MOA, m[=o]'a, _n._ an extinct large wingless ostrich-like bird of New Zealand.
MOABITE, m[=o]'a-b[=i]t, _n._ one of the ancient people of _Moab_, living to the east of the lower part of Jordan and the Dead Sea.--_adj._ of or pertaining to Moab.--_n._ M[=O]'ABITE-STONE, slab of black, basalt found in 1868 among the ruins of Dhiban (_Dibon_) in Moab, bearing an inscription of 34 lines in Hebrew-Phoenician letters, about the revolt of Mesha, king of Moab, against the king of Israel (2 Kings, iii.)
MOAN, m[=o]n, _v.i._ to make a low sound of grief or pain: to lament audibly.--_v.t._ to lament.--_n._ a low sound of grief or pain: audible expression of pain.--_adj._ MOAN'FUL, expressing sorrow: lamentable.--_adv._ MOAN'FULLY, with lamentation. [A.S. _m['ae]nan_.]
MOAT, m[=o]t, _n._ a deep trench round a castle or fortified place, sometimes filled with water: (_obs._) a hill or mound.--_v.t._ to surround with a moat.--_adj._ MOAT'ED. [O. Fr, _mote_, a mound, trench.]
MOB, mob, _n._ the mobile or fickle common people: the vulgar: the rabble: a disorderly crowd, a riotous assembly: a large herd or flock.--_v.t._ to attack in a disorderly crowd:--_pr.p._ mob'bing; _pa.p._ mobbed.--_adj._ MOB'BISH.--_ns._ MOB'-LAW, lynch-law; MOBOC'RACY, rule or ascendency exercised by the mob; MOB'OCRAT, a demagogue.--_adj._ MOBOCRAT'IC.--_n._ MOBS'MAN, a well-dressed thief or swindler--usually _Swell-mobsman_.
[Contr. for L. _mobile_ (_vulgus_), the fickle (multitude); _mov[=e]re_ to move.]
MOB, mob, or MOB'-CAP, _n._ a cap with puffy crown, a broad band, and frills--_v.t._ to cover, as the face, by a cap or hood. [Old Dut. _mop_; mod. Dut. _mopmuts_, a woman's nightcap; cf. Scotch _Mutch_.]
MOBBY, mob'i, _n._ the juice of apples or peaches from which brandy is to be distilled.
MOBILE, m[=o]'bil, or mob'il, _adj._ that can be moved or excited.--_n._ MOBILIS[=A]'TION.--_v.t._ M[=O]'BILISE, to put in readiness for service in war: to call into active service, as troops.--_n._ MOBIL'ITY, quality of being mobile: (_slang_) the mob.--CReDIT MOBILIER, the system in banking of advancing money to the owners of movable property--as opposed to CREDIT FONCIER, on the security of real or immovable property. [Fr.
_mobiliser_--L. _mobilis_.]
MOBLE, mob'l, _v.t._ (_Shak._) to muffle or cover the head, as in a mob or hood. [Freq. of _mob_, a cap.]
[Illustration]
MOCCASIN, mok'a-sin, _n._ a shoe of deerskin or other soft leather, worn by the North American Indians: a venomous North American serpent.--Also MOC'ASSIN. [Algonkin _mawcahsun_.]
MOCHA, m[=o]'ka, _n._ a very fine kind of coffee produced in Arabia, and brought from _Mocha_, the port of Yemen.
MOCHE, m[=o]sh, _n._ an imported package of spun silk.
MOCK, mok, _v.t._ to laugh at: to make sport of: to mimic in ridicule: to disappoint the hopes of: to deceive: to set at nought, defy.--_n._ ridicule, a sneer: a bringing into ridicule.--_adj._ imitating reality, but not real: false.--_adj._ MOCK'ABLE, exposed to, or deserving, derision.--_ns._ MOCK'ER; MOCK'ERY, MOCK'ING, derision: ridicule: subject of laughter or sport: fruitless labour: vain imitation: false show.--_adj._ MOCK'-HER[=O]'IC, mocking the heroic style, or the actions or characters of heroes.--_n._ MOCK'ING-BIRD, a bird of North America, of the thrush family, which mocks or imitates the notes of birds and other sounds.--_adv._ MOCK'INGLY.--_n._ MOCK'-OR'ANGE, an ornamental shrub of the saxifrage family--also _Syringa_. MOCK SUN (see PARHELION); MOCK TURTLE SOUP, a dish made of calf's head, veal, &c., seasoned in imitation of turtle soup. [O.
Fr. _moquer_; from a Teut. root seen in Ger. _mucken_, to mutter; prob.
imit.]
MOCUDDUM, mo-kud'um, _n._ a chief: a head-man. [Hind. from Ar., _mukaddam_, a head-man.]
MOD, mod, _n._ an assembly, meeting, of a similar nature to the Welsh Eisteddfod. [Gael.]
