meisters&nger 
= E. nini/fi:] A iiwstersintfer; specifically, n 
member of out' of the societies or tfilds formed 
during a period ranging from the fourteenth to 
the sixteenth century in tlie principal cities of 
Germany (the most celebrated at Nuremberg) 
for the cultivation of poetry ami music. These 
societies were composed mostly of worklngmcn, and sue* 
ceeded to the fleltl occupied before their time by the Mln- 
n.- mii'i, who had usually lielon|{ed tu the aristocratic 
classes. They found.-.! schools in which their art, called 
MwterynMtny, WOH taught according to strict rules con- 
stituting a system called lalndalur. They practised 
chietly lyrical poetry, generally on a biblical subject, 
sung with an accompaniment of some stringed instru- 
ment, as the harp, violin, etc. Before admission to the 
degree o( Mnster (master) it was necessary, as a rule, to 
pass through four preparatory degrees : viz., Schitter 
(scholar), Schulfreuud (schoolfellow), li-l,t, , (poet), and 
Sdnger (singer). The candidate for admission to the gild 
had to present a poem and its musical accompaniment, 
which must receive the approval of four judges, called 
Jferker, who examined the diction, grammatical construc- 
tion, meter, rime, and melody. The Mcistersanger 
claimed to trace their origin back to the middle of the 
tenth century, but their earliest school Is alleged to have 
been founded at Mainz about ! ! ' by Krauenlob, one of 
the last of the Minnesingers, and schools were established 
afterward in all the principal cities of Germany. After 
the Reformation the gilds gradually became extinct, but 
the school at rim continued In existence until 1838. 
meitht, w. See meethi. 
meiUTUS, See miurus. 
meizoseismal (rai-zo-sis'mal), a. and n. 
< Or. fieifuv, irreg. comp! of ptyat;, great, 
aeia/i6<;, ail earthquake : see seismic.'] I. a. Con- 
nected with or relating to the greatest over- 
turning power of an earthquake-snook. Mallet. 
Meizoseismal curve, that curve which connects 
points upon the earth's surface in which the upsetting or 
overturning power of an earthquake-shock was a maxi- 
mum. 
Within the ineizimt'ixinal curve the shock has less over- 
turning power, because then its direction is more vertical ; 
without, because, though more horizontal, the power of 
the shock has become weakened by distance of transmis- 
sion. Mnlli-t. in Admiralty Manual of Scientific Enquiry 
[(3d ed.), p. 351. 
II. . In seismological nomenclature, a curve 
uniting points of maximum disturbance or 
"overthrow" (Mallet), or those at which the 
effects of any earthquake-shock have been felt 
with the greatest violence. 
meizoseismic ( mi-zo-sis'mtk), a. [As mci;oscif- 
m-al + -ic.~\ Same as mcizoseismal. 
me judice (me jo'di-se). [L. : me, abl. of ego, 
I; jtulice, abl. of jiulex, judge: see judge, .] 
I being the judge; iu my opinion; according 
to my judgment. 
meket, and v. A Middle English form of meet. 
Mekhitarist (mek'i-tar-ist), . [Named after 
Mekhitar da Pietro, a native of Sebaste, Arme- 
nia, who founded a religious society at Con- 
stantinople : see def .] A member of an order 
of Armenian monks in communion with the 
Church of Borne, under a rule resembling the 
Benedictine, founded by Peter Mekhitar (1676- 
1749) at Constantinople in 1701, confirmed by 
the Pope in 1712, and finally settled on the is- 
land of San Lazzaro near Venice in 1717. This 
is still their chief seat, while they have an independent 
monastery at Vienna and branches in Russia, France, 
Italy. Turkey, etc. The Mekhitarists are devoted to the 
religious and literary interests of the Armenian race wher- 
ever found, and have published many ancient Armenian 
manuscripts as well as original works ; and their society 
is also organized as a literary academy, which confers 
honorary membership without regard to race or religion. 
