inform

To inform is defined as to tell, give knowledge or information.

(verb)

An example of to inform is someone telling a friend what time they'll arrive.

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See inform in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb

    1. Obsolete to give form to
    2. to give character to; be the formative principle of
    3. to give or inspire with some specific quality or character
  1. Rare to form or shape (the mind); teach; instruct
  2. to give knowledge of something to; tell; acquaint with a fact, etc.

Origin: ME informen < OFr enformer < L informare: see in- & form

intransitive verb

  1. to give information
  2. to give information laying blame or accusation upon another

adjective

Archaic without form; formless

Origin: Fr informe < L informis

See inform in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb in·formed, in·form·ing, in·forms
verb, transitive
  1. a. To impart information to; make aware of something: We were informed by mail of the change in plans. The nurse informed me that visiting hours were over.
    b. To acquaint (oneself) with knowledge of a subject.
  2. To give form or character to; imbue with a quality or an essence: “A society's strength is measured by . . . its ability to inform a future generation with its moral standards” (Vanity Fair).
  3. To be a pervasive presence in; animate: “It is this brash, backroom sensibility that informs his work as a novelist” (Jeff Shear).
  4. Obsolete To form (the mind or character) by teaching or training.
verb, intransitive
  1. To give or provide information.
  2. To disclose confidential or incriminating information to an authority: The defendant informed against the other members of the ring.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English enfourmen, informen

Origin: , from Old French enfourmer

Origin: , from Latin īnfōrmāre

Origin: : in-, in; see in-2

Origin: + fōrmāre, to fashion (from fōrma, form)

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