Emily Dickinson Lexicon

IN'FLU-ENC-ED, pp.

Moved; excited; affected; persuaded; induced.

IN'FLU-EN-CING, n.

Act of inciting, moving or inducing. [Southey. 1841.]

IN'FLU-ENC-ING, ppr.

Moving; affecting; inducing.

IN'FLU-ENT, a.

Flowing in. [Little used.] Arbuthnot.

IN-FLU-EN'TIAL, a.

Exerting influence or power by invisible operation, as physical causes on bodies, or as moral causes on the mind. It is particularly used to express the operation of moral causes. Milner. Influential characters, persons who possess the power of inclining or controlling the minds of others. Hamilton.

IN-FLU-EN'TIAL-LY, adv.

By means of influence, so as to incline, move or direct.

IN-FLU-EN'ZA, n. [It. influenza, influence.]

An epidemic catarrh. The influenza of October and November, 1789, and that of April and May, 1790, were very general or universal in the United States, and unusually severe. A like influenza prevailed in the winters of 1825 an 1826.

IN'FLUX, n. [L. influxus, influo; in and fluo, to flow.]

1. The act of flowing in; as, an influx of light or other fluid.
2. Infusion; intromission. The influx of the knowledge of God, in relation to everlasting life, is infinitely of moment. Hale.
3. Influence; power. [Not used.] Hale.
4. A coming in; introduction; importation in abundance; as, a great influx of goods into a country, or an influx gold and silver.

IN-FLUX'ION, n.

Infusion; intromission. Bacon.

IN-FLUX'IOUS, a.

Influential. [Not used.]

IN-FLUX'IVE, a.

Having influence, or having a tendency to flow in. Halesworth.

IN-FLUX'IVE-LY, adv.

By influxion.

IN-FOLD', v.i. [in and fold.]

1. To involve; to wrap up or inwrap; to inclose. Infold his limbs in bands. Blackmore.
2. To clasp with the arms; to embrace. Noble Banco, let me infold thee, / And hold thee to my heart. Shak.

IN-FOLD'ED, pp.

Involved; inwrapped; inclosed; embraced.

IN-FOLD'ING, ppr.

Involving; wrapping up; clasping.

IN-FOLD'MENT, n.

Act of infolding; state of being infolded.

IN-FO'LIATE, v.t. [L. in and folium, a leaf.]

To cover or overspread with leaves. [Not much used.] Howell.

IN-FORM', a. [L. informis.]

Without regular form; shapeless; ugly.

IN-FORM', v.i.

To give intelligence. – Shak. He might either teach in the same manner, or inform how he had been taught. – Monthly Rev. To inform against, to communicate facts by way of accusation; to give intelligence of a breach of law. Two persons came to the magistrate, and informed against A.

IN-FORM', v.t. [Fr. informer; Sp. informar; It. informare; L. informo, to shape; in and formo, forma, form.]

1. Properly, to give form or shape to, but in this sense not used.
2. To animate; to give life to; to actuate by vital powers. Let others better mold the running mass / Of metals, and inform the breathing brass. Dryden. Breath informs this fleeting frame. Breathes in our soul, informs our vital part. Pope. [This use is chiefly or wholly poetical.]
3. To instruct; to tell to; to acquaint; to communicate knowledge to; to make known to by word or writing; usually followed by of. Before we judge, we should be well informed of the facts relating to the case. A messenger arrived and informed the commander of the state of the troops. Letters from Europe inform us of the commencement of hostilities between the Persians and Turks.
4. To communicate a knowledge of facts to one by way of accusation. Tertullus informed the governor against Paul. – Acts xxiv. In this application the verb is usually intransitive; as, A. informed against B.

IN-FORM'AL, a. [in and formal.]

1. Not in the regular or usual form; as, an informal writing; informal proceedings.
2. Not in the usual manner; not according to custom; as, an informal visit.
3. Not with the official forms; as, the secretary made to the envoy an informal communication.

IN-FORM-AL'I-TY, n. [from informal.]

Want of regular or customary form. The informality of legal proceedings may render them void.

IN-FORM'AL-LY, adv.

In an irregular or informal manner; without the usual forms.

IN-FORM'ANT, n.

1. One who informs, or gives intelligence.
2. One who offers an accusation. [See Informer, which is generally used.]

IN-FORM-A'TION, n. [Fr. from L. informatio.]

1. Intelligence; notice; news or advice communicated by word or writing. We received information of the capture of the ship by an arrival at Boston. The information by the messenger is confirmed by letters.
2. Knowledge derived from reading or instruction. He should get some information in the subject he intends to handle. Swift.
3. Knowledge derived from the senses or from the operation of the intellectual faculties. The active informations of the intellect. South.
4. Communication of facts for the purpose of accusation; a charge or accusation exhibited to a magistrate or court. An information is the accusation of a common informer or of a private person; the accusation of a grand jury is called an indictment or a presentment. Blackstone.