infix

[ verb in-fiks, in-fiks; noun in-fiks ]

noun

1. Grammar. a morpheme or an entire word that is inserted within the body of another word or element, as Latin m in accumbō “I lie down,” as compared with accubuī “I lay down.”

verb (used with object)

, in·fixed, in·fix·ing.

1. to fix, fasten, or drive in:

   He infixed the fatal spear.

2. to instill (a fact, idea, etc.) in the mind or memory; impress:

   Your childhood trauma infixed these specific fears in your mind.

   Synonyms: inculcate

3. Grammar. to add as an infix:

   The English language infixes only a small set of expletives and euphemisms, as in “fan-freakin-tastic” or “abso-bloody-lutely.”

verb (used without object)

, in·fixed, in·fix·ing.

1. Grammar. (of a linguistic form) to admit an infix:

   Polysyllabic words in English infix just before the stressed syllable, as in “abso-frickin-LUTEly.”

adjective

1. Mathematics, Computers. of or relating to operator notation that occurs between the operands, such as the symbols for addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division when written in a linear equation:

   We are familiar with infix notation from elementary math class, and it can also be used in logic statements or computer programming languages.

infix

/ ɪnˈfɪkʃən /

verb

1. tr to fix firmly in
2. tr to instil or inculcate
3. grammar to insert (an affix) or (of an affix) to be inserted into the middle of a word

noun

1. grammar an affix inserted into the middle of a word

Derived Forms

• ˌinfixˈation, noun

Other Words From

• in·fix·a·tion [in-fiks-, ey, -sh, uh, n], in·fix·ion [in-, fik, -sh, uh, n], noun
• un·in·fixed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of infix¹

First recorded in 1495–1505; from Latin infīxus, past participle of infīgere “to fasten in”; in- ², fix

Example Sentences

With serpents were their hands behind them bound, Which through their reins infix'd the tail and head Twisted in folds before.

From Project Gutenberg

It is more than to infuse, it is to infix it in such a manner as that it never may wear out.

From Project Gutenberg

I have a friend who loves me as his life, and in whose breast I should infix a mortal sting if I ungratefully left him.

From Project Gutenberg

The lower infix is quite regular in all of the forms, being a circle or ring.

From Project Gutenberg