Chapter 24

In`ex*su"per*a*ble (?), a. [L. inexsuperabilis; pref. in- not + exsuperabilis that may be surmounted. See In- not, Ex-, and Superable.] Not capable of being passed over; insuperable; insurmountable.

In`ex*tend"ed (?), a. Not extended.

In`ex*ten"si*ble (?), a. Not capable of being extended; not elastic; as, inextensible fibers.

In`ex*ten"sion (?), n. Want of extension; unextended state.

In`ex*ter"mi*na*ble (?), a. [L. inexterminabilis. See In- not, and Exterminate.] Incapable of extermination. Rush.

In`ex*tinct" (?), a. [L. inextinctus, inexstinctus. See Extinct.] Not quenched; not extinct.

In`ex*tin"gui*ble (?), a. [L. inexstinguibilis: cf. F, inextinguible. See Inextinct.] Inextinguishable. [Obs.] Sir T. More.

In`ex*tin"guish*a*ble (?), a. Not capable of being extinguished; extinguishable; unquenchable; as, inextinguishable flame, light, thirst, desire, feuds. "Inextinguishable rage." Milton.

In`ex*tin"guish*a*bly, adv. So as not to be extinguished; in an inextinguishable manner.

In`ex*tir"pa*ble (?), a. [L. inexstirpabilis: cf. F. inextirpable. See In- not, and Extirpate.] Not capable of being extirpated or rooted out; ineradicable.

In*ex"tri*ca*ble (?), a. [L. inextricabilis: cf. F. inextricable. See In- not, and Extricate.]

1. Incapable of being extricated, untied, or disentangled; hopelessly intricate, confused, or obscure; as, an inextricable knot or difficulty; inextricable confusion.

Lost in the wild, inextricable maze.

Blackmore.

2. Inevitable. [R.] "Fate inextricable." Milton.

<! p. 758 !>

In*ex"tri*ca*ble*ness (?), n. The state of being inextricable.

In*ex"tri*ca*bly, adv. In an inextricable manner.

In*eye" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ineyed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Ineyeing.] [Pref. in- in + eye.] To ingraft, as a tree or plant, by the insertion of a bud or eye; to inoculate.

The arts of grafting and ineying.

J. Philips.

In*fab"ri*ca`ted (?), a. Not fabricated; unwrought; not artificial; natural. [Obs.]

In*fal"li*bil*ist (?), n. One who accepts or maintains the dogma of papal infallibility.

In*fal`li*bil"i*ty (?), n. [Cf. F. infaillibilité.] The quality or state of being infallible, or exempt from error; inerrability.

Infallibility is the highest perfection of the knowing faculty.

Tillotson.

Papal infallibility (R. C. Ch.), the dogma that the pope can not, when acting in his official character of supreme pontiff, err in defining a doctrine of Christian faith or rule of morals, to be held by the church. This was decreed by the Ecumenical Council at the Vatican, July 18, 1870.

In*fal"li*ble (?), a. [Pref. in- not + fallible: cf. F. infallible.]

1. Not fallible; not capable of erring; entirely exempt from liability to mistake; unerring; inerrable. Dryden.

2. Not liable to fail, deceive, or disappoint; indubitable; sure; certain; as, infallible evidence; infallible success; an infallible remedy.

To whom also he showed himself alive, after his passion, by many infallible proofs.

Acts i. 3.

3. (R. C. Ch.) Incapable of error in defining doctrines touching faith or morals. See Papal infallibility, under Infallibility.

In*fal"li*ble*ness, n. The state or quality of being infallible; infallibility. Bp. Hall.

In*fal"li*bly, adv. In an infallible manner; certainly; unfailingly; unerringly. Blair.

In*fame" (?), v. t. [L. infamare, fr. infamis infamous: cf. F. infamer, It. infamare. See Infamous.] To defame; to make infamous. [Obs.] Milton.

Livia is infamed for the poisoning of her husband.

Bacon.

In"fa*mize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Infamized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Infamizing (?).] To make infamous; to defame. [R.] Coleridge.

