Mastlin - Materialism

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Mastlin (măstlĭn), n. See .
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Mastodon (?), n. [Gr. mastos the breast + 'odoys, 'odontos, a tooth. So called from the conical projections upon its molar teeth.] (Paleon.) An extinct genus of mammals closely allied to the elephant, but having less complex molar teeth, and often a pair of lower, as well as upper, tusks, which are incisor teeth. The species were mostly larger than elephants, and their remains occur in nearly all parts of the world in deposits ranging from Miocene to late Quaternary time.
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Mastodonsaurus (?), n. [NL., fr. E. Mastodon + Gr. say^ros a lizard.] (Paleon.) A large extinct genus of labyrinthodonts, found in the European Triassic rocks.
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Mastodontic (?), a. Pertaining to, or resembling, a mastodon; as, mastodontic dimensions. Everett.
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Mastodynia (?), Mastodyny (�), n. [NL. mastodynia, fr. Gr. mastos the breast + � pain.] (Med.) Pain occuring in the mamma or female breast, -- a form of neuralgia.
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Mastoid (?), a. [Gr. �; mastos the breast + e'i^dos form: cf. F. mastoïde.] (Anat.) (a) Resembling the nipple or the breast; -- applied specifically to a process of the temporal bone behind the ear. (b) Pertaining to, or in the region of, the mastoid process; mastoidal.
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Mastoidal (?), a. Same as .
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Mastoiditis (?), n. [NL. See , and .] (Med.) Inflammation in the mastoid process of the temporal bone.
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Mastology (?), n. [Gr. mastos the breast + -logy: cf. F. mastologie.] The natural history of Mammalia.
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Mastotermes prop. n. A primitive genus of termites, mostly extinct; sometimes considered the most primitive isopterans.
Syn. -- genus Mastotermes.
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Mastotermitidae prop. n. A natural family comprising primitive termites.
Syn. -- family Mastotermitidae.
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Mastress (?), n. Mistress. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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masturbate v. i. [imp. & p. p. masturbated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. masturbating.] To achieve sexual gratification by stimulating one's own sexual organs, without the aid of a partner; -- typically to the point of orgasm. -- masturbator, n.
Syn. -- wank, she-bop, jack off, jerk off, whack off, beat the meat.
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masturbation (?), n. [L. masturbatus, p. p. of masturbari to practice onanism: cf. F. masturbation.] The act of masturbating; sexual self-gratification; onanism.
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Masty (?), a. [See 1st .] Full of mast; abounding in acorns, etc.
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Masula boat (?). Same as .
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Mat (măt), n. [Cf. .] A name given by coppersmiths to an alloy of copper, tin, iron, etc., usually called white metal. [Written also matt.]
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Mat, a. [OF. See 4th .] Cast down; dejected; overthrown; slain. [Obs.]
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When he saw them so piteous and so maat. Chaucer.
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Mat, n. [AS. matt, meatt, fr. L. matta a mat made of rushes.] 1. A thick flat fabric of sedge, rushes, flags, husks, straw, hemp, or similar material, placed on the floor and used for wiping and cleaning shoes at the door, for covering the floor of a hall or room to protect its surface, and for other purposes.
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2. Any similar flat object made of fabric or other material, such as rubber or plastic, placed flat on a surface for various uses, as for covering plant houses, putting beneath dishes or lamps on a table, securing rigging from friction, and the like.
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3. Anything growing thickly, or closely interwoven, so as to resemble a mat in form or texture; as, a mat of weeds; a mat of hair.
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4. An ornamental border made of paper, pasterboard, metal, etc., put under the glass which covers a framed picture; as, the mat of a daguerreotype.
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Coloq. Mat grass . (Bot.) (a) A low, tufted, European grass (Nardus stricta). (b) Same as . -- Coloq. Mat rush (Bot.), a kind of rush (Scirpus lacustris) used in England for making mats.
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Mat, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Matted (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Matting.] 1. To cover or lay with mats. Evelyn.
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2. To twist, twine, or felt together; to interweave into, or like, a mat; to entangle.
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And o'er his eyebrows hung his matted hair. Dryden.
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Mat, v. i. To grow thick together; to become interwoven or felted together like a mat, as hair when wetted with a sticky substance; as, a long-haired cat whose fur is matted.
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{ Matabele (?), or Matabeles (?) }, prop. n. pl., sing. Matabele. [Written also Matabili.] (Ethnol.) A warlike South African Kaffir tribe.
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Matachin (?), n. [Sp.] An old dance with swords and bucklers; a sword dance.
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Mataco (?), n. (Zoöl.) The three-banded armadillo (Tolypeutis tricinctus). See Illust. under .