Also Mechitarist. 
inekillt, . An old form of inickle. 
melaconite(uio-lak'o-uit). . [<Qr. pttaf, black, 
+ Kovtf, dust, + -itc'l.] A black or grayish-black, 
impure, earthy (also crystallized) oxid of cop- 
per, found in Vesuvian'lava (there called teno- 
rite) and abundantly at Keweenaw Point, Lake 
Superior. Lu the latter case it is the result of 
the decomposition of other ores. 
melada (me-la'da). . [< Sp. melada, prop. fern. 
pp. of melar, candy, < miel, < L. mel, honey: see 
me// 2 .] Crude or impure sugar as it comes from 
the pans, consisting of sugar and molasses to- 
gether. 
Melada shall be known and defined as an article made 
in the process of sugar-making, being the cane-juice boiled 
down to the sugar-point and containing all the sugar and 
molasses resulting from the boiling-process, and without 
any pri>cesa of purging or clarification. 
V. S. Statutes, XVIII. :;), quoted in Morgan's U. S. Tariff. 
melaena (me-le'nii), H. [XL., < Gr. fit)^tva 
(sc. x^-'t), black bile, fern, of nt/.cu;, black.] 1. 
Black vomit: a term adopted by Sauvages to 
denote the occurrence of dark-colored, gru- 
nious, and pitchy evacuations, generally ac- 
companied by vomiting of black-colored bloody 
matter. The Mack vomit in yellow fever is a morbid 
secretion mixed with blood from the lining membrane of 
the stomach and small intestines. 
3693 
2. The discharge from the anus of dark, tarry, 
and altered blood, the result of intestinal hem- 
orrhage. 
Melaenornis (mel-e-n6r'nis), w. [NL., < Gr. /it- 
'/mva, fern, of fOat, black, + t/mif, a bird.] A 
genus of African drongo-shrikes established by 
G. K. Gray in 1840, containing such species as 
.!/. iilolioiden. Also called Melanoma. 
melah (me'ltt), n. [E. Ind.] In the East Indies, 
a fair, or an assembly of pilgrims or devotees, 
partly for religious and partly for commercial 
purposes. Imp. Diet. 
melainotype (me-la'no-tip), n. An incorrect 
form for melanotii/" . 
Melaleuca (mel-a-lu'ka), n. [NL. (Linnwus), 
HO called iu allusion to the black trunk and white 
branches; < Gr. /it/of, black, + X6f, white.] 
A genus of plants of the natural order Alyrtuceai, 
the tribe Leptogpermeie, and the subtribe Eulep- 
tttspermea: It Is characterized by stamens nnltr.l in 
bundles, and longer than the petals on which they are in- 
serted (the bundles, however, not uniting to form a tube), 
and by numerous linear or wedge-shaped ovules arranged 
in the cells in an indefinite number of series. The plants 
are shrubs or trees, usually with alternate coriaceous 
leaves that are one-, three-, or several-nerved. The flow- 
ers are white, red, or yellow, generally In heads or spikes. 
See hillock-tree, tea-tret, and cajrput. 
Melambo bark. Same as Malambo bark (which 
see, under bark%). 
Melameridae (mel-a-mer'i-de), n. pi. [NL. 
(Walker, 1855), < Gi. fitfjif, black, 4- fa/p6f, 
thigh, + -idee.] A family of bombycid moths, 
said by its founder to have much affinity to the 
/i/;/n iiii/n and also to the Pyralidte, based upon 
no generic name. The wings are generally black, some- 
times with a metallic hue, often adorned with bright colors, 
or partly limpid. There are about 12 genera, mainly con- 
fined to tropical America. 
melampe (me-lamp'), . A shell of the genus 
Melampux. 
melampodet (me-lam'pod), n. [< Gr. //jJa/iwo- 
Aiov, black hellebore : see Melampodium.'] Black 
hellebore. 
