Part 383

I*od"o*form (?), n. [Iodo- + formyl. See Formyl, and cf. Chloroform.] (Chem.) A yellow, crystalline, volatile substance, CI3H, having an offensive odor and sweetish taste, and analogous to chloroform. It is used in medicine as a healing and antiseptic dressing for wounds and sores.

I`o*do*qui"nine (?), n. [Iodo- + quinine.] (Chem.) A iodide of quinine obtained as a brown substance. It is the base of herapathite. See Herapathite.

I"o*dous (?), a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or containing, iodine. See -ous (chemical suffix).

Iodous acid, a hypothetical acid, analogous to chlorous acid.

I*od"u*ret (?), n. (Chem.) Iodide. [Obs.]

I*od"y*rite (?), n. [From Iodine.] (Min.) Silver iodide, a mineral of a yellowish color.

I"o*lite ("*lt), n. [Gr. 'i`on a violet + -lite.] (Min.) A silicate of alumina, iron, and magnesia, having a bright blue color and vitreous luster; cordierite. It is remarkable for its dichroism, and is also called dichroite.

I"o moth` (?; 115). (Zoöl.) A large and handsome American moth (Hyperchiria Io), having a large, bright-colored spot on each hind wing, resembling the spots on the tail of a peacock. The larva is covered with prickly hairs, which sting like nettles.

-ion (?; 106). [L. -io, acc. -ionem: cf. F. -ion.] A noun suffix denoting act, process, result of an act or a process, thing acted upon, state, or condition; as, revolution, the act or process of revolving; construction, the act or process of constructing; a thing constructed; dominion, territory ruled over; subjection, state of being subject; dejection; abstraction.

I"on ("n), n. [Gr. 'io`n, neut, of 'iw`n, p. pr. of 'ie`nai to go.] (Elec. Chem.) One of the elements which appear at the respective poles when a body is subjected to electro-chemical decomposition. Cf. Anion, Cation.

I*o"ni*an (?), a. [L. Ionius. See Ionic.] Of or pertaining to Ionia or the Ionians; Ionic. -- n. A native or citizen of Ionia.

I*on"ic (?), a. [L. Ionicus, Gr. &?;, fr. &?; Ionia.]

1. Of or pertaining to Ionia or the Ionians.

2. (Arch.) Pertaining to the Ionic order of architecture, one of the three orders invented by the Greeks, and one of the five recognized by the Italian writers of the sixteenth century. Its distinguishing feature is a capital with spiral volutes. See Illust. of Capital.

Ionic dialect (Gr. Gram.), a dialect of the Greek language, used in Ionia. The Homeric poems are written in what is designated old Ionic, as distinguished from new Ionic, or Attic, the dialect of all cultivated Greeks in the period of Athenian prosperity and glory. -- Ionic foot. (Pros.) See Ionic, n., 1. -- Ionic, or Ionian, mode (Mus.), an ancient mode, supposed to correspond with the modern major scale of C. -- Ionic sect, a sect of philosophers founded by Thales of Miletus, in Ionia. Their distinguishing tenet was, that water is the original principle of all things. -- Ionic type, a kind of heavy- faced type (as that of the following line).

This is Nonpareil Ionic.

I*on"ic, n. 1. (Pros.) (a) A foot consisting of four syllables: either two long and two short, -- that is, a spondee and a pyrrhic, in which case it is called the greater Ionic; or two short and two long, -- that is, a pyrrhic and a spondee, in which case it is called the smaller Ionic. (b) A verse or meter composed or consisting of Ionic feet.

2. The Ionic dialect; as, the Homeric Ionic.

3. (Print.) Ionic type.

||I`o*nid"i*um (?), n. [NL. Cf. Iodine.] (Bot.) A genus of violaceous ||plants, chiefly found in tropical America, some species of which are ||used as substitutes for ipecacuanha. || I"o*qua shell` (?). [From the native name.] (Zoöl.) The shell of a large Dentalium (D. pretiosum), formerly used as shell money, and for ornaments, by the Indians of the west coast of North America.

I*o"ta (?), n. [L., fr. Gr. 'iw^ta. See Jot.]

1. The ninth letter of the Greek alphabet (ι) corresponding with the English i.

2. A very small quantity or degree; a jot; a particle.

They never depart an iota from the authentic formulas of tyranny and usurpation.

Burke.

Iota subscript (Gr. Gram.), iota written beneath a preceding vowel, as a,, h,, w,, -- done when iota is silent.

I*o"ta*cism (*"t*sz'm), n. [Gr. 'iotakismo`s a laying too much stress upon the iota (ι): cf. F. iotacisme. See Iota.] The frequent use of the sound of iota (that of English e in be), as among the modern Greeks; also, confusion from sounding ε, ι, η, υ, ει, etc., like ι. Littré.

I O U (?). [i. e., I owe you.] A paper having on it these letters, with a sum named, and duly signed; -- in use in England as an acknowledgment of a debt, and taken as evidence thereof, but not amounting to a promissory note; a due bill. Wharton. Story.