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inhabit

[in-hab-it]
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verb (used with object)
  1. to live or dwell in (a place), as people or animals: Small animals inhabited the woods.
  2. to exist or be situated within; dwell in: Weird notions inhabit his mind.
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verb (used without object)
  1. Archaic. to live or dwell, as in a place.
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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

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1, 2. reside, occupy, tenant, populate.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

settlementownershipapartmentdwellingpalacehouseheadquartersmansionhomehallcondouseresidencehabitationoccupancytenancyholdingtenuretitleinhabitancy

Examples from the Web for inhabitation

Historical Examples

  • 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?

  • Other signs of inhabitation can be traced elsewhere in this district, as yet unexplored.

  • To the same origin he refers , ; and also the , the harvest feast of Thessaly, taken as the feast of inhabitation or settlement.

  • They left the room with the lights against the wall, and the firelight giving it a faux air of warmth and inhabitation.

British Dictionary definitions for inhabitation

inhabit

verb -its, -iting or -ited
  1. (tr) to live or dwell in; occupy
  2. (intr) archaic to abide or dwell
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Derived Formsinhabitable, adjectiveinhabitability, nouninhabitation, noun

Word Origin

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

v.

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.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper