_manus_, the hand.]
MORTUARY, mort'[=u]-ar-i, _n. adj._ belonging to the burial of the dead.--_n._ a burial-place, place for the temporary reception of the dead: a gift claimed by the minister of a parish on the death of a parishioner.
[Low L.,--L. _mortuus_, dead, _mori_, to die.]
MORULA, mor'[=u]-la, _n._ condition of an ovum after complete segmentation: button-scurvy.
MORUS, m[=o]'rus, _n._ a genus of trees or shrubs of the nettle family--the mulberries. [L.]
MOSAIC, mo-z[=a]'ik, _n._ a kind of work in which designs are formed by small pieces of coloured marble, glass, &c. cemented on a ground of stucco, or inlaid upon metal.--_adj._ relating to, or composed of, mosaic.--_adv._ MOS[=A]'ICALLY.--_n._ MOS[=A]'ICIST.--MOSAIC GOLD, an alloy of copper and zinc--also _Ormolu_. [Fr.,--L. _musaeum_ or _musivum_ (_opus_), mosaic (work)--Gr. _mouseios_--_Mousa_, a muse.]
MOSAIC, m[=o]-z[=a]'ik, _adj._ pertaining to _Moses_, the great Jewish lawgiver.--_n._ M[=O]'SAISM.--MOSAIC LAW, the law of the Jews given by Moses at Mount Sinai.
MOSAUSAURUS, m[=o]-sa-saw'rus, _n._ the typical genus of a group of huge fossil marine reptiles, found in the Cretaceous strata of Europe and America. [L. _Mosa_, the river Meuse, Gr. _sauros_, a lizard.]
MOSCHATEL, mos'ka-tel, _n._ a plant with pale-green flowers and a musky smell. [Fr. _moscatelline_--Low L. _moschatellina_--_muscus_, musk.]
MOSCHIFEROUS, mos-kif'e-rus, _adj._ producing musk.
MOSE, m[=o]z, _n._ (_Shak._) a disease of horses.--_v.i._ to have this.
[Prob. Old High Ger. _m[=a]s[=a]_, a spot.]
MOSELLE, mo-zel', _n._ light wines from the district of the river _Moselle_, with an aromatic flavour.
MOSEY, m[=o]'zi, _v.i._ (_Amer. slang_) to go off quickly: to hurry up.
MOSLEM, moz'lem, _n._ a Mussulman or Mohammedan.--_adj._ of or belonging to the Mohammedans.--_n._ MOS'LEMISM. [Ar. _muslim_, pl.
_muslim[=i]n_--_salama_, to submit (to God). Doublet _Mussulman_.]
MOSLINGS, moz'lingz, _n.pl._ the thin shavings taken off by the currier in dressing skins. [_Morsel_.]
MOSQUE, mosk, _n._ a Mohammedan place of worship. [Fr.,--Sp.
_mezquita_--Ar. _masjid_--_sajada_, to pray.]
MOSQUITO, mos-k[=e]'to, _n._ a biting gnat, common in tropical countries:--_pl._ MOSQUI'TOES.--MOSQUITO CANOPY, curtain, net, an arrangement of netting set over a bed, in a window, &c., to keep out mosquitoes. [Sp., dim. of _mosca_, a fly--L. _musca_.]
MOSS, mos, _n._ a family of flowerless plants with branching stems and narrow, simple leaves: popularly any small cryptogamic plant, esp. a lichen: a piece of ground covered with moss: a bog.--_v.t._ to cover with moss.--_ns._ MOSS'-BACK, an old fish: a person of antiquated views; MOSS'-CHEEP'ER (_Scot._), the titlark.--_adj._ MOSS'-GROWN, covered with moss.--_ns._ MOSS'-HAG (_Scot._), a pit or slough in a bog; MOSS'INESS; MOSS'-LAND, land abounding in peat-bogs; MOSS'-ROSE, a variety of rose having a moss-like growth on and below the calyx; MOSS'TROOP'ER, one of the robbers that used to infest the mosses of the Border.--_adj._ MOSS'Y, overgrown or abounding with moss.--ICELAND MOSS (see ICELAND). [A.S.
_meos_; Dut. _mos_, Ger. _moos_.]
MOSS-BUNKER, mos'-bung-k[.e]r, _n._ the menhaden. [Dut. _mars-banker_, the scad or horse-mackerel.]
MOST, m[=o]st, _adj._ (_superl._ of MORE), greatest in age, position or rank, number, degree, &c.--_adv._ in the highest degree.--_n._ the greatest number or quantity.--_advs._ MOST'LY; MOST'WHAT (_Spens._), for the most part, mostly.--AT (THE) MOST, to the utmost extent; FOR THE MOST PART, chiefly; MAKE THE MOST OF (see MAKE). [A.S. _m['ae]st_; cog. with Ger.
_meist_.]
MOT, m[=o], _n._ a pithy or witty saying.--MOT D'ORDRE, word of command.
[Fr.]
