intrigue 
II. intrans. 1. To practise underhand plot- 
ting or scheming; exert secret influence for the 
accomplishment of a purpose ; seek to promote 
one's aims in devious and clandestine ways. 
Chesterfield, towards the end of his career, intrigued 
against Newcastle with the Duchess of Yarmouth. 
Lecky, Bug. in 18th Cent., iii. 
2. To have clandestine or illicit intercourse, 
intrigue (iu-treg'), . [= D. G. intrigue = Dan. 
intrige = Sw. intriij, < F. intrigue, a plot, in- 
trigue, formerly also intrigue, intricateuess, a 
maze, = Sp. Pg. intriga = It. intrigo, intrico, in- 
tricateness, a maze, plot, intrigue; from the 
verb : see intrigue, v.~] If. Intricacy ; compli- 
cation; maze. 
But though this vicinity of ourselves cannot give us the 
full prospect of all the intrigues of our nature, yet we have 
thereby . . . much more advantage to know ourselves 
than to know other things without us. 
Sir M. Hale, Orig. of Mankind, p. 21. 
2. Secret or underhand plotting or scheming; 
the exertion of secret influence for the accom- 
plishment of a purpose. 
Habits of petty intrigue and dissimulation might have 
rendered him incapable of great general views, but that 
the expanding effect of his philosophical studies counter- 
acted the narrowing tendency. Macaulay, JIachiavelli. 
3. A clandestine plot; a scheme for entan- 
gling others, or for gaining an end by the ex- 
ertion of secret influence : as, to expose an in- 
trigue. 
His invention was ever busy in devising intrigues, which 
he recommended by his subtle, insinuating eloquence. 
Prescott, Ferd. and Isa., i. 8. 
In the first Hanoverian reigns the most important in- 
fluences were Court intrigues or parliamentary corruption. 
Lecky, Eng. in 18th Cent., iii. 
4. The plot of a play, poem, or romance ; the 
series of complications in which a writer in- 
volves his imaginary characters. 
As these causes are the beginning of the action, the op- 
posite designs against that of the hero are the middle of 
it, and form that difficulty or intrigue which make up the 
greatest part of the poem. 
Le Bo&su, tr. in pref. to Pope's Odyssey. 
5. Clandestine intercourse between a man and 
a woman ; illicit intimacy ; a liaison. 
Of the three companions I had this last half year, . . . 
I was obliged to send away the third, because I suspected 
an intrigue with the chaplain. Goldsmith, Vicar, xi. 
intriguer (in-tre'ger), . One who intrigues; 
one who forms plots, or pursues an object by 
secret means, 
intriguery (in-tre'ger-i), n. [< intrigue + -ery.] 
The practice of intrigue, 
intriguesst (in-tre'ges), n. [< intrigue + -ess.] 
A woman who schemes or intrigues. 
His family was very ill qualified for that place, his lady 
being a mo&t violent intrigueas in business. 
Roger North, Lord Guilford, I. 168. 
intriguing (in-tre'ging), )). a. Forming secret 
plots or schemes ; addicted to intrigue ; given 
to secret machinations: as, an intriguing dis- 
position. 
There is something more intriguing in the amours of 
Venice than in those of other countries. 
Addison, Eemarks on Italy (ed. Bonn), I. 392. 
= Syn. Artful, Sly, etc. (see cunning!) insidious, design- 
ing, deceitful, plotting, scheming. 
intriguingly (in-tre'ging-li), adv. With in- 
trigue ; with artifice or secret machinations. 
intriguisht (in-tre'gish), . [< intrigue + -isft 1 .] 
Intriguing; underhand; scheming. 
Considering the assurance and application of women, 
especially to affairs that are intriguish, we must conclude 
that the chief address was to Mrs. Wall. 
Roger North, Examen, p. 193. 
intriguist (in-tre'gist), n. An intriguer. Lever. 
intrinset (in-trins'), a. [Irreg. abbr. from in- 
trinsicate.] Intricate; entangled. 
Bite the holy cords atwain 
Which are too intrinse t' unloose. 
Shak., Lear, ii. 2, 81. 
intrinsecalt, a. See intrinsical. 
intrinsecatet, a. See intrinsicate. 
intrinsic (in-trin'sik), a. and n. [Prop, "intrin- 
sec (the term, being conformed to -ic) = F. 
intrinseque = Pr. intrinnec =. Sp. intrinseco = 
Pg. intrinseco = It. intrinseco, intrinsico, < L. 
intrinsecus, on the inside, inwardly, < inter ("in- 
trim), within, + secus, by, on the side. Of. ex- 
trinsic.] I. a. 1. Being within; penetrating 
inward; intimate; familiar; intestine; domes- 
tic. 
And though to be thus elemented arm 
These creatures from home-born intrinsic harm. 
Donne, Anatomy of the World, i. 
