Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913 + 1828)

Page 928

Miny

Min"y (?), a. Abounding with mines; like a mine. Miny caverns." Thomson.

Miocene

Mi"o*cene (?), a. [Gr. less + new, fresh, recent.] (Geol.) Of or pertaining to the middle division of the Tertiary. -- n. The Miocene period. See Chart of Geology.

Miohippus

Mi`o*hip"pus (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. less + horse.] (Paleon.) An extinct Miocene mammal of the Horse family, closely related to the genus Anhithecrium, and having three usable hoofs on each foot.

Miquelet

Miq"ue*let (?), n. [Sp. miquelete.] (Mil.) An irregular or partisan soldier; a bandit.

Mir

Mir (?), n. A Russian village community. D. M. Wallace.

Mir

Mir, n. [Per. mīr.] Same as Emir.

Mira

Mi"ra (?), n. [NL., from L. mirus wonderful.] (Astron.) A remarkable variable star in the constellation Cetus (ο Ceti).

Mirabilary

Mi*rab"i*la*ry (?), n.; pl. Mirabilaries (). One who, or a work which, narrates wonderful things; one who writes of wonders. [Obs.] Bacon.

Mirabilis

Mi*rab"i*lis (?), n. [L., wonderful.] (Bot.) A genus of plants. See Four-o'clock.

Mirabilite

Mi*rab"i*lite (?), n. (Min.) Native sodium sulphate; Glauber's salt.

Mirable

Mi"ra*ble (?), a. [L. mirabilis, fr. mirari to wonder: cf. OF. mirable. See Marvel.] Wonderful; admirable. [Obs.] Shak.

Miracle

Mir"a*cle (?), n. [F., fr. L. miraculum, fr. mirari to wonder. See Marvel, and cf. Mirror.]

1. A wonder or wonderful thing.

That miracle and queen of genus. Shak.

2. Specifically: An event or effect contrary to the established constitution and course of things, or a deviation from the known laws of nature; a supernatural event, or one transcending the ordinary laws by which the universe is governed.

They considered not the miracle of the loaves. Mark vi. 52.

3. A miracle play.

4. A story or legend abounding in miracles. [Obs.]

When said was all this miracle. Chaucer.

Miracle monger, an impostor who pretends to work miracles. -- Miracle play, one of the old dramatic entertainments founded on legends of saints and martyrs or (see 2d Mystery, 2) on events related in the Bible.

Miracle

Mir"a*cle, v. t. To make wonderful. [Obs.] Shak.

Miraculize

Mi*rac"u*lize (?), v. t. To cause to seem to be a miracle. [R.] Shaftesbury.

Miraculous

Mi*rac"u*lous (?), a. [F. miraculeux. See Miracle.]

1. Of the nature of a miracle; performed by supernatural power; effected by the direct agency of almighty power, and not by natural causes.

2. Supernatural; wonderful.

3. Wonder-working. The miraculous harp." Shak. -- Mi*rac"u*lous*ly, adv. -- Mi*rac"u*lous*ness, n.

Mirador

Mir`a*dor" (?), n. [Sp., fr. mirar to behold, view. See Mirror.] (Arch.) Same as Belvedere.

Mirage

Mi`rage" (?), n. [F., fr. mirer to look at carefully, to aim, se mirer to look at one's self in a glass, to reflect, to be reflected, LL. mirare to look at. See Mirror.] An optical effect, sometimes seen on the ocean, but more frequently in deserts, due to total reflection of light at the surface common to two strata of air differently heated. The reflected image is seen, commonly in an inverted position, while the real object may or may not be in sight. When the surface is horizontal, and below the eye, the appearance is that of a sheet of water in which the object is seen reflected; when the reflecting surface is above the eye, the image is seen projected against the sky. The fata Morgana and looming are species of mirage.

By the mirage uplifted the land floats vague in the ether, Ships and the shadows of ships hang in the motionless air. Longfellow.

