Barrons M

n macabre

gruesome; grisly; ghastly; CF. of death

s morgue

mortuary; place where bodies are kept before burial or cremation

s cremate

incinerate (a corpse); N. crematory

n mace

ceremonial staff used as a symbol of authority; clublike medieval weapon

n macerate

soften by soaking in liquid; waste away; Ex. macerate powdered wood to make paper

n Machiavellian

crafty; double-dealing; of the political doctrine of Machiavelli

n machinations

evil schemes or plots; schemes or plots to achieve an evil end; V. machinate

n maculated

spotted; stained; CF. immaculate

n madrigal

pastoral song; song for several singers without instruments

n maelstrom

violent whirlpool; violent or tublent situation; CF. stream

n magisterial

authoritative; imperious; commanding; of a magistrate; Ex. magisterial study of Roman law; Ex. magisterial manner

s magistrate

official with power to administer the law

magnanimity

generosity; ADJ. magnanimous: generous

n magnate

person of prominence or influence; powerful or influential person (in business or industry); Ex. oil magnate

magniloquent

boastful; pompous

magnitude

greatness (in size or extent); extent

n maim

mutilate; injure lastingly; disable; cripple; Ex. maimed for life

s mangle

tear or cut to pieces; mutilate or disfigure; Ex. badly mangled bodies

maladroit

clumsy; not skillful; awkward; bungling

malady

illness

n malaise

uneasiness; vague feeling of ill health (without any particular pain or appearance of disease)

n malapropism

comic misuse of a word; CF. Mrs. Malaprop

s malapropos

inappropriate; ADV.

malcontent

person dissatisfied with existing state of affairs; discontented person; ADJ: discontented

malediction

curse

malefactor

evildoer; criminal

s maleficient

doing evil; N. maleficience

malevolent

wishing evil; exhibiting ill will; N. malevolence

n malfeasance

wrongdoing; misconduct (by a public official)

malicious

hateful; spiteful; expressing malice; N. malice: desire to harm others; spite

malign

speak evil of; bad-mouth(criticize spitefully); defame; ADJ: harmful; Ex. malign influence

malignant

tending to cause death; highly injurious; aggressively malevolent; Ex. malignant tumor

malingerer

one who feigns illness to escape duty; V. malinger: feign illness to avoid work

n malleable

(of a metal) capable of being shaped by pounding(beating); pliable; (of someone) impressionable(easily influenced); easily controlled; tractable

malodorous

foul-smelling

s compost

mixture of decaying organic matter used as fertilizer; V: put or make compost

mammal

vertebrate animal whose female suckles its young

s vertebrate

having a backbone or spinal column; N: group of animals having a segmented spinal column

s suckle

give or take milk at the breast or udder

s nurse

suckle; take care of (as a nurse); bear in mind; Ex. nursing mother; Ex. nurse a hope/grudge against someone

mammoth

gigantic; enormous

manacle

restrain; handcuff; N.

n mandate

order; charge; authoritative command; power to govern another country; power to given to a government; region under administration; V: give a mandate to; place under a mandate; Ex. mandated territory

mandatory

obligatory; compulsory; of a mandate

n mangy

shabby; wretched; suffering from mange; of bad appearance

s mange

skin disease (esp. of domestic animals) marked by loss of hair

maniacal

raging mad; insane; N. maniac: insane person; CF. mania: disorder of the mind; intense enthusiasm

manifest

evident; visible; obvious; V: show plainly

n manifestation

outward demonstration; manifesting; indication of the presence of something; Ex. manifestation of his pronounced musical bent

s pronounced

distinct; very noticeable; Ex. pronounced limp

manifesto

public declaration of principles; statement of policy

n manifold

many in number or kind; numerous; varied

n manipulate

operate with one's hands; control or play upon (people

n mannered

affected; not natural; Ex. mannered way of speech

s mannerism

distinctive behavioral trait; affected style in art (according to a set of styles)

n manumit

emancipate; free from slavery or bondage

marital

pertaining to marriage

n maritime

bordering on(adjacent to) the sea; nautical; of the ships or the sea; Ex. Maritime Provinces

marked

noticeable; targeted for vengeance or attack; Ex. marked improvement/man

n marred

damaged; disfigured; V. mar: spoil; disfigure

n marshal

put in order; guide ceremoniously to the correct place; Ex. marshal the children into the museum; N: military officer; official

