en
[ en ]
/ ɛn /
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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.
QUIZ
THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?
Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.
Question 1 of 7
In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…
Origin of en
First recorded in 1785–95
Other definitions for en (2 of 9)
Other definitions for en (3 of 9)
en-1
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).
Also before labial consonants, em-1.
Origin of en-
1Middle English <Old French <Latin in-in-2
Other definitions for en (4 of 9)
en-2
a prefix meaning “within, in,” occurring in loanwords from Greek: energy; enthusiasm.
Also before labial consonants, em-2.
Other definitions for en (5 of 9)
-en1
a suffix formerly used to form transitive and intransitive verbs from adjectives (fasten; harden; sweeten), or from nouns (heighten; lengthen; strengthen).
Origin of -en
1Middle 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 )
Other definitions for en (6 of 9)
-en2
a suffix used to form adjectives of source or material from nouns: ashen; golden; oaken.
Origin of -en
2Other definitions for en (7 of 9)
-en3
a suffix used to mark the past participle in many strong and some weak verbs: taken; proven.
Origin of -en
3Middle English, Old English; cognate with German -en,Old Norse -inn
Other definitions for en (8 of 9)
-en4
a suffix used in forming the plural of some nouns: brethren; children; oxen.
Origin of -en
4Middle 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”
Other definitions for en (9 of 9)
-en5
a diminutive suffix: kitten; maiden.
Origin of -en
5Middle English, Old English, from neuter of -en2
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use en in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for en (1 of 6)
en
/ (ɛn) /
noun
British Dictionary definitions for en (2 of 6)
EN
abbreviation for (in Britain)
enrolled nurse
English Nature
British Dictionary definitions for en (3 of 6)
en-1
em-
prefix forming verbs and verbal derivatives
(from nouns)
- put in or onentomb; enthrone
- go on or intoenplane
- surround or cover withenmesh
- furnish withempower
(from adjectives and nouns) cause to be in a certain conditionenable; encourage; enrich; enslave
Word Origin for en-
via Old French from Latin in- in- ²
British Dictionary definitions for en (4 of 6)
en-2
em-
prefix forming verbs and verbal derivatives
in; into; insideendemic
Word Origin for en-
from Greek (often via Latin); compare in- 1, in- ²
British Dictionary definitions for en (5 of 6)
-en1
suffix forming verbs
cause to be; become; cause to haveblacken; heighten
Word Origin for -en
Old English -n-, as in fæst-n-ian to fasten, of common Germanic origin; compare Icelandic fastna
British Dictionary definitions for en (6 of 6)
-en2
suffix forming adjectives
of; made of; resemblingashen; earthen; wooden
Word Origin for -en
Old English -en; related to Gothic -eins, Latin -īnus -ine 1
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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