melastomaceous (or ceo us as shus)

[Mod. Lat. melas to mace (a); Eng.-ous.] Bot: Pertaining or relating to the natural order Melastomacese (q. v.). mě-lăs-to-mădş, s. pl. [Mod. Lat. melastom ( a ) (q.v.); Eng. pl. suff. -ads.] Bot.: The name given by Lindley to the order Melastomacese (q. v.). měl-as-tom-e-æ, s . pl . [Mod. Lat. melastom(a); Lat. fem. pl. adj. suff. -eœ .] Bot .: The typical tribe of the order Melastomaceae (q. v.). Měl-chis-i-di-cian, Měl-chiz-e-de-cian, s. [Eng. Melchizedek , from the Heb. Malki - tsedheq = King of righteousne ; -ian .] Church Hist.: One of a sect of heretics in the third century who affirmed Melchizedec was the power of God, and superior to Christ; and that he sustained the office of an interce or for angels in heaven as Christ did for men on earth. ( Mosheim .) Měl-chite, a. & s. [Heb. melek a king, a ruler.] A. As adj .: Pertaining to the body of Greek Christians described under B. "The Melchite religious follow the rule of St. Basil, with modifications."- Addis & Arnold : Cath . Dict . , p. 570. B. As substantive: Eccles. & Ch . Hist . ( pl .): Royalists; a name given to those Greek Christians in the East, who, after the Council of Chalcedon (Fourth General, A. D. 451) remained orthodox, following the example of the Byzantine Court. As they followed Constant i nople at this juncture, in remaining in communion with the West, so they cast in their lot with that patriarchate when the Greek schism took place. In 1686 the Patriarch of Antioch returned to the Roman obedience, and since then the patriarchates of Alexandria and Jerusalem have also submitted. This prelate is chosen by the bishops of the patriarchate, but the election must be examined and approved by Propaganda, and confirmed by the Pope. The bishops may be chosen from the unmar ried secular clergy. The latter may continue to live as married men, if married before receiving orders. The Melchites retain their own rites, and in 1865 their number was estimated at about 35,000. ( Addis and Arnold .) [MONOPHYSITES.] Měl-chíz-ě-de-cian, s. [MELCHISIDICIAN.] měl-děr, s . [Icel. meldr =flour or corn in the mill; mala =to grind.] Corn or grain of any kind sent to the mill to be ground; the quantity of corn or meal ground at one time. [MEAL.] Guinea-fowl; fem. pl. adj. suff. -idæ.] měl-ě-ā-gri-dæ, s. pl. [Latin meleagr (is)=a Ornith.: Turkeys; in some cla ifications a family of Galline, or game-birds. It includes but one genus, Meleagris (q. v.). měl-ě-a-gri-na, s. [Mod. Lat., from Lat. melea gris (q.v.).] Zool .: Pearl-oyster; a genus of bivalves, family Aviculide; valves flattish and nearly equal in size, gills equal and crescent-shaped, foot finger-like and grooved. Found in Madagascar, Ceylon, the Persian Gulf, and Swan River. The shells of this genus yield Mother-o'-pearl (q. v.), and the pearls found in Meleagrina mar gar it if era are prized for their beauty and perfection. měl-ě-a-gri-næ, s. pl. [Lat. meleagr (is); fem. pl. adj. suff. - inæ.] Ornith.: A sub-family of Phasianide, embracing two genera, Numida (Guinea-fowl) and Meleagris (Turkey.)