Matin, mat′in, adj. morning: used in the morning.—n. in pl. the daily morning service of the Church of England: one of the seven canonical hours, usually sung between midnight and daybreak.—adj. Mat′inal.—n. Matinée (mat-i-nā′), a musical entertainment or reception held in the day-time, usually in the afternoon: a woman's dress for wear in the forenoon or before dinner. [Fr.,—L. matutinus, belonging to the morning—Matuta, goddess of morning, prob. akin to maturus, early.]
Matrass, mat′ras, n. a chemical vessel with a tapering neck, a cucurbit.
Matriarchy, mā′tri-är-ki, n. government by a mother or by mothers, esp. a primitive order of society existing in many Indian tribes, in which the mother takes precedence of the father in tracing line of descent and in inheritance: descent in the female line.—ns. Mā′triarch, a woman in whom matriarchy rests: a patriarch's wife.—adj. Matriar′chal.—ns. Matriar′chalism, the character of possessing matriarchal customs; Matriar′chate, the position of a matriarch. [Gr. mētēr, mother, archos, a ruler.]
Matrice, mā′tris, n. Same as Matrix.
Matricide, mat′ri-sīd, n. a murderer of one's own mother: the murder of one's own mother.—adj. Mat′ricidal [Fr.,—L. matricida, matricidium—mater, mother, cædĕre, to kill.]
Matriculate, ma-trik′ū-lāt, v.t. to admit to membership by entering one's name in a register, esp. in a college.—v.i. to become a member of a college, university, &c., by being enrolled.—n. one admitted to membership in a society.—n. Matriculā′tion, act of matriculating: state of being matriculated. [Late L. matricula, a register, dim. of matrix.]
Matrimony, mat′ri-mun-i, n. union of husband and wife, marriage: state of marriage.—adj. Matrimō′nial, relating to, derived from, marriage.—adj. Matrimō′nially. [O. Fr.,—L. matrimonium—mater.]
Matrix, mā′triks, or mat′riks, n. (anat.) the cavity in which an animal is formed before its birth, the womb: the cavity in which anything is formed, a mould: (mining) earthy or stony substances in which minerals are found embedded: (dyeing) the five simple colours (black, white, blue, red, and yellow) from which all the others are formed: (math.) a rectangular array of quantities, usually square—a multiple quantity having as many dimensions as it has spaces:—pl. Matrices (mā′tri-sez or mat′ri-sez). [L. matrix, -icis—mater, mother.]
Matron, mā′trun, n. an elderly married woman: an elderly lady of staid and sober habits: a head-nurse in a hospital, or a female superintendent in a school.—ns. Mā′tronage, Mā′tronhood, state of being a matron: a body of matrons.—adj. Mā′tronal, pertaining or suitable to a matron: motherly: grave.—v.t. Mā′tronise, to render matronly: to attend a lady to public places, as protector: to chaperon.—adjs. Mā′tron-like, Mā′tronly, like, becoming, or belonging to a matron: elderly: sedate.—n. Matronym′ic, a name derived from a mother or maternal ancestor—also adj. [Fr.,—L. matrona, a married lady—mater, mother.]
Matross, ma-tros′, n. formerly a soldier set to help the gunners in an artillery train. [Dut. matroos—Fr. matelot, a sailor.]