Metis 
laud, in April, 1848. 3. A genus of crustace- 
ans. 4. A genus of mollusks. Adams, 1858. 
mtis (ma-tes'), . [F.: see mestizo.'] 1. Same 
as mestizo. 2. In the Dominion of Canada, a 
half-breed of French and Indian parentage. 
I am aware that the mixture of French and Indian blood 
has produced the well-known class of metis, half-breeds, 
members of which are found here and there throughout 
Canada, but these are comparatively few in numbers. 
Amer. Jmir. Phttol., VIII. 151. 
metoecious (rae-te'shius), . [NL., < Gr. fie TO, 
beyond, + oko?, a house.] Heteroacious. 
metOBCism (me-te'sizm), n. [< metcec-ious + 
-ixni.~\ Heteroecism. 
metoleic (met-6'le-ik), a. [< Gr. /lerd, with, 
after, + E. oleic.] 'Belated to oleic acid orolein. 
Metoleic acid, a liquid acid resulting from the action 
of sulphuric acid on oleic acid. 
Metonic (nie-tou'ik), a. [< Meton, < L. Melon, 
Meto(n-), < Gr. MCTUV, Meton (see def.).] Of 
or pertaining to Meton, an ancient Athenian 
astronomer.- Metonlc cycle. See cycleL- Metonic 
year. See year. 
metonymic (met-o-nim'ik), a. [= Pg. metony- 
mico = It. metonimico, (. Gr. /teTuvv/iiK6e, belong- 
ing to metonymy, < peTuvv/iia, metonymy : see 
metonymy.] Pertaining to or of the nature of 
metonymy ; used by way of metonymy. 
metonymical (met-o-nim'i-kal), a. [< meto- 
nymic + -al.] Same as metonymic. 
Intricate turnings, by a transumptive and metonymical 
kind of speech, are called meanders. 
Drayton, Rosamond to King Henry, note 2. 
metonymically (met-6-nim'i-kal-i), adv. By 
metonymy. 
metonymy (me-ton'i-mi), n. [= F. metonymie = 
Sp. metonimia = It. metonimia, metonomia,< LL. 
metonymia, < Gr. ueruw/tla, a change of name (in 
rhet., as denned), < ficrd, after, + bvojia, ^Eolic 
oTOjua, name: see onym.] In rhet., change of 
name ; a trope or figure of speech that consists 
in substituting the name of one thing for that 
of another to which the former bears a known 
and close relation. It is a method of increasing the 
force or comprehensiveness of expression by the employ- 
ment of figurative names that call up conceptions or as- 
sociations of ideas not suggested by the literal ones, as 
Heaven for God, the Sublime Porte for the Turkish govern- 
ment, head and heart for intellect and affection, the town 
for its inhabitants, the buttle for strong drink, etc. See 
synecdoche. 
These and such other speaches, where ye take the name 
of the Author for the thing it selfe, or the thing con- 
telning for that which is contained, & in many other 
cases do as it were wrong name the person or the thing. 
So neuerthelesse as it may be vnderstood, it is by the figure 
metonymia, or misnamer. 
Puttenham, Arte of Eng. Poesie, p. 151. 
metope (met'o-pe), n. [= F. metope = Sp. me- 
topa = Pg. It. metopa, < L. metopa, < Gr. 
Mrtopidiiu. 
expanded radius : u, ulna ; ft. 
humerus. 
the space between the triglyphs of a frieze, < 
perd, between, + oxt/, an aperture, hollow.] 1. 
In arcli., a slab inserted between two triglyphs 
of the Doric frieze, sometimes, especially in late 
^^^^^""""^^"t*. >-- 
Acfceon and Artemis. Metope from the southern temple of the 
eastern plateau of Selinus. 
work, cut in the same block with one triglyph or 
more. It was so called because in the primitive Doric 
of which the later triglyphs represent the ends of the ceil- 
ing-beams, the metopes were left open as windows, and 
were thus literally apertures between the beams. The 
metopes were characteristically ornamented with sculp- 
ture in high relief, but they were frequently left plain, or 
adorned simply with painting. See cuts under Doric, 
monotrir/lyph, and temple. 
2. In zoiil., same a fades. Huxley. 
3742 
metopic (me-top'ik), a. [< Gr. /itruirw, the 
forehead, front, lit. the space between the 
eyes, < fierd, between, + <JV (""'-), eye.] Of 
or pertaining to the forehead: as, a metopic 
suture Metopic point, a point midway between the 
greatest protuberances of the right and left frontal emi- 
nences. See craniometry. Metopic suture, the median 
suture uniting the two halves of the frontal bone, pres- 
ent in early life and sometimes visible in adult skulls. 
Also called frontal suture. 
Metopidius (met-o-pid'i-us), n. [NL. (Wagler, 
18313), < Gr. ficnmiotof, equiv. to tieruKialof, of 
or pertaining to the 
forehead, < /ICTUTTIOV, 
/ttTuxov, the fore- h 
head: see metopic.] 