Hence 2. Pertaining to the inner or essential 
nature; intimately characterizing; inherent; 
essential; genuine; belonging to the subject in 
3164 
its very existence: as, the intrinsic value of gold 
or silver; tne intrinsic merit of an action. 
As Coin, which bears some awful Monarch's Face, 
For more than its intrinsick Worth will pass. 
Congreve, To Dryden. 
The intellect pierces the form, . . . detects intrinsic 
likeness between remote things, and reduces all things 
into a few principles. Emerson, Essays, 1st ser., p. WO. 
3. In Scots law, intimately connected with the 
point at issue: applied to circumstances sworn 
to by a party on an oath of reference that make 
part of the evidence afforded by the oath, and 
cannot be separated from it. 4. In anat., ap- 
plied to those muscles of the limbs which take 
origin within the anatomical limits of the limb, 
such limits including the pectoral and pelvic 
arches Hosteler Intrinsic!. See hosteler. intrin- 
sic divisor. See divisor. Intrinsic equation of a 
plane curve. See equation. Intrinsic mode, i n logic, a 
mode which necessarily affects its subject as soon as the 
latter comes into actual existence, although the mode is 
no part of the definition, general conception, or formality 
of the subject, and, indeed, such a mode is incapable of 
any general description. The intrinsic modes, according 
to the Scotists, are nine to wit, finite and infinite, act 
and power, necessary and contingent, existence, reality, 
and hfecceity. Intrinsic relation, in the Scotistic logic, 
a relation which necessarily exists as soon as the related 
things exist : such relations are, for example, similitude 
and paternity. = Syn. 1. Interior, Inward, etc. See inner. 
II. t . A genuine or essential quality. War- 
burton. 
intrinsical (iu-trin'si-kal), a. and . [Prop., as 
formerly, intrimecal; {'intrinsic + -a/.] I. a. 
Same as intrinsic. 
So intriwical is every man unto himself, that some 
doubt may be made, whether any would exchange his be- 
ing. Sir T. Browne, Letter to a Friend. 
How far God hath given Satan power to do good for the 
blinding of evill men, or what intrinsecall operations he 
found out, I cannot now dispute. 
A. Wilson, Autobiography. 
He falls into intrinsecal society with Sir John Graham, 
. . . who dissuaded him from marriage. Sir II. Wotton. 
Il.t . That which is intrinsic or interior; in- 
ward being, thought, etc. 
This history will display the very intrinsicals of the Cas- 
tilian, who goes for the prime Spaniard. 
Hou'ell, Letters, iv. 11. 
intrinsicality (in-trin-si-kal'i-ti), n. [< intrin- 
sical + -ity.] The quality of being intrinsic; 
essentiality. Eoget. 
intrinsically (in-trin'si-kal-i), adv. In an in- 
trinsic manner; internally; in its nature; es- 
sentially. 
intrinsicalness (in-trin'si-kal-nes), M. The 
quality of being intrinsical; intrinsicality. Bai- 
ley, 1727. 
intrinsicatet (in-trin'si-kat), a. [Appar. < It. 
intrinsecato, intrinsicato, pp. of intrinsicar, make 
intimate^ refl. become intimate, < intrinseco, in- 
trinsico, inward, intimate, intrinsic : see intrin- 
sic. The sense is appar. taken from intricate."] 
Entangled ; perplexed. Also intrinsecate. 
With thy sharp teeth this knot intrinsicate 
Of life at once untie. Shak., A. and C., v. 2, 307. 
Yet there are certain punctilios, . . . certain intrinse- 
cate strokes and wards, to which your activity is not yet 
amounted. B. Jantan, Cynthia's Revels, v. 2. 
intro-. [L. intro, prefix intro-, within, on the in- 
side, inwardly, neut. abl. of *interus, inner: see 
infra-, interior.'] A Latin adverb used as a pre- 
fix, signifying 'within, into, in.' 
introcession (in-tro-sesh'on), . [< L. intro, 
within, + cessJo(n-), a yielding: see cession.] In 
nied., a depression or sinking of parts inward. 
introconversion (in"tro-kon-ver'shon), n. [< 
L. intro, within, + convermo(n-), conversion : 
see conversion.] In ehem., the transformation 
or conversion of one of two compounds into 
the other. 
introconvertibility (in"tro-kon-ver-ti-bil'i-ti ), 
. [< intro- + convertible + -iii/.] In chem", the 
property common to two or more compounds of 
being transformed or converted the one into the 
other through a change in their structural for- 
mula without change in ultimate composition. 
The reactions and introconvertibility of maleic and fu- 
marie derivatives cannot be brought in harmony with the 
assumption. Amer. Chem. Jour., IX. 371. 
introd. An abbreviation of introduction. 
introduce (in-tro-dus'), v. t.; pret. and pp. intro- 
duced, ppr. introducing. [= F. introduire = Pr. 
entroduire = Sp. introducir = Pg. introditzir = 
It. introdurre, introducere, < L. introducere, lead 
in, bring into practice, bring forward, < intro, 
within, + ducere, lead: see duct.] 1. To lead 
or bring in; conduct or usher in: as, to intro- 
duce a person into a drawing-room; to intro- 
duce foreign produce into a country. 
introduction 
Socrates is introduced by Xenophon severely chiding a 
friend of his for not entering into the public service when 
he was every way qualified for it. 
