Inmost/innermost

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Marius Hancu - 01 Jan 2009 20:41 GMT

Hello:

Can one really separate between "inmost" and "innermost?" Or are they
complete synonyms?

----
in·ner·most

: farthest inward : INMOST <it is his innermost being that is judged

-- D.C.Hodges> <the innermost part of the nation -- F.D.Roosevelt>

M-W Unabridged
------

E.g.:
-------
[He's studying a bit of biology and of its fundaments. He learns that
the atom is a cosmos/universe in itself, i.e. to some extent, the
structure at the macro level (the universe) mirrors the one at the
micro level (the atom).]

For then, in the very innermost of his nature, and in the inmost of
that innermost, perhaps there was just himself, just Hans Castrop,
again and a hundred times Hans Castorp ...

The Magic Mountain, p. 288
by Thomas Mann, Helen Tracy Lowe-Porter
-----

Thanks.
Marius Hancu

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Peter Duncanson (BrE) - 01 Jan 2009 21:09 GMT

>Hello:
>
>Can one really separate between "inmost" and "innermost?" Or are they
>complete synonyms?

OED has them as synonyms:

innermost, a. and n.
...

>----
>in·ner·most
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
>Thanks.
>Marius Hancu

Signature

Peter Duncanson, UK
(in alt.usage.english)

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Peter Duncanson (BrE) - 01 Jan 2009 21:19 GMT

>>Hello:
>>
>>Can one really separate between "inmost" and "innermost?" Or are they
>>complete synonyms?

OED has them as synonyms:

innermost, a. and n.
...inmost.

>>----
>>in·ner·most
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
>>by Thomas Mann, Helen Tracy Lowe-Porter
>>-----

As a matter of style I'd be more comfortable with either "innermost" or
"inmost" in each position but not having them mixed the way they are.

in the very innermost of his nature, and in the innermost of that
innermost,
or
in the very inmost of his nature, and in the inmost of that inmost,

To me, "core" would be better:

in the very core of his nature, and in the core of that core,

Signature

Peter Duncanson, UK
(in alt.usage.english)

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Marius Hancu - 01 Jan 2009 22:13 GMT

On Jan 1, 4:19 pm, "Peter Duncanson (BrE)" <m...@peterduncanson.net>
wrote:

> As a matter of style I'd be more comfortable with either "innermost" or
> "inmost" in each position but not having them mixed the way they are.
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> in the very core of his nature, and in the core of that core,

Seems very reasonable.

Thanks.
Marius Hancu

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Discussion Groups / English Usage / January 2009

Inmost/innermost