Molecular Mo·lec"u·lar adjective [ Confer French
moléculare . See
Molecule .]
(Physics & Chem.) Pertaining to, connected with, produced by, or consisting of, molecules; as, molecular forces; molecular groups of atoms, etc. Molecular attraction (Physics ) ,
attraction acting between the molecules of bodies, and at insensible distances. --
Molecular weight (Chemistry) ,
the weight of a molecule of any gas or vapor as compared with the hydrogen atom as a standard; the sum of the atomic weights of the constituents of a molecule; thus, the molecular weight of water (H 2 O) is 18.
Molecularity Mo·lec`u·lar"i·ty noun (Physics & Chem.) The state of consisting of molecules; the state or quality of being molecular.
Molecularly Mo·lec"u·lar·ly adverb (Physics & Chem.) With molecules; in the manner of molecules. W. R. Grove.
Molecule Mol"e·cule noun [ Dim. from Latin
moles a mass: confer French
molécule . See 3d
Mole .]
1. One of the very small invisible particles of which all matter is supposed to consist. 2. (Physics) The smallest part of any substance which possesses the characteristic properties and qualities of that substance, and which can exist alone in a free state. 3. (Chemistry) A group of atoms so united and combined by chemical affinity that they form a complete, integrated whole, being the smallest portion of any particular compound that can exist in a free state; as, a molecule of water consists of two atoms of hydrogen and one of oxygen. Confer Atom .
Molehill Mole"hill` noun A little hillock of earth thrown up by moles working under ground; hence, a very small hill, or an insignificant obstacle or difficulty. Having leapt over such mountains, lie down before a molehill .
South.
Molendinaceous Mo·len`di·na"ceous (mo*lĕn`dĭ*nā"shŭs),
Mo*len`di*na"ri*ous (mo*lĕn`dĭ*nā"rĭ*ŭs)
adjective [ Latin
molendinarius , from
molendinum a mill, from
molere to grind.]
(Botany) Resembling the sails of a windmill.
Moleskin Mole"skin` (mōl"skĭn)
noun Any fabric having a thick soft shag, like the fur of a mole; esp., a kind of strong twilled fustian.
Molest Mo·lest" transitive verb [
imperfect & past participle Molested ;
present participle & verbal noun Molesting .] [ French
molester , Latin
molestare , from
molestus troublesome, from
moles a heavy mass, load, burden. See 3d
Mole .]
To trouble; to disturb; to render uneasy; to interfere with; to vex. They have molested the church with needless opposition.
Hooker. Syn. -- To trouble; disturb; incommode; inconvenience; annoy; vex; tease.
Molest Mo·lest" noun Molestation. [ Obsolete]
Chaucer.
Molestation Mol`es·ta"tion noun [ Confer French
molestation .]
The act of molesting, or the state of being molested; disturbance; annoyance.
Molester Mo·lest"er noun One who molests.
Molestful Mo·lest"ful adjective Troublesome; vexatious. [ R.]
Molestie, Molesty Mo·les"tie, Mo·les"ty noun [ Latin
molestia .]
Molestation. [ Obsolete]
Chaucer.
Molewarp Mole"warp` noun (Zoology) See Moldwarp .
Moliminous Mo·lim"i·nous adjective [ Latin
molimen a great exertion;
moles a heavy mass.]
Of great bulk or consequence; very important. [ Obsolete]
Dr. H. More.
Moline Mo"line noun [ Latin
molina mill, from
molere to grind. See
Mill .]
The crossed iron that supports the upper millstone by resting on the spindle; a millrind. Cross moline (Her.) ,
a cross each arm of which is divided at the end into two rounded branches or divisions.
Molinism Mo"lin·ism noun (Eccl. Hist.) The doctrines of the Molinists, somewhat resembling the tenets of the Arminians.
Molinist Mo"lin·ist noun (Eccl. Hist.) A follower of the opinions of Molina, a Spanish Jesuit (in respect to grace); an opposer of the Jansenists.
Moll Moll adjective [ G., from Latin
mollis soft, tender, elegiac. Confer
Molle .]
(Mus.) Minor; in the minor mode; as, A moll , that is, A minor.
Mollah Mol"lah noun [ Arabic
maulā , commonly
mollā in Turkey.]
One of the higher order of Turkish judges; also, a Turkish title of respect for a religious and learned man. [ Written also
moolah .]
Molle Mol"le adjective [ See
Moll .]
(Mus.) Lower by a semitone; flat; as, E molle , that is, E flat.
Mollebart Mol"le·bart noun An agricultural implement used in Flanders, consisting of a kind of large shovel drawn by a horse and guided by a man. [ Written also
mollebært and
mouldebært .]
Simmonds.
Mollemoke Mol"le·moke` noun [ Swedish
mallemucke the stormy petrel.]
(Zoology) Any one of several species of large pelagic petrels and fulmars, as Fulmarus glacialis , of the North Atlantic, and several species of Æstrelata , of the Southern Ocean. See Fulmar . [ Written also
mollymawk ,
malmock ,
mollemock ,
mallemocke , etc.]
Mollient Mol"lient adjective [ Latin
molliens , past participle of
mollire to soften, from
mollis soft.]
Serving to soften; assuaging; emollient.
Molliently Mol"lient·ly adverb Assuagingly.
