A- (3) prefix meaning "not," from Gk a-, an- "not," from pie base *ne "not" (see un-)

insubordinate (adj.) --- 1849, on model of Fr. insubordonné (1781), from in- "not" + subordinate (q.v.).

insufferable --- 1533, from in- "not" + sufferable (see suffer).

insufficient --- c.1386, from O.Fr. insufficient, from L. insufficientem (nom. insufficiens), from in- "not" + sufficientem (see sufficient). Originally of persons, "inadequate, unable;" of things, from 1494.

insular --- 1611, "of or pertaining to an island," from L.L. insularis, from L. insula "island" (see isle). Metaphoric sense "narrow, prejudiced" is 1775, from notion of being cut off from intercourse with other nations, probably with ref. to the situation of Great Britain.

insulate --- 1538, "make into an island," from L. insulatus (see insular). Sense of "cause a person or thing to be detached from surroundings" is from 1785. Electrical/chemical sense of "block from electricity or heat" is from 1742. Insulation "insulating material" is from 1870.

insulin --- 1922 (earlier insuline, 1914), coined in Eng. from L. insula "island," so called because the hormone is secreted by the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas.

insult (v.) --- c.1570, "triumph over in an arrogant way," from L. insultare "to assail, to leap upon" (already used by Cicero in sense of "insult, scoff at, revile"), freq. of insilire "leap at or upon," from in- "on, at" + salire "to leap" (see salient). Sense of "to verbally abuse, affront, assail with disrespect" is from 1620. The noun is recorded 1603 in the sense of "attack;" 1671 as "an act of insulting." To add insult to injury translates L. injuriæ contumeliam addere.

insuperable --- c.1340, from L. insuperabilis "that cannot be passed over, unconquerable," from in- "not" + superabilis "that may be overcome," from superare "to overcome," from superus "one that is above," from super "over" (see super-).

insurance --- 1553, "engagement to marry," a variant of ensurance (see ensure). Commercial sense of "security against loss or death in exchange for payment" is from 1651. Assurance was the older term for this (late 16c.).

insure --- c.1440, variant of ensuren (see ensure). Took on its particular sense of "make safe against loss by payment of premiums" 1635 (replacing assure in that meaning).

insurgent (n.) --- one who rises in revolt, 1765, from L. insurgentem (nom. insurgens), prp. of insurgere "rise up, rise against, revolt," from in- "against" + surgere "to rise" (see surge). An obsolete verb insurge "to rise in opposition or insurrection" is attested from 1535.

insurmountable --- 1696, from in- "not" + surmountable (see surmount).

insurrection --- 1459, from M.Fr. insurrection, from L. insurrectionem (nom. insurrectio) "a rising up," from insurrectus, pp. of insurgere "to rise up" (see insurgent).

intact --- c.1450, from L. intactus "untouched, uninjured," from in- "not" + tactus, pp. of tangere "to touch" (see tangent).

intake --- c.1800, "place where water is taken into a channel or pipe," originally a Scot. and Northern word, from in + take. Meaning "act of taking in" (food, breath, etc.) is first attested 1808.

intangible (adj.) --- 1640, "incapable of being touched," from Fr. intangible (1508), from M.L. intangibilis, from in- "not" + L.L. tangibilis "that may be touched," from L. tangere "to touch" (see tangent). Fig. sense of "that cannot be grasped by the mind" is from 1880. Noun meaning "anything intangible" is from 1914.

integer --- 1508, "whole, entire" (adj.), from L. integer "whole," lit. "intact, untouched," from in- "not" + root of tangere "to touch" (see tangent). Noun meaning "a whole number" (opposed to fraction) first recorded 1571.

integral --- 1471, "of or pertaining to a whole," from M.Fr. intégral (14c.), from M.L. integralis "forming a whole," from L. integer "whole" (see integer).

