maize-eater 
maize-eater (maz'e'ter), n. A South American 
maize-bird, r.ti-mlnli-i.iti-.i I-//TMV x. /'. /,. Printer. 
maize-oil (im./.'ml), . An oil prepared from 
the seed of Indian corn. It is a limpid yellow oil, 
said to be a Rood lubricant, hut it has not yet been pro- 
iluc-rd elirnply and in considerable quantity. 
maize-smut (maz'smut), , A destructive fun- 
gus, I'.-iii/iii/n Miii/ilis, attacking the ovary as 
well as various other parts of the living plant 
of Indian corn. 
maize-thief (maz'thef), n. A maize-bird; es- 
pecially, the common marsh-blackbird, Agelceun 
itliii'iiirrux. A, ll'iliton. 
Maj. An abbreviation of Major before a name. 
Majaqueus (ma-jii'kwe-us), n. [NL.] A genus 
of very large sooty shearwaters, of the family 
l*rofcllarii(liv. The' bill and feet are robust, the nasal 
tubes long, and the wings and tail very short ; the plumage 
is fuliginous, with white markings on the head. Two *p>'- 
cles, M. (equinftctialis and M. conspicillatus, inhabit south- 
ern seas. Jleichenbach, 18.V). 
majestatict (maj-es-tat'ik), a. [= Pg. mages- 
tatico, majegtatico (of. G. majestcitisch = Dan. 
majesttrtisk = Sw. majestatisk), < ML. *mnji---<t<i 
ticus, < L. maje,ifa(t-)s, majesty: see majesty.'] 
Of majestic appearance ; majestic. 
majestaticalt (maj-es-tat'i-kal), a. [< majes- 
tatic + -al.] (Same as majestatic. 
majestic (ma-jes'tik), a. [< majesty + -ic. Cf. 
majextatie.'] 1. Possessing majesty; having dig- 
nity of nature or appearance; of stately char- 
acter; august. 
Here his first lays majestic Denham sung. 
Pope, Windsor Forest, L 271. 
2. Characteristic of or manifesting majesty; 
lofty; grand; sublime: as, a majestic mien. 
Get the start of the majestic world. 
Shalt., J. C., i. 2. ISO. 
Look how she walks along yon shady space ; 
Not Juno moves with more majestic grace. 
Dryden, Pal. and Arc., i. 260. 
= Syn. Majestic, August, Stately; magnificent, imperial, 
regal, royal, noble. Stately is generally applied to the 
merely external, and sometimes to the wholly artificial : 
as, a stately etiquette. The majestic and august are nat- 
ural, majestic applying to the appearance, august to the 
character, while stately often applies to motion: as, a 
stately walk. August, as applied to persons, implies re- 
spect combined with awe on the part of the beholder : as, 
Oeorge Washington is the most august personage in Amer- 
ican history. See grand. 
majestical (ma-jes'ti-kal), a. [< majestic + -al.~] 
Majestic. [Rare.] 
If I were ever to fall in love again ... it would be, I 
think, with prettiness, rather than with majestical beauty. 
i '<:'!' >i, Greatness. 
majestically (ma-jes'ti-kal-i), adv. In a ma- 
jestic manner; with majesty; with a lofty air 
or appearance. 
majesticalness (ma-jes'ti-kal- nes), n. The 
character of being majestic. [Rare.] 
majesticness (ma-jes'tik-nes), . The quality 
of being majestic. Cartwright, To the Countess 
of Carlisle. [Rare.] 
majesty (maj'es-ti), n. ; pi. majesties (-tiz). [< 
ME. magestee, < OP. majestet, F. majeste" = Sp. 
majeatail = Pg. magestade, majestade = It. ma- 
f/est<l, maestA = D. mnjesteit = G. Sw. majestat 
= Dan. majestat, < L. majesta(t-)s, greatness, 
grandeur, dignity, majesty, < mains (major-, 
orig. "majos-; cf. hoiwstus, honest, < honor, honos, 
honor), compar. (cf. magis, compar. adv.) of 
magnus, or rather of the rare positive majus, 
great: see magnitude, wain 2 , major, etc.] 1. 
