Metachronism
(Me*tach"ro*nism) n. [Gr. after the time, happening afterward; beyond + time: cf. F. métachronisme.]
An error committed in chronology by placing an event after its real time.
Metachrosis
(||Met`a*chro"sis) n. [NL., from Gr. beyond + a coloring.] (Biol.) The power of changing
color at will by the expansion of special pigment cells, under nerve influence, as seen in many reptiles,
fishes, etc. Cope.
Metacinnabarite
(Met`a*cin"na*bar*ite) n. [Pref. meta- + cinnabar.] (Min.) Sulphide of mercury in
isometric form and black in color.
Metacism
(Met"a*cism) n. [L. metacismus, Gr. fondness for the letter .] A defect in pronouncing the
letter m, or a too frequent use of it.
Metacrolein
(Met`a*cro"le*in) n. [Pref. met- + acrolein.] (Chem.) A polymeric modification of acrolein
obtained by heating it with caustic potash. It is a crystalline substance having an aromatic odor.
Metacromion
(||Met`a*cro"mi*on) n. [NL.] (Anat.) A process projecting backward and downward from
the acromion of the scapula of some mammals.
Metadiscoidal
(Met`a*dis*coid"al) a. [Meta- + discoidal.] (Anat.) Discoidal by derivation; — applied
especially to the placenta of man and apes, because it is supposed to have been derived from a diffused
placenta.
Metagastric
(Met`a*gas"tric) a. [Pref. meta- + gastric.] (Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the two posterior
gastric lobes of the carapace of crabs.
Metage
(Met"age) n. [From Mete, v.]
1. Measurement, especially of coal. De Foe.
2. Charge for, or price of, measuring. Simmonds.
Metagenesis
(Met`a*gen"e*sis) n. [Pref. meta- + genesis.]
1. (Biol.) The change of form which one animal species undergoes in a series of successively produced
individuals, extending from the one developed from the ovum to the final perfected individual. Hence,
metagenesis involves the production of sexual individuals by nonsexual means, either directly or through
intervening sexless generations. Opposed to monogenesis. See Alternate generation, under Generation.
2. (Biol.) Alternation of sexual and asexual or gemmiparous generations; — in distinction from heterogamy.
Metagenetic
(Met`a*ge*net"ic) a. (Biol.) Of or pertaining to metagenesis.
Metagenic
(Met`a*gen"ic) a. (Biol.) Metagenetic.
Metagnathous
(Me*tag"na*thous) a. [Pref. meta- + Gr. gna`qos the jaw.] (Zoöl.) Cross-billed; — said
of certain birds, as the crossbill.
Metagrammatism
(Met`a*gram"ma*tism) n. Anagrammatism.
Metagraphic
(Met`a*graph"ic) a. By or pertaining to metagraphy.
Metagraphy
(Me*tag"ra*phy) n. [Pref. meta- + -graphy.] The art or act of rendering the letters of the
alphabet of one language into the possible equivalents of another; transliteration. Stormonth.
Metal
(Met"al) n. [F. métal, L. metallum metal, mine, Gr. mine; cf. Gr. to search after. Cf. Mettle, Medal.]
