The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary
Chapter 836
I*o"ni*an (?) , a. [L. Ionius . See Ionic .] Of or pertaining to Ionia or the Ionians; Ionic. -- n. A native or citizen of Ionia.
Ionic <Xpage=787>
I*on"ic (?) , a. [L. Ionicus , Gr. <?/, fr. <?/ Ionia.]
1. Of or pertaining to Ionia or the Ionians.
2. (Arch.) 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 , ∨ 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).
&hand; This is Nonpareil Ionic.
<-- Ionic <Xpage=787>
Ionic a. Of or pertaining to an ion; composed of ions. -->
Ionic <Xpage=787>
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.) Ionic type.
Ionidium <Xpage=787>
I`o*nid"i*um (?) , n. [NL. Cf. Iodine .] (Bot.) A genus of violaceous plants, chiefly found in tropical America, some species of which are used as substitutes for ipecacuanha.
Ioqua shell <Xpage=787>
I"o*qua shell` (?) . [From the native name.] (Zo\'94l.) 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 <Xpage=787>
I*o"ta (?) , n. [L., fr. Gr. <?/. See Jot .]
1. The ninth letter of the Greek alphabet (ι) corresponding with the English i.
2. A very small quantity or degree; a jot; a particle. <-- from iota being the smallest letter -->
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. <-- we use a following comma to represent the iota subscript within Greek transcriptions. See the "readme.fnt" file for complete description of Greek transliterations. -->
Iotacism <Xpage=787>
I*o"ta*cism (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ a laying too much stress upon the iota (<?/): cf. F. iotacisme . See Iota .] The frequent use of the sound of iota (that of English e in be ), as among the modern Greeks; also, confusion from sounding <?/, <?/, <?/, <?/, <?/, etc., like <?/.
Littr\'82.
I O U <Xpage=787>
I O U (?) . [i. e., I owe you.] A paper having on it these letters, with a sum named, and duly signed; -- in use in England as an acknowledgment of a debt, and taken as evidence thereof, but not amounting to a promissory note; a due bill.
Wharton. Story.
Iowas <Xpage=787>
I"o*was (?) , n. pl. ; sing . Iowa . (Ethnol.) A tribe of Indians which formerly occupied the region now included in the State of Iowa.
Ipecac <Xpage=787>
Ip"e*cac (?) , n. An abbreviation of Ipecacuanha , and in more frequent use.
Ipecacuanha <Xpage=787>
Ip`e*cac`u*an"ha (?) , n. [Pg. ipecacuanha (cf. Sp. ipecacuana ); fr. Braz. ipe-kaa-guena , prop., a creeping plant that causes vomiting.] (Med. & Bot.) The root of a Brazilian rubiaceous herb ( Cepha\'89lis Ipecacuanha ), largely employed as an emetic; also, the plant itself; also, a medicinal extract of the root. Many other plants are used as a substitutes; among them are the black or Peruvian ipecac ( Psychotria emetica ), the white ipecac ( Ionidium Ipecacuanha ), the bastard or wild ipecac ( Asclepias Curassavica ), and the undulated ipecac ( Richardsonia scabra ).
Ipocras <Xpage=787>
Ip"o*cras (?) , n. Hippocras. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Ipom\'d2a <Xpage=787>
Ip`o*m\'d2"a (?) , n. [NL. "Named, according to Linn\'91us, from Gr. 'i`ps , 'ipo`s , a bindweed [which it is not] , and <?/ like." Gray .] (Bot.) A genus of twining plants with showy monopetalous flowers, including the morning-glory, the sweet potato, and the cypress vine.
Ipom\'d2ic <Xpage=787>
Ip`o*m\'d2"ic (?) , a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or designating, an acid obtained by the oxidation of convolvulin (obtained from jalap, the tubers of Ipom\'d2a purga ), and identical in most of its properties with sebacic acid.
Ir- <Xpage=787>
Ir- (?) . A form of the prefix in -. See In- .
Iracund <Xpage=787>
I"ra*cund (?) , a. [L. iracundus , fr. ira anger.] Irascible; choleric. " Iracund people."
Carlyle.
Irade <Xpage=787>
I*ra"de (&esl;*r&aum;"d&asl;) , n. [Turk.] A decree of the Sultan.
Iran <Xpage=787>
I`ran" (&emac;`r&aum;n") , n. [Mod. Persian Ir\'ben . Cf. Aryan .] The native name of Persia.
