Part 5819

<hr> <page="760"> Page 760<p>

<p><b>4.</b> <fld>(Math.)</fld> <def>A quantity greater than any assignable quantity of the same kind.</def>

<note>&hand; Mathematically considered, infinity is always a limit of a variable quantity, resulting from a particular supposition made upon the varying element which enters it.</note>

<i>Davies & Peck (Math. Dict. ).</i>

<p><b>5.</b> <fld>(Geom.)</fld> <def>That part of a line, or of a plane, or of space, which is infinitely distant. In modern geometry, parallel lines or planes are sometimes treated as lines or planes meeting at infinity.</def>

<cs><col>Circle at infinity</col>, <cd>an imaginary circle at infinity, through which, in geometry of three dimensions, every sphere is imagined to pass.</cd> -- <col>Circular points at infinity</col>. <cd>See under <er>Circular</er>.</cd></cs>

<h1>Infirm</h1> <Xpage=760>

<hw>In*firm"</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[L.<ets>infirmus</ets>: cf.F.<ets>infirme</ets>. See <er>In-</er> not, and <er>Firm</er>, <tt>a.</tt>]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Not firm or sound; weak; feeble; <as>as, an <ex>infirm</ex> body; an <ex>infirm</ex> constitution.</as></def>

<blockquote>A poor, <b>infirm</b>, weak, and despised old man. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Weak of mind or will; irresolute; vacillating.</def> "An <i>infirm</i> judgment."

<i>Burke.</i>

<blockquote><b>Infirm</b> of purpose! <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>Not solid or stable; insecure; precarious.</def>

<blockquote>He who fixes on false principles treads or <b>infirm</b> ground. <i>South.</i></blockquote>

<syn>Syn. -- Debilitated; sickly; feeble; decrepit; weak; enfeebled; irresolute; vacillating; imbecile.</syn>

<h1>Infirm</h1> <Xpage=760>

<hw>In*firm"</hw>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>infirmare</ets> : cf. F.<ets>infirmer</ets>.]</ety> <def>To weaken; to enfeeble.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Sir W. Raleigh.</i>

<h1>Infirmarian</h1> <Xpage=760>

<hw>In`fir*ma"ri*an</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>A person dwelling in, or having charge of, an infirmary, esp. in a monastic institution.</def>

<h1>Infirmary</h1> <Xpage=760>

<hw>In*firm"a*ry</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt>; <plu>pl. <plw>Infirmaries</plw> <tt>(#)</tt></plu>. <ety>[Cf. OE. <ets>fermerie</ets>, OF. <ets>enfermerie</ets>, F. <ets>infirmerie</ets>, LL. <ets>infirmaria</ets>. See <er>Infirm</er>.]</ety> <def>A hospital, or place where the infirm or sick are lodged and nursed gratuitously, or where out-patients are treated.</def>

<h1>Infirmative</h1> <Xpage=760>

<hw>In*firm"a*tive</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[Cf. F. <ets>infirmatif</ets>.]</ety> <def>Weakening; annulling, or tending to make void.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<h1>Infirmatory</h1> <Xpage=760>

<hw>In*firm"a*to*ry</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>An infirmary.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<h1>Infirmity</h1> <Xpage=760>

<hw>In*firm"i*ty</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt>; <plu>pl. <plw>Infirmities</plw> <tt>(#)</tt></plu>. <ety>[L. <ets>infirmitas</ets> : cf. F. <ets>infirmite</ets>. See <er>Infirm</er>, <tt>a.</tt>]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>The state of being infirm; feebleness; an imperfection or weakness; esp., an unsound, unhealthy, or debilitated state; a disease; a malady; <as>as, <ex>infirmity</ex> of body or mind</as>.</def>