integrate (v.) --- 1638, "to render (something) whole," from L. integratus, pp. of integrare "make whole," from integer "whole" (see integer). Meaning "to put together parts or elements and combine them into a whole" is from 1802. Integration in social/racial relations, 1940, originally in South Africa. Back-formation integrate (in this sense) dates from 1948, in ref. to U.S. presidential contest of that year. Desegregate in this sense first recorded 1940.

integrity --- c.1450, "wholeness, perfect condition," from O.Fr. integrité, from L. integritatem (nom. integritas) "soundness, wholeness," from integer "whole" (see integer). Sense of "uncorrupted virtue" is from 1548.

integument --- 1611, from L. integumentem "a covering," from in- "in, upon" + tegere "to cover" (see stegosaurus).

intellect --- c.1386, from L. intellectus "discernment, understanding," from pp. stem of intelligere "to understand, discern" (see intelligence). The noun use of intellectual for persons is from 1652.

intelligence --- 1390, "faculty of understanding," from O.Fr. intelligence (12c.), from L. intelligentia "understanding," from intelligentem (nom. intelligens) "discerning," prp. of intelligere "to understand, comprehend," from inter- "between" + legere "choose, pick out, read" (see lecture). Meaning superior understanding, sagacity" is from c.1430. Sense of "information, news" first recorded c.1450, especially "secret information from spies" (1587). Intelligent is a 1509 back-formation; Intelligentsia "the intellectual class collectively" is 1907, from Rus. intelligyentsia, from Latin. Intelligence quotient first recorded 1922 (see I.Q.).

intelligible --- 1382, "able to understand," from L. intelligibilis "that can understand, that can be understood," from intelligere (see intelligence). Sense of "capable of being understood" first recorded in Eng. 1601.

intemperate --- characterized by excessive indulgence in a passion or appetite, c.1430, from L. intemperatus "untempered, inclement, immoderate," from in- "not" + temperantia (see temperance).

intend --- c.1300, "direct one's attention to," from O.Fr. intendre "to direct one's attention," from L. intendere "turn one's attention, strain," lit. "stretch out, extend," from in- "toward" + tendere "to stretch" (see tenet). Sense of "have as a plan" (1390) was present in Latin. A Gmc. word for this was ettle, from O.N. ætla "to think, conjecture, propose," from P.Gmc. *ahta "consideration, attention" (cf. O.E. eaht, Ger. acht). Intended (n.) "one's intended husband or wife" is from 1767.

intense --- c.1400, from M.Fr. intense, from L. intensus "stretched, strained, tight," originally pp. of intendere "to stretch out, strain" (see intend); thus, literally, "high-strung." Intensity formed in Eng. 1665 (earlier was intenseness, 1614); sense of "extreme depth of feeling" first recorded 1830. Intensify (1817) was first used by Coleridge, in place of intend, which was no longer felt as connected with intense.

intent (adj.) --- very attentive, 1606, from L. intentus "attentive, eager, strained," pp. of intendere "to strain, stretch" (see intend).

intent (n.) --- purpose, c.1225, from O.Fr. entente, from L.L. intentus "attention," from L. intentus (fem. intentia), pp. of intendere "stretch out, lean toward, strain," lit. "stretched out" (see intend). Intentionally "on purpose" is from 1661.

inter --- 1303, from O.Fr. enterer, from M.L. interrare "put in the earth, bury," from L. in- "in" + terra "earth" (see terrain).

inter- --- L. inter (prep., adj.) "among, between," from PIE *enter "between, among" (cf. Skt. antar, O.Pers. antar "among, between," Gk. entera (pl.) "intestines," O.Ir. eter, O.Welsh ithr "among, between," Goth. undar, O.E. under "under"), a comparative of *en- "in." Also in certain L. phrases in Eng., such as inter alia "among other things." Spelled entre- in Fr., most words borrowed into Eng. in that form were re-spelled 16c. to conform with L. except entertain, enterprise.

interaction --- 1832, from inter- + action. The verb interact is first attested 1839.

intercalate --- 1614, from L. intercalatus, pp. of intercalare "to proclaim the insertion of an intercalary day," from inter- + calare (see calendar).

intercede --- 1578, from L. intercedere "intervene, go between," from inter- "between" + cedere "go" (see cede).

intercept --- c.1540, from L. interceptus, pp. of intercipere "take or seize between," from inter- "between" + -cipere, comb. form of capere "to take, catch" (see capable).

intercession --- c.1500, from L. intercessionem (nom. intercessio) "a going between," noun of action from intercedere (see intercede).

interchange (v.) --- c.1374, from O.Fr. entrechangier, from entre- (from L. inter-) + changier "to change." The noun in ref. to a type of road junction is first recorded 1944.

intercom --- 1940, colloquial shortening of intercommunication, which is attested from 1911 in ref. to systems of linked telephones.

intercourse --- 1449, "communication to and fro," from M.Fr. entrecours, from L. intercursus "a running between, intervention," from intercursus, pp. of intercurrere "to run between," from inter- "between" + currere "to run" (see current). Meaning "sexual relations" first recorded 1798.

interdict --- c.1290, from O.Fr. entredit, pp. of entredire "forbid by decree," from L. interdicere "interpose by speech, prohibit," from inter- "between" + dicere "to speak, to say" (see diction).

interest --- c.1425, earlier interesse (c.1374), from Anglo-Fr. interesse "what one has a legal concern in," from M.L. interesse "compensation for loss," from L. interresse "to concern, make a difference, be of importance," lit. "to be between," from inter- "between" + esse "to be." Form influenced 15c. by O.Fr. interest "damage," from L. interest "it is of importance, it makes a difference," third pers. sing. present of interresse. Financial sense of "money paid for the use of money lent" (1529) earlier was distinguished from usury (illegal under Church law) by being in ref. to "compensation due from a defaulting debtor." Meaning "curiosity" is first attested 1771. Interesting meant "important" (1711); later "of interest" (1768).

interface --- 1962 (n.), 1967 (v.), from inter- + face.

interfere --- 1440, "to strike against," from M.Fr. enterferer "to strike each other," from entre- "between" + ferir "to strike," from L. ferire "to knock, strike," related to L. forare "to bore, pierce," and cognate with O.E. borian "to bore" (cf. punch (v.), which has both the sense "to hit" and "to make a hole in"). Fig. sense of "to meddle with, oppose unrightfully" is from 1632.

interferon --- 1957, coined in Eng., so called because it "interferes" with the reduplication of viruses.

interim --- 1548, from L. interim (adj.) "in the meantime," originally "in the midst of that," from inter- "between" + im, ancient adv. from stem of pronoun is "this, that."

interior --- 1490, from L. interior "inner," comparative adj. of inter "within" (superl. intimus). The noun meaning "part of a country distant from the coast" is from 1796; meaning "inside of a building or room" is from 1829. Interior decoration first attested 1807. Meaning "internal affairs of a country or state" (as in Department of the Interior) is from 1838.

interjection --- c.1430, from M.Fr. interjection (13c.), from L. interjectionem (nom. interjectio) "a throwing or placing between," from pp. stem of intericere, from inter- "between" + -icere, comb. form of jacere "to throw."

interlard --- 1533, "to mix with alternate layers of fat" (before cooking), from M.Fr. entrelarder, from entre- "between" + larder "to lard," from O.Fr. lard "bacon fat." Figurative sense of "diversify with something intermixed" first recorded 1563.

interlocutor --- 1514, from L. interlocutus, pp. of interloqui "interrupt," from inter- "between" + loqui "speak."

interloper --- c.1590, "unauthorized trader trespassing on privileges of chartered companies," probably from inter- "between" + -loper, from landloper "vagabond, adventurer" (also "a term of reproach used by seamen of those who pass their lives on shore" [Johnson]), from M.Du. loper "runner, rover," from lopen "to run." General sense of "self-interested intruder" is from 1632.

