MOD 



485 



MOH 



Ac., by the formation of an indenture in 

 each, corresponding to one another, so 

 that the two surfaces coincide when 

 brought together. This mode is some- 

 times employed to hide a dovetail, and is 

 called lap-and-mitre joint. 



MI'TRE-BOX. A block or frame for cut- 

 ting mitres. 



MI'TRE- DRAINS. Cross mitre drains. The 

 drains laid within the metalling of roads, 

 to convey the water to the side drains. 



MIT'TIMUS. In law, a precept or com- 

 mand in writing, under the name and 

 seal of a justice of the peace, or other 

 proper officer, directed to the gaoler or 

 keeper of a prison for the safe keeping of 

 n offender until he be delivered by due 

 course of law. The term is I^atin for 

 we send. 



MIZ'ZEK, from Ital. mezzo, half. The 

 foremost of the fixed sails of a ship, ex- 

 tended sometimes by a gaff, and some- 

 times by a yard, which crosses tho m.ist 

 obliquely. The mizzen-mast supports the 

 after sails, and stands nearest to the stern. 

 See M.VST. 



MSEMON'ICS, from u,n;iAonx6;, from 

 fAvatowtt, to remember ; the art of 

 memory. Precepts and rules intended 

 to teach the method of assisting the 

 memory. 



M'/CHA STONE. Translucent calcedony, 

 containing dark outlines of arborisation, 

 like vegetable filaments, so named from 

 Mocha in Arabia, where it is chiefly 

 found. 



MOCK'ING-BIRD. The Turdus polyglottus, 

 Lin., of North America, celebrated for 

 the astonishing facility with which it 

 imitates the notes of other birds, and 

 even all kinds of sounds. 



M.JUE, Lat. modus. Manner of existing 

 or being. In logic, a proper disposition 

 of the several parts of a syllogism in re- 

 spoct to quantity and quality : called also 

 syllogistic mood. In grammar, a particular 

 manner of conjugating verbs, to express 

 manner of action or being, as affirma- 

 tion, command, condition, and the like : 

 often written mood. In music, a regular 

 disposition of the air and accompani- 

 ni"iirs relative to certain principal 

 sounds, on which the piece is formed, 

 and which are called the essential sounds 

 of the mode. In metaphysics, a mode is 

 that which cannot subsist in and of itself, 

 but is esteemed as belonging to and sub- 

 sisting by the help of some substance, 

 which, for that reason, is called its sub- 

 ject. (Watts}. Those modes are simple 

 which are only combinations of the same 

 iilc;i,a> a dvzcn, which consists of so many 

 units added together; and those are 

 mixed which are compounded of simple 

 ideas of several kinds, as beauty, which is 

 compounded of colour and form. 



M.ID'EI., from modulus, dim. of modus, 

 mode. 1. A form in miniature of some- 

 thing to be made on a larger scale, as a 



model of a building. 2. An imitation 



in miniature of something already made 

 on a large scale, as a model of a moun- 

 tain, showing its geological structure, &c. 



MOD'ELLINO. In the fine arts, the art 

 of making a mould, from which works 

 in plaster are to be cast. Also, forming 

 in clay the design itself. 



MODERA'TO: An Italian word, mean- 

 ing moderately, implying in music a time 

 neither quick nor slow ; rather quicker 

 than andante. 



MODERATOR. A person who presides 

 at a public assembly, to propose questions, 

 preserve order, regulate the proceedings 

 and declare votes. From modus, a limit. 



MODIL'LION, Fr. modillon, from Lat. 

 modiolus. 1. An ornament in the cornice 

 under the corona in the Ionic, Corinthian, 

 and Composite orders of architecture, re- 

 sembling a bracket, supporting the pro- 

 jecture of the larmier or drip. Cantilever 

 is sometimes used synonymously with 



modillion. 2. The trochitae or single 



joints of the rays of a fossil star-fish are 

 sometimes termed modioli. 



MODI'OLUS, Lat. dim. of modius. A mea- 

 sure. In anatomy, the central pillar of 

 the cochlea of the ear. 



MO'DIUS. An ancient Roman measure 

 for dry grain, nearly equal to an imperial 

 peck. 



MO'DO ET FOR'MA. In manner and form. 

 A phrase frequently used in legal plead- 

 ings. 



MODULATION . In music, the manner of 

 ascertaining and managing the modes, 

 or generally the art of conducting har- 

 mony. 



MOD'ULE, Fr. from Lat. modulus. A 

 term in architecture, for a certain mea- 

 sure taken at pleasure for regulating the 

 proportion of columns, and the disposi- 

 tion and symmetry of the whole building. 

 The module of a column is usually its 

 sernidiameter at the base, equal to 30 

 minutes. 



MOD'CLUS. In analysis, the constant 

 multiplier in a function of a variable 

 quantity, by means of which the func- 

 tion is accommodated to a particular 

 system. 



MO'DUS. A compensation for tithes: a 

 moderate equivalent in money, given by 

 the owner of land in lieu of tithes. The 

 whole phrase is modus decimandi, but 

 modus alone is commonly used. 



MO'DUS OPERAN'DI. >Iode of operating. 



MOORA'BIANS. Formerly a species of 

 Turkish infantry, composed of the pea- 

 sants of the north of Africa. 



MO'OUL, GREAT. The chief of the em- 

 pire of Mogul. The empire isnow extinct. 



MMIA.IR' Ger. mohr. The hair of * 



