en

Multiple Entries:
  en    -en    en-  

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
en/ɛn/

▶noun Printing a unit of measurement equal to half an em and approximately the average width of typeset characters.

– origin C18: the letter N, since it is approx. this width.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
-en1

▶suffix forming verbs.

• 1 (from adjectives) denoting the development or intensification of a state: widen.

• 2 from nouns (such as strengthen from strength).

– origin OE -nian, of Gmc origin.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
-en2 (also -n)

▶suffix forming adjectives from nouns.

• 1 made or consisting of: earthen.

• 2 resembling: golden.

– origin OE, of Gmc origin.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
-en3 (also -n)

▶suffix forming past participles of strong verbs.

• 1 as a regular inflection: spoken.

• 2 as an adjective: mistaken.

– origin OE, of Gmc origin.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
-en4

▶suffix forming the plural of a few nouns such as children, oxen.

– origin ME reduction of the earlier suffix -an.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
-en5

▶suffix forming diminutives of nouns (such as chicken).

– origin OE, of Gmc origin.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
-en6

▶suffix

• 1 forming feminine nouns such as vixen.

• 2 forming abstract nouns such as burden.

– origin OE, of Gmc origin.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
en-1 (also em-)

▶prefix

• 1 (added to nouns) forming verbs meaning ‘put into or on’: engulf.

• 2 (added to nouns and adjectives) forming verbs (often with the suffix -en) meaning ‘bring into the condition of’: enliven.

• 3 (added to verbs) in; into; on: ensnare.

  ■ as an intensifier: entangle.

– origin from Fr., from L. in-.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
en-2 (also em-)

▶prefix within; inside: enthusiasm.

– origin from Gk.