ignify 
The igniflnl part of matter was formed into the body of 
the sun. Stukeleij, Palieographia Sacra, p. 20. 
ignigenous (ig-nij'e-nus), o. [< L. ignigciiHs, 
lire-producing. < ignis, &TQ. + -genus, producing: 
see -(/CHOWS.] Engendered in or by fire. Baili'ij, 
1731. 
ignipotent (ig-nip'o-tent), o. [= Sp. Pg. igiii- 
jtotente (of. It. iffnipossente), < L. ignijioti 
2981 
vomits, vomiting fire, < L. ignis, fire, + t'omcre, 
vomit.] Vomiting fire. 
Volcanos and ignivomous mountains ... are some of 
the most terrible shocks of the globe. 
Derham, Physico-Theology, iii. 3. 
ignorance 
2. Deserving ignominy; despicable in charac- 
ter; contemptible. 
One single, . . . obscure, ignominious projector, (jii-ifi. 
= Syn. Disgraceful, opprobrious, disreputable. See igno- 
. , . tcn(t-)>i, 
an epithet of Vulcan. < ignix, fire, + />oten(t-)s, 
mighty: see potent.'] Presiding over fire; hav- 
ing the force or effect of fire. 
Vulcan is called the power igni'imtent. 
Pope, tr. of Homer. 
It drives, ignipotent, through every vein, 
Hangs on the heart, and burns around the brain. 
Savaye, On the Recovery of a Lady. 
ignipuncture (ig-ni-pungk'tur), n. [< L. ignis, 
fire, + punctiira, puncture.] In surg., punc- 
ture with a red-hot styliform cautery. 
Each gland should be treated by ii/nipvncture. 
Medical News, LIII. 216. 
ignis fatuus (ig'nis fat'u-us) ; pi. iynes fatui 
(ig'nez fat'u-1). [NL., lit. 'fool's fire,' i. e. illu- 
sive fire, a term first used in the ML. or NL. pe- 
riod: L. ignis, fire ; fatuus, foolish: see igneous 
&nd fatuous.'] A meteoric light that sometimes 
appears in summer and autumn nights, and 
flits in the air a little above the surface of the 
earth, chiefly in marshy places, near stagnant 
waters, or in churchyards. It is generally supposed 
to be produced by the spontaneous combustion of small 
jets of gas (carbureted or phosphureted hydrogen) gener- 
ated by the decomposition of vegetable or animal matter, 
[t has been popularly known in England by such names 
as wnu-o'-the-witf, from its resemblance to a lighted wisp 
of straw, Jack-,)' -lantern, corpse-candle, hit-of-the-candle- 
sttck, etc. Before the introduction of the general drain- 
age of swamp-lands, the ignis fatuus was an ordinary 
phenomenon in the marshy districts of England. It is 
still regarded by the peasantry with superstitious awe as 
of evil portent, or as the treacherous signal of evil spirits 
seeking to lure benighted travelers to destruction. 
In a dark night, if an ignis fatuus do but precede us, 
the glaring of its lesser flames does so amuse our eyes 
that we follow it into rivers and precipices. 
Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 1835), I. 22. 
A light which illuminates centuries must be more than 
an ignis fatuus. J. F. Clarke, Ten Great Religions, iii. 2. 
ignitability (ig-nl-ta-bil'i-ti), . [< ignitable : 
see -bility.] See ignitibility. 
ignitable (ig-ni'ta-bl), a. [< ignite + -able.'} 
See igiiitible. 
ignite (ig-mf), r. ; pret. and pp. ignited, ppr. 
igniting. [< L. ignitns, pp. of ignire, set on fire, 
make red-hot, < ignis, fire : see igneous.'] I 
trans. 1. To kindle or set on fire; cause to 
burn : as, to ignite a match. 2. To make in- 
candescent ; cause to glow or scintillate with 
heat: as, to ignite iron; in chcm., to heat in 
tensely; roast. 
