Magna Charta, mag′na kär′ta, n. the Great Charter obtained from King John, 1215 A.D. [L.]
Magnanerie, man-yan′e-rē, n. a place for rearing silkworms. [Fr.]
Magnanimity, mag-na-nim′i-ti, n. greatness of soul: elevation of dignity, of mind: that quality of mind which raises a person above all that is mean of unjust: generosity.—adj. Magnan′imous, elevated in sentiment, noble: brave: unselfish.—adv. Magnan′imously. [L. magnanimitas—magnus, great, animus, the mind.]
Magnate, mag′nāt, n. a noble: a man of rank or wealth. [Fr. magnat, a title of Hungarian and Polish nobles—L. magnas, magnatis, a prince—magnus, great.]
Magnes, mag′nēz, n. (Spens.) the magnet. [L.]
Magnesium, mag-nē′shi-um, or -si-um, n. a metal of a bright, silver-white colour, which while burning gives a dazzling white light, and forms magnesia.—n. Magnē′sia, a light white powder, got by burning magnesium, used as a medicine.—adj. Magnē′sian, belonging to, containing, or resembling magnesia.—n. Mag′nesite, native magnesium carbonate.
Magnet, mag′net, n. the lodestone, an iron ore which attracts iron, and, when hung so that it can move freely, points to the poles: a bar or piece of steel to which the properties of the lodestone have been imparted.—adjs. Magnet′ic, -al, pertaining to the magnet: having the properties of the magnet: attractive.—adv. Magnet′ically.—ns. Magnetic′ian, Mag′netist, one versed in magnetism.—adj. Magnetis′able.—n. Magnetisā′tion.—v.t. Mag′netise, to render magnetic: to attract as if by a magnet.—v.i. to become magnetic.—ns. Mag′netiser, one who, or that which, imparts magnetism; Mag′netism, the cause of the attractive power of the magnet: attraction: the science which treats of the properties of the magnet—(Animal magnetism, Mesmer's name for the phenomena of mesmerism; Terrestrial magnetism, the magnetic properties possessed by the earth as a whole); Mag′netist, one skilled in magnetism.—adjs. Mag′neto-elec′tric, -al, pertaining to magneto-electricity.—ns. Mag′neto-electric′ity, electricity produced by the action of magnets: the science which treats of electricity produced by magnetism; Bar′-mag′net, a magnet in the form of a bar.—Magnetic battery, several magnets placed with their like poles together, so as to act with great force; Magnetic curves, the curves formed by iron-filings around the poles of a magnet; Magnetic equator, the line round the earth where the magnetic needle remains horizontal; Magnetic field, the space over which magnetic force is felt; Magnetic fluid, a hypothetical fluid assumed to explain the phenomena of magnetism; Magnetic meridian, the meridian lying in the direction in which the magnetic needle points; Magnetic needle, the light bar in the mariner's compass which, because it is magnetised, points always to the north; Magnetic north, that point of the horizon which is indicated by the direction of the magnetic needle; Magnetic poles, two nearly opposite points on the earth's surface, where the dip of the needle is 90°; Magnetic storm, a disturbance in the magnetism of the earth or air, which causes the magnetic needle to move rapidly backwards and forwards.—Artificial magnet, a magnet made by rubbing with other magnets; Horse-shoe magnet, a magnet bent like a horse-shoe; Permanent magnet, a magnet that keeps its magnetism after the force which magnetised it has been removed. [Through O. Fr., from L. magnes, a magnet—Gr. magnēs=Magnesian stone, from Magnēsia, in Lydia or Thessaly.]
Magnificat, mag-nif′i-kat, n. the song of the Virgin Mary, Luke, i. 46-55, beginning in the Vulgate with this word. [L. '(my soul) doth magnify,' 3d pers. sing. pres. ind. of magnificāre.]
Magnificent, mag-nif′i-sent, adj. great in deeds or in appearance: grand: noble: pompous: displaying greatness of size or extent.—n. Magnif′icence.—adv. Magnif′icently.—n. Magnif′ico (Shak.), a title for a Venetian nobleman: a grandee.
Magnify, mag′ni-fī, v.t. to make great or greater: to enlarge: to cause to appear greater: to exaggerate: to praise highly:—pa.p. mag′nified.—adjs. Mag′nifiable, that may be magnified; Magnif′ic, -al, great: splendid: noble.—adv. Magnif′ically, in a magnificent manner.—ns. Magnificā′tion, act of magnifying: increase of visual power in penetration as well as enlargement; Mag′nifier, one who, or that which, magnifies or enlarges: one who extols.—Magnify one's self, show great pride—against, oppose with pride; Magnifying glass, in optics, a convex lens, objects seen through it having their apparent dimensions increased. [Fr.,—L. magnificāre—magnus, great, facĕre, to make.]