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invasion; raid; encroachment. The loss of Shrewsbury exposed all North Wales to the daily inroads of the enemy. Clarendon. With perpetual inroads to alarm, Though inaccessible, his fatal throne. Milton.

The act of depredating, or the state of being depredated; the act of despoiling or making inroads; as, the sea often makes depredation on the land.

Eng. prep. in, also from Lat. prep. in, meaning in, into, on, among; as, inbred, inborn, inroad; incline, inject, intrude. In words from the Latin, in- regularly becomes il- before l, ir- before r, and im- before a labial; as, illusion, irruption, imblue, immigrate, impart. In- is sometimes used with an simple intensi…

A breaking in; inroad; invasion.

g into a territory with hostile intention; a temporary invasion; a predatory or harassing inroad; a raid. The Scythian, whose incursions wild Have wasted Sogdiana. Milton. The incursions of the Goths disordered the affairs of the Roman Empire. Arbuthnot.

A sudden and violent inroad, or entrance of invaders; as, the irruptions of the Goths into Italy. Addison.

The act of plundering or pillaging; robbery. See Syn. of Pillage. Inroads and plunders of the Saracens. Sir T. North.

A hostile or predatory incursion; an inroad or incursion of mounted men; a sudden and rapid invasion by a cavalry force; a foray. Marauding chief! his sole delight. The moonlight raid, the morning fight. Sir W. Scott. There are permanent conquests, temporary occupation, and occasional raids. H. Spenser.…

An inroad; an invasion; a raid. [Obs.] Spenser.