King James Bible Dictionary

M'ARS, noun In mythology, the god of war; in modern usage, a planet; and in the old chimistry, a term for iron.

The Areopagus or rocky hill in Athens, north-west of the Acropolis, where the Athenian supreme tribunal and court of morals was held. From some part of this hill Paul delivered the address recorded in Acts 17:22-31. (See AREOPAGUS.)

the hill of Mars or Ares, better known by the name of Areopagus, of which hill of Mars or Ares is a translation. The Areopagus was a rocky height in Athens, opposite the western end of the Acropolis. It rises gradually from the northern end, and terminates abruptly on the south, over against the Acropolis, at which point it is about fifty or sixty feet above the valley. The spot is memorable as the place of meeting of the Council of Areopagus. This body existed as a criminal tribunal before the time of Solon, and was the most ancient and venerable of all the Athenian courts. It consisted of all persons who had held the office of archon, and who were members of the council for life unless expelled for misconduct. Before the time of Solon the court tried only cases of willful murder, wounding, poison, and arson: but he gave it extensive powers of a censorial and political nature. The council continued to exist even under the Roman emperors. Its meetings were held on the southeastern summit of the rock. The Areopagus possesses peculiar interest to the Christian as the spot from which St. Paul delivered his memorable address to the men of Athens. (Acts 17:22-31) St. Paul "disputed daily" in the "market" or agora, (Acts 17:17) which was situated south of the Areopagus in the valley lying between this and the hills of the Acropolis, the Pnyx and the Museum. Attracting more and more attention, "certain philosophers of the Epicureans and Stoics" brought him up from the valley, probably by the stone steps, to the Areopagus above, that they might listen to him more conveniently.

A hill in Athens.
Acts 17:19-34

bitterness of a bramble

(worthy), one of the seven of Persia, "wise men which knew the times," which saw the king's face and sat first in the kingdom. (Esther 1:14)

M'ARSH, noun A tract of low land, usually or occasionally covered with water, or very wet and miry, and overgrown with coarse grass or with detached clumps of sedge; a fen. It differs from swamp, which is merely moist or spungy land, but often producing valuable crops of grass. Lowland occasionally overflowed by the tides, is called salt marsh

M'ARSHAL, noun

1. The chief officer of arms, whose duty it is to regulate combats in the lists.

2. One who regulates rank and order at a feast or any other assembly, directs the order of procession and the like.

3. A harbinger; a pursuivant; one who goes before a prince to declare his coming and provide entertainment.

4. In France, the highest military officer. In other countries of Europe, a marshal is a military officer of high rank, and called field-marshal.

5. In America, a civil officer, appointed by the President and Senate of the United States, in each judicial district, answering to the sheriff of a county. His duty is to execute all precepts directed to him, issued under the authority of the United States.

6. An officer of any private society, appointed to regulate their ceremonies and execute their orders.

Earl marshal of England, the eighth officer of state; an honorary title, and personal, until made hereditary by Charles II, in the family of Howard. During a vacancy in the office of high constable, the earl marshal has jurisdiction in the court of chivalry.

Earl marshal of Scotland. This officer formerly had command of the cavalry, under the constable. This office was held by the family of Keith, but forfeited by rebellion in 1715.

Knight marshal or marshal of the king's house, formerly an officer who was to execute the commands of the lord steward, and have the custody of prisoners committed by the court of verge; hence, the name of a prison in Southwark.

Marshal of the king's bench, an officer who has the custody of the prison called the king's bench, in Southwark. He attends on the court and has the charge of the prisoners committed by them.

MA'RSHAL, verb transitive To dispose in order; to arrange in a suitable manner; as, to marshal an army; to marshal troops.

1. To lead, as a harbinger. [Not used.]

2. To dispose in due order the several parts of an escutcheon, or the coats of arms of distinct families.

M'ARSHALED, participle passive Arranged in due order.

M'ARSHALER, noun One who disposes in due order.

M'ARSHALING, participle present tense Arranging in due order.

M'ARSHALSEA, noun In England, the prison in Southwark, belonging to the marshal of the king's household.

Court of marshalsea a court formerly held before the steward and marshal of the king's house, to administer justice between the king's domestic servants.

M'ARSHALSHIP, noun The office of a marshal.

M'ARSH-EL'DER, noun The gelder rose, a species of Viburnum.

M'ARSH-MAL'LOW, noun A plant of the genus Althaea.

M'ARSH-MAR'IGOLD, noun A plant of the genus Caltha.

M'ARSH-ROCK'ET, noun A species of water cresses.

M'ARSHY, adjective [from marsh.] Wet; boggy; fenny.

1. Produced in marshes; as a marshy weed.