Mortier-Jt-cire of Henri Deux 
. mery. fn 
collection. 
mortgagee 
mortgagee (m6i--ga-je'), . [< mortgage + -ee 1 .] 
One to whom property is mortgaged. 
mortgageor, mortgagor (mor'gaj-or), w. [< 
iiini'ti/iii/r + -or.] Same as mortgager. [Barely 
used except in legal documents.] 
mortgager (mor'gaj-er), n. [< mortgage + -cr 1 .] 
One who mortgages ; the person who grants an 
estate as security for debt, as specified under 
mortgage. [The barbarous spelling mortgageor 
is preferred by legal writers and in legal docu- 
ments.] 
morthert, . and v. A Middle English form of 
murder. 
mortherert, A Middle English form of mur- 
derer. 
mortice, . See mortise. 
mortier 1 , . [F.: see mortar'i.'] _ 1. A cap for- 
merly worn by some English officials, and still in 
use among the judiciary of France. See mor- 
ta)-i, 4. 2f. A headpiece 
in medieval armor. See 
second cut under armor. 
3. See mortar^, 3. 
mortier' 2 t, n. An obso- 
lete form of mortar 2 . 
mortier-a-cire (mor-tia'- 
a-ser'), n. [F.: mortier, 
mortar; A, with; eire, 
wax: see cere."] A mor- 
, . i T , . pottery, from the pountame 
tar in which a wax-light collection. 
was set afloat. 
Mortierella (mor"ti-e-rel'a), n. [NL. (Cpe- 
mans), named after B. du Mortier, a Belgian 
botanist.] A genus of fungi, typical of the sub- 
family Mortierellece. It has the mycelium dichoto- 
mous, branching, and anastomosing ; the sporangia-bear- 
ing hyphse aggregated, inflated at base, and erect ; and the 
stylospores echinulate. About 20 species are known. 
Mortierellece (mor'ti-e-rel'e-e), n. pi. [NL. 
(Van Tieghem), < Mortierella + -co;.] A sub- 
family of fungi (molds) of the order Mucora- 
eea. It has the fructifying branches racemose, and the 
sporangia spherical, polysporous, and destitute of colu- 
inella. It contains 2 genera, Mortierella and Herpocladi- 
" in, the latter with a single species. 
mortiferoust (mdr-tif e-rus), a. [= F. morti- 
fere = Sp. mortifero = Pg. It. mortifero, < L. 
mortiferus, mortifer, < mor(t-)s, death, + ferre 
= E. 5eorl.] Bringing or producing death; 
deadly; fatal; destructive. 
But whatever it [the cicuta] is in any other country, 'tis 
certainly martiferous in ours. Evelyn, Acetaria. 
mortification (m6r"ti-fi-ka'shon), n. [< F. mor- 
tification = Sp. mortificacion = Pg. mortificaqao 
= It. mortificazione, < LL. mortificatio(n-), a kill- 
ing, < mortificare, pp. mortificatus, kill, destroy: 
see mortify.'] 1. The act of mortifying, or the 
condition of being mortified. Specifically (a) In 
pathol., the death of one part of an animal body while the 
rest is alive ; the loss of vitality in some part of a riving 
animal; necrosis; local death; gangrene; sphacelus. 
It appeareth in the gangrene or mortification of flesh. 
Bacon, Nat. Hist. 
(&) The act of subduing the passions and appetites by 
penance, abstinence, or painful severities inflicted on the 
body ; a severe penance. 
It leadeth vs into godly workes, and into the mortifica- 
tion of the fleshly woorkes. Sir T. More, Works, p. 700. 
He carried his austerities and mortifications so far as to 
endanger his health. Prescott, lerd. and Isa., ii. 25. 
(c) Humiliation ; vexation ; the state of being humbled or 
depressed, as by disappointment or vexation ; chagrin. 
The Sight of some of these Ruins did fill me with Symp- 
toms of Mortification, and made me more sensible of the 
Frailty of all sublunary Things. Howell, Letters, I. i. 38. 
It was with some mortification that I suffered the rail- 
lery of a fine lady of my acquaintance, for calling, in one 
of my papers, Dorimant a clown. Steele, Spectator, No. 75. 
(dt) In chem. and metal., the destruction of Sctive quali- 
ties (now called sickening both in the United States and 
in Australia, with especial reference to quicksilver and 
amalgamation). 
Inquire what gives impediment to union or restitution, 
which is called mortification, as when quicksilver is morti- 
fied with turpentine. Bacon, 
(e) In Scote law, the act of disposing of lands for religious 
or charitable purposes. 
2. That which mortifies ; a cause of chagrin, 
humiliation, or vexation. 
It is one of the vexatious mortifications of a studious man 
to have his thoughts disordered by a tedious visit. 
Sir R, L'Estrange. 
8. In Scots law, lands given formerly to the 
church for religious purposes, or since the Ref- 
ormation for charitable or public uses. By the 
present practice, when lands are given for any charitable 
purpose, they are usually disponed to trustees, to be held 
either blench or in feu. [Nearly synonymous with mort- 
main. ] Mildew mortification. See mildew. = Syn. 1. 
