murk 
The soothing lapse of morn to mirk. 
VtHcrxon, The Celestial Love. 
murk 1 , mirk (inerk), r. t. [< ME. merken, mirl;< it 
(= Icel. myrkna), darken; < murk 1 , a.] To 
darken. Palsgrave. 
murk' 2 (inerk), . [Cf. marc 2 .'] Refuse or husks 
of fruit after the juice has been expressed; 
marc. 
murkily, mirkily (mer'ki-li), adr. In a murky 
manner; darkly; gloomily. 
murkiness, mirkiness (mer'ki-nes), n. The 
state of being murky; darkness; gloominess; 
gloom. 
As if within that murkiness of mind 
Work'd feelings fearful, and yet undefined. 
Byron, Corsair, i. 9. 
murklinst (merk'linz), adv. [< murk 1 + -tins for 
-linos: see -fi'n</ 2 .] In the dark. Bailey, 1731. 
murknesst, mirknesst (merk'nes), n. [< ME. 
mirknes, myrknes, merkenes; < murk 1 , a., + 
-ness.] Darkness. 
For in myrfcnes of unknawyng thai gang, 
Withouten lyght of understandyng. 
Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 1. 193. 
In hell sail neuer myrknes be myssande, 
The myrknes thus name I for nighte. 
York Plays, p. 7. 
ratirksomet, mirksomet (merk'sum), a. [< 
murk 1 + -some."] Darksome. 
Through mirkesome aire her ready way she makes. 
Spenser, F. Q., L v. 28. 
murksomenesst, mirksomenesst (inerk 'sum- 
nes), n. The state of being murksome ; dark- 
ness. Bp. Mountagu, Appeal to Ceesar, viii. 
murky 1 , mirky (mer'ki), a. [< murk 1 + -y 1 . 
The older adj. is murk 1 .] Dark; obscure; 
gloomy. 
The murkiest den, 
The most opportune place, the strong'st suggestion 
Our worser genius can, shall never melt 
Mine honour into lust. Shak., Tempest, iv. 1. 25. 
murky 2 (mer'ki), n. A variety of harpsichord- 
music in which the bass is in broken octaves. 
murlin, murlan (mur'lin, -Ian), n. A round 
narrow-mouthed basket. [Scotch.] 
murlins (mer'linz), . [Origin obscure.] Bad- 
derlocks, Alaria esculenta. See Alaria and bad- 
derlocks. [Ireland.] 
murmur (mer'mer), . [< ME. murmur, < OF. 
murmure, F. murmure = Pr. murmur, murmuri 
= Pg. murmur = It. mormure; cf. Sp. Pg. mur- 
murio, mormoreo = It. mormorio, < L. murmur, a 
murmur, humming, muttering, roaring, growl- 
ing, rushing, etc., an imitative word (cf. 
Hind, murmur, a crackling, crunching), a re- 
duplication of the syllable *mur, cf. L. mu, Gr. 
uv, a sound made with closed lips, E. mum 1 , 
etc. Cf. murmur, v.'] 1. A low sound contin- 
ued or continuously repeated, as that of a 
stream running in a stony channel, of a num- 
ber of persons talking indistinctly in low tones, 
and the like ; a low and confused or indistinct 
sound; ahum. 
In that Vale heren men often tyme grete Tempestes and 
Thondres and grete Murmures and Noyses, alle dayes and 
nyghtes. Mandeville, Travels, p. 281. 
The current that with gentle murmur glides. 
Shak., T. <t. of V., ii. 7. 25. 
The still murmur of the honey-bee. 
Keats, To My Brother George. 
2. A muttered complaint or protest; the ex- 
pression of dissatisfaction in a low muttering 
voice; hence, any expression of complaint or 
discontent. 
Murmur also is oft among servants and grutchen when 
hir soveraines bidden hem do leful thinges. 
Chaucer, Parson's Tale. 
Palomydon, the proud kyng, prise of the Grekes, 
Made murmur full mekyll in the mene tyme. 
Destruction of Troy (E. E. T. S.)> 1. 7196. 
Some discontents there are, some idle murmurs. 
Dryden, Spanish Friar, iy. 2. 
3. In med., any one of various sounds, normal 
and pathological, heard in auscultation Car- 
diac murmur, an adventitious or abnormal sound heard 
in auscultation of the heart. Direct cardiac mur- 
murs, murmurs produced by the blood while moving for- 
ward, as in stenosis of any orifice. Dynamic murmurs 
See dynamic. Flint's murmur, a murmur resembling 
that of mitral stenosis as developed in cases of aortic re- 
gurgitation In which there is no mitral stenosis. Nor- 
mal vesicular murmur, the respiratory sounds of 
health, including the inspiratory and expiratory divisions. 
