indefectible 
i vi t it mil s, indeed, do not change, but who shall pre- 
tend that iiKHrnl-s are intlef edible f 
J. II. Newman, Gram, of Assent, p. 232. 
indefective(in-de-fek'tiv), a. [= Pg. indefec- 
lirii = It. in/lift llirt>, < Mli. imli fii'iinis, not de- 
fective, imperishable, < L. in- priv. + LL. de- 
fectivus, imperfect : see defective.} Not defec- 
tive; perfect; complete. [Kare.] 
Repentance and forgiveness stand in the breach, and 
supply i In- impossibilities of indefectice obedience. 
South, Works, VIII. xii. 
indefeisiblet, An obsolete spelling of tnde- 
ffiisihlf. I>r. H. More. 
indefensibility (in-de-fen-si-bil'ji-ti), n. The 
quality or state of being indefensible. 
indefensible (in-de-fen'si-bl), a. [= OF. ende- 
fensible, also indcfensable ; as in- 3 4- defensible.] 
Not defensible; that cannot be defended, main- 
tained, or justified, by either force or speech : 
as, an indefensible frontier ; conduct that is in- 
defensible. 
Thomas . . . had seen three instances of persons raised 
frum the dead by our Saviour, . . . which must needs 
. . . render his unbelief and doubting of our Saviour's 
own resurrection (so unquestionably attested) utterly in- 
defensible. South, Works, V. iv. 
indefensibleness (in-de-fen'si-bl-nes), . The 
character of being indefensible; indefensibility. 
indefensibly (in-de-fen'si-bli), adv. In an in- 
defensible manner; so as to admit of no de- 
fense. 
If there is propriety, however, in thus representing the 
amours of guilty intoxication, by which figure Milton calls 
it, some of the terms of expression are still indefensibly 
indelicate. Stickle, tr. of Camoens'a Luslad, i\., note 82. 
indefensivet (iu-de-fen'siv), a. [< i- 3 + de- 
fensive.] Having no defense ; undefended. 
The sword awes the indefensive villager. 
Sir T. Herbert, Travels, p. 3S7. 
indeficiencyt (in-de-fish'eu-si), n. [< indefi- 
cien(t) + -cy.] The quality of being indeficient 
or unfailing. 
A sermon about the indeficicncy of faith, final perse- 
verance, etc. Strype, Abp. Parker, an. 1696. 
indeflcientt (in-de-fish'ent), a. [= OP. indefici- 
ent = Sp. Pg. It. indeficiente, < LL. indeficien(t-)s, 
not deficient, < L. in- priv. + deficien(t-)s, defi- 
cient: see deficient.] Unfailing. 
In this field [Heaven] 
The indeficient spring no winter fears. 
Fletcher, Christ's Triumph after Death, st 37. 
indefinable (in-de-fi'na-bl), a. [< in- 3 + defina- 
ble.] Not definable; incapable of being denned 
or exactly described ; not susceptible of defini- 
tion: as, an indefinable boundary ; an indefinable 
word ; indefinable sensations. 
That scramble after the undefined and indefinable tights 
that ends always in despotism. 
Lowell, Among my Books, 2d ser., p. 107. 
indefinably (in-de-fi'na-bli), adv. In an inde- 
finable manner; so as not to be capable of defi- 
nition. 
indefinite (in-def i-nit), a. [= F. indefini = 
Sp. indefinido = Pg. indefinido, indefinite = It. 
indefinite, < L. indefinitus, indefinite, < in- priv. 
+ definitus, limited, definite: see definite.] 1. 
Not definite; not denned; not precise; vague: 
as, an indefinite time, proposition, term, or sen- 
sation. 
It were to be wished that* now that those begin to 
quote chymical experiments that are not themselves ac- 
quainted with chymical operations, men would leave off 
that indefinite way of vouching "the chymists say this" 
or "the chymists affirm that" Boyle, Works, I. MO. 
