"I" Word Origins

inexperienced

Origin

From in- + experienced, from experience.

inexpert

Origin

From Middle English inexpert, inexperte, from in- (“not”) + expert, experte, or else from Middle French inexpert or its etymon Latin inexpertus. By surface analysis, in- (“not”) + expert.

inexplicable

Latin

From Latin inexplicābilis — in- ("not") + explicābilis ("explicable").

inexplicably

Origin

From inexplicable + -ly.

inextricable

Origin

From Middle French inextricable, from Latin inextricabilis.

inextricably

Latin

From inextricable + -ly, ultimately from Latin inextricabilis, "impossible to disentangle."

Inez

Spanish

Anglicised form of Spanish Inés and Portuguese Inês, both from Latin Agnes, from Ancient Greek Ἁγνή (Hagnḗ). First used in 18th century English poetry and plays referring to Inês de Castro. Doublet of Agnes.

infallible

Medieval Latin

From Medieval Latin infallibilis, from Latin in- ("not") + fallibilis ("liable to fail").

infamize

Origin

From infamy + -ize.

infamous

Medieval Latin

From Medieval Latin īnfāmōsus, from Latin īnfāmis — in- + fāma, "fame, reputation."

infamy

Latin

From Old French infamie, from Latin īnfāmia — in- ("not") + fāma ("fame, renown").

infancy

Latin

From Latin īnfantia, "early childhood," from infant + -cy.

infant

Latin

From Latin īnfāns, literally "not able to speak" — in- ("not") + fāns, "speaking."

infantile

Latin

From Latin infantilis, "pertaining to an infant," from īnfāns.

infantry

Latin

From French infanterie, from Italian/Spanish infantería, from infante, "foot soldier," ultimately from Latin īnfāns, "child, youth."

infantryman

Origin

From infantry + man.

infarct

Origin

Borrowed from Latin īnfarctus, tu-stem derivation of īnfarciō.

infarction

Latin

From Latin infarctiō, from infarct + -ion.

infare

Origin

From Middle English infer (“entrance”), from Old English infær (“ingress, entrance, ingang”), from Proto-Germanic *in + *farą (“a going”), corresponding to in- + fare. Related to Old English infaru (“inroad, incursion, invasion”). Compare German einführen (“to introduce”).

infatuated

Origin

From infatuate + -ed.

infect

Latin

From Latin infectus, past participle of inficere, "to dye, taint, spoil."

infection

Late Latin

From Old French infection, from Late Latin īnfectiō, from infect + -ion.

infectious

New Latin

From New Latin īnfectiōsus, from infect + -ious.

infelicity

Origin

From in- + felicity, from Latin infelicitas.

infer

Latin

From Latin inferō, "to carry in, bring about" — in- + ferō, "to carry," related to English bear.

inference

Latin

From Latin inferentia, from infer + -ence.

inferior

Latin

From Latin inferior, "lower," the comparative form of inferus, "below."

inferiority

Origin

Built from inferior plus the noun-forming suffix -ity.

infernal

Medieval Latin

From Latin infernus, "the underworld," via Medieval Latin infernalis.

inferno

Latin

From Italian inferno, "hell," from Latin infernus. The "huge fire" meaning developed later, from the idea of hellfire.

infertile

Late Latin

From Late Latin infertilis, "not fertile."

infertility

Late Latin

From Late Latin infertilitas, built on infertile.

infestation

Late Latin

From Late Latin infestatio, built on the verb infest.

infidel

Latin

From Latin infidelis, "unfaithful," from in- ("not") plus fidelis ("faithful") — related to fidelity.

infidelity

Latin

From Latin infidelitas, built on infidelis ("unfaithful") — see infidel.

infield

Origin

From in- plus field.

infiltrate

Medieval Latin

From Medieval Latin infiltratus, ultimately from in- ("into") plus filtrare ("to filter").

infiltration

Medieval Latin

From Medieval Latin infiltratio, built on infiltrate.

infinite

Latin

From Latin infinitus, "unbounded," from in- ("not") plus finis ("end").

infinitely

Origin

From infinite plus the adverb-forming suffix -ly.

infinitesimal

Origin

From New Latin īnfīnītēsimus + -al. Displaced earlier coordinate term fluxion.

infinitival

Origin

From infinitive + -al.

infinitude

Origin

From Old French infinité, from Latin infinitas (“unlimitedness”), from negative prefix in- (“not”), + finis (“end”), + noun of state suffix -tas.

infinity

Latin

From Latin infinitas, "unlimitedness," from in- ("not") plus finis ("end").

infirm

Latin

From Latin infirmus, "weak, feeble."

infirmary

Medieval Latin

From Medieval Latin infirmaria, built on infirmus ("weak, sick").

infix

Origin

Back-formation from Middle English infixed (“stuck in”), from Latin infixus, past participle of infigō (“to fasten in”).

inflame

Latin

From Latin inflammare, "to set on fire," from in- plus flamma ("flame").