Chapter Irrefragable Doctor to Isinglass of I by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Irrefragable Doctor to Isinglass

Irrefragable Doctor Alexander Hales, an English friar, founder of the scholastic theology (thirteenth century).

Irrelevant is not to relieve, not to lighten. Irrelevant matter is that which does not help to bear the burden or make it lighter; something not pertinent or not material to the point in question. (Latin levis, light.)

Irresistible Alexander the Great went to consult the Delphic oracle before he started on his expedition against Persia. He chanced, however, to arrive on a day when no responses were made. Nothing daunted, he went in search of the Pythia, and when she refused to attend, took her to the temple by force. "Son," said the priestess, "thou art irresistible." "Enough," cried Alexander; "I accept your words as my response."

Irritable Genus (The) or the "Genus irritabile" (Horace: Epistles, ii. 2, 102). Poets, and authors generally.

"It [publishers'] is a wrathful trade, and the irritable genus comprehends the bookselling as well as the book-writing species." - Sir W. Scott: The Monastery (Int.).

Irspilles Felles Skins having bristly hair like that of goats. (Hircipilus - i.e. "goat's hair." (Festus.) A fell is Anglo-Saxon for "skin," like the Latin pell- is, English peel. Thus we say still a "wool-fell." Shakespeare speaks of "a fell of hair" (Macbeth, v. 5). Fellmonger, a dealer in skins.

Irtish Ferry To cross the Irtish ferry is to be laid on the shelf. The ferry of the Irtish is crossed by those who are exiled to Siberia. It is regarded in Russia as the ferry of political death.

Irus The beggar of gigantic stature, who kept watch over the suitors of Penelope. His real name was Arneos, but the suitors nicknamed him Iros because he carried their messages for them. Ulysses, on his return, felled him to the ground with a single blow, and flung him out of doors.
   Poorer than Irus. A Greek proverb, adopted by the Romans (see Ovid), and existing in the French language ("Plus pauvre qu'Irus"), alluding to the beggar referred to above.

Irvingites (3 syl.). The self-styled Catholic Apostolic Church, founded by the Rev. Edward Irving in 1829; they believed in the gift of tongues.

Isaac A hedge-sparrow, a corruption of Chaucer's word, heisuagge. (Anglo-Saxon, heag, hedge; sugga, the sugga bird.)

Isaac of York The Jew in Ivanhoe, and father of Rebecca. (Sir Walter Scott.)

Isabel called She-wolf of France. The adulterous queen of Edward II., daughter of Philippe IV. (le Bel) of France. According to tradition, she murdered her royal husband by thrusting a hot iron into his bowels.

"Mark the year and mark the night
When Severn shall re-echo with affright
The shrieks of death through Berkley's roofs that ring.
Shrieks of an agonising king.
She-wolf of France, with unrelenting fangs,
That tearst the bowels of thy mangled mate!"
Gray: The Bard.

   Isabel. The Spanish form of Elizabeth. The French form is Isabelle.

Isabella Princess of Sicily, in love with Robert le Diable, but promised in marriage to the prince of Granada, who challenged Robert to mortal combat. Robert was allured from the combat by his fiend-father, but when Alice told him that Isabella "the princess is waiting for him at the altar," a struggle took place between Bertram and Alice, the one trying to drag the duke to the infernal regions, and the other trying to win him to the ways of virtue. Alice prevailed, but the audience is not informed whether Robert married Isabella or not. (Meyerbeer's opera, Robert il Diavolo.)
   Isabella, daughter of Hercules, Duke of Ferrarë, sister of Alfonso and Ippolito, and wife of Francisco Gonzago, lord of Mantua.

Isabella (See Pot Of Basil .)

Isabelle or Isabella (in Orlando Furioso). Daughter of the king of Galicia, in love with Zerbino; but, being a pagan, Zerbino could not marry her. Zerbino induces her to quit her native land, and gives Odorico