ironwood 
lOTigint; to iniiiiy onli-rs :md widely distrib- 
uted. In North America the name coiniTMiily(lenoteaO*(- 
'///'/ I'iryinica, tin- hop hoi nhi :im or l< \ <>i vvuml ; hut also 
Bttm*Waf//t*j"/i/c,-<( southern Iniekthorn), CarffinunC<ir"f//ii 
ana (blur Uivrln, L'ltnlln /-rK'i'niitloi-'i, l'l<ltn,,i,i liirtittrinn 
(titi, hurkwhnit-tn'i ). // tdaia (inkwood), and 
(l/nri/n Temita. The Murk ironw.mil of the same territory 
is t'nnilirl/ri j'Tri'ii ; the rrrl, AY//;j"Xi>/ lttt\fi>li(t ; the white, 
llypelate trrfuliata. Of the other ironwoods may he inen- 
tioix'il tin- various species of the tropical Reims Sidfrttxft- 
Ion, tile Indian Xylia dolabrtformi*, the Eriithrnxiilttn are- 
olatum of .l:uii.iir;i. ;niil (lie Tasmania!! NiAelata liyuntriiia. 
Several species of IHtwiitfrw (ebony) are called by the same 
ii Liiir. Bastard ironwood i- the West Indian l' : n-:i 
lentiscifolia (Ztttittiuxiiluiti pterrtta); also Trichilia hirta. 
The Muck ironwood of South Africa is Oleft uiululata, and 
the white is ToddalUt laimeolata. Many of these woods 
are valualile in the arts for purposes requiring great firm- 
ness or high polish. 
iron-worded (i'ern-wer'ded), a. Worded so 
as to resist attack; of "iron-clad" character. 
[Poetical.] 
Spurr'd at heart with fieriest energy 
To enihattall and to wall about thy cause 
With iron-worded proof. 
Tennyeon, Sonnet to J. M. K . 
ironwork (1'ton-wtek), . Objects and parts 
of objects made of iron, as locks and keys, uten- 
sils, parts of a building, of a vessel, or the like : 
as, ornamental ironwork. 
iron-worker (!'em-wer*k6r), n. A person em- 
ployed in the manufacture of iron, or of arti- 
cles of iron. 
The colliers now on strike have forced Idleness on the 
ironworkers. U. Spencer, Study of Sociol., p. 24S. 
iron-works (i'ern-werks), n. pi. An establish- 
ment, consisting usually of several connected 
shops, where iron is manufactured, or where it 
is wrought or cast into heavy work, as cannon, 
shafting, rails, merchant bars, etc. [The word 
is sometimes used as a singular.] 
A recent strike In an iron works. 
N. A. Ret., CXLIH. 167. 
ironwort (i'ern-wert), n. 1. A plant of the 
labiate genus Sideritis. 2. A plant of the ge- 
nus Galeopsis, G. Tetrahit. 
irony 1 (i'er-ni), a. [< ME. "irony, yrony, yrun- 
ny; < iron + -//!.] Consisting of or resembling 
iron; also, resembling any of the distinctive 
qualities of iron. 
Be heuene that is abooue thee braasny and the lond 
that thou tredlst yrony. Wycl\f, Dent, xxviii. 23. 
Some springs of Hungary, highly impregnated with 
vltrlolick salts, dissolve the body of one metal, suppose 
iron, put into the spring : and deposit, In lieu of the irony 
particles carried off, coppery particles. 
Woodvmrd, Fossils. 
irony 2 (i'ro-ni), .; pi. irunirs (-niz). [= D. G. 
ironic = Dan. Sw. ironi, < F. ironic = Sp. ironia = 
Pg. It. ironia, < L. ironia, < Gr. eipuveta. dissim- 
ulation, irony, < elpuv, a dissembler, lit. 'one who 
talks' (but says less or more than he thinks), 
ppr. olApeiv, speak, tell, talk.] 1. Simulated 
ignorance in discussion: a method of exposing 
an antagonist's ignorance by pretending to de- 
sire information or instruction from him. This 
method of discussion, the Socnitic irony, was characteris- 
tic of Socrates, with reference to whom the term was first 
used. 
