in-

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Etymology 1

From Middle English in-, from Old English in-, from Proto-Germanic *in, from Proto-Indo-European *h₁én.

Prefix

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

• (within) intra-, en-/em-/im-, end-/endo-/ento-

Antonyms

• (antonym(s) of “within”): out-, ex-, exo-, ecto-

Translations

• French: in- en-
• Italian: in-
• Portuguese: em-, in-

Etymology 2

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).

Prefix

1. in, into

   Note: Before certain letters, in- becomes:

   • il- before l, e.g. illusion
   • im- before b, m, or p, e.g. imperil
   • ir- before r, e.g. irrigate

   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.

      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

Synonyms

• (within) intra-, en-/em-/im-, end-/endo-

Antonyms

• (antonym(s) of “within”): out-, ex-, exo-, ecto-

Etymology 3

From Middle English in-, borrowed (in words of latinate origin) from Latin in-.

Prefix

1. (non-productive) Used with certain words to reverse their meaning.

   Note: Before certain letters, in- becomes:

   • ig- before n, e.g. ignoble
   • il- before l, e.g. illegal
   • im- before b, m, or p, e.g. improper
   • ir- before r, e.g. irresistible

   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

• (not) a-, an-, dys-, i-/il-/im-/ir-, mal-, non-, un-

Related terms

• em-
• en-

Translations

• French: in-
• Italian: in-
• Portuguese: in-
• Russian: не
• Spanish: in-

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