membrane 
brane, the libnms membrane which connects the hyoid 
bone with the thyroid cartilage. Tympanic membrane, 
the membrane which occludes the external meatus of the 
ear and separates it from the middle ear. Undulating 
membranes, simple membranous hands, one margin at- 
tached, the other free, exhibiting undulatory motion. Mi- 
croyraphic Diet. Vibratile membrane. Same as semi- 
lunar membrane. Vitelline membrane, the proper coat 
or wall of an ovum, inclosing the vitellus or yolk : it cor- 
responds to the cell-wall of any other cell. Also called 
ZOIMJ pellucida, from its pellucid appearance in some cases, 
as in the human ovum. 
membrane-bone (mem'bran-bon), n. An ossi- 
fication in membrane of any kind ; a bone which 
has any other origin than in cartilage. The bones 
of the skeleton of vertebrates are for the most part pre- 
formed In cartilage, which is resorbed during the pro- 
cess of ossification ; but some, as those of the face, of the 
top and sides of the skull, those found in tendons and other 
fibrous structures, as the bones of the eyeball, heart, penis, 
etc., of various animals, and all dermal bones, or those of 
the exoskeleton, are membrane-bones. 
membraneless (mem' bran -les). . [< mem- 
brane + -less."] Not provided with a membrane : 
as, a membraneless cell. 
membranella (mem-bra-nel'a), .; pi. membra- 
nellce(-e). [NL.,dim.ofL.roej6raMa,membraue: 
see membrane.'] In zoo/., same as cirrus, 2 (i). 
membraneous (mem - bra 'ne- us), a. [< LL. 
membraneus, of a membrane or parchment, < L. 
membrana, membrane : see membrane,] Same 
as membranous. 
membrane-suture (mem'bran-su"tur), n. In 
the hemielytrum of a heteropterous insect, the 
suture between the basal harder part or corium 
and the terminal part or membrane. 
membrane-winged (mem'bran-wingd), a. In 
entom., hymenopterous. 
membraniferous (mem-bra-nif'e-rus), a. [< L. 
membrana, membrane, + ferre = E. bear 1 ."] 
Having or producing membrane. 
membraniform (mem'bra-ni-form), . [< L. 
membrana, membrane, + forma, form.] Having 
the characteristics of a membrane; membra- 
nous in form; laminar; lamellar; fascial. 
membranocoriaceous (mem"bra-nd-ko-ri-a'- 
shius), a. [< L. membrana, membrane, + corium, 
hide, + -aceous. Cf. coriaceous.] Of a thick, 
tough, membranous texture or consistency, as 
a polyzoan. 
membranology (mem-bra-noro-ji), w, [< L. 
membrana, membrane, H- Gr. -/.oj/a, < /.iyetv, 
speak : see -ology."\ The science of membranes ; 
a treatise on membranes. [Bare.] 
membranosus (mem-bra-no'sus), .; pi. mem- 
branosi (-si). [NL.: see membranous.] A mus- 
cle of the thigh ; the semimembranosus. 
membranous (mem'bra-nus), a. [= F. mem- 
braneux, < NL. membranosus, < L. membrana, 
membrane: see membrane."} 1. Having a mem- 
brane or membranes; membraniferous. 2. 
Consisting of membrane ; having the texture or 
quality of a membrane; membranaceous. 3. 
Of or pertaining in any way to membrane ; re- 
sembling membrane; membraniform. 4. In 
bot., having the character or appearance of 
membrane ; thin, rather soft and pliable, and 
often more or less translucent, as sometimes 
leaves, the walls of seed-vessels, the indusia in 
ferns, etc. See phrases below Membranous 
croup, labyrinth, etc. See the nouns. Membranous 
mycelium, a mycelium in which the hyphse form a 
membranous layer by interweaving. See mycelium. 
Membranous ossification. See membrane-bone. 
membranule (mem'bra-nul), H. [= F. membra- 
nule, < L. membranula, dim. of membrana, a 
membrane: see membrane.] 1. A little mem- 
brane. 2. In entom., a small triangular flap 
or incurved portion on the posterior part of the 
base of the wings, seen in certain dragon-flies. 
membr (F. pron. mon-bra'), . [F., <membre, 
member: see member.'] In her., same as mem- 
bercd. 
membrum (mem'brum), n.; pi. membra (-bra). 
[L. : see member.'] In anat., a member: tech- 
nically distinguished from trillions. 
Memecyleae (mem-e-sil'e-e), H. pi. [NL. (A. 
P. de Candolle, 1828), < 'Memecylon + -ece.] A 
tribe of plants of the natural order Melas- 
tomacea;, characterized by having a definite 
number of ovules, and a fruit containing from 
1 to 5 seeds, the latter with large embryos. It 
embraces 3 genera, of which Memect/lon is the type, and 
about 155 species, natives of the tropics. 
