in

Forms

in (+ ablative)^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *en, inherited from Proto-Indo-European *h₁én (“in”).^[2][1] The oldest inscriptions write ⟨en⟩; the change of /en/ to /in/ is regular in unstressed position and before several consonants, and the form with /i/ was then generalized.^[2][3] The ablative construction continues the old locative and the accusative the directional use.^[1]

Cognate with Oscan en and Umbrian -en, Ancient Greek ἐν (en), Old Irish in-, Gothic 𐌹𐌽 (in) and Lithuanian į.^[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It appears in the oldest Latin as en (the Duenos inscription) and as in from the Twelve Tables on.^[2][3][4]

Semantic evolution

With the accusative it marks motion into or onto something, then a change of state, a purpose, a rate (in diēs “from day to day”), feelings towards someone (“against, towards”), and a time (“for, until”).^[3][5] With the ablative it marks position in, on or among something, and time within which something happens.^[3][5] Old poets also used the strengthened forms endo and indu.^[3][5]

As a prefix it keeps its local meanings or adds intensive force (increpō); the negative prefix in- “un-” is a separate element.^[3][2]

Timeline

• 7th–3rd century BC – en on the Duenos inscription.^[2][4]
• c. 450 BC – The form with ⟨i⟩ is used in the Twelve Tables.^[2][4]
• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus has both cases, in manum “into the hand”.^[3][4]

Meanings

Preposition

1. (with accusative) into, onto, to (a place, a group, a state).^[3][5]
2. (with accusative) Towards, against (of feelings or hostile acts).^[3][5]
3. (with accusative) For, until (a time); in diēs, from day to day.^[3]
4. (with accusative) For, with a view to (a purpose); per (a rate).^[3]
5. (with ablative) In, on, at, among.^[3][5]
6. (with ablative) In, during, within (a time).^[3][5]
7. (with ablative) In the case of, in respect of.^[3]

Word family

• inceps
• intimus
• in-
• inter
• intrā
• intus
• intrō

Related words

• endo
• intestīnus
• English in

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b c d e f g Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press