1. To leap or jump.Give me thy knife, I will insult on him. Shak.Like the frogs in the apologue, insulting upon their wooden king.Jer. Taylor.
2. To behave with insolence; to exult. [Archaic] The lion being dead, even hares insult. Daniel. An unwillingness to insult over their helpless fatuity. Landor.
INSULTABLEIn*sult"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being insulted or affronted. [R.] Emerson.
INSULTATION In`sul*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. insultatio, fr. insultare: cf. OF. insultation.]
1. The act of insulting; abusive or insolent treatment; insult. [Obs.] Feltham.
2. Exultation. [Obs.] Is. xiv. (heading).
INSULTERIn*sult"er, n.
Defn: One who insults. Shak.
INSULTINGIn*sult"ing, a.
Defn: Containing, or characterized by, insult or abuse; tending to insult or affront; as, insulting language, treatment, etc. — In*sult"ing*ly, adv.
Syn.— Insolent; impertinent; saucy; rude; abusive; contemptuous. SeeInsolent.
INSULTMENTIn*sult"ment, n.
Defn: Insolent treatment; insult. [Obs.] "My speech of insultment ended." Shak.
INSUMEIn*sume", v. t. Etym: [L. insumere; pre. in- in + sumere to take.]
Defn: To take in; to absorb. [Obs.]
INSUPERABILITYIn*su`per*a*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being insuperable; insuperableness.
INSUPERABLEIn*su"per*a*ble, a. Etym: [L. insuperabilis: cf. OF. insuperable. SeeIn- not, and Superable.]
Defn: Incapable of being passed over or surmounted; insurmountable;as, insuperable difficulties.And middle natures, how they long to join, Yet never pass theinsuperable line Pope.The difficulty is enhanced, or is . . . insuperable. I. Taylor.
Syn.— Impassable; insurmountable; unconquerable.— In*su"per*a*ble*ness, n.— In*su"per*a*bly, adv.
INSUPPORTABLE In`sup*port"a*ble, a. Etym: [L. insupportabilis: cf. F. insupportable. See In- not, and Support.]
Defn: Incapable of being supported or borne; unendurable;insufferable; intolerable; as, insupportable burdens; insupportablepain.— In`sup*port"a*ble*ness, n.— In`sup*port"a*bly, adv.
INSUPPOSABLEIn`sup*pos"a*ble, a.
Defn: Incapable of being supposed; not supposable; inconceivable.
INSUPPRESSIBLEIn`sup*press"i*ble, a.
Defn: That can not be suppressed or concealed; irrepressible. Young.— In`sup*press"i*bly, adv.
INSUPPRESSIVEIn`sup*press"ive, a.
Defn: Insuppressible. [Obs.] "The insuppressive mettle of our spirits." Shak.
INSURABLEIn*sur"a*ble, a. Etym: [From Insure.]
Defn: Capable of being insured against loss, damage, death, etc.; proper to be insured. The French law annuls the latter policies so far as they exceed the insurable interest which remained in the insured at the time of the subscription thereof. Walsh.
INSURANCEIn*sur"ance, n. Etym: [From Insure.]
1. The act of insuring, or assuring, against loss or damage by a contingent event; a contract whereby, for a stipulated consideration, called premium, one party undertakes to indemnify or guarantee another against loss by certain specified risks. Cf. Assurance, n., 6.
Note: The person who undertakes to pay in case of loss is termed the insurer; the danger against which he undertakes, the risk; the person protected, the insured; the sum which he pays for the protection, the premium; and the contract itself, when reduced to form, the policy. Johnson's Cyc.
2. The premium paid for insuring property or life.
3. The sum for which life or property is insured.
4. A guaranty, security, or pledge; assurance. [Obs.] The most acceptable insurance of the divine protection. Mickle. Accident insurance, insurance against pecuniary loss by reason of accident to the person. — Endowment insurance or assurance, a combination of life insurance and investment such that if the person upon whose life a risk is taken dies before a certain specified time the insurance becomes due at once, and if he survives, it becomes due at the time specified. — Fire insurance. See under Fire. — Insurance broker, a broker or agent who effects insurance. — Insurance company, a company or corporation whose business it is to insure against loss, damage, or death. — Insurance policy, a certificate of insurance; the document containing the contract made by an insurance company with a person whose property or life is insured. — Life insurance. See under Life.
INSURANCERIn*sur"an*cer, n.
Defn: One who effects insurance; an insurer; an underwriter. [Obs.] Dryden. hose bold insurancers of deathless fame. Blair.
INSURANTIn*sur"ant, n.
Defn: The person insured. Champness.
INSUREIn"sure, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Insured; p. pr. & vb. n. Insuring.]Etym: [OE. ensuren, prob. for assuren, by a change of prefix. See 1stIn-, and Sure, and cf. Assure, Ensure.] [Written also ensure.]
1. To make sure or secure; as, to insure safety to any one.
2. Specifically, to secure against a loss by a contingent event, on certain stipulated conditions, or at a given rate or premium; to give or to take an insurance on or for; as, a merchant insures his ship or its cargo, or both, against the dangers of the sea; goods and buildings are insured against fire or water; persons are insured against sickness, accident, or death; and sometimes hazardous debts are insured.
INSUREIn*sure", v. i.
Defn: To underwrite; to make insurance; as, a company insures at three per cent.
INSURERIn*sur"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, insures; the person or company that contracts to indemnify losses for a premium; an underwriter.
INSURGENCE; INSURGENCYIn*sur"gence, In*sur"gen*cy, n.
Defn: A state of insurrection; an uprising; an insurrection.A moral insurgence in the minds of grave men against the Court ofRome. G. Eliot.
INSURGENT In*sur"gent, a. Etym: [L. insurgens, p. pr. of insurgere to rise up; pref. in- in + surgere to rise. See Surge.]
Defn: Rising in opposition to civil or political authority, or against an established government; insubordinate; rebellious. "The insurgent provinces." Motley.
INSURGENTIn*sur"gent, n. Etym: [Cf. F. insurgent.]
Defn: A person who rises in revolt against civil authority or an established government; one who openly and actively resists the execution of laws; a rebel.
Syn.— See Rebel.
INSURMOUNTABILITYIn`sur*mount`a*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being insurmountable.
INSURMOUNTABLE In`sur*mount"a*ble, a. Etym: [Pref. in- not + surmountable: cf. F. insurmountable.]
