elations, and whose action when associated
tends to ultimate extinction of one by the other. _Inconsistent_ applies
to things that can not be made to agree in thought with each other, or
with some standard of truth or right; slavery and freedom are
_inconsistent_ with each other in theory, and _incompatible_ in fact.
_Incongruous_ applies to relations, _unsuitable_ to purpose or use; two
colors are _incongruous_ which can not be agreeably associated; either
may be _unsuitable_ for a person, a room, or an occasion.
_Incommensurable_ is a mathematical term, applying to two or more
quantities that have no common measure or aliquot part.

Antonyms:

accordant, agreeing, compatible, consistent, harmonious, suitable.

Preposition:

The illustrations were incongruous _with_ the theme.

* * * * *

INDUCTION.

Synonyms:

deduction, inference.

_Deduction_ is reasoning from the general to the particular; _induction_
is reasoning from the particular to the general. _Deduction_ proceeds
from a general principle through an admitted instance to a conclusion.
_Induction_, on the other hand, proceeds from a number of collated
instances, through some attribute common to them all, to a general
principle. The proof of an _induction_ is by using its conclusion as the
premise of a new _deduction_. Thus what is ordinarily known as
scientific _induction_ is a constant interchange of _induction_ and
_deduction_. In _deduction_, if the general rule is true, and the
special case falls under the rule, the conclusion is certain;
_induction_ can ordinarily give no more than a probable conclusion,
because we can never be sure that we have collated all instances. An
_induction_ is of the nature of an _inference_, but while an _inference_
may be partial and hasty, an _induction_ is careful, and aims to be
complete. Compare DEMONSTRATION; HYPOTHESIS.

* * * * *

INDUSTRIOUS.

Synonyms:

active, busy, employed, occupied,
assiduous, diligent, engaged, sedulous.

_Industrious_ signifies zealously or habitually applying oneself to any
work or business. _Busy_ applies to an activity which may be temporary,
_industrious_ to a habit of life. We say a man is _busy_ just now; that
is, _occupied_ at the moment with something that takes his full
attention. It would be ridiculous or satirical to say, he is
_industrious_ just now. But _busy_ can be used