en

1 of 5

noun

ˈen 

1

: the width of a piece of type half the width of an em

2

: the letter n

en-

2 of 5

prefix (1)

variants or less commonly em-

in,

 also  en;

 sometimes only  in,

 is shown when  is infrequent en

1

: put into or onto

enthrone

: cover with

enshroud

: go into or onto

enplane

—in verbs formed from nouns

2

: cause to be

enslave

—in verbs formed from adjectives or nouns

3

: provide with

empower

—in verbs formed from nouns

4

: so as to cover

enwrap

: thoroughly

entangle

—in verbs formed from verbs

—in all senses usually em- before b, m, or p

en-

3 of 5

prefix (2)

variants or less commonly em-

: in : within

enzootic

—usually em- before b, m, or p

empathy

-en

4 of 5

adjective suffix

variants or less commonly -n

: made of : consisting of

earthen

leathern

-en

5 of 5

verb suffix

1

a

: cause to be

sharpen

b

: cause to have

lengthen

2

a

: come to be

steepen

b

: come to have

lengthen

Word History

Etymology

Prefix (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin in-, im-, from in

Prefix (2)

Middle English, from Latin, from Greek, from en in — more at in

Adjective suffix

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German -īn made of, Latin -īnus of or belonging to, Greek -inos made of, of or belonging to

Verb suffix

Middle English -nen, from Old English -nian; akin to Old High German -inōn -en

First Known Use

Noun

1792, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing en

• de haut en bas
• en banc
• en bloc
• en brochette
• en clair
• en masse
• en passant
• en prise
• en route
• en suite
• mise en place
• mise-en-scène

Kids Definition

en-

1 of 3 prefix

variants also em-

e,

 also occurs in these prefixes although only  i,

 may be shown as in  ",

 engage  "

1

: put into or onto

encode

enthrone

: go into or onto

enplane

2

: cause to be

enable

3

: provide with

empower

4

: so as to cover

enwrap

: thoroughly

entangle

—in all senses usually em- before b, m, or p

-en

2 of 3 adjective suffix

ən

variants also -n

n

: made of : consisting of

earthen

woolen

-en

3 of 3 verb suffix

1

: become or cause to be

sharpen

2

: cause or come to have

lengthen

Etymology

Prefix

derived from Latin in- "in, into, put into"

Adjective suffix

Old English -en (adjective suffix)

Verb suffix

Old English -nian (verb suffix)