-EN


Meaning of -EN in English

-en 1

a suffix formerly used to form transitive and intransitive verbs from adjectives ( fasten; harden; sweeten ), or from nouns ( heighten; lengthen; strengthen ).

[ ME, OE -n- (as in ME fast-n-en, OE faest-n-ian to make fast, fasten); c. -n- of like verbs in other Gmc languages (ON fastna ) ]

-en 2

a suffix used to form adjectives of source or material from nouns: ashen; golden; oaken.

[ ME, OE; c. OHG -in, Goth -eins, L -inus; see -INE 1 ]

-en 3

a suffix used to mark the past participle in many strong and some weak verbs: taken; proven.

[ ME, OE; c. G -en, ON -inn ]

-en 4

a suffix used in forming the plural of some nouns: brethren; children; oxen.

[ ME; OE -an, case ending of n-stem nouns, as in naman obl. sing., and nom. and acc. pl. of nama name; akin to n-stem forms in other IE languages, as in L nomen, nomin- name ]

-en 5

a diminutive suffix: kitten; maiden.

[ ME, OE, from neut. of -EN 2 ]

Random House Webster's Unabridged English dictionary.      Полный английский словарь Вебстер - Random House .