inter

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ɪnˈtɜː/ (UK); /ɪnˈtɚ/ (US)^[1]

Etymology

It is Middle English interen, enteren, borrowed from Old French enterrer (“to bury”),^[2][3][4][5] from Medieval Latin interrare, to put in the earth, from in (“in”) and terra (“earth”) (see terrain).^[2][3][6] MWU notes that the spelling was altered under the influence of Latin in-.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

To deposit a corpse in the earth or a grave: 1303, in Mannyng's Handlyng Synne.^[2][7] Etymonline dates it to about 1300.^[3]

Semantic evolution

Figurative uses are from 1601, as is to place anything in the ground.^[7] Of a tomb, to enclose a corpse, is from 1631.^[7] Interment is from the 14th century.^[4][2] An obsolete noun inter, interment, is from 1513.^[7]

Timeline

• 1303 – to bury a corpse.^[2][7]
• 1513 – inter, interment (noun).^[7]
• 1601 – figurative use.^[7]

Modern meaning

Verb

1. To place a dead body in a grave or tomb; to bury.

Word family

• reinter

Related words

• interment
• disinter
• terrain
• territory
• terrestrial

Usage notes

The Latin preposition inter, between, among, is used in English in a few phrases such as inter alia, and is unrelated.^[7][6]

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
6. ^ a b Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ a b c d e f g h Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press