▪ I. inanimate, a. (n.)
(ɪnˈænɪmət)
[ad. late L. inanimātus lifeless, f. in- (in-3) + animātus animate. Cf. F. inanimé.]
1. Not animated or alive; destitute of life, lifeless; spec. not endowed with animal life, as in inanimate nature, that part of nature which is without sensation, i.e. all outside the animal world.
| 1563–87 Foxe A. & M. (1684) III. 286 Shall we see Sacrifice and God's service done to an inanimate Creature, and be mum? 1643 J. Steer tr. Exp. Chyrurg. xvi. 65 Inanimate creatures, as Trees, and the like. 1784 Cowper Task i. 197 Nature inanimate employs sweet sounds, But animated Nature sweeter still. 1828 Scott F.M. Perth ii, The beauties of inanimate nature. 1866 Liddon Bampt. Lect. iv. 152 At His bidding life returns to inanimate corpses. 1880 Muirhead Gaius, Digest 632 He who..did damage to any inanimate property..was liable in its highest value. |
2. Without the activity or motion of life (lit. and fig.); spiritless, inactive, dull.
| 1704 Pope Windsor For. 308 From her roofs when Verrio's colours fall, And leave inanimate the naked wall. 1862 Helps Ess., Organ. Daily Life (1875) 162 Organization should not be an inanimate, but a living, growing thing. 1871 R. Ellis Catullus xvii. 24 If from stupor inanimate peradventure he wake him. 1884 Pae Eustace 10 His arms grasped the girl's inanimate form. 1893 Daily News 19 June 4/7 The stock markets were quite inanimate. |
B. n. An inanimate thing; that which is inanimate.
| 1652 Gaule Magastrom. 167 The very inanimates, whom words can in no wise effect or move. 1741 T. Francklin tr. Cicero's Nat. of Gods i. 65 Even Inanimates have their proper Stations assigned. 1836 Kingsley Lett. (1878) I. 36 My enjoyment was drawn..from the beautiful inanimate in all its forms. |
▪ II. † inˈanimate, v.1 Obs.
[f. ppl. stem of late L. inanimāre to animate, encourage, f. in- (in-2) + animāre to animate. (Sc. pa. ppl. inanimat, after L. inanimāt-us.)]
1. trans. To animate, infuse life into. Also fig.
| 1610 Donne Pseudo-Mart. vi. 172 God inanimates..euery man with one soule. 1647 R. Stapylton Juvenal 65 Stealing fire from the suns coach-wheeles, wherewith he inanimated his man of clay. 1679 M. Rusden Further Discov. Bees 59 Which matter so inanimated..is called by some Sandarack, by others Bee-bread. |
2. To animate, encourage, quicken.
| 1600 Sc. Acts Jas. VI (1814) 248 (Jam.) To continew in prosequuting the said actioun, quhairby vtheris..may be thair exampill be inannimat to the lyik interpryisis. 1604 T. Wright Passions v. 157 To inanimate their souldiours to battell. a 1631 Donne Six Serm. iv. (1634) 5 In the shadow of death, the Lord of life should quicken and inanimate their hearts. 1670 G. H. Hist. Cardinals iii. i. 251 To excite, and inanimate their Subjects to an expedition. |
Hence † inˈanimated ppl. a., endowed with life.
| 1689 Def. Liberty agst. Tyrants 57 Magistrates..are but an inanimated and speaking Law. |
▪ III. † inˈanimate, v.2 Obs. rare.
[f. inanimate a.1]
trans. To deprive of life.
| 1647 tr. Malvezzi's Pourtract 3 It wounds not, it inanimats not. |