machinations - schemes or plots, especially with evil intentions: Some people attributed America’s entry into World War I to the machinations of the rich and powerful, whose pockets swelled from the production and sale of military supplies. Also: machinate (to scheme or plot, especially with evil intentions), machinator. [machina, machinae, f. - machine; contrivance, trick; machinamentum, machinamenti, n, - machine; machinator, machinatoris, m. - contriver; machinor, machinari, machinatus sum - to contrive]

maculate - spotted, soiled, stained: Although she presented to her adoring public the appearance of unmitigated virtue, most of us knew that her moral mantle was indeed maculate, like that of every human. Also: immaculate, macula (blotch on the skin), maculation (spotted condition, pattern of spots on an animal). [maculo, maculare, maculavi, maculatus - to spot, stain; maculosus, maculosa, maculosum - spotted; defiled]

magistrate - 1) a civil official empowered to enforce the law: The President is the chief magistrate of the United States. 2) a minor judicial official. Also: magisterial (pertaining to a magistrate; arrogant), magisterialness, magisterium (the teaching authority of the Roman Catholic Church), magistracy (office of a magistrate), magistrature (magistracy). [magistratus, magistratus, m. - magistrate; office of magistrate] 

magnanimous - exhibiting nobleness of spirit; unselfish; generous in overlooking injury and in judging others: Her decision to step aside and allow a younger, more enthusiastic woman to take the reins was praised by most club members and even regarded as magnanimous by a few. Also: magnanimity (quality or state of being magnanimous), magnanimousness. [animus, animi, m. - mind, spirit; magnanimus, magnanima, magnanimum - high-minded, magnanimous; magnanimitas, magnanimitatis, f. - greatness of spirit, magnanimity] 

magnate - a very important person, especially in business: John D. Rockefeller, the oil magnate, gave away over $500 million dollars before his death in 1937. 

magniloquent - elevated or pompous in speech or style of expression, using big or unusual words: Many students find his magniloquent lectures entertaining but unintelligible. Also: magniloquence (magniloquent quality). [magniloquentia, magniloquentiae, f. - elevated or pompous language] 

magnitude - greatness of size, extent, or importance: The representatives seemed unable to appreciate the magnitude of the problem. Also: magnitudinous. [magnitudo, magnitudinis, f. - greatness] 

malefic - causing harm or evil: Atomic energy can be benefic or malefic; it’s up to us. Also: maleficence (the doing of evil; the state of being evil), maleficent. [facio, facere, feci, factus - to do, make; maleficentia,maleficentiae, f. - evil-doing; maleficium. malefici, n. - an evil deed, a crime; malus, mala, malum - bad]

malleable - 1) that can be hammered or pressed into various shapes without breaking: Silver, which in its pure state is too soft for most uses, becomes malleable when combined with copper. 2) adaptable. Also: malleability, malleableness. 

maladjusted - not in a healthy or harmonious relation with the circumstances of one's life: Maladjusted individuals are removed from the school and sent to a corrective institution. Also: maladjustment. 

maladroit - clumsy, unskillful: As part of the interview process, tests of physical skills are used to keep maladroit applicants from being assigned to the assembly line. Also: maladroitness. [dirigo, dirigere, direxi, directus - to direct; directus, directa, directum - direct, straight] 

malady - sickness, illness: Afflicted during most of her life with a physical malady that brought pain and sapped energy, she nevertheless raised three children while caring for her invalid mother. [habitus, habitus, m. - condition] 

malapropism - confusion of two words similar in sound but different in meaning: Malapropisms abound when uneducated people try to be orators. Also: malapropistic. [ad (prep. w/ acc.) - to, towards; propositum, propositi, n. - plan, intention] 

malediction - curse: In obvious jest he retorted, "May your speeches be interrupted by the maledictions of a thousand malicious misogynists." Also: maledictory (characterized by malediction). [maledictio, maledictionis, f. - speaking evil, abuse; maledictum, maledicti, n. - cursing, abusive language] 

malefactor - evildoer, criminal: "Malefactors will go to jail," vowed the candidate for sheriff. Also: malefactress, malefaction (a crime), malefic (producing harm or evil), maleficence (act of state of doing evil), maleficent (doing evil). [malefactor, malefactoris, m. - evil-doer; malefacio, malefacere, malefeci, malefactus - injure; maleficentia, maleficentiae, f. - evil-doing, maleficus, malefica, maleficum - doing evil; maleficium, malefici, n. - evil deed] 