A genus of Indian 
and African gralla- 
torial birds of the ' 
family Purridte or 
Jacanidce, characterized by the laminar expan- 
sion of the radius and the reduction of the spur 
on the wing. There are several species, as M. 
africanus, M. indicus, and others. 
metopism (met'o-pizm), n. [< metop-ic + -ism.] 
That character of an adult skull presented in 
the persistence of a frontal or metopic suture. 
metoposcopic (mefo-po-skop'ik), a. [= F. me- 
toposcopique; as metoposcop-y + -ic.~\ Relating 
to metoposcopy. 
metoposcopical (mef'o-po-skop'i-kal), a. [< 
metoposcopic + -al.] Same as metoposcopic. 
A physiognomist might have exercised the metoposcopi- 
cal scieuce upon it [a face). Scott, Abbot, \\.\i i, 
metoposcopist (met-o-pos'ko-pist), n. [< met- 
oposcop-y + -ist.] One versed in metoposcopy. 
Apion speaks of themetoposcopwte who judge by the ap- 
pearance of the face. Encyc. Brit., XIX. 4. 
metoposcopy (met-o-pos'ko-pi), M. [= F. mc- 
toposcopie = Sp. metoposcopia = Pg. It. metopo- 
scopia, < Gr. /I?TUVOV, the forehead, front, + 
aKovelv, view.] The study of physiognomy ; the 
art of discovering the character or the disposi- 
tions of men by their features or the lines of 
the face. 
Other signs [of melancholy] there are taken from phys- 
iognomy, metoposcopy, chiromancy. 
Burton, Anat. of Mel., p. 39. 
metosteon (me-tos'te-on), n.; pi. metostea (-a). 
[NL., < Gr. fiera, after, + barcov, a bone.] In 
ornith., the posterior lateral piece or special 
ossification of the sternum, behind the pleuros- 
teon, on each side of the lophosteon. See cut 
under carinate. 
metovum (me-to'vum), . ; pi. metova (-va). 
[NL.,< Gr. /iErd, after, + L. ovum (= Gr. <f6v), 
egg: see ovum.'] A meroblastic egg, ovum, or 
ovule which has acquired its store of food- 
yolk, or been otherwise modified from its origi- 
nal primitive condition as an egg-cell or pro- 
tovum. Also called after-egg and deutovum. 
metralgia (me-tral'ji-a), n. [NL., < Gr. /J'frpa, 
womb, + dXj-of, pain.] InpathoL, pain in the 
womb. 
metran (met/ran), n. The abuna; the head of 
the Abyssinian or Ethiopic church. 
metre 1 , . See meter 1 *. 
metre 2 , . See meter 3 . 
metrectopia (met-rek-to'pi-a), n. [NL., < Gr. 
ftt/rpa, womb (see matrix), "+ CKTOTTOC, out of 
place: seeectopia] Displacement of the womb. 
Thomas, Med. Diet. 
metrectopic (met-rek-top'ik), a. [< metrectopia 
+ -ic.] Pertaining to or affected with met- 
rectopia. 
metretet, . [ME., < L. metreta, < Gr. [terpirrtK, 
an Athenian measure for liquids (about 9 Eng- 
lish gallons), < furpelv, measure, < fdrpov, a 
measure : see meter 3 .] An ancient liquid mea- 
sure. The Attic, Macedonian, and Spanish metrete was 
about 40 liters, or 10J United States gallons. The Lace- 
demonian and Eginetan measure was about 55 liters. In 
Egypt the artaba was sometimes called a metrete. 
Of fynest must in oon metrete, 
Or it be atte the state of his fervence, 
VIII unce of grounden wermode in a shete 
Dependaunt honge, and XLti dayes swete ; 
Thenne oute it take. 
PaUadiw, Husboudrie (E. E. I. S.X p. 203. 
metric 1 (met'rik), a. [< NL. metricus, < Gr. 
litrpix&S, taken in the lit. sense 'pertaining to 
measure,' < fierpov, measure: see meter 3 , and 
cf . metric'*, metric'*.] Quantitative ; involving 
or relating to measures of distance, especially 
in different directions. See geometry. 
metric 2 (met'rik), a. and . [I. a. = F. metrigue 
= Sp. metrico = Pg. It. metrico (cf. D. metriek. 
metrisch = G. metrisch = Dan. Sw. metrisk), < 
L. metricus, < Gr. [ierptK6f, pertaining to meter 
metrician 
(of verse), < /lerpov, meter : see meter 2 . II. n. 
= F. metrimte = Sp. metrica = Pg. It. metrica 
= G. Dan. Sw. metrik, < NL. metrica, < Gr. fie- 
rpiKTj (sc. T%M?), the art of meter, prosody, fern. 
of fierpiKdf, pertaining to meter: see above.] 
I. a. Having meter or poetic rhythm ; pertain- 
ing to meter or to metrics; metrical. 
Hesiod with his metric fragments of rustic wisdom. 
