Emily Dickinson Lexicon

IN'SIGHT, n. [in'site. in and sight.]

Sight or view of the interior of any thing; deep inspection or view; introspection; thorough knowledge or skill. A garden gives us a great insight into the contrivance and wisdom of Providence. Spectator.

IN-SIG'NI-A, n. [L. plur.]

1. Badges or distinguishing marks of office or honor. Burke.
2. Marks, signs or visible impressions, by which any thing is known or distinguished. Beattie.

IN-SIG-NIF'I-CANCE, or IN-SIG-NIF'I-CAN-CY, n. [in and significance.]

1. Want of significance or meaning; as, the insignificance of words or phrases.
2. Unimportance; want of force or effect; as, the insignificance of human art or of ceremonies. Addison.
3. Want of weight; meanness.

IN-SIG-NIF'I-CANT, a. [in and significant.]

1. Void of signification; destitute of meaning; as, insignificant words.
2. Unimportant; answering no purpose; having no weight or effect; as, insignificant rites.
3. Without weight of character; mean; contemptible; as, an insignificant being or fellow.

IN-SIG-NIF'I-CANT, n.

An insignificant, trifling or worthless thing. Tatler.

IN-SIG-NIF'I-CANT-LY, adv.

1. Without meaning, as words.
2. Without importance or effect; to no purpose.

IN-SIG-NIF'I-CA-TIVE, a.

Not expressing by external signs.

IN-SIN-CERE', a. [L. insincerus; in and sincerus, sincere.]

1. Not sincere; not being in truth what one appears to be; dissembling; hypocritical; false; used of persons; as, an insincere heart.
2. Deceitful; hypocritical; false; used of things; as, insincere declarations or professions.
3. Not sound.

IN-SIN-CERE'LY, adv.

Without sincerity; hypocritically.

IN-SIN-CER'I-TY, n.

1. Dissimulation; want of sincerity or of being in reality what one appears to be; hypocrisy; used of persons.
2. Deceitfulness; hollowness; used of things; as, the insincerity of professions.

IN-SIN'EW, v.t. [in and sinew.]

To strengthen; to give vigor to. Shak.

IN-SIN'EW-ED, pp.

Strengthened.

IN-SIN'EW-ING, ppr.

Giving vigor to.

IN-SIN'U-ANT, a. [Fr. from L. insinuans.]

Insinuating; having the power to gain favor. [Little used.] Wotton.

IN-SIN'U-ATE, v.i.

1. To creep in; to wind in; to flow in; to enter gently, slowly or imperceptibly, as into crevices.
2. To gain on the affections by gentle or artful means, or by imperceptible degrees; as, insinuating flattery.
3. To wind along. Milton.

IN-SIN'U-ATE, v.t. [Fr. insinuer; L. insinuo; in and sinus, the bosom, a bay, inlet or recess.]

1. To introduce gently, or into a narrow passage; to wind in. Water insinuates itself into the crevices of rocks.
2. To push or work one's self into favor; to introduce by slow, gentle or artful means. He insinuated himself into the very good grace of the duke of Buckingham. Clarendon.
3. To hint; to suggest by remote allusion. And all the fictions bards pursue, / Do but insinuate what's true. Swift.
4. To instill; to infuse gently; to introduce artfully. All the art of rhetoric, besides order and clearness, are for nothing else but to insinuate wrong ideas, move the passions and thereby mislead the judgment. Locke.

IN-SIN'U-A-TED, pp.

Introduced or conveyed gently, imperceptibly or by winding into crevices; hinted.

IN-SIN'U-A-TING, ppr.

1. Creeping or winding in; flowing in; gaining on gently; hinting.
2. adj. Tending to enter gently; insensibly winning favor and confidence.

IN-SIN'U-A-TING-LY, adv.

By insinuation.

IN-SIN-U-A'TION, n. [Fr. from L. insinuatio.]

1. The act of insinuating; a creeping or winding in; a flowing into crevices.
2. The act of gaining on favor or affections, by gentle or artful means.
3. The art or power of pleasing and stealing on the affections. He had a natural insinuation and address, which made him acceptable in the best company. Clarendon.
4. A hint; a suggestion or intimation by distant allusion. Slander may be conveyed by insinuations.

IN-SIN'U-A-TIVE, a.

Stealing on the affections. Bacon.

IN-SIN'U-A-TOR, n.

One who insinuates; one that hints.

IN-SIP'ID, a. [Fr. insipide; L. insipidus; in and sapidus, sapio, to taste.]

1. Tasteless; destitute of taste; wanting the qualities which affect the organs of taste; vapid; as, insipid liquor.
2. Wanting spirit, life or animation; wanting pathos, or the power of exciting emotions; flat; dull; heavy; as, an insipid address; an insipid composition.
3. Wanting power to gratify desire; as, insipid pleasures.

IN-SIP'ID-ENCE, n. [L. insipientia; in and sapio, to be wise.]

Want of wisdom; folly; foolishness; want of understanding.

IN-SI-PID'I-TY, or IN-SIP'ID-NESS, n. [Fr. insipidité.]

1. Want of taste, or the power of exciting sensation in the tongue.
2. Want of life or spirit. Dryden's lines shine strongly through the insipidity of Tate's. Pope.