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

indication --- 1541, from L. indicationem (nom. indicatio) "valuation," from indicare "point out, show," from in- "in" + dicare "proclaim," from stem of dicere "to speak, to say" (see diction). Verb indicate is first attested 1651.

indict --- c.1303, from Anglo-Fr. enditer "accuse, indict" (1278), from O.Fr. enditer "to dictate or inform," from M.L. indictare "to declare, proclaim in writing," from L. in- "in" + dictare "to say, compose in words" (see dictate). Retained its Fr. pronunciation even after the spelling was re-Latinized c.1600.

indie --- independent record company, 1945, shortening of independent; used of film production companies since 1920s, of theaters from 1942; extended by 1984 to a type of pop music by such labels.

Indies --- 1555, pl. of Indie, Indy, from M.E. Ynde (c.1225) "India," from the O.Fr. form of L. India (see India). Commonly applied to Asia and the East, later applied to the Caribbean basin, in a time of geographical confusion, which was distinguished from Asia proper by being called the West Indies.

indifferent --- 1387, "unbiased," from L. indifferentem (nom. indifferens) "not differing, not particular, of not consequence," from in- "not" + differens, prp. of differre "set apart" (see differ). Extended sense of "apathetic" first recorded 1519; that of "neither good nor bad" 1532.

indigence --- c.1375, from O.Fr. indigence (13c.), from L. indigentia, from indigentem (nom. indigens), prp. of indigere "to need," from indu "in, within" + egere "be in need, want."

indigenous --- 1646, from L.L. indigenus "born in a country, native," from L. indigena "a native," lit. "in-born person," from Old L. indu "in, within" (earlier endo) + gen-, root of gignere (perf. genui) "beget," from PIE *gen- "produce."

indigestion --- 1450, from O.Fr. indigestion (13c.), from L.L. indigestionem, from in- "not" + digestionem (see digest (v.)).

indignation --- c.1374, from O.Fr. indignation, from L. indignationem (nom. indignatio), from indignatus, pp. of indignari "regard as unworthy, be angry or displeased at," from indignus "unworthy," from in- "not" + dignus "worthy" (see dignity).

indigo --- 1555, from Sp. indico, Port. endego, and Du. (via Port.) indigo, all from L. indicum "indigo," from Gk. indikon "blue dye from India," lit. "Indian (substance)," neut. of indikos "Indian," from India (see India). Earlier name in Mediterranean languages was annil, anil (see aniline).

indirect --- 1474, from M.Fr. indirect (1364), from L. indirectus, from in- "not" + directus (see direct).

indiscreet --- imprudent, not discrete (1413) and indiscrete "not containing distinct parts" (1608) are both from L. indiscretus "unseparated;" the former via an O.Fr. or M.L. secondary sense. Indiscretion as a euphemism for "immoral act" is from 1601.

indiscriminate (adj.) --- 1649, from in- "not" + discriminate (q.v.).

indispensable --- 1533, from M.L. indispensabilis, from in- "not" + dispensabilis (see dispense).

indisposed --- c.1425, originally "not in order," from L.L. indispositus, from in- "not" + dispositus (see dispose); modern sense of "not very well" is from 1598.

individual --- a single object or thing, 1605, from M.L. individualis, from L. individuus "indivisible," from in- "not" + dividuus "divisible," from dividere "divide." Colloquial sense of "person" is attested from 1742. As an adj., used from c.1425 meaning "one and indivisible" (with ref. to the Trinity). Sense of "single, separate" is 1613; meaning "intended for one person" is from 1889. Individualism "self-centered feeling" is from 1827; as a social philosophy (opposed to communism and socialism) first attested 1851 in writings of J.S. Mill. Individuality "the aggregate of one's idiosyncrasies" is from 1614.

indivisible --- c.1380, from L.L. indivisibilis, from in- "not" + divisibilis (see divide (v.)).