Swift, Nobles and Commons, iv. 
Puff. Now, then, for soft music. 
Sneer. Pray what's that for? 
Puff. It shows that Tilburlna is coming ; nothing in- 
troduces you a heroine like soft music. 
Slteridan, The Critic, ii. 2. 
Homer has introduced into his Battel of the Gods every 
thing that is great and terrible in Nature. 
Addison, Spectator, No. 333. 
2. To pass in; put in; insert: as, to introduce 
one's finger into an aperture. 3. To make 
known, as one person to another, or two per- 
sons to each other; make acquainted by per- 
sonal encounter or by letter; present, with the 
mention of names and titles. 
A couple of hours later [you] find yourself in the "world," 
dressed, introduced, entertained, inquiring, talking. 
U. James, Jr., Trans. Sketches, p. 138. 
4. To bring into notice, use, or practice ; bring 
forward for acceptance : as, to introduce a new 
fashion, or an improved mode of tillage. 
He first introduced the cultivation and dressing of vines. 
Bacon, Fable of Dionysius. 
5. To bring forward with preliminary or pre- 
paratory matter ; open to notice : as, to in tro- 
duce a subject with a long preface. 6f. To 
produce; cause to exist; induce. 
Whatsoever introduces habits in children deserves the 
care and attention of their governors. Locke, Education. 
introducement (in-tro-dus'ment), . [< intro- 
duce + -meat.] Introduction. [Rare.] 
Without the introducement of new or obsolete forms or 
terms, or exotic models. Milton, Free Commonwealth. 
introducer (in-tro-du'ser), . One who or that 
which introduces ; one who brings into notice, 
use, or practice. 
Let us next examine thegreat introducers of new schemes 
in philosophy. Swift, Tale of a Tub, ix. 
introductt (in-tro-dukf ), v.t. [< L. introductus, 
pp. of introducere, lead in: see introduce.] To 
introduce. Sp. Racket, Abp. Williams, i. 29. 
introduction (in-tro-duk'shon), n. [= F. intro- 
duction = Pr. intrdductio = Sp. introduction = 
Pg. introducqSo = It. introduzione, < L. intro- 
dnctio(n-), a leading in, introduction, < intro- 
ducere, lead in: see introduce.] 1. The act of 
introducing, or leading or ushering in; the act 
of bringing in : as, the introduction of manufac- 
tures into a country. 
For the first introduction of youth to the knowledge of 
God the Jews even till this day have their Catechisms. 
Hooker, Eccles. Polity, v. 18. 
With regard to the introduction of specific types we have 
not as yet a sufficient amount of information. 
Dawson, Geol. Hist, of Plants, p. 261. 
2. The act of inserting: as, the in troduction of 
a probe into a wound. 3. The act of making 
acquainted ; the formal presentation of persons 
to one another, with mention of their names, 
etc. : as, an introduction in person or by letter. 
4. The act of bringing into notice, use, or 
practice : as, the introduction of a new fashion 
or invention. 
The Archbishop of Canterbury had pursued the intro- 
duction of the liturgy and the canons into Scotland with 
great vehemence. Clarendon. 
5'. Something that leads to or opens the way for 
the understanding of something else; specifi- 
cally, a preliminary explanation or statement ; 
the part of a book or discourse which precedes 
the main work, and in which the author or 
speaker gives some general account of his de- 
sign and subject; an elaborate preface, or a 
preliminary discourse. 
Thou soon shalt ... see before thine eyes 
The monarchies of the earth, their pomp and state ; 
Sufficient introduction to inform 
Thee, of thyself so apt, in regal arts. 
Milton, P. R,, iii. 247. 
Were it not that the study of Etruscan art is a necessary 
introduction to that of Roman, it would hardly be worth 
while trying to gather together and illustrate the few 
fragments and notices of it that remain. 
J. Fergusson, Hist. Arch., I. 28S. 
6. A more or less elementary treatise on any 
branch of study ; a treatise leading the way to 
more elaborate works on the same subject : as, 
an introduction to botany. 7. In music, a pre- 
paratory phrase or movement at the beginning 
of a work, or of a part of a work, designed to 
attract the hearer's attention or to foreshadow 
the subsequent themes or development. Intro- 
ductions vary in length from one or two chords to an elabo- 
rated movement, with its own themes and development. 
Biblical introduction, the technical designation of a 
work devoted to a consideration of subjects properly intro- 
ductory to a detailed study and exposition of the books of 
the Bible, as their genuineness, credibility, integrity of 
