MICA, m[=i]'ka, _n._ a group of rock-forming minerals, with perfect cleavage in one direction, the laminae flexible and elastic, and generally transparent.--_adj._ MIC[=A]'CEOUS.--_ns._ M[=I]'CA-SCHIST, M[=I]'CA-SLATE, a metamorphic rock consisting of alternate layers of mica and quartz. [L.
_mica_, a crumb.]
MICE, m[=i]s, plural of _mouse_.
MICHAELMAS, mik'el-mas, _n._ the festival of St _Michael_, celebrated Sept.
29: a quarterly rent-day in England.
MICHE, mich, _v.i._ (_obs._) to lie hid, to skulk, to act by stealth: to pilfer meanly--also MICH.--_ns._ MICH'ER; MICH'ING--also _adj._
MICKLE, mik'l, _adj._ (_arch._) much. [A.S. _micel_, _mycel_; Scot.
_muckle_.]
MICKY, mik'i, _n._ an Irish boy: a wild young bull.
MICROBE, m[=i]'kr[=o]b, mik'r[=o]b, _n._ a microscopic organism, esp. a bacterium, found wherever organic matter is in process of decomposition.--_adjs._ MICR[=O]'BIAL, MICR[=O]'BIAN, MICR[=O]'BIC.--_n._ MICROBIOL'OGY, the science of micro-organisms. [Fr.,--Gr. _mikros_, small, _bios_, life.]
MICROCEPHALOUS, m[=i]-kr[=o]-sef'a-lus, _adj._ having a small or imperfectly formed head.--Also MICROCEPHAL'IC. [Gr. _mikros_, small, _kephal[=e]_, the head.]
MICROCHRONOMETER, m[=i]-kr[=o]-kr[=o]-nom'e-t[.e]r, _n._ an instrument for registering very small periods of time.
MICROCOCCUS, m[=i]-kr[=o]-kok'us, _n._ a microscopic organism of a round form.
MICROCOSM, m[=i]'kr[=o]-kozm, _n._ a little universe or world: (often applied to) man, who was regarded by ancient philosophers as a model or epitome of the universe.--_adjs._ MICROCOS'MIC, -AL, pertaining to the microcosm.--_n._ MICROCOSMOG'RAPHY. [Fr.,--L.,--Gr.--_mikros_, little, _kosmos_, world.]
MICROCOUSTIC, m[=i]-kr[=o]-k[=oo]s'tik, _adj._ serving to augment weak sounds.--_n._ an instrument for such purpose.
MICROCRITH, m[=i]'kr[=o]-krith, _n._ (_chem._) the unit of molecular weight, that of the half-molecule of hydrogen.
MICROCYTE, m[=i]'kr[=o]-s[=i]t, _n._ a small cell or corpuscle: a small blood corpuscle found in anaemia.--_ns._ MICROCYTH[=E]'MIA, MICROCYT[=O]'SIS, a condition of the blood with many very small corpuscles.
MICRODENTISM, m[=i]-kr[=o]-den'tizm, _n._ smallness of the teeth.
MICRODONT, m[=i]'kr[=o]-dont, _adj._ having short or small teeth.
MICROFARAD, m[=i]-kr[=o]-far'ad, _n._ one-millionth of a farad, the practical unit of electrical capacity.
MICROGEOLOGY, m[=i]-kr[=o]-j[=e]-ol'o-ji, _n._ the department of geology concerned with the study of microscopic structures.
MICROGRAPH, m[=i]'kr[=o]-graf, _n._ a pantograph instrument for minute writing or drawing: a microscopic picture.--_n._ MICROG'RAPHER.--_adj._ MICROGRAPH'IC.--_n._ MICROG'RAPHY, the description of microscopic objects.
[Gr. _mikros_, little, _graphein_, write.]
MICROHM, mik'r[=o]m, _n._ an electric unit equal to the millionth part of an ohm.
MICROLITE, m[=i]'kr[=o]-l[=i]t, _n._ a mineral related to pyrochlore.--_n._ M[=I]'CROLITH, a name suggested by Vogelsang in 1867 for the microscopic acicular components of rocks.--_adj._ MICROLITH'IC. [Gr. _mikros_, small, _lithos_, a stone.]
MICROLOGY, m[=i]-krol'o-ji, _n._ the branch of science which treats of microscopic objects.--_adjs._ MICROLOG'IC, -AL.--_adv._ MICROLOG'ICALLY.
MICROMETER, m[=i]-krom'e-t[.e]r, _n._ an instrument for measuring minute distances or angles.--_adjs._ MICROMET'RIC, -AL.--_ns._ MICROM'ETRY, measuring with a micrometer; M[=I]'CRON, the millionth part of a metre, or 1/25400 of an inch; M[=I]'CRO-OR'GANISM, a microscopic organism. [Gr.
_mikros_, little, _metron_, measure.]
MICROPHONE, m[=i]'kr[=o]-f[=o]n, _n._ an instrument which renders the faintest sounds distinctly audible.--_adjs._ MICROPHON'IC, MICROPH'ONOUS.--_n._ M[=I]'CROPHONY. [Gr. _mikros_, little, _ph[=o]n[=e]_, sound.]
MICROPHOTOGRAPHY, m[=i]-kr[=o]-f[=o]-tog'ra-fi, _n._ the photographing of objects on a microscopic scale.
MICROPHYLLOUS, m[=i]-krof'il-us, _adj._ (_bot._) having small leaves. [Gr.
_mikros_, little, _phyllon_, leaf.]
MICROPHYTE, m[=i]'kr[=o]-f[=i]t, _n._ a microscopic plant, esp. one parasitic.--_adjs._ M[=I]'CROPHYTAL, MICROPHYT'IC.
MICROPODA, m[=i]-krop'o-da, _n.pl._ in some systems a division of monomyarian bivalves, with rudimentary feet, including oysters, &c. [Gr.
_mikros_, small, _pous_, _podos_, foot.]
MICROPSIA, m[=i]-krop'si-a, _n._ an affection of the eye in which objects appear in less than actual size.
MICROPTEROUS, m[=i]-krop'te-rus, _adj._ having short wings or fins.
MICROPYLE, m[=i]'kr[=o]-p[=i]l, _n._ (_bot._) the orifice in the coats of the ovule leading to the apex of the nucleus, through which the pollen-tube penetrates: (_zool._) the hilum of an ovum at the point of attachment to the ovary: any opening in the coverings of an ovum by which spermatozoa may find entrance. [Gr. _mikros_, small, _pyl[=e]_, a gate.]
MICROSCOPE, m[=i]'kr[=o]-sk[=o]p, _n._ an instrument which magnifies to the eye objects so minute as to be almost or quite undiscernible without its aid.--_adjs._ MICROSCOP'IC, -AL, pertaining to a microscope: made by, or as if by, a microscope: visible only by the aid of a microscope: working with, or as if with, a microscope.--_adv._ MICROSCOP'ICALLY.--_ns._ M[=I]'CROSCOPIST, one skilled in the use of the microscope; M[=I]'CROSCOPY.--BINOCULAR MICROSCOPE, a microscope with two eye-pieces, for viewing an object with both eyes at once; COMPOUND MICROSCOPE, a microscope with two sets of lenses so arranged that the image formed by the lower or object glass is again magnified by the upper or eye-piece. [Gr.
_mikros_, little, _skopein_, to look at.]
MICROSEISM, m[=i]'kr[=o]-sizm, _n._ a slight earthquake tremor.--_adjs._ MICROSEIS'MIC, -AL.--_ns._ MICROSEIS'MOGRAPH; MICROSEISMOM'ETRY.
MICROSOMA, m[=i]-kr[=o]-s[=o]'ma, _n._ one of the minute granules embedded in the hyaline plasm of the protoplasm of vegetable cells:--_pl._ MICROS[=O]'MATA. [Gr. _mikros_, small, _s[=o]ma_, body.]
MICROSPECTROSCOPE, m[=i]-kr[=o]-spek'tr[=o]-sk[=o]p, _n._ a combination of the spectroscope with the microscope.
MICROSPORE, m[=i]'kr[=o]-sp[=o]r, _n._ (_bot._) a small asexually produced spore: (_zool._) one of the numerous very small spore-like elements produced through the encystment and subdivision of many monads.--_n._ MICROSPORAN'GIUM.--_adj._ M[=I]'CROSPOROUS. [Gr. _mikros_, small, _sporos_, a seed.]
MICROTOME, m[=i]'kr[=o]-t[=o]m, _n._ an instrument for cutting thin sections of objects for microscopic examination.--_adj._ MICROTOM'IC.--_ns._ MICROT'OMIST; MICROT'OMY. [Gr. _mikros_, little, _temnein_, to cut.]
MICROZOA, m[=i]-kr[=o]-z[=o]'a, _n.pl._ microscopic animals.--_n._ and _adj._ MICROZ[=O]'AN.--_n._ MICROZO[=A]'RIA, a name sometimes used for infusorians, &c.--_adj._ MICROZO[=A]'RIAN.--_n._ and _adj._ MICROZ[=O]'oID, a very minute free-swimming zooid, which buries itself in the body of a sedentary animalcule.--_ns._ MICROZ[=O]'oN, any micro-organism of animal nature; MICROZ[=O]'oSPORE, a zoospore of abnormally small size; M[=I]'CROZYME, a member of a class of extremely minute living organisms floating in the atmosphere, supposed to be the means of communicating certain epidemic and other zymotic diseases. [Gr. _mikros_, small, _z[=o]on_, an animal, _sporos_, seed, _zym[=e]_, leaven.]
MICTURITION, mik-t[=u]-rish'un, _n._ the act of passing, or the frequent desire to pass, urine.--_n._ MIC'TION, voiding urine.--_v.i._ MIC'TURATE.
