f Matter, in Philosophy, is defined by Sir Isaac Newton to be a passive principle by which bodies persist in their motion or rest, receive motion in proportion to the force impelling it, and resist as much as they are resisted. It is also defined by the same author to be a power implanted in all matter, whereby it resists any change endeavoured to be made in its state. See Mechanics.

INESSE is applied to things which are actually existing.

Authors make a difference between a thing in esse, and a thing in posse: a thing that is not, but may be, they say is in posse, or potentia; but a thing apparent and visible, they say is in esse; that is, has a real being eo instanti; whereas the other is casual, and at best but a possibility.

INFALISTACIO, an ancient punishment of felons, by throwing them among the rocks and sands, customarily used in port-towns. It is the opinion of some writers, that infalstatus did imply some capital punishment, by exposing the malefactor upon the land till the next tide carried him away; of which custom, it is said, there is an old tradition. However, the penalty seems to take its name from the Norman falefe, or falefa, which signified not the sands, but the rocks and cliffs adjoining, or impending on the sea-shore. Committit feloniam ob quam fuit suspensus, utegatus, vel alio modo morti damnatus, &c. vel apud Dover infalstatus, apud Southampton submersus, &c.