Hill (1886-1977) a 1922 Nobel Prize for his research on metabolism in muscle. His chief published work was The Chemical Dynamics of Life Phenomena (1924).
Meyerhold \'ml-9r- 1 h6lt\ / Vsevolod (Yemilyevich) (b. Feb. 9, 1874, Penza, Russia—d. Feb. 2, 1940, Moscow) Russian theatrical pro¬ ducer and director. He acted with the Moscow Art Theatre in 1898 and formulated his avant-garde theories of symbolic theatre. Opposed to the naturalism of Konstantin Stanislavsky, he directed plays in a nonrepresen- tational style that became known as biomechanics. After 1908 he staged plays in St. Petersburg that drew from commedia dell'arte and Asian the¬ atre. He was noted for his direction of The Magnificent Cuckold (1920) and for his controversial production of The Queen of Spades (1935). Con¬ demned by Soviet critics for his artistic individuality and opposition to Socialist Realism, he was arrested and imprisoned in 1939 and was prob¬ ably executed.
mezzotint \'met-so-,tint\ (from Italian mezza tinta, “halftone”) Engrav¬ ing produced by pricking the surface of a metal plate with innumerable small holes that will hold ink. When the engraving is printed, the ink pro¬ duces large areas of tone with soft, subtle gradations. Engraved or etched lines are often introduced to give the design greater definition. Mezzotint was invented in Holland by German-born Ludwig von Siegen in the 17th century but thereafter was practiced primarily in England. Its adaptabil¬ ity to making colour prints made it ideal for the reproduction of paintings. After the invention of photography, it was rarely used. In recent years the technique has been revived, especially by U.S. and Japanese printmakers.
Mfecane \em-fe-'ka-na\ (“The Crushing”) Series of Zulu and other Nguni wars and forced migrations in the early 19th century that changed the demographic, social, and political configuration of southern and cen¬ tral Africa. Set in motion by the rise of the Zulu military kingdom under Shaka, it took place in the context of drought, social unrest, and compe¬ tition for trade. Ethnic group was set against ethnic group in an ever- increasing radius, resulting in the creation of large refugee populations as well as the establishment of new kingdoms under the Basuto, Gaza, Nde- bele, and Swazi peoples.
MGM in full Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc. U.S. corporation and film studio. It was formed when the film distributor Marcus Loew, who bought Metro Pictures in 1920, merged it with the Goldwyn production company in 1924 and with Louis B. Mayer Pictures in 1925. Louis B. Mayer was executive head of the studio for 25 years, assisted by produc¬ tion manager Irving Thalberg. It reached its peak in the 1930s and ’40s, when it had most of Hollywood’s famous stars under contract. It produced such hits as Grand Hotel (1932), The Philadelphia Story (1940), Gaslight (1944), Ben-Hur (1959), Doctor Zhivago (1965), and 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). It was especially celebrated for its lavish musicals, including The Wizard of Oz (1939), On the Town (1949), An American in Paris (1951), Singin’ in the Rain (1952), and Gigi (1958). MGM began to decline in the 1950s and sold off many of its assets in the 1970s. It diversified into hotels and casinos and later merged with United Artists Corp. as MGM/UA Entertainment. In 1986 it was bought by Ted Turner, who resold the production and distribution units. Various transfers of ownership led to its purchase in 1992 by Credit Lyonnais, which restored the name MGM Inc. It was subsequently bought by Tracinda Corp.
MI5 in full Military Intelligence (Unit 5) British Security Service. Originally organized in 1909 to counter German espionage, in 1931 it assumed wider responsibility for assessing threats to national security, including communist subversion and subsequently fascism. Today the Security Service Act (1989) forms its statutory basis. As Britain’s domestic-security intelligence agency, its purpose is to protect the coun¬ try against threats such as terrorism, espionage, and subversion. Since the passing of the Security Service Act (1996), its role has been expanded to include supporting law-enforcement agencies in the field of organized crime.
Miami North American Indian people who live mostly in Oklahoma and Indiana, U.S. They call themselves Twit wee (Twatwa), which to them represents the call of the crane. The name Miami is a derivation of their Ojibwa name, Oumami, meaning “People of the Peninsula.” Their tradi¬ tional homeland is spread across Illinois, northern Indiana, and Ohio. The Miami language belongs to the Algonquian family. The staple of the Miami diet was com, though they also hunted bison. Each village con¬ sisted of mat-covered dwellings and a large house in which councils and ceremonies were held. A secret medicine society conducted rites aimed
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at ensuring tribal welfare. In the 19th century the Miami ceded most of their lands to the U.S., with one band remaining in Indiana and the rest removing to a reservation in Oklahoma. In the 2000 U.S. census some 3,800 people claimed sole Miami descent. See also Little Turtle.
Miami City (pop., 2000: 362,470), southeastern Florida, U.S., situated on Biscayne Bay at the mouth of the Miami River. The southernmost large city in the continental U.S., it has a beach 7 mi (11 km) long. A Spanish mission was founded near the site in 1567, but permanent settlement did not begin until 1835, when U.S. forces built Fort Dallas for the removal of Seminole Indians to the West. The arrival of the railway in 1896 spurred development, and Miami was incorporated the same year. The city has been damaged by occasional hurricanes, notably in 1926 and 1935. Nearly 300,000 Cuban refugees have arrived since 1959 (see Cuba), establishing “Little Havana” within the city. It is a major resort and retirement centre, and its port handles the world’s largest number of cruise-ship passengers. It is also a banking centre. Educational institutions include the University of Miami and Florida International University.
Miami Beach City (pop., 2000: 87,933), southeastern Florida, U.S. It is situated on an island across Biscayne Bay from Miami. Until 1912 the site was a mangrove swamp. John S. Collins and Carl F. Fisher pioneered real estate development and built a bridge across the bay; the area was dredged to form an island measuring 7.4 sq mi (19 sq km), with an 8-mi (13-km) beach. The city, incorporated in 1915, is now a luxury resort and con¬ vention centre. It is connected with Miami by several causeways and is noted for its Art Deco architecture.
Miao See Hmong
Miao-Yao languages See Hmong-Mien languages
mica Vml-koV Any of a group of hydrous potassium, aluminum silicate minerals that exhibit a two-dimensional sheet, or layer, structure. A very abundant variety of mica is muscovite; two other common varieties are biotite and phlogopite. Micas have various industrial uses. The varieties that contain little iron are used as thermal or electrical insulators in appli¬ ances and in such electrical devices as capacitors. In ground form, micas are used in the manufacture of wallpaper, roofing paper, and paint. Ground micas also serve as lubricants, absorbents, and packing material.
mica, black See biotite
Micah Vml-koX (fl. 8th century bc) One of the 12 Minor Prophets in the Bible, traditional author of the book of Micah. (His prophecy is part of a larger book, The Twelve, in the Jewish canon.) He probably began to prophesy before the fall of the northern kingdom of Israel in 721 bc. Modern scholars usually attribute the book’s first three chapters, which predict judgment from God on idolaters and unjust leaders, to Micah. Much of the rest, which promises the establishment of a kingdom of peace in Zion, probably dates from several centuries later.
Michael In the Bible and the Qur’an, one of the archangels. The captain of the heavenly hosts, he was invoked by early Christian armies against the heathen. In Christian tradition he is thought to escort the soul into the presence of God at the time of death. In art he is depicted as a warrior, sword in hand, in triumph over a dragon. His feast day, known in England as Michaelmas, is September 29. See also MikaIl.