The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary: Section I, J, K, and L

Chapter 19

Chapter 193,925 wordsPublic domain

Words indenizened, and commonly used as English.

B. Jonson.

In*dent" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Indented; p. pr. & vb. n. Indenting.] [OE. endenten to notch, fit in, OF. endenter, LL. indentare, fr. L. in + dens, dentis, tooth. See Tooth, and cf. Indenture.]

1. To notch; to jag; to cut into points like a row of teeth; as, to indent the edge of paper.

2. To dent; to stamp or to press in; to impress; as, indent a smooth surface with a hammer; to indent wax with a stamp.

3. [Cf. Indenture.] To bind out by indenture or contract; to indenture; to apprentice; as, to indent a young man to a shoemaker; to indent a servant.

4. (Print.) To begin (a line or lines) at a greater or less distance from the margin; as, to indent the first line of a paragraph one em; to indent the second paragraph two ems more than the first. See Indentation, and Indention.

5. (Mil.) To make an order upon; to draw upon, as for military stores. [India] Wilhelm.

In*dent", v. i. 1. To be cut, notched, or dented.

2. To crook or turn; to wind in and out; to zigzag.

3. To contract; to bargain or covenant. Shak.

To indent and drive bargains with the Almighty.

South.

In*dent" (?), n. 1. A cut or notch in the margin of anything, or a recess like a notch. Shak.

2. A stamp; an impression. [Obs.]

3. A certificate, or intended certificate, issued by the government of the United States at the close of the Revolution, for the principal or interest of the public debt. D. Ramsay. A. Hamilton.

4. (Mil.) A requisition or order for supplies, sent to the commissariat of an army. [India] Wilhelm.

In`den*ta"tion (?), n. 1. The act of indenting or state of being indented.

2. A notch or recess, in the margin or border of anything; as, the indentations of a leaf, of the coast, etc.

3. A recess or sharp depression in any surface.

4. (Print.) (a) The act of beginning a line or series of lines at a little distance within the flush line of the column or page, as in the common way of beginning the first line of a paragraph. (b) The measure of the distance; as, an indentation of one em, or of two ems.

Hanging, or Reverse, indentation, indentation of all the lines of a paragraph except the first, which is a full line.

In*dent"ed (?), a. 1. Cut in the edge into points or inequalities, like teeth; jagged; notched; stamped in; dented on the surface.

2. Having an uneven, irregular border; sinuous; undulating. Milton. Shak.

3. (Her.) Notched like the part of a saw consisting of the teeth; serrated; as, an indented border or ordinary.

4. Bound out by an indenture; apprenticed; indentured; as, an indented servant.

5. (Zoöl.) Notched along the margin with a different color, as the feathers of some birds.

Indented line (Fort.), a line with alternate long and short faces, with salient and receding angles, each face giving a flanking fire along the front of the next.

In*dent"ed*ly, adv. With indentations.

In*dent"ing (?), n. Indentation; an impression like that made by a tooth.

In*den"tion (?), n. (Print.) Same as Indentation, 4.

In*dent"ment (?), n. Indenture. [Obs.]

In*den"ture (?; 135), n. [OE. endenture, OF. endenture, LL. indentura a deed in duplicate, with indented edges. See the Note below. See Indent.]

1. The act of indenting, or state of being indented.

2. (Law) A mutual agreement in writing between two or more parties, whereof each party has usually a counterpart or duplicate; sometimes in the pl., a short form for indentures of apprenticeship, the contract by which a youth is bound apprentice to a master.

The law is the best expositor of the gospel; they are like a pair of indentures: they answer in every part.

C. Leslie.

Indentures were originally duplicates, laid together and indented by a notched cut or line, or else written on the same piece of parchment and separated by a notched line so that the two papers or parchments corresponded to each other. But indenting has gradually become a mere form, and is often neglected, while the writings or counterparts retain the name of indentures.

In*den"ture, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Indentured (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Indenturing.]

