*mae*

n. used in former classification systems; approximately synonymous with order Caryophyllales.
Syn. -- group Centrospermae. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. a genus of small late-flowering trees or subshrubs having yellow to red flowers and leathery or woody pods; -- often used especially for those formerly included in genus Cytisus.
Syn. -- genus Chamaecytisus. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. a genus consisting of only one species, the leatherleaf.
Syn. -- genus Chamaedaphne. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. the type genus of the Chamaeleontidae.
Syn. -- genus Chamaeleo, genus Chamaeleon. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. (Astronomy) a small constellation in the southern skies between Hydrus and Musca.
Syn. -- Chameleon. [ PJC ]

n. [ L. Chamaeleon, Gr. chamaile`wn, lit., “ground lion;” chamai` on the ground + le`wn lion. ] (Zool.) a lizard of Africa and Madagascar able to change skin color and having a projectile tongue.
Syn. -- chameleon. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. a natural family comprising the Old World chameleons; in some classifications Rhiptoglossa is considered a superfamily of Sauria.
Syn. -- family Chamaeleontidae, family Chamaeleonidae, Rhiptoglossa, family Rhiptoglossa. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. a small genus of plants sometimes included in genus Anthemis; chamomile.
Syn. -- genus Chamaemelum. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ Gr. chamai` on the ground + -phyte. ] a perennial plant that sets its dormant vegetative buds just at or above the surface of the ground. [ PJC ]

‖n. [ NL. See Chimera. ] (Zool.) A cartilaginous fish of several species, belonging to the order Chimaeriformes of the class Holocephali. The teeth are few and large. The head is furnished with appendages, and the tail terminates in a point. [ 1913 Webster ]

Note: more information and an image is available at: Fishbase - chimaera. [ PJC ]

a. [ Chimæra + old. ] (Zool.) Related to, or like, the chimæra. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ NL. dromaius emu + Gr. gna`qos jaw. ] (Zool.) Having the structure of the palate like that of the ostrich and emu. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A descendant of Ishmael (the son of Abraham and Hagar), of whom it was said, “His hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him.” Gen. xvi. 12. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One at enmity with society; a wanderer; a vagabond; an outcast. Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. See Ismaelian. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of, pertaining to, or resembling, an Ishmaelite or the Ishmaelites. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. (Eccl.) One of a sect of Muslims who followed the practices of the family of Mohammed ben Ismael, of the house of Ali.

‖pos>n. [ L., lit., Christ's tears. ] A rich, sweet, red Neapolitan wine. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) A genus of brain corals.
Syn. -- genus Maeandra. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ Norw., a whirlpool. ] 1. A celebrated whirlpool on the coast of Norway. Hence: any large or powerful whirlpool.
Syn. -- whirlpool, vortex. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Also (Fig.) An uncontrollable agitated or confusedly disordered state or situation; as, a maelstrom of vice. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

‖n. [ L. Maenas, -adis, Gr. &unr_;, &unr_;, fr. &unr_; to rave. ] 1. A Bacchante; a priestess or votary of Bacchus. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A frantic or frenzied woman. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; G. pl. Männerchöre /plu>. [ G.; männer, pl. of mann man + chor chorus. ] A German men's chorus or singing club. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

‖a. & adv. [ It. ] (Mus.) Majestic or majestically; -- a direction to perform a passage or piece of music in a dignified manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ So called from Maestricht, a town in Holland. ] (Paleon.) The Mosasaurus Hofmanni. See Mosasaurus. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ It., fr. L. magister. See Master. ] A master in any art, especially in music; a composer or orchestra conductor. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

prop. n. [ after Mae West (1892-1980) an actress with a well-developed bosom. ] An inflatable life jacket, originally used as a personal flotation device by aviators downed at sea.
Syn. -- air jacket. [ WordNet 1.6 ]

{ } n. [ AS. m&aemacr_;g kinsman + bōt compensation. ] (Anglo-Saxon Law) Compensation for the injury done by slaying a kinsman. Spelman. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.pl. [ NL., fr. 'odoy`s, 'odo`ntos, a tooth + &unr_; a socket. ] (Paleon.) An order of extinct toothed birds having the teeth in sockets, as in the genus Ichthyornis. See Ichthyornis. [ 1913 Webster ]

prop. n. A natural family of chiefly tropical trees and shrubs; same as Palmaceae; coextensive with the order Palmales.
Syn. -- family Palmae, Palmaceae, Arecaceae, family Arecaceae, palm family. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

‖n. pl. [ NL., fr. Gr. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_; a military standard + &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;, &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;, mouth. ] (Zool.) A division of Discophora having large free mouth lobes. It includes Aurelia, and Pelagia. Called also Semeostoma. See Illustr. under Discophora, and Medusa. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ L. See Thermal. ] Springs or baths of warm or hot water. [ 1913 Webster ]