pronunciation note: Pronounced (ɪn-) or (en-), especially in American English.
prefix
En- is added to words to form verbs that describe the process of putting someone into a particular state, condition, or place, or to form adjectives and nouns that describe that process or those states and conditions.
People with disabilities are now doing many things to enrich their lives.
...the current campaign to enthrone him as our national bard.
It is the first enthronement since 1928.
...a more enlightened leadership.
en in British English
(ɛn)
noun
printing
a unit of measurement, half the width of an em
Also called: nut. See also ennage
EN in British English
abbreviation for(in Britain)
1.
enrolled nurse
2.
English Nature
en- in British English1
or em-
prefix forming verbs and verbalderivatives
1. (from nouns)
a.
put in or on
entomb
enthrone
b.
go on or into
enplane
c.
surround or cover with
enmesh
d.
furnish with
empower
2. (from adjectives and nouns)
cause to be in a certain condition
enable
encourage
enrich
enslave
Word origin
via Old French from Latin in-in-2
en- in British English2
or em-
prefix forming verbs and verbalderivatives
in; into; inside
endemic
Word origin
from Greek (often via Latin); compare in-1, in-2
-en in British English1
suffix forming verbs
cause to be; become; cause to have
blacken
heighten
Word origin
Old English -n-, as in fæst-n-ian to fasten, of common Germanic origin; compare Icelandic fastna
-en in British English2
suffix forming adjectives
of; made of; resembling
ashen
earthen
wooden
Word origin
Old English -en; related to Gothic -eins, Latin -īnus-ine1
en in American English
(ɛn)
noun
1.
the letter N
2. Printing
a space half the width of an em
en- in American English1
(ɛn; ɪn)
1.
a.
to put or get into or on
enthrone, enplane
b.
to cover or wrap with
enrobe
added to nouns
2.
to make, make into or like, cause to be
added to nouns and adjectives
endanger, enthrall
3.
in or into
added to verbs
encase
4. used as an intensifier
encourage
▶ USAGE: Often becomes em- before b, m, or p Many words beginning with en- are also spelled with in- [enquire, inquire]
Word origin
ME < OFr < L in- < in, in1
en- in American English2
(ɛn; ɪn)
in
used chiefly in Greek derivatives
endemic
Word origin
Gr en- < en, in1
-en in American English
(ən; ən)
1.
a.
to become or cause to be
added to adjectives
darken, weaken
b.
to come to have, cause to have
added to nouns
heighten, hearten, strengthen
2. forming adjectives
made of
, added to concrete nouns
wooden, waxen
3.
forming the past participle of strong verbs
risen, written
4.
forming the plural of certain nouns
children, oxen
5.
forming the feminine of certain nouns
vixen
6.
forming certain old diminutives
chicken
Word origin
(sense 1) ME < -en, -ien < OE -nian; (sense 2) ME & OE, akin to L -inus, Gr -inos; (sense 3) ME & OE; (sense 4) OE -an; (sense 5) OE; (sense 6) OE
Examples of 'en' in a sentence
en
The only kick comes when you play en plein with a single number.
Forbes, Bryan A SONG AT TWILIGHT
It was as if a section of the Blackpool illuminations had been transferred en bloc to the middle of the Channel.
Maclean, Alistair THE LONELY SEA
They were en route to the Empire State Building clutching their hangovers.
Jenny Colgan LOOKING FOR ANDREW MCCARTHY (2002)
Two hundred yards at twelve o'clock, Dead things en masse in the road, fire!