Memecylon (me-mes'i-lon),)i. [NL. (Linnaeus, 
1767), < L. ni.emecylon,< Gr. fiiftaiavAov, [te[iaii<v/.ov, 
fie/uaiKv/.of, the fruit of the arbutus or straw- 
berry-tree.] A genus of plants of the natural 
order Melantomacea;, and type of the tribe Memc- 
ci/lcte, characterized by having 8 anthers and a 
1-celled ovary containing 1 seed. They are smooth 
trees or shrubs with entire coriaceous leaves, and axillary 
3704 
clusters of small blue or white flowers. About 110 species 
have been described, natives of Asia, Africa, tropical Aus- 
tralia, and some of the islands in the Pacific. 
memento (me-men'to), H. [= F. memento, a re- 
minder, < L. 'memento, remember, 2d pers. sing, 
impv. of meminisse, remember; a redupl. perf., 
<-V/?e, think: see mind 1 . It should be noted 
that memento is not connected with memory, re- 
meniber ; etc.] A hint, suggestion, notice, or 
memorial to awaken memory; that which re- 
minds ; a reminder of what is past or of what 
is to come; specifically, a souvenir. 
He is but a man, and seasonable mementos may be useful 
Bacon. 
Brother of death daily haunts us with dying mementos. 
Sir T. Browne, Urn-burial, v. 
At length she found herself decay ; 
Death sent mementos every day. 
Cotton, Fables, v. 
These [paralytics] speak a loud memento. 
Camper, Task, i. 482. 
= Syn. Souvenir, etc. (see memorial), remembrancer, 
memento mori (me-men'to mo'ri). [L., re- 
member to die, i. e. that thou must die ; usual- 
ly translated, 'remember death': memento, 2d 
pers. sing. impv. of meminisse, remember (see 
memento); mori, die (see morft, ort 2 ).] A 
decorative object, usually an ornament for the 
person, containing emblems of death or of the 
passing away of life : common in the sixteenth 
century. 
I make as good use of it as many a man doth of a 
Death's-head or a memento mori. 
Shak., 1 Hen. IV., iii. 3. 35. 
memina (me-mi'na), n. [Singalese.] 1. The 
peesoreh, a deerlet of Ceylon, Tragulns memina. 
Also meminna. 2. [cap.] [NL.] A genus of 
such small deer, separated from Moschus by 
J. E. Gray. 
Memnonian (mem-no'ni-an), a. [< L. Memno- 
nius, < Gr. Me/jv6vio<;, Mepvoveiot, of Memnon, < 
Mefivuv, L. Memnon, Memnon: see def.] Of, 
pertaining to, or resembling Memnon, an Ori- 
ental or Ethiopian hero in the Trojan war, slain 
by Achilles. He was a solar hero, son of the Dawn 
(Eos), or of Day (Hemera), symbolized as a youth of mar- 
velous beauty and strength. The Greeks gave his name 
to one of the colossi of Amenophis III. at Thebes In Egypt, 
the vocal Memnon, and called one of the temples there 
the Memnonium or temple of Memnon. See Memnonium. 
Xerxes, the liberty of Greece to yoke, 
From Susa, his Memnonian palace high, 
Came to the sea. Milton, P. L., x. 308. 
Memnonium (mem-no'ni-um), n. ; pi. Memno- 
nia (-a). [< Gr. Me[tv'6veiov, a temple of Mem- 
non, neut. of Mt-[iv6viof, of Memnon, < Mfyjvuv, 
Memnon.] 1. A temple of Memnon. The name 
was given by the Greeks to an ancient temple at Susa in 
Persia, and also to the temple still so called at Thebes in 
Egypt, properly the Rameseum or temple of Eameses II. 
See Memnonian. 
And thou hast walked about (how strange a story !) 
In Thebes's streets three thousand years ago. 
When the Memnonium was in all its glory. 
U. Smith, Address to the Mummy at Belzoni's Exhibition. 
2. [1. c. or cap.] The ancient Greek name for the 
settlement or suburb adjoining the cemetery of 
an Egyptian city, consisting of extensive estab- 
lishments for the mummification of the dead, 
and of the dwellings of the numerous artisans 
employed in these establishments and in the 
various professions, arts, and trades connected 
therewith. Also memnoneion. 
Here stood, where the field of the colossi is now, the 
Memnoneion. 
C. 0. MiMer, Manual of Archseol. (trans.), 218. 
memoir (mem'wor or me'mor), n. [< F. m(- 
moire, memoir, < L. memoria, memory: see 
memory."] If. A note of something to be re- 
membered; a memorandum. 
He desired a Memoir of me, which I gave him, of what 
I would have him search for in the King's Cabinet, and 
promised me all the Satisfaction he could give me in that 
Affair. Lister, Journey to Paris, p. 97. 
There is not in any author a computation of the revenues 
of the Roman empire, and hardly any memoirs from whence 
it might be collected. Arbuthnot, Ancient Coins. 
2. A notice or an essay relating to something 
within the writer's own memory or knowledge ; 
a record of facts upon a subject personally 
known or investigated; a concise account of 
one's knowledge or information on any topic ; 
especially, a communication to a society con- 
taining such information : as, the Memoirs of the 
Academy of Sciences. 3. pi. A narrative of 
the facts or events of some phase of history or 
in the life of a person, written from personal 
knowledge or observation; a history or narra- 
tive dwelling chiefly upon points about which 
the writer is specially informed, as an autobi- 
ography or a continuous record of observations. 
memorandum 
Such narratives are generally limited to a special line of 
facts or series of events, as Guizot's Memoirett pour servir 
I'histoire de man temps, ' Memoirs to serve for the His- 
tory of my Time.' 
