English Explanatory Dictionary

inanimate

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Lacking the quality or ability of motion; as an inanimate object.
  2. Not alive, and never having been alive, especially not like humans and animals.
  3. Not animate.
noun
  1. Something that is not alive.
verb
  1. To animate.

Pronunciation

/ɪnˈænɪmət/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-inanimate.wav /ɪnˈænɪmeɪt/

Word forms

inanimate more inanimate most inanimate inanimates inanimating inanimated

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).

Synonyms

immobile motionless fixed immotile immovable inanimate inert lifeless sessile static rigid stationary stuck unmovable unmoveable at rest dull impassive sedent sedentary still stock-still torpid unmoved unmoving non-animate insentient insensate

Antonyms

animate

Related words

deanimate

Derived words

inanimacy inanimately inanimateness inanimation
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