Mordella 
important genus of beetles, typical of the fam- 
ily Mordellidce, characterized by the moderate 
subequilateral scutellum. These beetles are of 
small or medium size, usually shining-black in color, and 
inhabit fungi or twigs. There are more than 100 species, 
most of which inhabit Europe or North and South Amer- 
ica, 17 being recorded as North American, as M. 8-punctata. 
Mordellidffi (mor-del'i-de), n.pl. [NL., < Mor- 
della + -idee.] A family of heteromerous Cole- 
optera, typified by the genus Mordella. They have 
the anterior eoxal cavities open behind, the head strongly 
constricted at the base and suddenly narrowed behind, the 
lateral suture distinct, the base as wide as the elytra, the 
antenna; filiform, and the hind coxa; laminiform. These 
insects resemble the Rhipiphoridw, but the antenna; are 
filiform, and the thorax has a lateral suture ; they are of 
small size, pubescent, and glistening-black. They are 
abundantly found on flowers, particularly on certain Com- 
posite. The larva; have short legs, the joints of which are 
indistinct ; they live in fungi and twigs. The family was 
established by Stephens in 1832. 
mordenite (mor'den-it), n. [< Harden (see def . ) 
+ -ite 2 .] A zeolitic mineral occurring in small 
hemispherical forms with a fibrous structure, 
whitish color, and silky luster. It is a hydrous sili- 
cate of aluminium, calcium, and sodium, and is found 
near Morden in Nova Seoti;*. 
mordent (mor'derit), n. [< It. mordente, in mu- 
sic, a beat, a turn, a passing shake, < mordente, 
biting, pungent : see mordant.} In music: (a) 
A melodic embellishment, not so frequent now 
as formerly, consisting of a rapid alternation of 
a principal tone with a tone a half -step below it. 
It is single or short when the AA1V 
by-toneisusedbutonce;oth- , 
erwise double or long. The 1 * 
signs for the single and dou- 
ble mordents are w and AW i *= 
respectively. When the sup- 2 ^ff 
plementary tone needs to be 
chromatically altered, a ft |j, Mordent 
or t] is added below the sign. as writteil . as perfomied . 
(6) Same as acaacca- 
tura or passing trill (German Pralltrilter), the 
latter of which is also called an inverted mor- 
dent. 
mordente (m6r-den'te), n. [It.: see mordent.'] 
Same as mordent. 
mordert, n. and v. An obsolete form of murder. 
mordicancyt (mor'di-kan-si), . [< mordican(t) 
+ -cy.~] A biting quality ; corrosiveness. 
The mordicancy thus allay'd, be sure to make the mor- 
tar very clean, after having beaten Indian capsicum, be- 
fore you stamp any thing in it else. Evelyn, Acetaria, 47. 
mordicantt (m6r'di-kant), a. [= F. mordicant 
= Sp. Pg. It. mordicante, < LL. mordican(t-)s, 
ppr. of mordicare, bite, sting,< mordicus, biting, 
< ii.mordere, bite: see mordant.'] Biting; acrid. 
He presumes that the mordicant quality of bodies must 
proceed from a fiery ingredient. Boyle. 
mordicationt (m6r-di-ka'shon), n. [= F. mor- 
dication = Sp. mordicacion = Pg. mordicaycto = 
It. mordicazione, < LL. mordicatio(n-), a griping, 
lit. biting, < mordicare, pp. mordicatus, bite : see 
mordicant."] The act of biting or corroding; cor- 
rosion. 
Wise physicians should with all diligence inquire what 
simples nature yieldeth that have extream subtile parts, 
without any mordication or acrimony. 
Bacon, Nat. Hist., 692. 
mordicative (m6r'di-ka-tiv), a. [= Sp. It. mor- 
dicativo; as mordicat(ioh) + -ive.] Same as mor- 
dicant. Holland, tr. of Plutarch, p. 774. 
mordret, n. and v. An obsolete form of murder. 
more 1 (mor), a. and n. [Also dial. (Sc.) mare, 
mair; < ME. more, mor, earlier mare, mar, < AS. 
mara = OS. mero = OFries. mara = D. meer = 
MLG. mer, LG. meer = OHG. mero, MHG. mere, 
G. melir = Icel. meiri = Sw. mera = Dan. mere 
=Goth. maiza (for *majiza) (also with additional 
compar. suffix, ME. marere = D. meerder = MLG. 
merer, merder = OHG. meroro, meror, MHG. 
merer, G. meJirer), more, = L. major (maior), 
neut. majus (mains), more, greater (see also the 
adv.); with compar. suffix (Goth, -iza, E. -er 3 , 
etc.), from a positive "mag, existing in Teut. 
only in derivatives, as in the compar. more and 
mo, superl. most, and (prob.) in mickle, much, 
and found in L. magma, great, Gr. [ityaf, great : 
see mickle, much, main 2 , magnitude, etc. Cf. mo 
and most."] I. a. 1. Greater: often indicating 
comparison merely, not absolutely but rela- 
tively greater, (a) In size or extent, as comparative of 
much in its original sense 'great.' [Obsolete or archaic.] 
The more lyght sail be namid the son, 
Dymnes to wast be downe and be dale. 
York Plays, p. 11. 
The more part knew not wherefore they were come to- 
gether. Acts xix. 32. 
(6) In number, especially as comparative of many. 
The children of Israel are more and mightier than we. 
Ex. i. 9. 
3858 
They were more which died with hailstones than they 
whom the children of Israel slew with the sword. 
Josh. x. 11. 
Pray for my soul. More things are wrought by prayer 
Than this world dreams of. Tennyson, Morte d 1 Arthur. 
(c) In degree or intensity, especially as comparative of 
much or as exceeding a small or smaller quantity. 
Because he that first put them into a verse found, as it 
is to be supposed, a more sweetnesse in his owne eare to 
haue them so tymed. 
Puttenham, Arte of Eng. Poesie, p. 90. 
Her best is bettered with a more delight. 
Shak., Venus and Adonis, 1. 78. 
Kind hearts are more than coronets. 
Tennyson, Lady Clara Vere de Vere. 
(d) In rank, position, or dignity: opposed to lew. 
And in or way homwarde we come to ye churche yt the 
Jacobyns holde, in the whiche place seynt James the more 
was hedyd by Herode. Sir It. Ouylforde, Pylgrymage, p. 21. 
Likewise thou 
Art more thro' Love, and greater than thy years. 
Tennyson, Love and Duty. 
2. Greater in amount, extent, number, or de- 
gree : the following noun being in effect a par- 
titive genitive : as, more land ; more light ; more 
money; more courage. 3. In addition; addi- 
tional: the adjective being before or after the 
noun, or in the predicate. 
There is two or three lords and ladies more married. 
Shak., M. N. D., iv. 2. 17. 
This one wrong more you add to wrong's amount. 
Browning, Ring and Book, I. 187. 
A moment more, and Alhama would have been thrown 
open to the enemy. Irving, Granada, p. 55. 
The more the merrier. See merryi. 
II. n. 1. A greater quantity, amount, or num- 
ber. 
The children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, 
some less. Ex. xri. 17. 
I heard thy anxious Coach-man say, 
It costs thee more in Whips than Hay. 
Prior, Epigram. 
When our attention passes from a shorter line to a longer, 
from a smaller spot to a larger, from a feebler light to a 
stronger, from a paler blue to a richer, from a march tune 
to a galop, the transition is accompanied in the synthetic 
field of consciousness by a peculiar feeling of difference, 
which is what we call the sensation of more, more length, 
more expanse, more light, more blue, more motion. 
W. James, Mind, XII. 15. 
2. Something superior or further or in addition : 
corresponding to I., 2, with partitive genitive 
merged. 
