1. To bring in as new; to introduce as a novelty; as, to innovate a word or an act. [Archaic]
2. To change or alter by introducing something new; to remodel; to revolutionize. [Archaic] Burton.
From his attempts upon the civil power, he proceeds
to innovate God's worship.
South. Innovate
(In"no*vate), v. i. To introduce novelties or changes; — sometimes with in or on. Bacon.
Every man, therefore, is not fit to innovate.
Dryden. Innovation
(In`no*va"tion) n. [L. innovatio; cf. F. innovation.]
1. The act of innovating; introduction of something new, in customs, rites, etc. Dryden.
2. A change effected by innovating; a change in customs; something new, and contrary to established
customs, manners, or rites. Bacon.
The love of things ancient doth argue stayedness, but levity and want of experience maketh apt unto
innovations.
Hooker. 3. (Bot.) A newly formed shoot, or the annually produced addition to the stems of many mosses.
Innovationist
(In`no*va"tion*ist), n. One who favors innovation.
Innovative
(In"no*va*tive) a. Characterized by, or introducing, innovations. Fitzed. Hall.
Innovator
(In"no*va`tor) n. [Cf. F. innovateur.] One who innovates. Shak.
Innoxious
(In*nox"ious) a. [L. innoxius. See In- not, and Noxious.]
1. Free from hurtful qualities or effects; harmless. "Innoxious flames." Sir K. Digby.
2. Free from crime; pure; innocent. Pope.
— In*nox`ious*ly, adv. — In*nox"ious*ness, n.
Innubilous
(In*nu"bi*lous) a. [L. innubilus. See Nubilous.] Cloudless. [Obs.] Blount.
Innuendo
(In`nu*en"do) n.; pl. Innuedoes [L., by intimation, by hinting, gerund of innuere, innutum, to
give a nod, to intimate; pref. in- in, to + -nuere (in comp.) to nod. See Nutation.]
1. An oblique hint; a remote allusion or reference, usually derogatory to a person or thing not named; an
insinuation.
Mercury . . . owns it a marriage by an innuendo.
Dryden.
Pursue your trade of scandal picking;
Your innuendoes, when you tell us,
That Stella loves to talk with
fellows.
Swift. 2. (Law) An averment employed in pleading, to point the application of matter otherwise unintelligible; an
interpretative parenthesis thrown into quoted matter to explain an obscure word or words; — as, the
plaintiff avers that the defendant said that he (innuendo the plaintiff) was a thief. Wharton.
The term is so applied from having been the introductory word of this averment or parenthetic explanation
when pleadings were in Latin. The word "meaning" is used as its equivalent in modern forms.
