English Explanatory Dictionary

innate

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Inborn; existing or having existed since birth.
  2. Originating in, or derived from, the constitution of the intellect, as opposed to acquired from experience.
  3. Instinctive; coming from instinct.
  4. Joined by the base to the very tip of a filament.
verb
  1. To cause to exist; to call into being.

Pronunciation

/ɪˈneɪt/ en-us-innate.ogg

Word forms

innate innates innating innated

Etymology

The adjective is first attested in the 1420s, the verb in 1602; from Middle English innat(e) (“innate, inborn”), borrowed from Latin innātus (“inborn, innate”) (see -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), perfect active participle of innāscor (“to be born in, grow up in”), from in- (“in, at on”) + nāscor (“to be born”); see natal, native. The verb is derived from the adjective, see -ate (verb-forming suffix).

Synonyms

connate connatural congenital congenite genetous inborn inbred indigenous ingenite innate native natural to the manner born unlearned unlearnt

Antonyms

acquired implanted ingrafted inculcated infused learned

Related words

antenatal nascent natal native nativism natural naturalism nature naturism prenatal a priori intuitive run in the family inveterate

Derived words

innate immune system innate immunity innately innateness innatism innatist innative noninnate uninnate
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