SECOND EDITEON
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`RAND OEM HOUSE
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`REFERENCE
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`inscription
`
`986
`
`5. Brit. a., to issue (a loan) in the form of shares with
`registered stockholders.
`b.
`to sell
`(stocks). c.
`to buy
`(stocks).
`[l545—55; < L inscribere, equiv. to in- 114-” +
`—in-scrib/
`scrilzere to write; see scRIBE"]
`a-ble, adj.
`-In-scribfa-bio-ness, n.
`/in-Scrib/er, n
`_
`_
`1. something in-
`in-scrip-tlon
`(in slcrip’5han), n.
`scribed. 2. a historical, religious, or other record cut,
`impressed, painted, or written on stone, brick, metal, or
`other hard surface. 3. a brief, usually informal dedica-
`tion, as ofa book or a work of art. 4. a note, as a dedi-
`cation, that is written and signed by hand in a book. 5.
`the act of inscribing.
`6.‘ Pharm.
`the part of a prescrip-
`tion indicating the drugs and the amounts to be mixed.
`7. Brit. a. an issue of securities or stocks. b. a block of
`shares in a stock, as bought or sold by one person. 8.
`Also called legend. Numis. the lettering in the field of a
`coin, medal, etc.‘ [1350—l'.40(l; ME £n.scripcio(u)n < L
`i.nscrEpti6n- (s. of iriscriptio), equiv. to inscriptlusl (ptp.
`of inscribere to INSCRIBE) + -ion- —ICIN]
`->iI'l-SCl'iP’ti0I'I-
`al, adj.
`-in-scrip’tiun-less, adj.
`of, pertaining to, or of
`in-scrip-tive (in skrip’tiv), adj.
`the nature of an inscription.
`[1730-40; < L inscripflus)
`—in-scrip’-
`tive-Iy. adv.
`ptp. of mscribere (see INSCRIE-THIN) + -IVE}
`in-scroll
`(in ski-61v’), u.:. enscroll.
`incapable of
`1.
`in-scruota-ble (in skroTI’ta boll, adj.
`; impenetra-
`being investigated, analyzed, or scrutinized
`ble. 2. not easily understood; mysterious; unfathomable:
`an inscrutable smile.
`3. incapable of being seen through
`inscrutable
`impenetrable:
`the
`physically; physically
`depths of the ocean.
`[1400-50; late ME < LL inscrctabi.
`lrs. See rN—°, scsurmsms]
`-—in-scru/ta-bil’i-ty, in-scrub
`ta-ble-ness, n. —'m-scru/ta-bly, oclu.
`discoverable.
`-*~Syn.
`1. hidden, incomprehensible,
`1111
`ble.
`'
`See mysterious. —Ant. 1. coinprehensi
`to carve in or on
`invsculp (in skulp’), u.t. Archaic.
`something; engrave.
`_
`_
`[14CIO—50; late ME < L. insculpere,
`equiv. to m— IN-2 + sculpere to carve; see SCULPTOR]
`inoseam (i_rIr'sE.-in’), n.
`1. an inside or inner seam of a
`garment, esp. the seam of a trouser leg that runs from
`the crotch down to the bottom of the leg. ——-adj. 2. of or
`pertaining to such a seam: inseam measurements. 3. (of
`a pocket) placed at or sewn to an opening in the seam of
`a garment, usually the side seem, so as to lie completely
`inside the garment.
`[1905-10; IN-‘ + scam]
`In-sect
`(in/sektl, n. 1. any animal of the class lnsecta,
`comprising small, air-breathing arthropods having the
`body divided into three parts (head, thorax, and abdo-
`men), and having three pairs of legs and usually two
`pairs of wings. 2. any small arthropod, such as a spider,
`tick, or centipsde, having a superficial, general similarity
`to the insects. C1“. arachnid. 3. a contemptihle or unim-
`portant person. —odj. 4. of, pertaining to, like, or used
`for or against
`insects: on insect bite;
`insect powder.
`[1595-1605; < L inset.-tum, in. use of oeut. of iussctus ptp.
`of insecére to incise, cut (cf. SEGMENT); trans. of Gk énto-
`mon insect,
`lit., notched or incised one; see nN'r0Mo-]
`—in-sec-ti-val (in/sek ti’/val), adj.
`
`-insect (grasshopper)
`A, compound eye; B, simple
`"eye; C, antenna; D, head;
`E, thorax; F, abdomen;
`G, wings; I-L oviposilor;
`1, spiracle; J, femur,
`K, ears‘; L, legs; M, palpus
`
`
`
`En-seceta (in sek/ta), n.
