infantry, infante rye, infantery

[Fr. infanterie, from Ital. infante ria =(1) a band of infants or young attendants, (2) foot-soldiers, from infante an infant (q. v.); Sp. infante ria.] I. Ordinary Language : 1. In the same sense as II. "Гһэ principall strength of an armie consist eth in the infanterie or foot." -Bacon: Henry VII ., p. 74. *2. Infants or children collectively; a collection or number of children. "No careful nurse would wet her watchful eye, When any pang should gripe her infantry." Browne: Britannia's Pastorals , bk. ii., s. i. II. Mil .: Foot soldiers armed with rifle and bayonet. In Europe the infantry is divided into Infantry of the Line, Light Infantry, and Rifles; but practically no distinction, except that the latter have a lower standard, now exists between them. Formerly the flank companies of each line battalion were, respectively, "Grenadier" and "Light" companies, and the deployment of the lines or the advance of the columns in battle was either covered by these companies, or by separate light infantry reg i ments, which were extended as skirmishers. These were either called in when the ma es of troops ad. vanced, or, halting, let them pa through. They only prepared the way for the main attack. With the introduction of long-range fire, the attack by lines or columns became too dangerous; the former from their slowne , the latter from their densene . The infantry could longer advance covered by weak screen of skirmishers. Battalions, therefore, formed for attack with two companies firing, two support ing, and four in local reserve, the whole working on a narrow front; and, finally, the company in Germany, and the double company in England, formed the fighting tactical unit, and was distributed in a similar manner. But the skirmishers no longer merely cover the advance of troops in rear. They 2316 *In-farçe', v . t. Another spelling of ENFARCE (q. v.). *in-farct', s. [Lat. infarctum, sup. of infarcio to stuff.] [ENFARCE.] Surg.: That which stuffs; a coagulation of blood infectiously 3. To corrupt; to communicate bad qualities to; to taint or vitiate by the communication of any thing noxious or pernicious; to contaminate. "Infected with the manners and the modes." Cowper: Task , iv. 693. *4. To affect in any way, but always contrary to in a vein or artery, especially the latter, impeding wisheso or stopping the circulation. In-farc-tion, subst . [Lat. infarct us , pa. par. of infarcio .] Med: The act of stuffing or filling; the state of being stuffed or filled; constipation. In-färe, subst . [A. S. infære an entrance.] An entertainment given upon newly entering a house; a housewarming; an entertainment given by a newly-married couple, on entering into their new home. *In-fashion-a-ble, a . [Pref. in- (2), and Eng. fashionable (q. v.).] Not fashionable; not according to fashion; unfashionable. "His rich clothes be dis complexioned With blood, beside the in fashionable slashes." Beaum. & Flet .: Coronation , i. 1. *In-fat-Ig-a-ble, a. [Lat. in fat i gab i lis , from in- =not, and fatigo to weary, to fatigue; Fr. & Sp. in fatigable : Ital. infatigabile .] Indefatigable, unwearied, untiring. "The in fatigable hand that never ceased." Daniel: Civil Wars, bk. vi. in-fat-u-āte, v . t . [INFATUATE, a .] 1. To make foolish; to deprive of sense, understanding, or the power of sound judgment. "So strangely infatuated , so wholly lost to common reason."- Wilkins : Of Nat . Relig ., bk. ii., ch. viii. 2. To inspire with an extravagant or foolish pa ion, so strong as to overcome reason and judgment; to besot. ( Cowper : Task , vi. 103.) *3. To make of none effect; to counteract; to spoil. "But ever ble ed be he, and ever glorified, that hath hitherto maimed and infatuated all their damnable inventions." -Milton : Reform . in England , bk. ii.