Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary

INOBSERVATION — INSECURITY

INOBSERVATION, n. Neglect or want of observation.

INOCULATE, v.t. [L. inoculo; in and occulus, the eye.]

1. To bud; to insert the bud of a tree or plant in another tree or plant, for the purpose of growth on the new stock. All sorts of stone fruit, apples, pears, etc. may be inoculated. We inoculate the stock with a foreign bud.

2. To communicate a disease to a person by inserting infectious matter in his skin or flesh; as, to inoculate a person with the matter of small pox or cow pox. When the latter disease is communicated, it is called vaccination.

INOCULATE, v.i. To propagate by budding; to practice inoculation. The time to inoculate is when the buds are formed at the extremities of the same year’s shoot, indicating that the spring growth for that season is complete.

INOCULATED, pp. Budded; as an inoculated stock.

1. Inserted in another stock, as a bud.

2. Infected by inoculation with a particular disease.

INOCULATING, ppr. Budding; propagating by inserting a bud on another stock.

1. Infecting by inoculation.

INOCULATION, n. [L. inoculatio.] The act or practice of inserting buds of one plant under the bark of another for propagation.

1. The act or practice of communicating a disease to a person in health, by inserting contagious matter in his skin or flesh. This practice is limited chiefly to the communication of the small pox, and of the cow pox, which is intended as a substitute for it. [See Vaccination.]

INOCULATOR, n. A person who inoculates; one who propagates plants or diseases by inoculation.

INODIATE, v.t. [L. in and odium.] To make hateful. [Not in use.]

INODORATE, a. [L. in and odoratus.] Having no scent or odor.

INODOROUS, a. [L. inodorus; in and odor.] Wanting scent; having no smell.

The white of an egg is an inodorous liquor.

INOFFENSIVE, a. [in and offensive.]

1. Giving no offense or provocation; as an inoffensive man; an inoffensive answer.

2. Giving no uneasiness or disturbance; as an inoffensive appearance or sight.

3. Harmless; doing no injury or mischief.

Thy inoffensive satires never bite.

4. Not obstructing; presenting no hinderance.

--From hence a passage broad,

Smooth, easy, inoffensive, down to hell.

INOFFENSIVELY, adv. Without giving offense; without harm; in a manner not to offend.

INOFFENSIVENESS, n. Harmlessness; the quality of being not offensive either to the senses or to the mind.

INOFFICIAL, a. [in and official.] Not official; not proceeding from the proper officer; not clothed with the usual forms of authority, or not done in an official character; as an inofficial communication; inofficial intelligence.

Pinckney and Marshall would not make inofficial visits to discuss official business.

INOFFIICALLY, adv. Without the usual forms, or not in the official character.

INOFFICIOUS, a. [in and officious.]

1. Unkind; regardless of natural obligation; contrary to natural duty.

--Suggesting that the parent had lost the use of his reason, when he made the inofficious testament.

Let not a father hope to excuse an inofficious disposition of his fortune, by alleging that every man may do what he will with his own.

2. Unfit for an office.

Thou drown’st thyself in inofficious sleep.

3. Not civil or attentive.

INOPERATION, n. Agency; influence; production of effects. [Not used.]

INOPERATIVE, a. [in and operative.] Not operative; not active; having no operation; producing no effect; as laws rendered inoperative by neglect; inoperative remedies.

INOPPORTUNE, a. [L. inopportunus. See Opportune.]

Not opportune; inconvenient; unseasonable in time.

INOPPORTUNELY, adv. Unseasonably; at an inconvenient time.

INOPPRESSIVE, a. [in and oppressive.]

Not oppressive; not burdensome.

INOPULENT, a. [in and opulent.] Not opulent; not wealthy; not affluent or rich.

INORDINACY, n. [from inordinate.] Deviation from order or rule prescribed; irregularity; disorder; excess, or want of moderation; as the inordinacy of desire or other passion.

INORDINATE, a. [L. inordinatus; in and ordo, order.]

Irregular; disorderly; excessive; immoderate; not limited to rules prescribed, or to usual bounds; as an inordinate love of the world; inordinate desire of fame.

INORDINATELY, adv. Irregularly; excessively; immoderately.

INORDINATENESS, n. Deviation from order; excess; want of moderation; inordinacy; intemperance in desire or other passion.

INORDINATION, n. Irregularity; deviation from rule or right.

INORGANIC, INORGANICAL, a. [in and organic.] Devoid of organs; not formed with the organs or instruments of life; as the inorganic matter that forms the earth’s surface.

Inorganic bodies, are such as have no organs, as minerals.

INORGANICALLY, adv. Without organs.

INORGANIZED, a. Not having organic structure; void of organs, as earths, metals, and other minerals.

INOSCULATE, v.i. [L. in and osculatus, from osculor, to kiss.]

In anatomy, to unite by apposition or contact; to unite, as two vessels at their extremities; as, one vein or artery inoculates with another; a vein inosculates with an artery.

INOSCULATE, v.t. To unite, as two vessels in an animal body.

INOSCULATING, ppr. Uniting, as the extremities of two vessels.

INOSCULATION, n. The union of two vessels of an animal body at their extremities, by means of which a communication is maintained, and the circulation of fluids is carried on; anastomosy.

INQUEST, n. [L. inquisitio, inquiro; in and quoero, to seek.]

1. Inquisition; judicial inquiry; official examination. An inquest of office, is an inquiry made by the king’s officer, his sheriff, coroner, or escheator, concerning any matter that entitles the king to the possession of lands or tenements, goods or chattels. It is made by a jury of no determinate number.

In the United States, a similar inquiry, made by the proper officer, under the authority of a state.

2. A jury.

3. Inquiry; search.

INQUIET, v.t. To disturb; to trouble. [Not used.]

INQUIETATION, n. Disturbance. [Not used.]

INQUIETUDE, n. [L. inquietudo; in and quies, rest.]

Disturbed state; want of quiet; restlessness; uneasiness, either of body or mind; disquietude.

INQUINATE, v.t. [L. inquino, to defile; Gr. common.]

To defile; to pollute; to contaminate. [Little used.]

INQUINATION, n. The act of defiling, or state of being defiled; pollution; corruption. [Little used.]

INQUIRABLE, a. [from inquire.] That may be inquired into; subject to inquisition or inquest.

INQUIRE, v.i. [L. inquiro; in and quoero, to seek.]

1. To ask a question; to seek for truth or information by asking questions.

We will call the damsel and inquire at her mouth. Genesis 24:57.

It has of before the person asked. Enquire of them, or of him. It has of, concerning, or after, before the subject of inquiry.

He sent Hadoram, his son, to king David to inquire of his welfare. 1 Chronicles 18:10.

For thou does not inquire wisely concerning this. Ecclesiastes 7:10.

When search is to be made for particular knowledge or information, it is followed by into. The coroner by jury inquires into the cause of a sudden death. When a place or person is sought, or something hid or missing, for is commonly used. Inquire for Saul of Tarsus. He was inquiring for the house to which he was directed. Inquire for the cloke that is lost. Inquire for the right road. Sometimes it is followed by after. Inquire after the right way.

When some general information is sought, this verb is followed by about; sometimes by concerning. His friends inquired about him; they inquired concerning his welfare.

2. To seek for truth by argument or the discussion of questions, or by investigation.

To inquire into, to make examination; to seek for particular information. Inquire into the time, manner and place. Inquire into all the circumstances of the case.

INQUIRE, v.t. To ask about; to seek by asking; as, he inquired the way; but the phrase is elliptical, for inquire for the way.

INQUIRENT, a. Making inquiry.

INQUIRER, n. One who asks a question; one who interrogates; one who searches or examines; one who seeks for knowledge or information.

INQUIRING, ppr. Seeking for information by asking questions; asking; questioning; interrogating; examining.

INQUIRY, n.

1. The act of inquiring; a seeking for information by asking questions; interrogation.

The men who were sent from Cornelius, had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate. Acts 10:17.

2. Search for truth, information or knowledge; research; examination into facts or principles by proposing and discussing questions, by solving problems, by experiments or other modes; as physical inquiries; inquiries about philosophical knowledge.

The first inquiry of a rational being should be, who made me? the second, why was I made? who is my Creator, and what is his will?

INQUISITION, n. s as z. [L. inquisitio, inquiro. See Inquire.]

1. Inquiry; examination; a searching or search. Psalm 9:12.

2. Judicial inquiry; official examination; inquest.

The justices in eyre had it formerly in charge to make inquisition concerning them by a jury of the county.

