inform

/in-ˈfȯrm/

Middle English, from Anglo-French enformer, from Latin informare, from in- + forma form

verb

  1. to communicate knowledge to

  2. to give character or essence to

  3. to be the characteristic quality of : animate

inform a prisoner of his rights

inform acquaint apprise notify mean to make one aware of something. inform implies the imparting of knowledge especially of facts or occurrences. acquaint lays stress on introducing to or familiarizing with.

idiom

  1. to give information about the secret or criminal activity of (someone) to the police

Despite pressure from the police he refused to inform on the other conspirators.

verb

  1. to give incorrect or misleading information to (someone) : to inform (someone) wrongly

That small, self-serving cabal managed to misinform generations of Americans with malicious myths that misshaped history.