moment 
3. MiHiii'iiiiini : inipi'tus; moving cause ; im- 
pelling t'oivc CM 1 occ-ilsioil. 
llach on him-' 11 i ' 
As only In hi* arm Mir moment lay 
of victory. Milton, V. L., vl. 289. 
4. .\ni:ih]i' |iiii-|ini-t ; weight or vulup; impor- 
tance; consequence: as, his opinions are of 
little illiinii ill to U8. 
lirhm for many respects of greater mument, to liane 
them [prinoM] K'"l :""1 vt-rt ni)U8 then any inferior sort 
of men. I'vttenham, Arte of Eng. Poesie, p. 28. 
Captall nimin:<K or mattiTs of mnnti-til, Urfore the 
Chan liiniM'ltY, or Mote t'ounsells, of whom they are al- 
wayes lu-aril, and speedily discharged. 
Capt. John Smith, True Travels, I. 86. 
6f. A forcible or convincing plea. 
He ... pressed the former argument!, refuted the 
cavils, . . . and added . . . many moment* and weights to 
his discourse. Jtr. Taylor, Works (ed. 1885), II. 77. 
6. An essential or constituent element; an 
important factor. 
It Is a complete mistake historically to assume that the 
moment of OirtMbuiillD is consciousness. 
Veitch, Introd. to Uescartes's .Method, p. lull. 
7. In m/illi., an increment or decrement; an 
infinitesimal change in a varying quantity. 8. 
In mrch., in general, effect ; avail. The phrases in 
which ft appears have exact meanings, though the pre- 
cise sense in which the word itself Is taken in these phrases 
Is not alwaysclear. Bendlng-moment KanieunumMnC 
of flexure. -Equation Of momenta. See equation 
Logical moments. Hoe logical. Moment-axis of a 
couple, the line which represents in direction the direc- 
tion of a couple, and by its length the moment. Moment 
of a couple, the product of the force by the length of the 
anu. Moment of a force, (a) With regard to a point, 
the product of a force by its distance from the point. (6) 
With reference to a line or ails, the product of the com- 
ponent of the force In the plane perpendicular to the line 
by the distance of that component from that line. Mo- 
ment of a magnet, or magnetic moment, the product 
of the numerical strength of either pole of the magnet by 
the distance between the poles. 
The total moment of a magnet Is the moment when It is 
at right angles to the lines of force. 
J. E. U. Gordon, Elect, and Mag., I. 151. 
Moment of deviation or distortion. Same as product 
of inertia (which see, under inertia). Moment of flex- 
ure. See flexure. Moment of inertia. See inertia. 
Moment Of rupture, the moment of flexure of a beam 
calculated for a predetermined or assumed breaking load 
und leverage. Its formula Is M = n/bA-, in which b - 
breadth, A = depth, n a factor varying with shape of cross- 
section, and / a factor depending on the nature of the ma- 
terial. Both factors n and/ are determined and tabulated 
for different materials from experimental data. Moment 
Of stability of a body or structure supported at a given 
plane joint, the moment of the couple of forces which 
must be applied in a given vertical plane to that body or 
structure In addition to Its own weight, in order to transfer 
the center of resistance of the joint to the limiting position 
consistent with stability. Rankine. Virtual moment Of 
a force, the product of the force by the virtual velocity 
of the point of application. = Syn. 1. Moment, Minute, In- 
stant, twinkling, second, trice, flash. A moment has dura- 
tion, an ingtant has not : as, wait a moment ; come this 
i"f.t'int. Practically, however, the two are often the same. 
A minute is just sixty seconds ; r. moment is a short but less 
definite period. 
Moment* make the year. Ytntng, Love of Fame, vi. '205. 
There are minutes that fix the fate 
Of battles and of nations. 
H. U. Broirnrll, The Bay-Fight. 
The duke does greet you, general, 
And he requires your haste post-haste appearance, 
Even on the in. --tin it. Shale., Othello, i. 2. 38. 
moment (mo'ment), c. (. [< moment, .] To 
order or arrange to a moment. 
