5. (Anat.) The second digit, that next to the pollex, in the manus, or
hand; the forefinger; index finger.
6. (Math.) The figure or letter which shows the power or root of a
quantity; the exponent. [In this sense the plural is always indices.]
Index error, the error in the reading of a mathematical instrument
arising from the zero of the index not being in complete adjustment
with that of the limb, or with its theoretically perfect position in
the instrument; a correction to be applied to the instrument readings
equal to the error of the zero adjustment. -- Index expurgatorius. [L.]
See Index prohibitorius (below). -- Index finger. See Index, 5. --
Index glass, the mirror on the index of a quadrant, sextant, etc. --
Index hand, the pointer or hand of a clock, watch, or other registering
machine; a hand that points to something. -- Index of a logarithm
(Math.), the integral part of the logarithm, and always one less than
the number of integral figures in the given number. It is also called
the characteristic. -- Index of refraction, or Refractive index (Opt.),
the number which expresses the ratio of the sine of the angle of
incidence to the sine of the angle of refraction. Thus the index of
refraction for sulphur is 2, because, when light passes out of air into
sulphur, the sine of the angle of incidence is double the sine of the
angle of refraction. -- Index plate, a graduated circular plate, or one
with circular rows of holes differently spaced; used in machines for
graduating circles, cutting gear teeth, etc. -- Index prohibitorius
[L.], or Prohibitory index (R. C. Ch.), a catalogue of books which are
forbidden by the church to be read; the index expurgatorius [L.], or
expurgatory index, is a catalogue of books from which passages marked
as against faith or morals must be removed before Catholics can read
them. These catalogues are published with additions, from time to time,
by the Congregation of the Index, composed of cardinals, theologians,
etc., under the sanction of the pope. Hook. -- Index rerum [L.], a
tabulated and alphabetized notebook, for systematic preservation of
items, quotations, etc.
In"dex (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Indexed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Indexing.]
To provide with an index or table of references; to put into an index;
as, to index a book, or its contents.
In"dex*er (?), n. One who makes an index.
In*dex"ic*al (?), a. Of, pertaining to, or like, an index; having the
form of an index.
In*dex"ic*al*ly, adv. In the manner of an index.
In`dex*ter"i*ty (?), n. [Pref. in- not + dexterity: cf. F.
indextérité.] Want of dexterity or readiness, especially in the use of
the hands; clumsiness; awkwardness. Harvey.
In"di*a (?), n. [See Indian.] A country in Southern Asia; the two
peninsulas of Hither and Farther India; in a restricted sense, Hither
India, or Hindostan.
India ink, a nearly black pigment brought chiefly from China, used for
water colors. It is in rolls, or in square, and consists of lampblack
or ivory black and animal glue. Called also China ink. The true India
ink is sepia. See Sepia. -- India matting, floor matting made in China,
India, etc., from grass and reeds; -- also called Canton, or China,
matting. -- India paper, a variety of Chinese paper, of smooth but not
glossy surface, used for printing from engravings, woodcuts, etc. --
India proof (Engraving), a proof impression from an engraved plate,
taken on India paper. - - India rubber. See Caoutchouc. -- India-rubber
tree (Bot.), any tree yielding caoutchouc, but especially the East
Indian Ficus elastica, often cultivated for its large, shining,
elliptical leaves.
In*di"a*dem, v. t. To place or set in a diadem, as a gem or gems.
In"di*a*man (?), n.; pl. Indiamen (&?;). A large vessel in the India
trade. Macaulay.
In"di*an (?; 277), a. [From India, and this fr. Indus, the name of a
river in Asia, L. Indus, Gr. &?;, OPers. Hindu, name of the land on the
Indus, Skr. sindhu river, the Indus. Cf. Hindoo.]
1. Of or pertaining to India proper; also to the East Indies, or,
sometimes, to the West Indies.
2. Of or pertaining to the aborigines, or Indians, of America; as,
Indian wars; the Indian tomahawk.
3. Made of maize or Indian corn; as, Indian corn, Indian meal, Indian
bread, and the like. [U.S.]
