I | Definition of i by Merriam-Webster

Full Definition of I

1

a : the 9th letter of the English alphabet

b : a graphic representation of this letter

c : a speech counterpart of orthographic i

2

: one — see number table

3

: a graphic device for reproducing the letter i

4

: one designated i especially as the ninth in order or class

5

: something shaped like the letter I

6

: a unit vector parallel to the x-axis

7

[abbreviation for incomplete]

a : a grade rating a student's work as incomplete

b : one graded or rated with an I

8

: I formation

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First Known Use of I

before 12th century

Rhymes with I

ay, aye, bi, Bligh, buy, by, bye, chai, chi, cry, die, dry, dye, eye, fie, fly, fry, guy, hie, high, Huai, I, lie, lye, my, nigh, phi, pi, pie, ply, pry, psi, rye, scythe, shy, sigh, sky, Skye, sly, spry, spy, sty, Tai, Thai, thigh, thy, tie, try, vie, why, wry, wye, xi, Y

Definition of I

1

industrial

2

initial

3

intelligence

4

intensity

5

interlaced

6

intransitive

7

island; isle

Definition of I

imaginary unit

Full Definition of I

: the one who is speaking or writing <I feel fine> — compare me, mine, my, we

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Usage Discussion of I

Me is used in many constructions where strict grammarians prescribe I. This usage is not so much ungrammatical as indicative of the shrinking range of the nominative form: me began to replace I sometime around the 16th century largely because of the pressure of word order. I is now chiefly used as the subject of an immediately following verb. Me occurs in every other position: absolutely <who, me?>, emphatically <me too>, and after prepositions, conjunctions, and verbs, including be <come with me> <you're as big as me> <it's me>. Almost all usage books recognize the legitimacy of me in these positions, especially in speech; some recommend I in formal and especially written contexts after be and after as and than when the first term of the comparison is the subject of a verb.

Origin of I

Middle English, from Old English ic; akin to Old High German ih I, Latin ego, Greek egō

First Known Use: before 12th century

Other Alphabet Terms

cuneiform, linear, minuscule, pictograph, rune, symbology, wedge

Rhymes with I

ay, aye, bi, Bligh, buy, by, bye, chai, chi, cry, die, dry, dye, eye, fie, fly, fry, guy, hie, high, Huai, i, lie, lye, my, nigh, phi, pi, pie, ply, pry, psi, rye, scythe, shy, sigh, sky, Skye, sly, spry, spy, sty, Tai, Thai, thigh, thy, tie, try, vie, why, wry, wye, xi, Y

Definition of I

: someone aware of possessing a personal individuality : self

First Known Use of I

1539

Definition of I

1

electric current

2

Indian

3

interstate

4

Israeli

See I defined for English-language learners

Definition of I

iodine

Definition of I for Kids

1

: the ninth letter of the English alphabet

2

: the number one in Roman numerals

Definition of I for Kids

: the person speaking or writing <I am here.>

Headscratcher for I

English is the only language in which its first person pronoun I is capitalized. I is also the most frequently spoken word in English.

Medical Definition of I

1

incisor

2

optically inactive

Learn More About I

Spanish Central: Spanish translation of "i"

Nglish: Translation of "i" for Spanish speakers

Britannica English: Translation of "i" for Arabic speakers

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