mesuage 
mesuaget, . AM obsolete Im-m of mcmmage. 
mesurablet, ". A Middle English fonnof mea- 
Kltl'ftblt',. 
mesuret, and t. A Middle English form of 
iHctixuri: 
mesymnion (me-sim'ni-on), n. ; pi. mexymnia 
(-il). [NL., < Or. /itai'/wiov (see def.), < 
middle, + i/tvof, hymn: see hymn.] In anc. 
pros., a short colon introduced between lines 
in tlic midst of a system or stanza, especially 
inaliymu. tiou<'j>liyiittiiuii/, mcthymnion > proy'm- 
ii in n. 
met 1 (met). Preterit and past participleof mee<l. 
met'-'t. An obsolete preterit of mete 1 . 
met 3 (met), n. [See mete 1 .] A measure of any 
kind; a bushel; a barrel. [Prov. Eng. and 
Scotch.] 
meta (me'ta), . ; pi. mehe (-te). [L.] In Horn. 
<utli(/., a conical column or post, or, usually, a 
group of three such posts, at each end of the 
spina of a circus, serving to mark the place of 
turning; a turning-post. 
On the other side of the figure of the queen-goddess is 
a tall hippodrome meta, enriched with garlandsof flowers 
probably having reference to the sacred contest* at the 
founding uf a new city. 
The Academy, June 15, 1889, p. 417. 
meta- (met'S). [L., etc., jete-,< Gr.ywra-, prefix, 
perd, poet, ftcrai, Doric irlia or iteda, prep., with 
gen., in the midst of, among, between, along 
with; with dat. (poetical), among, with, in, be- 
sides; with ace., into the midst of, coming 
among, after, beyond, according to, etc.; in 
comp., between, after, over (denoting change, 
like L. trans-); = Goth, mith = AS. mid, ME. 
mid, with: see wtrf2.] A prefix in words of 
Greek origin or formation, meaning 'among, 
between, with, after, beyond, over,' etc., often 
denoting change or transformation (like L. 
trans-), in which denotation it is much used in 
the formation of new terms in science. In zooJ. 
It generally denotes ' after ' or ' beyond,' in place or time ; 
' hind ' or ' hinder/ of place ; ' later,' in time, as if imply- 
ing changes or transformation which required time to 
accomplish : generally correlated with pro- or proto- and 
infso- 1 as, Protozoa, Memizoa, Metazoa ; pruthorax, mesotho- 
rax, metathorax ; Prototheria and Metatheria ; metacarpus 
and metatarsus (coming next after the carpus and tarsus), 
etc. In chem. : (a) It is used to form the names of aromatic 
compounds in which two radicals which replace hydrogen 
in the benzene ring are conceived of as attached to alter- 
nate carbon atoms: distinguished from ortho-, in which the 
attachment is to adjacent carbon atoms, and from para-, in 
which the attachment is to opposite carbon atoms, (b) It 
indicates that an oxygen acid has been formed from the 
corresponding ortho-acid by the withdrawal of one, two, 
or three molecules of water, forming mono-meta- t di- 
meta-, or tri-meta-acids. (c) It is somewhat loosely ap- 
plied to indicate derivation or close chemical relation, as 
metachlural, metacetone. 
metabasis(me-tab'a-sis), . [NL., < Gr. /jera- 
/3oovf, a passing over, shifting, change, < ficra- 
fiaiveiv, pass over, < /tera, beyond, + paivuv, go, 
pass: see basis.'] 1. In rhet., a passing from 
one thing to another; transition. 2. In med., 
a change, as in treatment or remedies, or of air, 
tissue. disease, etc. Also called metabola. 
metabatic (met-a-bat'ik), n. [< Gr. /iera/Jarotof, 
able to pass from one place to another, ex- 
changing, < /ucrd/faffic, a passing over: see me- 
tabasis.] Pertaining to the transfer of energy, 
especially to the passage of heat from one body 
to another Metabatic function, a function whose 
identity for two substances expresses the equilibrium of 
actual energy between them. 
metabola 1 (me-tab'o-lft), n. [NL., < Gr. urra- 
Ito'f-'l, change, exchange, < fierajidXAuv. throw 
round, turn about, change, < pcr&, beyond, + 
lii/'/etv, throw.] Same as metabasis, 2. 
