Main Entry: in·form

Pronunciation: \in-ˈfȯrm\

Function: verb

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French enformer, from Latin informare, from in- + forma form

Date: 14th century

transitive verb 1 obsolete : to give material form to
2 a : to give character or essence to <the principles which inform modern teaching> b : to be the characteristic quality of : animate <the compassion that informs her work>
3 obsolete : guide, direct
4 obsolete : to make known
5 : to communicate knowledge to <inform a prisoner of his rights>intransitive verb 1 : to impart information or knowledge
2 : to give information (as of another's wrongdoing) to an authority <informed on a member of his own gang>

synonyms inform, acquaint, apprise, notify mean to make one aware of something. inform implies the imparting of knowledge especially of facts or occurrences <informed us of the crisis>. acquaint lays stress on introducing to or familiarizing with <acquaint yourself with the keyboard>. apprise implies communicating something of special interest or importance <keep us apprised of the situation>. notify implies sending notice of something requiring attention or demanding action <notified the witness when to appear>.