Melia 
china-trff, niul hnlij tree, nuclei Imly. ) Alan called hill-mar, 
yarn. The tree limn known as .W. AwMracliln, lint now 
classed as Azattimchld Imh'rn, Is tlit; inanxosa or nlm-tree, 
I III HI ill lllli;i, itft en pl:lllt<'<t Ihnv iUI'l rlM'Wll.Te. (See 
t/Kin/itm.) M. Azeiinrach, var. Auxtrnlaxicn. la at) elegant 
livr.pt lmlia,thc \l;il;i>;in iirehipelngo.and Australia, called 
In tin- bMt-named emintry trltite- cedar. M. tteinjjcrvireng, 
now eonsiiliTril to he the same aa M. Awdarach, haa been 
called hotrff-tree in the Weat Indies. 
Meliaceae (me-li-a'se-e), n. pi. [NL. (A. L. <! 
.lussii'ii, 1817), < Mefia -r -arete.] A natural or- 
der of dicotyledonous polypetalous plants of 
the cohort (ii-riiiiinlfs. The calyx la small, the sta- 
mens are almost always inonadulphmiB, and the anthers 
are sessile on the tube or (usually) stalked. The order In- 
cludes 37 genera and atxmt 650 species, found throughout 
the warmer but rare in the temperate regions of the globe. 
meliacequs (me-li-a'shius), . Belonging to or 
ri'sombling the Meliac.ece. Also ecdrelaceow. 
Meliad (me'li-ad), . [< Or. Mfl/UdoVr, nymphs 
of fruit-trees (or of flocks), t/tyfav, an apple or 
any tree-fruit (or uij'/ov, a sheep or goat).] In 
Or. myth., a nymph of fruit-trees or of flocks. 
And from the grove 
The Meliadt, who here for lack of flocks 
Must tend the fruit 
R. H, Stoddard, The Search for Persephone. 
Melianthaceae (mel"i-an-tha'se-e). n. pi. [NL. 
(Bentham and Hooker, 1888), '< Melinnthu* + 
-aefir."] A small order of dicotyledonous poly- 
petalous plants of the cohort Ktipiiidalfn, char- 
acterized by irregular polyganiodioecious flow- 
ers, stamens which are inserted at the base of 
the disk, albuminous seeds, and alternate stip- 
ulate leaves. Mcliantliiis is the type genus. 
Melianthus (mel-i-an'thus), n. [NL. (Tourne- 
fort, 1700), < Or. ptfa, honey, + avOos, a flower.] 
A genus of dicotyledonous polypetalous plants, 
type of the order Mrliantlmrete, characterized 
by a calyx which is very oblique at the base, 
and by having from two to four ovules in each 
cell. They are shrubs with alternate odd-pinnate leaves 
(the leaflets one-sided and decurrent on the stalk), and 
bear terminal or axillary racemes of curious irregular 
flowers, the lower ones sometimes imperfect There are 
5 species, natives of the Cape of Good Hope, one of which 
has been introduced into the Himalayas. The common 
name Is (Cape) honry-flmcer, or Itoney -plant, the blossoms 
abounding in honey. 
Melibean, Meliboean (mel-i-be ' an), a. [< L. 
M< libii'im, name of a shepherd in Virgil's first 
eclogue (a dialogue), < Gr. Me^i/foiof, cf. fern. 
MM/ioui, a personal name.] In ro t.and poetry, 
alternate ; alternately responsive ; alternating; 
: 1 1 1 n i 1 ii : 1 1 1 . 
melic (mel'ik), n. [< Gr. /ie?M6f, pertaining to 
song, < /iff of, a song, strain, melody.] Pertain- 
ing to song ; intended to be sung : applied espe- 
cially to the more elaborate form of Greek lyric 
poetry, as distinguished from iambic and ele- 
giac poetry. 
The exact relation of melic poetry to the cantonal dialect. 
Amer. Jour. Philol., VII. 234. 
