indesert 
'Tis my own indesert that gives me fears. 
Steele, Lying Lover, ii. 1. 
indesinent (iu-des'i-nent), a. [= It. indesi- 
nente; < in-3 + desinent.'] Not ceasing; perpet- 
ual. [Bare.] 
The last kind of activity ... is much more noble, more 
indesinent, and indefeasible than the first. 
A. Baxter, Human Souls, I. 351. 
indesinently (in-des'i-nent-li), adv. Without 
cessation. [Bare.] 
His verdant blood 
In brisk saltation circulates and flows 
Indexinently vigorous. 
C. Smart, The Hop-Garden, i. 
indesirablet (in-de-zir'a-bl), a. [< in- 3 + de- 
sirable.] Undesirable. 
indestructibility (in-de-struk-ti-bil'i-ti), re. 
[= F. indestructibiiite == Sp. indestruciibitidad 
= Pg. indestructibilidade; as in- 3 + destructi- 
bility.'] The character of being indestructible : 
as, the indestructib-ility of matter and energy. 
indestructible (in-df-struk'ti-bl), a. [= F. 
indestructible = Sp. 'indestructible = Pg. inde- 
structivel = It. indistruttibile; as in- s + destruc- 
tible."] Not destructible; incapable of being de- 
stroyed. 
Our consciousness of tho Absolute is not negative but 
positive, and is the one indestructible element of conscious- 
ness, " which persists at all times, under all circumstances, 
and cannot cease until consciousness ceases." 
a. Spencer, Pop. Sci. Mo., XXV. 456. 
indestructibleness (in-de-struk'ti-bl-nes), n. 
Indestructibility. 
indestructibly (in-de-struk'ti-bli), adv. So as 
to be indestructible. 
indeterminable (in-df-ter'mi-na-bl), a. [= F. 
indeterminable = Sp. indeterminable "= Pg. inde- 
terminavel = It. indeterminabile, < LL. indeter- 
minabilis, that cannot be defined, < in- priv. + 
determinabilis, that can be defined: see deter- 
minable."] 1. Incapable of being determined, 
ascertained, or fixed. 
Either the question is indeterminable, or, which is worse, 
men will never be convinced. 
Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 1835), I. 3, Ded. 
2. Not to be determined or ended; intermina- 
ble. [Bare.] 
His memory is indeterminable and unalterable, ever re- 
membering to do us good. 
Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 1835), I. 37. 
3. In mat, liist., not definable ; incapable of spe- 
cialization : said of a specimen which, from its 
nature or condition, cannot be properly classi- 
fied and named. 
indeterminableness (in-de-ter'mi-na-bl-nes), 
n. The character of being 'indeterminable. 
indeterminate (in-de-ter'mi-nat), a. [< ME. 
indeterminat = F. in'determine = Sp. Pg. inde- 
terminado = It. indeterminato, < LL. indetermi- 
natus, undefined, unlimited, < L. in- priv. + de- 
terminatus, defined, limited: see determinate, a."] 
Not determinate ; not settled or fixed ; not def- 
inite; uncertain; not precise; not exclusively 
possessing either of a pair of contradictory at- 
tributes. 
The greatest part of the questions and controversies 
that perplex mankind, depending on the doubtful and un- 
certain use of words, or (which is the same) indeter initiate 
ideas, which these are made to stand for. 
Locke, Human Understanding, To the Eeader. 
The rays of the same colour were by turns transmitted 
at one thickness, and reflected at another thickness, for 
an indeterminate number of successions. 
Newton, Opticks. 
New laws are too apt to be voluminous, perplexed, and 
indeterminate. Goldsmith, The Bee, No. 7. 
Indeterminate analysis, a branch of algebra in which 
there is always given a greater number of unknown quan- 
tities than of independent equations, on which account the 
number of solutions is indefinite. Indeterminate co- 
efficients, in math. , a method of analysis invented by Des- 
cartes, the principle of which consists in this, that if we 
have an equation of the form 
A + Bz + Cx" + Dx3 + &c. = 0, 
in which the coefficients A, B, C are constant, and x a 
variable which may be supposed as small as we please, 
each of these coefficients, taken separately, is necessarily 
equal to o. Indeterminate constant, contract, cur- 
vature, equation, etc. See the nouns. Indeterminate 
form, in math., one of the forms 
no 
n' oo"' x ' ' I 50 * e t c -> 
whose values are indeterminate until some equation 
is established between the two quantities which enter 
into each of them. Indeterminate inflorescence, in 
oot., same as indefinite inflorescence. See indefinite. In- 
determinate multiplier, in aly., a multiplier whose 
value is at first left indeterminate, and afterward fixed 
to suit the exigencies of the problem. Indeterminate 
problem, In math., a problem which admits of an infinite 
number of solutions, or one in which there are fewer im- 
posed conditions than there are unknown or required re- 
sults. Indeterminate quantity, in math., a. quantity 
that admits of an infinite number of values. Indeter- 
3056 
mlnate series, in math., a series whose terms proceed 
by the powers of an indf terminate quantity. 
indeterminately (in-de-ter'mi-nat-li), adv. So 
as to be indeterminate'; indefinitely; without 
precision. 
