Part 6975

<hw>Me*rid"i*o*nal*ly</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>adv.</tt> <def>In the direction of the meridian.</def>

<h1>Merils</h1> <Xpage=914>

<hw>Mer"ils</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[F. <ets>m\'82relle</ets>, <ets>marelle</ets>, <ets>marelles</ets>, LL. <ets>marella</ets>, <ets>marrella</ets>. Cf. <er>Morris</er> the game.]</ety> <def>A boy's play, called also <altname>fivepenny morris</altname>. See <er>Morris</er>.</def>

<h1>Meringue</h1> <Xpage=914>

<hw>Me`ringue"</hw> <tt>(F. ?; E. ?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[F.]</ety> <def>A delicate pastry made of powdered sugar and the whites of eggs whipped up, -- with jam or cream added.</def>

<h1>Merino</h1> <Xpage=914>

<hw>Me*ri"no</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[Sp. <ets>merino</ets> moving from pasture to pasture, fr. <ets>merino</ets> a royal judge and superintendent or inspector of sheep walks, LL. <ets>merinus</ets>, fr. <ets>majorinus</ets>, i. e., major vill<?/, fr. L. <ets>major</ets> greater. See <er>Major</er>. Merino sheep are driven at certain seasons from one part of Spain to another, in large flocks, for pasturage.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Of or pertaining to a variety of sheep with very fine wool, originally bred in Spain.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Made of the wool of the merino sheep.</def>

<h1>Merino</h1> <Xpage=914>

<hw>Me*ri"no</hw>, <tt>n.</tt>; <plu>pl. <plw>Merinos</plw> <tt>(#)</tt></plu>. <ety>[Sp.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld> <def>A breed of sheep originally from Spain, noted for the fineness of its wool.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>A fine fabric of merino wool.</def>

<h1>Merismatic</h1> <Xpage=914>

<hw>Mer`is*mat"ic</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[Gr. <?/ division, fr. <?/ part.]</ety> <fld>(Biol.)</fld> <def>Dividing into cells or segments; characterized by separation into two or more parts or sections by the formation of internal partitions; <as>as, <ex>merismatic</ex> growth, where one cell divides into many</as>.</def>

<h1>Meristem</h1> <Xpage=914>

<hw>Mer"i*stem</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Gr. <?/ divisible.]</ety> <fld>(Bot.)</fld> <def>A tissue of growing cells, or cells capable of further division.</def>

<h1>Merit</h1> <Xpage=914>

<hw>Mer"it</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[F. <ets>m\'82rite</ets>, L. <ets>meritum</ets>, fr. <ets>merere</ets>, <ets>mereri</ets>, to deserve, merit; prob. originally, to get a share; akin to Gr. <?/ part, <?/ fate, doom, <?/ to receive as one's portion. Cf. <er>Market</er>, <er>Merchant</er>, <er>Mercer</er>, <er>Mercy</er>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>The quality or state of deserving well or ill; desert.</def>

<blockquote>Here may men see how sin hath his <b>merit</b>. <i>Chaucer.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Be it known, that we, the greatest, are misthought For things that others do; and when we fall, We answer other's <b>merits</b> in our name. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Esp. in a good sense: The quality or state of deserving well; worth; excellence.</def>

<blockquote>Reputation is ... oft got without <b>merit</b>, and lost without deserving. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>To him the wit of Greece and Rome was known, And every author's <b>merit</b>, but his own. <i>Pope.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>Reward deserved; any mark or token of excellence or approbation; <as>as, his teacher gave him ten <ex>merits</ex></as>.</def>

<blockquote>Those laurel groves, the <b>merits</b> of thy youth. <i>Prior.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Merit</h1> <Xpage=914>

<hw>Mer"it</hw>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Merited</er>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Meriting</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[F. <ets>m\'82riter</ets>, L. <ets>meritare</ets>, v. intens. fr. <ets>merere</ets>. See <er>Merit</er>, <tt>n.</tt>]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To earn by service or performance; to have a right to claim as reward; to deserve; sometimes, to deserve in a bad sense; <as>as, to <ex>merit</ex> punishment</as>.</def> "This kindness <i>merits</i> thanks."

<i>Shak.</i>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To reward.</def> <mark>[R. & Obs.]</mark>