Melica (mel'i-ka), n. [NL. (Linnaeus, 1737), 
< It. melica, the gVeat millet, < L. mel, honey.] 
A genus of grasses of the tribe Fcstuce<r, type of 
the subtribe ifelicca: The upper glumes are empty, 
and the spikelets are often quite large and erect or spread- 
ing. They are erect perennial plants, often tall, with usually 
slender panicles, and flat or convolute leaves. About .so 
species are known, having a wide range over the globe, but 
mostly natives of temperate climates. They are handsome 
grasses, but of no great agricultural value, though some 
serve the purpose of pasturage. Melic-ffrags is a general 
name for the species. 
Meliceae (mc-lis'e-e), . pi. [NL. (Bentham and 
Hooker, 1883),' < 
Mi lien + -co 1 .] A 
subtribe of grasses 
of the tribe Fr.ttu- 
<<</'. It includes 4 gen- 
era, of which Melica is 
the type, and about 36 
species. 
meliceris (mel-i-se'- 
ris), n. [NL.,< L. 
mrliceriit, (. Gr. fie/j- 
iflpif, a tumor so 
called, < in/iKti/mv, a 
honeycomb, 
honey, + 
wax.] In piithol., 
an encysted tumor 
containing matter 
like honey in color 
and consistence, 
usually a hygroma. 
melicerous' (mel-i- 
se'rus), a. [< nn-li- 
rrr(in) + -<>*.] Of 
the nature of meli- 
ceris; affected with 
meliceris: as, a mel- 
ii.* tumor. 
3697 
melic-grass (mel'ik-gras), n. Any grans of the 
tfl'MIIS Ml'ln-il. 
Melicocca (mel-i-kok'S), . [NL. (Jacquin. 
17li:t), < (Jr. /ii'/i, honey', + xoVucof, a berry.] A 
genus of trees of the natural order fitipin'dnreti; 
t vpe of the tribe Melirorrni: They are trees of con- 
siderable size, with alternate, abruptly pinnate leaves, and 
elongated, many-flowered racemes or panicles of small 
whitish tlowers. See hontyberry. 
Melicoccese(mel-i-kok'se-e), . til. [NL. (Radl- 
kofer, 1887), < M> lirorrn + -fa-.] A tribe of the 
natural order .SV//>/r/mv<i',thr soiijilicrry family. 
It embraces 9 genera, Melieocea being the type, and 4H spe 
cies, found principally in the tropics. 
melicottont, . Same as melocoton . 
MelidaB(meri-de), i. pi. [NL., < Mili-x + -idtr.] 
A family of arctoid carnivorous mammals, com- 
posed of the badgers, ratels, and skunks, cor- 
responding to the three subfamilies Mflinii', 
Mi Ilirorinw, and Mrjiliitintr- of the family MUH- 
telida'. See these words. 
Melieae (me-li'e-e), n. pi. [NL. (Adr. Jussieu, 
1830), < IliMa '+ -en.} A tribe of dicotyledo- 
nous polypetalous plants of the natural order 
Miliufdf. The cella of the ovary contain two omles, 
and the aeeds have a fleshy albumen and plano-convex or 
foliaceoos cotyledons. Melia is the type genus. 
Melierax (me-li'e-raks), . [NL., < Gr. tttfof, 
a song, + ifpa, a hawk.] A genus of African 
diurnal birds of prey of the family Faleonidfe, 
Chanting Hawk ^ .\lelitrax tnitstciit). ~ 
founded by G. R. Gray in 1840; the chanting 
hawks. There are several species, the best-known of 
which are M. cationu, cantans, or muttctu of South Africa 
and M. polyzonw. 
Melifera.meliferous. See if el I if era, nielliferoux. 
Meiigethes (mel-i-je'thez), . [NL., < Gr. 
"fir'/^-rftrK, Doric [t().rya&i/f, honey-sweet, < fil/i, 
honey, 4- yiflelv, rejoice.] A genus of pentam- 
erous beetles of the family yitiduliftte. There are 
over 100 species, mostly of Europe, where they are some- 
times called fflow-beeue* ; they feed on various flowers, 
eating the pollen and fructifying organs. In this way M. 
cenevx injures cruciferous vegetables. 
melilite, mellilite (mel'l-jit), . [Prop, meli- 
liti . < Gr. fi&.t, honey, + ?.i8of, stone.] A min- 
eral of a yellow or grayish yellow, found at 
Tivoli and Capo di Bove, near Rome. It occurs 
In very minute tetragonal crystals in the fissures and cav- 
ities of lava, also as an essential constituent of certain 
kinds of basalt ; It is a silicate of aluminium, magnesium, 
and calcium. 
melilot (rael'i-lot), M. K OF. mflilot, mellilot, 
mtrilot, F. melilnt = Sp. Pg. meliloto = It. meli- 
li>to, melliloto, < L. melilotos, < Gr. fifWurov or 
tiMZutroc,, a kind of clover, < /tilt, honey, + )u- 
, lotus: see lotus.] A plant of the genus 
Melilotus (mel-i-16'tus), n. [NL. (A. L. de Jus- 
sieu, 1789): see melilot.'] A genus of plants of 
the natural order Leguminf>sa>, the pulse family, 
the suborder I'apilionaeeir, and the tribe Trifo- 
/,r: the clovers. It Is distinguished by a small, fleshy, 
snbglobous or obovoid legume, which is indehiscent or at 
length two-valved. 'ITie plants are herbs, with pinnately 
trifoliate leaves having adnate stipules, and small white 
or yellow flowers, growing in loose racemes. About 10 spe- 
cies are known, which are found In the temperate and sub- 
tropical regions of the northern hemisphere. When dried, 
they have the peculiar fragrance of the Tonka bean or the 
vernal grass, owing to the presence of the principle called 
nnttnarin (which see). General names for the genus are 
melilnt and street dover. M. abba, the white inelllot or 
honey-lotus, also called Cabul clover, is an excellent bee- 
|il:mt, but of little value as forage, and in some places a 
troublosnnic weed. U. nJKciiinlii, the common or yellow 
melilnt, is. like the last, widely spread over Europe and 
Asia, and naturalized in America. It was formerly of 
medicinal repute, sold )>> the herbalists as baltam-Jttnreni. 
but has disappeared from scientific medicine. See*art'- 
clotfr and lring*tiortr. 
meliorist 
Melinae (mWi'nS), ./</. [XL., < .v.v + -. 
A sulifuiuily of MH.-.II liiln . ty|.ilii'il l.y thi- i;i-nns 
M' li:i; the badgers. The form U stout and squat ; the 
habits are terrestrial and fouorial. There are four lead- 
ing forma of Melina: the European Mrlrt, the Asiatic 
.tn-iHuyx and Mydatu, and the American Taxidea. Also 
Mi-liiut. 
meline (me'lin), a. and . [< L. niele-i, a badger 
(see Melen), + -I'M*!.] I. a. Badger-like; of or 
pertaining to the JUtliim: 
II. M. A badger of any kind ; any member of 
the Ali'liitii '. 
raelingt, . [Verbal n. of mote*, r.] Talk ; con- 
versation. 
Will[l]ain to the window wltterll ml^t sene 
3lf Mellon with hire maydenes In meting there tete. 
William of Palenu (E. E. T. .), I. 790. 
melinite (ma'!in-it), n. An explosive of French 
invention, the composition of which is secret. 
It la believed to be a mixture of fused picric acid in 
granules with trl-nltro-celliilose dissolved In ether. It 
has been successfully used In charging shells, and Its ex- 
plosive force is variously represented as from three to 
eleven times that of gunpowder, the smaller figure being 
the most probable. I Recent) 
melinophane (mel'i-no-fan), n. [Prop. 'IMC/I- 
phaiic, < Gr. ui'f*. honey, + -favf/(, appearing, 
clear,< Qaiveooai. appear.] In mineral., a silicate 
of beryllium, calcium, and sodium, occurring 
in honey-yellow or sulphur-yellow plates in 
the zircon-syenite of Norway. The name is 
changed, in Dana's system, to mrlipli unite (raeli- 
phaue). 
meliorate (me'lyo-rat), r.: pret. and pp. melio- 
rated, ppr. meliorating. [< LL. meliortitus, pp. 
of mrliorare (> It. megliorare. miyliorare = Pg. 
melliorar = Sp. mejorar = OF. meliortr, meil- 
lorer), make better, < melior, better (compar. of 
bonux, good), = Gr. /la/.'/ov, adv., rather, com- 
par. of //riPa, adv., very much.] I. trans. To 
make better; improve; ameliorate. 
Grace does not give us new faculties and create another 
nature, but meliorate* and improves our own. 
Jer. Tayltrr, Works (ed. 1835), II. 208. 
Tragedy . . . was found the most pleasing vehicle of 
conveying moral truths, of meliorating the heart, and ex- 
tending the interests of humanity. 
Ovldnmith, Origin of Poetry. 
II. intranx. To grow better; be improved. 
Yesterday not a bird peeped : the world was barren, 
peaked and pining : to-day tis inconceivably populous ; 
creation swarms and meliorate*. 
Kmerton, Works and Days. 
meliorater (me'lyo-ra-ter), . Same as melio- 
rator. 
melioration (me-lyo-ra'shon), H. [= OF. melio- 
ration, < LL. melioratw(n-), bettering, < melio- 
rare, make better: see meliorate.] 1. The act 
or process of making or becoming better; im- 
provement; amelioration. 
Digging yearly about the roots of trees, which Is a great 
means both to the acceleration and melioration of fruits. 
Is practised In nothing but in vines. 
llacim, Nat. Hist, f 483. 
By an Insight into chymistry one may be enabled to 
make some meliorations (I speak not of transmutations) of 
mineral and metalline bodies. Doyle, Works, I. 364. 
2. pi. In .Scots law, improvements made by a 
tenant upon the property which he rents, and 
for which he is in certain cases entitled to com- 
pensation from the landlord, 
meliorator (me'lyo-ra-tor), . One who or that 
which meliorates or makes better. 
The greatest meliorator of the world is selfish, huckster- 
ing Trade. Emerton, Work* and Day*. 
meliorism (me'lyo-rizm), H. [< L. melior, better 
(see meliorate), '-*-' E. -ism.] 1. The improve- 
ment of society by regulated practical means: 
opposed to the passive principle of both pes- 
simism and optimism. 
Mflwriirm, instead of an ethical, Is a dynamic principle. 
It Implies the improvement of the social condition through 
cold calculation, through the adoption of indirect means. 
It is not content merely to alleviate present suffering, It 
alms to create conditions under which no suffering can 
exist L. F. Ward, Dynam. Sodol., II. 468. 
2. The doctrine that the world is neither the 
worst nor the best possible, but that it is capa- 
ble of improvement : a mean between theoreti- 
cal pessimism and optimism. 
It may be thought, however, that, if neither optimism 
nor pessimism is the conclusion to which we are led, the 
modified doctrine of what is called Meliorism may be ac- 
cepted. W. R. Sorley, Ethics of Naturalism, p. 271. 
The only good reason for referring to the source [of the 
word meliorist is) ... that you found It useful for the 
doctrine of meliorimn to cite one unfashionable confessor 
of it In the face of the fashionable extremes. 
Oeorye Eliot, Letter to James Sally, Jan. 19, 1877. 
meliorist (me'lyo-rist), . and a. [< L. niflior, 
lictt.'r, + E. -ixt. ] I. H. One who accepts the 
practical or the theoretical doctrine of melio- 
rism. 
