matire 
matiret, '< A Middle English form of matter. 
matlockite (mat'lok-lt), n. [< Matlock (see 
def.) + -ite' 2 .] A native oxychlorid of lead, oc- 
curring near Matlock in Derbyshire, England, 
in tetragonal crystals of a yellowish color and 
adamantine luster. 
matpole (mat'pol), n. In hydraul. engln., a 
pole, usually about 20 feet long and 3 inches 
thick, smoothed and pointed with iron, used in 
placing mats for shore-protection, etc. 
matral (ma'tral), a. [< L. matralis, pertaining 
to a mother, ('mater, mother: see mater 2 , mo- 
ther' 1 .'] In anat., pertaining to one of the mem- 
branes enveloping the brain, as the dura mater 
or pia mater : in composition. 
Between the pia-matral and the arachnoid sheath. 
H. Oray, Anat. (ed. 1S87), p. 805. 
Matralia (ma-tra'li-a), n. pi. [L., neut. pi. of 
matralis, pertaining to a mother: see matral.'] 
In ancient Borne, an annual festival celebrated 
on the eleventh of June, by the citizen matrons 
only, in honor of the goddess Mater Matuta. 
The festival inculcated the principle that mothers should 
care not only for their own but for their sisters' children. 
matrast, n. [OF.: see matrass.] A crossbow- 
bolt. Compare riveton, quarrel'^, bolt 1 . 
matrass (mat'ras), . [< F. matras, a chemical 
vessel so called from its long straight narrow 
neck, < OF. matras Pr. matrat, an arrow, a 
javelin, < L. matara, mataris, materis, madaris, 
a Celtic javelin, a pike: a word of Celtic ori- 
gin.] 1. A chemical vessel with a round or 
oval body and a long neck open at the top, 
serving the purposes of digestion, evaporation, 
etc.; a cucurbit. Also called bolt-head. 2f. In 
hort., a flask-like glass employed to shelter 
plants or flowers from the weather or from ex- 
tremes of cold and heat. 
Protect from violent storms, and the too parching darts 
of the sun, your pennached tulips and ranunculuses, cov- 
ering them with matrasses. Evelyn, Calendarium Hortense. 
matres, . Plural of mater 2 . 
matresst, An obsolete form of mattress. 
matriarch (ma'tri-ark), n. [< L. mater, < Gr. 
UI'/TJ/P, mother, + ap^of, a leader, ruler, < apxe'v, 
rule.] 1. The wife of a patriarch. [Bare.] 
Dr. Southey has classed this injured Matriarch [Job's 
wife] in a triad with Xantippe and Mrs. Wesley. 
Southey, The Doctor, cxvii. (Dairies.) 
2. A woman who holds (to some extent or in 
some respect) in a family or tribe a position 
analogous to that of a patriarch. See matri- 
archy. 
matriarchal (rna-tri-ar'kal), a. [< matriarch 
+ -al.] Of or pertaining to a matriarch or to 
matriarchy; relating to the superior importance 
of mothers (in certain respects, as the reckon- 
ing of descent) in a family, clan, or tribe; 
characterized by matriarchy. 
The Indian tribes farther south are largely matriarchal, 
reckoning descent not on the father's but the mother's 
side. E. B. Tylor, Pop. Sci. Mo., XXVI. 
Here the matriarchal system is still in existence the 
eldest daughter inherits all. 
Fortnightly Rev., N. S., XL. 214. 
matriarchalism (ma-tri-ar'kal-izm), . [< ma- 
triarchal + -ism.] The character of being ma- 
triarchal; matriarchal customs or practices; 
matriarchy. 
This immense district represents an area of lower cul- 
ture, where matriarchalism has only in places yielded to 
the patriarchal system. 
E. B. Tylor, Pop. Sci. Mo., XXVI. 162. 
matriarchate (ma-tri-ar'kat), n. [< matriarch 
+ -ate 3 ."] The position or power of a matri- 
arch. 
Women were at first considered like other properties, 
and in the communist stage they used to belong to each 
and all ; when property was divided, women were assimi- 
lated to landed properties or estates, and the children 
took the name of their mother, as in feudal countries they 
took that of their estate. This is really the origin of the 
so-called matriarchate, in which the mother had, in fact, 
no power, but gave her name to her child. 
Jour. Anthrop. Jnst., XVIII. 271. 
matriarchy (ma'tri-ar-ki), . [< L. mater, < 
Gr. ftarnp, mother, + -apx'ia, rule: see matri- 
arch.'] Government by a mother or by mo- 
thers ; specifically, an order of society, as in 
certain primitive tribes, in which the mother 
in certain important respects, especially in line 
of descent and inheritance, takes precedence 
. of the father; descent or inheritance in the fe- 
male line. 
The ancient Slavonians had no prejudice against matri- 
archy. Quarterly Rev., CLX.Il. 196. 
Matricaria (mat-ri-ka'ri-a), n. [NL. (Tourne- 
fort, 1700), so called with ref. to the sup- 
posed medicinal value of some of the species, 
< L. matrix (matric-), womb: see matrix.'] A 
3660 
genus of plants of the natural order Composite 
and the tribe Anthemidea:. It is characterized by ra- 
diate heads, with an involucre of rather broad bracts, 
by achenia with from S 
to 5 ribs on the inner 
face and none on the 
back, and by a receptacle 
which is often conical or 
oblong. They are herbs, 
with alternate leaves, 
which are two or three 
times pinnatitld, with 
linear or thread-like divi- 
sions, and small or me- 
dium-sized heads, which 
are usually solitary at 
the tips of the branches, 
and have white ray-flow- 
ers and yellow disk-flow- 
ers. There are about 23 
species, found in Europe, 
North America, the 
northern part of Asia, and 
northern and southern 
Africa, 11. ChamomUla, 
called wild or German 
camomile, is a common 
annual of Europe, in ap- 
pearance strongly resem- 
bling the common may- 
Flowering Plant of Matricaria 
inodora. 
a, ray-flower ; *. disk-flower ; 
c, achenium. 
weed. M. inodora, also 
European, is a scentless 
species, which, like the 
former, is sparingly naturalized in the United States. 
M. discoidea, with rayless heads, is spreading from western 
America eastward, and is naturalized in northern Europe. 
M. glabrata, of South Africa, affords a good substitute for 
camomile, 
matricet (ma'tris), n. [< F. matrice = Sp. Pg. 
matriz = It. matrice, < L. matrix, the womb. 
see matrix.'] Same as matrix. 
matrices, n. Plural of matrix. 
matrimony 
To be matriculate with ladies of estate. 
Skelton, Garland of Laurell. 
II. . One who has been admitted to mem- 
bership of a body, as a college or university, by 
enrolment in its register. 
Suffer me in the name of the matriculates of that famous 
university to ask them some plain questions. Arbuthnot. 
matriculation (ma-trik-u-la'shou), . [= Sp. 
matriculation, < ML. *matriculd"tio(n-), < matri- 
eulare, register: see matriculate.'] The act of 
matriculating, or of admitting to membership 
by enrolment; the state of being matriculated. 
A scholar absent from the university for five years is 
struck out of the matriculation book. Ayliffe, Parergon. 
matriculator (ma-trik'u-la-tor), n. [< ML. *ma- 
triculator, < matriculare, register: see matricu- 
late.] One who matriculates. 
At Oxford the matriculator subscribed the Thirty-nine 
Articles, and also swore to observe three articles of the 
38th Canon. Quarterly Rev., CXLVI. 209. 
matriheritage (mat-ri-her'i-taj), n. [< L. ma ter 
(matr-), mother, + E. heritage'.] Inheritance in 
the female line of descent. 
The two systems of malriheritage and polyandry. 
Pop. Sci. Mo., XXX. 141. 
matriherital (mat-ri-her'i-tal), a. [< L. mater 
(matr-), mother, + herit(age) + -al.~] Of or per- 
taining to matriheritage, or inheritance in the 
female line. 
An excellent specimen of the matriarchal or matriherital 
system fully carried out under recognized and well-denned 
law among a civilized people. Pop. Sci. Mo., XXX. 141. 
matrimoignet, n. A Middle English form of 
matrimony. Chaucer. 
matricidal (mat'ri-si-dal), a. J< matricide^ + matrimonial (mat-ri-mo'ni-al), a. [=F. matri- 
monial = Sp. Pg. matrimonial = It. matrimoni- 
ale, < LL. matrimonialis, pertaining to marriage, 
< L. matrimonium, marriage: see matrimony.] 
1 . Of or pertaining to matrimony ; connubial ; 
nuptial: as, matrimonial rights or duties. 
Cherish thy hasten'd widowhood with the gold 
Of matrimonial treason ! Milton, S. A., L 959. 
The main article in matrimonial alliances. 
Paley, Moral Philos., III. 8. 
2. Derived from marriage. 
If he [Henry VII.] relied upon that title, he could be but 
a king at courtesy, and have rather a matrimonial than a 
regal power. Bacon, Hist lien. VII. 
Crown matrimonial, in Scot, hist., the right to a share 
in the sovereignty conferred on the husband of a reigning 
ueen. The extent of this concession appears never to 
.ave been precisely defined ; but the common belief is 
-al.] Of or pertaining to matricide, or a per- 
son guilty of matricide. 
As when one fair land 
Saw, North and South, her bright-armed myriads stand, 
Saw herself rent in twain by matricidal hand. 
Palgrave, N. A. Rev., CXX. 440. 
matricide 1 (mat'ri-sid), n. [= F. matricide = 
Sp. Pg. It. matricida, < L. matricida, the killer 
of his mother, < mater, mother, + -cida, < ca;- 
dere, kill.] One who kills his or her mother. 
matricide 2 (mat'ri-sid), n. [= F. matricide, < 
L. matricidium, the killing of one's mother, 
< mater, mother, + -cidium, < caidere, kill.] The 
killing or murder of one's mother. 
Thy Matricide all pardon must exceed. 
