Emily Dickinson Lexicon

MOME, n. [Fr. momon. See Mum.]

A dull, silent person; a stupid fellow; a stock; a post. Johnson. Spenser.

MO'MENT, n. [L. momentum. This word is contracted from motamentum, or some other word, the radical verb of which signifies to move, rush, drive or fall suddenly, which sense gives that of force. The sense of an instant of time is from falling or rushing; which accords well with that of meet.]

1. The most minute and indivisible part of time; an instant. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. 1 Cor. xv.
2. Force; impulsive power. Touch with lightest moment of impulse, / His free will. Milton. Little used; but hence,
3. Importance in influence or effect; consequence; weight or value. It is an abstruse speculation, but also of far less moment to us than the others. Bentley.

MO-MENT'AL, a.

Important. [Not in use.]

MO-MENT'AL-LY, adv.

For a moment. Brown.

MO-MENT-A'NE-OUS, or MO-MENT'A-NY, a. [Not used. See MOMENTARY.]

MO'MENT-A-RI-LY, adv.

Every moment. Shenstone.

MO'MENT-A-RY, a.

Done in a moment; continuing only a moment; lasting a very short time; as, a momentary pang. Momentary as a sound, / Swift as a shadow, short as any dream. Shak.

MO'MENT-LY, adv.

1. For a moment.
2. In a moment; every moment. We momently expect the arrival of the mail.

MO-MENT'OUS, a.

Important; weighty; of consequence. Let no false step be made in the momentous concerns of the soul.

MO-MENT'OUS-LY, adv.

Weightily; importantly.

MO-MENT'OUS-NESS, n.

State of being of great importance.

MO-MENT'UM, n. [L.]

In mechanics, impetus; the quantity of motion in a moving body. This is always equal to the quantity of matter multiplied into the velocity. Encyc.

MOM'MER-Y, or MUM'MER-Y, n. [Fr. momerie, from Momus, the god of raillery and jesting.]

An entertainment or frolick in masks; a farcical entertainment in which masked persons play antic tricks. Rowe.

MO'MOT, n.

The name of certain birds in South America, whose beak and tongue resemble the toucan's. Ed. Encyc.

MO'MUS, n.

Among the ancients, the deity of ridicule and raillery.

MON'A-CHAL, a. [Fr. from L. monachus, Gr. μοναχος, a monk.]

Pertaining to monks or a monastic life; monastic.

MON'A-CHISM, n. [Fr. monachisme; It. monachismo. See Monk.]

The state of monks; a monastic life.

MON'AD, n. [Gr. μονας, unity, μονος, sole.]

1. An ultimate atom, or simple unextended point. Leibnitz.
2. An indivisible thing. Good.

MON'A-DELPH, n. [Gr. μονος, sole, and αδελφος, brother.]

In botany, a plant whose stamens are united in one body by the filaments.

MON-A-DELPH'I-AN, a.

Having the stamens united in one body by the filaments.

MO-NAD'IC, or MO-NAD'IC-AL, a.

Having the nature or character of a monad. More.

MO-NAN'DER, n. [Gr. μονος, one, and ανηρ, a male.]

In botany, a monoclinous plant having one stamen only, not at all connected with the pistil.

MO-NAN'DRI-AN, or MO-NAN'DRI-OUS, a.

Monoclinous, and having one stamen only, not connected with the pistil.

MON'ARCH, a.

Supreme; ruling; as, a monarch savage. Pope.

MON'ARCH, n. [It. and Sp. monarca; Fr. monarque; Gr. μοναρχης; μονος, sole, and αρχος, a chief.]

1. The prince or ruler of a nation, who exercises all the powers of government without control, or who is vested with absolute sovereign power; an emperor, king or prince invested with an unlimited power. This is the strict sense of the word.
2. A king or prince, the supreme magistrate of a nation, whose powers are in some respects limited by the constitution of the government. Thus we call the king of Great Britain a monarch, although he can make no law without the consent of parliament.
3. He or that which is superior to others of the same kind; as, an oak is called the monarch of the forest; a lion, the monarch of wild beasts.
4. One that presides; president; as, Bacchus, monarch of the vine. Shak.