IN, a prefix, L. in, is used in composition as a particle of negation, like the English un, of which it seems to be a dialectical orthography; or it denotes within, into, or among, as in inbred, incase; or it serves only to augment or render emphatical the sense of the word to which it is prefixed, as in inclose, increase.

In, before l, is changed into il, as in illusion; and before r, into ir, as in irregular; and into im, before a labial, as in imbitter, immaterial, impatient.

IN, prep. [L. in.] In denotes present or inclosed, surrounded by limits; as in a house; in a fort; in a city. It denotes a state of being mixed, as sugar in tea; or combined, as carbonic acid in coal, or latent heat in air. It denotes present in any state; as in sickness or health. It denotes present in time; as in that hour or day. The uses of in, however, cannot, in all cases, be defined by equivalent words, except by explaining the phrase in which it is used; as in deed; in fact; in essence; in quality; in reason; in courage; in spirits, &c. A man in spirits or good courage, denotes one who possesses at the time spirits or courage; in reason is equivalent to with reason; one in ten denotes one of that number, and we say also one of ten, and one out of ten.

Used in composition as a particle of negation, like the English un, of which it seems to be a dialectical orthography; or it denotes within, into, or among, as in inbred, incase; or it serves only to augment or render emphatical the sense of the word to which it is prefixed, as in inclose, increase. In, before l, is changed into il, as in illusion; and before r, into ir, as in irregular; and into im, before a labial, as in imbitter, immaterial, impatient.

In denotes present or inclosed, surrounded by limits; as, in a house; in a fort; in a city. It denotes a state of being mixed; as, sugar in tea; or combined, as carbonic acid in coal, or latent heat in air. It denotes present in any state; as, in sickness or health. It denotes present in time; as, in that hour or day. The uses of in, however, can not, in all cases, be defined by equivalent words, except by explaining the phrase in which it is used; as, in deed; in fact; in essence; in quality; in reason; in courage; in spirits, &c. A man in spirits or good courage, denotes one who possesses at the time spirits or courage; in reason, is equivalent to with reason; one in ten, denotes one of that number, and we say also one of ten, and one out of ten. In the name, is used in phrases of invoking, swearing, declaring, praying, &c. In prayer, it denotes by virtue of, or for the sake of. In the name of the people, denotes on their behalf or part; in their stead, or for their sake. In, in many cases, is equivalent to on. This use of the word is frequent in the Scriptures; as, let fowls multiply in the earth. This use is more frequent in England than in America. We generally use on, in all similar phrases, and this is most correct. In signifies by or through. In thee shall all nation be blessed. I am glorified in them. In a hill, properly denotes under the surface; but in a valley, denotes on the surface of the land. In that, is sometimes equivalent to because. Some things they do in that they are men; some things in that they are men misled and blinded with error. Hooker. In these and similar phrases, that is an antecedent, substitute, or pronoun relating to the subsequent part of the sentence, or the subsequent clause. God commendeth his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. That is, in the facts stated in the latter clause, for which that is the substitute. Rom. v. In as much, seeing; seeing that; this being the fact. I will ride for health, inasmuch as I am infirm. In is often used without the noun to which it properly belongs. I care not who is in, or who is out, that is, in office, or out of office. Come in, that is, into the house or other place. Who has or will come in, that is, into office. A vessel has come in, that is, into port, or has arrived. To be or keep in with, to be close or near. Keep the ship in with the land.

1. A prefix from Eng. prep. in, also from Lat. prep. in, meaning in, into, on, among; as, inbred, inborn, inroad; incline, inject, intrude. In words from the Latin, in- regularly becomes il- before l, ir- before r, and im- before a labial; as, illusion, irruption, imblue, immigrate, impart. In- is sometimes used with an simple intensive force.
2. An inseparable prefix, or particle, meaning not, non-, un- as, inactive, incapable, inapt. In- regularly becomes il- before l, ir- before r, and im- before a labial.
3. A suffix. See the Note under - ine.
4. With reference to space or place; as, he lives in Boston; he traveled in Italy; castles in the air.
   
   

   The babe lying in a manger. Luke ii. 16.

   Thy sun sets weeping in the lowly west. Shak.

   Situated in the forty-first degree of latitude. Gibbon.

   Matter for censure in every page. Macaulay.

5. One who is in office; -- the opposite of out.
6. To inclose; to take in; to harvest.
   
   
   [Obs.]

   He that ears my land spares my team and gives me leave to in the crop. Shak.

7. Not out; within; inside. In, the preposition, becomes an adverb by omission of its object, leaving it as the representative of an adverbial phrase, the context indicating what the omitted object is; as, he takes in the situation (i. e., he comprehends it in his mind); the Republicans were in (i. e., in office); in at one ear and out at the other (i. e., in or into the head); his side was in (i. e., in the turn at the bat); he came in (i. e., into the house).
   
   

   Their vacation . . . falls in so pat with ours. Lamb.

   * The sails of a vessel are said, in nautical language, to be in when they are furled, or when stowed.

   In certain cases in has an adjectival sense; as, the in train (i. e., the incoming train); compare up grade, down grade, undertow, afterthought, etc.

8. With reference to circumstances or conditions; as, he is in difficulties; she stood in a blaze of light.
   
   
   "Fettered in amorous chains." Shak.

   Wrapt in sweet sounds, as in bright veils. Shelley.

9. With privilege or possession; -- used to denote a holding, possession, or seisin; as, in by descent; in by purchase; in of the seisin of her husband.
   
   
   Burrill.

   In and in breeding. See under Breeding. -- In and out (Naut.), through and through; -- said of a through bolt in a ship's side. Knight. -- To be in, to be at home; as, Mrs. A. is in. -- To come in. See under Come.

10. A reëntrant angle; a nook or corner.
    
    

    Ins and outs, nooks and corners; twists and turns.

    All the ins and outs of this neighborhood. D. Jerrold.

11. With reference to a whole which includes or comprises the part spoken of; as, the first in his family; the first regiment in the army.
    
    

    Nine in ten of those who enter the ministry. Swift.

12. With reference to physical surrounding, personal states, etc., abstractly denoted; as, I am in doubt; the room is in darkness; to live in fear.
    
    

    When shall we three meet again,
    In thunder, lightning, or in rain? Shak.

13. With reference to character, reach, scope, or influence considered as establishing a limitation; as, to be in one's favor.
    
    
    "In sight of God's high throne." Milton.

    Sounds inharmonious in themselves, and harsh. Cowper.

14. With reference to movement or tendency toward a certain limit or environment; -- sometimes equivalent to into; as, to put seed in the ground; to fall in love; to end in death; to put our trust in God.
    
    

    He would not plunge his brother in despair. Addison.

    She had no jewels to deposit in their caskets. Fielding.

15. With reference to a limit of time; as, in an hour; it happened in the last century; in all my life.
    
    

    In as much as, or Inasmuch as, in the degree that; in like manner as; in consideration that; because that; since. See Synonym of Because, and cf. For as much as, under For, prep. -- In that, because; for the reason that. "Some things they do in that they are men . . . ; some things in that they are men misled and blinded with error." Hooker. -- In the name of, in behalf of; on the part of; by authority; as, it was done in the name of the people; -- often used in invocation, swearing, praying, and the like. -- To be in for it. (a) To be in favor of a thing; to be committed to a course. (b) To be unable to escape from a danger, penalty, etc. [Colloq.] -- To be (or keep) in with. (a) To be close or near; as, to keep a ship in with the land. (b) To be on terms of friendship, familiarity, or intimacy with; to secure and retain the favor of. [Colloq.]

    Syn. -- Into; within; on; at. See At.