All accidents are minuted and nunnenled by Divine 
Providence. Ftdler, Worthies, Suffolk, II. 834. (Davies.) 
momenta. ". Plural of momentum. 
momenta/! (mo'men-tal or mo-men'tal), a. [< 
OF. nidiHciitiil, < LL. *iuomentaliK (in adv. mo- 
mentaUtcr), of a moment, < momentum, moment : 
see moment.] If. Pertaining to a moment. 2t. 
Lasting but a moment ; very brief. 
Not one mtnufittal minute doth she swerve. 
llrrlnn. Sir P. Sidney's Ouranla (1800). 
3t. Momentous. 4. Of or pertaining to mo- 
mentum Momental ellipsoid. See ellipsoid. 
momentallyt (mO'men-tal-i), '"''' 1. Fora 
moment. 
Air but mmnentaUy remaining In our bodies hatli no 
proportionable space for its conversion, only of length 
enough to refrigerate the heart. Sir T. Brnicne, Vulg. Err. 
2. From moment to moment. 
Homentally the corporall spirits are dissolved and con- 
sumed, as also, in like manner, the humours, and solide 
parts. Benvemito, Passengers' Dialogues (1612). ( A'orcn.) 
momentanet, . [< OF. momentaine, < LL. mo- 
mi'iitiiiii KX, of a moment: see MMMMtBMMU.] 
Momentaneous: momentary. 
You will remember how transitorie this present life is, 
and howe short and nonunion the pleasureof this fllthir 
flesh is. >v..'i, chronicles, The Mercians, an. 749. 
3827 
momentaneoust (mo-men-ta'nS-us), a. [= F. 
HHllllintiliirr, III 1 ', mniiii ulili in (see tHOmfn In in I 
= 8p. momenUtneo = Pg. It. moim-ntuum, < LL. 
momentaneun,<. L. momentum, a moment : see mo- 
ni' ni. \ 1. Lasting for a moment ; momentary. 
.InhnsiiH. 2. I'l-rliiiiiing to in-tnni- of tim.-: 
illstHlltilliriiti*. 
momentaninesst (mfl'ttUHMf-ni-iw*), . [< 
MiiHii'iiliiiiy + -negg.~] Momentariness. Bp, 
Hull, Character of Man. 
momentanyt (mo'men-ta-ni), it. [< LL. mo- 
miHtaneus: see nwmeHtantous.] Lasting for a 
moment; momentary. 
Making it m'imentany as a sound, 
.Swift as a shadow, short as any dream. 
Ska*., M. N. D.,L 1.143. 
Other momentanjt delights only supple the forehead, not 
unburthcn and solace the heart. Ford, Line of Life. 
momentarily (mo'men-ta-ri-li), adr. 1. So as 
to be momentary ; for a moment. 
I repeatedly watched the flowers, and only once saw a 
humble-bee momentarily alight on one, and then fly away. 
Darwin, Different Forms of Flowers, p. M. 
2. From moment to moment: as, he is momen- 
tarily expected. 
Why endow the vegetable bird with wings, which nature 
has made momentarily dependent upon the soil '.' 
Sheiuttine. (Latham.) 
momentariness (mo'men-ta-ri-nes), n. The 
state of being momentary. 
momentary (mo'men-ta-ri), a. [< LL. momen- 
inriiix, of a moment, brief, < L. momentum, a 
moment: see moment."] 1. Lasting but a mo- 
ment or for a very short time; of short dura- 
tion : as, a momentary pang. 
Jove's lightnings, the precursors 
O* the dreadful thunder-claps, more momentary 
And sight-outrunning were not. 
Shale., Tempest, I. >. 20-.'. 
With wings more momentary-mitt than thought. 
Shot., T. and C., iv. 2. 14. 
Upon serious consideration of the frailty and uncertainty 
of this momentary life, ... I ... do make and declare 
. . . my last will and testament. 
Winthrop, Hist. New England, II. 436. 
His griefs are momentary and his joys immortal. 
Steele, Spectator, No. 75. 
2. Short-lived; likely to die soon or at any 
moment. [Obsolete or archaic.] 
