im-prefix¹

Primary stress is usually maintained by a subsequent element

assimilated form of in- prefix², before b, m, p. This assimilation took place in Latin during the later classical period, and remains in French and English (although in- (en-) was not infrequent before p in Old French and Middle English). In words that survived in living use, Latin in-, im- became in Old French en-, em-. These words were taken into Middle English in their current French form; but from the 14th cent. onward, there was a marked tendency to alter the French back into the Latin form of the prefix. Hence, many words are found with both em- and im-, in some cases one, in some the other, being ultimately prevalent, while in others, as empanel, impanel, the variation still continues: see em- prefix, and in- prefix². In this Dictionary, words thus varying in the prefix are treated under the prevalent spelling, or under that which analogy favours, whether em- prefix or main sense a cross-reference being given under the other spelling. In words more recently derived from Latin (or from Italian) im- is the regular form.

Words in im- are chiefly verbs and their derivatives, and may be thus classed:

a. Words in im- taken from Latin (or Romanic), directly or through later French, as imbibe, imbue, imburse, immerge, immure, impact, impede, impend, implore, imprecate.

b. Words in which Old French em- has been altered back to im- in Anglo-Norman or English, as impair, impeach, implead, impoverish.

c. Words formed in English on the analogy of the preceding, from nouns, adjectives, or verbs, not only of Romanic, but also of native English or other origin. The earlier of these began with em- (being the form of en- prefix¹ before a labial), which was afterwards altered to im- (as in b); after this, later formations arose with im- from the first. Such are, from nouns, imbarge, imbrute, immantle, immould, impalace, imperil, impocket; imbark, imbarn, imbook, imbud, immind, immire, immud; from adjectives, impeevish (cf. imbrutish v.), impoor; from verbs, imbake, imbreathe, imbrighten, impave, impight, implunge, impleach. In some of the last, im- may have been felt as a variant of in- prefix¹. For the sense expressed by the prefix, see in- prefix².In words in imm-, usually only one m is pronounced; but when a rhetorical stress is laid on the prefix, or it is necessary to make plain its force in a nonce-word or an unusual word, as immind, immire, immud, both ms, or a prolonged m, may be pronounced.

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1899; most recently modified version published online December 2019).

im-prefix²

Primary stress is usually maintained by a subsequent element.

assimilated form in Latin of the negative prefix in- prefix³ before b, m, p, which retains the same form in English, as imbonity, immemorial, impossible. In imm-, only one m is ordinarily pronounced (the prefix being thus reduced to i-), but im- may be kept separate where emphasis or distinctness requires, as in im-malleable, im-mixed.

This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1899; most recently modified version published online December 2019).

单词	im-
释义	im-prefix¹ Primary stress is usually maintained by a subsequent element assimilated form of in- prefix², before b, m, p. This assimilation took place in Latin during the later classical period, and remains in French and English (although in- (en-) was not infrequent before p in Old French and Middle English). In words that survived in living use, Latin in-, im- became in Old French en-, em-. These words were taken into Middle English in their current French form; but from the 14th cent. onward, there was a marked tendency to alter the French back into the Latin form of the prefix. Hence, many words are found with both em- and im-, in some cases one, in some the other, being ultimately prevalent, while in others, as empanel, impanel, the variation still continues: see em- prefix, and in- prefix². In this Dictionary, words thus varying in the prefix are treated under the prevalent spelling, or under that which analogy favours, whether em- prefix or main sense a cross-reference being given under the other spelling. In words more recently derived from Latin (or from Italian) im- is the regular form. Words in im- are chiefly verbs and their derivatives, and may be thus classed: a. Words in im- taken from Latin (or Romanic), directly or through later French, as imbibe, imbue, imburse, immerge, immure, impact, impede, impend, implore, imprecate. b. Words in which Old French em- has been altered back to im- in Anglo-Norman or English, as impair, impeach, implead, impoverish. c. Words formed in English on the analogy of the preceding, from nouns, adjectives, or verbs, not only of Romanic, but also of native English or other origin. The earlier of these began with em- (being the form of en- prefix¹ before a labial), which was afterwards altered to im- (as in b); after this, later formations arose with im- from the first. Such are, from nouns, imbarge, imbrute, immantle, immould, impalace, imperil, impocket; imbark, imbarn, imbook, imbud, immind, immire, immud; from adjectives, impeevish (cf. imbrutish v.), impoor; from verbs, imbake, imbreathe, imbrighten, impave, impight, implunge, impleach. In some of the last, im- may have been felt as a variant of in- prefix¹. For the sense expressed by the prefix, see in- prefix².In words in imm-, usually only one m is pronounced; but when a rhetorical stress is laid on the prefix, or it is necessary to make plain its force in a nonce-word or an unusual word, as immind, immire, immud, both ms, or a prolonged m, may be pronounced. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1899; most recently modified version published online December 2019). im-prefix² Primary stress is usually maintained by a subsequent element. assimilated form in Latin of the negative prefix in- prefix³ before b, m, p, which retains the same form in English, as imbonity, immemorial, impossible. In imm-, only one m is ordinarily pronounced (the prefix being thus reduced to i-), but im- may be kept separate where emphasis or distinctness requires, as in im-malleable, im-mixed. This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1899; most recently modified version published online December 2019). < prefix¹prefix²
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im-prefix1

im-prefix2

im-prefix¹

im-prefix²