from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
In \In\, prep. [AS. in; akin to D. & G. in, Icel. [imac], Sw. &
Dan. i, OIr. & L. in, Gr. 'en. [root]197. Cf. 1st {In-},
{Inn}.]
The specific signification of in is situation or place with
respect to surrounding, environment, encompassment, etc. It
is used with verbs signifying being, resting, or moving
within limits, or within circumstances or conditions of any
kind conceived of as limiting, confining, or investing,
either wholly or in part. In its different applications, it
approaches some of the meanings of, and sometimes is
interchangeable with, within, into, on, at, of, and among. It
is used:
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1. With reference to space or place; as, he lives in Boston;
he traveled in Italy; castles in the air.
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The babe lying in a manger. --Luke ii. 16.
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Thy sun sets weeping in the lowly west. --Shak.
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Situated in the forty-first degree of latitude.
--Gibbon.
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Matter for censure in every page. --Macaulay.
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2. With reference to circumstances or conditions; as, he is
in difficulties; she stood in a blaze of light. "Fettered
in amorous chains." --Shak.
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Wrapt in sweet sounds, as in bright veils.
--Shelley.
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3. 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.
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Nine in ten of those who enter the ministry.
--Swift.
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4. With reference to physical surrounding, personal states,
etc., abstractly denoted; as, I am in doubt; the room is
in darkness; to live in fear.
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When shall we three meet again,
In thunder, lightning, or in rain? --Shak.
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5. 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.
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Sounds inharmonious in themselves, and harsh.
--Cowper.
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6. 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.
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He would not plunge his brother in despair.
--Addison.
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She had no jewels to deposit in their caskets.
--Fielding.
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7. With reference to a limit of time; as, in an hour; it
happened in the last century; in all my life.
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{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 in with} or {To 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}.
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