inform

See also: in form

English

Etymology 1

From Middle English informen, enformen, from Old French enformer, informer (“to train, instruct, inform”), from Latin informare (“to shape, form, train, instruct, educate”), from in- (“into”) + forma (“form, shape”), equivalent to in- +‎ form.

Alternative forms

• enform (obsolete)

Pronunciation

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɔː(r)m

Verb

inform (third-person singular simple present informs, present participle informing, simple past and past participle informed)

1. (archaic, transitive) To instruct, train (usually in matters of knowledge).
2. (transitive) To communicate knowledge to.
   • Spenser

     For he would learn their business secretly, / And then inform his master hastily.

   • Shakespeare

     I am informed thoroughly of the cause.

3. (intransitive) To impart information or knowledge.
4. To act as an informer; denounce.
5. (transitive) To give form or character to; to inspire (with a given quality); to affect, influence (with a pervading principle, idea etc.).
   • 2013 June 7, Gary Younge, “Hypocrisy lies at heart of Manning prosecution”, The Guardian Weekly, volume 188, number 26, page 18: 

     WikiLeaks did not cause these uprisings but it certainly informed them. The dispatches revealed details of corruption and kleptocracy that many Tunisians suspected, but could not prove, and would cite as they took to the streets.

   His sense of religion informs everything he writes.

   • Dryden

     Let others better mould the running mass / Of metals, and inform the breathing brass.

   • Prior

     Breath informs this fleeting frame.

6. (obsolete, intransitive) To make known, wisely and/or knowledgeably.
7. (obsolete, transitive) To direct, guide.

Synonyms

• (communicate knowledge to (trans.)): acquaint, apprise, notify
• (act as informer): dob, name names, peach, snitch

Derived terms

Terms derived from inform

informant information informative

informatory informed informer

misinform uninformed

Translations

instruct — see instruct

to communicate knowledge to (an)other(s)

• Czech: informovat
• Dutch: informeren (nl), inlichten (nl), voorlichten (nl)
• French: informer (fr)
• German: informieren (de)
• Hebrew: הוֹדִיעַ (hodía)
• Hungarian: informál (hu), tájékoztat (hu)

• Interlingua: informar
• Japanese: 告げる (ja) (つげる, tsugeru)
• Kurdish:

  Sorani: ئاگادان (agadan), تێگه‌یاندن (tégeyandin)

• Maori: whakamōhio
• Russian: сообщать (ru) (sɘːbɕɕat')

to impart information or knowledge (intransitive)

• Dutch: informeren (nl), voorlichten (nl)
• French: informer (fr), instruire (fr)
• German: informieren (de)
• Hungarian: közöl (hu)

• Japanese: 教える (ja) (おしえる, oshieru)
• Kurdish:

  Sorani: ئاگادان (agadan), تێگه‌یاندن (tégeyandin)

• Maori: whakaatu

to act as an informer, denounce

• Dutch: verklikken (nl)
• French: dénoncer (fr)

• German: denunzieren (de)

to make known (intransitive)

• Dutch: informeren (nl), kond doen
• French: informer (fr)
• Japanese: 知らせる (しらせる, shiraseru)

• Kurdish:

  Sorani: ئاگادان (agadan), تێگه‌یاندن (tégeyandin)

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.

Translations to be checked

• Ido: informar

• Interlingua: informar
• Spanish: delatar, enterar, impregnar, informar, reportar

Etymology 2

Latin informis

Adjective

inform (not comparable)

1. Without regular form; shapeless; ugly; deformed.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Cotton to this entry?)

Anagrams

• formin