Emily Dickinson Lexicon

MID'WIFE, n. [Supposed by Jnnius and Skinner to be meedwife, a woman that has a reward. This is probably a mistake. The word is a compound of mid, with, and wif, a woman; in analogy with the L. obstetrix, from obsto, obstiti to stand before. The Dutch use vroedvrouw, a wise or skillful woman. The Danish equivalent word is iordemoder, earth-other; the Swedish, iord-gumma. The Spanish and Portugese word is comadre; co for L. cum, with, and madre, mother, which is precisely analogous to midwife.]

A woman that assists other women in childbirth.

MID'WIFE, v.i.

To perform the office of midwife.

MID'WIFE, v.t.

To assist in childbirth.

MID'WIFE-RY, n.

1. The art or practice of assisting women in childbirth; obstetrics.
2. Assistance at childbirth.
3. Help or coöperation in production. Stepney.

MID'-WIN-TER, n.

The middle of winter, or the winter solstice, December 21. As the severity of winter in North America falls in January and February, the word ordinarily denotes this period, or some weeks after the winter solstice.

MID'-WOOD, n.

The middle of the wood, Thomson.

MI'E-MITE, n.

Granular miemite is a sub-variety of magnesian limestone, first found at Miemo, in Tuscany. It occurs massive, of crystalized in flat, double, three-sided pyramids. Its color is light green or greenish white. Jameson. Cyc.

MIEN, n. [Fr. mine; Dan. and Sw. id.; Arm. man; Corn. mein, the face; Ice. mind, image. See Man.]

Look; air; manner; external appearance; carriage; as, a lofty mien; a majestic mien. Waller. Pope.

MIFF, n.

A slight degree of resentment. [Colloquial.]

MIFF'ED, a.

Slightly offended. [In Norman French, mefet is offense or misdeed, and meffet, misdone; mes and faire; whence meffere, to do mischief. But qu. whether this is the English miff.]

MIGHT, n.¹ [mite; pret. of May.]

1. Had power or liberty. He might go, or might have gone.
2. It sometimes denotes was possible, implying ignorance of the fact in the speaker. Orders might have been given for the purpose.

MIGHT, n.² [mite; Sax. might, meht; G. macht; D. Sw. and Dan. magt; from the root of may, Sax. magan, to be able; Sans. mahat, strong. See May.]

1. Strength; force; power; primarily and chiefly, bodily strength or physical power; as, to work or strive with all one's might. There shall be no might in thy hand. Deut. xxviii.
2. Political power or great achievements. The acts of David with all his reign and his might. 1 Chron. xxix. 1 Kings. xv.
3. National strength; physical power or military force. We have no might against this great company that cometh against us. 2 Chron. xx.
4. Valor with bodily strength; military prowess; as, men of might. 1 Chron. xii.
5. Ability; strength or application of means. I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God. 1 Chron. xxix.
6. Strength or force of purpose. Like him was no king that turned to the Lord with all his might. 2 Kings xxiii.
7. Strength of affection. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. Deut. vi.
8. Strength of light; splendor; effulgence. Let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. Judges v. Shakspeare applies the word to an oath. “An oath of mickle might.” This application is obsolete. We now use strength or force; as, the strength or force of an oath or covenant. With might and main, with the utmost strength or bodily exertion; a tautological phrase, as both words are from the same root, and mean the same thing.

MIGHT'I-LY, adv. [mitily. from mighty.]

1. With great power, force or strength; vigorously; as, to strive mightily.
2. Vehemently; with great earnestness. Cry mightily to God. Jonah iii.
3. Powerfully; with great energy. Whereto I also labor, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily. Col. i.
4. With great strength of argument. He mightily convinced the Jews. Acts xviii.
5. With great or irresistible force; greatly; extensively. So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed. Acts xix.
6. With strong means of defense. Fortify thy power mightily. Nah. ii.
7. Greatly; to a great degree; very much. I was mightily pleased with a story applicable to this piece of philosophy. Spectator. [Admissible in colloquial and familiar language.]

MIGHT'I-NESS, n. [mitiness.]

1. Power; greatness; highth of dignity. How soon this mightiness meets misery! Shak.
2. A title of dignity; as, their High Mightinesses.

