||In*cer"tum (?), a. Doubtful; not of definite form.
||
Opus incertum (Anc. Arch.), a kind of masonry employed in building
walls, in which the stones were not squared nor laid in courses;
rubblework.
In*ces"sa*ble (?), a. [L. incessabilis; pref. in- not + cessare to
cease.] Unceasing; continual. [Obs.] Shelton. -- In*ces"sa*bly, adv.
[Obs.]
In*ces"san*cy (?), n. [From Incessant.] The quality of being incessant;
unintermitted continuance; unceasingness. Dr. T. Dwight.
In*ces"sant (?), a. [L. incessans, -antis; pref. in- not + cessare to
cease: cf. F. incessant. See Cease.] Continuing or following without
interruption; unceasing; unitermitted; uninterrupted; continual; as,
incessant clamors; incessant pain, etc.
Against the castle gate, . . . Which with incessant force and
endless hate, They batter'd day and night and entrance did await.
Spenser.
Syn. -- Unceasing; uninterrupted; unintermitted; unremitting;
ceaseless; continual; constant; perpetual.
In*ces"sant*ly, adv. Unceasingly; continually. Shak.
In*ces"sion (?), n. [L. incedere, incessum, to walk.] Motion on foot;
progress in walking. [Obs.]
The incession or local motion of animals.
Sir T. Browne.
In"cest (?), n. [F. inceste, L. incestum unchastity, incest, fr.
incestus unchaste; pref. in- not + castus chaste. See Chaste.] The
crime of cohabitation or sexual commerce between persons related within
the degrees wherein marriage is prohibited by law. Shak.
Spiritual incest. (Eccl. Law) (a) The crime of cohabitation committed
between persons who have a spiritual alliance by means of baptism or
confirmation. (b) The act of a vicar, or other beneficiary, who holds
two benefices, the one depending on the collation of the other.
In*cest"tu*ous (?; 135), a. [L. incestuosus: cf. F. incestueux.] Guilty
of incest; involving, or pertaining to, the crime of incest; as, an
incestuous person or connection. Shak.
Ere you reach to this incestuous love, You must divine and human
rights remove.
Dryden.
-- In*cest"tu*ous*ly, adv. -- In*cest"tu*ous*ness, n.
Inch (?), n. [Gael. inis.] An island; -- often used in the names of
small islands off the coast of Scotland, as in Inchcolm, Inchkeith,
etc. [Scot.]
Inch, n. [OE. inche, unche, AS. ynce, L. uncia the twelfth part, inch,
ounce. See Ounce a weight.]
1. A measure of length, the twelfth part of a foot, commonly subdivided
into halves, quarters, eights, sixteenths, etc., as among mechanics. It
was also formerly divided into twelve parts, called lines, and
originally into three parts, called barleycorns, its length supposed to
have been determined from three grains of barley placed end to end
lengthwise. It is also sometimes called a prime (′), composed of
twelve seconds (′′), as in the duodecimal system of
arithmetic.
12 seconds (′′) make 1 inch or prime. 12 inches or
primes (′) make 1 foot.
B. Greenleaf.
The meter, the accepted scientific standard of length, equals 39.37
inches; the inch is equal to 2.54 centimeters. See Metric system, and
Meter.
2. A small distance or degree, whether of time or space; hence, a
critical moment.
Beldame, I think we watched you at an inch.
Shak.
By inches, by slow degrees, gradually. -- Inch of candle. See under
Candle. -- Inches of pressure, usually, the pressure indicated by so
many inches of a mercury column, as on a steam gauge. -- Inch of water.
See under Water. -- Miner's inch, (Hydraulic Mining), a unit for the
measurement of water. See Inch of water, under Water.