en

[ en ]

noun
  1. the letter N, n.

  2. Also called nut. Printing. half of the width of an em.

adjective
  1. Printing. having the area of an en quad or the length of an en: en quad; en dash.

Origin of en

1
First recorded in 1785–95

Words Nearby en

Other definitions for EN (2 of 9)

EN

abbreviationBiology, Ecology.

Other definitions for en- (3 of 9)

en-1

  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).

Origin of en-

3
Middle English <Old French <Latin in-in-2
  • Also before labial consonants, em-1.

Other definitions for en- (4 of 9)

en-2

  1. a prefix meaning “within, in,” occurring in loanwords from Greek: energy; enthusiasm.

Origin of en-

4
From Greek (often through Latin ); cognate with in-1, in-2
  • Also before labial consonants, em-2.

Other definitions for -en (5 of 9)

-en1

  1. a suffix formerly used to form transitive and intransitive verbs from adjectives (fasten; harden; sweeten), or from nouns (heighten; lengthen; strengthen).

Origin of -en

5
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 )

Other definitions for -en (6 of 9)

-en2

  1. a suffix used to form adjectives of source or material from nouns: ashen; golden; oaken.

Origin of -en

6
Middle English, Old English; cognate with Old High German -īn,Gothic -eins,Latin -īnus;see -ine1

Other definitions for -en (7 of 9)

-en3

  1. a suffix used to mark the past participle in many strong and some weak verbs: taken; proven.

Origin of -en

7
Middle English, Old English; cognate with German -en,Old Norse -inn

Other definitions for -en (8 of 9)

-en4

  1. a suffix used in forming the plural of some nouns: brethren; children; oxen.

Origin of -en

8
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”

Other definitions for -en (9 of 9)

-en5

  1. a diminutive suffix: kitten; maiden.

Origin of -en

9
Middle English, Old English, from neuter of -en2

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use en in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for en (1 of 6)

en

/ (ɛn) /


noun
  1. printing a unit of measurement, half the width of an em: Also called: nut See also ennage

British Dictionary definitions for EN (2 of 6)

EN

abbreviation for(in Britain)
  1. enrolled nurse

  2. English Nature

British Dictionary definitions for en- (3 of 6)

en-1

prefix forming verbs and verbal derivatives
  1. (from nouns)

    • put in or on: entomb; enthrone

    • go on or into: enplane

    • surround or cover with: enmesh

    • furnish with: empower

  2. (from adjectives and nouns) cause to be in a certain condition: enable; encourage; enrich; enslave

Origin of en-

3
via Old French from Latin in- in- ²

British Dictionary definitions for en- (4 of 6)

en-2

prefix forming verbs and verbal derivatives
  1. in; into; inside: endemic

Origin of en-

4
from Greek (often via Latin); compare in- 1, in- ²

British Dictionary definitions for -en (5 of 6)

-en1

suffix forming verbs
  1. cause to be; become; cause to have: blacken; heighten

Origin of -en

5
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
  1. of; made of; resembling: ashen; earthen; wooden

Origin of -en

6
Old English -en; related to Gothic -eins, Latin -īnus -ine 1

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