In"fa*mous (?), a. [Pref. in- not + famous: cf. L. infamis. See Infamy.]

1. Of very bad report; having a reputation of the worst kind; held in abhorrence; guilty of something that exposes to infamy; base; notoriously vile; detestable; as, an infamous traitor; an infamous perjurer.

False errant knight, infamous, and forsworn.

Spenser.

2. Causing or producing infamy; deserving detestation; scandalous to the last degree; as, an infamous act; infamous vices; infamous corruption. Macaulay.

3. (Law) Branded with infamy by conviction of a crime; as, at common law, an infamous person can not be a witness.

4. Having a bad name as being the place where an odious crime was committed, or as being associated with something detestable; hence, unlucky; perilous; dangerous. "Infamous woods." P. Fletcher.

Infamous hills, and sandy perilous wilds.

Milton.

The piny shade More infamous by cursed Lycaon made.

Dryden.

Syn. -- Detestable; odious; scandalous; disgraceful; base; vile; shameful; ignominious.

In"fa*mous*ly, adv. In an infamous manner or degree; scandalously; disgracefully; shamefully.

The sealed fountain of royal bounty which had been infamously monopolized and huckstered.

Burke.

In"fa*mous*ness, n. The state or quality of being infamous; infamy.

In"fa*my (?), n.; pl. Infamies (#). [L. infamia, fr. infamis infamous; pref. in- not + fama fame: cf. F. infamie. See Fame.]

1. Total loss of reputation; public disgrace; dishonor; ignominy; indignity.

The afflicted queen would not yield, and said she would not . . . submit to such infamy.

Bp. Burnet.

2. A quality which exposes to disgrace; extreme baseness or vileness; as, the infamy of an action.

3. (Law) That loss of character, or public disgrace, which a convict incurs, and by which he is at common law rendered incompetent as a witness.

In"fan*cy (?), n. [L. infantia: cf. F. enfance. See Infant.]

1. The state or period of being an infant; the first part of life; early childhood.

The babe yet lies in smiling infancy.

Milton.

Their love in early infancy began.

Dryden.

2. The first age of anything; the beginning or early period of existence; as, the infancy of an art.

The infancy and the grandeur of Rome.

Arbuthnot.

3. (Law) The state or condition of one under age, or under the age of twenty-one years; nonage; minority.

In*fan"dous (?), a. [L. infandus; pref. in- not + fari to speak.] Too odious to be expressed or mentioned. [Obs.] Howell.

In*fang"thef (?), n. [AS. in-fangen- þeóf; in in, into + fangen taken (p. p. of fn to take) + þeóf thief.] (O. Eng. Law) The privilege granted to lords of certain manors to judge thieves taken within the seigniory of such lords. Cowell.

In"fant (?), n. [L. infans; pref. in- not + fari to speak: cf. F. enfant, whence OE. enfaunt. See Fame, and cf. Infante, Infanta.] 1. A child in the first period of life, beginning at his birth; a young babe; sometimes, a child several years of age.

And tender cries of infants pierce the ear.

C. Pitt.

2. (Law) A person who is not of full age, or who has not attained the age of legal capacity; a person under the age of twenty-one years; a minor.

An infant under seven years of age is not penally responsible; between seven and fourteen years of age, he may be convicted of a malicious offense if malice be proved. He becomes of age on the day preceding his twenty-first birthday, previous to which time an infant has no capacity to contract.

3. Same as Infante. [Obs.] Spenser.

In"fant (?), a. 1. Of or pertaining to infancy, or the first period of life; tender; not mature; as, infant strength.

2. Intended for young children; as, an infant school.

In"fant, v. t. [Cf. F. enfanter.] To bear or bring forth, as a child; hence, to produce, in general. [Obs.]

This worthy motto, "No bishop, no king," is . . . infanted out of the same fears.

Milton.

||In*fan"ta (?), n. [Sp. & Pg., fem. of infante. See Infante.] A title ||borne by every one of the daughters of the kings of Spain and ||Portugal, except the eldest. || ||In*fan"te (?), n. [Sp. & Pg. See Infant.] A title given to every one ||of sons of the kings of Spain and Portugal, except the eldest or heir ||apparent. || In"fant*hood (?), n. Infancy. [R.]

