in-
in-1 in, into, on
Pronunciation
Forms
in- (assimilated il- before l, im- before b, m and p, ir- before r, i- before gn)[2][3]
Etymology
The local prefix is inherited from Proto-Italic *en- (“in”), the preposition in used in compounds.[1][2] Like the preposition, it continues Proto-Indo-European *h₁(e)n (“in”); ⟨en⟩ became ⟨in⟩ regularly in unstressed syllables and before several consonants, and ⟨in⟩ was then generalised.[3] Old Latin also had the extended forms ⟨endo-⟩ and ⟨indu-⟩ (see endo), which survive in induō and indolēs.[2][3]
Cognate with the preverbs Oscan em- and Umbrian en-.[3]
Semantic evolution
It combines, usually with verbs, in the local and transferred senses of the preposition: “in, into”, “on, upon”, “against”.[2][1] It can also simply strengthen the verb, as in increpō and īnsonō,[2] and with inchoative verbs it marks a change that starts or is partly completed.[1]
Meanings
Prefix
- In, into, within, with verbs of motion and position.[2][1]
- On, upon; against; towards.[1][2]
- (intensive) Strengthening the sense of the simple verb.[2][1]
- With inchoative verbs, the beginning or partial completion of a change.[1]
Word family
in-2 not, un-
Pronunciation
Forms
in- (assimilated il- before l, im- before b, m and p, ir- before r, i- before gn)[2][3]
Etymology
The negative prefix is inherited from Proto-Italic *n̥- (“not, un-”), inherited from Proto-Indo-European *n̥- (“not, un-”), the zero grade of the negative particle *né (“not”).[3][1][2] The form ⟨in-⟩ arose regularly before consonants and then replaced ⟨*en-⟩ before vowels.[3]
Cognate with Oscan an- and Umbrian an-, Old Irish in-, Sanskrit अ- (a-), Ancient Greek ἀ- (a-), Old High German un- and English un-.[3][2]
Earliest recorded meaning
It is found from the Twelve Tables (c. 450 BC) on,[3][4] as a negative prefix.[3]
Semantic evolution
It negates adjectives and participles, giving the opposite of the simple word, and with nouns it forms privative adjectives such as inermis “unarmed”, from arma.[2][3] In Sabellic the same prefix stands only before adjectives and participles in ⟨-to-⟩.[3]
Italian inherited it, and French, Spanish, Portuguese, Catalan and Middle English took it over in learned words;[1][5] English has it as in-, il-, im- and ir-.[1][5]
Meanings
Prefix
- not, un-, non-: forming the opposite of adjectives and participles.[2][1]
- (privative) Without, lacking: forming adjectives from nouns.[2][3]
Word family
Related words
- nī
- English in-
Usage notes
The two prefixes have the same forms, and the TLL notes that ancient writers did not tell the negative one apart from the preposition, referring to Cicero's Topica.[6] Wiktionary also lists a rare third prefix in- “after”, from Proto-Indo-European *énu (“along, after”).[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
- ^ Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
- ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
- ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften