iniquitous 
Las Casas lived to repent, . . . declaring afterwards 
that the captivity of black men is as iniquitous as that of 
Indians. Bancroft, Hist. U. S., 1. 135. 
= Syn, Illegal, Wicked, etc. (see criminal) ; unfair, inequi- 
table, unrighteous, unprincipled, nefarious. 
iniquitously (i-nik'wi-tus-li), adv. In an ini- 
quitous manner; unjustly; wickedly. 
His grants were from the aggregate and consolidated 
funds of judgments iniquitously legal. 
Burke, To a Noble Lord. 
iniquity (i-nik'wi-ti), n. ; pi. iniquities (-tiz). 
[< ME. iniquite, < OF. iniquiteit, iniquite^ F. ini- 
quite = Pr. iniquitat, inequitat = Sp. iniquidad 
= Pg. iniquidade=ilt.i>tiquita, < L. iniquita(t-)s, 
unequaluess, injustice, < iniquits, unequal, un- 
just: see iniquous. Cf. equity, inequity.'} 1. 
Lack of equity ; gross injustice ; unrighteous- 
ness; wickedness: as, the iniquity of the slave- 
trade. 
Some contesting for privileges, customs, forms, and that 
old entanglement of iniquity, their gibberish laws, though 
the badge of their ancient slavery. 
Milton, Tenure of Kings and Magistrates. 
There is a greater or less probability of an happy issue to 
a tedious war, according to the righteousness or iniquity of 
the cause for which it was commenced. JBp. Smalridge. 
2. A violation of right or duty ; an unjust or 
wicked action ; a wilful wrong or crime. 
Your iniquities have separated between you and your 
God. Isa. lix. 2. 
He himself dispatches post after post to demand Jus- 
tice, as upon a traitor ; using a strange iniquity to require 
justice upon him whom he then waylayd and debarr'd from 
his appearance. Milton, Eikonoklastes, viii. 
3f. In Scots law, inequity; a judicial act or de- 
cision contrary to law or equity. 4f. [cap.~\ 
A comic character or buffoon in the medieval 
English moralities or moral plays, often other- 
wise called the rice, and sometimes by the name 
of the particular vice he represented. His chief 
business was to make sport by tormenting the imperson- 
ated Devil, and he was the prototype of the later clown or 
fool, Punch, and Harlequin. 
Thus, like the formal Vice, Iniquity, 
I moralise two meanings in one word. 
Shale., Rich. III., Hi. 1. 
That was the old way, gossip, when Iniquity came in, 
like Hokos Pokos, in a juggler's jerkin, with false skirts, 
like the knave of clubs. B. Jonson, Staple of News. 
= Syn. 1 and 2. Sin, Transgression, etc. See crime. 
iniquoust (in-i'kwus), a. [= F. inique = Pr. inic, 
enic = Pg. It. iniquo, < L. iniquits, unequal, un- 
even, unjust, < in- priv. + cequus, equal: see 
equal.] Unjust; wicked; iniquitous. 
Whatsoever is done thro' any unequal affection is ini- 
~quou$, wicked, and wrong. 
Shaftesbury, Inquiry concerning Virtue, L ii. 3. 
inirritabllity (in-ir"i-ta-bil'i-ti), n. [< inirri- 
table : see -bility.'] The quality of being inirri- 
table ; good nature. 
inirritable (in-ir'i-ta-bl), a. [< in-3 + irritable.] 
Not irritable; good-natured; in physiol., not 
reacting to stimulation. 
inirritative (in-ir'i-ta-tiv), a. [< in-3 + irrita- 
tive .] Not irritative ; not producing or attend- 
ed with irritation or excitement. 
inisle (in-il'), r. t. [< in-* + fefei.] Same as 
enisle. 
Into what sundry gyres her wonder'd self she throws, 
And oft inisles the shore, as wantonly she flows. 
Drayton, Polyolbion, vlii. 448. 
Gambia's wave inisles 
An ouzy coast, and pestilential ills 
Diffuses wide. Dyer, The Fleece, iv. 
initial (i-nish'al), a. and n. [< F. initial = Sp. 
Pg. initial = It. iniziale, < L. initialis, of the 
beginning, incipient, initial, < initium, begin- 
ning, < inire, go in, enter upon, begin, < in, in, 
+ ire, go: see iter, iterate, etc.] I. a. 1. Of or 
pertaining to the beginning; incipient: as, the 
initial step in a proceeding. 
The highest form of the incredible is sometimes the 
initial form of the credible. 
De Quincey, Secret Societies, i. 
In the case of voluntary attention the initial stimulus 
is some internal motive. 
J. Sully, Outlines of Psychol., p. 94. 
Even when the initial move has been made by the mis- 
sionary, the trader, scenting the chance for gain, is not 
slow to follow. Pop. Sei. Mo., XXVI. 285. 
2. Placed at the beginning; standing at the 
head: as, the initial letter of a word, or of a 
chapter in a book. 
There, now, is an initial letter ! 
Saint Ulric himself never made a better ! 
Finished down to the leaf and the snail, 
Down to the eyes on the peacock's tail ! 
Longfellow, Golden Legend, iv. 
Initial cells, in Int., the cells from which the primordial 
layers or masses of nascent tissue arise. Initial letter. 
See II., 1, 2. Initial line. See polar coordinates in a 
plane, under coordinate. Initial stress. See stress. 
3100 
Initial tension, the stress developed in the consecutive 
elementary cylinders of a composite cylinder, or the body 
of a built-up gun, by the method of fabrication, or, in the 
case of a cast gun, by cooling from the interior. Initial 
tension is produced by shrinking over another a heated 
tube or hoop that will have a slightly smaller diameter 
when cooled, or by forcing it over by hydrostatic pressure. 
Each cylindrical layer compresses the one beneath it. In 
a properly constructed gun the greatest initial tension 
exists in the exterior cylindrical layer, and decreases pro- 
gressively toward the bore, where the initial tension is 
negative, or becomes an initial compression. The initial 
tension should never exceed the elastic limit of the mate- 
rial. 
II. n. 1. The initial or first letter of a word; 
an initial letter. A person's initials are the first let- 
ters in proper order of the words composing his name. To 
sign a paper with one's initials is to write only the first let- 
ter of each of one's names, including the surname. A per- 
son's surname being known or separately written, his ini- 
tials are the first letters of his other names : as, what are 
Mr. Jones's initials ? 
2. The first letter of a book or writing, or of 
any division of it, distinguished from the body 
of the text by larger size or more ornamental 
character, or both. The initials of medieval manu- 
script books are often works of high art, elaborate in de- 
sign and bright in color, generally red. Ornamented and 
colored initials were also used in many early printed books, 
sometimes separately executed by hand. In modern books 
initials, when used, are either plain or ornamental ; and 
they are still sometimes printed in red. 
No book or document was approved unless it had some 
ornamented and illuminated initials or capital letters. 
Encyc. Brit,., XXIIL 682. 
3. In plain-song, a tone with which a melody 
may begin. In strict usage the initials for each mode 
are prescribed, and called absolute initials. 
initial (i-nish'al), v. t.; pret. and pp. initialed 
or initialled, ppr. initialing or initialling. [< 
initial, .] To put one's initial or initials to or 
on ; sign or mark with initials : as, an initialed 
handkerchief ; initialed paper. 
Oval plaque, . . . initialed by the artist 
Cat. Soulages Coll., p. 100. 
initially (i-nish'al-i), adv. In an initial man- 
ner; at the beginning; at first. 
