ICHTHULINIch"thu*lin, n. (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: A substance from the yolk of salmon's egg.
ICHTHUSIch"thus, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: In early Christian and eccesiastical art, an emblematic fish, or the Greek word for fish, which combined the initials of the Greek words
ICHTHYICIch"thy*ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like, or pertaining to, fishes.
ICHTHYOCOL; ICHTHYOCOLLA Ich"thy*o*col, Ich`thy*o*col"la, n. Etym: [L. ichthyocolla, Gr. ichthyocolle.]
Defn: Fish glue; isinglass; a glue prepared from the sounds of certain fishes.
ICHTHYOCOPROLITEIch`thy*o*cop"ro*lite, n. Etym: [Gr. coprolite.] (Geol.)
Defn: Fossil dung of fishes.
ICHTHYODORULITEIch`thy*o*dor"u*lite, n. Etym: [Gr. -lite.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the spiny plates foundon the back and tail of certain skates.
ICHTHYOGRAPHYIch`thy*og"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. graphy: cf. F. ichthyographie.]
Defn: A treatise on fishes.
ICHTHYOID; ICHTHYOIDALIch"thy*oid, Ich`thy*oid"al, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Somewhat like a fish; having some of the characteristics of fishes; — said of some amphibians.
ICHTHYOLIch"thy*ol, n. [Gr. , , a fish + (prob.) L. oleum oil; but cf.Ichthyolite.] (Chem.)
Defn: An oily substance prepared by the dry distillation of a bituminous mineral containing fossil fishes. It is used in medicine as a remedy in some forms of skin diseases.
ICHTHYOLATRYIch`thy*ol"a*try, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Worship of fishes, or of fish-shaped idols. Layard.
ICHTHYOLITEIch"thy*o*lite, n. Etym: [Gr. -lite.] (Paleon.)
Defn: A fossil fish, or fragment of a fish.
ICHTHYOLOGIC; ICHTHYOLOGICAL Ich`thy*o*log"ic, Ich`thy*o*log"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. ichthyologique.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to ichthyology.
ICHTHYOLOGISTIch`thy*ol"o*gist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. ichthyologiste.]
Defn: One versed in, or who studies, ichthyology.
ICHTHYOLOGYIch`thy*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy: cf. F. ichthyologie.]
Defn: The natural history of fishes; that branch of zoölogy which relates to fishes, including their structure, classification, and habits.
ICHTHYOMANCYIch"thy*o*man`cy, n. Etym: [Gr. -mancy: cf. F. ichthyomancie.]
Defn: Divination by the heads or the entrails of fishes.
ICHTHYOMORPHAIch`thy*o*mor"pha, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The Urodela.
ICHTHYOMORPHIC; ICHTHYOMORPHOUSIch`thy*o*mor"phic, Ich`thy*o*mor"phous, a. Etym: [SeeIchthyomorpha.]
Defn: Fish-shaped; as, the ichthyomorphic idols of ancient Assyria.
ICHTHYOPHAGISTIch`thy*oph"a*gist, n. Etym: [See Ichthyophagous.]
Defn: One who eats, or subsists on, fish.
ICHTHYOPHAGOUSIch`thy*oph"a*gous, a. Etym: [L. ichthyophagus, Gr.
Defn: Eating, or subsisting on, fish.
ICHTHYOPHAGYIch`thy*oph"a*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. ichthyophagie.]
Defn: The practice of eating, or living upon, fish.
ICHTHYOPHTHALMITEIch`thy*oph*thal"mite, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: See Apophyllite. [R.]
ICHTHYOPHTHIRAIch`thy*oph*thi"ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of copepod crustaceans, including numerous species parasitic on fishes.
ICHTHYOPSIDAIch`thy*op"si*da, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A grand division of the Vertebrata, including the Amphibia andFishes.
ICHTHYOPTERYGIAIch`thy*op`te*ryg"i*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Ichthyopterygium.](Paleon.)
Defn: See Ichthyosauria.
ICHTHYOPTERYGIUMIch`thy*op`te*ryg"i*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: The typical limb, or lateral fin, of fishes.
ICHTHYORNISIch`thy*or"nis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: An extinct genus of toothed birds found in the American Cretaceous formation. It is remarkable for having biconcave vertebræ, and sharp, conical teeth set in sockets. Its wings were well developed. It is the type of the order Odontotormæ.
ICHTHYOSAURIch"thy*o*saur, n. Etym: [Cf. F. ichthyosaure.] (Paleon.)
Defn: One of the Ichthyosaura.
ICHTHYOSAURIAIch`thy*o*sau"ri*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Ichthyosaurus.] (Paleon.)
Defn: An extinct order of marine reptiles, including Ichthyosaurus and allied forms; — called also Ichthyopterygia. They have not been found later than the Cretaceous period.
ICHTHYOSAURIANIch`thy*o*sau"ri*an, a. (Paleon.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Ichthyosauria.— n.
Defn: One of the Ichthyosauria.
ICHTHYOSAURUS Ich`thy*o*sau"rus, n.; pl. Ichthyosauri. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. 'ichqy`s, -y`os, a fish + say^ros a lizard.] (Paleon.)
Defn: An extinct genus of marine reptiles; — so named from their short, biconcave vertebræ, resembling those of fishes. Several species, varying in length from ten to thirty feet, are known from the Liassic, Oölitic, and Cretaceous formations.
ICHTHYOSISIch`thy*o"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A disease in which the skin is thick, rough, and scaly; —called also fishskin.— Ich`thy*ot"ic, a.
ICHTHYOTOMISTIch`thy*ot"o*mist, n.
Defn: One skilled in ichthyotomy.
ICHTHYOTOMYIch`thy*ot"o*my, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The anatomy or dissection of fishes. [R.]
ICHTHYSIch"thys, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
Defn: Same as Ichthus.
ICICLE I"ci*cle, n. Etym: [OE. isikel, AS. isgicel; is ice + gicel icicle; akin to Icel. jökull; cf. Gael. eigh ice, Ir. aigh.]
Defn: A pendent, and usually conical, mass of ice, formed by freezing of dripping water; as, the icicles on the eaves of a house.
ICICLEDI"ci*cled, a.
Defn: Having icicles attached.
ICILYI"ci*ly, adv.
Defn: In an icy manner; coldly. Faultily faultless, icily regular, splendidly null, Dead perfection, no more. Tennyson.
ICINESSI"ci*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being icy or very cold; frigidity.