Mirbane

Mir"bane (?), n. See Nitrobenzene.

Mire

Mire (?), n. [AS. mīre, mre; akin to D. mier, Icel. maurr, Dan. myre, Sw. myra; cf. also Ir. moirbh, Gr. .] An ant. [Obs.] See Pismire.

Mire

Mire, n. [OE. mire, myre; akin to Icel. mrr swamp, Sw. myra marshy ground, and perh. to E. moss.] Deep mud; wet, spongy earth. Chaucer.

He his rider from the lofty steed Would have cast down and trod in dirty mire. Spenser.

Mire crow (Zoöl.), the pewit, or laughing gull. [Prov. Eng.] -- Mire drum, the European bittern. [Prov. Eng.]

Mire

Mire, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mired (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Miring.]

1. To cause or permit to stick fast in mire; to plunge or fix in mud; as, to mire a horse or wagon.

2. To soil with mud or foul matter.

Smirched thus and mired with infamy. Shak.

Mire

Mire, v. i. To stick in mire. Shak.

Mirific, Mirifical

Mi*rif"ic (?), Mi*rif"ic*al (?), a. [L. mirificus; mirus wonderful + -ficare (in comp.) to make. See -fy.] Working wonders; wonderful.
Mirificent
Mi*rif"i*cent (?), a. Wonderful. [Obs.]
Miriness
Mir"i*ness (?), n. The quality of being miry.
Mirk
Mirk (?), a. [See Murky.] Dark; gloomy; murky. Spenser. Mrs. Browning.
Mirk
Mirk, n. Darkness; gloom; murk. In mirk and mire." Longfellow.
Mirksome
Mirk"some (?), a. Dark; gloomy; murky. [Archaic] Spenser. -- Mirk"some*ness, n. [Archaic]
Mirky
Mirk"y (?), a. Dark; gloomy. See Murky.
Mirror
Mir"ror (?), n. [OE. mirour, F. miroir, OF. also mireor, fr. (assumed) LL. miratorium, fr. mirare to look at, L. mirari to wonder. See Marvel, and cf. Miracle, Mirador.]
1. A looking-glass or a speculum; any glass or polished substance that forms images by the reflection of rays of light.
And in her hand she held a mirror bright, Wherein her face she often view\'8ad fair. Spenser.

2. That which gives a true representation, or in which a true image may be seen; hence, a pattern; an exemplar.
She is mirour of all courtesy. Chaucer.

O goddess, heavenly bright, Mirror of grace and majesty divine. Spenser.

3. (Zoöl.) See Speculum. Mirror carp (Zoöl.), a domesticated variety of the carp, having only three or fur rows of very large scales side. -- Mirror plate. (a) A flat glass mirror without a frame. (b) Flat glass used for making mirrors. -- Mirror writing, a manner or form of backward writing, making manuscript resembling in slant and order of letters the reflection of ordinary writing in a mirror. The substitution of this manner of writing for the common manner is a symptom of some kinds of nervous disease.
Mirror
Mir"ror (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Mirrored (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Mirroring.] To reflect, as in a mirror.
Mirth
Mirth (?), n. [OE. mirthe, murthe, merthe, AS. myr&edh;, myrg&edh;, merh&edh;, mirh&edh;. See Merry.]
1. Merriment; gayety accompanied with laughter; jollity.
Then will I cause to cease ... from the streets of Jerusalem, the voice of mirth. Jer. vii. 34.

