Inform vs Clarify - What's the difference?

As verbs the difference between inform and clarify

is that inform is to instruct, train (usually in matters of knowledge) while clarify is to make clear or bright by freeing from feculent matter; to defecate; to fine; -- said of liquids, as wine or syrup.

As an adjective inform

is without regular form; shapeless; ugly; deformed.

inform

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) informen, enformen, from (etyl) enformer, .

Alternative forms

* (l) (obsolete)

Verb

(en verb)

(archaic) To instruct, train (usually in matters of knowledge).

To communicate knowledge to.

* Spenser

For he would learn their business secretly, / And then inform his master hastily.

* Shakespeare

I am informed thoroughly of the cause.

To impart information or knowledge.

To act as an informer; denounce.

To give form or character to; to inspire (with a given quality); to affect, influence (with a pervading principle, idea etc.).

* {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-07, author=(Gary Younge)

, volume=188, issue=26, page=18, magazine=(The Guardian Weekly) , title= Hypocrisy lies at heart of Manning prosecution , passage=WikiLeaks did not cause these uprisings but it certainly informed them. The dispatches revealed details of corruption and kleptocracy that many Tunisians suspected, but could not prove, and would cite as they took to the streets.}}

* Dryden

Let others better mould the running mass / Of metals, and inform the breathing brass.

* Prior

Breath informs this fleeting frame.

(obsolete) To make known, wisely and/or knowledgeably.

(obsolete) To direct, guide.

(archaic) To take form; to become visible or manifest; to appear.

* Shakespeare

It is the bloody business which informs / Thus to mine eyes.

Synonyms

* acquaint, apprise, notify * (act as informer) dob, name names, peach, snitch

Derived terms

* informant * information * informative * informatory * informed * informer * misinform * uninformed

Etymology 2

(etyl) (lena) informis

Adjective

(-)

Without regular form; shapeless; ugly; deformed.

(Cotton)

Anagrams

clarify

English

(Webster 1913)

Verb

(en-verb)

To make clear or bright by freeing from feculent matter; to defecate; to fine; -- said of liquids, as wine or syrup.

* (rfdate) Ure:

Boiled and clarified .

To make clear; to free from obscurities; to brighten or illuminate.

* (rfdate) South:

To clarify his reason, and to rectify his will.

(ergative) To grow or become clear or transparent; to become free from feculent impurities, as wine or other liquid under clarification.

* Leave the wine for 24 hours and it will clarify .

(ergative) To grow clear or bright; to clear up.

(obsolete) To glorify.