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An exclamation denoting surprise, or contempt, doubt, etc.

A worthless woman or girl; a forward wench; a jade; -- used as a term of contempt or reproach. Grew.

a marked heightening of reflex excitability, producing convulsions whenever the patient attempts to swallow, or is disturbed in any way, as by the sight or sound of water; rabies; canine madness. [Written also hydrophoby.]

Done, attempted, or said, at an unsuitable or unpropitious time.

A young or inferior devil; a little, malignant spirit; a puny demon; a contemptible evil worker. To mingle in the clamorous fray Of squabbling imps. Beattie.

s manner. This imperious man will work us all From princes into pages. Shak. His bold, contemptuous, and imperious spirit soon made him conspicuous. Macaulay.

To bring about, arrange, or make, on a sudden, or without previous preparation. Charles attempted to improvise a peace. Motley.

Bold, with contempt or disregard; unblushingly forward; impertinent; wanting modesty; shameless; saucy. More than impudent sauciness. Shak. When we behold an angel, not to fear Is to be impudent. Dryden.

hich rouses or prompts; incitement; motive; incentive. The noblest incitation to honest attempts. Tatler.

; failure to restrain the passions or appetites; indulgence of lust; lewdness. That Satan tempt you not for your incontinency. 1 Cor. vii. 5. From the rash hand of bold incontinence. Milton.

oming; improper; out of place; as, indecorous conduct. It was useless and indecorous to attempt anything more by mere struggle. Burke.

he feeling excited by that which is unworthy, base, or disgraceful; anger mingled with contempt, disgust, or abhorrence. Shak. Indignation expresses a strong and elevated disapprobation of mind, which is also inspired by something flagitious in the conduct of another. Cogan. When Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate,…

Any action toward another which manifests contempt for him; an offense against personal dignity; unmerited contemptuous treatment; contumely; incivility or injury, accompanied with insult. How might a prince of my great hopes forget So great indignities you laid upon me Shak. A person of so great place and worth constr…

bliged by your offer to do it, . . . though he may be induced, persuaded, prevailed upon, tempted. Paley. Let not the covetous desire of growing rich induce you to ruin your reputation. Dryden.

Leading or drawing; persuasive; tempting; -- usually followed by to. A brutish vice, Inductive mainly to the sin of Eve. Milton.

ect; without effect; inefficient; weak; useless; futile; unavailing; as, an ineffectual attempt; an ineffectual expedient. Pope. The peony root has been much commended, . . . and yet has been by many found ineffectual. Boyle.

n. The punishing of this infringement is proper to that jurisdiction against which the contempt is. Clarendon.

by introducing something new; to remodel; to revolutionize. [Archaic] Burton. From his attempts upon the civil power, he proceeds to innovate God's worship. South.

acterized by insanity or the utmost folly; chimerical; unpractical; as, an insane plan, attempt, etc. I know not which was the insane measure. Southey.

Fig.: Any small, trivial, or contemptible person or thing. Thomson. Insect powder,a powder used for the extermination of insects; esp., the powdered flowers of certain species of Pyrethrum, a genus now merged in Chrysanthemum. Called also Persian powder.