inform
Pronunciation
  • (America) IPA: /ɪnˈfɔɹm/
  • (RP) IPA: /ɪnˈfɔːm/
Etymology 1

From Middle English informen, enformen, borrowed from Old French enformer, informer ("to train, instruct, inform"), from Latin īnfōrmō, from in- ("into") + fōrma ("form, shape"), equivalent to in- + form.

Verb

inform (informs, present participle informing; simple past and past participle informed)

  1. (archaic, transitive) To instruct, train (usually in matters of knowledge).
  2. (transitive) To communicate knowledge to.
    • 1591, Ed[mund] Sp[enser], “Prosopopoia. Or Mother Hubberds Tale.”, in Complaints. Containing Sundrie Small Poemes of the Worlds Vanitie. […], London: […] William Ponsonbie, […], →OCLC ↗:
      For he would learn their business secretly, / And then inform his master hastily.
    • c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC ↗, [Act IV, scene i]:
      I am informed thoroughly of the cause.
  3. (intransitive) To impart information or knowledge.
  4. To act as an informer; denounce.
  5. (transitive) To give form or character to; to inspire (with a given quality); to affect, influence (with a pervading principle, idea etc.).
    His sense of religion informs everything he writes.
    • 1697, Virgil, “The Sixth Book of the Æneis”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC ↗, page 397 ↗, lines 1169-1170:
      Let others better mould the running mass / Of metals, and inform the breathing brass
  6. (obsolete, intransitive) To make known, wisely and/or knowledgeably.
  7. (formal, transitive) To direct, guide.
    Don't forget the code of ethics that informs this profession.
  8. (archaic, intransitive) To take form; to become visible or manifest; to appear.
    • c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC ↗, [Act II, scene i]:
      It is the bloody business which informs / Thus to mine eyes.
Synonyms Translations Translations Translations Translations Adjective

inform (not comparable)

  1. Without regular form; shapeless; ugly; deformed.
    • 1765, Charles Cotton, “Wonders of Peake”, in Poetical Works, page 342:
      Bleak Crags, and naked Hills,
      And the whole Prospect so inform and rude



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