Melanism - Meloe

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Melanism (mĕlȧnĭz'm), n. [Gr. melas, -anos, black.]
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1. An undue development of dark-colored pigment in the skin or its appendages; -- the opposite of albinism.
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2. (Med.) A disease; black jaundice. See .
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Melanism (mĕlȧnĭz'm), n. (Ethnol.) The character of having a high degree of pigmentation, as shown in dark skin, eyes, and hair.
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Melanistic (mĕlȧnĭstĭk), a. Affected with melanism; of the nature of melanism.
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Melanite (mĕlȧnīt), n. [Gr. melas, melanos, black: cf. F. mélanite.] (Min.) A black variety of garnet.
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Melanochroi (?), n. pl. [NL. See .] (Ethnol.) A group of the human race, including the dark whites.
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Melanochroic (?), a. [Gr. melanachroos; melas, -anos, black + chroa color.] Having a dark complexion; of or pertaining to the Melanochroi.
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Melanochroite (?), n. [See .] (Min.) A mineral of a red, or brownish or yellowish red color. It is a chromate of lead; -- called also phœnicocroite.
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Melanocomous (?), a. [Gr. melas, melanos, black + � hair.] Having very dark or black hair; black-haired. Prichard.
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Melanoma (?), n.; L. pl. -nomata (#). [NL.; Gr. �, �, black + -oma.] (Med.) (a) A tumor containing dark pigment. Such tumors are usually malignant and often fatal. (b) Development of dark-pigmented tumors.
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Melanorrhœa (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. melas, melanos, black + � to flow.] (Bot.) An East Indian genus of large trees. Melanorrhœa usitatissima is the lignum-vitæ of Pegu (in Burma), and yields a valuable black varnish.
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Melanoscope (?), n. [Gr. melas, melanos, black + -scope.] (Opt.) An instrument containing a combination of colored glasses such that they transmit only red light, so that objects of other colors, as green leaves, appear black when seen through it. It is used for viewing colored flames, to detect the presence of potassium, lithium, etc., by the red light which they emit.
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Melanosis (?), [NL., fr. Gr. � a growing black, fr. melas, melanos, black.] (Med.) The morbid deposition of black matter, often of a malignant character, causing pigmented tumors.
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Melanosperm (?), n. [Gr. melas, melanos, black + sperma seed.] (Bot.) An alga of any kind that produces blackish spores, or seed dust. The melanosperms include the rockweeds and all kinds of kelp. -- Melanospermous (#), a.
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Melanotic (?), a. Melanistic.
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Melanotype (?), n. [Gr. melas, melanos, black + -type.] (Photog.) A positive picture produced with sensitized collodion on a smooth surface of black varnish, coating a thin plate of iron; also, the process of making such a picture. [Written also melainotype.]
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Melanterite (?), n. (Min.) A hydrous sulphate of iron of a green color and vitreous luster; iron vitriol.
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Melanure (?), n. [NL. melanurus, fr. Gr. melas, melanos, black + o'ura tail.] (Zoöl.) A small fish of the Mediterranean; a gilthead. See (a).
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Melanuric (?), a. [Melam + urea.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, a complex nitrogenous acid obtained by decomposition of melam, or of urea, as a white crystalline powder; -- called also melanurenic acid.
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Melaphyre (?), n. [F., fr. Gr. melas, melanos, black + porphyre porphyry.] (Min.) Any one of several dark-colored augitic, eruptive rocks allied to basalt.
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Melasma (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. � black spot.] (Med.) A dark discoloration of the skin, usually local; as, Addison's melasma, or Addison's disease. -- Melasmic (#), a.
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Melasses (?), n. See .
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Melassic (?), a. [See .] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, an acid obtained from molasses or glucose, and probably identical with saccharic acid (also called D-glucaric acid or tetrahydroxyadipic acid). See .
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Melastoma (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. melas black + stoma mouth.] (Bot.) A genus of evergreen tropical shrubs; -- so called from the black berries of some species, which stain the mouth.
