-en \-en\
1. A suffix from AS. -an, formerly used to form the plural of
many nouns, as in ashen, eyen, oxen, all obs. except oxen.
In some cases, such as children and brethren, it has been
added to older plural forms.
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2. A suffix corresponding to AS. -en and -on, formerly used
to form the plural of verbs, as in housen, escapen.
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3. A suffix signifying to make, to cause, used to form verbs
from nouns and adjectives; as in strengthen, quicken,
frighten. This must not be confused with -en corresponding
in Old English to the AS. infinitive ending -an.
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4. [AS. -en; akin to Goth. -eins, L. -inus, Gr. ?.] An
adjectival suffix, meaning made of; as in golden, leaden,
wooden.
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5. [AS. -en; akin to Skr. -na.] The termination of the past
participle of many strong verbs; as, in broken, gotten,
trodden.
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En- \En-\
1. [F. en-, L. in.] A prefix signifying in or into, used in
many English words, chiefly those borrowed from the
French. Some English words are written indifferently with
en-or in-. For ease of pronunciation it is commonly
changed to em-before p, b, and m, as in employ, embody,
emmew. It is sometimes used to give a causal force, as in
enable, enfeeble, to cause to be, or to make, able, or
feeble; and sometimes merely gives an intensive force, as
in enchasten. See In-.
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2. A prefix from Gr. ? in, meaning in; as, encephalon,
entomology. See In-.
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