IRAS'CIBLE, a. [L. irascor, from ira. See Ire.]

Very susceptible of anger; easily provoked or inflamed with resentment; irritable; as an irascible man; an irascible temper.

IRAS'CIBLENESS, noun [from irascible.] The quality of being irascible, or easily inflamed by anger; irritability of temper.

IRE, noun [Latin ira, wrath. See Eng. Wrath.] Anger; wrath; keen resentment; a word chiefly used in poetry.

Thus will persist, relentless in his ire

I'REFUL, adjective [ire and full.] Angry; wrath; furious with anger.

The ireful bastard Orleans.

I'REFULLY, adverb In an angry manner.

I'RENARCH, noun [Gr.] An officer formerly employed in the Greek empire, to preserve the public tranquillity.

IRIDES'CENCE, noun Exhibition of colors like those of the rainbow.

IRIDES'CENT, adjective [from iris.] Having colors like the rainbow.

IRID'IUM, noun [from iris.] A metal of a whitish color, not malleable, found in the ore of platinum, and in a native allow with osmium. Its specific gravity is above 18. It takes its name from the variety of colors which it exhibits while dissolving in muriatic acid. The native allow with osmium, or native iridium is of a steel gray color and shining metallic luster. It usually occurs in small irregular flat grains, in alluvial soil, in S. America.

I'RIS, noun plural irises. [Latin iris iridis, the rainbow.]

1. The rainbow.

2. An appearance resembling the rainbow.

3. The colored circle which surrounds the pupil of the eye, by means of which that opening is enlarged and diminished.

4. The changeable colors which sometimes appear in the glasses of telescopes, microscopes, etc.

5. A colored spectrum which a triangular glass prism casts on a wall, when placed at a due angle in the sun-beams.

6. The flower-de-lis, or flag-=flower, a genus of many species.

I'RISATED, adjective Exhibiting the prismatic colors; resembling the rainbow.

I'RISED, adjective Containing colors like those of the rainbow.

I'RISH, adjective Pertaining to Ireland.

I'RISH, noun A native of Ireland.

1. The language of the Irish; the Hiberno-Celtic.

I'RISHISM, noun A mode of speaking peculiar to the Irish.

IRK, verb transitive urk. To weary; to give pain to; used only impersonally; as, it irketh me, it gives me uneasiness. It is nearly obsolete.

IRK'SOME, adjective Wearisome; tedious; tiresome; giving uneasiness; used of something troublesome by long continuance or repetition; as irksome hours; irksome toil or task.

IRK'SOMELY, adverb In a wearisome or tedious manner.

IRK'SOMENESS, noun Tediousness; wearisomeness.

IRON, noun i'urn, or i'rn. [Latin ferrum, for herrum. The radical elements of this word are not easily ascertained.]

1. A metal, the hardest, most common and most useful of all the metals; of a livid whitish color inclined to gray, internally composed, to appearance, of small facets, and susceptible of a fine polish. It is so hard and elastic as to be capable of destroying the aggregation of any other metal. Next to tin, it is the lightest of all metallic substances, and next to gold, the most tenacious. It may be hammered into plates, but not into leaves. Its ductility is more considerable. It has the property of magnetism; it is attracted by the lodestone, and will acquire its properties. It is found rarely in native masses, but in ores, mineralized by different substances, it abounds in every part of the earth. Its medicinal qualities are valuable.

2. An instrument or utensil made of iron; as a flat-iron, a smoothing-iron.

Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? Job 41:27.

3. Figuratively, strength; power; as a rod of iron Daniel 2:33.

4. Irons, plural fetters; chains; manacles; handcuffs. Psalms 105:18.

I'RON, adjective Made of iron; consisting of iron; as an iron gate; an iron bar; iron dust.

1. Resembling iron in color; as an iron gray color.

2. Harsh; rude; severe; miserable; as the iron age of the world.

IRON years of wars and dangers.

Jove crush'd the nations with an iron rod.

3. Binding fast; not to be broken; as the iron sleep of death.

4. Hard of understanding; dull; as an iron witted fool.

5. Firm; robust; as an iron constitution.

I'RON, verb transitive To smooth with an instrument of iron

1. To shackle with irons; to fetter or handcuff.

2. To furnish or arm with iron

I'RONED, participle passive Smoothed with an iron; shackled; armed with iron.