1. To indent; to make hollows, notches, or wrinkles in; to furrow.

Though age may creep on, and indenture the brow.

Woty.

2. To bind by indentures or written contract; as, to indenture an apprentice.

In*den"ture, v. i. To run or wind in and out; to be cut or notched; to indent. Heywood.

In`de*pend"ence (?), n. [Cf. F. indépendance.]

1. The state or quality of being independent; freedom from dependence; exemption from reliance on, or control by, others; self-subsistence or maintenance; direction of one's own affairs without interference.

Let fortune do her worst, . . . as long as she never makes us lose our honesty and our independence.

Pope.

2. Sufficient means for a comfortable livelihood.

Declaration of Independence (Amer. Hist.), the declaration of the Congress of the Thirteen United States of America, on the 4th of July, 1776, by which they formally declared that these colonies were free and independent States, not subject to the government of Great Britain.

In`de*pend"en*cy, n. 1. Independence.

"Give me," I cried (enough for me), "My bread, and independency!"

Pope.

2. (Eccl.) Doctrine and polity of the Independents.

In`de*pend"ent (?), a. [Pref. in- not + dependent: cf. F. indépendant.]

1. Not dependent; free; not subject to control by others; not relying on others; not subordinate; as, few men are wholly independent.

A dry, but independent crust.

Cowper.

2. Affording a comfortable livelihood; as, an independent property.

3. Not subject to bias or influence; not obsequious; self-directing; as, a man of an independent mind.

4. Expressing or indicating the feeling of independence; free; easy; bold; unconstrained; as, an independent air or manner.

5. Separate from; exclusive; irrespective.

That obligation in general, under which we conceive ourselves bound to obey a law, independent of those resources which the law provides for its own enforcement.

R. P. Ward.

6. (Eccl.) Belonging or pertaining to, or holding to the doctrines or methods of, the Independents.

7. (Math.) Not dependent upon another quantity in respect to value or rate of variation; -- said of quantities or functions.

8. (U. S. Politics) Not bound by party; exercising a free choice in voting with either or any party.

Independent company (Mil.), one not incorporated in any regiment. -- Independent seconds watch, a stop watch having a second hand driven by a separate set of wheels, springs, etc., for timing to a fraction of a second. -- Independent variable. (Math.) See Dependent variable, under Dependent.

Syn. -- Free; uncontrolled; separate; uncoerced; self- reliant; bold; unconstrained; unrestricted.

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In`de*pend"ent (?), n. 1. (Eccl.) One who believes that an organized Christian church is complete in itself, competent to self- government, and independent of all ecclesiastical authority.

In England the name is often applied (commonly in the pl.) to the Congregationalists.

2. (Politics) One who does not acknowledge an obligation to support a party's candidate under all circumstances; one who exercises liberty in voting.

In`de*pend"ent*ism (?), n. Independency; the church system of Independents. Bp. Gauden.

In`de*pend"ent*ly, adv. In an independent manner; without control.

In`de*pos"a*ble (?), a. Incapable of being deposed. [R.]

Princes indeposable by the pope.

Bp. Stillingfleet.

In*dep"ra*vate (?), a. [L. indepravatus.] Undepraved. [R.] Davies (Holy Roode).

In*dep"re*ca*ble (?), a. [L. indeprecabilis. See In- not, and Deprecate.] Incapable or undeserving of being deprecated. Cockeram.

In*dep`re*hen"si*ble (?), a. [L. indeprehensibilis. See In- not, and Deprehensible.] Incapable of being found out. Bp. Morton.

In`de*priv"a*ble (?), a. Incapable of being deprived, or of being taken away.

In`de*scrib"a*ble, a. Incapable of being described. -- In`de*scrib"a*bly, adv.

In`de*scrip"tive (?), a. Not descriptive.

In`de*sert" (?), n. Ill desert. [R.] Addison.

