Chapter CCXXXIX: Introduction

In`tro*duc"tion, n. Etym: [L. introductio: cf. F. introduction. See Introduce.]

1. The act of introducing, or bringing to notice.

2. The act of formally making persons known to each other; a presentation or making known of one person to another by name; as, the introduction of one stranger to another.

3. That part of a book or discourse which introduces or leads the way to the main subject, or part; preliminary; matter; preface; proem; exordium.

4. A formal and elaborate preliminary treatise; specifically, a treatise introductory to other treatises, or to a course of study; a guide; as, an introduction to English literature.

INTRODUCTIVE In`tro*duc"tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. introductif.]

Defn: Serving to introduce; introductory. -- In`tro*duc"tive*ly, adv.

INTRODUCTOR In`tro*duc"tor, n. Etym: [L.]

Defn: An introducer. [Obs.]

INTRODUCTORILY In`tro*duc"to*ri*ly, adv.

Defn: By way of introduction.

INTRODUCTORY In`tro*duc"to*ry, a. Etym: [L. itroductorius: cf. F. introductoire.]

Defn: Serving to introduce something else; leading to the main subject or business; preliminary; prefatory; as, introductory proceedings; an introductory discourse.

INTRODUCTRESS In`tro*duc"tress, n.

Defn: A female introducer.

INTROFLEXED In`tro*flexed", a.

Defn: Flexed or bent inward.

INTROGRESSION In`tro*gres"sion, n. Etym: [L. introgressus, p. p. of introgredi to go in; intro- within + gradi to step, go.]

Defn: The act of going in; entrance. Blount.

INTROIT In*tro"it, n. Etym: [L. introitus, fr. introire to go into, to enter; intro within + ire to go: cf. F. introit.]

1. A going in. Caxton.

2. (R. C. Ch.) (a) A psalm sung or chanted immediately before the collect, epistle, and gospel, and while the priest is entering within the rails of the altar. (b) A part of a psalm or other portion of Scripture read by the priest at Mass immediately after ascending to the altar.

3. (R. C. Ch.)

Defn: An anthem or psalm sung before the Communion service.

4. Any composition of vocal music appropriate to the opening of church services.

INTROMISSION In`tro*mis"sion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. intromission. See Intromit.]

1. The act of sending in or of putting in; insertion. South.

2. The act of letting go in; admission.

3. (Scots Law)

Defn: An intermeddling with the affairs of another, either on legal grounds or without authority.

INTROMIT In`tro*mit", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Intromitted; p. pr. & vb. n. Intromitting.] Etym: [L. intromittere, intromissum; intro- within + mittere to send.]

1. To send in or put in; to insert or introduce. Greenhill.

2. To allow to pass in; to admit. Glass in the window intromits light, without cold. Holder.

INTROMIT In`tro*mit", v. i. (Scots Law)

Defn: To intermeddle with the effects or goods of another.

INTROMITTENT In`tro*mit"tent, a. Etym: [L. intromittens, p. pr.]

1. Throwing, or allowing to pass, into or within.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Used in copulation; -- said of the external reproductive organs of the males of many animals, and sometimes of those of the females.

INTROMITTER In`tro*mit"ter, n.

Defn: One who intromits.

INTROPRESSION In`tro*pres"sion, n.

Defn: Pressure acting within. [R.]

INTRORECEPTION In`tro*re*cep"tion, n.

Defn: The act of admitting into or within. Hammond.

INTRORSE In*trorse", a. Etym: [L. introrsus inward, contr. from introversus. See Introvert.] (Bot.)

Defn: Turning or facing inward, or toward the axis of the part to which it belongs. Gray.

INTROSPECT In`tro*spect", v. t. Etym: [L. introspectus, p. p. introspicere to look into; intro within + specere to look. See Spy.]

Defn: To look into or within; to view the inside of. Bailey.

INTROSPECTION In`tro*spec"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. introspection.]

Defn: A view of the inside or interior; a looking inward; specifically, the act or process of self-examination, or inspection of one's own thoughts and feelings; the cognition which the mind has of its own acts and states; self-consciousness; reflection. I was forced to make an introspection into my own mind. Dryden.

INTROSPECTIONIST In`tro*spec"tion*ist, n. (Metaph.)

Defn: One given to the introspective method of examining the phenomena of the soul.

INTROSPECTIVE In`tro*spec"tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. introspectif.]

1. Inspecting within; seeing inwardly; capable of, or exercising, inspection; self-conscious.

2. Involving the act or results of conscious knowledge of physical phenomena; -- contrasted with associational. J. S. Mill.

INTROSUME In`tro*sume", v. t. Etym: [Pref. intro- + L. sumere to take.]

Defn: To draw in; to swallow. [Obs.] Evelyn.

INTROSUSCEPTION In`tro*sus*cep"tion, n.

1. The act or process of receiving within. The person is corrupted by the introsusception of a nature which becomes evil thereby. Coleridge.

2. (Med.)

Defn: Same as Intussusception.

INTROVENIENT In`tro*ven"ient, a. Etym: [L. introveniens, p. pr. of introvenire to come in; intro within + venire to come.]

Defn: Coming in together; entering; commingling. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

INTROVERSION In`tro*ver"sion, n. Etym: [See Introvert.]

Defn: The act of introverting, or the state of being introverted; the act of turning the mind inward. Berkeley.

INTROVERT In`tro*vert", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Introverted; p. pr. & vb. n. Introverting.] Etym: [Pref. intro- + L. vertere, versum, to turn.]

1. To turn or bend inward. "Introverted toes." Cowper.

2. To look within; to introspect. Lew Wallace.

INTRUDE In*trude", v. i. Etym: [L. intrudere, intrusum; pref. in- in + trudere to thrust, akin to E. threat. See Threat.]

Defn: To thrust one's self in; to come or go in without invitation, permission, or welcome; to encroach; to trespass; as, to intrude on families at unseasonable hours; to intrude on the lands of another. Thy wit wants edge And manners, to intrude where I am graced. Shak. Some thoughts rise and intrude upon us, while we shun them; others fly from us, when we would hold them. I. Watts.

INTRUDE In*trude", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Intruded; p. pr. & vb. n. Intruding.]

1. To thrust or force (something) in or upon; especially, to force (one's self) in without leave or welcome; as, to intrude one's presence into a conference; to intrude one's opinions upon another.

2. To enter by force; to invade. [Obs.] Why should the worm intrude the maiden bud Shak.

3. (Geol.)

Defn: The cause to enter or force a way, as into the crevices of rocks.

Syn. -- To obtrude; encroach; infringe; intrench; trespass. See Obtrude.

INTRUDED In*trud"ed, p. a. (Geol.)

Defn: Same as Intrusive.

INTRUDER In*trud"er, n.

Defn: One who intrudes; one who thrusts himself in, or enters without right, or without leave or welcome; a trespasser. They were all strangers and intruders. Locke.

INTRUDRESS In*trud"ress, n.

Defn: A female intruder.

INTRUNK In*trunk", v. t.

Defn: To inclose as in a trunk; to incase. [R.] Ford.

INTRUSION In*tru"sion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. intrusion. See Intrude.]

1. The act of intruding, or of forcing in; especially, the forcing (one's self) into a place without right or welcome; encroachment. Why this intrusion Were not my orders that I should be private Addison.

2. (Geol.)

Defn: The penetrating of one rock, while in a plastic or metal state, into the cavities of another.

3. (Law)

Defn: The entry of a stranger, after a particular estate or freehold is determined, before the person who holds in remainder or reversion has taken possession.

4. (Scotch Ch.)

Defn: The settlement of a minister over 3 congregation without their consent.

INTRUSIONAL In*tru"sion*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to intrusion.

INTRUSIONIST In*tru"sion*ist, n.

Defn: One who intrudes; especially, one who favors the appointment of a clergyman to a parish, by a patron, against the wishes of the parishioners.

INTRUSIVE In*tru"sive, a.

Defn: Apt to intrude; characterized by intrusion; entering without right or welcome. Intrusive rocks (Geol.), rocks which have been forced, while in a plastic or melted state, into the cavities or between the cracks or layers of other rocks. The term is sometimes used as equivalent to plutonic rocks. It is then contrasted with effusive or volcanic rocks. -- In*tru"sive*ly, adv. -- In*tru"sive*ness, n.

INTRUST In*trust", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Intrusted, p. pr. & vb. n. Intrusting.]

Defn: To deliver (something) to another in trust; to deliver to (another) something in trust; to commit or surrender (something) to another with a certain confidence regarding his care, use, or disposal of it; as, to intrust a servant with one's money or intrust money or goods to a servant.

Syn. -- To commit; consign; confide. See Commit.

INTUBATION In`tu*ba"tion, n. Etym: [Pref. in- in + tube.] (Med.)

Defn: The introduction of a tube into an organ to keep it open, as into the larynx in croup.

INTUITION In`tu*i"tion, n. Etym: [L. intuitus, p. p. of intueri to look on; in- in, on + tueri: cf. F. intuition. See Tuition.]

1. A looking after; a regard to. [Obs.] What, no reflection on a reward! He might have an intuition at it, as the encouragement, though not the cause, of his pains. Fuller.

2. Direct apprehension or cognition; immediate knowledge, as in perception or consciousness; -- distinguished from "mediate" knowledge, as in reasoning; as, the mind knows by intuition that black is not white, that a circle is not a square, that three are more than two, etc.; quick or ready insight or apprehension. Sagacity and a nameless something more, -- let us call it intuition. Hawthorne.

3. Any object or truth discerned by direct cognition; especially, a first or primary truth.

INTUITIONAL In`tu*i"tion*al, a.

Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, intuition; characterized by intuition; perceived by intuition; intuitive.

INTUITIONALISM In`tu*i"tion*al*ism, n. (Metaph.)

Defn: The doctrine that the perception or recognition of primary truth is intuitive, or direct and immediate; -- opposed to sensationalism, and experientialism.

INTUITIONALIST In`tu*i"tion*al*ist, n.

Defn: One who holds the doctrine of intuitionalism.

INTUITIONISM In`tu*i"tion*ism, n.

Defn: Same as Intuitionalism.

INTUITIONIST In`tu*i"tion*ist, n.

Defn: Same as Intuitionalist. Bain.

INTUITIVE In*tu"i*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. intuitif.]

1. Seeing clearly; as, an intuitive view; intuitive vision.

2. Knowing, or perceiving, by intuition; capable of knowing without deduction or reasoning. Whence the soul Reason receives, and reason is her being, Discursive, or intuitive. Milton.

3. Received. reached, obtained, or perceived, by intuition; as, intuitive judgment or knowledge; -- opposed to deductive. Locke.

INTUITIVELY In*tu"i*tive*ly, adv.

Defn: In an intuitive manner.

INTUITIVISM In*tu"i*tiv*ism, n.

Defn: The doctrine that the ideas of right and wrong are intuitive. J. Grote.

INTUMESCE In`tu*mesce", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Intumesced; p. pr. & vb. n. Intumescing.] Etym: [L. intumescere; pref. in- in + tumescere to swell up, incho. fr. tumere to swell. See Tumid.]

Defn: To enlarge or expand with heat; to swell; specifically, to swell up or bubble up under the action of heat, as before the blowpipe. In a higher heat, it intumesces, and melts into a yellowish black mass. Kirwan.

INTUMESCENCE In`tu*mes"cence, n. Etym: [Cf. F. intumescence.]

1. The act or process of swelling or enlarging; also, the state of being swollen; expansion; tumidity; especially, the swelling up of bodies under the action of heat. The intumescence of nations. Johnson.

2. Anything swollen or enlarged, as a tumor.

INTUMESCENT In`tu*mes"cent, a. Etym: [L. intumescens, p. pr.]

Defn: Swelling up; expanding.

INTUMULATED In*tu"mu*la`ted, a. Etym: [L. intumulatus. See In- not, and Tumulate.]

Defn: Unburied. [Obs.]

INTUNE In*tune", v. t.

Defn: To intone. Cf. Entune.

INTURBIDATE In*tur"bid*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Inturbidated; p. pr. & vb. n. Inturbidating.] Etym: [Pref. in- in + turbid.]

Defn: To render turbid; to darken; to confuse. [R.] The confusion of ideas and conceptions under the same term painfully inturbidates his theology. Coleridge.

INTURGESCENCE In`tur*ges"cence, n. Etym: [L. inturgescens, p. pr. of inturgescere to swell up. See 1st In-, and Turgescent.]

Defn: A swelling; the act of swelling, or state of being swelled. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

INTUSE In"tuse, n. Etym: [L. intundere to bruise; pref. in- in + tundere, tusum, to beat, bruise.]

Defn: A bruise; a contusion. [Obs.] Spenser.

INTUSSUSCEPTED In`tus*sus*cep"ted, a. Etym: [See Intussusception.]

Defn: Received into some other thing or part, as a sword into a sheath; invaginated.

INTUSSUSCEPTION In`tus*sus*cep"tion, n. Etym: [L. intus within + susception. Cf. Introsusception.]

1. The reception of one part within another.

2. (Med.)

Defn: The abnormal reception or slipping of a part of a tube, by inversion and descent, within a contiguous part of it; specifically, the reception or slipping of the upper part of the small intestine into the lower; introsusception; invagination. Dunglison.

3. (Bot.)

Defn: The interposition of new particles of formative material among those already existing, as in a cell wall, or in a starch grain.

4. (Physiol.)

Defn: The act of taking foreign matter, as food, into a living body; the process of nutrition, by which dead matter is absorbed by the living organism, and ultimately converted into the organized substance of its various tissues and organs. Dead bodies increase by apposition; living bodies by intrussusception. McKendrick.

INTWINE In*twine", v. t. Etym: [Cf. Entwine.]

Defn: To twine or twist into, or together; to wreathe; as, a wreath of flowers intwined. [Written also entwine.]

INTWINE In*twine", v. i.

Defn: To be or to become intwined.

INTWINEMENT In*twine"ment, n.

Defn: The act of twinning, or the state of being intwined.

INTWIST In*twist", v. t. Etym: [Cf. Entwist.]

Defn: To twist into or together; to interweave. [Written also entwist.]

INUENDO In`u*en"do, n.

Defn: See Innuendo.

INULIN In"u*lin, n. Etym: [From NL. Inula Helenium, the elecampane: cf. F. inuline.] (Chem.)

Defn: A substance of very wide occurrence. It is found dissolved in the sap of the roots and rhizomes of many composite and other plants, as Inula, Helianthus, Campanula, etc., and is extracted by solution as a tasteless, white, semicrystalline substance, resembling starch, with which it is isomeric. It is intermediate in nature between starch and sugar. Called also dahlin, helenin, alantin, etc.

INULOID In"u*loid, n. Etym: [Inulin + -oid.] (Chem.)

Defn: A substance resembling inulin, found in the unripe bulbs of the dahila.

INUMBRATE In*um"brate, v. t. Etym: [L. inumbratus, p. p. of inumbrare to shade.]

Defn: To shade; to darken. [Obs.]

INUNCTED In*unc"ted, a. Etym: [See Inunction.]

Defn: Anointed. [Obs.] Cockeram.

INUNCTION In*unc"tion, n. Etym: [L. inunctio, fr. inungere, inunctum, to anoint. See 1st In-, and Unction.]

Defn: The act of anointing, or the state of being anointed; unction; specifically (Med.), the rubbing of ointments into the pores of the skin, by which medicinal agents contained in them, such as mercury, iodide of potash, etc., are absorbed.

INUNCTUOSITY In*unc`tu*os"i*ty, n.

Defn: The want of unctuosity; freedom from greasiness or oiliness; as, the inunctuosity of porcelain clay. Kirwan.

INUNDANT In*un"dant, a. Etym: [L. inundans, p. pr. of inundare.]

Defn: Overflowing. [R.] Shenstone.

INUNDATE In*un"date, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Inundated; p. pr. & vb. n. Inundating.] Etym: [L. inundatus, p. p. of inundare to inundate; pref. in- in + undare to rise in waves, to overflow, fr. unda a wave. See Undulate.]

1. To cover with a flood; to overflow; to deluge; to flood; as, the river inundated the town.

2. To fill with an overflowing abundance or superfluity; as, the country was inundated with bills of credit.

Syn. -- To overflow; deluge; flood; overwhelm; submerge; drown.

INUNDATION In`un*da"tion, n. Etym: [L. inundatio: cf. F. inondation.]

1. The act of inundating, or the state of being inundated; an overflow; a flood; a rising and spreading of water over grounds. With inundation wide the deluge reigns, Drowns the deep valleys, and o'erspreads the plains. Wilkie.

2. An overspreading of any kind; overflowing or superfluous abundance; a flood; a great influx; as, an inundation of tourists. To stop the inundation of her tears. Shak.

INUNDERSTANDING In*un`der*stand"ing, a.

Defn: Void of understanding. [Obs.] Bp. Pearson.

INURBANE In`ur*bane", a. Etym: [L. inurbanus. See In- not, and Urbane.]

Defn: Uncivil; unpolished; rude. M. Arnold. -- In`ur*bane"ly, adv. -- In`ur*bane"ness, n.

INURBANITY In`ur*ban"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. inurbanité.]

Defn: Want of urbanity or courtesy; unpolished manners or deportment; inurbaneness; rudeness. Bp. Hall.

INURE In*ure", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Inured; p. pr. & vb. n. Inuring.] Etym: [From pref. in- in + ure use, work. See Ure use, practice, Opera, and cf. Manure.]

Defn: To apply in use; to train; to discipline; to use or accustom till use gives little or no pain or inconvenience; to harden; to habituate; to practice habitually. "To inure our prompt obedience." Milton. He . . . did inure them to speak little. Sir T. North. Inured and exercised in learning. Robynson (More's Utopia). The poor, inured to drudgery and distress. Cowper.

INURE In*ure", v. i.

Defn: To pass into use; to take or have effect; to be applied; to serve to the use or benefit of; as, a gift of lands inures to the heirs. [Written also enure.]

INUREMENT In*ure"ment, n.

Defn: Use; practice; discipline; habit; custom.

INURN In*urn", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Inurned; p. pr. & vb. n. Inurning.]

Defn: To put in an urn, as the ashes of the dead; hence, to bury; to intomb. The sepulcher Wherein we saw thee quietly inurned. Shak.

INUSITATE In*u"si*tate, a. Etym: [L. inunsitatus unusual. See Use.]

Defn: Unusual. [R.] Bramhall.

INUSITATION In*u"si*ta"tion, n.

Defn: Want of use; disuse. [R.] Paley.

INUST In*ust", a. Etym: [L. inurere, inustum, to burn in; pref. in- in + urere to burn.]

Defn: Burnt in. [Obs.]

INUSTION In*us"tion, n.

Defn: The act of burning or branding. [Obs.] T. Adams.

INUTILE In*u"tile, a. Etym: [L. inutilis: cf. F. inutile. See In- not, Utile.]

Defn: Useless; unprofitable. [Obs.] Bacon.

INUTILITY In`u*til"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. inutilitas: cf. F. inutilité.]

Defn: Uselessness; the quality of being unprofitable; unprofitableness; as, the inutility of vain speculations and visionary projects.

INUTTERABLE In*ut"ter*a*ble, a.

Defn: Unutterable; inexpressible. Milton.

IN VACUO In` vac"u*o. Etym: [L.] (Physics)

Defn: In a vacuum; in empty space; as, experiments in vacuo.

INVADE In*vade", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Invaded; p. pr. & vb. n. Invading.] Etym: [L. invadere, invasum; pref. in- in + vadere to go, akin to E. wade: cf. OF. invader, F. envahir. See Wade.]

1. To go into or upon; to pass within the confines of; to enter; -- used of forcible or rude ingress. [Obs.] Which becomes a body, and doth then invade The state of life, out of the grisly shade. Spenser.

2. To enter with hostile intentions; to enter with a view to conquest or plunder; to make an irruption into; to attack; as, the Romans invaded Great Britain. Such an enemy Is risen to invade us. Milton.

3. To attack; to infringe; to encroach on; to violate; as, the king invaded the rights of the people.

4. To grow or spread over; to affect injuriously and progressively; as, gangrene invades healthy tissue.

Syn. -- To attack; assail; encroach upon. See Attack.

INVADE In*vade", v. i.

Defn: To make an invasion. Brougham.

INVADER In*vad"er, n.

Defn: One who invades; an assailant; an encroacher; an intruder.

INVAGINATE In*vag"i*nate, v. t.

Defn: To insert as in a sheath; to pr

INVAGINATE; INVAGINATED In*vag"i*nate, In*vag"i*na`ted, a. (Biol.) (a) Sheathed. (b) Having one portion of a hollow organ drawn back within another portion.

INVAGINATION In*vag`i*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. pref. in- + vagina sheath.]

1. (Biol.)

Defn: The condition of an invaginated organ or part.

2. (Biol.)

Defn: One of the methods by which the various germinal layers of the ovum are differentiated.

Note: In embolic invagination, one half of the blastosphere is pushed in towards the other half, producing an embryonic form known as a gastrula. -- In epibolic invagination, a phenomenon in the development of some invertebrate ova, the epiblast appears to grow over or around the hypoblast.

INVALESCENCE In`va*les"cence, n. Etym: [L. invalescens, p. pr. of invalescere to become strong. See 1st In-, and Convalesce.]

Defn: Strength; health. [Obs.]

INVALETUDINARY In*val`e*tu"di*na*ry, a.

Defn: Wanting health; valetudinary. [R.]

INVALID In*val"id, a. Etym: [Pref. in- not + valid: cf. F. invalide, L. invalidus infirm, weak. Cf. Invalid infirm.]

1. Of no force, weight, or cogency; not valid; weak.

2. (Law)

Defn: Having no force, effect, or efficacy; void; null; as, an invalid contract or agreement.

INVALID In"va*lid, n. Etym: [F. invalide, n. & a., L. invalidus, a. See Invalid null.]

Defn: A person who is weak and infirm; one who is disabled for active service; especially, one in chronic ill health.

INVALID In"va*lid, a. Etym: [See Invalid, n.]

Defn: Not well; feeble; infirm; sickly; as, he had an invalid daughter.

INVALID In"va*lid, v. t.

1. To make or render invalid or infirm. "Invalided, bent, and almost blind." Dickens.

2. To classify or enroll as an invalid. Peace coming, he was invalided on half pay. Carlyle.

INVALIDATE In*val"i*date, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Invalidated; p. pr. & vb. n. Invalidating.] Etym: [From Invalid null.]

Defn: To render invalid; to weaken or lessen the force of; to destroy the authority of; to render of no force or effect; to overthrow; as, to invalidate an agreement or argument.

INVALIDATION In*val`i*da"tion, n.

Defn: The act of inavlidating, or the state of being invalidated. So many invalidations of their right. Burke.

INVALIDE In`va*lide", n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: See Invalid, n.

INVALIDISM In"va*lid*ism, n.

Defn: The condition of an invalid; sickness; infirmity.

INVALIDITY In`va*lid"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. invalidité, LL. invaliditas want of health.]

1. Want of validity or cogency; want of legal force or efficacy; invalidness; as, the invalidity of an agreement or of a will.

2. Want of health; infirmity. [Obs.] Sir W. Temple.

INVALIDNESS In*val"id*ness, n.

Defn: Invalidity; as, the invalidness of reasoning.

INVALOROUS In*val"or*ous, a.

Defn: Not valorous; cowardly.

INVALUABLE In*val"u*a*ble, a.

Defn: Valuable beyond estimation; inestimable; priceless; precious.

INVALUABLY In*val"u*a*bly, adv.

Defn: Inestimably. Bp. Hall.

INVALUED In*val"ued, a.

Defn: Inestimable. [R.] Drayton.

INVARIABILITY In*va`ri*a*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. invariabilité.]

Defn: The quality of being invariable; invariableness; constancy; uniformity.

INVARIABLE In*va"ri*a*ble, a. Etym: [Pref. in- not + variable: cf. F. invariable.]

Defn: Not given to variation or change; unalterable; unchangeable; always uniform. Physical laws which are invariable. I. Taylor. -- In*va"ri*a*ble*ness, n. -- In*va"ri*a*bly, adv.

INVARIABLE In*va"ri*a*ble, n. (Math.)

Defn: An invariable quantity; a constant.

INVARIANCE In*va"ri*ance, n. (Math.)

Defn: The property of remaining invariable under prescribed or implied conditions. J. J. Sylvester.

INVARIANT In*va"ri*ant, n. (Math.)

Defn: An invariable quantity; specifically, a function of the coefficients of one or more forms, which remains unaltered, when these undergo suitable linear transformations. J. J. Sylvester.

INVASION In*va"sion, n. Etym: [L. invasio: cf. F. invasion. See Invade.]

1. The act of invading; the act of encroaching upon the rights or possessions of another; encroachment; trespass.

2. A warlike or hostile entrance into the possessions or domains of another; the incursion of an army for conquest or plunder.

3. The incoming or first attack of anything hurtful or pernicious; as, the invasion of a disease.

Syn. -- Invasion, Irruption, Inroad. Invasion is the generic term, denoting a forcible entrance into a foreign country. Incursion signifies a hasty and sudden invasion. Irruption denotes particularly violent invasion. Inroad is entry by some unusual way involving trespass and injury.

INVASIVE In*va"sive, a. Etym: [LL. invasivus: cf. F. invasif. See Invade.]

Defn: Tending to invade; characterized by invasion; aggressive. "Invasive war." Hoole.

INVECT In*vect", v. i.

Defn: To inveigh. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.

INVECTED In*vec"ted, a. Etym: [L. invectus carried in. See Inveigh.] (Her.)

Defn: Having a border or outline composed of semicircles with the convexity outward; -- the opposite of engrailed.

INVECTION In*vec"tion, n. Etym: [L. invectio. See Inveigh.]

Defn: An inveighing against; invective. [Obs.] Fulke.

INVECTIVE In*vec"tive, a. Etym: [L. invectivus: cf. F. invectif. See Inveigh.]

Defn: Characterized by invection; critical; denunciatory; satirical; abusive; railing.

INVECTIVE In*vec"tive, n. Etym: [F. invective.]

Defn: An expression which inveighs or rails against a person; a severe or violent censure or reproach; something uttered or written, intended to cast opprobrium, censure, or reproach on another; a harsh or reproachful accusation; -- followed by against, having reference to the person or thing affected; as an invective against tyranny. The world will be able to judge of his [Junius'] motives for writing such famous invectives. Sir W. Draper.

Syn. -- Abuse; censure; reproach; satire; sarcasm; railing; diatribe. See Abuse.

INVECTIVELY In*vec"tive*ly, adv.

Defn: In an invective manner. Shak.

INVEIGH In*veigh", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Inveighed; p. pr. & vb. n. Inveighing.] Etym: [L. invehere, invectum, to carry or bring into or against, to attack with words, to inveigh; pref. in- in + vehere to carry. See Vehicle, and cf. Invective.]

Defn: To declaim or rail (against some person or thing); to utter censorious and bitter language; to attack with harsh criticism or reproach, either spoken or written; to use invectives; -- with against; as, to inveigh against character, conduct, manners, customs, morals, a law, an abuse. All men inveighed against him; all men, except court vassals, opposed him. Milton. The artificial life against which we inveighed. Hawthorne.

INVEIGHER In*veigh"er, n.

Defn: One who inveighs.

INVEIGLE In*vei"gle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Inveigled; p. pr. & vb. n. Inveigling.] Etym: [Prob. fr. F. aveugler to blind, to delude, OF. aveugler, avugler, avegler, fr. F. aveugle blind, OF. aveugle, avugle, properly, without eyes, fr. L. ab + oculus eye. The pref. in- seems to have been substituted for a- taken as the pref. F. à, L. ad. See Ocular.]

Defn: To lead astray as if blind; to persuade to something evil by deceptive arts or flattery; to entice; to insnare; to seduce; to wheedle. Yet have they many baits and guileful spells To inveigle and invite the un unwary sense. Milton.

INVEIGLEMENT In*vei"gle*ment, n.

Defn: The act of inveigling, or the state of being inveigled; that which inveigles; enticement; seduction. South.

INVEIGLER In*vei"gler, n.

Defn: One who inveigles.

INVEIL In*veil", v. t.

Defn: To cover, as with a vail. W. Browne.

INVENDIBILITY In*vend`i*bil"i*ty, n.

Defn: The quality of being invendible; invendibleness; unsalableness.

INVENDIBLE In*vend"i*ble, a. Etym: [L. invendibilis. See In- not, and Vendible.]