2. That which causes merriment. [Obs.] Shak. Syn. -- Merriment; joyousness; gladness; fun; frolic; glee; hilarity; festivity; jollity. See Gladness.
Mirthful
Mirth"ful (?), a.
1. Full of mirth or merriment; merry; as, mirthful children.
2. Indicating or inspiring mirth; as, a mirthful face.
Mirthful, comic shows. Shak.
-- Mirth"ful*ly, adv. -- Mirth"ful*ness, n.
Mirthless
Mirth"less, a. Without mirth. -- Mirth"less*ness, n.
Miry
Mir"y (?), a. [From 2d Mire.] Abounding with deep mud; full of mire; muddy; as, a miry road.
Mirza
Mir"za (?), n. [Per. mīrzā, abbrev. fr. mīrzādeh son of the prince; mīr prince (Ar. amīr, emīr) + zādeh son.] The common title of honor in Persia, prefixed to the surname of an individual. When appended to the surname, it signifies Prince.
Mis-
Mis- (?). [In words of Teutonic origin, fr. AS. mis-; akin to D. mis-, G. miss-, OHG. missa-, missi-, Icel. & Dan. mis-, Sw. miss-, Goth. missa-; orig., a p. p. from the root of G. meiden to shun, OHG. mīdan, AS. mīan (. Cf. Miss to fail of). In words from the French, fr. OF. mes-, F. mé-, mes-, fr. L. minus less (see Minus). In present usage these two prefixes are commonly confounded.] A prefix used adjectively and adverbially in the sense of amiss, wrong, ill, wrongly, unsuitably; as, misdeed, mislead, mischief, miscreant.
Mis
Mis (?), a. & adv. [See Amiss.] Wrong; amiss. [Obs.] To correcten that [which] is mis." Chaucer.
Misacceptation
Mis*ac`cep*ta"tion (?), n. Wrong acceptation; understanding in a wrong sense.
Misaccompt
Mis`ac*compt" (?), v. t. To account or reckon wrongly. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Misadjust
Mis`ad*just" (?), v. t. To adjust wrongly of unsuitably; to throw of adjustment. I. Taylor.
Misadjustment
Mis`ad*just"ment (?), n. Wrong adjustment; unsuitable arrangement.
Misadventure
Mis`ad*ven"ture (?; 135), n. [OE. mesaventure, F. mésaventure.] Mischance; misfortune; ill lick; unlucky accident; ill adventure. Chaucer. Homicide by misadventure (Law), homicide which occurs when a man, doing a lawful act, without any intention of injury, unfortunately kills another; -- called also excusable homicide. See Homicide. Blackstone. Syn. -- Mischance; mishap; misfortune; disaster; calamity.
Misadventured
Mis`ad*ven"tured (?), a. Unfortunate. [Obs.]
Misadventurous
Mis`ad*ven"tur*ous (?), a. Unfortunate.
Misadvertence
Mis`ad*vert"ence (?), n. Inadvertence.
Misadvice
Mis`ad*vice" (?), n. Bad advice.
Misadvise
Mis`ad*vise" (?), v. t. To give bad counsel to.
Misadvised
Mis`ad*vised" (?), a. Ill advised. -- Mis`ad*vis"ed*ly (#), adv.
Misaffect
Mis`af*fect" (?), v. t. To dislike. [Obs.]
Misaffected
Mis`af*fect"ed, a. Ill disposed. [Obs.]
Misaffection
Mis`af*fec"tion (?), n. An evil or wrong affection; the state of being ill affected. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
Misaffirm
Mis`af*firm" (?), v. t. To affirm incorrectly.
Misaimed
Mis*aimed" (?), a. Not rightly aimed. Spenser.
Misallegation
Mis*al`le*ga"tion (?), n. A erroneous statement or allegation. Bp. Hall.
Misallege
Mis`al*lege" (?), v. t. To state erroneously.
Misalliance
Mis`al*li"ance (?), n. [F. mésalliance.] A marriage with a person of inferior rank or social station; an improper alliance; a mesalliance.
A Leigh had made a misalliance, and blushed A Howard should know it. Mrs. Browning.