In*des"i*nent (?), a. [L. indesinens. See In- not, and Desinent.] Not ceasing; perpetual. [Obs.] Baxter. -- In*des"i*nent*ly, adv. [Obs.] Ray.

In`de*sir"a*ble (?), a. Undesirable.

In`de*struc`ti*bil"i*ty (?), n. [Cf. F. indestructibilité.] The quality of being indestructible.

In`de*struc"ti*ble, a. [Pref. in- not + destructible: cf. F. indestructible.] Not destructible; incapable of decomposition or of being destroyed. -- In`de*struc"ti*ble*ness, n. -- In`de*struc"ti*bly, adv.

In`de*ter"mi*na*ble (?), a. [L. indeterminabilis: cf. F. indéterminable. See In- not, and Determine.] Not determinable; impossible to be determined; not to be definitely known, ascertained, defined, or limited. -- In`de*ter"mi*na*bly, adv.

In`de*ter"mi*na*ble, n. An indeterminable thing or quantity. Sir T. Browne.

In`de*ter"mi*nate (?), a. [L. indeterminatus.] Not determinate; not certain or fixed; indefinite; not precise; as, an indeterminate number of years. Paley.

Indeterminate analysis (Math.), that branch of analysis which has for its object the solution of indeterminate problems. -- Indeterminate coefficients (Math.), coefficients arbitrarily assumed for convenience of calculation, or to facilitate some artifice of analysis. Their values are subsequently determined. -- Indeterminate equation (Math.), an equation in which the unknown quantities admit of an infinite number of values, or sets of values. A group of equations is indeterminate when it contains more unknown quantities than there are equations. -- Indeterminate inflorescence (Bot.), a mode of inflorescence in which the flowers all arise from axillary buds, the terminal bud going on to grow and sometimes continuing the stem indefinitely; -- called also acropetal, botryose, centripetal, &and; indefinite inflorescence. Gray. -- Indeterminate problem (Math.), a problem which admits of an infinite number of solutions, or one in which there are fewer imposed conditions than there are unknown or required results. -- Indeterminate quantity (Math.), a quantity which has no fixed value, but which may be varied in accordance with any proposed condition. -- Indeterminate series (Math.), a series whose terms proceed by the powers of an indeterminate quantity, sometimes also with indeterminate exponents, or indeterminate coefficients.

-- In`de*ter"mi*nate*ly adv. -- In`de*ter"mi*nate*ness, n.

In`de*ter`mi*na"tion (?), n. [Pref. in- not + determination: cf. indétermination.]

1. Want of determination; an unsettled or wavering state, as of the mind. Jer. Taylor.

2. Want of fixed or stated direction. Abp. Bramhall.

In`de*ter"mined (?), a. Undetermined.

In`de*vir"gin*ate (?), a. [See In- not, Devirginate.] Not devirginate. [Obs.] Chapman.

In*de*vote" (?), a. [L. indevotus: cf. F. indévot. Cf. Indevout.] Not devoted. [Obs.] Bentley. Clarendon.

In`de*vo"tion (?), n. [L. indevotio: cf. F. indévotion.] Want of devotion; impiety; irreligion. "An age of indevotion." Jer. Taylor.

In*de*vout" (?), a. [Pref. in- not + devout. Cf. Indevote.] Not devout. -- In*de*vout"ly, adv.

In*dew" (?), v. t. To indue. [Obs.] Spenser.

In"dex (?), n.; pl. E. Indexes (#), L. Indices (#)(&?;). [L.: cf. F. index. See Indicate, Diction.]

1. That which points out; that which shows, indicates, manifests, or discloses.

Tastes are the indexes of the different qualities of plants.

Arbuthnot.

2. That which guides, points out, informs, or directs; a pointer or a hand that directs to anything, as the hand of a watch, a movable finger on a gauge, scale, or other graduated instrument. In printing, a sign [] used to direct particular attention to a note or paragraph; -- called also fist.

