Melograph - Menace

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Melograph (mĕl�grȧf), n. [Gr. melos a song + -graph : cf. F. mélographe.] Same as .
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meloid n. (Zool.) A beetle belongoing to the family Meloidae.
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Meloidae prop. n. A natural family of insects comprising the blister beetles.
Syn. -- family Meloidae.
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Melolonthidae prop. n. A natural subfamily of beetles, considered a separate family in some classification systems.
Syn. -- subfamily Melolonthidae.
[WordNet 1.5]

Melolonthidian (mĕl�lŏnthĭdĭ�n), n. [Gr. mhlolonqh the cockchafer.] (Zoöl.) A beetle of the genus Melolontha, and allied genera. See May beetle, under .
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Melon (mĕlŭn), n. [F., fr. L. melo, for melopepo an apple-shaped melon, Gr. mhlopepwn ; mh^lon apple + pepwn a species of large melon; cf. L. malum apple. Cf. .]
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1. (Bot.) The juicy fruit of certain cucurbitaceous plants, as the muskmelon, watermelon, and citron melon; also, the plant that produces the fruit.
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2. (Zoöl.) A large, ornamental, marine, univalve shell of the genus Melo.
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Coloq. Melon beetle (Zoöl.), a small leaf beetle (Diabrotiea vittata), which damages the leaves of melon vines. -- Coloq. Melon cactus , Coloq. Melon thistle . (a) (Bot.) A genus of cactaceous plants (Melocactus) having a fleshy and usually globose stem with the surface divided into spiny longitudinal ridges, and bearing at the top a prickly and woolly crown in which the small pink flowers are half concealed. Melocactus communis, from the West Indies, is often cultivated, and sometimes called Turk's cap. (b) The related genus Mamillaria, in which the stem is tubercled rather than ribbed, and the flowers sometimes large. See Illust. under .
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Melopiano (?), n. [Gr. melos song + E. piano.] A piano having a mechanical attachment which enables the player to prolong the notes at will.
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Meloplastic (?), a. Of or pertaining to meloplasty, or the artificial formation of a new cheek.
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Meloplasty (mĕl�plăst�), n. [Gr. mh^lon an apple, a cheek + -plasty: cf. F. méloplastie.] (Surg.) The process of restoring a cheek which has been destroyed wholly or in part.
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Melopœia (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. �; melos song + poiei^n to make.] (Mus.) The art of forming melody; melody; -- now often used for a melodic passage, rather than a complete melody.
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melosa n. A South American herb (Madia sativa) with sticky glandular foliage; it is a source of madia oil.
Syn. -- Chile tarweed, madia oil plant, Madia sativa.
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Melospiza prop. n. A genus of American song sparrows and swamp sparrows.
Syn. -- genus Melospiza.
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Melotype (?), n. (Photog.) A picture produced by a process in which development after exposure may be deferred indefinitely, so as to permit transportation of exposed plates; also, the process itself. [archaic]
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Melpomene (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. �, lit., the songstress, fr. �, �, to sing.] 1. (Class. Myth.) The Muse of tragedy.
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2. (Astron.) The eighteenth asteroid.
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Melrose (?), n. Honey of roses.
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Melt (mĕlt), n. (Zoöl.) See 2d .
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Melt, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Melted (obs.) p. p. Molten (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Melting.] [AS. meltan; akin to Gr. meldein, E. malt, and prob. to E. smelt, v. √108. Cf. , v., , the spleen.] 1. To reduce from a solid to a liquid state, as by heat; to liquefy; as, to melt wax, tallow, or lead; to melt ice or snow.
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2. Hence: To soften, as by a warming or kindly influence; to relax; to render gentle or susceptible to mild influences; sometimes, in a bad sense, to take away the firmness of; to weaken.
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Thou would'st have . . . melted down thy youth. Shak.
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For pity melts the mind to love. Dryden.
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Syn. -- To liquefy; fuse; thaw; mollify; soften.
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Melt, v. i. 1. To be changed from a solid to a liquid state under the influence of heat; as, butter and wax melt at moderate temperatures.
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2. To dissolve; as, sugar melts in the mouth.
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3. Hence: To be softened; to become tender, mild, or gentle; also, to be weakened or subdued, as by fear.
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My soul melteth for heaviness. Ps. cxix. 28.
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Melting with tenderness and kind compassion. Shak.
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4. To lose distinct form or outline; to blend. See .
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The soft, green, rounded hills, with their flowing outlines, overlapping and melting into each other. J. C. Shairp.
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5. To disappear by being dispersed or dissipated; as, the fog melts away. Shak.
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Meltable (?), a. Capable of being melted.
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Melter (-ẽr), n. One who, or that which, melts.
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Melting, n. Liquefaction; the act of causing (something) to melt, or the process of becoming melted.
