A gelatinous compound of linseed oil and mastic varnish, used by artists as a vehicle for colors.

A very dull article, speech, or book, which causes the reader or listener to rapidly lose interest; -- often used of involved discussions of a technical nature, especially in newspapers.

One of the larger measures of electrical resistance, amounting to one million ohms.

The British smooth sole, or scaldfish (Psetta arnoglossa).

Of, pertaining to, or discovered by, Meibomius.

See Menge.

A family, including servants, etc.; household; retinue; train.

See Miocene.

A member of the scapolite group, occuring in glassy crystals on Monte Somma, near Naples.

Diminution; a species of hyperbole, representing a thing as being less than it really is; understatement; see also litotes.

Having fever stamens than the parts of the corolla.

Of or pertaining to meiosis; as, meiotic division.

See Mastersinger.

See Mechitarist.

An earthy black oxide of copper, arising from the decomposition of other ores.

A mixture of sugar and molasses; crude sugar as it comes from the pans without being drained.

A discharge from the bowels of black matter, consisting of altered blood.

The dark coloring matter of the liquid of the cuttlefish.

See Melanotype.

A white or buff-colored granular powder, C6H9N11, obtained by heating ammonium sulphocyanate.

A nitrogenous strongly basic chemical substance (C3H6N6), structurally 2,4,6-triamino-1,3,5-triazine, produced from several cyanogen compounds, and obtained as a white crystalline substance; -- formerly supposed to be produced by the decomposition of melam. Called also cyanuramide. It is used as one of the starting components (together with formaldehyde) in the preparation of melamine resins, including the commercially marketed Formica (TM). It is solid at room temperature, and sublimes at temperatures approaching 250/ C, decomposing at 345/ C. Density 1.573.

A thermosetting plastic formed by the reaction of melamine and formaldehyde. It is used for molding and for preparing laminated sheets used to surface counter tops, walls, and furniture. The commercially marketed Formica (TM) is one type of melamine resin.

The black hellebore.

A natural family of rust fungi.

The saccharine substance dulcite; -- so called because found in the leaves of cowwheat (Melampyrum). See Dulcite.

A morbid condition in which the blood contains black pigment either floating freely or imbedded in the white blood corpuscles.

A medicine supposed to expel black bile or choler.

A kind of mental unsoundness characterized by extreme depression of spirits, ill-grounded fears, delusions, and brooding over one particular subject or train of ideas.

A person affected with melancholy; a melancholic.

One affected with a gloomy state of mind.

In a melancholy manner.

The state or quality of being melancholy.

Melancholy.

One affected with melancholy or dejection.

To make melancholy.

Depressed in spirits; dejected; gloomy dismal.

A family of fungi constituting the order Melanconiales.

The smallest of the three orders of Fungi Imperfecti, including those with no asci nor pycnidia, but as a rule having the spores in cavities without special walls. They cause many of the plant diseases known as anthracnose.

Of or pertaining to Melanesia.

A mixture; a medley.

One of a family of fresh-water pectinibranchiate mollusks, having a turret-shaped shell.

Melanotic.

A complex nitrogenous hydrocarbon obtained artificially (as by the action of cyanogen chloride on aniline) as a white, crystalline substance; -- called also diphenyl guanidin.

A black pigment found in the pigment-bearing cells of the skin (particularly in the skin of the negro), in the epithelial cells of the external layer of the retina (then called fuscin), in the outer layer of the choroid, and elsewhere. It is supposed to be derived from the decomposition of hemoglobin.

The character of having a high degree of pigmentation, as shown in dark skin, eyes, and hair.

Affected with melanism; of the nature of melanism.

A black variety of garnet.

A group of the human race, including the dark whites.

Having a dark complexion; of or pertaining to the Melanochroi.

A mineral of a red, or brownish or yellowish red color. It is a chromate of lead; -- called also phoenicocroite.

Having very dark or black hair; black-haired.

A tumor containing dark pigment. Such tumors are usually malignant and often fatal. Development of dark-pigmented tumors.

An East Indian genus of large trees. Melanorrh/a usitatissima is the lignum-vitae of Pegu (in Burma), and yields a valuable black varnish.

An instrument containing a combination of colored glasses such that they transmit only red light, so that objects of other colors, as green leaves, appear black when seen through it. It is used for viewing colored flames, to detect the presence of potassium, lithium, etc., by the red light which they emit.

An alga of any kind that produces blackish spores, or seed dust. The melanosperms include the rockweeds and all kinds of kelp.

Melanistic.

A positive picture produced with sensitized collodion on a smooth surface of black varnish, coating a thin plate of iron; also, the process of making such a picture.

A hydrous sulphate of iron of a green color and vitreous luster; iron vitriol.

A small fish of the Mediterranean; a gilthead. See Gilthead (a).

Pertaining to, or designating, a complex nitrogenous acid obtained by decomposition of melam, or of urea, as a white crystalline powder; -- called also melanurenic acid.

A dark discoloration of the skin, usually local; as, Addison's melasma, or Addison's disease.

See Molasses.

Pertaining to, or designating, an acid obtained from molasses or glucose, and probably identical with saccharic acid (also called D-glucaric acid or tetrahydroxyadipic acid). See Saccharic.

A genus of evergreen tropical shrubs; -- so called from the black berries of some species, which stain the mouth.

Belonging to the order of which Melastoma is the type.

A hormone secreted by the pineal gland. Chemically it is N-acety-5-methoxytryptamine. Research has indicated that there are daily rhythms in secretion of melatonin, in particular due to the depressing effect on melatonin production by light received by the retina. Conversely it appears that melatonin may influence the circadian rhythms of animals. There is some experimental evidence that administration of melatonin may increase the amount of sleep in people with sleep disorders. However, the evidence is not convincing and the effect is not profound. Nevertheless, the deregulation of melatonin and its availability over-the-counter has led to many people taking melatonin to help sleep, without consulting a physician.

One of a sect, chiefly in Syria and Egypt, which acknowledges the authority of the pope, but adheres to the liturgy and ceremonies of the Eastern Church.

In the game of pinochle, to declare or announce for a score; as, to meld a sequence.

Any combination or score which may be declared, or melded, in pinochle.

A natural family of fowls including the turkeys and some extinct forms.

Of or pertaining to the genus Meleagris.

A genus of American gallinaceous birds, including the common turkey and the wild turkeys.

A fight in which the combatants are mingled in one confused mass; a hand to hand conflict; an affray.

See Melaena.

An unsaturated hydrocarbon, C30H60, of the ethylene series, obtained from beeswax as a white, scaly, crystalline wax; -- called also melissene, and melissylene.

An explosive of great destructive power; -- so called from its color, which resembles honey.

See Quercitin.

A variety of sugar, isomeric with sucrose, extracted from the manna of the larch (Larix).

Pertaining to a natural order (Meliacae) of plants of which the genus Melia is the type. It includes the mahogany and the Spanish cedar.

Alternately responsive, as verses.

Consisting of or containing matter like honey; -- said of certain encysted tumors.

See Melocoton.

A meadlike drink.

A mineral occurring in small yellow crystals, found in the lavas (melilite basalt) of Vesuvius, and elsewhere.

Any species of Melilotus, a genus of leguminous herbs having a vanillalike odor; sweet clover; hart's clover. The blue melilot (Melilotus caerulea) is used in Switzerland to give color and flavor to sapsago cheese.

Of, pertaining to, or obtained from, sweet clover or melilot; specifically, designating an acid of the aromatic series, obtained from melilot as a white crystalline substance.

A subdivision of mammals not used in some classifications; it includes the badgers.

A high explosive similar to lyddite, consisting principally of picric acid, used in the French military service.

To grow better.

Same as Meliorator.

The act or operation of meliorating, or the state of being meliorated; improvement.

One who meliorates.

The doctrine that there is a tendency throughout nature toward improvement.

The state or quality of being better; melioration.

Any bird of the genus Meliphaga and allied genera; a honey eater; -- called also meliphagidan.

Eating, or feeding upon, honey.

A piece of melody; a song or tune, -- as opposed to recitative or musical declamation. A grace or embellishment.

A genus of labiate herbs, including the balm, or bee balm (Melissa officinalis).

Pertaining to, or derived from, beeswax; specif., denoting an acid obtained by oxidation of myricin.

See Myricyl.

See Melene.

A variety of sugar isomeric with sucrose, extracted from cotton seeds and from the so-called Australian manna (a secretion of certain species of Eucalyptus).

A mill.

A mellitate.

A m/l/e; a conflict.

See Mellitic.

Producing honey.

Producing honey.

The making or production of honey.

A flow of sweetness, or a sweet, smooth flow.

Flowing as with honey; smooth; mellifluous.

In a mellifluent manner.

Flowing as with honey; smooth; flowing sweetly or smoothly; as, a mellifluous voice.

Having the qualities of honey.

Honeydew.

Speaking sweetly or harmoniously.

See Meliphagan.

See Meliphagous.

A salt of mellitic acid.

A mineral of a honey color, found in brown coal, and partly the result of vegetable decomposition; honeystone. It is a mellitate of alumina.