en (en)

[ en-1. [ME. en-, or prepositional prefix, representing Latin in-, meaning primarily or Appearing first in Middle English words derived through Old French from Latin, en -1 (before labials em- ) has come to be freely used as a prefix of words of native as well as of Romance or Latin origin, being equivalent to in -1 of pure English origin and to in -2 of direct Latin origin, and hence often restored to the pure Latin form. Hence forms in en -1 ( em -1) and in -2 ( im -2) are frequently found (even in Middle English) co existing, as enclose, inclose, enquire, inquire, enwrap, in wrap, enfold, infold, with, however, a tendency in one or other of the forms to disappear, or to become partly differentiated in use. Before labials en- becomes em-, as in em bellish, embrace, but may remain unchanged before m, as in enmew or emmew. As a verbal prefix, en-, when joined to a noun, or a verb from a noun, may retain its original meaning of 'in' ('put in '), as in encage (put in a cage), enfold, enfetter, encapsule, etc.; or when prefixed to an adjective or a noun, it may denote a change from one state into another ('make...'), as in enable (make able), en rich, enslave, enfranchise, enlarge, and hence has often the effect simply of a verb-forming prefix. In some cases, prefixed to a verb, it has no additional force, as in enkindle, encaptivate. en-2. [F., etc., en-, 1908 (= L. in-, > en-1, above), E. fasten, make fast) = Goth. -n-an, prop. intr., as in Goth. fullnan, become full, in verbs formed on the pp. of strong verbs, -an-s = AS. and E. -en, etc. See (2), above. (4) ME. -en, often -e, in later ME. a general pl. suffix, in earlier ME. confined to ind. and subj. pret. pl. and subj. pres., the ind. pres. (and impv. pl.) having - eth, down and a imilated forms of elements orig. of different origin.] A termination of various origin, used in the formation of verbs. (a) The infinitive suffix, now obsolete, as in Middle English singen, escapen, pullen, etc., modern English sing, escape, pull, cape, pulle, etc.), but the -e continued to be pronounced, at least optionally, until near the end of the Middle English period; in modern English the e, though always silent, is retained in spelling after a single consonant following a long vowel (as in escape ) and in some other positions. (0) The suffix of the past participle of strong verbs (Middle English and Anglo-Saxon -en), as in risen, written, etc., past participles of rise, write, etc. In Middle English the-noften fell away ( risen or rise, writen or write, etc.); hence in modern English many coexisting forms in -en and -e silent or absent, as broken and broke, written and writ, beaten and beat, sunken and sunk, etc. In most of these pairs there is a slight differentiation of use (as sunken, drunken, adj., sunk, drunk, pp.), or one form is obsolete ( writ, pp., etc.) or regarded as "incorrect" ( broke, spoke, etc.), or is merely vulgar ( riz for risen, etc.). In some cases the past participle in en is modern, the verb being originally weak (with past participle in -ed2 ), as in worn, pp. of wear. In most of such instances the older form in -ed2 is still in late Middle English fell away ( singe, es prevalent use, as in sewed or sewn, sawed or sawn, proved proven, etc., the -ed2 being in some instances absorbed, as in hid or hidden, chid or chidden. (c) A suffix forming verbs from adjectives, as weaken, fatten, etc. Originally such verbs were only intransitive (' become weak, fat, etc.), but now they are also transitive (' make weak, fat,' etc.). (d) In Middle English, a plural suffix of verbs: as, they aren, weren, sayen, singen, sungen, etc. It is now reduced to silent -e or entirely lost. L. enacture the termination is of Middle English origin, except in ozen (from Anglo-Saxon ozan), eyne, een (from AngloS axon edgan ), hosen (from Anglo-Saxon hos an), peasen (from Anglo-Saxon pis an ). -en5. A suffix of various other origins besides those mentioned above: often ultimately identical with -an (Latin -anus ), as in citizen, denizen, dozen, etc., but having also, as in often, midden, etc., other sources ascertainable upon reference to the word concerned. enable (e-na'bl), v.; pret. and pp. enabled, ppr. enabling. [Formerly also inable; Temperance gives nature her full play, and enables her to exert herself in all her force and vigour. Spectator , No. 195. No science of heat was po ible until the invention of the thermometer enabled men to measure the degree of temperature. J. Fiske, Cosmic Philos., I. 34. 2t. To put in an efficient state or condition; endow; equip; fit out. Joy openeth and enableth the heart. Sir P. Sidney, Arcadia, 1. You are beholden to them, sir, that have taken this B. Jonson, Epicæne, v. 1. pains for you, and my friend, Master Truewit, who en abled them for the busine . Syn. 1. To empower, qualify, capacitate. II. in trans. To give ability or competency. For matter of policy and government, that learning should rather hurt than enable thereunto is a thing very Bacon, Advancement of Learning, i. 16. improbable. enablementt (e-na'bl-ment), n. [ Learning. hath no le power and efficacy in enable ment towards martial and military virtue and prowe . Bacon, Advancement of Learning, i. 82.