Metabola- (me-tab'o-lft), n. pi. [NL., neut. pi., 
< Gr. fieraiUZof, changeable.] Insects which 
undergo complete or entire metamorphosis or 
transformation, as the Diptera, Lepidoptcra, 
i 'nli'ii/iti rn. ami Iliiiiicniiptcra: in contradistinc- 
3729 
Cohn to the Infusoria. 2. In Mot., exhibiting 
or affected by metabolism: as, metabolic pro- 
eesHes ; mi liilm/ii- changt'H. 
metabolism (me-tab'o-lizm), n. [As metabol-y 
+ -item.] 1. In theol., the consensus of views 
of some of the early fathers in regard to the 
eucharist, favoring an objective union of the 
sensible with the supersensible, or the real 
with the symbolical presence. 2. In poetry, 
a change from one meter into another. 3. in 
in! "in., metamorphosis; transformation; me- 
taboly; t ran sit ion from larva to pupa, or from 
pupa to imago. 4. In Mot. : (a) The sum of 
the chemical changes within the body, or within 
any single cell of the body, by which the proto- 
plasm is either renewed or changed to perform 
special functions, or else disorganized and pre- 
pared for excretion. Thus, the formation of the ool- 
orless blood-corpuscles, the elaboration of the digestive 
ferment*, and the breaking up of proteids Into urea and 
other product* are examples of metabolism. Compare 
aiuibfilufin, catabolum. 
To the assemblage of chemical processes, or rather to the 
assemblage of transformations which a constituent of the 
organism such asa proteid undergoes in its passage through 
the body, the term metabolitm has been applied. 
Oamgec, Fhyslol. Chem., L 6. 
(b) Especially, retrograde metamorphosis; ca- 
tabolism. 
metabolite (me-tab'6-lit), n. [As metabol-y + 
-ite%.] A product of or substance resulting from 
metabolism, especially from retrograde metab- 
olism, or cat a holism. 
If by disease or by artificial removal this metabolism 
is prevented, the Incompletely metabolized pigments cir- 
culate in the blood, and staining of skin and mucous mem- 
brane, as in Addfson's disease, may take place. In the urine 
of Addlson's disease such an imperfect metabolite occurs. 
Dr. C. A. MIII-MII nn, Proc. Boy. Soc., XXXIX. 251. 
metabolize (me-tab'o-liz), /. /.: pret. and pp. 
metabolized, ppr. metabolizing. [As metabol-y 
+ -ize.] In iiinl., to subject to metabolism; 
transform by either assimilation or decompo- 
sition. 
Occasionally an omnivore can take in everything, and 
digest and so metabolize it as to organise it into healthy 
mental tissue. They are, however, the few. 
Science, IX. 264. 
tion to the Beterometabola. In some systems the 
Metabola are regarded as a subclass of liuecta, correlated 
with HeiniinftaMa and Ametabola. They are also called 
Heteromorpha and Holometabola, The three stages of such 
insects are those of the larva, pupa, and imago. The V- - 
tabola are divided by some into the Mandibulata and 7/otut- 
ti-llala. 
Metabolia (met-a-bo'li-ji), n. pi. [NL.] Same 
us Mt'titholaP. 
metabolian (met-a-bo'li-an), . [< Metobola^ 
+ -inn.] A metabolic insect; one of the Me- 
tillml,,. 
metabolic (met-a-bol'ik), a. [< Gr. /iera/3o/lof, 
changeable, < peroBftor, changeable, /icTaJo/j, 
change : sec i/niiihu/nl.'] 1. In ~oi>L: (a) Under- 
going complete metamorphosis, as an insect; 
of or pertainini; to (lie Mi lulmht. Also tin Inli- 
nloun. (b) Changeable in form ; assuming dif- 
ferent characters; polymorphic: applied l.>y 
metabolous (me-tab'o-lns), a. f < Gr. 
changeable: see Meiabola 2 .] In entom., same 
as metabolic. Huxley, Anat. Invert., p. 366. 
metaboly (me-tab'o-li), n. [< Gr. ^ero/JoA//, 
later also ptmfkMa, change, exchange: see 
/in inliii/iii.] Same as metabolism. 
metabrancnial (met-a-brang'ki-al), a. [< Gr. 
fierd, behind, + /)payx ia < gills: see branchial.] 
