en-

▪ I. en-, prefix¹
    the form assumed in Fr. (as also in Pr., Sp., Pg.) by the L. prepositional prefix in- (see in-). The Eng. words in which it appears are partly adaptations of Fr. (occasionally Sp.) words, either of L. descent or formed in Romanic, and partly original formations upon Eng. words.
    A. Forms.
    1. In modern orthography and pronunciation en- becomes em- before b and p, and occasionally before m. This rule was not fully established in spelling before the 17th c.; in ME., as in OF. and OSp., enb-, enp- are more frequent than emb-, emp-, though the latter may perhaps represent what was the actual pronunciation.
    2. In ME. (as in OF.) en-, em-, freq. became an-, am- (a form which survives in ambush). This an-, am-, like the native prefix an- 1, was often reduced to a-: see appair, aprise. Conversely, the prefix a- of various origin was often changed into en-, as in embraid.
    3. From 14th c. onwards the prefix in- im-) has been frequently substituted for en- (em-); and, conversely, en- (em-) has been substituted for the prefix in- im-) of words of L. or It. origin, and for the native Eng. in-. Nearly every word, of long standing in the language, which is formed with en- has at some period been written also with in-. Hence it is often impossible to determine whether in a particular word of Eng. formation the prefix en- or in- is due to the analogy of words of Fr., Lat., or purely Eng. origin; in many instances it must have been applied merely as a recognized Eng. formative, without reference to the analogy of any individual word. In 17th c. the form in- (im-) was generally preferred; the now prevailing tendency is to use en- (em-) in Eng. formations, and where the prefix represents Fr. en-; and in mod. reprints of 17th c. books, and in Dicts., the in- (im-) of the original texts is often replaced by en- (em-). In some words, however, as em-, imbed, en-, inclose, the form with in- still occurs, but in most cases less frequently than the en- forms; in a few instances in- has entirely superseded en-, even where the latter is etymologically more correct, as in imbrue, impair, inquest. In a few words (e.g. ensure, insure) the alternative forms have (in very modern times) been appropriated to express different senses. As a general rule the en- and in- forms are in this Dict. treated as belonging to one and the same word. A word still surviving in use is treated in the alphabetical place of its now more frequent form. In the case of obs. words, where there is no decided preponderance in usage, the choice of the typical form has been determined by etymological considerations: thus the adapted words from Fr. or Sp. with en-, and new formations app. on the analogy of these, are by preference placed under E; while words app. formed on Latin analogies, or prob. originating as compounds of the Eng. prep. in, will appear under I.
    The substitution of in- for en- has in part been due to notions of etymological fitness, the Romanic en- having been regarded as a corrupt and improper form of the L. in-, while the Eng. formations in en- were either referred to L. analogies or treated as compounds of the native preposition. The phenomenon seems, however, to be partly of phonetic origin. The sound of (ɛ) initial and unstressed has in careless speech a tendency to pass into (ɪ); cf. the colloq. pronunciation of effect, ellipse, essential. Hence such forms as embed, imbed, enclose, inclose are in familiar pronunciation really homophones; many persons use the en- forms in writing, and (unconsciously) the in- forms in speech. From the occurrence of spellings like inbassed for embassade in the fourteenth century, it may be surmised that the tendency to ‘raise’ the initial (ɛ) has existed from an early period.
    B. Signification and uses.
    The applications of the prefix in Fr. (Pr., Sp., Pg.), and hence in Eng., are substantially identical with those of the L. in-, which was used to form vbs. (1) from ns., with sense ‘to put (something) into or on what is denoted by the n.’, or ‘to put’ what is denoted by the n. ‘into or on (something)’; (2) from ns. or adjs., with sense ‘to bring or to come into a certain condition or state, to invest with a certain quality’; (3) from other vbs., with added notion of ‘within’, ‘into’, ‘upon’, or ‘against’, or with merely intensive force. Many L. or late L. words of this formation came down into Romanic, and have thence been adapted in Eng. In Romanic the prefix was extensively applied in the formation of new words, in strict accordance with L. analogies, exc. that in formations upon vbs. the notion of ‘against’ rarely or never occurs. In Eng. the analogy of the many words with en- adapted from Romanic gave rise to the extensive application of the prefix in the formation of Eng. words, its functions being the same as in Fr.
    The compounds of en- which have been in general use, or which require special comment, are given in their alphabetical place. The following are examples of those which are merely nonce-words, or of very rare occurrence. (See also em-).
    1. Verbs formed by prefixing en- to a n. a. With general sense ‘to put (something) into or on what the latter member indicates’:
    † enambush, to place in ambush; † enangle, to put into an angle or corner; encell; encentre, to place in the centre of something; enchair; † enchariot; encist, to shut up in or as in a cist or chest; † encoach, to seat in a coach; encoil, to wrap in or as in a coil; † encouch, to lay upon a couch, fig.; encraal, intr. for refl., to lodge in a kraal; encrochet, to enclose in brackets; encup, to place in or as in a cup; encushion, to seat on a cushion; enfeature, to exhibit on the features; † engammon, to put or (intr. for refl.) get into the haunch (of a pig); † engaol (in quots. fig.); engarb, to put into a garb, clothe; engarment, to case as in a garment; englamour, to surround with illusion; † engown, to dress in a gown; † engyve, to put in gyves or fetters; enhusk; † enjourney, (refl.) to start on a journey; † enkennel; enkerchief; † enkernel; † enlabyrinth, to entangle as in a labyrinth; † enlead; enmagazine, fig.; † ennet, to entangle; † enniche, to set up in a niche, as a statue, fig.; enrib, to put within the ribs; † enseat, to install; enshadow; enshawl, to wrap in or cover with a shawl; enshell; † enshelter; † enslumber, to lull to sleep, lit. and fig.; † ensoap (see quot.); † enstage, to put upon the stage (of a theatre); † enstock, to set in the stocks; † entower, to imprison in the Tower; † envapour, to shroud in vapour; enzone, to engirdle.

