Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Involution
1.
The act of involving or infolding.
2.
The state of being entangled or involved; complication; entanglement.
All things are mixed, and causes blended, by mutual
involutions
. Glanvill.
3.
That in which anything is involved, folded, or wrapped; envelope.
Sir T. Browne.
4.
(Gram.)
The insertion of one or more clauses between the subject and the verb, in a way that involves or complicates the construction.
5.
(Math.)
The act or process of raising a quantity to any power assigned; the multiplication of a quantity into itself a given number of times; – the reverse of
evolution
. 6.
(Geom.)
The relation which exists between three or more sets of points,
a.a´
, b.b´, c.c´
, so related to a point O on the line, that the product Oa.Oa´ = Ob.Ob´ = Oc.Oc´
is constant. Sets of lines or surfaces possessing corresponding properties may be in involution. 7.
(Med.)
The return of an enlarged part or organ to its normal size, as of the uterus after pregnancy.
Webster 1828 Edition
Involution
INVOLU'TION
,Noun.
1.
The action of involving or infolding.2.
The state of being entangled or involved; complication. All things are mixed and causes blended by mutual involutions.
3.
In grammar, the insertion of one or more clauses or members of a sentence between the agent or subject and the verb; a third intervening member within a second, &c; as, habitual falsehood, if we may judge from experience, infers absolute depravity.4.
In algebra, the raising of a quantity from its root to any power assigned. Thus 2x2x2=8. Here 8, the third power of 2, is found in involution, or multiplying the number into itself, and the product by the same number.