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IN- (1),
prefix, in. (E.) In some words, the prefix in- is purely
E., and is merely the prep. in in composition. Exx.:
in-born, in-breathe, in-bred, in-land, in-lay, in-let, in-ly, in-mate, in-side,
in-sight, in-snare, in-stall, in-step, in-twine, in-twist, in-weave, in-wrap,
in-wrought. See In. IN-
(2), prefix, in.
(L.; or F.,—L.)
In some words, the prefix is not the E. prep. in, but the cognate Lat.
form. Exx.: in-augurate, in-carcerate, in-carnate, in-cidence,
&c. These words are rather numerous. β. Sometimes
the Lat. word has passed through F. before reaching E. Exx.: in-cise, in-cite, in-cline,
in-dication, &c. ¶
In- (2) becomes il-
before l, as in il-lusion; im- before m and p,
as in im-bue, im-peril; ir- before r, as in ir-rigate.
IN- (3),
prefix, with negative force. (L.; or F.,—L.) In
numerous words, the prefix in- has a negative force; from Lat. neg.
prefix in-, which is cognate with E. un- (with the same force), O.
Irish an-, Skt. an- (frequently shortened to a-), Gk.
ἀνα-,
ἀν- (often shortened to
ἀ-), Zend ana-, an-, a-.
β. This negative
prefix is probably identical with the preposition ANA, which appears as Gk.
ἀνά,
up, Zend ana, up, Goth. ana, up, to, against. Thus the Gk.
ἀνά
occasionally has the sense of 'back' or 'backwards,' as in
ἀνα-νεύειν, to throw
the head back in token of refusal, to deny; cf.
ἀνὰ ῥόον, up stream, against the
stream; whence the negative use may easily have arisen. See Curtius,
i. 381. And see On,
In. β. In many words, the Lat. word
has reached us through the medium of French. Exx.: in-capable,
in-certainty, in-clement, in-compatible, &c. ¶ In- (3) becomes
i-
before gn, as in i-gnoble; il- before l, as in il-legal;
im- before m and p, as
in im-mense, im-pure; ir- before r, as in ir-rational.
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