in-¹

a prefix representing English in (income; indwelling; inland , etc.), but used also as a verb-formative with transitive, intensive, or sometimes little apparent force (intrust; inweave , etc.). It often assumes the same forms as in-² , such as en-, em-, im-³ .

Origin

Middle English, Old English; see in

in-²

a prefix of Latin origin meaning primarily “in,” but used also as a verb-formative with the same force as in-^1. (incarcerate; incantation).

Also, il-, im-, ir-.

Compare em-, en-

Origin

< Latin, combining form of in (preposition); cognate with in

in-³

a prefix of Latin origin, corresponding to English un-, having a negative or privative force, freely used as an English formative, especially of adjectives and their derivatives and of nouns (inattention; indefensible; inexpensive; inorganic; invariable). It assumes the same phonetic phases as in-^2. (impartial; immeasurable; illiterate; irregular , etc.). In French, it became en- and thus occurs unfelt in such words as enemy (French ennemi, Latin inimicus, lit., not friendly).

Also, il-, im-, ir-.

Origin

< Latin; akin to an-¹, a-⁶, un-¹

Synonym Study

The prefixes in- and un- may both have, among other uses, a negative force. In- is the form derived from Latin, and is therefore used in learned words or in words derived from Latin or (rarely) Greek: inaccessible, inaccuracy, inadequate, etc. Un- is the native form going back to Old English, used in words of native origin, and sometimes used in combination with words of other origins if these words are in common use: unloving, ungodly, unfeeling, unnecessary, unsafe.

Examples from the web for in-

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While the generals on both sides deliberated, troops in blue and gray fidgeted.
Clearance items and overstocks in all of our departments.
Scientists have come to some surprising conclusions about the world and our place in it.
Lying in bed, you're totally conscious, and you realize that strange things are happening.
Kids can print detailed illustrations of polar bears and other animals to color or use in school projects.
Print detailed illustrations of giant tree frogs and other animals to color or use in school projects.
Print detailed illustrations of marine iguanas and other animals to color or use in school projects.
Print detailed illustrations of great white sharks and other animals to color or use in school projects.
Print detailed illustrations of river otters and other animals to color or use in school projects.

British Dictionary definitions for in-

in-¹

prefix

not; non-: incredible, insincere, illegal, imperfect, irregular Compare un-¹

Word Origin

from Latin in-; related to ne-, nōn not

in-²

prefix

in; into; towards; within; on: infiltrate, immigrate

having an intensive or causative function: inflame, imperil

Word Origin

from in (prep, adv)

Word Origin and History for in-

prefix meaning "not, opposite of, without" (also im-, il-, ir- by assimilation of -n- with following consonant), from Latin in- "not," cognate with Greek an-, Old English un-, from PIE *ne "not" (see un- (1)).

element meaning "into, in, on, upon" (also im-, il-, ir- by assimilation of -n- with following consonant), from Latin in- "in" (see in). In Old French this often became en-, which usually was respelled in English to conform with Latin, but not always, which accounts for pairs like enquire/inquire. There was a native form, which in West Saxon usually appeared as on- (cf. Old English onliehtan "to enlighten"), and some verbs survived into Middle English (cf. inwrite "to inscribe"), but all now seem to be extinct. Not related to in- (1) "not," which also was a common prefix in Latin: to the Romans impressus could mean "pressed" or "unpressed."

in- in Medicine

in- ¹ or il- or im- or ir-
pref.
Not: invertebrate.

in- ² or il- or im- or ir-
pref.
In; into; within: intubation.