3. A table for facilitating reference to topics, names, and the like, in a book; -- usually alphabetical in arrangement, and printed at the end of the volume.

4. A prologue indicating what follows. [Obs.] Shak.

5. (Anat.) The second digit, that next to the pollex, in the manus, or hand; the forefinger; index finger.

6. (Math.) The figure or letter which shows the power or root of a quantity; the exponent. [In this sense the plural is always indices.]

Index error, the error in the reading of a mathematical instrument arising from the zero of the index not being in complete adjustment with that of the limb, or with its theoretically perfect position in the instrument; a correction to be applied to the instrument readings equal to the error of the zero adjustment. -- Index expurgatorius. [L.] See Index prohibitorius (below). -- Index finger. See Index, 5. -- Index glass, the mirror on the index of a quadrant, sextant, etc. -- Index hand, the pointer or hand of a clock, watch, or other registering machine; a hand that points to something. -- Index of a logarithm (Math.), the integral part of the logarithm, and always one less than the number of integral figures in the given number. It is also called the characteristic. -- Index of refraction, or Refractive index (Opt.), the number which expresses the ratio of the sine of the angle of incidence to the sine of the angle of refraction. Thus the index of refraction for sulphur is 2, because, when light passes out of air into sulphur, the sine of the angle of incidence is double the sine of the angle of refraction. -- Index plate, a graduated circular plate, or one with circular rows of holes differently spaced; used in machines for graduating circles, cutting gear teeth, etc. -- Index prohibitorius [L.], or Prohibitory index (R. C. Ch.), a catalogue of books which are forbidden by the church to be read; the index expurgatorius [L.], or expurgatory index, is a catalogue of books from which passages marked as against faith or morals must be removed before Catholics can read them. These catalogues are published with additions, from time to time, by the Congregation of the Index, composed of cardinals, theologians, etc., under the sanction of the pope. Hook. -- Index rerum [L.], a tabulated and alphabetized notebook, for systematic preservation of items, quotations, etc.

In"dex (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Indexed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Indexing.] To provide with an index or table of references; to put into an index; as, to index a book, or its contents.

In"dex*er (?), n. One who makes an index.

In*dex"ic*al (?), a. Of, pertaining to, or like, an index; having the form of an index.

In*dex"ic*al*ly, adv. In the manner of an index.

In`dex*ter"i*ty (?), n. [Pref. in- not + dexterity: cf. F. indextérité.] Want of dexterity or readiness, especially in the use of the hands; clumsiness; awkwardness. Harvey.

In"di*a (?), n. [See Indian.] A country in Southern Asia; the two peninsulas of Hither and Farther India; in a restricted sense, Hither India, or Hindostan.

India ink, a nearly black pigment brought chiefly from China, used for water colors. It is in rolls, or in square, and consists of lampblack or ivory black and animal glue. Called also China ink. The true India ink is sepia. See Sepia. -- India matting, floor matting made in China, India, etc., from grass and reeds; -- also called Canton, or China, matting. -- India paper, a variety of Chinese paper, of smooth but not glossy surface, used for printing from engravings, woodcuts, etc. -- India proof (Engraving), a proof impression from an engraved plate, taken on India paper. - - India rubber. See Caoutchouc. -- India-rubber tree (Bot.), any tree yielding caoutchouc, but especially the East Indian Ficus elastica, often cultivated for its large, shining, elliptical leaves.

In*di"a*dem, v. t. To place or set in a diadem, as a gem or gems.

In"di*a*man (?), n.; pl. Indiamen (&?;). A large vessel in the India trade. Macaulay.

In"di*an (?; 277), a. [From India, and this fr. Indus, the name of a river in Asia, L. Indus, Gr. &?;, OPers. Hindu, name of the land on the Indus, Skr. sindhu river, the Indus. Cf. Hindoo.]

