medieval 
about A. D. 300, In the palace of the Emperor Diocletian 
nt Spalato, In which arcades were Introduced nupportral 
on fi re staii'linL' shafts Instead of the Koinan piers with 
eunatfcil ciiluiiniM, iiml in wliich the profile of the archi- 
ii.m- was continued iiroiinil the archlvolt, which had 
imurped tin- architrave's function, and now sprang di- 
rectly from the capital, abandoning the meaningless 
Roma interposition between iin-hiK.lt and column of a 
.in. ill section of a mock entablature.. Despite local differ- 
ences, medieval architecture represents a continuous de- 
velopment from the classical Roman to the modifications 
wrought by the Renaissance. At its origin, copying Ro- 
man models, it was poor and rude, owing to the lack of 
skill ami of resources In Its builders. Every succeeding 
generation sought to perfect the system of vaulted ceil- 
ings to whieh the characteristic forms of this architecture 
are due. The application of the Koman groined vault was 
extended and brought into new combinations ; the point- 
ed arch and vault were evolved, as possessing more sta- 
bility and elasticity than the old round-arched forms; and 
dually the use of ribs to strengthen and support the vault 
was elaborated. By about 1226 medieval architecture 
could solve with the utmost economy and artistic excel- 
lence any problem that could be presented to masonry 
construction. From about 1250 architects, embarrassed 
no longer by inherent difficulties, began to lose the sim- 
Sle beauty of their style in unnecessary elaboration of 
etalls, as in complicated window-traceries and In dis- 
torted profiles of moldings; and architecture progres- 
sively declined, so that the simplification of external forms 
effected by the Renaissance was a gain. But the sound 
and scientific medieval methods of construction remained 
in great part beneath the Renaissance exterior, and In- 
deed are not yet wholly abandoned, especially in France. 
-Many fanciful theories have been formed as to the origin 
of medieval architecture, especially that deriving its 
groined vaulting from an imitation of the lines of inter- 
lacing branches In an avenue of trees. It was, however, 
in fact a thoroughly logical growth from classical models, 
and the result of consistent efforts to adapt means to the 
ends sought. Thus, the problem in a great church or hall 
was to cover in securely a large space with as few in- 
terruptions as possible t.i sight and sound: hence the 
tendency to widen the arches and to reduce the thickness 
of the pillars. The great height of such buildings was 
not induced by a desire to " soar heavenward," but by the 
necessity to secure light for the nave by windows pierced 
above the roofs of the aisles. The typical decoration of 
this architecture Is of the highest beauty and fltness, or- 
namenting hut not masking the construction: and. while 
based chiefly on natural forms, it always, until the decline 
of the style, conventionalized these appropriately to their 
architectural function. This architecture attained Its 
best development in France. See Byzantine, ftoinanemue, 
Pointed, etc. Medieval art, the art of the entire middle 
ages in Europe, beginning in the gradual transformation 
of classical forms and ideals, and extending to the Re- 
naissance, or, roughly, to the year 1500, though in Italy 
it actually became merged earlier in the new current of 
modern art, and in the north, as in England and Germany, 
it continued later. It embraces a countless number of re- 
gional and local styles and schools, yet all animated by a 
kindred spirit. It is second in importance in art-history 
only to the art of Greece ; and, while in many ways it fell 
far short of Oreek art, the course of its development from 
rude beginnings was very similar, and, like the Greek, 
presents a consecutive and sincere effort on the part of 
succeeding craftsmen and artists constantly to do better. 
Its ideal of beauty was less high than that of the Greeks ; 
it was more of a didactic art, seeking, in its illuminations 
and painting and sculpture, to illustrate and enforce the 
teachings of the Bible and the inherent Imperfection of 
man. Yet the general similarity of methods of observa- 
tion and work was so close that In France especially, after 
the close of the archaic period in the thirteenth century, 
much figure-sculpture was produced, as that in the por- 
tals of the cathedral of Rheims and on the north tran- 
sept of that of Rouen, which is in spirit thoroughly Greek, 
anil is equal to all but the best Greek draped work. In 
decoration medieval art was preeminent. Like Greek art, 
it was understood ami appreciated not by a small cultivated 
class, but by the whole people. It consistently sought to 
give to the commonest tools and utensils beautiful forms 
and characteristic ornament; while the architectural sculp- 
ture and decorative combinations of forms have never been 
surpassed in their variety, in their beauty of execution, 
and In their fitness to the ends which it was sought to at- 
tain. To the general artistic sentiment, religious fervor, 
and emulative spirit of the period most of the great cathe- 
drals, embodying, like a Greek temple, the best architec- 
ture ami sculpture and the best decoration of the day, 
owe their origin. Medieval history, Latin, etc. See 
the nouns. 
II. . One belonging to the middle ages. 
This view of landscape differs from that of the mediae- 
ml-". Kualtiii. 
medievalism, medievalism (me-di-e'val-izm), 
n. [<// 'ml + -font.] 1. That which is char- 
acteristic of the middle ages ; the medieval 
spirit, practice, or methods in regard to any- 
thing; a peculiarity or characteristic of the 
middle ages. 
Again, I say. it is a pity to have our language interlarded 
with Orientalisms and Meduicmlwms. 
Xinetetnth Century, XIX. 665. 
2. Devotion to or adoption of the spirit or 
practice of thi> middle ages; medieval ten- 
dency in thought or action, as with respect to 
religion or polities. 
Even Ahbotsford. despite its cherished associations, 
jarred u|m me a little, because I knew its mcdutralunn 
was all carton pierre. 
.Www Braildon, Hostages to Fortune, p. 12. 
medievalist, medievalist (me-di-e'val-ist). 
n. [< iiiri/ii ml + -int.] 1. One who is versed 
in the history of the middle ages. 2. One who 
sympathizes with the spirit nnd principles of 
L'li'J 
3685 
the middle ages: often with the sense of one 
who is antiquated or behind the times. 3. One 
who lived in the middle ages. 
Von have but to walk aside, however, into the I'alar-zo 
I'M Milici i. to feel yourself very much like a thrifty old me- 
iliamlixt. 11. Jama, Jr., Trans. Sketches, p. 264. 
medievalize, medievalize (me-di-e'val-iz), v. 
t.; pret. and pp. mediernli:<'d, nieiliirnili ' :< *l. 
ppr. IHI tin i'iili :iiii/. mi-di<rriili:i>iij. [< mrdirral 
+ -i:e.] To render medieval. 
M i . Fellows, the painter, had helped with the costumes, 
supplying some from his own artistic properties, and me- 
iliirniliziii'i others. UauxUt, Annie Kllburn, xvl. 
medievally, medievally (me-di-e'val-i), adv. 
In a medieval manner; in accord with the 
spirit or method of the middle ages. 
medifixed (me'di-fikst), a. [< L. medius, mid- 
tile, + fixus, fixed, + -erf 2 .] In hot., attached 
by the middle, as an anther upon its filament. 
Compare basijixed. 
medifurca(me'-di-fer'ka), n.; pi. medif urea; (-). 
[NL., < L. medius, middle, + furca, fork.] In 
cntom., the middle forked or double apodema 
which projects from the sternal wall into the 
cavity of a thoracic somite of an insect. 
medifurcal (me-di-fer'kal), a. [< medifurca + 
-al.] Pertaining to the medifurca, or having 
its character: as, a medifureal process. 
medillt, a. and n. A Middle English form of 
middle. 
Medina i(me-di'ne), ii.pl. [< Meda + -/.] A 
subfamily of Cyprinidtr, typified by the genus 
M' <ln. It is characterized by a short posterior dorsal On 
armed with two spines, the posterior of which closes Into a 
groove in the other, and by the adherence of the ventral 
tins to the abdomen by their inner margins. Few species 
are known, all confined to streams of the southwestern 
part of the I'nited States. 
Medina sandstone. See sandstone. 
medine (me'din), n. [Also medino; < P. medin 
(Cotgrave); appar. of AT. origin.] A small 
coin and money of account in Egypt, the for- 
tieth part of a piaster. 
47 medinet passe in value as the dnckat of gold of Ven- 
ice. HaHuyt'g Voyage*, II. 271. 
