Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
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- 95,912
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Ĭn'fer-ēn′tial-ly, adv. p. 688By way of inference.In-fē'rī-æ, n. pl. p. 688(Gr. & Rom. Antiq.) Sacrifices offered by the ancients to the souls of deceased heroes or friends.In-fē′ri-or, a. p. 688Lower in place, social rank, or excellence; less important or valuable; subordinate. “A thousand inferior and particular propositions.” Watts. “The body, or, as some love to call it, our inferior…In-fē'ri-or, n. p. 688A person who is younger, or of a lower station or rank in society, than another. A person gets more by obliging his inferior than by disdaining him. South.In-fē/ri-ŏr'i-ty, n. p. 688The state of being inferior; a lower state or condition; as, the inferiority of rank, of office, of talents, of age, of worth.In-fē′ri-or-ly, adv. p. 688In an inferior manner, or on the inferior part.In-fĕr'nal, a. p. 688Pertaining to the lower regions, or regions of the dead, the Tartarus of the ancients. “The Elysian fields, the infernal monarchy.” Garth. 2. Pertaining to hell; resembling hell; inhabiting hell…In-fér'nal, n. p. 688An inhabitant of hell, or of the lower regions.In-fĕr'nal-ly, adv. p. 688In an infernal manner.In-fèr'ri-ble, a. p. 688The same as INFERABLE, q. v.In-fèr'tile, a. p. 688Not fertile; not fruitful or productive; barren; as, an infertile soil.In-fér'tile-ly, adv. p. 688In an infertile manner; unproductively; unfruitfully.In'/fer-til'i-ty, n. p. 688The state of being infertile; unproductiveness; barrenness; as, the infertility of land. Hale.In-fěst', v. t. p. 688To trouble greatly; to disturb; to annoy; to harass; as, flies infest horses and cattle; the sea is often infested with pirates; parties of the enemy infest the coast. These, said the genius, are…In-fěst',, a. p. 688Mischievous; hurtful; harassing. [Obs.] Spenser.Ĭn/fes-tā'tion, n. p. 688The act of infesting; molestation. Bacon.In-fĕst'er, n. p. 688One who infests.In-fès'tered, a. p. 688Rankling; inveterate. [Obs.]In-fĕs’tive, a. p. 688Having no mirth; not festive or merry; dull; cheerless. [Rare.]In/fes-tiv'i-ty, n. p. 688Want of festivity, or of cheerfulness and mirth, as at entertainments; dullness; cheerlessness. [Rare.]In-fĕst’ū-oūs, a. p. 688Mischievous; harmful; dangerous. [Obs.] Bacon.Ĭn/feū-dā'tion, n. p. 688(Law.) The act of putting one in possession of an estate in fee. Hale. 2. The granting of tithes to laymen. Blackstone.In-fĭb'ū-lā'tion, n. p. 688The act of clasping, or confining, as with a buckle or padlock. 2. The act of attaching a ring, clasp, or the like, to the privy parts in such a manner as to prevent copulation.Ĭn'fi-del, a. p. 688Unbelieving; disbelieving the inspiration of the Scriptures, or the divine institution of Christianity. The infidel writer is a great enemy to society. Knox.Ĭn'/fĭ-del, n. p. 688One who is without faith, or unfaithful; hence, a disbeliever; a freethinker; especially, (a.) A heathen. (b.) A Mohammedan. (c.) One who disbelieves in Christ, or the divine origin and authority of…Ĭn/fĭ-dĕl'ĭ-ty, n. p. 688Want of faith or belief; a withholding of confidence. 2. Disbelief of the inspiration of the Scriptures, or the divine origin of Christianity; unbelief. There is no doubt that vanity is one principal…In-field', v. t. p. 688To inclose, as a field.In'field, n. p. 688Land kept continually under crop, and which receives manure; — distinguished from out-field. [Scotland.]In-file', v. t. p. 688To arrange in a file or rank; to place in order. [Obs.] Holland.In-film', v. t. p. 688To cover with a film; to coat thinly; as, to infilm one metal with another, in the process of gilding.In-fil'ter, v. t. or i. p. 689To filter or sift in.In-fil'trate, v. i. p. 689To enter by penetrating the pores or interstices of a substance.In'fil-trā'tion, n. p. 689The act or process of infiltrating. 