Defn: Not vendible or salable. Jefferson. -- In*vend"i*ble*ness, n.

INVENOM In*ven"om, v. t.

Defn: See Envenom.

INVENT In*vent", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Invented; p. pr. & vb. n. Inventing.] Etym: [L. inventus, p. p. of invenire to come upon, to find, invent; pref. in- in + venire to come, akin to E. come: cf. F. inventer. See Come.]

1. To come or light upon; to meet; to find. [Obs.] And vowed never to return again, Till him alive or dead she did invent. Spenser.

2. To discover, as by study or inquiry; to find out; to devise; to contrive or produce for the first time; -- applied commonly to the discovery of some serviceable mode, instrument, or machine. Thus first Necessity invented stools. Cowper.

3. To frame by the imagination; to fabricate mentally; to forge; -- in a good or a bad sense; as, to invent the machinery of a poem; to invent a falsehood. Whate'er his cruel malice could invent. Milton. He had invented some circumstances, and put the worst possible construction on others. Sir W. Scott.

Syn. -- To discover; contrive; devise; frame; design; fabricate; concoct; elaborate. See Discover.

INVENTER In*vent"er, n.

Defn: One who invents.

INVENTFUL In*vent"ful, a.

Defn: Full of invention. J. Gifford.

INVENTIBLE In*vent"i*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being invented.

INVENTIBLENESS In*vent"i*ble*ness, n.

Defn: Quality of being inventible.

INVENTION In*ven"tion, n. Etym: [L. inventio: cf. F. invention. See Invent.]

1. The act of finding out or inventing; contrivance or construction of that which has not before existed; as, the invention of logarithms; the invention of the art of printing.

As the search of it [truth] is the duty, so the invention will be the happiness of man. Tatham.

2. That which is invented; an original contrivance or construction; a device; as, this fable was the invention of Esop; that falsehood was her own invention. We entered by the drawbridge, which has an invention to let one fall if not premonished. Evelyn.

3. Thought; idea. Shak.

4. A fabrication to deceive; a fiction; a forgery; a falsehood. Filling their hearers With strange invention. Shak.

5. The faculty of inventing; imaginative faculty; skill or ingenuity in contriving anything new; as, a man of invention. They lay no less than a want of invention to his charge; a capital crime, . . . for a poet is a maker. Dryden.

6. (Fine Arts, Rhet., etc.)

Defn: The exercise of the imagination in selecting and treating a theme, or more commonly in contriving the arrangement of a piece, or the method of presenting its parts. Invention of the cross (Eccl.), a festival celebrated May 3d, in honor of the finding of our Savior's cross by St. Helena.

INVENTIOUS In*ven"tious, a.

Defn: Inventive. [Obs.]

INVENTIVE In*vent"ive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. inventif.]

Defn: Able and apt to invent; quick at contrivance; ready at expedients; as, an inventive head or genius. Dryden. -- In*vent"ive*ly, adv. -- In*vent"ive*ness, n.

INVENTOR In*vent"or, n. Etym: [L.: cf. F. inventeur.]

Defn: One who invents or finds out something new; a contriver; especially, one who invents mechanical devices.

INVENTORIAL In`ven*to"ri*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to an inventory. -- In`ven*to"ri*al*ly, adv. Shak.

INVENTORY In"ven*to*ry, n.; pl. Inventories. Etym: [L. inventarium: cf. LL. inventorium, F. inventaire, OF. also inventoire. See Invent.]

Defn: An account, catalogue, or schedule, made by an executor or administrator, of all the goods and chattels, and sometimes of the real estate, of a deceased person; a list of the property of which a person or estate is found to be possessed; hence, an itemized list of goods or valuables, with their estimated worth; specifically, the annual account of stock taken in any business. There take an inventory of all I have. Shak.

Syn. -- List; register; schedule; catalogue. See List.

INVENTORY In"ven*to*ry, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Inventoried; p. pr. & vb. n. Inventorying.] Etym: [Cf. F. inventorier.]

Defn: To make an inventory of; to make a list, catalogue, or schedule of; to insert or register in an account of goods; as, a merchant inventories his stock. I will give out divers schedules of my beauty; it shall be inventoried, and every particle and utensil labeled. Shak.

INVENTRESS In*vent"ress, n. Etym: [Cf. L. inventrix, F. inventrice.]

Defn: A woman who invents. Dryden.

INVERACITY In`ve*rac"i*ty, n.

Defn: Want of veracity.

INVERISIMILITUDE In*ver`i*si*mil"i*tude, n.

Defn: Want of verisimilitude or likelihood; improbability.

INVERNESS; INVERNESS CAPE In`ver*ness", n., or In`ver*ness" cape".

Defn: A kind of full sleeveless cape, fitting closely about the neck.

Robert's wind-blown head and tall form wrapped in an Inverness cape. Mrs. Humphry Ward.

INVERSE In*verse", a. Etym: [L. inversus, p. p. of invertere: cf. F. inverse. See Invert.]

1. Opposite in order, relation, or effect; reversed; inverted; reciprocal; -- opposed to direct.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: Inverted; having a position or mode of attachment the reverse of that which is usual.

3. (Math.)

Defn: Opposite in nature and effect; -- said with reference to any two operations, which, when both are performed in succession upon any quantity, reproduce that quantity; as, multiplication is the inverse operation to division. The symbol of an inverse operation is the symbol of the direct operation with -1 as an index. Thus sin-1 x means the arc whose sine is x. Inverse figures (Geom.), two figures, such that each point of either figure is inverse to a corresponding point in the order figure. -- Inverse points (Geom.), two points lying on a line drawn from the center of a fixed circle or sphere, and so related that the product of their distances from the center of the circle or sphere is equal to the square of the radius. -- Inverse, or Reciprocal, ratio (Math.), the ratio of the reciprocals of two quantities. -- Inverse, or Reciprocal, proportion, an equality between a direct ratio and a reciprocal ratio; thus, 4 : 2 : : , or 4 : 2 : : 3 : 6, inversely.

INVERSE In"verse, n.

Defn: That which is inverse. Thus the course of human study is the inverse of the course of things in nature. Tatham.

INVERSELY In*verse"ly, adv.

Defn: In an inverse order or manner; by inversion; -- opposed to directly. Inversely proportional. See Directly proportional, under Directly, and Inversion, 4.

INVERSION In*ver"sion, n. Etym: [L. inversio: cf. F. inversion. See Invert.]

1. The act of inverting, or turning over or backward, or the state of being inverted.

2. A change by inverted order; a reversed position or arrangement of things; transposition. It is just the inversion of an act of Parliament; your lordship first signed it, and then it was passed among the Lords and Commons. Dryden.

3. (Mil.)

Defn: A movement in tactics by which the order of companies in line is inverted, the right being on the left, the left on the right, and so on.

4. (Math.)

Defn: A change in the order of the terms of a proportion, so that the second takes the place of the first, and the fourth of the third.

5. (Geom.)

Defn: A peculiar method of transformation, in which a figure is replaced by its inverse figure. Propositions that are true for the original figure thus furnish new propositions that are true in the inverse figure. See Inverse figures, under Inverse.

6. (Gram.)

Defn: A change of the usual order of words or phrases; as, "of all vices, impurity is one of the most detestable," instead of, "impurity is one of the most detestable of all vices."

7. (Rhet.)

Defn: A method of reasoning in which the orator shows that arguments advanced by his adversary in opposition to him are really favorable to his cause.

8. (Mus.) (a) Said of intervals, when the lower tone is placed an octave higher, so that fifths become fourths, thirds sixths, etc. (b) Said of a chord, when one of its notes, other than its root, is made the bass. (c) Said of a subject, or phrase, when the intervals of which it consists are repeated in the contrary direction, rising instead of falling, or vice versa. (d) Said of double counterpoint, when an upper and a lower part change places.

9. (Geol.)

Defn: The folding back of strata upon themselves, as by upheaval, in such a manner that the order of succession appears to be reversed.

10. (Chem.)

Defn: The act or process by which cane sugar (sucrose), under the action of heat and acids or ferments (as diastase), is broken or split up into grape sugar (dextrose), and fruit sugar (levulose); also, less properly, the process by which starch is converted into grape sugar (dextrose).

Note: The terms invert and inversion, in this sense, owe their meaning to the fact that the plane of polarization of light, which is rotated to the right by cane sugar, is turned toward the left by levulose.

INVERT In*vert", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Inverted; p. pr. & vb. n. Inverting.] Etym: [L. invertere, inversum; pref. in- in + vertere to turn. See Verse.]

1. To turn over; to put upside down; to upset; to place in a contrary order or direction; to reverse; as, to invert a cup, the order of words, rules of justice, etc. That doth invert the attest of eyes and ears, As if these organs had deceptious functions. Shak. Such reasoning falls like an inverted cone, Wanting its proper base to stand upon. Cowper.

2. (Mus.)

Defn: To change the position of; -- said of tones which form a chord, or parts which compose harmony.

3. To divert; to convert to a wrong use. [Obs.] Knolles.

4. (Chem.)

Defn: To convert; to reverse; to decompose by, or subject to, inversion. See Inversion, n., 10.

INVERT In*vert", v. i. (Chem.)

Defn: To undergo inversion, as sugar.

INVERT In"vert, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Subjected to the process of inversion; inverted; converted; as, invert sugar. Invert sugar (Chem.), a variety of sugar, consisting of a mixture of dextrose and levulose, found naturally in fruits, and produced artificially by the inversion of cane sugar (sucrose); also, less properly, the grape sugar or dextrose obtained from starch. See Inversion, Dextrose, Levulose, and Sugar.

INVERT In"vert, n. (Masonry)

Defn: An inverted arch.

