ingrain

Other forms: ingrained; ingrains; ingraining

To ingrain is to deeply and strongly establish something within a person, particularly a belief or habit. You may hate those daily algebra quizzes, but they ingrain a routine of reviewing some math every night.

In the 14th century, this verb (originally spelled engrain) was used to mean "dye a fabric red with cochineal." It comes from the French en graine, where graine means "seed or berry," the source of a deep and permanent dye. To ingrain something is to fix it permanently, the way a great teacher ingrains good study habits in his students, or your distant friend's photo helps ingrain her face in your mind.

Definitions of ingrain

1. verb

   produce or try to produce a vivid impression of
   “Mother tried to ingrain respect for our elders in us”

   synonyms: impress, instill

   type of:

   affect, impress, move, strike

   have an emotional or cognitive impact upon
2. verb

   thoroughly work in
   synonyms: grain

   type of:

   penetrate, perforate

   pass into or through, often by overcoming resistance