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Melastomaceous (?), a. (Bot.) Belonging to the order of which Melastoma is the type.
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melatonin n. (Physiology) A hormone secreted by the pineal gland. Chemically it is N-acety-5-methoxytryptamine. Research has indicated that there are daily rhythms in secretion of melatonin, in particular due to the depressing effect on melatonin production by light received by the retina. Conversely it appears that melatonin may influence the circadian rhythms of animals. There is some experimental evidence that administration of melatonin may increase the amount of sleep in people with sleep disorders. However, the evidence is not convincing and the effect is not profound. Nevertheless, the deregulation of melatonin and its availability over-the-counter has led to many people taking melatonin to help sleep, without consulting a physician.
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A role for melatonin in sleep facilitation has been inferred from its effect on electroencephalogram patterns, but it has not been possible to demonstrate that wakefulness sleep cycles are driven by periodic accumulation, depletion, or regeneration of melatonin. Uwe Ackermann, Essentials of Human Physiology, 1992

Melchite (?), n. [Heb. melek king.] (Eccl. Hist.) One of a sect, chiefly in Syria and Egypt, which acknowledges the authority of the pope, but adheres to the liturgy and ceremonies of the Eastern Church.
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Meld (?), v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Melded; p. pr. & vb. n. Melding.] [G. melden to announce.] (Card Playing) In the game of pinochle, to declare or announce for a score; as, to meld a sequence. [wns=1]
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2. to mix together so that the components are indistinguishable. [wns=2]
Syn. -- blend, mix, conflate, commingle, immix, fuse, coalesce, combine, merge.
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meld, n. (Card Playing) 1. Any combination or score which may be declared, or melded, in pinochle.
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2. A form of rummy using two decks and four jokers; jokers and dueces are wild; the object is to meld groups of seven of the same rank.
Syn. -- canasta, basket rummy.
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Meleagrididae prop. n. A natural family of fowls including the turkeys and some extinct forms.
Syn. -- family Meleagrididae.
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Meleagrine (?), a. (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the genus Meleagris.
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Meleagris (?), prop. n. [L., the Guinea fowl.] (Zoöl.) A genus of American gallinaceous birds, including the common turkey and the wild turkeys.
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Mêlée (m�l�), n. [F., fr. mêler to mix. See , , and cf. .] 1. A fight in which the combatants are mingled in one confused mass; a hand to hand conflict; an affray.
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2. A cavalry exercise in which two groups of riders try to cut paper plumes off the helmets of their opponents, the contest continuing until no member of one group retains his plume; -- sometimes called Balaklava mêlée.
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Melena (?), n. (Med.) See .
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Melene (?), n. [Melissic + ethylene.] (Chem.) An unsaturated hydrocarbon, C30H60, of the ethylene series, obtained from beeswax as a white, scaly, crystalline wax; -- called also melissene, and melissylene.
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Melenite (?), n. [Gr. meli honey.] An explosive of great destructive power; -- so called from its color, which resembles honey.
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Meletin (?), n. (Chem.) See .
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Melezitose (?), n. [F. mélèze the larch + melitose.] (Chem.) A variety of sugar, isomeric with sucrose, extracted from the manna of the larch (Larix). [Written also melicitose.]
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Meliaceous (?), a. (Bot.) Pertaining to a natural order (Meliacæ) of plants of which the genus Melia is the type. It includes the mahogany and the Spanish cedar.
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{ Melibean (?), Melib�an }, a. [From L. Meliboeus, one of the interlocutors in Virgil's first Eclogue.] (Rhet.) Alternately responsive, as verses.
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Melic (?), [Gr. �, fr. � song.] Of or pertaining to song; lyric; tuneful.
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Melicerous (?), a. [L. meliceris a kind of tumor, fr. Gr. �; meli honey + � wax.] (Med.) Consisting of or containing matter like honey; -- said of certain encysted tumors.