Here grows Melampule every where, 
And Terlblnth, good for Dotes. 
Spenter, Shep. Cal., July. 
Melampodiese (me-lam-po-di'e-e), n. pi. [XL. 
(A. P. de Caudolle, 1836), < Melampodium + 
-e<K.~l A subtribe of Helta nthoideir, of the nat- 
ural order Composite, characterized by the het- 
erogamous flower-heads, the fertile pistillate 
ray-flowers, and the chaffy receptacle. It in- 
cludes 21 genera and about 100 species, of which 20 belong 
to the genus Melamtxidium. The genera are widely dis- 
persed over the world, and are mostly herbs. 
melampodineOUS (me-lara-po-din'f-us), a. [< 
Melampodium.'] Resembling or belonging to 
the genus Melampodium. 
Melampodium (mel-am-po'di-um), n. [NL. 
(Linnaeus), < L. melampodion, < Gr. fie'/a/ix6Aiov, 
black hellebore; said to have been so called 
from Mr Xa//:roif, L. Melampus, a legendary Greek 
physician, lit. black-footed: see Melamjms.'] A 
genus of composite plants of the subtribe Me- 
lamjMtdica: The achenia are thick ; the 4 or 5 exterior 
bracts of the involucre are herbaceous, while the inner 
ones surround the achenes ; the leaves are opposite and 
entire, and the Mower-heads are peduncle. I. There are 
about 20 species, natives of tropical and subtropical 
America. 
Melampus (me-lam'pus), w. [NL., < Gr. Mf- 
Zd/iirovi; Melampus. < /it/of (firlav-), black, -f 
irovt (;ro<5-) = E. foot.] 
In conch., a genus of ba- 
sommatophorous pul- 
monate gastropods of 
the family Aurieiilida: 
They are of small size, with 
an ovate shell, short spire, 
and sharp outer lip. A spe- 
cies is known as M. co/ea, 
from its resemblance to a 
grain of coffee. St. bidftita- 
tiw, about half an inch long, is 
very common in salt marsh- 
es along the Atlantic and 
Gulf coasts of the United 
States. 
melampyrin (mel -am - 
pi'rin), w. In flu HI.. 
same as dulcitol. Also 
meUimpyrite. 
Melampyrum (mel-am- 
pi'rum), H. [NL. (Tour- 
nefort, 1700), < Gr. /u- 
AAinrvpov, cow-wheat, 
lit. ' black wheat,' < /it Xof 
(fiefav-), black, + jrvpof, 
wheat.] A genus of 
plants of the tribe Eu- 
, natural order 
melancholically 
terized by having 4 stamens, 2 ovule* in each 
cell of the ovary, and opposite leaves. There arc 
9 species, erect branching annuals, natives of eztntrop- 
ical Europe and Asia and of North America. Bee erne- 
wheat and hanc-jlamr. 
Melanactes (mel-u-nak'tez), n. [NL., < Gr. 
ni/iii^ (/u/av-), black, + lucric, brightness.] A 
genus of click-beetles of the family Kluliriiln: 
M. ptctut is a shining pitch-black species, one Inch long, 
inhabiting the Atlantic water-shed of the United State*. 
There are 7 species, all North American. Le ConU, 18M. 
melanaemia (mel-a-no'mi-a), . [NL., < Gr. 
fif'/ar (in/Mil-), black, + a'tfui, blood.] A con- 
dition in which the blood contains irregular- 
shaped particles of brown or black pigment, 
either swimming free in the plasma, or envel- 
oped in leucocytes. Melaim'mia is most fre- 
quently the result of severe forms of remittent 
or intermittent fever. 
melanaemic (mel-a-ne'mik), . [< melancemia 
+ -ic.] Pertaining to melanapmia. 
melanagoguet (me-lan'-gog), n. [< Gr. fitljif 
(fu'/juv-), black, + ojujuf, leading, drawing, < 
ayeiv. draw.] A medicine supposed to expel 
black bile or choler. 
melancholia (mel-an-ko'li-a), n. [I.L.: see 
melancholy.] \. In patliol., a mental condition 
characterized by great depression combined 
with a sluggishness and apparent painfulness 
of mental action. Melancholia may or may not exhibit 
paroxysms of violent behavior, and there may or may not 
be delusions. 