MOT, mot, _n._ a note on the bugle, &c., or its mark in musical notation.
[Fr.,--L. _muttum_, a murmur.]
MOTATORIOUS, m[=o]-ta-t[=o]'ri-us, _adj._ vibratory, excessively mobile--of long-legged spiders and crane-flies, &c. [L. _mot[=a]re_, _-[=a]tum_ to keep moving, freq. of _mov[=e]re_, to move.]
MOTE, m[=o]t, _n._ an archaism for might or must.
MOTE, m[=o]t, _n._ a particle of dust: a speck: a stain or blemish: anything very small.--_adjs._ M[=O]T'ED, MOT'TY, containing motes. [A.S.
_mot_; Dut. _mot_.]
MOTET, mo-tet', _n._ a sacred cantata of several unconnected movements, as a solo, trio, chorus, fugue, &c.: a choral composition having a biblical or similar prose text.--_n._ MOTET'TIST, a composer of such. [Fr.,--It.
_mottetto_--_motto_, saying.]
MOTH., moth, _n._ a family of insects like butterflies, seen mostly at night: the larva of this insect which gnaws cloth: that which eats away gradually and silently.--_v.t._ MOTH'-EAT, to prey upon, as a moth eats a garment.--_adj._ MOTH'-EAT'EN, eaten or cut by moths.--_n._ MOTH'-HUNT'ER, a little kind of swallow which hunts moths, &c., called also the _Goatsucker_.--_adj._ MOTH'Y, full of moths.--DEATH'S-HEAD MOTH, (see DEATH). [A.S. _moe_, _mohe_; Ger. _motte_.]
MOTHER, muth'[.e]r, _n._ a female parent, esp. one of the human race: a woman in relation to her child: a matron: that which has produced anything: the female head of a religious house: a familiar term of address to an old woman.--_adj._ received by birth, as it were from one's mother: natural: acting the part of a mother: originating.--_v.t._ to adopt as a son or daughter.--_ns._ MOTH'ER-CHURCH, the church from which others have sprung; MOTH'ER-COUN'TRY, -LAND, the country of one's birth: the country from which a colony has gone out; MOTH'ERHOOD, state of being a mother; MOTH'ERING, a rural English custom of visiting one's parents on Mid-Lent Sunday; MOTH'ER-IN-LAW, the mother of one's husband or wife.--_adj._ MOTH'ERLESS, without a mother.--_n._ MOTH'ERLINESS.--_adj._ MOTH'ERLY, pertaining to, or becoming, a mother: like a mother: parental: tender.--_ns._ MOTH'ER-OF-PEARL', the nacreous internal layer of the shells of several molluscs, esp. of the pearl-oyster, so called because producing the pearl; MOTH'ER'S-MARK, a birth-mark; MOTH'ER-TONGUE, a person's native language: a language from which another has its origin; MOTH'ER-WA'TER, the residual liquid remaining after the chemical substances it contained have been crystallised or precipitated; MOTH'ER-WIT, native wit: common-sense; MOTH'ER-WORT, a labiate plant growing in waste places; QUEEN'-MOTH'ER, the mother of a reigning sovereign.--MOTHER CAREY'S CHICKEN, the stormy petrel, or other bird of the same family; MOTHER-HUBBARD, a woman's loose flowing gown, like that proper to the nursery heroine.--EVERY MOTHER'S SON, all, without exception. [A.S. _moder_; Dut. _moeder_, Ice. _moir_, Ger.
_mutter_, Ir. and Gael. _mathair_, L. _mater_, Gr. _m[=e]t[=e]r_, Sans, _mata_, _matri_.]
MOTHER, muth[.e]r, _n._ dregs or sediments, as of vinegar.--_v.i._ to become concreted.--_adj._ MOTH'ERY. [_Mud_.]
MOTIF, m[=o]-t[=e]f', _n._ an old form of motive: a theme or ground for intellectual action, or a leading subject in a dramatic work: in a musical composition the principal subject on which the movement is constructed.
[Fr.,--L. _motus_, moved.]
MOTION, m[=o]'shun, _n._ the act or state of moving: a single movement: change of posture: gait: power of moving or of being moved: angular velocity--_direct_ when from west to east; _retrograde_ when from east to west: excitement of the mind: any natural impulse, instigation: proposal made, esp. in an assembly: an application to a court, during a case before it, for an order or rule that something be done, esp. something incidental to the progress of the cause rather than its issue: evacuation of the intestine: (_pl._, _B._) impulses.--_v.i._ to make a significant movement, to offer a proposal.--_v.t._ to guide by a gesture, &c.: to move.--_adj._ M[=O]'TILE, capable of spontaneous motion.--_n._ MOTIL'ITY.--_adj._ MO'TIONAL, characterised by motions.--_n._ M[=O]'TIONIST, one who makes a motion.--_adj._ M[=O]'TIONLESS, without motion.--ABSOLUTE MOTION, change of absolute place; ACCELERATED MOTION, motion of which the velocity is continually increasing; ANGULAR MOTION, motion regarded as measured by the increase of the angle made with some standard direction by a line drawn from the moving object to a fixed point; LAWS OF MOTION, Newton's three laws: (1) Every body continues in its state of rest, or of uniform motion in a straight line, except so far as it may be compelled by force to change that state; (2) Change of motion is proportional to force applied, and takes place in the direction of the straight line in which the force acts; (3) To every action there is always an equal and contrary reaction; PARALLEL MOTION (see PARALLEL); PERPETUAL MOTION (see PERPETUAL); QUANTITY OF MOTION, momentum. [Fr.,--L.,--_mov[=e]re_, _m[=o]tum_, to move.]