interlude --- 1303, from M.L. interludium "an interlude," from L. inter- "between" + ludus "a play." Originally farcical episodes introduced between acts of mystery plays; transf. sense of "interval in the course of some action" is from 1751.

intermarry --- 1574, "to marry one another," from inter- + marry. Meaning "to marry across families, castes, tribes, etc." is from 1611.

intermediate --- 1623, from M.L. intermediatus "lying between," from L. intermedius "that which is between," from inter- "between" + medius "in the middle" (see medial). Intermediary (n.) "one who goes between others" is from 1791.

intermezzo --- 1834, from It. intermezzo, from L. intermedius (see intermediate).

interminable --- c.1374, from L.L. interminabilis, from in- "not" + terminabilis (see terminal).

intermission --- 1426, from L. intermissionem (nom. intermissio) "interruption," from intermissus, pp. of intermittere "to leave off," from inter- "between" + mittere "let go, send."

intermittent --- 1603, from L. intermittentem (nom. intermittens), prp. of intermittere (see intermission).

intermural --- 1656, from L. intermuralis "situated between walls," from inter- "between" + murus (gen. muralis) "wall."

intern (n.) --- 1879, Amer.Eng. "one working under supervision as part of professional training," esp. "doctor in training in a hospital," from Fr. interne "assistant doctor," lit. "resident within a school," from M.Fr. interne "internal" (see intern (v.)). The verb in this sense is attested from 1933; internship is from 1904.

intern (v.) --- 1866, "to confine within set limits," from Fr. interner "send to the interior, confine," from M.Fr. interne "inner, internal," from L. internus "within, internal" (see internal). Internment is first attested 1870.

internal --- 1590, from M.L. internalis, from L. internus "within," from inter "between" (see inter-). Meaning "of or pertaining to the domestic affairs of a country (e.g. internal revenue) is from 1795. Internal combustion first recorded 1884. Internalize in the mental sense is from 1884.

international --- 1780, apparently coined by Jeremy Bentham from inter- + national. In communist jargon, with a capital -I-, it is short for International Working Men's Association, the first of which was founded in London by Marx in 1864. The Internationale, the socialist hymn, was written 1871 by Eugène Pottier. Internationalism is from 1851. International Date Line is from 1910.

internecine --- 1663, from L. internecinus "very deadly, murderous, destructive," from internecare "kill or destroy," from inter- (q.v.) + necare "kill." Considered in the OED as misinterpreted in Johnson's Dictionary [1755], which defined it as "endeavouring mutual destruction," on association of inter- with "mutual" when the prefix supposedly is used in this case as an intensive. From Johnson, wrongly or not, has come the main modern definition of "mutually destructive."

Internet --- 1986, "the linked computer networks of the U.S. Defense Department," shortened from internetwork, from inter- + network.

interpersonal --- 1842, from inter- + personal. Introduced in a psychological sense 1938 by H.S. Sullivan (1892-1949) to describe "behavior between people in an encounter."

interplanetary --- 1691, "existing between planets," from inter- + planet. In ref. to travel between planets, attested from 1897.

interplay --- 1862, from inter- + play. "Reciprocal play," thus "free interaction."