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Melic grass (?). (Bot.) A genus of grasses (Melica) of little agricultural importance.
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Melicotoon (?), n. (Bot.) See .
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Melicratory (?), n. [Gr. melikraton.] A meadlike drink. [Obs.]
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Melilite (mĕlĭlīt), n. [Gr. meli honey + -lite; cf. F. mélilithe.] (Min.) A mineral occurring in small yellow crystals, found in the lavas (melilite basalt) of Vesuvius, and elsewhere. [Written also mellilite.]
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Melilot (-lŏt), n. [F. mélilot, L. melilotus, fr. Gr. �, �, a kind of clover containing honey; meli honey + � lotus.] (Bot.) Any species of Melilotus, a genus of leguminous herbs having a vanillalike odor; sweet clover; hart's clover. The blue melilot (Melilotus cærulea) is used in Switzerland to give color and flavor to sapsago cheese.
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Melilotic (?), a. (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or obtained from, sweet clover or melilot; specifically, designating an acid of the aromatic series, obtained from melilot as a white crystalline substance.
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Melinae n. A subdivision of mammals not used in some classifications; it includes the badgers.
Syn. -- subfamily Melinae.
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Mélinite (?), n. [F.] (Chem.) A high explosive similar to lyddite, consisting principally of picric acid, used in the French military service.
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Meliorate (mēly�rāt), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Meliorated (mēly�rātĕd); p. pr. & vb. n. Meliorating.] [L. melioratus, p. p. of meliorare to meliorate, fr. melior better; akin to Gr. ma^llon rather, mala very. Cf. .] To make better; to improve; to ameliorate; to soften; to make more tolerable.
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Nature by art we nobly meliorate. Denham.
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The pure and benign light of revelation has had a meliorating influence on mankind. Washington.
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Meliorate, v. i. To grow better.
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Meliorater (?), n. Same as .
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Melioration (?), n. [L. melioratio.] The act or operation of meliorating, or the state of being meliorated; improvement. Bacon.
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Meliorator (?), n. One who meliorates.
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Meliorism (?), n. [From L. melior better.] The doctrine that there is a tendency throughout nature toward improvement. J. Sully.
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Meliority (?), n. [LL. melioritas, fr. L. melior. See .] The state or quality of being better; melioration. [Obs.] Bacon.
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Meliphagan (?), a. [Gr. meli honey + � to eat.] (Zoöl.) Belonging to the genus Meliphaga.
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Meliphagan, n. (Zoöl.) Any bird of the genus Meliphaga and allied genera; a honey eater; -- called also meliphagidan.
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Meliphagous (?), a. [See .] (Zool.) Eating, or feeding upon, honey.
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Melisma (?), n.; pl. Melismata (#). [NL., fr. Gr. melisma a song.] (Mus.) (a) A piece of melody; a song or tune, -- as opposed to recitative or musical declamation. (b) A grace or embellishment.
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Melissa (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. melissa a bee, honey.] (Bot.) A genus of labiate herbs, including the balm, or bee balm (Melissa officinalis).
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Melissic (?), a. [Gr. melissa a bee, honey.] (Chem.) Pertaining to, or derived from, beeswax; specif., denoting an acid obtained by oxidation of myricin.
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Melissyl (?), n. [Melissic +yl.] (Chem.) See .
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Melissylene (?), n. [Melissic + -yl + -ene.] (Chem.) See .
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Melitose (?), n. [Gr. meli honey.] (Chem.) A variety of sugar isomeric with sucrose, extracted from cotton seeds and from the so-called Australian manna (a secretion of certain species of Eucalyptus).
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Mell (?), v. i. & t. [F. mêler, OF. meller, mester. See .] To mix; to meddle. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Mell, n. [See .] Honey. [Obs.] Warner.
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Mell, n. A mill. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Mellate (?), n. [L. mel, mellis, honey. Cf. .] (Chem.) A mellitate. [R.]
