Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary
INSECUTION — INSPISSATING
INSECUTION, n. [L. insecutio.] Pursuit.
INSEMINATE, v.t. [L. insemino.] To sow. [Little used.]
INSEMINATION, n. The act of sowing. [Little used.]
INSENSATE, a. [L. in and sensus, sense.]
Destitute of sense; stupid; foolish; wanting sensibility.
INSENSIBILITY, n. [from insensible.]
1. Want of sensibility, or the power of feeling or perceiving. A frozen limb is in a state of insensibility, as is an animal body after death.
2. Want of the power to be moved or affected; want of tenderness or susceptibility of emotion and passion. Not to be moved at the distresses of others denotes an insensibility extremely unnatural.
3. Dullness; stupidity; torpor.
INSENSIBLE, a. [L. in and sensus, sense, sentio, to feel.]
1. Imperceptible; that cannot be felt or perceived. The motion of the earth is insensible to the eye. A plant grows, and the body decays by insensible degrees. The humors of the body are evacuated by insensible perspiration.
The dense and bright light of the circle will obscure the rare and weak light of these dark colors round about it, and render them almost insensible.
2. Destitute of the power of feeling or perceiving; wanting corporeal sensibility. An injury to the spine often renders the inferior parts of the body insensible.
3. Not susceptible of emotion or passion; void of feeling; wanting tenderness. To be insensible to the sufferings of our fellow men is inhuman. To be insensible of danger is not always evidence of courage.
4. Dull; stupid; torpid.
5. Void of sense or meaning; as insensible words.
INSENSIBLENESS, n. Inability to perceive; want of sensibility. [See Insensibility, which is generally used.]
INSENSIBLY, adv. Imperceptibly; in a manner not to be felt or perceived by the senses.
The hills rise insensibly.
1. By slow degrees; gradually. Men often slide insensibly into vicious habits.
INSENTIENT, a. [in and sentient.] Not having perception or the power of perception.
INSEPARABLE, a. [L. inseparabilis; in and separabilis, separo, to separate.] That cannot be separated or disjoined; not to be parted. There is an inseparable connection between vice and suffering or punishment.
INSEPARABLENESS, INSEPARABILITY, n. The quality of being inseparable, or incapable of disfunction. [The latter word is rarely used.]
INSEPARABLY, adv. In a manner that prevents separation; with indissoluble union.
INSEPARATE, a. Not separate. [Not used.]
INSEPARATELY, adv. So as not to be separated. [Not used.]
INSERT, v.t. [L. insero, insertum; in and sero, to thrust.]
Literally, to thrust in; hence, to set in or among; as, to insert a cion in a stock; to insert a letter, word or passage in a composition; to insert an advertisement or other writing in a paper.
INSERTED, pp. Set in or among.
INSERTING, ppr. Setting in or among.
INSERTION, n. [L. insertio.]
1. The act of setting or placing in or among other things; as the insertion of cions in stocks; the insertion of words or passages in writings; the insertion of notices or essays in a public paper; the insertion of vessels, tendons, etc. in other parts of the body.
2. The thing inserted.
INSERVIENT, a. Conducive.
INSET, v.t. To infix or implant.
INSHADED, a. Marked with different shades.
INSHELL, v.t. To hide in a shell.
INSHELTER, v.i. To shelter.
INSHIP, v.t. To ship; to embark.
INSHRINE. [See Enshrine.]
INSIDE, n. [in and side.] The interior part of a thing; internal part; opposed to outside; as the inside of a church; the inside of a letter.
INSIDIATE, v.t. [L. insidior.] To lie in ambush for.
INSIDIATOR, n. One who lies in ambush.
INSIDIOUS, a. [L. insidiosus, from insideo, to lie in wait; in and sedeo, to sit.]
1. Properly, lying in wait; hence, watching an opportunity to insnare or entrap; deceitful; sly; treacherous; used of persons.
2. Intended to entrap; as insidious arts.
INSIDIOUSLY, adv. With intention to insnare; deceitfully; treacherously; with malicious artifice or stratagem.
INSIDIOUSNESS, n. A watching for an opportunity to insnare; deceitfulness; treachery.
INSIGHT, n. in’site. [in and sight.] Sight or view of the interior of any thing; deep inspection or view; introspection; thorough knowledge or skill.
A garden gives us a great insight into the contrivance and wisdom of Providence.
INSIGNIA, n. [L. plu.] Badges or distinguishing marks of office or honor.
1. Marks, signs or visible impressions, by which any thing is known or distinguished.
INSIGNIFICANCE, INSIGNIFICANCY, n. [in and significance.]
1. Want of significance or meaning; as the insignificance of words or phrases.
2. Unimportance; want of force or effect; as the insignificance of human art or of ceremonies.
3. Want of weight; meanness.
INSIGNIFICANT, a. [in and significant.]
1. Void of signification; destitute of meaning; as insignificant words.
2. Unimportant; answering no purpose; having no weight or effect; as insignificant rites.
3. Without weight of character; mean; contemptible; as an insignificant being or fellow.
INSIGNIFICANT, n. An insignificant, trifling or worthless thing.
INSIGNIFICANTLY, adv. Without meaning, as words.
1. Without importance or effect; to no purpose.
INSIGNIFICATIVE, a. Not expressing by external signs.
INSINCERE, a. [L. insincerus; in and sincerus, sincere.]
1. Not sincere; not being in truth what one appears to be; dissembling; hypocritical; false; used of persons; as an insincere heart.
2. Deceitful; hypocritical; false; used of things; as insincere declarations or professions.
3. Not sound.
INSINCERELY, adv. Without sincerity; hypocritically.
INSINCERITY, n. Dissimulation; want of sincerity or of being in reality what one appears to be; hypocrisy; used of persons.
1. Deceitfulness; hollowness; used of things; as the insincerity of professions.
INSINEW, v.t. [in and sinew.] To strengthen; to give vigor to.
INSINUANT, a. [L. insinuans.] Insinuating; having the power to gain favor. [Little used.]
INSINUATE, v.t. [L. insinuo; in and sinus, the bosom, a bay, inlet or recess.]
1. To introduce gently, or into a narrow passage; to wind in. Water insinuates itself into the crevices of rocks.
2. To push or work one’s self into favor; to introduce by slow, gentle or artful means.
He insinuated himself into the very good grace of the duke of Buckingham.
3. To hint; to suggest by remote allusion.
And all the fictions bards pursue,
Do but insinuate what’s true.
4. To instill; to infuse gently; to introduce artfully.
All the art of rhetoric, besides order and clearness, are for nothing else but to insinuate wrong ideas, move the passions and thereby mislead the judgment.
INSINUATE, v.i. To creep in; to wind in; to flow in; to enter gently, slowly or imperceptibly, as into crevices.
1. To gain on the affections by gentle or artful means, or by imperceptible degrees; as insinuating flattery.
2. To wind along.
INSINUATED, pp. Introduced or conveyed gently; imperceptibly or by winding into crevices; hinted.
INSINUATING, ppr. Creeping or winding in; flowing in; gaining on gently; hinting.
1. Tending to enter gently; insensibly winning favor and confidence.
INSINUATION, n. [L. insinuatio.]
1. The act of insinuating; a creeping or winding in; a flowing into crevices.
2. The act of gaining on favor or affections, by gentle or artful means.
3. The art or power of pleasing and stealing on the affections.
He had a natural insinuation and address; which made him acceptable in the best company.
4. A hint; a suggestion or intimation by distant allusion. Slander may be conveyed by insinuation.
INSINUATIVE, a. Stealing on the affections.
INSINUATOR, n. One who insinuates; one that hints.
INSIPID, a. [L. insipidus; in and sapidus, sapio, to taste.]
1. Tasteless; destitute of taste; wanting the qualities which affect the organs of taste; vapid; as insipid liquor.
2. Wanting spirit, life or animation; wanting pathos, or the power of exciting emotions; flat; dull; heavy; as an insipid address; an insipid composition.
3. Wanting power to gratify desire; as insipid pleasure.
INSIPIDITY, INSIPIDNESS, n.
1. Want of taste, or the power of exciting sensation in the tongue.
2. Want of life or spirit.
Dryden’s lines shine strongly through the insipidity of Tate’s.
INSIPIDLY, adv. Without taste; without spirit or life; without enjoyment.
INSIPIENCE, n. [L. insipientia; in and sapio, to be wise.]
Want of wisdom; folly; foolishness; want of understanding.
INSIST, v.i. [L. insisto; in and sisto, to stand.]
1. Literally, to stand or rest on. [Rarely used.]
2. In geometry, an angle is said to insist upon the arc of the circle intercepted between the two lines which contain the angle.
3. To dwell on in discourse; as, to insist on a particular topic.
To insist on, to press or urge for any thing with immovable firmness; to persist in demands; as, to insist on oppressive terms in a treaty; to insist on immediate payment of a debt.
INSISTENT, a. Standing or resting on; as an insistent wall. [Little used.]
INSISTURE, n. A dwelling or standing on; fixedness.
INSITIENCY, n. [L. in and sitio, to thirst.] Freedom from thirst.
INSITION, n. [L. insitio, from insitus, insero, to plant.]
The insertion of a cion in a stock; ingraftment.
INSNARE, v.t. [in and snare.] To catch in a snare; to entrap; to take by artificial means.
1. To inveigle; to seduce by artifice; to take by wiles, stratagem or deceit. The flattering tongue is apt to insnare the artless youth.
2. To entangle; to involve in difficulties or perplexities.
[This word is often written ensnare, but insnare is the true orthography.]
INSNARED, pp. Caught in a snare; entrapped; inveigled; involved in perplexities.
INSNARER, n. One that insnares.
INSNARING, ppr. Catching in a snare; entrapping; seducing; involving in difficulties.
INSOBRIETY, n. [in and sobriety.] Want of sobriety; intemperance; drunkenness.
INSOCIABLE, a. [L. insociabilis; in and sociabilis, socio, to unite.]
1. Not inclined to unite in social converse; not given to conversation; unsociable; taciturn.
2. That cannot be joined or connected.
Lime and wood are insociable. [Not in use.]
INSOLATE, v.t. [L. insolo; in and sol, the sun.]
To dry in the sun’s rays; to expose to the heat of the sun; to ripen or prepare by exposure to the sun.
INSOLATED, pp. Exposed to the sun; dried or matured in the sun’s rays.
INSOLATING, ppr. Exposing to the action of sun-beams.
INSOLATION, n. The act of exposing to the rays of the sun for drying or maturing, as fruits, drugs, etc. or for rendering acid, as vinegar, or for promoting some chimical action of one substance on another.
1. A stroke of the sun; the action of extreme heat on the brain.
INSOLENCE, n. [L. insolentia; in and soleo, to be accustomed.]
Pride or haughtiness manifested in contemptuous and overbearing treatment of others; petulant contempt; impudence.
Blown with insolence and wine.
INSOLENCE, v.t. To treat with haughty contempt. [Not used.]
INSOLENT, a. Proud and haughty, with contempt of others; overbearing; domineering in power; as an insolent master.
1. Proceeding from insolence; haughty and contemptuous; as insolent words or behavior.
2. Unaccustomed; the primary sense. [Not used.]
INSOLENTLY, adv. With contemptuous pride; haughtily; rudely; saucily.
INSOLIDITY, n. [in and solidity.] Want of solidity; weakness.
INSOLUBILITY, n. [from insoluble.] The quality of not being soluble or dissolvable, particularly in a fluid.
INSOLUBLE, a. [L. insolubilis; in and solvo, to dissolve.]
1. That cannot be dissolved, particularly by a liquid. We say a substance is insoluble in water, when its parts will not separate and mix with that fluid.
2. Not to be solved or explained; not to be resolved; as a doubt or difficulty. [Not much used.]
INSOLVABLE, a. [L. in and solvo, to loosen or dissolve.]
1. Not to be cleared of difficulty or uncertainty; not to be solved or explained; not admitting solution or explication; as an insolvable problem or difficulty.
2. That cannot be paid or discharged.
INSOLVENCY, n. [infra.] Inability of a person to pay all his debts; or the state of wanting property sufficient for such payment; as a merchant’s insolvency.
1. Insufficiency to discharge all debts of the owner; as the insolvency of an estate.
Act of insolvency. [See infra, Insolvent law.]
INSOLVENT, a. [L. in and solvens, solvo, to solve, to free, to pay.]
1. Not having money, goods or estate sufficient to pay all debts; as an insolvent debtor.
2. Not sufficient to pay all the debts of the owner; as an insolvent estate.
3. Respecting insolvent debtors; relieving an insolvent debtor from imprisonment for debt, or form liability to arrest and imprisonment for debts previously contracted; as an insolvent law.
Insolvent law, or act of insolvency, a law which liberates a debtor from imprisonment, or exempts him from liability to arrest and imprisonment on account of any debt previously contracted. These terms may be considered as generic, comprehending also bankrupt laws, which protect a man’s future acquisitions from his creditors. But in a limited sense, as the words are now generally used, an insolvent law extends only to protect the person of the debtor form imprisonment on account of debts previously contracted.
INSOLVENT, n. A debtor unable to pay his debts.
INSOMNIOUS, a. [L. insomniosus; or in and somnus, sleep.]
Troubled with dreams; restless in sleep.
INSOMUCH, adv. [in, so, and much.] So that; to that degree.
Simonides was an excellent poet, insomuch that he made his fortune by it.
[This word or combination of words is not deemed elegant, and is obsolescent, at least in classical composition.]
INSPECT, v.t. [L. inspicio, inspectum; in and specio, to view.]
1. To look on; to view or oversee for the purpose of examination. It is the duty of parents to inspect the conduct or manners of their children.
2. To look into; to view and examine, for the purpose of ascertaining the quality or condition of a thing; as, to inspect potash; to inspect flour; to inspect arms.
3. To view and examine for the purpose of discovering and correcting errors; as, to inspect the press, or the proof-sheets of a book.
4. To superintend.
INSPECT, n. Close examination. [Not used.]
INSPECTED, pp. Viewed with care; examined by the eye or officially.
INSPECTING, ppr. Looking on or into; viewing with care; examining for ascertaining the quality or condition.
INSPECTION, n. [L. inspectio.]
1. A looking on or into; prying examination; close or careful survey; as the divine inspection into the affairs of the world.
2. Watch; guardianship; as a youth placed at school under the inspection of a friend.
3. Superintendence; oversight. The fortifications are to be executed under the inspection of an officer of the army.
4. Official view; a careful viewing and examining of commodities or manufactures, to ascertain their quality; as the inspection of flour.
5. Official examination, as of arms, to see that they are in good order for service.
INSPECTOR, n. One who inspects, views or oversees; as an inspector of morals; an inspector of the press.
1. A superintendent; one to whose care the execution of any work is committed, for the purpose of seeing it faithfully performed.
2. An officer whose duty is to examine the quality of goods or commodities offered for sale.
3. An officer of the customs.
4. A military officer whose duty is to inspect the troops and examine their arms.
INSPECTORATE, INSPECTORSHIP, n. The office of an inspector.
INSPERSED, a. Sprinkled on. [Not used.]
INSPERSION, n. [L. inspersio, inspergo; in and spargo, to scatter.]
The act of sprinkling on.
INSPEXIMUS, n. [we have inspected; the first word of ancient charters, etc.,] An exemplification.
INSPHERE, v.t. [in and sphere.] To place in an orb or sphere.
INSPIRABLE, a. [from inspire.] That may be inspired.
1. That may be drawn into the lungs; inhalable; as air or vapors.
INSPIRATION, n. [L. inspiro.]
1. The act of drawing air into the lungs; the inhaling of air; a branch of respiration, and opposed to expiration.
2. The act of breathing into any thing.
3. The infusion of ideas into the mind by the Holy Spirit; the conveying into the minds of men, ideas, notices or monitions by extraordinary or supernatural influence; or the communication of the divine will to the understanding by suggestions or impressions on the mind, which leave no room to doubt the reality of their supernatural origin.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God. 2 Timothy 3:16.
4. The infusion of ideas or directions by the supposed deities of pagans.
5. The infusion or communication of ideas or poetic spirit, by a superior being or supposed presiding power; as the inspiration of Homer or other poet.
INSPIRATORY, a. Pertaining to inspiration, or inhaling air into the lungs.
INSPIRE, v.i. [L. inspiro; in and spiro, to breathe.]
To draw in breath; to inhale air into the lungs; opposed to expire.
INSPIRE, v.t. To breathe into.
Ye nine, descend and sing,
The breathing instruments inspire.
1. To infuse by breathing.
He knew not his Maker, and him that inspired into him an active soul.
2. To infuse into the mind; as, to inspire with new life.
3. To infuse or suggest ideas or monitions supernaturally; to communicate divine instructions to the mind. In this manner, we suppose the prophets to have been inspired, and the Scriptures to have been composed under divine influence or direction.
4. To infuse ideas or poetic spirit.
5. To draw into the lungs; as, to inspire and expire the air with difficulty.
INSPIRED, pp. Breathed in; inhaled; infused.
1. Informed or directed by the Holy Spirit.
INSPIRER, n. He that inspires.
INSPIRING, ppr. Breathing in; inhaling into the lungs; infusing into the mind supernaturally.
1. Infusing spirit or courage; animating.
INSPIRIT, v.t. [in and spirit.] To infuse or excite spirit in; to enliven; to animate; to give new lift to; to encourage; to invigorate.
The courage of Agamemnon is inspirited by the love of empire and ambition.