< 7 ' , t - = - ', < ; ,no- 
btita, < L. igiiobilitn(t-)s, want of fame, obscu- 
rity, low origin, < ii/iiobi/in, unknown to fame: 
see ignoble.'] The quality of being ignoble, in 
any sense ; low birth or condition ; humble sta- 
tion; ignobleness; meanness. 
His ignobi/lite or vnworthines was torned in to sublym- 
ite and heyth. Holy Jtootl (E. E. T. S.), p. 161. 
Pope Sixtus the fifth, who was a very poor man's son 
. . . would sport with his ignobility. 
Bacon, Apophthegms. 
Its [self-devotion's] object, whether described simply as 
the service of the suffering and ignoble, or as the service 
of God manifested in suffering and ignebilitv, is one which 
the philosophic Greek would scarcely have recognized as 
a form of the nA6i/. 
T. H. Green, Prolegomena to Ethics, S 259. 
The sense of the ignobility of Egoism adds force to that 
recoil from it which this perception of the conflict with 
duty naturally causes. 
H. Sidgwict, Methods of Ethics, p. 178. 
ignoble (ig-uo'bl), a. [< F. it/nolle = Sp. iy- 
noble, innoble = Pg. ignobil = It. ignobile, < L. 
ignobilis, unknown, unknown to fame, obscure, 
low-born, < in- priv. + "gnobilis, nobilis, known, 
illustrious, noble: see m-3 and nolle.'] 1. Not 
noble ; not illustrious ; of low birth or station. 
You must all confess 
That I was not ignoble of descent. 
Shale., 3 Hen. VI., IT. 1. 
2. Not honorable or worthy ; mean in charac- 
ter or quality; of no consideration or value. 
This Clermont is a mean and ignoble place, having no 
memorable thing therein. Coryat, Crudities, I. 23. 
Go ! If your ancient but ignoble blood 
Has crept through scoundrels ever since the flood. 
Pope, Essay on Man, iv. 211. 
The grand old name of gentleman, 
Defamed by every charlatan, 
And soil'd with all ignoble use. 
Tennyson, In Memoriam, cxL 
The ignoble noble, the unmanly man, 
The beast below the beast in brutishness. 
Brooming, Ring and Book, I. 138. 
3. In some technical uses, lacking distinction ; 
of low grade ; of little esteem . Specifically applied 
(a) In falconry, to those short-winged hawks, as species 
of AsturoTAmpiter, which chase or rake after the quarry 
in distinction from the noble or long-winged falcons which 
stoop to the quarry at a single swoop. See hawkl (b) In 
ornith., also to those birds of prey, as buzzards, harriers 
or eagles, which are not used in falconry. = Syn. 1 1'le- 
lo e w a i'i'v lgar '~ 2 ' Di8honorable - degraded, contemptible, 
disgrace; degradingly ; basely. 
--- 
Ignominy (ig'no-min-i), H. [Formerly also 
contr. ignomij, q. v. ; < F. igiwminic = Hp. Pg. 
It. ignomiiiia, < L. ignominia, disgrace, dis- 
honor, ignominy, < in- priv. + "gnomen, nomen 
(-in-), uame,fame, renown : see nomen, nominal.'] 
1. Infliction of disgrace or dishonor; the state 
of being degraded or held in contempt; in- 
famy. 
Their generals have been received with honour after 
their defeat ; yours with ignominy after conquest. 
Addison. 
What was before me the magic vista of romance, or 
the bitter ignominy of a snub? Scribner's Mag., IV. 662. 
2. That which brings disgrace or shameful re- 
proach ; a cause or source of dishonor. 
Death, which Sir Thomas Brown has called the very 
disgrace and ignominy of our natures. 
