Melancholy, mel′an-kol-i, n. continued depression of spirits: dejection: a gloomy state of mind causing groundless fears: (Milt.) pensiveness.—adj. gloomy: producing grief.—n. Melanchō′lia, a form of insanity, in which there is continued depression or pain of mind.—adjs. Melanchol′ic, Melanchō′lious, affected with, or caused by, melancholy: dejected: mournful. [Through Fr.,—L.,—Gr. melancholia—melan, black, cholē, bile.]
Melange, mā-longzh′, n. a mixture: a medley. [Fr.]
Melanic, me-lan′ik, adj. black.—n. Mel′anism, an undue development of colouring matter in the skin and its appendages.—adj. Melanis′tic.—n. Mel′anite, a deep-black variety of garnet.—adjs. Melanochrō′ic, Melanoch′rōous, dark-coloured; Mel′anoid, dark-looking.—n. Melanō′sis, an abnormal deposition of pigmentary matter in such organs as the spleen, liver, &c.: the condition of the system associated with such, black degeneration.—adjs. Melanot′ic; Mel′anous, dark-complexioned.—n. Melanū′ria, the presence of a dark pigment in the urine.—adj. Melanū′ric.—ns. Mel′aphyre, a pre-Tertiary basalt, usually altered; Melas′ma, a skin disease showing dark discolouration in spots.
Mêlée, mā-lā′, n. a fight in which the combatants are mingled together: a confused conflict: an affray. [Fr.,—mêler, to mix.]
Melibean, Melibœan, mel-i-bē′an, adj. in poetry, alternately responsive—from the name of a shepherd in Virgil's first eclogue.
Melic, mel′ik, adj. pertaining to song.
Melilot, mel′i-lot, n. a genus of clover-like plants with white or yellow flowers and a peculiar sweet odour. [Gr. melilōtos—meli, honey, lōtos, lotus.]
Melinite, mā′lin-īt, n. an explosive of great force obtained from picric acid. [Fr.]
Meliorate, mē′lyo-rāt, v.t. to make better.—v.i. to grow better.—ns. Meliorā′tion, the act of making or becoming better; Meliorā′tor, an improver; Mē′liorism, the doctrine that the world is capable of improvement, as opposed to Optimism and Pessimism; Mē′liorist, one who holds this doctrine; Melior′ity, the state of being better: betterness. [L. meliorāre, -ātum, to make better.]
Meliphagous, mel-if′a-gus, adj. feeding upon honey. [Gr. meli, honey, phagein, to eat.]