'Tis not in mortals to command success ; 
But we '11 do more, Sempronius ; we '11 deserve it. 
Addison, Cato, i. 2. 
Who does the best his circumstance allows 
Does well, acts nobly ; angels could no more. 
Young, Night Thoughts, ii. 92. 
3f. Persons of rank ; the great. 
The remenant were anhanged moore and lease. 
Chaucer, Doctor's Tale, 1. 275. 
Where there is advantage to be given, 
Both more and less have given him the revolt. 
Shak., Macbeth, v. 4. 12. 
To make more of. See makei. 
more 1 (mor), adv. [Also dial. (Sc.) mare, mair; 
< ME. more, mare, etc., < AS. mare = OFries. 
mar, mer = MD. mer, D. meer = MLG. mer, me 
= OHG. mer, MHG. mer, mere, G. mehr = Icel. 
meirr = Sw. mer, mera = Dan. mer, mere = Goth. 
mais, adv., more; prop. neut. of the adj.: see 
more 1 , a. Cf. mo."] 1. In a greater extent, 
quantity, or degree. 
Sothli for sothe no seg vnder heuene 
He seise neuer no route araixed more beter. 
William of Palerne (E. E. T. S.), 1. 4279. 
Israel loved Joseph more than all his children. 
Gen. xxxvii. 3. 
If it be a high point of wisdom in every private man, 
much more is it in a Nation to know it self. 
Milton, Hist. Eng., ill 
I fear myself more than I fear the Devil, or Death. 
Howett, Letters, ii. 53. 
Thicker than arguments, temptations throng, 
At best more watchful this, but that more strong. 
Pope, Essay on Man, ii. 76. 
[In this sense more is regularly used to modify an adjective 
or adverb and form a comparative phrase, having the same 
force and effect as the comparative degree made by the 
termination -er$ : as, mare wise (wiser), more wisely ; more 
illustrious, more illustriously ; more contemptible ; more 
durable. It may be used before any adjective or adverb 
which admits of comparison, and is generally used with 
words of more than two syllables, in which the use of the 
suffix ~er would be awkward: as, more curious, more emi- 
nent, etc.; formations like curiouser, mrtuouser, etc., being 
avoided, though occasionally used in older writers. For- 
merly more was very often used superfluously in the com- 
parative: as, more better, braver, Jitter, mightier, etc.] 
2. Further; to a greater distance. 
And yet we ascendid mor and came to the place wher 
ower Savyor Crist seying and be holdyng the Citie of Jhe- 
rusalem vpon Palme of Sonnday wepte. 
Torkinijton, Diarie of Eng. Travel!, p. 29. 
30 leagues we sayled more Northwards not finding any 
inhabitants. Quoted in Capl. John Smith's Works, 1. 176. 
moreen 
I was walking a mile, 
More than a mile from the shore. 
Tennyson, Maud, ix. 
3. In addition; besides; again: qualified by 
such words as any, no, ever, never, once, twice, 
etc. , the two being in some cases also written 
together as one, as evermore, nevermore, and for- 
merly nomore. 
The jolly shepheard that was of yore 
Is nowe nor jollye nor shepeheard more. 
Spenser, Shep. Cal., September. 
Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more. 
Shak., Hen. V.,iii. 1. 1. 
More and more, with continual increase. 
And alway more and more it doth encrese ; 
God wote I am no thing in hertys ease. 
Generydes (E. E. T. S.), 1. 741. 
Amon trespassed more and more. 2 Chron. xxxiii. 23. 
More by token, (a) In proof of this: a corroborative 
phrase. (&) Besides ; indeed. 
Surely a dragon was killed there, for you may see the 
marks yet where his blood ran down, and more-by-token 
the place where it ran down is the easiest way up the hill- 
side. T. Hughes, Tom Brown at Rugby, i. 1. 
More or less, about ; in round numbers : an expression 
denoting nearness, but excluding the idea of precision : 
as, five miles more orless. None the more. See nonei. 