`the class comprising the in-
`sects.
`[1570-80; < NL, L, pl. of insectum INSECT]
`-tar-i-urns,
`pl.
`in-sec-tar-i-um (in/sek taxis om), n.,
`-tar-i-a (—tér/é a). a place in which a collecti
`on of living
`insects is kept, as in a zoo.
`[l880—85; < NL; see Iivsnor,
`-Asium]
`a labora-
`in-see-taroy (infsek ter/s), n., pl. -tar-is.
`tory for the study of live insects, their life histories,
`effects on plants, reaction to insecticides, etc.
`[1385-90;
`var. of INSECTARIUM; see -ARY]
`1. a substance or
`in=-secoti-cide (in sek’l;a sid/),
`I1.
`preparation used for killing insects. 2. the act of killing
`—in-sec/th
`insects.
`[1860-65; msccr + -1- + ~Cl]:IE]
`cidras, adj.
`-
`a substance or
`in-sec-ti-fuge (in sel:’te rycny), n.
`preparation for driving off insects.
`[INSECT + -1- +
`wuss]
`
`in-sec-tile (in sek/til), adj. 1. pertaining to or like an
`-1Ls]
`insect. 2. consisting of insects.
`[1605-15; TNSEC-T +
`the order com-
`In-sec-tivvo-ra (in/sek away a), n.
`prising the insectivores.
`[1B30a4-3; < NL, neut. pl. of in-
`scctiuorus INSECTIVOROUS]
`1. an insec-
`in-sec-ti-vote (in seldto vér/,‘ -vfir/), H.
`tivorous animal or plant. 2. any mammal of the order
`lnsectivora, comprising the moles,
`shrews, and Old
`World hedgehogs.
`[1860£5; back formation from INSEC-
`TIVOROUS; see —voiu:3
`in-sec-tiv-o-rous
`1. adapted
`(in/sek tivfor es), adj.
`to feeding on insects.
`2. Bot. having specialized leaves
`or leaf parts capable of trapping and digesting insects, as
`the Venus ’s-flytrap, the pitcher plants, and the sundews.
`[1655-65; < NL
`irisectivorus. See INSECT, -1-, -venous]
`entomology.
`{in/sek tol-‘e js),
`in-sec-tol-o-gy
`n.
`[1760-'70; INSECT + -o- + moor} --in/sec-tol’o-gar, n.
`[1850-55]
`lnfsect wax/. Chem. See Chinse wax.
`subject
`to fears,
`in-so-cure
`(in/sil-:y:Tor1'), adj.
`1.
`doubts, etc.; not self-confident or assured: an insecure
`CONCISE ETYMOLOGY KEY:
`<, descended or borrowed from; >
`whence‘, b., blend of, blended; c., cognate with; cl'., compare; deriv,
`oblique; r., rs-
`derivative; equiv., equivalent; imit., imitative; obl.,
`l
`ling, respellecl;
`placing; s., stem; sp., spelling, spelled; resp., respe
`trans,
`translation; ?, origin unknown‘,
`", unattested, i, probably
`earlier ‘than. See the full key inside the front cover.
`
`1. adapted
`in-vses-sovri-an (in/so sér’é el, -sor’-J, adj.
`for perching, as a bird’s foot. 2. habitually perching, as
`a bird. 3. of or pertaining to birds that perch.
`[1830-40;
`< NL Insessorlcs) the percl-ling birds (L: perclicrs, equiv.
`to fused-, var. s. of insiders to settle on (in~— IN-2 +
`siolere to sit down) + —t6rés, pl. of —tor -TUE) + -1.3.1.]
`in-vset
`(n. infsev; u. in set’), n., o., —sst. -set-ting. —n..
`1. something inserted; insert. 2. a small picture, map,
`etc,
`inserted within the border of a larger one.
`-3.
`influx. 4. the act of setting in. 5. a piece of cloth or
`other material set into a garment, usually as an orna-
`
`lfislght
`
`
`
`lg
`
`l'lSElL!
`mental panel. —u.t. 6. to set in or insert, as an,‘
`inset :2 panel in a dress. 7. to insert an inset in: to {M
`<1 mounting with jewels.
`lbefi 900; ME insetien ta in“, B1
`OE inscttan to initiate; see IN—‘. SET] ‘infset/ta,._ nit’
`inrset lni/tial, Print, an initial letter, esp. cf the fir E
`word of a chapter or other section ofa book, magazins
`etc.,
`larger than the body type and occupying two 06;.
`it. Also called drop initial.
`'
`more lines in depth, causing body type to be set around
`in-sev-er-aeble (in sevfer e be], -sev-(re-), a,d_j_ unable
`to be severed or separated: on inseueruble alliance
`[1655—65; IN? 4- SEVERAELE] einvsev/or-a-bly, adv.
`'
`in-sheathe (in shstwh/). u.t., -sheathed,
`.sheag.,.,,,g_
`ensheathe. Also, in-sheath (in shef.-hf).
`in-shore (in’sh6r’, —sh6r/l, adj.
`1., close or closer tn
`the shore. 2. lying near the shore; operating or carried
`on close to the shore: inshore fishing. ——ndu. 3, t
`si-ioRE']
`'
`the shore: They went closer inshore.
`[1695—.'L705; m_x +
`shrine.
`in-shrine (in shrin’), u.t.,
`-shrlnad.
`-shrin-ing_
`e_,,,_
`in-side (prep.
`in/sidf, inisidr‘; adv.
`in/sid’; n. 11,13,-,d,.
`odj. in/sid’, in/-, in/sid/), prep. 1. on the inner side 315
`part of; within: inside the circle; inside the envelope.
`2_
`prior to the elapse of‘; Within: He promised to arrive in.
`side an hour. —-adv. 3. in or into the inner part: Please
`
`,2
`
`_
`
`.
`
`
`
`.--é
`
`shy. 6. Slang. in prison. 7. inside of. Informal. within
`the space or period of‘: Our car brolic down again inside
`of a mile. —n. B. the inner or internal part; interim:
`the inside ofihe house. 9. the inner side or surface: the
`inside of the hand; He pinned the money to the inside of
`his jacket.
`10. Usually,
`insides. Informal.
`the inner
`parts of the body, esp. the stomach and intestines: The.
`coffee scolded my insides. 11. a select or inner circle of
`power, prestige, etc; a man on the inside.
`12.
`the
`shortest of several parallel, curving tracks or lanes; the
`part of an oval track closest to the inner rail: The horse
`come up fast on the inside.
`13.
`the inward nature,
`mind, feelings, etc. 14. Slong. confidential or secretin-
`formation. 15. an inside passenger or place in a coach.
`carriage, etc. 16. insicl out, a. with the inner side re-
`versed to face the outside.
`I).
`thoroughly; completely.
`—o.o’j. 17. situated or being on or in the inside; interior;
`internal: on inside seat. 18. acting, employed, done, or
`originating within a building or place: He used to work
`on the dock but now he has on inside job. 19. derived
`from the inner circle of those concerned in and having
`privaterlcnowledge of a situation:
`inside information.
`20. Baseball. (of a pitched ball) passing between home
`(1350-1400; ME; see IN, s1DE‘]
`-—syn. 8. livsins, INTERIOR both refer to the inner part
`or space within something. INSIDE is a common word,
`and is used with reference to things of any size, small or
`large:
`the inside of" El. pocket. INTERIOR, somewhat more
`formal, denotes the inner part or the space or regions
`within; it usually suggests considerable size or extent,
`and sometimes a richness of decoration: the interior ofa
`country, of the earth, of a cathedral.
`--—AII'kt. 8. out
`side, exterior.
`
`infside cal-Viper, a caliper whose legs turn. outwarcl so
`that it can accurately measure inside dimensions, as the
`inside diameter of a pipe. See illus. under caliper.
`in/side for/ward, Soccer. one of two attacking play-
`ers whose usual position is between the center forward
`and one of the wings.
`[l895—1900]
`infside job’, a crime committed by or in collusion W_'itl1
`a person or persons closely associated with the victim:
`The robbery seemed an inside job, because there was no
`evidence of forced emry.
`[E30510]
`in/side IDOP’, Aeron. a loop during which the top Of
`the airplane is on the inner side of the curve described
`by the course of flight. Cf. outside loop.
`in-sid-er (in/si/der), n.
`1.. a person who is a membelj Df
`a group, organization, society, etc. 2. a person belongmg
`to a limited circle of persons who understand the E?tu'=‘1
`facts in a situation or share private knowledge: Inside”
`knew that the president would veto the hill. 3. a peI‘50“
`who has some special advantage or influence. 4- 5 P91“
`son in possession of corporate information not generally
`available to the public, as a director, an accountant. Oi”
`other officer or employee ofa corporation.
