Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Inform

In-form′

,
Adj.
[L.
informis
; pref.
in-
not +
forma
form, shape: cf. F.
informe
]
Without regular form; shapeless; ugly; deformed.
Cotton.

In-form′

,
Verb.
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 or organizing 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
thoroughly of the cause.
Shakespeare
3.
To communicate a knowledge of facts to, by way of accusation; to warn against anybody.
Syn. – To acquaint; apprise; tell; teach; instruct; enlighten; animate; fashion.

In-form′

,
Verb.
T.
1.
To take form; to become visible or manifest; to appear.
[Obs.]
It is the bloody business which
informs

Thus to mine eyes.
Shakespeare
2.
To give intelligence or information; to tell.
Shak.
He might either teach in the same manner, or
inform
how he had been taught.
Monthly Rev.
To inform against
,
to communicate facts by way of accusation against; to denounce;
as, two persons came to the magistrate, and
informed against
A
.

Webster 1828 Edition

Inform

INFORM'

,
Verb.
T.
[L. informo, to shape; in and formo, forma, form.]
Properly, to give form or shape to, but in this sense not used.
1.
To animate; to give life to; to actuate by vital powers.
Let others better mold the running mass
Of metals, and inform the breathing brass.
Breath informs this fleeting frame.
--Breathes in our soul, informs our vital part.
[This use is chiefly or wholly poetical.]
2.
To instruct; to tell to; to acquaint; to communicate knowledge to; to make known to by word or writing; usually followed by of. Before we judge, we should be well informed of the facts relating to the case. A messenger arrived and informed the commander of the state of the troops. Letters from Europe inform us of the commencement of hostilities between the Persians and Turks.
3.
To communicate a knowledge of facts to one by way of accusation.
Tertullus informed the governor against Paul. Acts.24.
In this application the verb is usually intransitive; as, A informed against B.

INFORM'

,
Verb.
I.
To give intelligence.
He might either teach in the same manner, or inform how he had been taught--
To inform against, to communicate facts by way of accusation; to give intelligence of a breach of law. Two persons came to the magistrate, and informed against A.

INFORM'

,
Adj.
[L. informis.] Without regular form; shapeless; ugly.

Definition 2024

inform

inform

See also: in form and inform.

English

Alternative forms

Verb

inform ‎(third-person singular simple present 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.
    • Spenser
      For he would learn their business secretly, / And then inform his master hastily.
    • Shakespeare
      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.‎
    • Dryden
      Let others better mould the running mass / Of metals, and inform the breathing brass.
    • Prior
      Breath informs this fleeting frame.
  6. (obsolete, intransitive) To make known, wisely and/or knowledgeably.
  7. (obsolete, transitive) To direct, guide.
  8. (archaic, intransitive) To take form; to become visible or manifest; to appear.
    • Shakespeare
      It is the bloody business which informs / Thus to mine eyes.
Synonyms
Derived terms
Translations

Etymology 2

Latin informis

Adjective

inform ‎(not comparable)

  1. Without regular form; shapeless; ugly; deformed.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Cotton to this entry?)

Anagrams

Etymology

From Middle English informen, enformen, from Old French enformer, informer ‎(“to train, instruct, inform”), from Latin informare ‎(“to shape, form, train, instruct, educate”), from in- ‎(“into”) + forma ‎(“form, shape”), equivalent to in- +‎ form.

Pronunciation

Similar Results