Medinilla (med-i-nil'S), n. [NL. (Gaudichaud, 
1826), named after D'.'J. de Medinilla y Pineda, 
governor of the Marianne Islands.] A genus 
of plants of the natural order Melastomacet?, 
type of the tribe MedinilleiF. It is characterized by 
eight, ten, or twelve nearly equal stamens, the connective 
of the anthers two-lobed or spurred in front and with two 
lobes or one spur at the back, and a calyx-tube scarcely 
longer than the ovary. About 75 species are known, na- 
tives of the East Indies, the Malay archipelago, Madagas- 
car, and the islands off the west coast of Africa. Theyare 
erect or climbing shrubs, generally quite smooth, with 
opposite or whorled entire fleshy leaves, and clusters of 
white or rose-colored flowers. Several of the species are 
very ornamental. The most common greenhouse spe- 
cies is perhaps M. magnified,, a beautiful plant with pink 
flowers. 
Medinillese (med-i-nil'e-e), n. pi. [NL. (Ben- 
tham and Hooker, 1867), < Medinilla + -ete.~] A 
tribe of plants of the natural order Mclasto- 
mafea', typified by the genus Medinilla. it is 
distinguished by a berry-like or coriaceous fruit, which 
breaks open irregularly ; by having the stamens usually 
equal and recurved, with a connective lobed or spurred 
both at the back and in front, or only posteriorly ; and by 
leaves which are not striolate between the primary nerves. 
The tribe includes 12 genera and about 145 species, ail 
natives of the Old World. 
medinot, ". Same as medine. 
mediocral (me'di-6-kral), a. [< mediocre + 
-til.] It. Being of a middle quality; mediocre: 
as, mediocral intellect. Addition. 2. In en- 
tiuii., being of middle length Mediocral anten- 
nae, in entom., those antenna' which have the same length 
as tne insect's body, or which, being turned backward on 
the Itody, attain the posterior extremity. Kirby. 
mediocre (me'di-6-ker), a. and n. [= F. medi- 
ocre = Sp. Pg. It. mediocre, < L. mediocris, in 
a middle state, of middle size, middling, mod- 
erate, ordinary, < medius, middle: see medium.'] 
I. a. Of moderate degree or quality; middling; 
indifferent; ordinary. 
A very mediocre poet, one Drayton, is yet taken some 
notice of. Pope, To Dr. \V arbnrton, Nov. 27, 1742. 
II. n. 1. One of middling quality, talents, or 
merit. Southey. [Bare.] 2. A monk bet ween 
twenty-four and forty years of age, who was ex- 
cused from the office of the chantry and from 
reading the epistle and gospel, but performed 
his duty in choir, cloister, and refectory. SJiip- 
'''.'/ 
mediocrist (me'di-6-krist), n. [< mediocre + 
-i.it.'] A person of middling abilities; a me- 
diocre person. [Kare.] 
He [John Hughes) is too grave a poet for me, and, I 
think, among the mediocruU in prose as well as verse. 
Smft, To Pope, Sept. S, 1735. 
mediscalenus 
mediocrity (me-di-ok'n-ti). n.; pi. nifii- 
HL* i-ti/.). [= I''. nii'lini'iili = I'r. mi <li<n i-itttt = 
Sp. iitiili'ii-iiilitit = Pg. mi'diorridiide = It. me- 
dinerita, < L. nixlnii nin\ t-)x, a middle state, < 
Hn-iliiirrin, in a middle state: see mediocre.] 1. 
The character or state of being mediocre; a 
middle state or degree ; a moderate degree or 
rate ; specifically, a moderate degree of mental 
ability. 
Albeit all bountye dwelleth In mrdineritie. yet perfect 
felicitye dwelleth in stipremacle. 
Speiaier, .Hhep. Cal., July, Embleme. 
For modem Histories . . . there are some few very 
worthy, but the greater part beneath mediocrity. 
Bacon, Advancement of Learning, it 180. 
His humanity, ingenuousness, and modesty, the medi- 
ocrity of his abilities. Macaulay, Hist. Mug., I. 
2f. Moderation; temperance. 
Mediocrity, or the holding of a middle coarse, has been 
highly extolled in morality. Bacon, Physical Fables, vl. 
Body and mind must be exercised, not one, but both, 
and that In a mediocrity. Bvrton, Anat. of Mel., p. 824. 
3. A mediocre person ; one of moderate capa- 
city or ability; hence, a person of little note 
or repute; one who is little more than a no- 
body. 
