Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Inform
In-form′
,Adj.
[L.
informis
; pref. in-
not + forma
form, shape: cf. F. informe
] Without regular form; shapeless; ugly; deformed.
Cotton.
In-form′
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Informed
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Informing
.] [OE.
enformen
, OF. enformer
, F. informer
. L. informare
; pref. in-
in + formare
to form, share, fr. forma
form. See Form
.] 1.
To give form or share to; to give vital or organizing power to; to give life to; to imbue and actuate with vitality; to animate; to mold; to figure; to fashion.
“The informing
Word.” Coleridge.
Let others better mold the running mass
Of metals, and
Of metals, and
inform
the breathing brass. Dryden.
Breath
informs
this fleeting frame. Prior.
Breathes in our soul,
informs
our mortal part. Pope.
2.
To communicate knowledge to; to make known to; to acquaint; to advise; to instruct; to tell; to notify; to enlighten; – usually followed by of.
For he would learn their business secretly,
And then
And then
inform
his master hastily. Spenser.
I am
informed
thoroughly of the cause. Shakespeare
3.
To communicate a knowledge of facts to, by way of accusation; to warn against anybody.
Syn. – To acquaint; apprise; tell; teach; instruct; enlighten; animate; fashion.
In-form′
,Verb.
T.
1.
To take form; to become visible or manifest; to appear.
[Obs.]
It is the bloody business which
Thus to mine eyes.
informs
Thus to mine eyes.
Shakespeare
2.
To give intelligence or information; to tell.
Shak.
He might either teach in the same manner, or
inform
how he had been taught. Monthly Rev.
To inform against
, to communicate facts by way of accusation against; to denounce;
as, two persons came to the magistrate, and
.informed against
AWebster 1828 Edition
Inform
INFORM'
,Verb.
T.
Properly, to give form or shape to, but in this sense not used.
1.
To animate; to give life to; to actuate by vital powers. Let others better mold the running mass
Of metals, and inform the breathing brass.
Breath informs this fleeting frame.
--Breathes in our soul, informs our vital part.
[This use is chiefly or wholly poetical.]
2.
To instruct; to tell to; to acquaint; to communicate knowledge to; to make known to by word or writing; usually followed by of. Before we judge, we should be well informed of the facts relating to the case. A messenger arrived and informed the commander of the state of the troops. Letters from Europe inform us of the commencement of hostilities between the Persians and Turks.3.
To communicate a knowledge of facts to one by way of accusation. Tertullus informed the governor against Paul. Acts.24.
In this application the verb is usually intransitive; as, A informed against B.
INFORM'
,Verb.
I.
He might either teach in the same manner, or inform how he had been taught--
To inform against, to communicate facts by way of accusation; to give intelligence of a breach of law. Two persons came to the magistrate, and informed against A.
INFORM'
,Adj.