s enlist

(cause to) join the armed forces; obtain (help

n marsupial

one of a family of mammals that nurse their offspring in a pouch(pocket of skin or leather); CF. kangaroo

martial

warlike; of war; Ex. martial art/law

s cadet

student at a military school

n martinet

strict disciplinarian; person who demands total obedience to rules and orders; CF. Jean Martinet

martyr

one who voluntarily suffers death for his or her religion or cause; great sufferer; Ex. martyr to his rheumatism

masochist

person who enjoys his own pain; CF. masochism

n masticate

chew

materialism

preoccupation with physical comforts and things; excessive regard for worldly concerns (rather than spiritual matters)

maternal

motherly; N. maternity: motherhood

matriarch

woman who rules a family or larger social group

n matriculate

enroll (in college or graduate school); CF. matrix

n matrix

point of origin; array of numbers or algebraic symbols; mold or die; Ex. the matrix of Western civilization

n maudlin

effusively sentimental

s sentimental

swayed by sentiment; appealing to the sentiments

n maul

handle roughly; batter; injure by beating; Ex. mauled by his overexcited fans; N: heavy long-handled hammer

n mausoleum

monumental tomb; large stately tomb; CF. Mausolos

n mauve

pale purple

n maverick

rebel; nonconformist (in a group)

n mawkish

mushy(sentimental) and gushy; icky-sticky sentimental; excessively and objectionably sentimental

maxim

proverb; truth pithily stated

n mayhem

injury to body; crime of willfully maiming or crippling a person; violent disorder; Ex. mayhem in the zoo; CF. maim

meager

scanty; inadequate

n mealymouthed

indirect in speech (when something unpleasant must be said); hypocritical; evasive

n meander

wind or turn in its course; follow a winding or turning course; move aimlessly and idly

n meddlesome

interfering; V. meddle: interfere

mediate

settle a dispute through the services of an outsider; act as an intermediary; produce by mediating; Ex. mediate a cease-fire

s intermediary

intermediate; acting as a mediator; N: mediator; go-between

mediocre

ordinary; commonplace; neither good nor bad

meditation

reflection; thought; V. meditate

medium

element that is a creature's natural environment; nutrient setting in which microorganisms are cultivated; appropriate occupation or means of expression; channel of communication; compromise; middle position between extremes; intervening substance through which something else is transmitted

n medley

mixture

n meek

submissive; patient and long-suffering

s suitor

man who is courting a woman

n megalomania

mania for doing grandiose things; mental disorder characterized by delusions of wealth

melancholy

gloomy; morose; blue; N. ADJ. melancholic; CF. melancholia

s blue

gloomy; depressed

melee

fight

n mellifluous

(of words or a voice) sweetly or smoothly flowing; melodious; having a pleasant tune

n memento

token; reminder of the past; keepsake; Ex. memento of your visit

memorialize

commemorate

s memorial

something

n menagerie

collection of wild animals on exhibition; zoo

n mendacious

lying; habitually dishonest; N. mendacity

n mendicant

beggar; ADJ: living as a beggar

s alms

money or goods given to the poor

n menial

suitable for servants; lowly; mean; N: someone who does menial work (esp. servant in a house)

n mentor

counselor; teacher

n mercantile

concerning trade or merchants

mercenary

motivated solely by money or gain; N.

n mercurial

capricious; quick and changing; fickle; containing the element mercury; Ex. mercurial temper; CF. mood

s quicksilver

mercury

n meretricious

flashy; tawdry; attractive on the surface but of no real value; Ex. metericious argument/jewel; CF. prostitute

s vulgar

of the common people; deficient in refinement; not refined; coarse; Ex. vulgar display of wealth; N. vulgarism: vulgarity; crudely indecent word; CF. vulgarian: vulgar person; boor; lout

n merger

combination (of two business corporations); act of merging

n mesmerize

hypnotize; N. mesmerism; CF. Franz Mesmer

n metallurgical

pertaining to the art of removing metals from ores; N. metallurgy: science that deals with extracting metals from ores

metamorphosis

change of form; Ex. metamorphosis of caterpillar to butterfly; V. metamorphose: change by metamorphosis

metaphor

implied comparison; CF. simile

s soar

rise or fly high in the air; Ex. The rocket soared into the sky.

