It (it), pron. [OE. it, hit, AS. hit; cf. D. het. rad.181. See He.] The neuter pronoun of the third person, corresponding to the masculine pronoun he and the feminine she, and having the same plural ( they, their or theirs, them). The possessive form its is modern, being rarely found in the writings of Shakespeare and Milton, and not at all in the original King James’s version of the Bible. During the transition from the regular his to the anomalous its, it was to some extent employed in the possessive without the case ending. See His, and He. In Dryden’s time its had become quite established as the regular form.
"The day present hath ever inough to do with it owne grief." Genevan Test.
"Do, child, go to it grandam, child." Shak.
"It knighthood shall do worse. It shall fright all it friends with borrowing letters." B. Jonson. In the course of time, the nature of the neuter sign t in it, the form being found in but a few words, became misunderstood. Instead of being looked upon as an affix, it passed for part of the original word. Hence was formed from it the anomalous genitive its, superseding the Saxon his. Latham.
"The fruit tree yielding fruit after his (its) kind." Gen. i. 11. It is used,
1. As a substance for any noun of the neuter gender; as here is the book, take it home.
2. As a demonstrative, especially at the beginning of a sentence, pointing to that which is about to be stated, named, or mentioned, or referring to that which apparent or well known; as I saw it was John.
"It is I; be not afraid." Matt. xiv. 27.
"Peter heard that it was the Lord." John xxi. 7. Often, in such cases, as a substitute for a sentence or clause; as it is thought he will come; it is wrong to do this.
3. As an indefinite nominative for a impersonal verb; as it snows; it rains.
4. As a substitute for such general terms as the state of affairs, the condition of things, and the like; as how is it with the sick man?
"Think on me when it shall be well with thee." Gen. xl. 14.
5. As an indefinite object after some intransitive verbs, or after a substantive used humorously as a verb; as to foot it ( i. e., to walk).
"The Lacedemonians, at the Straits of Thermopylae, when their arms failed them, fought it out with nails and teeth." Dryden.
"Whether the charmer sinner it, or saint it,
If folly grows romantic, I must paint it." Pope. Its self. See Itself.
Itacism
I´ta•cism, n. [Cf. F. itacisme. See Etacism, and cf. Iotacism.] (Greek Gram.) Pronunciation of η (eta) as the modern Greeks pronounce it, that is, like e in the English word be. This was the pronunciation advocated by Reuchlin and his followers, in opposition to the etacism of Erasmus. See Etacism.
"In all such questions between ε and αι the confusing element of itacism comes in." Alford.
Itacist
I´ta•cist, n. [Cf. F. itaciste.] One who is in favor of itacism.
Italian
I•tal´ian, a. [Cf. F. italien, It. italiano. Cf. Italic.] Of or pertaining to Italy, or to its people or language. Italian cloth a light material of cotton and worsted; — called also farmer’s satin. — Italian iron, a heater for fluting frills. — Italian juice, Calabrian liquorice.
Italianate
I•tal´ian•ate, a. Italianized; Italianated. "Apish, childish, and Italianate." Marlowe.
Italianize
I•tal´ian•ize, v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Italianized p. pr. & vb. n. Italianizing ] [Cf. F. italianiser, It. italianizzare.]
1. To play the Italian; to speak Italian. Cotgrave.
2. To render Italian in any respect; to Italianate. "An Englishman Italianized." Lowell.
Italic
I•tal´ic, a. [L. Italicus: cf. F. italique. Cf. Italian.]
1. Relating to Italy or to its people.
2. Applied especially to a kind of type in which the letters do not stand upright, but slope toward the right; - - so called because dedicated to the States of Italy by the inventor, Aldus Manutius, about the year 1500. Italic languages, the group or family of languages of ancient Italy. — Italic order (Arch.), the composite order. See Composite. - - Italic school, a term given to the Pythagorean and Eleatic philosophers, from the country where their doctrines were first promulgated. — Italic version. See Itala.
Italic
I•tal´ic, n. ; pl. Italics . (Print.) An Italic letter, character, or type (see Italic, a. , 2.); — often in the plural; as the Italics are the author’s. Italic letters are used to distinguish words for emphasis, importance, antithesis, etc. also collectively, Italic letters.
Italicize
I•tal´i•cize, v. t. & i. [ imp. & p. p. Italicized p. pr. & vb. n. Italicizing ] To print in Italic characters; to underline written letters or words with a single line; as to Italicize a word; Italicizes too much.
Itch (ich), v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Itched (icht); p. pr. & vb. n. Itching.] [OE. icchen, &yogh;icchen, AS. giccan; akin to D. jeuken, joken, G. jucken, OHG. jucchen.]