2. The substance which has entered the pores or cavities of a body. Calcareous infiltrations filling the cavities of other stones. Kirwan.In-fil'tra-tive, a. p. 689Pertaining to infiltration. Kane.In'fi-nite, a. p. 689Unlimited or boundless, in time or space; as, infinite duration or distance. 2. Without limit in power, capacity, intensity, or moral excellence; perfect; as, the infinite wisdom and goodness of God.…Ĭn′fi-nĭte, n. p. 689That which is infinite; an infinite space or extent; infinity. Not till the weight is heaved from off the air, and the thunders roll down the horizon, will the serene light of God flow upon us, and…In′fi-nite-ly, adv. p. 689Without bounds or limits; beyond or below assignable limits; as, an infinitely large or infinitely small quantity.In'fi-nite-ness, n. p. 689The state of being infinite; infinity; greatness; immensity.Ĭn′fin-ĭ-tēs′ĭ-mal, a. p. 689Infinitely small; less than any assignable quantity.Ĭn′/fĭn-ĭ-tēs′ĭ-mal, n. p. 689(Math.) An infinitely small quantity; that which is less than any assignable quantity.In′fin-i-tés′i-mal-ly, adv. p. 689By infinitesimals; in infinitely small quantities.In-fĭn'i-tīve, a. p. 689Unlimited; not bounded or restricted. Infinitive mode (Gram.), that mode of the verb which expresses the action of the verb, without limitation of person or number; as, to love. The word infinitive…In-fĭn′i-tive-ly, adv. p. 689(Gram.) In the manner of an infinitive mode.Ĭn-fi-nĭ'to, a. p. 689(Mus.) Infinite; perpetual, as a canon whose end leads back to the beginning. See INFINITE.In-fin'i-tūde, n. p. 689The quality of being infinite, or without limits; infiniteness. 2. Infinite extent; immensity; infinity; greatness. 3. Boundless number; countless multitude. “An infinitude of distinctions.” Addison.In-fīn'i-tū'ple, a. p. 689Multiplied an infinite number of times. [Rare.] Wollaston.In-fīn'i-ty, n. p. 689Unlimited extent of time, space, or quantity; boundlessness. 2. Unlimited capacity, energy, or excellence; as, the infinity of God and his perfections; the infinity of his existence, his knowledge…In-firm', a. p. 689Not firm or sound; weak; feeble; as, an infirm body; an infirm constitution. “A poor, infirm, weak, and despised old man.” Shak. 2. Weak of mind; irresolute. “Infirm of purpose.” Shak. 3. Not solid…In-firm', v. t. p. 689To weaken; to enfeeble. [Obs.] Raleigh.In-firm'a-ry, n. p. 689A hospital, or place where the infirm or sick are lodged and nursed, or only treated as out-patients.In-firm'a-tive, a. p. 689Weakening; annulling, or tending to make void. [Obs.] Cotgr.In-firm'a-to-ry, n. p. 689An infirmary. [Obs.] Evelyn.In-firm'i-ty, n. p. 689The state of being infirm; an imperfection or weakness; especially, a disease; a malady; as, infirmity of body. 2. Weakness; feebleness; failing; foible; defect. Will you be cured of your infirmity?…In-firm'ly, adv. p. 689In an infirm manner.In-firm'ness, n. p. 689Infirmity; feebleness; debility.In-fix′, v. t. p. 689To fix by piercing or thrusting in; as, to infix a sting, spear, or dart. The fatal dart a ready passage found, And deep within her heart infixed the wound. Dryden. 2. To set in; to implant or fix…Ĭn′fix, n. p. 689Something infixed. [Rare.]In-flāme', v. t. p. 689To set on fire; to kindle; to cause to burn; to cause to glow. We should have made retreat By light of the inflamed fleet. Chapman. 2. To raise to an unnatural heat; to excite to an excessive and…In-flāme', v. i. p. 689To grow hot, angry, and painful. Wiseman.In-flāmed', p. a. p. 689Set on fire; enkindled; heated; provoked; exasperated. 2. (Her.) Adorned with flames; burning; flammant; as, a bend inflamed.