In*fan"ti*ci`dal (?), a. Of or pertaining to infanticide; engaged in, or guilty of, child murder.

In*fan"ti*cide (?), n. [L. infanticidium child murder; infans, -antis, child + caedere to kill: cf. F. infanticide. See Infant, and Homicide.] The murder of an infant born alive; the murder or killing of a newly born or young child; child murder.

In*fan"ti*cide, n. [L. infanticida: cf. F. infanticide.] One who commits the crime of infanticide; one who kills an infant.

In"fan*tile (?; 277), a. [L. infantilis: cf. F. infantile. See Infant.] Of or pertaining to infancy, or to an infant; similar to, or characteristic of, an infant; childish; as, infantile behavior.

In"fan*tine (?; 277), a. [Cf. F. enfantin.] Infantile; childish.

A degree of credulity next infantine.

Burke.

In"fant*like` (?), a. Like an infant. Shak.

In"fant*ly, a. Like an infant. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.

In"fan*try (?), n. [F. infanterie, It. infanteria, fr. infante infant, child, boy servant, foot soldier, fr. L. infans, - antis, child; foot soldiers being formerly the servants and followers of knights. See Infant.]

1. A body of children. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

2. (Mil.) A body of soldiers serving on foot; foot soldiers, in distinction from cavalry.

In*farce" (?), v. t. [L. infarcire: pref. in- in + farcire, fartum and farctum, to stuff, cram.] To stuff; to swell. [Obs.]

The body is infarced with . . . watery humors.

Sir T. Elyot.

In*farc"tion (?), n. [See Infarce.] The act of stuffing or filling; an overloading and obstruction of any organ or vessel of the body; constipation.

In"fare` (?), n. [AS. infær entrance.] A house-warming; especially, a reception, party, or entertainment given by a newly married couple, or by the husband upon receiving the wife to his house. [Written also infair.] [Scot., & Local, U. S.]

In*fash"ion*a*ble, a. Unfashionable. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.

In*fat"i*ga*ble (?), a. [L. infatigabilis: cf. F. infatigable.] Indefatigable. [Obs.] Daniel.

In*fat"u*ate (?; 135), a. [L. infatuatus, p. p. of infatuare to infatuate; pref. in- in + fatuus foolish. See Fatuous.] Infatuated. Bp. Hall.

In*fat"u*ate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Infatuated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Infatuating.]

1. To make foolish; to affect with folly; to weaken the intellectual powers of, or to deprive of sound judgment.

The judgment of God will be very visible in infatuating a people . . . ripe and prepared for destruction.

Clarendon.

2. To inspire with a foolish and extravagant passion; as, to be infatuated with gaming.

The people are . . . infatuated with the notion.

Addison.

In*fat"u*a`ted (?), a. Overcome by some foolish passion or desire; affected by infatuation.

In*fat`u*a"tion (?), n. [LL. infatuatio: cf. F. infatuation.] The act of infatuating; the state of being infatuated; folly; that which infatuates.

The infatuations of the sensual and frivolous part of mankind are amazing; but the infatuations of the learned and sophistical are incomparably more so.

I. Taylor.

Such is the infatuation of self- love.

Blair.

In*faust" (?), a. [L. infaustus; pref. in- not + faustus fortunate, lucky.] Not favorable; unlucky; unpropitious; sinister. [R.] Ld. Lytton.

In*faust"ing (?), n. The act of making unlucky; misfortune; bad luck. [Obs.] Bacon.

In*fea`si*bil"i*ty (?), n. The state of being infeasible; impracticability.

In*fea"si*ble (?), a. Not capable of being done or accomplished; impracticable. Glanvill.

In*fea"si*ble*ness, n. The state of quality of being infeasible; infeasibility. W. Montagu.

In*fect" (?), a. [L. infectus: cf. F. infect. See Infect, v. t.] Infected. Cf. Enfect. [Obs.] Shak.

In*fect", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Infected; p. pr. & vb. n. Infecting.] [L. infectus, p. p. of inficere to put or dip into, to stain, infect; pref. in- in + facere to make; cf. F. infecter. See Fact.]

1. To taint with morbid matter or any pestilential or noxious substance or effluvium by which disease is produced; as, to infect a lancet; to infect an apartment.

2. To affect with infectious disease; to communicate infection to; as, infected with the plague.

Them that were left alive being infected with this disease.

Sir T. North.

3. To communicate to or affect with, as qualities or emotions, esp. bad qualities; to corrupt; to contaminate; to taint by the communication of anything noxious or pernicious. Cowper.

Infected Ston's daughters with like heat.

Milton.

4. (Law) To contaminate with illegality or to expose to penalty.

Syn. -- To poison; vitiate; pollute; defile.

In*fect"er (?), n. One who, or that which, infects.

In*fect"i*ble (?), a. Capable of being infected.

In*fec"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. infection, L. infectio a dyeing.]

1. The act or process of infecting.

There was a strict order against coming to those pits, and that was only to prevent infection.

De Foe.

2. That which infects, or causes the communicated disease; any effluvium, miasm, or pestilential matter by which an infectious disease is caused.

And that which was still worse, they that did thus break out spread the infection further by their wandering about with the distemper upon them.

De Foe.

3. The state of being infected; contamination by morbific particles; the result of infecting influence; a prevailing disease; epidemic.

The danger was really very great, the infection being so very violent in London.

De Foe.

4. That which taints or corrupts morally; as, the infection of vicious principles.

It was her chance to light Amidst the gross infections of those times.

Daniel.

5. (Law) Contamination by illegality, as in cases of contraband goods; implication.

6. Sympathetic communication of like qualities or emotions; influence.

Through all her train the soft infection ran.

Pope.

Mankind are gay or serious by infection.

Rambler.

Syn. -- Infection, Contagion. -- Infection is often used in a definite and limited sense of the transmission of affections without direct contact of individuals or immediate application or introduction of the morbific agent, in contradistinction to contagion, which then implies transmission by direct contact. Quain. See Contagious.

In*fec"tious (?), a. [Cf. F. infectieux.]

1. Having qualities that may infect; communicable or caused by infection; pestilential; epidemic; as, an infectious fever; infectious clothing; infectious air; infectious vices.

Where the infectious pestilence.

Shak.

2. Corrupting, or tending to corrupt or contaminate; vitiating; demoralizing.

It [the court] is necessary for the polishing of manners . . . but it is infectious even to the best morals to live always in it.

Dryden.

3. (Law) Contaminating with illegality; exposing to seizure and forfeiture.

Contraband articles are said to be of an infectious nature.

Kent.

4. Capable of being easily diffused or spread; sympathetic; readily communicated; as, infectious mirth.

The laughter was so genuine as to be infectious.

W. Black.

Syn. -- See Contagious.

In*fec"tious*ly, adv. In an infectious manner. Shak.

In*fec"tious*ness, n. The quality of being infectious.

In*fect"ive (?), a. [L. infectivus pertaining to dyeing.] Infectious. Beau. & Fl.

True love . . . hath an infective power.

Sir P. Sidney.

In*fec"und (?), a. [L. infecundus: cf. F. infécond. See In- not, and Fecund.] Unfruitful; not producing young; barren; infertile. [Obs.] Evelyn.

In`fe*cun"di*ty (?), n. [L. infecunditas: cf. F. infécondité.] Want of fecundity or fruitfulness; barrenness; sterility; unproductiveness.

In`fe*cun"dous (?), a. [See Infecund.] Infertile; barren; unprofitable; unproductive. [Obs.] Glanvill.

In*fee"ble (?), v. t. See Enfeeble.

In`fe*lic"i*tous (?), a. Not felicitous; unhappy; unfortunate; not fortunate or appropriate in application; not well said, expressed, or done; as, an infelicitous condition; an infelicitous remark; an infelicitous description; infelicitous words.

In`fe*lic"i*ty (?), n.; pl. Infelicities (#). [L. infelicitas: cf. F. infélicité. See In- not, and Felicity.]

