Metamorphic, met-a-mor′fik, adj. subject to change of form: (geol.) applied to the alteration undergone by rocks under heat, pressure, &c., so that they assume a crystalline or semi-crystalline structure.—ns. Metamor′phism, state or quality of being metamorphic; Metamor′phist, one who believes that the body of Christ merged into the Deity when He ascended.—v.t. Metamor′phose, to transform.—n. Metamor′phosis, change of shape, transformation: the frequent transformation of human beings to beasts, stones, trees, &c.—an essential part of folklore everywhere: the marked change which some living beings undergo in the course of their growth, as caterpillar to insect, tadpole to frog, &c.:—pl. Metamor′phoses. [Gr. metamorphōsis—meta, expressing change, morphē, form.]
Metaphery, me-taf′e-ri, n. (bot.) the transposition of various floral organs. [Gr.: see Metaphor.]
Metaphor, met′a-fur, n. a transference of meaning, the putting of one thing for another which it only resembles, as when words are said to be bitter: an implicit simile.—adjs. Metaphor′ic, -al, pertaining to, or containing, metaphor: figurative.—adv. Metaphor′ically.—ns. Metaphor′icalness; Met′aphorist.—Mixed metaphor, an expression in which two or more metaphors are confused, where one only is capable of being intelligibly evolved or conceived objectively, as Cromwell's 'God has kindled a seed in this nation.' [Fr.,—Gr. metaphora—metapherein—meta, over, pherein, to carry.]
Metaphrase, met′a-frāz, n. a translation from one language into another word for word—opp. to Paraphrase: a repartee—also Metaph′rasis.—n. Met′aphrast, one who translates word for word.—adj. Metaphras′tic, literal in translation. [Gr. metaphrasis—meta, over, phrasis, a speaking.]
Metaphysics, met-a-fiz′iks, n.sing. the science which investigates the first principles of nature and thought: ontology or the science of being.—adj. Metaphys′ical, pertaining to metaphysics; abstract.—adv. Metaphys′ically.—n. Metaphysic′ian, one versed in metaphysics. [From certain works of Aristotle to be studied after his physics—Gr. meta, after, physika, physics—physis, nature.]
Metaphyta, met-a-fī′ta, n.pl. many-celled plants, in contrast to the single-celled Protophytes.
Metaplasia, met-a-plā′si-a, n. the direct conversion of one form of an adult tissue into another—also Metap′lasis.—n. Met′aplasm, a grammatical change in a word by adding or dropping a letter. [Gr. meta, over, plasis—plassein, to form.]
Metapophysis, met-a-pof′i-sis, n. (anat.) a dorsolateral apophysis on the anterior articular process of a vertebra. [Gr. meta, after, apophysis, a process.]
Metastasis, me-tas′ta-zis, n. a change in nature, form, or quality; a change from one part to another, as a disease: (bot.) metabolism.—adj. Metastat′ic. [Gr.,—methistēmi, I change place.]
Metatarsal, met-a-tär′sal, adj. belonging to the front part of the foot, behind the toes, nearly the same as the instep in man.—n. Metatar′sus. [Gr. meta, beyond, tarsos, the flat of the foot.]