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Coloq. Melting point (Chem.), the degree of temperature at which a solid substance melts or fuses; as, the melting point of ice is 0° Centigrade or 32° Fahr., that of urea is 132° Centigrade. Pressure affects the melting point somewhat, and if not specified the melting point is usually taken to be at atmospheric pressure.
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Melting a. Causing to melt; becoming melted; -- used literally or figuratively; as, a melting heat; a melting appeal; a melting mood. -- Meltingly, adv.
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Melting pot n. 1. A vessel in which anything is melted; a crucible.
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2. (Sociology) (fig.) A place where people of different backgrounds become similar in culture. The United States has often been referred to as a melting pot, though the differences in cultures of recently arrived immigrants persists beyond the generation of immigrants.
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Melton (?), n. [Etymol. uncertain.] A kind of stout woolen cloth with unfinished face and without raised nap. A commoner variety has a cotton warp.
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Melungeon (?), n. [Cf. F. mélanger to mix, mélange a mixture.] One of a mixed white and Indian people living in parts of Tennessee and the Carolinas. They are descendants of early intermixtures of white settlers with natives. In North Carolina the Coloq. Croatan Indians , regarded as descended from Raleigh's lost colony of Croatan, formerly classed with negroes, are now legally recognized as distinct.
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Melursus prop. n. A genus of mammals including the sloth bears; in some classifications not a separate genus from Ursus.
Syn. -- genus Melursus.
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Melville prop. n. Herman Melville, American novelist, author of Moby Dick; b. 1819, d. 1891.
Syn. -- Herman Melville.
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mem n. the 13th letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
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Member (?), v. t. [See .] To remember; to cause to remember; to mention. [Obs.]
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Member, n. [OE. membre, F. membre, fr. L. membrum; cf. Goth. mimz flesh, Skr. mamsa.]
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1. (Anat.) A part of an animal capable of performing a distinct office; an organ; a limb.
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We have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office. Rom. xii. 4.
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2. Hence: A part of a whole; an independent constituent of a body; as: (a) A part of a discourse or of a period or sentence; a clause; a part of a verse. (b) (Math.) Either of the two parts of an algebraic equation, connected by the sign of equality. (c) (Engin.) Any essential part, as a post, tie rod, strut, etc., of a framed structure, as a bridge truss. (d) (Arch.) Any part of a building, whether constructional, as a pier, column, lintel, or the like, or decorative, as a molding, or group of moldings. (e) One of the persons composing a society, community, or the like; an individual forming part of an association; as, a member of the society of Friends. (f) (Math.) one of the elements which, taken together, comprise a set. (g) (Math.) one of the individual objects which comprise a group or class.
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Coloq. Compression member , Coloq. Tension member (Engin.), a member, as a rod, brace, etc., which is subjected to compression or tension, respectively.
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Membered (?), a. 1. Having limbs; -- chiefly used in composition.
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2. (Her.) Having legs of a different tincture from that of the body; -- said of a bird in heraldic representations.
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Membership, n. 1. The state of being a member.
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2. The collective body of members, as of a society.
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Membral (?), a. (Anat.) Relating to a member.
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Membranaceous (?), a. [L. membranaceus.]
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1. Same as . Arbuthnot.
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2. (Bot.) Thin and rather soft or pliable, as the leaves of the rose, peach tree, and aspen poplar.
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Membrane (?), n. [F., fr. L. membrana the skin that covers the separate members of the body, fr. L. membrum. See .] (Anat.) A thin layer or fold of tissue, usually supported by a fibrous network, serving to cover or line some part or organ, and often secreting or absorbing certain fluids.
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☞ The term is also often applied to the thin, expanded parts, of various texture, both in animals and vegetables.
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Coloq. Adventitious membrane , a membrane connecting parts not usually connected, or of a different texture from the ordinary connection; as, the membrane of a cicatrix. -- Coloq. Jacob's membrane . See under . -- Coloq. Mucous membranes (Anat.), the membranes lining passages and cavities which communicate with the exterior, as well as ducts and receptacles of secretion, and habitually secreting mucus. -- Coloq. Schneiderian membrane . (Anat.) See . -- Coloq. Serous membranes (Anat.) , the membranes, like the peritoneum and pleura, which line, or lie in, cavities having no obvious outlet, and secrete a serous fluid.
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Membraneous (?), a. [L. membraneus of parchment.] See .
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Membraniferous (?), a. [Membrane + -ferous.] Having or producing membranes.
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Membraniform (?), a. [Membrane + -form: cf. F. membraniforme.] Having the form of a membrane or of parchment.
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Membranology (?), n. [Membrane + -logy.] The science which treats of membranes.
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Membranous (?), a. [Cf. F. membraneux.] 1. Pertaining to, consisting of, or resembling, membrane; as, a membranous covering or lining.