The greatness or grandeur of exalted rank or 
character, or of manner; imposing loftiness; 
stateliness; in general, the character of inspir- 
ing awe or reverence. 
And aftir that, zit scholde he putten hem In a fayrere 
Paradys, where that the! schold see God of Nature visibly, 
in his Magestee and in his hlisse. 
MandevOle, Travels, p. 279. 
The Lord reigneth, he Is clothed with majesty. 
Ps. xcill. I. 
3585 
Before she arriued at London, Captalne Smith, to deserne 
her former couretesies. made her qualities knowne t" the 
(jueenes most excellent Maitxtic and her Court. 
Quoted In Cajit. John Smith's Works, II. 29. 
Most royal majesty, 
I crave no more than hath your highness otfcr'd. 
fihalc., Lear, L 1. 196. 
4. [ca/>.] In medieval art, etc., a symbolic repre- 
sentation of the first person of the Trinity, seat- 
ed on a throne. IntheartoftheWesternChurchthis 
figure is usually robed in a cope and other vestments, 
wearing, as emblematic of sovereignty over the whole 
universe, a triple (sometimes a quadruple) crown similar 
to the papal tiara, and holding the mound or globe of 
kingly authority. 
The dome [of St. Sophia at Constantinople] was covered 
with mosaic of glass : the summit, as usual, representing 
a Majesty. Neale, Eastern Church, I. 288. 
5. In medieval English usage, the canopy of a 
hearse : so called because generally adorned 
with the symbolic figure of God the Father, 
called the Majesty. See hearse. 
This tester-like covering was known as the majesty. 
Rode, Church of our Father*, If. 497. 
6. In her., a representation of an eagle as 
crowned with a regal crown and holding a scep- 
ter Apostolic Maj esty. See apostolic king, under apos- 
tolic. 
majestyship (maj'es-ti-ship), n. [< majesty + 
-ship.'] Majesty. [Rare.] 
And please your majestiship. 
Qreene, Looking-glass for London and England. 
Maj.-Oen. An abbreviation of Major-General, 
used before a name. 
majoe-bitter (ma'jo-bit'er), . A bitter shrub 
of the West Indies, Picramnia Antidesma, used 
medicinally. 
majolica (ma-jol'i-kS; It. pron. ma-yo'li-ka), n. 
(X Me in/ in i. for Majorca (Sp. Mallorca), whence 
the first specimens came.] 1. Decorative 
enameled pot- 
tery, especial- 
ly that of Italy 
from the fif- 
teenth to the 
seventeenth 
century. The 
name is applied 
particularly to 
the more richly 
adorned pieces, 
the colors of 
which have re- 
markable Inten- 
sity. (See mean- 
majolica). Mod- 
ern writers on ce- 
ramics have at- 
tempted to limit 
it to lustered pot- 
tery, especially 
Majolica Pesaro Ware of about A. D. 1510. 
that of the middle ages and the sixteenth century, made 
In Majorca or In Spain, or more especially in Italy, In sup* 
posed Imitation of ware from the two former countries. 
2. As applied to modern pottery, a kind of 
Awi 
ferei 
wed by the majesty of Antiquity, turn not with indif- 
ince from the future. Sumner, Orations, 1. 196. 
(Jirlish lightness passed away 
Into a sweet grave majesty, 
That scarce elsewhere the world might see. 
William Morris, Earthly Paradise, III. 67. 
2. Royal state ; royalty. 
Wipe off the dust that hides our sceptre's gilt, 
And make high majesty look like itself. 
SAo*.,Rich. II., ii. 1.295. 
