M . M, the thirteenth letter of the English alphabet, is a vocal consonant, and from the manner of its formation, is called the labio-nasal consonant. See Guide to Pronunciation, // 178-180, 242.
M . As a numeral, M stands for one thousand, both in English and Latin.
M n. A quadrat, the face or top of which is a perfect square; also, the size of such a square in any given size of type, used as the unit of measurement for that type: 500 m's of pica would be a piece of matter whose length and breadth in pica m's multiplied together produce that number.
M n. A brand or stigma, having the shape of an M, formerly impressed on one convicted of manslaughter and admitted to the benefit of clergy.
M'-Naught v. t. To increase the power of (a single-cylinder beam engine) by adding a small high-pressure cylinder with a piston acting on the beam between the center and the flywheel end, using high-pressure steam and working as a compound engine, -- a plan introduced by M'Naught, a Scottish engineer, in 1845.
M/tin n. A French mastiff.
Ma n. A child's word for mother.
Ma n. In Oriental countries, a respectful form of address given to a woman; mother.
Ma conj. But; -- used in cautionary phrases; as, "Vivace, ma non troppo presto" (i. e., lively, but not too quick).
Ma'am n. Madam; my lady; -- a colloquial contraction of madam often used in direct address, and sometimes as an appellation.
Maa n. The common European gull (Larus canus); -- called also mar. See New, a gull.
Maad p. p. Made.
Maalin n. The sparrow hawk.
Maalin n. The kestrel.
Maara shell . A large, pearly, spiral, marine shell (Turbo margaritaceus), from the Pacific Islands. It is used as an ornament.
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