Inflame In·flame" transitive verb [
imperfect & past participle Inflamed ;
present participle & verbal noun Inflaming .] [ Middle English
enflamen , Old French
enflamer , French
enflammer , Latin
inflammare ,
inflammatum ; prefix
in- in +
flammare to flame, from
flamma flame. See
Flame .]
1. To set on fire; to kindle; to cause to burn, flame, or glow. We should have made retreat
By light of the inflamed fleet.
Chapman. 2. Fig.: To kindle or intensify, as passion or appetite; to excite to an excessive or unnatural action or heat; as, to inflame desire. Though more, it seems,
Inflamed with lust than rage.
Milton. But, O inflame and fire our hearts.
Dryden. 3. To provoke to anger or rage; to exasperate; to irritate; to incense; to enrage. It will inflame you; it will make you mad.
Shak. 4. (Medicine) To put in a state of inflammation; to produce morbid heat, congestion, or swelling, of; as, to inflame the eyes by overwork. 5. To exaggerate; to enlarge upon. [ Obsolete]
A friend exaggerates a man's virtues, an enemy inflames his crimes.
Addison. Syn. -- To provoke; fire; kindle; irritate; exasperate; incense; enrage; anger; excite; arouse.
Inflame In·flame" intransitive verb To grow morbidly hot, congested, or painful; to become angry or incensed. Wiseman.
Inflamed In·flamed" p. adjective 1. Set on fire; enkindled; heated; congested; provoked; exasperated. 2. (Her.) Represented as burning, or as adorned with tongues of flame.
Inflamer In·flam"er noun The person or thing that inflames. Addison.
Inflammabillty In·flam"ma·bil"l·ty noun [ Confer French
inflammabilite .]
Susceptibility of taking fire readily; the state or quality of being inflammable.
Inflammable In·flam"ma·ble adjective [ CF. French
inflammable .]
1. Capable of being easily set fire; easily enkindled; combustible; as, inflammable oils or spirits. 2. Excitable; irritable; irascible; easily provoked; as, an inflammable temper. Inflammable air ,
the old chemical name for hydrogen.
Inflammableness In·flam"ma·ble·ness noun The quality or state of being inflammable; inflammability. Boyle.
Inflammably In·flam"ma·bly (ĭn*flăm"mȧ*blȳ)
adverb In an inflammable manner.
Inflammation In·flam·ma"tion (ĭn*flăm*mā"shŭn)
noun [ Latin
inflammatio : confer French
inflammation . See
Inflame .]
1. The act of inflaming, kindling, or setting on fire; also, the state of being inflamed. "The
inflammation of fat."
Wilkins. 2. (Medicine) A morbid condition of any part of the body, consisting in congestion of the blood vessels, with obstruction of the blood current, and growth of morbid tissue. It is manifested outwardly by redness and swelling, attended with heat and pain. 3. Violent excitement; heat; passion; animosity; turbulence; as, an inflammation of the mind, of the body politic, or of parties. Hooker.
Inflammative In·flam"ma·tive adjective Inflammatory.
Inflammatory In·flam"ma·to·ry adjective [ Confer French
inflammatoire .]
1. Tending to inflame, kindle, or irritate. 2. Tending to excite anger, animosity, tumult, or sedition; seditious; as, inflammatory libels, writings, speeches, or publications. Burke. 3. (Medicine) Accompanied with, or tending to cause, preternatural heat and excitement of arterial action; as, an inflammatory disease. Inflammatory crust .
(Medicine) Same as Buffy coat , under Buffy . --
Inflammatory fever ,
a variety of fever due to inflammation.
Inflatable In·flat"a·ble adjective That may be inflated.
Inflate In·flate" p. adjective [ Latin
inflatus , past participle of
inflare to inflate; prefix
in- in +
flare to blow. See
Blow to puff wind.]
Blown in; inflated. Chaucer.
Inflate In·flate" transitive verb [
imperfect & past participle Inflated ;
present participle & verbal noun Inflating .]
1. To swell or distend with air or gas; to dilate; to expand; to enlarge; as, to inflate a bladder; to inflate the lungs. When passion's tumults in the bosom rise,
Inflate the features, and enrage the eyes.
J. Scott of Amwell. 2. Fig.: To swell; to puff up; to elate; as, to inflate one with pride or vanity. Inflate themselves with some insane delight.
Tennyson. 3. To cause to become unduly expanded or increased; as, to inflate the currency.
Inflate In·flate" intransitive verb To expand; to fill; to distend.
Inflated In·flat"ed adjective 1. Filled, as with air or gas; blown up; distended; as, a balloon inflated with gas. 2. Turgid; swelling; puffed up; bombastic; pompous; as, an inflated style. Inflated and astrut with self- conceit.
Cowper. 3. (Botany) Hollow and distended, as a perianth, corolla, nectary, or pericarp. Martyn. 4. Distended or enlarged fictitiously; as, inflated prices, etc.
Inflater In·flat"er noun One who, or that which, inflates; as, the inflaters of the stock exchange.
