Iresine 
tropical or subtropical America. /. celnnoidet, the blood- iridescent (ir-i-des'ent), a. 
leaf, Julia's Imsh. MI Julia's lirilsh. is native from Ohio t" 
Uuenos Ayrea. Several of the species are cultivated for 
ornament. 
irian (i'ri-an), . L< '(*) + -"] Same as '''"'- 
inn. [Kare.] 
The Iris receives the irian nerves. Dungliton. 
Iriartea (ir-i-iir'le-ii >, ;.. [NL. (Unix and Pavon, 
I7!)4), so ealled from Juan Iriarte, an amateur 
SIM n isli botanist.] A genus of tree-palms: same 
;i. I't nisi/loll. 
Iriarteese (ir-i-ar-te'e-e), n.pl. [NL. (Bentham 
:iinl I looker, 1883), < Iriartea + -co:.] Asubtribe 
of palms, typified by the genus Iriartea. It era- 
Inaces three other genera, which are little more than 
m -i -lions of that genus. They are all natives of tropical 
America, chiefly of Brazil and the United States of Colom- 
3181 Iris 
[< iris (irid-) + iridoplegla (ir'i-do-ple'ji-a), . [NL.,< Gr. Ipif 
Exhibiting or giving out colors like (i/n-), flic irix, + -/JTt'i, a stroke.] Paralysis 
those of the rainbow ; gleaming or shimmering of the iris. 
with rainbow colors; more generally, glittering Iridoprocne (ir*i-do-prok ne), n. 
with different colors which change according ipic(tpiA-), a rainbow, + n^Kvn, in legend daugh- 
ter of Pandion, changed into a swallow.] A 
genus of Uirundinidte, the type of which is I In- 
common white-bellied swaflow of the United 
to the light in which they are viewed, without 
reference to what the colors are; lustrously 
versieolor; of changeable metallic sheen, as 
certain birds, insects, minerals, glass, fabrics, 
etc. 
The whole texture of ... (Chaucer's) mind, though it* 
" 
States, /. bicolor; the iris-swallows: so called 
from the iridescent quality of the plumage. 
Cones, 187H. 
The whole texture ol ... [cnaucer s| niiiiti, loongn iu <-<!/.. ICM.I. 
substance seem plain and grave, shows itaelf at every turn iridorhexis (ir'l-do-rek sis), . [NL., < Or. 
' 
iridescent with poetic feeling like shot ailk. 
Lowell, Study Windows, p. 28 
Iriartella (ir-i-iir-tel'a), . [NL. (Wendland, 
1862), < Iriartea + dim. -ella.] A monotypic 
genus of Amazonian palms, allied to the genus 
Iriartea, from which it differs in having a slen- 
der trunk scarcely an inch thick, and seldom 
more than 20 feet high. The flowers also differ. The 
only species, /. teti<jera, Is called the blnwing-canr /,-iii,< 
and it 
Iridescent glass, glass having a finely lamlnatedsurface 
that reflects right in colors like mother-of-pearl. Ancient 
glass long buried exhibits this property as aresultof partial 
decay. Modern glass is made iridescent in imitation of the 
have been made iridescent by chemical treatment. Such 
metals are sometimes called iruated metals, while the pro- 
cess is called iritation. 
iridesis (i-rid'e-sis), n. [NL.] Same as irido- 
^employed by the natives of the Amazon and Rio 
Ni-u'i-o for making thin blow-pipes for the discharge of iridian (i-rid'i-an), a. [< iris (irid-) + -tan.] 
poisoned arrows. _ _ .... In anat., of or pertaining : to the iris of the eye : 
Iricismt (i'ri-sizm), M. [< Irish (Latinized Iric-) iridian colors; iridian muscle, nerve, ar- 
+ -ism.] Same as Irishism. terv _ AlsOi rarelv> irian _ 
A pretty strong circumstance o1_lncam. iridicolor, iridicolour (ir'i-di-kul'or), . [< L. 