1. To have an uneasy sensation in the skin, which inclines the person to scratch the part affected.
"My mouth hath itched all this long day." Chaucer.
2. To have a constant desire or teasing uneasiness; to long for; as itching ears. "An itching palm." Shak.
Itch, n.
1. (Med.) An eruption of small, isolated, acuminated vesicles, produced by the entrance of a parasitic mite (the Sarcoptes scabei), and attended with itching. It is transmissible by contact.
2. Any itching eruption.
3. A sensation in the skin occasioned (or resembling that occasioned) by the itch eruption; — called also scabies, psora, etc.
4. A constant irritating desire.
"An itch of being thought a divine king." Dryden. Baker’s itch. See under Baker. - - Barber’s itch, sycosis. — Bricklayer’s itch, an eczema of the hands attended with much itching, occurring among bricklayers. — Grocer’s itch, an itching eruption, being a variety of eczema, produced by the sugar mite ( Tyrogluphus sacchari). — Itch insect (Zoöl.), a small parasitic mite ( Sarcoptes scabei) which burrows and breeds beneath the human skin, thus causing the disease known as the itch. See Illust. in Append. — Itch mite. (Zoöl.) Same as Itch insect, above. also other similar mites affecting the lower animals, as the horse and ox. — Sugar baker’s itch, a variety of eczema, due to the action of sugar upon the skin. — Washerwoman’s itch, eczema of the hands and arms, occurring among washerwomen.
Itchy
Itch´y, a. Infected with the itch, or with an itching sensation. Cowper.
Item
I´tem, adv. [L. See Iterate.] Also; as an additional article.
Item
I´tem, n. [From Item, adv. ]
1. An article; a separate particular in an account; as the items in a bill.
2. A hint; an innuendo. [Obs.]
"A secret item was given to some of the bishops … to absent themselves." Fuller.
3. A short article in a newspaper; a paragraph; as an item concerning the weather.
Item
I´tem, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Itemed p. pr. & vb. n. Iteming.] To make a note or memorandum of.
"I have itemed it in my memory." Addison.
Iter
I´ter, n. [L. See Eyre.] (Anat.) A passage; esp., the passage between the third and fourth ventricles in the brain; the aqueduct of Sylvius.
Iterable
It´er•a•ble, a. [L. iterabilis. See Iterate.] Capable of being iterated or repeated. [Obs.]
Iterate
It´er•ate, a. [L. iteratus, p. p. of iterare to repeat, fr. iterum again, prop. a compar. from the stem of is he, that; cf. L. ita so, item likewise, also Skr. itara other, iti thus. Cf. Identity, Item.] Uttered or done again; repeated. [Obs.] Bp. Gardiner.
Iterate
It´er•ate, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Iterated p. pr. & vb. n. Iterating.] To utter or do a second time or many times; to repeat; as to iterate advice.
"Nor Eve to iterate
Her former trespass feared." Milton.
Itineracy
I•tin´er•a•cy, n. The act or practice of itinerating; itinerancy.
Itinerancy
I•tin´er•an•cy, n. [See Itinerant.]
1. A passing from place to place. Dr. H. More.
2. A discharge of official duty involving frequent change of residence; the custom or practice of discharging official duty in this way; also a body of persons who thus discharge official duty.
Itinerant
I•tin´er•ant, a. [LL. itinerans, -antis, p. pr. of itinerare to make a journey, fr. L. iter, itineris, a walk, way, journey. See Errant, Issue.] Passing or traveling about a country; going or preaching on a circuit; wandering; not settled; as an itinerant preacher; an itinerant peddler.
"The king’s own courts were then itinerant, being kept in the king’s palace, and removing with his household in those royal progresses which he continually made." Blackstone.
Itinerary
I•tin´er•a•ry, a. [L. itinerarius: cf. F. itineraire. See Itinerant.] Itinerant; traveling; passing from place to place; done on a journey.
"It was rather an itinerary circuit of justice than a progress." Bacon.
Itinerary
I•tin´er•a•ry, n. ; pl. Itineraries (#). [L. itinerarium: cf. F. itineraire. See Itinerary, a. ] An account of travels, or a register of places and distances as a guide to travelers; as the Itinerary of Antoninus.
Itinerate
I•tin´er•ate v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Itinerated (#); p. pr. & vb. n. Itinerating (#).] [LL. itineratus, p. p. of itinerari, itinerare. See Itinerant.] To wander without a settled habitation; to travel from place or on a circuit, particularly for the purpose of preaching, lecturing, etc.
Itself
It•self´, pron. The neuter reciprocal pronoun of It; as the thing is good in itself; it stands by itself.
"Borrowing of foreigners, in itself, makes not the kingdom rich or poor." Locke.