indite

/ɪnˈdaɪt/

//ɪnˈdaɪt// verb

"indite" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“indite” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a verb. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
6
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - To physically make (letters and words) on a writing surface; to inscribe.

Corpus desk

Index EN-indite · indite · English

indite · unranked · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-UNRANKED Unranked
  • LEN-LONG 6 letters
  • VOW-3 3 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-THIN "I" thin
  • PHOTO-UNK Peer pending

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Key facts for indite
PropertyValue
Headwordindite
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ɪnˈdaɪt/
Letters6
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Long-tail rank of “indite” in English

inditesits beyond the 100,000 most-frequent English words, in the long tail of technical, archaic, or otherwise rare vocabulary where spelling doubt tends to strike hardest.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

indite is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as averb, transcribed /ɪnˈdaɪt/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 5 senses are on record.

indite doesn't appear in our generated misspelling index, a straightforward case of a spelling with little room for common typos. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, a sign it's visually distinctive enough not to be mixed up with another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: Originally a variant of indict; from Middle English enditen, endyten, from Old French enditer, from Late Latin indictāre, from in- + dictare (“to declare”). Doublet of indict. The correct English form is indite, spelled I-N-D-I-T-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To physically make (letters and words) on a writing surface; to inscribe.
  2. 2
    To write (something, especially a literary or artistic work); to compose.
  3. 3
    To dictate (something); to prompt.
  4. 4
    To ask or invite (someone).
  5. 5
    To indict (someone); to accuse; to censure.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how indite appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. From a VVriter of Books, our Author is already dvvindled to a Preface-monger, and from Prefaces I am confident he may in a ſhort time be improved to endite Tickets for the Bear-Garden.
  2. It is certain that the mere act of inditing tends, in a great degree, to the logicalisation of thought. Whenever, on account of its vagueness, I am dissatisfied with a conception of the brain, I resort forthwith to the pen, for the purpose of obtaining, through its aid, the necessary form, consequence, and precision.

Etymology

Originally a variant of indict; from Middle English enditen, endyten, from Old French enditer, from Late Latin indictāre, from in- + dictare (“to declare”). Doublet of indict.

This word in other languages

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "indite"?
"indite" is spelled I-N-D-I-T-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ɪnˈdaɪt/.
What does "indite" mean?
As a verb, "indite" means: To physically make (letters and words) on a writing surface; to inscribe.
How do you pronounce "indite"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "indite" is /ɪnˈdaɪt/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "indite"?
Originally a variant of indict; from Middle English enditen, endyten, from Old French enditer, from Late Latin indictāre, from in- + dictare (“to declare”). Doublet of indict. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list