INVERTASE In*vert"ase, n. (Chem.) (a) An enzyme capable of effecting the inversion of cane suger, producing invert sugar. It is found in many plants and in the intestines of animals. (b) By extension, any enzyme which splits cane sugar, milk sugar, lactose, etc., into monosaccharides.

INVERTEBRAL In*ver"te*bral, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Invertebrate.

INVERTEBRATA In*ver`te*bra"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. in- not + vertebratus vertebrate.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A comprehensive division of the animal kingdom, including all except the Vertebrata.

INVERTEBRATE In*ver"te*brate, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Destitute of a backbone; having no vertebræ; of or pertaining to the Invertebrata. -- n.

Defn: One of the Invertebrata. Age of invertebrates. See Age, and Silurian.

INVERTEBRATED In*ver"te*bra`ted, a.

Defn: Having no backbone; invertebrate.

INVERTED In*vert"ed, a.

1. Changed to a contrary or counterchanged order; reversed; characterized by inversion.

2. (Geol.)

Defn: Situated apparently in reverse order, as strata when folded back upon themselves by upheaval. Inverted arch (Arch.), an arch placed with crown downward; -- much used in foundations.

INVERTEDLY In*vert"ed*ly, adv.

Defn: In an inverted order. Derham.

INVERTIBLE In*vert"i*ble, a. Etym: [From Invert.]

1. Capable of being inverted or turned.

2. (Chem.)

Defn: Capable of being changed or converted; as, invertible sugar.

INVERTIBLE In*vert"i*ble, a. Etym: [Pref. in- not + L. vertere to turn + -ible.]

Defn: Incapable of being turned or changed. An indurate and invertible conscience. Cranmer.

INVERTIN In*vert"in, n. (Physiol. Chem.)

Defn: An unorganized ferment which causes cane sugar to take up a molecule of water and be converted into invert sugar.

INVEST In*vest", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Invested; p. pr. & vb. n. Investing.] Etym: [L. investire, investitum; pref. in- in + vestire to clothe, fr. vestis clothing: cf. F. investir. See Vest.]

1. To put garments on; to clothe; to dress; to array; -- opposed to divest. Usually followed by with, sometimes by in; as, to invest one with a robe.

2. To put on. [Obs.] Can not find one this girdle to invest. Spenser.

3. To clothe, as with office or authority; to place in possession of rank, dignity, or estate; to endow; to adorn; to grace; to bedeck; as, to invest with honor or glory; to invest with an estate. I do invest you jointly with my power. Shak.

4. To surround, accompany, or attend. Awe such as must always invest the spectacle of the guilt. Hawthorne.

5. To confer; to give. [R.] It investeth a right of government. Bacon.

6. (Mil.)

Defn: To inclose; to surround of hem in with troops, so as to intercept succors of men and provisions and prevent escape; to lay siege to; as, to invest a town.

7. To lay out (money or capital) in business with the as, to invest money in bank stock.

INVEST In*vest", v. i.

Defn: To make an investment; as, to invest in stocks; -- usually followed by in.

INVESTIENT In*vest"ient, a. Etym: [L. investiens, p. pr. of investire.]

Defn: Covering; clothing. [R.] Woodward.

INVESTIGABLE In*ves"ti*ga*ble, a. Etym: [L. investigabilis. See Investigate.]

Defn: Capable or susceptible of being investigated; admitting research. Hooker.

INVESTIGABLE In*ves"ti*ga*ble, a. Etym: [L. investigabilis. See In- not, and Vestigate.]

Defn: Unsearchable; inscrutable. [Obs.] So unsearchable the judgment and so investigable the ways thereof. Bale.

INVESTIGATE In*ves"ti*gate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Investigated; p. pr. & vb. n. Investigating.] Etym: [L. investigatus, p. p. of investigare to investigate; pref. in- in + vestigare to track, trace. See Vestige.]

Defn: To follow up step by step by patient inquiry or observation; to trace or track mentally; to search into; to inquire and examine into with care and accuracy; to find out by careful inquisition; as, to investigate the causes of natural phenomena.

INVESTIGATE In*ves"ti*gate, v. i.

Defn: To pursue a course of investigation and study; to make investigation.

INVESTIGATION In*ves`ti*ga"tion, n. Etym: [L. investigatio: cf. F. investigation.]

Defn: The act of investigating; the process of inquiring into or following up; research; study; inquiry, esp. patient or thorough inquiry or examination; as, the investigations of the philosopher and the mathematician; the investigations of the judge, the moralist.

INVESTIGATIVE In*ves"ti*ga*tive, a.

Defn: Given to investigation; inquisitive; curious; searching.

INVESTIGATOR In*ves"ti*ga`tor, n. Etym: [L.: cf. F. investigateur.]

Defn: One who searches diligently into a subject.

INVESTITURE In*ves"ti*ture, n. Etym: [LL. investitura: cf. F. investiture.]

1. The act or ceremony of investing, or the of being invested, as with an office; a giving possession; also, the right of so investing. He had refused to yield up to the pope the investiture of bishops. Sir W. Raleigh.

2. (Feudal Law)

Defn: Livery of seizin. The grant of land or a feud was perfected by the ceremony oinvestiture, or open delivery of possession. Blackstone.

3. That with which anyone is invested or clothed; investment; clothing; covering. While we yet have on Our gross investiture of mortal weeds. Trench.

INVESTIVE In*vest"ive, a.

Defn: Investing. [R.] Mir. for Mag.

INVESTMENT In*vest"ment, n.

1. The act of investing, or the state of being invested.

2. That with which anyone is invested; a vestment. Whose white investments figure innocence. Shak.

3. (Mil.)

Defn: The act of surrounding, blocking up, or besieging by an armed force, or the state of being so surrounded. The capitulation was signed by the commander of the fort within six days after its investments. Marshall.

4. The laying out of money in the purchase of some species of property; the amount of money invested, or that in which money is invested. Before the investment could be made, a change of the market might render it ineligible. A. Hamilton. An investment in ink, paper, and steel pens. Hawthorne.

INVESTOR In*vest"or, n.

Defn: One who invests.

INVESTURE In*ves"ture, n.

Defn: Investiture; investment. [Obs.] Bp. Burnet.

INVESTURE In*ves"ture, v. t.

Defn: To clothe; to invest; to install. [Obs.] "Monks . . . investured in their copes." Fuller.

INVETERACY In*vet"er*a*cy, n. Etym: [From Inveterate.]

1. Firm establishment by long continuance; firmness or deep-rooted obstinacy of any quality or state acquired by time; as, the inveteracy of custom, habit, or disease; -- usually in a bad sense; as, the inveteracy of prejudice or of error. An inveteracy of evil habits that will prompt him to contract more. A. Tucker.

2. Malignity; spitefulness; virulency. The rancor of pamphlets, the inveteracy of epigrams, an the mortification of lampoons. Guardian.

INVETERATE In*vet"er*ate, a. Etym: [L. inveteratus, p. p. of inveterare to render old; pref. in- in + vetus, veteris, old. See Veteran.]

1. Old; long-established. [Obs.] It is an inveterate and received opinion. Bacon.

2. Firmly established by long continuance; obstinate; deep-rooted; of long standing; as, an inveterate disease; an inveterate abuse. Heal the inveterate canker of one wound. Shak.

3. Having habits fixed by long continuance; confirmed; habitual; as, an inveterate idler or smoker.

4. Malignant; virulent; spiteful. H. Brooke.

INVETERATE In*vet"er*ate, v. t.

Defn: To fix and settle by long continuance. [Obs.] Bacon.

INVETERATELY In*vet"er*ate*ly, adv.

Defn: In an inveterate manner or degree. "Inveterately tough." Hawthorne.

INVETERATENESS In*vet"er*ate*ness, n.

Defn: Inveteracy. Sir T. Browne.

INVETERATION In*vet`er*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. inveteratio.]

Defn: The act of making inveterate. [R.] Bailey.

INVICT In*vict", a. Etym: [L. invictus. See In- not, and Victor.]

Defn: Invincible. [Obs.] Joye.

INVIDIOUS In*vid"i*ous, a. Etym: [L. invidiosus, fr. invidia envy. See Envy, and cf. Envious.]

1. Envious; malignant. [Obs.] Evelyn.

2. Worthy of envy; desirable; enviable. [Obs.] Such a person appeareth in a far more honorable and invidious state than any prosperous man. Barrow.

3. Likely to incur or produce ill will, or to provoke envy; hateful; as, invidious distinctions. Agamemnon found it an invidious affair to give the preference to any one of the Grecian heroes. Broome. -- In*vid"i*ous*ly, adv. -- In*vid"i*ous*ness, n.

INVIGILANCE; INVIGILANCY In*vig"i*lance, In*vig"i*lan*cy, n. Etym: [in- not + vigilance: cf. OF. invigilance.]

Defn: Want of vigilance; neglect of watching; carelessness.

INVIGOR In*vig"or, v. t.

Defn: To invigorate. [Obs.]

INVIGORATE In*vig"or*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Invigorated; p. pr. & vb. n. Invigorating.] Etym: [Pref. in- in + vigor.]

Defn: To give vigor to; to strengthen; to animate; to give life and energy to. Christian graces and virtues they can not be, unless fed, invigorated, and animated by universal charity. Atterbury.

Syn. -- To refresh; animate; exhilarate; stimulate.

INVIGORATION In*vig`or*a"tion, n.

Defn: The act of invigorating, or the state of being invigorated.

INVILE In*vile", v. t.

Defn: To render vile. [Obs.] Daniel.

INVILLAGED In*vil"laged (; 48), p. a.

Defn: Turned into, or reduced to, a village. [Obs.] W. Browne.