Indochina --- 1886, from Indo-, comb. form of Gk. Indos "India" + China. Name proposed early 19c. by Scot. poet and orientalist John Leyden, who lived and worked in India from 1803 till his death at 35 in 1811.

indoctrinate --- 1626, "to teach," from in- "in" + L. doctrina "teaching" (see doctrine). Meaning "to imbue with an idea or opinion" first recorded 1832. Indoctrination in ref. to communist activities is from 1950.

Indo-European --- 1814, coined by physician, physicist and Egyptologist Thomas Young (1773-1829) and first used in an article in the "Quarterly Review," from Indo-, comb. form of Gk. Indos "India" + European. "Common to India and Europe," specifically in ref. to the group of related languages and to the race or races characterized by their use. The alternative Indo-Germanic (1835) was coined in Ger. 1823 (indogermanisch), based on the two peoples at the extremes of the geographic area covered by the languages, before Celtic was realized also to be an Indo-European language. After this was proved, many Ger. scholars switched to Indo-European as more accurate, but Indo-Germanic continued in use (popularized by the titles of major works) and the predominance of Ger. scholarship in this field made it the popular term in England, too, through the 19c. See also Aryan.

indolence --- 1603, "insensitivity to pain," from Fr. indolence (16c.), from L. indolentia "freedom from pain, insensibility," noun of action from indolentem (nom. indolens) "insensitive to pain," used by Jerome to render Gk. apelgekos in Ephesians; from L. in- "not" + dolentem (nom. dolens) "grieving," prp. of dolere "suffer pain." Sense of "laziness" (1710) is from notion of "avoiding trouble" (cf. taking pains).

indomitable --- 1634, from L.L. indomitabilis "untameable," from in- "not" + L. domitare, freq. of domare "to tame" (see tame).

Indonesian --- 1850, from Indonesia, from Indo-, comb. form of Gk. Indos "India" + nesos "island." Formerly called Indian Archipelago or East Indies Islands (see Indies).

indoor --- 1711, from within door (opposed to outdoor); the form indoors is first attested 1799 in George Washington's writings.

indri --- 1839, European name for the babakoto, a lemur-like arboreal primate of Madagascar (Indris Lichanotus); the name given in error by Fr. naturalist Sonnerat, c.1780, from mistaken use of Malagasy indry! "look! See!" Evidently this was what his native guides said when the spotted the creature and called his attention to it.

indubitable --- 1625, from L. indubitabilis "that cannot be doubted," from in- "not" + dubitabilis "doubtful," from dubitare "hesitate, doubt" (see doubt).

induce --- c.1375, "to lead by persuasions or other influences," from L. inducere "lead into, persuade," from in- "in" + ducere "to lead" (see duke). Meaning "to bring about," of concrete situations, etc., is from 1413; sense of "to infer by reasoning" is from 1563. Electro-magnetic sense first recorded 1777.

induct --- c.1378, from L. inductus, pp. of inducere "to lead" (see induce). Originally of church offices; sense of "bring into military service" is 1934 in Amer.Eng. Induction as a term of logic (c.1440) is from L. inductio, used by Cicero to translate Gk. epagoge "leading to" in Aristotle; as a term of science, c.1800. Induction starts with known instances and arrives at generalizations; deduction starts from the general principal and arrives at some individual fact.

indulgence --- 1362, "freeing from temporal punishment for sin," from L. indulgentia "complaisance, fondness, remission," from indulgentem (nom. indulgens), prp. of indulgere "be kind, yield," of unknown origin. Sense of "gratification of another's desire or humor" is attested from 1382. That of "yielding to one's inclinations" (technically self-indulgence) is from 1649. Indulge is a 1623 back-formation. In British history, Indulgence also refers to grants of certain liberties to Nonconformists under Charles II and James II, as special favors rather than legal rights; specifically the Declarations of Indulgence of 1672, 1687, and 1688 in England and 1669, 1672, and 1687 in Scotland.

