tr.v. in·fixed, in·fix·ing, in·fix·es 1. To fix in the mind; instill. 2. Linguistics To insert (a morphological element) into the body of a word. n. (ĭnfĭks′) Linguistics An inflectional or derivational element appearing in the body of a word. For example, in Tagalog, the active verb sulat, "write," can be converted to a passive, "written," by inserting the infix -in-, yielding sinulat. [Back-formation from Middle English infixed, stuck in, from Latin īnfīxus, past participle of īnfīgere, to fasten in : in-, in; see IN-2 + fīgere, to fasten; see dhīgw- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
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