ICINGI"cing, n.
Defn: A coating or covering resembling ice, as of sugar and milk or white of egg; frosting.
ICKLEIc"kle, n. Etym: [OE. ikil. See Icicle.]
Defn: An icicle. [Prov. Eng.]
ICONI"con, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.
Defn: An image or representation; a portrait or pretended portrait.Netherlands whose names and icons are published. Hakewill.
ICONICALI*con"ic*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or consisting of, images, pictures, or representations of any kind.
ICONISMI"con*ism, n. Etym: [L. iconismus, Gr. iconisme.]
Defn: The formation of a figure, representation, or semblance; a delineation or description. Some kind of apish imitations, counterfeit iconisms. Cudworth.
ICONIZEI"con*ize, v. t. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: To form an image or likeness of. [R.] Cudworth.
ICONOCLASMI*con"o*clasm, n. Etym: [Cf. F. iconoclasme. See Iconoclast.]
Defn: The doctrine or practice of the iconoclasts; image breaking.
ICONOCLASTI*con"o*clast, n. Etym: [Gr. iconoclaste.]
1. A breaker or destroyer of images or idols; a determined enemy of idol worship.
2. One who exposes or destroys impositions or shams; one who attacks cherished beliefs; a radical.
ICONOCLASTICI*con`o*clas"tic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the iconoclasts, or to image breaking.Milman.
ICONODULE; ICONODULISTI*con"o*dule, I*con"o*du`list, n. Etym: [Gr. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: One who serves images; — opposed to an iconoclast. Schaff-Herzog Encyc.
ICONOGRAPHI*con"o*graph, n. [See Iconography.]
Defn: An engraving or other picture or illustration for a book.
ICONOGRAPHERI`co*nog"ra*pher, n.
Defn: A maker of images. Fairholt.
ICONOGRAPHICI*con`o*graph"ic, a.
1. Of or pertaining to iconography.
2. Representing by means of pictures or diagrams; as, an icongraphic encyclopædia.
ICONOGRAPHYI`co*nog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. iconographie.]
1. The art or representation by pictures or images; the description or study of portraiture or representation, as of persons; as, the iconography of the ancients.
2. The study of representative art in general. Christian iconography, the study of the representations in art of the Deity, the persons of the Trinity, angels, saints, virtues, vices, etc.
ICONOLATERI`co*nol"a*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. iconolâtre.]
Defn: One who worships images.
ICONOLATRYI`co*nol"a*try, n. Etym: [See Iconolater.]
Defn: The worship of images as symbols; — distinguished from idolatry, the worship of images themselves.
ICONOLOGYI`co*nol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. iconologie.]
Defn: The discussion or description of portraiture or of representative images. Cf. Iconography.
ICONOMACHYI`co*nom"a*chy, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Hostility to images as objects of worship. [R.]
ICONOMANIAI`co*no*ma"ni*a, n. [NL. See Icon, and Mania.]
Defn: A mania or infatuation for icons, whether as objects of devotion, bric-a-brac, or curios.
ICONOMICALI`co*nom"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Opposed to pictures or images as objects of worship. [R.] SirT. Browne.
ICONOPHILISTI`co*noph"i*list, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A student, or lover of the study, of iconography.
ICOSAHEDRALI`co*sa*he"dral, a. Etym: [See Icosahedron.] (Geom.)
Defn: Having twenty equal sides or faces.
ICOSAHEDRONI`co*sa*he"dron, n. Etym: [Gr. (Geom.)
Defn: A solid bounded by twenty sides or faces. Regular icosahedron, one of the five regular polyhedrons, bounded by twenty equilateral triangules. Five triangules meet to form each solid angle of the polyhedron.
ICOSANDRIAI`co*san"dri*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. icosandrie.] (Bot.)
Defn: A Linnæan class of plants, having twenty or more stamens inserted in the calyx.
ICOSANDRIAN; ICOSANDROUSI`co*san"dri*an, I`co*san"drous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Pertaining to the class Icosandria; having twenty or more stamens inserted in the calyx.
ICOSITETRAHEDRONI`co*si*tet`ra*he"dron, n. Etym: [Gr. (Crystallog.)
Defn: A twenty-four-sided solid; a tetragonal trisoctahedron or trapezohedron.
-ICS -ics
Defn: . A suffix used in forming the names of certain sciences, systems, etc., as acoustics, mathematics, dynamics, statistics, politics, athletics.
Note: The names sciences ending in ics, as mathematics, mechanics, metaphysics, optics, etc., are, with respect to their form, nouns in the plural number. The plural form was probably introduced to mark the complex nature of such sciences; and it may have been in imitation of the use of the Greek plurals ics were construed with a verb or a pronoun in the plural; but it is now generally considered preferable to treat them as singular. In Greman we have die Mathematik, die Mechanik, etc., and in French la metaphysique, la optique, etc., corresponding to our mathematics, mechanics, metaphysics, optics, etc. Mathematics have for their object the consideration of whatever is capable of being numbered or measured. John Davidson. The citations subjoined will serve as examples of the best present usage. Ethics is the sciences of the laws which govern our actions as moral agents. Sir W. Hamilton. All parts of knowledge have their origin in metaphysics, and finally, perhaps, revolve into it. De Quincey. Mechanics, like pure mathematics, may be geometrical, or may be analytical; that is, it may treat space either by a direct consideration of its properties, or by a symbolical representation. Whewell.
ICTERICIc*ter"ic, n.
Defn: A remedy for the jaundice.
ICTERIC; ICTERICALIc*ter"ic, Ic*ter"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. ictericus, Gr. ictérique.]
1. Pertaining to, or affected with, jaundice.
2. Good against the jaundice. Johnson.
ICTERITIOUS; ICTERITOUSIc`ter*i"tious, Ic*ter"i*tous, a.
Defn: Yellow; of the color of the skin when it is affected by the jaundice.
ICTEROIDIc"ter*oid, a. Etym: [Gr. -oid.]
Defn: Of a tint resembling that produced by jaundice; yellow; as, an icteroid tint or complexion.
ICTERUSIc"te*rus, n. Etym: [NL. See Icteric, a.] (Med.)
Defn: The jaundice.
ICTICIc"tic, a. Etym: [L. ictus blow.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or caused by, a blow; sudden; abrupt. [R.] H.Bushnell.
ICTUSIc"tus, n. Etym: [L., fr. icere, ictum, to strike.]
1. (Pros.)
Defn: The stress of voice laid upon accented syllable of a word. Cf.Arsis.
2. (Med.)
Defn: A stroke or blow, as in a sunstroke, the sting of an insect, pulsation of an artery, etc.
ICYI"cy, a. [Compar. Icier; superl. Iciest.] Etym: [AS. isig. See Ice.]
1. Pertaining to, resembling, or abounding in, ice; cold; frosty. "Icy chains." Shak. "Icy region." Boyle. "Icy seas." Pope.
2. Characterized by coldness, as of manner, influence, etc.; chilling; frigid; cold. Icy was the deportment with which Philip received these demonstrations of affection. Motley.
ICY-PEARLEDI"cy-pearl`ed, a.
Defn: Spangled with ice.Mounting up in icy-pearled car. Milton.
I'DI'd
Defn: . A contraction from I would or I had.
IDId, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small fresh-water cyprinoid fish (Leuciscus idus or Idus idus) of Europe. A domesticated variety, colored like the goldfish, is called orfe in Germany.
IDALIANI*da"li*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Idalium, a mountain city in Cyprus, or toVenus, to whom it was sacred. "Idalian Aphrodité." Tennyson.
IDEIde, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Id.
-IDE -ide. (Chem.)
Defn: A suffix used to denote: (a) The nonmetallic, or negative, element or radical in a binary compound; as, oxide, sulphide, chloride. (b) A compound which is an anhydride; as, glycolide, phthalide. (c) Any one of a series of derivatives; as, indogenide, glucoside, etc.
IDEAI*de"a, n.; pl. Ideas. Etym: [L. idea, Gr. wit: cf. F. idée. SeeWit.]
1. The transcript, image, or picture of a visible object, that is formed by the mind; also, a similar image of any object whatever, whether sensible or spiritual. Her sweet idea wandered through his thoughts. Fairfax. Being the right idea of your father Both in your form and nobleness of mind. Shak. This representation or likeness of the object being transmitted from thence [the senses] to the imagination, and lodged there for the view and observation of the pure intellect, is aptly and properly called its idea. P. Browne.
2. A general notion, or a conception formed by generalization. Alice had not the slightest idea what latitude was. L. Caroll.
3. Hence: Any object apprehended, conceived, or thought of, by the mind; a notion, conception, or thought; the real object that is conceived or thought of. Whatsoever the mind perceives in itself, or as the immediate object of perception, thought, or undersanding, that I call idea. Locke.
4. A belief, option, or doctrine; a characteristic or controlling principle; as, an essential idea; the idea of development. That fellow seems to me to possess but one idea, and that is a wrong one. Johnson. What is now "idea" for us How infinite the fall of this word, since the time where Milton sang of the Creator contemplating his newly- created world, -"how it showed . . . Answering his great idea," -to its present use, when this person "has an idea that the train has started," and the other "had no idea that the dinner would be so bad!" Trench.
5. A plan or purpose of action; intention; design. I shortly afterwards set off for that capital, with an idea of undertaking while there the translation of the work. W. Irving.
6. A rational conception; the complete conception of an object when thought of in all its essential elements or constituents; the necessary metaphysical or constituent attributes and relations, when conceived in the abstract.
7. A fiction object or picture created by the imagination; the same when proposed as a pattern to be copied, or a standard to be reached; one of the archetypes or patterns of created things, conceived by the Platonists to have excited objectively from eternity in the mind of the Deity. Thence to behold this new-created world, The addition of his empire, how it showed In prospect from his throne, how good, how fair, Answering his great idea. Milton.
Note: "In England, Locke may be said to have been the first who naturalized the term in its Cartesian universality. When, in common language, employed by Milton and Dryden, after Descartes, as before him by Sidney, Spenser, Shakespeare, Hooker, etc., the meaning is Platonic." Sir W. Hamilton. Abstract idea, Association of ideas, etc. See under Abstract, Association, etc.
Syn. — Notion; conception; thought; sentiment; fancy; image; perception; impression; opinion; belief; observation; judgment; consideration; view; design; intention; purpose; plan; model; pattern. There is scarcely any other word which is subjected to such abusive treatment as is the word idea, in the very general and indiscriminative way in which it is employed, as it is used variously to signify almost any act, state, or content of thought.
IDEALI*de"al, a. Etym: [L. idealis: cf. F. idéal.]
1. Existing in idea or thought; conceptional; intellectual; mental; as, ideal knowledge.
2. Reaching an imaginary standard of excellence; fit for a model; faultless; as, ideal beauty. Byron. There will always be a wide interval between practical and ideal excellence. Rambler.
3. Existing in fancy or imagination only; visionary; unreal. "Planning ideal common wealth." Southey.
4. Teaching the doctrine of idealism; as, the ideal theory or philosophy.
5. (Math.)
Defn: Imaginary.
Syn. — Intellectual; mental; visionary; fanciful; imaginary; unreal; impracticable; utopian.
IDEALI*de"al, n.
Defn: A mental conception regarded as a standard of perfection; a model of excellence, beauty, etc. The ideal is to be attained by selecting and assembling in one whole the beauties and perfections which are usually seen in different individuals, excluding everything defective or unseemly, so as to form a type or model of the species. Thus, the Apollo Belvedere is the ideal of the beauty and proportion of the human frame. Fleming. Beau ideal. See Beau ideal.
IDEALESSI*de"a*less, a.
Defn: Destitute of an idea.
IDEALISMI*de"al*ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. idéalisme.]
1. The quality or state of being ideal.
2. Conception of the ideal; imagery.
3. (Philos.)
Defn: The system or theory that denies the existence of material bodies, and teaches that we have no rational grounds to believe in the reality of anything but ideas and their relations.
IDEALISTI*de"al*ist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. idéaliste.]
1. One who idealizes; one who forms picturesque fancies; one given to romantic expectations.
2. One who holds the doctrine of idealism.
IDEALISTICI*de`al*is"tic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to idealists or their theories.
IDEALITYI`de*al"i*ty, n.; pl. Idealities (.
1. The quality or state of being ideal.
2. The capacity to form ideals of beauty or perfection.
3. (Phren.)
Defn: The conceptive faculty.
IDEALIZATIONI*de`al*i*za"tion, n.
1. The act or process of idealizing.
2. (Fine Arts)
Defn: The representation of natural objects, scenes, etc., in such a way as to show their most important characteristics; the study of the ideal.