I'RONFLINT, noun Ferruginous quartz; a subspecies of quartz, opake or translucent at the edges, with a fracture more or less conchoidal, shining and nearly vitreous. It is sometimes in very minute and perfect six-sided prisms, terminated at both extremities by six-sides pyramids. It occurs also in masses, and in small grains. Its varieties are red, yellow, and greenish.

I'RONHE'ARTED, adjective Hardhearted; unfeeling; cruel.

IRON'ICAL, adjective Expressing one thing and meaning another. An ironical expression is often accompanied with a manner of utterance which indicates that the speaker intends to be understood in a sense directly contrary to that which the words convey.

IRON'ICALLY, adverb By way of irony; by the use of irony. A commendation may be ironically severe.

I'RONIST, noun One who deals in irony.

I'RONMOLD, noun A spot on cloth made by applying rusty iron to the cloth when wet.

I'RONMONGER, noun A dealer in iron wares or hardware.

I'RONSICK, adjective In seamen's language, a ship is said to be ironsick when her bolts and nails are so much corroded or eaten with rust that she has become leaky.

I'RONSTONE, noun An ore of iron.

I'RONWOOD, noun The popular name of a genus of trees called Sideroxylon, of several species; so called from their hardness.

I'RONWORK, noun A general name of the parts or pieces of a building which consist of iron; any thing made of iron.

I'RONWORKS, noun plural The works or establishment where pig-iron is wrought into bars, etc.

I'RONWORT, noun A genus of plants called Sideritis, of several species.

I'RONY, adjective [from iron.] Made or consisting of iron; partaking of iron; as irony chains; irony particles.

1. Resembling iron; hard.

I'RONY, [Latin ironia; Gr. a dissembler in speech.]

A mode of speech expressing a sense contrary to that which the speaker intends to convey; as, Nero was a very virtuous prince; Pope Hildebrand was remarkable for his meekness and humility. when irony is uttered, the dissimulation is generally apparent from the manner of speaking, as by a smile or an arch look, or perhaps by an affected gravity of countenance. irony in writing may also be detected by the manner of expression.

I'ROUS, adjective [from ire.] Apt to be angry.

IRRA'DIANCE

IRRA'DIANCY, noun [Latin irradians, from irradio. See Irradiate.]

1. Emission of rays of light on an object.

2. Beams of light emitted; luster; splendor.

IRRA'DIANCY, n. [L. irradians, from irradio. See Irradiate.]

IRRA'DIATE, verb transitive [Latin irradio; in and radio, to shine. See Ray.]

1. To illuminate; to brighten; to make splendid; to adorn with luster.

2. To enlighten intellectually; to illuminate; as, to irradiate the mind.

3. To animate by heat or light.

4. To decorate with shining ornaments.

IRRA'DIATE, verb intransitive To emit rays; to shine.

IRRA'DIATE, adjective Adorned with shining ornaments.

IRRA'DIATED, participle passive Illuminated; enlightened; made luminous or bright; decorated with rays of light or with something shining.

IRRA'DIATING, participle present tense Illuminating; decorating with beams of light.

IRRADIA'TION, noun The act of emitting beams of light.

1. Illumination; brightness.

2. Intellectual light.

3. The act of emitting minute particles or effluvia from some substance.

IRRA'TIONAL, adjective [Latin irrationalis; in and rationalis, from ratio.]

1. Not rational; void of reason or understanding. Brutes are irrational animals.

2. Not according to the dictates of reason; contrary to reason; absurd. To pursue a course of life which destroys happiness, is irrational

IRRATIONAL'ITY, noun Want of reason or the powers of understanding.

IRRA'TIONALLY, adverb Without reason; in a manner contrary to reason; absurdly.

IRRECLA'IMABLE, adjective [in and reclaimable.]

1. Not to be reclaimed; that cannot be recalled from error or vice; that cannot be brought to reform.

2. That cannot be tamed.

IRRECLA'IMABLY, adverb So as not to admit of reformation.

IRRECONCI'LABLE, adjective [in and reconcilable.]

1. Not to be recalled to amity, or a state of friendship and kindness; retaining enmity that cannot be appeased or subdued; as an irreconcilable enemy or faction.

