en-
1 American-
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 ).
-
a suffix formerly used to form transitive and intransitive verbs from adjectives (fasten; harden; sweeten ), or from nouns (heighten; lengthen; strengthen ).
-
a prefix meaning "within, in," occurring in loanwords from Greek.
energy; enthusiasm.
-
a suffix used to form adjectives of source or material from nouns.
ashen; golden; oaken.
-
a suffix used to mark the past participle in many strong and some weak verbs.
taken; proven.
-
a suffix used in forming the plural of some nouns.
brethren; children; oxen.
-
a diminutive suffix.
kitten; maiden.
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.
prefix
-
(from nouns)
-
put in or on
entomb
enthrone
-
go on or into
enplane
-
surround or cover with
enmesh
-
furnish with
empower
-
-
(from adjectives and nouns) cause to be in a certain condition
enable
encourage
enrich
enslave
abbreviation
-
enrolled nurse
-
English Nature
suffix
-
cause to be; become; cause to have
blacken
heighten
suffix
-
of; made of; resembling
ashen
earthen
wooden
prefix
-
in; into; inside
endemic
noun
-
Also called: nut. printing a unit of measurement, half the width of an em See also ennage
Etymology
Origin of en-1
Middle English < Old French < Latin in- in- 2
Origin of -en2
Middle English, Old English -n- (as in Middle English fastnen, Old English fǣstnian "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 -en4
Middle English, Old English; cognate with Old High German -īn, Gothic -eins, Latin -īnus; -ine 1
Origin of -en5
Middle English, Old English; cognate with German -en, Old Norse -inn
Origin of -en6
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 Indo-European languages, as in Latin nōmen, nōmin- "name"
Origin of -en7
Middle English, Old English, from neuter of -en 2
Origin of en8
First recorded in 1785–95
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Rather than shrink in embarrassment, the singer poked fun at himself on his Instagram story with a caption that read: "Estaba en especial"/"It was on sale."
From Los Angeles Times
She said both seized vessels "were either last docked in Venezuela or en route to it".
From BBC
US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the ships were "either last docked in Venezuela or en route to it".
From BBC
With him directing the attack, the Galaxy set a record with four players scoring 10 or more times en route a sixth MLS title.
From Los Angeles Times
She hosted a TV show, Con Cilia en Familia, and made occasional appearances on state television to dance salsa with her husband.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.