Medusa 
2. PI. mediixtF (-se). In zool. : (a) [I. c.] A 
jelly-fish, sea-jelly, or sea-nettle; an acaleph, 
in a strict sense; a discophoran or discophor- 
ous hydrozoan ; any member of the family 
Medusidai or order or subclass Discophora : a 
term very loosely used, and now chiefly as an 
English word. See medusoid, n. (b) [cap.] 
[NL.] An old genus of jelly-fishes, used with 
great and varying latitude, more or less nearly 
equivalent to the order Discophora or family 
Mfdnxida; now greatly restricted or entirely 
discarded. In the latter ease Aurelia is used 
instead. See cut under acaleph. [In this sense 
there is no plural.] (c) [I. c .] Some hydrozoan 
resembling or supposed to be one of the fore- 
going; a medusoid: as, the naked-eyed medusa; 
of Forbes, which are the reproductive zooids 
or gonophores of gymnoblastic hydroids. 
medusa-bell (me-du'sa-bel), . The swimming- 
bell, gelatinous disk, or umbrella of a medusa. 
medusa-bud (me-du'sa-bud), n. A budding 
medusa; a rudimentary medusa, or one not de- 
tached from its stock, forming a generative bud 
or gonophore. 
Medusae (me-du'se), n. pi. [NL., pi. of Medu- 
sa.] Jelly-fishes, acalephs proper, or discopho- 
rans, as a family or higher group of the Hydro- 
zoa, equivalent to Mednsida' or Discophora, \. 
medusal (me-du'sal), a. [< NL. Medusa + -al.] 
Same as medusan" Nature, XXXVIII. 356. 
medusan (me-du'san), a. and . [< NL. Me- 
dusa + -an."] I. a. Of, pertaining to, or re- 
sembling a member of the family Mednsida!. 
II. n. A hydrozoan of the family Medusida;. 
Medusa's-head (me-du'saz-hed), . 1. A bas- 
ket-fish, basket-urchin, or sea-basket ; a eury- 
alean ophiurian or branching sandstar of the 
family Astrophytida;. Also medusa-head and 
medusa-headstar. See cut under basket-fish. 
2. An extant crinoid of the genus J'enta'criims, 
P. eaput-medusa'. 3. In hot., the plant Eu- 
phorbia Capitt-Medusa: Medusa's-head orchis. 
See orctiis. 
medusian (me-du'si-an), a. and . [< NL. Me- 
dusa + -inn.] Same as medusan. 
Medusidse (me-du'si-de), n.pl. [NL.,< Medusa 
+ -j'rfrt'.] The medusas, acalephs, discophorans, 
or jelly-fishes, as a family of Hydrozoa, typified 
by the genus Medusa proper. The hydrosome is 
free and oceanic, consisting of a single nectocalyx or swim- 
ming-bell, from the roof of which one or several polypites 
are suspended. The nectocalyx is furnished with a sys- 
tem of canals, and a number of tentacles depend from its 
margin. The reproductive organs appear as processes 
either of the sides of the polypite or of the nectocalycine 
canals. The family as thus denned is coextensive with the 
order or subclass Discophora, and equivalent to Medu&ce, 
2 (6), but the term is often used in a much more restricted 
sense, as synonymous with Aureliidce. 
medusidan (me-du'si-dan), (i. and n. I. a. Of 
or pertaining to the Medusidai. 
II. n. One of the Medusidai. 
medusiform (mf-du'si-form), a. 
dusa + L. forma, form.] Re- 
sembling a medusa in form; 
medusoid; intheformofabell; 
campanulate Medusiform bud, 
a budding medusoid contained in the 
gonophore of some hydrozoans. 
medusite(me-du'sit),. [<NL. 
Medusitex, < Medusa + -ites, E. 
-ite 2 .] A fossil medusa or ac- 
aleph. Notwithstanding the soft- 
ness of jelly-fishes, fossil traces of some 
have been found in the lithographic 
slate of Solenhofen in Bavaria. 
Medusites (med-u-sl'tez), . 
[NL. : see medusite.~] A ge- 
neric name of certain fossil 
medusae. 
medusoid (me-du'soid), a. and 
n. [< NL. Medusa + Gr. eUoc, form.] I. . 
Like a medusa ; resembling a medusa in form 
or function; medusiform: as, a medusoid bud ; 
the medusoid organization. Sometimes acale- 
phoid Medusoid bud, the generative bud or gono- 
phore of a fixed or free hydrozoan. 
II. . 1. The medusiform generative bud or 
receptacle of the reproductive elements of a hy- 
drozoan, whether it becomes detached or not. 
Such an organism constitutes the middle stage in the pro- 
cess of metagenesis. The gonophore may present every 
stage of development and degree of complication until it 
becomes medusiform or bell-shaped, when it is called a 
medusoid from its resemblance to a medusa or jeUy-flsh. 
2. Loosely, any medusa, medusidan, or medu- 
soid organism. 
meeH, pron. An obsolete spelling of mei. 
mee 2 (me), n. [E. Ind.] An evergreen tree of 
India. See Sasxia. 
meech, meeching. See michei, miching. 
Medusiform Zofiict of 
Cnmpanularia. 
.4, nectocalyx; A', 
velum ; tr, lithocysts ; 
/^.tentacles; *', ma- 
nnhriura ; *", radial 
canals; o, mouth. 
3688 
meed (med), . [< ME. mcede, mede, < AS. med, 
in older form meord, meard, meorth = OS. meoda, 
mieda, meda = OFries. mede, meide, mide = D. 
miede = MLG. mede, meide, LG. mede = OHG. 
mieta, miata, meta, MHG. miete, G. miete, miethe 
= Goth, mizdo, meed, reward, recompense, = 
OBulg. mtzda = Bulg. muzda = Bohem. Russ. 
mzda (Pol. my to, < G.), reward, = Gr. juaOAf = 
Zend mizdha, pay, hire, = Pers. mazd (> Turk. 
muzd), pay, recompense, reward.] 1. That 
which is bestowed or rendered in considera- 
tion of desert, good or bad (but usually the 
former); reward; recompense; award. 
As muche mede for a myte that he offreth 
As the riche man for al his moneye and more, as by the 
godspel. Piers Plotvman(C), xiv. 97. 
The Laurell, meed of mightie Conquerours. 
Spenser, F. Q., I. i. 9. 
Who cheers such actions with abundant meeds. 
B. Jonson, Poetaster, v. 1. 
A sordid soul, 
Such as does murder for a meed. 
Scott, Marmion, ii. 22. 
Here comes to-day, 
Pallas and Aphrodite, claiming each 
This meed of fairest. Tennyson, (Enone. 
2. A gift ; also, a bribe. 
For certes by no force ne by no meede 
Hym thoughte he was nat able for to speede. 
Chaucer, Doctor's Tale, 1. 133. 
They take meede with priuie violence, 
Carpets, and things of price and pleasancc. 
HakluyVs Voyages, 1. 198. 
Plutus, the god of gold, 
Is but his steward ; no meed but he repays 
Sevenfold above itself. ShaJc., T. of A., i. 1. 288. 
Gin yell gie me a worthy meid, 
111 tell ye whar to find him. 
Sir James the Rote (Child's Ballads, III. 75). 
3t. Merit or desert. 
My meed hath got me fame. Shale. , 3 Hen. VI. , Iv. 8. 38. 
meedt (med), v. t. [< ME. medcn = OS. medean, 
miedon = MLG. meden = OHG. miaten, mietan, 
MHG. G. mieten, reward; from the noun.] 1. 
To reward; bribe. 
& [he] meded hem so moche with alle maner thinges, 
A bi-het hem wel more than i jou telle kan. 
William of Palerne(E. E. T. S.), 1. 4046. 