Iranian <Xpage=787>
I*ra"ni*an (?) , a. Of or pertaining to Iran. -- n. A native of Iran; also, the Iranian or Persian language, a division of the Aryan family of languages.
Iranic <Xpage=787>
I*ran"ic (?) , a. Iranian.
Irascibility <Xpage=787>
I*ras`ci*bil"i*ty (?) , n. [Cf. F. irascibilit\'82 .] The quality or state of being irascible; irritability of temper; irascibleness.
Irascible <Xpage=787>
I*ras"ci*ble (?) , a. [L. irascibilis , fr. irasci to be angry, ira anger: cf. F. irascible . See Ire .] Prone to anger; easily provoked or inflamed to anger; choleric; irritable; as, an irascible man; an irascible temper or mood. -- I*ras"ci*ble*ness , n. -- I*ras"ci*bly , adv.
Irate <Xpage=787>
I*rate" (?) , a. [L. iratus , fr. irasci to be angry. See Ire .] Angry; incensed; enraged. [Recent]
The irate colonel . . . stood speechless. Thackeray.
Mr. Jaggers suddenly became most irate . Dickens.
Ire <Xpage=787>
Ire (?) , n. [F., fr. L. ira .] Anger; wrath. [Poet.]
Syn. -- Anger; passion; rage; fury. See Anger .
Ireful <Xpage=787>
Ire"ful (?) , a. Full of ire; angry; wroth. "The ireful bastard Orleans." Shak . -- Ire"ful*ly , adv.
Irefulness <Xpage=787>
Ire"ful*ness , n. Wrathfulness.
Wyclif.
Irenarch <Xpage=787>
I"re*narch (?) , n. [L. irenarcha , irenarches , Gr. <?/; <?/ peace + <?/ to rule.] (Gr. Antiq.) An officer in the Greek empire having functions corresponding to those of a justice of the peace. [Written also eirenarch .]
Irenic, Irenical <Xpage=787>
I*ren"ic (?) , I*ren"ic*al (?) , a. [Gr. <?/.] Fitted or designed to promote peace; pacific; conciliatory; peaceful.
Bp. Hall.
Irenicon <Xpage=787>
I*ren"i*con (?) , n. [NL., from Gr. <?/ peaceful, fr. <?/ peace.] A proposition or device for securing peace, especially in the church.
South.
Irenics <Xpage=787>
I*ren"ics (?) , n. (Eccl.) That branch of Christian science which treats of the methods of securing unity among Christians or harmony and union among the churches; -- called also Irenical theology .
Schaff-Herzog.
Irestone <Xpage=787>
Ire"stone` (?) , n. (Mining) Any very hard rock.
Irian <Xpage=787>
I"ri*an (?) , a. Of or pertaining to the iris. " Irian nerves."
Dunglison.
Iricism <Xpage=787>
I"ri*cism (?) , n. Irishism. [R.]
Jeffrey.
Iridaceous, Irideous <Xpage=787>
Ir`i*da"ceous (?) , I*rid"e*ous (?) , a. [From NL. Iris , Iridis , the Iris.] (Bot.) Pertaining to, or resembling, a large natural order of endogenous plants ( Iridace\'91 ), which includes the genera Iris , Ixia , Crocus , Gladiolus , and many others.
Iridal <Xpage=787>
I"ri*dal (?; 277) , a. [L. iris , iridis , rainbow. See Iris .] Of or pertaining to the iris or rainbow; prismatic; as, the iridal colors .
Whewell.
Iridectomy <Xpage=787>
Ir`i*dec"to*my (?) , n. [Gr. <?/, <?/, iris + <?/ cutting out; <?/ out + <?/ to cut.] (Surg.) The act or process of cutting out a portion of the iris in order to form an artificial pupil.
Iridescence <Xpage=787>
Ir`i*des"cence (?) , n. [See Iridescent .] Exhibition of colors like those of the rainbow; the quality or state of being iridescent; a prismatic play of color; as, the iridescence of mother-of-pearl .
Iridescent <Xpage=787>
Ir`i*des"cent (?; 277) , a. [L. iris , iridis , the rainbow: cf. F. iridescent .] Having colors like the rainbow; exhibiting a play of changeable colors; nacreous; prismatic; as, iridescent glass .
Iridian <Xpage=787>
I*rid"i*an (?) , a. Of or pertaining to the iris or rainbow.
