Im-

From Latin im-, assimilated form of in- used before b-/p-/m-.

Full definition of im-

Prefix

1. Expressing negation; not.

Derived terms

Usage notes

Widely used in borrowings (from French and Latin), and productive.

From em-, from Old French em-, and also from later Middle French im-, partly by confusion with im- of Latin origin (on which see above).

Prefix

1. Alternative form of the prefix em-, itself variant of en-.

Derived terms

Usage notes

Both used in borrowings (from French and Latin), and productive (appended as prefix to existing English words), as in imbed, imbitter, imbody, imbosom, imbower, imbrown; and similarly impark.

Skeat, Walter W. (1882) An Etymological Dictionary of the English Language. Oxford.