inconstance 
3045 
inconstancet (in-kon'stans), n. [< ME. incon- incontestable (in-kon-tes'ta-bl), a. [= F. in- 
contestable = Sp. incontestable = Pg. incontcs- 
tavel= It. incontestabile ; as in- 3 + contestable.] 
Not contestable; not admitting of dispute or 
slant: see inconstant.] Inconstancy. 
lint in her face semed great variaunce 
While partite truth, and whiles inconstamue. 
Chaucer, Testament of Creselde. 
Some do menace, wrong, and insult over their inferiors, 
never considering the uncertainty and inconstancy of 
mutable fortune, nor how quickly that which was aloft 
may be Hung down. Holland, tr. of Plutarch, p. 421. 
inconstancy (in-kon'stan-si), . [As incon- 
stance: see -cy. Cf. coiistancy.] 1. Lack of 
constancy in action, feeling, etc. ; mutability or 
instability; unsteadiness; fickleness: as, the 
inconstancy of a flame, or of one's temper. 
A qulcke capacitye, 
Berayde with blots of light Inconttancie. 
QaMoiyne, Steele Olas (ed. Arber), p. 50. 
Irresolution on the schemes of life which offer to our 
choice, and inconstancy in pursuing them, are the greatest 
causes of all our unhappineas. Addition, Spectator. 
2. Lack of sameness or uniformity; dissimili- 
tude. 
As much iin-iinxtii Hi-it and confusion Is there In their 
mixtures or combinations ; for it Is rare to find any of 
them pure and unmixt. 
Woodward, Essay towards a Nat Hist of the Earth. 
Syn. Changeableness, vacillation, wavering. 
inconstant (iu-kon'stant), a. [< ME. incon- 
staunt, < OF. (also F.) "inconstant = Sp. Pg. It. 
inconstante, < L. inconstan(t-)s, inconstant, < 
in- priv. + constan(t-)s, constant: see constant.] 
Not constant; subject to change; not firm; 
unsteady ; fickle ; capricious : said chiefly of 
persons: as, inconstant in love or friendship. 
0, swear not by the moon, the inconstant moon, 
That monthly changes In her circled orb. 
' r-.R.and J..U.2. 
vertible ; indisputable. 
Our own being furnishes us with an evident and incon- 
testable proof of a deity. Locke. 
The genius and daring of Bollngbroke were, Indeed, in- 
contestable, but his defects as a party leader were scarcely 
less. Lecky, Eng. in 18th Cent, p. 141. 
= Syn. Indisputable, irrefragable, undeniable, unquestion- 
able, indubitable. 
incontestableness (in-kon-tes'ta-bl-nes), n. 
The quality of being incontestable, 
incontestably (in-kon-tes'ta-bli), adv. So as 
not to be contested or disputed; in a manner to 
preclude debate ; indisputably ; incontroverti- 
bly; indubitably. 
It (tragedy) must always have a hero, a personage ap- 
inconveniency 
And put on sullen black, incontinent. 
Shak., Rich, n., T. , 
So he took his old flat cap, and threadbare blue cloak, 
anil, as I :ii'l bi-fmi-, hi- will \n: li.-r>- im-mitim-nt. 
Scott, Kenilworth, xlx. 
incontinently (in-kon'ti-nent-li), adv. 1. In an 
incontinent manner; witnout restraint; with 
unrestrained appetites or passions ; specifically, 
with undue indulgence of the sexual appetite. 
2. Without holding back; without delay; 
forthwith ; at once. 
Who, beelng willyng to hane the matche made, was con- 
tent incontinentlyc to procure the meanes. 
Lyly, Euphues, Anat of Wit, p. 83. 
I will incontinently drown myself. Shak., Othello, L 3. 
The rabble incontinently took to their heels ; even the 
burgomasters were not slow in evacuating the premises. 
Irving, Knickerbocker, p. 468. 
He enjoined the generals incontinentli/ to hang and 
strangle all persons the moment they should be taken. 
Motley, Dutch Republic, II. 189. 
parently and incontestably superior to the rest upon , --.* !,/, tnL.',,,n / 
whom the attention may be fixed and the anxiety sus- inCOntractedt (in-kon-trak ted), a. 
pended. Johnson, Rambler, No. 168. tracted ; uncontracted. 
As the company with which I went was incontestable This dialect uses the incvntractrd termination both In 
the chief of the place, we were received with the greatest nouns and verbs. Bladnrall, Sacred Classlcks, L 288. 
rrsptvt. Got' 
incontestedt (in-kon-tes'ted), o. [< in-3 + con- 
tested.] Not contested; uncontested. 
We may lay this down as an incontentcd principle, that 
chance never acts in perpetual uniformity and consistence 
with itself. Addixon, Spectator, No. 643. 
incontignous (in-kon-tig'u-us), a. [< LL. in- 
rontiyitiis, that cannot be touched (not con- 
tiguous), < L. in- priv. + contigtius, touching, 
contiguous: see contiguous.] Not contiguous; 
not adjoining ; not touching ; separate. 
They seemed part of small bracelets, consisting of equal- 
li, Vicar, xlx. ^ Control i a |, le (j n _ kon _ tr 5<ia_ b i) )a . [Formerly 
also incon troulable; (. F. incontrolable; as in- 3 + 
controllable.] Not controllable; uncontrollable. 
[Rare.] 
Absolute, irresistible, incontrouloMc power. 
Bp. Movtttagu, Appeal to Csesar, v. 
(in-kon-tro'la-bli), adv. [For- 
iZcontroutably ; '< in&ntrollable + 
Uncontrollably. [Rare.] 
acts himself. 
South, Works, 
At several Hopes wisely to fly, 
Ought not to be esteem'd Inconstancy, 
'Ms more inconstant always to pursue 
A thing that always flies from you. 
Cowley, The Mistress, Resolved to be Beloved, ii. 
The captives gazing stood, and every one 
Shrank as the inconstant torch upon her countenance 
shone. Shelley, Revolt of Islam, viii. 28. 
= Syn. Unstable, vacillating, wavering, volatile, unsettled, 
uncertain. 
Inconstantly (in-kon'stant-li), adv. In an in- 
constant manner ; not steadily. 
Inconstrictipedes (m-kon-strik-tip'e-dez), n. 
pi. [NL., * L. in- priv. + constrictus, con- 
stricted, + pes (ped-) = E. foot.] A subclass 
of birds, proposed by Hogg in 1846 upon physi- 
ological considerations : opposed to Constrieti- 
pedes, and approximately corresponding with 
the Prtecoccs of Bonaparte, and with the Ptilo- 
p(fdes or Dasypwdes of Sundevall. [Not in use.] 
inconsumable (in-kon-su'ma-bl), a. [< tn-3 + 
cuii.'iiiiiiiiiili:] Not consumable ; incapable of 
being consumed. 
Whereof [asbestos) by art were weaved napkins, shirts, 
and coats incommutable by fire. 
Sir T. Browne, Vulg. Err., UL 14. 
When the Identical loan is to be returned, as a book, a 
horse, a harpsichord, it is called inconiumable, in opposi- 
tion to corn, wine, money, and those things which perish. 
J'alei/, Moral Philos., 1. 6. 
inconsumably (in-kon-su'ma-bli), adv. So as 
to be inconsumable. 
inconsummate (in-kon-sum'at), a. [< LL. in- 
consummatns, unfinished, < IJ. in- priv. + COH- 
summatus, finished: see consummate.] Not con- 
summated; unfinished; incomplete. 
Conspiracies and tnconntmmatr attempts. 
Sir M. Hale, Hist Pleas of the Crown, xui. 
inconsummateness (in-kon-sum'at-nes), n. 
The state of being inconsummate or incomplete. 
inconsumptiblet (in-kou-sump'ti-bl), a. [< OF. 
inconsomptible, inconsitmptible ; as in- 3 + con- 
sumpt + -ible.] Not consumable; inconsuma- 
ble. Sir K. Digby, Nature of Bodies, viii. 
incontaminate (in-kon-tam'i-nat), o. [= OF. 
incon famine = Sp. Pg. incontaminado = It. n- 
contaminato, < L. incontaminatus, not contami- 
nated, < in- priv. + contaminatus, contami- 
nated: see contaminate.] Not contaminated; 
not adulterated ; pure. 
Being [as you are] free and incnntaminate, well borne, 
bho ' 
ly little inaon^uou.bead^ Boyle. iacontlOVertibility (in-kon-tro-ver-ti-bil'i-ti), 
mcontignonsly (in-kgn-tig u-us-h), ad. Not j-< incontrovertible: see -bility.] The state 
contiguously; separately. Wright. 
or quality of being incontrovertible. 
' 
w * r *L f t v rs ~\m v * \4uatiiij VM. induct tuwui'* v/ wi. v*w<j 
incontinence (m-kon ti-nens), n. [< ME. in- incontrovertible (iu-kon-tro-ver'ti-bl), a. [= 
continence, < OF. (also F.) incontinence = Pr. Sp i ncont rorertible = Pg. iiicontroverticel = It. 
incontinent = Sp. Pg. tncontmencta = It. incon- i, tcon trovertibile ; as in-S + controrertible.] Not 
incontrovertible; as i- 3 "+ controrertible.] 
controvertible ; too clear or certain to admit 
of dispute or controversy. 
tinenza, < L. incontinentia, inability to contain, 
< inconrtnen((-), not containing: see inconti- ul ulo ur uullllv0 ,. 
nent.] 1. The quality of being incontinent; incontrovertibleness (in-kon-tro-ver'ti-bl- 
want of continence or holding in ; unrestrained neg \ n i nc ontrovertibility. 
movement or flow; superabundant outpour. incontrovertibly (in-kon-tro-ver'ti-bli), adv. 
The Carlylists, with theb; theoretic admiration of silence, I n an incontrovertible manner. 
and their practical in>nn<!M of chatter. inconvenience (in-kon-ve'niens), n. [< ME. 
t. uau, MOO. Kng., p. inconvenience, ynconrenyns, < O'F. inconvenience 
(also inconvenance), F. incontenance = Sp. Pg. 
inconveniencia = It. inconvenicnza, < LL. incon- 
venientia, inconsistency, ML. inconvenience, < 
L. inconvenien(t-)s, inconsistent: see inconve- 
nient.] 1. The quality of being inconvenient; 
Specifically 2. Lack of due restraint of the 
appetites or passions ; intemperance in sexual 
intercourse; unchasteness ; licentiousness. 
Beanty . . . had need the guard 
Of dragon-watch with unenchanted eye, 
To save her blossoms, and defend her fruit 
From the rash hand of bold Incontinence. 
Milton, Comas, 1. 307. 
This is my defence ; 
I pleas'd myself, I shunn'd incontinence. 
Dryden, Sig. and Guis., 1. 464. 
3. In med., the inability of any of the physical 
organs to restrain discharges of their contents ; 
involuntary discharge or evacuation : as, incon- 
tinence of urine. 
incontinency (in-kon'ti-nen-si), n. [As incon- 
tinence: see -c//.] Incontinence. 
Come together again, that Satan tempt yon not for your 
incontinency. 1 Cor. Til. 6. 
incontinent (in-kon'ti-nent), a. and n. [= F. 
incontinent = Pr. encontenen = Sp. Pg. It. incon- 
tinente, < L. incontinen(t-)s, not containing or 
retaining, not holding back, immoderate, ? in- 
want of convenience. 2. Incommodiousness ; 
embarrassing character; troublesomeness ; un- 
fitness: as, the inconvenience of an ill-planned 
house. 