Iridiated <Xpage=787>
I*rid"i*a`ted (?) , a. Iridescent.
Iridic <Xpage=787>
I*rid"ic (?) , a. Of or pertaining to the iris of the eye.
Iridic <Xpage=787>
I*rid"ic , a. (Chem.) Of or pertaining to iridium; -- said specifically of those compounds in which iridium has a relatively high valence.
Iridioscope <Xpage=787>
I*rid"i*o*scope (?) , n. [See Iris , and -scope .] A kind of ophthalmoscope.
Iridious <Xpage=787>
I*rid"i*ous (?) , a. (Chem.) Of or pertaining to iridium; -- applied specifically to compounds in which iridium has a low valence.
<page="788"> Page 788
Iridium <Xpage=788>
I*rid"i*um (?) , n. [NL., fr. L. iris , iridis , the rainbow. So called from the iridescence of some of its solutions. See Iris .] (Chem.) A rare metallic element, of the same group as platinum, which it much resembles, being silver-white, but harder, and brittle, and indifferent to most corrosive agents. With the exception of osmium, it is the heaviest substance known, its specific gravity being 22.4. Symbol Ir. Atomic weight 192.5.
&hand; Iridium usually occurs as a native alloy with osmium ( iridosmine or osmiridium ), which may occur alone or with platinum. Iridium, as an alloy with platinum, is used in bushing the vents of heavy ordnance. It is also used for the points of gold pens, and in a finely powdered condition ( iridium black ), for painting porcelain black.
Iridize <Xpage=788>
Ir"i*dize (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Iridized (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Iridizing (?) .]
1. To point or tip with iridium, as a gold pen.
2. To make iridescent; as, to iridize glass .
Iridoline <Xpage=788>
I*rid"o*line (?) , n. [ Irid escent + L. ol eum oil.] (Chem.) A nitrogenous base C10H9N , extracted from coal-tar naphtha, as an oily liquid. It is a member of the quinoline series, and is probably identical with lepidine .
Iridosmine, Iridosmium <Xpage=788>
Ir`i*dos"mine (?) , Ir`i*dos"mi*um (?) , n. [ Irid ium + osmium .] (Min.) The native compound of iridium and osmium. It is found in flattened metallic grains of extreme hardness, and is often used for pointing gold pens.
Iris <Xpage=788>
I"ris (?) , n. ; pl. E. Irises (#) , L. Irides (#) . [L. iris , iridis , the goddess, Gr. <?/, <?/, the rainbow, iris of the eye, the plant Iris. Cf. Orris .]
1. (Class. Myth.) The goddess of the rainbow, and swift-footed messenger of the gods.
Shak.
2. The rainbow.
Sir T. Browne.
3. An appearance resembling the rainbow; a prismatic play of colors.
Tennyson.
4. (Anat.) The contractile membrane perforated by the pupil, and forming the colored portion of the eye. See Eye .
5. (Bot.) A genus of plants having showy flowers and bulbous or tuberous roots, of which the flower-de-luce ( fleur-de-lis ), orris, and other species of flag are examples. See Illust . of Flower-de-luce .
6. (Her.) See Fleur-de-lis , 2.
Irisated <Xpage=788>
I"ris*a`ted (?) , a. [See Iris .] Exhibiting the prismatic colors; irised; iridescent.
W. Phillips.
Iriscope <Xpage=788>
I"ri*scope (?) , n. [ Iris + - scope .] A philosophical toy for exhibiting the prismatic tints by means of thin films.
Irised <Xpage=788>
I"rised (?) , a. [See Iris .] Having colors like those of the rainbow; iridescent.
Holmes.
Irish <Xpage=788>
I"rish (?) , a. [AS. <?/risc , fr. <?/ras the Irish. Cf. Aryan , Erse .] Of or pertaining to Ireland or to its inhabitants; produced in Ireland.
Irish elk . (Zo\'94l.) See under Elk . -- Irish moss . (a) (Bot.) Carrageen . (b) A preparation of the same made into a blanc mange. -- Irish poplin . See Poplin . -- Irish potato , the ordinary white potato, so called because it is a favorite article of food in Ireland. -- Irish reef , ∨ Irishman's reef (Naut.) , the head of a sail tied up. -- Irish stew , meat, potatoes, and onions, cut in small pieces and stewed.
