Medial, mē′di-al, adj. lying between two extremes, median: of or pertaining to a mean or average.—n. one of the sonant-mute group, g, d, b, intermediate between the surd or smooth group (c, t, p) and the rough or aspirate group (gh, dh, bh, kh, th, ph). [Low L. medialis—L. medius, middle.]
Median, mē′di-an, adj. being in the middle, running through the middle: situated in the median plane, that dividing the body longitudinally into symmetrical halves.—adv. Med′ianly.—n. Med′iant (mus.), the third tone of a diatonic scale. [L. medianus—medius, middle.]
Median, mē′di-an, adj. pertaining to Media or the Medes, an ancient Aryan race which became fused with the Persians under the victorious Cyrus about 550 B.C.—n. Mede, a member of this race.
Mediastinum, mē-di-as-tī′num, n. a membranous septum or cavity between two principal portions of an organ, esp. the folds of the pleura and the space between the right and left lungs.—adj. Mediastī′nal. [L., medius.]
Mediate, mē′di-āt, adj. middle: between two extremes: acting by or as a means: not direct and independent: dependent on some intervening thing.—v.i. to interpose between parties as a friend of each: to intercede: to hold a mediate position: to act as a spiritualistic medium.—v.t. to bring about by mediation: to effect a relation between two things.—n. Mē′diacy.—adv. Mē′diately.—ns. Mē′diateness, state of being mediate; Mediā′tion, the act of mediating or coming between: entreaty for another; Mediatisā′tion.—v.t. Mē′diatīse, to cause to act in a subordinate position or through an agent: to annex, or to subordinate, as a smaller state to a larger neighbouring one.—adj. Mē′diative.—n. Mē′diator, one who mediates between parties at strife:—fem. Mediat′ress, Mē′diatrix.—adj. Mediatō′rial, belonging to a mediator or intercessor.—adv. Mediatō′rially.—n. Mediat′orship, the office of a mediator.—adj. Mē′diatory. [Low L. mediāre, -ātum—L. medius.]
Medic, med′ik, n. one of several plants of the genus Medicago, esp. the purple medic or lucerne—leguminous plants, with leaves like those of clover.—Also Med′ick. [L. medica—Gr. mēdikē (poa), 'median' (grass).]
Medical, med′i-kal, adj. relating to the art of healing diseases: containing that which heals: intended to promote the study of medicine.—adv. Med′ically.—Medical jurisprudence (see Jurisprudence). [Fr.,—Low L. medicalis—L. medicus, pertaining to healing, a physician—medēri, to heal.]
Medicate, med′i-kāt, v.t. to treat with medicine: to impregnate with anything medicinal.—adj. Med′icable, that may be healed.—n. Med′icament, anything used for healing: a medicine: healing power.—adj. Medicamen′tal.—n. Med′icaster, an ignorant physician.—adj. Med′icated, mixed with medicine: made medicinal: treated with medicine.—n. Medicā′tion, the act or process of medicating or of mixing with medicinal substances: the use of medicine.—adj. Med′icative, having the power of healing: tending to heal.—n. Medicā′tor, any medical appliance. [L. medicāre, to heal—medicus.]
Medicean, med-i-sē′an, adj. relating to the Medici, a distinguished Florentine family which attained to sovereign power in the 15th century, and became extinct in 1737.
Medicine, med′i-sin, or med′sin, n. anything applied for the cure or lessening of disease or pain, whether simple or compound (made up of more than one ingredient): the science which treats of the prevention or cure of disease: a charm.—v.t. to treat or cure by medicine.—adj. Medic′inal, relating to medicine: fitted to cure or to lessen disease or pain.—adv. Medic′inally.—ns. Med′icine-bag, a Red Indian's receptacle for charms; Med′icine-chest, a chest for keeping medicines in a ship, &c.; Med′icine-man, among savages, a witch-doctor or exorciser.—adjs. Med′ico-chirur′gical, relating to both medicine and surgery; Med′ico-lē′gal, relating to the application of medicine to questions of law. [Fr.,—L. medicina—medicus.]