Insidious
(In*sid"i*ous) a. [L. insidiosus, fr. insidiae an ambush, fr. insidere to sit in; pref. in- + sedere
to sit: cf. F. insidieux. See Sit.]
1. Lying in wait; watching an opportunity to insnare or entrap; deceitful; sly; treacherous; — said of persons; as,
the insidious foe. "The insidious witch." Cowper.
2. Intended to entrap; characterized by treachery and deceit; as, insidious arts.
The insidious whisper of the bad angel.
Hawthorne. Insidious disease (Med.),
a disease existing, without marked symptoms, but ready to become active
upon some slight occasion; a disease not appearing to be as bad as it really is.
Syn. — Crafty; wily; artful; sly; designing; guileful; circumventive; treacherous; deceitful; deceptive.
— In*sid"i*ous*ly, adv. — In*sid"i*ous*ness, n.
Insight
(In"sight`) n.
1. A sight or view of the interior of anything; a deep inspection or view; introspection; — frequently used
with into.
He had an insight into almost all the secrets of state.
Jortin. 2. Power of acute observation and deduction; penetration; discernment; perception.
Quickest insight
In all things that to greatest actions lead.
Milton. Insignia
(In*sig"ni*a) n. pl. [L. insigne, pl. insignia, fr. insignis distinguished by a mark; pref. in- in +
signum a mark, sign. See Ensign, Sign.]
1. Distinguishing marks of authority, office, or honor; badges; tokens; decorations; as, the insignia of royalty
or of an order.
2. Typical and characteristic marks or signs, by which anything is known or distinguished; as, the insignia
of a trade.
Insignificance
(In`sig*nif"i*cance) n.
1. The condition or quality of being insignificant; want of significance, sense, or meaning; as, the insignificance
of words or phrases.
2. Want of force or effect; unimportance; pettiness; inefficacy; as, the insignificance of human art.
3. Want of claim to consideration or notice; want of influence or standing; meanness.
Reduce him, from being the first person in the nation, to a state of insignificance.
Beattie. Insignificancy
(In`sig*nif"i*can*cy) n. Insignificance.
Insignificant
(In`sig*nif"i*cant) a.
1. Not significant; void of signification, sense, or import; meaningless; as, insignificant words.
2. Having no weight or effect; answering no purpose; unimportant; valueless; futile.
Laws must be insignificant without the sanction of rewards and punishments.
Bp. Wilkins.