Amicus / inimicus

[Rocit]

Would you agree that both "amicus" and "inimicus" have THE SAME root or is it different? Maybe "amicus" is derived from "amo"?

 

[Pacifica]

They have the same root; inimicus is just amicus being negated by the privative prefix in - , and the "a" is changed to "i" as often happens (to "i" or "e") by some mechanism when words are lengthened by prefixes. And yes it is derived from amo.

 

[Abbatiſſæ Scriptor]

Sed inimici nihilominus eſſe inamabiles poſſunt.

 

[Pacifica]

Yes, I wonder why the "a" changes there and not here.