Word origins

• manshiplymanly, honorably, faithfully; good qualities of a man; in a courtly, polite manner
• manslaughtManslaughter.
• manslayerOne who commits homicide or manslaughter
• manswearTo swear falsely; perjure oneself.
• mantletA short sleeveless cloak or cape.
• manumissiveOf or relating to manumission (“release from slavery or other legally sanctioned servitude”).
• manumitTo release (someone) from slavery; to free.
• manwardDirected toward mankind.
• manyhoodThe state or condition of being many; multiplicity; abundance
• marblyCharacteristic of marble.
• marishA marsh.
• Mark CrossA small village in Rotherfield parish, Wealden district, East Sussex, England (OS grid ref TQ5831).
• marlineA light all-purpose cord commonly used to bind the end of a larger rope, to prevent fraying.
• marrowyFull of marrow; pithy.
• Mary MagdaleneA female disciple of Jesus.
• -masIndicates holidays or sacred days.
• mashwortwort that is not separated from the grains
• masterfastBound to a master
• masterlessLacking or deprived of a master.
• mastropeA rope used in supporting a mast; a stay.
• mastsporeSynonym of mast step.
• matterlessWithout matter, void of matter
• maturativeA remedy used in medieval medicine to promote maturation; a maturant.
• maugreIn spite of, notwithstanding.
• maunchA long stylised sleeve.
• Maundy ThursdayThe Thursday before Easter, which commemorates the Last Supper.
• MawdesleyA village and civil parish in Chorley borough, Lancashire, England (OS grid ref SD491145).
• maw-gutThe duodenum.
• mawmennyA dish eaten in later medieval England, made with spice and almost always with boneless meat from poultry (usually teased or mashed; most recipes name capon as an option), usually containing wine and either sugar or honey.
• mayweedstinking chamomile (Anthemis cotula).
• mazedlyIn an astonished or bewildered manner.
• mazednessThe condition of being mazed; confusion; astonishment.
• meadwortMeadowsweet, a plant found near rivers or on damp ground.
• meakA hook with a long handle; scythe.
• -mealUsed to denote a fixed number, measure, or amount at a time.
• mealtideThe tide or time when one receives their part, portion, or measure of food; the hour for a meal; mealtime.
• meaninglyWith an implied meaning; with significance; meaningfully.
• measleA red spot of the kind that appears on the skin of someone suffering from measles.
• medickAny of various European and North African herbs, of the genus Medicago, several of which are grown for fodder etc.
• medietyThe middle part; half; moiety.
• meedfulWorthy of meed or reward; deserving; meritorious.
• meedlessuncompensated, unrewarded
• meekenTo make or become meek or submissive.
• meekheadThe state or quality of being meek; meekness.
• meinieA household, or family.
• melancholiousmelancholy
• mellowySoft; unctuous; loamy.
• MemphiteOf, from or pertaining to Memphis, Egypt.
• MemphiticOf or relating to Memphis or the Memphites.
• Mendip HillsA geographic area consisting of a mountain range of limestone hills in Somerset, England.
• mennishLike or characteristic of men.
• mensefulDecorous; mannerly; respectful and worth of respect.
• mensurablemeasurable
• -mentAttached to a verb to form a noun meaning the action denoted by the verb or its result.
• mer-sea; marine; applied to beings that are fully or partly sea-creatures.
• merchandrytrade; commerce
• mercifulnessThe state of being merciful; mercy.
• merestakeA pollard or tree standing as a mark or boundary for the division of parts or parcels in a grove, thicket, or woods.
• merestoneA stone designating a limit or boundary; a boundary stone.
• mereswineA porpoise or dolphin.
• meritoriouslyIn a meritorious manner.
• merletteIn French heraldry, a depiction of a mythological bird without beak or feet.
• merlingThe fish Merlangius merlangus, endemic to the North Atlantic, Mediterranean Sea, western Baltic Sea and Black Sea.
• mermaidenA mermaid; a maiden of the sea; a siren.
• merrinessThe property of being merry.
• merseAlluvial, often marshy land by the side of a river, estuary or sea.
• meseemsIt seems to me.
• meselSynonym of leprous: having leprosy or a similar skin disorder.
• mesenMyself.
• mesylThe univalent radical CH₃SO₂– of methanesulfonic acid.
• metallineA substance of variable composition, but resembling a soft, dark-coloured metal, used in the bearings of machines to reduce friction, and as a substitute for lubricants.
• methinkethmethinks
• mewlTo cry weakly with a soft, high-pitched sound; to whimper; to whine.
• micherOne who goes sneaking about for dishonest or improper purposes; one who skulks, or keeps out of sight; a pander or go-between.
• micklenessGreatness; bigness (in any sense); largeness; size.
• middle earthThe Earth.
• middle fingerThe finger between the forefinger and the ring finger.
• midgenThe fat surrounding the entrails of an animal; suet.
• midge netA net worn around the head and face to keep off insects.
• midmornSynonym of midmorning.
• midplacethe centre of a location or the midpoint between two locations
• midwardIn or toward the middle.
• midwomanA midwife.
• mightfulMighty, powerful.
• mightlessLacking in might or vigour; powerless; weak.
• mightlyMighty; competent; capable; strong; powerful.
• might makes rightWhat is right or wrong is determined by power and strength; power justifies itself.
• mightsomeTo be powerful.
• MilanerSynonym of Milanese (“an inhabitant or native of Milan”).
• milch cowA cow kept for milking; a dairy cow.
• Mile EndAn inner suburb of London in the borough of Tower Hamlets, Greater London (OS grid ref TQ3682).
• milk cowSynonym of dairy cow.
• milkishResembling the colour or consistency of milk; milky
• milk-whiteHaving a slightly bluish white color, that of milk.
• Milky WayThe Milky Way Galaxy, the galaxy in which Earth is located.
• millwheelA water wheel used to power a watermill.
• milseTo be merciful to; show clemency to; pardon.
• milwellThe Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua).
• minchenA nun.
• mindlyOf or relating to the mind; mental