male

& 8. [O. Fr. masle (Fr. male ), from Lat. masculus male, from masa male creature, a man.] A. As adjective: I. Ordinary Language: 1. Lit .: Of or pertaining to the sex that procreates or begets young, as distinguished from the female, which conceives and bears young; masculine. *2. Fig .: Po e ing some quality or attribute characteristic of males: hence, excellent, noble, superior. II. Bot . ( of an individual plant ): Bearing stamens but not fruit. B. As substantive: 1. Ord. Lang.: One of that sex which procreates or begets young; a he-animal. "When they brought forth children they openly slew all the males."- Stow : Memorable Antiquities , p. 20. 2. Bot.: A staminiferous plant or inflorescence. male-fern, s. Bot.: Nephrodium filix mas , a fern, one to three feet high; the stipes more or le scaly beneath; the segments entire or serrate at the tip; the frond generally bipinnate; the pinnules obtusely lobed. Found in woods and shady places, bearing fruit in July and August. IMG:content-0861.png:[blocks in formation] male-system, s. Bot .: All the parts of a flower connected with the stamens; all appendages, proce es, ., forming part of the same series of organs, as the true stamens, or originating between them and the pistil. Called by Röper the andræcium.