i-

prefix

Used to form past participles of verbs. Alternative spelling of y-.

Similar
a-an-dys-il-im-in-ir-mal-
OriginMiddle English i- ← Old English ġe- ← Proto-West Germanic *ga- →
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Meanings

i-1

prefix
  1. obsoleteUsed to form past participles of verbs. Alternative spelling of y-.

i-2

prefix
  1. A form of the prefix in-, used before gn, as in ignoble, ignominy, and ignore.

    Synonyms: a-, an-, dys-, il-, im-, in-, ir-, mal-

i-3

prefix
  1. JamaicaUsed to transform English words into words used by Rastafarians with a special meaning.

i-4

prefix
  1. Pertaining to the Internet.
  2. Pertaining to digital devices and computer programs, especially those that are cutting-edge or fashionable, and those from Apple.

    i- + pod → iPod

    4 more examples

    i- + phone → iPhone

    i- + Mac → iMac

    I-WHAT?! Seems everyone's ripping off the iMac idea. Take this parody ad for the fruity-colored “iBrator” at sleeplessknights.com.

    1999 November 1, Melissa August, “Ad Infinitum”, in Time, volume 154, page 39

    In our “iWorld” of new gadgets and cool widgets, help us to ponder the reality that over half of the population on the earth exists on three of our American dollars, or less, a day.

    2011, Scotty Smith, Everyday Prayers: 365 Days to a Gospel-Centered Faith, Baker Books, →ISBN, page 178

i-5

prefix
  1. Pertaining to computerized, electronic, digital, intelligent controls in products

Synonyms & antonyms

prefixA form of the prefix in-, used before gn, as in ignoble, ignominy, and ignore.

Similar
a-an-dys-il-im-in-ir-mal-non-un-
Also see
a-an-dys-il-im-in-ir-non-un-

Origin

i- · prefix

  1. Proto-Indo-European*ḱóm“with, near, by, along”
  2. Proto-Indo-European*ḱó-
  3. Proto-Germanic*ga-
  4. Proto-West Germanic*ga-
  5. Old Englishġe-
  6. Middle Englishi-
  7. Englishi-

From Middle English i-, y-, ȝe-, from Old English ġe-, from Proto-West Germanic *ga-, from Proto-Germanic *ga-, from Proto-Indo-European *ḱó-, from Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm (“with, near, by, along”). Cognate with Dutch ge-, Low German ge-, je-, e-, German ge-.

More words from Middle English, Old English, Proto-West Germanic

Full word history & related roots →

i- · prefix

  1. Latini-
  2. Englishi-

From Latin i-, assimilated form of in- used before gn-.

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →

i- · prefix

  1. Proto-Indo-European*h₁én
  2. Proto-Indo-European*h₁n̥tér
  3. Proto-Italic*n̥ter
  4. Latininter
  5. Latininter-
  6. Englishinter-
  7. Proto-Germanic*natją
  8. Proto-West Germanic*nati
  9. Old Englishnett
  10. Middle Englishnet
  11. Englishnet
  12. Proto-Indo-European*werǵ-
  13. Proto-Indo-European*wérǵom
  14. Proto-Germanic*werką
  15. Proto-West Germanic*werk
  16. Old Englishweorc
  17. Middle Englishwerk
  18. Englishwork
  19. Englishnetwork
  20. Englishinternetwork
  21. EnglishInternet
  22. Englishi-

From Internet. Popularized in the name of the iMac line of computers (1998).

Full word history & related roots →

i- · prefix

From intelligent

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

i-. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/i-

MLA

“i-.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/i-. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “i-,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/i-.

Source: i- on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.