Menu, men′ü, n. a bill of fare. [Fr.,—L. minutus, small.]
Mephistopheles, mef-is-tof′e-lēz, n. the name of the devil in Marlowe's Doctor Faustus and Goethe's Faust.—adj. Mephistophē′lean, cynical, scoffing, malicious. [Ety. unknown; prob. formed from Gr. mē, not, phōs (phot-), light, philos, loving.]
Mephitis, me-fī′tis, n. a poisonous exhalation from the ground or from decaying substances—also Mephī′tism.—adjs. Mephit′ic, -al. [L. mephitis.]
Mercantile, mėr′kan-tīl, adj. pertaining to merchants: having to do with trade: commercial.—ns. Mer′cantilism; Mer′cantilist.—Mercantile agency, a means of getting information about the circumstances of merchants all over the country, for the use of those who sell to them; Mercantile law, the points of law referring to the dealings of merchants with each other; Mercantile marine, the ships and their crews which in any country are employed in commerce; Mercantile system (polit. econ.), the system of encouraging exportation and restricting importation, so that more may be received than is paid away. [Fr.,—Low L.—L. mercans, -antis, pr.p. of mercāri, to trade—merx, mercis, merchandise—merēre, to gain.]
Mercator's projection. See under Project.
Mercenary, mėr′se-nar-i, adj. hired for money: actuated by the hope of reward: greedy of gain: sold or done for money.—n. one who is hired: a soldier hired into foreign service.—adv. Mer′cenarily. [Fr.,—L., mercenarius—merces, hire.]
Mercer, mėr′sėr, n. a merchant in silks and woollen cloths, or in small wares.—n. Mer′cery, the trade of a mercer: the goods of a mercer. [Fr. mercier.]
Merchant, mėr′chant, n. one who carries on trade, esp. on a large scale: one who buys and sells goods: a trader: (obs.) a supercargo: a merchant-vessel.—adj. pertaining to trade or merchandise.—v.i. Merch′and (Bacon), to trade or traffic.—n. Mer′chandīse, goods bought and sold for gain: (B. and Shak.) trade: dealing.—adjs. Mer′chantable, suitable for sale: inferior to the very best, but suitable for ordinary purposes; Mer′chant-like (Shak.), like a merchant.—ns. Mer′chantman, a trading-ship: (B.) a merchant:—pl. Mer′chantmen; Mer′chantry, the business of a merchant; merchants collectively.—Merchant prince, one who has made a great fortune as a merchant; Merchant service, the ships, &c., engaged in commerce: the commerce which is carried on by sea; Merchant ship or vessel, a ship used for carrying goods; Merchant tailor, a tailor who supplies the cloth for the clothes which he makes. [Fr. marchand.]
Mercury, mėr′kū-ri, n. the god of merchandise and eloquence, and the messenger of the gods: the planet nearest the sun: a white, liquid metal, also called quicksilver: the column of mercury in a thermometer or barometer: a messenger: a newspaper.—adj. Mercū′rial, having the qualities said to belong to the god Mercury: active: sprightly: often changing: of or pertaining to trade: containing, or consisting of, mercury—also Mercū′ric.—v.t. Mercū′rialise (med.), to affect with mercury: to expose to the vapour of mercury.—n. Mercū′rialist.—adv. Mercū′rially.—n. Mercurificā′tion.—v.t. Mercū′rify.—adj. Mer′cūrous. [Fr.,—L. Mercurius—merx, mercis, merchandise.]
Mercy, mėr′si, n. tenderness and forbearance shown in sparing an offender in one's power: a forgiving disposition: clemency: an act of mercy: an undeserved blessing: compassion or benevolence.—adjs. Mer′ciable (Spens.), merciful; Mer′ciful, full of, or exercising, mercy.—adv. Mer′cifully.—n. Mer′cifulness.—v.t. Mer′cify (Spens.), to deal mercifully with, to pity.—adj. Mer′ciless, without mercy: unfeeling: cruel.—adv. Mer′cilessly.—ns. Mer′cilessness, want of mercy; Mer′cy-seat, the seat or place of mercy; the covering of the Jewish Ark of the Covenant: the throne of God.—At the mercy of (another), wholly in the power of; For mercy! or For mercy's sake! an exclamatory appeal to pity; Great mercy=Gramercy; Sisters of mercy, members of female religious communities who tend the sick, &c. [Fr. merci, grace—L. merces, mercedis, pay, in later L. also 'favour.']