Inflatingly In·flat"ing·ly adverb In a manner tending to inflate.
Inflation In·fla"tion noun [ Latin
inflatio : confer French
inflation .]
1. The act or process of inflating, or the state of being inflated, as with air or gas; distention; expansion; enlargement. Boyle. 2. The state of being puffed up, as with pride; conceit; vanity. B. Jonson. 3. Undue expansion or increase, from overissue; -- said of currency. [ U.S.]
Inflationist In·fla"tion·ist noun One who favors an increased or very large issue of paper money. [ U.S.]
Inflatus In·fla"tus noun [ Latin See
Inflate ,
transitive verb ]
A blowing or breathing into; inflation; inspiration. The divine breath that blows the nostrils out
To ineffable inflatus .
Mrs. Browning.
Inflect In·flect" transitive verb [
imperfect & past participle Inflected ;
present participle & verbal noun Inflecting .] [ Latin
inflectere ,
inflexum ; prefix
in- in +
flectere to bend. See
Flexible , and confer
Inflex .]
1. To turn from a direct line or course; to bend; to incline, to deflect; to curve; to bow. Are they [ the rays of the sun] not reflected, refracted, and inflected by one and the same principle ?
Sir I. Newton. 2. (Gram.) To vary, as a noun or a verb in its terminations; to decline, as a noun or adjective, or to conjugate, as a verb. 3. To modulate, as the voice.
Inflected In·flect"ed adjective 1. Bent; turned; deflected. 2. (Gram.) Having inflections; capable of, or subject to, inflection; inflective. Inflected cycloid (Geom.) ,
a prolate cycloid. See Cycloid .
Inflection In·flec"tion noun [ Latin
inflexio : confer French
inflexion . See
Inflect .] [ Written also
inflecxion .]
1. The act of inflecting, or the state of being inflected. 2. A bend; a fold; a curve; a turn; a twist. 3. A slide, modulation, or accent of the voice; as, the rising and the falling inflection . 4. (Gram.) The variation or change which words undergo to mark case, gender, number, comparison, tense, person, mood, voice, etc. 5. (Mus.) (a) Any change or modification in the pitch or tone of the voice. (b) A departure from the monotone, or reciting note, in chanting. 6. (Opt.) Same as Diffraction . Point of inflection (Geom.) ,
the point on opposite sides of which a curve bends in contrary ways.
Inflectional In·flec"tion·al adjective Of or pertaining to inflection; having, or characterized by, inflection. Max Müller.
Inflective In·flect"ive adjective 1. Capable of, or pertaining to, inflection; deflecting; as, the inflective quality of the air. Derham. 2. (Gram.) Inflectional; characterized by variation, or change in form, to mark case, tense, etc.; subject to inflection. Inflective language (Philol.) ,
a language like the Greek or Latin, consisting largely of stems with variable terminations or suffixes which were once independent words. English is both agglutinative, as, manlike , headache , and inflective, as, he , his , him . Confer Agglutinative .
Inflesh In·flesh" transitive verb To incarnate.
Inflex In·flex" transitive verb [ Confer
Flex ,
Inflect .]
To bend; to cause to become curved; to make crooked; to deflect. J. Philips.
Inflexed In·flexed" adjective 1. Turned; bent. Feltham. 2. (Botany) Bent or turned abruptly inwards, or toward the axis, as the petals of a flower.
Inflexibility In·flex"i·bil"i·ty noun [ Confer French
inflexibilité .]
The quality or state of being inflexible, or not capable of being bent or changed; unyielding stiffness; inflexibleness; rigidity; firmness of will or purpose; unbending pertinacity; steadfastness; resoluteness; unchangeableness; obstinacy. The inflexibility of mechanism.
A. Baxter. That grave inflexibility of soul.
Churchill. The purity and inflexibility of their faith.
T. Warton.
Inflexible In·flex"i·ble adjective [ Latin
inflexiblis : confer French
inflexible . See
In- not, and
Flexible .]
1. Not capable of being bent; stiff; rigid; firm; unyielding. 2. Firm in will or purpose; not to be turned, changed, or altered; resolute; determined; unyieding; inexorable; stubborn. " Inflexible as steel."
Miltom. A man of upright and inflexible temper . . . can overcome all private fear.
Addison. 3. Incapable of change; unalterable; immutable. The nature of things is inflexible .
I. Watts. Syn. -- -- Unbending; unyielding; rigid; inexorable; pertinacious; obstinate; stubborn; unrelenting.
Inflexibleness In·flex"i·ble·ness noun The quality or state of being inflexible; inflexibility; rigidity; firmness.
Inflexibly In·flex"i·bly adverb In an inflexible manner.
Inflexion In·flex"ion noun Inflection.
Inflexive In·flex"ive adjective 1. Inflective. " Inflexive endings."
W. E. Jelf. 2. Inflexible. [ R.] "Foes
inflexive ."
Chapman.
Inflexure In·flex"ure noun An inflection; a bend or fold. [ R.]
Sir T. Browne.