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{ Matador, Matadore} (?), n. [Sp. matador, prop., a killer, fr. matar to kill, L. mactare to sacrifice, kill.] 1. The killer; the man appointed to kill the bull in bullfights; a bullfighter; a toreador.
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2. (Card Playing) In the game of quadrille or omber, the three principal trumps, the ace of spades being the first, the ace of clubs the third, and the second being the deuce of a black trump or the seven of a red one.
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When Lady Tricksey played a four,
You took it with a matadore. Swift.
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3. [Skat] The jack of clubs, or any other trump held in sequence with it, whether by the player or by his adversaries.
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4. A certain game of dominoes in which four dominoes (the 4-3, 5-2, 6-1, and double blank), called matadors, may be played at any time in any way.
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Matagasse (?), n. (Zoöl.) A shrike or butcher bird; -- called also mattages. [Prov. Eng.]
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Matajuelo (mätȧhwālō; 239), n. [Cf. Sp. matajudío a kind of fish.] A large squirrel fish (Holocentrus ascensionis) of Florida and the West Indies.
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Matajuelo blanco (mätȧhwālō bläṉkō). [Sp. blanco white.] A West Indian food fish (Malacanthus plumieri) related to the tilefish.
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Matamata (?), n. [Pg.] (Zoöl.) The bearded tortoise (Chelys fimbriata) of South American rivers.
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Matanza (?), n. [Sp., slaughter, fr. matar to kill.] A place where animals are slaughtered for their hides and tallow. [Western U. S.]
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Match (măch), n. [OE. macche, F. mèche, F. mèche, fr. L. myxa a lamp nozzle, Gr. myxa mucus, nostril, a lamp nozzle. Cf. .] Anything used for catching and retaining or communicating fire, made of some substance which takes fire readily, or remains burning some time; esp., a small strip or splint of wood or cardboard dipped at one end in a substance which can be easily ignited by friction, as a preparation of phosphorus or chlorate of potassium.
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Coloq. Match tub , a tub with a perforated cover for holding slow matches for firing cannon, esp. on board ship. The tub contains a little water in the bottom, for extinguishing sparks from the lighted matches. -- Coloq. Quick match , threads of cotton or cotton wick soaked in a solution of gunpowder mixed with gum arabic and boiling water and afterwards strewed over with mealed powder. It burns at the rate of one yard in thirteen seconds, and is used as priming for heavy mortars, fireworks, etc. -- Coloq. Slow match , slightly twisted hempen rope soaked in a solution of limewater and saltpeter or washed in a lye of water and wood ashes. It burns at the rate of four or five inches an hour, and is used for firing cannon, fireworks, etc.
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Match, n. [OE. macche, AS. gemæcca; akin to gemaca, and to OS. gimako, OHG. gimah fitting, suitable, convenient, Icel. mark suitable, maki mate, Sw. make, Dan. mage; all from the root of E. make, v. See mate, and , v., and cf. an associate.]
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1. A person or thing equal or similar to another; one able to mate or cope with another; an equal; a mate.
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Government . . . makes an innocent man, though of the lowest rank, a match for the mightiest of his fellow subjects. Addison.
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2. A bringing together of two parties suited to one another, as for a union, a trial of skill or force, a contest, or the like; specifically: (a) A contest to try strength or skill, or to determine superiority; a sporting contest; an emulous struggle. “Many a warlike match.” Drayton.
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A solemn match was made; he lost the prize. Dryden.
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(b) A matrimonial union; a marriage.
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3. An agreement, compact, etc. “Thy hand upon that match.” Shak.
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Love doth seldom suffer itself to be confined by other matches than those of its own making. Boyle.
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4. A candidate for matrimony; one to be gained in marriage. “She . . . was looked upon as the richest match of the West.” Clarendon.
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5. Equality of conditions in contest or competition, or one who provides equal competition to another in a contest; as, he had no match as a swordsman within the city.
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It were no match, your nail against his horn. Shak.
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6. Suitable combination or bringing together; that which corresponds or harmonizes with something else; as, the carpet and curtains are a match.
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7. (Founding) A perforated board, block of plaster, hardened sand, etc., in which a pattern is partly imbedded when a mold is made, for giving shape to the surfaces of separation between the parts of the mold.
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Coloq. Match boarding (Carp.), boards fitted together with tongue and groove, or prepared to be so fitted; a surface composed of match boarding. See . -- Coloq. Match game , a game arranged as a test of superiority. -- Coloq. Match plane (Carp.), either of the two planes used to shape the edges of boards which are joined by grooving and tonguing. -- Coloq. Match plate (Founding), a board or plate on the opposite sides of which the halves of a pattern are fastened, to facilitate molding. Knight. -- Coloq. Match wheel (Mach.), a cogwheel of suitable pitch to work with another wheel; specifically, one of a pair of cogwheels of equal size.
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Match, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Matched (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Matching.] 1. To be a mate or match for; to be able to complete with; to rival successfully; to equal.
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No settled senses of the world can match
The pleasure of that madness. Shak.
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2. To furnish with its match; to bring a match, or equal, against; to show an equal competitor to; to set something in competition with, or in opposition to, as equal.
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No history or antiquity can matchis policies and his conduct. South.
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3. To oppose as equal; to contend successfully against.
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Eternal might
To match with their inventions they presumed
So easy, and of his thunder made a scorn. Milton.
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4. To make or procure the equal of, or that which is exactly similar to, or corresponds with; as, to match a vase or a horse; to match cloth. “Matching of patterns and colors.” Swift.
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5. To make equal, proportionate, or suitable; to adapt, fit, or suit (one thing to another).
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Let poets match their subject to their strength. Roscommon.
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6. To marry; to give in marriage.
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A senator of Rome survived,
Would not have matched his daughter with a king. Addison.
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7. To fit together, or make suitable for fitting together; specifically, to furnish with a tongue and a groove, at the edges; as, to match boards.
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Coloq. Matching machine , a planing machine for forming a tongue or a groove on the edge of a board.
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Match, v. i. 1. To be united in marriage; to mate.
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I hold it a sin to match in my kindred. Shak.
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Let tigers match with hinds, and wolves with sheep. Dryden.
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2. To be of equal, or similar, size, figure, color, or quality; to tally; to suit; to correspond; as, these vases match.
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Matchable (?), a. Capable of being matched; comparable on equal conditions; adapted to being joined together; correspondent. -- Matchableness, n.
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Sir Walter Raleigh . . . is matchable with the best of the ancients. Hakewill.
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matchboard n. A board that has a groove cut into one edge and a tongue cut into the other so they fit tightly together (as in a floor); see match boarding.
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matchbook n. A small folder of paper safety matches.
Syn. -- match book.
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matchbox, match box n. a box for holding matches. See first , n.
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matchbush n. any of several plants of the genus Gutierrezia having tiny matchlike flowerheads.
Syn. -- matchweed.
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Match-cloth (?), n. A coarse cloth.
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Match-coat (?), n. A coat made of match-cloth.
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Matcher (?), n. One who, or that which, matches; a matching machine. See under 3d .
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Match game. A game arranged as a test of superiority; also, one of a series of such games.
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matchet n. a large heavy knife used in Central and South America as a weapon or for cutting vegetation; usually called machete.
Syn. -- machete, panga.
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matching adj. 1. having identical or closely similar appearance or properties; as, a pair of matching candlesticks.
Syn. -- duplicate, twin(prenominal), twinned.
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2. Harmonious and pleasing in appearance when used together; as, a matching skirt and blouse.
Syn. -- coordinated; color-coordinated.
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Matchless, a. [Cf. .]
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1. Having no equal; unequaled. “A matchless queen.” Waller.
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2. Unlike each other; unequal; unsuited. [Obs.] “Matchless ears.” Spenser.
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-- Matchlessly, adv. -- Matchlessness, n.
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Matchlock (?), n. An old form of gunlock containing a match for firing the priming; hence, a musket fired by means of a match.
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Matchmaker (?), n. 1. One who makes matches for burning or kinding.
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2. One who tries to bring about marriages.
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Matchmaking, n. 1. The act or process of making matches for kindling or burning.
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2. The act or process of trying to bring about a marriage for others.
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Matchmaking, a. Busy in making or contriving marriages; as, a matchmaking woman.
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Match play. (Golf) Play in which the score is reckoned by counting the holes won or lost by each side; -- distinguished from medal play.
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matchwood n. 1. wood in small pieces or splinters; as, the vessel was beaten to matchwood on the rocks. [wns=1 & 3]
Syn. -- splinters.
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2. Wood suitable for making matchsticks.
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Mate (mät�), n. [Sp.] The Paraguay tea, being the dried leaf of the Brazilian holly (Ilex Paraguensis). The infusion has a pleasant odor, with an agreeable bitter taste, and is much used for tea in South America.
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Mate (māt), n. [F. mat, abbrev. fr. échec et mat. See .] (Chess) Same as .
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Mate, a. See 2d . [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Mate, v. t. [F. mater to fatigue, enfeeble, humiliate, checkmate. See checkmate.]
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1. To confuse; to confound. [Obs.] Shak.
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2. To checkmate.
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Mate, n. [Perhaps for older make a companion; cf. also OD. maet companion, mate, D. maat. Cf. a companion, a mate.] 1. One who customarily associates with another; a companion; an associate; any object which is associated or combined with a similar object.