MODE, m[=o]d, _n._ manner of acting, doing, or existing: rule: custom: form: that which exists only as a quality of substance: a form of the verb, same as _mood_: in lace-making, a small decorative piece inserted in a pattern: the openwork between the solid parts of a pattern: a woman's mantle with a hood: (_mus._) the method of dividing the octave for melodic purposes according to the position of its steps and half-steps.--_adj._ M[=O]'DAL, relating to mode or form without reference to substance: consisting of mode only: (_logic_) indicating some mode of expression.--_ns._ M[=O]'DALISM, the doctrine first set forth by Sabellius that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are not three distinct personalities, but only three different modes of manifestation; M[=O]'DALIST, one who holds this theory.--_adj._ MODALIST'IC.--_n._ MODAL'ITY, mode in its logical sense: (_law_) the quality of being limited by a condition.--_adv._ M[=O]'DALLY.--GREEK MODES, consisting each of two tetra-chords and one whole step; GREGORIAN, MEDIEVAL, or ECCLESIASTICAL MODES, derived from the above by Ambrose, Gregory the Great, &c., each of the seven natural sounds of the diatonic scale forming the keynote or _final_ of a mode, which embraced that note and the seven above it. To each of these seven modes is attached another, in which the melody, while having the same final or keynote, instead of ascending to the octave above, ranges from the fourth below it to the fifth above. The former are called the _authentic modes_, the latter _plagal_; MAJOR MODE, a modern mode, consisting of two steps, a half-step, three steps, and a half-step; MINOR MODE, a modern mode, consisting of a step, a half-step, two steps, a half-step, and two steps. [Fr.,--L. _modus_.]
MODEL, mod'el, _n._ something to show the mode or way: something to be copied: a pattern: a mould: an imitation of something on a smaller scale: a living person from whom an artist works: something worthy of imitation.--_adj._ serving as a model: fit for a model.--_v.t._ to form after a model: to shape: to make a model or copy of: to form in some soft material.--_v.i._ to practise modelling:--_pr.p._ mod'elling; _pa.p._ mod'elled.--_ns._ MOD'ELLER; MOD'ELLING, the act or art of making a model of something, a branch of sculpture. [Fr.,--L. _modulus_, dim. of _modus_, a measure.]
MODENA, mod'e-na, _n._ a shade of crimson.
MODERATE, mod'[.e]r-[=a]t, _v.t._ to keep within measure or bounds: to regulate: to reduce in intensity: to make temperate or reasonable: to pacify: to decide as a moderator.--_v.i._ to become less violent or intense: to preside or act as a moderator.--_adj._ kept within measure or bounds: not excessive or extreme: temperate: of middle rate.--_n._ one of a party in Scottish Church history dominant in the 18th century, lax in doctrine and discipline, but intolerant of Evangelicanism and popular rights--it caused the secessions of 1733 and 1761, and its final resultant was the Disruption of 1843.--_adv._ MOD'ERATELY.--_ns._ MOD'ERATENESS; MODER[=A]'TION, act of moderating: state of being moderated or moderate: freedom from excess: calmness of mind; MOD'ERATISM, moderate opinions in religion or politics.--_adv._ MODERa'TO (_mus._), with moderate quickness.--_ns._ MOD'ER[=A]TOR, one who, or that which, moderates or restrains: a president or chairman, esp. in Presbyterian Church courts: an officer at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge who superintends the examination for degrees: a kind of lamp in which the flow of the oil to the wick is regulated:--_fem._ MOD'ERATRIX; MOD'ERATORSHIP. [L. _moder[=a]ri_, _-[=a]tus_--_modus_, a measure.]
MODERN, mod'[.e]rn, _adj._ limited to the present or recent time: not ancient: (_Shak._) commonplace.--_n._ one who lives in modern times: (_pl._) the nations of the present day, distinguished from the Greeks and Romans--the ancients.--_n._ MODERNIS[=A]'TION.--_v.t._ MOD'ERNISE, to adapt to the present time.--_ns._ MOD'ERNISER; MOD'ERNISM, modern practice or character: something of modern origin; MOD'ERNIST, an admirer of modern ideas or habits.--_adv._ MOD'ERNLY.--_ns._ MOD'ERNNESS, MOD'ERNITY, state or quality of being modern. [Fr.,--L. _modernus_--_modo_; just now, orig.
abl. of _modus_.]
MODEST, mod'est, _adj._ restrained by a sense of propriety: not forward: decent: chaste: pure and delicate, as thoughts or language: not excessive or extreme: moderate.--_adv._ MOD'ESTLY.--_n._ MOD'ESTY, humility: purity of thought and manners: becoming behaviour: chastity, purity: moderation.
[Fr.,--L. _modestus_--_modus_; a measure.]
MODICUM, mod'i-kum, _n._ a small quantity: something of a moderate size: anything very small. [L. neut. of _modicus_, moderate--_modus_.]
MODIFY, mod'i-f[=i], _v.t._ to set bounds to: to moderate: to change the form or quality of: to alter slightly: to vary.--_adj._ MODIF[=I]'ABLE.--_n._ MODIFIC[=A]'TION, act of modifying or state of being modified: result of alteration or change: changed shape or condition.--_adjs._ MOD'IFIC[=A]TIVE, MOD'IFIC[=A]TORY, tending to modify: causing change of form or condition.--_n._ MOD'IF[=I]ER. [Fr.