2. That cannot be appeased or subdued; as irreconcilable enmity or hatred.

3. That cannot be made to agree or be consistent; incongruous; incompatible; as irreconcilable absurdities. It is followed by with or to. A man's conduct may be irreconcilable to or with his avowed principles.

IRRECONCI'LABLENESS, noun The quality of being irreconcilable; incongruity; incompatibility.

IRRECONCI'LABLY, adverb In a manner that precludes reconciliation. Men may be irreconcilably opposed to each other.

IRREC'ONCILE, verb transitive To prevent from being reconciled.

IRRECONCI'LED, adjective [in and reconciled.]

1. Not reconciled.

2. Not atoned for.

IRRECONCI'LEMENT, noun Want of reconciliation; disagreement.

IRRECONCILIA'TION, noun Want of reconciliation.

IRRECOV'ERABLE, adjective [in and recoverable.]

1. Not to be recovered or repaired; as an irrecoverable loss.

2. That cannot be regained. Time past is irrecoverable

3. That cannot be obtained by demand or suit; as a debt.

4. Not be remedied; as irrecoverable misery.

IRRECOV'ERABLENESS, noun The state of being irrecoverable.

IRRECOV'ERABLY, adverb Beyond recovery; beyond the possibility of being regained, repaired or remedied. Happiness may be irrecoverably lost.

1. Beyond the possibility of being reclaimed. A profligate may be irrecoverably abandoned to vice.

A profligate may be irrecoverably abandoned to vice.

IRRECU'PERABLE, adjective [Latin in and recupero, to recover.]

Irrecoverable. [Not used.]

IRRECU'PERABLY, adverb Irrecoverably. [Not used.]

IRREDEEMABIL'ITY, noun The quality of being not redeemable.

IRREDEE'MABLE, adjective [in and redeemable.]

1. That cannot be redeemed.

2. Not subject to be paid at the pleasure of government; as irredeemable debts; irredeemable certificates or stock.

IRREDEE'MABLENESS

IRREDU'CIBLE, adjective [in and reducible.] Not to be reduced; that cannot be brought back to a former state.

1. That cannot be reduced or changed to a different state; as corpuscles of air irreducible into water.

IRREDU'CIBLE, a. [in and reducible.] Not to be reduced; that cannot be brought back to a former state.

IRREDU'CIBLENESS, noun The quality of being irreducible.

IRREFRAGABIL'ITY, noun The quality of being irrefragable or incapable of refutation.

IRREFRA'GABLE, adjective [in and refragable, Latin refragor; re and the root of frango, to break.]

That cannot be refuted or overthrown; incontestable; undeniable; as an irrefragable argument; irrefragable reason or evidence.

IRREFRA'GABLENESS

IRREFRA'GABLY, adverb With force or strength that cannot be overthrown; with certainty beyond refutation. We say, the point in debate was irrefragably proved.

IRREFRA'GABLY, adv. With force or strength that cannot be overthrown; with certainty beyond refutation. We say, the point in debate was irrefragably proved.

IRREFU'TABLE, adjective [Low Latin irrefutabilis. See Refute.]

That cannot be refuted or disproved.

IRREFU'TABLY, adverb Beyond the possibility of refutation.

IRREGEN'ERACY, noun Unregeneracy.

IRREG'ULAR, adjective [Latin irregularis; in and regularis, regula. See Regular.]

1. Not regular; not according to common form or rules; as an irregular building or fortification.

2. Not according to established principles or customs; deviating from usage; as the irregular proceedings of a legislative body.

3. Not conformable to nature or the usual operation of natural laws; as an irregular action of the heart and arteries.

4. Not according to the rules of art; immethodical; as irregular verse; an irregular discourse.

5. Not in conformity to laws, human or divine; deviating from the rules of moral rectitude; vicious; as irregular conduct or propensities.

6. Not straight; as an irregular line or course.

7. Not uniform; as irregular motion.

8. In grammar, an irregular noun or verb is one which deviates from the common rules in its inflections.

IRREG'ULAR, noun A soldier not in regular service.

IRREGULAR'ITY, noun

1. Deviation from a straight line or from any common or established rule; deviation from method or order; as the irregularity of proceedings.

