inculcate

C1 Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /ˈɪnkʌlkeɪt/ UK /ˈɪnkʌlkeɪt/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

verb
to instill an idea or habit by persistent instruction

Parents try to inculcate good manners in their children.
2

verb
to teach someone an attitude or belief through repetition

The coach inculcated a sense of discipline in the team.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to instill an idea or habit... instill implant indoctrinateimpress upondrill into

2 verb · to teach someone an... instill implant indoctrinateimpress uponhammer in

Etymology

From Latin in- ('in, on') + calcare ('to tread, press'), forming inculcare ('to tread on, impress upon'); via Middle English inculcaten ('to impress upon the mind', 15th c.) into Modern English inculcate ('instill by persistent instruction').

Topics

Abstract Ideas Word Formation & Derivatives

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# inculcate

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈɪnkʌlkeɪt/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈɪnkʌlkeɪt/

## Meanings
1. to instill an idea or habit by persistent instruction
2. to teach someone an attitude or belief through repetition

## Examples
- Parents try to inculcate good manners in their children.
- The coach inculcated a sense of discipline in the team.

## Synonyms
- instill
- implant
- indoctrinate
- impress upon
- drill into
- hammer in

## Etymology
From Latin in- ('in, on') + calcare ('to tread, press'), forming inculcare ('to tread on, impress upon'); via Middle English inculcaten ('to impress upon the mind', 15th c.) into Modern English inculcate ('instill by persistent instruction').

## AI Etymology
Inculcate comes from Latin in- ('in, on') + calcare ('to tread, press'), forming inculcare ('to tread on, impress upon'); via Middle English inculcaten ('to impress upon the mind', 15th c.) into Modern English inculcate ('instill by persistent instruction'). In current use it is a verb meaning "to instill an idea or habit by persistent instruction". That sense is explained by the older material without requiring a speculative semantic step: the inherited or borrowed base supplies the field of meaning, while the English formation fixes its modern role. The surface form is compositional: its joined elements remain visible in the modern word. The word's history is thus visible in its construction: the components remain interpretable even after the whole expression has settled into a conventional English meaning.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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inculcate

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