Ice Plant. Found in South Africa, and so called on account of its glittering, watery vesicles which give it the appearance of being covered with ice.
Ich Dien. German for “I serve.” The motto assumed by Edward the Black Prince after he found it under the plume of John, King of Bohemia, slain by him at the battle of Cressy.
Iconoclast. An image breaker, from the Greek eikon, image, and klazo, I break.
Idolater. From the Greek eidolon, a figure, and latres, worshipper. The root of this word, eidein, to see, furnishes the key to its true meaning. An idolater is one who worships that which he sees, not on account of its intrinsic worth, but because it is a visible representation, or it may be merely a symbol, of the deity that he is taught to venerate.
Idol Lane. Said to be a corruption of Idle Lane, because this was perhaps the only thoroughfare in the neighbourhood not given up to business--i.e. either as a market or a hive of industrious artisans.
Il Bassano. See “[Bassano].”
Il Furioso. The sobriquet of Jacopo Robusti, better known as “Tintoretto,” owing to the rapidity with which he turned out his wonderful paintings.
Iliad. The title of Homer’s epic treating of the destruction of Troy; originally called Illium, after Ilos, the founder of the city.
I’ll be through directly. An Americanism for “I’ll be ready very soon,” or “I’ll have it finished directly.”
Illinois. The Indian illini, men, with the French suffix oix, a tribe.