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2. Hence, specifically, a husband or wife; and among the lower animals, one of a pair associated for propagation and the care of their young.
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3. A suitable companion; a match; an equal.
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Ye knew me once no mate
For you; there sitting where you durst not soar. Milton.
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4. (Naut.) An officer in a merchant vessel ranking next below the captain. If there are more than one bearing the title, they are called, respectively, first mate, second mate, third mate, etc. In the navy, a subordinate officer or assistant; as, master's mate; surgeon's mate.
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Mate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mated; p. pr. & vb. n. Mating.] 1. To match; to marry.
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If she be mated with an equal husband. Shak.
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2. To match one's self against; to oppose as equal; to compete with.
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There is no passion in the mind of man so weak but it mates and masters the fear of death. Bacon.
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I, . . . in the way of loyalty and truth, . . .
Dare mate a sounder man than Surrey can be. Shak.
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3. To breed; to bring (animals) together for the purpose of breeding; as, she mated a doberman with a German shepherd.
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4. To join together; to fit together; to connect; to link; as, he mated a saw blade to a broom handle to cut inaccessible branches.
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Mate, v. i. To be or become a mate or mates, especially in sexual companionship; as, some birds mate for life; this bird will not mate with that one.
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mated adj. 1. Brought together for sexual activity; bred; -- of animals.
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2. Sorted into pairs of identical size, color, or other properties; -- used of gloves, socks, etc.
Syn. -- paired.
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3. Same as . Opposite of unmarried; as, they were a devoted couple, mated for life.
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Matelassé (mȧlȧs�), a. [F., p.p. of matelasser to cushion, to cover as with a mattress, fr. matelas mattress. See .] Ornamented by means of an imitation or suggestion of quilting, the surface being marked by depressed lines which form squares or lozenges in relief; as, matelassé silks.
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Matelassé, n. A quilted ornamented dress fabric of silk or silk and wool.
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Mateless, a. [Cf. .] Having no mate.
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{ Matelote (măt�lōt), Matelotte (măt�lŏt) }, n. [F. matelote, fr. matelot a sailor; properly, a dish such as a sailors prepare.] 1. A stew, commonly of fish, flavored with wine, and served with a wine sauce containing onions, mushrooms, etc.
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2. An old dance of sailors, in double time, and somewhat like a hornpipe.
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Mateology (māt�ŏl�j�), n. [Gr. mataiologia; mataios useless, vain + logos discourse: cf. F. matéologie.] A vain, unprofitable discourse or inquiry. [R.]
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Mateotechny (māt��tĕkn�), n. [Gr. mataiotechnia; mataios vain + technh art, science.] Any unprofitable science. [Obs.]
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Mater (?), n. [L., mother. See .] See , , and .
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Material (?), a. [L. materialis, fr. materia stuff, matter: cf. F. matériel. See , and cf. .]
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1. Consisting of matter; not spiritual; corporeal; physical; as, material substance or bodies.
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The material elements of the universe. Whewell.
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2. Hence: Pertaining to, or affecting, the physical nature of man, as distinguished from the mental or moral nature; relating to the bodily wants, interests, and comforts; as, material well-being; material comforts.
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3. Of solid or weighty character; not insubstantial; of consequence; not be dispensed with; important; significant.
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Discourse, which was always material, never trifling. Evelyn.
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I shall, in the account of simple ideas, set down only such as are most material to our present purpose. Locke.
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4. (Logic.) Pertaining to the matter, as opposed to the form, of a thing. See .
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Coloq. Material cause . See under . -- Coloq. Material evidence (Law), evidence which conduces to the proof or disproof of a relevant hypothesis. Wharton.
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Syn. -- Corporeal; bodily; important; weighty; momentous; essential.
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Material, n. The substance or matter of which anything is made or may be made.
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Coloq. Raw material , any crude, unfinished, or elementary materials that are adapted to use only by processes of skilled labor. Cotton, wool, ore, logs, etc., are raw material.
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Material, v. t. To form from matter; to materialize. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
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Materialism (?), n. [Cf. F. matérialisme.] 1. The doctrine of materialists; materialistic views and tenets; called also philosophical materialism.
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The irregular fears of a future state had been supplanted by the materialism of Epicurus. Buckminster.
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2. The tendency to give undue importance to material interests as contrasted with spiritual concerns; devotion to the material nature and its wants.
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3. Material substances in the aggregate; matter. [R. & Obs.] A. Chalmers.
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Coloq. philosophical materialism The theory that matter and energy are the only objects existing within the universe, and that mental and spiritual phenomena are explainable as functions of the nervous system of people. Same as {1}.
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