malevolent - wishing evil on others; showing ill will: Malevolent rulers have been known to impose untold hardships on their subjects. Also: malevolence. [malevolens, malevolentis - spiteful, malevolent; malevolentia, malevolentiae, f. - spite, malevolence] 

malfeasance - wrongdoing by a public official: Convicted of malfeasance, the mayor was sent to prison for two years. Also: malfeasant. [facio, facere, feci, factus - to do, make] 

malign - to speak evil of; to slander; to defame: To sell a weak argument to a jury, he was not above maligning an adversary by innuendo. Also: maligner, malignity (intense ill will; desire to harm others). [malignus, maligna, malignum - wicked, ill-disposed; malignitas, malignitatis, f. - spite, malignity] 

malignant - 1) very malicious: A malignant disposition undermines trust. 2) very dangerous. Also: malignance, malignancy. 

malocclusion - failure of teeth opposite each other to meet properly: Braces were prescribed to correct a malocclusion. [occludo, occludere, occlusi, occlusus - to close, shut up] 

malodorous - smelling bad: It is doubtlessly hard for malodorous boys to find girlfriends. Also: malodor, malodorousness. [odor, odoris, m. - smell; stench; odorus, odora, odorum - fragrant] 

commandeer - 1) to force into military service; 2) to seize (property) for military or government use: Unhappy with the pace of war reparations, the victorious powers commandeered all factories and appropriated the profits. 

commendation - praise; approval; recommendation: Surrounded by reporters, the outstanding students listened with pride to the commendations of the President. Also: commend, commendable, commendableness, commender. [commendo, commendare, commendavi, commendatus - to commit to the care or protection of someone; commendatio, commendationis, f. - recommendation, commendation] 

countermand - to cancel or recall (an order, a command): An officer is able to countermand his own orders or those of an officer of lower rank. Also: countermandable. [contra (prep. w/ acc.) - against] 

mandate - 1) an order; command; 2) the will of the voters expressed to their representative(s): The lopsided vote was interpreted by most political analysts as a mandate for legislative change. Also: mandator, mandatory (required by a command). 

remand - to send back: The runaway youngster was remanded to the custody of his parents. Also: remandment. 

immanent - indwelling; inherent: Some people believe in the immanent presence of God in the world; others don’t know where he (she, it) is or even if he (she, it) is. Also: immanence, immanency, immanentism (belief that God both dwells and works within the individual), immanentist.

manor - 1) the main residence of an estate or plantation; 2) a mansion with its land: Life became harder for the serfs when the benevolent old lord of the manor died and was replaced by his ambitious son. Also: manorial. 

manifest - 1. (adj.) - evident; 2. (v.) to show clearly: Long before his troops marched into Austria in 1838, Hitler manifested a desire for conquest; however, other nations did little to stop him. Also: manifestable, manifester, manifestness, manifestant (a participant in a public demonstration), manifestation, manifestative (showing clearly). [manifesto, manifestare - to show clearly, disclose; manifesto (adv.) - clearly] 

manacle - 1. (n.) handcuff; pl., restraints; 2. (v.) to handcuff; to restrain: Manacled by perfectionism, she spent much of her free time trying to improve what was already excellent. 

manipulate - 1) to handle skillfully; 2) to control in a shrewd, often unfair way: NBA coaches sometimes try to manipulate officials by complaining vigorously about correct calls. 3) to falsify figures for one's own profit. Also: manipulable, manipular (of manipulation), manipulation (skillful handling), manipulative, manipulator, manipulatory. [manipulus, manipuli, m. - handful] 

manual - 1) of or pertaining to a hand or hands: Learning to play the piano requires concentration and manual training. 2) involving the use of the hands in hard physical work. Also: manualism (promotion of the use of sign language as the primary means of communication among the deaf), manualist. [manualis, manuale - for the hand] 

maritime - 1) on or near the sea: Maritime provinces often depend on the sea for food and income. 2) having to do with sea navigation, sailors, etc. Also: mariner (sailor). [maritimus, maritima, maritimum - pertaining to the sea; on the sea coast; marinus, marina, marinum - of the sea] 

matriarch - 1) a mother who rules a tribe or family: There in the opening, surrounded by women at work and children at play, sat the matriarch. 2) a highly respected old woman. Also: matriarchal, matriarchalism, matriarchate (matriarchal system or social order), matriarchic, matriarchy (form of social organization in which a matriarch rules). 

