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M — Madame to Magic (Part 6 of 7)

Maggiore
(||Mag`gio"re) a. [It., from L. major, compar. of magnus great. See Major.] (Mus.) Greater, in respect to scales, intervals, etc., when used in opposition to minor; major. Moore

Maggot
(Mag"got) n. [W. macai, pl. maceiod, magiod, a worn or grub; cf. magu to bread.]

1. (Zoöl.) The footless larva of any fly. See Larval.

2. A whim; an odd fancy. Hudibras. Tennyson.

Maggotiness
(Mag"got*i*ness) n. State of being maggoty.

Maggotish
(Mag"got*ish), a. Full of whims or fancies; maggoty.

Maggot-pie
(Mag"got-pie`) n. A magpie. [Obs.] Shak.

Maggoty
(Mag"got*y) a.

1. Infested with maggots.

2. Full of whims; capricious. Norris.

Maghet
(Ma"ghet) n. [Cf. Fl. maghet maid.] (Bot.) A name for daisies and camomiles of several kinds.

Magi
(||Ma"gi) n. pl. [L., pl. of Magus, Gr. of Per. origin. Cf. Mage, Magic.] A caste of priests, philosophers, and magicians, among the ancient Persians; hence, any holy men or sages of the East.

The inspired Magi from the Orient came.
Sandys.

Magian
(Ma"gi*an) a. Of or pertaining to the Magi.

Magian
(Ma"gi*an), n. One of the Magi, or priests of the Zoroastrian religion in Persia; an adherent of the Zoroastrian religion. — Ma"gi*an*ism n.

Magic
(Mag"ic) n. [OE. magique, L. magice, Gr. fr. . See Magic, a., and Magi.] A comprehensive name for all of the pretended arts which claim to produce effects by the assistance of supernatural beings, or departed spirits, or by a mastery of secret forces in nature attained by a study of occult science, including enchantment, conjuration, witchcraft, sorcery, necromancy, incantation, etc.

An appearance made by some magic.
Chaucer.

Celestial magic, a supposed supernatural power which gave to spirits a kind of dominion over the planets, and to the planets an influence over men. — Natural magic, the art of employing the powers of nature to produce effects apparently supernatural. — Superstitious, or Geotic, magic, the invocation of devils or demons, involving the supposition of some tacit or express agreement between them and human beings.

Syn. — Sorcery; witchcraft; necromancy; conjuration; enchantment.

Magic
(Mag"ic Mag"ic*al) a. [L. magicus, Gr. fr. : cf. F. magique. See Magi.]

1. Pertaining to the hidden wisdom supposed to be possessed by the Magi; relating to the occult powers of nature, and the producing of effects by their agency.

2. Performed by, or proceeding from, occult and superhuman agencies; done by, or seemingly done by, enchantment or sorcery. Hence: Seemingly requiring more than human power; imposing or startling