1. Capable of alteration; subject to change; changeable in form, qualities, or nature.
Things of the most accidental and mutable nature.
South. 2. Changeable; inconstant; unsettled; unstable; fickle. "Most mutable wishes." Byron.
Syn. — Changeable; alterable; unstable; unsteady; unsettled; wavering; inconstant; variable; fickle.
Mutableness
(Mu"ta*ble*ness), n. The quality of being mutable.
Mutably
(Mu"ta*bly), adv. Changeably.
Mutacism
(Mu"ta*cism) n. See Mytacism.
Mutage
(Mu"tage) n. [F.] A process for checking the fermentation of the must of grapes.
Mutandum
(||Mu*tan"dum) n.; pl. Mutanda [L., fr. mutare to change.] A thing which is to be changed; something
which must be altered; — used chiefly in the plural.
Mutation
(Mu*ta"tion) n. [L. mutatio, fr. mutare to change: cf. F. mutation. See Mutable.] Change; alteration,
either in form or qualities.
The vicissitude or mutations in the superior globe are no fit matter for this present argument.
Bacon. Mutch
(Mutch) n. [Cf. D. mutse a cap, G. mütze. Cf. Amice a cape.] The close linen or muslin cap
of an old woman. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]
Mutchkin
(Mutch"kin) n. A liquid measure equal to four gills, or an imperial pint. [Scot.]
Mute
(Mute) v. t. [L. mutare to change. See Molt.] To cast off; to molt.
Have I muted all my feathers?
Beau. & Fl. Mute
(Mute), v. t. & i. [F. mutir, émeutir, OF. esmeltir, fr. OD. smelten, prop., to melt. See Smelt.]
To eject the contents of the bowels; — said of birds. B. Jonson.
Mute
(Mute), n. The dung of birds. Hudibras.
Mute
(Mute), a. [L. mutus; cf. Gr. to shut, Skr. mta bound, mka dumb: cf. OE. muet, fr. F. muet, a
dim. of OF. mu, L. mutus.]
1. Not speaking; uttering no sound; silent.
All the heavenly choir stood mute,
And silence was in heaven.
Milton. In law a prisoner is said to stand mute, when, upon being arranged, he makes no answer, or does not
plead directly, or will not put himself on trial.
2. Incapable of speaking; dumb. Dryden.
3. Not uttered; unpronounced; silent; also, produced by complete closure of the mouth organs which interrupt
the passage of breath; — said of certain letters. See 5th Mute, 2.
4. Not giving a ringing sound when struck; — said of a metal.
Mute swan (Zoöl.), a European wild white swan which produces no loud notes.