Regurgitant cardiac murmurs, murmurs produced 
! blood as it rushes back past a leaky valve. Res- 
piratory murmur, the sound of the breathing as heard 
in auscultating the chest. Also called respiration 
murmur (mer'mer), v. [< ME. murmuren, < 
)F. (and F.) miirmurer = Sp. mitrmurar, mor- 
murar = Pg. murmurar = It. mormorare, mur- 
murare = OHG. murntttron, murmuloii, MHG. 
3902 
G. inurmeln, < L. murmurare, murmur, mutter, 
= Gr. /lopui'petv, later ftvp/tvpeiv, roar as the ocean 
or rushing water : see murmur, n. Cf. ML. HI in-- 
rare, D. tiiorren = MHG. G. murrcn = Icel. murra 
= Sw. morra = Dan. murre, murmur.] I. i- 
traiis. 1. To make a low continuous noise, like 
the sound of rushing water or of the wind among 
trees, or like the hum of bees. 
They murmured as doth a swarm of been. 
Chaucer, Squire's Tale, 1. 196. 
The murmuring surge, 
That on the unmimber'd Idle pebbles chafes, 
Cannot be heard so high. Shak., Lear, iv. 6. 20. 
I, drawn near, 
The murmuring of her gentle voice could hear, 
As waking one hears music in the morn. 
William Morn*, Earthly Paradise, I. 299. 
2. To utter words indistinctly; mutter. 3. 
To grumble; complain; utter complaints in 
a low, muttering voice; hence, in general, to 
express complaint or discontent: with at or 
against. 
The Jews then murmured at him. John vi. 41. 
Since our disappointment at Guiaquil, Capt. Davis's Men 
murmured against Captain Swan, and did not willingly 
give him any Provision, because he was not so forward to 
go thither as Capt. Davis. Dumpier, Voyages, 1. 160. 
= 8yn. 3. To repine, whimper. 
II. trans. To utter indistinctly; say in a 
low indistinct voice ; mutter. 
I ... heard thee murmur tales of iron wars. 
Shalt., 1 Hen. IV., ii. 3. 61. 
Though his old complaints he murmured still, 
He scarcely thought his life so lost and ill. 
William Morris, Earthly Paradise, II. 156. 
murmurationt (mer-me-ra'shon), n. [< ME. 
murmuracioun, < OF. murmuracion, F. murmu- 
ration = Sp. murmuracion, mormuracion = Pg. 
murmuragao = It. mormorazione, murmurazione, 
< L. murmuratio(n-), a murmuring, < murmu- 
rare, pp. murmuratug, murmur : see murmur, v.~\ 
1. Murmuring; discontent; grumbling. 
After bakbityng cometh grucchyng or murmuracioun. 
Chaucer, Parson's Tale. 
2. In falconry, a gathering of starlings. 
murmurer (mer'mer-er), n. One who murmurs ; 
one who complains sullenly; a grumbler. 
murmuring (mer'mer-ing), n. [Verbal n. of 
murmur, .] A continuous murmur; a low 
confused noise. 
As when you hear the murmuring of a throng. 
Drayton, David and Qoliath. 
murmuring (mer'mer-ing), p. a. 1. Making 
or consisting in a low continuous noise. 
Where rivulets dance their wayward round, 
And beauty born of murmuring sound 
Shall pass into her face. 
Wordsworth, Three Years She Grew. 
2. Uttering complaints in a low voice or sullen 
manner; grumbling; complaining: as, a person 
of a murmuring disposition. 
murmuringly (mer'mer-ing-li),rfo. With mur- 
murs ; with complaints. 
murmurish (mer'mer-ish), a. [< murmur + 
-isft 1 .] In pathol., resembling a murmur; of 
the nature of a murmur. See murmur, n., 3. 
Lancet, No. 3411, p. 78. 
murmurous (mer'mer-us), a. [< OF. murmuros, 
murmurous = Pg. murmuroso = It. mormoroso, < 
ML. murmurosus, full of murmurs, < L. murmur, 
murmur: see murmur, .] 1. Abounding in 
murmurs or indistinct sounds; murmuring. 
It was a sleepy nook by day, where it is now all life and 
vigilance ; it was dark and still at noon, where it is now 
bright and murmurous. Harper's Mag., LXXVIII. 148. 
And all about the large lime feathers low, 
The lime a summer home of murmurous wings. 
Tennyson, Gardener's Daughter. 
2. Exciting murmur or complaint. 
Round his swoln heart the murmurous fury rolls. 
Pope, Odyssey, xx. 19. 
3. Expressing itself in murmurs. 
The murmurous woe of kindreds, tongues, and peoples 
Swept in on every gale. 
Whittier, In Remembrance of Joseph Sturge. 
murmurously (mer'mer-us-li), adv. With a low 
monotonous sound ; with murmurs. 
murnivalt (mer'ni-val), n. [Also mournival, 
mournifal; < OF. mornifle, "a trick at cards, 
also a cuff or pash on the lips" (Cotgrave), still 
used in the latter sense ; origin unknown.] 1. 
In the card-game of gleek, four cards of a sort. 
A mumival is either all the aces, the four kings, queens, 
or knaves, and a gleek is three of any of the aforesaid. 
