inside English · revision 3518

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=1392 (ynneside)}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˌɪnˈsaɪd/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a compound, [[af|en|in|side]],^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)^(MWU 2024) originally Middle English [[m|enm|ynneside]], from the adverb [[m|enm|inne|t=inside]] and [[m|enm|side]], later understood as a compound of the preposition.^(Barnhart 1988) Barnhart notes that ''inside'' and its opposite [[outside]] appeared at about the same time.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The interior of the body: 1392, ''ynneside'',^(Barnhart 1988) or the late 14th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The inner side or surface of anything is from 1504^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) or about 1500,^(Etymonline) and the inner part or interior from about 1550.^(OED 1989) The inward nature or mind is from 1599.^(OED 1989) The adjective “inner, internal” is from 1611, in Shakespeare,^(Barnhart 1988)^(MW Collegiate) or the 1610s.^(Etymonline) The adverb is from the 15th century^(MW Collegiate) and the preposition from 1791.^(MW Collegiate)^(MWU 2024) About 1900 the word began to be used in slang of the real facts known only to insiders,^(Etymonline) and the noun “inner history, real facts” is from 1904.^(OED 1989) ''Inside job'', a crime done with help from within, is American English by 1887, and ''inside man'' from 1911.^(Etymonline) ''Inside track'', “advantage”, is from 1854, a metaphor from horse racing, the inside lanes of a curved track being shorter.^(Etymonline) ''Inside of'', of time, is American English from 1839.^(Etymonline) ''Inside out'' is from before 1600.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1392 – ''ynneside'', the interior of the body.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1504 – the inner side.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1550 – the interior.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1611 – adjective (Shakespeare).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1791 – preposition.^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1839 – ''inside of'', of time.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1854 – ''inside track''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1887 – ''inside job''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An inner or [[interior]] part, side or surface.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # ''(insides)'' The inner organs; the inner workings.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # Inward character or feelings.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # Confidential information, or a position that gives access to it.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Inner, interior.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ # Coming from or known to an exclusive group: ''inside information''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # Into or in the interior; within.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(slang)'' In prison.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Preposition===

+ # Within; on or into the inner part of.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(inside of)'' Within a period of time.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[insider]]

+ * [[inside job]]

+ * [[inside of]]

+ * [[inside out]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[outside]]

+ * [[in]]

+ * [[side]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The American Heritage Dictionary notes that ''inside of'' has been criticized as redundant or colloquial, but is well established in formal writing, especially of time.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}