2. Infinite in number. The term was introduced by 
Pascal. Descartes distinguished between the imlefinite, 
which has no particular limit, and the infinite, which is in- 
comparably greater than anything having a limit. The dis- 
tinction is considered as highly important by many meta- 
physicians. 
The indefinite is sometimes confounded with the infi- 
nite: though there are hardly two notions which, with- 
out being contradictory, differ more widely. The indefi- 
nite has a subjective, the infinite an objective relation. 
The one is merely the negation of the apprehension of 
limits, the other the negation of the existence of limits. 
Sir >T. Hamilton, Logic, iv. 
The strength of a bar of metal is the total effect of an 
indefinite number of molecular adhesions. 
H. Spencer, Social Statics, p. 29. 
3. Specifically, in hot., uncertain in number or 
too great to be easily counted: for example, 
the stamens when more than 10, and not clearly 
in multiples of the ground number of the flower, 
are said to be iinlHiniti: 4. In logic, indeter- 
minate in logical quantity; not distinguishing 
between "some" and "all." 
Indefinite propositions, those in which the subject is 
not overtly or articulately declared to be either universal, 
particular, or individual. Sic W. Hamilton, Logic, xiii. 
Indefinite article. See article, 11. Indefinite growth. 
Of branches, the mode of growth of those branches that 
3053 
grow onward indefinitely until arrested by the cold of au- 
tumn, as in the rose, raspberry, sumac, and honey-locust. 
The terminal or uppermost buds are consequently young 
and nnin.it iireil, and are usually killed by the frosts of 
winter. Indefinite Inflorescence, a flower-cluster that 
develops internode after internode of the axis, and one 
or more bracts at each node, with a flower in the axil 
of each bract, until 1U strength or capability ia ex- 
hausted. Also called indeterminate inflorescence. In- 
definite Integral, in math., an integral In which the 
limits uf integration are not fixed, the upper limit being 
variable and the lower limit being usually left arbitrary. 
Indefinite numeral, pronoun, et. See the nouns. In- 
definite proposition, in logic, a proposition which has 
for Its subject a common term without any sign to indi- 
cate distribution or non-distribution: as, "man is mor- 
tal." Indefinite term, in logic, an infinite or inflnitated 
term : a term with a sign of negation prefixed, as non- 
'""" Syn. 1. Undefined, loose, unlimited, indetermi- 
nate, uncertain, vague, Inexact, obscure, indistinct, con- 
fused. 
indefinitely (iu-def'i-nit-li), adv. With indefi- 
niteness: without settled limitation or preci- 
sion; infinitely. 
In his [Theobald's] reports of copies and editions he is 
not to be trusted without examination. He speaks some- 
times indefinitely, when he has only one. 
JoAiwon, 1'ruf. to Shakespeare. 
indefiniteness (in-def'i-nit-nes), n. The char- 
acter of being indefinite, undefined, unlimited, 
or not precise and certain. 
The iiulffiiatetiea of the charge implies a generality. 
Bp. Hall, Best Bargain. 
indefinitude (in-de-fin'i-tud), n. [= It. indefi- 
nitudine; as in- 3 ( definitude.] 1. Number or 
quantity beyond determination or estimation. 
[Rare.] 
They arise to a strange and prodigious multitude, if not 
indefinitiule, by their various positions, combinations, and 
conjunctions. 5ir M. Hale, Orlg. of Mankind. 
2. Indefiniteness; want of precision. 
This is Indeed shown in the vacillation or indefinitwlr 
of Aristotle himself in regard to the number of the modes. 
.Sir W. Hamilton, Discussions, ir. 
indeflnityt (in-de-fin'i-ti), n. [< indefinite + 
-ity.] Vagueness; indefinitude. 
He can insinuate the vilest falsehoods In the world, and 
upon trial come off upon the ambiguity or indefinity of his 
expressions. Roger North, Exameu, p. 144. 
indeformable (in-de-f6r'ma-bl), a. [< in- 3 + 
deformable.] Rigid; incapable of deformation. 
No visible motion is produced in an ordinary indeform- 
abte body, such as we meet in nature, by the action of two 
equal forces acting in opposite directions along the same 
line. Minchin, Statics, I. 5. 
indehiscence (in-de-his'ens), n. [< indehiscen(l) 
+ -ce.] In hot., th'e property of being indehis- 
cent. 
indehiscent (in-de-his'ent), a. [< in- 3 + dehis- 
cent.] In hot. .not dehiscent; not opening spon- 
taneously when mature, as a capsule or anther. 
The capsule is indehuceni, and the spores are set free 
only by its decay. Beuey, Botany, p. 368. 
indelebility, indeleble, etc. See indelibility, etc. 
indelectable (in-de-lek'ta-bl), a. [= OF. inde- 
lectable; as in- 3 + delectable.] Not delectable; 
unpleasant; unamiable. 
Then stiffened and starched . . . Into dry and indeleet- 
able affectation, one sort of these scholars assume a style 
as rough as frequently are their manners. 
Hichardson, Clarissa Harlowe, VIII. 327. 
indeliberate (in-de-lib'e-rat), a. [= F. inde- 
libere = Sp. Pg. indeliberaao = It. indeliberato; 
as tn-3 + deliberate.] Not deliberate; unpre- 
meditated. 
A man drinks himself into a present rage, or distraction 
of mind; in which condition he is perhaps carried to com- 
mit a rape or a murder, which action Is indeed in itself 
sudden and indeliberate. South, Works, VII. x. 
indeliberatedt (in-de-lib'e-ra-ted), a. [< tn-3 
+ deliberated.] Not deliberated upon. 
Actions proceeding from blandishments, or sweet per- 
suasions, If they be indeliberated, as in children who want 
the use of reason, are not presently free actions. 
Abp. Bramhall. 
indeliberately (in-de-lib'e-rat-li), adv. In an 
indeliberate manner; without deliberation or 
premeditation. 
indeliberation (in-de-lib-e-ra'shon), n. [= F. 
indeliberation = Sp. indeltberacion = Pg. im/f- 
liheraqato = It. indeliberazione; as in- 3 + delibera- 
tion.] Lack of deliberation. 
She should have no liturgy at all, but the worship of 
God be left to the managing of chance, and indeliberativn, 
and a petulant fancy. 
Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 1835), II. 2:.3. 
indelibility, indelebility (in-del-i-bil'i-ti, -e- 
bil'i-ti), n. [(.indelible: see-bility.] The qual- 
ity of being indelible. 
My lords, upon a late occasion this question of the in- 
delibilittf of the sacred character came to be much agitated 
in this house. Hartley, Speech, April 13, 1804. 
indelible, indeleble (in-del'i-bl, -e-bl), a. 
[Prop, indeleble; = F. indelebile = Sp. indele- 
indemnitor 
ble = Pg. indelcrel = It. indelebile, < L. imli It 
In/ i.i. that cannot be destroyed, < in- priv. + dele- 
bilis, that can be destroyed: see deleble.] 1. 
Not deleble ; not to be blotted out ; incapable 
of being effaced or obliterated. 
Moreover, the character of the chancellour Is esteemed 
so sacred and inviolable that It remains altogether indele- 
ble but by death onely. Evelyn, State of France. 
There Is an indelible mark of goodness In those who sin- 
cerely possess It. Strelt, Taller, No. 21 L 
He carried with him into his new service the brand not 
only of failure, but of indelible disgrace. 
Lecky, Eng. in 18th Cent, xlv. 
2. Not to be annulled. [Rare.] 
They are endued with indelible power from above to 
feed, to govern this household. Bp. Sprat. 
Indelible ink. See inJH. = 8yn, 1. Ineffaceable, ingrain- 
ed, abiding. 
indelibleness, indelebleness (in-del'i-bl-nes, 
-e-bl-nes), H. The quality of being indelible, 
indelibly, indelebly (in-del'i-bli, -e-bli), adv. 
So as to be indelible ; so as not to be blotted out 
or effaced. 
Let the characters of good things stand indelibly In thy 
mind. Sir T. Browne, Christ Mor., ill. 10. 
indelicacy (in-del'i-ka-si), .; pi. indelicacies 
(-siz). [<.indelica(te) + -cy.] Tne character or 
quality of being indelicate; want of delicacy; 
coarseness of manners or language ; offensive- 
ness to modesty or refined taste. 
There is no wonder, therefore, that Lord Kalmes . . . 
should have expressed himself upon this subject of the in- 
delicacy of English comedy. //. Blair, Rhetoric, xlvU. 
= Syn. Indecency, etc. (see indecorum), grossness, vulgar- 
ity. 
indelicate (in-del'i-kat), a. [= F. indelicat; as 
j'n-3 + delicate.] Not delicate ; wanting deli- 
cacy; offensive to a refined sense of propriety, 
or to modesty or purity of mind; beyond the 
bounds of proper reserve or restraint. 
He ... seemed . . . most eager to preserve the ac- 
quaintance, and without any indelicate display of regard 
. . . was soliciting the good opinion of her friends. 
Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, p. 225. 
Immorality and Indelicacy are different things. Rabe- 
lais is indelicate to the last degree, but he is not really 
immoral. Congreve is far less indelicate, but far more 
immoral. J. Hadley, Essays, p. 347. 
indelicately (in-del'i-kat-li), adv. In an in- 
delicate manner; with indelicacy; unbecom- 
ingly; indecently. 
indemnification (in-dem'ni-fi-ka'shon), . [< 
indemnify + -ation : see -fication.] 1. The act 
of indemnifying or securing against loss, dam- 
age, or penalty. 2. That which indemnifies ; 
reparation ; reimbursement. 
indemnify (in-dem'ni-fi), v. t. ; pret. and pp. 
indemnified, ppr. indetunifying. [< L. indeni- 
nis, unhurt, + facere, make : see indemnity and 
-fy.] 1. To preserve or secure against loss, 
damage, or penalty ; save harmless : followed 
by against, formerly by from. 
I believe the states must at last engage to the mer- 
chants here that they will indemnify them frum all that 
shall fall out Sir W. Temple, To Lord Arlington. 
2. To make good to ; reimburse ; remunerate : 
followed by ./or. 
It* enterprising navy indemnified the nation for the 
scantiness of its territory at home. 
Prescott, Ferd. and Isa., Int 
Of the servile Hindoos we are told that " they indemni- 
fy themselves for their passlveness to their superiors by 
their tyranny, cruelty, and violence to those in their pow- 
er." //. Spencer, Social Statics, p. 461. 
3. To engage to make good or secure against 
anticipated loss ; give security against (future 
damage or liability). =Byn. Compensate, Recompam, 
Remunerate, Reimburse, Indemnify, Requite. Compensate 
and recompense are very general words for paying or ren- 
dering an equivalent, in money or otherwise*. Either of 
them may mean to make a loss good to one. Remuner- 
ate has not this meaning, being confined to the idea of pay- 
ment for expense or service with money or its equivalent. 
To reimburse a person is to make a loss or expenditure 
good to him with money. Indemnify formerly meant to 
save a person from damage or loss, but now much more 
often means to make good after loss or the damage of 
property. To requite is to render a full return. Requite 
Is perhaps more often used in a bad sense. Archaically 
recompense may be used in a good or a bad sense for re- 
turn: as, "Recompense to no man evil for evil," Rom. xii. 
17; "Recompense injury with justice, and recompense 
kindness with kindness,' 1 Confuciv*. Analects (trans. X i- 4. 
The others are always used in a good sense. See requital. 
indemnitee (in-dem-ni-te'), N. [Irreg. < tndt:m- 
nit(y) + -eel.] The person to whom indemnity 
or promise of indemnity is given. [This word U 
of recent origin ; and although objection has been made 
to its formation, its analogy to other legal terms and its 
convenience have given it considerable currency.] 
indemnitoT (in-dem'ni-tqr), . [Irreg. < indem- 
nify) + -or.] One who has promised to indem- 
nify another person against loss or liability. 