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Mellay (?), n. A mêlée; a conflict. Tennyson.
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Mellic (?), a. (Chem.) See . [R.]
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Melliferous (?), a. [L. mellifer; mel, mellis, honey + ferre to bear.] Producing honey.
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Mellific (?), a. [L. mel, mellis, honey + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See .] Producing honey.
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Mellification (?), n. [L. mellificare to make honey: cf. F. mellification. See .] The making or production of honey.
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Mellifluence (?), n. A flow of sweetness, or a sweet, smooth flow.
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Mellifluent (?), a. [L. mellifluens. See .] Flowing as with honey; smooth; mellifluous.
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Mellifluently, adv. In a mellifluent manner.
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Mellifluous (?), a. [L. mellifluus; mel, mellis, honey (akin to Gr. �, Goth. milip) + fluere to flow. See , , and cf. .] Flowing as with honey; smooth; flowing sweetly or smoothly; as, a mellifluous voice. -- Mellifluously, adv.
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Melligenous (?), a. [L. mel, mellis + -genous.] Having the qualities of honey. [R.]
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Melligo (?), n. [L.] Honeydew.
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Melliloquent (?), a. [L. mel, mellis honey + loquens speaking, p. pr. of loqui to speak.] Speaking sweetly or harmoniously.
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Melliphagan (?), n. See .
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Melliphagous (?), a. See .
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Mellitate (?), n. [Cf. F. mellitate. See .] (Chem.) A salt of mellitic acid.
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Mellite (?), n. [L. mel, mellis, honey: cf. F. mellite.] (Min.) A mineral of a honey color, found in brown coal, and partly the result of vegetable decomposition; honeystone. It is a mellitate of alumina.
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Mellitic (?), a. [Cf. F. mellitique. See .] (Chem.) (a) Containing saccharine matter; marked by saccharine secretions; as, mellitic diabetes. (b) Pertaining to, or derived from, the mineral mellite.
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Coloq. Mellitic acid (Chem.), a white, crystalline, organic substance, C6(CO2H)6, occurring naturally in combination with aluminium in the mineral mellite, and produced artificially by the oxidation of coal, graphite, etc., and hence called also graphitic acid.
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Mellone (?), n. (Chem.) A yellow powder, C6H3N9, obtained from certain sulphocyanates. It has acid properties and forms compounds called mellonides.
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Mellonide (?), n. See .
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Mellow (?), a. [Compar. Mellower (?); superl. Mellowest.] [OE. melwe; cf. AS. mearu soft, D. murw, Prov. G. mollig soft, D. malsch, and E. meal flour.]
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1. Soft or tender by reason of ripeness; having a tender pulp; as, a mellow apple.
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2. Hence: (a) Easily worked or penetrated; not hard or rigid; as, a mellow soil. “Mellow glebe.” Drayton (b) Not coarse, rough, or harsh; subdued; soft; rich; delicate; -- said of sound, color, flavor, style, etc. “The mellow horn.” Wordsworth. “The mellow-tasted Burgundy.” Thomson.
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The tender flush whose mellow stain imbues
Heaven with all freaks of light. Percival.
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3. Well matured; softened by years; genial; jovial.
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May health return to mellow age. Wordsworth.
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As merry and mellow an old bachelor as ever followed a hound. W. Irving.
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4. Warmed by liquor; slightly intoxicated. Addison.
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Mellow, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mellowed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Mellowing.] To make mellow. Shak.
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If the Weather prove frosty to mellow it [the ground], they do not plow it again till April. Mortimer.
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The fervor of early feeling is tempered and mellowed by the ripeness of age. J. C. Shairp.
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Mellow, v. i. To become mellow; as, ripe fruit soon mellows. “Prosperity begins to mellow.” Shak.
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mellowed adj. 1. having a mild and pleasing flavor through proper aging.
Syn. -- mellow.
