Metra, met′ra, n. a pocket-instrument, combining the uses of thermometer, level, plummet, and lens. [Gr., pl. of metron, measure.]
Metre, mē′tėr, n. that regulated succession of certain groups of syllables in which poetry is usually written—these groups of long and short (classical) or accented (English) syllables being called feet: rhythm: verse, or poetry generally: a plan of versification, the character of a stanza as consisting of a given number of lines composed of feet of a given number, construction, and accent: musical time.—adjs. Met′ric, -al, pertaining to metre or to metrology: consisting of verses.—adv. Met′rically.—ns. Metric′ian, Met′ricist, one skilled in metres, one who writes in metre; Met′rics, the art or science of versification; Metrificā′tion. (Tenn.), the act of making verses; Met′rifier, a versifier; Met′rist, one skilled in metres, a skilful versifier; Metromā′nia, a mania for writing verses.—Common metre, the stanza forming a quatrain in eights and sixes, of four and of three iambic feet alternately—also Service metre, from its use in the metrical psalms, &c., and Ballad metre, from its use in old romances and ballads; Long metre, an octosyllabic quatrain, the four lines with four feet each; Short metre, the quatrain in sixes, with the third line octosyllabic. [Fr.,—L. metrum—Gr. metron.]
Mètre, mā′tr, n. the fundamental unit of length in the metric system—one ten-millionth of a quadrant of the Meridian—39.3707904 English inches.—adj. Met′ric.—Metric system, the French system of weights and measures, founded on the French mètre—dividing or multiplying by ten, and therefore a decimal system.
Metre. Same as Meter.
Metric, met′rik, adj. quantitative.—adj. Met′rical, pertaining to measurement.—n.pl. Met′rics, the theory of measurement.—ns. Met′rograph, an apparatus for registering the speed of a railway-train and the places and duration of stops; Metrol′ogy, the science of weights and measures; Met′ronome, an instrument like an inverted pendulum which measures musical time.—adj. Metronom′ic.—n. Metron′omy, measurement of time by a metronome.
Metronymic, met-ro-nim′ik, adj. derived from the name of one's mother, or other female ancestor.—n. an appellation so derived; cf. Patronymic. [Gr. mētēr, a mother, onoma, name.]
Metropolis, me-trop′o-lis, n. the capital of a country; the chief cathedral city, as Canterbury of England: the mother-city of an ancient Greek colony: a generic focus in the distribution of plants or animals:—pl. Metrop′olises.—adj. Metropol′itan, belonging to a metropolis: pertaining to the mother-church.—n. the bishop of a metropolis, presiding over the other bishops of a province: an archbishop.—n. Metropol′itanate.—adjs. Metropol′itic, -al. [L.,—Gr. mētēr, mother, polis, a city.]
Mettle, met′l, n. ardent temperament: spirit: sprightliness: courage.—adjs. Mett′led, Mett′lesome, high-spirited: ardent.—n. Mett′lesomeness, quality or state of being mettlesome.—Put one on his mettle, to rouse a person up to putting forth his best efforts. [From the metal of a blade.]
Meum, mā′um, n. mine—in the phrase Meum and tuum, mine and thine. [L.]
Meute, mūt, n. a mew, a place where hawks are mewed or confined. [Mew, a cage for hawks.]