A Dictionary of Cont..

index 240
is used to qualify a noun it is called an indefinite
adjective.
These words are said to be singular. However,
some of them, such as neither and none,
usually take a plural verb, as in a maid whom
there were none to praise. Others, such as anyone,
everyone, each, usually take a singular
verb, as in has anyone called?. But these, too,
may be followed by a plural verb, especially
when an of-phrase stands between the indefinite
pronoun and the verb, as in each of the men
were willing to contribute, although some grammarians
insist on a singular verb here too.
After a plural verb has been used, the indefinite
word (pronoun or adjective-noun compound)
is treated as plural rather than singular.
That is, it is referred to by they, them, their,
rather than by he, him, his. But it may also be
referred to as they even when a singular verb
has been used, as in everyone was here but they
have left, every boy and girl invites their own
parents, if anyone calls tell them I have gone. A
masculine singular pronoun (he, him, his) is
impossible after but, as in the first illustration;
and pedantic, or ridiculous, after boy and girl,
as in the second. And it is always unidiomatic
English in a statement that is actually about an
indefinite number of individuals some of whom
may be male and some female, although some
textbooks require if anyone calls tell him I have
gone. This use of they, them, their in such constructions
has been standard English for centuries.
The best modern writers, like the great
writers of the past, sometimes use the singular
he and sometimes the plural they, depending
upon the circumstances rather than on any rule
of thumb about the “number” of an indefinite
pronoun.
Some grammarians include among the indefinites
any word which does not have a specific
reference, such as many, few, all, both, much,
other, such. In this book some of these are
treated as number terms and some as individual
words with peculiar uses. See number terms
and the individual words.)
index. The plural is indexes or indices.
indicate; imply. The transitive verbs indicate and
imply can be interchanged if the user clearly
understands the sense he intends. The central
meaning of indicate is to be a sign of, to betoken,
to imply (Booing indicates disapproval
of an umpire’s decisions). But whereas imply
is one of the central definitions of indicate, indicate
is not the central definition of imply.
Primarily, imply means to involve as a necessary
circumstance (Violence implies danger);
secondarily, with reference to words, it means
to signify or to mean (The word “rush” implies
speed) ; and only in its third sense, does it mean
indicate.
A special medical meaning of indicate, to
point out a particular remedy or course of treatment
as necessary (Absolute rest was indicated),
has been taken up into general use and
is at present something of a vogue word (Zncreased
taxation wus indicated). See also imply;
infer.
indicative mode. The ordinary verb forms used
in statements or questions about matters of fact
are called indicative forms. See mode.
indices. See index.
indict; indite. These transitive verbs sound alike
but have different meanings. Zndict is a legal
term which means to charge with an offense or
crime (What will you do if the grand jury
indicts you for perjury? Let anyone who will
indict him on the charge of frivolitv). Indict is
a thoroughly serviceable word with ‘no acceptable
substitute. But indite is a fancy literary
term, meaning to compose or to write or to
dictate what someone else is to write down, and
almost any substitute for it is preferable. When
a modern writer says indite, he should smile.
The last serious inditing went on in the seventeenth
century.
indigent. See poor.
indirect discourse. See tense shit.
indirect object. The direct object of a verb is a
noun or noun equivalent that is essential to the
meaning of the verb, as lie in he told a lie.
Without an object of some kind he told is a
meaningless statement. An indirect object is not
essential to the meaning of the verb but shows
the person or thing affected by the total action.
As a rule an indirect object represents a person,
as me ‘in he told me a lie, but it may also represent
a thing, as it in give it some thought. In
Latin this function is shown by a dative case
ending, which has the meaning of to or toward.
In English the indirect object is sometimes
called “the dative of interest or reference,” but
the function is shown by the position of the
word in the sentence.
In a normal English sentence the indirect
object stands between the verb and the direct
object, as in give her a book. If the direct object
is moved forward the indirect object remains
attached to the verb, as in what did you give
her?. In a compound verb, it stands between the
verb and the adverb, as them in fix them up a
box lunch. See adverbs.
The meaning of the indirect object can also
be expressed by a prepositional phrase using to
or for (or occasionally on, in, or from). Some
verbs, such as speak, explain, attribute, cannot
be followed by an indirect object and so require
a prepositional phrase to express this relation.
A prepositional phrase must also be used with
a relative or interrogative pronoun, as in who
did you give the book to?, since these words
always precede the verb and so cannot stand in
the indirect object position.
Whether a word is a direct or an indirect
object sometimes makes a difference in the
meaning of a sentence. When a verb is followed
by two noun equivalents, the first may be an
indirect object and the second a direct object,
or the first may be a direct object and the
second an objective complement. (See object of
a verb.) Both of these constructions are seen in
the witticism: the woman who makes a man a
good wife also makes him a good husband.
Here man is an indirect object and could be
replaced by the phrase to a man or for u man;