matron - 1) a mature, older wife or widow, usually a mother: In her later years, she relied heavily on the other matrons of the community for intellectual and emotional support. 2) female supervisor in a prison or hospital. Also: matronal, matronhood, matronly (like or suitable for a matron), matronship, matronage (being a matron; guardianship by a matron), matronize (to cause to act as a matron). 

immaterial -1) unimportant; insignificant: The professor put a red X through several paragraphs, judging them to be immaterial to the topic under consideration. 2) spiritual rather than material. 

materialism - 1) belief that there is no spiritual component to man; 2) tendency to care too much for the things of this world: Materialism is denounced by some as the underlying cause of much 20th-century immorality. Also: materialist (believer in materialism; person who cares too much for the things of this world), materialistic. 

intermediary - a go-between; mediator: A Swedish official will act as intermediary in the trade dispute between France and the United States. Also: intermediacy. [inter (prep. w/ acc.) - among; between] 

mediate - (intrans.) to try to help two parties settle a dispute; (trans.) to settle by diplomatic intervention: One of the responsibilities of a counselor is to mediate disputes among students. Also: mediateness, mediation (the act or process of mediating), mediative, mediator, mediatorial, mediatory, mediatrix or mediatress or mediatrice (woman who mediates). 

medieval - of or having to do with the Middle Ages (ca. 500 to 1500 A.D.): Many towns in Germany have restored their medieval houses and buildings to their pristine condition. Also: medievalism (medieval spirit; devotion to medieval ideals; a custom or idea suggestive of the Middle Ages), medievalist (one who studies the Middle Ages). [aevum, aevi, n. - lifetime; period of time, age] 

mellifluous - 1. flowing sweetly or smoothly: People who are persuaded by mellifluous words alone are said to be credulous or gullible; con men love them. 2. made sweet with (or as if with) honey. Also: melliferous (producing honey), mellifluousness. [mellifer, mellifera, melliferum - producing honey, melliferous; mellitus, mellita, mellitum - of honey, honeyed; fluo, fluere, fluxi, fluxus - to flow] 

ameliorate - to make better; improve: Things like recycling, mandatory industrial pollution control, and the VET provide solid evidence that American society is making a genuine effort to ameliorate the environment. Also: (a)melioration (the process of improving; improvement), (a)meliorable, (a)meliorative (improving), meliorate (ameliorate), (a)meliorator. 

commemorate - to honor the memory of; to preserve the memory of: In 1995, the fiftieth anniversary of the end of World War II, a statue of the raising of the American flag at Iwo Jima was erected at Arlington Cemetery to commemorate those who fought and died for their country. Also: commemoration, commemorational, commemorative (serving to commemorate), commemorativeness, commemorator, commemoratory. [commemoro, commemorare, commemoravi, commemoratus - to recollect; to keep in mind; to remind; commemoratio, commemorationis, f. - a reminding; remembrance] 

immemorial - extending back into the past beyond the bounds of memory; ancient: Each day nature works its immemorial magic on the minds of men. [memorialis, memoriale - pertaining to memory] 

memoir - a biography written by someone with close personal knowledge of the subject; pl.: memoirs: a record of one's experiences; autobiography: There seems always to be a receptive audience for the well-written memoirs of famous people. Also: memoirist (person who writes a memoir). 

mendacious - (habitually) lying, untruthful: The liar who said there wasn’t a mendacious bone in his body was telling the literal truth. Also: mendaciousness, mendacity. [mendax, mendacis - mendacious, lying]

mendacity - untruthfulness; tendency to lie: His impertinence was matched only by his mendacity; in other words, he was a brazen liar. Also: mendacious, mendaciousness. [mendacium, mendaci, n. - a lie; mendaciunculum, mendaciunculi, n. - a little lie] 

mendicant - (adj.) 1) begging; living on alms; 2) characteristic of a beggar; 3) of or designating a religious order whose members (friars) originally lived primarily on alms; (n.) beggar, a person who lives by begging: Many people find it difficult to support mendicants who make little effort to find gainful employment; others give nonjudgmentally. Also: mendicancy, mendicity. [mendicitas, mendicitatis, f. - beggary, indigence; mendicus, mendica, mendicum - needy, indigent; mendicus, mendici, m. - beggar]

mensal - having to do with, or used at the table: When only two people eat at a full-size kitchen table, a breadbox can serve as a useful mensal adornment. 