Indian bay (Bot.), a lauraceous tree (Persea Indica). -- Indian bean
(Bot.), a name of the catalpa. -- Indian berry. (Bot.) Same as Cocculus
indicus. -- Indian bread. (Bot.) Same as Cassava. -- Indian club, a
wooden club, which is swung by the hand for gymnastic exercise. --
Indian cordage, cordage made of the fibers of cocoanut husk. -- Indian
corn (Bot.), a plant of the genus Zea (Z. Mays); the maize, a native of
America. See Corn, and Maize. -- Indian cress (Bot.), nasturtium. See
Nasturtium, 2. -- Indian cucumber (Bot.), a plant of the genus Medeola
(M. Virginica), a common in woods in the United States. The white
rootstock has a taste like cucumbers. -- Indian currant (Bot.), a plant
of the genus Symphoricarpus (S. vulgaris), bearing small red berries.
-- Indian dye, the puccoon. -- Indian fig. (Bot.) (a) The banyan. See
Banyan. (b) The prickly pear. -- Indian file, single file; arrangement
of persons in a row following one after another, the usual way among
Indians of traversing woods, especially when on the war path. -- Indian
fire, a pyrotechnic composition of sulphur, niter, and realgar, burning
with a brilliant white light. -- Indian grass (Bot.), a coarse, high
grass (Chrysopogon nutans), common in the southern portions of the
United States; wood grass. Gray. -- Indian hemp. (Bot.) (a) A plant of
the genus Apocynum (A. cannabinum), having a milky juice, and a tough,
fibrous bark, whence the name. The root it used in medicine and is both
emetic and cathartic in properties. (b) The variety of common hemp
(Cannabis Indica), from which hasheesh is obtained. -- Indian mallow
(Bot.), the velvet leaf (Abutilon Avicennæ). See Abutilon. -- Indian
meal, ground corn or maize. [U.S.] -- Indian millet (Bot.), a tall
annual grass (Sorghum vulgare), having many varieties, among which are
broom corn, Guinea corn, durra, and the Chinese sugar cane. It is
called also Guinea corn. See Durra. -- Indian ox (Zoöl.), the zebu. - -
Indian paint. See Bloodroot. -- Indian paper. See India paper, under
India. -- Indian physic (Bot.), a plant of two species of the genus
Gillenia (G. trifoliata, and G. stipulacea), common in the United
States, the roots of which are used in medicine as a mild emetic; --
called also American ipecac, and bowman's root. Gray. -- Indian pink.
(Bot.) (a) The Cypress vine (Ipomœa Quamoclit); -- so called in the
West Indies. (b) See China pink, under China. -- Indian pipe (Bot.), a
low, fleshy herb (Monotropa uniflora), growing in clusters in dark
woods, and having scalelike leaves, and a solitary nodding flower. The
whole plant is waxy white, but turns black in drying. -- Indian
plantain (Bot.), a name given to several species of the genus Cacalia,
tall herbs with composite white flowers, common through the United
States in rich woods. Gray. -- Indian poke (Bot.), a plant usually
known as the white hellebore (Veratrum viride). -- Indian pudding, a
pudding of which the chief ingredients are Indian meal, milk, and
molasses. -- Indian purple. (a) A dull purple color. (b) The pigment of
the same name, intensely blue and black. -- Indian red. (a) A purplish
red earth or pigment composed of a silicate of iron and alumina, with
magnesia. It comes from the Persian Gulf. Called also Persian red. (b)
See Almagra. -- Indian rice (Bot.), a reedlike water grass. See Rice.
-- Indian shot (Bot.), a plant of the genus Canna (C. Indica). The hard
black seeds are as large as swan shot. See Canna. -- Indian summer, in
the United States, a period of warm and pleasant weather occurring late
in autumn. See under Summer. -- Indian tobacco (Bot.), a species of
Lobelia. See Lobelia. -- Indian turnip (Bot.), an American plant of the
genus Arisæma. A. triphyllum has a wrinkled farinaceous root resembling
a small turnip, but with a very acrid juice. See Jack in the Pulpit,
and Wake-robin. -- Indian wheat, maize or Indian corn. -- Indian
yellow. (a) An intense rich yellow color, deeper than gamboge but less
pure than cadmium. (b) See Euxanthin.
In"di*an (?; 277), n. 1. A native or inhabitant of India.
2. One of the aboriginal inhabitants of America; -- so called
originally from the supposed identity of America with India.
In`di*an*eer" (?), n. (Naut.) An Indiaman.
In"di*a rub"ber (?). See Caoutchouc.
In"dic*al (?), a. [From L. index, indicis, an index.] Indexical. [R.]
Fuller.