`[1820-305 IN’
`SIDE + —En‘]'
`the illegal buying and selling of
`in/sidor tradfing,
`securities by persons acting on privileged information»
`[1965—'1'D] -in»'sis5ar tradfsr.
`iniside straight’, 1. Poker. a set of four cards, E5 the
`five, seven, eight, and nine, requiring one card of 3 ‘leg
`nomination next above or below the second or thiga
`ranking cards of the set to make a straight. 2- ¢?75“'h t
`an inside straight. to build up hopes for something l? 5
`has little or no chance of happening.
`track of;
`li‘!7SidE track/’, 1.
`the inner, or shorter,
`racecourse. 2. an advantageous position in a comp’?
`tive situation.
`[1B55—60, Amen]
`in-sid-i-ous (in sid/e es), uclj. 1. intended to antral? 0’.
`beg-uile: on insidious plan.
`2.. stealthily treacherous 01’
`deceitful: an insidious enemy. 3. operating or Pfflcefiut
`I1
`ing in an inconspicuous or seemingly harmless W53’
`5_
`actually with grave effect: an insidious discuséh
`5
`45; < L insidios-us deceitful, equiv. to insidilafl KPUUS]
`ambush (deriv. of insidére to srr in or on) 4: -osu.S -0
`—in-sid/i-ousoly, adv. —in-sidfi-nus-ness. n._
`bfle
`—Syn. 1. corrupting. 2. artful, cunning, W113’: 5”
`‘
`crafty.
`
`inesight (in/sit/), n. 1. an instance of apprsh_erId1nE'd‘g:
`true nature of a thing, esp.
`through intuitive 13'-ltrat_
`standing: on insight into 18th-cerztufiy life. 2- P‘?59 .n 0
`ing mental vision or discernment; faculty of seeing 1 an
`inner character or underlying truth. 3. Psychol 3- or
`understanding of relationships that sheds light 9” i_
`helps solve a problem. b. (in psychotherapy) the T9005“
`
`person. 2. not confident or certain; uneasy; anxious: He
`was insecure about the examination. 3. not secure; ex-
`posed or liable to risk, loss, or danger: an insecure stock
`portfolio. 4. not firmly or reliably placed or fastened: an
`insecure ladder.
`[l640—-50; < ML inséciirus. See IN—:,
`SECURE] —in/so-curelly, udi). —-in/Se-cure/ness, n.
`--Syn. 3. risky. See uncertain.
`in-se-cuori-ty (in’si kyzfir/i té), 11., pl. -ties. 1. lack of
`confidence or assurance; self-doubt: He is plagued by in-
`security. 2. the quality or state of being insecure; insta-
`bility: the insecurity of her financial position. 3. some-
`thing insecure:
`the many msecuritics of life.
`[I640—5D;
`< ML insécflritfts. See INSECUEE, -ITY]
`~—Syn. 2. precariousness, shakiness, vulnerability.
`in-sel-berg (infsel burg/, —zel-), n. Physical Geog. mo-
`nadnock. (def. 1).
`[1895-1900; < G, equiv. to Insel island
`+ Berg mountain}
`m-semoi-nate (in sem*'a nilt/), u.:., -hat-ed, -nat-ing
`1.
`to inject semen into (the female reproductive tract);
`impregnate. 2. to sow; implant seed into. 3. to sow as
`seed in something;
`implant:
`to inserninate youth with
`new ideas.
`[1615—25; < L inséminfitus ptp. of in-
`séminfrre toimplant,
`impregnate, equiv.
`to in-
`IN-2
`+ se"min.E:tus
`(equiv.
`to sémin.E.(re)
`to sow, deriv. of
`
`sérnen seed (of. SEMEN) 4- -tus ptp. suffixjj -in-sem/Fnaftion. n.
`
`2:
`(in so-m’e na/tar), n. Vet. Med.
`in-sem -na-tor
`technician who introduces prepared semen into the geni-
`tal tract of breeding animals, esp. cows and mares, for
`artificial insemination.
`[194(L45; INSEMINATE + -011*]
`In-sen-sate (in sen-‘sat, —sit), adj. 1. not endowed with
`sensation; inanimate: irisensolc stone. 2. without human
`feeling or sensitivity; cold; cruel; brutal.
`3. without
`sense, understanding, or judgment; foolish.
`[1510—20: <
`L insénsfitus irrational. See rN—“, sensual —in-sen-N
`sate-ly. ctdv. -in-senfsate-ness. n.
`—Syn. 1. lifeless, inorganic. 2. insensible.
`3. stupid,
`irrational, senseless, witless, dumb.
