Emily Dickinson Lexicon

MET'AL-LUR-GIC, a. [See Metallurgy.]

Pertaining to metallurgy, or the art of working metals.

MET'AL-LUR-GIST, n.

One whose occupation is to work metals, or to purify, refine and prepare metals for use.

MET'AL-LUR-GY, n. [Gr. μεταλλον, metal, and εργον, work.]

The art of working metals, comprehending the whole process of separating them from other matters in the ore, smelting, refining and parting them. Gilding is also a branch of metallurgy. But in a more limited and usual sense, metallurgy is the operation of separating metals from their ores. Encyc. The French include in metallurgy the art of drawing metals from the earth. Dict.

MET'AL-MAN, n.

A worker in metals; a coppersmith or tinman.

MET-A-MORPH'IC, or MET-A-MORPH'O-SIC, a. [See Metamorphose.]

Changing the form; transforming.

MET-A-MORPH'OSE, v.t. [Gr. μεταμορφοω; μετα, over, beyond, and μορφη, form.]

To change into a different form; to transform; particularly, to change the form of insects, as from the larva to a winged animal. The ancients pretended that Jupiter was metamorphosed into a bull, and Lycaon into a wolf. And earth was metamorphosed into man. Dryden.

MET-A-MORPH'O-SED, pp.

Changed into a different form.

MET-A-MORPH'O-SER, n.

One that transforms or changes the shape.

MET-A-MORPH'O-SING, ppr.

Changing the shape.

MET-A-MORPH'O-SIS, n.

1. Change of form or shape; transformation; particularly, a change in the form of being; as, the metamorphosis of an insect from the aurelia or chrysalis state into a winged animal.
2. Any change of form or shape.

MET-A-MOR-PHOS'TIC-AL, a.

Pertaining to or effected by metamorphosis. Pope.

MET'A-PHOR, n. [Gr. μεταφορα, from μεταφερω, to transfer; μετα, over, and φερω, to carry.]

A short similitude; a similitude reduced to a single word; Or a word expressing similitude without the signs of comparison. Thus “that man is a fox,” is a metaphor; but “that man is like a fox,” is a similitude or comparison. So when I say, “the soldiers were lions in combat,” I use a metaphor; but when I say, “the soldiers fought like lions,” I use a similitude. In metaphor, the similitude is contained in the name; a man is a fox, means, a man is as crafty as a fox. So we say, a man bridles his anger, that is, restrains it as a bridle restrains a horse. Beauty awakens love or tender passions; opposition fires courage.

MET-A-PHOR'IC, or MET-A-PHOR'IC-AL, a.

Pertaining to metaphor; comprising a metaphor; not literal; as, a metaphorical use of words; a metaphorical expression; a metaphorical sense.

MET-A-PHOR'IC-AL-LY, adv.

In a metaphorical manner; not literally.

MET'A-PHOR-IST, n.

One that makes metaphors. Pope.

MET'A-PHRASE, n. [Gr. μεταφρασις; μετα, over, according to or with, and φρασις, phrase.]

A verbal translation; a version or translation of one language into another, word for word. Dryden.

MET'A-PHRAST, n.

A person who translates from one language into another, word for word. Encyc.

MET-A-PHRAST'IC, a.

Close or literal in translation.

MET-A-PHYS'IC, or MET-A-PHYS'IC-AL, a. [s as z. See Metaphysics.]

1. Pertaining or relating to metaphysics.
2. According to rules or principles of metaphysics; as, metaphysical reasoning.
3. Preternatural or supernatural. [Not used.] Shak.

MET-A-PHYS'IC-AL-LY, adv.

In the manner of metaphysical science.

MET-A-PHY-SI'CIAN, a. [s as z.]

One who is versed in the science of metaphysics.

MET-A-PHYS-ICS, n. [s as z. Gr. μετα, after, and φυσικη, physics. It is said that this name was given to the science by Aristotle or his followers, who considered the science of natural bodies, physics, as the first in the order of studies, and the science of mind or intelligence to be the second.]

The science of the principles and causes of all things existing; hence, the science of mind or intelligence. This science comprehends ontology, or the science which treats of the nature, essence, and qualities, or attributes of being; cosmology, the science of the world, which treats of the nature and laws of matter and of motion; anthroposophy, which treats of the powers of man, and the motions by which life is produced; psychology, which treats of the intellectual soul; pneumatology, or the science of spirits or angels, &c. Metaphysical theology, called by Leibnitz and others theodicy, treats of the existence of God, his essence and attributes. These divisions of the science of metaphysics, which prevailed in the ancient schools, are now not much regarded. The natural division of things that exist is into body and mind, things material and immaterial. The former belong to physics, and the latter to the science of metaphysics. Encyc.

MET'A-PLASM, n. [Gr. μεταπλασμος, transformation; μετα, over, and πλασσω, to form.]

In grammar, a transmutation or change made in a word by transposing or retrenching a syllable or letter.

ME-TAS'TA-SIS, n. [Gr. μεταστασις, mutation; μετα, over, and ἱστημι, to place.]

A translation or removal of a disease from one part to another, or such an alteration as is succeeded by a solution. Coxe. Encyc.

MET-A-TARS'AL, a. [from metatarsus.]

Belonging to the metatarsus.