Mollifiable Mol"li·fi`a·ble adjective Capable of being mollified.
Mollification Mol`li·fi·ca"tion noun [ Late Latin
mollificatio ; confer French
mollification .]
The act of mollifying, or the state of being mollified; a softening. Chaucer.
Mollifier Mol"li·fi`er noun One who, or that which, mollifies. Bacon.
Mollify Mol"li·fy transitive verb [
imperfect & past participle Mollified ;
present participle & verbal noun Mollifying .] [ French
mollifier , Latin
mollificare ;
mollis soft +
-ficare (in comp.) to make. See
Enmollient ,
Moil ,
transitive verb , and
- fy .]
1. To soften; to make tender; to reduce the hardness, harshness, or asperity of; to qualify; as, to mollify the ground. With sweet science mollified their stubborn hearts.
Spenser. 2. To assuage, as pain or irritation, to appease, as excited feeling or passion; to pacify; to calm.
Mollinet Mol"li·net noun [ Confer
Moline .]
A little mill.
Mollipilose Mol`li·pi·lose" adjective [ Latin
mollis soft +
pilosus hairy.]
(Zoology) Having soft hairs; downy.
Mollities Mol·li"ti·es noun [ Latin , softness.]
(Medicine) Unnatural softness of any organ or part. Dunglison.
Mollitude Mol"li·tude noun [ Latin
mollitudo , from
mollis soft.]
Softness; effeminacy; weakness. [ R.]
Mollusc Mol"lusc noun (Zoology) Same as Mollusk .
Mollusca Mol·lus"ca noun plural [ New Latin See
Mollusk .]
(Zoology) One of the grand divisions of the animal kingdom, including the classes Cephalopoda, Gastropoda, Pteropoda, Scaphopoda, and Lamellibranchiata, or Conchifera. These animals have an unsegmented bilateral body, with most of the organs and parts paired, but not repeated longitudinally. Most of them develop a mantle, which incloses either a branchial or a pulmonary cavity. They are generally more or less covered and protected by a calcareous shell, which may be univalve, bivalve, or multivalve. » Formerly the Brachiopoda, Bryzoa, and Tunicata were united with the Lamellibranchiata in an artificial group called Acephala, which was also included under Mollusca. See
Molluscoidea .
Molluscan Mol·lus"can adjective (Zoology) Of or pertaining to mollusks. --
noun A mollusk; one of the Mollusca.
Molluscoid Mol·lus"coid adjective [
Mollusca +
-oid .]
(Zoology) Resembling the true mollusks; belonging to the Molluscoidea. --
noun One of the Molluscoidea.
Molluscoidal Mol`lus·coid"al adjective (Zoology) Molluscoid.
Molluscoidea Mol`lus·coi"de·a noun plural [ New Latin See
Mollusk , and
-oid .]
(Zoology) A division of Invertebrata which includes the classes Brachiopoda and Bryozoa; - - called also Anthoid Mollusca . » Originally the Tunicata were included under Molluscoidea, from which they are known to differ widely in structure and embryology. Molluscoidea were formerly considered a subdivision of Mollusca, but they are now known to have more relationship with Annelida than with Mollusca.
Molluscous Mol·lus"cous adjective (Zoology) Molluscan.
Molluscum Mol·lus"cum noun [ New Latin See
Mollusk .]
(Medicine) A cutaneous disease characterized by numerous tumors, of various forms, filled with a thick matter; -- so called from the resemblance of the tumors to some molluscous animals. Dunglison.
Mollusk Mol"lusk noun [ French
mollusque , Latin
mollusca a kind of soft nut with a thin shell, from
molluscus soft,
mollis soft. See
Mollify .]
(Zoology) One of the Mollusca. [ Written also
mollusc .]
Molly Mol"ly noun (Zoology) Same as Mollemoke .
Molly Mol"ly noun A pet or colloquial name for Mary . Molly cottontail .
(Zoology) See Cottontail . --
Molly Maguire (mȧ*gwīr");
plural Molly Maguires (- gwīrz).
(a) A member of a secret association formed among the tenantry in Ireland about 1843, principally for the purpose of intimidating law officers and preventing the service of legal writs. Its members disguised themselves in the dress of women. (b) A member of a similar association of Irishmen organized in the anthracite coal region of Pennsylvania, about 1854, for the purpose of intimidating employers and officers of the law, and for avenging themselves by murder on persons obnoxious to them. The society was broken up by criminal prosecutions in 1876.
Molly-mawk Mol"ly-mawk` noun (Zoology) See Mollemoke .
Moloch Mo"loch noun [ Hebrew
molek king.]
1. (Script.) The fire god of the Ammonites in Canaan, to whom human sacrifices were offered; Molech. Also applied figuratively. 2. (Zoology) A spiny Australian lizard ( Moloch horridus ). The horns on the head and numerous spines on the body give it a most formidable appearance.
Molokane, Molokany Mol`o·ka"ne, Mol`o·ka"ny noun plural [ Russian
molokane .]
See Raskolnik .
Molosse Mo·losse" noun See Molossus .
Molosses Mo·los"ses noun Molasses. [ Obsolete]
Molossine Mo·los"sine noun (Zoology) A bat of the genus Molossus , as the monk bat.