Inner describes something located on the inside, not the outside. It can also refer to private thoughts and feelings that are not easily seen by others.
It comes from Old English “innera,” a comparative form of “in,” meaning “more in” or “further inside.” Over time it came to contrast with “outer” in both physical and emotional senses.
Inner can mean the inside of a room or the inside of your mind, which shows how we picture emotions as a kind of hidden space. Phrases like “inner peace” or “inner voice” treat feelings as if they live in a private room only you can enter. The word makes your psychology feel like a place, not just a process.
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