In- definition | Dictionary.com

in-

a prefix representing English in (income; indwelling; inland, etc.), but used also as a verb-formative with transitive, intensive, or sometimes little apparent force (intrust; inweave, etc.). It often assumes the same forms as in- ² , such as en-, em-, im- ³ .

Origin:
ME, OE; see in

in-

a prefix of Latin origin meaning primarily “in,” but used also as a verb-formative with the same force as in- ¹ (incarcerate; incantation).

Also, il-, im-, ir-.

Compare em-, en-.

Origin:
< L, comb. form of in (prep.); c. in

in-

a prefix of Latin origin, corresponding to English un-, having a negative or privative force, freely used as an English formative, esp. of adjectives and their derivatives and of nouns (inattention; indefensible; inexpensive; inorganic; invariable). It assumes the same phonetic phases as in- ² (impartial; immeasurable; illiterate; irregular, etc.). In French, it became en- and thus occurs unfelt in such words as enemy (French ennemi, Latin inimicus, lit., not friendly).

Also, il-, im-, ir-.

Origin:
< L; akin to an- ¹ , a- ⁶ , un- ¹

Synonyms:
The prefixes in- and un- may both have, among other uses, a negative force. In- is the form derived from Latin, and is therefore used in learned words or in words derived from Latin or (rarely) Greek: inaccessible, inaccuracy, inadequate, etc. Un- is the native form going back to Old English, used in words of native origin, and sometimes used in combination with words of other origins if these words are in common use: unloving, ungodly, unfeeling, unnecessary, unsafe.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source

Link To In-

en-¹ or em- or in-
pref.

1. To put into or onto: encapsulate.
2. To go into or onto: enplane.
To cover or provide with: enrobe.
To cause to be: endear.
Thoroughly. Used often as an intensive: entangle.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin in-, in; see en in Indo-European roots.]

in-¹ or il- or im- or ir-
pref. Not: inarticulate. Before l, in- is usually assimilated to il-; before r to ir-; and before b, m, and p to im-. See Usage Note at un-¹.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin; see ne in Indo-European roots.]

in-² or il- or im- or ir-
pref.

In; into; within: inundation. Before l, in- is usually assimilated to il-; before r to ir-; and before b, m, and p to im-.
Variant of en-¹.

[Middle English, from Old English (from in, in; see in¹) and from Old French (from Latin, from in, in, within; see en in Indo-European roots).]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

In-

In-\ [See In, prep. Cf. Em-, En-.] A prefix from Eng. prep. in, also from Lat. prep. in, meaning in, into, on, among; as, inbred, inborn, inroad; incline, inject, intrude. In words from the Latin, in- regularly becomes il- before l, ir- before r, and im- before a labial; as, illusion, irruption, imblue, immigrate, impart. In- is sometimes used with an simple intensive force.

In-

In-\ [L. in-; akin to E. un-. See Un-.] An inseparable prefix, or particle, meaning not, non-, un- as, inactive, incapable, inapt. In- regularly becomes il- before l, ir- before r, and im- before a labial.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
Cite This Source

Language Translation for : In-

Spanish: en,

German: in,

Japanese: ～の中に

More Translations »

in- (1)

prefix meaning "not, opposite of, without" (also im-/il-/ir- by assimilation of -n- with following consonant), from L. in- "not," cognate with Gk. an-, O.E. un- (see un- (1)).

in- (2)

prefix meaning "into, in, on, upon" (also im-; il-; ir- by assimilation of -n- with following consonant), from L. in- "in" (see in). In O.Fr. this often became en-, which was usually respelled in Eng. to conform with L., but not always, which accounts for pairs like enquire/inquire. There was a native form, which in W.Saxon usually appeared as on- (cf. O.E. onliehtan "to enlighten"), and some verbs survived into M.E. (cf. inwrite "to inscribe"), but all now seem to be extinct.

in- ¹ or il- or im- or ir-
pref.
Not: invertebrate.

in- ² or il- or im- or ir-
pref.
In; into; within: intubation.

Search another word or see In- on Thesaurus | Reference

About · Privacy Policy · Terms of Use · Advertise with Us · Link to Us · NASCAR® · Contact Us