Part 5679

-- <wordforms><wf>In*cest"tu*ous*ly</wf>, <tt>adv.</tt> -- <wf>In*cest"tu*ous*ness</wf>, <tt>n.</tt></wordforms>

<h1>Inch</h1> <Xpage=743>

<hw>Inch</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Gael. <ets>inis</ets>.]</ety> <def>An island; -- often used in the names of small islands off the coast of Scotland, as in <i>Inch</i>colm, <i>Inch</i>keith, etc.</def> <mark>[Scot.]</mark>

<h1>Inch</h1> <Xpage=743>

<hw>Inch</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[OE. <ets>inche</ets>, <ets>unche</ets>, AS. <ets>ynce</ets>, L. <ets>uncia</ets> the twelfth part, inch, ounce. See <er>Ounce</er> a weight.]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>A measure of length, the twelfth part of a foot, commonly subdivided into halves, quarters, eights, sixteenths, etc., as among mechanics. It was also formerly divided into twelve parts, called <i>lines</i>, and originally into three parts, called <i>barleycorns</i>, its length supposed to have been determined from three grains of barley placed end to end lengthwise. It is also sometimes called a <i>prime</i> (\'b7), composed of twelve seconds (\'b7\'b7), as in the duodecimal system of arithmetic.</def> <-- \'b7 is the same symbol as the light accent, or the "minutes" of an arc. The "seconds" synbol should actually have the two strokes closer than in repeated "minutes". Here, \'b7\'b7 will be interpreted as "seconds" -->

<blockquote>12 seconds (\'b7\'b7) make 1 <b>inch</b> or prime. 12 <b>inches</b> or primes (\'b7) make 1 foot. <i>B. Greenleaf.</i></blockquote>

<note>&hand; The meter, the accepted scientific standard of length, equals 39.37 inches; the inch is equal to 2.54 centimeters. See <er>Metric system</er>, and <er>Meter</er>.</note>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>A small distance or degree, whether or time <?/<?/ space; hence, a critical moment.</def>

<blockquote>Beldame, I think we watched you at an <b>inch</b>. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<cs><col>By inches</col>, <cd>by slow degrees, gradually.</cd> -- <col>Inch of candle</col>. <cd>See under <er>Candle</er>.</cd> -- <col>Inches of pressure</col>, <cd>usually, the pressure indicated by so many inches of a mercury column, as on a steam gauge.</cd> -- <col>Inch of water</col>. <cd>See under <er>Water</er>.</cd> -- <col>Miner's inch</col>, <fld>(Hydraulic Mining)</fld>, <cd>a unit for the measurement of water. See <cref>Inch of water</cref>, under <er>Water</er>.</cd></cs>

<h1>Inch</h1> <Xpage=743>

<hw>Inch</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Inched</er> <tt>(?)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Inching</er>.]</wordforms>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>To drive by inches, or small degrees.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark>

<blockquote>He gets too far into the soldier's grace And <b>inches</b> out my master. <i>Dryden.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To deal out by inches; to give sparingly.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark>

<h1>Inch</h1> <Xpage=743>

<hw>Inch</hw>, <tt>v. i.</tt> <def>To advance or retire by inches or small degrees; to move slowly.</def>

<blockquote>With slow paces measures back the field, And <b>inches</b> to the walls. <i>Dryden.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Inch</h1> <Xpage=743>

<hw>Inch</hw>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Measurement an inch in any dimension, whether length, breadth, or thickness; -- used in composition; <as>as, a two-<ex>inch</ex> cable; a four-<ex>inch</ex> plank.</as></def>

<cs><col>Inch stuff</col>, <cd>boards, etc., sawed one inch thick.</cd></cs>

<h1>Inchamber</h1> <Xpage=743>

<hw>In*cham"ber</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Inchambered</er> <tt>(?)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Inchambering</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[Pref. <ets>in-</ets> in + <ets>chamber</ets>: cf. OF. <ets>enchambrer</ets>.]</ety> <def>To lodge in a chamber.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark>

<i>Sherwood.</i>

<h1>Inchangeability</h1> <Xpage=743>

<hw>In*change`a*bil"i*ty</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>Unchangeableness.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Kenrick.</i>