commensurate - 1) proportionate; corresponding in amount, size, or degree: Everyone knows that teachers’ salaries are not commensurate with the perceived importance of their profession. 2) having the same extent or degree. Also: commensurable (measurable by the same standard or units), commensurability, commensurableness, commensurateness, commensuration. [commetior, commetiri, commensus - to measure; mensio, mensionis, f. - a measure, measuring; mensor, mensoris, m. - a measurer, surveyor; metior, metiri, mensus - to measure]

mensural - of or pertaining to measure: Mensural activities involving surface area of the walls of various classrooms and a determination of the amount of paint needed to cover the walls, often appeal to students with a low non-verbal aptitude. Also: mensurable, mensurability, mensuration (the act or process of measuring), mensurational, mensurative. [mensio, mensionis, f. - a measure, measuring; mensor, mensoris, m. - a measurer, surveyor; metior, metiri, mensus - to measure]

mercantile - of, characteristic of, or pertaining to merchants or trade: Realizing that foreign languages were a mercantile advantage, Heinrich Schliemann learned one, then two; eventually he had learned some 30 languages. Also: mercantilism (commercialism), mercantilist, mercantilistic. [mercatura, mercaturae, f. - trade, commerce; mercatus, mercatus, m. - trade, buying and selling; mercor, mercari, mercatus - to trade, carry on trade]

mercenary - 1. (adj.) working or serving for money only; serving for pay in a foreign army; 2. (n.) a professional soldier serving for pay in a foreign army: What general would not prefer an army of patriots to an army of mercenaries? Also: mercenariness. [merces, mercedis, f. - wages, salary] 

mercurial - 1. changeable, volatile, flighty: The actress’s mercurial temperament caused many a director to pull at his hair. 2. animated, quick; 3. containing mercury. Also: mercurialize (to make mercurial). 

meretriciousness - a flashy attractiveness, alluring by false charms: The perception of meretriciousness among Hollywood stars may derive from the public's confusion of actor and role. Also: meretricious. [meretrix, meretricis, f. - harlot; meretricius, meretricia, meretricium - of a harlot] 

meticulous - extremely careful about small details: Patients would be well advised to use caution when taking prescription medicines; even the most meticulous pharmacists can be expected to make mistakes once in a while. Also: meticulosity, meticulousness. [metuendus, metuenda, metuendum - fearful; metuo, metuere, metui - to fear, be afraid] 

transmigration - 1) the passing of the soul at death into another body (human or animal): Hindus believe in the transmigration of the soul; the spirit, or atman, moves from body to body until it becomes pure enough to attain its ultimate goal, union with Brahman. 2) a passing from one place or state to another. Also: transmigrant, transmigrate, transmigrative, transmigrator, transmigratory. [transmigro, transmigrare, transmigravi, transmigratus - to migrate] 

militate - to be directed or to work (against): The patient's obesity and poor general health militated against a speedy recovery from the heart attack. Also: militation. [milito, militare, militavi, militatus - to be a soldier; to serve] 

militia - an army consisting of ordinary citizens rather than professional soldiers: In Switzerland, every able-bodied adult male citizen is a member of a trained national militia. Also: militiaman. [militia, militiae, f. - military service; service] 

millennium - 1) a period of 1000 years: Many Christians thought the world would end at the close of the first millennium, A.D. 2) a 1000th anniversary. Also: millenarian (a person who believes that Jesus will return to earth and rule for 1000 years), millenarianism (what millenarians believe), millenary (of or consisting of 1000 years), milliennialism (millenarianism). 