INVINCIBILITY In*vin`ci*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. invincibilité.]

Defn: The quality or state of being invincible; invincibleness.

INVINCIBLE In*vin"ci*ble, a. Etym: [L. invincibilis: cf. F. invincible. See In- not, and Vincible.]

Defn: Incapable of being conquered, overcome, or subdued; unconquerable; insuperable; as, an invincible army, or obstacle. Lead forth to battle these my sons Invincible. Milton. -- In*vin"ci*ble*ness, n. -- In*vin"ci*bly, adv.

INVIOLABILITY In*vi`o*la*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. inviolabilitas: cf. F. inviolabilité.]

Defn: The quality or state of being inviolable; inviolableness.

INVIOLABLE In*vi"o*la*ble, a. Etym: [L. inviolabilis: cf. F. inviolable. See Inviolate, a.]

1. Not violable; not susceptible of hurt, wound, or harm (used with respect to either physical or moral damage); not susceptible of being profaned or corrupted; sacred; holy; as, inviolable honor or chastity; an inviolable shrine. He tried a third, a tough, well-chosen spear, The inviolable body stood sincere. Dryden.

2. Unviolated; uninjured; undefiled; uncorrupted. For thou, be sure, shalt give account To him who sent us, whose charge is to keep This place inviolable, and these from harm. Milton.

3. Not capable of being broken or violated; as, an inviolable covenant, agreement, promise, or vow. Their almighty Maker first ordained And bound them with inviolable bands. Spenser. And keep our faiths firm and inviolable. Shak.

INVIOLABLENESS In*vi"o*la*ble*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being inviolable; as, the inviolableness of divine justice.

INVIOLABLY In*vi"o*la*bly, adv.

Defn: Without violation.

INVIOLACY In*vi"o*la*cy, n.

Defn: The state or quality of being inviolate; as, the inviolacy of an oath.

INVIOLATE; INVIOLATED In*vi"o*late, In*vi"o*la`ted, a. Etym: [L. inviolatus. See In- not, and Violate.]

1. Not violated; uninjured; unhurt; unbroken. His fortune of arms was still inviolate. Bacon.

2. Not corrupted, defiled, or profaned; chaste; pure. "Inviolate truth." Denham. There chaste Alceste lives inviolate. Spenser.

INVIOLATELY In*vi"o*late*ly, adv.

Defn: In an inviolate manner.

INVIOLATENESS In*vi"o*late*ness, n.

Defn: The state of being inviolate.

INVIOUS In"vi*ous, a. Etym: [L. invius; pref. in- not + via way.]

Defn: Untrodden. [R.] Hudibras. -- In"vi*ous*ness, n. [R.]

INVIRILE In*vi"rile, a.

Defn: Deficient in manhood; unmanly; effeminate. Lowell.

INVIRILITY In`vi*ril"i*ty, n.

Defn: Absence of virility or manhood; effeminacy. Prynne.

INVISCATE In*vis"cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Inviscated; p. pr. & vb. n. Inviscating.] Etym: [L. inviscatus, p. p. of inviscare to birdlime; pref. in- in + viscum, viscus, the mistletoe, birdlime.]

Defn: To daub or catch with glue or birdlime; to entangle with glutinous matter. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

INVISCERATE In*vis"cer*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Inviscerated; p. pr. & vb. n. Inviscerating.] Etym: [L. invisceratus, p. p. of inviscerare to put into the entrails. See Viscera.]

Defn: To breed; to nourish. [R.] W. Montagu.

INVISCERATE In*vis"cer*ate, a. Etym: [L. invisceratus, p. p.]

Defn: Deep-seated; internal. [R.] W. Montagu.

INVISIBILITY In*vis`i*bil"i*ty, n.; pl. Invisibilities. Etym: [L. invisibilitas: cf. F. invisibilité.]

Defn: The state or quality of being invisible; also, that which is invisible. "Atoms and invisibilities." Landor.

INVISIBLE In*vis"i*ble, a. Etym: [F. invisible, L. invisibilis. See In- not, and Visible.]

Defn: Incapable of being seen; not perceptible by vision; not visible. To us invisible, or dimly seen In these thy lowest works. Milton. Invisible bird (Zoöl.), a small, shy singing bird (Myadestes sibilons), of St. Vincent Islands. -- Invisible green, a very dark shade of green, approaching to black, and liable to be mistaken for it.

INVISIBLE In*vis"i*ble, n.

1. An invisible person or thing; specifically, God, the Supreme Being.

2. A Rosicrucian; -- so called because avoiding declaration of his craft. [Obs.]

3. (Eccl. Hist.)

Defn: One of those (as in the 16th century) who denied the visibility of the church. Shipley.

INVISIBLENESS In*vis"i*ble*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being invisible; invisibility.

INVISIBLY In*vis"i*bly, adv.

Defn: In an invisible manner, Denham.

INVISION In*vi"sion, n.

Defn: Want of vision or of the power of seeing. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

INVITATION In`vi*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. invitatio: cf. F. invitation. See Invite.]

1. The act of inviting; solicitation; the requesting of a person's company; as, an invitation to a party, to a dinner, or to visit a friend.

2. A document written or printed, or spoken words,

3. Allurement; enticement. [R.] She gives the leer of invitation. Shak.

INVITATORY In*vi"ta*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. invitatorius: cf. F. invitatoire.]

Defn: Using or containing invitations. The "Venite" [Psalm xcv.], which is also called the invitatory psalm. Hook.

INVITATORY In*vi"ta*to*ry, n.; pl. Invitatories. Etym: [LL. invitatorium: cf. F. invitatoire.]

Defn: That which invites; specifically, the invitatory psalm, or a part of it used in worship.

INVITE In*vite", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Invited; p. pr. & vb. n. Inviting.] Etym: [L. invitare: cf. F. inviter. See Vie.]

1. To ask; to request; to bid; to summon; to ask to do some act, or go to some place; esp., to ask to an entertainment or visit; to request the company of; as, to invite to dinner, or a wedding, or an excursion. So many guests invite as here are writ. Shak. I invite his Grace of Castle Rackrent to reflect on this. Carlyle.

2. To allure; to draw to; to tempt to come; to induce by pleasure or hope; to attract. To inveigle and invite the unwary sense. Milton. Shady groves, that easy sleep invite. Dryden. There no delusive hope invites despair. Cowper.

3. To give occasion for; as, to invite criticism.

Syn. -- To solicit; bid; call; ask; summon; allure; attract; entice; persuade.

INVITE In*vite", v. i.

Defn: To give invitation. Milton.

INVITEMENT In*vite"ment, n.

Defn: Invitation. [Obs.] Chapman.

INVITER In*vit"er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, invites.

INVITIATE In*vi"ti*ate, a.

Defn: Not vitiated. Lowell.

INVITING In*vit"ing, a.

Defn: Alluring; tempting; as, an inviting amusement or prospect. Nothing is so easy and inviting as the retort of abuse and sarcasm. W. Irving. -- In*vit"ing*ly, adv. -- In*vit"ing*ness, n. Jer. Taylor.

INVITRIFIABLE In*vit"ri*fi`a*ble, a.

Defn: Not admitting of being vitrified, or converted into glass. Kirwan.

INVOCATE In"vo*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Invocated; p. pr. & vb. n. Invocating.] Etym: [L. invocatus, p. p. of invocare. See Invoke.]

Defn: To invoke; to call on, or for, in supplication; to implore. If Dagon be thy god, Go to his temple, invocate his aid. Milton.

INVOCATION In`vo*ca"tion, n. Etym: [F. invocation, L. invocatio.]

1. The act or form of calling for the assistance or presence of some superior being; earnest and solemn entreaty; esp., prayer offered to a divine being. Sweet invocation of a child; most pretty and pathetical! Shak. The whole poem is a prayer to Fortune, and the invocation is divided between the two deities. Addison.

2. (Law)

Defn: A call or summons; especially, a judicial call, demand, or order; as, the invocation of papers or evidence into court.

INVOCATORY In"vo*ca*to*ry, a.

Defn: Making or containing invocation; invoking.

INVOICE In"voice`, n. Etym: [F. envois things sent, goods forwarded, pl. of envoi a sending or things sent, fr. envoyer to send; cf. F. lettre d'envoi letter of advice of goods forwarded. See Envoy.]

1. (Com.)

Defn: A written account of the particulars of merchandise shipped or sent to a purchaser, consignee, factor, etc., with the value or prices and charges annexed. Wharton.

2. The lot or set of goods as shipped or received; as, the merchant receives a large invoice of goods.

INVOICE In"voice`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Invoiced; p. pr. & vb. n. Invoicing.]

Defn: To make a written list or account of, as goods to be sent to a consignee; to insert in a priced list; to write or enter in an invoice. Goods, wares, and merchandise imported from Norway, and invoiced in the current dollar of Norway. Madison.

INVOKE In*voke", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Invoked; p. pr. & vb. n. Invoking.] Etym: [F. invoquer, L. invocare; pref. in- in, on + vocare to call, fr. vox voice. See Voice, and cf. Invocate.]

Defn: To call on for aid or protection; to invite earnestly or solemnly; to summon; to address in prayer; to solicit or demand by invocation; to implore; as, to invoke the Supreme Being, or to invoke His and blessing. Go, my dread lord, to your great grandsire's tomb, . . . Invoke his warlike spirit. Shak.

INVOLUCEL In*vol"u*cel, n. Etym: [Dim. of involucre, or involucrum: cf. F. involucelle.] (Bot.)

Defn: A partial, secondary, or small involucre. See Illust. of Involucre.

INVOLUCELLATE In`vo*lu"cel*late, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Furnished with involucels.