c 1611 Chapman Iliad xviii. 475 Within a vale..they..*enambush'd them. Ibid. x. 257 Enambush'd enemies. 17.. Cawthorn Elegy Capt. Hughes 28 Th' enambushed phalanx.

? a 1400 Morte Arth. 3782 His enmye..*enangylles abowte oure excellente knyghttez.

1652 Sparke Prim. Devot. (1673) 623 App., What a deal of sulphur..was *encelled against that day [Nov. 5]. 1856 R. Vaughan Mystics (1860) II. xiii. iii. 272 Here dwells chaste coolness, safe encelled.

1843 E. Jones Sens. & Ev. 111 If when the day was fine..*Encentred in this meadow, one revolved Inquiring gaze.

1859 Tennyson Last. Tourn. 104 Sir Lancelot, sitting in my place *Enchair'd.

1652 Benlowes Theoph., Postill for Author, Speculations high, *Enchariot Thee Elijah-like to th' Skie! Ibid. x. lxxv. 188 Elijah-like..To be encharioted in fire.

1888 Rhys Hibbert Lect. 173 The dragons continued..*encisted in the subterranean lake.

a 1618 J. Davies Wittes' Pilgr. Wks. (1876) 22 (D.) Tamburlaine..*encoacht in burnisht gold.

1839 Bailey Festus (1848) 32/1 This world, within whose heartstrings I feel myself *encoiled.

1596 Edward III, ii. i. 14 *Encouch the word..with such sweet laments.

1832 Blackw. Mag. May 729/1 The lane where gipsy gang had *encraal'd.

1806 Southey Lett. (1856) I. 397 He will..*encrochet [ ] thus what Hyems has to copy.

1881 Mrs. H. Hunt Childr. Jerus. 144 The convent..lay..*encupped in hills.

1819 H. Busk Vestriad iv. 725 Or in gilt equipage *encushion'd sit.

1843 E. Jones Poems, Sens. & Event 43 The joy..in his face and eye..*enfeatured.

1673 R. Leigh Transpr. Reh. 23 Ratts *engammon'd in the fat Hanches of the Arcadian Sow.

1593 Shakes. Rich. II, i. iii. 166 Within my mouth you haue *engaol'd my tongue. 1844 Ld. Houghton Mem. Many Sc., Valentia 200 Engaoled in this unhealthy time.

1831 Fraser's Mag. IV. 139 The canting philanthropist, *engarbed as a quaker.

1859 Miss Mulock Romant. T. 101 The form which *engarmented that pure..soul.

1864 Dicey in Daily Tel. 15 July, The memory of a great past still *englamours them [the Danes].

1613 G. Fletcher Christ's Bloody Sweat in Farr S.P. Jas. I (1848) 336 Here saw he lawyers soberly *engoun'd.

1603 Florio Montaigne ii. viii. (1632) 224 We..are *engived and shackled in them [arms].

1788 Burns Ep. H. Parker 12 A fiery kernel *Enhusked by a fog infernal.

1596 R. L[inche] Diella (1877) 82 The next day, They would *eniourney them.

1603 J. Davies Microcosmos 220 That alwaies in a Tub *enkenell'd lies.

c 1800 Kirke White Poems (1837) 47 Sleep, baby mine, *enkerchieft on my bosom. 18.. M. Arnold Switzerland i. ii. 3 in Sel. Poems (1882) 123, I know that soft enkerchief'd hair.

a 1843 Southey Nondescr. vi. (D.) A happy metamorphosis To be *enkernell'd thus.

1652 Benlowes Theoph. i. liii, My soul, *enlabyrinth'd in grief.

1598 Florio, Impiombare, to *enlead or fasten or couer with lead. Impiombatura, an enleading or fastning with lead.

1887 Harper's Mag. July 268 The incendiary material *enmagazined in their pages.

1598 Florio, Irretare, to ensnare or take in a net or ginne, to entramell, to *ennet.

1761 Sterne Tr. Shandy iii. xxxviii, He..deserves to be *en-nich'd as a prototype for all writers.

1854 S. Dobell Balder iii. 20 The strong *enribbed heart.

1602 W. Fulbecke Pandectes 65 Whether base artificers are to be *enseated..in places of worth.

1636 W. Denny in Ann. Dubrensia (1877) 13 Pendant leaves his head *enshadow'd round. 1882 M. Arnold in Macm. Mag. XLVI. 143 The soft mantle of enshadowing hills.

1822 Blackw. Mag. XII. 69 With what an air of tenderness he *enshawls each ivory shoulder.

1877 Blackie Wise Men 302 None In mortal frame *enshelled.

1604 Shakes. Oth. ii. i. 18 If that the Turkish Fleete Be not *enshelter'd..they are drown'd.

c 1611 Chapman Iliad xxiv. 399 The guards..he *enslumber'd. a 1619 Donne Biathan. (1644) 155 Content to enslumber themselves in an opinion. 1610 G. Fletcher Christ's Vict. in Farr S.P. Jas. I (1848) When the senses half enslumbered lie.

1598 Florio, Insaponare, to *ensope, to sope clothes..to lay in suds.

1613 Chapman Rev. Bussy D'Ambois Plays 1873 II. 114 The splenative Philosopher..were worthy the *enstaging.

16.. Sylvester Du Bartas (N.), I intend to tye th' Eternal's hands, and his free feet *enstock.

a 1649 Drummond of Hawthornden Answ. Object. Wks. (1711) 214 The *entowering of Henry the VI.

1605 Sylvester Du Bartas ii. iii. Vocation 555 (D.) A black fume, that all *envapoureth.

1832 J. Wilson in Blackw. Mag. XXXI. 859 The groves that *enzone Greenbank. 1838 Tait's Mag. V. 218 Queens in luxury enzoned.

    b. With general sense ‘to put what the latter member indicates into or upon’ (a person or thing).
    enamber, to scent or flavour with ambergris (see amber 1); encap, to put a cap on; encolumn, to ornament (a wall) with columns; encoronall; encoronet; † encowl, to put on (a person) the cowl of a monk; endiadem, to crown, in quots. fig.; enfigure, to adorn with figures; † enfrieze, to ornament as with a frieze; † enfringe, to sew fringes upon; † engall; † engold; † engrape, to cover with grapes; † enhoney, fig.; † enlaurel, to crown with laurels; enleaf, to adorn with leaves, to wrap in leaves; † enmitre; enmoss; enrut; ensaffron, to tinge with yellow; ensand; ensandal, fig.; † enscreen; † ensilver; † enscarf; † enspangle; † ensparkle; enspell, to cast a spell upon; † enspice; † enstomach, to encourage; ensulphur; † entackle, to furnish (a ship) with tackle; † entask; entincture; † entinsel, to cause to glitter; † enturf; enverdure; enwood, to cover with trees.

1681 in Phil. Collect. XII. 105 Buying..Amber and other requisites, and *Enambering therewith..Sugar.

1847 Illust. Lond. News 16 Oct. 256/1 His brow *encapt With the gloomy crown of Care.

1808 R. Porter Trav. Sk. Russ. & Swed. (1813) I. iv. 27 The regal pride of *encolumned walls.

1858 E. Caswall Poems 170 With..golden pillars *encoronall'd.

1881 Palgrave Vis. England 47 If an alien King *Encoronet thy brow?

1612 Drayton Poly-olb. xxiv, King Alfred..Left his Northumbrian crown, and soon became *encoul'd.

1818 Shelley Misery 439 Lady whose imperial brow Is *endiademed with woe. 1819 Blackw. Mag. V. 322 Endiadem'd with..fleecy-silver'd cloud.

1774 Poetry in Ann. Reg. 211 Behold The tissued vestment of *enfigur'd gold.

1648 Herrick Hesper. I. 233 The Roome is hung with the blew skin Of shifted snake; *enfreez'd throughout With eyes of peacocks trains.

1714 Orig. Canto Spencer xxxix. 2 White Robes, *enfring'd with Crimson Red.

1611 Florio, Affielire..to *engall or enbitter.

1382 Wyclif Bar. vi. 7 Trees..*engoldid and ensiluered. ― Rev. xvii. 4 And the womman was..engoldid with gold, and with precious stoon.

1523 Skelton Garl. Laurel (Dyce) 656 Vinis *engrapid.

1603 Florio Montaigne ii. xii. (1632) 289 To *enhonny and allure us to these opinions.

1620 Davies Past. to W. Browne, Foe-men to faire skils *enlawreld Queene.

1789 P. Smyth tr. Aldrich's Archit. (1818) 99 The bell of the capital..is *enleaved. 1837 L. Hunt Bluestocking Revels iii. 39 Fruit..Enleaf'd on the bough.

1598 Florio, Inmetriare, to *enmitre, to crowne with a mitre.

1818 Keats Endym. i. 231 Meadows that outskirt the side Of thine *enmossed realms.

1882 H. Merivale Faucit of B. III. ii. xix. 153 Over which distance these *enrutted tracks made their uneasy way.

c 1630 Drummond of Hawthornden Poems Wks. (1711) 6 Phœbus in his chair, *Ensaffroning sea and air. 1879 T. Hardy Ret. Native ii. ii, A stratum of ensaffroned light.

1523 Skelton Garl. Laurel (Dyce) 654 With alys *ensandid about in compas.

1853 B. Taylor in Blackw. Mag. LXXIII. 744 Belted with beech and *ensandal'd with palm.

1641 M. Frank Serm. ii. (1672) 530 Heaven might now *enskarfe itself in a scarlet cloud.

1665 R. B. Comment. 2 Tales 42 Let night's sable Curtain *enskreen these dark actions.

1382 Wyclif Bar. vi. 7 The trees of hem..also engoldid, and *ensiluered.

1648 Herrick Hesper., Mistress M. Willand, Sent T' *enspangle this expansive firmament.

1593 Nashe Christ's T. (1613) 144 Why *ensparkle they their eyes with spiritualiz'd distillations?

1884 J. Payne 1001 Nights VII. 285 Her glances *enspelled all who looked on her.

1598 Florio, Inspeciare, to *enspice.

1545 T. Raynalde Womans booke 59 The midwife..*enstomakyng her to pacience.

c 1611 Chapman Iliad x. 7 Or opes the gulfy mouth of war with his *ensulphur'd hand. 1819 Blackw. Mag. IV. 565 From the surge of hell's ensulphered sea.

