late 14c., from O.Fr. enhabiter "dwell in" (12c.), from L. inhabitare, from in- "in" + habitare "to dwell," frequentative of habere "hold, have" (see habit). Inhabitant first recorded mid-15c. Inhabitable was used in two opposite senses: "not habitable" (c.1400, from in- "not" + habitable) and "capable of being inhabited" (c.1600, from inhabit + -able).