| Term | Definition |
|
macadamize |
v. To cover or pave, as a path or roadway, with small broken stone. |
|
machinery |
n. The parts of a machine or engine, taken collectively. |
|
machinist |
n. One who makes or repairs machines, or uses metal-working tools. |
|
macrocosm |
n. The whole of any sphere or department of nature or knowledge to which man is related. |
|
madden |
v. To inflame with passion. |
|
Madonna |
n. A painted or sculptured representation of the Virgin, usually with the infant Jesus. |
|
magician |
n. A sorcerer. |
|
magisterial |
adj. Having an air of authority. |
|
magistracy |
n. The office or dignity of a magistrate. |
|
magnanimous |
adj. Generous in treating or judging others. |
|
magnate |
n. A person of rank or importance. |
|
magnet |
n. A body possessing that peculiar form of polarity found in nature in the lodestone. |
|
magnetize |
v. To make a magnet of, permanently, or temporarily. |
|
magnificence |
n. The exhibition of greatness of action, character, intellect, wealth, or power. |
|
magnificent |
adj. Grand or majestic in appearance, quality, or action. |
|
magnitude |
n. Importance. |
|
maharaja |
n. A great Hindu prince. |
|
maidenhood |
n. Virginity. |
|
maintain |
v. To hold or preserve in any particular state or condition. |
|
maintenance |
n. That which supports or sustains. |
|
maize |
n. Indian corn: usually in the United States called simply corn. |
|
makeup |
n. The arrangements or combination of the parts of which anything is composed. |
|
malady |
n. Any physical disease or disorder, especially a chronic or deep-seated one. |
|
malaria |
n. A fever characterized by alternating chills, fever, and sweating. |
|
malcontent |
n. One who is dissatisfied with the existing state of affairs. |
|
malediction |
n. The calling down of a curse or curses. |
|
malefactor |
n. One who injures another. |
|
maleficent |
adj. Mischievous. |
|
malevolence |
n. Ill will. |
|
malevolent |
adj. Wishing evil to others. |
|
malign |
v. To speak evil of, especially to do so falsely and severely. |
|
malignant |
adj. Evil in nature or tending to do great harm or mischief. |
|
malleable |
adj. Pliant. |
|
mallet |
n. A wooden hammer. |
|
maltreat |
v. To treat ill, unkindly, roughly, or abusively. |
|
man-trap |
n. A place or structure dangerous to human life. |
|
mandate |
n. A command. |
|
mandatory |
adj. Expressive of positive command, as distinguished from merely directory. |
|
mane |
n. The long hair growing upon and about the neck of certain animals, as the horse and the lion. |
|
man-eater |
n. An animal that devours human beings. |
|
maneuver |
v. To make adroit or artful moves: manage affairs by strategy. |
|
mania |
n. Insanity. |
|
maniac |
n. a person raving with madness. |
|
manifesto |
n. A public declaration, making announcement, explanation or defense of intentions, or motives. |
|
manlike |
adj. Like a man. |
|
manliness |
n. The qualities characteristic of a true man, as bravery, resolution, etc. |
|
mannerism |
n. Constant or excessive adherence to one manner, style, or peculiarity, as of action or conduct. |
|
manor |
n. The landed estate of a lord or nobleman. |
|
mantel |
n. The facing, sometimes richly ornamented, about a fireplace, including the usual shelf above it. |
|
mantle |
n. A cloak. |
|
manufacturer |
n. A person engaged in manufacturing as a business. |
|
manumission |
n. Emancipation. |
|
manumit |
v. To set free from bondage. |
|
marine |
adj. Of or pertaining to the sea or matters connected with the sea. |
|
maritime |
adj. Situated on or near the sea. |
|
maroon |
v. To put ashore and abandon (a person) on a desolate coast or island. |
|
martial |
adj. Pertaining to war or military operations. |
|
Martian |
adj. Pertaining to Mars, either the Roman god of war or the planet. |
|
martyrdom |
n. Submission to death or persecution for the sake of faith or principle. |
|
marvel |
v. To be astonished and perplexed because of (something). |
|
masonry |
n. The art or work of constructing, as buildings, walls, etc., with regularly arranged stones. |