3. A title of address or dignity (commonly 
written with a capital) used in speaking to or 
of a ruling sovereign or his (or more rarely her) 
wedded consort : as, your Majesty or Mnjestii-x : 
their niHJrxtic.t tlie king and queen. By papal grant, 
the sovereigns of Spain lu-ar the title of Cntlmlir .(/// ; 
those of Portugal, of 31ml Faithful Ma/rxtn; and (he former 
kings of France had that of Most Christian Majesty. 
, 
ware which in effects of color partly imitates 
the pottery above defined, especially in large 
pieces used for architectural decoration, gar- 
den-seats, vases, etc. This ware is usually much 
harder and more perfectly manufactured than the ancient, 
but is inferior in decorative effect, being cast in molds and 
having a mechanical look. Fontana majolica, a variety 
of the majolica of t'rbino, the name Fnntana having been 
adopted by certain of the leading decorators of that school. 
The painter known as Orazio Fontana is the most celebrat- 
ed of these; his work takes rank among the finest produc- 
tions of the sixteenth century. 
major (ma'jor), a. and n. [I. a. = OP. maior, 
major, majour, majeur, P. majeur = Sp. mayor 
= Pg. maior, mayor, major = It. maggiore, < 
L. major, greater, compar. of magnus, great: 
see magnitude and majesti/. II. n. = D. G. Dan. 
Sw. major, < F. major = Sp. mayor = Pg. major 
= It. maggiore, < L. major, an elder, adult (usu- 
ally in pi.), ML. also chief officer, chief, mayor 
(cf. mayor, from the same source); from the 
adj.] I. a. 1. Greater; more important or ef- 
fective; first in force or consideration; lead- 
ing ; principal : as, the major premise or term 
of a syllogism. 
My major vow lies here ; this 111 obey. 
Shot., T. and C., v. 1. 49. 
2. Greater in quantity, number, or extent: as, 
the major part of the revenue, of an assembly, 
or of a territory. 
In any rank or profession whatever, the more general or 
major part of opinion goes with the face. 
B. Jonton, Cynthia's Revels, II. 1 . 
The first eight lines of this Italian sonnet are often called 
the major portion. Lanier, Science of Eng. Verse, p. 241. 
3f. Of age; having attained to majority. God- 
iriii. 4. In music: (a) Of intervals, standard 
or normal; literally "greater," as compared 
with minor intervals. The term is more often ap- 
plied to seconds, thirds, sixths, sevenths, and ninths, des- 
majoration 
Ignatlng an Interval equivalent to the Intervals between 
the key-note of a standard or normal scale and Its second, 
third, sixth, seventh, and ninth tone respectively. Thus, 
a majitr second Is two semitone* IUM;:, a imijnr ifiiril four 
semitones, a major sixth nine semitones, and a major 
secenth eleven semitones. Major has also been nppli.il 
of late to fourths, fifths, and octaves, and is then equiva- 
lent to the older term perfect. Finally, it Is used to 
distinguish the larger of two intervals that differ by a 
minute quantity : as, a major step or tone (I), which Is a 
comma greater than a minor tone. Opposed to minor, and 
also often to diminished and augmented. See interval, 5. 
(Ii) Of tones, distant by a major interval from a 
given tone: as, A is the major third of F, etc. 
(c) Of tonalities and scales, standard or nor- 
mal : characterized by a major third and also by 
a major sixth and seventh : opposed to minor. 
The major tonality or scale Is the recognized standard of 
reference for all the modern musical systems. See key, 
tonality, upscale, (d) Of triads and chords, char- 
acterized by a major third between the root and 
the tone next above, and a perfect fifth be- 
tween the root and the second tone above : op- 
posed to minor, diminished, and augmented. The 
major triad Is the usual standard of reference in classify* 
ing the chords of modern music. See triad and chord, 
(e) Of cadences, ending in a major triad, (f) 
Of modes in the modern sense, and thus of com- 
position in general, characterized by the use 
of a major tonality and of major cadences: as, 
a piece is written throughout in the major mode. 