`in-sen-sioble (in serflsa bel), adj. 1. incapable of feel-
`ing or perceiving; deprived of sensation; unconscious, as
`a person after a violent blow. 2. without or not subject
`to a particular feeling or sensation: insensible to shame;
`insensible to the cold. 3. unaware; unconscious; inap-
`preciative: We are not insensible of your kindness.
`4.
`not perceptible by the senses; imperceptible:
`insensible
`tronsitiorzs. 5. unresponsive in feeling. 6. not suscepti-
`ble of emotion or passion; void of any feeling. 7. not en-
`dowed with feeling or sensation, as matter; inanimate.
`[1350—140D; ME < L in.s€nsibi'l:'s.
`See IN-3, SENSIBLE]
`——in-sen/si-bly. odu. —in-ssn’si-bil/l-ty, n.
`,
`—Syn. 5, 6.‘ apathetic, unfeeling, indifferent, cool; dull,
`passionless, emotionless, torpid.
`in
`1. deficient
`in-sen-eiutive
`(in sen’si
`tiv), adj.
`human sensibility, acuteness of feeling, or consideration;
`unfeeling; callous: on insensitive person. 2. not physi-
`cally sensitive: insensitive slain. 3. not affected by phys-
`ical or chemical agencies or influences:
`insensitive to
`light. 4. not readily responsive or aware: insensitive to
`the needs of the peasants.
`(1600-ID; IN—"’ + sENsI'r1vE]
`-in-sen/si-tive-ness, in-senlsi-tivfi-ty. n.
`not sen-
`inoson-ti-ent
`{in sci-Mshé ant,
`-shent), oclj.
`[1755-65;
`tient; without sensation or feeling; inanimate.
`iN—“ + SENTIENT]
`/in-sen/ti-ance, inaseri/ti-an-cy, n.
`insep.,
`inseparable.
`1. in-
`in-sep-aura-ble (in sepfer e bal, -seplre-), adj.
`capable of being separated, parted, or disjoined: insepa-
`rable companions.
`———n. Usually, inseparables. 2.
`in-
`separable
`objects,
`qualities,
`etc.
`3.
`inseparable
`companions or friends.
`[1350-1400; ME < L inseparabl-
`lis. See 12-I-3, SEPARABLE] -in-sep/a-ra-billi-ty, in-seph
`a-ra»bia-noss, n. —-En-sap/a-ra-bly. adv.
`in-sert
`(n.
`in sfirt’; n.
`in-'sfirt), v.t.
`1. to put or place
`in: 10 insert a key in a lock. 2. to introduce or cause to
`be introduced into the body of something: to insert on
`entiro paragraph in on article. —n. 3. something in-
`serted or to be inserted. 4. an extra leaf or section,
`printed independently, for binding or tipping into a book
`or periodical, esp. a leaf‘ or section consisting of an illus-
`tration or advertisement printed on different paper. 5.
`any small picture, device, etc, surrounded partly or com-
`pletely by body type. $. a paper, circular, etc., placed
`within the folds ofa newspaper or the leaves of a book,
`periodical, etc. 7. Motion Pictures, Television. a cut-in.
`[1520-30; < L l.TLSEl"'llLS ptp. of inserere to ut in, insert,
`equiv. to in- 1N-” + ser- (5. of sererc to linfi together) ~l-
`-tus ptp. suffix] kin-sort/a-ble, adj. (in-sartfor, n.
`in-sertoed (in sfir/tid), adj. 1. Bot. (esp. of the parts of
`a flower) attached to or growing out of some part. 2.
`Anni. having an insertion, as a muscle, tendon, or 1iga~
`merit; attached, as the end of a muscle that moves a
`bone.
`[1590-1600; INSERT + -E122]
`‘
`in-ser-ti-on (in sfirfshen), I1. 1. the act of inserting: the
`insertion ofo coin in a vending machine. 2. something
`inserted: an insertion in the middle of Cl paragraph. 3.
`Bot, Zool.
`61.
`the manner or place of attachment, as of
`an organ. 1:. attachment of a part or organ, with special
`reference to the site or manner of such attachment. 4.
`lace, embroidery, or the like, to be sewn at each edge be-
`tween parts of other material. 5. Aerospace.
`injection
`(def. 6).
`[1570-80; < LL inserti5n.- (5. of insertidl. See
`mssar, -ION]
`-—in-ser/tion-al. adj.
`taking place
`in-serv-ice
`(in sfirfvis,
`in/sfir/-), adj.
`while one is employed: on in-service training program.
`[1925—3D]