Defn: Incapable of being passed over, surmounted, or overcome; insuperable; as, insurmountable difficulty or obstacle. Locke. Hope thinks nothing difficult; despair tells us that difficulty is insurmountable. I. Watts.
Syn.— Insuperable; impassable; invincible.
INSURMOUNTABLENESSIn`sur*mount"a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being insurmountable; insurmountability.
INSURMOUNTABLYIn`sur*mount"a*bly, adv.
Defn: In a manner or to a degree not to be overcome.
INSURRECTION In`sur*rec"tion, n. Etym: [L. insurrectio, fr. insurgere, insurrectum: cf. F. insurrection. See Insurgent.]
1. A rising against civil or political authority, or the established government; open and active opposition to the execution of law in a city or state. It is found that this city of old time hath made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein. Ezra iv. 19.
2. A rising in mass to oppose an enemy. [Obs.]
Syn. — Insurrection, Sedition, Revolt, Rebellion, Mutiny. Sedition is the raising of commotion in a state, as by conspiracy, without aiming at open violence against the laws. Insurrection is a rising of individuals to prevent the execution of law by force of arms. Revolt is a casting off the authority of a government, with a view to put it down by force, or to substitute one ruler for another. Rebellion is an extended insurrection and revolt. Mutiny is an insurrection on a small scale, as a mutiny of a regiment, or of a ship's crew. I say again, In soothing them, we nourish 'gainst our senate The cockle of rebellion, insolence, sedition. Shak. Insurrections of base people are commonly more furious in their beginnings. Bacon. He was greatly strengthened, and the enemy as much enfeebled, by daily revolts. Sir W. Raleigh. Though of their names in heavenly records now Be no memorial, blotted out and razed By their rebellion from the books of life. Milton.
INSURRECTIONALIn`sur*rec"tion*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. insurrectionnel.]
Defn: Pertaining to insurrection; consisting in insurrection.
INSURRECTIONARYIn`sur*rec"tion*a*ry, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or characterized by, insurrection; rebellious;seditious.Their murderous insurrectionary system. Burke.
INSURRECTIONISTIn`sur*rec"tion*ist, n.
Defn: One who favors, or takes part in, insurrection; an insurgent.
INSUSCEPTIBILITYIn`sus*cep`ti*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: Want of susceptibility, or of capacity to feel or perceive.
INSUSCEPTIBLE In`sus*cep`ti*ble, a. Etym: [Pref. in- not + susceptible: cf. F. insusceptible.]
Defn: Not susceptible; not capable of being moved, affected, or impressed; that can not feel, receive, or admit; as, a limb insusceptible of pain; a heart insusceptible of pity; a mind insusceptible to flattery. — In`sus*cep`ti*bly adv.
INSUSCEPTIVEIn`sus*cep"tive, a.
Defn: Not susceptive or susceptible. [R.] Rambler.
INSUSURRATION In*su`sur*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. insusurratio, fr. insusurrare to whisper into.]
Defn: The act of whispering into something. [Obs.] Johnson.
INSWATHEIn*swathe", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Inswathed; p. pr. & vb. n.Inswating.]
Defn: To wrap up; to infold; to swathe.Inswathed sometimes in wandering mist. Tennyson.
INSWEPTIn"swept`, a.
Defn: Narrowed at the forward end; — said of an automobile frame when the side members are closer together at the forward end than at the rear.
INTACT In*tact", a. Etym: [L. intactus; pref. in- not + tactus, p. p. of tangere to touch: cf. F. intact. See In- not, and Tact, Tangent.]
Defn: Untouched, especially by anything that harms, defiles, or the like; uninjured; undefiled; left complete or entire. Buckle. When all external differences have passed away, one element remains intact, unchanged, — the everlasting basis of our common nature, the human soul. F. W. Robertson.
INTACTIBLE; INTACTABLEIn*tac"ti*ble, In*tac"ta*ble, a.
Defn: Not perceptible to the touch.
INTAGLIATEDIn*tagl"ia*ted, a. Etym: [It. intagliato, p. p. of intagliare. SeeIntaglio.]
Defn: Engraved in intaglio; as, an intagliated stone. T. Warton.
INTAGLIOIn*tagl"io, n.; pl. E. Intaglius, It. Intagli. Etym: [It., fr.intagliare to engrave, carve; pref. in- in + tagliare to cut, carve.See Detail.]
Defn: A cutting or engraving; a figure cut into something, as a gem, so as to make a design depressed below the surface of the material; hence, anything so carved or impressed, as a gem, matrix, etc.; — opposed to cameo. Also used adjectively.
INTAILIn*tail", v. t.
Defn: See Entail, v. t.
INTAKEIn"take`, n.
1. The place where water or air is taken into a pipe or conduit; — opposed to outlet.
2. the beginning of a contraction or narrowing in a tube or cylinder.
3. The quantity taken in; as, the intake of air.
INTAMINATEDIn*tam"i*na`ted, a. Etym: [L. intaminatus. See Contaminate.]
Defn: Uncontaminated. [Obs.] Wood.
INTANGIBILITY In*tan`gi*bil"i*ty, n.; pl. Intangibilities. Etym: [Cf. F. intangibilité.]
Defn: The quality or state of being intangible; intangibleness.
INTANGIBLE In*tan"gi*ble, a. Etym: [Pref. in- not + tangible: cf. F. intangible.]
Defn: Not tangible; incapable of being touched; not perceptible tothe touch; impalpable; imperceptible. Bp. Wilkins.A corporation is an artificial, invisible, intangible being.Marshall.— In*tan"gi*ble*ness, n.— In*tan"gi*bly, adv.
INTANGLEIn*tan"gle, v. t.
Defn: See Entangle.
INTASTABLEIn*tast"a*ble, a.
Defn: Incapable of being tasted; tasteless; unsavory. [R.] Grew.
INTEGERIn"te*ger, n. Etym: [L. integer untouched, whole, entire. SeeEntire.]
Defn: A complete entity; a whole number, in contradistinction to a fraction or a mixed number. Complex integer (Theory of Numbers), an expression of the form a + bsq. root-1, where a and b are real integers.
INTEGRABILITYIn`te*gra*bil"i*ty, n. (Math.)
Defn: The quality of being integrable.
INTEGRABLEIn"te*gra*ble, a. (Math.)
Defn: Capable of being integrated.
INTEGRALIn"te*gral, a. Etym: [Cf. F. intégral. See Integer.]