2. Deviation from law, human, or divine, or from moral rectitude; inordinate practice; vice. It is a favorable symptom when a profligate man becomes ashamed of his irregularities.

IRREG'ULARLY, adverb Without rule, method or order.

IRREG'ULATE, verb transitive To make irregular; to disorder. [Not in use.]

IRREL'ATIVE, adjective [in and relative.] Not relative; unconnected.

Irrelative chords, in music, have no common sound.

IRREL'ATIVELY, adverb Unconnectedly.

IRREL'EVANCY, noun [from irrelevant.] Inapplicability; the quality of not being applicable, or of not serving to aid and support; as the irrelevancy of an argument or of testimony to a case in question.

IRREL'EVANT, adjective [Latin elevo, levo, to raise.] Not relevant; not applicable or pertinent; not serving to support. We call evidence, testimony and arguments irrelevant to a cause, when they are inapplicable to it, or do not serve so support it.

IRREL'EVANTLY, adverb Without being to the purpose.

IRRELIE'VABLE, adjective Not admitting relief.

IRRELIG'ION, noun Want of religion, or contempt of it; impiety.

IRRELIG'IONIST, noun One who is destitute of religious principles; a despiser of religion.

IRRELIG'IOUS, adjective Destitute of religious principles; condemning religion; impious; ungodly.

Shame and reproach are generally the portion of the impious and irreligious

1. Contrary to religion; profane; impious; wicked; as an irreligious speech; irreligious conduct.

IRRELIG'IOUSLY, adverb With impiety; wickedly.

IRRELIG'IOUSNESS, noun Want of religious principles or practices; ungodliness.

IRRE'MEABLE, adjective [Latin irremeabilis; in and remeo, to return; re and meo, to pass.] Admitting no return; as an irremeable way.

IRREME'DIABLE, adjective

1. Not to be remedied; that cannot be cured; as an irremediable disease or evil.

2. Not to be corrected or redressed; as irremediable error or mischief.

IRREME'DIABLENESS, noun State of being irremediable.

IRREME'DIABLY, adverb In a manner or degree that precludes remedy, cure or correction.

IRREMIS'SIBLE, adjective [Latin remitto. See Remit.]

Not to be pardoned; that cannot be forgiven or remitted.

IRREMIS'SIBLENESS, noun The quality of being unpardonable.

IRREMIS'SIBLY, adverb So as not to be pardoned.

IRREMOVABIL'ITY, noun [See Irremovable.] The quality or state of being irremovable, or not removable from office.

IRREMOV'ABLE, adjective [in and removable.]

1. That cannot be moved or changed.

2. That cannot be legally or constitutionally removed from office.

IRREMU'NERABLE, adjective [in and remunerable.] That cannot be rewarded.

IRRENOWN'ED, adjective Not renowned; not celebrated.

IRREPARABIL'ITY, noun [See Irreparable.] The quality or state of being irreparable, or beyond repair or recovery.

IRREP'ARABLE, adjective [Latin irreparabilis. See Repair.]

1. That cannot be repaired or mended; as an irreparable breach.

2. That cannot be recovered or regained; as an irreparable loss.

IRREP'ARABLY, adverb In a manner or degree that precludes recovery or repair.

IRREPEALABIL'ITY, noun [from irrepealable.]

The quality of being irrepealable.

IRREPE'ALABLE, adjective [in and repealable. See Repeal.]

That cannot be legally repealed or annulled.

IRREPE'ALABLENESS, noun Irrepealability.

IRREPE'ALABLY, adverb Beyond the power of repeal.

IRREPENT'ANCE, noun Want of repentance; impenitence.

IRREPLEV'IABLE, adjective [in and repleviable.] That cannot be replevied.

IRREPLEV'ISABLE, adjective [in and replevisable.]

That cannot be replevied.

IRREPREHENS'IBLE, adjective [in and reprehensible.]

Not reprehensible; not to be blamed or censured; free from fault.

IRREPREHENS'IBLENESS, noun The quality of being irreprehensible.

IRREPREHENS'IBLY, adverb In a manner not to incur blame; without blame.

IRREPRESENT'ABLE, adjective [in and represent.] Not to be represented; that cannot be figured or represented by any image.

IRREPRESS'IBLE, adjective [in and repressible.] That cannot be repressed.