Men are the subjects of fortune, and therefore momen- 
tarie. Greene, Penelope's Web (1587X 
Only give it [this paper] leave to tell yon that that lord 
whom perchance the king may lie pleased to hear in It Is 
an old and momentary man. Damn, Letters, cxxix. 
That hour perhaps 
Is not so far when momentary man 
Shall seem no more a something to himself. 
Tennytnn, Lucretius. 
3. Occurring every moment: as, momentary in- 
terruptions. 
The due clock swinging slow with sweepy sway, 
Measuring time's flight with momentary sound. 
n'arton, Inscriptions. 
momently (mo'ment-li), adr. From moment 
to moment; every moment. 
Of tuneful Caves and playful Waterfalls 
Of Mountains varying momently their crests 
Proud be this Land ! 
Wordmrorth, Glen of Loch Etive. 
Momently the mortar's Iron throat 
Roared from the trenches. 
Whittier, Dream of Pio Nono. 
momentous (mo-men'tus), n. [< LL. momen- 
tosus, of a moment, < L. momentum, a moment: 
see moment.'] Of moment or consequence; of 
surpassing importance ; critical. 
We ought constantly to bear in our mind this mmnen 
tout truth, that in the hands of the Deity time is nothing, 
that he has eternity to act in. Palfy, Sermons, xxii. 
The emigration of the fathers of these twelve common- 
wealths . . . was the most momentous event of the sev- 
enteenth century. Bancro.ft, Hist. f. S., II. 450. 
=Syn. Grave, serious. 
momentously (mo-men'tus-li), adr. To a mo- 
mentous degree; with important effect or in- 
fluence: as, this engagement bore momeutnuxl;/ 
on the course of the war. 
momentousness (mo-men'tus-nes). M. Tlie 
state or quality of being momentous or of grave 
importance. 
These and many other difficulties beset Dr. M in the 
course of his study ; nor is he unaware of their variety 
or MMHlMMMM Amer. Jour. PhUol., VIII. 225. 
momentum (mo-men'tum), H. ; pi. momenta 
(-tii). [< L. momentum, balance, alteration, 
cause, etc., orig. 'a movement': see moment.'] 
1. In mech., the product of the mass and velo- 
i-ityof H body: tin- quantity of motion of abody. 
In all relations between bodies, such as impacts, the al 
gebraic sum uf the momenta is preserved constant See 
- 
Momotus 
When the velocity Is the same, ... the i 
moving force, of bodies 1s directly proportional to their 
mass or quantity of matter. . . . \\IH-II die momenta at 
two bodies are equal tin ii v<-lcltii-H will !>< in the In 
Tone proportion of tln-ir i|iiantltles of matter. 
Lardner, Handbook of Nut. I Iriliw., || 106, lo. 
The rate of mass displacement la momentum, just aa the 
rate of displacement is velocity. 
Clerk MaxmU, Matter and Motion, art. LsvIL 
2. An impulse; an impelling force; impetus. 
This preponderating weight . . . compleated that no- 
meittum of Ignorance, rashnecs, presumption, and lust of 
plunder which nothing baa been able to resist. 
Bvrke, Her. hi France. 
He never aaks whether the political tiuimrnhim set up 
by his measure, in some CUM decreasing but In other 
cases greatly Increasing, will or will not have the same 
general direction with other like momenta. 
B. Spencer, Man vs. Slate, p. 20. 
3. Constituent or essential i-l. tn< nt. Compare 
moment, 6. 
I shall state the several mamrnla at the distinction In 
separate propositions. Sir W. Hamilton. 
4. In mwfirnl nutation, an eighth-rest. 
momie, " A variant of /> !//'. 
momie-cloth, ". See mummy-elotli. 
Momier(morn'i-er), N. [F., lit. a mummer: see 
mummer.] A term of reproach applied to those 
Swiss Calvinists who, about 1818, separated 
from the state church and maintained a strict 
Calvinistic theology and Methodistic discipline. 
momisht (mo'minh), a. [< mome 1 + -ink 1 .] Fool- 
ish; dull. Levin*. 
Thy pleasant framed style 
Discovered lyes to mnrninh monthes. 
