INFORM

inform

(verb) give character or essence to; “The principles that inform modern teaching”

inform

(verb) impart knowledge of some fact, state of affairs, or event to; “I informed him of his rights”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology 1

Verb

inform (third-person singular simple present informs, present participle informing, simple past and past participle informed)

(archaic, transitive) To instruct, train (usually in matters of knowledge).

(transitive) To communicate knowledge to.

(intransitive) To impart information or knowledge.

To act as an informer; denounce.

(transitive) To give form or character to; to inspire (with a given quality); to affect, influence (with a pervading principle, idea etc.).

(obsolete, intransitive) To make known, wisely and/or knowledgeably.

(obsolete, transitive) To direct, guide.

(archaic, intransitive) To take form; to become visible or manifest; to appear.

Synonyms

• (communicate knowledge to (trans.)): acquaint, apprise, notify; See also inform

• (act as informer): dob, name names, peach, snitch; See also rat out

• (take form): materialize, take shape; See also come into being

Etymology 2

Adjective

inform (not comparable)

Without regular form; shapeless; ugly; deformed.

Anagrams

• F minor, Morfin, formin

Source: Wiktionary


In*form", a. Etym: [L. informis; pref. in- not + forma form, shape: cf. F. informe]

Definition: Without regular form; shapeless; ugly; deformed. Cotton.

In*form", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Informed; p. pr. & vb. n. Informing.] Etym: [OE. enformen, OF. enformer, F. informer. L. informare; pref. in- in + formare to form, share, fr. forma form. See Form.]

1. To give form or share to; to give vital ororganizing power to; to give life to; to imbue and actuate with vitality; to animate; to mold; to figure; to fashion. "The informing Word." Coleridge. Let others better mold the running mass Of metals, and inform the breathing brass. Dryden. Breath informs this fleeting frame. Prior. Breathes in our soul,informs our mortal part. Pope.

2. To communicate knowledge to; to make known to; to acquaint; to advise; to instruct; to tell; to notify; to enlighten; -- usually followed by of. For he would learn their business secretly, And then inform his master hastily. Spenser. I am informed thoroughky of the cause. Shak.

3. To communicate a knowledge of facts to,by way of accusation; to warn against anybody. Tertullus . . . informed the governor against Paul. Acts xxiv. 1.

Syn.

– To acquaint; apprise; tell; teach; instruct; enlighten; animate; fashion.

In*form", v. t.

1. To take form; to become visible or manifest; to appear. [Obs.] It is the bloody business which informs Thus to mine eyes. Shak.

2. To give intelligence or information; to tell. Shak. He might either teach in the same manner,or inform how he had been taught. Monthly Rev. To inform against, to communicate facts by way of accusation against; to denounce; as, two persons came to the magistrate, and informed against A.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



RESET




Word of the Day

24 December 2024

INTUITIVELY

(adverb) in an intuitive manner; “inventors seem to have chosen intuitively a combination of explosive and aggressive sounds as warning signals to be used on automobiles”


coffee icon

Coffee Trivia

The Boston Tea Party helped popularize coffee in America. The hefty tea tax imposed on the colonies in 1773 resulted in America switching from tea to coffee. In the lead up to the Revolutionary War, it became patriotic to sip java instead of tea. The Civil War made the drink more pervasive. Coffee helped energize tired troops, and drinking it became an expression of freedom.

coffee icon