The vibration of the ether is initially of the nature of 
a forced vibration. A. Danie.ll, Prin. of Physics, p. 432. 
initiate (i-nish'i-at), v.; pret. and pp. initiated, 
ppr. initiating. [< LL. initiatus, pp. of initiare 
(> It. iniziare = Sp. Pg. iniciar = F. initier), 
begin, originate (in classical L. only the spe- 
cial sense 'initiate'), < L. initium, beginning: 
see initial.'] I. trans. 1. To begin or enter 
upon; make a beginning of; introduce; set 
going or on foot. 
Mutual dependence of parts is that which initiates and 
guides organization of every kind. 
B. Spencer, Study of Sociol., p. 331. 
A few gentlemen met at a room, oroflice, in "the Krem- 
lin," a building so called, in Buffalo, and then and there 
initiated the "Anti-Masonic party." 
N. Sargent, Public Men and Events, I. 140. 
2. To introduce by preliminary instruction or 
forms; guide primarily; admit formally; in- 
duct : as, to initiate a person into an art, or 
into a society. 
The first Element of his knowledge is to bo shewne the 
Colledges, and initiated in a Tauerne by the way, which 
hereafter hee will learne of himselfe. 
Bp. Earle, Micro-cosmographie, A meere young Gentle- 
[man of the Vniuersitie. 
You are not audacious enough ; you must frequent or- 
dinaries a month more, to initiate yourself. 
B. Jonson, Cynthia's Revels, iii. 1. 
1 was not initiated into any rudiments till neere four 
yeares of age. Evelyn, Diary, p. 7. 
The bookseller . . . initiated Leonard into many of the 
mysteries of the bibliographist. 
Bulwer, My Novel, vi. 16. 
The Initiated, those who have been formally instructed 
on any particular subject, or in the theories of any par- 
ticular association, especially a secret one ; specifically, in 
the early church, those who had been baptized and ad- 
mitted to the full privileges of the church, anbUo a know- 
ledge of the more exalted teachings of Christianity. 
Il.t intrans. To do the first act ; perform the 
first rite ; take the initiative. 
The king himself initiates to the pow'r, 
Scatters with quiv'ring hand the sacred flour. 
Pope, Odyssey, iii. 564. 
initiate (i-nish'i-at), a. and n. [< L. initiatus, 
pp.: seethe verb.] I. . If. Pertaining or in- 
cident to the beginning or introduction ; initial 
or initiatory. 
Come, we'll to sleep : my strange and self abuse 
Is the initiate fear, that wants hard use. 
Shale., Macbeth, iii. 4. 
2. Initiated; commencing; introduced to know- 
ledge ; prepared for instruction. 
To rise in science, as in bliss, 
Initiate in the secrets of the skies ! 
Youny, Night Thoughts, vi. 
Initiate tenancy by the courtesy. See courtesy of 
England, under courtesy. 
inition 
II. n. One who is initiated ; specifically, one 
who has been admitted to a knowledge of or 
participation in secret doctrines, mystic rites, 
or the like. 
initiation (i-nish-i-a'shon), n. [< F. initiation 
= Sp. iniciacion = Pg. iniciay&o = It. inizui~ione, 
< L. initiatio(n-), an initiation (in mysteries or 
sacred rites), < initiare, begin, initiate: see ini- 
tiate.'] 1. The act of initiating or setting on 
foot; a beginning or starting: as, the initiation 
of a new enterprise. 2. Introduction by pre- 
liminary instruction or ceremony; initial gui- 
dance or admission, especially in some set or 
formal way, as into knowledge of or participa- 
tion in anything, membership in an associa- 
tion, or the like. 
Silence is the first thing that is taught us at our initia- 
tion into the sacred mysteries. 
W. Broome, Notes on the Odyssey. . 
John Ogilby was one who, from a late initiation into 
literature, made such a progress as might well style him 
the prodigy of his time. 
WiHstanlt/, quoted in Pope's Dunciad, L 141, notes. 
In cases of children, and much more so in the case of 
strangers, a special initiation was required before any per- 
son could be admitted as a member of the Household. 