Not the more. Seenoti. To be no more, to be no 
longer living ; to be dead. 
Cassius is no more. Shak., J. C., T. 3. 60. 
more 1 t (mor), v. t. [< ME. moren (= MLG. meren, 
mereren = OHG. meron, MHG. meren, G . mehren) ; 
< more 1 , a.~] To make more ; increase ; enhance. 
What he will make lesse he lesseth, 
What he will make more he moreth. 
Gower, Conf. A i mint., vii. 
It is ordeyned that the Aldirman and maistres schul gif 
no clothyng to no persone in moryng the pris of the liuere. 
English Gilds (E. E. T. S.), p. 451. 
more 2 t (mor), n. [< ME. more, moore, < AS. moru, 
also more, f., and in comp j mora, m., a root, = 
MD. moore = OHG. morahd, morJtd, mora, MHG. 
more, mohre, G. mohre, also in comp. mohr-riibe, 
a carrot; ult. origin unknown. Cf. morel 2 ."] 1. 
A root ; stock. 
Al hit com of one More that vs to dethe brougte, 
And that vs to lyue agein thorwh Ihesus that vs bougie. 
Holy Rood (E. E. T. S.), p. 19. 
She that was soothfaste, crop and moore, 
Of al his lust or joyes heretofore. 
Chaucer, Troilus, v. 25. 
2. A plant. 
And all the earth far underneath her feete 
Was dight with flowers ; . . . 
Tenne thousand mores of sundry sent and hew. 
Spenser, F. Q., VII. vii. 10. 
more 2 t, *> t. [ME. moren; < more 2 , n."] To 
root up. 
The erchebissope's wodes ek the king het ech on, . . , 
That ech tre were vp mored that it ne spronge namore there. 
Rob. of Gloucester p. 499. 
more 3 (mor), . If. An obsolete form of moor 1 . 
2. A hill. Halliwell. [Prov. Eng.] 
more*t (mor), . [ME., also moore, mour, in 
comp. also mur-, < AS. mor-, mur- = D. moer- 
= OHG. mor-, mur- (in comp.) = OF. more, 
meure, < L. morus, a mulberry-tree, morum, a 
mulberry, < Gr. /tupov, popov, a mulberry, /iopca, 
a mulberry-tree. Hence, in comp., ME. mor- 
berie, *molberie, mulberie, moolberie, now mul- 
berry: see mulberry. Cf. morat and murrey.] 
A mulberry-tree, Morus nigra. 
more s t, n. [ME., < L. mora, delay: see mora 1 .] 
Delay. 
That gan to hem clerly certifye, 
Withoute more, the childis dwellynge place. 
Lydgate, MS. Soc. Antiq. 134, f. 24. (Hattimll.) 
-more 1 . [< ME. -more ; being the adv. more, used 
after the analogy of -most taken as the adverb 
most, but really of diff. origin (see -most), as a 
formative of comparison.] A formative of com- 
parison, indicating the comparative degree. It 
is used with adjectives or adverbs, the superlative being 
expressed by -most: vs., furthermore, innennorf, outermore. 
etc. In some instances, as evermore, forevermore. never- 
more, the more is merely the adverb morel used inten- 
sively. 
-more 2 . See -mor. 
Moreae (mo're-e), n.pl. [NL. (Endlicher, 1833), 
< Morus + -e?.] A tribe of dicotyledonous 
plants of the apetalous order Urticacea;, typified 
by the genus Morus, and characterized by pen- 
dulous ovules and inflexed filaments reversing 
the anthers in the bud. It contains 23 genera, in- 
cluding the mulberries and the Osage orange. They are 
generally trees or shrubs with a milky juice. 
moreen (mo-ren'), n. [Formerly moireen ; prob. 
< F. "moirine, a conjectural trade-name, < moire, 
mohair: see m oil air, moire.] A fabric of wool, 
or very often of cotton and wool, similar to tam- 
my, commonly watered, but sometimes plain. 
