Madrigal
(Mad"ri*gal) n. [It. madrigale, OIt. madriale, mandriale (cf. LL. matriale); of uncertain origin,
possibly fr. It mandra flock, L. mandra stall, herd of cattle, Gr. ma`ndra fold, stable; hence, madrigal,
originally, a pastoral song.]
1. A little amorous poem, sometimes called a pastoral poem, containing some tender and delicate,
though simple, thought.
Whose artful strains have oft delayed
The huddling brook to hear his madrigal.
Milton. 2. (Mus.) An unaccompanied polyphonic song, in four, five, or more parts, set to secular words, but
full of counterpoint and imitation, and adhering to the old church modes. Unlike the freer glee, it is best
sung with several voices on a part. See Glee.
Madrigaler
(Mad"ri*gal*er) n. A madrigalist.
Madrigalist
(Mad"ri*gal*ist), n. A composer of madrigals.
Madrilenian
(Mad`ri*le"ni*an) a. [Sp. Madrileño.] Of or pertaining to Madrid in Spain, or to its inhabitants.
— n. A native or inhabitant of Madrid.
Madrina
(||Ma*dri"na) n. [Sp., prop., a godmother.] An animal wearing a bell and acting as the leader
of a troop of pack mules. [S. America]
Madroña
(Ma*dro"ña) n. [Sp. madroño.] (Bot.) A small evergreen tree or shrub of California, having a
smooth bark, thick shining leaves, and edible red berries, which are often called madroña apples. [Written
also madroño.]
Madwort
(Mad"wort`) n. (Bot.) A genus of cruciferous plants (Alyssum) with white or yellow flowers
and rounded pods. A. maritimum is the commonly cultivated sweet alyssum, a fragrant white-flowered
annual.
Mægbote
(Mæg"bote`, Mag"bote`) n. [AS. m&aemacrg kinsman + bot compensation.] (Anglo-Saxon
Law) Compensation for the injury done by slaying a kinsman. Spelman.
Maelstrom
(Mael"strom) n. [Norw., a whirlpool.]
1. A celebrated whirlpool on the coast of Norway.
2. Also Fig. ; as, a maelstrom of vice.
Mænad
(||Mæ"nad) n. [L. Maenas, -adis, Gr. fr. to rave.]
1. A Bacchante; a priestess or votary of Bacchus.
2. A frantic or frenzied woman.
Maestoso
(||Ma`es*to"so) a. & adv. [It.] (Mus.) Majestic or majestically; — a direction to perform a
passage or piece of music in a dignified manner.
Maestricht monitor
(Maes"tricht mon"i*tor) [So called from Maestricht, a town in Holland.] (Paleon.)
The Mosasaurus Hofmanni. See Mosasaurus.
Maestro
(||Ma*es"tro) n. [It., fr. L. magister. See Master.] A master in any art, especially in music; a
composer.
Maffle
(Maf"fle) v. i. [Akin to OD. maffelen to stammer. Cf. Muffle to mumble.] To stammer. [Obs.]
