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I — Infirmarian to Influence (Part 1 of 7)

Infirmarian
(In`fir*ma"ri*an) n. A person dwelling in, or having charge of, an infirmary, esp. in a monastic institution.

Infirmary
(In*firm"a*ry) n.; pl. Infirmaries (- riz). [Cf. OE. fermerie, OF. enfermerie, F. infirmerie, LL. infirmaria. See Infirm.] A hospital, or place where the infirm or sick are lodged and nursed gratuitously, or where out-patients are treated.

Infirmative
(In*firm"a*tive) a. [Cf. F. infirmatif.] Weakening; annulling, or tending to make void. [Obs.]

Infirmatory
(In*firm"a*to*ry) n. An infirmary. [Obs.]

Infirmity
(In*firm"i*ty) n.; pl. Infirmities [L. infirmitas : cf. F. infirmite. See Infirm, a.]

1. The state of being infirm; feebleness; an imperfection or weakness; esp., an unsound, unhealthy, or debilitated state; a disease; a malady; as, infirmity of body or mind.

'T is the infirmity of his age.
Shak.

2. A personal frailty or failing; foible; eccentricity; a weakness or defect.

Will you be cured of your infirmity ?
Shak.
A friend should bear his friend's infirmities.
Shak.
The house has also its infirmities.
Evelyn.

Syn. β€” Debility; imbecility; weakness; feebleness; failing; foible; defect; disease; malady. See Debility.

Infirmly
(In*firm"ly), adv. In an infirm manner.

Infirmness
(In*firm"ness), n. Infirmity; feebleness. Boyle.

Infix
(In*fix") v. t. [imp. & p. p. Infixed ; p. pr. & vb. n. Infixing.] [L. infixus, p. p of infigere to infix; pref. in- in + figere to fix: cf. F. infixer. See Fix.]

1. To set; to fasten or fix by piercing or thrusting in; as, to infix a sting, spear, or dart. Shak.

The fatal dart a ready passage found,
And deep within her heart infixed the wound.
Dryden.

2. To implant or fix; to instill; to inculcate, as principles, thoughts, or instructions; as, to infix good principles in the mind, or ideas in the memory.

Infix
(In"fix) n. Something infixed. [R.] Welsford.

Inflame
(In*flame") v. t. [imp. & p. p. Inflamed ; p. pr. & vb. n. Inflaming.] [OE. enflamen, OF. enflamer, F. enflammer, L. inflammare, inflammatum; pref. in- in + flammare to flame, fr. flamma flame. See Flame.]

1. To set on fire; to kindle; to cause to burn, flame, or glow.

We should have made retreat
By light of the inflamed fleet.
Chapman.