Part 6885

<syn>Syn. -- Marriage; wedlock. See <er>Marriage</er>.</syn>

<h1>Matrix</h1> <Xpage=902>

<hw>Ma"trix</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt>; <plu>pl. <plw>Matrices</plw> <tt>(#)</tt></plu>. <ety>[L., fr. <ets>mater</ets> mother. See <er>Mother</er>, and cf. <er>Matrice</er>.]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <fld>(Anat.)</fld> <def>The womb.</def>

<blockquote>All that openeth the <b>matrix</b> is mine. <i>Ex. xxxiv. 19.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Hence, that which gives form or origin to anything</def>; as: <sd>(a)</sd> <fld>(Mech.)</fld> <def>The cavity in which anything is formed, and which gives it shape; a die; a mold, as for the face of a type.</def> <sd>(b)</sd> <fld>(Min.)</fld> <def>The earthy or stony substance in which metallic ores or crystallized minerals are found; the gangue.</def> <sd>(c)</sd> <pluf>pl.</pluf> <fld>(Dyeing)</fld> <def>The five simple colors, black, white, blue, red, and yellow, of which all the rest are composed.</def>

<p><b>3.</b> <fld>(Biol.)</fld> <def>The lifeless portion of tissue, either animal or vegetable, situated between the cells; the intercellular substance.</def>

<p><b>4.</b> <fld>(Math.)</fld> <def>A rectangular arrangement of symbols in rows and columns. The symbols may express quantities or operations.</def>

<h1>Matron</h1> <Xpage=902>

<hw>Ma"tron</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[F. <ets>matrone</ets>, L. <ets>matrona</ets>, fr. <ets>mater</ets> mother. See <er>Mother</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>A wife or a widow, especially, one who has borne children; a woman of staid or motherly manners.</def>

<blockquote>Your wives, your daughters, Your <b>matrons</b>, and your maids. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Grave from her cradle, insomuch that she was a <b>matron</b> before she was a mother. <i>Fuller.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>A housekeeper; esp., a woman who manages the domestic economy of a public instution; a head nurse in a hospital; <as>as, the <ex>matron</ex> of a school or hospital</as>.</def>

<cs><col>Jury of matrons</col> <fld>(Law)</fld>, <cd>a jury of experienced women called to determine the question of pregnancy when set up in bar of execution, and for other cognate purposes.</cd></cs>

<h1>Matronage</h1> <Xpage=902>

<hw>Mat"ron*age</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>The state of a matron.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>The collective body of matrons.</def>

<i>Burke.</i>

<blockquote>Can a politician slight the feelings and convictions of the whole <b>matronage</b> of his country ? <i>Hare.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Matronal</h1> <Xpage=902>

<hw>Mat"ron*al</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>matronalis</ets>.]</ety> <def>Of or pertaining to a matron; suitable to an elderly lady or to a married woman; grave; motherly.</def>

<h1>Matronhood</h1> <Xpage=902>

<hw>Ma"tron*hood</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The state of being a matron.</def>

<h1>Matronize</h1> <Xpage=902>

<hw>Mat"ron*ize</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Matronized</er> <tt>(?)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Matronizing</er> <tt>(?)</tt>.]</wordforms> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To make a matron of; to make matronlike.</def>

<blockquote>Childbed <b>matronizes</b> the giddiest spirits. <i>Richardson.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To act the part of a marton toward; to superintend; to chaperone; <as>as, to <ex>matronize</ex> an assembly</as>.</def>

<h1>Matronlike</h1> <Xpage=902>