inanimate

B2 Topic:Grammar & Function Words

US /ɪnˈænɪmeɪt/ UK /ɪnˈænɪmət/ See IPA manual

adj verb noun Freq #29881

Meanings

1

adj
Not alive; not a living thing.

A rock is an inanimate object.
2

adj
(grammar) Describing nouns that refer to non-living things.

In this language, inanimate nouns take a different ending.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · not alive; not a living thing. lifelessnon-living

Word family

Derived forms inanimacyinanimatelyinanimatenessinanimation

Related forms deanimate

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English inanimat(e), from Late Latin inanimātus, from Latin in- + animātus (“animated”), see -ate (adjective-forming suffix). By surface analysis, in- + animate. The noun was derived by substantivization from the adjective, see -ate (noun-forming suffix).

*h₂enh₁- Proto-Indo-European inanimate Middle English inanimātus la-lat in- Latin

View etymology graph ->

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Grammar & Function Words

# inanimate

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** adj, verb, noun
**IPA (US):** ɪnˈænɪmeɪt
**IPA (UK):** ɪnˈænɪmət
**Frequency rank:** 29881

## Meanings
1. Not alive; not a living thing.
2. (grammar) Describing nouns that refer to non-living things.

## Examples
- A rock is an inanimate object.
- In this language, inanimate nouns take a different ending.

## Derived Forms
- inanimacy
- inanimately
- inanimateness
- inanimation

## Related Forms
- deanimate

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *h₂enh₁-
- Root: inanimate
- Root: inanimātus
- Root: in-

## Etymology
Inherited from Middle English inanimat(e), from Late Latin inanimātus, from Latin in- + animātus (“animated”), see -ate (adjective-forming suffix). By surface analysis, in- + animate. The noun was derived by substantivization from the adjective, see -ate (noun-forming suffix).

## AI Etymology
Inanimate is inherited from Middle English inanimat(e), from Late Latin inanimātus, from Latin in- + animātus (“animated”), see -ate (adjective-forming suffix). By surface analysis, in- + animate. The noun was derived by substantivization from the adjective, see -ate (noun-forming suffix). The analysis is mainly morphological: the modern adjectival form is built from the named base and affix. The historical line also includes *h₂enh₁- and inanimate.

## Topics
- Grammar & Function Words

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inanimate

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