Misallied
Mis`al*lied" (?), a. Wrongly allied or associated.
Misallotment
Mis`al*lot"ment (?), n. A wrong allotment.
Misalter
Mis*al"ter (?), v. t. To alter wrongly; esp., to alter for the worse. Bp. Hall.
Misanthrope
Mis"an*thrope (?), n. [Gr. ; to hate + a man; cf. F. misanthrope. Cf. Miser.] A hater of mankind; a misanthropist.
Misanthropic, Misanthropical
Mis`an*throp"ic (?), Mis`an*throp"ic*al (?), a. [Cf. F. misanthropique.] Hating or disliking mankind.
Misanthropist
Mis*an"thro*pist (?), n. A misanthrope.
Misanthropos
Mis*an"thro*pos (?), n. [NL. See Misanthrope.] A misanthrope. [Obs.] Shak.
Misanthropy
Mis*an"thro*py (?), n. [Gr. : cf. F. misanthropie.] Hatred of, or dislike to, mankind; -- opposed to philanthropy. Orrery.
Misapplication
Mis*ap`pli*ca"tion (?), n. A wrong application. Sir T. Browne.
Misapply
Mis`ap*ply" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Misapplied (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Misapplying.] To apply wrongly; to use for a wrong purpose; as, to misapply a name or title; to misapply public money.
Misappreciated
Mis`ap*pre"ci*a`ted (?), a. Improperly appreciated.
Misapprehend
Mis*ap`pre*hend" (?), v. t. To take in a wrong sense; to misunderstand. Locke.
Misapprehension
Mis*ap`pre*hen"sion (?), n. A mistaking or mistake; wrong apprehension of one's meaning of a fact; misconception; misunderstanding.
Misapprehensively
Mis*ap`pre*hen"sive*ly (?), adv. By, or with, misapprehension.
Misappropriate
Mis`ap*pro"pri*ate (?), v. t. To appropriate wrongly; to use for a wrong purpose.
Misappropriation
Mis`ap*pro`pri*a"tion (?), n. Wrong appropriation; wrongful use.
Misarrange
Mis`ar*range" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Misarranged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Misarranging (?).] To place in a wrong order, or improper manner.
Misarrangement
Mis`ar*range"ment (?), n. Wrong arrangement.
Misarcribe
Mis`ar*cribe" (?), v. t. To ascribe wrongly.
Misassay
Mis`as*say" (?), v. t. To assay, or attempt, improperly or unsuccessfully. [Obs.] W. Browne.
Misassign
Mis`as*sign" (?), v. t. To assign wrongly.
Misattend
Mis`at*tend" (?), v. t. To misunderstand; to disregard. [Obs.] Milton.
Misaventure
Mis`a*ven"ture (?), n. Misadventure. [Obs.]
Misavize
Mis`a*vize" (?), v. t. To misadvise. [Obs.]
Misbear
Mis*bear" (?), v. t. To carry improperly; to carry (one's self) wrongly; to misbehave. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Misbecome
Mis`be*come" (?), v. t. Not to become; to suit ill; not to befit or be adapted to. Macaulay.
Thy father will not act what misbecomes him. Addison.

Misbecoming
Mis`be*com"ing, a. Unbecoming. Milton. -- Mis`be*com"ing*ly, adv. -- Mis`be*com"ing*ness, n. Boyle.
Misbede
Mis*bede" (?), v. t. [imp. Misbode (?); p. p. Misboden (?).] [AS. mis-be\'93dan.] To wrong; to do injury to. [Obs.]
Who hath you misboden or offended? Chaucer.