1. Lacking nothing of completeness; complete; perfect; uninjured; whole; entire. A local motion keepeth bodies integral. Bacon.
2. Essential to completeness; constituent, as a part; pertaining to, or serving to form, an integer; integrant. Ceasing to do evil, and doing good, are the two great integral parts that complete this duty. South.
3. (Math.) (a) Of, pertaining to, or being, a whole number or undivided quantity; not fractional. (b) Pertaining to, or proceeding by, integration; as, the integral calculus. Integral calculus. See under Calculus.
INTEGRALIn"te*gral, n.
1. A whole; an entire thing; a whole number; an individual.
2. (Math.)
Defn: An expression which, being differentiated, will produce a given differential. See differential Differential, and Integration. Cf. Fluent. Elliptic integral, one of an important class of integrals, occurring in the higher mathematics; — so called because one of the integrals expresses the length of an arc of an ellipse.
INTEGRALITYIn`te*gral"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. intégralité.]
Defn: Entireness. [Obs.] Whitaker.
INTEGRALLYIn"te*gral*ly, adv.
Defn: In an integral manner; wholly; completely; also, by integration.
INTEGRANT In"te*grant, a. Etym: [L. integrans, -antis, p. pr. of integrare to make whole, renew: cf. F. intégrant. See Integrate.]
Defn: Making part of a whole; necessary to constitute an entire thing; integral. Boyle. All these are integrant parts of the republic. Burke. Integrant parts, or particles, of bodies, those smaller particles into which a body may be reduced without loss of its original constitution, as by mechanical division.
INTEGRATEIn"te*grate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Integrated; p. pr. & vb. n.Integrating.] Etym: [L. integratus, p. p. of integrare to make whole,renew: cf. F. intégrer. See Integer, Entire.]
1. To form into one whole; to make entire; to complete; to renew; to restore; to perfect. "That conquest rounded and integrated the glorious empire." De Quincey. Two distinct substances, the soul and body, go to compound and integrate the man. South.
2. To indicate the whole of; to give the sum or total of; as, an integrating anemometer, one that indicates or registers the entire action of the wind in a given time.
3. (Math.)
Defn: To subject to the operation of integration; to find the integral of.
INTEGRATION In`te*gra"tion, n. Etym: [L. integratio a renewing, restoring: cf. F. intégration.]
1. The act or process of making whole or entire.
2. (Math.)
Defn: The operation of finding the primitive function which has a given function for its differential coefficient. See Integral.
Note: The symbol of integration is summa sum), and the integral is also regarded as the limiting value of the sum of great numbers of differentials, when the magnitude of the differentials decreases, and their number increases indefinitely. See Limit, n. When the summation is made between specified values of the variable, the result is a definite integral, and those values of the variable are the limits of the integral. When the summation is made successively for two or more variables, the result is a multiple integral.
3. In the theory of evolution: The process by which the manifold is compacted into the relatively simple and permanent. It is supposed to alternate with differentiation as an agent in development.
INTEGRATORIn"te*gra`tor, n. (Math. & Mech.)
Defn: That which integrates; esp., an instrument by means of which the area of a figure can be measured directly, or its moment of inertia, or statical moment, etc., be determined.
INTEGRITY In*teg"ri*ty, n. Etym: [L. integritas: cf. F. intégrité. See Integer, and cf. Entirety.]
1. The state or quality of being entire or complete; wholeness; entireness; unbroken state; as, the integrity of an empire or territory. Sir T. More.
2. Moral soundness; honesty; freedom from corrupting influence or motive; — used especially with reference to the fulfillment of contracts, the discharge of agencies, trusts, and the like; uprightness; rectitude. The moral grandeur of independent integrity is the sublimest thing in nature. Buckminster. Their sober zeal, integrity. and worth. Cowper.
3. Unimpaired, unadulterated, or genuine state; entire correspondence with an original condition; purity. Language continued long in its purity and integrity. Sir M. Hale.
Syn.— Honesty; uprightness; rectitude. See Probity.
INTEGROPALLIALIn`te*gro*pal"li*al, a. Etym: [L. integer whole + E. pallial.](Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the pallial line entire, or without a sinus, as certain bivalve shells.
INTEGUMATIONIn*teg`u*ma"tion, n. Etym: [See Integument.]
Defn: That part of physiology which treats of the integuments of animals and plants.
INTEGUMENT In*teg"u*ment, n. Etym: [L. integumentum, fr. integere to cover; pref. in- in, on + tegere to cover: cf. F. intégument. See 1st n-, and Tegument.]
Defn: That which naturally invests or covers another thing, as the testa or the tegmen of a seed; specifically (Anat.), a covering which invests the body, as the skin, or a membrane that invests a particular.
INTEGUMENTARYIn*teg`u*men"ta*ry, n.
Defn: Belonging to, or composed of, integuments.
INTEGUMENTATIONIn*teg`u*men*ta"tion, n.
Defn: The act or process of covering with integuments; the state or manner of being thus covered.
INTELLECT In"tel*lect, n. Etym: [L. intellectus, fr. intelligere, intellectum, to understand: cf. intellect. See Intelligent.] (Metaph.)
Defn: The part or faculty of the human soul by which it knows, as distinguished from the power to feel and to will; sometimes, the capacity for higher forms of knowledge, as distinguished from the power to perceive objects in their relations; the power to judge and comprehend; the thinking faculty; the understanding.
INTELLECTEDIn"tel*lect`ed, a.
Defn: Endowed with intellect; having intellectual powers orcapacities. [R.]In body, and in bristles, they became As swine, yet intellected asbefore. Cowper.
INTELLECTION In`tel*lec"tion, n. Etym: [L. intellectio synecdoche: cf. F. intellection.]
Defn: A mental act or process; especially: (a) The act of understanding; simple apprehension of ideas; intuition. Bentley. (b) A creation of the mind itself. Hickok.
INTELLECTIVEIn`tel*lec"tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. intellectif.]
1. Pertaining to, or produced by, the intellect or understanding; intellectual.
2. Having power to understand, know, or comprehend; intelligent; rational. Glanvill.
3. Capable of being perceived by the understanding only, not by the senses. Intellective abstractions of logic and metaphysics. Milton.
INTELLECTIVELYIn`tel*lec"tive*ly, adv.
Defn: In an intellective manner. [R.] "Not intellectivelly to write."Warner.
INTELLECTUALIn`tel*lec"tu*al, a. Etym: [L. intellectualis: cf. F. intellectuel.]
1. Belonging to, or performed by, the intellect; mental; as, intellectual powers, activities, etc. Logic is to teach us the right use of our reason or intellectual powers. I. Watts.
2. Endowed with intellect; having the power of understanding; having capacity for the higher forms of knowledge or thought; characterized by intelligence or mental capacity; as, an intellectual person. Who would lose, Though full of pain, this intellectual being, Those thoughts that wander through eternity Milton.
3. Suitable for exercising the intellect; formed by, and existing for, the intellect alone; perceived by the intellect; as, intellectual employments.
4. Relating to the understanding; treating of the mind; as, intellectual philosophy, sometimes called "mental" philosophy.
INTELLECTUALIn`tel*lec"tu*al, n.
Defn: The intellect or understanding; mental powers or faculties.Her husband, for I view far round, not nigh, Whose higherintellectual more I shun. Milton.I kept her intellectuals in a state of exercise. De Quincey.
INTELLECTUALISMIn`tel*lec"tu*al*ism, n.
1. Intellectual power; intellectuality.
2. The doctrine that knowledge is derived from pure reason.
INTELLECTUALISTIn`tel*lec"tu*al*ist, n.
1. One who overrates the importance of the understanding. [R.] Bacon.
2. One who accepts the doctrine of intellectualism.
INTELLECTUALITY In`tel*lec`tu*al"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. intellectualitas: cf. F. intellectualité.]
Defn: Intellectual powers; possession of intellect; quality of being intellectual.
INTELLECTUALIZEIn`tel*lec"tu*al*ize, v. t.
1. To treat in an intellectual manner; to discuss intellectually; to reduce to intellectual form; to express intellectually; to idealize. Sentiment is intellectualized emotion. Lowell.
2. To endow with intellect; to bestow intellectual qualities upon; to cause to become intellectual.
INTELLECTUALLYIn`tel*lec"tu*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In an intellectual manner.
INTELLIGENCE In*tel"li*gence, n. Etym: [F. intelligence, L. intelligentia, intellegentia. See Intelligent.]
1. The act or state of knowing; the exercise of the understanding.
2. The capacity to know or understand; readiness of comprehension; the intellect, as a gift or an endowment. And dimmed with darkness their intelligence. Spenser.
3. Information communicated; news; notice; advice. Intelligence is given where you are hid. Shak.
4. Acquaintance; intercourse; familiarity. [Obs.] He lived rather in a fair intelligence than any friendship with the favorites. Clarendon.
5. Knowledge imparted or acquired, whether by study, research, or experience; general information. I write as he that none intelligence Of meters hath, nCourt of Love.
6. An intelligent being or spirit; — generally applied to pure spirits; as, a created intelligence. Milton. The great Intelligences fair That range above our mortal state, In circle round the blessed gate, Received and gave him welcome there. Tennyson. Intelligence office, an office where information may be obtained, particularly respecting servants to be hired.
Syn. — Understanding; intellect; instruction; advice; notice; notification; news; information; report.
INTELLIGENCERIn*tel"li*gen*cer, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, sends or conveys intelligence or news;a messenger.All the intriguers in foreign politics, all the spies, and all theintelligencers . . . acted solely upon that principle. Burke.
INTELLIGENCINGIn*tel"li*gen*cing, a.
Defn: Informing; giving information; talebearing. [Obs.] Shak.That sad intelligencing tyrant. Milton.
INTELLIGENCYIn*tel"li*gen*cy, n.
Defn: Intelligence. [Obs.] Evelyn.
INTELLIGENT In*tel"li*gent, a. Etym: [L. intelligens, intellegens, -entis, p. pr. of intelligere, intellegere, to perceive; inter between + legere to gather, collect, choose: cf. F. intelligent. See Legend.]
1. Endowed with the faculty of understanding or reason; as, man is an intelligent being.
2. Possessed of intelligence, education, or judgment; knowing; sensible; skilled; marked by intelligence; as, an intelligent young man; an intelligent architect; an intelligent answer.
3. Gognizant; aware; communicate. [Obs.] Intelligent of seasons. Milton. Which are to France the spies and speculations Intelligent of our state. Shak.
Syn.— Sensible; understanding. See Sensible.
INTELLIGENTIALIn*tel`li*gen"tial, a. Etym: [Cf. F. intelligentiel.] [R.]
1. Of or pertaining to the intelligence; exercising or implying understanding; intellectual. "With act intelligential." Milton.
2. Consisting of unembodied mind; incorporeal. Food alike those pure Intelligential substances require. Milton.
INTELLIGENTIARYIn*tel`li*gen"tia*ry, n.
Defn: One who gives information; an intelligencer. [Obs.] Holinshed.
INTELLIGENTLYIn*tel"li*gent*ly, adv.
Defn: In an intelligent manner; with intelligence.
INTELLIGIBILITYIn*tel`li*gi*bil"i*ty, Etym: [Cf. F. intelligilibilité.]
Defn: The quality or state of being intelligible; clearness; perspicuity; definiteness.
INTELLIGIBLEIn*tel"li*gi*ble, Etym: [L. intellegibilis: cf. F. intelligible. SeeIntelligent.]
Defn: Capable of being understood or comprehended; as, anintelligible account or description; intelligible pronunciation,writing, etc.The intelligible forms of ancient poets. Coleridge.
Syn.— Comprehensible; perspicuous; plain; clear.
INTELLIGIBLENESSIn*tel"li*gi*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being intelligible; intelligibility.Locke.
INTELLIGIBLYIn*tel"li*gi*bly, adv.
Defn: In an intelligible manner; so as to be understood; clearly; plainly; as, to write or speak intelligibly.
INTEMERATE; INTEMERATED In*tem"er*ate, In*tem"er*a`ted, a. Etym: [L. intemeratus; pref. in- not + temeratus defiled.]
Defn: Pure; undefiled. [Obs.]
INTEMERATENESSIn*tem"er*ate*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being unpolluted; purity. [Obs.] Donne.
INTEMPERAMENTIn*tem"per*a*ment, n.
Defn: A bad state; as, the intemperament of an ulcerated part. [R.]Harvey.
INTEMPERANCE In*tem"per*ance, n. Etym: [F. intempérance, L. intemperantia. See In- not, and Temperance.]
