ingere

Ingere is a Latin verb meaning to bring in, to place upon, to load, or to insert. It covers a range of literal and figurative senses, including bringing something into a place, putting something onto a surface, or imposing or introducing something such as a law, burden, or obligation. In classical Latin, ingere is used as a transitive verb with a direct object and appears in various contexts, including military, legal, architectural, and literary passages.

Etymology and form: ingere is formed from the prefix in- meaning “into” and the verb gerere “to carry, bear.” It is treated as a third-conjugation verb in Latin, sharing characteristics common to verbs of that conjugation. Like many Latin verbs, its exact morphological forms change across tenses, voices, numbers, and moods, but its core meaning remains tied to “carrying into” or “placing onto.”

Grammar and usage: As a transitive verb, ingere typically takes a direct object. It can express physical actions (pulling something into a space, laying something onto a surface) as well as figurative actions (imposing a rule, presenting an argument, or introducing a new measure). Its semantic range allows both concrete and abstract objects, making it a versatile verb in Latin prose and poetry.

Historical and linguistic context: In classical Latin, ingere appears in the standard Latin lexicon and is documented in major dictionaries such as the Latin-English lexicons used by scholars of ancient texts. The word is primarily encountered in scholarly study of Latin rather than as a common term in modern languages, though its Latin roots have influenced related words in Romance languages.

See also: Latin grammar, Latin verbs, third-conjugation verbs.