0. W. Holmes, Autocrat, vi. 
=8yn. 1. Obloquy.Opprobrium, Infamy, Ignominy. These 
words all started from the idea of one's being talked about 
shamefully, so that one's name or fame is in great dis- 
honor. Obloquy still stays at that point ; opprobrium has 
taken up somewhat of the general idea of being held in con- 
tempt, whether the contempt is expressed or not infaimi 
carries the evil repute to an extreme, abhorrence and 
loathing being now a part of the idea ; ignominy expresses 
that peculiarly passive state of being in disgrace by which 
one is despised and neglected, or it may express the result 
of official treatment, judicial action, or personal conduct 
Ignominy may be supposed to be the state most humbling 
_ and painful to the person concerned. 
ignomioust, a. A contraction of ignominious, 
like ignomy for ignominy. 
Aslatelyliftiiiguptheleavesofworthywriters'works . . 
Wherein, as well as famous facts, ignomioux placed are 
Wherein the just reward of both is manifestly shown. 
1'eele, Sir Clyomon, Pro]. 
ignomyt, . An obsolete contracted form of 
ignominy. 
The one of which doth bring eternall fame. 
The other igtmnti and dastard shame. 
Mir. for Mags, p. 765. 
A mode of forming nails, and the shafts of screws, by 
pinching or pressing ignited rods of iron between indented 
rollers. Ure, Diet., III. 384. 
II. intrans. To take fire; begin to burn. 
A fuzee fell upon the hot sand and ignited. 
R. Richardson, Travels in Sahara. 
igniter (ig-m'ter), H. [< ignite + -cr*.] One 
who or that which ignites; specifically, a sig- 
nal-holder having a piston in the end for ignit- 
ing a blue-light by compression. 
An infernal machine is a device containing an explosive 
or highly combustible substance, and provided with a time 
exploder or igniter. Sci. Amer., N. S., LVII. 187. 
ignitibility (ig-ni-ti-bil'i-ti), . [Also ignita- 
bility; <ignitiblv : see -biliti/.~] The quality of be- 
aignitible : as, the ignitibility of timber, 
tible (ig-ni'ti-bl), a. [Also ignitable; < ig- 
nite + -ible."] Capable of being ignited. 
Now such bodies as strike fire have sulphureous or in- 
mtible parts within them, and those strike best which 
abound most in them. Sir y. Browne, Vulg. Err., 11. 1. 
ignition (ig-nish'on), n. [< F. ignition = Sp. 
ignition = Pg. iffnicOo = It. ignizione, < L. as if 
*ignitio(n-),<. iifnire, set on fire: see ignite.'] 1 
The act of igniting, kindling, or setting on fire! 
Satley.a. Means of igniting; provision for fir- 
ing. [Kare.] 
... T is f f* e j> reec h loading percussion-gun] is one of 
the first in which cartridges containing their own ignition 
were used. w. W. Greener, The Gun, p. 101. 
3. The state of being ignited ; a burning. 
Cardinal Wolsey . . . is represented in his fuiy to have 
condemned the volume to a public ignition. 
I. D' Israeli, Amen, of Lit., I. 284. 
4. In chem., the process of roasting or intensely 
heating a substance. 
ignivomoust (ig-niv'o-mus), a. [= F. ignivome 
= bp. ignivomo = Pg. It. igniromo, < LL. igni- 
ignoblet (ig-no'bl), v. t. [< ignoble, a.] To 
make ignoble or vile; degrade ; disgrace ; brine 
into disrepute. 
Making a perambulation or pilgrimage about the north- 
ern seas, and ignobling manie shores and points of land by 
shipwreck. Bacon, DiscourseiuPrayseofQueenElizabeth. 
ignobleness (ig-np'bl-nes), n. The condition 
or quality of being ignoble or humble; un- 
worthiness; meanness. 
The low stoopings and descents of the holy Jesus to the 
nature of a man, ... to the ignobleness of a servant. 
Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 1835), I. 67. 
T Am 1i tho ! e which J h P e * be able to explain when 
I have thought of them more are the laws which relate 
to nobleness and ignobleness; that ignobleness especially 
which we commonly call "vulgarity." 