2. Same as melancholy, 2. 
melancholiac (mel-an-ko'li-ak), n. [< melan- 
choly, melancholia, -f -nc.] A person affected 
with melancholia; a melancholy maniac. 
He | Hamlet | Is a reasoning melancholiac, morbidly 
changed from his former state of thought, feeling, and 
conduct. 
/'<-. Budmitt, quoted In Farness's Hamlet, II. 210. 
melancholiant (mel-an-ko'li-an), a. and . 
[ME. ineltiMCoUen; as "melancholy, melancholia, 
+ -an.] I. a. Melancholy. 
And he whiche is inelancolien 
Of pacience hath not lien. 
Whereof he male his wrath restralne. 
Gutter, Coal. Alnant., 111. 
II. n. A melancholiac. 
You may observe, in the modern stories of our religious 
melancluiliaHs. that they commonly pass out of one passion 
into another, without any manner of reasoning. 
Dr. J. Scott, Works (171bX U- 125- (Latham.') 
melancholic (mel-an-kol'ik), . and w. [For- 
merly also melencholick, ntalcncolik ; = F. melan- 
coliquc = Pr. melancolic, malencolic = Sp. melan- 
c6lico = Pg. metancolico = It. melancolico, malin- 
colico (cf. D. G. melankoliach = Sw. melankolixk 
= Dan. mclankolsk), < L. melaneholicus, < Gr. 
/ict.ayxohitoc,, having black bile, < pe/a-) x"'-' , 
black bile, melancholy : see melancholy.] I. . 
1. Affected with melancholy; gloomy; hypo- 
chondriac. 
She thus inrlaiichtiicke did ride, 
Chawing the cud of grlefe and inward paine. 
Spenter, . tj., V. vL 19. 
Oar melancholic friend, Pit>pertins, 
Hath closed himself up in his Cynthia's tomb. 
B. Joiunn, Poetaster, Iv. 1. 
2. Produced by melancholy; expressive or sug- 
gestive of melancholy; somber; gloomy; mourn- 
ful : as, melancholic strains. 
To-day you shall have her look as clear and fresh as the 
in. .rning, and to-morrow as melancluilic as midnight. 
/(. Janton, Cynthia's Revels, U. 1. 
3. Producing melancholy ; unfortunate; caus- 
ing sorrow. 
The Sea roareth with a dreadfull noyse ; the Wlndes 
blowe with a certalne course from thence ; the people bane 
a melanchoiike season, which they passe away with play. 
Purcnat, Pilgrimage, p. 485. 
Disperse these melancholic humours, and become your- 
self again. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends, I. 124. 
[Archaic in all uses. See melancholy, a.] 
II. H. 1. One who is affected with mental 
gloom; a hypochondriac; iu pathol., one who 
suffers from melancholia; a melancholiac. 
(As to) the outward parts of their bodies, here brouches, 
chains, and rings may have good nse ; with such like orna- 
ment of jewel as agreeth with the ability and calling of 
the melenchoticlfe. Briyht, Melancholy, p. 320. 
Four normal persons and four melancholic*. 
Amcr. Jour. Piychol., I. 369. 
2t. A gloomy state of mind. 
My condition 1s much worse than yours, . . . and will 
rery well justify the melancholic that. I confess to yon, 
possesses me. Clarendon, Life, U. (Latlium.) 
melancholically (niel-an-kol'i-kal-i), adv. In 
a melancholy way. 
The red town rises out of the red sand, Its walls of 
rammed clay frittering away metancJtolicatlu In the sun. 
Uarper-1 Mag., LXXVIII. 767. 