3. Examination; discussion.

4. In some catholic countries, a court or tribunal established for the examination and punishment of heretics. This court was established in the twelfth century by father Dominic, who was charged by pope Innocent III. with orders to excite catholic princes and people to extirpate heretics.

INQUISITIONAL, a. Making inquiry; busy in inquiry.

INQUISITIVE, a. s as z. Apt to ask questions; addicted to inquiry; inclined to seek information by questions; followed by about or after. He was very inquisitive about or after news. Children are usually inquisitive.

1. Inclined to seek knowledge by discussion, investigation or observation; given to research. He possesses an inquisitive mind or disposition. We live in an inquisitive age.

INQUISITIVE, n. A person who is inquisitive; one curious in research.

INQUISITIVELY, adv. With curiosity to obtain information; with scrutiny.

INQUISITIVENESS, n. The disposition to obtain information by questioning others, or by researches into facts, causes or principles; curiosity to learn what is not known. The works of nature furnish ample matter for the inquisitiveness of the human mind.

INQUISITOR, n. [L. See Inquire.] One who inquires; particularly, one whose official duty it is to inquire and examine.

1. A member of the court of inquisition in Catholic countries.

INQUISITORIAL, a. Pertaining to inquisition; as inquisitorial power.

1. Pertaining to the catholic court of inquisition; as inquisitorial tragedy.

Inquisitorial robes.

INQUISITORIOUS, a. Making strict inquiry.

INRAIL, v.t. [in and rail.] To rail in; to inclose with rails.

INRAILED, pp. Inclosed with rails.

INRAILING, ppr. Inclosing with rails.

INREGISTER, v.t. To register; to record; to enter in a register.

INROAD, n. [in and road.] The entrance of an enemy into a country with purposes of hostility; a sudden or desultory incursion or invasion. The confines of England and Scotland were formerly harassed with frequent inroads. The English made inroads into Scotland, and the Scots into England, and the country was sometimes desolated.

1. Attack; encroachment.

INSAFETY, n. Want of safety.

INSALUBRIOUS, a. [in and salubrious.] Not salubrious; not healthful; unfavorable to health; unwholesome; as an insalubrious air or climate.

INSALUBRITY, n. [in and salubrity.] Want of salubrity; unhealthfulness; unwholesomeness; as the insalubrity of air, water or climate.

INSALUTARY, a. [in and salutary.] Not salutary; not favorable to health or soundness.

1. Not tending to safety; productive of evil.

INSANABLE, a. [L. insanabilis; in and sano, to heal.]

Incurable; that cannot be healed.

INSANE, a. [L. insanus; in and sanus, sound.]

1. Unsound in mind or intellect; mad; deranged in mind; delirious; distracted. [In this sense of making mad, it is little used.]

2. Used by or appropriated to insane persons; as an insane hospital.

INSANE, n. An insane person; as a hospital for the insane.

INSANELY, adv. Madly; foolishly; without reason.

INSANENESS, INSANITY, n. The state of being unsound in mind; derangement of intellect; madness. Insanity is chiefly used, and the word is applicable to any degree of mental derangement, from slight delirium or wandering, to distraction. It is however rarely used to express slight, temporary delirium, occasioned by fever or accident.

INSAPORY, a. [L. in and sapor, taste.]

Tasteless; wanting flavor. [Not used.]

INSATIABLE, a. insa’shable. [L. insatiabilis; in and satio, to satisfy.] Incapable of being satisfied or appeased; very greedy; as an insatiable appetite or desire; insatiable thirst.

INSATIABLENESS, n. insa’shableness. Greediness of appetite that cannot be satisfied or appeased.

INSATIABLY, adv. insa’shably. With greediness not to be satisfied.

INSATIATE, a. insa’shate. [L. insatiatus.]

Not to be satisfied; insatiable; as insatiate thirst.

INSATIATELY, adv. So greedily as not to be satisfied.

INSATIETY, n. Insatiableness.

INSATISFACTION, n. Want of satisfaction.

INSATURABALE, a. [L. insaturabilis; in and satur, full.]

Not to be saturated, filled or glutted.

INSCIENCE, n. [in and science.] Ignorance; want of knowledge.