IDEALIZEI*de"al*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Idealized; p. pr. & vb. n.Idealizing.]
1. To make ideal; to give an ideal form or value to; to attribute ideal characteristics and excellences to; as, to idealize real life.
2. (Fine Arts)
Defn: To treat in an ideal manner. See Idealization, 2.
IDEALIZEI*de"al*ize, v. i. Etym: [Cf. F. idéaliser.]
Defn: To form ideals.
IDEALIZERI*de"al*i`zer, n.
Defn: An idealist.
IDEALLYI*de"al*ly, adv.
Defn: In an ideal manner; by means of ideals; mentally.
IDEALOGICI*de`a*log"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to an idealogue, or to idealization.
IDEALOGUE I*de"a*logue, n. Etym: [Idea + -logue, as in theologue: cf. F. idéologue.]
Defn: One given to fanciful ideas or theories; a theorist; a spectator. [R.] Mrs. Browning.
IDEAT; IDEATEI*de"at, I*de"ate, n. Etym: [LL. ideatum. See Idea.] (Metaph.)
Defn: The actual existence supposed to correspond with an idea; the correlate in real existence to the idea as a thought or existence.
IDEATEI*de"ate, v. t.
1. To form in idea; to fancy. [R.] The ideated man . . . as he stood in the intellect of God. Sir T. Browne.
2. To apprehend in thought so as to fix and hold in the mind; to memorize. [R.]
IDEATIONI`de*a"tion, n.
Defn: The faculty or capacity of the mind for forming ideas; the exercise of this capacity; the act of the mind by which objects of sense are apprehended and retained as objects of thought. The whole mass of residua which have been accumulated . . . all enter now into the process of ideation. J. D. Morell.
IDEATIONALI`de*a"tion*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or characterized by, ideation.Certain sensational or ideational stimuli. Blackw. Mag.
IDEMI"dem, pron. or adj. Etym: [L.]
Defn: The same; the same as above; — often abbreviated id.
IDENTICI*den"tic, a.
Defn: Identical. [Obs.] Hudibras.
IDENTICALI*den"tic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. identique. See Identity.]
1. The same; the selfsame; the very same; not different; as, the identical person or thing. I can not remember a thing that happened a year ago, without a conviction . . . that I, the same identical person who now remember that event, did then exist. Reid.
2. Uttering sameness or the same truth; expressing in the predicate what is given, or obviously implied, in the subject; tautological. When you say body is solid, I say that you make an identical proposition, because it is impossible to have the idea of body without that of solidity. Fleming. Identical equation (Alg.), an equation which is true for all values of the algebraic symbols which enter into it.
IDENTICALLYI*den"tic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In an identical manner; with respect to identity. "Identically the same." Bp. Warburton. "Identically different." Ross.
IDENTICALNESSI*den"tic*al*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being identical; sameness.
IDENTIFIABLEI*den"ti*fi`a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being identified.
IDENTIFICATIONI*den`ti*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. identification.]
Defn: The act of identifying, or proving to be the same; also, the state of being identified.
IDENTIFYI*den"ti*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Identified; p. pr. & vb. n.Identifying.] Etym: [Cf. F. identifier. See Identity, and -fy.]
1. To make to be the same; to unite or combine in such a manner as to make one; to treat as being one or having the same purpose or effect; to consider as the same in any relation. Every precaution is taken to identify the interests of the people and of the rulers. D. Ramsay. Let us identify, let us incorporate ourselves with the people. Burke.
2. To establish the identity of; to prove to be the same with something described, claimed, or asserted; as, to identify stolen property.
IDENTIFYI*den"ti*fy, v. i.
Defn: To become the same; to coalesce in interest, purpose, use,effect, etc. [Obs. or R.]An enlightened self-interest, which, when well understood, they tellus will identify with an interest more enlarged and public. Burke.
IDENTISMI*den"tism, n. Etym: [See Identity.] (Metaph.)
Defn: The doctrine taught by Schelling, that matter and mind, and subject and object, are identical in the Absolute; — called also the system or doctrine of identity.
IDENTITY I*den"ti*ty, n.; pl. Identities. Etym: [F. identité, LL. identitas, fr. L. idem the same, from the root of is he, that; cf. Skr. idam this. Cf. Item.]
1. The state or quality of being identical, or the same; sameness. Identity is a relation between our cognitions of a thing, not between things themselves. Sir W. Hamilton.
2. The condition of being the same with something described or asserted, or of possessing a character claimed; as, to establish the identity of stolen goods.
3. (Math.)
Defn: An identical equation.
IDEO-I"de*o-
Defn: . A combining form from the Gr. idea.
IDEOGENICALI`de*o*gen"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of or relating to ideology.
IDEOGENY I`de*og"e*ny, n. Etym: [Ideo- + -geny, from the same root as Gr. idéogénie.]
Defn: The science which treats of the origin of ideas.
IDEOGRAMI*de"o*gram, n. Etym: [Ideo- + -gram; cf. F. idéograme.]
1. An original, pictorial element of writing; a kind of hieroglyph expressing no sound, but only an idea. Ideograms may be defined to be pictures intended to represent either things or thoughts. I. Taylor (The Alphabet). You might even have a history without language written or spoken, by means of ideograms and gesture. J. Peile.
2. A symbol used for convenience, or for abbreviation; as, 1, 2, 3, +, -,
3. A phonetic symbol; a letter.
IDEOGRAPHI*de"o*graph, n.
Defn: Same as Ideogram.
IDEOGRAPHIC; IDEOGRAPHICALI`de*o*graph"ic, I`de*o*graph"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. idéographique.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to an ideogram; representing ideas by symbols, independently of sounds; as, 9 represents not the word "nine," but the idea of the number itself. — I`de*o*graph"ic*al*ly, adv.
IDEOGRAPHICSI`de*o*graph"ics, n.
Defn: The system of writing in ideographic characters; also, anything so written.
IDEOGRAPHYI`de*og"ra*phy, n.
Defn: The representation of ideas independently of sounds, or in an ideographic manner, as sometimes is done in shorthand writing, etc.
IDEOLOGICALI`de*o*log"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. idéologique.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to ideology.
IDEOLOGISTI`de*ol"o*gist, n.
Defn: One who treats of ideas; one who theorizes or idealizes; one versed in the science of ideas, or who advocates the doctrines of ideology.
IDEOLOGYI`de*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Ideo- + -logy: cf. F. idéologie.]
1. The science of ideas. Stewart.
2. (Metaph.)
Defn: A theory of the origin of ideas which derives them exclusively from sensation.
Note: By a double blunder in philosophy and Greek, idéologie . . . has in France become the name peculiarly distinctive of that philosophy of mind which exclusively derives our knowledge from sensation. Sir W. Hamilton.
IDEO-MOTIONI`de*o-mo"tion, n. (Physiol.)
Defn: An ideo-motor movement.
IDEO-MOTORI`de*o-mo"tor, a. Etym: [Ideo- + motor.] (Physiol.)
Defn: Applied to those actions, or muscular movements, which are automatic expressions of dominant ideas, rather than the result of distinct volitional efforts, as the act of expressing the thoughts in speech, or in writing, while the mind is occupied in the composition of the sentence. Carpenter.
IDESIdes, n. pl. Etym: [L. idus: cf. F. ides.] (Anc. Rom. Calendar)
Defn: The fifteenth day of March, May, July, and October, and the thirteenth day of the other months. The ides of March remember. Shak.
Note: Eight days in each month often pass by this name, but only one strictly receives it, the others being called respectively the day before the ides, and so on, backward, to the eightth from the ides.
IDIO-Id"i*o-
Defn: . A combining form from the Greek private, personal, peculiar, distinct.
IDIOBLASTId"i*o*blast, n. Etym: [Ideo- + -blast.] (Bot.)
Defn: An individual cell, differing greatly from its neighbours in regard to size, structure, or contents.
IDIOCRASISId`i*o*cra"sis, n. Etym: [NL.]
Defn: Idiocracy.
IDIOCRASYId`i*oc"ra*sy, n.; pl. Idiocrasies. Etym: [Idio- + Gr. idiocrasie.]
Defn: Peculiarity of constitution; that temperament, or state of constitution, which is peculiar to a person; idiosyncrasy.
IDIOCRATIC; IDIOCRATICALId`i*o*crat"ic, Id`i*o*crat"ic*al, a.
Defn: Peculiar in constitution or temperament; idiosyncratic.
IDIOCYId"i*o*cy, n. Etym: [From idiot; cf. Gr. Idiot, and cf. Idiotcy.]
Defn: The condition or quality of being an idiot; absence, or marked deficiency, of sense and intelligence. I will undertake to convict a man of idiocy, if he can not see the proof that three angles of a triangle are equal to two right angles. F. W. Robertson.
IDIOCYCLOPHANOUSId`i*o*cy*cloph"a*nous, a. Etym: [Idio- + Gr. (Crystallog.)
Defn: Same as Idiophanous.
IDIOELECTRIC Id`i*o*e*lec"tric, a. Etym: [Idio- + electric: cf. F. idioélectrique.] (Physics)
Defn: Electric by virtue of its own peculiar properties; capable of becoming electrified by friction; — opposed to anelectric. — n.
Defn: An idioelectric substance.
IDIOGRAPHId"i*o*graph, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A mark or signature peculiar to an individual; a trade-mark.
IDIOGRAPHIC; IDIOGRAPHICALId`i*o*graph"ic, Id`i*o*graph"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to an idiograph.
IDIOLATRYId`i*ol"a*try, n. Etym: [Idio- + Gr.
Defn: Self-worship; excessive self-esteem.
IDIOMId"i*om, n. Etym: [F. idiome, L. idioma, fr. Gr. suus, and to E. so.]
1. The syntactical or structural form peculiar to any language; the genius or cast of a language. Idiom may be employed loosely and figuratively as a synonym of language or dialect, but in its proper sense it signifies the totality of the general rules of construction which characterize the syntax of a particular language and distinguish it from other tongues. G. P. Marsh. By idiom is meant the use of words which is peculiar to a particular language. J. H. Newman. He followed their language [the Latin], but did not comply with the idiom of ours. Dryden.
2. An expression conforming or appropriate to the peculiar structural form of a language; in extend use, an expression sanctioned by usage, having a sense peculiar to itself and not agreeing with the logical sense of its structural form; also, the phrase forms peculiar to a particular author. Some that with care true eloquence shall teach, And to just idioms fix our doubtful speech. Prior. Sometimes we identify the words with the object — though be courtesy of idiom rather than in strict propriety of language. Coleridge. Every good writer has much idiom. Landor. It is not by means of rules that such idioms as the following are made current: "I can make nothing of it." "He treats his subject home." Dryden. "It is that within us that makes for righteousness." M.Arnold. Gostwick (Eng. Gram. )
3. Dialect; a variant form of a language.
Syn. — Dialect. — Idiom, Dialect. The idioms of a language belong to its very structure; its dialects are varieties of expression ingrafted upon it in different localities or by different professions. Each county of England has some peculiarities of dialect, and so have most of the professions, while the great idioms of the language are everywhere the same. See Language.
IDIOMATIC; IDIOMATICALId`i*o*mat"ic, Id`i*o*mat"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Of or pertaining to, or conforming to, the mode of expressionpeculiar to a language; as, an idiomatic meaning; an idiomaticphrase.— Id`i*o*mat"ic*al*ly, adv.
IDIOMORPHICId`i*o*morph"ic, a.
Defn: Idiomorphous.
IDIOMORPHOUSId`i*o*morph"ous, a. Etym: [Gr.
1. Having a form of its own.
2. (Crystallog.)
Defn: Apperaing in distinct crystals; — said of the mineral constituents of a rock.
IDIOMUSCULARId`i*o*mus"cu*lar, a. Etym: [Idio- + muscular.] (Physiol.)
Defn: Applied to a semipermanent contraction of a muscle, produced by a mechanical irritant.
IDIOPATHETICId`i*o*pa*thet"ic, a.
Defn: Idiopathic. [R.]
IDIOPATHIC; IDIOPATHICALId`i*o*path"ic, Id`i*o*path"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. idiopathique.](Med.)
Defn: Pertaining to idiopathy; characterizing a disease arising primarily, and not in consequence of some other disease or injury; — opposed to symptomatic, sympathetic, and traumatic. — Id`i*o*path"ic*al*ly, adv.
IDIOPATHYId`i*op"a*thy, n.; pl. Idiopathies. Etym: [Gr. idiopathie.]
1. A peculiar, or individual, characteristic or affection. All men are so full of their own fancies and idiopathies, that they scarce have the civility to interchange any words with a stranger. Dr. H. More.
2. (Med.)
Defn: A morbid state or condition not preceded or occasioned by any other disease; a primary disease.
IDIOPHANOUSId`i*oph"a*nous, a. Etym: [Idio- + (Crystallog.)
Defn: Exhibiting interference figures without the aid of a polariscope, as certain crystals.
IDIOPLASMId"i*o*plasm, n. (Biol.)
Defn: Same as Idioplasma.
IDIOPLASMAId`i*o*plas"ma, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: That portion of the cell protoplasm which is the seat of all active changes, and which carries on the function of hereditary transmission; — distinguished from the other portion, which is termed nutritive plasma. See Hygroplasm.
IDIOREPULSIVEId`i*o*re*pul"sive, a. Etym: [Idio- + repulsive.]
Defn: Repulsive by itself; as, the idiorepulsive power of heat.
IDIOSYNCRASYId`i*o*syn"cra*sy, n.; pl. Idiosyncrasies. Etym: [Gr. idiosyncrasie.See Idiom, and Crasis.]
Defn: A peculiarity of physical or mental constitution or temperament; a characteristic belonging to, and distinguishing, an individual; characteristic susceptibility; idiocrasy; eccentricity. The individual mind . . . takes its tone from the idiosyncrasies of the body. I. Taylor.
IDIOSYNCRATIC; IDIOSYNCRATICALId`i*o*syn*crat"ic, Id`i*o*syn*crat"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of peculiar temper or disposition; belonging to one's peculiar and individual character.
IDIOT Id"i*ot, n. Etym: [F. idiot, L. idiota an uneducated, ignorant, ill- informed person, Gr. Idiom.]
1. A man in private station, as distinguished from one holding a public office. [Obs.] St. Austin affirmed that the plain places of Scripture are sufficient to all laics, and all idiots or private persons. Jer. Taylor.
2. An unlearned, ignorant, or simple person, as distinguished from the educated; an ignoramus. [Obs.] Christ was received of idiots, of the vulgar people, and of the simpler sort, while he was rejected, despised, and persecuted even to death by the high priests, lawyers, scribes, doctors, and rabbis. C. Blount.
3. A human being destitute of the ordinary intellectual powers, whether congenital, developmental, or accidental; commonly, a person without understanding from birth; a natural fool; a natural; an innocent. Life . . . is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing. Shak.
4. A fool; a simpleton; — a term of reproach. Weenest thou make an idiot of our dame Chaucer.
IDIOTCYId"i*ot*cy, n. Etym: [Cf. Idiocy.]
Defn: Idiocy. [R.]
IDIOTEDId"i*ot*ed, a.
Defn: Rendered idiotic; befooled. [R.] Tennyson.
IDIOTHERMICId`i*o*ther"mic, a. Etym: [Idio- + thermic.]
Defn: Self-heating; warmed, as the body of animal, by process going on within itself.
IDIOTIC; IDIOTICAL Id`i*ot"ic, Id`i*ot"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. idioticus ignorant, Gr. idiotique. See Idiot.]
1. Common; simple. [Obs.] Blackwall.
2. Pertaining to, or like, an idiot; characterized by idiocy; foolish; fatuous; as, an idiotic person, speech, laugh, or action.
IDIOTICALLYId`i*ot"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a idiotic manner.
IDIOTICONId`i*ot"i*con, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Idiot.]
Defn: A dictionary of a peculiar dialect, or of the words and phrases peculiar to one part of a country; a glossary.
IDIOTISHId"i*ot*ish, a.
Defn: Like an idiot; foolish.
IDIOTISMId"i*ot*ism, n. Etym: [F. idiotisme, L. idiotismus the way of fashionof a private person, the common or vulgar manner of speaking, Gr.Idiot.]
1. An idiom; a form, mode of expression, or signification, peculiar to a language. Scholars sometimes give terminations and idiotisms, suitable to their native language, unto words newly invented. M. Hale.
2. Lack of knowledge or mental capacity; idiocy; foolishness. Worse than mere ignorance or idiotism. Shaftesbury. The running that adventure is the greatist idiotism. Hammond.
IDIOTIZEId"i*ot*ize, v. i.
Defn: To become stupid. [R.]
IDIOTRYId"i*ot*ry, n.
Defn: Idiocy. [R.] Bp. Warburton.
IDLE I"dle, a. [Compar. Idler; superl. Idlest.] Etym: [OE. idel, AS. idel vain, empty, useless; akin to OS. idal, D. ijdel, OHG. ital vain, empty, mere, G. eitel, Dan. & Sw. idel mere, pure, and prob. to Gr. Ether.]
1. Of no account; useless; vain; trifling; unprofitable; thoughtless; silly; barren. "Deserts idle." Shak. Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. Matt. xii. 36. Down their idle weapons dropped. Milton. This idle story became important. Macaulay.
2. Not called into active service; not turned to appropriate use; unemployed; as, idle hours. The idle spear and shield were high uphing. Milton.
3. Not employed; unoccupied with business; inactive; doing nothing; as, idle workmen. Why stand ye here all the day idle Matt. xx. 6.
4. Given rest and ease; averse to labor or employment; lazy; slothful; as, an idle fellow.
5. Light-headed; foolish. [Obs.] Ford. Idle pulley (Mach.), a pulley that rests upon a belt to tighten it; a pulley that only guides a belt and is not used to transmit power. — Idle wheel (Mach.), a gear wheel placed between two others, to transfer motion from one to the other without changing the direction of revolution. — In idle, in vain. [Obs.] "God saith, thou shalt not take the name of thy Lord God in idle." Chaucer.
Syn. — Unoccupied; unemployed; vacant; inactive; indolent; sluggish; slothful; useless; ineffectual; futile; frivolous; vain; trifling; unprofitable; unimportant. — Idle, Indolent, Lazy. A propensity to inaction is expressed by each of these words; they differ in the cause and degree of this characteristic. Indolent denotes an habitual love to ease, a settled dislike of movement or effort; idle is opposed to busy, and denotes a dislike of continuous exertion. Lazy is a stronger and more contemptuous term than indolent.
IDLEI"dle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Idled; p. pr. & vb. n. Idling.]
Defn: To lose or spend time in inaction, or without being employed in business. Shak.
IDLEI"dle, v. t.
Defn: To spend in idleness; to waste; to consume; — often followed by away; as, to idle away an hour a day.
IDLE-HEADEDI"dle-head`ed, a.
1. Foolish; stupid. [Obs.] "The superstitious idle-headed eld." Shak.
2. Delirious; infatuated. [Obs.] L'Estrange.
IDLENESSI"dle*ness, n. Etym: [AS. idelnes.]
Defn: The condition or quality of being idle (in the various senses of that word); uselessness; fruitlessness; triviality; inactivity; laziness.
Syn.— Inaction; indolence; sluggishness; sloth.
IDLE-PATEDI"dle-pat`ed, a.
Defn: Idle-headed; stupid. [Obs.]
IDLERI"dler, n.
1. One who idles; one who spends his time in inaction; a lazy person; a sluggard.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: One who has constant day duties on board ship, and keeps no regular watch. Totten.
3. (Mach.)
Defn: An idle wheel or pulley. See under Idle.
IDLESS; IDLESSEI"dless, I"dlesse, n.
Defn: Idleness. [Archaic] "In ydlesse." Spenser.And an idlesse all the day Beside a wandering stream. Mrs. Browning.
IDLYI"dly, adv.
Defn: In a idle manner; ineffectually; vainly; lazily; carelessly;(Obs.) foolishly.
IDOI"do (e"do), n.
Defn: An artificial international language, selected by the "Delegation for the Adoption of an Auxillary International Language" (founded at Paris in 1901), made public in 1907, and subsequently greatly revised and extended by a permanent committee or "Academy." It combines systematically the advantages of previous schemes with a thoroughly logical word formation, and has neither accented constants nor arbitrarily coined pronominal words. For each idea that root is selected which is already most international, on the principle of the "greatest facility for the greatest number of people." The word "Ido" means in the language itself "offspring." The official name is: "Linguo Internaciona di la Delegitaro (Sistema Ido)." —I"dism (#), n. — I"dist (#), n.
IDOCRASEId"o*crase, n. Etym: [Gr. idocrase.] (Min.)
Defn: Same as Vesuvianite.
IDOLI"dol, n. Etym: [OE. idole, F. idole, L. idolum, fr. Gr. Wit, and cf.Eidolon.]
1. An image or representation of anything. [Obs.] Do her adore with sacred reverence, As th' idol of her maker's great magnificence. Spenser.
2. An image of a divinity; a representation or symbol of a deity or any other being or thing, made or used as an object of worship; a similitude of a false god. That they should not worship devils, and idols of gold. Rev. ix. 20.
3. That on which the affections are strongly (often excessively) set; an object of passionate devotion; a person or thing greatly loved or adored. The soldier's god and people's idol. Denham.
4. A false notion or conception; a fallacy. Bacon. The idols of preconceived opinion. Coleridge.
IDOLASTREI`do*las"tre, n. Etym: [OE., for idolatre.]
Defn: An idolater. [Obs.] Chaucer.
IDOLATERI*dol"a*ter, n. Etym: [F. idolâtre: cf. L. idololatres, Gr.Idolatry.]
1. A worshiper of idols; one who pays divine honors to images, statues, or representations of anything made by hands; one who worships as a deity that which is not God; a pagan.
2. An adorer; a great admirer. Jonson was an idolater of the ancients. Bp. Hurd.
IDOLATRESSI*dol"a*tress, n.
Defn: A female worshiper of idols.
IDOLATRICALI`do*lat"ric*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. idolâtrique.]
Defn: Idolatrous. [Obs.]
IDOLATRIZEI*dol"a*trize, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Idolatrized; p. pr. & vb. n.Idolatrizing.]
Defn: To worship idols; to pay idolatrous worship.
IDOLATRIZEI*dol"a*trize, v. t.
Defn: To make in idol of; to idolize.
IDOLATROUSI*dol"a*trous, a.
1. Of or pertaining to idolatry; partaking of the nature of idolatry; given to idolatry or the worship of false gods; as, idolatrous sacrifices. [Josiah] put down the idolatrous priests. 2 Kings xxiii. 5.
2. Consisting in, or partaking of, an excessive attachment or reverence; as, an idolatrous veneration for antiquity.
IDOLATROUSLYI*dol"a*trous*ly, adv.
Defn: In a idolatrous manner.
IDOLATRYI*dol"a*try, n.; pl. Idolatries. Etym: [F. idolâtrie, LL. idolatria,L. idololatria, Fr. Gr.
1. The worship of idols, images, or anything which is not God; the worship of false gods. His eye surveyed the dark idolatries Of alienated Judah. Milton.
2. Excessive attachment or veneration for anything; respect or love which borders on adoration. Shak.
IDOLISHI"dol*ish, a.
Defn: Idolatrous. [Obs.] Milton.
IDOLISMI"dol*ism, n.
Defn: The worship of idols. [Obs.]
IDOLISTI"dol*ist, n.
Defn: A worshiper of idols. [Obs.] Milton.
IDOLIZEI"dol*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Idolized; p. pr. & vb. n. Idolizing.]
1. To make an idol of; to pay idolatrous worship to; as, to idolize the sacred bull in Egypt.
2. To love to excess; to love or reverence to adoration; as, to idolize gold, children, a hero.
IDOLIZEI"dol*ize, v. i.
Defn: To practice idolatry. [R.]To idolize after the manner of Egypt. Fairbairn.
IDOLIZERI"dol*i`zer, n.
Defn: One who idolizes or loves to the point of reverence; an idolater.
IDOLOCLASTI*dol"o*clast, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A breaker of idols; an iconoclast.
IDOLOGRAPHICALI*dol`o*graph"ic*al, a. Etym: [Idol + -graph.]
Defn: Descriptive of idols. [R.] Southey.
IDOLOUSI"dol*ous, a.
Defn: Idolatrous. [Obs.] Bale.
IDOLUM; IDOLONI*do"lum, I*do"lon, n.; pl. Idola (#). [L. See Idol; cf. Eidolon.]
Defn: Appearance or image; a phantasm; a spectral image; also, a mental image or idea.
IDONEOUSI*do"ne*ous, a. Etym: [L. idoneus.]
Defn: Appropriate; suitable; proper; fit; adequate. [R.] An ecclesiastical benefice . . . ought to be conferred on an idoneous person. Ayliffe.
IDORGANId*or"gan, n. Etym: [Gr. organ.] (Biol.)
Defn: A morphological unit, consisting of two or more plastids, which does not possess the positive character of the person or stock, in distinction from the physiological organ or biorgan. See Morphon.
IDRIALINE; IDRIALITEId"ri*a*line, Id"ri*a*lite, n. Etym: [Cf. F. idrialine.] (Min.)
Defn: A bituminous substance obtained from the mercury mines ofIdria, where it occurs mixed with cinnabar.
IDUMEANId`u*me"an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to ancient Idumea, or Edom, in Western Asia.— n.
Defn: An inhabitant of Idumea, an Edomite.
IDYLI"dyl, n. Etym: [L. idyllium, Gr. idylle. See Idol.]
Defn: A short poem; properly, a short pastoral poem; as, the idyls of Theocritus; also, any poem, especially a narrative or descriptive poem, written in an eleveted and highly finished style; also, by extension, any artless and easily flowing description, either in poetry or prose, of simple, rustic life, of pastoral scenes, and the like. [Written also idyll.] Wordsworth's solemn-thoughted idyl. Mrs. Browning. His [Goldsmith's] lovely idyl of the Vicar's home. F. Harrison.
IDYLLICI*dyl"lic, a.
Defn: Of or belonging to idyls.
I. E.I. e.
Defn: Abbreviation of Latin id est, that is.
IF If, conj. Etym: [OE. if, gif, AS. gif; akin to OFries. ief, gef, ef, OS. ef, of, D. of, or, whether, if, G. ob whether, if, OHG. oba, ibu, Icel. ef, Goth. iba, ibai, an interrogative particle; properly a case form of a noun meaning, doubt (cf. OHG. iba doubt, condition, Icel. if, ef, ifi, efi), and therefore orig. meaning, on condition that.]
1. In case that; granting, allowing, or supposing that; — introducing a condition or supposition. Tisiphone, that oft hast heard my prayer, Assist, if OEdipus deserve thy care. Pope. If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. Matt. iv. 3.
2. Whether; — in dependent questions.Uncertain if by augury or chance. Dryden.She doubts if two and two make four. Prior.As if, But if. See under As, But.
I' FAITHI' faith"
Defn: . In faith; indeed; truly. Shak.
IFEREI*fere", a. Etym: [Corrupted fr. in fere.]
Defn: Together. [Obs.] Chaucer.
IGASURICIg`a*su"ric, a. Etym: [See Igasurine.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or obtained from, nux vomica or St. Ignatius's bean; as, igasuric acid.
IGASURINEIg`a*su"rine, n. Etym: [Malay igasura the nux vomica.] (Chem.)
Defn: An alkaloid found in nux vomica, and extracted as a white crystalline substance.
IGLOOIg"loo, n.
1. An Eskimo snow house.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A cavity, or excavation, made in the snow by a seal, over its breathing hole in the ice.
IGNATIUS BEANIg*na"tius bean`. (Bot.)
Defn: See Saint Ignatius's bean, under Saint.
IGNEOUSIg"ne*ous, a. Etym: [L. igneus, fr. ignis fire; allied to Skr. agni,Lith. ugnis, OSlav. ogne.]
1. Pertaining to, having the nature of, fire; containing fire; resembling fire; as, an igneous appearance.
2. (Geol.)
Defn: Resulting from, or produced by, the action of fire; as, lavas and basalt are igneous rocks.
IGNESCENT Ig*nes"cent, a. Etym: [L. ignescens, p.pr. of ignescere to become inflamed, fr. ignis fire: cf. F. ignescent.]
Defn: Emitting sparks of fire when struck with steel; scintillating; as, ignescent stones.
IGNICOLISTIg*nic"o*list, n. Etym: [L. ignis fire + colere to worship.]
Defn: A worshiper of fire. [R.]
IGNIFEROUSIg*nif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. ignifer; ignis fire + ferre to bear.]
Defn: Producing fire. [R.] Blount.
IGNIFLUOUSIg*nif"lu*ous, a. Etym: [L. ignifluus; ignis fire + fluere to flow.]
Defn: Flowing with fire. [Obs.] Cockerman.
IGNIFYIg"ni*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ignified; p. pr. & vb. n. Ignifying.]Etym: [L. ignis fire + -fy.]
Defn: To form into fire. [R.] Stukeley.
IGNIGENOUS Ig*nig"e*nous, a. Etym: [L. ignigenus; ignis fire + genere, ginere, to beget, produce.]
Defn: Produced by the action of fire, as lava. [R.]
IGNIPOTENCEIg*nip"o*tence, n.
Defn: Power over fire. [R.]
IGNIPOTENT Ig*nip"o*tent, a. Etym: [L. ignipotens; ignis fire + potens powerful.]
Defn: Presiding over fire; also, fiery.Vulcan is called the powerful ignipotent. Pope.
IGNIS FATUUS Ig"nis fat"u*us; pl. Ignes fatui. Etym: [L. ignis fire + fatuus foolish. So called in allusion to its tendency to mislead travelers.]
1. A phosphorescent light that appears, in the night, over marshy ground, supposed to be occasioned by the decomposition of animal or vegetable substances, or by some inflammable gas; — popularly called also Will-with-the-wisp, or Will-o'-the-wisp, and Jack-with-a- lantern, or Jack-o'-lantern.
2. Fig.: A misleading influence; a decoy. Scared and guided by the ignis fatuus of popular superstition. Jer. Taylor.
IGNITEIg*nite", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ignited; p. pr. & vb. n. Igniting.]Etym: [L. ignitus, p.p. of ignire to ignite, fr. ignis fire. SeeIgneous.]
1. To kindle or set on fire; as, to ignite paper or wood.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: To subject to the action of intense heat; to heat strongly; — often said of incombustible or infusible substances; as, to ignite iron or platinum.
IGNITEIg*nite", v. i.
Defn: To take fire; to begin to burn.
IGNITIBLEIg*nit"i*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being ignited.
IGNITIONIg*ni"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. ignition.]
1. The act of igniting, kindling, or setting on fire.
2. The state of being ignited or kindled. Sir T. Browne.
IGNITORIg*nit"or, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, produces ignition; especially, a contrivance for igniting the powder in a torpedo or the like. [Written also igniter.]
IGNIVOMOUSIg*niv"o*mous, a. Etym: [L. ignivomus; ignis fire + vomere 8vomit.]
Defn: Vomiting fire. [R.]
IGNOBILITYIg`no*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. ignobilitas: cf. F. ignobilité.]
Defn: Ignobleness. [Obs.] Bale.
IGNOBLEIg*no"ble, a. Etym: [L. ignobilis; pref. in- not + nobilis noble: cf.F. ignoble. See In- not, and Noble, a.]