Interpol --- 1952, abbreviation of international police, in full, The International Criminal Police Commission, founded 1923 with headquarters in Paris.

interpolate --- 1612 (implied in interpolation) "to alter or enlarge (a writing) by inserting new material," from L. interpolatus, pp. of interpolare "alter, freshen up, falsify," from inter- "up" + polare, related to polire "to smoothe, polish." Sense evolved in L. from "refurbish," to "alter appearance of," to "falsify (especially by adding new material)."

interposition --- 1412, from O.Fr. interposicion (12c.), from L. interpositionem (nom. interpositio), from interpositus, pp. of L. interponere, from inter- + ponere (see position). Interpose is 1599, from M.Fr. interposer (14c.), from L. interponere.

interpret --- 1382, from L. interpretari "explain, expound, understand," from interpres "agent, translator," from inter- + second element of uncertain origin, perhaps related to Skt. prath- "to spread abroad." Interpretation is attested from 1292 in Anglo-Fr. Interpreter "one who translates spoken languages" is from 1382. Interpretative is from 1569, properly formed from the L. pp. stem; interpretive, which means the same thing but is less correct, is from 1680.

interregnum --- 1579, from L., lit. "between-reign," from inter- (q.v.) + regnum (see reign).

interrogation --- c.1386, "a questioning," from O.Fr. interrogation (13c.), from L. interrogationem (nom. interrogatio) "a question, questioning," from interrogatus, pp. of interrogare, from inter- "between" + rogare "ask, to question" (see rogation). Interrogate is a 1483 back-formation.

interrupt --- c.1420, from L. interruptus, pp. of interrumpere "break apart, break off," from inter- "between" + rumpere "to break" (see rupture, and compare corrupt).

intersection --- 1559, from L. intersectionem (nom. intersectio) "a cutting asunder, intersection," from intersectus, pp. of intersecare "intersect, cut asunder," from inter- "between" + secare "to cut" (see section). Originally a term in geometry, meaning "crossroads" is from 1864. Intersect (v.) first attested 1615.

intersperse --- 1566, from L. interspersus "scattered," pp. of *interspergere, from inter- "between" + spargere "to scatter" (see sparse).

interstate (adj.) --- 1845, from inter- + state.

interstellar --- 1626, "situated between the stars," from inter- + stellar.

interstice --- 1603, from L. interstitium "interval," lit. "space between," from inter- "between" + stem of stare "to stand" (see stet).

interval --- c.1300, from O.Fr. intervalle (14c.), earlier entreval (13c.), from L.L. intervallum, originally "space between palisades or ramparts," from inter- "between" + vallum "rampart." Metaphoric sense of "gap in time" was present in L.

intervention --- c.1425, from L.L. interventionem (nom. interventio) "an interposing," noun of action from pp. stem of L. intervenire "to come between, interrupt," from inter- "between" + venire "come" (see venue). Verb intervene is attested from 1605.

interview (n.) --- 1514, "face-to-face meeting, formal conference," from M.Fr. entrevue, verbal noun from s'entrevoir "to see each other, visit each other briefly, have a glimpse of," from entre- "between" (from L. inter-) + O.Fr. voir "to see" (from L. videre; see vision). Modern Fr. interview is from Eng. Journalistic sense is first attested 1869 in Amer.Eng.

intestate --- 1377, from L. intestatus "having made no will," from in- "not" + testatus, pp. of testari "make a will, bear witness" (see testament).

intestines --- bowels, 1597, from L. intestina, neut. pl. of intestinus (adj.) "internal, inward, intestine," from intus "within, on the inside." Cf. Skt. antastyam, Gk. entosthia "bowels." The O.E. word was hropp, lit. "rope."

Intifada --- Palestinian revolt, 1985, from Arabic, lit. "a jumping up" (in reaction to something), from the verb intafada "to be shaken, shake oneself."

intimate (adj.) --- 1632, "closely acquainted, very familiar," from L.L. intimatus, pp. of intimare "make known, announce, impress," from L. intimus "inmost" (adj.), "close friend" (n.), superl. of in "in." Used euphemistically of women's underwear from 1904.

intimate (v.) --- 1538, back-formation from intimation "action of making known" (1442), from M.Fr. intimation (1394), from L.L. intimationem (nom. intimatio) "an announcement" (in M.L. "a judicial notification"), from intimare. Intimacy is from 1641; as a euphemism for "illicit sexual intercourse" it dates from 1676.

