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Tending to excess of formative action.

d, after a period of drought or deficiency of food. In some instances, a process of spore formation seems to occur within such cysts.

An extinct genus of toothed birds found in the American Cretaceous formation. It is remarkable for having biconcave vertebræ, and sharp, conical teeth set in sockets. Its wings were well developed. It is the type of the order Odontotormæ.

ng in length from ten to thirty feet, are known from the Liassic, Oölitic, and Cretaceous formations.

The formation of a figure, representation, or semblance; a delineation or description. Some kind of apish imitations, counterfeit iconisms. Cudworth.

combines systematically the advantages of previous schemes with a thoroughly logical word formation, and has neither accented constants nor arbitrarily coined pronominal words. For each idea that root is selected which is already most international, on the principle of the "greatest facility for the greatest number of…

value, or amount; augmentation; enlargement. The seminary that furnisheth matter for the formation and increment of animal and vegetable bodies. Woodward. A nation, to be great, ought to be compressed in its increment by nations more civilized than itself. Coleridge.

Discovery made; information. Bentley.

disposed and arranged; not methodical; crude; as, an indigested array of facts. In hot reformations . . . the whole is generally crude, harsh, and indigested. Burke. This, like an indigested meteor, appeared and disappeared almost at the same time. South.

inated; instruction in the rudiments and principles of any science or system of belief; information. Sir T. Browne.

To give intelligence or information; to tell. Shak. He might either teach in the same manner,or inform how he had been taught. Monthly Rev. To inform against, to communicate facts by way of accusation against; to denounce; as, two persons came to the magistrate, and informed against A.

One who imparts information or instruction.

violation of some law or penal statute. Common informer (Law), one who habitually gives information of the violation of penal statutes, with a view to a prosecution therefor. Bouvier. Wharton.

To ask a question; to seek for truth or information by putting queries. We will call the damsel, and inquire. Gen. xxiv. 57. Then David inquired of the Lord yet again. And the Lord answered him. 1 Sam. xxiii. 4.

The act of inquiring; a seeking for information by asking questions; interrogation; a question or questioning. He could no path nor track of foot descry, Nor by inquiry learn, nor guess by aim. Spenser. The men which were sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon's house, and stood before the gate. Acts x. 17.…

The quality or state of being inquisitive; the disposition to seek explanation and information; curiosity to learn what is unknown; esp., uncontrolled and impertinent curiosity. Mr. Boswell, whose inquisitiveness is seconded by great activity, scrambled in at a high window. Johnson. Curiosity in children nature has pro…

To form by communication of knowledge; to inform the mind of; to impart knowledge or information to; to enlighten; to teach; to discipline. Schoolmasters will I keep within my house, Fit to instruct her youth. Shak.

The act of instructing, teaching, or furnishing with knowledge; information.

Information communicated; news; notice; advice. Intelligence is given where you are hid. Shak.

Informing; giving information; talebearing. [Obs.] Shak. That sad intelligencing tyrant. Milton.