MOTIVE, m[=o]'tiv, _adj._ causing motion: having power to cause motion.--_n._ that which moves or excites to action: inducement: reason.--_v.t._ to act on as a motive, instigate.--_v.t._ M[=O]'TIV[=A]TE, to act on as a motive, induce.--_n._ MOTIV[=A]'TION.--_adj._ M[=O]TIVELESS.--_ns._ M[=O]'TIVELESSNESS; M[=O]'TIVE-POWER, or -FORCE, the force acting upon a body so as to cause it to move; MOTIV'ITY, power of producing motion: the quality of being influenced by motion. [Fr., through Low L., from _mov[=e]re_, _m[=o]tum_ to move.]
MOTLEY, mot'li, _adj._ covered with spots of different colours: consisting of different colours: composed of various parts, heterogeneous.--_n._ clothes made of pieces of different colours: the dress of a jester: any mixture, esp. of colours.--_adj._ MOT'LEY-MIND'ED (_Shak._), having fickle and foolish thoughts and feelings.--MAN OF MOTLEY, a jester. [Skeat explains M. E. _mottelee_ as through O. Fr. _mattele_, clotted, curdled--Bavarian _matte_, curds.]
MOTMOT, mot'mot, _n._ a sawbill.
MOTOGRAPH, m[=o]'to-graf, _n._ a device of Edison's, used as a telephone receiver, &c., by which the variation of the friction between two conductors in relative motion is diminished periodically by the passage of a current of electricity from one to the other across the surface of contact.--_adj._ MOTOGRAPH'IC. [L. _motus_, motion, Gr. _graphein_, to write.]
MOTOPHONE, m[=o]'to-f[=o]n, _n._ a sound-engine of Edison's actuated by aerial sound-waves. [L. _motus_, motion, Gr. _ph[=o]n[=e]_, a voice.]
MOTOR, m[=o]'tor, _n._ a mover: that which gives motion: a machine by means of which steam or other sources of force can be used to give motion or produce work.--_adj._ giving or transmitting motion.--_ns._ M[=O]'TOR-CAR, a vehicle for the road impelled by steam, electricity, or petrol (petroleum spirit); M[=O]'TOR-DY'NAMO, a dynamo used as a motor.--_adjs._ MOT[=O]'RIAL, M[=O]'TORY, giving motion.--_n._ MOT[=O]'RIUM, that part of the nervous organism instrumental in the exertion of motor influence:--opp.
to _Sensorium_, that which feels or perceives.--_adj._ MOTORPATH'IC, belonging to MOTOR'PATHY or the movement cure.--MOTOR NERVE, any nerve which transmits impulse to the muscles.--AIR-MOTOR, a machine impelled by compressed air. [Cf. _Motive_.]
MOTTLE, mot'l, _v.t._ to mark with spots as if stained.--_n._ the arrangement of spots on any mottled surface, in marble, &c.--_adjs._ MOTT'LED, marked with spots of various colours or shades; Mott'LE-FACED.--_n._ MOTT'LING. [_Motley_.]
MOTTO, mot'[=o], _n._ a short sentence or phrase prefixed in anything intimating the subject of it: a phrase attached to a coat-of-arms: a paper packet containing a sweetmeat, cracker, &c., together with a scrap of paper bearing a motto--a motto-kiss:--_pl._ MOTTOES (mot'[=o]z).--_adj._ MOTT'OED. [Low L. _muttum_--_mutt[=i]re_, to mutter.]
MOUCHARABY, m[=oo]-shar'a-bi, _n._ a balcony enclosed with lattice-work: an embattled balcony with parapet and machicolations. [Fr.]
MOUCHARD, m[=oo]-shar', _n._ a police spy in France. [_Mouche_, a fly.]
MOUCHER, mow'ch[.e]r, _n._ one who idles about, a loafer, a beggar--same as MICHER.--_v.i._ MOUCH, to skulk or sneak about; to live a vagabond life.
[O. Fr. _muchier_ (Fr. _musser_), to hide.]
MOUCHOIR, m[=oo]-shwor', _n._ a pocket-handkerchief. [Fr.]
MOUFFLON, m[=oo]f'lon, _n._ a wild sheep in the mountains of Corsica, Greece, &c. [Fr.]