Metaphors
if aptly chosen and used with discretion, especially if the resemblance between objects is previously unnoticed but apparent when called to the attention, add both force and beauty to composition.
Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia
Single-source entries: M (55)
Each of these 13 subjects appears in only one of the 6 encyclopedias on this shelf. None is long enough to carry a page by itself, so they are gathered here by letter. Anything that grows moves out to a page of its own.
Metaphysics
a term popularly employed to denote a science dealing with subjects incapable of being dealt with by physical research.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Metaurus
a river of central Italy, still called the Metauro, emptying into the Adriatic near Fano. On its banks the Romans defeated the Carthaginians under Hasdrubal in 207 b. c.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Metayer
one who cultivates the soil under an arrangement with his landlord, not paying a fixed rent, either in money or in kind, but a certain proportion of the produce, the landlord furnishing the whole or part of the stock, tools, etc.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Metazoa
many-celled animals, composed of tissues, originally developed from three cell layers. The group comprises all the higher animals, from sponges to man, and is opposed to the Protozoæ, which are microscopic or one-celled animals.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Metcalf
VICTOR HOWARD, American public official; born at Utica, N. Y., Oct. 10, 1853. He was graduated from Yale in 1876, and was admitted to the Connecticut and New York bars in 1877, after which he practiced at Utica, and Oakland, Cal. In 1899 he was elected as Republican member to Congress from California. In 1904 he was appointed by President Roosevelt Secretary of the Department of Commerce and Labor, and in 1906 Secretary of the Navy, retiring in 1908 on President Taft's election.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Metchnikoff
ELIE, a Russian bacteriologist, born in Kharkov, Russia, 1845. He studied in Germany, then became professor of zoology at Odessa in 1870. In 1882 he devoted himself exclusively to private research, especially devoting himself to the digestive functions in animal organisms. Later he settled in Paris and was made chef de service in the Pasteur Institute in 1892. He was especially known for his theory on dieting, to the effect that old age may be retarded by refraining from eating certain foods which tend toward autointoxication. In 1908 he shared with Professor Ehrlich the Nobel prize for medicine. In 1909 he advanced his theory that a certain kind of soured milk contained bacilli, counteracting or retarding autointoxication. He died in Paris in 1916.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Metelli
The surname of the family of the Caecilii at Rome, the most noted of whom are: a general who defeated the Achaeans, took Thebes , and invaded Macedonia; Quintus Caecilius, rendered famous by his successes against Jugurtha , the king of Numidia; Q. Caecilius Celer, who distinguished himself against Catiline. He died fifty-seven years before Christ, greatly lamented by Cicero, who was one of his warmest friends; L. Caecilius, a tribune in the civil wars of Caesar and Pompey, who favored the cause of Pompey; Q. Caecilius, a warlike general who conquered Crete and Macedonia; Metellus Cimber, one of the conspirators against Caesar. He gave the signal to attack and murder the dictator.
Only in 1000 Classical Characters
Meteoric Steel
Important: Safety Warning
This page describes trade processes that use dangerously toxic materials such as cyanide solutions, mercury amalgams, or strong acids. These processes require training, equipment, and precautions far beyond what the text describes.
This information has been left in for historical purposes but should not be acted upon.
Steel resembling the famed Damascus steel is made by melting in a plumbago crucible, well covered with charcoal, silver 4, nickel 16, zinc 80, and pouring the alloy into water, which renders it friable. It may then be readily crushed to powder, and added to steel as follows: Blister-steel, 28 pounds; chromate of iron, 8 ounces; quicklime, 2 ounces; porcelain clay, 3 ounces; meteor-powder, 10 ounces; melted in the regular way, cast into an ingot, drawn into bars, and in every respect treated like any other cast steel. If the surface is washed with dilute nitric acid (acid 1, water 19), the wavy surface common to Damascus steel will be more pronounced. See STEEL; DAMASCUS STEEL.
Only in The Encyclopedia of Founding
Meteoric Stones
Usually called aerolites, fire-balls, or shooting-stars, which occasionally fall from the atmosphere. When taken up soon after their fall they are found to be hot; and, no matter where they descend, they are all similar in composition, being composed of silica, magnesia, sulphur, iron in the metallic state, nickel, and some traces of chromium; their specific gravity varies from 3.352 to 4.281, that of water being taken as 1.000 or unity. Their exterior appears as if blackened in a furnace but the interior appears of a grayish white. Their size varies from a few ounces up, one in the Museum of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, weighing 800 pounds. See METEORIC IRON.
Only in The Encyclopedia of Founding
Meteorite
a so-called "shooting star" which has fallen upon the earth from space. The friction encountered when these portions of matter enter the earth's atmosphere, causes them to become incandescent, and as a rule they are completely disintegrated. Occasionally one will reach the earth's surface and in composition is found to consist of elements well-known terrestrially, iron and nickel being common. Meteorites vary in weight from a few ounces to several hundred pounds, one of the largest being known as the Caille Aerolite, which fell upon the Alps and weighed nearly 1,400 pounds.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Methuen
PAUL SANFORD, 3d BARON, an English military officer; born Sept. 1, 1845, was educated at Eton and in 1864 became lieutenant of the Scots Guards. He served in Ireland, Egypt, Bechuanaland, was military attaché at Berlin, and saw active service in the Ashanti, Egyptian, and Boer wars. In the latter he was made commander of the 1st Division, 1899, and rendered signal service under On March Lords Kitchener and Roberts. 7, 1902. while leading a force of 1,200 by men to Lichtenburg, he was attacked the Boers under General De la Rey. The British were completely routed, ed, losing men in killed four guns, several hundred and captured, among the latter being Lord Methuen, who was, however, re- 19,122 2,108,061 leased on March 13. He was general 186,873 officer commanding-in-chief in South Africa 1907-1909 and in 1911 was made field-marshal.
a town of Essex co., Mass., 30 miles N. of Boston, on the Spicket river, Boston and Maine railroad. Has handsome buildings, including library and schools, and home of aged incurables. Cottons, woolens, knitted goods, chief manufactures. Town meeting form of city government. Pop. (1910) 11,448; (1920) 15,189.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Methyl
an organic radical homologous with ethyl. Its formula is CH3, but as it cannot exist in the free state, two such groups of atoms unite together to form ethane, CH3-CH3. As in the case of ethyl, methyl is the center of a whole group of substances known as the Thus, the hydride of methyl group. methyl, CH&H, known as light carburetted hydrogen, marsh gas, or fire damp, is well known as the cause of explosions in coal mines. It is a light, inodorous gas, half as heavy as air; nonpoisonous and very inflammable, forming an explosive mixture with seven volumes of air. Methyl alcohol, CH3OH, is obtained as a by-product in the manufacture of beet-root sugar, and by the dry distillation of wood and from other sources.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia