MANNERISM n.
to excess, especially in literature or art. Mannerism is pardonable,and is sometimes even agreeable, when the manner, though vicious, is natural . . . . But a mannerism which does not sit easy on the mannerist, which has been adopted on principle, and which can be sustained only by constant effort, is always offensive.…
MILD a.
moderate in degree or quality; -- the opposite of harsh, severe, irritating, violent, disagreeable, etc.; -- applied to persons and things; as, a mild disposition; a mild eye; a mild air; a mild medicine; a mild insanity. The rosy morn resigns her light And milder glory to the noon. Waller. Adore him as a mild and mer…
MUSK n.
at (1). -- Musk beetle (Zoöl.), a European longicorn beetle (Aromia moschata), having an agreeable odor resembling that of attar of roses. -- Musk cat. See Bondar. -- Musk cattle (Zoöl.), musk oxen. See Musk ox (below). -- Musk deer (Zoöl.), a small hornless deer (Moschus moschiferus), which inhabits the elevated p…
NEGRO a.
(Zoöl.), a minute black bug common on the raspberry and blackberry. It produced a very disagreeable flavor. -- negro corn, the Indian millet or durra; -- so called in the West Indies. see Durra. McElrath. -- Negro fly (Zoöl.), a black dipterous fly (Psila rosæ) which, in the larval state, is injurious to carrots; --…