minatory - threatening: The door of the Halloween haunted house was draped with the minatory inscription first used by Dante in his Divine Comedy to describe the entrance to hell, "Abandon hope, all ye who enter here." Also: minatorial. [minaciter - threateningly; minae, minarum, f. - projecting points; threats; minatio, minationis, f. - a threatening; minax, minacis - projecting; threatening]

diminution - a diminishing or lessening, decrease, reduction, abatement: The coach attributes his team's lack of success over the past several seasons to a diminution of talent. Also: diminuendo (a gradual reduction of loudness), diminutive (small), diminutiveness. [deminuo, deminuere, deminui, deminutus - to make smaller or less; minutia, minutiae, f. - smallness] 

diminutive - (adj.) 1) small, tiny; 2) (grammar) expressing smallness: In German, -lein, and -chen are diminutive suffixes. (n.) 1) a small thing or person; 2) a diminutive element (word or part of a word). Also: diminuendo (decrescendo), diminution, diminutiveness. [deminuo, deminuere, deminui, deminutus - to make smaller, lessen; deminutio, deminutionis, f. - a lessening; minutia, minutiae, f. - smallness]

minuet - 1) a slow dance popular in the 17th and 18th centuries: Louis XIV introduced the minuet to the French court around 1650. 2) a composition in 3/4 time suitable for such a dance. [minor, minus - smaller; minutus, minuta, minutum - small; minusculus, minuscula, minusculum - somewhat small; minutatim - little by little; minutia, minutiae, f. - smallness]

admixture - 1) the act of mixing; mixture; 2) anything added in mixing: It has often been asserted that the liberal admixture of people of all national, religious, and ethnic backgrounds to the great American melting pot has preserved the vitality of our country. Also: admix. [admisceo, admiscere, admiscui, admixtus - to mix with; admixtio, admixtionis, f. - admixture]

commiserate - to sympathize with; to feel or express pity for: Having herself undergone similar surgery in the previous year, she was able to commiserate with her anxious friend. Also: commiseration, commiserative (compassionate), commiserator. [commiseror, commiserari, commiseratus sum - pity, commiserate; commiseratio, commiserationis, f. - pity, compassion] 

miserly - living in wretched circumstances in order to save money, which is loved for its own sake: In Molière’s romantic comedy The Miser, Cléante, son of the miserly Harpagon, uses his father’s love of money to secure his paternal consent to his marriage to a poor girl. Also: miser, miserliness.

mitigate - to make less severe or intense: The student asked the teacher to mitigate the harsh punishment. Also: mitigable (able to be mitigated), mitigation, mitigative (tending to mitigate), mitigator, mitigatory (mitigative). [mitigatio, mitigationis, f. - a soothing, an assuaging; mitis, mitis - ripe; soft, mild, gentle] 

commissary - 1) a deputy; 2) a store in an army camp or a lumber camp where food and supplies can be purchased: One advantage of military life is that supplies are less expensive in the commissaries than on the general market. Also: commissariat (the branch of the army that supplies food, etc.). [committo, committere, commisi, commissus - to entrust] 

demise - 1) death; 2) transfer of sovereign power by death or abdication: Malaria brought about the demise of Alexander the Great at the age of 33. [demitto, demittere, demisi, demissus - to let down; to cast down] 

emissary - someone sent on a specific mission: Ex-president Carter is considered by many to be more effective as an emissary than he was as president. [emissarius, emissari, m. - scout; spy] 

missive - written message; letter: In a secret missive to his top commanders, the dictator ordered the immediate execution of all prisoners of war. 

emit - 1) to give off, to send out: The moon emits no light of its own but simply reflects the light of the sun. 2) to  utter. Also: emission (the act of emitting), emissive (able to emit; emitting), emitter. [emitto, emittere, emisi, emissus - send out; let loose] 

intermittent - stopping and starting at intervals: The weather forecast for today includes intermittent showers. Also: intermissive (intermittent), intermit (to stop for a time), intermittence, intermittency, intermitter, intermittor. [intermitto, intermittere, intermisi, intermissus - to leave vacant; to discontinue] 

noncommital - not committing oneself to any position or point of view: On matters of politics or religion, some people remain assiduously noncommital. [committo, committere, commisi, commissus - to entrust] 

premise - an assertion that serves as a basis for a reasoned conclusion: The basic tool of deductive reasoning is the syllogism, which has a major premise (e.g., all fish live in water), a minor premise (a carp is a fish), and a conclusion (therefore a carp lives in water). [praemitto, praemittere, praemisi, praemissus - to send ahead] 

remiss - negligent, careless: Mr. Boston claims he would be remiss in his duty if he did not assign an hour of homework each day. Also: remissness. [remissus, remissa, remissum - relaxed; negligent] 

