molder (en)

(verb) slowly decay or disintegrate, especially because of neglect

monachism (en)

(adjective) monastic

monad (en)

(noun) an elementary individual substance which reflects the order of the world and from which material properties are derived (coined by Leibniz)

monetarism (en)

(noun) a theory in economics that stable economic growth can be assured only by control of the rate of increase of the money supply to match the capacity for growth of real productivity

monism (en)

(noun) a view that there is only one kind of ultimate substance / (noun) the view that reality is one unitary organic whole with no independent parts / (noun) monogenesis / (noun) a viewpoint or theory that reduces all phenomena to one principle

monologic (en)

of, relating to, or characteristic of a monologue

monomania (en)

exaggerated or obsessive enthusiasm for or preoccupation with one thing

Mont Pelerin Society (en)

an economic think tank espousing neoliberalism (Milton Friedman, Hayek, etc); founded in 1947

montane (en)

(adjective) of, relating to, growing in, or being the biogeographic zone of relatively moist cool upland slopes below timberline dominated by large coniferous trees / (adjective) of, relating to, or made up of montane plants or animals

mooted (en)

(verb) to discuss from a legal standpoint; argue / (verb) to bring up for discussion; broach / (verb) debate

moraines (en)

(noun) an accumulation of earth and stones carried and finally deposited by a glacier

moral depreciation (en)

a Marxist term for a form of depreciation resulting from a new replacement providing greater use value (think technology)

morass (en)

(noun) marsh swamp / (noun) a situation that traps, confuses, or impedes / (noun) an overwhelming or confusing mass or mixture

mordant (en)

(adjective) biting and caustic in thought, manner, or style; incisive

mortmain (en)

(noun) an inalienable possession of lands or buildings by an ecclesiastical or other corporation / (noun) the condition of property or other gifts left to a corporation in perpetuity especially for religious, charitable, or public purposes / (noun) the influence of the past regarded as controlling the present

mountebank (en)

(noun) a person who sells quack medicines from a platform / (noun) a boastful unscrupulous pretender; charlatan / (verb) to beguile or transform by trickery / (verb) to play the mountebank

mufti (en)

(noun) a professional jurist who interprets Muslim law / (noun) ordinary dress as distinguished from that denoting an occupation or station / (noun) civilian clothes when worn by a person in the armed forces

Mughals (en)

the Mughal Empire, in the Indian subcontinent, established and ruled by a Muslim Turkic dynasty of Chagatai Turco-Mongol origin from Central Asia; though ethnically Turco-Mongol, Persianate in terms of culture; roughly 1526 and in decline until 1858 (when British rule began)

mulching (en)

(noun) a protective covering (as of sawdust, compost, or paper) spread or left on the ground to reduce evaporation, maintain even soil temperature, prevent erosion, control weeds, enrich the soil, or keep fruit (as strawberries) clean

mulct (en)

(noun) fine penalty / (verb) to punish by a fine / (verb) to defraud especially of money; swindle / (verb) to obtain by fraud, duress, or theft

mulish (en)

(adjective) unreasonably and inflexibly obstinate

multifarious (en)

having many varied parts or aspects; multifaceted

multivalent (en)

(adj) having or susceptible to many applications, interpretations, meanings, or values

mutatis mutandis (la)

a Medieval Latin phrase meaning "the necessary changes having been made" or "once the necessary changes have been made"

myrmidon (en)

(noun) a member of a legendary Thessalian people who accompanied their king Achilles in the Trojan War / (noun) a loyal follower / (noun) a subordinate who executes orders unquestioningly or unscrupulously