Part 213

2. Of or pertaining to, resembling, or inhabiting, hell; suitable for hell, or to the character of the inhabitants of hell; hellish; diabolical; as, infernal spirits, or conduct.

The instruments or abettors in such infernal dealings.

Addison.

Infernal machine, a machine or apparatus maliciously designed to explode, and destroy life or property. - - Infernal stone (lapis infernalis), lunar caustic; formerly so called. The name was also applied to caustic potash.

Syn. -- Tartarean; Stygian; hellish; devilish; diabolical; satanic; fiendish; malicious.

In*fer"nal, n. An inhabitant of the infernal regions; also, the place itself. [Obs.] Drayton.

In*fer"nal*ly, adv. In an infernal manner; diabolically. "Infernally false." Bp. Hacket.

In`fe*ro*bran"chi*an (?), n. (Zoöl.) One of the Inferobranchiata.

In`fe*ro*bran`chi*a"ta (?), n. pl. [NL. See Inferobranchiate.] (Zoöl.) A suborder of marine gastropod mollusks, in which the gills are between the foot and the mantle.

In`fe*ro*bran"chi*ate (?), a. [L. inferus lower + E. branchiate.] (Zoöl.) Having the gills on the sides of the body, under the margin of the mantle; belonging to the Inferobranchiata.

In*fer"ri*ble (?), a. Inferable.

In*fer"tile (?), a. [L. infertilis: cf. F. infertile. See In- not, and Fertile.] Not fertile; not productive; barren; sterile; as, an infertile soil.

In*fer"tile*ly, adv. In an infertile manner.

In`fer*til"i*ty (?), n. [L. infertilitas: cf. F. infertilité.] The state or quality of being infertile; unproductiveness; barrenness.

The infertility or noxiousness of the soil.

Sir M. Hale.

In*fest" (?), a. [L. infestus. See Infest, v. t.] Mischievous; hurtful; harassing. [Obs.] Spenser.

In*fest", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Infested; p. pr. & vb. n. Infesting.] [L. infestare, fr. infestus disturbed, hostile, troublesome; in in, against + the root of defendere: cf. F. infester. See Defend.] To trouble greatly by numbers or by frequency of presence; to disturb; to annoy; to frequent and molest or harass; as, fleas infest dogs and cats; a sea infested with pirates.

To poison vermin that infest his plants.

Cowper.

These, said the genius, are envy, avarice, superstition, love, with the like cares and passions that infest human life.

Addison.

And the cares, that infest the day, Shall fold their tents, like the Arabs, And as silently steal away.

Longfellow.

In`fes*ta"tion (?), n. [L. infestatio: cf. F. infestation.] The act of infesting or state of being infested; molestation; vexation; annoyance. Bacon.

Free from the infestation of enemies.

Donne.

In*fest"er (?), n. One who, or that which, infests.