infix

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verb in·fix \ˈin-ˌfiks, in-ˈfiks\

Definition of infix

transitive verb
1 : to fasten or fix by piercing or thrusting in
2 : to impress firmly in the consciousness or disposition
3 : to insert (a sound or letter) as an infix

infixation

play \ˌin-(ˌ)fik-ˈsā-shən\ noun

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Examples of infix in a Sentence

a puzzling detail that had been infixed in the detective's mind for over a decade
a football coach celebrated for infixing in his players an all-consuming will to win

Origin and Etymology of infix

Latin infixus, past participle of infigere, from in- + figere to fasten — more at fix

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First Known Use: 1502

See Words from the same year

Synonym Discussion of infix

implant, inculcate, instill, inseminate, infix mean to introduce into the mind. implant implies teaching that makes for permanence of what is taught. implanted a love of reading in her students inculcate implies persistent or repeated efforts to impress on the mind. tried to inculcate in him high moral standards instill stresses gradual, gentle imparting of knowledge over a long period of time. instill traditional values in your children inseminate applies to a sowing of ideas in many minds so that they spread through a class or nation. inseminated an unquestioning faith in technology infix stresses firmly inculcating a habit of thought. infixed a chronic cynicism

infix

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noun in·fix \ˈin-ˌfiks\

Definition of infix

: a derivational or inflectional affix appearing in the body of a word (such as Sanskrit -n- in vindami “I know” as contrasted with vid “to know”)

What is an infix?

Like prefixes and suffixes, infixes are part of the general class of affixes ("sounds or letters attached to or inserted within a word to produce a derivative word or an inflectional form"). Infixes are relatively rare in English, but you can find them in the plural forms of some words. For example, cupful, spoonful, and passerby can be pluralized as cupsful, spoonsful, and passersby, using "s" as an infix. Another example is the insertion of an (often offensive) intensifier into a word, as in fan-freakin'-tastic. Such whole-word insertions are sometimes called infixes, though this phenomenon is more traditionally known as tmesis.