en
[ en ]
/ ɛn /
noun
the letter N, n.
Also called nut. Printing.
half of the width of an em.
adjective
Printing.
having the area of an en quad or the length of an en: en quad; en dash.
Origin of en
First recorded in 1785–95
Words nearby en
emulsify,
emulsion,
emulsoid,
emunctory,
emv,
en,
en ami,
en attendant,
en bloc,
en brochette,
en brosse
Definition for en (2 of 8)
en-
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).
Also
before labial consonants,
em-1.
Origin of en-
1
Middle English < Old French < Latin
in-
in-2
Definition for en (3 of 8)
en-
2
a prefix meaning “within, in,” occurring in loanwords from Greek: energy; enthusiasm.
Also
before labial consonants,
em-2.
Definition for en (4 of 8)
-en
1
a suffix formerly used to form transitive and intransitive verbs from adjectives (fasten; harden; sweeten), or from nouns (heighten; lengthen; strengthen).
Origin of -en
1
Middle English, Old English
-n- (as in Middle English
fast-n-en, Old English
fǣst-n-ian to make fast, fasten); cognate with
-n- of like verbs in other Gmc languages (Old Norse
fastna)
Definition for en (5 of 8)
-en
2
a suffix used to form adjectives of source or material from nouns: ashen; golden; oaken.
Origin of -en
2Definition for en (6 of 8)
-en
3
a suffix used to mark the past participle in many strong and some weak verbs: taken; proven.
Origin of -en
3
Middle English, Old English; cognate with German
-en, Old Norse
-inn
Definition for en (7 of 8)
-en
4
a suffix used in forming the plural of some nouns: brethren; children; oxen.
Origin of -en
4
Middle English; Old English
-an, case ending of n-stem nouns, as in
naman oblique singular, and nominative and accusative plural of
nama name; akin to n-stem forms in other IE languages, as in Latin
nōmen, nōmin- name
Definition for en (8 of 8)
-en
5
a diminutive suffix: kitten; maiden.
Origin of -en
5
Middle English, Old English, from neuter of
-en2
Example sentences from the Web for en
British Dictionary definitions for en (1 of 6)
en
/ (ɛn) /
noun
British Dictionary definitions for en (2 of 6)
EN
abbreviation for (in Britain)
enrolled nurse
English Nature
British Dictionary definitions for en (3 of 6)
-en
1
suffix forming verbs
cause to be; become; cause to have
blacken; heighten
Word Origin for -en
Old English
-n-, as in
fæst-n-ian to fasten, of common Germanic origin; compare Icelandic
fastna
British Dictionary definitions for en (4 of 6)
-en
2
suffix forming adjectives
of; made of; resembling
ashen; earthen; wooden
Word Origin for -en
Old English
-en; related to Gothic
-eins, Latin
-īnus
-ine
1
British Dictionary definitions for en (5 of 6)
en-
1
em-
prefix forming verbs and verbal derivatives
(from nouns)
- put in or onentomb; enthrone
- go on or intoenplane
- surround or cover withenmesh
- furnish withempower
(from adjectives and nouns)
cause to be in a certain condition
enable; encourage; enrich; enslave
Word Origin for en-
via Old French from Latin
in-
in- ²
British Dictionary definitions for en (6 of 6)
en-
2
em-
prefix forming verbs and verbal derivatives
in; into; inside
endemic
Word Origin for en-
from Greek (often via Latin); compare
in-
1,
in- ²
Medical definitions for en
en-
pref.
In; into; within:enzootic.