Misbefitting
Mis`be*fit"ting (?), a. No befitting.
Misbegot, Misbegotten
Mis`be*got" (?), Mis`be*got"ten (), p. a. Unlawfully or irregularly begotten; of bad origin; pernicious. Valor misbegot." Shak.
Misbehave
Mis`be*have" (?), v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Misbehaved (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Misbehaving.] To behave ill; to conduct one's self improperly; -- often used with a reciprocal pronoun.
Misbehaved
Mis`be*haved" (?), a. Guilty of ill behavior; illbred; rude. A misbehaved and sullen wench." Shak.
Misbehavior
Mis`be*hav"ior (?), n. Improper, rude, or uncivil behavior; ill conduct. Addison.
Misbelief
Mis`be*lief" (?), n. Erroneous or false belief.
Misbelieve
Mis`be*lieve" (?) (), v. i. To believe erroneously, or in a false religion. That misbelieving Moor." Shak.
Misbeliever
Mis`be*liev"er (?), n. One who believes wrongly; one who holds a false religion. Shak.
Misbeseem
Mis`be*seem" (?), v. t. To suit ill.
Misbestow
Mis`be*stow" (?), v. t. To bestow improperly.
Misbestowal
Mis`be*stow"al (?), n. The act of misbestowing.
Misbileve
Mis`bi*leve" (?), n. Misbelief; unbelief; suspicion. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Misbode
Mis*bode" (?), imp. of Misbede.
Misboden
Mis*bo"den (?), p. p. of Misbede.
Misborn
Mis"born` (?), a. Born to misfortune. Spenser.
Miscalculate
Mis*cal"cu*late (?), v. t. & i. To calculate erroneously; to judge wrongly. -- Mis*cal`cu*la"tion (#), n.
Miscall
Mis*call" (?), v. t.
1. To call by a wrong name; to name improperly.
2. To call by a bad name; to abuse. [Obs.] Fuller.
Miscarriage
Mis*car"riage (?), n.
1. Unfortunate event or issue of an undertaking; failure to attain a desired result or reach a destination.
When a counselor, to save himself, Would lay miscarriages upon his prince. Dryden.

2. Ill conduct; evil or improper behavior; as, the failings and miscarriages of the righteous. Rogers.
3. The act of bringing forth before the time; premature birth.
Miscarriageable
Mis*car"riage*a*ble (?), a. Capable of miscarrying; liable to fail. [R.] Bp. Hall.
Miscarry
Mis*car"ry (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Miscarried (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Miscarrying.]
1. To carry, or go, wrong; to fail of reaching a destination, or fail of the intended effect; to be unsuccessful; to suffer defeat.
My ships have all miscarried. Shak.

The cardinal's letters to the pope miscarried. Shak.

2. To bring forth young before the proper time.
Miscast
Mis*cast" (?), v. t. To cast or reckon wrongly.
Miscast
Mis*cast", n. An erroneous cast or reckoning.
Miscegenation
Mis`ce*ge*na"tion (?), n. [L. miscere to mix + the root of genus race.] A mixing of races; amalgamation, as by intermarriage of black and white.
Miscellanarian
Mis`cel*la*na"ri*an (?), a. [See Miscellany.] Of or pertaining to miscellanies. Shaftesbury. -- n. A writer of miscellanies.
Miscellane
Mis"cel*lane (?), n. [See Miscellaneous, and cf. Maslin.] A mixture of two or more sorts of grain; -- now called maslin and meslin. Bacon.
Miscellanea
Mis"cel*la"ne*a (?), n. pl. [L. See Miscellany.] A collection of miscellaneous matters; matters of various kinds.
Miscellaneous
Mis`cel*la"ne*ous (?), a. [L. miscellaneus mixed, miscellaneous, fr. miscellus mixed, fr. miscere to mix. See Mix, and cf. Miscellany.] Mixed; mingled; consisting of several things; of diverse sorts; promiscuous; heterogeneous; as, a miscellaneous collection. A miscellaneous rabble." Milton. -- Mis`cel*la"ne*ous*ly, adv. -- Mis`cel*la"ne*ous*ness, n.
Miscellanist
Mis"cel*la*nist (?), n. A writer of miscellanies; miscellanarian.
Miscellany
Mis"cel*la*ny (?), n.; pl. Miscellanies (#). [L. miscellanea, neut. pl. of. miscellaneus: cf. F. miscellanée, pl. miscellanées. See Miscellaneous.] A mass or mixture of various things; a medley; esp., a collection of compositions on various subjects.
'T is but a bundle or miscellany of sin; sins original, and sins actual. Hewyt.
Miscellany madam, a woman who dealt in various fineries; a milliner. [Obs.] B. Jonson.