INVOLUCELLUM In`vo*lu*cel"lum, n.; pl. Involucella. Etym: [NL.]

Defn: See Involucel.

INVOLUCRAL In`vo*lu"cral, a. Etym: [Cf. F. involucral.]

Defn: Pertaining to, possessing, or like, an involucrum.

INVOLUCRATE; INVOLUCRATED In`vo*lu"crate, In`vo*lu"cra*ted, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Having an involucre; involucred.

INVOLUCRE In"vo*lu`cre, n. Etym: [L. involucrum a covering, wrapper, fr. involvere to wrap up, envelop: cf. F. involucre. See Involve.] (Bot.) (a) A whorl or set of bracts around a flower, umbel, or head. (b) A continuous marginal covering of sporangia, in certain ferns, as in the common brake, or the cup-shaped processes of the filmy ferns. (c) The peridium or volva of certain fungi. Called also involucrum.

INVOLUCRED In"vo*lu`cred, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Having an involucre, as umbels, heads, etc. Martyn.

INVOLUCRET In`vo*lu"cret, n. (Bot.)

Defn: An involucel.

INVOLUCRUM In`vo*lu"crum, n.; pl. L. Involucra, E. Involucrums. Etym: [L. See Involucre.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: See Involucre.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A sheath which surrounds the base of the lasso cells in the Siphonophora.

INVOLUNTARILY In*vol"un*ta*ri*ly, adv. Etym: [From Involuntary.]

Defn: In an involuntary manner; not voluntarily; not intentionally or willingly.

INVOLUNTARINESS In*vol"un*ta*ri*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being involuntary; unwillingness; automatism.

INVOLUNTARY In*vol"un*ta*ry, a. Etym: [L. involuntarius. See In- not, and Voluntary.]

1. Not having will of the power of choice.

2. Not under the influence or control of the will; not voluntary; as, the involuntary movements of the body; involuntary muscle fibers.

3. Not proceeding from choice; done unwillingly; reluctant; compulsory; as, involuntary submission.

INVOLUTE; INVOLUTED In"vo*lute, In"vo*lu`ted, a. Etym: [L. involutus, p. p. of involvere. See Involve.]

1. (Bot.)

Defn: Rolled inward from the edges; -- said of leaves in vernation, or of the petals of flowers in æstivation. Gray.

2. (Zoöl.) (a) Turned inward at the margin, as the exterior lip of the Cyprea. (b) Rolled inward spirally.

INVOLUTE In"vo*lute, n. (Geom.)

Defn: A curve traced by the end of a string wound upon another curve, or unwound from it; -- called also evolvent. See Evolute.

INVOLUTION In`vo*lu"tion, n. Etym: [L. involutio: cf. F. involution. See Involve.]

1. The act of involving or infolding.

2. The state of being entangled or involved; complication; entanglement. All things are mixed, and causes blended, by mutual involutions. Glanvill.

3. That in which anything is involved, folded, or wrapped; envelope. Sir T. Browne.

4. (Gram.)

Defn: The insertion of one or more clauses between the subject and the verb, in a way that involves or complicates the construction.

5. (Math.)

Defn: The act or process of raising a quantity to any power assigned; the multiplication of a quantity into itself a given number of times; -- the reverse of evolution.

6. (Geom.)

Defn: The relation which exists between three or more sets of points, a.a', b.b', c.c', so related to a point O on the line, that the product Oa.Oa' = Ob.Ob' = Oc.Oc' is constant. Sets of lines or surfaces possessing corresponding properties may be in involution.

7. (Med.)

Defn: The return of an enlarged part or organ to its normal size, as of the uterus after pregnancy.

INVOLVE In*volve", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Involved; p. pr. & vb. n. Involving.] Etym: [L. involvere, involutum, to roll about, wrap up; pref. in- in + volvere to roll: cf. OF. involver. See Voluble, and cf. Involute.]

1. To roll or fold up; to wind round; to entwine. Some of serpent kind . . . involved Their snaky folds. Milton.

2. To envelop completely; to surround; to cover; to hide; to involve in darkness or obscurity. And leave a singèd bottom all involved With stench and smoke. Milton.

3. To complicate or make intricate, as in grammatical structure. "Involved discourses." Locke.

4. To connect with something as a natural or logical consequence or effect; to include necessarily; to imply. He knows His end with mine involved. Milton. The contrary necessarily involves a contradiction. Tillotson.

5. To take in; to gather in; to mingle confusedly; to blend or merge. [R.] The gathering number, as it moves along, Involves a vast involuntary throng. Pope. Earth with hell To mingle and involve. Milton.

6. To envelop, infold, entangle, or embarrass; as, to involve a person in debt or misery.

7. To engage thoroughly; to occupy, employ, or absorb. "Involved in a deep study." Sir W. Scott.

8. (Math.)

Defn: To raise to any assigned power; to multiply, as a quantity, into itself a given number of times; as, a quantity involved to the third or fourth power.

Syn. -- To imply; include; implicate; complicate; entangle; embarrass; overwhelm. -- To Involve, Imply. Imply is opposed to express, or set forth; thus, an implied engagement is one fairly to be understood from the words used or the circumstances of the case, though not set forth in form. Involve goes beyond the mere interpretation of things into their necessary relations; and hence, if one thing involves another, it so contains it that the two must go together by an indissoluble connection. War, for example, involves wide spread misery and death; the premises of a syllogism involve the conclusion.

INVOLVED In*volved", a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Same as Involute.

INVOLVEDNESS In*volv"ed*ness, n.

Defn: The state of being involved.

INVOLVEMENT In*volve"ment, n.

Defn: The act of involving, or the state of being involved. Lew Wallace.

INVULGAR In*vul"gar, v. t. Etym: [Pref. in- in + vulgar.]

Defn: To cause to become or appear vulgar. [Obs.] Daniel.

INVULGAR In*vul"gar, a. Etym: [Pref. in- not + vulgar.]

Defn: Not vulgar; refined; elegant. [Obs.] Drayton.

INVULNERABILITY In*vul"ner*a*bil`i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. invulnérabilité.]

Defn: Quality or state of being invulnerable.

INVULNERABLE In*vul"ner*a*ble, a. Etym: [L. invulnerabilis: cf. F. invulnérable. See In- not, and Vulnerable.]

1. Incapable of being wounded, or of receiving injury. Neither vainly hope To be invulnerable in those bright arms. Milton.

2. Unanswerable; irrefutable; that can not be refuted or convinced; as, an invulnerable argument.

INVULNERABLENESS In*vul"ner*a*ble*ness, n.

Defn: Invulnerability.

INVULNERATE In*vul"ner*ate, a. Etym: [L. invulneratus unwounded.]

Defn: Invulnerable.

INWALL In*wall", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Inwalled; p. pr. & vb. n. Inwalling.]

Defn: To inclose or fortify as with a wall. Spenser.

INWALL In"wall`, n.

Defn: An inner wall; specifically (Metal.), the inner wall, or lining, of a blast furnace.

INWARD In"ward, a. Etym: [AS. inweard, inneweard, innanweard, fr. innan, inne, within (fr. in in; see In) + the suffix -weard, E. -ward.]

1. Being or placed within; inner; interior; -- opposed to outward. Milton.

2. Seated in the mind, heart, spirit, or soul. "Inward beauty." Shak.

3. Intimate; domestic; private. [Obs.] All my inward friends abhorred me. Job xix. 19. He had had occasion, by one very inward with him, to know in part the discourse of his life. Sir P. Sidney.

INWARD In"ward, n.

1. That which is inward or within; especially, in the plural, the inner parts or organs of the body; the viscera. Jer. Taylor. Then sacrificing, laid the inwards and their fat. Milton.

2. The mental faculties; -- usually pl. [Obs.]

3. An intimate or familiar friend or acquaintance. [Obs.] "I was an inward of his." Shak.

INWARD; INWARDS In"ward, In"wards, adv. Etym: [AS. inweard. The ending -s is prop. a genitive ending. See Inward, a., -wards.]

1. Toward the inside; toward the center or interior; as, to bend a thing inward.

2. Into, or toward, the mind or thoughts; inwardly; as, to turn the attention inward. So much the rather, thou Celestial Light, Shine inward. Milton.

INWARDLY In"ward*ly, adv. Etym: [AS. inweardlice.]

1. In the inner parts; internally. Let Benedick, like covered fire, Consume away in sighs, waste inwardly. Shak.

2. Toward the center; inward; as, to curve inwardly.

3. In the heart or mind; mentally; privately; secretas, he inwardly repines.

4. Intimately; thoroughly. [Obs.] I shall desire to know him more inwardly. Beau. & Fl.

INWARDNESS In"ward*ness, n.

1. Internal or true state; essential nature; as, the inwardness of conduct. Sense can not arrive to the inwardness Of things. Dr. H. More.

2. Intimacy; familiarity. [Obs.] Shak.

3. Heartiness; earnestness. What was wanted was more inwardness, more feeling. M. Arnold.

INWARDS In"wards, adv.

Defn: See Inward.

INWEAVE In*weave", v. t.

Defn: To weave in or together; to intermix or intertwine by weaving; to interlace. Down they cast Their crowns, inwove with amaranth and gold. Milton.

INWHEEL In*wheel", v. t.

Defn: To encircle. [R.] Beau. & Fl.

INWIT In"wit, n.

Defn: Inward sense; mind; understanding; conscience. [Obs.] Wyclif.

INWITH In*with", prep.

Defn: Within. [Obs.] This purse hath she inwith her bosom hid. Chaucer.

INWORK In*work", v. t. & i. Etym: [Pref. in- + work. Cf. Inwrought.]

