Inertia
CENTER OF. SEE CEN- TER.
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Single-source entries: I (18)
These 15 listings are so strange that each appears in only one of the 7 encyclopedias we compared. They include such classics as Inertia, Inertia, Infallibility.
Inertia
the incapabilof ity matter to change its state, whether that be one of motion or rest. If in motion, it will continue so forever unless some counteractive force, like that of gravity, act upon it. If at rest, it will ever remain so unless a counteractive impulse set it in motion. The resistance which, especially at first, it gives to such a force operating to move it is called vis inertiæ the power of inertia.
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Infallibility
a quality or state freedom or of exemption from error. Papal infallibility, a claim defined on 18, July 1870, in the Ecumenical Council, held in the Vatican under the presidency of Pope Pius IX. "We teach and define that it is a dogma divinely revealed that the Roman pontiff, when he speaks ex cathedra, that is, when in discharge of the office of pastor and doctor of all Christians, by virtue of his supreme apostolic authority he defines a doctrine regarding faith or morals to be held by the Universal Church, by the divine assistance promised to him in blessed Peter, is possessed of that infallibility with which the divine Redeemer willed that His Church should be endowed for defining doctrine regarding faith or morals; and that therefore such definitions of the Roman pontiff are irreformable." Till the decision of the Vatican Counin cil favor of the Pope's infallibility this opinion, though for centuries it had had numerous advocates, especially in Italy, had never been authoritatively decided. When it ceased to be an open question, some German scholars, of whom Professor Döllinger, of Munich, was the most noted, seceded from the Roman Church, and in September, 1871, took the name of Old Catholics.
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Infant Schools
a means of educating very young children. Oberlin may be regarded as the founder of infant schools. He appointed women in his own parish to assemble the little children between the ages of 2 and 6, to interest them by conversation, pictures, and maps, and to teach them to read and to sew. The education and training of young children were matters of great interest and study to Pestalozzi. The most successful system of educating quite young children is the KINDERGAR- TEN (q. v.).
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Infanta
a title given to princesses of the Spanish and Portuguese "blood royal," other than the eldest daughter when heiress apparent to the throne; as, the Infanta Doña Luisa.
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Infante
the title given in Spain and Portugal to the princes of the royal corresponding title of Infamily, the fanta being given to the princesses. arent Since 1388, however, the heir apparent led to the throne in Spain has been styled the Prince of Asturias.
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Infection
a term which has been vaguely used for the contamination of the human body by morbific particles, whether there has or has not been contact with a person similarly affected, but more specifically applied to the contamination of the atmosphere or water by such agency, and through them of the human body.
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Infeftment
a Scotch law term, used to denote the symbolical giving possession of land, which was the completion of the title, the mere conveyance not being enough.
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Inferi
The gods of the nether world, in contradistinction to the Superi, or the gods of heaven. But the word Inferi is also frequently used to designate the dead, and therefore comprises all the inhabitants of the lower world, both the gods, viz., Hades or Pluto , his wife Persephone ( Proserpina ), the Erinnyes or Furies, etc., and also the souls of departed men. Io. Daughter of Inachus, and a priestess of Juno at Argos. Jupiter changed her into a beautiful heifer, and eventually restored her to her own form. She was greatly persecuted by Juno. She married Telegonus, king of Egypt, or Osiris , according to others, and treated her subjects with such kindness that after death she received divine honors, and was worshipped under the name of Isis . Iolas or Iolaus. A son of Iphiclus, king of Thessaly, who assisted Hercules in conquering the Hydra; he burnt with a hot iron the place where the monster's heads had been cut off to prevent their re-growth.
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Inferior Planet
a planet whose orbit lies within that of the earth. Mersury and Venus are the inferior planets.
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Infernal
pertaining to the lower regions or regions of the dead, the Hades or Tartarus of the ancient.
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Infernal Machine
an apparatus filled with gunpowder or other explosive materials for the destruction of human life and property. The Italian engineer Federico Gianibelli was the first to employ these engines at the siege of Antwerp in 1584-1585. See ANARCHISM,
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Infidel
2026 Editor's Note: This page uses language about other peoples, religions, or nationalities that was commonplace when the book was published and is offensive by today's standards. The text has been left exactly as it was printed, rather than cut or softened, so that the historical record — including how ordinary such language once was — is preserved. (Ed: ET 2026-07-22) from the Christian standpoint, one who does not believe in the Christian faith. It includes heathens, etc. It is founded on II Cor. vi: 15 and I Tim. v: 8. One who does not believe that Christianity or any other religion has been divinely revealed, though such evidence as exists on the subject has been laid before him, is styled an infidel. The "infidel" may be a Deist, believing in a God, or an Atheist, denying or at least seriously doubting his existence; or an Agnostic, considering that he has not sufficient evidence to form an opinion on the subject. From the standpoint of the Mohammedan or other non-Christian faiths, the Christian is an "infidel."
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Infinite
not finite; having no bounds or limits; without limit; unbounded; boundless; not limited or circumscribed; applied to time, space, the Supreme Being or His attributes; as, The goodness of God is infinite. In music, a term applied to certain forms of the canon, because they could be played forever, inasmuch as the ending leads to the beginning; called also perpetual canon.
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Infinitesimal
in mathematics, a quantity less or smaller than any assign able quantity; a quantity so small as not to be comparable with any finite quantity. Infinitesimals are of different orders. No quantity is great or small except in comparison with some other quantity. An infinitely small quantity of the first order is one that is infinitely small with respect to a finite quantity, that is, so small that it may be contained in it an infinite number of times. An infinitely small quantity of the second order is one that is infinitely small with respect to an infinitely small quantity of the first order.
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