▪ I. inure, enure, v.1
(ɪˈnjʊə(r), ɛˈnjʊə(r))
[f. en-1, in-2 + ure, work, operation, exercise, use, a. F. œuvre work.
The form inure has now largely superseded enure; the latter, however, has a long independent history, and has been given separate treatment at enure v., q.v.]
1. trans. To bring (a person, etc.) by use, habit, or continual exercise to a certain condition or state of mind, to the endurance of a certain condition, to the following of a certain kind of life, etc.; to accustom, habituate. a. Const. to († unto), inf.
| α c 1489–1837 [see enure v. 2]. |
| β 1519 Interl. Four Elem. (Percy Soc. 1848) 5 But man to knowe God is a dyffyculté, Except by a meane he hym⁓selfe inure, Whiche is to knowe Goddes creaturys that be. a 1568 R. Ascham Scholem. ii. (Arb.) 155 Who..could neuer inure their tong to wise speaking. 1616 Drummond of Hawthornden Bless. Faithf. Souls in Farr S.P. Jas. I (1848) 20 Let vs each day inure ourselues to dye. 1649 Milton Eikon. ii. 21 We see to what easie satisfactions..he had inur'd his conscience. 1700 Prior Carmen Sec. 435 Inure them in feign'd camps to real arms. 1781 Cowper Hope 7 The poor, inured to drudgery and distress. 1859 Smiles Self-Help iii. (1860) 61 He was early inured to work. |
† b. Const. with, in. Obs.
| 1509–1561 [see enure v. 2 b]. 1528 Roy Rede me (Arb.) 56 The devils with coursses are invred, As authours there of with out fayle. 1556 Robinson tr. More's Utop. i. (Arb.) 40 The Frenche souldiours, which from their youth haue ben practised and inured in feates of armes. 1612 Brinsley Lud. Lit. iii. (1627) 13, I am well inured with this grievance, which you speak of. 1654 tr. Scudery's Curia Pol. 92 The Queen..had a soul so inured with afflictions. |
† 2. intr. for refl. To accustom or habituate oneself. Obs. rare.
| 1598 Queen Elizabeth tr. Plutarch De Curios. xii. 1 Let us invre if by an others hous we go Not to Louk in, nor rolle our yees to that wiche is within. |
† 3. trans. To put into exercise or operation; to exercise, to practise, to commit (a crime). Obs. (Chiefly in form enure: see enure v. 1.)
| α 1549–1667 [see enure v. 3 a]. |
| β a 1577 Gascoigne Herbs, Voy. Holland Wks. (1587) 172 The best almost in all their land..Wil (as men say) inure the same sometime. |
4. intr. Chiefly Law. To come into operation; to operate; to be operative; to take or have effect. Often in form enure: see enure v. 3.
| α 1607–1888 [see enure 3 a]. |
| β 1589 Puttenham Eng. Poesie ii. xi[i]. (Arb.) 116 It inureth as a wish by way of resemblaunce in [Simile dissimile]. 1622 Callis Stat. Sewers (1824) 275, I suppose this release shall inure to both. 1651 G. W. tr. Cowel's Inst. 137 This Legacy shall inure not only to A. but to B. and his Heires also. 1718 Hickes & Nelson J. Kettlewell App. 4 The Decree of Deprivation doth not inure, 'till a Judicial Sentence passeth further upon us. 1850 Gladstone Homer II. 497 We are dealing with a relation that was not governed by rules, and that might virtually inure by usage only. 1879 Parkman La Salle 92 The results..were to inure, not to the profit of the producers, but to the building of churches. |
Hence iˈnuring vbl. n.
| 1606 [see enuring]. 1885 R. W. Dixon Hist. Ch. Eng. III. 472 The passing and inuring of the Second Act for Uniformity. |
▪ II. † iˈnure, v.2 Obs.
[ad. L. inūr-ĕre to burn in, f. in- (in-2) + ūrĕre to burn. Cf. inust.]
1. trans. To burn in, brand in or upon something, impress by burning.
| a 1619 M. Fotherby Atheom. i. iv. §1 (1622) 20 They..would neuer haue lefte it vnnoted vpon any generall nation, if they could haue inured any such vpon them. 1646 Gaule Cases Consc. 59 He himselfe impresses or inures the Marke of the Beast, the Devills Flesh-brand, upon one or other part of the body. 1679 M. Prance Addit. Narr. Pop. Plot 14 The brands of infamy justly inured upon their Persons. |
2. To burn in a flame, expose to the direct action of fire.
| 1709 Adams in Phil. Trans. XXVII. 25 Inuring each of the Ends into the purest part of the Flame. |
▪ III. † iˈnure, a. Obs.
[attrib. use of phrase in ure, in operation, exercise, or habitual use: see ure n.]
Accustomed, habituated; practised (in something).
| 1475 Bk. Noblesse (Roxb.) 62 By reason and by inure deliberacion of hymsilf and of the wise senatoure. c 1485 Digby Myst. (1882) iii. 2102 Þou blyssyd woman, invre In mekenesse. |