Compleat Gamester (1680), p. 68. (Nares.) 
2. Hence, any set of four ; four. 
Cen. Let a protest go out against him. 
Mirth. A motmiival of protests, or a gleek at least. 
B. Jonson, Staple of News, iv. 1. 
murre 
murphy (mer'fi), .; pi. nmrpJiies (-fiz). [So 
called from the Irish surname Miirjilii/; appar. 
in allusion to the fact that the potato is the 
staple article of food among the Irish it is 
called the "Irish potato" in distinction from 
the sweet potato.] A potato. [Colloq.] 
You come along down to Sally Harrowell's ; that's our 
school-house tuck-shop she bakes such stunning mur- 
phies, we '11 have a penn'orth each for tea. 
T. Hughes, Tom Brown at Rugby, i. 6. 
murr 1 , . See rs. 
murr 2 (mer), v. !. [Imitative; cf. purr."] To 
purr as a cat. Hogg. [Scotch.] 
murra (mur'a), . [L., less prop, murrha, myr- 
rliti ; in Gr. uuppla or fiuppia, also /mppivr/, a ma- 
terial first brought to Rome by Pompey, 61 
B. c. ; appar. the name, like the thing, was of 
Asiatic origin.] In Rom. antiq., an ornamental 
stone of which vases, cups, and other orna- 
mental articles were made. This material and the 
various things made from it are mentioned by several 
Greek and Latin authors, but Pliny is the only one who 
has attempted any detailed description of it. Unfortu- 
nately his accounts are so vague that the material can- 
not be positively identified, nor has anything been found 
in the excavations at Rome which is certainly known to 
be the ancient murra. In the opinion of the best authori- 
ties, however, it was fluor-spar, for of the known materials 
this is the only one found in abundance which has the pe- 
culiar coloration indicated by Pliny. The principal ob- 
jection to this theory is that no fragments of fluor-spar 
vases have been found in Rome or its vicinity. Vessels of 
murra were at one time considered by the Romans as of 
inestimable value. 
murrain (mur'an), . and a. [Formerly also 
murren; < ME. 'murrin, morrein,<M'E.moreyne, 
moryn, < OF. marine = Sp. morritla = Pg. mor- 
rinha = It. moria, sickness among cattle, < L. 
mori, die: see mart 1 ."] I. n. A disease affecting 
domestic animals, especially cattle; a cattle- 
plague or epizootic disease of any kind ; in a 
more limited sense, the same as foot-and-mouth 
disease (which see, under foot). 
For til moreyiie mete with ous ich may hit wel a-vowe, 
Ne wot no wight, as ich wene what is ynowh to niehe. 
Piers Plowman (C), xxi. 226. 
This plague of murrein continued twenty-eight yeare ere 
it ended, and was the first rot that euer was in England. 
Stow, Edw. I., an. 1257. 
Murrain take you, a murrain to or on you, etc., plague 
take you ; plague upon you. 
A murrain on your monster 1 Shak., Tempest, ill. 2. 88. 
II. rt. Affected with murrain. 
The fold stands empty in the drowned field, 
And crows are fatted with the murrion flock. 
Shak., M. Jf. D., ii. 1. 97. 
murrainlyt (mur'an-li), adv. [Also murrenly; < 
murrain +-ly2."] Excessively; plaguily. Davics. 
And ye 'ad bene there, cham sure you'ld murrenly ha 
wondred. Bp. Still, Gammer Gurton's Needle, Hi. 2. 
murray (mur'a), . Same as moray. 
Murraya (mur'a-a), n. [NL. (Linnaeus, 1771), 
named after J. A.Murray, a Swedish botanist.] 
A genus of dicotyledonous trees of the poly- 
petalous order Euiacece and the tribe Aurantiew, 
known by its pinnate leaves, linear awl-shaped 
filaments, and imbricate petals. Four species are 
known, of tropical Asia and the islands as far as Austra- 
lia, very small summer-flowering trees with dotted leaves, 
small oblong berries, and fragrant white flowers resem- 
bling orange-blossoms. M. exotica has been called Chinese 
box, and its large variety (sometimes regarded as a species, 
M. Sumatrana) Sumatra orange. The species is valuable 
for its perfume, and yields a bitter extract, murrayin. The 
seeds of M. Soenigii atford a flxed oil called simbolee-oil. 
See curry-leaf. 
Murray cod. See cod 2 . 
murrayin, murrayine (mur'a-in), n. [< Mur- 
raya -r -in 2 .] See Murraya. 
murre 1 !, . See mur 3 . 
murre 2 (mer), n. [Also marre; origin obscure.] 
1. The common guillemot, UriaorLomvia troile, 
and other species of the genus, as U. orL. brtin- 
mclii, the thick-billed murre or guillemot. 2. 
The similar but quite distinct razor-billed auk, 
A lea or f 'tti >IHI n ia torda. See cut under razor-Mil. 