Defn: To work in or within.

INWORN In"worn`, p. a.

Defn: Worn, wrought, or stamped in. [R.] Milton.

INWRAP In*wrap", v. t. Etym: [Written also enwrap.]

1. To cover by wrapping; to involve; to infold; as, to inwrap in a cloak, in smoke, etc.

2. To involve, as in difficulty or perplexity; to perplex. [R.] Bp. Hall.

INWREATHE In*wreathe", v. t.

Defn: To surround or encompass as with a wreath. [Written also enwreathe.] Resplendent locks, inwreathed with beams. Milton.

INWROUGHT In*wrought", p. p. or a. Etym: [Pref. in- + wrought. Cf. Inwork.]

Defn: Wrought or worked in or among other things; worked into any fabric so as to from a part of its texture; wrought or adorned, as with figures. His mantle hairy, and his bonnet sedge, Inwrought with figures dim. Milton.

IO I"o, n.; pl. Ios. Etym: [L.; cf. Gr. "iw`.]

Defn: An exclamation of joy or triumph; -- often interjectional.

IOD- I"od-. (Chem.)

Defn: See Iodo-.

IODAL I"o*dal, n. Etym: [Iod- + alcohol.] (Chem.)

Defn: An oily liquid, Cl3.CHO, analogous to chloral and bromal.

IODATE I"o*date, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A salt of iodic acid.

IODHYDRIN I`od*hy"drin, n. Etym: [Iod- + chlorhydrin.] (Chem.)

Defn: One of a series of compounds containing iodine, and analogous to the chlorhydrins.

IODIC I*od"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. iodique. See Iodine.] (Chem.)

Defn: to, or containing, iodine; specif., denoting those compounds in which it has a relatively high valence; as, iodic acid. Iodic acid, a monobasic acid, consisting of iodine with three parts of oxygen and one of hydrogen.

IODIDE I"o*dide, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A binary compound of iodine, or one which may be regarded as binary; as, potassium iodide.

IODINE I"o*dine (; 104), n. Etym: [Gr. iode, iodine. The name was given from the violet color of its vapor. See Violet, Idyl.] (Chem.)

Defn: A nonmetallic element, of the halogen group, occurring always in combination, as in the iodides. When isolated it is in the form of dark gray metallic scales, resembling plumbago, soft but brittle, and emitting a chlorinelike odor. Symbol I. Atomic weight 126.5. If heated, iodine volatilizes in beautiful violet vapors.

Note: Iodine was formerly obtained from the ashes of seaweed (kelp or varec), but is now also extracted from certain natural brines. In the free state, iodine, even in very minute quantities, colors starch blue. Iodine and its compounds are largely used in medicine (as in liniments, antisyphilitics, etc.), in photography, in the preparation of aniline dyes, and as an indicator in titration. Iodine green, an artificial green dyestuff, consisting of an iodine derivative of rosaniline; -- called also night green. -- Iodine scarlet, a pigment of an intense scarlet color, consisting of mercuric iodide. -- Iodine yellow, a brilliant yellow pigment, consisting of plumbic iodide.

IODISM I"o*dism, n. (Med.)

Defn: A morbid state produced by the use of iodine and its compounds, and characterized by palpitation, depression, and general emaciation, with a pustular eruption upon the skin.

IODIZE I"o*dize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Iodized; p. pr. & vb. n. Iodizing.]

Defn: To treat or impregnate with iodine or its compounds; as, to iodize a plate for photography. R. Hunt.

IODIZER I"o*di`zer, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, iodizes.

IODO-; IOD- I"o*do-, I"od-. (Chem.)

Defn: A prefix, or combining from, indicating iodine as an ingredient; as, iodoform.

IODOCRESOL I`o*do*cre"sol, n. [Iodo- + cresol.] (Org. Chem.)

Defn: Any of several isomeric iodine derivatives of the cresols, C6H3I(CH3)OH, esp. one, an odorless amorphous powder, used in medicine as a substitute for iodoform.

IODOFORM I*od"o*form, n. Etym: [Iodo- + formyl. See Formyl, and cf. Chloroform.] (Chem.)

Defn: A yellow, crystalline, volatile substance, CI3H, having an offensive odor and sweetish taste, and analogous to chloroform. It is used in medicine as a healing and antiseptic dressing for wounds and sores.

IODOFORMOGEN I`o*do*for"mo*gen, n. [Iodoform + -gen root of gi`gnesqai to be born.] (Pharm.)

Defn: A light powder used as a substitute for iodoform. It is a compound of iodoform and albumin.

IODOL I"o*dol, n. [Iodo- + pyrrol.] (Chem.)

Defn: A crystallized substance of the composition C4I4NH, technically tetra-iodo-pyrrol, used like iodoform.

IODOQUININE I`o*do*qui"nine, n. Etym: [Iodo- + quinine.] (Chem.)

Defn: A iodide of quinine obtained as a brown substance,. It is the base of herapathite. See Herapathite.

IODOTHYRIN I`o*do*thy"rin, n. [Iodo- + thyro- + -in.] (Physiol. Chem.)

Defn: A peculiar substance obtained from the thyroid gland, containing from nine to ten per cent of iodine.

It is a very stable compound, and is believed to be active principle in thyroid extracts and in the internal secretion of the thyroid gland. It was originally called thyroiodin.

IODOUS I"o*dous, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or containing, iodine. See -ous (chemical suffix). Iodous acid, a hypothetical acid, analogous to chlorous acid.

IODURET I*od"u*ret, n. (Chem.)

Defn: Iodide. [Obs.]

IODYRITE I*od"y*rite, n. Etym: [From Iodine.] (Min.)

Defn: Silver iodide, a mineral of a yellowish color.

IOLITE I"o*lite, n. Etym: [Gr. -lite.] (Min.)

Defn: A silicate of alumina, iron, and magnesia, having a bright blue color and vitreous luster; cordierite. It is remarkable for its dichroism, and is also called dichroite.

IO MOTH I"o moth`. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A large and handsome American moth (Hyperchiria Io), having a large, bright-colored spot on each hind wing, resembling the spots on the tail of a peacock. The larva is covered with prickly hairs, which sting like nettles.

-ION -ion. Etym: [L. -io, acc. -ionem: cf. F. -ion.]

Defn: A noun suffix denoting act, process, result of an act or a process, thing acted upon, state, or condition; as, revolution, the act or process of revolving; construction, the act or process of constructing; a thing constructed; dominion, territory ruled over; subjection, state of being subject; dejection; abstraction.

ION I"on, n. Etym: [Gr. (Elec. Chem.)

Defn: One of the elements which appear at the respective poles when a body is subjected to electro-chemical decomposition. Cf. Anion, Cation.

IONIAN I*o"ni*an, a. Etym: [L. Ionius. See Ionic.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to Ionia or the Ionians; Ionic. -- n.

Defn: A native or citizen of Ionia.

IONIC I*on"ic, a. Etym: [L. Ionicus, Gr.

1. Of or pertaining to Ionia or the Ionians.

2. (Arch.)

Defn: Pertaining to the Ionic order of architecture, one of the three orders invented by the Greeks, and one of the five recognized by the Italian writers of the sixteenth century. Its distinguishing feature is a capital with spiral volutes. See Illust. of Capital. Ionic dialect (Gr. Gram.), a dialect of the Greek language, used in Ionia. The Homeric poems are written in what is designated old Ionic, as distinguished from new Ionic, or Attic, the dialect of all cultivated Greeks in the period of Athenian prosperity and glory. -- Ionic foot. (Pros.) See Ionic, n., 1. -- Ionic, or Ionian, mode (Mus.), an ancient mode, supposed to correspond with the modern major scale of C. -- Ionic sect, a sect of philosophers founded by Thales of Miletus, in Ionia. Their distinguishing tenet was, that water is the original principle of all things. -- Ionic type, a kind of heavy-faced type (as that of the following line).

Note: This is Nonpareil Ionic.

IONIC Ionic a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to an ion; composed of ions.

IONIC I*on"ic, n.

1. (Pros.) (a) A foot consisting of four syllables: either two long and two short, -- that is, a spondee and a pyrrhic, in which case it is called the greater Ionic; or two short and two long, -- that is, a pyrrhic and a spondee, in which case it is called the smaller Ionic. (b) A verse or meter composed or consisting of Ionic feet.

2. The Ionic dialect; as, the Homeric Ionic.

3. (Print.)

Defn: Ionic type.

IONIDIUM I`o*nid"i*um, n. Etym: [NL. Cf. Iodine.] (Bot.)

Defn: A genus of violaceous plants, chiefly found in tropical America, some species of which are used as substitutes for ipecacuanha.

IONIZE I"on*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ionized; p. pr. & vb. n. Ionizing.] (Elec. Chem.)

Defn: To separate (a compound) into ions, esp. by dissolving in water. --I`on*i*za"tion (#), n.

IOQUA SHELL I"o*qua shell`. Etym: [From the native name.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The shell of a large Dentalium (D. pretiosum), formerly used as shell money, and for ornaments, by the Indians of the west coast of North America.

IOTA I*o"ta, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. Jot.]

1. The ninth letter of the Greek alphabet (i) corresponding with the English i.

2. A very small quantity or degree; a jot; a particle. They never depart an iota from the authentic formulas of tyranny and usurpation. Burke. Iota subscript (Gr. Gram.), iota written beneath a preceding vowel, as a,, h,, w,, -- done when iota is silent.

IOTACISM I*o"ta*cism, n. Etym: [Gr. iotacisme. See Iota.]

Defn: The frequent use of the sound of iota (that of English e in be), as among the modern Greeks; also, confusion from sounding Littré.