to split the infinitive
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
To interpose some word between to and the verb, as "to thoroughly understand the subject.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “to split the infinitive” mean?
To interpose some word between to and the verb, as "to thoroughly understand the subject.
Is “to split the infinitive” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.