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en-

1
  1. a prefix occurring originally in loanwords from French and productive in English on this model, forming verbs with the general sense “to cause (a person or thing) to be in” the place, condition, or state named by the stem; more specifically, “to confine in or place on” ( enshrine; enthrone; entomb ); “to cause to be in” ( enslave; entrust; enrich; encourage; endear ); “to restrict” in the manner named by the stem, typically with the additional sense “on all sides, completely” ( enwind; encircle; enclose; entwine ). This prefix is also attached to verbs in order to make them transitive, or to give them a transitive marker if they are already transitive ( enkindle; enliven; enshield; enface ).


-en

2
  1. a suffix formerly used to form transitive and intransitive verbs from adjectives ( fasten; harden; sweeten ), or from nouns ( heighten; lengthen; strengthen ).

en-

3
  1. a prefix meaning “within, in,” occurring in loanwords from Greek:

    energy; enthusiasm.

-en

4
  1. a suffix used to form adjectives of source or material from nouns:

    ashen; golden; oaken.

-en

5
  1. a suffix used to mark the past participle in many strong and some weak verbs:

    taken; proven.

-en

6
  1. a suffix used in forming the plural of some nouns:

    brethren; children; oxen.

-en

7
  1. a diminutive suffix:

    kitten; maiden.

en

8

[ en ]

noun

  1. the letter N, n.
  2. Also called nut. Printing. half of the width of an em.

adjective

  1. Printing. having the area of an en quad or the length of an en:

    en quad; en dash.

EN

9

abbreviation for

Biology, Ecology.

EN

1

abbreviation for

  1. enrolled nurse
  2. English Nature
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

en

2

/ ɛ /

noun

  1. printing a unit of measurement, half the width of an em Also callednut See also ennage
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

-en

3

suffix forming verbs

  1. cause to be; become; cause to have

    heighten

    blacken

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

en-

4

prefix forming verbs and verbal derivatives

  1. from nouns
    1. put in or on

      enthrone

      entomb

    2. go on or into

      enplane

    3. surround or cover with

      enmesh

    4. furnish with

      empower

  2. from adjectives and nouns cause to be in a certain condition

    enable

    enrich

    enslave

    encourage

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

en-

5

prefix forming verbs and verbal derivatives

  1. in; into; inside

    endemic

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

-en

6

suffix forming adjectives

  1. of; made of; resembling

    wooden

    ashen

    earthen

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Word History and Origins

Origin of en-1

Middle English < Old French < Latin in- in- 2

Origin of en-2

Middle English, Old English -n- (as in Middle English fastnen, Old English ǣٲԾ “to make fast, fasten”); cognate with -n- of like verbs in other Germanic languages ( Old Norse fastna )

Origin of en-3

From Greek (often through Latin ); cognate with in- 1, in- 2

Origin of en-4

Middle English, Old English; cognate with Old High German -ī, Gothic -eins, Latin -īԳܲ; -ine 1

Origin of en-5

Middle English, Old English; cognate with German -en, Old Norse -inn

Origin of en-6

Middle English; Old English -an, case ending of n-stem nouns, as in naman oblique singular, and nominative and accusative plural of nama “n”; akin to n-stem forms in other Indo-European languages, as in Latin nōmen, nōmin- “n”

Origin of en-7

Middle English, Old English, from neuter of -en 2

Origin of en-8

First recorded in 1785–95
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Word History and Origins

Origin of en-1

Old English -n-, as in æ-- to fasten, of common Germanic origin; compare Icelandic fastna

Origin of en-2

via Old French from Latin in- in- ²

Origin of en-3

from Greek (often via Latin); compare in- 1, in- ²

Origin of en-4

Old English -en; related to Gothic -eins, Latin -īԳܲ -ine 1
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

During the pandemic, families, tiny day-camper explorers and the public en masse hit the trails in their masks and basketball sneakers; it suddenly felt like Disneyland.

From

With Russell on the bench and Gloucester's Santi Carreras and Racing's Henry Arundell en route in the summer, Donoghue, who also plays full-back, is another entry on a fearsome roster for the leaders' 2025-26 campaign.

From

Beisner said that due to the shutdowns, she lost two jobs and her grandmother died alone, while at the same time, protesters prompted by the death of George Floyd could gather en mass.

From

At the end of seven rounds with nine draft picks on the way and a slew of undrafted free agents en route, Hortiz met reporters with a content smile.

From

Wrexham won 26 of their 46 matches en route to taking the runner-up spot in League Two as the club sealed back-to-back promotions last term.

From

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