Blacks Law Dict. 1st ed

M^EGBOTE

M. M. This letter, used as a Roman numeral, stands for one thousand. It was also, in old English law, a brand or stigma impressed upon the brawn of the thumb of a person convicted of manslaughter and admitted to the benefit of clergy. This letter was sometimes put on the face of treasury notes of the United States, and signifies that the treasury note bears in terest at the rate of one mill per centum, and not one per centum interest. 13 Pet. 176. M. also stands as an abbreviation for sev eral words of which it is the initial letter; as "Mary," (the English queen of that name,) "Michaelmas," "master," "middle." M. D. An abbreviation for "Middle Dis trict," in reference to the division of the United States into judicial districts. Alsoan abbreviation for "Doctor of Medicine." M. R. An abbreviation for "Master of theKolls." M. T. An abbreviation for "Michaelmas Term." MACE. A large staff, made of the pre cious metals, and highly ornamented. It is used as an emblem of authority, and carried befoie certain public functionaries by a mace bearer. MACE-BEARER. In English law. One who carries the mace before certain functionaries. In Scotland, an officer at tending the court of session, and usually called a "macer." MACE-GREFF. In old English law. One who buys stolen goods, particularly food, knowing it to have been stolen. MACE-PROOF. Secure against arrest. MACEDONIAN DECREE. In Roman law. This was the Senatus-consultum Mace donianum, a decree of the Roman senate, first given under Claudius, and renewed un der Vespasian, by which it was declared that no action should be maintained to recover a loan of money made to a child who was un der the patiia potestas. It was intended to strike at the practice of usurers in making loans, on unconscionable terms, to family heirs who would mortgage their future ex pectations from the paternal estate. The law Is said to have deriveu Xa iiame from that of

a notorious usurer. See Mackeld. Bom. Law, § 432; Inst. 4, 7, 1; Dig. 14, 6. MACER. A mace-bearer; an officer at tending the court of session in Scotland. MACHECOLIiARE. To make a warlike device over a gate or other passage like to a grate, through which scalding water or pon derous or offensive things may be cast upon the assailants. Co. Litt. 5a. MACHINATION. Contriving a plot or conspiracy. The act of planning or contriv ing a scheme for executing some purpose, particularly an evil purpose; an artful design formed with deliberation. MACHINE. In patent law. Any con trivance used to regulate or augment force or motion; more properly, a complex struct ure, consisting of a combination, or peculiar modification, of the mechanical powers. The term "machine," in patent law, includes every mechanical device, or combination of me chanical powers and devices, to perform some func tion and produce a certain effect or result. But where the result or effect is produced by chemical action, by the operation or application of some ele ment or power of nature, or of one substance to another, such modes, methods, or operations are called "processes." A new process is usually the result of discovery; a machine, of invention. 15 How. 252, 267. MACHINERY. A more comprehensive term than "machine;" including the appur tenances necessary to the working of a ma chine. Ill Mass. 540; 108 Mass. 78. MACHOLUM. A barn or granary open at the top; a rick or stack of corn. Spel man. MACTATOR. A murderer. MACULARE. In old European law. To wound. Spelman. MADE KNOWN. Where a writ of scire facias has been actually served upon a defendant, the proper leturn is that its con tents have been "made known" to him. MADRAS REGULATIONS. Certain regulations prescribed for the government of the Madras presidency. Mozley & "Whitley. M-ffiC-BURGH. Kindred; family. M2EGBOTE." In Saxon law. A recom pense or satisfaction for the slaying or mur der of a kinsman. Spelman.

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