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2. having attained to kindliness or gentleness through age and experience; -- of people.
Syn. -- gentle, mellow.
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mellowing adj. pr. p. of .
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mellowing n. The act or process of acquiring desirable qualities by being left undisturbed for some time.
Syn. -- ripening, aging, ageing.
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Mellowly, adv. In a mellow manner.
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Mellowness, n. Quality or state of being mellow.
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Mellowy (?), a. Soft; unctuous. Drayton.
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Melluco (?), n. (Bot.) A climbing plant (Ullucus officinalis) of the Andes, having tuberous roots which are used as a substitute for potatoes.
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Melne (?), n. A mill. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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{ Melocoton, Melocotoon } (?), n. [Sp. melocoton a kind of peach tree and its fruit, L. malum cotonium, or cotonea, or Cydonia, a quince, or quince tree, lit., apple of Cydonia, Gr. � �. See .] (Bot.) (a) A quince. (b) A kind of peach having one side deep red, and the flesh yellow. [Written also malacatoon, malacotune.]
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Melodeon (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. � musical. See , and cf. .]
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1. (Mus.) A kind of small reed organ; -- a portable form of the seraphine.
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2. A music hall.
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Melodic (?), a. [L. melodicus, Gr. �: cf. F. mélodique.] Of the nature of melody; relating to, containing, or made up of, melody; melodious.
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Melodics (?), n. The branch of musical science which treats of the pitch of tones, and of the laws of melody.
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Melodiograph (?), n. [Melody + -graph.] A contrivance for preserving a record of music, by recording the action of the keys of a musical instrument when played upon.
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Melodious (?), a. [Cf. F. mélodieux. See .] Containing, or producing, melody; musical; agreeable to the ear by a sweet succession of sounds; as, a melodious voice. “A melodious voice.” “A melodious undertone.” Longfellow. -- Melodiously, adv. -- Melodiousness, n.
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Melodist (?), n. [Cf. F. mélodiste.] A composer or singer of melodies.
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Melodize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Melodized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Melodizing (?).] To make melodious; to form into, or set to, melody.
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Melodize, v. i. To make melody; to compose melodies; to harmonize.
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Melodrama (?), n. [F. mélodrame, fr. Gr. melos song + dra^ma drama.] Formerly, a kind of drama having a musical accompaniment to intensify the effect of certain scenes. Now, a drama abounding in romantic sentiment and agonizing situations, with a musical accompaniment only in parts which are especially thrilling or pathetic. In opera, a passage in which the orchestra plays a somewhat descriptive accompaniment, while the actor speaks; as, the melodrama in the gravedigging scene of Beethoven's “Fidelio”.
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Melodramatic (?), a. [Cf. F. mélodramatique.] Of or pertaining to melodrama; like or suitable to a melodrama; unnatural in situation or action. -- Melodramatically (#), adv.
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Melodramatist (?), n. One who acts in, or writes, melodramas.
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Melodrame (?), n. [F.] Melodrama.
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Melody (?), n.; pl. Melodies (#). [OE. melodie, F. mélodie, L. melodia, fr. Gr. � a singing, choral song, fr. � musical, melodious; melos song, tune + � song. See .]
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1. A sweet or agreeable succession of sounds.
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Lulled with sound of sweetest melody. Shak.
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2. (Mus.) A rhythmical succession of single tones, ranging for the most part within a given key, and so related together as to form a musical whole, having the unity of what is technically called a musical thought, at once pleasing to the ear and characteristic in expression.
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☞ Melody consists in a succession of single tones; harmony is a consonance or agreement of tones, also a succession of consonant musical combinations or chords.
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3. The air or tune of a musical piece.
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Syn. -- See .
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Meloe (?), [ NL., fr. Gr. � to probe a wound.] (Zoöl.) A genus of beetles without wings, but having short oval elytra; the oil beetles. These beetles are sometimes used instead of cantharides for raising blisters. See Oil beetle, under .
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