Socrates at Athens undertook with many sharp and 
cutting Ironies to reprove the vices of his Age. 
Stillingjteet, Sermons, II. ill. 
The Athenian's [Socrates'sl modest irony was of another 
taste, and better suited to the decorum of conversation, 
than the Syrian's [Lucan's) frontless bulfoonry. 
Bp. Hard, Manner of Writing Dialogues, Pref. 
Hence 2. Covert sarcasm; such a use of 
agreeable or commendatory forms of expres- 
sion as to convey a meaning opposite to that 
literally expressed; sarcastic laudation, com- 
pliment, or the like. 
And call her Ida, tho' I knew her not, 
And call her sweet, as if in irony. 
Tennyson, Princess, vii. 
A drayman In a passion calls out " You are a pretty 
fellow," without suspecting that he is uttering irony. 
Macanlay, Lord Bacon. 
Irony of fate, or of circumstances, an apparent mock- 
ery of destiny ; an occurrence or result the opposite of 
what might naturally have been expected ; a contradictory 
outcome: as, it was the irony qf fate that made Joseph 
the ruler over the land of his captivity. = Syn. 2. Saraum, 
etc. See satire. 
iron-yellow (i'('-rn-yel'6), n. Same as Mars 
i/rllnir (which see, under yellow). 
Iroquoian (ir-o-kwoi'au), '. [< Iroquois + -an.] 
Same as Iroi/iiiiix. 
Iroquois (ir-o-kwoi'), . and a. [A P. form (with 
term. -<>ix, as in Illinois: see -ese) of the native 
Indian name.] I. . One of a former confed- 
eration of American Indians, situated in central 
New York, originally composed of five tribes 
the Mohawks, Oncidas, Onondagas, Cayugas, 
and Senecas and hence known as the Five 
3185 
Nations. At n later time a sixth tribe, the Tuncaroras, 
who had migrated from North Carolina, was added. The 
name is also given to related Indian tribes occupying cen- 
tral and western New York ami I pper Canada, :in<l includ- 
ing, besides the Iro<|iiols proper, the Hnrons, tin- 1'iirs tin 
Neutral Nation, the Andastes, etc. Inthis sense also known 
as llur<m-lrotpwit. 
II. <i. Belonging or relating to the Iroquois 
or their tribes, or to the Iroquois family of lan- 
guages. 
irourt, [ME., = OF. irnr, irur = Pr. iror, an- 
ger, < L. ira, auger: see ire 2 .] Ire; anger. Seven 
Xniics, 1. 954. 
iroust (ir'us), a. [ME. iroun, irus, iros, < ( )K. 
iron, iroua, ireus = Pr. iros= Pg. It. iroso, < ML. 
"irosus, angry, < L. ira, anger: see ire*.] Apt 
to be angry ; passionate ; ireful. 
With full yrouti wreth Oaffrey meued hy, 
He salute non, ne spake to gret ne small. 
Horn. ofPartenay (E. E. T. S.X L 4889. 
It is greet harme and eek greet plte 
To sette an iroun man in heigh degree. 
Chaucer, Summoner's Tale, 1. 308. 
irouslyt (Ir'us-li), adr. [ME. ironsly; < irons + 
-ly'*.] Angrily. 
And whan dorilas sangh with his iye that the! dide so 
grete damage that were soche mysbelevynge peple, he 
rode vpon hem full Iroutly. Merlin (E. E. T. S.X ii. 243. 
irpt (erp), n. and a. [Origin unknown ; found 
only in one piece of Ben Jonson's, and perhaps 
one of his affected terms.] I. n. A grimace 
or contortion of the body. 
Spanish shrugs, French faces, smirks, irpei, and all af- 
fected humours. /;. Joiusun, Cynthia's Revels, Palinode. 
II. a. Grimacing. 
If regardant, then maintain your station brisk and /'//... 
shw the supple motion of your pliant body. 
/>'. J'nHMin, Cynthia's Revels, ill. .'!. 
irradiance (i-ra'di-ans), n. [< irradian(t) + 
-<.] 1. The act of irradiating; emission of 
rays of light. 2. An appearance of radiated 
light; luster; splendor. 
Love not the heavenly spirits, and how their love 
Express they? by looks only? or do they mix 
Irradiance, virtual or immediate touch? 
Milton, P. L, viil. 617. 
irradiancy (i-ra'di-an-si), n. Same as irradi- 
ancf. 
irradiant (i-ra'di-ant), a. [< L. irradian(t-).t, 
inradian(t-)s, ppr. of irradiare, inradiare, irra- 
diate: see irradiated] Emitting rays of light. 
So the bright lamp of night, the constant moon, 
Unwearied, does her circling journey run ; 
Oft thro' the fleecy cloud irradiant bends, 
And to benighted lands her influence lends. 
Soyee, To Marcella. 
irradiate (i-ra'di-at), r. ; pret. and pp. irradi- 
ated, ppr. irradiating. [< L. irradiatut, inradi- 
atus, pp. of irradiare, inradiare (> It. irradiare, 
inradiare = Sp. Pg. irradiar = F. irradier), beam 
upon, illumine, < in, on, + radiare, beam : see 
radiate.] I. trans.' 1. To illuminate or shed 
light upon or into; make luminous or clear; 
light up ; enlighten. 
So much the rather thou, celestial Light, 
Shine Inward, and the mind through all her powers 
Irradiate. Milton, P. L., 111. 53. 
When the august functions of the Crown are irradiated 
by Intelligence and virtue, they are transformed Into a 
higher dignity than words can convey, or Acts of Parlia- 
ment can confer. Gladstone, Might of Right, p. 168. 
Those studies that kindle the Imagination, and through 
it irradiate the reason. Lowell, Harvard Anniversary. 
2. To make splendid or glorious; confer honor 
or dignity upon ; exalt ; adorn. 
No weeping orphan saw his father's stores 
Our shrines irradiate, or emblaze the floors. 
Pope, Elolsa to Abelard, 1. 136. 
3. To radiate into ; penetrate by radiation. 
Ethereal or solar heat must digest, influence, irradiate, 
and put those more simple parts of matter into motion. 
.sVr Jf. Hale, Orig. of Mankind. 
II. intrans. To emit rays; shine. 
Day wag the state of the hemisphere on which light ir- 
radiated. Bp. Home, Letters on Infidelity, x. 
irradiate (i-ra'di-at), a. [< L. irradiatus, pp.: 
see the verb.] Illuminated; made brilliant or 
splendid. [Poetical.] 
Your irradiate Judgment will soon discover the secrets 
of this little crystal world. 
B. Jonvm, Cynthia's Revels, v. S. 
Where irradiate dewy eyes 
Had shone, gleam stony orbs. Shelley, Alastor. 
irradiation (i-ra-di-a'shon), n. [= F. irradia- 
tion = Sp. irradiarion = Pg. irradia^So = It. ir- 
< irrailiurt', irradiate: see irradinte."] 1. The 
act of irradiating or emitting beams of light : 
illumination; brightness emitted; enlighten- 
ment. 
irrationality 
Sooner may a dark room enlighten itself without (lie 
irraditttion of a candle or tin- nun than a natural under 
standing work out its own ignorance in matters of faith. 
South, Works, VIII. xiti. 
( Mul iloes give signs, and when he does so, he gives also 
irradiation*, illustrations of tin- understanding, that thrv 
may be discerned to be his signs. Donne, Sermons, II. 
This is that irradiation that dispels the mists of bell. 
Sir T. Browne, Rellglo Medici, i. 32. 
2. In phynies, the phenomenon of the apparent 
enlargement of an object strongly illuminat. !. 
whon si'i-n !i(.'iiiiist a dark ground. It w ex- 
plained by Plateau as due to the extension of the Impres- 
sion upon the nerves of the retina beyond the outlines of 
the Image; Helmholtz, however, has ascribed it to the 
want of perfect accommodation In the eye, leading to the 
formation of diffusion Images about the proper image of 
a bright object, so that it encroaches upon the dark space 
about it, and hence appears larger than it really Is. Irradi- 
ation increases with the brightness of the object, dimin- 
ishes as the illumination of the object and that of the Held 
of view approach equality, and vanishes when they become 
equal. 
irradiative (i-ra'di-a-tiv), n. Something which 
illuminates or emits light, 
irradicate (i-rad'i-kat), r. t. ; pret. and pp. ir- 
i-inlimted, ppr. irradicating. [< L. ', in, + 
radicare, radicari, take root : see radicate. Cf. 
eradicate.] To fix by the root ; fix firmly, din- 
fold. 
irrational (i-rash'on-al), a. and . [= F. irra- 
liniDiel = Pr. irrational = Sp. Pg. irrational = 
It. irrazionale, inra&onale, < L. irrationalis, inra- 
tionalis, not rational, < in- priv. + rationalist, 
rational: see rational.'] I. n. 1. Not rational; 
without the faculty of reason; void of under- 
standing; unreasoning. 
He hath eaten and lives. 
And knows, and speaks, and reasons, and discerns, 
Irrational till then. MUtnn, P. L., Ix. 766. 
Strong passion is brief madness, because the Internal 
commotion of It, usurping consciousness, prevents full 
and free reflection and adaptation, and, putting the indi- 
vidual out of just ratio with persons and things, makes 
him irrational. MoMddey, Mind, XII. 510. 
2. Without the quality of reason ; contrary to 
reason; illogical; unreasonable: as, irrational 
motives; an irrational project. 
It would be amusing to make a digest of the irrational 
laws which bad critics have made for the government of 
poets. Macaulay, Moore's Life of Byron. 
There is ... nothing more irrational than to criticize 
deeds as though the doers of them had the same desires, 
hopes, fears, and restraint with ourselves. 
U. Spencer, Social Statics, p. 263. 
We are constantly the dupes of an irrational attempt 
to estimate the universe from a purely human point of 
view. Mivart, Nature and Thought, p. 243. 
Conduct prompted by a series of such unconnected im- 
pulses we call irrational, as being absolutely uusystema- 
tlzed, and in that sense inconsistent. 
H. SidgvMc, Methods of Ethics, p. 26. 
3. In math.: (a) In arith., not capable of being 
exactly expressed by a vulgar fraction, proper 
or improper; surd. In mathematics irrational Is a 
translation of Greek a*o>oi', inexpressible (by a fraction), 
opposed to punSr. (See surd.) Every irrational quantity 
can , however, be conceived as expressed by an Infinite con- 
tinued fraction or intenninate decimal (6) In trans- 
lations of Euclid, and cognate writings, at once 
incommensurable with the assumed unit and 
not having its square commensurable with that 
of the unit. This is the peculiar meaning given 
by Euclid to o/>oyoc, though Plato uses it in 
sense (a), above, (c) In alg., noting a quan- 
tity involving a variable raised to a fractional 
power; or, in a wider sense, noting a quantity 
not rational, not a sum of products of constants 
and of variables into one another or into them- 
selves. 4. In Gr. pros., incapable of measure- 
ment in terms of the fundamental or primary 
time or metrical unit. 
It was an irrational long ; and the foot to which it be- 
longed was irrational also, the whole length of the foot 
being expressed by a fractional designation, viz. :U short 
times. J. Hadley, Essays, p. 107. 
Geometrically Irrational. See geometrically. Irra- 
tional function. See /?icrton.=8yn. 1 and 2. filly, 
Foolith, etc. (see absurd); witless, reasonless, thoughtless ; 
brute, brutish; injudicious, illogical. 
II. n. That which is devoid of reason, as one 
of the lower animals. 
But for the poor shiftless irrational*, it is a prodigious 
act of the great Creator's indulgence that they are all 
ready furnished with such cloathing as is proper to their 
place and business. Drrham. Physico-Theology, Iv. 12. 
irrationality (i-rash-o-nal'i-ti), n. [= Sp. irra- 
cionalidad = Pg. irraciondlidade = It. irra-in- 
wtlita ; as irrational + -ity.~] 1. The condition 
of being irrational ; want of the faculty or the 
quality of reason ; fatuity: as, the irrationality 
of brutes; the irrationality of a scheme. 
Who is It here that appeals to the frlvoloitsness and ir- 
ratinnality of our dreams ? Baxter, On the Soul, Ii. 187. 
The unfading boyishness of hope and Its vigorous irrtr- 
tinnality are nowhere better displayed than In questions 
of conduct JL L. Sternum, Virginibus Puerisque, U. 