(c) Vexation, Chagrin, Mortification. These words advance 
in strength of meaning, as to both cause and effect. Vexa- 
tion is a comparatively petty feeling, produced by small 
3866 
but annoying or irritating disappointments, slights, etc. 
Chagrin is acute disappointment and humiliation, perhaps 
after confident expectation. Mortification is chagrin so 
great as to seem a death to one's pride or self-respect. See 
tease and angeri. 
mortifiedness (mor'ti-fid-nes), n. [< mortified 
pp. of mortify, + -ness."] Humiliation; subjec- 
tion of the passions. [Bare.] 
Christian simplicity, mortifiedness, modesty. 
Jer. Taylor (1), Artificial Handsomeness, p. 114. 
mortifler (mor'ti-fl-er), n. One who or that 
which mortifies ; one who practises mortifica- 
tion. 
John Baptist was a greater mortifier than his Lord was. 
Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 1835), I. 23. 
mortify (mor'ti-fi), i\; pret. and pp. mortified, 
ppr. mortifying. [< ME. mortifien, mortefien, < 
OF. mortifier, mortefier, F. mortifier = Sp. Pg. 
mortificar = It. mortificare, < LL. mortificare, 
kill, destroy; cf. mortificus, deadly, fatal, < L. 
mor(t-)s, death, + facere, make.] I. trans. 1. 
To destroy the life of ; destroy the vitality of (a 
part of a living body) ; affect with gangrene. 
If of the stem the frost mortify any part, cut it off. 
Evelyn, Sylva, II. i. 3. 
2f. To deaden ; render insensible ; make apa- 
thetic. 
Strike in their numb'd and mortified bare arms 
Pins. Shak., Lear, ii. 3. 15. 
3t. To reduce in strength or force ; weaken. 
The goode werkes that he dede biforn that he fll In synne 
been al mortefied and astoned and dulled by the ofte syn- 
nyng. Chaucer, Parson's Tale. 
Thai thalre bittre soure wol mortifie, 
Or kepe hem in her owen leves drie. 
Palladius, Husbondrie (E. E. T. S.), p. 57. 
4. To subdue, restrain, reduce, or bring into 
subjection by abstinence or rigorous severities; 
bring under subjection by ascetic discipline or 
regimen; subject or restrain in any way, for 
moral or religious reasons. 
Mortify therefore your members which are upon the 
earth. Col. ill. 6. 
He [Bradford] was a most holy and mortified man, who 
secretly in his closet would so weep for his sins, one would 
have thought he would never have smiled again. 
Fuller, Worthies, Lancashire, II. 193. 
Mortify your sin betime, for else you will hardly mortify 
it at all. Jer. Taylor, Works (1835), II. 18. 
The Christian religion, by the tendency of all its doc- 
trines, . . . seems to have been so throughout contrived 
as effectually to mortify and beat down any undue com- 
placence we may have in ourselves. 
Bp. Atteroury, Sermons, II. xviii. 
5. To humiliate ; depress ; affect with vexation 
or chagrin. 
Arrived the news of the fatal battle of Worchester, which 
exceedingly mortified our expectations. Evelyn. 
He had the knack to raise up a pensive temper, and 
mortify an impertinently gay one. 
Steele, Spectator, No. 468. 
6f. In chem. and metal., to destroy or diminish 
the active powers or characteristic qualities of. 
This quiksilver wol I mortifye 
Ryght in youre syghte anon, withouten lye, 
And make it as good silver and as fyn 
As ther is any in your purs or myn. 
Chaucer, Canon's Yeoman's Tale, 1. 115. 
Take also a litil quantite of Mer[curie ?] and mortifie it 
with fastynge spotil, and medle it with a good quantite of 
poudre of stafl-sagre. 
Book of Quinte Essence (ed. Furnivall), p. 19. 
7. In Scots law, to dispose of by mortification. 
See mortification, 3. 
Referring to pre-Reformation grants, he [Mr. Marshall] 
says mortified lands are such as have "no other ' reddenda 1 
than prayers and supplications and the like" that is, 
masses for the souls of the dead. 
If. and Q., 7th ser., III. 333. 
= Syn. 5. To shame, chagrin. See mortification. 
11. intrans. 1. To lose vitality and organic 
structure while yet a portion of the living body ; 
become gangrenous. 2. To become languid; 
fall into decay. 
'Tis a pure ill-natur'd Satisfaction to see one that was a 
Beauty unfortunately move with the same Languor, and 
Softness of Behaviour, that once was charming in her 
To see, I say, her mortify that us'd to kill. 
Steele, Grief A-la-Mode, iii. 1. 
3. To be subdued; die away: said of inordi- 
nate appetites, etc. Johnson. 
mortis causa (mor'tis ka'za). [L., in case of 
death : causa, abl. of causa, cause, case ; mortis. 
gen. of mor(t-)s, death: see cause and wort 1 .] 
In contemplation of 
death Donatlo or gift 
mortis causa. See dona- 
tion. 
mortise (mor'tis), n. 
