*meth*

[ F. ametiste, amatiste, F. améthyste, L. amethystus, fr. Gr. &unr_; without drunkenness; as a noun, a remedy for drunkenness, the amethyst, supposed to have this power; 'a priv. + &unr_; to be drunken, &unr_; strong drink, wine. See Mead. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. (Min.) A variety of crystallized quartz, of a purple or bluish violet color, of different shades. It is much used as a jeweler's stone. [ 1913 Webster ]

Oriental amethyst, the violet-blue variety of transparent crystallized corundum or sapphire. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Her.) A purple color in a nobleman's escutcheon, or coat of arms. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. amethystinus, Gr. &unr_;. ] 1. Resembling amethyst, especially in color; bluish violet. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Composed of, or containing, amethyst. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. a methyl with the hydrogen atom replaced by an amino radical. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

. (Physics) A method of attaining successively lower temperatures by utilizing the cooling effect of the expansion of one gas in condensing another less easily liquefiable, and so on. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. (Chem.) A colorless gas, CH3Cl, of a sweet odor, easily condensed to a liquid; -- called also methyl chloride. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Prob. dial. pron. of come hither, used in calling cows, etc. ] [ Dial. or Colloq., Brit. ] 1. Matter; affair. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. Friendly communication or association.

To put the comether on or
To put one's comether on, to exercise persuasion upon; to get under one's influence; to beguile; to wheedle.

How does ut come about, sorr, that whin a man has put the comether on wan woman he's sure bound to put ut on another? Kipling. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

Condorcet's method is one of several pairwise methods, which are great methods for electing people in single-seat elections (president, governor, mayor, etc.). Condorcet's method is named after the 18th century election theorist who invented it. Unlike most methods which make you choose the lesser of two evils, Condorcet's method and other pairwise methods let you rank the candidates in the order in which you would see them elected. The way the votes are tallied is by computing the results of separate pairwise elections between all of the candidates, and the winner is the one that wins a majority in all of the pairwise elections.
The best result of this is that if there is Candidate A on one extreme who pulls 40% of the vote, Candidate B in the middle who only pulls 20% of the vote, and Candidate C on the other extreme who pulls 40% of the vote, Candidate B will get elected as a compromise. Why? Because in a two-way contest between A and B, B would win with 60% of the vote, and in a two-way contest between B and C, B would also win with 60% of the vote. (Note that if B is a loony billionaire, he might not be able to win separate pairwise elections against anyone, and this would be reflected with Condorcet's method.)
Condorcet's method lets voters mark their sincere wishes for who they would like to win the election, without having to consider strategy ("I'd vote for Candidate B, but I'm afraid of wasting my vote."). It's really just a logical extension of majority rule when more than two choices are involved. Other pairwise methods, such as Copeland's method and Smith's method, have other desirable characteristics. The best of the pairwise methods is something that is quite debatable.
Wait, I've heard of this before...
You may have. However, there are many methods other methods similar to this one (though in my opinion, inferior), so don't be so sure. In order to be fair, here are a couple of those other methods:
* Majority preference voting (MPV) -- related to PV. Like PV, the voter simply ranks candidates in an order of preference (e. 1. Perot 2. Clinton 3. Bush). The candidate with the least number of first place votes is eliminated, and their votes are "transferred" to their 2nd choice until a candidate has a majority. It is frequently advocated and is better than our current system, but still has some nasty properties (like possibly knocking compromise candidates out of the running early). MPV is actually in use in Australia, among other places. Also known as Hare's Method.
* Approval -- Voters are allowed to vote for all candidates they approve. For example, Bush-Yes Perot-No Clinton-Yes. The candidate with the highest number of "yes" votes wins. For a more complete explanation, see here.
Rob Lanphier (from https://web.archive.org/web/20050722235546/http://www.eskimo.com/~robla/politics/condorcet.html). [ PJC ]

n. a corticosteroid drug used to treat allergies or inflammation. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ Pref. di- + methyl. ] (Chem.) Ethane; -- sometimes so called because regarded as consisting of two methyl radicals. See Ethane. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Mil.) a weapon that squirts ignited liquid or gelatinous fuel for several yards. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. a methyl radical with a hydroxyl group replacing one of the hydrogen atoms. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. Not methodical; without method or systematic arrangement; without order or regularity; confused. Addison.

Syn. -- Irregular; confused; disoderly; unsystematic; desultory. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Without method; confusedly; unsystematically. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Lack of method. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To render immethodical; to destroy the method of; to confuse. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Chem., Med.) A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and analgesic substance (C19H16ClNO4) prepared synthetically and used for the treatment of pain and arthritis. It blocks prostaglandin biosynthesis. Chemically, it is 1-(4-chlorobenzoyl)-5-methoxy-2-methyl-1H-indole-3-acetic acid. [ PJC ]

n. A method of teaching by question and answer; it was used by Socrates to elicit truths from his students; -- called also the Socratic method [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ Malamic + ethane. ] (Chem.) A white crystalline substance forming the ethyl salt of malamic acid. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A thermosetting plastic formed by the reaction of melamine and formaldehyde. It is used for molding and for preparing laminated sheets used to surface counter tops, walls, and furniture. The commercially marketed Formica (TM) is one type of melamine resin. [ PJC ]

n. See Meathe. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. a narcotic drug similar to morphine but less habit-forming; used in treating heroin addiction.
Syn. -- methadone hydrochloride. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ Pref. met- + haemoglobin. ] (Physiol. Chem.) A stable crystalline compound obtained by the decomposition of hemoglobin. It is found in old blood stains. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Myristic + ether + alcohol. ] (Chem.) A white waxy substance, found in small quantities in spermaceti as an ethereal salt of several fatty acids, and regarded as an alcohol of the methane series. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Chem.) Same as formaldehyde. [ PJC ]

n. [ See Methal. ] (Chem.) A light, colorless, gaseous, inflammable hydrocarbon, CH4; marsh gas. It is the simplest of the aliphatic hydrocarbons. See Marsh gas, under Gas. [ 1913 Webster ]

Methane series (Chem.), a series of saturated hydrocarbons, of which methane is the first member and type, and (because of their general chemical inertness and indifference) called also the paraffin (little affinity) series. The lightest members are gases, as methane, ethane; intermediate members are liquids, as hexane, heptane, etc. (found in benzine, kerosene, etc.); while the highest members are white, waxy, or fatty solids, as paraffin proper. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A type of archaebacteria found in anaerobic environments such as animal intestinal tracts or sediments or sewage, and capable of producing methane; a source of natural gas. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. (Chem.) The simplest alcohol of the paraffin series, CH3.OH; methyl alcohol. Called also wood alcohol. It is used as an antifreeze solvent, as a fuel, and as a denaturant for ethyl alcohol.
Syn. -- methyl alcohol, wood alcohol, wood spirit. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

n. [ Methane + -meter. ] An instrument, resembling a eudiometer, to detect the presence and amount of methane, as in coal mines. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ W. meddyglyn; medd mead + llyn liquor, juice. See Mead a drink. ] A fermented beverage made of honey and water; mead. Gay. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Methyl + ethylene. ] (Chem.) See Methylene. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Methene + -yl. ] (Chem.) The hypothetical hydrocarbon radical CH, regarded as an essential residue of certain organic compounds. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Methyl. ] (Chem.) A binary compound of methyl with some element; as, aluminium methide, Al2(CH3)6. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. impers. [ imp. Methought ] [ AS. þyncan to seem, mē þynceð, mē þūhte, OE. me thinketh, me thoughte; akin to G. dünken to seem, denken to think, and E. think. See Me, and Think. ] It seems to me; I think. See Me. [ R., except in poetry. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

In all ages poets have been had in special reputation, and, methinks, not without great cause. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Chem.) A salt of methionic acid. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Methyl + thionic. ] (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or designating, a sulphonic (thionic) acid derivative of methane, obtained as a stable white crystalline substance, CH2.(SO3H)2, which forms well defined salts. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. méthode, L. methodus, fr. Gr. meqodos method, investigation following after; meta` after + "odo`s way.] 1. An orderly procedure or process; regular manner of doing anything; hence, manner; way; mode; as, a method of teaching languages; a method of improving the mind. Addison. [1913 Webster]

2. Orderly arrangement, elucidation, development, or classification; clear and lucid exhibition; systematic arrangement peculiar to an individual. [1913 Webster]

Though this be madness, yet there's method in it. Shak. [1913 Webster]

All method is a rational progress, a progress toward an end. Sir W. Hamilton. [1913 Webster]

3. (Nat. Hist.) Classification; a mode or system of classifying natural objects according to certain common characteristics; as, the method of Theophrastus; the method of Ray; the Linnaean method. [1913 Webster]

4. A technique used in acting in which the actor tries to identify with the individual personality of the specific character being portrayed, so as to provide a realistic rendering of the character's role. Also called the Method, method acting, the Stanislavsky Method or Stanislavsky System. [PJC]

Syn. -- Order; system; rule; regularity; way; manner; mode; course; process; means. -- Method, Mode, Manner. Method implies arrangement; mode, mere action or existence. Method is a way of reaching a given end by a series of acts which tend to secure it; mode relates to a single action, or to the form which a series of acts, viewed as a whole, exhibits. Manner is literally the handling of a thing, and has a wider sense, embracing both method and mode. An instructor may adopt a good method of teaching to write; the scholar may acquire a bad mode of holding his pen; the manner in which he is corrected will greatly affect his success or failure. [1913 Webster]

{ } a. [ L. methodicus, Gr. &unr_;: cf. F. méthodique. ] 1. Arranged with regard to method; disposed in a suitable manner, or in a manner to illustrate a subject, or to facilitate practical observation; well-ordered; as, the methodical arrangement of arguments; a methodical treatise. [ wns=2 ] “Methodical regularity.” Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Proceeding with regard to method; characterized by method or orderliness; systematic; as, a methodical investigation. [ wns=1 ] “Aristotle, strict, methodic, and orderly.” Harris. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Of or pertaining to the ancient school of physicians called methodists. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Me*thod"ic*al*ly, adv. -- Me*thod"ic*al*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The art and principles of method. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Eccl.) The system of doctrines, polity, and worship, of the sect called Methodists. Bp. Warburton. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to the sect of Methodists; as, Methodist hymns; a Methodist elder. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. méthodiste. See Method. ] 1. One who observes method. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One of an ancient school of physicians who rejected observation and founded their practice on reasoning and theory. Sir W. Hamilton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Theol.) One of a sect of Christians, the outgrowth of a small association called the “Holy Club, ” formed at Oxford University, a. d. 1729, of which the most conspicuous members were John Wesley and his brother Charles Wesley; -- originally so called from the methodical strictness of members of the club in all religious duties. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A person of strict piety; one who lives in the exact observance of religious duties; -- sometimes so called in contempt or ridicule. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. Of or pertaining to methodists, or to the Methodists. -- Meth`o*dis"tic*al*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

n. The act or process of methodizing, or the state of being methodized. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Methodized p. pr. & vb. n. Methodizing ] To reduce to method; to dispose in due order; to arrange in a convenient manner; as, to methodize one's work or thoughts. Spectator. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who methodizes. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to methodology. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; method + -logy. ] The science of method or arrangement; a treatise on method. Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; wine + -ol. ] (Chem.) An earlier technical name of methyl alcohol or wood spirit, now called methanol; also, by extension, the class name of any of the series of alcohols of the methane series of which methol proper is the type. See Methyl alcohol, under Methyl. [ 1913 Webster ]