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A figure by which the ordinary course of thought is inverted in expression, and the last put first; -- called also hysteron proteron.

eaking ice into small pieces. -- Ice pilot, a pilot who has charge of a vessel where the course is obstructed by ice, as in polar seas; -- called also ice master. -- Ice pitcher, a pitcher adapted for ice water. -- Ice plow, a large tool for grooving and cutting ice. ice sculpture = a sculpture carved from a block o…

or bad repute; as, a house of ill fame, a house where lewd persons meet for illicit intercourse. -- Ill humor, a disagreeable mood; bad temper. -- Ill nature, bad disposition or temperament; sullenness; esp., a disposition to cause unhappiness to others. -- Ill temper, anger; moroseness; crossness. -- Ill turn. (a…

Not permitted or allowed; prohibited; unlawful; as, illicit trade; illicit intercourse; illicit pleasure. One illicit . . . transaction always leads to another. Burke. -- Il*lic"it*ly, adv. -- Il*lic"it*ness, n.

ng; vivid descriptions presenting or suggesting images of sensible objects; figures in discourse. I wish there may be in this poem any instance of good imagery. Dryden.

To hold discourse; to parley. [Obs.] Sir. T. North.

Mutual discourse; conference. [Obs.]

al; showing warmth of feeling; ardent; animated; excited; as, an impassioned orator or discourse.

n and feeling, to touch the sensibilities, or affect the conscience; as, an impressive discourse; an impressive scene.

probable; unlikely to be true; not to be expected under the circumstances or in the usual course of events; as, an improbable story or event. He . . . sent to Elutherius, then bishop of Rome, an improbable letter, as some of the contents discover. Milton. -- Im*prob"a*ble*ness, n. -- Im*prob"a*bly, adv.…

od account; practical application, as of a doctrine, principle, or theory, stated in a discourse. "A good improvement of his reason." S. Clarke. I shall make some improvement of this doctrine. Tillotson.

g, and the like. -- To be in for it. (a) To be in favor of a thing; to be committed to a course. (b) To be unable to escape from a danger, penalty, etc. [Colloq.] -- To be (or keep) in with. (a) To be close or near; as, to keep a ship in with the land. (b) To be on terms of friendship, familiarity, or intimacy with; t…

Not affable; reserved in social intercourse.

The formal beginning or initiation of any movement, course of action, etc.; as, the inauguration of a new system, a new condition, etc.

d of masonry employed in building walls, in which the stones were not squared nor laid in courses; rubblework.

Coming or happening accidentally; not in the usual course of things; not in connection with the main design; not according to expectation; casual; fortuitous. As the ordinary course of common affairs is disposed of by general laws, so likewise men's rarer incident necessities and utilities should be with special equity…

To deviate from a line, direction, or course, toward an object; to lean; to tend; as, converging lines incline toward each other; a road inclines to the north or south.

Having no communion or intercourse with each other. [Obs.] Sir M. Hale.

nt; as, the messenger was incommunicative; hence, not disposed to hold fellowship or intercourse with others; exclusive. The Chinese . . . an incommunicative nation. C. Buchanan. -- In`com*mu"ni*ca*tive*ly, adv. -- In`com*mu"ni*ca*tive*ness, n. Lamb. His usual incommunicativeness. G. Eliot.

A demon; a fiend; a lascivious spirit, supposed to have sexual intercourse with women by night. Tylor. The devils who appeared in the female form were generally called succubi; those who appeared like men incubi, though this distinction was not always preserved. Lecky.