[Also mortice, early 
mod. E. also mortaise, 
morteise, mortesse; < ME. morteis, mortais, mor- 
tas, < OF. mortaise, mortoise, F. mortaise; cf. It. 
Mortise-joint. 
a a, mortises ', b b, ten 
mortmain 
mortise (Plorio), Sp. mortajti, a mortise; ult. 
origin unknown. The equiv. W. mortais, Ir. 
mortis, moirtis, Gael, moirteis, are of E., and 
Bret, mortez is of F. origin.] 1. A hollow cut 
in a piece of wood or 
other material to re- 
ceive a correspond- 
ing projection, called 
a tenon, formed on an- 
other piece in order to 
fix the two together. 
The junction of two pieces 
in this manner is called a 
mortise-joint. 
Also vpon the hight of 
the same Mownte of Cal- 
very, ys the very hold or 
morteys hevyn out of the stone Rooke wherin the Crosse 
stode, with ower blyssyd Savyor at the tyme of hys pas- 
sion. Torkiwjton, Diarie of Eng. Travel], p. 43. 
The joyner, though an honest man, yet hee maketh his 
joynts weake, and putteth in sap in the mortesels [read 
mortessesl], which should be the hart of the tree. 
Greene, Quip for an Upstart Courtier. 
If it [the wind] hath rufflan'd so upon the sea, 
What ribs of oak, when mountains melt on them, 
Can hold the mortise f Shak., Othello, ii. 1. 9. 
2. Figuratively, stability; power of adhesion. 
Oversea they say this state of yours 
Hath no more mortice than a tower of cards. 
Tennyson, Queen Mary, iii. 1. 
Chase mortise. See chase-mortise. 
mortise (mor'tis), r. t. ; pret. and pp. mortised, 
ppr. mortising. [< ME. morteysen, < OF. mor- 
taisier, mortoiser, mortise ; from the noun.] 1. 
To join by a tenon and mortise ; fix in or as in 
a mortise. 
Mars he hath morteysed his mark. 
York Playi, p. 226. 
To whose huge spokes ten thousand lesser things 
Are mortised and adjoin'd. Shot., Hamlet, iii. 3. 20. 
2. To cut or make a mortise in. 
mortise-block (m6r'tis-bl ok), n. A pulley-block 
in which the openings for the sheaves are cut 
in a solid piece. 
mortise-bolt (mor'tis-bolt), . A bolt the head 
of which is let into a mortise instead of being 
left projecting. 
mortise-chisel (m6r'tis-chiz // el), n. In carp., 
a strong chisel used in making mortises. 
mortised (mor'tist), a. In her., same as enclave. 
mortise-gage (mor'tis-gaj), . A scribbling- 
gage having two points which can be adjusted 
to the required distance of the mortise or tenon 
from the working-edge, as well as to the width 
of the mortise and the size of the tenon. 
mortise-lock (m&r'tis-lok), n. A lock made to 
fit into a mortise cut in the stile and rail of a 
door to receive it Mortise-lock chisel. See chisel^. 
mortise-wheel (mor'tis-hwel), n. A wheel hav- 
ing holes, either on the face 
or on the edge, to receive the 
cogs or teeth of another 
wheel. 
mortising-machine (m&r'- 
tis-ing-ma-shen"), n. A ma- 
chine for cutting or boring 
mortises in wood. Such ma- 
chines range from a pivoted lever, 
worked by the hand or foot and op- 
erating a chisel moving in upright 
guides, to power gang-boring machines for making a num- 
ber of mortises at once in heavy timber. These larger 
machines employ either chisels, that cut out the mortises 
by repeated thrusts, or routers and boring-tools. 
mortlingt, n. See morling. 
mortmain (mort'man), n. [< OF. mortenmin, 
also main morte, F. mainmorte Sp. manos 
muertas, pi., = Pg. mSomorta = It. mono morta, 
< ML. mortua mantis, manus mortua, mortmain, 
lit. 'dead hand': L. mortua, fern, of mortuus, 
pp. of mori, dead; warn**, hand: see morft and 
main 3 . Cf. mortgage."] In law, possession of 
lands or tenements in dead hands, or hands 
that cannot alienate, as those of ecclesiastical 
corporations; unalienable possession, convey- 
ances and devises to corporations, civil or ecclesiastical, 
were forbidden by Magna Charta, and have been restrained 
and interdicted by subsequent statutes. Also called dead- 
hand. 
All purchases made by corporate bodies being said to 
be purchases in mortmain, in mortua manu ; for the rea- 
son of which appellation Sir Edward Coke offers many 
conjectures ; but there is one which seems more probable 
than any that he has given us: viz., that these purchases 
being usually made by ecclesiastical bodies, the members 
of which (being professed) were reckoned dead persons in 
law, land therefore holden by them might with great pro- 
priety be said to be held in mortna manu. 
Blackstone, Com., I. xviii. 
Though the statutes of mortmain had put some obsta- 
cles to its increase, yet . . . a larger proportion of landed 
wealth was constantly accumulating in hands which lost 
nothing that they had grasped. Ilallam, Const Hist., ii. 