|
masquerade |
n. A social party composed of persons masked and costumed so as to be disguised. |
|
massacre |
n. The unnecessary and indiscriminate killing of human beings. |
|
massive |
adj. Of considerable bulk and weight. |
|
masterpiece |
n. A superior production. |
|
mastery |
n. The attainment of superior skill. |
|
material |
n. That of which anything is composed or may be constructed. |
|
materialize |
v. To take perceptible or substantial form. |
|
maternal |
adj. Pertaining or peculiar to a mother or to motherhood. |
|
matinee |
n. An entertainment (especially theatrical) held in the daytime. |
|
matricide |
n. The killing, especially the murdering, of one's mother. |
|
matrimony |
n. The union of a man and a woman in marriage. |
|
matrix |
n. That which contains and gives shape or form to anything. |
|
matter of fact |
n. Something that has actual and undeniable existence or reality. |
|
maudlin |
adj. Foolishly and tearfully affectionate. |
|
mausoleum |
n. A tomb of more than ordinary size or architectural pretensions. |
|
mawkish |
adj. Sickening or insipid. |
|
maxim |
n. A principle accepted as true and acted on as a rule or guide. |
|
maze |
n. A labyrinth. |
|
mead |
n. A meadow. |
|
meager |
adj. scanty. |
|
mealy-mouthed |
adj. Afraid to express facts or opinions plainly. |
|
meander |
v. To wind and turn while proceeding in a course. |
|
mechanics |
n. The branch of physics that treats the phenomena caused by the action of forces. |
|
medallion |
n. A large medal. |
|
meddlesome |
adj. Interfering. |
|
medial |
adj. Of or pertaining to the middle. |
|
mediate |
v. To effect by negotiating as an agent between parties. |
|
medicine |
n. A substance possessing or reputed to possess curative or remedial properties. |
|
medieval |
adj. Belonging or relating to or descriptive of the middle ages. |
|
mediocre |
adj. Ordinary. |
|
meditation |
n. The turning or revolving of a subject in the mind. |
|
medley |
n. A composition of different songs or parts of songs arranged to run as a continuous whole. |
|
meliorate |
v. To make better or improve, as in quality or social or physical condition. |
|
mellifluous |
adj. Sweetly or smoothly flowing. |
|
melodious |
adj. Characterized by a sweet succession of sounds. |
|
melodrama |
n. A drama with a romantic story or plot and sensational situation and incidents. |
|
memento |
n. A souvenir. |
|
memorable |
adj. Noteworthy. |
|
menace |
n. A threat. |
|
menagerie |
n. A collection of wild animals, especially when kept for exhibition. |
|
mendacious |
adj. Untrue. |
|
mendicant |
n. A beggar. |
|
mentality |
n. Intellectuality. |
|
mentor |
n. A wise and faithful teacher, guide, and friend. |
|
mercantile |
adj. Conducted or acting on business principles; commercial. |
|
mercenary |
adj. Greedy |
|
merciful |
adj. Disposed to pity and forgive. |
|
merciless |
adj. Cruel. |
|
meretricious |
adj. Alluring by false or gaudy show. |
|
mesmerize |
v. To hypnotize. |
|
messieurs |
n. pl. Gentlemen. |
|
metal |
n. An element that forms a base by combining with oxygen, is usually hard, heavy, and lustrous. |
|
metallurgy |
n. The art or science of extracting a metal from ores, as by smelting. |
|
metamorphosis |
n. A passing from one form or shape into another. |
|
metaphor |
n. A figure of speech in which one object is likened to another, by speaking as if the other. |
|
metaphysical |
adj. Philosophical. |
|
metaphysician |
n. One skilled in metaphysics. |
|
metaphysics |
n. The principles of philosophy as applied to explain the methods of any particular science. |
|
mete |
v. To apportion. |
|
metempsychosis |
n. Transition of the soul of a human being at death into another body, whether human or beast. |
|
meticulous |
adj. Over-cautious. |
|
metonymy |
n. A figure of speech that consists in the naming of a thing by one of its attributes. |
|
metric |
adj. Relating to measurement. |
|
metronome |
n. An instrument for indicating and marking exact time in music. |
|
metropolis |
n. A chief city, either the capital or the largest or most important city of a state. |