1. Of or pertaining to India proper; also to the East Indies, or, sometimes, to the West Indies.

2. Of or pertaining to the aborigines, or Indians, of America; as, Indian wars; the Indian tomahawk.

3. Made of maize or Indian corn; as, Indian corn, Indian meal, Indian bread, and the like. [U.S.]

Indian bay (Bot.), a lauraceous tree (Persea Indica). -- Indian bean (Bot.), a name of the catalpa. -- Indian berry. (Bot.) Same as Cocculus indicus. -- Indian bread. (Bot.) Same as Cassava. -- Indian club, a wooden club, which is swung by the hand for gymnastic exercise. -- Indian cordage, cordage made of the fibers of cocoanut husk. -- Indian corn (Bot.), a plant of the genus Zea (Z. Mays); the maize, a native of America. See Corn, and Maize. -- Indian cress (Bot.), nasturtium. See Nasturtium, 2. -- Indian cucumber (Bot.), a plant of the genus Medeola (M. Virginica), a common in woods in the United States. The white rootstock has a taste like cucumbers. -- Indian currant (Bot.), a plant of the genus Symphoricarpus (S. vulgaris), bearing small red berries. -- Indian dye, the puccoon. -- Indian fig. (Bot.) (a) The banyan. See Banyan. (b) The prickly pear. -- Indian file, single file; arrangement of persons in a row following one after another, the usual way among Indians of traversing woods, especially when on the war path. -- Indian fire, a pyrotechnic composition of sulphur, niter, and realgar, burning with a brilliant white light. -- Indian grass (Bot.), a coarse, high grass (Chrysopogon nutans), common in the southern portions of the United States; wood grass. Gray. -- Indian hemp. (Bot.) (a) A plant of the genus Apocynum (A. cannabinum), having a milky juice, and a tough, fibrous bark, whence the name. The root it used in medicine and is both emetic and cathartic in properties. (b) The variety of common hemp (Cannabis Indica), from which hasheesh is obtained. -- Indian mallow (Bot.), the velvet leaf (Abutilon Avicennæ). See Abutilon. -- Indian meal, ground corn or maize. [U.S.] -- Indian millet (Bot.), a tall annual grass (Sorghum vulgare), having many varieties, among which are broom corn, Guinea corn, durra, and the Chinese sugar cane. It is called also Guinea corn. See Durra. -- Indian ox (Zoöl.), the zebu. - - Indian paint. See Bloodroot. -- Indian paper. See India paper, under India. -- Indian physic (Bot.), a plant of two species of the genus Gillenia (G. trifoliata, and G. stipulacea), common in the United States, the roots of which are used in medicine as a mild emetic; -- called also American ipecac, and bowman's root. Gray. -- Indian pink. (Bot.) (a) The Cypress vine (Ipomœa Quamoclit); -- so called in the West Indies. (b) See China pink, under China. -- Indian pipe (Bot.), a low, fleshy herb (Monotropa uniflora), growing in clusters in dark woods, and having scalelike leaves, and a solitary nodding flower. The whole plant is waxy white, but turns black in drying. -- Indian plantain (Bot.), a name given to several species of the genus Cacalia, tall herbs with composite white flowers, common through the United States in rich woods. Gray. -- Indian poke (Bot.), a plant usually known as the white hellebore (Veratrum viride). -- Indian pudding, a pudding of which the chief ingredients are Indian meal, milk, and molasses. -- Indian purple. (a) A dull purple color. (b) The pigment of the same name, intensely blue and black. -- Indian red. (a) A purplish red earth or pigment composed of a silicate of iron and alumina, with magnesia. It comes from the Persian Gulf. Called also Persian red. (b) See Almagra. -- Indian rice (Bot.), a reedlike water grass. See Rice. -- Indian shot (Bot.), a plant of the genus Canna (C. Indica). The hard black seeds are as large as swan shot. See Canna. -- Indian summer, in the United States, a period of warm and pleasant weather occurring late in autumn. See under Summer. -- Indian tobacco (Bot.), a species of Lobelia. See Lobelia. -- Indian turnip (Bot.), an American plant of the genus Arisæma. A. triphyllum has a wrinkled farinaceous root resembling a small turnip, but with a very acrid juice. See Jack in the Pulpit, and Wake-robin. -- Indian wheat, maize or Indian corn. -- Indian yellow. (a) An intense rich yellow color, deeper than gamboge but less pure than cadmium. (b) See Euxanthin.