JF. E. Ilearn, Aryan Household, p. 131. 
initiative (i-nish'i-a-tiv), a. and n. [< F. ini- 
tiative, n., = Sp. iniciativo, a., = Pg. iniciativa, 
n., = It. iniziativo, a., < ML. "initiativits, serving 
to initiate, < LL. initiare, begin, L. initiate : see 
initiate.] I. a. Serving to initiate ; initiatory. 
II. n. 1. An introductory act or step; the 
first procedure in any enterprise ; leading move- 
ment: as, to take the initiative. 
When all reinforcements should have arrived, I expected 
to take the initiative by marching on Corinth, and had no 
expectation of needing fortifications. 
U. S. Grant, Personal Memoirs, I. 332. 
She was the only one whose mind was disengaged and 
free to follow every new initiative. 
Mrs. Oliphant, Poor Gentleman, xlvi. 
2. The power of commencing, originating, or 
setting on foot; the power of taking or the 
ability or disposition to take the lead: as, the 
popular branch of a legislature usually has the 
initiative in making appropriations. 
And if private enterprise is more advantageous than 
joint-stock management, because it has more initiative 
and adaptability, so joint-stock management is for the 
same reason more advantageous than the official central- 
ised management of all industry. 
J. Roe, Contemporary Socialism, p. 361. 
The Emperor reserves the initiative concerning the 
rights of the Serbs on the basis of the wishes of their Na- 
tional Congress. Nineteenth Century, XIX. 457. 
Nobody felt so deeply as Mr. Lincoln the terrible em- 
barrassment of having a general in command of that mag- 
nificent army who was absolutely without initiative. 
The Century, XXXVI. 919. 
initiator (i-nish'i-a-tor), u. [= F. initiateur = 
It. iniziatore, inizzaiore, < LL. initiator, a be- 
ginner, founder, < initiare, begin, L. initiate: 
see initiate.] One who or that which initiates. 
An absolutely uniform species . . . would be deprived 
of that iuitititu,' of change which maintains its existence 
as a species. H. Spencer, Prin. of Biol., 96. 
Gaetano Cenni, in vol. i. of his " Dissertations," does not 
agree with Benedict XIV., but thinks Leo IX. was the 
initiator of the Golden Rose. N. and Q., 7th ser., VI. 114. 
Those sublime initiators without whom the Academy 
would be but a collection of fossils. 
Set. Amer. Supp., p. 9085. 
initiatory (i-nish'i-a-to-ri), a. and n. [< initiate 
+ -ory.~\ I. a. 1. Of, pertaining to, or suita- 
ble for a beginning or introduction; introduc- 
tory: as, an initiatory step. 
The initiatory movements of the States General were 
concerted by Lafayette and a small circle of friends. 
Everett, Orations, I. 487. 
2. Initiating or serving to initiate; introdu- 
cing by instruction, or by prescribed formali- 
ties. 
It hath been euer the fashion of God to exercise his 
champions with some initiatory incounters. 
Bp. Hall, Samson's Marriage. 
Two initiatory rites of the same general import cannot 
exist together. J. M. Mason. 
II. .; pi. initiatories (-riz) . An introductory 
process or form. 
Baptism is a constant initiatory of the proselyte. 
L. Addison, State of the Jews, p. 67. 
initiatrix (i-nish'i-a-triks), n. [= It. iniziatrice, 
inizzatrice, < LL. initiatrix, fern, of initiator, a 
beginner, a founder: see initiator.'} A female 
initiator. 
initiont (i-nish'on), n. [< OF. inition, inicion, 
< ML. "initio(n-), a beginning, < L. inire, pp. 
iiiiliis, begin: see initial.'] A beginning. 
Here I note the inition of my lord's friendship with 
Mountjoy. Sir Ji. Saunton, Fragmenta Reg., Lord Essex. 
