en
1 of 5noun
ˈen 
1
: the width of a piece of type half the width of an em
2
: the letter n
en-
2 of 5prefix (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 5prefix (2)
variants or less commonly em-
: in : within
enzootic
—usually em- before b, m, or p empathy
-en
4 of 5adjective suffix
variants or less commonly -n
: made of : consisting of
earthen
leathern
-en
5 of 5verb 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
Kids Definition
en- 1 of 3
prefix
variants also em-
1
: put or go into or onto
encase
enthrone
2
: cause to be
enrich
3
: provide with
empower
Hint: In all senses en- is usually em- before b, m, or p.
-en
2 of 3adjective suffix
ən,
ᵊn
variants also -n
n
: made of : consisting of
earthen
woolen
-en
3 of 3verb suffix
1
: become or cause to be
sharpen
2
: cause or come to have
lengthen