I. (ˈ)in, ən+ adjective
Etymology: Late Latin inanimatus, from Latin in- in- (I) + animatus, past participle of animare to quicken, enliven, endow with breath or soul — more at animate
1.
a. : not animate : not endowed with life or spirit
the inorganic world is inanimate
: not endowed with consciousness or animal life
trees are inanimate
b. : deprived of consciousness or of life
an inanimate body
c. of a grammatical gender : referring typically to dead things or things considered as dead — opposed to animate
2. : not animated or lively : dull , spiritless
her inanimate movement when on the stage — W.B.Yeats
• in·animately “+ adverb
• in·animateness “+ noun
II. transitive verb
Etymology: Late Latin inanimatus, past participle of inanimare, from Latin in- in- (II) + animare
obsolete : animate