English

Alternative forms

• en-

Prefix

in-

1. Prefixed to certain words to give the senses of in, into, towards, within.

   inhold, intake, inthrill

   inborn, inbound

   infield, infighting, insight, intalk, inwork

Antonyms

• out-

Related terms

Translations

Etymology 2

Borrowing from Latin in-, from Latin in, from Proto-Indo-European *en (cognate to Germanic in-, above). Originally Latin word often passed via borrowing from French in- (e.g. incise, incite, incline, indication), or as French en-.

Prefix

in-

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

Usage notes

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.

Antonyms

• e-
• ex-

Related terms

Etymology 3

From Latin in- ‎(“not”). Sometimes the Latin word has passed through French before reaching English (e.g. incapable, incertainty, inclement, incompatible). Compare un-.

Prefix

in-

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

   Note: Before certain letters, in- becomes:

   • i- before gn, 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. (non-productive) Added to nouns to mean lacking or without

      incredulity

      ineptitude

Related terms

Translations

Related terms

• em-
• en-

See also

• a- (Greek)
• an-
• non-
• un-
• wan-

Catalan

Etymology

From Latin in-.

Prefix

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

Dutch

Pronunciation

Prefix

in-

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

French

Etymology

From Latin in-.

Prefix

in-

1. in-; un- (indicates negation)

Irish

Alternative forms

• (broad) ion-

Prefix

in-

1. en-
2. endo-
3. intra-

Derived terms

Italian

Alternative forms

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

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /in/
• IPA^(key): [iɱ] (before f or v)

Etymology 1

From Latin in ‎(“in”, “into”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₁én.

Prefix

in-

1. (forms verbs) Used to denote derivation.
2. (obsolete, rare) Used as an intensifier.

Usage notes

• 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

From Latin in-, from Proto-Indo-European *n̥-, zero grade form of the sentence negative *ne.

Prefix

in-

1. Used to denote negation or opposition or privation; un-; in-; a-

Usage notes

• 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”) → ‎incolore ‎(“uncoloured”)

Derived terms

Latin

Etymology 1

From Proto-Italic *en-, from Proto-Indo-European *n̥- ‎(“not”), zero-grade form of the negative particle *ne ‎(“not”). Akin to ne-, nē, nī.

Prefix

in-

1. un-, non-, not

Usage notes

Affixed primarily to adjectives.

The spelling of the prefix changes in some situations:

• Before b or p, it becomes im-.

  in- + ‎barba ‎(“beard”) → ‎imberbis ‎(“beardless”)

  in- + ‎patiēns ‎(“patient”) → ‎impatiēns ‎(“impatient”)

• Before l, m, or r, it becomes il-, im-, or ir-, respectively.

  in- + ‎labōrātus ‎(“worked, toilsome”) → ‎illabōrātus ‎(“unworked, uncultivated”)

  in- + ‎mātūrus ‎(“mature”) → ‎immātūrus ‎(“immature”)

  in- + ‎reverēns ‎(“reverent”) → ‎irreverēns ‎(“irreverent”)

• Before gn and sometimes n, it becomes ig-.

  in- + ‎gnārus ‎(“knowlegable”) → ‎ignārus ‎(“ignorant”)

  in- + ‎nōmen ‎(“name”) → ‎ignōminia ‎(“dishonor”)

• Before f or s, it becomes īn-.

  in- + ‎fīnītus ‎(“finite”) → ‎īnfīnītus ‎(“endless, infinite”)

  in- + ‎sānus ‎(“healthy, sane”) → ‎īnsānus ‎(“mad, insane”)

Derived terms

• in- -is

Descendants

• Catalan: in- (sometimes i-, or im- before p, b and m)
• English: in-, ir-, il-
• French: in-
• Portuguese: in-, im- before p, b and m
• Spanish: in- (sometimes i-, or im- before p, b and m)

Etymology 2

From the preposition in.

Prefix

in-

1. in, inside

Usage notes

Affixed primarily to verbs.

For variants, see in- ‎(“not”).

Derived terms

References

• 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, page 301

Old English

Etymology 1

From in ‎(“in”). More at in

Prefix

in-

1. in, into; on, upon

   in- + ‎blāwan ‎(“to blow; to breathe”) → ‎inblāwan ‎(“to inspire, breathe upon”)

   inēodan ‎(“to enter”)

   inēþung ‎(“inspiration”)

2. internal, positioned on the inside, inside

   in- + ‎coþu ‎(“disease, sickness”) → ‎incoþu ‎(“internal disease”)

   indryhten ‎(“distinguished, noble, courtly, excellent”), from indryhtu ‎(“honor, glory, nobility”)

Descendants

• English in-

Etymology 2

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

Prefix

in-

1. (intensifying) very

   in- + ‎frōd ‎(“wise”) → ‎infrōd ‎(“very old, experienced, wise”)

Old Irish

Etymology 1

From Proto-Celtic *eni-. Prefix form of i.

Alternative forms

• en-
• ind-

Prefix

in-

1. in

Derived terms

Usage notes

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

• ad·cota from *in-com-tá-
• ad·fét from *in-fét-
• ad·greinn from *in-grenn-
• ad·snádi from *in-snádi-

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

• as·dloing from *in-dlong-

References

• Rudolf Thurneysen, A Grammar of Old Irish (Dublin, 1946), pp. 518–22

Etymology 2

Prefix

in- ‎(class C infixed pronoun)

1. Alternative form of id-

Portuguese

Alternative forms

• im- (before P or B)
• ir- (before R)

Prefix

in-

1. un-; not

Spanish

Etymology

From Latin in-

Prefix

in-

1. not (negation)

Zulu

Prefix

in- ‎(full noun prefix, basic form n-)

1. Class 9 noun prefix.

Usage notes

The form in- is used in most cases, but im- is used before stems beginning with a labial consonant (m, b or p).

See also