indite

See also: Indite

English

Etymology 1

Originally a variant of indict; from Middle English enditen, endyten, from Old French enditer, from Late Latin indictāre, from in- +‎ dictare (“to declare”).

Alternative forms

• endite

Pronunciation

• (US, UK) IPA^(key): /ɪnˈdaɪt/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Homophone: indict
• Rhymes: -aɪt

Verb

indite (third-person singular simple present indites, present participle inditing, simple past and past participle indited)

1. (transitive) To physically make letters and words on a writing surface; to inscribe.
2. (transitive) To write, especially a literary or artistic work; to compose.
   • 1844, E. A. Poe, Marginalia

     It is certain that the mere act of inditing tends, in a great degree, to the logicalisation of thought. Whenever, on account of its vagueness, I am dissatisfied with a conception of the brain, I resort forthwith to the pen, for the purpose of obtaining, through its aid, the necessary form, consequence, and precision.

   • 1849, Low, James, “A translation of the Keddah Annals termed Marong Mahawangsa”, in The Journal of the Indian archipelago and eastern Asia‎^[1], volume 3, Singapore: G. M. Frederick, page 94:

     Sulíman now directed one of his ministers to indite a letter in the Chinese language to be sent to the Emperor of China to inform him of all these proceedings of Girdá towards the Prince of Rúm, and he then asked the Prince if he had been escorted by any chief enjoying the confidence of the Rájá of Rúm.

3. To dictate; to prompt.
   • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], OCLC 964384981, Psalms 45:1:

     My heart is inditing a good matter.

   • 1744 (first published), Robert South, Five additional volumes of sermons preached upon several occasions

     Could a common grief have indited such expressions?

4. (obsolete) To invite or ask.
   • c. 1591–1595, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358, [Act II, scene iv]:

     She will indite him to supper.

5. (obsolete) To indict; to accuse; to censure.
   • 1595, Edmunde Spenser [i.e., Edmund Spenser], “[3 (please specify the sonnet number or title)]”, in Amoretti and Epithalamion. […], London: Printed [by Peter Short] for William Ponsonby, OCLC 932931864; reprinted in Amoretti and Epithalamion (The Noel Douglas Replicas), London: Noel Douglas […], 1927, OCLC 474036557:

     14

     the wonder that my wit cannot endite

   • 1901 October 11, “District Reports”, in The Agricultural Journal and Mining Record‎^[2], volume 4, number 16, page 483:

     Two cases of cattle-stealing were dealt with, in which three natives were indited, two males, and one female. The two men were found guilty […]

Translations

on a writing surface

• Bulgarian: написвам (bg) (napisvam)

to compose

• Bulgarian: съчинявам (bg) (sǎčinjavam)

• Hungarian: megfogalmaz (hu), megszövegez, megszerkeszt (hu), megalkot (hu)

Etymology 2

indium +‎ -ite

Pronunciation

• (US, UK) IPA^(key): /ˈɪndaɪt/

Noun

indite (uncountable)

1. (mineralogy) An extremely rare indium-iron sulfide mineral.

Further reading

• David Barthelmy, “Indite”, in Webmineral Mineralogy Database, 1997–2021.
• “indite”, in Mindat.org‎^[3], Hudson Institute of Mineralogy, 2000–2021.
• indite at OneLook Dictionary Search
• indite in RRUFF™ Project

Anagrams

• -tidine, dinite, inited, tied in, tineid

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Italian

Verb

indite

1. second-person plural present indicative of indire
2. second-person plural imperative of indire

Anagrams

• nitide

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Latin

Verb

indite

1. second-person plural present active imperative of indō