Mancipation, man-si-pā′shun, n. in ancient Rome, a legal formality for acquiring title to property by actual or by simulated purchase.—v.t. Man′cipate.—adj. Man′cipatory.
Manciple, man′si-pl, n. a steward: a purveyor, particularly of a college or an inn of court. [O. Fr.,—L. manceps, a purchaser—manus, hand, capĕre, take.]
Mandæan, man-dē′an, n. and adj. one of an ancient and still surviving sect in southern Babylonia, their religion a corrupt Gnosticism, with many Jewish and Parsee elements.—Also Mendaites, Nasoreans, and Sabians, and also Christians of St John. [Mandæan mandā, knowledge, gnosis.]
Mandamus, man-dā′mus, n. a writ or command issued by a higher court to a lower. [L., 'we command'—mandāre, to command.]
Mandarin, man-da-rēn′, n. a European name for a Chinese official, civil or military: a small kind of orange, thought to be of Chinese origin.—-n. Mandarī′nate. [Port, mandarim—Malayan mantrí, counsellor—Sans. mantra, counsel.]
Mandate, man′dāt, n. a charge: a command from a superior official or judge to an inferior, ordering him how to act, esp. from the Pope to a legate, &c.: a right given to a person to act in name of another: a rescript of the Pope.—ns. Man′datary, Man′datory, one to whom a mandate is given by a Man′dator.—adj. Man′datory, containing a mandate or command; preceptive: directory. [Fr. mandat—L. mandātum, mandāre—manus, hand, dăre, give.]
Mandible, man′di-bl, n. a jaw-bone, esp. that of the lower jaw.—adjs. Mandib′ular, relating to the jaw; Mandib′ulāte, -d, having mandibles for biting, like many insects. [L. mandibula—mandĕre, chew.]
Mandoline, Mandolin, man′do-lin, n. a musical instrument somewhat like a lute, having strings, finger-board, and neck like a guitar.—n. Mandō′la, a large mandoline. [Fr.,—It. mandola, mandora, a lute.]
Mandorla, man-dor′la, n. an oval panel, or a work of art filling such: the vesica piscis. [It.]
Mandrake, man′drāk, n. a plant of the genus Mandragora, with narcotic properties, once regarded as an aphrodisiac, shrieking when pulled out of the ground.—Mandrag′ora (Shak.). [L.,—Gr. mandragoras.]