From an acoustical point of view, major intervals, chords, 
and scales are simpler and stronger in themselves and 
admitof better harmonic extension and combination than 
minor. The educated taste of modern times has tended 
to exalt the major over the minor, making the former the 
standard and normal of which the latter Is the variation : 
while the medieval systems, being based upon a different 
conception of music at various points, tended the other 
way. The esthetic effect of the major in contrast with 
the minor is brighter, stronger, and more complete. It has 
recently been maintained that major and minor phenom- 
ena, in all their phases, are mutually reciprocal, the ma- 
jor triad, scale, etc., being measured upward in a certain 
way from a given tone, and the minor triad, scale, etc., 
being measured downward in the same way from the same 
tone. According to this view, the major triad of C is 
called the ooer-chard of C, and the minor triad of F Is called 
the under-chord of C, etc. 
5. In logic, wider; broader; more extensive; a 
predicate to more subjects. The major extreme or 
major term of a syllogism is that term which enters Into 
the predicate of the conclusion ; the major premise Is that 
premise which contains the major term. These have al- 
ways been the usual definitions, but they have been sub- 
ject to much dispute, owing to the fact that all real distinc- 
tion between major and minor vanishes in certain cases. 
Bob major. See 6o6i, 7. Major axis. Sameastnmn- 
verse axis (which see, under <ixw>). Major function. 
See Junction. 
II. n. 1. Mili I., an officer next in rank above 
a captain and below a lieutenant-colonel; the 
lowest field-officer. His chief duties consist in super- 
intending the exercises of his regiment or battalion, and 
in putting In execution the commands of his superior 
officer. His ordinary position in the line is behind the 
left wing. Abbreviated Maj. 
2. In law, a person who is old enough to man- 
age his own concerns. See age, n., 3. 3. In mu- 
sic, the major mode, or a major tonality or major 
chord, taken absolutely. 4. In logic: (a) The 
major premise of a syllogism, which in direct 
syllogisms states the rule from which the con- 
clusion is drawn. (6) The major extreme of a 
syllogism. Bf. Same as mayor. Bacon, Hist. 
Hen. VII., p. 7. 
major (ma'jor). t>. i. [< major, ., 1.] To act 
the major ; look and talk big, or with a military 
air. [Rare.] 
Can It be for the pulr body M'Dnrk's health to major 
about in the tartans like a tobacconist's sign in a frosty 
morning, wi' Ills poor wlzzened houghs as blue as a bla- 
wort? Scott, St. Bonan's Well, xx 
majoraltyt (ma'jor-al-ti), n. [See mayoralty.] 
Same as mayoralty. 
The majoralty of Sir John Dethlck, Knight. 
Maxon (1659), quoted In Encyc. Brit, IX 486. 
majorat(ma-zho-ra'),n. [F.: see majorate^."\ 1. 
The right of succession to property according 
to age ; primogeniture : so called in some of the 
countries of Europe. 2. In Prance, property, 
landed or funded, which "might be reserved by 
persons holding hereditary titles, and attached 
to the title so as to descend with it inalienably. 
This principle was abolished in the first revolution, re- 
stored by Napoleon I., restricted under Louis Philippe, 
and finally abolished in 1849. 
majorateH (ma'jor-at), v. t. [< ML. majorare, 
make greater, increase, < L. major, greater: see 
major, a., and -<jte 2 .] To increase. Soicell, 
Parly of Beasts. 
majorate 2 (ina'jor-at), w. [= P. majorat, < ML. 
majoratus, < L. major, greater, elder: see major, 
n., and -ate->.] The office or rank of major; 
majority; majorship. [Rare.] 
majorationt (ma-jo-ra'shon), n. [< ML. majo- 
ratio(n-), < nmjorarc, make greater: see ma- 
jorate.'] Increase ; enlargement. 