remission - 1) forgiveness; 2) cancellation (of a fine, punishment, debt, etc.); 3) a lessening; 4) the disappearance of symptoms (of a sickness): The doctor called the remission of symptoms spontaneous, which probably meant that he did not have an explanation for their disappearance. Also: remissible (that can be forgiven), remissibility, remissive (having to do with remission). [remitto, remittere, remisi, remissus - to send back; to let go back; to relax; to give up; to pardon] 

remit - 1) to send (money) as payment: To receive the "free" CD, it is necessary to remit $5.95 for postage and handling. 2) to forgive (sins); 3) to cancel (a fine or punishment); 4) to slacken, lessen; 5) to disappear (said of symptoms of a sickness). Also: remittable (able to be remitted), remittance (payment), remittent (lessening for a time or at intervals), remitment, unremitting (never slackening; unceasing). [remitto, cf. remission] 

surmise - (v.) to infer something without sufficient proof; guess: Although many surmised the guilt of the defendant, no conclusive evidence had been adduced. (n.) a surmising. Also: surmisable, surmiser. 

accommodate - (trans.) 1) to have room for; hold comfortably: Their dining-room table is large enough to accommodate 16 guests. 2) to furnish someone with something; 3) to help out; (intrans.) to become adjusted; to be adapted. Also: accommodable, accommodating, accommodation, accommodational, accommodationist (someone who has become adjusted to the opinions of the majority for reasons of economic or political expediency). [accommodo, accommodare, accommodavi, accommodatus - to make suitable; commodus, commoda, commodum - suitable, convenient] 

commodious - having ample room; spacious: Commodious as well as practical, it was the kitchen of their dreams. Also: commodiousness, incommode (to inconvenience), incommodious (uncomfortable; inconveniently small), incommodiousness. 

modulate - to regulate or adjust to the proper degree, pitch, or intensity: His doctor recommended that he avoid hoarseness by modulating his voice. Also: modulability, modulation, modulative, modulator, modulatory. [modulor, modulari, modulatus sum - to measure off; to measure rhythmically] 

modus operandi - way of doing something: Thoroughly familiar with the suspect's modus operandi, Detective Nickell arrested him inside the home of an intended victim. [operor, operari, operatus sum - to work] 

modus vivendi - manner of living; lifestyle: The modus vivendi of the ancient Epicureans did not include an unrestrained pursuit of pleasure; instead, contrary to what our word "epicurean" suggests, they sought to avoid pain and discontent by means of simple food and drink, relaxation, and pleasant conversation.

mollify - to soften or temper (a person); pacify, appease: A non-confrontational willingness to listen will mollify many an angry person. Also: mollifiable, mollification, mollifier. [mollesco, mollescere - to become soft; mollio, mollire, mollivi, mollitus - to make soft, soften; mollitia, mollitiae, f. - softness; mollitudo, mollitudinis, f. - softness]

admonish - 1) to scold gently: Maria (Julie Andrews) succeeds as governess in The Sound of Music because she is able to admonish the Trapp children lovingly. 2) to warn; 3) to advise strongly. Also: admonisher, admonishment, admonition (an admonishing; a mild reprimand), admonitor (admonisher), admonitory (admonishing), monition (admonition), monitory (admonitory). [admoneo, admonere, admonui, admonitus - to remind; to advise; admonitio, admonitionis, f. - suggestion; admonition] 

monitor - (v.) 1) to watch and check; 2) to check by listening to a TV or radio transmission, to a telephone conversation, etc.: Taking turns sleeping, the two spies monitored the enemy messages throughout the night. (n.) one who monitors. Also: monitorial (having to do with a monitor). [monitor, monitoris, m. - one who reminds; overseer] 

premonition - forewarning: A premonition of impending danger kept me awake throughout the night. Also: premonish (to warn in advance), premonitory (warning beforehand). [praemoneo, praemonere, praemonui, praemonitus - to forewarn; to foretell] 

insurmountable - that cannot be overcome or passed: What was the name of the American cyclist who, against seemingly insurmountable odds, won the Tour de France with an incredible ride on the final day? Also: insurmountability, insurmountableness, surmount, surmountable, surmountableness, surmounter. 

mountebank - (n.) someone who pretends to be an expert in order to sell products or services; quack, charlatan: In The Music Man, Professor Harold Hill is not a professor at all but a mountebank, who "doesn't know the territory." (v.) to act as a charlatan. Also: mountebankery. 

