Part 161

Indefinite and omnipresent God, Inhabiting eternity.

W. Thompson (1745).

4. (Bot.) Too numerous or variable to make a particular enumeration important; -- said of the parts of a flower, and the like. Also, indeterminate.

Indefinite article (Gram.), the word a or an, used with nouns to denote any one of a common or general class. -- Indefinite inflorescence. (Bot.) See Indeterminate inflorescence, under Indeterminate. -- Indefinite proposition (Logic), a statement whose subject is a common term, with nothing to indicate distribution or nondistribution; as, Man is mortal. -- Indefinite term (Logic), a negative term; as, the not- good.

Syn. -- Inexplicit; vague; uncertain; unsettled; indeterminate; loose; equivocal; inexact; approximate.

In*def"i*nite*ly, adv. In an indefinite manner or degree; without any settled limitation; vaguely; not with certainty or exactness; as, to use a word indefinitely.

If the world be indefinitely extended, that is, so far as no human intellect can fancy any bound of it.

Ray.

In*def"i*nite*ness, n. The quality of being indefinite.

In`de*fin"i*tude (?), n. Indefiniteness; vagueness; also, number or quantity not limited by our understanding, though yet finite. [Obs.] Sir M. Hale.

In`de*his"cence (?), n. [Cf. F. indéhiscence.] (Bot.) The property or state of being indehiscent.

In`de*his"cent (?), a. [Pref. in- not + dehiscent: cf. F. indéhiscent.] (Bot.) Remaining closed at maturity, or not opening along regular lines, as the acorn, or a cocoanut.

In`de*lec"ta*ble (?), a. Not delectable; unpleasant; disagreeable. [R.] Richardson.

In`de*lib"er*ate (?), a. [L. indeliberatus. See In- not, and Deliberate.] Done without deliberation; unpremeditated. [Obs.] -- In`de*lib"er*ate*ly, adv. [Obs.]

In`de*lib"er*a`ted (?), a. Indeliberate. [Obs.]

In*del`i*bil"i*ty (?), n. [Cf. F. indélébilité.] The quality of being indelible. Bp. Horsley.

In*del"i*ble (?), a. [L. indelebilis; pref. in- not + delebilis capable of being destroyed: cf. F. indélébile. See In- not, and Deleble.] [Formerly written also indeleble, which accords with the etymology of the word.]

1. That can not be removed, washed away, blotted out, or effaced; incapable of being canceled, lost, or forgotten; as, indelible characters; an indelible stain; an indelible impression on the memory.

2. That can not be annulled; indestructible. [R.]

They are endued with indelible power from above.

Sprat.

Indelible colors, fast colors which do not fade or tarnish by exposure. -- Indelible ink, an ink not obliterated by washing; esp., a solution of silver nitrate.

Syn. -- Fixed; fast; permanent; ineffaceable.

-- In*del"i*ble*ness, n. -- In*del"i*bly, adv.

Indelibly stamped and impressed.

J. Ellis.

In*del"i*ca*cy (?), n.; pl. Indelicacies (#). [From Indelicate.] The quality of being indelicate; want of delicacy, or of a nice sense of, or regard for, purity, propriety, or refinement in manners, language, etc.; rudeness; coarseness; also, that which is offensive to refined taste or purity of mind.

The indelicacy of English comedy.