intimidate --- 1646, from M.L. intimidatus, pp. of intimidare "to frighten, intimidate," from L. in- "in" + timidus "fearful" (see timid).

into --- O.E. into, originally in to. To be into something, "be intensely involved in," first recorded 1969 in Amer.Eng. The word is a late O.E. development to replace the fading dative case inflections that formerly distinguished, for instance, "in the house" from "into the house."

intolerable --- 1435, from L. intolerabilis "that cannot bear, that cannot be borne," from in- "not" + tolerabilis "that may be endured," from tolerare "to tolerate" (see toleration). Intolerance "unwillingness to endure a differing opinion" first attested 1765.

intone --- 1485, "to utter in musical tones," from O.Fr. entoner (13c.), from M.L. intonare "sing according to tone," from L. in- "in" + tonus "tone," from Gk. tonos (see tenet). Intonation as a musical term dates from 1776.

intoxicate --- 1412, "full of poison" (pp. adj.), from M.L. intoxicatus, pp. of intoxicare "to poison," from L. in- "in" + toxicare "to poison," from toxicum "poison" (see toxic). The verb meaning "to poison" is first attested 1530; meaning "make drunk" first recorded 1576 (implied in intoxicated). Intoxication is c.1408, from M.L. intoxicationem, from intocixare. Intoxicant "liquor" is from 1863.

intra- --- from L. intra "on the inside, within." Commonly opposed to extra-, but the use of intra as a prefix was rare in classical L.

intractable --- 1545, from L. intractabilis "not to be handled," from in- "not" + tractabilis (see tractable).

intramural --- 1846, lit. "within the walls," from intra- "within" + L. murus "wall." Activity "within the walls" of a city, building, community, institution. Equivalent to L.L. intramuranus.

intransigent --- 1881, from Fr. intransigeant, from Sp. los intransigentes, lit. "not coming to an agreement," name for extreme republican party in Sp. Cortes 1873-4, from in- "not" + transigente "compromising," from L. transigentem (nom. transigens), prp. of transigere "come to an agreement, accomplish, to carry through" (see transact). Acquired its generalized sense in Fr.

intransitive --- 1612, from L.L. intransitivus "not passing over" (to another person), Priscian's term, from L. in- "not" + transitivus "that may pass over," from transire "to pass over" (see transitive).

intravenous --- 1847, coined in Eng. from intra- "within, inside" + L. venous, from vena "vein" (see vein).

intrepid --- 1627 (implied in intrepidness), from L. intrepidus "unshaken, undaunted," from in- "not" + trepidus "alarmed."

intricate --- c.1470, from L. intricatus "entangled," pp. of intricare "to entangle, perplex, embarrass," from in- "in" + tricæ (pl.) "perplexities, hindrances, toys, tricks," of uncertain origin (cf. extricate).

intrigue (v.) --- 1612, "to trick, deceive, cheat," from Fr. intriguer, from It. intrigare "to plot, meddle," from L. intricare "entangle" (see intricate). Meaning "to plot or scheme" first recorded 1714. The noun is from 1647. Intriguing "exciting interest" is from 1909.

intrinsic --- 1490, "interior, inward, internal," from M.Fr. intrinsèque (13c.) "inner," from M.L. intrinsecus "interior, internal," from L. intrinsecus (adv.) "inwardly, on the inside," from intra "within" + secus "alongside," originally "following" (related to sequi "to follow"). Meaning "belonging to the nature of a thing" is from 1642.

intro- --- from L. intro "on the inside, within, to the inside."

introduction --- c.1386, from O.Fr. introduction, from L. introductionem (nom. introductio) "a leading in," from introductus, pp. of introducere "to lead in, bring in, to introduce," from intro- "inward, to the inside" + ducere "to lead" (see duke). The sense of "formal presentation of one person to another" is from 1711. Shortened form intro is attested from 1923. Introduce (v.) is first recorded 1475.