paramount - above others in importance; chief; supreme: The islands of Iwo Jima and Okinawa were of paramount importance to the Allies in their war against Japan. 

tantamount - having equal or equivalent value, force, or effect; equal; equivalent (to): "To require the working poor to pay huge sums of money for indispensable services is tantamount to robbery," she said; "we need to change the system to stop the crime." [tantum - so much] 

monstrance - in the Catholic Church, a receptacle in which the consecrated host is carried in processions or shown for adoration: The Corpus Christi procession included servers and choir boys, local seminarians, priests, monsignors, and finally the bishop walking under a canopy and holding the monstrance. 

remonstrate - to present reasons in opposition; protest; to object: On the foot of the Capitol stood a young man remonstrating against congressional insensitivity. Also: remonstrance (the act of remonstrating), remonstrant (adj., remonstrating; n., a person who remonstrates), remonstration, remonstrative, remonstrator. 

moratorium - an authorized delay or cessation of an action: Both sides agreed to a three-day moratorium, during which their leaders were expected to discuss plans for peace. [morator, moratoris, m. - a delayer] 

morbid - 1) of or caused by disease; unhealthy, diseased; 2) demonstrating an unwholesome inclination to dwell on gloomy matters: Her morbid sense of humor was unappreciated by her fun-loving colleagues. 3) gruesome, horrible. Also: morbidity, morbidness. [morbidus, morbida, morbidum - sickly, diseased]

demur - (v.) to object, take exception: When she demurred at the boss’s suggestion that she work additional without additional pay, she knew that her days with the company were numbered. (n.) objection. Also: demurrable, demurrage, demurral, demurrer. [demoror, demorari, demoratus - to delay, retard; mora, morae, f. - a delay; morator, moratoris, m. - a delayer]

morose - moody, gloomy, ill-humored: A fiftieth birthday can be an occasion for morose thoughts about the brevity of life or a time for the joyful anticipation of 50 more years. Also: moroseness. [morositas, morositatis, f. - peevishness, moroseness] 

moribund - dying, ending: The superintendent had hoped to revive the old school by making it a magnet school, but it was already irreversibly moribund. Also: moribundity. [moribundus, moribunda, moribundum - dying] 

mortal - 1) destined to die: It doesn't take humans long to figure out that they are mortal. 2) causing death. Also: immortal (destined not to die), immortality, mortality (condition of being mortal; death rate). [mortalis, mortale - mortal; mortalitas, mortalitatis, f. - the condition of being subject to death; immortalis, immortale - immortal; immortalitas, immortalitatis, f. - immortality] 

mortician - undertaker: A mortician meets not only dead people in his business but many living ones as well. Also: mortuary (a place where corpses are kept before burial or cremation). [morior, mori, mortuus sum - to die] 

mortify - 1) to make ashamed: Like everyone else, she expected the oral exam to be a mortifying experience. 2) to overcome bodily desires by self-denial. Also: mortification (shame or source of shame; self-denial), mortifier. 

mortgage - pledge of property, given as security to the person or agency that has lent money: Extending the payments over thirty years made the mortgage affordable, but it meant that we were paying a ton of interest. 

mores - fundamental customs of a group: Adapting to the mores of an adopted country can be more challenging that learning its language.

emotive - producing emotion: The emotive qualities of tragedy have been written about for over two thousand years. Also: emotiveness. [emoveo, emovere, emovi, emotus - to move out] 

motif - a main idea or feature: She reread the book, looking for occurrences of the motif of rejection. 

remote - 1) far away; distant: By studying fossils, paleontologists try to learn about life forms in the remote past. 2) slight. Also: remoteness. [removeo, removere, removi, remotus - to move back] 

muliebrity - 1) womanly nature or qualities: She praised his virility, he her mulierity. 2) womanhood. [muliebris, muliebre - of a woman, womanly; muliebriter - after the manner of a woman, effeminately; mulierositas, mulierositatis, f. - love of women, excessive fondness for women; mulierosus, mulierosa, mulierosum - fond of women]

multiciplicity - state of being manifold and various: The recent success of our business is attributable to a multiplicity of causes, not the least of which is the industriousness of the new employees. [multiplex, multiplicis - having many folds or parts; many times as much, many more] 

