a. Being before the time of Moses. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Capsicum. ] (Chem.) A colorless crystalline substance extracted from the Capsicum annuum, and giving off vapors of intense acridity. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. mosaïque; cf. Pr. mozaic, musec, Sp. & Pg. mosaico, It. mosaico, musaico, LGr. &unr_;, &unr_;, L. musivum; all fr. Gr. &unr_; belonging to the Muses. See Muse the goddess. ] 1. (Fine Arts) A surface decoration made by inlaying in patterns small pieces of variously colored glass, stone, or other material; -- called also mosaic work. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A picture or design made in mosaic; an article decorated in mosaic. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Something resembling a mosaic{ 1 }; something made up of different pieces, fitted together by design to form a unified composition. [ PJC ]

aerial mosaic An aerial photograph of a large area, made by carefully fitting together aerial photographs of smaller areas so that the edges match in location, and the whole provides a continuous image of the larger area. Called also
mosaic map and photomosaic. --
mosaic virus A type of plant virus that causes green and yellow mottling of leaves of a plant. A much-studied type is the tobacco mosaic virus, affecting the tobacco plant. [ PJC ]

a. Of or pertaining to the style of work called mosaic; formed by uniting pieces of different colors; variegated; tessellated; also, composed of various materials or ingredients. [ 1913 Webster ]

A very beautiful mosaic pavement. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

Florentine mosaic. See under Florentine. --
Mosaic gold. (a) See Ormolu. (b) Stannic sulphide, SnS2, obtained as a yellow scaly crystalline powder, and used as a pigment in bronzing and gilding wood and metal work. It was called by the alchemists aurum musivum, or aurum mosaicum. Called also bronze powder. --
Mosaic work. See Mosaic, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

prop. a. [ From Moses. ] Of or pertaining to Moses, the leader of the Israelites, or established through his agency; as, the Mosaic law, rites, or institutions. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Mosaic (in either sense). “A mosaical floor.” Sir P. Sidney. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In the manner of a mosaic. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. Of or pertaining to, or resembling, paradise; paradisiacal; as, paradisaical innocence; an age of paradisaical happiness. “Paradisaical pleasures.” Gray.
Syn. -- paradisiacal, paradisiac, paradisaic, paradisal, elysian, paradisial. [ 1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5 ]

2. Causing happinesss. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

{ } a. [ L. Pharisaicus, Gr. Farisai:ko`s: cf. F. pharisaïque. See Pharisee. ] 1. Of or pertaining to the Pharisees; resembling the Pharisees. “The Pharisaic sect among the Jews.” Cudworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence: Addicted to external forms and ceremonies; making a show of religion without the spirit of it; ceremonial; formal; hypocritical; self-righteous. “Excess of outward and pharisaical holiness.” Bacon. “Pharisaical ostentation.” Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Phar`i*sa"ic*al*ly, adv. -- Phar`i*sa"ic*al*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Relating to the time before Moses; as, premosaic history. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ L. prosaius, from prosa prose: cf. F, . prosaïque. See Prose. ] 1. Of or pertaining to prose; resembling prose; in the form of prose; unpoetical; writing or using prose; as, a prosaic composition. Cudworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Dull; uninteresting; commonplace; unimaginative; prosy; as, a prosaic person. Ed. Rev. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Pro*sa"ic*al*ly, adv. -- Pro*sa"ic*al*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being prosaic; a prosaic manner or style. [ R. ] Poe. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. saïque, Turk. shaïka. ] (Naut.) A kind of ketch very common in the Levant, which has neither topgallant sail nor mizzen topsail. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Not according to Moses; unlike Moses or his works. [ 1913 Webster ]

By this reckoning Moses should be most un Mosaic. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]