MIGHT'Y, a. [mity; Sax. mihtig.]

1. Having great bodily strength or physical power; very strong or vigorous; as, a mighty arm.
2. Very strong; valiant; bold; as, a mighty man of valor. Judges vi.
3. Very powerful; having great command. Cush begat Nimrod; he began to be a mighty one on the earth. Gen. x.
4. Very strong in numbers; as, a mighty nation. Gen. xviii.
5. Very strong or great in corporeal power; very able. Wo to them that are mighty to drink wine. Isa. v.
6. Violent; very loud; as, mighty thunderings. Ex. ix. Ps. lxviii.
7. Vehement; rushing with violence; as, a mighty wind or tempest. Ex. x. Rev. vi.
8. Very great; vast; as, mighty waters. Neh. ix.
9. Very great or strong; as, mighty power. 2 Chron. xxvi.
10. Very forcible; efficacious; as, great is truth and mighty. Esdras.
11. Very great or eminent in intellect or acquirements; as the mighty Scaliger and Selden. Echard
12. Great; wonderful; performed with great power; as mighty works. Matth. xi.
13. Very severe and distressing; as, a mighty famine. Luke xv.
14. Very great, large or populous; as, a mighty city. Rev. xviii.
15. Important; momentous. I sing of heroes and of kings, / In mighty numbers mighty things. Cowley.

MIGHT'Y, adv.

In a great degree; very; as, mighty wise, mighty thoughtful. [Colloquial.] Prior.

MIGN'IARD, a. [Fr. mignard.]

Soft; dainty; delicate; pretty. B. Johnson.

MIGN-ON-NETTE', n. [minyonet'; Fr. a diminutive of mignon, darling.]

An annual plant of the genus Reseda, having the scent of raspberries; Reseda odorata. Mason.

MI'GRATE, v.i. [L. migro.]

1. To pass or remove from one country or from one state to another, with a view to permanent residence, or residence of some continuance. The first settlers of New England migrated first to Holland, and afterward to America. Some species of fowls migrate in autumn to a warmer climate for a temporary residence. To change residence in the same city or state is not to migrate.
2. To pass or remove from one region or district to another for a temporary residence; as, the Tartars migrate for the sake of finding pasturage.

MI'GRA-TING, ppr.

Removing from one state to another for a permanent residence. The people of the Eastern states are continually migrating to the Western states.

MI-GRA'TION, n. [L. migratio.]

1. The act of removing from one kingdom or state to another, for the purpose of permanent residence, or a residence of some continuance.
2. Change of place; removal; as, the migration of the center of gravity. Woodward.

MI'GRA-TORY, a.

1. Removing or accustomed to remove from one state or country to another for permanent residence.
2. Roving; wandering; occasionally removing for pasturage; as, the migratory Tartars.
3. Passing from one climate to another; as fowls.

MILCH, a. [Sax. melce. See Mint.]

Giving milk; as, a milch cow. It is now applied only to beasts.

MILD, a. [Sax. mild; G. D. Sw. and Dan. id.; Russ. melayu, to pity. The primary sense is soft or smooth, L. mollis, Eng. mellow, W. mall; allied perhaps to melt. Class Ml, No. 9, 16, 18.]

1. Soft; gently and pleasantly affecting the senses; not violent; as, a mild air; a mild sun; a mild temperature; a mild light. The rosy morn resigns her light / And milder glory to the noon. Waller. And with a milder gleam refresh'd the sight. Addison.
2. Not acrid, pungent, corrosive or drastic; operating gently; not acrimonious; demulcent; mollifying; lenitive; assuasive; as, a mild liquor; a mild cataplasm; a mild cathartic or emetic.
3. Tender and gentle in temper or disposition; kind; compassionate; merciful; clement; indulgent; not severe or cruel. It teaches us to adore him as a mild and merciful Being. Rogers.
4. Not fierce, rough or angry; as, mild words.
5. Placid; not fierce; not stern; not frowning; as, a mild look or aspect.
6. Not sharp, tart, sour or bitter bitter; moderately sweet or pleasant to the taste; as, mild fruit.
7. Calm; tranquil. When passion subsides the temper becomes mild.
8. Moderate; not violent or intense; as, a mild heat.

MILD'ER, a. [Comp.]

More mild.