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Inure Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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inure

[ɪˈnjʊər ]

Definition

Context #1 | Verb

become accustomed

To inure means to accustom someone to something, typically something unpleasant. This could involve training or habituating oneself to difficult conditions. The term suggests a process of becoming resilient or hardened over time due to exposure to repeated hardship or challenge. In legal contexts, it may refer to the application of a law becoming established through consistent application.

Synonyms

accustom, condition, familiarize, harden, toughen.

Examples of usage

  • He was inured to the harsh winters of the North.
  • After years of tough training, she became inured to physical pain.
  • They inured the troops to the sounds of battle.
  • The child was inured to the noise of the city life.
  • She had inured herself to rejection.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Origin of 'inure'

The word 'inure' originates from the late Middle Ages, with roots in the Latin term 'inurere,' which means 'to use' or 'to train.' It made its way into English in the late 14th century, initially carrying the meaning of becoming used to something undesirable. Over time, 'inure' evolved to encompass the idea of becoming conditioned by repeated experience, especially in the face of adversity or hardship. In modern usage, the term implies a sense of resilience or the process of acclimatization to unpleasant conditions. It is commonly used in both everyday language and formal texts, often in psychological or literary contexts, where individuals or groups face challenges that they must learn to cope with, thus becoming inured to their circumstances.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #24,285, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.