measure (v.)
c.1300, from O.Fr. mesurer, from L.L. mensurare "to measure," from L. mensura "a measuring, a thing to measure by," from mensus, pp. of metiri "to measure," [color=red]from PIE *ma-/*me- "measure" (see meter (2)). Replaced O.E. cognate mæð "measure."
meter (1)
"poetic measure," O.E. meter, from L. metrum, from Gk. metron "meter, measure," from PIE base *me- "measure" (see meter (2)).
meter (2)
"unit of length," 1797, from Fr. mètre, from Gk. metron "measure," from PIE base *me- "measure" (cf. Gk. metra "lot, portion," Skt. mati "measures," matra "measure," Avestan, O.Pers. ma-, L. metri "to measure").
mode (1)
"manner," c.1374, "kind of musical scale," from L. modus "measure, rhythm, song, manner" (in L.L. also "mood" in grammar and logic), from PIE base *med-/*met- "to measure, limit, consider, advise, take appropriate measures" (cf. L. meditari "to think or reflect upon, consider," mederi "to look after, heal, cure;" O.E. metan "to measure out," Gk. medein "to rule"). Meaning "manner in which a thing is done" first recorded 1667.
meal (1)
"food, time for eating," O.E. mæl "fixed time, a measure, meal," from P.Gmc. *mæla- (cf. Du. maal "time, meal," O.N. mal "measure, time, meal," Ger. Mal "time," Goth. mel "time, hour"), from PIE base *me- "to measure" (see meter (2)). Probably related to O.E. mæð "measure." Original sense of "time" is preserved in piecemeal; once a more common suffix, e.g. O.E. styccemælum "bit by bit," gearmælum "year by year."
meditation
c.1225, "discourse on a subject," from L. meditationem (nom. meditatio), from meditatus, pp. of meditari "to meditate, to think over, consider," from PIE base *med- "to measure, limit, consider, advise" (cf. Gk. medesthai "think about," medon "ruler," L. modus "measure, manner," modestus "moderate," modernus "modern," mederi "to heal," medicus "physician," Skt. midiur "I judge, estimate," Welsh meddwl "mind, thinking," Goth. miton, O.E. metan "to measure").
Medea
famous sorceress, daughter of the king of Colchis, from Gk. Medeia, lit. "cunning," related to medos "counsel, plan, device, cunning," median "to protect, rule over," from PIE *med- "to measure, limit, consider," from base *med- "to measure."
medusa
"jellyfish," 1758, as genus name, from the name of one of the three Gorgons with snakes for hair, whose glance turned to stone him who looked upon it (attested in Eng. from 1390). Her name is from Gk. Medousa, lit. "guardian," fem. prp. of the verb medein "to protect, rule over"(see Medea). The zoological name was chosen by Linnæus, suggested by the creature's long tentacles.
Metis
first wife of Zeus, from Gk. Metis, lit. "wisdom, skill, craft," from PIE base *me- "to measure."
Minerva
ancient Roman goddess of wisdom (later identified with Gk. Athene), 1375, mynerfe, from L. Minerva, from O.L. Menerva, from *menes-wa, from PIE base *men- "mind, understanding, reason"(see mind (n.)). Cf. Skt. Manasvini, name of the mother of the Moon, manasvin "full of mind or sense."
dimension
1413, from L. dimensionem (nom. dimensio), from stem of dimetri "to measure out," from dis- + metri "to measure."
Nemesis
1576, "Gk. goddess of vengeance," from nemesis "just indignation, jealousy, vengeance," lit. "distribution," related to nemein "distribute, allot, apportion one's due," from PIE base *nem- "to divide, distribute, allot, to take" (cf. O.E., Goth. niman "to take," Ger. nehmen).