Ruslcin, Elements of Drawing, iii. 9. 
ignobly (ig-no'bli), adv. In an ignoble manner ; 
unworthily; dishonorably; meanly; basely: as 
ignobly born ; the troops fled ignobly. 
York, then, which had the regency in France, 
They force the king ignobly to displace. 
Drayton, Miseries of Queen Margaret. 
ignominious (ig-no-min'i-us), o. [= F. igno- 
minieitx = Sp. Pg. It. ignominioso, < L. ignomi- 
niosus, disgraceful, shameful, < ignominia, dis- 
grace: see ignominy.'] 1. Marked with igno- 
miny; incurring or attended with disgrace; de- 
grading; shameful; infamous: as, ignominious 
punishment ; ignominious intrigues. 
This fellow here, with envious carping tongue 
I pin-aided me about the rose I wear ; . . . 
With other vile and ignominious terms. 
Shak., 1 Hen. VI., iv. 1. 
Thus doth soft pleasure but abuse the minde, 
And, making one to servile thoughts descend 
Doth make the body weake, the judgement blin'de 
An hateful life, an ignominiout end. 
Stirling, To Prince Henry, Son of James I. 
The blundering weapon recoiled and gave the valiant 
Kip an imominlovt kick, which laid him prostrate with 
uplifted heels in the bottom of the boat. 
Irring, Knickerbocker, p. 113. 
. , . . 
ignoramus (ig-no-ra'mus). [L., lit. we take no 
notice of (it), first pers. pi. pres. ind. of igno- 
rare, be ignorant of, take no notice of, ignore: 
see ignore.'] 1. In law, an indorsement, mean- 
ing 'we ignore it,' which a grand jury for- 
merly made on a bill presented to it for in- 
quiry, when there was not evidence to support 
the charges, by virtue of which indorsement all 
proceedings were stopped, and the accused per- 
son was discharged. It is now superseded In some 
States by the phrase "not a true bill," or " not found " 
but the jury is still said to ignore the bill or the indict- 
ment. The indorsement " ignoramus" on a bill returned bv 
a grand jury properly implied no more than that the jury 
deemed it inexpedient to pursue the matter; but it was 
often taken as an indication of ignorance or stupidity on 
the part of the jury, thus leading to the present familiar 
use as an English noun. Also used attributively. 
And I hane seene the best, yea, naturall Italians, not 
pnely stagger, but euen sticke faste in the myre, and at 
last giue it ouer, or giue their verdict with an Ignoramus 
Florio, It. Diet., Ep. Ded., p. 6. 
Let ignoramus juries find no traitors : 
And ignoramus poets scribble satires. 
Dryden, Prol. to the Duke of Guise. 
2. n. An ignorant person; especially, one who 
lacks necessary knowledge; an ignorant pre- 
tender to knowledge. 
OTgnoramui in the Law ! Can you bring an Action of 
Theft for Trover or Conversion, or for one that having 
^'^ 
Bailey, tr. of Colloquies of Erasmus, I. 274. 
If ever you find an ignoramus in place and power, . 
I dare undertake that, as fulsome a dose as you give him 
he shall readily take it down, and admit the commenda^ 
tion, though he cannot believe the thing ! 
South, Sermons, II. 385. 
ignorance (ig'no-rans), n. [< ME. ignorance, < 
Jt . ignorance, F. ignorance = Pr. ignorantia, 
ignoransa = Sp. Pg. ignorancia = It. ignoranza, 
< L. ignorantia, want of knowledge or informa- 
tion, < ignoran(t-)s,vot knowing: see ignorant.] 
I he state of being ignorant; want of knowledge 
in general, or concerning some particular mat- 
ter; the condition of not being cognizant, in- 
formed, or aware. 
And how much are we lund to God, that he hath de- 
livered us from these gross ignorances ! 
Latimer, llisc. Selections. 
O, answer me ; 
Let me not burst in ignorance ! 
Slialc., Hamlet, i. 4. 