industry --- c.1477, "cleverness, skill," from O.Fr. industrie, from L. industria "diligence," fem. of industrius "industrious, diligent," used as a noun, from early L. indostruus "diligent," from indu "in, within" + stem of struere "to build" (see structure). Sense of "diligence, effort" is from 1531; meaning "trade or manufacture" first recorded 1566; that of "systematic work" is 1611. Industrial (1774) and industrialize (1882) both on Fr. models. Industrial as a style of dance music dates from 1988. Industrious "characterized by energy, effort, attention" (1552) retains the etymological sense.

inebriate --- 1447, originally an adj., from L. inebriatus, pp. of inebriare "to make drunk," from in- "in" + ebriare "make drunk," from ebrius "drunk," of unknown origin. The verb meaning "to intoxicate" is first recorded 1497.

inedible --- unfit to eat, 1822, from in- "not" + edible (see eat).

ineffable --- c.1450, from Fr. ineffable (14c.), from L. ineffabilis "unutterable," from in- "not" + effabilis "speakable," from effari "utter," from ex- "out" + fari "speak" (see fame).

ineffectual --- c.1425, from in- "not" + effectual (see effect).

inefficacy --- want of force or virtue to produce the desired effect, 1612, from L.L. inefficacia, from inefficacem (nom. inefficax), from in- "not" + efficax (see efficacy).

inefficient --- 1750, "not producing the desired effect," from in- "not" + efficient (q.v.).

ineligible --- 1770, from in- "not" + eligible (q.v.).

ineluctable --- 1623, from L. ineluctabilis "unavoidable, inevitable," from in- "not" + eluctari "to struggle out of," from ex- "out" + luctari "to struggle."

inept --- 1603, from Fr. inepte (14c.), from L. ineptus "unsuitable, improper, tactless," from in- "not" + aptus "apt" (see apt).

inequality --- 1484, "difference of rank or dignity," from O.Fr. inequalité (14c.), from M.L. inæqualitas, from inæqualis "unequal," from in- "not" + æqualis "equal" (see equal).

inerrant --- 1652, in ref. to "fixed" stars (as opposed to "wandering" planets), from L. inerrantem (nom. inerrans) "not wandering," from in- "not" + errans, prp. of errare "to err" (see err).

inert --- 1647, from Fr. inerte (16c.), from L. inertem (nom. iners) "unskilled, inactive," from in- "without" + ars (gen. artis) "skill" (see art (n.)).

inertia --- 1713, used as a term in physics 17c. by Ger. astronomer and physician Johann Kepler (1571-1630), from L. inertia "unskillfulness, idleness," from iners (gen. inertis) "unskilled, inactive," see inert. Used in Mod.L. by Newton (1687). Sense of "apathy" first recorded 1822.

inevitable --- c.1430, from L. inevitabilis "unavoidable," from in- "not" + evitabilis "avoidable," from evitare "to avoid," from ex- "out" + vitare "shun," originally "go out of the way."

inexorable --- 1553, from L. inexorabilis "that cannot be moved by entreaty," from in- "not" + exorabilis "able to be entreated," from exorare "to prevail upon," from ex- "out" + orare "pray."

inexpedient --- 1608, from in- "not" + expedient (q.v.).

inexperience --- 1598, from Fr. inexpérience (1460), from L.L. inexperientia, from in- "not" + experientia (see experience).

inexplicable --- 1490, from M.Fr. inexplicable, from L. inexplicabilis "that cannot be unfolded or disentangled, very intricate," from in- "not" + explicabilis "that may be explained" (see explicit).

inextricable --- 1555, from L. inextricabilis "that cannot be disentangled," from in- "not" + extricare (see extricate).

