en-

See also: Appendix:Variations of "en"

English

Alternative forms

• em-

Etymology

From Middle English en- (“en-, in-”). Originally from Old French en- (also an-), from Latin in- (“in, into”); but also from an alteration of in-, from Middle English in-, from Old English in- (“in, into”), from Proto-Germanic *in (“in”). Both the Latin and the Germanic forms are from Proto-Indo-European *en (“in, into”). Intensive use of Old French en-, an- is due to confluence with Frankish *an- (intensive prefix), related to Old English on- (intensive prefix). More at in-, on-.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɪn-/, /ən-/, /ɛn-/

Prefix

en-

1. in, into, on, onto
2. covered
3. caused
4. as an intensifier

Usage notes

• Before labial consonants (b, m and p), the form em- is used instead, to show the assimilation of place of articulation (but note the exception enmesh).

Derived terms

English terms prefixed with en-

verbs derived from French (or Anglo-Norman) verbs or expressions using en- or en

• embalm
• embark
• embarrass
• embase
• embellish
• embezzle
• emboss
• embrace
• embroider
• embroil
• empanel
• empark
• emplead (compare Old French emplaidier)
• employ
• enamel (from Anglo-Norman enamailler)
• enamor, enamour
• enchain
• enchant
• enchase
• enclave
• enclose
• encounter
• encourage
• encrust
• encumber
• endoctrine
• endolour
• endorse
• endow (from Anglo-Norman endover)
• endue
• endure
• enforce
• enfouldred
• engage
• engender
• englue
• englut
• engorge
• engrail
• engrain (from the French phrase en graine)
• engrave
• engross
• engulf
• enhance
• enjoin
• enjoy
• enlace
• enlarge
• enlimn (from Old French enluminer)
• ennoble
• enquire, inquire
• enrace (compare French enraciner)
• enrage
• enrange (compare French arranger)
• enrich
• enrobe
• enroll
• ensanguine
• ensemble
• ensue
• ensure
• entice
• entitle
• entrain
• entrap
• entreat
• envelop, envelope
• envermeil (compare Old French envermeiller)
• environ
• envisage

 

nouns derived from French (or Anglo-Norman) nouns or expressions using en- or en

• embrasure
• emplacement
• endeavor, endeavour (from Old French mettre en deveir (literally “put in duty”))
• enfilade
• engine, engineer
• enquiry, inquiry
• ensign
• ensilage
• entente
• entrail, entrails
• envoy
• envy

 

verbs composed from en- + English verb (meaning: to include, apply)

• embathe
• emblanch
• emboil
• embraid, embreaded
• embrangle
• empassion
• empierce
• empight
• emplace
• empuzzle
• enact
• encanker
• encheer
• enclasp
• enclothe
• encompass
• endazzle
• endizen
• enfold
• enfreeze
• engild
• engird
• engrasp
• engrieve
• enkindle
• enlighten
• enmesh
• enmingle
• enmix
• ensear
• enseel
• ensheathe
• ensnarl
• enstamp
• enstrengthen
• enstyle
• ensweep
• entame
• entangle
• enthrill
• entwin
• entwist
• entwite
• enwallowed
• enwind
• enwrap
• enwreathe
• enwrite

 

verbs composed from en- + English noun, sometimes with additional verb suffixes as -ate, -en or -ize (“to enclose, enter in, provide with”)

• embank
• embarn
• embastardize
• embattle
• embay
• embeam
• embed
• embillow
• emblaze
• emblazon
• embliss, enbliss
• embloom
• emblossom
• embody
• embondage
• emborder
• embosom
• embottle
• embow
• embowel
• embowl
• embox
• embronze
• embrothel
• embus
• emmarble, enmarble
• empanoplied
• empeople
• emplane
• emplotment (neologism by Paul Ricœur)
• emplumed
• empower
• empurple
• enarch
• enarm
• enarmor, enarmour
• encage
• encamp
• encapsulate
• encapture
• encase
• encashment
• encasket
• enchaired
• enchannel
• encharm
• enchisel
• encindered
• encipher
• encircle
• enclasp
• encloister
• encloud
• encoach
• encode
• encoffin
• encolour
• encowl
• encradle
• encrimson
• encroach
• enculture
• encunt
• encurtain
• encyst
• endanger
• endart
• endenizen
• endiademed
• endome
• endrudge
• endungeon
• enface
• enfame
• enfeoff
• enfetter
• enfire
• enflesh
• enflower
• enforest
• enframe
• enfranchise
• enfreedom
• engaol
• engarland
• engirdle
• engirt
• englamour
• engloom
• engore
• engraft
• engrave
• engroove
• enguard
• engyve
• enhalo
• enharbour
• enhearse
• enhedge
• enhoney
• enhunger
• enisle
• enjail
• enkennel
• enlard
• enleague
• enlight
• enlink
• enlist (possibly from Dutch inlijsten (“to write on a list”))
• enliven
• enlute
• enmassed
• enmew
• enmire
• enmist
• enmossed
• enmuffle
• enniche
• enpatron
• enplane
• enprison
• enquote
• enrank
• enrapture
• enregister
• enrheum
• enridge
• enrockment
• enroot
• enscale
• enschedule
• ensconce
• enseam
• ensepulcher, ensepulchre
• enserf
• enshackle
• enshaded, enshadow
• enshell
• enshelter
• enshrine
• enshroud
• ensky
• enslave
• ensnare
• ensoul
• enspell
• ensphere
• enstool
• entabulate
• entail
• enthral, enthrall
• enthrone
• entoil
• entomb
• entrail
• entrain
• entrench
• entrust
• entwine
• envassal
• envault
• enveil
• envenom, envenomate
• envillaged
• envision
• envolume
• enwoman
• enwomb
• enwreath
• enzone

