Emily Dickinson Lexicon

MEAS-URE, n. [mezh'ur; Fr. mesure; It. misura; Sp. medida; Arm. musur or musul; Ir. meas; W. meidyr and mesur; G. mass, measure, and messen, to measure; D. moat; Sw. matt; Dan. maade, measure, and mode; L. mensura, from mensus, with a casual n, the participle of metior, to measure, Eng. to mete; Gr. μετρον, μετρεω. With these correspond the Eng. meet, fit, proper, and meet, the verb; Sax. gemet, meet, fit; metan and gemettan, to meet or meet with, to find, to mete or measure, and to paint. The sense is, to come to, to fall, to happen, and this sense is connected with that of stretching, extending, that is, reaching to; the latter gives the sense of measure. We find in Heb. מר, measure; מדר, to mete, to measure. This word in Ar. مَدً madda, signifies to stretch or extend, to draw out in length or time; as do other verbs with the same elements, under one of which we find the meta of the Latins. The Ch. מטא signifies to come to, to arrive, to reach, to be mature, and מצא, in Heb. Ch. and Eth. MD, signifies to find, to come to. Now the Saxon verb unites in itself the significations of all three of the oriental verbs.]

1. The whole extent or dimensions of a thing, including length, breadth and thickness. The measure thereof is longer than the earth and broader than the sea. Job xi. It is applied also to length or to breadth separately.
2. That by which extent or dimension is ascertained, either length, breadth, thickness, capacity, or amount; as, a rod or pole is a measure of five yards and a half; an inch, a foot, a yard, are measures of length; a gallon is a measure of capacity. Weights and measures should be uniform. Silver and gold are the common measure of value.
3. A limited or definite quantity; as, a measure of wine or beer.
4. Determined extent or length; limit. Lord, make me to know my end, and the measure of my days. Ps. xxxix.
5. A rule by which any thing is adjusted or proportioned. God's goodness is the measure of his providence. More.
6. Proportion; quantity settled. I enter not into the particulars of the law of nature, or its measures of punishment; yet there is such a law. Locke.
7. Full or sufficient quantity. I'll never pause again, / Till either death hath clos'd these eyes of mine, / Or fortune given me measure of revenge. Shak.
8. Extent of power or office. We will not boast of things without our measure. 2 Cor. x.
9. Portion allotted; extent of ability. If else thou seekest / Aught not surpassing human measure, say. Milton.
10. Degree; quantity indefinite. I have laid down, in some measure, the description of the old world. Abbot. A great measure of discretion is to be used in the performance of confession. Taylor.
11. In music, that division by which the motion of music is regulated; or the interval or space of time between the rising and falling of the hand or foot of him who beats time. This measure regulates the time of dwelling on each note. The ordinary or common measure is one second. Encyc.
12. In poetry, the measure or meter is the manner of ordering and combining the quantities, or the long and short syllables. Thus hexameter, pentameter, Iambic, Sapphic verses, &c., consist of different measures. Encyc.
13. In dancing, the interval between steps, corresponding to the interval between notes in the music. My legs can keep no measure in delight. Shak.
14. In geometry, any quantity assumed as one or unity, to which the ratio of other homogeneous or similar qualities is expressed. Encyc.
15. Means to an end; an act, step or proceeding toward the accomplishment of an object; an extensive signification of the word, applicable to almost every act preparatory to a final end, and by which it is to be attained. Thus we speak of legislative measures, political measures, public measures, prudent measures, a rash measure, effectual measures, inefficient measures. In measure, with moderation; without excess. Without measure, without limits; very largely or copiously. To have hard measure, to be harshly or oppressively treated. Lineal or long measure, measure of length; the measure of lines or distances. Liquid measure, the measure of liquors.