Several of these 6 encyclopedias cover each subject below, but between them they say too little to fill a page of its own. They are gathered here so the accounts can sit side by side.
Melting Point
The Encyclopedia of Founding: The exact amount of heat at which metals and other substances become fused and lose their identity. (See FUSIBILITY.) The following gives the melting-points of the simple metals mentioned, but the melting-points of alloys are invariably below those of the simple metals composing them. (See FUSIBLE ALLOYS.) Cast iron melts at 3477 degrees; wrought iron, 3981; steel, 2501; gold, 2587; silver, 1250; copper, 2550; tin, 420; zinc, 741; brass, 1897; lead, 617; aluminum, and 700 degrees.
Collier's New Encyclopedia: that point of the thermometer at which a substance becomes fused. a town of
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Menander
Collier's New Encyclopedia: one of the most celebrated of the Greek comic poets; born in Athens in 342 b. c. He composed 108 comedies; but there are only a few fragments remaining of them. Menander was the disciple of Theophrastus, and, like him, excelled in the delineation of character. He was also the friend of Epicurus, whose philosophy he adopted. He is said to have drowned himself 291 B. C. on account of the success of his rival Philemon.
1000 Classical Characters: A celebrated comic poet of Athens , educated under Theophrastus . He was universally esteemed by the Greeks. He wrote 108 comedies, of which only a few fragments remain.
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Mentor
Aiton's Encyclopedia: in Greek legend, the son of Alcimus and a faithful friend of Ulysses. He is mentioned frequently in the Odyssey. When Ulysses went to the Trojan war his domestic affairs were left in the care of Mentor. He took charge of the education of Telemachus, Ulysses' son. When Telemachus started in search of his father, Minerva assumed the form of Mentor and accompanied him, acting as counselor in times of difficulty or danger. The French writer, Fenelon, in The Adventures of Telemachus, develops the character of Mentor to such an extent that the word has come to be used metaphorically to designate a faithful monitor who is ever at hand to warn or advise.
Collier's New Encyclopedia: in Greek legend, the faithful friend of Ulysses, who intrusted to him the care of his domestic affairs during his absence in the war against Troy. The education of the young Telemachus fell to his charge, and the wise and prudent counsel which he gave the youth has given to his name its metaphorical significance.
1000 Classical Characters: A faithful friend of Ulysses , the guide and instructor of his son Telemachus . The term Mentor has become proverbial as applied to anyone who is an educator of youth.
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Merino
Aiton's Encyclopedia: me-re'no, an important breed of sheep. It is supposed to have originated in Asia Minor , but it reached its highest development and received its name in Spain. The ram in particular has strong limbs, spiral, drooping horns, and a wrinkled neck. The merino fleece is long, soft, and twisted. The fibre is noted for its silky fineness. Merinos have been distributed all over the world. They now constitute a large part of the flocks of Australia, and have been introduced widely into the United States . The heavy fleece, docility, and ability to thrive on coarse food and to withstand cold weather have made the merino a favorite on the ranges. See Sheep
Collier's New Encyclopedia: a Spanish breed of the domestic sheep. It is extremely important commercially, on account of the excellence of its wool, which is closeset, soft, spirally twisted, and short. A fine French woolen material is made from the wool of the merino sheep.
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Merops
Collier's New Encyclopedia: the typical genus of the family Meropidæ. The bill moderate or long, arched, acuminate, margins entire; tongue narrow, horny at apex; tarsi short; tibiæ denuded above the heel; wings long, tail with two middle feathers elongate. Twenty-one species are known. M. apiaster is common in the S. of Europe and in Africa. The back is redbrown, the throat yellow with a black margin, breast and belly greenish-blue. It feeds on insects, especially wasps and bees, which it captures on the wing, like swallows.
1000 Classical Characters: A king of the island of Cos, who married Clymene, one of the Oceanides. He was changed into an eagle, and placed among the constellations.
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Merrimac
Collier's New Encyclopedia: a river rising among the White Mountains of New Hampshire, flowing S. into Massachusetts, and falling into the Atlantic Ocean near Newburyport, after a course of 150 miles; it has numerous falls, affording immense water power, and is navigable to Haverhill. The principal manufacturing towns on its banks are Manchester, Nashua, and Concord in New Hampshire, and . Lowell and Lawrence in Massachusetts
Aiton's Encyclopedia: . See Monitor
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Mersey
Collier's New Encyclopedia: a river of England, rising on the borders of the counties of Chester, Derby, and York, and after a S. W. course of 60 miles, in which it receives the waters of the Goyt, Irwell, Bollin, Weaver, and other tributaries, it empties into the Irish Sea, by a large estuary at Liverpool. It is navigable as far as Manchester, 31 miles.
Aiton's Encyclopedia: . See Liverpool
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Metempsychosis
Collier's New Encyclopedia: transmigration; the passage of the soul from one body to another.
Aiton's Encyclopedia: . See Transmigration Of Souls
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Metis
Collier's New Encyclopedia: the first wife of Jupiter, whom he was said to have devoured, after which Minerva was formed within his head. METONIC (-ton'-) CYCLE, the cycle of the moon, a period of 19 solar years, after which the new and full moon fall on the same days of the year as they did 19 years before. This cycle was the invention of Meton, a celebrated Athenian philosopher, who flourished about 432 B. C. The Metonic cycle contained 235 lunar months, or 6,940 days.
1000 Classical Characters: The personification of prudence, described as a daughter of Oceanus and Tethys, and the first wife of Zeus ( Jupiter ). Afraid lest she should give birth to a child wiser * and IOOO CLASSICAL CHARACTERS more powerful than himself, Zeus deceived her when she was pregnant, and swallowed her, and, after a time, the goddess Minerva sprang from his head.
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Middle Ages
Collier's New Encyclopedia: a term rather indefinitely used with reference to different nations. Hallam applies it to the period from the invasion of France by Clovis, A. D. 486, to the invasion of Naples by Charles VIII., in 1495. In England it may be considered as representing the interval between the Saxon invasion, A. D. 449, and the accession of Henry VII., 1485. Generally it may be considered as the period of time connecting what are called the ancient and modern periods of history, and extending from the decline of the Roman empire till the revival of letters in Europe. The epithet of the Dark Ages was frequently applied to the earlier portion of the period.
Aiton's Encyclopedia: a somewhat old-fashioned term applied to the period of history extending from the "fall" of the Roman Empire to the taking of Constantinople by the Turks in 1453. It embraces from ten to eleven centuries. The early period is known also as the Dark Ages , the last part as the Renaissance. Important topics of the period are Islam, Feudalism and Chivalry, the Papacy, Monasticism, the Crusades, the Turks, Free Cities , etc. Recent writers distribute medieval history. They divide the world's history into ancient and modern. Ancient history is held to close with the death of Charlemagne.
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