, the character of a stanza as consisting of a given number of lines composed of feet of a given number, construction, and accent: musical time.--_adjs._ MET'RIC, -AL, pertaining to metre or to metrology: consisting of verses.--_adv._ MET'RICALLY.--_ns._ METRIC'IAN, MET'RICIST, one skilled in metres, one who writes in metre; MET'RICS, the art or science of versification; METRIFIC[=A]'TION. (_Tenn._), the act of making verses; MET'RIFIER, a versifier; MET'RIST, one skilled in metres, a skilful versifier; METROM[=A]'NIA, a mania for writing verses.--COMMON METRE, the stanza forming a quatrain in eights and sixes, of four and of three iambic feet alternately--also SERVICE METRE, from its use in the metrical psalms, &c., and BALLAD METRE, from its use in old romances and ballads; LONG METRE, an octosyllabic quatrain, the four lines with four feet each; SHORT METRE, the quatrain in sixes, with the third line octosyllabic. [Fr.,--L.
_metrum_--Gr. _metron_.]
MeTRE, m[=a]'tr, _n._ the fundamental unit of length in the metric system--one ten-millionth of a quadrant of the Meridian--39.3707904 English inches.--_adj._ MET'RIC.--METRIC SYSTEM, the French system of weights and measures, founded on the French metre--dividing or multiplying by ten, and therefore a decimal system.
METRE. Same as METER.
METRIC, met'rik, _adj._ quantitative.--_adj._ MET'RICAL, pertaining to measurement.--_n.pl._ MET'RICS, the theory of measurement.--_ns._ MET'ROGRAPH, an apparatus for registering the speed of a railway-train and the places and duration of stops; METROL'OGY, the science of weights and measures; MET'RONOME, an instrument like an inverted pendulum which measures musical time.--_adj._ METRONOM'IC.--_n._ METRON'OMY, measurement of time by a metronome.
METRONYMIC, met-ro-nim'ik, _adj._ derived from the name of one's mother, or other female ancestor.--_n._ an appellation so derived; cf. _Patronymic_.
[Gr. _m[=e]t[=e]r_, a mother, _onoma_, name.]
METROPOLIS, me-trop'o-lis, _n._ the capital of a country; the chief cathedral city, as Canterbury of England: the mother-city of an ancient Greek colony: a generic focus in the distribution of plants or animals:--_pl._ METROP'OLISES.--_adj._ METROPOL'ITAN, belonging to a metropolis: pertaining to the mother-church.--_n._ the bishop of a metropolis, presiding over the other bishops of a province: an archbishop.--_n._ METROPOL'ITANATE.--_adjs._ METROPOL'ITIC, -AL. [L.,--Gr.
_m[=e]t[=e]r_, mother, _polis_, a city.]
METTLE, met'l, _n._ ardent temperament: spirit: sprightliness: courage.--_adjs._ METT'LED, METT'LESOME, high-spirited: ardent.--_n._ METT'LESOMENESS, quality or state of being mettlesome.--PUT ONE ON HIS METTLE, to rouse a person up to putting forth his best efforts. [From the _metal_ of a blade.]
MEUM, m[=a]'um, _n._ mine--in the phrase MEUM AND TUUM, mine and thine.
[L.]
MEUTE, m[=u]t, _n._ a mew, a place where hawks are mewed or confined.
[_Mew_, a cage for hawks.]
MEW, m[=u], _n._ a sea-fowl: a gull. [A.S. _m['ae]w_; Dut. _meeuw_, Ice.
_mar_, Ger. _mowe_; all imit.]
MEW, m[=u], _v.i._ to cry as a cat.--_n._ the cry of a cat.
MEW, m[=u], _v.t._ to change, as the covering or dress: to shed or cast: to confine, as in a cage.--_v.i._ to change: to cast the feathers: to moult.--_n._ a place for confining: a cage for hawks while mewing: generally in _pl._ a stable, because the royal stables were built where the king's falcons were kept. [O. Fr. _mue_, a changing, esp. of the coat or skin--_muer_, to mew--L. _mut[=a]re_, to change.]
MEWL, m[=u]l, _v.i._ (_Shak._) to cry as an infant. [Imit.]
MEXICAN, meks'i-kan, _n._ a native or inhabitant of _Mexico_.--_adj._ pertaining to Mexico or Mexicans.
MEZEREON, me-z[=e]'re-on, _n._ a deciduous shrub with pink flowers, and having an extremely acrid bark used in medicine. [Fr.,--Pers.]
MEZZANINE, mez'a-n[=i]n, _n._ (_archit._) a low story introduced between two higher ones: a small window used to light such apartments. [Fr.,--It.
_mezzanino_--_mezzo_--L. _medius_, middle.]
MEZZO-RILIEVO, med'zo-r[=e]-ly[=a]'v[=o], _n._ a degree of relief in figures, half-way between high and low relief. [It.]
MEZZO-SOPRANO, med'zo-so-pra'n[=o], _n._ a quality of voice between soprano and alto: low soprano.
MEZZOTINT, mez'[=o]-tint, or med'z[=o]-tint, _n._ a method of copperplate engraving, producing an even gradation of tones, resembling those of a photograph: an impression from a plate so produced.--Also MEZZOTINT'O.
[It.,--_mezzo_, middle, half, _tinto_, tint--L. _ting[)e]re_, _tinctum_, to dye.]
MI, m[=e], _n._ the third note in the diatonic scale.
MIASMA, m[=i]-az'ma, _n._ unwholesome exhalations arising from putrescent matter--also M[=I]'ASM:--_pl._ M[=I]'ASMS, MIAS'MATA.--_adjs._ MIAS'MAL, MIASMAT'IC, MIAS'MATOUS, pertaining to, or containing, miasma.--_ns._ MIAS'MATIST; MIASMOL'OGY.--_adj._ MIAS'MOUS. [Gr. _miasma_--_miainein_, to stain.]
MIAUL, mi-awl', _v.i._ to cry as a cat.