They proclaim, with a striking unanimity of bitterness, 
that their managers are nearly all mediocrities, with no 
venture to assume, without 
the country they pretend to 
training for the duties they venture to assume, without 
influence on the destinies of the country they pretend to 
govern. Nineteenth Century, XXIV. 475. 
= 8yn. 1. Medium, Average, etc. See mean*, n. 
mediodorsal (me"di-o-<16r'sal), a. [< L. medi- 
us, middle, + dornum, back: see dorsal.'] Me- 
dian and dorsal; situated in the middle line of 
the back ; dorsimesal. Huxley and Martin. 
mediopalatine (me'di-d-pal'iv-tin), a. and n. 
[< L. median, middle, + palatum, palate: gee 
palate.'] I. a. Situated in the median line of 
the palate, as a suture ; uniting the right and 
left palate boneg. 
II. n. A mediopalatine bone. 
Other formations which, like the mediopalatine, serve to 
bind the palate halves together. 
Couei, Key to S. A. Birds, p. 178. 
mediopectus (me'di-6-pek'tus), n. ; pi. medio- 
pectura (-to-rii). [NL.J Same as medipectun. 
mediosubmedian (me'di-6-sub-me'di-an), a. [< 
me(li(an) + mtbmcdian.] In eiitoni., common to 
or intervening between the median and subme- 
dian nervures of an insect's wing : as, the me- 
diosulimcdian interspace. 
mediotarsal (me'di-o-tar'sal), a. [< L. median, 
middle, + NL. larsux, tarsus : see 1orsal.~] Situ- 
ated in the middle of the tarsus; especially, 
formed between the proximal and distal rows of 
tarsal bones : as, a mediotarsal ankle-joint. See 
./Mo/rtivOT?.- Mediotarsal articulation, the kind of 
ankle-joint which is characteristic if all those vertebrates 
below mammals whieh have a tarsus, the joint tieing formed 
between the rows, proximal and distal, of tarsjil hones, not 
between the proximal row and the leg, as in mammals. It 
occurs in all uirds, and in those reptiles which have tarsi. 
mediotransverse (me'di-6-trans-vers'), a. [< 
medi(an) + tramtrerne,~] Same as tranxmedian. 
medioventral(me'di-6-ven'tral),n. [< medi(an) 
+ ventral.'] In anat. and sotil., median and 
ventral; situated in the middle line of the ven- 
tral or under side of an animal; ventrimesal. 
Also medinn-rentral. 
medioxumoust (me-di-ok'su-mns), a. [< L. me- 
dioximug, medioxumug, that is in the middle, 
superl., < 'mediae, in medioerio, in a middle 
state, < median, middle: see mediocre and me- 
dium."] Middlemost; intermediary. 
The whole order of the mvliaxvmmi* or Internnncial 
deities. Dr. H. More, Mystery of Iniquity, I. xii. { 8. 
medipectoral (me-di-pek'to-ral), a. [< medi- 
pectun (-pector-) + -/.] Of or pertaining to 
the medipectus. Medipectoral lees, In entom., the 
intermediate or second pair of legs of a nexapod. 
medipectus (me-di-pek'tus). .; pi. medipectora 
(-to-rS). [NL., < L. medius, middle, + pectug, 
breast.] In entom., the middle breast; the un- 
der side of the mesothorax ; the central portion 
of the sternum of an insect: more frequently 
called mesofternum. Also mediopectus. 
medipeduncle (me'di-pe-dung'ki), n. Same as 
IHt'tlijH'ttlllU'lllltx. 
medipeduncular (me'di-pe-dung'ku-lar), a. 
Of or pertaining to a medipeduncnlus. 
rnedipedunculus (me'di-pe-dung'ku-lns), n. ; 
pi. meitipfdiiiifiili (-11). [< L. medius, middle. + 
/H'lliinculttfi, peduncle: see jteduncle.] The mid- 
dle peduncle of the cerebellum; the pontibra- 
chium. B. (!. Wilder. 
mediscalene (me-di-ska'len), a. (X mediscale- 
ii us. } Of or pertaining to the medigcalenus. 
mediscalenus me di-skfi-le'nus), n.; pi. mtdi- 
i;ihni (-in). [NL., < L. 'medius, middle, 4- XL. 