The unpractised mind . . . indeterminately feels and 
thinks about itself and the field of its existence. 
J. Martineau, Materialism, p. 18. 
indeterminateness (in-de-ter'mi-nat-nes), n. 
The character of being indeterminate ; lack of 
settled limits; want of precision; indefiniteness. 
We have but to remember that, growing clustered to- 
gether aa Oysters do, they must interfere with one an- 
other in various ways and degrees, to see how the inde- 
terminateness of form and the variety of form are ac- 
counted for. H. Spencer, Prin. of Btol., 251. 
Index of indeterminateness. See index. 
indetermination (in-de-ter-mi-na'shon), n. [= 
F. indetermination = Sp. indetermina'cion = Pg. 
indeterminaqao = It. indeterminaeione ; as ii- 3 
-1- determination."] Lack of determination; an 
unsettled or wavering state, as of the mind ; 
want of fixed or stated direction. 
By contingents I understand all things which may be 
done and may not be done, may happen or may not hap- 
pen, by reason of the indetermination or accidental con- 
currence of the cause. Abp. Bramhall, Ana. to Hobbes. 
indetermined (in-de-ter'mind), a. Undeter- 
mined. 
The eternal height of indetermin'd space I 
The eternal depth of condescending grace ! 
Brooke, Universal Beauty, v. 
indeterminism (in-de-ter'mi-nizm), n. [< in- 3 
+ determinism.'] The doctrine that, though the 
will is somewhat influenced by motives, it is 
not entirely governed by them, but has a cer- 
tain freedom and spontaneity. Hodgson. 
The cloisters of Christendom resounded . . . with dis- 
putatious about determinism and indeterminism. 
Pop. Sci. Mo., XX. 441. 
indeterminist (in-de-ter'mi-nist), re. [As in- 
determin-ism + -4st.~]' A believer in indetermi- 
nism. 
indevirginatet (in-de-ver'ji-nat), a. [< i- 3 + 
devirginate."] Not devirginate or deprived of 
virginity. 
Pallas, . . . 
Who still lives indevirginate. 
Chapman, Homeric Hymn to Venus. 
indevotet (in-de-vof), a. [= F. indevot = Sp. 
Pg. indevoto ='lt. indevoto, indivoto, < LL. in- 
devotus, undevout, < in- priv. + L. devotus, at- 
tached, faithful, LL. devout: see devote, devout, 
a.] Not devout ; indevout. 
There are so many of the same arguments, and so inde- 
vote an age. Bentley, Letters, p. 181. 
indevotedt (in-de-vo'ted), a. [< in-3 + devoted.] 
Not devoted. 
Mr. Cowley's connections with some persons indevoted 
to the excellent chancellor. 
Bp. Surd, Dialogues, iii., note. 
indevotion (in-de-vo'shon), . [= F. indfoo- 
tion = Sp. indevocion = Pg. indevoySo = It. 
indevozione, indivozione; as iw- 3 + devotion.] 
Lack of devotion; absence of devout affec- 
tions ; impiety ; irreligion. 
If we live in an age of indevotion, we think ourselves 
well assoiled if we be warmer than their ice. 
Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 1835), I. 57. 
The greatness of the example may entice us on a little 
farther than the customs of the world, or our own inde- 
votions, would engage us. 
Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 1835), I. 84. 
indeyout (in-de-vouf), a. [< -3 + devout. 
Cf. indevote.] !Not devout; irreligious. 
A wretched, careless, indevout spirit. 
Jer. Taylor, Sermon (1658). 
index (in'deks), . ; pi. indexes, indices (in'dek- 
sez, -di-sez). [Formerly also indice (< F.); = 
F. index, formerly indice = Sp. indice = Pg. It. 
indice, an index, < L. index (indie-), a discover- 
er, informer, spy ; of things, an indicator, the 
forefinger, a title, superscription; < indicare, 
point out, show : see indicate."] 1 . That which 
points out; anything that shows, indicates, or 
manifests. 
Whatever stripes of ill-luck La Fleur met with in his 
journeyings, there was no index in his physiognomy to 
point them out by. Sterne, Sentimental Journey, p. 34. 
The standing army, the arsenal, the camp, and the gib- 
bet do not appertain to man. They only serve as an in- 
dex to show where man is now ; what a bad, ungoverned 
temper he has, what an ugly neighbor he is ; how his af- 
fections halt ; how low his hope lies. Emerson, War. 
2. In logic, a sign which signifies its object by 
virtue of being really connected with it. De- 
monstrative and relative pronouns are nearly pure indi- 
ces, because they denote things without describing them ; 
so are the letters on a geometrical diagram, and the sub- 
script numbers which in algebra distinguish one value 
from another without showing what those values are. 
index 
3. Something intended to point out, guide, or 
direct, as the hand of a clock or a steam-gage, 
the style of a sun-dial, an arm of a guide-post, 
or the figure of a hand 
There was a sun-dial in the centre of the court ; the 
sun shone on the brazen plate, and the shadow of the 
index fell on the line of noon. 
Peacock, Melincourt, xxxii. 
4. A detailed alphabetic (or, rarely, classi- 
fied) list or table of the topics, names of per- 
sons, places, etc., treated or mentioned in a 
book or a series of books, pointing out their 
exact positions in the volume. 
Methinks 'tis a pitiful piece of knowledge that can be 
learnt from an index, and a poor ambition to be rich in 
the inventory of another's treasure. 
Glanville, Vanity of Dogmatizing, xv. 
English grammars usually draw the distinction that 
indexes is the form used in speaking of the plural of index, 
as of a book, while indices is the scientific term, as in 
algebra. N. and Q., 6th ser., X. 69. 
5f. Prelude; prologue. 
Ah me, what act, 
That roars so loud, and thunders in the index? 
Shot., Hamlet, UL 4. 
An index and obscure prologue to the history of lust 
and foul thoughts. Shalt., Othello, ii. 1. 
6. (a) In anat., the forefinger or pointing finger. 
(b) In ornith., the principal or middle digit of the 
wing of a bird : so called by those who hold that 
it is homologous with the forefinger of a mam- 
mal ; by those who hold that the middle digit 
of the wing is the middle digit of a mammal, 
the pollex or thumb of a bird's wing is called the 
index. 7. In math., the figure or letter which 
shows to what power a quantity is involved; the 
exponent. In the theory of numbers the index of a num- 
ber to a given base for a given prime modulus of which that 
base is a prime root is the index of the power of the base 
which is congruous to the number. (See exponent, 3.) The 
index-law is the principle that abac = a> + '. The word 
index is, besides, used in various special senses in mathe- 
matics. See phrases below. 
8. In crystal., in the notation of Whewell and 
Miller, one of three whole numbers which de- 
fine the position of a face of a crystal : in the 
notation of Bravais, four numbers constitute 
the indices of a face of a hexagonal crystal. 
9. In musical notation, a direct. 10. [cop.] 
Same as Index Expurgatorius. 
The Index and Inquisition still survive, and the cen- 
sures of the Church are not obsolete, though her last 
offices are more frequently rejected than withheld. 
Quarterly Rev., CXLV. 297. 
Alveolar, basilar, cephalic, facial, etc., index. See 
craniometry. Dlscriminantal Index. See diserimi- 
nantal. Index finger. See def. 6 (a\ and index-finger. 
Index Llbrorum Prohibitorum (Index of Prohibit- 
ed Books), Index Expurgatorius (Expurgatory Index), 
catalogues of books comprising respectively those which 
Roman Catholics are absolutely forbidden to read, and 
those which they must not read unless in editions expur- 
gated of objectionable passages. They are prepared by the 
Congregation of the Index, a body of cardinals and their 
assistants. Pope Paul IV. published a list of forbidden 
books in 1557 and 1559. The Council of Trent in 1562 at- 
tempted the regulation of the matter, but finally referred 
it to the Pope. He (Pius IV.) published the " Index Tri- 
dentinus " in 1564, often reprinted with additions under 
the title " Index Librorum Prohibitorum." Index of a 
line relatively to a quadric surface, the quotient of the 
square of its secant by the fourth power of the paral- 
lel semidiameter. Index Of a logarithm, otherwise 
called the characteristic, the integral part which precedes 
the logarithm, and is always one less than the number of 
integral figures in the given number. Thus, if the given 
number consist of four figures, the index of its logarithm 
is 3 ; if of five figures the index is 4, and so on. See loga- 
rithm. Index of a plane relatively to a quadric surface, 
the product of its distances from its pole and from the 
center of the quadric. Index Of a point relatively to a 
quadric surface, the product of its two distances from the 
surface in any direction divided by the square of the paral- 
lel semidiameter. Index of a series of curves of order 
n satisfying i n (n + 3) 1 conditions, the number of these 
curves parsing through an arbitrary point. Index Of 
friction. Same as coefficient of friction (which see, under 
coefficient). Index of indeterminateness of a problem, 
the excess of the number of unknowns over that of the 
really independent equations. Index of refraction, in 
optics, the ratio between the sines of the angles of inci- 
dence and refraction for a ray of light passing from one 
medium (usually the air) into another. Thus, this ratio 
for a ray passing from air into water is about 4 : 3, or, more 
exactly, 1.336, which is therefore the index of refraction 
of water. Also called refractive index. See refraction. 
The index of refraction in the passage of light from one 
medium into another must be equal to the relation that 
the rapidity of propagation of light in the first medium 
bears to its rapidity in the second. 
Lommel, Light (trans.), p. 236. 
Index rerum, an index of subjects. Index verborum, 
an index of words ; a verbal index. 
index (in'deks), r. f. [(index, ft.] 1. To point 
out, as an index ; indicate. [Rare.] 
Whose iron-gray wool and wrinkled face indexed his age 
at near seventy years. The Century, XXIX. 683. 
2. To make an index to, or place in an index : 
as, to indt'.f a book, or the contents of a book. 