_modifier_--L. _modific[=a]re_, _-[=a]tum_--_modus_, a measure, _fac[)e]re_, to make.]
MODILLION, mod-il'yun, _n._ (_archit._) an ornamental bracket used in the cornices of the Corinthian and composite styles. [Fr.,--L.
_modulus_--_modus_, a measure.]
MODIOLUS, mo-d[=i]'o-lus, _n._ the central stem round which wind the passages of the cochlea of the internal ear.--_adjs._ MOD[=I]'OLAR, MOD[=I]'OLIFORM.
MODISH, m[=o]'dish, _adj._ according to the fashion.--_adv._ M[=O]'DISHLY.--_ns._ M[=O]'DISHNESS; M[=O]'DIST, one who follows the fashion; MODISTE (m[=o]-d[=e]st'), a fashionable dressmaker.
MODIUS, m[=o]'di-us, _n._ a Roman dry measure=2 gal.: a cylindrical head-dress:--_pl._ M[=O]'DII (-[=i]). [L.]
MODULATE, mod'[=u]-l[=a]t, _v.t._ to measure, to regulate: to vary the tone of voice so as to give expression: (_mus._) to change the key or mode.--_v.i._ to pass from one key into another.--_adj._ MOD'ULAR, of or pertaining to mode or modulation, or to a module.--_ns._ MODUL[=A]'TION, the act of modulating: state of being modulated: (_mus._) the changing of the keynote and of the original scale by the introduction of a new sharp or flat; MOD'UL[=A]TOR, one who, or that which, modulates: a chart in the Tonic Sol-fa musical notation on which the modulations or changes from one scale to another are shown by the relative position of the notes; MOD'ULE, a small measure or quantity: (_archit._) a measure such as the diameter of the shaft for regulating the proportions of the other parts of columns: (_Shak._) a model, image; MOD'ULUS (_math._), a constant multiplier in a function of a variable, by which the function is adapted to a particular base:--_pl._ MODULI (mod'[=u]-l[=i]). [L. _modul[=a]ri_, _-[=a]tus_--_modulus_, dim. of _modus_, a measure.]
MODUS, m[=o]'dus, _n._ the way or style of expressing anything: a fixed payment instead of tithes: (_law_) a departure from, or a modification of, some general rule or form:--_pl._ M[=O]'D[=I]. [L. _modus_, manner.]
MODWALL, mod'wal, _n._ (_prov._) the bee-eater.
MOE, m[=o], _adj._ and _adv._ (_Shak._). See MO.
MOE, m[=o], _n._ (_Shak._) a wry mouth, grimace.--_v.i._ to make grimaces.--Better MOW (_q.v._).
MOELLON, m[=o]'el-lon, _n._ rubble-stone with mortar, used as a filling in mason-work. [Fr.,--_moelle_, marrow--L. _medulla_, marrow--_medius_, middle.]
MOEROLOGY, m[=e]-rol'o-ji, _n._ the practice of professional mourning. [Gr.
_moira_, fate, _legein_, to speak.]
MOESO-GOTHIC, m[=e]-s[=o]-goth'ik, _adj._ relating to the Goths who settled in _Moesia_, or to their language.
MOFETTE, m[=o]-fet', _n._ a noxious gas escaping from the earth. [L.
_mephitis_.]
MOFF, mof, _n._ a thin silk fabric.
MOFFLE, mof'l, _v.i._ (_prov._) to do anything clumsily.
MOFUSSIL, m[=o]-fus'il, _n._ the country districts and stations in India, as distinguished from the towns and official residencies: rural: provincial. [Hind. _mufassal_, the country--Ar. _fasala_, separate.]
MOG, mog, _v.i._ (_prov._) to move away.
MOGUL, m[=o]-gul', _n._ a Mongol or Mongolian, esp. one of the followers of Baber, the conqueror of India (1483-1530): a name applied to the best quality of playing-cards.--_adj._ pertaining to the Mogul Empire, architecture, &c.--_adj._, the title by which Europeans knew the Emperors of Delhi. [Pers., properly 'a _Mongol_.']
MOHAIR, m[=o]'h[=a]r, _n._ the fine silken hair of the Angora goat of Asia Minor: cloth made of mohair. [O. Fr. _mouaire_ (Fr. _moire_)--Ar.
_mukhayyar_.]
MOHAMMEDAN, mo-ham'ed-an, _adj._ pertaining to Mohammed or to his religion.--_n._ a follower of Mohammed: one who professes Mohammedanism--also MAHOM'ETAN, MAHOM'EDAN.--_v.t._ MOHAMM'EDANISE, to convert to, or made conformable to, MOHAMMEDANISM.--_ns._ MOHAMM'EDANISM, MOHAMM'EDISM, the religion of Mohammed, contained in the Koran.
[_Mohammed_, the great prophet of Arabia (570-632); lit. 'praised.']