inure

American  

[in-yoor, ih-noor] / ɪnˈyʊər, ɪˈnʊər /

Also enure

verb (used with object)

inured, inuring

1. to accustom to hardship, difficulty, pain, etc.; toughen or harden; habituate (usually followed byto ).

   inured to cold.

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verb (used without object)

inured, inuring

1. to come into use; take or have effect.

2. to become beneficial or advantageous.

inure British  

/ ɪˈnjʊə, ɪˈnjʊərɪdnɪs /

verb

1. to cause to accept or become hardened to; habituate

2. (intr) (esp of a law, etc) to come into operation; take effect

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Other Word Forms

• inuredness
  noun
• inurement
  noun

Etymology

Origin of inure

First recorded in 1480–90; verb use of phrase in ure, en ure “in use, customary,” from Anglo-French en ure “in use, at work,” equivalent to en in + ure (from Latin opera, plural of opus ) “work”; compare French oeuvre

Explanation

To inure is to get used to something difficult or unpleasant. If after spending an hour in your brother's room, you stop noticing the stinky-sock smell, you have become inured to the odor. Although the Latin roots of inure mean "in work," it may be easier to think of "in use" when you see inure. Got new shoes that give you blisters? When they are "in use" long enough, your feet will become inured to the spots that rub, and while you may have calluses, you will not be in pain. You can be inured to more abstract things too. When weathermen constantly play up the next big snowstorm or blizzard, you become inured to it and stop paying attention to them.

Example Sentences

The sage who would this form of artless grace Inure to penance—thoughtlessly attempts To cleave in twain the hard acacia's stem With the soft edge of a blue lotus leaf.

From Hindu literature : Comprising The Book of good counsels, Nala and Damayanti, The Ramayana, and Sakoontala by Arnold, Edwin, Sir

Inure is similarly formed from Old Fr. enœuvrer, literally "to work in," hence to accustom to toil.

From The Romance of Words (4th ed.) by Weekley, Ernest

Inure their bodies to the inclemencies of the seasons, of climates, of elements; to hunger, thirst, fatigue; plunge them into the water of the Styx.

From Émile or, Concerning Education; Extracts by Steeg, Jules

The shirīsh-flower is not more delicate than she, therefore Inure her to the Archer's way by little steps,— The poet Vidyāpati lays down This prayer of a messenger upon your feet.

From Vidy?pati: Bang?ya pad?bali; songs of the love of R?dh? and Krishna by Vidy?pati Th?kura