IRREPROACHABLE, adjective [in and reproachable.] That cannot be justly reproached; free from blame; upright; innocent. An irreproachable life is the highest honor of a rational being.

IRREPROACHABLENESS, noun The quality or state of being not reproachable.

IRREPROACHABLY, adverb In a manner not to deserve reproach; blamelessly; as deportment irreproachably upright.

IRREPROV'ABLY, adverb So as not to be liable to reproof or blame.

IRREPROV'ALBE, adjective [in and reprovably.] That cannot be justly reproved; blameless; upright.

IRRESIST'ANCE, noun s as z. [in and resistance.]

Forbearance to resist; non-resistance; passive submission.

IRRESISTIBIL'ITY

IRRESIST'IBLE, adjective That cannot be successfully resisted or opposed; superior to opposition.

An irresistible law of our nature impels us to seek happiness.

IRRESIST'IBLE, a. That cannot be successfully resisted or opposed; superior to opposition.

IRRESIST'IBLENESS, noun [from irresistible.] The quality of being irresistible; power or force beyond resistance or opposition.

IRRESIST'IBLY, adverb With a power that cannot be successfully resisted or opposed.

IRRES'OLUBLE, adjective s as z. [Latin in and resolvo.]

Not to be dissolved; incapable of dissolution.

IRRES'OLUBLENESS, noun The quality of being indissoluble; resistance to separation of parts by heat.

IRRES'OLUTE, adjective s as z. [in and resolute.] Not firm or constant in purpose; not decided; not determined; wavering; given to doubt. irresolute men either resolve not at all, or resolve and re-resolve.

IRRES'OLUTELY, adverb Without firmness of mind; without decision.

IRRES'OLUTENESS, noun Want of firm determination or purpose; vacillation of mind.

IRRESOLU'TION, noun Want of resolution; want of decision in purpose; a fluctuation of mind, as in doubt, or between hope and fear.

IRRESOLV'EDLY, adverb s as z. [in and resolved.]

Without settled determination. [Little used.]

IRRESPECT'IVE, adjective [in and respective.]

Not regarding circumstances.

According to this doctrine, it must be resolved wholly into the absolute, irrespective will of God.

IRRESPECT'IVELY, adverb Without regard to circumstances, or not taking them into consideration.

IRRES'PIRABLE, adjective [in and respirable.] Unfit for respiration; not having the qualities which support animal life; as irrespirable air.

IRRESPONSIBIL'ITY, noun Want of responsibility.

IRRESPONS'IBLE, adjective [in and responsible.] Not responsible; not liable or able to answer for consequences; not answerable.

IRRETEN'TIVE, adjective Not retentive or apt to retain.

IRRETRIE'VABLE, adjective [in and retrievable, from retrieve.]

Not to be recovered or repaired; irrecoverable; irreparable; as an irretrievable loss.

IRRETRIE'VABLENESS, noun The state of being irretrievable.

IRRETRIE'VABLY, adverb Irreparably; irrecoverably; in a manner not to be regained.

IRRETURN'ABLE, adjective Not to be returned.

IRREV'ERENCE, noun [Latin irreverentia; in and reverentia. See Reverence.]

1. Want of reverence, or want of veneration; want of due regard to the authority and character of the Supreme Being. irreverence toward God is analogous to disrespect toward man.

2. The state of being disregarded; applied to men. But this word is appropriately applicable to the Supreme Being and to his laws and institutions.

IRREV'ERENT, adjective

1. Wanting in reverence and veneration; not entertaining or manifesting due regard to the Supreme Being.

2. Proceeding from irreverence; expressive of a want of veneration; as an irreverent thought, word or phrase.

3. Wanting in respect to superiors.

IRREV'ERENTLY, adverb Without due regard to the authority and character of the Supreme being; in an irreverent manner.

1. Without due respect to superiors.

IRREVERS'IBLE, adjective [in and reversible.] That cannot be reversed; that cannot be recalled, repealed or annulled; as an irreversible decree or sentence.

IRREVERS'IBLENESS, noun State of being irreversible.

IRREVERS'IBLY, adverb In a manner which precludes a reversal or repeal.

