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.

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
Rare to form or shape (the mind); teach; instruct
to give knowledge of something to; tell; acquaint with a fact, etc.

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

intransitive verb

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

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.
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).
To be a pervasive presence in; animate: “It is this brash, backroom sensibility that informs his work as a novelist” (Jeff Shear).
Obsolete To form (the mind or character) by teaching or training.

verb, intransitive

To give or provide information.
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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