1. The act of becoming, or state of being, intemperate; excess in any kind of action or indulgence; any immoderate indulgence of the appetites or passions. God is in every creature; be cruel toward none, neither abuse any by intemperance. Jer. Taylor. Some, as thou sawest, by violent stroke shall die, By fire, flood, famine, by intemperance more In meats and drinks. Milton.
2. Specifically: Habitual or excessive indulgence in alcoholic liquors.
INTEMPERANCYIn*tem"per*an*cy, n.
Defn: Intemperance. [Obs.]
INTEMPERANTIn*tem"per*ant, a. Etym: [L. intemperans, -antis. See In- not, andTemperant.]
Defn: Intemperate. [Obs.] Such as be intemperant, that is, followers of their naughty appetites and lusts. Udall.
INTEMPERATEIn*tem`per*ate, a. Etym: [L. intemperatus. See In- not, andTemperate.]
1. Indulging any appetite or passion to excess; immoderate to enjoyments or exertion.
2. Specifically, addicted to an excessive or habitual use of alcoholic liquors.
3. Excessive; ungovernable; inordinate; violent; immoderate; as, intemperate language, zeal, etc.; intemperate weather. Most do taste through fond intemperate thirst. Milton. Use not thy mouth to intemperate swearing. Ecclus. xxiii. 13.
INTEMPERATEIn*tem`per*ate, v. t.
Defn: To disorder. [Obs.]
INTEMPERATELYIn*tem`per*ate*ly, adv.
Defn: In an intemperate manner; immoderately; excessively; withoutrestraint.The people . . . who behaved very unwisely and intemperately on thatoccasion. Burke.
INTEMPERATENESSIn*tem`per*ate*ness, n.
1. The state of being intemperate; excessive indulgence of any appetite or passion; as, intemperateness in eating or drinking.
2. Severity of weather; inclemency. Boyle. By unseasonable weather, by intemperateness of the air or meteors. Sir M. Hale.
INTEMPERATUREIn*tem"per*a*ture, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. intemperature.]
Defn: Intemperateness. [Obs.] Boyle.
INTEMPESTIVEIn`tem*pes"tive, a. Etym: [L. intempestivus: cf. F. intempestif. SeeIn- not, and Tempestive.]
Defn: Out of season; untimely. [Obs.] Burton.Intempestive bashfulness gets nothing. Hales.
INTEMPESTIVELYIn`tem*pes"tive*ly, adv.
Defn: Unseasonably. [Obs.]
INTEMPESTIVITY In*tem`pes*tiv"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. intempestivitas: cf. F. intempestivité.]
Defn: Unseasonableness; untimeliness. [Obs.] Hales.
INTENABLEIn*ten"a*ble, a. Etym: [Pref. in- not + tenable: cf. F. intenable.]
Defn: Incapable of being held; untenable; not defensible; as, an intenable opinion; an intenable fortress. [Obs.] Bp. Warburton.
INTEND In*tend", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Intended; p. pr. & vb. n. Intending.] Etym: [OE. entenden to be attentive, F. entendre, fr. L. intendre, intentum, and intensum, to intend, attend, stretch out, extend; pref. in- in + tendere to stretch, stretch out. See Tend.]
1. To stretch' to extend; to distend. [Obs.] By this the lungs are intended or remitted. Sir M. Hale.
2. To strain; to make tense. [Obs.] When a bow is successively intended and remedied. Cudworth.
3. To intensify; to strengthen. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne. Magnetism may be intended and remitted. Sir I. Newton.
4. To apply with energy. Let him intend his mind, without respite, without rest, in one direction. Emerson.
5. To bend or turn; to direct, as one's course or journey. [Archaic] Shak.
6. To fix the mind on; to attend to; to take care of; to superintend; to regard. [Obs.] Having no children, she did, with singular care and tenderness, intend the education of Philip. Bacon. My soul, not being able to intend two things at once, abated of its fervency in praying. Fuller.
7. To fix the mind upon (something to be accomplished); to be intent upon; to mean; to design; to plan; to purpose; — often followed by an infinitely with to, or a dependent clause with that; as, he intends to go; he intends that she shall remain. They intended evil against thee. Ps. xxi. 11. To-morrow he intends To hunt the boar with certain of his friends. Shak.
8. To design mechanically or artistically; to fashion; to mold. [Obs.] Modesty was made When she was first intended. Beau. & Fl.
9. To pretend; to counterfeit; to simulate. [Obs.] Intend a kind of zeal both to the prince and Claudio. Shak.
Syn.— To purpose; mean; design; plan; conceive; contemplate.
INTENDANCYIn*tend"an*cy, n.; pl. Intendancies. Etym: [Cf. F. intendance. SeeIntendant.]
1. The office or employment of an intendant.
2. A territorial district committed to the charge of an intendant.
INTENDANT In*tend"ant, n. Etym: [F. intendant, fr. L. intendere to direct (one's thoughts) to a thing. See Intend.]
Defn: One who has the charge, direction, or management of some public business; a superintendent; as, an intendant of marine; an intendant of finance.
INTENDANTIn*tend"ant, a. Etym: [See Intend.]
Defn: Attentive. [Obs.]
INTENDEDIn*tend"ed, a.
1. Made tense; stretched out; extended; forcible; violent. [Obs.] Spenser.
2. Purposed; designed; as, intended harm or help. They drew a curse from an intended good. Cowper.
3. Betrothed; affianced; as, an intended husband.
INTENDEDIn*tend"ed, n.
Defn: One with whom marriage is designed; one who is betrothed; anaffianced lover.If it were not that I might appear to disparage his intended, . . . Iwould add that to me she seems to be throwing herself away. Dickens.
INTENDEDLYIn*tend"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: Intentionally. [R.] Milton.
INTENDENTIn*tend"ent, n.
Defn: See Intendant, n. [Obs.]
INTENDERIn*tend"er, n.
Defn: One who intends. Feltham.
INTENDIMENTIn*tend"i*ment, n. Etym: [LL. intendimentum. See Intendment.]
Defn: Attention; consideration; knowledge; understanding. [Obs.]Spenser.
INTENDMENT In*tend"ment, n. Etym: [OE. entendement understanding, insight, F. entendement, fr. LL. intendimentum. See Intend.]
1. Charge; oversight. [Obs.] Ford.
2. Intention; design; purpose. The intendment of God and nature. Jer. Taylor.
3. (Law)
Defn: The true meaning, understanding, or intention of a law, or of any legal instrument.
INTENERATEIn*ten"er*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Intenerated; p. pr. & vb. n.Intenerating.] Etym: [Pref. in- in + L. tener soft, tender. SeeTender, a.]