metaphysical

pertaining to speculative philosophy; of metaphysics; N. metaphysics: branch of philosophy that examines the nature of reality

n mete

measure; distribute; administer; Ex. mete out justice/punishment

meteoric

like a meteor; swift; momentarily brilliant; Ex. meteoric rise to fame; N. meteor

methodical

systematic; N. method: systematic method of procedure

meticulous

excessively careful (with great attention to detail); painstaking; scrupulous

metropolis

large city

n mettle

courage (to continue bravely in spite of difficulties); spirit; ADJ. mettlesome

n miasma

swamp gas; heavy vaporous atmosphere often emanating from decaying matter; pervasive corrupting influence; noxious atmosphere or influence

s swamp

wetland; marsh; V: flood; overwhelm; drench in with liquid

microcosm

small representative world; world in miniature; Ex. microcosm of English society

s miniature

small model; small painting; ADJ: small

migrant

changing its habitat; wandering; Ex. migrant birds/workers; N: one that migrates

migratory

wandering; V. migrate: move from one region and settle in another; move periodically from one region to another

n milieu

social environment; means of expression; Ex. feel out of one's milieu; Ex. His proper milieu is watercolor.

militant

combative; bellicose; N.

n militate

work against; Ex. militate against the chances of promotion; CF. serve as a soldier

s militia

army composed of ordinary citizens rather than professional soldiers

millennium

thousand-year period (as in the New Testament); hoped-for period of happiness and prosperity

mimicry

imitation

s mime

pantomime(act without dialogue); mimicry; mimer; V: mimic; pantomime

n minatory

menacing; threatening

n mincing

affectedly dainty(delicate); V. mince: cut (esp. meat) into very small pieces; walk with exaggerated primness; walk in an unnatural way

s dainty

delicate; delicately beautiful; fastidious; not easy to please; Ex. dainty movement/dress

s exquisite

delicate; very finely made; extremely beautiful; Ex. exquisite piece of jewelry

s choice

delicate; of very fine quality

n minion

servile dependent; obsequious follower

n minuscule(miniscule)

extremely small

minute

extremely small; CF. minutes: official record of the proceedings at a meeting

n minutiae

petty or trivial details; CF. minutia

mirage

unreal reflection; optical illusion

n mire

entangle; stick in swampy ground; stick or sink in mire; N: bog; deep mud; Ex. sucked deeper into the mire

n mirth

merriment; laughter

n misadventure

mischance; ill luck; Ex. death by misadventure

misanthrope

one who hates mankind; misanthropist

s vile

despicable; unpleasant; disgusting; Ex. vile slander

misapprehension

error; misunderstanding; V. misapprehend

miscellany

mixture of writings on various subjects; collection of various items

s miscellaneous

made up of a variety of parts

n mischance

ill luck

misconstrue

interpret incorrectly; misinterpret; misjudge

n miscreant

wretch; wrongdoer; villain; Ex. kindness to the miscreant; CF. believe

s wretch

miserable person; bad or despicable person; ADJ. wretched: miserable; bad; contemptible; vile

misdemeanor

minor crime; misdeed; wrongdoing

s misconduct

immoral behavior; bad management; V.

miserly

stingy; mean

n misgivings

doubts

n mishap

unfortunate accident

n misnomer

wrong or improper name; incorrect designation

misogamy

hatred of marriage

misogynist

hater of woman; CF. misogyny

missile

object to be thrown or projected

n missive

letter; written statement; CF. sent

n mite

very small object or insect-like creature; small coin

mitigate

appease; moderate; make or become less in force or intensity

n mnemonic

pertaining to memory; assisting the memory; N: device

mobile

movable; not fixed; N. mobility

n mock

ridicule; deride; imitate often in derision

mode

prevailing style; current fashion; manner; way of doing something; Ex. in the latest mode; Ex. simple mode of life

n modicum

limited quantity; small amount; Ex. He does not have a modicum of sense; CF. moderate

n modish

fashionable; conforming to the current fashion

n modulate

tone down in intensity; change the intensity or tone of; regulate; change from one musical key to another; Ex. modulate from E to G

n mogul

powerful person; Ex. oil moguls; CF. Mogol

molecule

the smallest particle (one or more atoms) of a substance that has all the properties of that substance

n mollify

soothe an angry person

n mollycoddle

pamper; coddle; baby; indulge excessively

n molt(moult)

periodically shed or cast off hairs or feathers (for replacement by a new growth)

n molten

melted; Ex. molten lava

momentous

very important; N. moment; CF. momentary

momentum

quantity of motion of a moving body; impetus; moving force

monarchy

government under a single ruler

monastic

related to monks or monasteries; removed from worldly concerns

monetary

pertaining to money

monochromatic

having only one color

s monochrome

painting in only one color; ADJ.

s monogram

design composed of one or more initials of a name; V.

s monograph

scholarly article

n monolithic

solidly uniform; unchangeable; unyielding; N. monolith: large block of stone

monotheism

belief in one God

monotony

sameness leading to boredom; monotonousness; ADJ. monotonous; CF. monotone

n monumental

massive; impressively large; built as a monument

n moodiness

fits of depression or gloom; ADJ. moody: given to changeable moods; subject to periods of depression; gloomy CF. mood: state of mind or emotion

n moratorium

legal delay of payment or action; Ex. declare moratorium on the building of new houses

n morbid

given to unwholesome or unhealthy thought; moody; characteristic of disease; Ex. morbid curiosity; N. morbidity; CF. disease

n mordant

biting; sarcastic; stinging; (apprec.) incisive; cutting; Ex. mordant pen/wit

n mores

conventions; moral standards; moral customs

n moribund

dying; at the point of death; CF. death

n morose

ill-humored; sullen; sullenly melancholy

n mortician

undertaker; CF. death

s undertaker

funeral director; one whose business is to arrange burials

n mortify

humiliate by embarassing excessively; shame; punish the flesh; discipline (one's body) by self-denial; Ex. mortified by her blunder; Ex. mortify the flesh; CF. cause to die

mosaic

picture made of small colorful inlaid tiles; ADJ.

n mote

small speck (esp. of dust)

s speck

small piece or mark; Ex. speck of dust in the eye

n motif

theme; recurrent thematic element in a musical or literary work; single or repeated pattern; figure

n motility

ability to move spontaneously; ADJ. motile: moving spontaneously

n motley

multi-colored (as of a garment worn by a jester); mixed; heterogeneous; CF. jester: one who jests (as a paid fool at medieval courts)

s motto

brief statement used to express a principle

n mottled

blotched in coloring; spotted; Ex. mottled face; V. mottle: mark with blotches of different colors

s blotch

spot; blot; CF. blot+botch

s blemish

mar; spoil the beauty or perfection of; N: flaw or defect (that spoils perfection); Ex. blemishes in the crystal; CF. unblemished

n mountebank

charlatan; boastful pretender

s peddle

travel about selling (wares); CF. foot

n muddle

confuse; mix up confusedly; N: state of confusion

n muggy

(of weather) warm and damp

n mulct

defraud a person of something; swindle; Ex. mulct the boy of his legacy

n multifarious

varied; greatly diversified; Ex. multifarious activities

multiform

having many forms

multilingual

having many languages; fluent in several languages

multiplicity

state of being numerous or multiple; large number; Ex. multiplicity of details; ADJ. multiple: of more than one element

n mundane

worldly as opposed to spiritual; everyday; of the ordinary; Ex. mundane existence; CF. world

n munificent

very generous in giving; Ex. munificent benefactor; N. munificience

n mural

wall painting

n murky

dark and gloomy; thick with fog; vague; Ex. murky night/fog; N. murk: partial or complete darkness; gloom

n muse

ponder at length; N: source of inspiration (esp. of a poet)

n musky

having the odor of musk; N. musk: odorous substance secreted by an Asian deer

n muster

gather; assemble (troops); Ex. muster up one's strength for the ordeal; N.

n musty

stale (in odor or taste); spoiled by age; CF. moist

mutablility

ability to change in form; fickleness; ADJ. mutable: able to change; fickle; CF. mutate; CF. mutant

muted

silent; muffled; toned down; Ex. muted traffic noise

s mute

silent; without speech; not pronounced; unable to speak; N: one who is incapable of speech; V: soften the sound

n mutilate

maim; injure lastingly; deprive of a limb or an essential part

n mutinous

unruly; rebellious; Ex. mutinous teenagers; N. mutiny: open rebellion; CF. mutineer

n myopic

nearsighted; lacking foresight; N. myopia

n myriad

very large number; ADJ. CF. ten thousand