Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
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.In-flam'er, n. p. 689The person or thing that inflames. Addison.In-flām′ma-bil′i-ty, n. p. 689Susceptibility of readily taking fire.In-flăm'ma-ble, a. p. 689Capable of being set on fire; easily enkindled; susceptible of combustion; as, inflammable oils or spirits.In-flăm'ma-ble-ness, n. p. 689The quality of being inflammable; inflammability. Boyle.In-flăm'ma-bly, adv. p. 689In an inflammable manner.In′flam-mā′tion, n. p. 689The act of inflaming or setting on fire. “The inflammation of fat.” Wilkins. 2. The state of being in flame or on fire. 3. (Med. & Surg.) A redness and swelling of any part of an animal body…In-flăm'ma-tīve, a. p. 689Inflammatory. [Rare.]In-flăm'ma-to-ry, a. p. 689Tending to inflame; tending to excite heat or inflammation; as, medicines of an inflammatory nature. 2. Accompanied with preternatural heat and excitement of arterial action; as, an inflammatory…In-flāte', v. t. p. 689To swell or distend with air; to blow into; as, to inflate a bladder; to inflate the lungs. 2. To swell; to puff up; to elate; as, to inflate one with pride or vanity. 3. To cause to be extended, or…In-flāte’ or In-flāt’ed, a. p. 689Filled with air; blown up; distended. 2. Puffed up; turgid; swelling; bombastic; as, an inflated style. 3. (Bot.) Hollow and distended, as a perianth, corol, nectary, or pericarp. Martyn.In-flāt'ing-ly, adv. p. 689In a manner tending to inflate.In-flā'tion, n. p. 689The act of inflating. 2. The state of being inflated, as with air; distention. 3. The state of being puffed up, as with vanity or pride; conceit. 4. Undue expansion or increase, from over-issue; —…In-flā'tus, n. p. 689A blowing or breathing into; inflation; hence, inspiration. The divine breath that blows the nostrils out To ineffable inflātus. E. B. Browning.In-flēct’, v. t. p. 689To bend; to turn from a direct line or course. Are not the rays of the sun reflected, refracted, and inflected by one and the same principle? Newton. 2. (Gram.) To vary a noun or a verb in its…In-flĕc'tion, n. p. 689The act of inflecting, or the state of being inflected. 2. A bend; a fold. 3. A slide or modulation of the voice in speaking. 4. (Gram.) The variation of nouns, &c., by declension, and verbs by…In-flĕc'tion-al, a. p. 689Pertaining to inflection.In-flĕc'tive, a. p. 689Capable of inflection; as, the inflective quality of the air. Derham.In-flĕsh′, v. t. p. 689To incarnate. [Obs. or rare.]In-flĕx', v. t. p. 689To bend; to cause to become curved; to make crooked.In-flĕxed’, a. p. 689Turned; bent; bent inward. Feltham. Brande.In-flĕx/i-bĭl'i-ty, n. p. 689The quality of being inflexible, or not capable of being bent; unyielding stiffness. 2. Obstinacy of will or temper; firmness of purpose that will not yield to importunity or persuasion; unbending…In-flĕx'i-ble, a. p. 689Not capable of being bent; firm; unyielding. 2. Firm in purpose; not to be turned; not to be changed or altered. “Inflexible as steel.” Milton. A man of upright and inflexible temper . . . can…In-flĕx′i-ble-ness, n. p. 689The quality of being inflexible; inflexibility.In-flĕx'i-bly, adv. p. 689In an inflexible manner; firmly; inexorably.In-flĕx'ion, n. p. 689The same as INFLECTION.In-flēx'ūre, n. p. 689An inflection; a bend or fold. The contrivance of nature is singular in the opening and shutting of bindweed by five inflexures. Browne.In-flĭct', v. t. p. 690To lay, throw, or send, as a punishment, &c.; to apply; to impose. What heart could wish, what hand inflict, this dire disgrace? Dryden.In-flĭct'er, n. p. 690One who inflicts.In-flĭc'tion, n. p. 690The act of inflicting or imposing; as, the infliction of torment, or of punishment. 2. That which is inflicted or imposed; the punishment applied. His severest inflictions are in themselves acts of…In-flĭct'ĭve, a. p. 690Tending or able to inflict.Ĭn'flo-rĕs'çençe, n. p. 690A flowering; the unfolding of blossoms. 2. (Bot.) (a.) The mode of flowering, or the general arrangement and disposition of the flowers. (b.) An axis on which all the buds are flower-buds.…In-flōw', v. i. p. 690To flow in. Wiseman.Ĭn'flu-ençe, n. p. 690A flowing in or upon; influx;—followed by on, upon, or with, and formerly sometimes by into. God hath his influence into the very essence of all things. Hooker. 2. Hence, in general, the bringing…Ĭn'flu-ençe, v. t. p. 690To control or move by hidden, but efficacious, power, physical or moral; to affect by gentle action; to exert an influence upon; to move; to persuade; to lead; to direct. These experiments succeed…Ĭn'flu-en-çer, n. p. 690One who influences.Ĭn'flu-en-çĭve, a. p. 690Tending to influence; influential.Ĭn'flu-ent, a. p. 690Flowing in. “Influent odors.” Browning. 2. Exerting influence; influential. [Obs.] I find no office by name assigned unto Dr. Cox, who was virtually influent upon all, and most active. Fuller.Ĭn'flu-ĕn'tial, a. p. 690Exerting influence or power by invisible operation, as physical causes on bodies, or as moral causes on the mind. It is particularly used to express the operation of moral causes. Influential…Ĭn'flu-ĕn'tial-ly, adv. p. 690In an influential manner, so as to incline, move, or direct.Ĭn'/flu-ēn'za, n. p. 690(Med.) A violent form of catarrh, which occurs with great suddenness, and is accompanied with debilitating fever. It often occurs much in the manner of an epidemic, affecting many persons in a…