J. Beaumont, Psyche, v. 17. 
matricula (ma-trik'u-la), n. ; pi. matricula; (-le). 
lanncuia tma-u K u-ia;, n. ; pi. m, M i-y. that it , , Ted a coraplete partnership in the crown, with 
[= F. matncule = Sp. matncula = Pg. matncula remainder to the survivor and his or her heirs. It was 
= It. matricola, < LL. matricula, dim. of matrix granted, with important reservations, on the occasion of 
(matric-), a public register : see matrix.] A roll 
or register. Specifically (a) The register or roll of a 
university. 
His name occurs not in the matricula. 
Wood, Athense Oxon. 
(6) In the Rom. Cath. Ch., the roll containing the names 
of the clergy permanently attached to a cathedral, a col- 
legiate, or a parish church. 
matriculant (ma-trik'u-laut), n. [< ML. matri- 
culan(t-)s, ppr. of matriculare, register: see ma- 
triculate.] A candidate for matriculation; one 
who applies for enrolment among the members 
of a body, as a student in a college or univer- 
sity; an entrant. 
They are ready to favor the demand upon rnatriculants 
for a preliminary qualification. The American, V. 390. 
matriculate (ma-trik'u-lat), t 1 . ; pret. and pp. 
matriculated, ppr. matriculating. [< ML. matri- 
CHlatus, pp. of matriculare (> it. matricolare = 
Sp. Pg. matricular), register, enroll, < LL. matri- 
cula, a public register, roll, list, dim. of matrix, 
a public register: see matricula, matrix."] I. 
trans. To enter in a register; register; enroll; 
the first marriage of Mary Queen of Scots, and was ex- 
plicitly refused to her second husband. Matrimonial 
cause, in law, a suit for the redress of injuries respecting 
the rights of marriage, as an action for divorce or the like. 
In England such causes were formerly a branch of the ec- 
clesiastical jurisdiction. Matrimonial Causes Acts, a 
series of English statutes relating to causes arising from the 
matrimonial relation. (a)Astatute of 1*67 (20 and 21 Viet., 
c. 85) which established the Court for Divorce and Matri- 
monial Causes, having exclusive jurisdiction over divorce 
and matrimonial matters, and settled the law relating 
thereto. (6) A statute of 1878 (41 and 42 Viet., c. 19) re- 
lating to divorce and judicial separation, (c) A statute of 
188-1 (47 and 48 Viet., c. 8)which substitutes for the resti- 
tution of conjugal rights formerly enforced periodical 
payments of money by the husband, authorizes the court 
to order a settlement of a wife's properly for the benefit of 
the husband and children, and relates to desertion and cus- 
tody of children. =Syn. 1. Matrimonial, Connubial, Nup- 
tial, Conjugal, Hymeneal, Marital. Matrimonial, connu- 
bial, and conjugal, like matrimony, relate to the married 
state. A'uptial and hymeneal are more suggestive of the 
act of marriage or that which is in close connection with 
it Connubial suggests the fact that marriage is the union 
of persons of opposite sexes. Conjugal primarily means 
belonging to a spouse, and secondarily belonging to the 
state of spouses that is, matrimony: as, conjugal felicity, 
responsibility, obligations, rights. Marital means, specifi- 
cally, belonging to a husband, but is also used with refer- 
ence to the married state in general. 
especially, to enter or admit to membership in _ 
a body or society, particularly in a college or matrimonially (mat-ri-mo'ni-al-i), adv. As re- 
university, by enrolling one's name in a regis- tmrftaTnn.trimnnv: in TYifttrimnnv! ftpp.nrdiTic' to 
ter. 
He is so matrimonially wedded unto his church that he 
cannot quit the same, Ayli/e, Parergon. 
gards matrimony ; in matrimony; according to 
the manner or laws of marriage. 
It was their obstinacy to incorporate their errors into 
their creeds, and to matriculate their abuses among their 
sacred rites. 
Abp. Bramhall, Works, II. 206, quoted in Wordsworth's matrimonioust (mat-ri-mo'm-us), a. [< maln- 
[Church of Ireland, II. 221. many + -ous.] Relating to matrimony ; matri- 
Frederick was, accordingly, at the proper age, matricu- monial. 
lated at Oxford. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends, I. 179. Foreseeing the miserable work that man's ignorance and 
II. intrans. To become a member of any body pusillanimity would make in this nMMmmfow business. 
or society, especially a college or university, by 
having one's name entered in a register. matrimony (mat'ri-mo-ni), . [< ME. matri- 
monye, also matrimoyne, iiiiitrimoigne, < OF. 
matrimnitif, matrimonie = Pr. matrimoiii = Sp. 
Pg. It. matrimonio, < L. matrimonium, marriage, 
wedlock, in pi. wives; < mater (matri-), mother 
(see mater%, mother^). + term, -monium : see 
-mo>nj.~] 1. The relation of husband and wife, 
with especial reference to what concerns the 
The Browns have become illustrious by the pen of 
Thackeray and the pencil of Doyle, within the memory of 
the young gentlemen who are now matriculating at the 
universities. T. Hughes, Tom Brown at Rugby, I. 1. 
matriculate (ma-trik'u-lat), a. and 11. [< ML. 
ttiatricnlatus, pp.: see the verb.] I. a. Matric- 
ulated ; admitted ; enrolled. 