Defn: To make tender or sensitive; to soften.
Fear intenerates the heart. Bp. Hall. So have I seen the little purls of a stream . . . intenerate the stubborn pavement. Jer. Taylor.
INTENERATEIn*ten"er*ate, a.
Defn: Made tender or soft; softened. [Obs.]
INTENERATIONIn*ten`er*a"tion, n.
Defn: The act or process of intenerating, or the state of being intenerated; softening. [R.] Bacon.
INTENIBLE In*ten"i*ble, a. Etym: [Pref. in- not + L. tenere to hold: cf. L. intenibilis not to be grasped. Cf. Intenable.]
Defn: Incapable of holding or containing. [Obs.]This captious and intenible sieve. Shak.
INTENSATEIn*ten"sate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Intensated; p. pr. & vb. n.Intensating.] Etym: [See Intense.]
Defn: To intensify. [R.] Emerson.
INTENSATIONIn`ten*sa"tion, n.
Defn: The act or process of intensifying; intensification; climax.[R.] Carlyle.
INTENSATIVEIn*ten"sa*tive, a.
Defn: Adding intensity; intensifying.
INTENSEIn*tense", a. Etym: [L. intensus stretched, tight, p. p. of intendereto stretch: cf. F. intense. See Intend, and cf. Intent, and cf.Intent, a.]
1. Strained; tightly drawn; kept on the stretch; strict; very close or earnest; as, intense study or application; intense thought.
2. Extreme in degree; excessive; immoderate; as: (a) Ardent; fervent; as, intense heat. (b) Keen; biting; as, intense cold. (c) Vehement; earnest; exceedingly strong; as, intense passion or hate. (d) Very severe; violent; as, intense pain or anguish. (e) Deep; strong; brilliant; as, intense color or light. In this intense seclusion of the forest. Hawthorne.
INTENSELYIn*tense"ly, adv.
1. Intently. [Obs.] J. Spencer.
2. To an extreme degree; as, weather intensely cold.
INTENSENESSIn*tense"ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being intense; intensity; as, the intenseness of heat or cold; the intenseness of study or thought.
INTENSIFICATIONIn*ten`si*fi*ca"tion, n.
Defn: The act or process of intensifying, or of making more intense.
INTENSIFIERIn*ten"si*fi`er, n.
Defn: One who or that which intensifies or strengthens; in photography, an agent used to intensify the lights or shadows of a picture.
INTENSIFYIn*ten"si*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Intensified; p. pr. & vb. n.Intensifying.] Etym: [Intense + -fly.]
Defn: To render more intense; as, to intensify heat or cold; to intensify colors; to intensify a photographic negative; to intensify animosity. Bacon. How piercing is the sting of pride By want embittered and intensified. Longfellow.
INTENSIFYIn*ten"si*fy, v. i.
Defn: To become intense, or more intense; to act with increasing power or energy.
INTENSION In*ten"sion, n. Etym: [L. intensio: cf. F. intension. See Intend, and cf. Intention.]
1. A straining, stretching, or bending; the state of being strained; as, the intension of a musical string.
2. Increase of power or energy of any quality or thing; intenseness; fervency. Jer. Taylor. Sounds . . . likewise do rise and fall with the intension or remission of the wind. Bacon.
3. (Logic & Metaph.)
Defn: The collective attributes, qualities, or marks that make up a complex general notion; the comprehension, content, or connotation; - - opposed to extension, extent, or sphere. This law is, that the intension of our knowledge is in the inverse ratio of its extension. Sir W. Hamilton.
INTENSITIVEIn*ten"si*tive, a.
Defn: Increasing the force or intensity of; intensive; as, the intensitive words of a sentence. H. Sweet.
INTENSITYIn*ten"si*ty, n. Etym: [LL. intensitas: cf. F. intensité. SeeIntense.]
1. The state or quality of being intense; intenseness; extreme degree; as, intensity of heat, cold, mental application, passion, etc. If you would deepen the intensity of light, you must be content to bring into deeper blackness and more distinct and definite outline the shade that accompanies it. F. W. Robertson.
2. (Physics)
Defn: The amount or degree of energy with which a force operates or a cause acts; effectiveness, as estimated by results produced.
3. (Mech.)
Defn: The magnitude of a distributed force, as pressure, stress, weight, etc., per unit of surface, or of volume, as the case may be; as, the measure of the intensity of a total stress of forty pounds which is distributed uniformly over a surface of four square inches area is ten pounds per square inch.
4. (Photog.)
Defn: The degree or depth of shade in a picture.
INTENSIVEIn*ten"sive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. intensif. See Intense.]
1. Stretched; admitting of intension, or increase of degree; that can be intensified. Sir M. Hale.
2. Characterized by persistence; intent; unremitted; assiduous; intense. [Obs.] Sir H. Wotton.
3. (Gram.)
Defn: Serving to give force or emphasis; as, an intensive verb or preposition.
INTENSIVEIn*ten"sive, n.
Defn: That which intensifies or emphasizes; an intensive verb or word.
INTENSIVELYIn*ten"sive*ly, adv.
Defn: In an intensive manner; by increase of degree. Abp. Bramhall.
INTENSIVENESSIn*ten"sive*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being intensive; intensity. Sir M.Hale.
INTENT In*tent", a. Etym: [L. intentus, p. p. of intendere. See Intend, and cf. Intense.]
1. Closely directed; strictly attentive; bent; — said of the mind, thoughts, etc.; as, a mind intent on self-improvement.
2. Having the mind closely directed to or bent on an object; sedulous; eager in pursuit of an object; — formerly with to, but now with on; as, intent on business or pleasure. "Intent on mischief." Milton. Be intent and solicitous to take up the meaning of the speaker. I. Watts.
INTENTIn*tent", n. Etym: [OE. entent, entente, attention, purpose, OF.entente, F. entente understanding, meaning; a participial noun, fr.F. & OF. entendre. See Intend.]
Defn: The act of turning the mind toward an object; hence, a design; a purpose; intention; meaning; drift; aim. Be thy intents wicked or charitable. Shak. The principal intent of Scripture is to deliver the Hooker. To all intents, and purposes, in all applications or senses; practically; really; virtually; essentially. "He was miserable to all intents and purpose." L'Estrange.
Syn. — Design; purpose; intention; meaning; purport; view; drift; object; end; aim; plan.