1. The state or quality of being infelicitous; unhappiness; misery; wretchedness; misfortune; want of suitableness or appropriateness. I. Watts.

Whatever is the ignorance and infelicity of the present state, we were made wise and happy.

Glanvill.

2. That (as an act, word, expression, etc.) which is infelicitous; as, infelicities of speech.

In`fe*lo"ni*ous (?), a. Not felonious, malignant, or criminal. G. Eliot.

In"felt` (?), a. [Pref. in- in + felt.] Felt inwardly; heartfelt. [R.]

The baron stood afar off, or knelt in submissive, acknowledged, infelt inferiority.

Milman.

In`feo*da"tion (?), n. (Law) See Infeudation.

In*feoff" (?), v. t. (Law) See Enfeoff.

In*feoff"ment (?), n. (Law) See Enfeoffment.

In*fer" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Inferred (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Inferring.] [L. inferre to bring into, bring forward, occasion, infer; pref. in- in + ferre to carry, bring: cf. F. inférer. See 1 st Bear.]

1. To bring on; to induce; to occasion. [Obs.] Harvey.

2. To offer, as violence. [Obs.] Spenser.

3. To bring forward, or employ as an argument; to adduce; to allege; to offer. [Obs.]

Full well hath Clifford played the orator, Inferring arguments of mighty force.

Shak.

4. To derive by deduction or by induction; to conclude or surmise from facts or premises; to accept or derive, as a consequence, conclusion, or probability; to imply; as, I inferred his determination from his silence.

To infer is nothing but by virtue of one proposition laid down as true, to draw in another as true.

Locke.

Such opportunities always infer obligations.

Atterbury.

5. To show; to manifest; to prove. [Obs.]

The first part is not the proof of the second, but rather contrariwise, the second inferreth well the first.

Sir T. More.

This doth infer the zeal I had to see him.

Shak.

<! p. 759 !>

In*fer"a*ble (n*fr"*b'l or n*fr"-; 277), a. Capable of being inferred or deduced from premises. [Written also inferrible.] H. Spencer.

A sufficient argument . . . is inferable from these premises.

Burke.

In"fer*ence (?), n. [From Infer.]

1. The act or process of inferring by deduction or induction.

Though it may chance to be right in the conclusions, it is yet unjust and mistaken in the method of inference.

Glanvill.

2. That which inferred; a truth or proposition drawn from another which is admitted or supposed to be true; a conclusion; a deduction. Milton.

These inferences, or conclusions, are the effects of reasoning, and the three propositions, taken all together, are called syllogism, or argument.

I. Watts.

Syn. -- Conclusion; deduction; consequence. -- Inference, Conclusion. An inference is literally that which is brought in; and hence, a deduction or induction from premises, -- something which follows as certainly or probably true. A conclusion is stronger than an inference; it shuts us up to the result, and terminates inquiry. We infer what is particular or probable; we conclude what is certain. In a chain of reasoning we have many inferences, which lead to the ultimate conclusion. "An inference is a proposition which is perceived to be true, because of its connection with some known fact." "When something is simply affirmed to be true, it is called a proposition; after it has been found to be true by several reasons or arguments, it is called a conclusion." I. Taylor.

In`fer*en"tial (?), a. Deduced or deducible by inference. "Inferential proofs." J. S. Mill.

In`fer*en"tial*ly, adv. By way of inference.

||In*fe"ri*æ (?), n. pl. [L., fr. inferus underneath.] (Rom. Antiq.) ||Sacrifices offered to the souls of deceased heroes or friends. || In*fe"ri*or (?), a. [L., compar. of inferus that is below, underneath, the lower; akin to E. under: cf. F. inférieur. See Under.]

1. Lower in place, rank, excellence, etc.; less important or valuable; subordinate; underneath; beneath.

A thousand inferior and particular propositions.

I. Watts.

The body, or, as some love to call it, our inferior nature.

Burke.

Whether they are equal or inferior to my other poems, an author is the most improper judge.

Dryden.

