Etymology
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insert (v.)

"to set in, put or place in," 1520s, from Latin insertus, past participle of inserere "to graft, implant," from in- "in" (from PIE root *en "in") + serere "join together, arrange, put in a row," from PIE root *ser- (2) "to line up." Middle English had inseren "to set in place, to graft, to introduce (into the mind)" (late 14c.), directly from the Latin verb. Related: Inserted; inserting.

insert (n.)

"something inserted," 1893, especially a paper, etc., placed in among the pages of a newspaper, magazine, etc., from insert (v.).

Entries linking to insert

*en 
Proto-Indo-European root meaning "in."

It forms all or part of: and; atoll; dysentery; embargo; embarrass; embryo; empire; employ; en- (1) "in; into;" en- (2) "near, at, in, on, within;" enclave; endo-; enema; engine; enoptomancy; enter; enteric; enteritis; entero-; entice; ento-; entrails; envoy; envy; episode; esoteric; imbroglio; immolate; immure; impede; impend; impetus; important; impostor; impresario; impromptu; in; in- (2) "into, in, on, upon;" inchoate; incite; increase; inculcate; incumbent; industry; indigence; inflict; ingenuous; ingest; inly; inmost; inn; innate; inner; innuendo; inoculate; insignia; instant; intaglio; inter-; interim; interior; intern; internal; intestine; intimate (adj.) "closely acquainted, very familiar;" intra-; intricate; intrinsic; intro-; introduce; introduction; introit; introspect; invert; mesentery.

It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Sanskrit antara- "interior;" Greek en "in," eis "into," endon "within;" Latin in "in, into," intro "inward," intra "inside, within;" Old Irish in, Welsh yn, Old Church Slavonic on-, Old English in "in, into," inne "within, inside."
*ser- (2)

Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to line up."

It forms all or part of: assert; assertion; assort; consort; desert (v.) "to leave one's duty;" desertion; dissertation; ensorcell; exert; exsert; insert; seriatim; seriation; series; sermon; serried; sorcerer; sorcery; sort.

It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Sanskrit sarat- "thread;" Greek eirein "to fasten together in rows;" Latin serere "to join, link, bind together," series "row, chain, series, sequence, succession;" Gothic sarwa (plural) "armor, arms;" Old Norse sörve "necklace of stringed pearls;" Old Irish sernaid "he joins together;" Welsh ystret "a row."

insertion (n.)
1590s, "act of putting in," from French insertion (16c.) or directly from Late Latin insertionem (nominative insertio) "a putting in," noun of action from past participle stem of Latin inserere "to graft, implant" (see insert (v.)). Meaning "that which is inserted" attested from 1620s.

updated on October 19, 2017

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Definitions of insert from WordNet
1
insert (v.)
put or introduce into something;
insert a picture into the text
Synonyms: infix / enter / introduce
insert (v.)
place, fit, or thrust (something) into another thing;
Synonyms: enclose / inclose / stick in / put in / introduce
insert (v.)
fit snugly into;
insert your ticket into the slot
Synonyms: tuck
insert (v.)
insert casually;
Synonyms: slip in / stick in / sneak in
2
insert (n.)
a folded section placed between the leaves of another publication;
insert (n.)
an artifact that is inserted or is to be inserted;
Synonyms: inset
insert (n.)
(broadcasting) a local announcement inserted into a network program;
Synonyms: cut-in
insert (n.)
(film) a still picture that is introduced and that interrupts the action of a film;
Synonyms: cut-in
From wordnet.princeton.edu, not affiliated with etymonline.

Dictionary entries near insert

insensibly

insensitive

insensuous

inseparability

inseparable

insert

insertion

in-service

inset

inshallah

inshore

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