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2. (Bot.) Membranaceous.
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Coloq. Membranous croup (Med.), true croup. See .
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Memento (?), n.; pl. Mementos (#). [L., remember, be mindful, imper. of meminisse to remember. See .] A hint, suggestion, token, or memorial, to awaken memory; that which reminds or recalls to memory; a souvenir.
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Seasonable mementos may be useful. Bacon.
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Memento mori (?). [L.] Lit., remember to die, i.e., that you must die; a warning to be prepared for death; an object, as a death's-head or a personal ornament, usually emblematic, used as a reminder of death.
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Meminna (?), n. (Zoöl.) A small deerlet, or chevrotain, of India.
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Memnon (?), n. [L., from Gr. �, lit., the Steadfast, Resolute, the son of Tithonus and Aurora, and king of the Ethiopians, killed by Achilles.] (Antiq.) A celebrated Egyptian statue near Thebes, said to have the property of emitting a harplike sound at sunrise.
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{ Memoir (?), or pl. Memoirs (?) }, n. [F. mémoire, m., memorandum, fr. mémoire, f., memory, L. memoria. See .] 1. A memorial account; a history composed from personal experience and memory; an account of transactions or events (usually written in familiar style) as they are remembered by the writer. See , 2.
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2. A memorial of any individual; a biography; often, a biography written without special regard to method and completeness.
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3. An account of something deemed noteworthy; an essay; a record of investigations of any subject; the journals and proceedings of a society.
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Memoirist, n. A writer of memoirs.
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memorabilia (?), n. pl. [L., fr. memorabilis memorable. See .] 1. Things remarkable and worthy of remembrance or record; also, the record of them.
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2. Mementos of past events; souvenirs.
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Memorability (?), n. The quality or state of being memorable.
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Memorable (?), a. [L. memorabilis, fr. memorare to bring to remembrance, fr. memor mindful, remembering. See , and cf. .] Worthy to be remembered; very important or remarkable. -- Memorableness, n. -- Memorably, adv.
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Surviving fame to gain,
Buy tombs, by books, by memorable deeds. Sir J. Davies.
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Memorandum (?), n.; pl. E. Memorandums, L. Memoranda (#). [L., something to be remembered, neut. of memorandus, fut. pass. p. of memorare. See .]
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1. A record of something which it is desired to remember; a note to help the memory.
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I . . . entered a memorandum in my pocketbook. Guardian.
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I wish you would, as opportunity offers, make memorandums of the regulations of the academies. Sir J. Reynolds.
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2. (Law) A brief or informal note in writing of some transaction, or an outline of an intended instrument; an instrument drawn up in a brief and compendious form.
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Coloq. Memorandum check , a check given as an acknowledgment of indebtedness, but with the understanding that it will not be presented at bank unless the maker fails to take it up on the day the debt becomes due. It usually has Mem. written on its face.
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Memorate (?), v. t. [L. memoratus, p. p. of memorare. See .] To commemorate. [Obs.]
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Memorative (?), a. [Cf. F. mémoratif.] Commemorative. [Obs.] Hammond.
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Memoria (?), n. [L.] Memory.
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Coloq. Memoria technica , technical memory; a contrivance for aiding the memory.
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Memorial (?), a. [F. mémorial, L. memorialis, fr. memoria. See .]
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1. Serving to preserve remembrance; commemorative; as, a memorial building.
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There high in air, memorial of my name,
Fix the smooth oar, and bid me live to fame. Pope.
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2. Contained in memory; as, a memorial possession.
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3. Mnemonic; assisting the memory.
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This succession of Aspirate, Soft, and Hard, may be expressed by the memorial word ASH. Skeat.
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Coloq. Memorial Day . See in the vocabulary. Also called . [U.S.]
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Memorial, n. [Cf. F. mémorial.] 1. Anything intended to preserve the memory of a person or event; something which serves to keep something else in remembrance; a monument. Macaulay.
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Churches have names; some as memorials of peace, some of wisdom, some in memory of the Trinity itself. Hooker.
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2. A memorandum; a record. [Obs. or R.] Hayward.
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3. A written representation of facts, addressed to the government, or to some branch of it, or to a society, etc., -- often accompanied with a petition.
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4. Memory; remembrance. [Obs.]
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Precious is the memorial of the just. Evelyn.
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5. (Diplomacy) A species of informal state paper, much used in negotiation.
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Memorial Day. 1. A day, originally May 30, appointed for commemorating, by decorating their graves with flowers, by patriotic exercises, etc., the dead soldiers and sailors who served the Civil War (1861-65) in the United States; Also called Decoration Day. It is a legal holiday in most of the States. In the Southern States, the Confederate Memorial Day is: May 30 in Virginia; April 26 in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi; May 10 in North Carolina and South Carolina; the second Friday in May in Tennessee; June 3 in Louisiana. [U. S.]
