Myself, mī-self′, or me-self′, pron. I or me, in person—used for the sake of emphasis and also as the reciprocal of me.
Mystagogue, mis′ta-gōg, n. an initiator into religious mysteries, a teacher or catechist—also Mystagō′gus.—adj. Mystagog′ic (-goj′-).—n. Mys′tagogy (-goj-), the practice of a mystagogue: the sacraments. [Gr. mystēs, one initiated, agōgos, a leader.]
Mystery, mis′tėr-i, n. a secret doctrine: anything very obscure: that which is beyond human knowledge to explain: anything artfully made difficult: (pl.) secret rites, in ancient religions rites known only to and practised by initiated persons, as the Eleusinian mysteries in Greece, &c.: a sacrament: a rude medieval drama founded on the historical parts of the Bible and the lives of the saints—the Basque pastorales are a survival.—adj. Mystē′rious, containing mystery: obscure: secret: incomprehensible.—adv. Mystē′riously.—n. Mystē′riousness. [M. E. mysterie—L. mysterium—Gr. mystērion—mystēs, one initiated—muein, to close the eyes.]
Mystery, mis′tėr-i, n. a trade, handicraft. [M. E. mistere—O. Fr. mestier (Fr. métier)—L. ministerium—minister. Prop. mistery; the form mystery is due to confusion with the above.]
Mystic, -al, mis′tik, -al, adj. relating to, or containing, mystery: sacredly obscure or secret: involving a sacred or a secret meaning hidden from the eyes of the ordinary reader, only revealed to a spiritually enlightened mind, allegorical: belonging to mysticism.—n. Mys′tic, one who seeks for direct intercourse with God in elevated religious feeling or ecstasy.—adv. Mys′tically.—ns. Mys′ticalness, the quality of being mystical; Mys′ticism, the doctrine of the mystics, a tendency of religious feeling marked by an effort to attain to direct and immediate communion with God: obscurity of doctrine; Mystificā′tion.—v.t. Mys′tify, to make mysterious, obscure, or secret: to involve in mystery:—pr.p. mys′tifying; pa.t. and pa.p. mys′tified.—Mystic recitation, the recitation of parts of the Greek liturgy in an inaudible voice; Mystical theology, the knowledge of divine things attained by spiritual insight and experience only, without authority, the process of reason, &c. [L. mysticus—Gr. mystikos. Cf. Mystery, a secret doctrine.]
Mytacism, mī′ta-sizm, n. a too recurrent use of the letter m in speech or writing.
Myth, mith, n. a fable, a legend, a fabulous narrative founded on a remote event, esp. those made in the early period of a people's existence: an invented story: a falsehood.—adjs. Myth′ic, -al, relating to myths: fabulous: untrue.—adv. Myth′ically.—ns. Myth′icist, Myth′iciser, an adherent of the mythical theory; Myth′ist, a maker of myths; Mythogen′esis, the production of, or the tendency to originate, myths; Mythog′rapher, a writer or narrator of myths; Mythog′raphy, representation of myths in graphic or plastic art, art-mythology; Mythol′oger, Mytholō′gian, a mythologist.—adjs. Mytholog′ic, -al, relating to mythology, fabulous.—adv. Mytholog′ically.—v.t. Mythol′ogise, to interpret or explain myths: to render mythical.—ns. Mythol′ogiser, one who, or that which, mythologises; Mythol′ogist, one versed in, or who writes on, mythology; Mythol′ogy, the myths or stories of a country: a treatise regarding myths: a collection of myths: the science which investigates myths; Mython′omy, the deductive and predictive stage of mythology; Myth′oplasm, a narration of mere fable; Mythopœ′ist, a myth-maker.—adjs. Mythopoet′ic, Mythopœ′ic, myth-making, tending to generate myth.—n. Myth′us, the same as myth:—pl. Myth′ī.—Mythical theory, the theory of D. F. Strauss (1808-74) and his school, that the Gospels are mainly a collection of myths, developed during the first two centuries, from the imagination of the followers of Jesus; Comparative mythology, the science which investigates myths and seeks to relate those of different races. [Gr. mythos.]
Mytilus, mit′i-lus, n. a genus of bivalves, or an individual bivalve belonging to it.—adjs. Mytil′iform, Myt′iloid.
Myxœdema, mik-sē-dē′ma, n. a diseased condition occurring in adults, generally females, characterised by a thickening of the subcutaneous tissue, most noticeable in the face, with a simultaneous dulling of all the faculties and slowing of the movements of the body. A precisely similar condition occurs in many cases where the thyroid gland has been removed for disease. [Gr. myxa, mucus, and Eng. edema.]
Myxoma, mik-sō′ma, n. a tumour consisting of mucous tissue—also Collonema. [Gr. myxa, mucus.]