J. S. BlacUe. 
II. n. Same as metrics 2 . 
Let the writer on metric write the poet's scores mathe- 
matically. Trans. Amer. Philol. Ass., XVI. 87. 
metric 3 (met'rik), a. [< F. mctriqve (= Sp. 
metrico = Pg. It. metrico (after F.), < NL. me- 
trictis, pertaining to the system based on the 
meter, < metrum, a meter: see meter 3 , and cf. 
metric*, metric'*.'] Pertaining to that system 
of weights and measures of which the meter is 
the fundamental unit Metric system, the system 
of measurement of which the meter is the fundamental 
unit. First adopted in France (definitely in 1799), it is in 
general use in most other civilized countries, except the 
English-speaking countries, and is now almost universally 
adopted for scientific measurements. Its use is permitted 
in Great Britain, and was legalized in the United States in 
1866. The meter, the unit of length, was intended to be 
one ten-millionth part of the earth's meridian quadrant, 
and is so very, nearly. Its length is 39.370 inches. (See 
meterZ.) The unit of surface is the are, which is 100 square 
meters. The theoretical unit of volume is the stere, which 
is a cubic meter. The unit of volume for the purposes of 
the market is the '/'/, which is the volume of 1 kilogram 
of distilled water at its maximum density, and is there- 
fore intended to be 1 cubic decimeter. For 10 times, 100 
times, 1,000 times, and 10,000 times one of the above units, 
the prefixes deca-, hecto-, kilo-, and myria- are used. For 
At iio> Vo of the respective units, deci-, centi-, and milli- 
are prefixed. The micron, adopted by the international 
commission, is one millionth of a meter. The following 
is a complete table of equivalents : 
1 myriameter = 5.4 nautical miles, or 6.21 statute 
miles. 
1 kilometer = 0.621 statute mile, or nearly 3 mile. 
1 hectometer = 109.4 yards. 
1 decameter = 0.497 chain, or 1.988 rods. 
1 meter = 39.37 inches, or nearly3feet3g inches. 
1 decimeter = 3.937 inches. 
1 centimeter = 0.3937 inch. 
1 millimeter = 0.03937 inch, or 1-25.4 inch. 
1 micron -- 5,} 05 inch. 
1 hectare = 2.471 acres. 
1 are = 119.6 square yards. 
meter) 
1 decistere 
1 kiloliter 
1 decastere = 13 cubic yards, or about 2} cords. 
= i- 807 cubic y*" 18 ' or 36 - 3 cubic feet - 
= 3j cubic feet. 
= 1 tun 12 gallons 2 pints 2 gills old 
wine-measure. 
1 hectoliter = 22.01 imperial gallons, or 26.4 United 
States gallons. 
1 decaliter = 2 gallons 1 pint 2- gills imperial mea- 
sure, or 2 gallons 2 quarts 1 pint '. 
gill United States measure. 
1 liter = 1 pint 3 gills imperial, or 1 quart } 
gill United States measure. 
1 deciliter = 0.704gillimperial,or0.845gill United 
States measure. 
1 millier = 1 ton avoirdupois less 35 pounds. 
1 metric quintal = 2 hundredweight less 3J pounds, or 
220 pounds 7 ounces. 
1 kilogram = 2 pounds 3 ounces 4| drains avoirdu- 
pois. 
1 hectogram = 8 ounces 8| drams avoirdupois. 
1 decagram = 154.32 grains troy. 
Igram = 15.43234874 grams. 
1 decigram = 154.32 grains. 
1 centigram = 0.15432 grain. 
1 milligram = 0.015432 grain. 
Closely connected with the metric system was the pro- 
posed division of the right angle or circular quadrant into 
100 equal parts instead of 90 degrees ; but this has not 
met with favor, mainly because the name degrees was re- 
tained, introducing a risk of confusion. See grain?. 
metrical 1 (met'ri-kal), a. [< metric^ + -al.~\ 
Pertaining to measurement, or the use of 
weights and measures ; employed in or deter- 
mined by measuring: as, a metrical unit of 
length or quantity ; the metrical systems of the 
ancients. 
If we agree to accept a precise metrical quantity of one 
metal as our standard. Jevoiu, Money, p. 69. 
Metrical diagram. See diagram. Metrical prop- 
erty or proposition. See descriptive property, under de- 
scriptive. 
metrical 2 (met'ri-kal), a. [< metric 2 + -al.~\ 
Pertaining to or characterized by poetical mea- 
sure or rhythm ; written in verse ; metric : as, 
metrical terms ; the metrical psalms. 
The Poesie metricall of the Grecians and Latines came 
to be much corrupted and altered. 
Puttenham, Arte of Eug. Poesie, p. 7. 
metrically (met'ri-kal-i), ailr. In a metrical 
manner; measuredly; as regards meter. 
metrician (me-trish'an), H. [< metric? + -ian.] 
A writer of verse ; one who is skilled in meters. 
Ye that beue metriciens me excuse. 
Court of Lone, 1. 30. 
These Latin metricians . . . seem in their scanning of 
poetry to have beat time in the same way. 
J. lladley, Essays, p. 97. 
