ingrain

ingrain
\ \ [17] Ingrain means literally ‘work into the grain’ (of fabric, originally) – whence the main metaphorical sense of ingrained, ‘deepseated’.
\ \ But there is much more to the story of ingrain than that. Its ultimate source was engrainerdye’, an Old French verb based on grainecochineal dye’. English borrowed this in the 14th century as engraindye crimson with cochineal’, which remained a live sense of the word into the 17th century. Gradually awareness of the word’s original specific connections with the colour crimson died out, and the verb was virtually formed anew in the mid 17th century using the concept of the grain or ‘texture’ of cloth, but the spelling engrain remained, and remains as a secondary variant to this day, to remind us of the word’s origins.
\ \ Cf.GRAIN

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • Ingrain — In grain (?; 277), a. [Pref. in in + grain kermes. See {Engrain}, {Grain}.] [1913 Webster] 1. Dyed with grain, or kermes. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] 2. Dyed before manufacture, said of the material of a textile fabric; hence, in general, thoroughly… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Ingrain — In grain , n. An ingrain fabric, as a carpet. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Ingrain — In grain , v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Ingrained}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Ingraining}.] [Written also engrain.] [1913 Webster] 1. To dye with or in grain or kermes. [1913 Webster] 2. To dye in the grain, or before manufacture. [1913 Webster] 3. To work into… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • ingrain — index embed, establish (entrench), fix (make firm), infuse Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • ingrain — (v.) 1766, see ENGRAIN (Cf. engrain). Figurative use, of qualities, habits, etc., attested from 1851 (in ingrained). Of dyed carpets, etc., 1766, from in grain …   Etymology dictionary

  • ingrain — *infuse, suffuse, imbue, inoculate, leaven Analogous words: impregnate, saturate, *permeate, pervade, impenetrate, interpenetrate: instill, inculcate, *implant: incorporate, embody (see IDENTIFY) …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • ingrain — (also engrain) ► VERB ▪ firmly fix or establish (a habit, belief, or attitude) in a person. ORIGIN originally in the sense «dye with cochineal», from the old use of grain meaning «kermes, cochineal» …   English terms dictionary

  • ingrain — [in grān′, in′grān΄; ] for adj. [ in′grān′; ] for n. [ in′grān΄] vt. [see ENGRAIN] 1. to dye in the fiber before manufacture 2. to work into the fiber; infuse deeply: chiefly in a figurative sense, and in the past participle adj. 1. dyed in the… …   English World dictionary

  • ingrain — v. /in grayn /; adj., n. /in grayn /, v.t. 1. to implant or fix deeply and firmly, as in the nature or mind. adj. 2. ingrained; firmly fixed. 3. (of fiber or yarn) dyed in a raw state, before being woven or knitted. 4. made of fiber or yarn so… …   Universalium

  • ingrain — [17] Ingrain means literally ‘work into the grain’ (of fabric, originally) – whence the main metaphorical sense of ingrained, ‘deepseated’. But there is much more to the story of ingrain than that. Its ultimate source was engrainer ‘dye’, an Old… …   The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins

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