In"di*an (?; 277), n. 1. A native or inhabitant of India.

2. One of the aboriginal inhabitants of America; -- so called originally from the supposed identity of America with India.

In`di*an*eer" (?), n. (Naut.) An Indiaman.

In"di*a rub"ber (?). See Caoutchouc.

In"dic*al (?), a. [From L. index, indicis, an index.] Indexical. [R.] Fuller.

In"di*can (?), n. [See Indigo.]

1. (Chem.) A glucoside obtained from woad (indigo plant) and other plants, as a yellow or light brown sirup. It has a nauseous bitter taste, and decomposes on drying. By the action of acids, ferments, etc., it breaks down into sugar and indigo. It is the source of natural indigo.

2. (Physiol. Chem.) An indigo-forming substance, found in urine, and other animal fluids, and convertible into red and blue indigo (urrhodin and uroglaucin). Chemically, it is indoxyl sulphate of potash, C8H6NSO4K, and is derived from the indol formed in the alimentary canal. Called also uroxanthin.

In"di*cant (?), a. [L. indicans, p. pr. indicare. See Indicate.] Serving to point out, as a remedy; indicating.

In"di*cant, n. That which indicates or points out; as, an indicant of the remedy for a disease.

In"di*cate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Indicated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Indicating (?).] [L. indicatus, p. p. of indicare to indicate; pref. in- in + dicare to proclaim; akin to dicere to say. See Diction, and cf. Indict, Indite.]

1. To point out; to discover; to direct to a knowledge of; to show; to make known.

That turns and turns to indicate From what point blows the weather.

Cowper.

2. (Med.) To show or manifest by symptoms; to point to as the proper remedies; as, great prostration of strength indicates the use of stimulants.

3. (Mach.) To investigate the condition or power of, as of steam engine, by means of an indicator.

Syn. -- To show; mark; signify; denote; discover; evidence; evince; manifest; declare; specify; explain; exhibit; present; reveal; disclose; display.

In"di*ca`ted (?), a. Shown; denoted; registered; measured.

Indicated power. See Indicated horse power, under Horse power.

In`di*ca"tion (?), n. [L. indicatio: cf. F. indication.]

1. Act of pointing out or indicating.

2. That which serves to indicate or point out; mark; token; sign; symptom; evidence.

The frequent stops they make in the most convenient places are plain indications of their weariness.

Addison.

3. Discovery made; information. Bentley.

4. Explanation; display. [Obs.] Bacon.

5. (Med.) Any symptom or occurrence in a disease, which serves to direct to suitable remedies.

Syn. -- Proof; demonstration; sign; token; mark; evidence; signal.

In*dic"a*tive (?), a. [L. indicativus: cf. F. indicatif.]

1. Pointing out; bringing to notice; giving intimation or knowledge of something not visible or obvious.

That truth is productive of utility, and utility indicative of truth, may be thus proved.

Bp. Warburton.

2. (Fine Arts) Suggestive; representing the whole by a part, as a fleet by a ship, a forest by a tree, etc.

Indicative mood (Gram.), that mood or form of the verb which indicates, that is, which simply affirms or denies or inquires; as, he writes; he is not writing; has the mail arrived?

In*dic"a*tive, n. (Gram.) The indicative mood.

In*dic"a*tive*ly, adv. In an indicative manner; in a way to show or signify.

In"di*ca`tor (n"d*k`tr), n. [L.: cf. F. indicateur.]

1. One who, or that which, shows or points out; as, a fare indicator in a street car.