Situated behind the gills : specifically applied 
to a posterolateral subdivision of the branchial 
region of the carapace of a crab, behind and to 
one side of the mesobranchial division, called 
the mctabranchial lobe. See cut under Brachy- 
ura. 
metabrushite (met-a-brush'it), n. [< Gr. pert, 
along with, + E. brushite.] In mineral., a cal- 
cium phosphate allied to brushite, found in 
the guano of Sombrero. West Indies. 
Metacanthidae (met-a-kan'thi-de), n. pi. [NL. 
(Douglas and Scott," 1865), < Metacanthus + 
-idie.] A family of heteropterous insects, typi- 
fied by the genus Metacantnus. They have the head 
long, the crown quadrangular, the sides lobe-like, the first 
antennal joint clavate, the fourth fusiform, and the corinm 
opaque with large transverse depressions between the 
strong veins. 
MetacanthuS (met^a-kan'thus), n. [NL. (Cos- 
ta, 1848), < Gr. ftfra, beyond, + (caiWf, the cor- 
ner of the eye : see canthus, cant 1 .] The typi- 
cal genus of Metacanthida', containing a few 
European bugs. They are chiefly characterized 
by the small triangular vertical face, globose 
eyes, and large distant ocelli. 
metacarpal (met-a-kar'pal), a. and n. [< meta- 
carpus -f -al.] I|' a. Of or pertaining to the 
met acarpus or a metacarpal Metacarpal saw, a 
narrow-bladed saw for dividing the metacarpal (or meta- 
tarsiil) bones. 
II. n. One of the bones of the metacarpus. 
They are not more than five In number, and are reckoned 
as tirst, etc., from the radial or thumb side to the other. 
When reduced in number they always disappear from the 
sides, so that when but three are left the nret and nfth are 
gone ; when there is but one it is the third or middle meta- 
carpal. Two or more may fuse Into one bone, as in the 
metacarpus of a cloven-footed quadruped, as the ox. In 
recent birds, all of which have three ankylosed metacar- 
pals, the compound bone is further complicated by fusion 
with it of certain carpal bones, constituting a carpometa- 
carpus, like the tarsometatarsus of the foot. 
metacarpale (met'a-kar-pa'le), n.; pi. metaear- 
/ni/iii (-h-ii). [NL.: see metacarpal.] A meta- 
carpal bone: one of the nietacarpals. 
metacarpophalangeal (met-a-kar'po-fa-lan'- 
je-al), a. [< nictacarpun + iiliahingcs + -al.] 
metaccelia 
I'crtnining to the metacarpus and the pha- 
langes. 
metacarpus (met-ii-kur'pus), n.; pi. metacarpi 
(-pi). [NL. (cf. Of. /uraii'iii-ii'i; the part of the 
hand between the wrist aud the fingers), < Gr. 
in-i'i. beyond, + xapn6f, the wrist.] In mint., the 
second segment of the manus or terminal divi- 
sion of the fore limb of a vertebrate, considered 
with reference to its bony structure ; the seg- 
ment which comes between the carpus and the 
phalanges, corresponding to the metatarsus of 
the foot. In man the metacarpus corresponds to the 
part of the hand between the wrist and the fingers or 
thumb, and ha* five metacarpal bones. In the horse It I* 
the part of the fore leg between the so-called knee and 
the fetlock-joint, and has but one functional bone. 
metacellulose (met-a-sera-los), n. [< Gr. /ura, 
beyond, + E. cellulose.] Same &afunffus-cellu- 
lose. 
metacenter, metacentre (met-a-sen'ter), n. 
[< F. metacentre, < Gr. turn, beyond, + Ktvrpov, 
center.] The point at which an upward thrust 
could lie equivalent to the pressure of water 
upon a floating body which has received a 
slight rotational displacement about one of the 
principal axes of its section of flotation. The 
equilibrium is stable or unstable according as the meta- 
center is above or below the center of gravity. The term 
is specifically applied to the point where the vertical line 
passing through the center of buoyancy of a ship, in the 
position of equilibrium, meets the vertical drawn through 
the new center of buoyancy when the ship is slightly listed 
to one side or the other. The term was introduced into 
hydrostatics by Pierre Houguer, a French geodesist (1608 - 
1768). Also called center of cavity. 
metacentric (met-a-sen'trik), a. [< metacenkr 
+ -ic.] Of or pertaining to the metacenter. 
Generally speaking, decrease in metacentric height Is 
accompanied by a lengthening of the period of an oscilla- 
tion. Encyc. Brit., XXI. 813. 
metacetone (me-tas'e-ton ), . [< Gr. pera, along 
with, + E. acetone.] A substance (CnHioO) ob- 
tained by acting on acetone with sulphuric or 
hydrochloric acid. It is a colorless liquid hav- 
ing an odor of peppermint. Also called megityl 
oxid. 
metachemistry (met-a-kem'is-tri), n. [< Gr. 
pera, beyond, + E. chemistry; formed after 
the analogy of metaphysics.] Transcendental 
chemistry; the chemistry or analysis of the 
most obscure or abstruse things, physical or 
spiritual. 
It [the genesis of idealism) seems an affair of race, or of 
metachemigtry ; the vital point being, how far the sense of 
unity, or Instinct of seeking resemblances, predominated. 
Emermn, Literature. 
metachloral (met-a-klo'ral), . [< Gr. //era, 
along with, -I- E. chloral.] A white tasteless 
solid body, insoluble in water, formed when 
chloral is kept for some time in contact with 
strong sulphuric acid. It is a polymerid of 
chloral. It seems to resemble chloral hydrate 
in its pharmacodynamic properties. 
metachoanite (met-a-ko'a-nit). a. and n. [< 
NL. Aletachoanites, q. v.] I. a. Having retrorse 
septa 1 funnels, as a nautiloid ; belonging to the 
Metachoanites. 
H. a. A cephalopod of the group Metachoa- 
Metachoanites (met-a-ko-a-ni'tez), ti. pi. 
[NL., < Gr. pera, behind, + jodw?, a funnel : see 
choana, choanite.] A group of holochoanoid 
nautiloid cephalopods whose septal funnels are 
retrorse: contrasted with Prochoanites. Hyatt, 
Proc. Host. Soc. Nat. Hist., 1883, p. 260. 
metachronism (me-tak'ro-nizm), n. [= P. 
metachronigme ; < Gr. /teraxpovos, after the time, 
< perd, beyond, + ^rpoVof, time. Cf. anachro- 
nism.] An error committed in chronology by 
placing an event after its real date. 
metachrosis (met-a-kro'sis). . [NL., < Gr. 
[leTaxfxJwi-vat, change the color of a thing, < 
/icrd, beyond, + ^puvvt'va/, later form of xp^> flv t 
tinge, stain (> x/x-xuft & coloring, tinting), < 
xpoia, xpfa, surface, skin, color.] Color-change, 
as that of a chameleon. 
metacinnabarite (met-a-sin'a-bar-it), n. [< 
Gr. fiera (see meta-) + E. cinnakir + -ite 2 .] 
Native mercuric sulphid, crystallizing in tetra- 
hedral crystals, resembling those of the zinc 
sulphid sphalerite, also occurring massive of a 
black or grayish-black color. It is found with 
the red mercuric sulphid cinnabar in California. 
metacism (met'a-sizm), . See mytacism. 
metacoele (met'a-sel), n. Same as metaccelia. 
metaccelia (met-'a-se'li-a). n.; pi. metaceelite (-e). 
[NL.,< Gr. ptrd, beyond, T xoi/j'a, a hollow (ven- 
tricle).] The fourth ventricle of the brain, 
especially its posterior portion. Wilder and 
i. ni/i. Anat. Tech., p. 4>_'. 