multifarious - having many different parts or forms; diverse: The multifarious activities of a large university require a staff of thousands. Also: multifariousness. [multifariam - (adv.) on many sides] 

multiparous - bearing more than one offspring at a time: Cats, dogs, rats, and rabbits are multiparous, as are many other mammals. Also: multiparity. [pario, parere, peperi, partus - to bring forth] 

multitudinous - 1) existing in great numbers; numerous: Multitudinous revelries fill the streets of New Orleans during that city's annual celebration of Mardi Gras. 2) consisting of many parts. Also: multitudinousness. [multitudo, multitudinis, f. - large number, multitude, throng] 

supermundane - 1) above or beyond what is worldly; 2) of or pertaining to the region above the earth: I wonder if our children’s children will be able to hop in their family rocket and hurry off to their favorite supermundane restaurant or shopping center. [mundus, mundi, m. - world; super (prep. w/ acc.) - above, over]

extramundane - beyond the material world: Many poor and downtrodden individuals are sustained by a belief that they will be rewarded in a future, extramundane existence. Also: mundane, mundaneness, mundanity. [extra (adv. and prep. w/ acc.) - outside; beyond; mundanus, mundani, m. - citizen of the world]

mundane - earthly, worldly (of this world, not heavenly): “I prefer to discuss mundane matters,” she said with a smile, “so that I have a chance of knowing what I’m talking about.” Also: mundaneness, mundanity (worldliness). [mundanus, mundani, m. - citizen of the world] 

muniment - a document by which rights or privileges are defended or maintained: The Magna Charta of 1215 and the The United States Constitution of 1789 stand tall among the documents of the world as important muniments of individual liberties. [munitio, munitionis, f. - a defending, protecting; munitor, munitoris, m. - a fortifier; military engineer]

municipal - of or pertaining to a city or town: Yesterday evening the city council considered a long list of proposed municipal improvements. Also: municipalism (policy of rule by municipalities), municipalist (a person who supports municipalism), municipality (city, town, or other district having a local government), municipalization, municipalize (to make a municipality of). [municipalis, municipale - belonging to a (free) town] 

munificence - great generosity: Unassuming munificence asks no praise, and needs none. Also: munificent, munificentness. [munificentia, munificentiae, f. - generosity] 

remuneration - pay for work done or services rendered; recompense; compensation: There will always be people who will work twice as hard as others at the same job for the same remuneration. For them, the gratitude of their employers and their own sense of accomplishment are compensation enough. Also: remunerable, remunerability, remunerate (to pay), remunerative, remunerativeness, remunerator, remuneratory. [remuneror, remunerari, remuneratus sum - to repay, reward] 

mural - a (large) picture painted directly on a wall, or a (large) decoration attached to a wall: A fresco is a particular kind of mural, one that is painted on damp, fresh plaster so that the colors sink in. [muralis, murale - of a wall] 

immure - 1) to shut up within walls, literally or figuratively; 2) to entomb in a wall: In Poe's short story "The Cask of Amontillado," the narrator immures the chained Fortunado. Also: immuration, immurement. 

commute - 1) to change a sentence imposed on a convicted criminal to a less severe one: Many a governor has agonized over whether to commute a convicted murderer’s death sentence to life imprisonment. 2) to travel regularly between the same two somewhat distant points. Also: commutable, commutability, commutableness, commutate (to reverse the direction of an electrical current), commutative, commutativity, commuter. [commutabilis, commutabile - changeable; commutatio, commutationis, f. - a change, a changing; commuto, commutare, commutavi, commutatus - to change entirely]

immutable - unchangeable: Are all laws relative, and thus changeable, or are some laws immutable? Also: immutability, immutableness (immutability), mutate (to change), mutation, mutational. [immutabilis, immutabile - unchangeable, immutabilitas, immutabilitatis, f. - unchangeableness; mutabilis, mutabile - changeable, mutabilitas, mutabilitatis, f. - changeableness; mutatio, mutationis, f. - a changing] 

mutable - able to change or be changed; changeable: Customs, laws, and social institutions are mutable; as man’s needs change, society changes. Also: immutability, immutable, immutableness, mutant (a new kind of organism resulting from mutation), mutability, mutableness, mutate (to change), mutation, mutational. [mutabilis, mutabile - changeable; mutabilitas, mutabilitatis, f. - changeableness; mutatio, mutationis, f. - change]

Moutoux, Latin Derivatives