, c(v'o-),theiris,+ ^f'C,abreaking, , 
break.] In surf/., an operation for artificial 
pupil in cases of firm posterior synechia, in 
which the pupilary edge of the iris is left at- 
im tached, while an outer portion is removed. 
ancrentbytieatmentwlthmetaillcfumeswhllehot.orwith iridosmine (ir-i-dos'min), n. [< irid(ium) + 
acids under pressure ; but such ^'J u '' t ^ ral mo n 1 i : omi(iniH) + -ine?.] Same as iridosmium. 
Metals and fabrics also iridosmium (ir-i-dos'mi-um), . [NL.. < irid- 
(ium) + osmium.] A native alloy of the met- 
als iridium and osmium, in different propor- 
tions, usually containing also some rhodium, 
ruthenium, platinum, etc. it crystallizes In the 
fciMii system, has a tin-white hi steel-gray color, and 
a specific gravity varying from 19.3 to 21, and Is nearly 
as hard as quartz. It is found in minute flat scales with 
platinum In the Ural mountains. South America, and Aus 
lucent, and has not the laminated structure and more or 
less marked opacity of the old. 
iris (irid-), a rainbow (see iris), + color, color: 
tralia, and also In northern California. Iridosmium is fu- 
sible with great difficulty, and resists all ordinary chemi- 
cal reagent*. It has a limited use for the pointing of 
gold pens. Also otmiridium. 
H. Walpole, To Mann, April 25, 1743. 
irid (i'rid), n. [< L. iris (irid-), < Gr. l/uf (iptt-), gee color!] In zoSl., reflecting' prismatic hues iridotomy (ir-i-dot'o-mi), n. [< Gr. Ipif (ip'A-), 
iris: see iris, 6, 8, 9.] 1. The iris of the eye. which change as the surface is seen from vari- the iris, + rofif/, a cutting.] Incision of the 
[Rare.] ous directions ; iridescent. iris. 
Her friend had quicker vision than herself ; and Caro- iridine (ir'i-din), o. [< iris (irid-)+ -ine^.] In- iris (i'ris), n.; pi. irises, irtdes (i ns-ez, 1 n-dez)- 
line seemed to think that the secret of her eagle acute- descent; rainbow-colored. [Rare.] [ME. iris, a precious stone^ = r. iris = ^.P-^g- 
The horned-pout, with Ita pearly iridine breast and 
brown back. S. Judd, Margaret, 
iriditis (ir-i-di'tis), . [NL.] Same as iritis. 
ness might be read In her dark gray iri<lx. 
Charlotte Bronte, Shirley, xvil. 
2. A plant of the natural order Iridea. 
Iridaceae (ir-i-da'se-e), n. pi. [NL. (Lindley, 
1835), < Irix (Irid-) + -acece.] Same as Iridea;. 
iridaceous (ir-i-da'shius), a. [< Iris (Irid-) + 
-aceoua.] Resembling or pertaining to plants 
of the genus Iris. 
Iridaea (ir-i-de'a), n. [NL. (Bory de Saint Vin- 
cent, 1829), < Gr. lpt( (ipiS-), a rainbow: see 
iris.] A genus of rpse-spored alg growing on 
rocks in the sea, distinguished by its flat, sim- 
ple, or loosely divided frond, bearing compound 
cystocarps immersed in its substance. /. edulis 
Is called dulse In the south of England. (See dulte.) It is 
of nutritious quality, and is eaten by fishermen, either raw 
or pinched between hot irons. 
iridal (I'ri-dal), a. [< iris (irid-) + -al.] Be- 
longing to or resembling the rainbow. 
Descartes came far nearer the true philosophy of the 
iridal colours. \\'lt<-n-?ll. 
