Part 221

3. A slide, modulation, or accent of the voice; as, the rising and the falling inflection.

4. (Gram.) The variation or change which words undergo to mark case, gender, number, comparison, tense, person, mood, voice, etc.

5. (Mus.) (a) Any change or modification in the pitch or tone of the voice. (b) A departure from the monotone, or reciting note, in chanting.

6. (Opt.) Same as Diffraction.

Point of inflection (Geom.), the point on opposite sides of which a curve bends in contrary ways.

In*flec"tion*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to inflection; having, or characterized by, inflection. Max Müller.

In*flect"ive (?), a. 1. Capable of, or pertaining to, inflection; deflecting; as, the inflective quality of the air. Derham.

2. (Gram.) Inflectional; characterized by variation, or change in form, to mark case, tense, etc.; subject to inflection.

Inflective language (Philol.), a language like the Greek or Latin, consisting largely of stems with variable terminations or suffixes which were once independent words. English is both agglutinative, as, manlike, headache, and inflective, as, he, his, him. Cf. Agglutinative.

In*flesh" (?), v. t. To incarnate.

In*flex" (?), v. t. [Cf. Flex, Inflect.] To bend; to cause to become curved; to make crooked; to deflect. J. Philips.

In*flexed" (?), a. 1. Turned; bent. Feltham.

2. (Bot.) Bent or turned abruptly inwards, or toward the axis, as the petals of a flower.

In*flex"i*bil"i*ty (?), n. [Cf. F. inflexibilité.] The quality or state of being inflexible, or not capable of being bent or changed; unyielding stiffness; inflexibleness; rigidity; firmness of will or purpose; unbending pertinacity; steadfastness; resoluteness; unchangeableness; obstinacy.

The inflexibility of mechanism.

A. Baxter.

That grave inflexibility of soul.

Churchill.

The purity and inflexibility of their faith.

T. Warton.

In*flex"i*ble (?), a. [L. inflexiblis: cf. F. inflexible. See In- not, and Flexible.] 1. Not capable of being bent; stiff; rigid; firm; unyielding.

2. Firm in will or purpose; not to be turned, changed, or altered; resolute; determined; unyieding; inexorable; stubborn.

"Inflexibleas steel."

Miltom.

A man of upright and inflexible temper . . . can overcome all private fear.

Addison.

3. Incapable of change; unalterable; immutable.

The nature of things is inflexible.