infix

American  

[in-fiks, in-fiks, in-fiks] / ɪnˈfɪks, ˈɪnˌfɪks, ˈɪnˌfɪks /

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)

infixed, infixing

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)

infixed, infixing

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 British  

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• infixation
  noun
• infixion
  noun
• uninfixed
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of infix

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

Example Sentences

Nor the old Titan's hate, toward you, ye gods Infix its vulture talons in my breast!

From The German Classics of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, Volume 01 Masterpieces of German Literature Translated into English. by Francke, Kuno

Infix, in-fiks′, v.t. to fix in: to drive or fasten in: to set in by piercing.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M) by Various

Nor the old Titan's hate, toward you, ye gods, Infix its vulture talons in my breast!

From Iphigenia in Tauris by Swanwick, Anna