18

I looked up the definition of the word elation in Webster's Revised Unabridged 1913 dictionary and found the following definition (Page: 476):

Elation

E*la"tion (?), n. [L. elatio. See Elate.] A lifting up by success; exaltation; inriation with pride of prosperity. Felt the elation of triumph." Sir W. Scott."

I had never seen the word inriation before and my subsequent attempts to find a definition failed. It is not listed as a word in the 1913 dictionary, or any others that I've found.

Is there an example of this word in English literature? Is it made-up, a misspelling? I can infer the definition from context, but is there any dictionary where inriation is defined?

Improve this question
0

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
33

inflation with pride of prosperity

It is most likely an OCR error concerning an exotic fl ligature being interpreted as ri -> inflation.

This maybe due to poor inking of the top left quadrant of the ligature in the original, or poor thesholding during the OCR. In either case this would lose the upper branch of the f, but the dot being the f terminal serif would remain.

Reasoning:

  • pride is something which is often said to be pumped up or otherwise swolen or aerated.
  • I studied the OCR errors of noisy, hot-Lead typeset documents as part of my Computer Science doctorate.
Improve this answer
7
  • 5
    I think you're right. The error has been perpetuated though; and at least one scholarly work also reproduces it.
    – Andrew Leach ♦
    Sep 8, 2014 at 22:45
  • 2
    Wow, it's scary that how all these dictionary are inter-linked. I can't find a definition that uses the correct word "inflation"
    – justhalf
    Sep 9, 2014 at 2:04
  • 8
    So... due to a typographical error, inriation has become a word? Now all we gotta do is invent what it means, exactly, so that those dictionary definitions of elation make sense, but so that it's not redundant synonym for inflation...
    – hyde
    Sep 9, 2014 at 4:34
  • Google Books gives some good examples: e.g. "inflation", but also with "variation" (and another "variation"). But you can see the "inflation of mind" definition in an earlier Webster's edition.
    – Dɑvïd
    Sep 9, 2014 at 10:55
  • 1
    @Barmar Yeah, absolutely. I just hope the creator of the original mistake does not become too inriated with fame and start doing it on purpose with other words.
    – hyde
    Sep 16, 2014 at 6:21

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.