INTENTATIONIn`ten*ta"tion, n.
Defn: Intention. [Obs.]
INTENTIONIn*ten"tion, n. Etym: [F. intention, L. intentio. See Intend, and cf.Intension.]
1. A stretching or bending of the mind toward of the mind toward an object; closeness of application; fixedness of attention; earnestness. Intention is when the mind, with great earnestness, and of choice, fixes its view on any idea. Locke.
2. A determination to act in a certain way or to do a certain thing; purpose; design; as, an intention to go to New York. Hell is paved with good intentions. Johnson.
3. The object toward which the thoughts are directed; end; aim. In [chronical distempers], the principal intention is to restore the tone of the solid parts. Arbuthnot.
4. The state of being strained. See Intension. [Obs.]
5. (Logic)
Defn: Any mental apprehension of an object. First intention (Logic), a conception of a thing formed by the first or direct application of the mind to the individual object; an idea or image; as, man, stone. — Second intention (Logic), a conception generalized from first intuition or apprehension already formed by the mind; an abstract notion; especially, a classified notion, as species, genus, whiteness. — To heal by the first intention (Surg.), to cicatrize, as a wound, without suppuration. — To heal by the second intention (Surg.), to unite after suppuration.
Syn.— Design; purpose; object; aim; intent; drift; purport; meaning.See Design.
INTENTIONALIn*ten"tion*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. intentionnel.]
Defn: Done by intention or design; intended; designed; as, the act was intentional, not accidental.
INTENTIONALITYIn*ten`tion*al"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being intentional; purpose; design.Coleridge.
INTENTIONALLYIn*ten"tion*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In an intentional manner; with intention; by design; of purpose.
INTENTIONEDIn*ten"tioned, a.
Defn: Having designs; — chiefly used in composition; as, well- intentioned, having good designs; ill-intentioned, having ill designs.
INTENTIVE In*ten"tive, a. Etym: [OE. ententif, OF. ententif, fr. L. intentivus intensive. See Intent, n., and cf. Intensive.]
Defn: Attentive; intent. [Obs.] Spenser.
INTENTIVELYIn*ten"tive*ly, adv.
Defn: Attentively; closely. [Obs.] "Intentively to observe." Holland.
INTENTIVENESSIn*ten"tive*ness, n.
Defn: Closeness of attention or application of mind; attentiveness.[Obs.] W. Montagu.
INTENTLYIn*tent"ly, adv.
Defn: In an intent manner; as, the eyes intently fixed.
Syn. — Fixedly; steadfastly; earnestly; attentively; sedulously; diligently; eagerly.
INTENTNESSIn*tent"ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being intent; close application;attention.Extreme solicitude or intentness upon business. South.
INTER-In"ter-. Etym: [L. inter, prep., among, between, a compar. form of inin; akin to intra, intro, within, Skr. antar between, in, and E.in.See In, and cf. Entrails, Interior, Enter-, Exterior.]
Defn: A prefix signifying among, between, amid; as, interact, interarticular, intermit.
INTERIn*ter", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Interred; p. pr. & vb. n. Interring.]Etym: [OE. enteren, OF. enterer, enterrer, LL. interrare; L. pref.in- in + terra the earth. See Terrace.]
Defn: To deposit and cover in the earth; to bury; to inhume; as, to inter a dead body. Shak.
INTERACTIn`ter*act", n. Etym: [Pref. inter- + act. Cf. Entr'acte.]
Defn: A short act or piece between others, as in a play; an interlude; hence, intermediate employment or time. Chesterfield.
INTERACTIn`ter*act", v. i.
Defn: To act upon each other; as, two agents mutually interact.Emerson. Tyndall.
INTERACTIONIn`ter*ac"tion, n.
1. Intermediate action.
2. Mutual or reciprocal action or influence; as, the interaction of the heart and lungs on each other.
INTERADDITIVEIn`ter*ad"di*tive, a.
Defn: Added or placed between the parts of another thing, as a clause inserted parenthetically in a sentence.
INTERAGENCYIn`ter*a"gen*cy, n.
Defn: Intermediate agency.
INTERAGENTIn`ter*a"gent, n.
Defn: An intermediate agent.
INTERALLIn"ter*all, n.
Defn: Entrail or inside. [Obs.] G. Fletcher.
INTERALVEOLARIn`ter*al"ve*o*lar, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Between alveoli; as, the interalveolar septa between adjacent air cells in the lungs.
INTERAMBULACRALIn`ter*am`bu*la"cral, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the interambulacra.
INTERAMBULACRUMIn`ter*am`bu*la"crum, n.; pl. L. Interambulacra (, E.Interambulacrums (. (Zoöl.)
Defn: In echinoderms, one of the areas or zones intervening between two ambulacra. See Illust. of Ambulacrum.
INTERAMNIAN In`ter*am"ni*an, a. Etym: [Pref. inter- + L. amnis river: cf. L. interamnus.]
Defn: Situated between rivers. [R.] "An interamnian country." J.Bryant.
INTERANIMATEIn`ter*an"i*mate, v. t.
Defn: To animate or inspire mutually. [Obs.] Donne.
INTERARBORATIONIn`ter*ar`bo*ra"tion, n.
Defn: The interweaving of branches of trees. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
INTERARTICULARIn`ter*ar*tic"u*lar, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Situated between joints or articulations; as, interarticular cartilages and ligaments.
INTERATOMICIn`ter*a*tom"ic, a. (Chem. & Physics)
Defn: Between atoms; situated, or acting, between the atoms of bodies; as, interatomic forces.
INTERAULICIn`ter*au"lic, a.
Defn: Existing between royal courts. [R.] "Interaulic politics."Motley.
INTERAURICULARIn`ter*au*ric"u*lar, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Between the auricles; as, the interauricular partition of the heart.
INTERAXALIn`ter*ax"al, a. (Arch.)
Defn: Situated in an interaxis. Gwilt.
INTERAXILLARYIn`ter*ax"il*la*ry, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Situated within or between the axils of leaves.
INTERAXISIn`ter*ax"is, n.; pl. Interaxes (. (Arch.)
Defn: The space between two axes. See Axis, 6. The doors, windows, niches, and the like, are then placed centrally in the interaxes. Gwilt.
INTERBASTATIONIn`ter*bas*ta"tion, n. Etym: [Pref. inter- + baste to sew.]
Defn: Patchwork. [Obs.] Dr. J. Smith.
INTERBRACHIALIn`ter*brach"i*al, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Between the arms.
INTERBRAINIn`ter*brain`, n. (Anat.)
Defn: See Thalamencephalon.
INTERBRANCHIALIn`ter*bran"chi*al, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Between the branchiæ.
INTERBREEDIn`ter*breed", v. t. & i.
Defn: To breed by crossing different stocks of animals or plants.
INTERCALARIn*ter"ca*lar, a.
Defn: Intercalary.
INTERCALARY In*ter"ca*la*ry, a. Etym: [L. intercalaris, intercalarius: cf. F. intercalaire. See Intercalate.]
1. (Chron.)
Defn: Inserted or introduced among others in the calendar; as, an intercalary month, day, etc.; — now applied particularly to the odd day (Feb. 29) inserted in the calendar of leap year. See Bissextile, n.
2. Introduced or inserted among others; additional; supernumerary. "Intercalary spines." Owen. This intercalary line . . . is made the last of a triplet. Beattie. Intercalary day (Med.), one on which no paroxysm of an intermittent disease occurs. Mayne.
INTERCALATEIn*ter"ca*late, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Intercalated; p. pr. & vb. n.Intercalating.] Etym: [L. intercalatus, p. p. of intercalare tointercalate to intercalate; inter between + calare to call, proclaim.See Calendar.]
1. (Chron.)
Defn: To insert, as a day or other portion of time, in a calendar.
2. To insert among others, as a verse in a stanza; specif. (Geol.), to introduce as a bed or stratum, between the layers of a regular series of rocks. Beds of fresh-water shells . . . are intercalated and interstratified with the shale. Mantell.
INTERCALATIONIn*ter`ca*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. intercalatio: cf. F. intercalation.]
1. (Chron.)
Defn: The insertion of a day, or other portion of time, in a calendar.
2. The insertion or introduction of anything among others, as the insertion of a phrase, line, or verse in a metrical composition; specif. (Geol.), the intrusion of a bed or layer between other layers. Intercalations of fresh-water species in some localities. Mantell.
INTERCAROTIDIn`ter*ca*rot"id, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Situated between the external and internal carotid arteries; as, an intercarotid ganglion.
INTERCARPALIn`ter*car"pal, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Between the carpal bone; as, intercarpal articulations, ligaments.
INTERCARTILAGINOUSIn`ter*car`ti*lag"i*nous, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Within cartilage; endochondral; as, intercartilaginous ossification.
INTERCAVERNOUSIn`ter*cav"ern*ous, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Between the cavernous sinuses; as, the intercavernous sinuses connecting the cavernous sinuses at the base of the brain.
INTERCEDEIn`ter*cede", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Interceded; p. pr. & vb. n.Interceding.] Etym: [L. intercedere, intercessum; inter between +cedere to pass: cf. F. intercéder. See Cede.]
1. To pass between; to intervene. [Obs.] He supposed that a vast period interceded between that origination and the age wherein he lived. Sir M. Hale.
2. To act between parties with a view to reconcile differences; to make intercession; to beg or plead in behalf of another; to mediate; — usually followed by with and for; as, I will intercede with him for you. I to the lords will intercede, not doubting Their favorable ear. Milton.
Syn.— To mediate; arbitrate. See Interpose.
INTERCEDEIn`ter*cede", v. t.
Defn: To be, to come, or to pass, between; to separate. [Obs.] Sir I.Newton.
INTERCEDENCEIn`ter*ced"ence, n.
Defn: The act of interceding; intercession; intervention. [R.] Bp.Reynolds.
INTERCEDENTIn`ter*ced"ent, a. Etym: [L. intercedens, p. pr. of intercedere.]
Defn: Passing between; mediating; pleading. [R.] —In`ter*ced"ent*ly, adv.
INTERCEDERIn`ter*ced"er, n.
Defn: One who intercedes; an intercessor; a mediator. Johnson.
INTERCELLULARIn`ter*cel"lu*lar, a.
Defn: Lying between cells or cellules; as, intercellular substance, space, or fluids; intercellular blood channels.
INTERCENTRALIn`ter*cen"tral, a.
Defn: Between centers. Intercentral nerves (Physiol.), those nerves which transmit impulses between nerve centers, as opposed to peripheral fibers, which convey impulses between peripheral parts and nerve centers.
INTERCENTRUMIn`ter*cen"trum, n.; pl. Intercentra (. (Anat.)
Defn: The median of the three elements composing the centra of the vertebræ in some fossil batrachians.
INTERCEPTIn`ter*cept", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Intercepted; p. pr. & vb. n.Intercepting.] Etym: [L. interceptus, p. p. of intercipere tointercept; inter between + capere to take, seize: cf. F. intercepter.See Capable.]
1. To take or seize by the way, or before arrival at the destined place; to cause to stop on the passage; as, to intercept a letter; a telegram will intercept him at Paris. God will shortly intercept your breath. Joye.
2. To obstruct or interrupt the progress of; to stop; to hinder or oppose; as, to intercept the current of a river. Who intercepts me in my expedition Shak. We must meet first, and intercept his course. Dryden.
3. To interrupt communication with, or progress toward; to cut off, as the destination; to blockade. While storms vindictive intercept the shore. Pope.
4. (Math.)
Defn: To include between; as, that part of the intercepted between the points A and B.
Syn.— To cut off; stop; catch; seize; obstruct.
INTERCEPTIn"ter*cept`, n. (Math.)
Defn: A part cut off or intercepted, as a portion of a line included between two points, or cut off two straight lines or curves.
INTERCEPTERIn`ter*cept"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, intercepts. Shak.
INTERCEPTION In`ter*cep"tion, n. Etym: [L. interceptio a taking away: cf. F. interception.]
Defn: The act of intercepting; as, interception of a letter; interception of the enemy.
INTERCEPTIVEIn`ter*cept"ive, a.
Defn: Intercepting or tending to intercept.
INTERCESSION In`ter*ces"sion, n. Etym: [L. intercessio an intervention, a becoming surety: cf. F. intercession. See Intercede.]
Defn: The act of interceding; mediation; interposition between parties at variance, with a view to reconcilation; prayer, petition, or entreaty in favor of, or (less often) against, another or others. But the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which can not be uttered. Rom. viii. 26.
INTERCESSIONALIn`ter*ces"sion*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, of the nature of, or characterized by, intercession or entreaty.
INTERCESSIONATEIn`ter*ces"sion*ate, v. t.