2. To deserve or merit. 
Yet, yet thy body meeds a better grave. 
Heywood, Silver Age (ed. Collier), i. 
meedfult (med'ful), a. [< ME. medeful; < meed 
+ -fnl.'] Worthy of meed or reward; deserv- 
ing. 
meedfullyt (med'ful-i), adv. [ME. medefitlly; 
< meedful + -fy 2 .] According to meed or de- 
sert; suitably. 
A wight, without nedeful compulsion, ought medefvtty 
to be rewarded. Testament of Love, iii. 
meek (mek), a. [< ME. meek, melee, meok, meoc, 
< Icel. mjukr, soft, mild, meek, = Sw. injiik, soft, 
= Dan. myg, soft, pliant, supple, = Goth. * mules, 
in comp. mukamodei, gentleness.] 1. Gentle 
or mild of temper; self-controlled and gentle ; 
not easily provoked or irritated; forbearing 
under injury or annoyance. 
Full meke was the kynge a-gein god and the peple, and 
a-gein the mynistres of holy cherche, that alle thei hadde 
grete pile. Merlin (E. E. T. S.), i. 94. 
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me ; for I am meek 
and lowly in heart : and ye shall find rest unto your souls 
Mat xi. 29. 
He feels he has a fist, then folds his arms 
Crosswise, and makes his mind up to be meek. 
Brmming, King and Book, I. 36. 
2. Pliant; yielding; submissive. 
Hee had take the toune that tristy was holde, 
And made all the menne meeke to his wyll. 
Alisaunder of Macedoine (E. E. T. S.), 1. 953. 
He humbly louted in meeke lowlinessc. 
Spenser, F. Q.,I. x. 44. 
With tears 
Watering the ground, and with their sighs the air 
Frequenting, sent from hearts contrite, in sign 
Of sorrow uuleign'd, and humiliation meek. 
Milton, t. L., x. 1104. 
3. Humble ; unpretentious. 
So we buried him quietly ... in the sloping little 
church-yard of Oare, as meek a place as need be. 
R. D. Blackmore, Lorna Doone, v. 
= Syn. 1. Mild, etc. (see gentle), humble, lowly, 
meekt (mek), . [< ME. meken (= Sw. mjii- 
kfi); from the adj.] I. trans. To make meek; 
soften; render mild, pliant, or submissive; 
humble or bring low. 
For he that highith himself shal be mekid, and he that 
mekith himself shall be enhaunsid. Wyclif, Mat. xxiii. 12. 
II. intrans. To submit; become meek. 
Ac Nede is next him, for anon he meketh, 
And as low as a lombe, for lakking of that hym nedeth. 
Piers Plowman (B), xx. 35. 
meet 
meekent (me'kn), . t. l<meek + -en^.] Same 
as meek. 
Then with soft steps enseal'd the mtekned valleys, 
In quest of memory. 
W. Browne, Britannia's Pastorals, ii. 1. 
Where meekened sense and amiable grace 
And lively sweetness dwell. Thomson. 
meek-eyed (mek'Id), . Having eyes that re- 
veal meekness of character. 
He, her fears to cease, 
Sent down the meek-eyed Peace. 
Milton, Nativity, L. 46. 
A patient, meek-eyed wife. Longfellow, Hyperion, iv. 3. 
meekheadt, . [< ME. mekehede; < meek + 
-head.] Meekness. Halliicell. 
meekly (mek'li), adr. [< meek + -ly 2 .] In a 
meek manner; submissively; humbly; not 
proudly or roughly ; mildly; gently. 
meekness (mek'nes), n. [< ME. meekenes, meke- 
nes; < meek + -ness.] The quality of being 
meek; softness of temper; mildness; gentle- 
ness ; forbearance under injuries and provoca- 
tions; unrepining submission. = Syn. Lowliness, 
humility, self-abasement. See comparison under gentle. 
meert. An obsolete form of mere^ , were 2 , mere 3 . 
meerkat (mer'kat). n. 1. The African penciled 
ichneumon, Cynictis penicillata. See cut un- 
der Cynietw. 2. The African suricate or zen- 
ick, Suricata tetradactyla. 
meerschaum (mer ' sham or -shum ; G. pron. 
mar'shoum), n. [< G. meerschaum, lit. ' sea- 
foam,' < mfer, the sea (= E. mere 1 ), + scliaum, 
foam, froth, = E. scum.] 1. A hydrated sili- 
cate of magnesium, occurring in fine white 
clay-like masses, which when dry will float 
on water; sepiolite. The name, from the German 
for 'sea-foam,' alludes to the lightness and the snow- 
white color. It is found in various regions, but occurs 
chiefly in Asia Minor, Livadia, and the island of Eubcaa. 
When first taken out it is soft, and makes lather like 
soap. It is manufactured into tobacco-pipes, which, af- 
ter being carved or turned, are baked to dry them, then 
boiled in milk, polished, and finally boiled in oil or wax. 
Artificial meerschaum is made from the chips and waste 
left from meerschaum-cutting, consolidated by pressure. 
Meerschaum is imitated also in plaster of Paris, treated 
with paraffin and colored with gamboge and dragon's- 
blood, and in other ways. 
2. A pipe made from this substance. Such pipes 
are valued from their taking a rich brown color from the 
oil of tobacco gradually absorbed by the material. 
meerswinet, n. See mereswine. 
meeset, " See mease 1 . 
Meesia (me'si-a), n. [NL. (Hedwig, 1782), 
named after David Meese, a gardener of the 
University of Franeker, in the Netherlands.] 
A genus of mosses typical of the tribe Meesiea>, 
having long, densely cespitose stems and linear 
or narrowly lanceolate leaves, with rectangu- 
lar-hexagonal small areolation. The capsule is 
cernuons, clavate, and thick-walled, the annulus simple 
or wanting. The species are distributed throughout the 
northern hemisphere, some occurring in North America. 
Also spelled Meesea. 
Meesiese (me-si'e-e), n. pi. [NL., < Meesia + 
-ea-.] A tribe of mosses of the order Bryacece, 
taking its name from the genus Meesia. They 
are generally small planes, with S- to 8-ranked lanceolate 
or linear-oblong leaves, and a long-pedicelled long-necked 
capsule, with a small convex or conical lid, and a double 
peristome of 16 teeth. Also spelled Meeteece. 
meet 1 (met), v. ; pret. and pp. met, ppr. meeting. 
[< ME. meeten, meten, < AS. metan (pp. metie, 
meted), gemetan (= OS. mot/an = OFries. meta 
= D. moeten, nemoeten = MLG. moten, LG. 
moten, moten = Icel. ma>ta = Sw. mota = Dan. 
mode = Goth, namotjan), meet, encounter, < mot, 
gemot, a meeting: see moot 1 , n.] I. trans. 1. To 
come into the same place with (another person 
or thing); come into the presence of; of per- 
sons, come face to face with. 
Prepare to meet thy God, Israel. Amos iv. 12. 
That, in the official marks invested, you 
Anon do meet the senate. Shak., Cor., ii. 3. 149. 
2. To come up to from a different direction; 
join by going toward; come to by approach- 
ing from the opposite direction, as distinguish- 
ed from overtake: as, to meet a person in the 
road. 
And thus thei conveyed hem vn-to the town, whereas 
Gonnore, thedoughterof kynge leodogan com hem for to 
meten. Merlin (E. E. T. S.), iii. 448. 
I would have overtaken, not have met my Game. 
Congrece, Old Batchelor, iv. 5. 
3. To come into physical contact with ; join by 
touching or uniting with; be or become con- 
tiguous to. 
The broad seas swell'd to meet the keel. 
Tennyson, The Voyage. 
4. To come upon: encounter; attain to ; reach 
the perception, possession, or experience of: 