Inez --- fem. proper name, Sp. equivalent of Agnes (q.v.).

infallible --- 1491, from M.L. infallibilis, from in- "not" + fallibilis (see fallible). In reference to Popes, attested from 1870.

infamous --- c.1378, from M.L. infamosus, from L. in- "not" + famosus "celebrated." Meaning infl. by L. infamis "of ill fame," from in- "not, without" + fama "reputation." As a legal term, "disqualified from certain rights of citizens in consequence of conviction of a crime" (1395). Infamy is 1473, from O.Fr. infamie, from L. infamia.

infant --- 1376, "child during earliest period of life" (sometimes extended to age 7), from L. infantem (nom. infans) "young child, babe in arms," noun use of adj. meaning "not able to speak," from in- "not" + fans, prp. of fari "speak" (see fame). Infanticide first attested 1656. Infanta "daughter of a king of Spain or Portugal" (1601) is from the Sp. and Port. form of the word. Infantile is 1696, "of or pertaining to infants;" sense of "infant-like" is from 1772.

infantry --- 1579, from Fr. infantrie, from older It., Sp. infanteria "foot soldiers, force composed of those too inexperienced or low in rank for cavalry," from infante "foot soldier," originally "a youth," from L. infantem (see infant).

infatuate --- 1471, from L. infatuatus, pp. of infatuare "make a fool of, infatuate," from in- "in" + fatuus "foolish."

infect --- c.1374, from L. infectus, pp. of inficere "to spoil, stain," lit. "to put in," from in- "in" + facere "perform" (see factitious). Infection is 1548 in sense of "communication of disease by agency of air or water" (distinguished from contagion, which is body-to-body communication). Infectious "catching, having the quality of spreading from person to person" is 1542 of diseases, 1611 of emotions, actions, etc.

infer --- 1526, from L. inferre "bring into, cause," from in- "in" + ferre "carry, bear," from PIE *bher- "to bear, to carry, to take" (cf. Skt. bharati "carries;" Avestan baraiti "carries;" O.Pers. barantiy "they carry;" Armenian berem "I carry;" Gk. pherein "to carry;" O.Ir. beru/berim "I catch, I bring forth;" Goth. bairan "to carry;" O.E., O.H.G. beran, O.N. bera "barrow;" O.C.S. birati "to take;" Rus. brat' "to take," bremya "a burden"). Sense of "draw a conclusion" is first attested 1529.

inferior (adj.) --- 1432, from L. inferior "lower," comp. form of inferus (adj.) "that is below or beneath," from infra "below." Noun meaning "a person inferior to another in rank, etc.," is from 1502. Inferiority complex first attested 1922.

infernal --- c.1374, from O.Fr. infernal, from L.L. infernalis "of the lower regions," from infernus "hell" (Ambrose), lit. "the lower (world)," noun use of L. infernus "lower." For the name of the place, or things which resemble it, the It. form Inferno has been used in Eng. since 1834, from Dante.

infest --- 1477, "to attack, assail, hurt, distress, annoy," from M.Fr. infester, from L. infestare "to attack, disturb, trouble," from infestus "hostile, dangerous," originally "inexorable, not able to be handled," from in- "not" + -festus "(able to be) seized." Sense of "swarm over in large numbers" first recorded 1602.

infidel --- 1460 (adj., n.), from M.Fr. infidèle, from L. infidelis "unfaithful," later "unbelieving," from in- "not" + fidelis "faithful" (see fidelity). In 15c. "a non-Christian" (especially a Saracen); later "one who does not believe in religion" (1526). Also used to translate Arabic kafir, from a root meaning "to disbelieve, to deny," strictly referring to all non-Muslims but virtually synonymous with "Christian;" hence, from a Muslim or Jewish point of view, "a Christian" (1534).

infidelity --- 1509, "want of faith, unbelief in religion," from L. infidelitas "unfaithfulness," noun of quality from infidelis (see infidel). Meaning "unfaithfulness or disloyalty to a person" is from 1529, originally to a sovereign, later 16c. to a lover or spouse.

infield --- 1733, "the land of a farm which lies nearest the homestead," from in + field. Baseball diamond sense first attested 1867.

in-fighting --- 1812, from pugilism, the practice of getting at close quarters with an opponent.

infiltrate --- 1758, of fluids, from in- "in" + filtrate (see filter (n.)). infiltration in fig. sense of "a passing into" (anything immaterial) is from 1840; Military sense of "stealthy penetration of enemy lines" dates from 1930.

infinite --- c.1385, from L. infinitus "unbounded, unlimited," from in- "not" + finitus "defining, definite," from finis "end" (see finish).

infinitesimal (adj.) --- 1710, "infinitely small," from Mod.L. infinitesimus, coined by Ger. philosopher and mathematician Baron Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz (1646-1716) from L. infinitus "infinite" (see infinite) + -esimus, as in centesimus "hundredth."

infinitive --- simple, uninflected form of a verb, 1520, from L.L. infinitivus "unlimited, indefinite," from L. infinitus (see infinite). "Indefinite" because not having definite person or number.

infinity --- c.1374, from O.Fr. infinité, from L. infinitatem (nom. infinitas) "boundlessness," from infinitus boundless, unlimited" (see infinite). Infinitas used as a loan-transl. of Gk. apeiria "infinity," from apeiros "endless."

infirm --- c.1374, "weak, unsound" (of things), from L. infirmus "weak, frail," from in- "not" + firmus (see firm (adj.)). Of persons, "not strong, unhealthy," first recorded 1605.

infirmary --- 1451, from M.L. infirmaria, from L. infirmus "weak, frail," (see infirm). The common name for a public hospital in 18c. England.

inflame --- 1340, "to set on fire with passion," fig. use of L. inflammare "to set on fire, kindle," from in- "in" + flammare "to flame," from flamma "flame" (see flame). Literal sense of "to cause to burn" first recorded in Eng. 1382. Inflammable "able to be set alight" is from 1605. Inflammatory "tending to rouse passions or anger" is from 1711. Inflammation "redness or swelling in a body part" is from 1533.

inflation --- 1340, from L. inflationem (nom. inflatio), noun of action from inflare "blow into, puff up," from in- "into" + flare "to blow" (see blow (v.1)). Monetary sense of "enlargement of prices" (originally by an increase in the amount of money in circulation) first recorded 1838 in Amer.Eng. Inflate (v.) is 1533, from L. inflatus, pp. of inflare.

inflect --- c.1425, "to bend inward," from L. inflectere (pp. inflexus) "to bend in, change," from in- "in" + flectere "to bend." Grammatical sense is attested 1668; pronunciation sense (in inflection) is c.1600.

inflexible --- c.1400, "incapable of being bent, rigid," from L. inflexibilis, from inflexus, pp. of inflectere, from in- "not" + flectere "to bend." Fig. sense of "unbending in temper or purpose" first attested 1398.

inflict --- 1566, from L. inflictus, pp. of infligere "to strike or dash against," from in- "on, against" + fligere (pp. flictus) "to dash, strike" (see afflict). You inflict a plague on someone; you afflict someone with a plague.

inflight (adj.) --- during a flight, 1945, from in + flight.

influence --- c.1374, an astrological term, "streaming ethereal power from the stars acting upon character or destiny of men," from O.Fr. influence "emanation from the stars that acts upon one's character and destiny" (13c.), also "a flow of water," from M.L. influentia "a flowing in" (also used in the astrological sense), from L. influentem (nom. influens), prp. of influere "to flow into," from in- "in" + fluere "to flow" (see fluent). Meaning "exercise of personal power by human beings" is from 1439; meaning "exertion of unseen influence by persons" is from 1588 (a sense already in M.L., e.g. Aquinas). Under the influence "drunk" first attested 1866. Influential "powerful" is from 1734.

influenza --- 1743, borrowed during an outbreak of the disease in Europe, from It. influenza "influenza, epidemic," originally "visitation, influence (of the stars)," from M.L. influentia (see influence). Used in It. for diseases since at least 1504 (cf. influenza di febbre scarlattina "scarlet fever") on notion of astral or occult influence. The 1743 outbreak began in Italy. Often applied since mid-19c. to severe colds.

influx --- 1626, from L.L. influxus "a flowing in," from influere "to flow in" (see influence). Originally of rivers, air, light, spiritual light, etc.; used of people from 1652.

