7. With reference to a limit of time; as, in an hour; it happened in the last century; in all my life.
In as much as, or Inasmuch as, in the degree that; in like manner as; in consideration that; because that; since. See Synonym of Because, and cf. For as much as, under For, prep. -- In that, because; for the reason that. "Some things they do in that they are men . . . ; some things in that they are men misled and blinded with error." Hooker. -- In the name of, in behalf of; on the part of; by authority; as, it was done in the name of the people; -- often used in invocation, swearing, praying, and the like. -- To be in for it. (a) To be in favor of a thing; to be committed to a course. (b) To be unable to escape from a danger, penalty, etc. [Colloq.] -- To be (or keep) in with. (a) To be close or near; as, to keep a ship in with the land. (b) To be on terms of friendship, familiarity, or intimacy with; to secure and retain the favor of. [Colloq.]
Syn. -- Into; within; on; at. See At.
In, adv. 1. Not out; within; inside. In, the preposition, becomes an adverb by omission of its object, leaving it as the representative of an adverbial phrase, the context indicating what the omitted object is; as, he takes in the situation (i. e., he comprehends it in his mind); the Republicans were in (i. e., in office); in at one ear and out at the other (i. e., in or into the head); his side was in (i. e., in the turn at the bat); he came in (i. e., into the house).
Their vacation . . . falls in so pat with ours.
Lamb.
The sails of a vessel are said, in nautical language, to be in when they are furled, or when stowed.
In certain cases in has an adjectival sense; as, the in train (i. e., the incoming train); compare up grade, down grade, undertow, afterthought, etc.
2. (Law) With privilege or possession; -- used to denote a holding, possession, or seisin; as, in by descent; in by purchase; in of the seisin of her husband. Burrill.
In and in breeding. See under Breeding. -- In and out (Naut.), through and through; -- said of a through bolt in a ship's side. Knight. -- To be in, to be at home; as, Mrs. A. is in. -- To come in. See under Come.
In, n. [Usually in the plural.] 1. One who is in office; -- the opposite of out.
2. A reëntrant angle; a nook or corner.
Ins and outs, nooks and corners; twists and turns.
All the ins and outs of this neighborhood.
D. Jerrold.
<! p. 741 !>
In (?), v. t. To inclose; to take in; to harvest. [Obs.]
He that ears my land spares my team and gives me leave to in the crop.
Shak.
In`a*bil"i*ty (?), n. [Pref. in- not + ability: cf. F. inhabileté. See Able, and cf. Unable.] The quality or state of being unable; lack of ability; want of sufficient power, strength, resources, or capacity.
It is not from an inability to discover what they ought to do, that men err in practice.
Blair.
Syn. -- Impotence; incapacity; incompetence; weakness; powerlessness; incapability. See Disability.
In*a"ble (?), v. t. See Enable.
In*a"ble*ment (?), n. See Enablement. [Obs.]
In*ab"sti*nence (?), n. [Pref. in- not + abstinence: cf. F. inabstinence.] Want of abstinence; indulgence. [Obs.] "The inabstinence of Eve." Milton.
In`ab*stract"ed (?), a. Not abstracted.
In`a*bu"sive*ly (?), adv. Without abuse.
The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary: Section I, J, K, and L · The Wunder Library — complete classics, free to read, with narration.