Meath, Meathe, mēth, n. a form of mead, liquor.
Meatus, mē-ā′tus, n. a passage or canal, as the urethral meatus.—adj. Meā′tal.—n. Meat′oscope, an instrument for examining the urethral or other meatus. [L. meātus—meāre, to go.]
Meazel, mē′zl, n. (Shak.) a leper. [Measles.]
Mechanic, -al, me-kan′ik, -al, adj. pertaining to machines or mechanics: constructed according to the laws of mechanics: possessing mechanical talent: acting by physical power: done by a machine: pertaining to artisans: done simply by force of habit, slavish, artificial: vulgar.—n. Mechan′ic, one engaged in a mechanical trade: an artisan—(Shak.) Mechan′ical.—adv. Mechan′ically.—ns. Mechanic′ian, Mech′anist, a machine-maker: one skilled in mechanics; Mechan′ics, the science which treats of machines: the science which treats of the nature of forces and of their action on bodies, either directly or by the agency of machinery.—v.t. Mech′anise, to make mechanical: to work out the details of a machine.—ns. Mech′anism, the construction of a machine: the arrangement and action of its parts, by which it produces a given result; Mech′anograph, a copy, esp. of a work of art produced by a mechanical process on a machine.—adj. Mech′anographic.—ns. Mechanog′raphist; Mechanog′raphy, the art of multiplying copies of a writing or work of art by means of a machine; Mechanol′ogy, a treatise on mechanics: the knowledge of such.—Mechanical effect, work produced by the use of mechanical power; Mechanical philosophy, the principles of mechanics applied to solve questions or phenomena involving force; Mechanical powers, the elementary forms or parts of machines—three primary, the lever, inclined plane, and pulley; and three secondary, the wheel-and-axle, the wedge, and the screw.—Mechanics' institute, an institution for mechanics, with lectures, library, museum, &c. [O. Fr.,—L. mechanicus; Gr. mēchanikos—mēchane, a contrivance.]
Mechlin, meh′lin, adj. and n. produced at Mechlin or Malines: lace made at Mechlin.
Meconic, me-kon′ik, adj. denoting an acid obtained from poppies.—ns. Mec′onate, a salt of meconic acid; Mec′onine, a white, fusible, neutral substance existing in opium; Mecō′nium, the first fæces of a new-born child: opium. [Gr. mēkōn, the poppy.]
Medal, med′al, n. a piece of metal in the form of a coin bearing some device or inscription, struck or cast: a reward of merit.—v.t. to decorate with a medal.—n. Med′alet, a small medal, esp. the representation of saints, worn by Roman Catholics.—adj. Medall′ic, pertaining to medals.—ns. Medall′ion, a large medal: a bas-relief of a round (sometimes a square) form: a round ornament enclosing a portrait or lock of hair; Med′allist, Med′alist, one skilled in medals: an engraver of medals: one who has gained a medal; Med′allurgy, the art of producing medals and coins. [O. Fr. medaille—It. medaglia; through a Low L. form medalla or medalia, a small coin, from L. metallum, a metal.]
Meddle, med′l, v.i. to interfere unnecessarily (with or in): to take part in a matter with which one has nothing to do: to have to do (with).—n. Medd′ler, one who interferes with matters in which he has no concern.—adj. Medd′lesome, given to meddling.—n. Medd′lesomeness.—adj. Medd′ling, interfering in the concerns of others: officious—also n. [O. Fr. medler, a corr. of mesler (Fr. mêler)—Low L. misculare—L. miscēre, to mix.]
Media. See Medium.
Mediæval, Mediævalist. See Medieval.