Inflict In·flict" transitive verb [
imperfect & past participle Inflicted ;
present participle & verbal noun Inflicting .] [ Latin
inflictus , past participle of
infligere to strike on, to inflict; prefix
in- in, on +
fligere to strike. Confer
Flail .]
To give, cause, or produce by striking, or as if by striking; to apply forcibly; to lay or impose; to send; to cause to bear, feel, or suffer; as, to inflict blows; to inflict a wound with a dagger; to inflict severe pain by ingratitude; to inflict punishment on an offender; to inflict the penalty of death on a criminal. What heart could wish, what hand inflict , this dire disgrace?
Drygen. The persecution and the pain
That man inflicts on all inferior kinds.
Cowper.
Inflicter In·flict"er noun One who inflicts. God is the sole and immediate inflicter of such strokes.
South.
Infliction In·flic"tion noun [ Latin
inflictio : confer French
infliction .]
1. The act of inflicting or imposing; as, the infliction of torment, or of punishment. 2. That which is inflicted or imposed, as punishment, disgrace, calamity, etc. His severest inflictions are in themselves acts of justice and righteousness.
Rogers.
Inflictive In·flict"ive adjective [ Confer French
inflictif .]
Causing infliction; acting as an infliction. Whitehead.
Inflorescence In`flo·res"cence noun [ Latin
inflorescens , present participle of
inflorescere to begin to blossom; prefix
in- in +
florescere to begin to blossom: confer French
inflorescence . See
Florescent .]
1. A flowering; the putting forth and unfolding of blossoms. 2. (Botany) (a) The mode of flowering, or the general arrangement and disposition of the flowers with reference to the axis, and to each other. (b) An axis on which all the buds are flower buds. Inflorescence affords an excellent characteristic mark in distinguishing the species of plants.
Milne. Centrifugal inflorescence ,
determinate inflorescence. --
Centripetal inflorescence ,
indeterminate inflorescence. See under Determinate , and Indeterminate .
Inflow In·flow" intransitive verb To flow in. Wiseman.
Influence In"flu·ence (ĭn"flu*
e ns)
noun [ French
influence , from Latin
influens ,
-entis , present participle See
Influent , and confer
Influenza .]
1. A flowing in or upon; influx. [ Obsolete]
God hath his influence into the very essence of all things.
Hooker. 2. Hence, in general, the bringing about of an effect, physical or moral, by a gradual process; controlling power quietly exerted; agency, force, or tendency of any kind which affects, modifies, or sways; as, the influence which the sun exerts on animal and vegetable life; the influence of education on the mind; the influence , according to astrologers, of the stars over affairs. Astrologers call the evil influences of the stars, evil aspects.
Bacon. Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?
Job xxxviii. 31. She said : "Ah, dearest lord! what evil star
On you hath frown'd, and poured, his influence bad?"
Spenser. 3. Power or authority arising from elevated station, excelence of character or intellect, wealth, etc.; reputation; acknowledged ascendency; as, he is a man of influence in the community. Such influence hath your excellency.
Sir P. Sidney. 4. (Electricity) Induction. Syn. -- Control; persuasion; ascendency; sway; power; authority; supremacy; mastery; management; restraint; character; reputation; prestige.
Influence In"flu·ence transitive verb [
imperfect & past participle Influenced ;
present participle & verbal noun Influencing .]
To control or move by power, physical or moral; to affect by gentle action; to exert an influence upon; to modify, bias, or sway; to move; to persuade; to induce. These experiments succeed after the same manner in vacuo as in the open air, and therefore are not influenced by the weight or pressure of the atmosphere.
Sir I. Newton. This standing revelation . . . is sufficient to influence their faith and practice, if they attend.
Attebury. The principle which influenced their obedience has lost its efficacy.
Rogers.
Influencer In"flu·en·cer (ĭn"flu*
e n*sẽr)
noun One who, or that which, influences.
Influencive In"flu·en·cive (-sĭv)
adjective Tending to influence; influential.
Influent In"flu·ent (-
e nt)
adjective [ Latin
influens ,
-entis , present participle of
influere ,
influxum , to flow in; prefix
in- in +
fluere to flow. See
Fluid .]
1. Flowing in. "With
influent tide."
Cowper. "
Influent odors."
Mrs. Browning. 2. Exerting influence; influential. [ Obsolete]
I find no office by name assigned unto Dr. Cox, who was virtually influent upon all, and most active.
Fuller.
Influential In`flu·en"tial (ĭn`flu*ĕn"sh
a l)
adjective [ See
Influence .]
Exerting or possessing influence or power; potent; efficacious; effective; strong; having authority or ascendency; as, an influential man, station, argument, etc. A very influential Gascon prefix.
Earle.
Influentially In`flu·en"tial·ly adverb In an influential manner.
Influenza In`flu·en"za noun [ Italian
influenza influence, an epidemic formerly attributed by astrologers to the influence of the heavenly bodies, influenza. See
Influence .]
(Medicine) An epidemic affection characterized by acute nasal catarrh, or by inflammation of the throat or the bronchi, and usually accompanied by fever.
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