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That which illuminates or affords light; as, gas and petroleum are illuminants. Boyle.

An impassable road or way; a blind alley; cul-de-sac; fig., a position or predicament affording no escape.

, or one who wields it; royal; sovereign; supreme. "The imperial democracy of Athens." Mitford. Who, as Ulysses says, opinion crowns With an imperial voice. Shak. To tame the proud, the fetter'd slave to free, These are imperial arts, and worthy thee. Dryden. He sounds his imperial clarion along the whole line of battl…

r's dear impression, And wish, before I fall into my grave, That I might see her married. Ford.

ng used to advantage; profitable; serviceable; advantageous. The essays of weaker heads afford improvable hints to better. Sir T. Browne. -- Im*pro"a*ble*ness, n. -- Im*prov"a*bly, adv.

Affording no aliment or nourishment. [Obs.] Bacon.

pts of a private person, or a corporation, from property; as, a large income. No fields afford So large an income to the village lord. Dryden.

Tending to incommode; not commodious; not affording ease or advantage; unsuitable; giving trouble; inconvenient; annoying; as, an incommodious seat; an incommodious arrangement. -- In`com*mo"di*ous*ly, adv. -- In`com*mo"di*ous*ness, n.

Affording a comfortable livelihood; as, an independent property.

Without effect; in vain. Hereford . . . had been besieged for abouineffectually by the Scots. Ludlow.

Impossibility to be avoided or shunned; inevitableness. Shelford.

ward, or employ as an argument; to adduce; to allege; to offer. [Obs.] Full well hath Clifford played the orator, Inferring arguments of mighty force. Shak.

Something infixed. [R.] Welsford.

An axis on which all the 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.

Affording no shelter or sustenance; barren; desert; bleak; cheerless; wild. "Inhospitable wastes." Blair. -- In*hos"pi*ta*ble*mess, n. -- In*hos"pi*ta*bly, adv.

ith a willingness inleague our blood With his, for purchase of full growth in friendship. Ford.

lating to persons unable to pay their debts. Insolvent law, or Act of insolvency, a law affording relief, -- subject to various modifications in different States, -- to insolvent debtors, upon their delivering up their property for the benefit of their creditors. See Bankrupt law, under Bankrupt, a.…

Charge; oversight. [Obs.] Ford.

m a place or course, by something intervening; to intercept; to cut off; to interrupt. Mitford. So all passage of external air into the receiver may be intercluded. Boyle.

r, gracious sir, Create me to this glory, since my cause Doth interest this fair quarrel. Ford.