IRREVOCABIL'ITY

IRREV'OCABLE, adjective [Latin irrevocabilis; in and revocabilis, revoco; re and voco, to call.] Not to be recalled or revoked; that cannot be reversed, repealed or annulled; as an irrevocable decree, sentence, edict or doom; irrevocable fate; an irrevocable promise.

IRREV'OCABLE, a. [L. irrevocabilis; in and revocabilis, revoco; re and voco, to call.] Not to be recalled or revoked; that cannot be reversed, repealed or annulled; as an irrevocable decree, sentence, edict or doom; irrevocable fate; an irrevocable promise.

IRREV'OCABLENESS, noun State of being irrevocable.

IRREV'OCABLY, adverb Beyond recall; in a manner precluding repeal.

IRREVO'KABLE, adjective [in and revokable.]

Not to be recalled; irrevocable.

IRREV'OLUBLE, adjective That has no revolution. [Not used.]

IR'RIGATE, verb transitive [Latin irrigo; in and rigo, to water.]

1. To water; to wet; to moisten; to bedew.

2. To water, as land, by causing a stream to flow upon it and spread over it.

IR'RIGATED, participle passive Watered; moistened.

IR'RIGATING, participle present tense Watering; wetting; moistening.

IRRIGA'TION, noun The act of watering or moistening.

1. In agriculture, the operation of causing water to flow over lands for nourishing plants.

IRRIG'UOUS, adjective [Latin irriguus. See Irrigate.]

1. Watered; watery; moist.

The flowery lap

Of some irriguous valley spreads her store.

2. Dewy; moist.

IRRIS'ION, noun s as z. [Latin irrisio, irrideo; in and ridio, to laugh.] The act of laughing at another.

IRRITABIL'ITY, noun [from irritable.] Susceptibility of excitement; the quality of being easily irritated or exasperated; as irritability of temper.

1. In physiology, one of the four faculties of the sensorium, by which fibrous contractions are caused in consequence of the irritations excited by external bodies.

Irritability differs from sensibility; the most irritable parts of the body not being at all sensible, and vice versa. The heart is endued with the greatest irritability

IR'RITABLE, adjective [from irritate.] Susceptible of excitement, or of heat and action, as animal bodies.

1. Very susceptible of anger or passion; easily inflamed or exasperated; as an irritable temper.

2. In physiology, susceptible of contraction, in consequence of the appulse of an external body.

In general, there is nothing irritable in the animal body, but the muscular fibers.

IR'RITANT, adjective Irritating.

IR'RITANT, noun That which excites or irritates.

IR'RITATE, verb transitive [Latin irrito; in and ira, wrath.]

1. To excite heat and redness in the skin or flesh of living animal bodies, as by friction; to inflame; to fret; as, to irritate a wounded part by a coarse bandage.

2. To excite anger; to provoke; to tease; to exasperate. Never irritate a child for trifling faults. The insolence of a tyrant irritates his subjects.

3. To increase action or violence; to highten excitement in.

Air, if very cold, irritateth the flame.

4. To cause fibrous contractions in an extreme part of the sensorium, as by the appulse of an external body.

IR'RITATED, participle passive Excited; provoked; caused to contract.

IR'RITATING, participle present tense Exciting; angering; provoking; causing to contract.

IRRITA'TION, noun The operation of exciting heat, action, and redness in the skin or flesh of living animals, by friction or other means.

1. The excitement of action in the animal system by the application of food, medicines and the like.

2. Excitement of anger or passion; provocation; exasperation; anger.

3. In physiology, an exertion or change of some extreme part of the sensorium residing in the muscles or organs of sense, in consequence of the appulses of external bodies.

Irritation is the effect of a stimulus applied to an irritable part.

IR'RITATIVE, adjective Serving to excite or irritate.

1. Accompanied with or produced by increased action or irritation; as an irritative fever.

IR'RITATORY, adjective Exciting; stimulating.

IRRORA'TION, noun [Latin irroratio.] The act of bedewing; the state of being moistened with dew.

IRRUP'TION, noun [Latin irruption; in and rumpo, to break or burst.]

1. A bursting in; a breaking or sudden violent rushing into a place. Holland has been often inundated by irruptions of the sea.

2. A sudden invasion or incursion; a sudden, violent inroad, or entrance of invaders into a place or country; as the irruption of the northern nations into France and Italy.

IRRUP'TIVE, adjective Rushing in or upon.