en

noun

\ ˈen

Definition of en

(Entry 1 of 5)

1 : the width of a piece of type half the width of an em

2 : the letter n

en-

prefix (1)

variants: or less commonly em- \ in also en ; sometimes only in , is shown when en is infrequent \

Definition of en- (Entry 2 of 5)

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-

prefix (2)

variants: or less commonly em-

Definition of en- (Entry 3 of 5)

: in : within enzootic —usually em- before b, m, or p empathy

-en

adjective suffix

variants: or less commonly -n

Definition of -en (Entry 4 of 5)

: made of : consisting of earthen leathern

-en

verb suffix

Definition of -en (Entry 5 of 5)

1a : cause to be sharpen

b : cause to have lengthen

2a : come to be steepen

b : come to have lengthen

Examples of en in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Upstairs, there are five more bedrooms, each with their own en-suite bathroom. — Joey Morona, cleveland.com, "Westlake 'castle' asks $2.795 million: House of the Week," 4 Aug. 2017 Each of the rooms has its own en-suite bathroom— meaning there's no locker room awkwardness— — Stephanie Wu, Town & Country, "Buzz Worthy," 26 Aug. 2013

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'en.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for en

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

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for en

-en

adjective suffix

English Language Learners Definition of -en

(Entry 1 of 2)

: made of : consisting of

-en

verb suffix

English Language Learners Definition of -en (Entry 2 of 2)

: to become or cause to be

: to cause or come to have

en-

prefix

variants: also em-

Kids Definition of en-

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

adjective suffix

\ ən, ᵊn\

variants: also -n \ n \

Kids Definition of -en

(Entry 1 of 3)

: made of : consisting of earthen woolen

-en

verb suffix

Kids Definition of -en (Entry 2 of 3)

1 : become or cause to be sharpen

2 : cause or come to have lengthen