Emily Dickinson Lexicon

MI-RAC'U-LOUS, a.

1. 1. Performed supernaturally, or by power beyond the ordinary agency of natural laws; effected by the direct agency of Almighty power, and not by natural causes; as, the miraculous healing of the sick or raising the dead by Christ.
2. Supernatural; furnished supernaturally, or competent to perform miracles; as, the miraculous powers of the Apostles. Miraculous, applied to the extraordinary powers of the Apostles, may mean conferred by supernatural agency, or competent to work miracles. I believe it is generally used in the latter sense.
3. In a less definite sense, wonderful; extraordinary.

MI-RAC'U-LOUS-LY, adv.

1. By miracle; supernaturally. Aeneas, wounded as he was, could not have engaged him in single combat, unless his hurt had been miraculously healed. Dryden.
2. Wonderfully; by extraordinary means.

MI-RAC'U-LOUS-NESS, n.

The state of being effected by miracle or by supernatural agency.

MIR-A-DOR, n. [Sp. from L. miror.]

A balcony or gallery commanding an extensive view.

MI-RAGE, n. [L. miror.]

An optical illusion, which, on a desert or extensive plain, exhibits the appearance of an elevated object, or of water at a distance. [See Loom.]

MIRE, n.¹ [See Class Mr, No. 16.]

Deep mud; earth so wet and soft as to yield to the feet and to wheels.

MIRE, n.²

An ant. [See Pismire.]

MIRE, v.i.

To sink in mud, or to sink so deep as to be unable to move forward.

MIRE, v.t.

1. To plunge and fix in mire; to set or stall in mud. We say, a horse, an ox or carriage is mired, when it has sunk deep into mud and its progress is stopped.
2. To soil or daub with mud or foul matter. Shak.

MIRE-CROW, n.

The sea-crow or pewit gull, of the genus Larus.

MIR-ED, pp.

Fixed or stalled in mud.

MI-RIF'I-CENT, a.

Causing wonder.

MIR-I-NESS, n. [from miry.]

The state of consisting of deep mud.

MIRK, a. [Sax. mirce.]

Dark. [Obs. See Murky.]

MIRK'SOME, a.

Dark; obscure. [See Murky.]

MIRK'SOME-NESS, n.

Obscurity. [See Murky.]

MIR'ROR, n. [Fr. miroir; Sp. mirar, Corn. miras, to look, L. miror, to admire.]

1. A looking glass; any glass or polished substance that forms images by the reflection of rays of light. In the clear mirror of thy ruling star / I saw, alas! some dread event depend. Pope.
2. A pattern; an exemplar; that on which men ought to fix their eyes; that which gives a true representation, or in which a true image may be seen. O goddess, heavenly bright, / Mirror of grace and majesty divine. Spenser.
3. In architecture, a small oval ornament cut into deep moldings, and separated by wreaths of flowers. Elmes.

MIR'ROR-STONE, n.

A bright stone. [Obs.]

MIRTH, n. [merth; Sax. mirht, myrhth; mirig, merry; Ar. مَرِحَ maricha, to be very brisk or joyful. Class Mr. No. 10.]

Social merriment; hilarity; high excitement of pleasurable feelings in company; noisy gayety; jollity. Mirth differs from joy and cheerfulness, as always implying noise. With genial joy to warm the soul, / Bright Helen mixed a mirth-inspiring bowl. Pope. I will cause to cease the voice of mirth from Judah and Jerusalem. Jer. vii.

MIRTH'FUL, a.

Merry; jovial; festive. The feast was served, the bowl was crown'd, / To the king's pleasure went the mirthful round. Prior.

MIRTH-FUL-LY, adv.

In a jovial manner.

MIRTH'FUL-NESS, n.

State or quality of being mirthful.

MIRTH'LESS, a.

Without mirth or hilarity.

MIRTH'LESS-NESS, n.

Absence of mirth.

MIR-Y, a. [from mire.]

1. Abounding with deep mud; full of mire; as, a miry road; a miry lane. Gay.
2. Consisting of mire. Shak.