 

verbs composed from en- + English adjective or other word type (meaning: provide with a quality)

• embetter
• embitter
• emblind
• embolden
• embrave
• embrittle
• embusy
• empractical (neologism)
• enable
• encrisped
• encrypt (neologism from Ancient Greek κρυπτός (kruptós, “concealed, hidden”) or κρύπτω (krúptō, “hide, cover”))
• endear
• enfeeble
• enfierced
• enfree
• englacial
• engolden
• engreen
• enmilden
• ennew
• enquicken
• enripen
• enround
• ensafe
• ensober
• entender
• enweaken

 

terms derived from foreign (mostly Greek) words using en- or in-

• emblem
• embolism
• embrocate (from Medieval Latin embrocatus, from Ancient Greek ἐμβροχή (embrokhḗ, “lotion, fomentation”))
• embryo
• empathy (a 20th century neologism)
• empiric (via Old French empirique and Latin empiricus from Ancient Greek ἐμπειρικός (empeirikós, “experienced”))
• emporium
• encaustic (probably neologism after Ancient Greek καυστικός (kaustikós, “burning”))
• encephalitis (from French encéphalite?)
• enchondroma
• encomiast, encomium
• encyclical (from Late Latin encyclicus)
• encyclopaedia, encyclopedia (from New Latin encyclopaedia)
• endemic (from French endémique?)
• endive (from Byzantine Greek ἔντυβον (éntubon) or Late Latin intibus, ultimately of uncertain origin)
• enema
• enepidermic
• energy (via Middle French énergie and Late Latin energia from Ancient Greek ἐνέργεια (enérgeia, “action, act, work”))
• entablature (from Italian intavolatura)
• enthuse, enthusiasm, enthusiastic
• entomology (from French entomologie)
• entrochite
• enzyme (from German Enzym)
• panendeism, panentheism (from German Panentheismus)

 

See also

• em-
• in-

 

Anagrams

• -ne-, NE, Ne., ne, ne., né, nê

---

Catalan

Alternative forms

• em-

Etymology

From , from Latin in-, prefixation of Latin in (“in, into”); see en.

Prefix

en-

1. en- (all meanings)

Derived terms

Catalan terms prefixed with en-

Related terms

• en

See also

• in-

---

French

Alternative forms

• em-

Etymology

From Old French en-, from Latin in-, prefixation of Latin in (“in, into”); see en.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɑ̃/

Prefix

en-

1. en- (all meanings)

Derived terms

French terms prefixed with en-

Related terms

• en

See also

• in-

---

Galician

Alternative forms

• em-

Etymology

From Old Galician-Portuguese en-, from Latin in-, prefixation of Latin in (“in, into”); see en.

Prefix

en-

1. en-, in-

Derived terms

Galician terms prefixed with en-

Related terms

• en

See also

• in-

---

Ido

Etymology

Prefix form of en (“in”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɛn/

Prefix

en-

1. prefix indicating in

   ‎en- + ‎irar (“to go”) → ‎enirar (“to go in; enter”)

   ‎en- + ‎swichar (“to switch”) → ‎enswichar (“to switch on”)

Derived terms

Ido terms prefixed with en-

---

Ladino

Alternative forms

• em- (before b or p)

Etymology

From Old Spanish en-, from Latin in-, prefixation of in (“in, into”).

Prefix

en-

1. en-

Derived terms

Ladino terms prefixed with en-

---

Norman

Etymology

From Old French en-, from Latin in-, prefixation of Latin in (“in, into”); see en.

Prefix

en-

1. en- (all meanings)

Derived terms

Norman terms prefixed with en-

Related terms

• en

See also

• in-

---

Occitan

Alternative forms

• em-

Etymology

From Old Occitan en-, from Latin in-, prefixation of Latin in (“in, into”); see en.

Prefix

en-

1. en- (all meanings)

Derived terms

Occitan terms prefixed with en-

Related terms

• en

See also

• in-

---

Old French

Alternative forms

• an-, em-

Etymology

From Latin in-, prefixation of Latin in (“in, into”). Influenced by Frankish *an- (intensive prefix), related to Old English on- (intensive prefix).

Prefix

en-

1. en- (in; into)
2. en- (intensifier)

Derived terms

Old French terms prefixed with en-

Related terms

• en

See also

• in-

---

Old Saxon

Etymology

From ēn (“one”).

Prefix

ēn-

1. one, uni-, only

   ēnkunni (“only, unique”)

2. sole, single, solitary

---

Portuguese

Alternative forms

• em-

Etymology

From Old Galician-Portuguese en-, from Latin in-, prefixation of Latin in (“in, into”); see em.

Prefix

en-

1. en- (all meanings)

Derived terms

Portuguese terms prefixed with en-

Related terms

• em

See also

• in-

---

Spanish

Alternative forms

• em- (before b or p)

Etymology

From Old Spanish en-, from Latin in-, prefixation of Latin in (“in, into”); see en.

Prefix

en-

1. en- (all meanings) (clarification of this definition is needed)

Derived terms

Spanish terms prefixed with en-

Related terms

• en

See also

• in-

Further reading

• Template:R:DRAE 2001

---

Tocharian A

Verb

en-

1. to instruct

---

Tocharian B

Verb

en-

1. to instruct

---

Xhosa

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Prefix

en-

1. Class 9 adjective concord.

Usage notes

The variant form em- is used before stems beginning with a labial consonant (b, f, m, p, v).

---

Zulu

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Prefix

en-

1. Class 9 adjective concord.

Usage notes

The variant form em- is used before stems beginning with a labial consonant (b, f, m, p, v).

References

• C. M. Doke, B. W. Vilakazi (1972) “em-, en-”, in Zulu-English Dictionary, →ISBN: “em-, en-”