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2. A day designated for commemoration of all of the war dead of the United States, clebrated on the last Monday in May in most states. It supersedes the original Memorial Day celebrated May 30th.
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memorialise (?), v. t. Same as memorialize. [Chiefly Brit.]
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Memorialist, n. [Cf. F. mémorialiste.] One who writes or signs a memorial.
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Memorialize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Memorialized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Memorializing (?).] To address or petition by a memorial; to present a memorial to; as, to memorialize the legislature. T. Hook.
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Memorializer (?), n. One who petitions by a memorial. T. Hook.
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Memorial rose. A Japanese evergreen rose (Rosa wichuraiana) with creeping branches, shining leaves, and single white flowers. It is often planted in cemeteries.
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Memorist (?), n. [See .] One who, or that which, causes to be remembered. [Obs.]
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Memoriter (?), adv. [L., fr. memor mindful. See .] By, or from, memory.
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Memorize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Memorized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Memorizing (?).] [See .]
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1. To cause to be remembered ; hence, to record. [Obs.]
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They neglect to memorize their conquest. Spenser.
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They meant to . . . memorize another Golgotha. Shak.
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2. To commit to memory; to learn by heart.
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memorizer n. A person who learns by rote.
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Memory (?), n.; pl. Memories (#). [OE. memorie, OF. memoire, memorie, F. mémoire, L. memoria, fr. memor mindful; cf. mora delay. Cf. , , , .]
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1. The faculty of the mind by which it retains the knowledge of previous thoughts, impressions, or events.
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Memory is the purveyor of reason. Rambler.
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2. The reach and positiveness with which a person can remember; the strength and trustworthiness of one's power to reach and represent or to recall the past; as, his memory was never wrong.
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3. The actual and distinct retention and recognition of past ideas in the mind; remembrance; as, in memory of youth; memories of foreign lands.
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4. The time within which past events can be or are remembered; as, within the memory of man.
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And what, before thy memory, was done
From the begining. Milton.
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5. Something, or an aggregate of things, remembered; hence, character, conduct, etc., as preserved in remembrance, history, or tradition; posthumous fame; as, the war became only a memory.
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The memory of the just is blessed. Prov. x. 7.
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That ever-living man of memory, Henry the Fifth. Shak.
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The Nonconformists . . . have, as a body, always venerated her [Elizabeth's] memory. Macaulay.
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6. A memorial. [Obs.]
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These weeds are memories of those worser hours. Shak.
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Syn. -- , , , . Memory is the generic term, denoting the power by which we reproduce past impressions. Remembrance is an exercise of that power when things occur spontaneously to our thoughts. In recollection we make a distinct effort to collect again, or call back, what we know has been formerly in the mind. Reminiscence is intermediate between remembrance and recollection, being a conscious process of recalling past occurrences, but without that full and varied reference to particular things which characterizes recollection. “When an idea again recurs without the operation of the like object on the external sensory, it is remembrance; if it be sought after by the mind, and with pain and endeavor found, and brought again into view, it is recollection.” Locke.
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Coloq. To draw to memory , to put on record; to record. [Obs.] Chaucer. Gower.
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Memphian (?), prop. a. 1. Of or pertaining to the ancient city of Memphis in Egypt; hence, Egyptian; as, Memphian darkness.
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2. Of or pertaining to the city of Memphis in Tennessee.
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Memphian (?), prop. n. A native or resident of the city of Memphis in Tennessee.
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memsahib, mem-sahib (mĕmsäĭb), n. [Hind. mem-sāhib; mem (fr. E. ma'am) + Ar. çāhib master. See .] Lady; mistress; -- used by Hindustani-speaking natives in India in addressing European women.
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Men (mĕn), n., pl. of .
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Men, pron. [OE. me, men. “Not the plural of man, but a weakened form of the word man itself.” Skeat.] A man; one; -- used with a verb in the singular, and corresponding to the present indefinite one or they. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.
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Men moot give silver to the poure friars. Chaucer.
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A privy thief, men clepeth death. Chaucer.
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Menaccanite (?), n. [From Menaccan, in Cornwall, where it was first found.] (Min.) An iron-black or steel-gray mineral, consisting chiefly of the oxides of iron and titanium. It is commonly massive, but occurs also in rhombohedral crystals. Called also titanic iron ore, and ilmenite.
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Menace (mĕn�s; 48), n. [F., fr. L. minaciae threats, menaces, fr. minax, -acis, projecting, threatening, minae projecting points or pinnacles, threats. Cf. , , , .] The show of an intention to inflict evil; a threat or threatening; indication of a probable evil or catastrophe to come.
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His (the pope's) commands, his rebukes, his menaces. Milman.
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The dark menace of the distant war. Dryden.
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