2. Poor or mediocre; as, an inferior quality of goods.

3. (Astron.) (a) Nearer the sun than the earth is; as, the inferior or interior planets; an inferior conjunction of Mercury or Venus. (b) Below the horizon; as, the inferior part of a meridian.

4. (Bot.) (a) Situated below some other organ; -- said of a calyx when free from the ovary, and therefore below it, or of an ovary with an adherent and therefore inferior calyx. (b) On the side of a flower which is next the bract; anterior.

5. (Min.) Junior or subordinate in rank; as, an inferior officer.

Inferior court (Law), a court subject to the jurisdiction of another court known as the superior, or higher, court. -- Inferior letter, Inferior figure (Print.), a small letter or figure standing at the bottom of the line (opposed to superior letter or figure), as in A2, Bn, 2 and n are inferior characters. -- Inferior tide, the tide corresponding to the moon's transit of the meridian, when below the horizon.

In*fe"ri*or, n. A person lower in station, rank, intellect, etc., than another.

A great person gets more by obliging his inferior than by disdaining him.

South.

In*fe`ri*or"i*ty (?), [Cf. F. infériorité.] The state of being inferior; a lower state or condition; as, inferiority of rank, of talents, of age, of worth.

A deep sense of our own great inferiority.

Boyle.

In*fe"ri*or*ly (?), adv. In an inferior manner, or on the inferior part.

In*fer"nal (?), a. [F. infernal, L. infernalis, fr. infernus that which lies beneath, the lower. See Inferior.]

1. Of or pertaining to or suitable for the lower regions, inhabited, according to the ancients, by the dead; pertaining to Pluto's realm of the dead, the Tartarus of the ancients.

The Elysian fields, the infernal monarchy.

Garth.

2. Of or pertaining to, resembling, or inhabiting, hell; suitable for hell, or to the character of the inhabitants of hell; hellish; diabolical; as, infernal spirits, or conduct.

The instruments or abettors in such infernal dealings.

Addison.

Infernal machine, a machine or apparatus maliciously designed to explode, and destroy life or property. - - Infernal stone (lapis infernalis), lunar caustic; formerly so called. The name was also applied to caustic potash.

Syn. -- Tartarean; Stygian; hellish; devilish; diabolical; satanic; fiendish; malicious.

In*fer"nal, n. An inhabitant of the infernal regions; also, the place itself. [Obs.] Drayton.

In*fer"nal*ly, adv. In an infernal manner; diabolically. "Infernally false." Bp. Hacket.

In`fe*ro*bran"chi*an (?), n. (Zoöl.) One of the Inferobranchiata.

In`fe*ro*bran`chi*a"ta (?), n. pl. [NL. See Inferobranchiate.] (Zoöl.) A suborder of marine gastropod mollusks, in which the gills are between the foot and the mantle.

In`fe*ro*bran"chi*ate (?), a. [L. inferus lower + E. branchiate.] (Zoöl.) Having the gills on the sides of the body, under the margin of the mantle; belonging to the Inferobranchiata.

In*fer"ri*ble (?), a. Inferable.

In*fer"tile (?), a. [L. infertilis: cf. F. infertile. See In- not, and Fertile.] Not fertile; not productive; barren; sterile; as, an infertile soil.

In*fer"tile*ly, adv. In an infertile manner.

In`fer*til"i*ty (?), n. [L. infertilitas: cf. F. infertilité.] The state or quality of being infertile; unproductiveness; barrenness.

The infertility or noxiousness of the soil.

Sir M. Hale.

In*fest" (?), a. [L. infestus. See Infest, v. t.] Mischievous; hurtful; harassing. [Obs.] Spenser.

In*fest", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Infested; p. pr. & vb. n. Infesting.] [L. infestare, fr. infestus disturbed, hostile, troublesome; in in, against + the root of defendere: cf. F. infester. See Defend.] To trouble greatly by numbers or by frequency of presence; to disturb; to annoy; to frequent and molest or harass; as, fleas infest dogs and cats; a sea infested with pirates.

To poison vermin that infest his plants.

Cowper.

These, said the genius, are envy, avarice, superstition, love, with the like cares and passions that infest human life.

Addison.