English edit

Etymology 1 edit

PIE word
*h₁én

From Middle English in-, from Old English in- (in, into, prefix), from Proto-Germanic *in, from Proto-Indo-European *h₁én. More at in.

Alternative forms edit

Prefix edit

in-

  1. in, into, towards, within.
    inhold, inmove, intake, inthrill
    inborn, inbound
    infield, infighting, insight, intalk, inwork
    1. Inward (direction)
      inbeat is occurring on an inward beat, inbend is to bend or curve inwards, incave is to cave inward
    2. Within (position)
      inbreed is to produce or generate within, inburning is burning within, incircle is a circle within a polygon
Synonyms edit
Antonyms edit
Derived terms edit
terms derived from in-: toward
Translations edit

Etymology 2 edit

From Middle English in-, borrowed (in words of Latinate origin) from Latin in-, from Latin in, from Proto-Indo-European *en (cognate to Germanic in-, above). Often borrowed from French in- (e.g. incise, incite, incline, indication), or as French en-, originally from Latin in.

Prefix edit

in-

  1. in, into
    Note: Before certain letters, in- becomes:
    1. Into
      imband is to form into a band or bands, imbar is to bar in, imbarn is to store in a barn
    2. Doing; forming verbs.
      inbland is to blend, inblind is to make blind, incloister is to cloister
    3. Having, possessing
      imbannered is having banners, inaureole is to have a halo, incarnate is be crimson
Usage notes edit

In direction sense, used in Latinate terms, and opposed by ex-, e-, rather than Germanic out-; senses not always strict antonyms. Examples include infiltrate/exfiltrate, ingress/egress, invade/evade.

Synonyms edit
Antonyms edit
Derived terms edit
terms derived from in-: direction
terms derived from in-: tendency

Etymology 3 edit

PIE word
*ne

From Middle English in-, borrowed (in words of latinate origin) from Latin in- (not). Sometimes the Latin word has passed through French before reaching English (e.g. incapable, incertainty, inclement, incompatible). Doublet of un-.

Prefix edit

in-

  1. (non-productive) Used with certain words to reverse their meaning.
    Note: Before certain letters, in- becomes:
    1. (non-productive) Added to adjectives to mean not.
      inedible
      inaccurate
    2. Added to nouns to mean lacking or without.
      incredulity
      ineptitude
    3. Cannot, unable.
      inannihilable is that cannot be annihilated, inappellable is that cannot be appealed against, inassimilable is that cannot be assimilated
Synonyms edit
Derived terms edit
terms derived from in-: reversing meaning
Related terms edit
Translations edit

See also edit

Anagrams edit

Catalan edit

Etymology edit

Borrowed from Latin in- (un-, not).

Prefix edit

in- (before l il-, before b, m, or p im-, before r ir-)

  1. in-; un- (reversal of meaning or lack of an attribute)

Derived terms edit

Dutch edit

Etymology edit

From in.

Pronunciation edit

  • (file)

Prefix edit

in-

  1. prepended to a noun or adjective, it reinforces the quality signified thereby
  2. prepended to an adjective to negate its meaning; occurs mostly in borrowed terms from French: in-, un-

Derived terms edit

French edit

Etymology edit

Borrowed from Latin in- (un-, not).

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): (before a consonant) /ɛ̃/, (before a vowel) /in/
  • (file)

Prefix edit

in-

  1. in-; un- (indicates negation)

Derived terms edit

German edit

Pronunciation edit

Etymology 1 edit

Ultimately from Proto-Germanic *in, from Proto-Indo-European *en. More at in and inne-.

Prefix edit

in-

  1. (rare, only in nouns) in, inside, interior
    in- + ‎Land (land) → ‎Inland (domestic territory)
    in- + ‎Schrift (writing) → ‎Inschrift (inscription)
    in- + ‎Sasse (someone who sits) → ‎Insasse (passenger, inhabitant)
    in- + ‎Begriff (concept) → ‎Inbegriff (embodiment)
Usage notes edit
Alternative forms edit
Related terms edit

Etymology 2 edit

Borrowed from Latin in-.

Prefix edit

in-

  1. (rarely productive, only with Latinate stems) in, into
    in- + ‎filtrieren (to filter) → ‎infiltrieren (to infiltrate)

Etymology 3 edit

Borrowed from Latin in-.

