Mas, see [Homo].
Matrimonium, see [Conjugium].
Maxilla, see [Mala].
Meare, see [Ire].
[Mederi]; Medicari; Sanare; Medicamen; Medicina; Remedium. 1. Mederi and the poetical word medicari (μέδειν) denote healing, as the act of the physician, who heals with humane sympathy, judgment, and art, synonymously with curare, like ἰᾶσθαι; sanare, as the effect of the physic, which in a mechanical way makes the sick well again, synonymously with restituere, like ἀκεῖσθαι. 2. Medicamentum means a remedy, with reference to its material substance, as it is prepared by the apothecary, like φάρμακον; medicina, with reference to its healing virtues, as ordered by the physician; each with reference to an illness; whereas remedium denotes a remedy for any of the evils to which we are subject, like ἄκος. Cic. N. D. ii. 53. Medicamentorum salutarium plenissimæ terræ: comp. with Divin. ii. 51. Quam a medico petere medicinam. (v. 198.)
Meditari, see [Cogitare].
[Medius]; Modicus; Mediocris. Medius μέσος is purely local, in the middle, in opp. to the extremes; modicus denotes quantity, with reference to number and magnitude, as moderate, in opp. to over-measure; mediocris denotes quality, with reference to worth, as middling, in opp. to distinction; hence modicæ facultates and mediocre ingenium are identical. Cic. Rep. ii. 31. Haud mediocris vir fuit, qui modica libertate populo data facilius tenuit auctoritatem principum. (v. 202.)
Medius dies, see [Meridies].
[Membrum]; Artus. Membrum (redupl. of μέρος) denotes a limb of the body itself, like μέλος and κῶλον; whereas artus (ῥέθος, ἄρθρον,) properly only a joint of a limb, like ἄρθρον and ἅψος. Senec. Contr. ii. 13. Differebatur distortis articulis; nondum in sua membra artus redierant. Virg. Æn. v. 422. Magnos artus membrorum. Quintil. Decl. ult. Ut per singulos artus membra laxaret. Further, membra denotes the limbs collectively, including the head and trunk, as parts of the body; whereas artus only the extremities, which per commissuras with the body, properly so called, namely, the head and trunk, hang together. Gell. N. A. i. 14. (iv. 150.)
[Meminisse]; Reminisci; Recordari. Meminisse denotes remembrance as a state of mind, like μεμνῆσθαι, in as far as one has retained something in memory, without ever having forgotten it, like memorem esse; whereas reminisci and recordari denote remembrance as an act of the mind, in as far as one again brings to one’s mind what had already been driven out of one’s thoughts, like ἀναμιμνήσκεσθαι. But reminisci denotes this act of the mind as momentary, like in memoriam revocare; whereas recordari denotes it as of some duration, like revocata in memoriam contemplari. Cic. Lig. 12, 35. Equidem, cum tuis omnibus negotiis interessem, memoria teneo, qualis T. Ligarius, quæstor urbanus, fuerit erga te et dignitatem tuam; sed parum est, me hoc meminisse; spero etiam te, qui oblivisci nihil soles, nisi injurias, quoniam hoc est animi, quoniam etiam ingenii tui, te aliquid de hujus illo quæstorio officio cogitantem, etiam de aliis quibusdam quæstoribus reminiscentem recordari. This passage shows, that memoria tenere is only a circumlocution for meminisse: there is another passage where recordari is employed as the consequence of reminisci, but there is no instance of the converse; for reminisci and recordari have the same relation to each other as intueri and conspicere. Cic. Sen. 21. Pueri . . . . ita celeriter res innumerabiles arripiunt, ut eas non tum primum accipere videantur, sed reminisci et recordari: he might have added, Quæ non satis meminerint, sed in aliquantum temporis obliti sint. Tusc. i. 24, 58. Animus, quum se collegit atque recreavit, tum agnoscit illa reminiscendo; ita nihil aliud est discere, quam recordari. Senec. Ep. 100. Magis reminiscor quam teneo. (i. 166.)