Intermediary intermediate; acting as a mediator; n: mediator; go-between

mediocre ordinary; commonplace; neither good nor bad

meditation reflection; thought; V. meditate

medium element that is a creature's natural environment; nutrient setting in which microorganisms are cultivated; appropriate occupation or means of expression; channel of communication; compromise; middle position between extremes; intervening substance through which something else is transmitted

medley mixture

meek submissive; patient and long-suffering

suitor man who is courting a woman

megalomania mania for doing grandiose things; mental disorder characterized by delusions of wealth, power, or importance

melancholy gloomy; morose; blue; N. ADJ. melancholic; CF. melancholia

blue gloomy; depressed

melee fight

mellifluous (of words or a voice) sweetly or smoothly flowing; melodious; having a pleasant tune

memento token; reminder of the past; keepsake; Ex. memento of your visit

memorialize commemorate

memorial something, such as a monument or holiday, intended to honor the memory of a person or event; ADJ: commemorative

menagerie collection of wild animals on exhibition; zoo

mendacious lying; habitually dishonest; N. mendacity

mendicant beggar; ADJ: living as a beggar

alms money or goods given to the poor

menial suitable for servants; lowly; mean; N: someone who does menial work (esp. servant in a house)

mentor counselor; teacher

mercantile concerning trade or merchants

mercenary motivated solely by money or gain; N.

mercurial capricious; quick and changing; fickle; containing the element mercury; Ex. mercurial temper; CF. mood

quicksilver mercury

meretricious flashy; tawdry; attractive on the surface but of no real value; Ex. metericious argument/jewel; CF. prostitute

Vulgar of the common people; deficient in refinement; not refined; coarse; Ex. Vulgar display of wealth; n. Vulgarism: vulgarity; crudely indecent word; cf. Vulgarian: vulgar person; boor; lout

merger combination (of two business corporations); act of merging

mesmerize hypnotize; N. mesmerism; CF. Franz Mesmer

metallurgical pertaining to the art of removing metals from ores; N. metallurgy: science that deals with extracting metals from ores

metamorphosis change of form; Ex. metamorphosis of caterpillar to butterfly; V. metamorphose: change by metamorphosis

metaphor implied comparison; CF. simile

soar rise or fly high in the air; Ex. The rocket soared into the sky.

metaphysical pertaining to speculative philosophy; of metaphysics; N. metaphysics: branch of philosophy that examines the nature of reality

mete measure; distribute; administer; Ex. mete out justice/punishment

meteoric like a meteor; swift; momentarily brilliant; Ex. meteoric rise to fame; N. meteor

methodical systematic; N. method: systematic method of procedure

meticulous excessively careful (with great attention to detail); painstaking; scrupulous

metropolis large city

mettle courage (to continue bravely in spite of difficulties); spirit; ADJ. mettlesome

miasma swamp gas; heavy vaporous atmosphere often emanating from decaying matter; pervasive corrupting influence; noxious atmosphere or influence

swamp wetland; marsh; V: flood; overwhelm; drench in with liquid

microcosm small representative world; world in miniature; Ex. microcosm of English society

s miniature small model; small painting; ADJ: small

migrant changing its habitat; wandering; Ex. migrant birds/workers; N: one that migrates

migratory wandering; V. migrate: move from one region and settle in another; move periodically from one region to another

milieu social environment; means of expression; Ex. feel out of one's milieu; Ex. His proper milieu is watercolor.

militant combative; bellicose; N.

militate work against; Ex. militate against the chances of promotion; CF. serve as a soldier

militia army composed of ordinary citizens rather than professional soldiers

millennium thousand-year period (as in the New Testament); hoped-for period of happiness and prosperity

mimicry imitation

mime pantomime(act without dialogue); mimicry; mimer; V: mimic; pantomime

minatory menacing; threatening

mincing affectedly dainty(delicate); V. mince: cut (esp. meat) into very small pieces; walk with exaggerated primness; walk in an unnatural way, taking little short steps; Ex. The actor minced across the stage; CF. mincemeat; CF. mincer

dainty delicate; delicately beautiful; fastidious; not easy to please; Ex. dainty movement/dress

exquisite delicate; very finely made; extremely beautiful; Ex. exquisite piece of jewelry

choice delicate; of very fine quality

minion servile dependent; obsequious follower

minuscule(miniscule) extremely small

minute extremely small; CF. minutes: official record of the proceedings at a meeting

minutiae petty or trivial details; CF. minutia

mirage unreal reflection; optical illusion

mire entangle; stick in swampy ground; stick or sink in mire; N: bog; deep mud; Ex. sucked deeper into the mire

mirth merriment; laughter

misadventure mischance; ill luck; Ex. death by misadventure

misanthrope one who hates mankind; misanthropist