Prefix edit

in-

  1. (rarely productive, only with Latinate stems) in-, un- (indicates negation)
    Synonyms: un-, nicht-
    in- + ‎konsequent (consistent) → ‎inkonsequent (inconsistent)
Derived terms edit

Further reading edit

  • in-” in Duden online
  • in-” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache

Gothic edit

Romanization edit

in-

  1. Romanization of 𐌹𐌽-

Indonesian edit

Etymology edit

From Dutch in-, from French in-, from Latin in- (un-, not).

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): [ɪn]
  • Hyphenation: in

Prefix edit

in-

  1. in-: used with certain words to reverse their meaning.

Derived terms edit

Further reading edit

Irish edit

Etymology 1 edit

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Prefix edit

in-

  1. capable of, fit for, fit to be
    Antonym: do-

Etymology 2 edit

From i, in (in).

Prefix edit

in-

  1. en-, in-, il-, im-, ir-
  2. endo-
  3. intra-
Alternative forms edit

Derived terms edit

Mutation edit

Irish mutation
Radical Eclipsis with h-prothesis with t-prothesis
in- n-in- hin- t-in-
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

Further reading edit

  • Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977) “in-”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla, Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN
  • Entries containing “in-” in New English-Irish Dictionary by Foras na Gaeilge.

Italian edit

Alternative forms edit

  • im- (assimilated form before b-/m-/p-)
  • il- (assimilated form before l-)
  • ir- (assimilated form before r-)

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /in/
    • Hyphenation: in-
  • IPA(key): [iɱ] (before f or v)
  • IPA(key): [iŋ] (before c or g)

Etymology 1 edit

From Latin in-, a prefixation of in (in, into), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₁én.

Prefix edit

in-

  1. (forms verbs) used to denote derivation
  2. (obsolete, rare) used as an intensifier
Usage notes edit
  • The prefix is used together with a verbal ending suffix to derive causative verbs from adjectives or nouns:
Examples:
in- + ‎arido (dry”, “arid) → ‎inaridire (to parch”, “to dry up)
in- + ‎fiamma (flame) → ‎infiammare (to enflame”, “to kindle)
  • When used with verbs, it's usually a reflection of derivation in Latin, and retains the original meaning of “into”, “inside”:
Example:
in- + ‎fondere → ‎infondere (to infuse”, “to instill) (cfr. Latin īnfundere)
  • In some cases, the meaning of “into” can also be found in verbs of modern derivation:
Example:
in- + ‎carcere (jail”, “prison) → ‎incarcerare (to imprison”, “to incarcerate)

Etymology 2 edit

From Latin in- (un-, not), from Proto-Indo-European *n̥-, zero grade form of the sentence negative *ne.

Prefix edit

in-

  1. used to denote negation or opposition or privation; un-; in-; a-
Usage notes edit
  • The suffix is usually found in adjectives (and nouns therefrom derived):
Examples:
in- + ‎coerente (coherent”, “consistent) → ‎incoerente (incoherent”, “inconsistent)
in- + ‎abile (able”, “capable) → ‎inabile (unable”, “incapable)
in- + ‎felice (happy) → ‎infelice (unhappy)
in- + ‎desiderabile (desirable; advisable) → ‎indesiderabile (undesirable, unwelcome)
  • More rarely, it is found in adjectives derived from nouns:
Example:
in- + ‎colore (colour/color) → ‎incolore (uncoloured/uncolored)
Derived terms edit

Anagrams edit

Latin edit

Pronunciation edit

Etymology 1 edit

From Proto-Italic *ən-, from Proto-Indo-European *n̥- (not), zero-grade form of the negative particle *ne (not). Akin to ne-, , .[1]

Prefix edit

in-

  1. un-, non-, not
Usage notes edit

Affixed primarily to adjectives.

The pronunciation or spelling of the prefix may be changed in some situations:

  • Before b, p or m, it may become im-. The spelling in- is also found in this context.
    in- + ‎barba (beard) → ‎imberbis (beardless) or inberbis.
    in- + ‎patiēns (patient) → ‎impatiēns (impatient) or inpatiēns.
    in- + ‎mātūrus (mature) → ‎immātūrus (immature) or inmātūrus.
  • Before l or r, it may become il- or ir-, respectively. These assimilations only became usual in post-Augustan Latin: until a late date, the usual Roman spellings were inl- and inr-.[2]
    in- + ‎labōrātus (worked, toilsome) → ‎illabōrātus (unworked, uncultivated) (post-Augustan) or inlabōrātus.
    in- + ‎reverēns (reverent) → ‎irreverēns (irreverent) (post-Augustan) or inreverēns.
  • Before gn and sometimes n, it becomes ig- (pronounced [ɪŋ-]).
    in- + ‎gnārus (knowlegable) → ‎ignārus (ignorant)
    in- + ‎nōmen (name) → ‎ignōminia (dishonor)
  • Before f or s, it becomes īn- (pronounced [ĩː-]).
    in- + ‎fīnītus (finite) → ‎īnfīnītus (endless, infinite)
    in- + ‎sānus (healthy, sane) → ‎īnsānus (mad, insane)
  • Before g, c or q, the spelling remains in-, but the pronunciation becomes [ɪŋ-].
Derived terms edit
Descendants edit
  • Catalan: in- (sometimes i-, or im- before p, b and m)
  • French: in-
  • Italian: in-
  • Middle English: in-
  • Portuguese: in- (im- before p or b, i- before l, n, or m, and ir- before r)
  • Sicilian: n- (m- before p, b or m, il- before l, and ir- before r)
  • Spanish: in- (im- before p or b, i- before l, and ir- before r)

Etymology 2 edit

Prefixation of the preposition in.[3]

Alternative forms edit

Prefix edit

in-

  1. Prepositional prefix, generally attached to verbs to derive new verbs with a range of meanings.
    1. in, within, inside
      in- + ‎hālō (breathe) → ‎inhālō (breathe in, inhale)
    2. against; into; on, upon; to, towards
      in- + ‎gradior (step, go) → ‎ingredior (go into, enter)
      in- + ‎nūbō (marry) → ‎innūbō (marry into)
      in- + ‎cadō (fall) → ‎incidō (fall into, fall upon)
      in- + ‎pangō (set, fix, settle, fasten) → ‎impingō (fasten upon, dash against, strike against)
      in- + ‎flīgō (strike) → ‎īnflīgō (strike on, strike against, inflict, impose upon)
      in- + ‎vocō (call) → ‎invocō (call on, call upon, invoke)
    3. Used as an intensifier.
      in- + ‎crepō (I rattle) → ‎increpō (I rattle, rebuke)
    4. Attached to inchoative verbs, can express the sense of a change being started or reaching partial completion
      in- + ‎ārēscō (I am drying, am growing drier) → ‎inārēscō (I start becoming dry, become somewhat dry)[4]
Usage notes edit

Affixed primarily to verbs.

The same spelling rules apply as for Etymology 1 above; see the usage notes there.

Not to be confused with Etymology 1 above, which means "not".

Derived terms edit
Descendants edit

Etymology 3 edit

From Proto-Indo-European *énu (along, after). Cognate with Sanskrit अनु (ánu-, after), Avestan 𐬀𐬥𐬎 (anu, after; corresponding to), Old Persian 𐎠𐎵𐎺 (a-nu-v /⁠anuv⁠/), and Gothic 𐌹𐌽𐌿 (inu, without) (whose meaning developed “along” > “past” > “without”).[5]

Alternative forms edit

Prefix edit

in-

  1. after
Derived terms edit

References edit

  1. ^ Walde, Alois, Hofmann, Johann Baptist (1938) “1. in-”, in Lateinisches etymologisches Wörterbuch (in German), 3rd edition, volume 1, Heidelberg: Carl Winter, page 676f.
  2. ^ William Gardner Hale and Carl Darling Buck, 1903. Latin Grammar, page 25
  3. ^ Walde, Alois, Hofmann, Johann Baptist (1938) “2. in”, in Lateinisches etymologisches Wörterbuch (in German), 3rd edition, volume 1, Heidelberg: Carl Winter, page 677f.
  4. ^ Haverling, Gerd. "On Prefixes and Actionality in Classical and Late Latin." Acta Linguistica Hungarica, vol. 50, no. 1–2, 2003, pp. 113–35, http://www.jstor.org/stable/26189816. Accessed 6 Apr. 2022. Page 117
  5. ^ Dunkel, George E. (2014) Lexikon der indogermanischen Partikeln und Pronominalstämme [Lexicon of Indo-European Particles and Pronominal Stems] (Indogermanische Bibliothek. 2. Reihe: Wörterbücher) (in German), volume 2: Lexikon, Heidelberg: Universitätsverlag Winter GmbH Heidelberg, →ISBN, pages 241-44

Further reading edit

  • in-”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
  • De Vaan, Michiel (2008) Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 7), Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, page 301

Maltese edit

Pronunciation edit

Article edit

in-

  1. Alternative form of il-

Usage notes edit

  • Used before the letter n. For details on usage, see the main lemma.

Northern Ndebele edit

Etymology edit

From Proto-Bantu *jɪ̀-n-.

Prefix edit

in-

  1. Class 9 noun prefix.

Usage notes edit

The variant form im- is used before stems beginning with a labial consonant (b, f, m, p, v).

Ojibwe edit

Initial edit

in- (root)

  1. Alternative form of iN-

Prefix edit

in-

  1. Alternative form of nin-

See also edit

Old English edit

Pronunciation edit

Etymology 1 edit

From in (in). More at in.

Prefix edit

in-

  1. in, into
    in- + ‎ēþung (breathing) → ‎inēþung (inspiration)
  2. internal, inside
    in- + ‎coþu (disease) → ‎incoþu (internal disease)
    in- + ‎weorc (work) → ‎inweorc (indoor work)
Descendants edit
  • Middle English: in-

Etymology 2 edit

From Proto-Germanic *in- (strong, adj), from Proto-Indo-European *indʰro- (swelling; strong), from *oyd- (to swell).

Prefix edit

in-

  1. (intensifying) very
    in- + ‎frōd (wise) → ‎infrōd (very wise)
    in- + ‎dryhten (noble) → ‎indryhten (very noble)
Derived terms edit

Old Irish edit

Etymology 1 edit

From conflated Proto-Celtic *en- and Proto-Celtic *eni-; these two are variants of the same prefix. Prefix form of i. Conflated with ind- quite early.

Alternative forms edit

Prefix edit

in-

  1. in
Usage notes edit

Very frequently replaced by ad- in pretonic position in verbs where the meaning ‘in’ is not transparent, e.g.:

Sometimes replaced by as- in pretonic position in verbs where the meaning ‘in’ is not transparent, e.g.:

Derived terms edit

References edit

Etymology 2 edit

From Proto-Celtic *an-. In is the regular outcome of *an before voiced stops unless lowered to an via a-affection.

Prefix edit

in-

  1. Alternative form of an- (un-, not)
Usage notes edit

Used before d and g and occasionally other sounds.[1]

Derived terms edit

References edit

  1. ^ Thurneysen, Rudolf (1940, reprinted 2003) D. A. Binchy and Osborn Bergin, transl., A Grammar of Old Irish, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, →ISBN, § 872, page 544

Etymology 3 edit

Prefix edit

in- (class C infixed pronoun)

  1. Alternative form of id-

Portuguese edit

Alternative forms edit

  • im- (before p or b)
  • ir- (before r)
  • i- (before m, n or l)

Etymology edit

Borrowed from Latin in- (un-, not).

Prefix edit

in-

  1. un-; not

Derived terms edit

Spanish edit

Alternative forms edit

  • im- (before p or b)
  • ir- (before r)
  • i- (before l)

Etymology edit

Borrowed from Latin in- (un-, not).

Prefix edit

in-

  1. not (negation)

Derived terms edit

Further reading edit

Swazi edit

Etymology edit

From Proto-Bantu *jɪ̀-n-.

Prefix edit

in-

  1. Class 9 noun prefix.

Usage notes edit

The variant form im- is used before stems beginning with a labial consonant (b, f, m, p, v).

Tagalog edit

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /ʔin/, [ʔɪn]
  • Hyphenation: in-

Prefix edit

in- (Baybayin spelling ᜁᜈ᜔)

  1. Prefix form of -in-.

Derived terms edit

Xhosa edit

Etymology edit

From Proto-Bantu *jɪ̀-n-.

Prefix edit

in-

  1. Class 9 noun prefix.

Usage notes edit

The variant form im- is used before stems beginning with a labial consonant (b, f, m, p, v).

Zulu edit

Etymology edit

From Proto-Bantu *jɪ̀-n-.

Prefix edit

ín-

  1. Class 9 noun prefix.

Usage notes edit

The variant form im- is used before stems beginning with a labial consonant (b, f, m, p, v). Before l, m or n, the prefix becomes i-.

References edit