INSCRIBE, v.t. [L. inscribo; in and scribo, to write, Eng. to scrape. See Scribe.]

1. To write on; to engrave on for perpetuity or duration; as, to inscribe a line or verse on a monument, on a column or pillar.

2. To imprint on; as, to inscribe any thing on the mind or memory.

3. To assign or address to; to comment to by a short address, less formal than a dedication; as, to inscribe an ode or a book to a prince.

4. To mark with letters, characters or words; as, to inscribe a stone with a name.

5. To draw a figure within another, so that all the angles of the figure inscribed touch the angles, sides or planes of the other figure.

INSCRIBED, pp. Written on; engraved; marked; addressed.

INSCRIBER, n. One who inscribes.

INSCRIBING, ppr. Writing on; engraving; marking; addressing.

INSCRIPTION, n. [L. inscriptio. See Inscribe.]

1. Something written or engraved to communicate knowledge to after ages; any character, word, line or sentence written or engraved on a solid substance for duration; as inscriptions on monuments, called epitaphs, on pillars, etc. We do not call by this name writings on paper or parchment.

2. A title.

3. An address or consignment of a book to a person, as a mark of respect, or an invitation of patronage. It is less formal than a dedication.

INSCRIPTIVE, a. Bearing inscription.

INSCROLL, v.t. To write on a scroll.

INSCRUTABILITY, INSCRUTABLENESS, n. The quality of being inscrutable.

INSCRUTABLE, a. [L. inscrutabilis; in and scrutor, to search.]

1. Unsearchable; that cannot be searched into and understood by inquiry or study. The designs of the emperor appear to be inscrutable.

2. That cannot be penetrated, discovered or understood by human reason. The ways of Providence are often inscrutable. Mysteries are inscrutable.

INSCRUTABLY, adv. In a manner or degree not to be found out or understood. The moral government of an infinite being must often be inscrutably dark and mysterious.

INSCULP, v.t. [L. insulpo; in and sculpo, to engrave.]

To engrave; to carve. [Little used.]

INSCULPTION, n. Inscription. [Little used.]

INSCULPTURE, n. An engraving; sculpture. [See Sculpture, which is generally used.]

INSEAM, v.t. [in and seam.] To impress or make with a seam or cicatrix. [Poetical.]

INSEARCH, v.t. inserch’. To make search. [Not used.]

INSECABLE, a. [L. insecabilis; in and seco, to cut.]

That cannot be divided by a cutting instrument; indivisible.

INSECT, n. [L. insecta, plu.,from inseco, to cut in; in and seco, to cut. This name seems to have been originally given to certain small animals whose bodies appear cut in, or almost divided.]

1. In zoology, a small invertebral animal, breathing by lateral spiracles, and furnished with articulated extremities and movable antennae. Most insects pass through three states or metamorphoses, the larva, the chrysalis, and the perfect insect.

The class of insects, in the Linnean system, is divided into seven orders, the last of which [Aptera] includes the Crustacea, which breathe by gills, and the Arachnids, which have no antennae, now forming two distinct classes.

The term insect has been applied, but improperly, to other small invertebral animals of the Linnean class Vermes.

2. Any thing small or contemptible.

INSECT, a. Small; mean; contemptible.

INSECTATOR, n. [L.] A persecutor. [Little used.]

INSECTED, a. Having the nature of an insect.

INSECTILE, a. Having the nature of insects.

INSECTILE, n. An insect. [Not used.]

INSECTION, n. A cutting in; incisure; incision.

INSECTIVOROUS, a. [insect and L. voro, to eat.]

Feeding or subsisting on insects. Many winged animals are insectivorous.

INSECTOLOGER, n. [insect.] One who studies insects. [Not in use. See Entomologist.]

INSECURE, a. [in and secure.] Not secure; not safe; exposed to danger or loss. Goods on the ocean are insecure. Hay and grain unhoused are insecure. Debts are often insecure.

INSECURELY, adv. Without security or safety; without certainty.

INSECURITY, n. [in and security.] Want of safety, or want of confidence in safety. Seamen in a tempest must be conscious of their insecurity.

1. Uncertainty. With what insecurity of truth we ascribe effects or unseen causes.

2. Want of safety; danger; hazard; exposure to destruction or loss; applied to things; as the insecurity of a building exposed to fire; the insecurity of a debt.