inform --- 1320, "to train or instruct in some specific subject," from L. informare "to shape, form, train, instruct, educate," from in- "into" + forma "form." Sense of "report facts or news" first recorded 1386. Informative "instructive" is from 1655. Informer "one who gives information against another" (especially in ref. to law-breaking) is from 1503.

informal --- 1608, "irregular, unofficial," from in- "not" + formal (q.v.). Sense of "done without ceremony" is from 1828.

information --- 1387, "act of informing," from O.Fr. informacion, from L. informationem (nom. informatio) "outline, concept, idea," noun of action from informare (see inform). Meaning "knowledge communicated" is from c.1450. Short form info is attested from 1906. Info-mercial and info-tainment are from 1983.

infra- --- from L. infra (adv., prep.) "below, underneath, beneath," from PIE *ndher (cf. Skt. adnah "below," O.E. under "under, among;" see under). Opposed to super-. Its use as a prefix was rare in Latin.

infra dig --- 1824, colloquial abbreviation of L. infra dignitatem "beneath the dignity of."

infraction --- 1461, from L. infractionem (nom. infractio) "a breaking," noun of action from infrang-, stem of infringere (see infringe).

infralapsarian --- 1731, from infra- + L. lapsus "a fall." In ref. to the Calvinist doctrine that god's election of some to everlasting life was consequent to his decree to allow the Fall of man, and was thus a remedial measure. Contrasted to supralapsarian, in ref. to the belief that He always meant to consign most of mankind to eternal fire and that the decision to create some men to be damned was his first decree. There's also a moderate sublapsarian view. Here the decree to elect those who would believe and leave those who do not believe to damnation also comes after the decree to allow the fall, but the decree to provide salvation for man comes immediately after the decree to elect.

infra-red --- 1881, from infra- (q.v.) + red.

infrastructure --- 1927, from Fr. (1875), from infra- (q.v.) + structure. The installations that form the basis for any operation or system. Originally in a military sense.

infrequent --- 1531, from L. infrequentem (nom. infrequens) "occurring seldom, unusual," from in- "not" + frequens (see frequent).

infringe --- c.1467, from L. infringere "to damage, break off," from in- "in" + frangere "to break" (see fraction). Meaning of "encroach" first recorded c.1760.

infuriate (v.) --- 1667, from It. infuriato, from M.L. infuriatus, pp. of infuriare "to madden," from L. in furia "in a fury," from abl. of furia (see fury).

infuse --- 1432, "to pour in," from L. infusus, pp. of infundere "to pour into," from in- "in" + fundere "pour, spread" (see found (2)). Fig. sense of "instill, inspire" first recorded 1526 (infusion in this sense dates from c.1450).

-ing --- suffix attached to verbs to mean their action, result, product, material, etc., from O.E. -ing, -ung, from P.Gmc. *unga (cf. O.N. -ing, Du. -ing, Ger. -ung). Originally used to form nouns from verbs and to denote completed or habitual action. Its use has been greatly expanded in M.E. and Mod.Eng. The other use of -ing is to form the prp. of verbs, and in this sense it developed from O.E. -ende (cf. Ger. -end, Goth. -and, Skt. -ant, Gk. -on, L. -ans). It evolved into -ing in 13c.-14c.

ingenious --- 1483, "intellectual, talented," from M.Fr. ingénieux "clever, ingenious" (O.Fr. engeignos), from L. ingeniosus "of good capacity, gifted with genius," from ingenium "innate qualities, ability," lit. "that which is inborn," from in- "in" + gignere, from PIE *gen- "produce." Sense of "skillful, clever" first recorded 1548.

ingenue --- 1848, from Fr. ingénue "artless girl, especially on the stage," fem. of ingénu "ingenuous, artless, simple" (13c.), from L. ingenuus (see ingenuous).

ingenuity --- 1598, "honor, nobility," from L. ingenuitas "condtion of a free-born man, noble-mindedness," from ingenuus (see ingenuous). Etymologically, this word belongs to ingenuous, though it was so constantly confused in meaning with ingenious (q.v.) in 17c. that its form and sense now partake of that word, and with the meaning "capacity for invention or construction" (first attested 1649).