To impart information to; make aware of something: We were informed by mail of the change in plans. The nurse informed me that visiting hours were over.
To acquaint (oneself) with knowledge of a subject.
To give form or character to; imbue with a quality or an essence: "A society's strength is measured by . . . its ability to inform a future generation with its moral standards"(Vanity Fair).
To be a pervasive presence in; animate: "It is this brash, backroom sensibility that informs his work as a novelist"(Jeff Shear).
Obsolete To form (the mind or character) by teaching or training.
v.
intr.
To give or provide information.
To disclose confidential or incriminating information to an authority: The defendant informed against the other members of the ring.
[Middle English enfourmen, informen, from Old French enfourmer, from Latin īnfōrmāre : in-, in; see in-2 + fōrmāre, to fashion (from fōrma, form).]
1320, "to train or instruct in some specific subject," from L. informare "to shape, form, train, instruct, educate," from in- "into" + forma "form." Sense of "report facts or news" first recorded 1386. Informative "instructive" is from 1655. Informer "one who gives information against another" (especially in ref. to law-breaking) is from 1503.
In*form"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Informed; p. pr. & vb. n. Informing.] [OE. enformen, OF. enformer, F. informer. L. informare; pref. in- in + formare to form, share, fr. forma form. See Form.]1. To give form or share to; to give vital ororganizing power to; to give life to; to imbue and actuate with vitality; to animate; to mold; to figure; to fashion. "The informing Word." --Coleridge. Let others better mold the running mass Of metals, and inform the breathing brass. --Dryden. Breath informs this fleeting frame. --Prior. Breathes in our soul,informs our mortal part. --Pope. 2. To communicate knowledge to; to make known to; to acquaint; to advise; to instruct; to tell; to notify; to enlighten; -- usually followed by of. For he would learn their business secretly, And then inform his master hastily. --Spenser. I am informed thoroughky of the cause. --Shak. 3. To communicate a knowledge of facts to,by way of accusation; to warn against anybody. Tertullus . . . informed the governor against Paul. --Acts xxiv. 1. Syn: To acquaint; apprise; tell; teach; instruct; enlighten; animate; fashion.
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