Dictionary: M – MAC'ER-A-TING

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M,

is the thirteenth letter of the English Alphabet, and a labial articulation, formed by a compression of the lips. It is called a semi-vowel, as the articulation or compression of the lips is accompanied with a humming sound through the nose, which constitutes a difference between this letter and b. Its sound is uniform; as, in man, time, rim. M is a numeral letter, and among the ancients stood for a thousand; a use which is retained by the moderns. With a dash or stroke over it, {M with super-macron}, it stands for a thousand times a thousand, or a million. As an abbreviation, M stands for Marcus, Martius, Manlius or Mutins. A.M. or M.A. stands for artium magister, master of arts; M. D. for medicinæ doctor, doctor of medicine; A. M. for anno mundi, the year of the world; MS. for manuscript; MSS. for manuscripts. In astronomical tables, M stands for meridian, meridional, or mid-day. In medical prescriptions, M stands for maniple, or handful, or misce, mix, or mixtura, a mixture. Encyc. In the late British Pharmacopœias it signifies mensura, by measure. Parr. In law, M is a brand or stigma impressed on one convicted of manslaughter, and admitted to the benefit of clergy.

MA, adv. [MA.; It.]

In music, not.

MAB, n. [W. mab, a child.]

  1. In northern mythology, the queen of the imaginary beings called fairies.
  2. A slattern. Ray.

MAB, v.i.

To dress negligently. Ray.

MAC, n.

In names of Scotch and Irish origin, signifies son. [See Maid.]

MAC-AD'AM-IZE, v.t. [from the projector's name.]

To cover as a road, way or path with small broken stones.

MAC-AD'AM-IZ-ED, pp.

Covered or formed with small broken stones.

MAC-AD'AM-IZ-ING, ppr.

Covering with small broken stones.

MAC-AD'AM-ROAD, n.

A road or path covered with small broken stones.

MAC-A-RO'NI, n. [It. maccheroni, a sort of paste; Fr. macaroni; Gr. μακαρ, happy.]

  1. A kind of biscuit made of flour, eggs, sugar and almonds, and dressed with butter and spices. B. Jonson.
  2. A sort of droll or fool; and hence, a fop; a fribble; a finical fellow.
  3. Dough of wheat flour made into a tubular or pipe form, of the thickness of a goose-quill; Italian or Genoese paste. Ure.

MAC-A-RON'IC, a.

  1. Pertaining to or like a macaroni; empty; trifling; vain; affected.
  2. Consisting of a mixture or jumble of ill formed or ill connected words.

MAC-A-RON'IC, n.

A kind of burlesque poetry, in which native words are made to end in Latin terminations, or Latin words are modernized. Jones. Encyc.

MAC-A-ROON', n.

the same as MACARONI.

MA-CAU'CO, a.

A name of several species of quadrupeds of the genus Lemur. Encyc.

MA-CAW', or MA-CA'O, n.

The name of a race of beautiful fowls of the parrot kind, under the genus Psittacus. Dict. Nat. Hist.

MA-CAW'-TREE, n.

A species of palm-tree, the Cocos aculeata. Miller.

MAC'CA-BEES, n.

The name of two apocryphal books in the Bible.

MAC'CO-BOY, n.

A kind of snuff.

MACE, n.1 [It. mazza, Sp. maza, Port. maça, Fr. masse, a club.]

An ensign of authority borne before magistrates. Originally, the mace was a club or instrument of war, made of iron and much used by cavalry. It was in the shape of a coffee mill. Being no longer a weapon of war, its form is changed; it is made of silver or copper gilt, and ornamented with crown, globe and cross. Encyc. A leaden mace. Shak. A heavy iron mace. Knolles.

MACE, n.2 [L. macis.]

A spice; the second coat which covers the nutmeg, a thin and membranaceous substance of an oleaginous nature and yellowish color, being in flakes divided into many ramifications; it is extremely fragrant and aromatic. Encyc.

MACE-ALE, n.

Ale spiced with mace. Wiseman.

MACE-BEAR-ER, n.

A person who carries a mace before men in authority. Spectator.

MAC'ER-ATE, v.t. [L. macero, from macer, thin, lean; maceo, to be thin or lean; Fr. maigre; Eng. meager; It. macro; Sp. magro; probably allied to Eng. meek, Ch. מאך. Class Mg, No. 2, 9.]

  1. To make lean; to wear away. Harvey.
  2. To mortify; to harass with corporeal hardships; to cause to pine or waste away. Out of excessive zeal they macerate their bodies and impair their health. Fiddes.
  3. To steep almost to solution; to soften and separate the parts of a substance by steeping it in a fluid, or by the digestive process. So we say, food is macerated in the stomach.

MAC'ER-A-TED, pp.

Made thin or lean; steeped almost to solution.

MAC'ER-A-TING, ppr.

Making lean; steeping almost to solution; softening.