Chapter Invisibles to Irena of I by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

his possession in the next twelve months; this was an infant daughter. The father deferred the sacrifice till the fleet of the combined Greeks reached Aulis and Iphigenia had grown to womanhood. Then Calchas told him that the fleet would be wind-bound till he had fulfilled his vow; accordingly the king prepared to sacrifice his daughter, but Artemis at the last moment snatched her from the altar and carried her to heaven, substituting a hind in her place.
   The similarity of this legend to the Scripture stories of Jephthah's vow, and Abraham's offering of his son Isaac, is noticeable. (See Idomeneus.)

Ipse Dixit (Latin). A mere assertion, wholly unsupported. We say it is "your ipse dixit, " "his ipse dixit," "their ipse dixit," and so on.

Ipso Facto Irrespective of all external considerations of right or wrong; absolutely; by the very deed itself. It sometimes means the act itself carries the consequences (as excommunication without sentence of excommunication being directly pronounced).

"Whatever the captain does is right ipso facto [i.e. because it is done by the captain], and any opposition to it is wrong, on board ship." - R. H. Dana.

   By burning the Pope's bull, Luther ipso facto [by the very deed itself] denied the Pope's supremacy. Heresy carries excommunication ipso facto.

Ipswich A corruption of Gypes-wick, the town on the river "Gyppen," now called the Orwell.

Iram' The pilgrim's garb is so called by the Arabs.

I'ran The empire of Persia.

"Avenge the shame
His race hath brought on Iran's name."
Thomas Moore: Fire Worshippers.

Ireland or Erin is Celtic; from Eri or Iar (western). Lloyd (State Worthies, article "Grandison"), with a gravity which cannot but excite laughter, says the island is called the land of Ire because of the broils there, which have extended over four hundred years. Wormius derives the word from the Runic Yr, a bow. (See below.)
   Ireland.
   Called by the natives "Erin," i.e. Eri-innis, or Iar-innis (west island).
   By the Welsh "Yver-den" (west valley).
   By Apuleius, "Hibernia," which is Iernia, a corruption of Iar-inni-a.
   By Juvenal (ii. 260) "Juverna" or "Juberna," the same as Ierna or Iernia.
   By Claudian "Ouernia," the same.
   By moderns "Ireland," which is Iar-en-land (land of the west).
    The three great saints of Ireland are St. Patrick, St. Columba, and St. Bridget.
   The fair maid of Ireland. Ignis fatuus (q.v.).

"He had read in former times of a Going Fire, called `Ignis Fatuus,' the fire of destiny; by some, `Will with the Wisp,' or `Jack with the Lantern;' and likewise, by some simple country people, `The Fair Maid of Ireland,' which used to lead wandering travellers out of their way." - The Seven Champions of Christendom, i. 7.

   The three tragic stories of the Irish.
(1) The death of the children of Touran; (2) the death of the children of Lir; (3) the death of the children of Usnach.
(O'Flanagan: Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Dublin, vol. i.)
   Dean Ireland's scholarships. Four scholarships of £30 a year in the University of Oxford, founded by Dr. John Ireland, Dean of Westminster, in 1825, for Latin and Greek. They are tenable for four years.
    The same person founded an "Exegetical Professorship" of £800 a year.

Irena The impersonation of Ireland whose inheritance was withheld by the tyrant Grantorto. Sir Artegal (Justice) is sent by the Faërie Queene to succour the distressed lady. Grantorto, or the rebellion of 1580, being slain, she is restored to her throne and reigns in peace. (Spenser: Faërie Queene, v.)