intrare

Intrāre is a Latin verb of the first conjugation meaning "to enter." In classical usage it is common both with motion into a place and more generally to begin an action. It takes the preposition in with the accusative to express movement into something (intrāre in urbem = to enter the city) and may also appear with no preposition when the direct object denotes the place entered (intrat casam = he enters the hut).

Principal parts and conjugation: The dictionary form is intrāre, with principal parts intrō, intrāre, intrāvī, intrātum. It is regular for a 1st-conjugation verb. Present active forms are intrō, intrās, intrat, intrāmus, intrātis, intrant. Imperfect active is intrābam, intrābās, intrābat, intrābāmus, intrābātis, intrābant. Perfect active is intrāvī, intrāvistī, intrāvit, intrāvimus, intrāvistis, intrāvērunt. Future active is intrābō, intrābis, intrābit, intrābimus, intrābitis, intrābunt. Passive forms (less common in narrative) follow the regular 1st-conjugation pattern: intror, intrāris, intrātur, intrāmur, intrāminī, intrantur.

Usage notes: Intrāre governs places or states that are being entered. It often appears with a noun in the accusative or with a prepositional phrase (in + accusative for motion toward; in + ablative for location). It can convey literal entering a space or more figurative beginnings, such as entering into an agreement or a field of study.

Etymology and cognates: Intrāre derives from Latin prefix in- meaning "into" combined with a root related to moving or going. It has descendants in many Romance languages, including Italian entrare, French entrer, and Spanish entrar.

See also: Romance-language cognates and Latin verb conjugation patterns.