He told me he had studied the History of Books with 
the utmost application 18 years, and had brought his 
Memoirs into a good Method. 
Lister, Journey to Paris, p. 100. 
To write his own Memoirs, and leave his Heirs 
High Schemes of Government, and Plans of Wars. 
Prior, Carmen Seculare, St. 33. 
4. Ill a restricted use, a biography; a memo- 
rial volume or work containing notices of the 
life and character of some one deceased, with 
extracts from his (or her) correspondence, etc. 
= Sy n. 4. Biography, Memoir. See biography. 
memoiret, " A Middle English form of memory. 
memoire (ma-mwor'), n. [F.: see memoir."] In 
diplomacy, same as memorandum, 4. 
memoirism (mem'wor-izm), . [< memoir + 
-ism.] The act or art of writing memoirs. 
Reducing that same memoirixm of the eighteenth century 
into history. Carlyle, Misc., II. 242. (Davies.) 
memoirist (mem'wor-ist), n. [< memoir + -is*. 
Cf. memorist.] A writer of memoirs ; a biogra- 
pher. 
Sir William Temple, the lively, agreeable, and well-in- 
formed essayist and memoirist. 
Craik, Hist. Eng. Lit., II. 135. 
Carlo was beginning to swear "fit to raise the dead." 
writes the memoirist, at the tardiness of the Norman pair. 
0. W. Cable, Stories of Louisiana, ii. 
memorabilia (mem'o-ra-bil'i-a), ti.pl. [L., 
neut. pi. of memorabllis, worthy to be remem- 
bered or noted: see memorable.] 1. Things 
remarkable and worthy of remembrance or 
record. 
All the memorabilia of the wonderful childhood. 
Bushnell, Sermons on Living Subjects, p. 33. 
2. Things that serve to recall something to 
memory ; things associated with some person, 
place, or thing that is held in remembrance, 
memorability (mem"o-ra-biri-ti), w. [< mem- 
orable : see -bility."] Meinorableness. [Rare.] 
Many events of local memorability. 
Southey, The Doctor, xlvii. (Davits.) 
memorable (mem'o-ra-bl), a. and H. [= F. 
memorable = Sp. memorable = Pg. memnrarel = 
It. memorabile, < L. memorabitis, worthy to be 
remembered or noted, remarkable, < memorare, 
bring to remembrance, mention: see memo- 
rate.] I. a. 1. Worthy to be remembered ; such 
as to be remembered ; not to be forgotten ; nota- 
ble; remarkable: as, the memorable names of 
history; memorable deeds; a memorable disas- 
ter. 
I passed through part of that forrest, which is called Fon- 
taine Beleau forrest, which is very great and memorable 
for exceeding abundance of great massy stones. 
Coryat, Crudities, I. 34 (sig. E). 
Witness our too much memorable shame 
When Cressy battle fatally was struck. 
Shak., Hen. V., H. 4. 53. 
Neither the praise of his wlsedom or his vertue hath 
left him memorable to posterity. 
Muton, Prelatlcal Episcopacy. 
On this memorable day [that of the battle of the Boyne) 
he was seen wherever the peril was greatest 
Macaiday, Hist. Eng., xvi. 
2f. Keeping in remembrance ; commemorative. 
I wear it [the leekj for a memorable honour ; 
For I am Welsh, you know, good countryman. 
Shak., Hen. V., iv. 7. 109. 
=Syn. 1. Signal, extraordinary, famous. 
H.t n. An event worthy of being kept in 
memory ; a noteworthy or remarkable thing. 
He that will be throughly acquainted with theprincipall 
antiquities and memorableg of this famous citie, let him 
reade a Latin Tract of one Symphorianus (-'ampegius. 
Coryat, Crudities, I. 74. 
To record the memmrablei therein. 
Fuller, Church Hist., X. vi. 24. 
memorableness (mem'o-ra-bl-nes), n. The 
state or quality of being memorable. 
memorably (mem'o-ra-bli), adv. In a manner 
not to be forgotten ; so as to be worthy of re- 
membrance. 
memorandt, . [ME., = Sp. Pg. memoranda, < 
L. memoraiidiis, to be remembered : see nii'um- 
randmii.] Memorable. 
Are he were dec! and shuld fro hem wende 
A memarand thyng to have yn mynde. 
MS. Harl. 1701, f. 84. (Halliwell.) 
memorandum (mcm-o-rau'dum), .; pi. nn iii- 
orauda (-da), less commonly memorandum* 
(-dumz). [= F. memorandum, < L. memoran- 
dum, neut. of mt'itinni nd lift, to be remembered, 
gerundive of memorare, bring to remembrance: 
see memoratc.] 1. Something to be remem- 
bered : used, originally as mere Latin, and usu- 
ally abbreviated mem., to introduce a note of 
a thing to be done. Hence 2. A note to 
