en-

en-¹

a prefix occurring originally in loanwords from French and productive in English on this model, forming verbs with the general sense "to cause (a person or thing) to be in" the place, condition, or state named by the stem; more specifically, "to confine in or place on" (enshrine; enthrone; entomb); "to cause to be in" (enslave; entrust; enrich; encourage; endear); "to restrict" in the manner named by the stem, typically with the additional sense "on all sides, completely" (enwind; encircle; enclose; entwine). This prefix is also attached to verbs in order to make them transitive, or to give them a transitive marker if they are already transitive (enkindle; enliven; enshield; enface).

Also, before labial consonants, em-¹. Cf. be-, in-².

[ME < OF < L in- IN-²]

en-²

a prefix meaning "within, in," occurring in loanwords from Greek: energy; enthusiasm.

Also, before labial consonants, em-².

[ < Gk (often through L); c. IN-¹, IN-²]

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