Iriclese (i-rid'e-e), n. pi. [NL. (Robert Brown, 
1810), < Iris '(Irid-) + -ea;.] A natural order 
of monocotyledouous plants, which includes 3 
tribes, 57 genera, and about 700 species, widely 
distributed throughout the temperate or warm 
regions of the world. The Iridea are most abundant 
in the Mediterranean region and South Africa, and are not 
They are perennial herbs, with equitant two-ranked leaves 
and regular or irregular perfect flowers, which are from 
a spathe of two or more leaves or bracts. The flowers 
are usually showy, ami furnish some of the most highly 
prized of cultivated plants, among them Irit, Ixia, Cro- 
cwt, Oladiiilut, etc. Also Iridacetx. See cuts under Cro- 
cwi and Irit. 
iridectomy (ir-i-dek'to-mi), n. [< Gr. Ipic; (IpiS-), 
the iris, + CUTOUT/, a cutting out, < eKriftvetv, ex- 
one state of oxidation to the other ; < Gr. lpi( 
(jpd-), a rainbow: see iris.] Chemical symbol, 
Ir ; atomic weight, 193. A metal of silver-white 
color, belonging to the platinum family, and, so 
far as known, always present in native platinum. 
Various analyses of Russian platinum give from a trace to 2} 
percent, of Iridium; and analyses of California!! platinum 
give from 0.85 to 4. 20 per cent, of the same. Iridium also 
occurs combined with osmium, forming what Is known 
as iridoanium or iridosmine, which also contains more or 
less ruthenium and rhodium. (Sec iridonnium. ) Little is 
known of the quail ties of the metal Iridium, except as it has 
been artificially prepared ; and even in this way it has never 
yet been obtained perfectly free from other metals. Irid- 
ium as manufactured by Matthey, to be used In the alloy of 
platinum and iridium, at the recommendation of the In- 
ternational Commission of Weights and Measures, for the 
standard kilogram and meter, had (the purest obtained) 
a specific gravity of 2-2.38. The alloy thus prepared, 
which contained about 10 per cent of Iridium, is believed 
to possess those qualities desirable in a standard weight 
or measure, which is Intended to be preserved for all 
time, in a higher degree than any other known substance 
or combination of substances. For the geographical dis- 
tribution of the various members of this group of metals, 
see platinum. 
iridization (ir'i-di-za'shpn), n. [< iridize + 
I .M i.. f toj a |'i vjuo ai'Uiic;* s^ J. 
d iron- iris = It. iride, < L. iris, < Gr. ipif, the rainbow 
L 14. ('Ip(f, L. Iris, the goddess of the rainbow), the 
iris of the eye, a kind of lily.] 1. The rain- 
bow. 2. [cap.] In classical myth., the goddess 
of the rainbow and messenger of the gods, at- 
tached especially to Hera. She was considered as 
a radiant maiden borne In swift flight on golden wings, and 
was often represented with the herald's attributes of Her- 
mesthe talaria and caduceus. Hence sometimes used 
for any messenger. 
Let me hear from thee ; 
For wheresoe'er thou art in this world's globe, 
I'll have an Irit I hat shall find thee out. 
Shot., 2 Hen. VI., ill. 2, 407. 
3. [cap.] The seventh planetoid, discovered 
by Hind at London in 1847. 4. An appear- 
ance resembling a rainbow; an appearance 
of the hues of a rainbow, as seen in sunlit 
spray, the spectrum of sunlight, etc.; any iri- 
descence. 
In the Spring a livelier irit changes on the burnish'd dove. 
Tennyton, Locksley Hall. 
6f. A precious stone. 
It (a vyne made of fyne gold) hath many clustres of 
grapes, somme white, somme grene, . . . the white ben 
of cristalle and of berylle and of iris. 
Mandeville. Travels, p. 219. 
6. In ana*., a contractile colored curtain sus- 
pended vertically in the aqueous humor of the 
nr--zas, . 
The state of 'bemg, or the act or eye, between the cornea and the lens, separat- 
^. "* . ;,.., tl,,, n t IlmM. o rtl \ Tt^klt ff1 / 1* AtlAmhOVa U'MK'll 
In surg., the operation of cutting out a part i 
the iris, as for the formation ~* t:n " 
pupil, 
irideremia (ir'i-de-re'mi-a), n. [NL., < Gr. 
(IpiS-), iris, + ipifia, solitude, 
sence: see eremic, eremite.] 
or complete, of the iris. 
i plural of iris, 
iridesce 
ppr. iridesei 
iridescent; exhibit iridescence. 
process of rendering, iridescent ; exhibition of 
the colors of the rainbow. 
This rainbow was wholly white, without even as much 
indication as Is noticeable in halos. 
Pop. Sci. Ho., XXV. 288. 
2. In pathol., the rainbow-like appearance 
about a light seen by persons suffering from 
glaucoma. 
Ta/iclv, cut out, < CK, out, + rtfivsiv, rafieiv, cut.] 
of Tu "artificial W dize (ir'>-diz), r. t. ; pret. and pp. iridized, ppr. 
1 inditing. [< iris (irid-) + -ize^ To make fri- 
descent, purposely 
e action of 
*- 
the 
Inflamma- 
ris and the choVd coat of the 
i-do-si-kli'tis), n. [NL., < iris 
q. v.] Inflammation of the 
iris and the ciliary body of the eye. 
iridescence (ir-i-des'ens). n. [< iridescen(t) + 
-<(.] The condition of being iridescent; ex- 
hibition of alternating or intermingling colors 
like those of the rainbow, as in mother-of-pearl, 
where it is an effect of interference (see i- 
Insr<7.. the operation of drawing a 
part of the'iris into an incision in the sclerocor- 
neal junction, and fastening it there, for the 
purpose of changing the position of the pupil. 
Also iridesis. 
t. ffrrcnce, 5) ; any shimmer of glittering and iridodonegi g' ( i r 'i^6-d6-ne'sis), n. [NL., < Gr. 
changeable colors. -' ._,,>,. j. 
The St. Mark's porches are full of doves, that nestle 
among the marble foliage and mingle the soft iridetcence 
uf their living plumes, changing at every motion, with 
the tints, hardly kv l.'ivcly, that have stood unchanged 
for seven hundred years. 
RuMii, Stones of Venice, II. Iv. 8 14. 
!pl( (,,5.), iris> + -i^^f, a shaking (of. 
rof, shaken), < dovciv, shake.] Tremulousness 
of the iris, so that it wavers and trembles on 
the movement of the eye. It Is produced by any 
cause which withdraws the support of the lens from the 
edge of the iris, as the removal or dislocation of the lens. 
osterior chambers, which 
intercommunicate tnrough the pupil. The iris 
gives the color to the eye, by the presence or absence of 
Elgment. and regulates, by contraction and dilatation of 
s aperture, the amount of light admitted to the eye. 
The movements of the Iris, and consequently the size and 
shape of the pupil, are effected by two sets of muscular 
fibers, circular and radiating. The circular fibers which 
contract the pupil are under the control of the third cra- 
nial nerve, while the Innervatlon of the radiating fibers Is 
through the cervical sympathetic. The pupil contracts 
when the retina is stimulated by light, and on convergence 
or on accommodation. The pupil dilateson stimulation of 
the skin. When Its contraction is uniform, the pupil al- 
ways remains circular, as in man ; in other cases, as that 
of the cat, the pupil is a narrow silt when contracted, 
though circular when dilated; in others, again, the pupil 
has a more constant oval, elliptical. oblong,or other shape. 
Muscular action of the iris Is usually automatic, depend- 
ing upon the stimulus of light ; but many animals, as 
birds, have striped and probably voluntary iridian mus- 
cles. Some drugs affect the iris powerfully and spe- 
cifically : thus, opium contracts and belladonna dilates 
the pupil. Great as is the range of color in the human 
iris, from light-bluish and grayish tints through all shades 
of brown to blackish, It is slight in comparison with that 
of birds, where not only the browns, but bright reds, 
greens, and blues are found, and sometimes pure white. 
The Iris of albinos Is generally pink, lieing devoid of pig- 
ment, and consequently displaying the color of the deli- 
cate blood-vessels. The pupil normally appears black, the 
dark choroid coat of the back of the eyeball being seen 
tnrough this aperture. See cuts under eyel. 
In these (dark-eyed hawks] the wings are pointed, the 
second feather in the wing Is the longest, and the iridet 
are dark-brown. Encyc. Brit., IX. 6. 
7. In entom., the first or inner ring of an ocel- 
lated spot, adjoining the pupil, being a light- 
colored circle with a dark center and outer bor- 
