en- -en

See also: enen and énen

English

Alternative forms

• em- -en (before b-, p-, or m-)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɛnˈ-, -ən/

Circumfix

en- -en

1. Forms transitive verbs denoting an increase in, or intensification of, the quality denoted by the enclosed word.

Related terms

Note: Not all of these words listed were etymologically constructed with the en- -en circumfix. Those confirmed to have been so constructed are marked with obeli (^†s); those confirmed to have been formed otherwise are marked with asterisks (*s); and those whose origins are uncertain are unmarked.

• embiggen*
• embolden*
• embrighten*
• enchasten*
• encolden^†
• endarken*
• enfasten
• engladden
• engolden^†
• engraven*
• engreaten^†
• enharden*
• enhearten*
• enlengthen
• enlessen
• enlighten
• enliven^†
• enquicken
• enrichen
• enripen*
• ensmallen^†
• enstraiten*
• enstrengthen*
• ensweeten*
• enwiden
• enwisen

 

See also

• a- -ing

References

• Most dictionaries do not consider the concept of a circumfix to be valid for production rules in current English, and since en- -en can be analyzed as a redundant combination of the prefix en- and the suffix -en, most dictionaries do not have a separate entry for it.

Anagrams

• Nene, neen, nene, nēnē