[L. _mictur[=i]re_, _-[=i]tum_, to pass urine.]
MID, mid, _adj._ middle: situated between extremes.--_prep._ amid.--_n._ (_Shak._) middle.--_ns._ MID'-AGE (_Shak._), the middle time of life, a person in middle-life; MID'-AIR, MID'-HEAV'EN, the middle of the sky; MID'DAY, the middle of the day: noon.--_adj._ of or pertaining to noon.--_adj._ MID'DEST (_Spens._), most nearly in the middle: middlemost.--_n._ the midst, middle.--_n._ MID'-HOUR, the middle part of the day.--_adj._ MID'LAND, in the middle of, or surrounded by, land: distant from the coast: inland.--_n._ the interior of a country: (_pl._) esp. the central parts of England.--_n._ MID'-LENT, the middle or fourth Sunday in Lent.--_adj._ MID'MOST, middlemost.--_n._ MID'NIGHT, the middle of the night: twelve o'clock at night.--_adj._ being at midnight: dark as midnight.--_ns._ MID'NOON, noon; MID'-SEA, the open sea.--_adj._ MID'SHIP, being in the middle of a ship.--_n._ MID'SHIPMAN, in the British navy, an officer whose rank is next above that of a naval cadet: in the U.S. navy, the lowest grade of officers in the line of promotion, now called NAVAL CADET.--_adv._ MID'SHIPS.--_ns._ MID'SUMMER, the middle of summer: the summer solstice, about the 21st of June; MID'SUMMER-DAY, the 24th of June; MID'WAY, the middle of the way or distance.--_adj._ being in the middle of the way or distance.--_adv._ half-way.--_n._ MID'WINTER, the middle of winter: the winter solstice (21st or 22d December), or the time shortly before or after it. [A.S. (_mid-_), _middgen_; Ger. _mitte_ and _mittel_, L. _medius_, Gr. _mesos_.]
MIDAS, m[=i]'das, _n._ a fabulously rich man, from the king of Phrygia who got the power of turning everything he touched into gold, till he was like to be starved. His ears were changed by Apollo to those of an ass for deciding a musical contest in favour of Pan.
MIDDEN, mid'en, _n._ a heap of ashes or dung (see also KITCHEN-MIDDEN).--_n._ MIDD'ENSTEAD, a place where dung is heaped up.
[Scand., as Dan. _modding_--_mog_, dung; cf. _Muck_.]
MIDDLE, mid'l, _adj._ equally distant from the extremes: intermediate: intervening: (_gram._) intermediate between active and passive, reflexive.--_n._ the middle point or part: midst: central portion, waist.--_adjs._ MIDD'LE-AGED, of or about the middle period of life (from about 35 to 50); MIDD'LE-CLASS, pertaining to, or included in, the middle class.--_ns._ MIDD'LE-EARTH (_Shak._), the earth, considered as placed between the upper and lower regions; MIDD'LEMAN, one who stands in the middle between two persons: an agent who does business between two parties: in Ireland, one who rents land in large tracts, and lets it in small portions to the peasantry.--_adjs._ MIDD'LEMOST, MID'MOST (_B._), nearest the middle; MIDD'LE-SIZED, of middle or average size.--_ns._ MIDD'LE-WATCH, the period between midnight and 4 A.M.; MIDD'LE-WEIGHT, a boxer or jockey of intermediate weight, between light and heavy weight.--_adj._ MIDD'LING, of middle rate, state, size, or quality: about equally distant from the extremes: moderate: (_Scot._) not in very good health: fairly well or prosperous.--_adv._ moderately.--_n._ MIDD'LINGNESS, mediocrity.--_n.pl._ MIDD'LINGS, the coarser part of ground wheat.--MIDDLE AGES, the time between the downfall of the western Roman empire, about 476 A.D., and the Reformation in the first quarter of the 16th century, or even earlier--in the later half of the preceding century, when printing was invented, America discovered, and the revival of learning took place; MIDDLE CLASS, that part of the people which comes between the nobility and the working-class; MIDDLE DISTANCE (same as MIDDLE GROUND); MIDDLE ENGLISH, English as spoken and written from 1350 to 1500 or 1550; MIDDLE GROUND, the central portion of a picture--that is, between the foreground and background; MIDDLE KINGDOM, China; MIDDLE PASSAGE, the voyage across the Atlantic from Africa to the West Indies, which was a time of horror on board a slave-ship; MIDDLE STATES, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware; MIDDLE TERM (_logic_), that term of a syllogism which appears both in the major premise and the minor, but not in the conclusion.--MIDDLE-CLASS SCHOOLS, schools for the higher education of the middle class, intermediate between the primary schools and the large public schools or the universities. [A.S. _middel_--_mid_; Dut. _middel_, Ger.
_mittel_.]
MIDDY, mid'i, _n._ for midshipman.
MIDGARD, mid'g[=a]rd, _n._ (_Scand. myth._) the abode of men, midway between heaven and hell. [Ice. _midhgardhr_=mid-yard.]