inhabit

[in-hab-it]

See more synonyms for inhabit on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to live or dwell in (a place), as people or animals: Small animals inhabited the woods.
to exist or be situated within; dwell in: Weird notions inhabit his mind.

verb (used without object)

Archaic. to live or dwell, as in a place.

Origin of inhabit

1325–75; < Latin inhabitāre, equivalent to in- in-² + habitāre to dwell (see habit²); replacing Middle English enhabiten < Middle French enhabiter < Latin as above

Related formsin·hab·it·a·ble, adjectivein·hab·it·a·bil·i·ty, nounin·hab·i·ta·tion, nounnon·in·hab·it·a·bil·i·ty, nounnon·in·hab·it·a·ble, adjectivepre·in·hab·it, verb (used with object)pre·in·hab·i·ta·tion, nounre·in·hab·it, verb (used with object)un·in·hab·it·a·bil·i·ty, nounun·in·hab·it·a·ble, adjective

Can be confusedhabitable inhabitable uninhabitable

Synonyms for inhabit

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1, 2. reside, occupy, tenant, populate.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for inhabitation

settlement, ownership, apartment, dwelling, palace, house, headquarters, mansion, home, hall, condo, use, residence, habitation, occupancy, tenancy, holding, tenure, title, inhabitancy

Examples from the Web for inhabitation

Historical Examples of inhabitation

No instrument has yet been constructed that will reveal the slightest vestige of inhabitation.
Moon Lore
Timothy Harley
And is the spirit of the inhabitation there worthy of the place inhabited?
Recreations of Christopher North, Volume I (of 2)
John Wilson
Other signs of inhabitation can be traced elsewhere in this district, as yet unexplored.
Ancient Town-Planning
F. Haverfield
To the same origin he refers , ; and also the , the harvest feast of Thessaly, taken as the feast of inhabitation or settlement.
Studies on Homer and the Homeric Age, Vol. 1 of 3
W. E. Gladstone
They left the room with the lights against the wall, and the firelight giving it a faux air of warmth and inhabitation.
The Ladies Lindores, Vol. 2(of 3)
Margaret Oliphant

British Dictionary definitions for inhabitation

inhabit

verb -its, -iting or -ited

(tr) to live or dwell in; occupy
(intr) archaic to abide or dwell

Derived Formsinhabitable, adjectiveinhabitability, nouninhabitation, noun

Word Origin for inhabit

C14: from Latin inhabitāre, from habitāre to dwell

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for inhabitation

inhabit

late 14c., from Old French enhabiter "dwell in" (12c.), from Latin inhabitare "to dwell in," from in- "in" (see in- (2)) + habitare "to dwell," frequentative of habere "hold, have" (see habit). Related: Inhabited; inhabiting.