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GLOSSARY. 



Metamor'phic (Gr. pera, met'a, im- 

 plying change ; f*op<pi], morphe, 

 form). Changing form ; a name 

 given in geology to those rocks 

 which have undergone a change in 

 their original structure and texture ; 

 in medicine, applied to diseases 

 having their seat in the processes 

 of development and nutrition. 



Metamor'phism (Gr. /tera, met'a, im- 

 plying change ; fJ.op<pT>), morphe, 

 form). Change in form ; a term 

 applied in geology to the change 1 in 

 structure and texture which has 

 been undergone by some rocks. 



Metamorph'osis (Gr. /uero, met'a, im- 

 plying change ; juop</>Tj, morphe, 

 form). A change in shape ; the 

 change undergone by some ani- 

 mals, such as insects and reptiles. 



Metano'tum (Gr. juero, met'a, behind ; 

 vwros, notos, the back). The up- 

 per half of the hinder division of 

 the thorax in insects. 



Met' aphor (Gr. /uero, metfa, beyond : 

 <pepa, pher'o, I bear). A similitude 

 expressed without the sign of com- 

 parison. 



Metaphysics (Gr. /j.era, met'a, be- 

 yond ; </>u<n/oj, phu'sike, physics, or 

 the science of nature). The science 

 of mind or intelligence. 



Metapoph'ysis (Gr. /were, met'a, be- 

 tween ; apoph'ysis). A part grow- 

 ing between apophyses. 



Metas'tasis (Gr. /JLCTO, met'a, beyond ; 

 ia-TTifu, histemi, I place). A trans- 

 ference of diseases from one place to 

 another. 



Metaster'num (Gr. /uero, met'a, be- 

 hind ; arrepvov, sternon, the breast). 

 The lower part of the posterior 

 division of the thorax in insects. 



Metatar'sal (Gr. /tero, met'a, beyond ; 

 rapcros, tarsos, the instep). Be- 

 longing to the metatarsus. 



Metatar'sus (Gr. /xero, met'a, beyond ; 

 rapcros, tarsos, the instep). The 

 foot from the ankles to the toes. 



Metath'esis (Gr. juero, met'a, imply- 

 ing change ; nQrifjn, tithemi, I 

 place). A transposition of the 

 letters or syllables of a word. 



Metatho'rax(Gr. /tero, met'a, beyond; 

 0co/>a|, thorax, a breast-plate). The 



hinder part of the thorax of insects, 

 bearing the posterior pair of wings 

 and legs. 



Me'teor (Gr. juercayjos, meted'ros, 

 lifted up ; from pera, met'a, beyond ; 

 alpw, airo, I raise up). Any at- 

 mospheric appearance or phenome- 

 non of a transitory nature. 



Meteor'ic (Me'teor). Relating to 

 meteors. 



Meteoric Stones. Aerolites, or 

 masses of hard matter, containing 

 metallic iron, nickel, and other 

 bodies, occasionally falling on the 

 earth. 



Me'teorite (Me'teor). A solid sub- 

 stance falling on the earth from 

 the higher regions of the atmos- 

 phere. 



Me'teorolite (Me'teor ; Gr. \iOos t 

 lith'os, a stone). See Meteorite. 



Meteorol'ogy (Me'teor ; \oyos, logos, 

 a description). The science which 

 describes atmospherical phenomena, 

 whether accidental or permanent. 



Meth/yl (Gr. /j.(6v, meth'u, wine; v\r), 

 hule, material). An hypothetical 

 compound of carbon and hydrogen, 

 forming the base of certain com- 

 pounds, as wood -spirit and chloro- 

 form, analogous to the alcohol series. 



Meton'ic Cycle (MTJTWI/, Meton, an 

 Athenian astronomer). A cycle or 

 period of nineteen years, at the end 

 of which the lunations of the moon 

 return to the same days of the 

 month as at first. 



Meton'ymy (Gr. /*era, met'a, implying 

 change ; ovo/uo, on'oma, a name). 

 A putting one word for another 

 which has some relation to it ; as 

 an effect for a cause ; an author's 

 name for his writings ; &c. 



Me'tre (Gr. perpov, metron, a mea- 

 sure). A French measure of length, 

 being the ten-millionth part of the 

 distance from the equator to the 

 north pole, equal to 39 '37 English 

 inches. 



Met'ronome (Gr. fj.erpov, metron, a 

 measure ; vofjLos, nom'os, a law). 

 An instrument consisting of a pen- 

 dulum suspended by a point be- 

 tween the extremities, used for 

 measuring by its vibrations the 



