mara

‖n. [ Skr. māra. ] (Hind. Myth.) The principal or ruling evil spirit. E. Arnold. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖ n. [ Icel. mara nightmare, an ogress. See Nightmare. ] (Norse Myth.) A female demon who torments people in sleep by crouching on their chests or stomachs, or by causing terrifying visions. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. ] 1. (Zool.) A large black-and-white carrion-eating stork of the genus Leptoptilos (formerly Ciconia), esp. the African species (Leptoptilus crumeniferus syn. Leptoptilos crumenifer), whose downy under-wing feathers are used to trim garments; called also marabout. The Asiatic species (Leptoptilos dubius, or Leptoptilos argala) is the adjutant. See Adjutant. [ Written also marabu. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One having five eighths negro blood; the offspring of a mulatto and a griffe. [ Louisiana ] Bartlett. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A kind of thrown raw silk, nearly white naturally, but capable of being dyed without scouring; also, a thin fabric made from it, as for scarfs, which resembles the feathers of the marabou in delicacy, -- whence the name. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ F., from Pg. marabuto, Ar. morābit. Cf. Maravedi. ] 1. A Muslim saint; especially, one who claims to work cures supernaturally. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) The marabou{ 1 }. [ PJC ]

n. [ Braz. maracaná. ] (Zool.) A macaw. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. A sacred inclosure or temple; -- so called by the islanders of the Pacific Ocean. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Aramaic māran athā. ] “Our Lord cometh;” -- an expression used by St. Paul at the conclusion of his first Epistle to the Corinthians (xvi. 22). This word has been used in anathematizing persons for great crimes; as much as to say, “May the Lord come quickly to take vengeance of thy crimes.” See Anathema maranatha, under Anathema. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) A Philippine tree (Artocarpus odoratissima) similar to the breadfruit tree bearing edible fruit. Called also marang. [ WordNet 1.5 ]