Irish <Xpage=788>
I*rish" , n. sing. & pl. 1. pl. The natives or inhabitants of Ireland, esp. the Celtic natives or their descendants.
2. The language of the Irish; the Hiberno-Celtic.
3. An old game resembling backgammon.
Irishism <Xpage=788>
I*rish"*ism (?) , n. A mode of speaking peculiar to the Irish; an Hibernicism.
Irishman <Xpage=788>
I"rish*man (?) , n. ; pl. Irishmen (<?/) . A man born in Ireland or of the Irish race; an Hibernian.
Irishman's hurricane (Naut.) , a dead calm. -- Irishman's reef . (Naut.) See Irish reef , under Irish , a.
Irishry <Xpage=788>
I"rish*ry (?) , n. The Celtic people of Ireland. "The whole Irishry of rebels."
Milton.
Iritis <Xpage=788>
I*ri"tis (?) , n. [NL. See Iris , and -itis .] (Med.) An inflammation of the iris of the eye.
Irk <Xpage=788>
Irk (?) , v. t. [OE. irken to tire, become tired; cf. Sw. yrka to urge, enforce, press, or G. ekel disgust, MHG. erklich disgusting; perh. akin to L. urgere to urge, E. urge .] To weary; to give pain; to annoy; -- used only impersonally at present.
To see this sight, it irks my very soul. Shak.
It irketh him to be here. M. Arnold.
Irksome <Xpage=788>
Irk"some (?) , a. 1. Wearisome; tedious; disagreeable or troublesome by reason of long continuance or repetition; as, irksome hours; irksome tasks.
For not to irksome toil, but to delight, He made us. Milton.
2. Weary; vexed; uneasy. [Obs.]
Let us therefore learn not to be irksome when God layeth his cross upon us. Latimer.
Syn. -- Wearisome; tedious; tiresome; vexatious; burdensome. -- Irksome , Wearisome , Tedious . These epithets describe things which give pain or disgust. Irksome is applied to something which disgusts by its nature or quality; as, an irksome task . Wearisome denotes that which wearies or wears us out by severe labor; as, wearisome employment . Tedious is applied to something which tires us out by the length of time occupied in its performance; as, a tedious speech .
Wearisome nights are appointed to me. Job vii. 3.
Pity only on fresh objects stays, But with the tedious sight of woes decays. Dryden.
-- Irk"some*ly , adv. -- Irk"some*ness , n.
Iron <Xpage=788>
I"ron (?) , n. [OE. iren , AS. \'c6ren , \'c6sen , \'c6sern ; akin to D. ijzer , OS. \'c6sarn , OHG. \'c6sarn , \'c6san , G. eisen , Icel. \'c6sarn , j\'bern , Sw. & Dan. jern , and perh. to E. ice ; cf. Ir. iarann , W. haiarn , Armor. houarn .]
1. (Chem.) The most common and most useful metallic element, being of almost universal occurrence, usually in the form of an oxide (as hematite , magnetite , etc.), or a hydrous oxide (as limonite , turgite , etc.). It is reduced on an enormous scale in three principal forms; viz., cast iron , steel , and wrought iron . Iron usually appears dark brown, from oxidation or impurity, but when pure, or an fresh surface, is a gray or white metal. It is easily oxidized (rusted) by moisture, and is attacked by many corrosive agents. Symbol Fe (Latin Ferrum ). Atomic weight 55.9. Specific gravity, pure iron, 7.86; cast iron, 7.1. In magnetic properties, it is superior to all other substances.
&hand; The value of iron is largely due to the facility with which it can be worked. Thus, when heated it is malleable and ductile, and can be easily welded and forged at a high temperature. As cast iron , it is easily fusible; as steel , is very tough, and (when tempered) very hard and elastic. Chemically, iron is grouped with cobalt and nickel. Steel is a variety of iron containing more carbon than wrought iron, but less that cast iron. It is made either from wrought iron, by roasting in a packing of carbon ( cementation ) or from cast iron, by burning off the impurities in a Bessemer converter (then called Bessemer steel ), or directly from the iron ore (as in the Siemens rotatory and generating furnace).
2. An instrument or utensil made of iron; -- chiefly in composition; as, a flat iron , a smoothing iron , etc.
My young soldier, put up your iron . Shak.
3. pl. Fetters; chains; handcuffs; manacles.
Four of the sufferers were left to rot in irons . Macaulay.
4. Strength; power; firmness; inflexibility; as, to rule with a rod of iron .