inund

Inund is an English verb meaning to flood or overwhelm a place or thing with water, people, or other things. In modern usage, inund is rare and is often considered archaic or literary; most contemporary writers use inundate for the verb meaning to flood, or rely on inundation as a noun. As a result, inund appears mainly in historical texts, poems, or scholarly discussions of language.

Etymology: Inund derives from Latin inundare, literally “to flood,” from in- “into” + unda “wave.” It entered English through Old French and Middle English, with inundate becoming the standard modern form in the 16th–17th centuries.

Usage: Inund can describe physical flooding (a river inundating the valley) as well as figurative overload (to be inundated with requests, information, or inquiries). Because of its rarity, speakers and writers often substitute inundate or rephrase to avoid awkward syntax. The common expression is “to be inundated with,” which pairs with the noun form inundation.

Examples: The spring flood inundated the valley. The town was inundated with requests for aid after the storm. In contemporary prose, one might say the river flooded the valley or the city was inundated with emails.

See also: inundation, inundate, flood, deluge, overflow.