\'ene prefixed to Oooge't Eytnji. (Daciet.) 
momismt (rao'mizm), n. [< Momus, 1, + -i'#m.] 
Carping; faultfinding. Minnheti. 
mornistKnio'mist), n. [< J/V>i, 1, + -w/.J A 
faultfinder. 
As for the crabbed <K crlticall Interpretation of many, 
... I walgh It little, and lesse the detracting speeches 
of barking Momistt. Time* Whittle (E. E.I.S.), p. Ul. 
momnieryt, An obsolete form of mummery. 
mommicKt, n. [V ar - ^ mammock, M.] A scare- 
crow. FProv. ng.] 
mommicK (mom'ik), r. t. [Var. of mammock, r.] 
To cut awkwardly; mess or make a mess of: 
as, he tnommick# his food. [Obsolete or prov.] 
mommy (mom'i), . ; pi. mommies (-iz). [A var. 
of mummy; cf. old-irife, old-squaw, old-granny, 
etc.] A duck, Jtarclda glacialis, the old-wife 
or south-southerly. [Cape May, New Jersey.] 
Momordica (mo-mdr'di-kii), n. [NL. (Tourne- 
fort, 1700), so called in allusion to the seeds, 
which have the appearance of being bitten ; < 
L. mordere (perf. inomordi), bite: see mordant.'] 
A genus of plants of the natural order Cucur- 
bitacece and the tribe Cucumerinea', character- 
ized by the stamens being inserted below the 
mouth' of the calyx, by the calyx being provided 
with two or three scales, and by having a cam- 
panulate corolla and simple tendrils. They are 
climbing herbs, either annual or perennial, having entire 
lobed or compound leaves attd rather small white or yel- 
lowish flowers, which are monoecious or dioecious. The 
fruit Is oblong or cylindrical, I -dry like or opening Into 
three valves, having few or many seeds. Twenty-flve spe- 
cies are known, natives chiefly of Africa, but also of tropi 
cal Asia and Australia. They are plain plants except for 
their fruit, which in some species is red or orange-yellow, 
and which bursts when fully ripe, disclosing the red-ariled 
seeds. Such are the species M. Babamina, the balsam- 
apple, and M . Charantta, sometimes called balmm-pear, 
the best-known cultivated species. 1 he squirting cucum- 
I"T. which grows in the south of Europe, was formerly 
placed in this genus, under the name M. Elateritim, but is 
now regarded as the type of a distinct genus, h'clxillium. 
raomot (rno'mot), w. Same as mottnot. 
Momota (mo-mo'tft), //. [NL.] Same as .!//- 
motus. Stair, 180$. 
Momotidae (mo-mot' i-de), . pi. [NL., < Mo- 
motus + -iW<p.] An American family of serra- 
tirostral picarian birds, typified by the genus 
Moiiiotiix ; the mot mots or sawbills. They are re- 
lated to the kingfishers. The tail Is long and graduated, 
of 10 or 12 rectrices, of which the middle pair are usually 
long-exserted and spalulated, funning a pair of rackets; 
the plumage Is aftershafted, the bill serrated, and the ster- 
num doubly fenestrated ; there are no area nor spinal 
apterlura ; and there are two carotids. The Momotido? 
are confined to the warmer parts of America. There are 
only about 15 species, of the genera Homohu, Crybelu*, Ba- 
rMMttMfBt liimomota. PnonorhyneJaa, and J/yiomaiK*. 
The family is also called Primitida. See motmot, 
Momotinae (mo-mo-ti'ne), n. ;>/. [NL., < Jfo- 
mottut + -I'MIP.] 1. The only subfamily of ifo- 
motidtr. Also called Prionitino'. 2. The Momo- 
tidce as a subfamily of some other family. 
MomotUS (mo-mo'tus), . [NL. : see ninnint. 
ni'itmot.'] The typical genus of Momotida; es- 
tablished by Brisson in 1760. It was formerly coex- 
tensive with the family, bnt Is now restricted to such 
species as .V. bratHirntu. M. nrruleite/*, the bine-head- 
ed sawhlll. Is the only memlier of Its genus or family found 
