Emily Dickinson Lexicon

MAC-ER-A'TION, n.

1. The act or the process of making thin or lean by wearing away, or by mortification.
2. The act, process or operation of softening and almost dissolving by steeping in a fluid. The saliva serves for the maceration and dissolution of this meat into chyle. Ray.

MACE-REED, or REED-MACE, n.

A plant of the genus Typha.

MACH-I-A-VEL'IAN, a. [from Machiavel, an Italian writer, secretary and historiographer to the republic of Florence.]

Pertaining to Machiavel, or denoting his principles; politically cunning; crafty; cunning in political management.

MACH-I-A-VEL'IAN, n.

One who adopts the principles of Machiavel.

MACH'I-A-VEL-ISM, n.

The principles of Machiavel, or practice in conformity to them; political cunning and artifice, intended to favor arbitrary power. Cyc.

MACH-I-CO-LA'TION, n. [Fr. meche, a match, and couler, to flow.]

In old castles, the pouring of hot substances through apertures in the upper part of the gate upon assailants; or the apertures themselves. Cyc.

MACH'IN-AL, a. [See Machine.]

Pertaining to machines. Dict.

MACH'IN-ATE, v.t. [L. machinor, from Gr. μαχανα or μηχανη.]

To plan; to contrive; to form a scheme. Sandys.

MACH'IN-A-TED, pp.

Planned; contrived.

MACH'IN-A-TING, ppr.

Contriving; scheming.

MACH-IN-A'TION, n. [Fr. See Machine.]

The act of planning or contriving a scheme for executing some purpose, particularly an evil purpose; an artful design formed with deliberation. Shak.

MACH'IN-A-TOR, n.

One that forms a scheme, or who plots with evil designs. Glanville.

MA'CHINE, n. [Fr. from L. machina.]

1. An artificial work, simple or complicated, that serves to apply or regulate moving power, or to produce motion, so as to save time or force. The simple machines are the six mechanical powers, viz. the lever, the pulley, the axis and wheel, the wedge, the screw, and the inclined plane. Complicated machines are such as combine two or more of these powers for the production of motion or force. Encyc.
2. An engine; an instrument of force. With inward arms the dire machine they load. Dryden.
3. Supernatural agency in a poem, or a superhuman being introduced into a poem to perform some exploit. Pope.

MA-CHINE-RY, n.

1. A complicated work, or combination of mechanical powers in a work, designed to increase, regulate or apply motion and force; as, the machinery of a watch or other chronometer.
2. Machines in general. The machinery of a cotton-mill is often moved by a single wheel.
3. In epic and dramatic poetry, superhuman beings introduced by the poet to solve difficulty, or perform some exploit which exceeds human power; or the word may signify the agency of such beings, as supposed deities, angels, demons and the like. Nec deus intersit, nisi dignus vindice nodus / Incidit. Horace. A deity is not to be introduced, unless a difficulty occurs that requires the intervention of a god. The machinery of Milton's Paradise Lost, consists of numerous superhuman personages. Pope's Rape of the Lock is rendered very interesting by the machinery of sylphs.

MA-CHIN-ING, a.

Denoting the machinery of a poem. [Not used.] Dryden.

MA-CHIN-IST, n. [Fr. machiniste.]

A constructor of machines and engines, or one well versed in the principles of machines.

MA-CIG'NO, n. [It.]

A species of stone of two varieties, one of a grayish yellow color, the other of a bluish gray color. Cyc.

MAC'I-LEN-CY, n. [See Macilent.]

Leanness.

MAC'I-LENT, a. [L. macilentus, from macer, lean, thin. See Macerate.]

Lean; thin; having little flesh.

MACK'ER-EL, n. [D. mackreel; G. mackrele; Fr. maquereau; Ir. mackreil; W. macrell; from the root of L. macula, a spot; the spotted fish. So in British, it is called brithilh, Arm. bresell, for the like reason.]

A species of fish of the genus Scomber, an excellent table fish.

MACK'ER-EL, n. [Old Fr. maquerel.]

A pander or pimp. Mackerel-gale, in Dryden, may mean a gale that ripples the surface of the sea, or one which is suitable for catching mackerel, as this fish is caught with the bait in motion.

MACK'ER-EL-SKY, n.

A sky streaked or marked like a mackerel. Hooke.

MAC'LE, n.

Certain diagonal black spots in minerals. Ure.

MAC'LE, n.

A name given to chiastolite or hollow spar. Cyc.

MAC-LU'RITE, n.

A mineral of a brilliant pale green color, so called in honor of Maclure, the mineralogist. Nuttall.