Part 277

Syn. -- Unimportant; immaterial; inconsiderable; small; inferior; trivial; mean; contemptible.

In`sig*nif"i*cant*ly, adv. without significance, importance, or effect; to no purpose. "Anger insignificantly fierce." Cowper.

In`sig*nif"i*ca*tive (?), a. [L. insignificativus. See In- not, and Significative.] Not expressing meaning; not significant.

In*sign"ment (?), n. [See Insignia.] A token, mark, or explanation. [Obs.] Sir T. Elyot.

In*sim"u*late (?), v. t. [L. insimulatus, p. p. of insimulare to accuse.] To accuse. [Obs.] Donne.

In`sin*cere" (?), a. [L. insincerus. See In- not, and Sincere.]

1. Not being in truth what one appears to be; not sincere; dissembling; hypocritical; disingenuous; deceitful; false; -- said of persons; also of speech, thought; etc.; as, insincere declarations.

2. Disappointing; imperfect; unsound. [Obs.]

To render sleep's soft blessings insincere.

Pope.

Syn. -- Dissembling; hollow; hypocritical; deceptive deceitful; false; disingenuous; untrustworthy.

In`sin*cere"ly, adv. Without sincerity.

In`sin*cer"i*ty (?), n. [Cf. F. insincérité.] The quality of being insincere; want of sincerity, or of being in reality what one appears to be; dissimulation; hypocritical; deceitfulness; hollowness; untrustworthiness; as, the insincerity of a professed friend; the insincerity of professions of regard.

What men call policy and knowledge of the world, is commonly no other thing than dissimulation and insincerity.

Blair.

In*sin"ew (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Insinewed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Insinewing.] To strengthen, as with sinews; to invigorate. [Obs.]

All members of our cause, . . . That are insinewed to this action.

Shak.

In*sin"u*ant (?), a. [L. insinuans, p. pr.: cf. F. insinuant.] Insinuating; insinuative. [Obs.]

In*sin"u*ate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Insinuated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Insinuating.] [L. insinuatus, p. p. of insinuareto insinuate; pref. in- in + sinus the bosom. See Sinuous.]

1. To introduce gently or slowly, as by a winding or narrow passage, or a gentle, persistent movement.

The water easily insinuates itself into, and placidly distends, the vessels of vegetables.

Woodward.

2. To introduce artfully; to infuse gently; to instill.

All the art of rhetoric, besides order and clearness, are for nothing else but to insinuate wrong ideas, move the passions, and thereby mislead the judgment.

Locke.

Horace laughs to shame all follies and insinuates virtue, rather by familiar examples than by the severity of precepts.

Dryden.