All this inconuenience grew by misuse of one word, 
which being otherwise spoken & in some sort qualified 
had easily holpen all. 
Puttenham, Artc of Eng. Foesie, p. 226. 
He only Is like to endure austerities who has already 
found the inconvenience of pleasures. 
Dryden, tr. of Virgu's Oeorgics, Ded. 
3. That which incommodes or gives trouble or 
uneasiness ; anything that impedes or hampers ; 
disadvantage ; difficulty. 
Yf thou be trobyllyd with ynconvenyeni, 
Anne the alway with Inward pacyens. 
Bonke of Precedence (E. E. T. S., extra ser.), L 70. 
Is not this exposition playne 1 This taketh away all in- 
priv. + continen(t-)s, containing, continent: see conveniences' By this exposition bod is not the" auctor 
continent] I. a. 1. Not continent; not holding ofeuul? Bama, Works, p. 280. 
or held in; unceasing or unrestrained: as, an Man is liable to a great many inconveniences every mo- 
incontinent tattler; an incontinent flow of talk, ment TMotton. 
Specifically 2. Unrestrained in indulgence of =Syn. Awkwardness, unwleldlness, Incommodiousness, 
appetite or passion; intemperate in sexual in- trouble, annoyance. 
tercourse; unchaste; licentious. 3. lamed., lnc nTenlenc , e ...l! n :^? n ; ve ^^I n ?, ) j: "' ' P ^ 
unable to restrain natural discharges or evacua- 
tions. 4. Not delayed; immediate; offhand. 
[Colloq.] 
Hath any one a smoky chimney? here is an inconti- 
nent cure ! Barham, Ingoldsby Legends, I. 180. 
II. n. One who is incontinent or unchaste. 
O, old incontinent, dost thon not shame, 
When all thy powers in chastity are spent, 
To have a mind so hot? 
/j. Jiinsim. Every Man in his Humour, iv. 9. 
pp. inconvenienced, ppr. inconveniencing. 
[< inconvenience, n.] To put to inconvenience ; 
incommode. 
For it is not the variety of opinions, bat onr own per- 
verse wills, who think It meet that all shonld be con- 
ceited as our selves are, which hath so inconixnirncrd the 
church. Bales, Golden Remains, Rom. xiv. 1. 
The early Spanish missionaries in America were incon- 
venienced by finding that the only native word they could 
use for Qod also meant devil. 
B. Spencer, Prin. of SocioL, 1 153. 
and abhorring to dishonour . . . y selfe. 
Evelyn, .Memoirs, I., Letter to Col. Morley. 
incontaminateness (in-kon-tam'i-nat-nes), n. incontinent (in-kon'ti-nent), adv. [< ME. *i- inconveniency (in-kon-ve'nien-si), .; pi. in- 
Uncorrupted state. 
incontentationt (in-kon-ten-ta'shqn), H. [< 
in- 3 + contestation,] Discontent; dissatisfac- 
tion. Gooilicin. 
incontestability(in-kou-tes-ta-bil'i-ti). n. ^in- 
contestable: see -bitity.] The character or qual- 
ity of being incontestable. 
continent, cncontynent, ML. incontinence, without i-niirrninicies (-siz). [As inconvenience: see -cy.] 
holding back, < L. incontinen(t-)s, not holding Same as ineonrenience. [Rare.] 
back: see incontinent, a.] Incontinently; in- 
stantly; immediately. [Archaic.] 
"Madame," quod he, "right now entontimenl 
I wold that he hym self were with yow here." 
Qenerydet (E. E. T. 8.X 1. 2819. 
I think that the want of seasonable Shown is one of 
the greatest Inconveniences that this part of the Country 
suffers. Dampier, Voyages, II. lit 84. 
To attain the greatest number of advantages with the 
fewest inconoenicnde*. Goidtmith, Pret to Hist Eng. 
