Chapter Iliad of Ills to Immolate of I by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Iliad of Ills to Immolate

Iliad of Ills (An). Ilias malorum (Cicero: Ad Atticum, viii. 11). A number of evils falling simultaneously; there is scarce a calamity in the whole catalogue of human ills that finds not mention in the Iliad, hence the Homeric poem was the fountain of classic tragedy.

Ilk The surname of the person spoken of is the same as the name of his estate. It is quite a mistake to use the phrase "All that ilk" to signify all of that name or sort. Bethune of that ilk means "Bethune of Bethune." (Gaelic, ilk, clan; Anglo-Saxon, ilc, the same.)

Ill-got, Ill-spent Treasures of wickedness profit nothing. (Prov. x. 2.)

Ill May-day The 1st of May, 1517, when the London apprentices rose up against the resident foreigners, and did great mischief. More commonly known as Evil May-day (q.v.).

Ill Omens averted.
   Leotychides II., of Sparta, was told by his augurs that his projected expedition would fail, because a viper had got entangled in the handle of the city key. "Not so," he replied. "The key caught the viper."
   When Julius Caesar landed at Adrumetum, in Africa, he happened to trip and fall on his face. This would have been considered a fatal omen by his army; but, with admirable presence of mind, he exclaimed, "Thus I take possession of thee, O Africa!" Told of Scipio also.
   When William the Conqueror leaped upon the shore at Bulverhythe he fell on his face, and a great cry went forth that it was an ill- omen; but the duke exclaimed, "I have taken seisin of this land with both my hands."
   When the Duke was arming for the battle, his squire by accident handed him the back piece before the breast-plate, an evil omen, signifying flight. But the Duke, with ready wit, said, "Yes, the last shall be first" - i.e. the duke shall be king.
   Napoleon III. did a graceful thing to avert an ill omen. Captain Jean Coeurpreux, in a ball given at the Tuileries, tripped and fell; but Napoleon held out his hand to help him up, saying as he did so, "Monsieur le Commandant, this is the second time I have seen you fall. The first time was by my side in the field of Magenta." Then, turning to the lady, he added, "Henceforth Captain Coeurpreux is commandant of my Guides."

Ill-starred Unlucky; fated to be unfortunate. Othello says of Desdemona, "O ill-starred wench!" Of course, the allusion is to the astrological dogma that the stars influence the fortunes of mankind.

"Where'er that ill-starred home may lie."
Moore: Fire Worshippers.

Ill Wind 'Tis an ill wind that blows nobody any good. Someone profits by every loss; someone is benefited by every misfortune.

"Except wind stands as never it stood,
It is an ill-wind turns none to good."
Tusser: Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry, xiii.

Illinois U.S. America. The Delaware Indian word illini (real men) with the French termination -ois.

Illuminated Doctor Raymond Lully (1235-1315).
   John Tauler, the German mystic (1294-1361).

Illuminati The baptised were at one time so called, because a lighted candle was given them to hold as a symbol that they were illuminated by the Holy Ghost.
   Four religious societies have been so called, viz.:
   (1) The Hesychasts in the fourteenth century.
   (2) The Alombrados of Spain in the sixteenth century.
   (3) The Guerinets of France in the seventeenth century.
   (4) The Mystics of Belgium in the eighteenth century.
   Add to these the Rosicrucians (q.v..)
   The Order of the Illuminati. A republican society, founded at Ingoldstadt in Bavaria, 1776; having for its object the establishment of a religion consistent with "sound reason."

Illuminations Characteristics of Anglo-Saxon illuminations from the eighth to the eleventh century. Extreme intricacy of pattern.
   Interlacings of knots in a diagonal or square form, sometimes interwoven with animals and terminating with heads of serpents or birds. (Sir F. Madden.)
   The Durham Book, the work of Eadfrid, Bishop of Lindisfarne, who died 721, is a most splendid specimen of illumination.
   The Benedictional of St. Ethelwold, an illuminated MS. by Godemann, in the Duke of Devonshire's library, is worthy of Raphael or Michael Angelo. It was executed between 963 and 984, and is full of miniatures and designs in the highest style of art. Beautiful engravings of it may be seen in the Archæologia.