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intro

Etymology and origin of the Latin word intro

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Latin intro
Latin introfero

intro1 inside (adverb)

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Plautus
Ultimate origin
Proto-Indo-European (*h₁én)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈɪn.troː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈin.tro][1]

Forms

intrō [1]

Etymology

The adverb is formed from in with the suffixes ⟨-ter⟩ and ⟨-ō⟩.[2] Wiktionary derives it from an earlier ⟨*interus⟩, the source of interior, from Proto-Indo-European *h₁énteros (“inner”); it is a doublet of intrā.[1] Köbler traces it to Proto-Indo-European *h₁én (“in”).[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Plautus, duc hōs intrō “take them inside”.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[3]

Semantic evolution

With verbs of motion it meant inside, indoors, in, as in Plautus, Terence and Caesar, and Lucilius contrasts intrō “to inside” with intus “inside”.[2] It also meant on the inside, within, as in Cato.[2] Before a simple verb it was often treated as forming a compound with it, as in intrōdūcō.[2]

In Medieval Latin it was also a preposition, inside.[4] It survives in Romanian întru and Spanish entro.[1]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it with verbs of motion.[2][3]
  • 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of the inside.[2][3]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. (with verbs of motion) Inside, indoors, in.[2]
  2. On the inside, within, internally.[2]
  3. (Medieval Latin, preposition) Inside.[4]

Word family

  • intrōrsum

intro2 enter

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Plautus
Ultimate origin
Proto-Indo-European (*h₁én)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈɪn.troː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈin.tro][1]

Forms

intrō (present infinitive intrāre, perfect active intrāvī, supine intrātum); first conjugation[1]

Etymology

The verb is from intrā “within” with the verb suffix ⟨-ō⟩.[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, intrābō “I will go in”.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant to go into, enter a closed space, with an accusative, as in Cicero, Caesar and Virgil, or intransitively, as in Plautus and Livy; in law to appear in court, as in Pliny; of things to enter, penetrate, as in Virgil; to enter upon a state; and to enter into with the mind, study, as in Seneca.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to enter, go in, pierce.[5] It continues as Italian entrare, French entrer, Spanish and Portuguese entrar and Romanian intra, and through Old French entrer it gave enter in the late 13th century.[1][6]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.[2][3]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it with an accusative.[2][3]
  • late 13th century – English enter is recorded.[6]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To go into, enter.[2]
  2. (law) To appear in court.[2]
  3. (of things) To enter, penetrate.[2]
  4. To enter upon a state.[2]
  5. To enter into with the mind, study.[2]

Word family

  • intrābilis
  • subintrō

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  6. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com

Derived terms

Cite this entry

“Intro.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/intro. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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