|
metropolitan |
adj. Pertaining to a chief city. |
|
mettle |
n. Courage. |
|
mettlesome |
adj. Having courage or spirit. |
|
microcosm |
n. The world or universe on a small scale. |
|
micrometer |
n. An instrument for measuring very small angles or dimensions. |
|
microphone |
n. An apparatus for magnifying faint sounds. |
|
microscope |
n. An instrument for assisting the eye in the vision of minute objects or features of objects. |
|
microscopic |
adj. Adapted to or characterized by minute observation. |
|
microscopy |
n. The art of examing objects with the microscope. |
|
midsummer |
n. The middle of the summer. |
|
midwife |
n. A woman who makes a business of assisting at childbirth. |
|
mien |
n. The external appearance or manner of a person. |
|
migrant |
adj. Wandering. |
|
migrate |
v. To remove or pass from one country, region, or habitat to another. |
|
migratory |
adj. Wandering. |
|
mileage |
n. A distance in miles. |
|
militant |
adj. Of a warlike or combative disposition or tendency. |
|
militarism |
n. A policy of maintaining great standing armies. |
|
militate |
v. To have weight or influence (in determining a question). |
|
militia |
n. Those citizens, collectively, who are enrolled and drilled in temporary military organizations. |
|
Milky Way |
n. The galaxy. |
|
millet |
n. A grass cultivated for forage and cereal. |
|
mimic |
v. To imitate the speech or actions of. |
|
miniature |
adj. Much smaller than reality or that the normal size. |
|
minimize |
v. To reduce to the smallest possible amount or degree. |
|
minion |
n. A servile favorite. |
|
ministration |
n. Any religious ceremonial. |
|
ministry |
n. A service. |
|
minority |
n. The smaller in number of two portions into which a number or a group is divided. |
|
minute |
adj. Exceedingly small in extent or quantity. |
|
minutia |
n. A small or unimportant particular or detail. |
|
mirage |
n. An optical effect looking like a sheet of water in the desert. |
|
misadventure |
n. An unlucky accident. |
|
misanthropic |
adj. Hating mankind. |
|
misanthropy |
n. Hatred of mankind. |
|
misapprehend |
v. To misunderstand. |
|
misbehave |
v. To behave ill. |
|
misbehavior |
n. Ill or improper behavior. |
|
mischievous |
adj. Fond of tricks. |
|
miscount |
v. To make a mistake in counting. |
|
miscreant |
n. A villain. |
|
misdeed |
n. A wrong or improper act. |
|
misdemeanor |
n. Evil conduct, small crime. |
|
miser |
n. A person given to saving and hoarding unduly. |
|
mishap |
n. Misfortune. |
|
misinterpret |
v. To misunderstand. |
|
mislay |
v. To misplace. |
|
mismanage |
v. To manage badly, improperly, or unskillfully. |
|
misnomer |
n. A name wrongly or mistakenly applied. |
|
misogamy |
n. Hatred of marriage. |
|
misogyny |
n. Hatred of women. |
|
misplace |
v. To put into a wrong place. |
|
misrepresent |
v. To give a wrong impression. |
|
misrule |
v. To misgovern. |
|
missal |
n. The book containing the service for the celebration of mass. |
|
missile |
n. Any object, especially a weapon, thrown or intended to be thrown. |
|
missive |
n. A message in writing. |
|
mistrust |
v. To regard with suspicion or jealousy. |
|
misty |
adj. Lacking clearness |
|
misunderstand |
v. To Take in a wrong sense. |
|
misuse |
v. To maltreat. |
|
mite |
n. A very small amount, portion, or particle. |
|
miter |
n. The junction of two bodies at an equally divided angle. |
|
mitigate |
v. To make milder or more endurable. |
|
mnemonics |
n. A system of principles and formulas designed to assist the recollection in certain instances. |
|
moat |
n. A ditch on the outside of a fortress wall. |
|
mobocracy |
n. Lawless control of public affairs by the mob or populace. |
|
moccasin |
n. A foot-covering made of soft leather or buckskin. |
|
mockery |
n. Ridicule. |
|
moderation |
n. Temperance. |
|
moderator |
n. The presiding officer of a meeting. |
|
modernity |
n. The state or character of being modern. |
|
modernize |
v. To make characteristic of the present or of recent times. |
|
modification |
n. A change. |
|
modify |
v. To make somewhat different. |
|
modish |
adj. Fashionable. |
|
modulate |
v. To vary in tone, inflection, pitch or other quality of sound. |
|
mollify |
v. To soothe. |
|
molt |
v. To cast off, as hair, feathers, etc. |
|
momentary |
adj. Lasting but a short time. |
|
momentous |
adj. Very significant. |
|
momentum |
n. An impetus. |
|
monarchy |
n. Government by a single, sovereign ruler. |
|
monastery |
n. A dwelling-place occupied in common by persons under religious vows of seclusion. |
|
monetary |
adj. Financial. |
|
mongrel |
n. The progeny resulting from the crossing of different breeds or varieties. |
|
monition |
n. Friendly counsel given by way of warning and implying caution or reproof. |
|
monitory |
n. Admonition or warning. |
|
monocracy |
n. Government by a single person. |
|
monogamy |
n. The habit of pairing, or having but one mate. |
|
monogram |
n. A character consisting of two or more letters interwoven into one, usually initials of a name. |
|
monograph |
n. A treatise discussing a single subject or branch of a subject. |
|
monolith |
n. Any structure or sculpture in stone formed of a single piece. |
|
monologue |
n. A story or drama told or performed by one person. |
|
monomania |
n. The unreasonable pursuit of one idea. |
|
monopoly |
n. The control of a thing, as a commodity, to enable a person to raise its price. |
|
monosyllable |
n. A word of one syllable. |
|
monotone |
n. The sameness or monotony of utterance. |
|
monotonous |
adj. Unchanging and tedious. |
|
monotony |
n. A lack of variety. |
|
monsieur |
n. A French title of respect, equivalent to Mr. and sir. |
|
monstrosity |
n. Anything unnaturally huge or distorted. |
|
moonbeam |
n. A ray of moonlight. |
|
morale |
n. A state of mind with reference to confidence, courage, zeal, and the like. |
|
moralist |
n. A writer on ethics. |
|
morality |
n. Virtue. |
|
moralize |
v. To render virtuous. |
|
moratorium |
n. An emergency legislation authorizing a government suspend some action temporarily. |
|
morbid |
adj. Caused by or denoting a diseased or unsound condition of body or mind. |
|
mordacious |
adj. Biting or giving to biting. |
|
mordant |
adj. Biting. |
|
moribund |
adj. On the point of dying. |
|
morose |
adj. Gloomy. |
|
morphology |
n. the science of organic forms. |
|
motley |
adj. Composed of heterogeneous or inharmonious elements. |
|
motto |
n. An expressive word or pithy sentence enunciating some guiding rule of life, or faith. |
|
mountaineer |
n. One who travels among or climbs mountains for pleasure or exercise. |
|
mountainous |
adj. Full of or abounding in mountains. |
|
mouthful |
n. As much as can be or is usually put into the or exercise. |
|
muddle |
v. To confuse or becloud, especially with or as with drink. |
|
muffle |
v. To deaden the sound of, as by wraps. |
|
mulatto |
n. The offspring of a white person and a black person. |
|
muleteer |
n. A mule-driver. |
|
multiform |
adj. Having many shapes, or appearances. |
|
multiplicity |
n. the condition of being manifold or very various. |
|
mundane |
adj. Worldly, as opposed to spiritual or celestial. |
|
municipal |
adj. Of or pertaining to a town or city, or to its corporate or local government. |
|
municipality |
n. A district enjoying municipal government. |
|
munificence |
n. A giving characterized by generous motives and extraordinary liberality. |
|
munificent |
adj. Extraordinarily generous. |
|
muster |
n. An assemblage or review of troops for parade or inspection, or for numbering off. |
|
mutation |
n. The act or process of change. |
|
mutilate |
v. To disfigure. |
|
mutiny |
n. Rebellion against lawful or constituted authority. |
|
myriad |
n. A vast indefinite number. |
|
mystic |
n. One who professes direct divine illumination, or relies upon meditation to acquire truth. |
|
mystification |
n. The act of artfully perplexing. |
|
myth |
n. A fictitious narrative presented as historical, but without any basis of fact. |
|
mythology |
n. The whole body of legends cherished by a race concerning gods and heroes. |