Emily Dickinson Lexicon

MAG-NIF'IC, or MAG-NIF'IC-AL, a. [L. magnificus.]

Grand; splendid; illustrious. Milton.

MAG-NIF'IC-AL-LY, adv.

In a magnificent manner.

MAG-NIF'IC-ATE, v.t.

To magnify or extol. [Not used.] Marston.

MAG-NIF'I-CENCE, n. [L. magnificentia.]

Grandeur of appearance; greatness and splendor of show or state; as, the magnificence of a palace or of a procession; the magnificence of a Roman triumph.

MAG-NIF'I-CENT, a.

1. Grand in appearance; splendid; pompous. Man he made, and for him built / Magnificent this world. Milton.
2. Exhibiting grandeur. Sidney.

MAG-NIF'I-CENT-LY, adv.

1. With splendor of appearance, or pomp of show. The minister was magnificently entertained at court.
2. With exalted sentiments. We can never conceive too magnificently of the Creator and his works.

MAG-NIF'I-CO, n.

A grandee of Venice. Shak.

MAG'NI-FI-ER, n. [from magnify.]

1. One who magnifies; one who extols or exalts in praises.
2. A glass that magnifies; a convex lens which increases the apparent magnitude of bodies.

MAG'NI-FY, v.t. [L. magnifico; magnus, great, and facio, to make.]

1. To make great or greater; to increase the apparent dimensions of a body. A convex lens magnifies the bulk of a body to the eye.
2. To make great in representation; to extol; to exalt in description or praise. The embassador magnified the king and queen.
3. To extol; to exalt; to elevate; to raise in estimation. Thee that day / Thy thunders magnified. Milton. The Lord magnified Solomon exceedingly. 1 Chron. xxix. To magnify one's self, to raise in pride and pretensions. He shall magnify himself in his heart. Dan. viii.

MAG'NI-FY-ING, ppr.

Enlarging apparent bulk or dimensions; extolling; exalting.

MAG-NIL'O-QUENCE, n. [L. magnus, great, and loquens, speaking.]

A lofty manner of speaking; tumid, pompous words or style. Bentley.

MAG-NIL'O-QUENT, a.

Speaking loftily, or pompously.

MAG'NI-TUDE, n. [L. magnitudo.]

1. Extent of dimensions or parts; bulk; size; applied to things that have length, breadth or thickness.
2. Greatness; grandeur. With plain heroic magnitude of mind. Milton.
3. Greatness, in reference to influence or effect; importance. In affairs of magnitude, disdain not to take counsel.

MAG-NO'LI-A, n.

The name of a genus of plants comprehending the Beaver-tree, the Cucumber-tree, and the Umbrella-tree of the United States, with the Yulan, the Kobus, the Coco, and the Figo, of eastern Asia.

MAG'PIE, n. [W. piog, L. pica, with mag.]

A chattering bird of the genus Corvus.

MAG'UEY, n.

A species of Agave in Mexico, which furnished the natives with a material for their buildings. Its leaves were used for covering the roofs of their houses, and for paper, clothing and cordage. Encyc. The maguey is a species of the genus Agave, and is now cultivated in Mexico, for the purpose of preparing from its leaves a spirituous liquor called pulque. Humboldt.

MA-HOG'AN-Y, n.

A tree of the genus Swietenia, growing in the tropical climates of America. The wood is of a reddish or brown color, very hard, and susceptible of a fine polish. Of this are made our most beautiful and durable pieces of cabinet furniture.

MA-HOM'ET-AN, or MO-HAM'MED-AN, n.

This word and the name of the Arabian prophet, so called, are written in many different ways. The best authorized and most correct orthography seems to be Mohammed, Mohammedan. [See Mohammedan.]

MA'HOUND, n.

Formerly a contemptuous name for Mohammed and the devil, &c. Skelton.

MAID, n.

A species of skate fish.

MAID, or MAID-EN, n. [Sax. mægth, from mæg, a general name of relation, man, boy, or woman; Goth. magath; D. maagd; G. magd; Ir. mogh, a man; Sp. mozo, a manservant, a bachelor; moza, a maid; Port. macho, a male; Russ. muj. It coincides in elements with Sax. magan, to be able, Eng. may.]

1. An unmarried woman, or a young unmarried woman; a virgin.
2. A female servant. Dryden.
3. It is used in composition, to express the feminine gender, as in maid-servant.

MAID-EN, a.

1. Pertaining to a young woman or virgin; as, maiden charms.
2. Consisting of young women or virgins. Amid the maiden throng. Addison.
3. Fresh; new; unused. He fleshed his maiden sword. Shak.

MAID-EN, n.

A maid; also, an instrument for beheading criminals, and another for washing linen.

MAID-EN, v.i.

To speak and act demurely or modestly. Bp. Hall.

MAID-EN-HAIR, n.

A plant of the genus Adiantum.