morass 
its depressed situation or from it,H uniform flat- 
ness: ii niiirsli; n swum]); a 1>^: a fen. 
We know its [the forest's] walls of thorny vines. 
Its glmli-M <>f i ee.ly grass. 
Its Hiife and silent isliimls 
Within thcdaik ,n,,mn. 
ttriiiiiit, Song of Marion's Men. 
Morass ore, bog-Iron ore. = Syn i fSmtmp. etc. See u<ar*h. 
morass-weed (mo-ras' wed), H. The plant 
liornwort, < 't'l'tititnlii/llitiii ili iiici'xitiii . 
morassy (mo-raVi), . [= I). im/*/ = G. 
moraxtii/ = Sw. moriixii/ = Dan. iiinnulxii/; as 
iiionixx + -//'.] Marshy; fenny. 
The sides and top are covered with mnramii earth. 
HMMM& 
morat (mo'rat), n. [< It. iniiriilo, mulberry- 
colored, < morn, < \i. niiinim, a mulberry: sec 
worr*.] A beverage composed of honey fla- 
vored with mulberry-juice. 
There wa grace after meat with a flst on the hoard, 
And down went the moral, and out flew the sword. 
.ViV /;. Titular, Edwin the Kair, ii. ci. 
moratet, n. {< L. mom lux, mannered, < 1110.1 
(mor-), manner: see moral. ] Mannered. 
To see a man well morale so seldonio applauded. 
davit, Magastromancer, p. 18. (Encyc. Did.) 
morationt (mo-ra'shon), . [< L. moratin(n-). 
delay, <. morari, pp. moratux, delay, tarry, < 
morii, delay: see worn 1 .] The act of staying, 
delaying, or lingering; delay. 
For therein I In the northern hemisphere, and in the apo- 
geum) his moratinn is slower, and so his heat respectively 
unto those habitations as of duration, so also of more ef- 
frrt. Sir T. Browne, Vulg. Err., vi. 10. 
Moravian (mo-ra'vi-an), a. and n. [< Moravia 
(see def.) + -.] 1 a. 1. Pertaining to Mo- 
ravia or the Moravians. 2. Pertaining to the 
religious denomination of the Moravians. 
II. n. 1. A native or an inhabitant of Mora- 
via, a crownland of the Cisleithan division of 
Austria-Hungary, lying southeast of Bohemia. 
The Moravians are Slavs in race and language, 
closely allied to the Czechs. 2. A member of 
the Christian denomination entitled the Unites 
Fratrum or United Brethren, which traces its 
origin to John HUBS. Its members were expelled from 
Bohemia and from Moravia in 1627, but in I7_- a remiumt 
settled In Herrnhut, Saxony (hence the brethren are some- 
times, in Uermany, called Hcrrnhuter). The organiza- 
tion at present has three home provinces (Herman, Brit- 
ish, and American each of which has its own government 
by synod)and several mission provinces. All these together 
form a whole, represented by a general synod, which 
meets every ten years in Herrnhut. The ministers are 
bishops (not diocesan), presbyters, and deacons. The wor- 
ship is liturgical. The members of the denomination be- 
lieve in theHcripturesas the only rule of faith and practice, 
and maintain the doctrines of the total depravity of human 
nature, the love of God the Father, the actual humanity 
and godhead of Jesus Christ, the atonement, the work of 
the Holy Spirit, good works as the fruit of the Spirit, the 
set- ond coming of Christ, and the resurrection of the dead. 
The Moravians are especially noted for their energy and 
success in missionary work. 
Moravianism (mo-ra'vi-an-izm), H. [< Mora- 
vian + -ism.~\ *The religions doctrines and 
church polity of the Moravians, or United 
Brethren. 
moray (mo'ra), H. [Also imirtii/, mumy, mitrry; 
origin uncertain.] One of many apodal eel- 
like fishes of the family Mura-nitln', and espe- 
cially of the genus Murana, of which there 
are several subdivisions, as Sidcra, The spotted 
moray Is M. (Sidera) moringa, of the tropical Atlantic, 
9657 
everywhere with innumerable small dark spots in a flue 
network of the whitish ground-color. Several other mo- 
rays occur on the southern Atlantic coast of the t'nitcd 
States, and M. mordax is a California!! moray attaining a 
length of 5 feet 
morbid (mor'bid), a. [< F. morbide = Sp. mor- 
hiilo = Pg. It. morbido, < L. morbidun, sickly. < 
morhii.-i, disease: see morbu.i.] 1. Diseased; 
sickly; not sound and healthful. AS applied to 
mental conditions, it commonly implies an over-sensitive 
state, Involving depression of spirits, in which matters 
affecting the emotions assume an exaggerated signinYance. 
A vicious ingenuity, a mnrbid quickness to perceive re- 
semblances and analogies between thiniis npjKirently het- 
erogeneous. Miifimlnii. Dryde.ii. 
The mnrliid asceticism that culminates in the life of the 
Itnddhist saint, eating his fond with loathing frm the 
alms-bowl that he carries, as though it held medicine. 
E. B. Tylnr, Prim. Culture, II. 96. 
2. Proceeding from or characteristic of disease 
or a diseased condition. 
Whilst the distempers of a relaxed fibre prognosticate 
anil prepare all the mnrlnil furee of convulsion in the l.<ly 
..f the state. Burke, A Regicide Peace, I. 
3. Relating to disease: as, morbid or patho- 
logical a natomv. Morbid concretions. See cm. 
morbidezza (mor-bT-det'iJ), /-. (It. (>sp. Pg. 
ninrhidr; = F. morbidrxxi ), sickliness, delicacy, 
< morbido, sickly: see /////.] That quality 
of flesh-painting which simulates the supple- 
ness, elastic tii iiiiicss. and soft delicacy of nat- 
ural tlcsh. 
Nature has been closely consulted, and has revealed to 
the master a few delicate touches which serve to accentu- 
ate the movement, and to give to the flesh that marbidezxa 
which is the Illusion of the softness and palpitation of life. 
Harper"! Ma>j., LXXVI. 248. 
morbidity (m&r-bid'i-ti), ii. [< F. morbidM; 
as morbid + -ity.~] 1. A morbid condition or 
state; morbidness. 
Unable from some defect or morbidity. Kingnby. 
There are no women to chart with, and to nib your mind 
out of its morbidity. S. Bmclet, In Men-lam, I. Sf. 
2. The proportion of diseased persons in a com- 
munity; the sick-rate. [Recent.] 
This term, which Is of recent Introduction, Is employed to 
denote the amount of disease or Illness existing in a given 
community ; and, as " mortality " expresses the death-rate, 
so morbidity indicates the sick-rate, whether the disease 
be fatal or not. ..""'" Med. Diet., p. 908. 
morbidly (m&r'bid-li), adr. In a morbid or dis- 
eased manner; in a way that indicates a dis- 
eased or morbid condition. See morbid, 1. 
The actions of men amply prove that the faculty which 
gives birth to those arts Is morbidly active. 
Macaulaii. Dryden. 
morbidness (mor'bid-nes), w. The state of 
being morbid, diseased, sickly, or unsound; 
morbidity. 
morbiferal (mor-bif'e-ral), a. [As morbifer- 
011.1 + -al.] Bringing or inducing disease. 
Notices of the Press . . . resembling certificates to the 
virtues of various morbiferal panaceas. 
Lowell, Biglow Papers, Notices of an Independent Press. 
morbiferous (mor-bif'e-rus), a. [< LL. mor- 
biferux, morbifcr, < L. morbus, illness, + ferre 
= E. bear 1 .'] Bringing or producing disease; 
morbific. 
morbific (m6r-bif'ik), a. [= F. morbifique = 
Sp. morbifico = Pg. It. morbifico, < L. as if *ior- 
bi finis (> LL. morbificare, produce disease), < 
morbus, disease, + facere, make. ] Causing dis- 
ease ; inducing disease. 
Nothing but the removal of the feverish and morbijic 
matter within can carry off the distemper. 
South, Sermons, VI. 311. 
Morbific agent. See agent. 
morbifical (m6r-bif'i-kal), a. [< morbific. + 
*</.] Same as morbific, 
morbifically (m6r-bif'i-kal-i), adr. In a mor- 
bific manner ; so as to cause or generate disease. 
morbilli (m6r-bil'i), . [ML., dim. of L. mor- 
bux. disease: see morbus.} Same as measles, 1. 
morbilliform (mdr-bU'i-fdrm), a. [< ML. mor- 
billi, measles, + L. forma, form.] In pathol., 
resembling measles. 
morbillous (mdr-bil'us), a. [= F. morbilleuj- 
= It. morbilJoso, < NL. as if *morbilloxux, < ML. 
morbilli, measles : see morbilli.] Pertaining to 
the measles; partaking of the nature of mea- 
sles, or resembling the eruptions of that dis- 
ease. 
morboset (mdr-boV), a. [= F. morbeiu: = Sp. 
Pg. It. morboso, < L. morbosux, sickly, diseased, 
< morbus, disease: see morbux.] Proceeding 
from disease ; morbid ; unhealthy. 
Seignior Malpighi. In his Treatise of Galls, under which 
name he comprehends all preternatural and morbote tu- 
mors and excrescencles of plants. 
Kay, Works of Creation, 1. 
morbosityt (mor-bos'i-ti), n. [< LL. morbosi- 
ta(t-)s, sickliness, < L. morboxus, sickly: see 
morbose.] The state of being morbose;"a dis- 
eased state. 
If we take the Intention of nature In every species, and 
except the casual impediments or morbatitut in Individ- 
ual!. Sir T. Browne, Vnlg. Err., ill. 18. 
morbus (m^r'bns), . [L.] Disease. cholera 
morbus. See rhutfra. Morbus coxartus. See hip- 
joint disease, iimler dueane. Morbus Galllcus, syphilis. 
Morbua maculosus, purpura heemorrhagica. 
morceau (mdr-s6'),n.; pi. iorc<'aMj(-86z'). [F.: 
see morsel.'] A bit; a morsel; a small piece. 
(a) A short piece or a passage of a literary composition. 
(b) In inline: (1) A short composition, usually of simple 
character. (2) An excerpt or extract. 
Mprchella (mor-kel'tt), n. [NL. (Dillenins. 
1710), < G. Hiorclirl, a mushroom: see niorefi.] 
A genus of edible fungi of the division HI/UK - 
>, having ;i tistulnr stalk and roundish 
Mordella 
or conical ]iitt.-,l j, ileus. It indndi s I/. 
li-i'tii, tin- morel. Oilier species i,f tlic genus 
are eaten. Sec limn I'-. 
mordacious (mor-ilii'hlius), n. [= OF. mr</./ ( 
= Sp. Pg. iniiriln: = It. Hioriliiri , < I>. mnnlus 
(monliir-), bit ing. < murili n. bite : see moriliint. ] 
1. Biting; given to biting. 2. Acrid: violent 
in action. 
Many of these | composts! arc not only sensibly hot, hut 
mordofiinu and liurniiiK. Kntyn. Tern. 
3. Sarcastic. 
mordaciously (m6r-<la'8liiih-li), <//-. In a IH..I 
dacious or biting manner; sarcasticall\ . 
Buchanan, a learned though violent Scot, has mania- 
<vnuty taunted this tradition. 
Water hour. On Fortowoe, p. Ml. 
mordacity (mor-das'i-ti), n. [< F. morn 
= 8p. mordacidad = Pe. monttiridtntr = It. tnor- 
ilncita, < L. iii<>rilacita(t-)s, bitiogness, < mordax 
(mordae-) t biting: see mordacious.'] The prop- 
erty of being mordacious; bitingness. 
Such things as have very thin parts, yet notwithstanding 
are without all acrimony or mordacity, are very good sal- 
lets, llncnn. Hist. Life and Death, I _';,. 
The facility of doggerel merely^>f Itself could not have 
yielded the exuberance of his |Skelton's] honour and the 
mordacity of his satire. /. D'ltraeli, Amen, of Lit., I. sis. 
mordant (mdr'dant), a. and n. [< ME. mor- 
ilinint (def. II., \), < OF. mordant, F. mordant = 
Sp. iMordientc = Pg. mordente = It. mordente (> 
E. mordent), < L. mordrn(l-)s, ppr.of mordere (> 
It. mordere = Sj>. Pg. ;orr/fr= F. mordre), bite, 
sting, prob. ong. "nmorderc = AS. nmcortau, K. 
Hiiuirt, sting: see xmart. v. From L. mordrre 
(pp. morsuS) are also nit . E. mordacioug, etc., 
morsel, morceau, remorse, etc., muzzle.'] I. a. 1. 
Biting; keen; caustic; sarcastic; severe. 
It [salt] In physlck Is held for mordant, burning, cans- 
tike, and mundiflcative. Bollaiul, tr. of I'll ny. MI. 10. 
2. Having the property of fixing colors. 
II. ' . 1. A metal chape covenng one end of 
a strap or belt, especially if so arranged as to 
hook into a clasp on the other end to facilitate 
securing the belt round the person. The mordant 
often forms with the belt-plate a single design, the deco- 
rated front being either as large as the plate or of such 
shape as to combine with it to form a circular or other 
regular figure. Also movrdant. 
Rychesse a girdelle hadde upon, 
The bokele of it was of a sb>on, . . . 
The minirilaunt, wrought 111 noble wise, 
Was of a stoon fiille precious. 
Rom, o.f the Rote, 1. 1094. 
2. In the jft'/ic artx: (a) Any corrosive liquid, 
such as aqua fortis, which will eat into a me- 
tallic or other surface when applied to it in the 
process of etehing. See etching, (b) A gluti- 
nous size used as a ground for gilding; a gold- 
mordant; an adhesive mixture for attaching 
gold-leaf to an indented dotted pattern as 
a picture-background. 3. In dyeing, a sub- 
stance used to fix colors; a substance which 
has an affinity for, or which can at least pene- 
trate, the tissue to be colored, and which pos- 
sesses also the property of combining with the 
coloring matter employed, and of forming with 
it an insoluble compound within or about the 
fibers. Albumin, gluten, casein, gelatin, tannin, certain 
oils, certain acids, certain resins, alumina, soda, and lead 
salts, pure or In compounds, are used as mordants. A 
mordant Is also termed a bant or bane. 
Opposite la the best mordant to fix the color of your 
thought in the general belief. 
0. W. Uolmet, Med. Essays, p. 272. 
mordant (mdr'dant), r. t. [< mordant, n.] To 
imbue or treat with a mordant. 
Before dyeing, cotton must therefore be mordanted; L e. 
It must be charged with some substance or substances 
which cause it to take up the colour. 
BenedM, Coal-tar Colours (trans. X p. 4. 
The cloth may be sumaced and mordanted as usual with 
tin, and then dyed. Worlahnp Receipt*, 1st ser., p. S3. 
mordantly (mdr'dant-li), adv. In a mordant 
manner. 
Mordella (mor -del'*), n. [NL. (Linnwus. 
1758), < L. mordere, bite: see mordant.'] An 
t-t*xerata. 
a, larva ; *, pupa : r. beetle, outline side vkw of female ; rf, dor- 
sal view of samr ; f, .imcnna. magnified : /. vjrrated Una] daw. 
highly magnified. (Lines show natural sizes.) 