a 1529 Skelton Garl. Laurel (Dyce) 545 Your storme driven shyppe I repared new So well *entakeled.

1606 Sylvester Du Bartas i. iv. (1641) 32/1 The Heav'ns have..*entaskt my layes. 1768 S. Bentley River Dove 6 Windows so Story-bedight: Entinctur'd, Devotion to aid.

1652 Benlowes Theoph. xii. li, Spangles..*Entinseling like Stars the dew.

1523 Skelton Garl. Laurel (Dyce) 655 The bankis *enturfid with singular solas.

Ibid. 666 *Enverdured with laurel leves continually grene. 1850 Mrs. Browning Poems I. 121 Enverduring the green Of every heavenly palm.

1816 L. Hunt Rimini iv. 81 The shade Of some *enwooded field.

    2. Verbs formed by prefixing en- to a n. or adj., with general sense ‘to bring into a certain condition or state’.
    † enanger, to make angry; enapt, to make fit, qualify; enarbour, to convert into an arbour; † enazure, to render azure; † encalm = becalm; † encanker; encannibal; encharnel (see charnel n.¹), to bury; † encinder, to burn to ashes; † encluster; encommon; † endoubt (refl.), to feel doubt, apprehend; endragon (in example as endragoned ppl. adj.); † endrudge (refl.), to enslave oneself; † endry; † enearnest; enfamous; † enfavour, to take into favour, to get (oneself) into favour, ingratiate; † enfear; † enfertile; † enfierce; † enfort, to convert into a fort, fortify; enfree; enfoul; enfreedom; enfroward; † engallant; † engarboil, to throw into commotion; englad; engloom, to render gloomy, change into gloom; engod; engolden, to make golden, also intr. to become golden; † engrand; engreen; † enlength; enlife; † enlusty, to delight; enmass; † enripe; † enruby; enruin; † ensad; † ensafe, whence ensafer; ensaint; enscroll; enseraph; enserf; † ensober; † ensound, to make sound; † enstable; ensucket (cf. sucket, sweetmeat), to sweeten; entempest; † enthirst; entrough, to hollow out like a trough; envineyard; enwaiter, to turn into a waiter; † enwaste; † enwine, to convert into wine; † enwoman; † enworthy, to make worthy; † enwrack, to bring to wrack, ruin.

1491 Caxton Vitas Patr. i. xxxviii. (1495) 53 a/1 The lorde..strongly *enangred came to the sayd pytte.

1651 Jackson Creed xi. xvii. in Wks. X. 346 A diligent servant to a..cruel master..is thereby well *enapted..to be diligent.

1883 Harper's Mag. Nov. 946/1 Stairs *enarboured by vines.

1630 R. Brathwait Eng. Gentlewom. 301 That [woman] *enazures her seered veines.

1562 J. Shute Cambine's Turk. Wars 34 b, Seeinge the ship *encaulmed.

1489 Skelton Elegy Earl Northumb. (Dyce) 142 With my rude pen *enkankerd all with rust.

1854 Blackw. Mag. LXXV. 131 If Mr. Parkyns had not *encannibaled himself.

1875 Myers Poems, Renew. Youth, The rulers came, *Encharnelled in their fatness.

1593 Nashe Christ's T. 31 b, Many goodly streets..they *encindred.

c 1630 Drummond of Hawthornden Poems 130 What Bands (*enclustred) neare to these abide.

1607 Sylvester Du Bartas II. iv. ii, Good becomes more Good, the more It is *en-common'd. 1661 Feltham Resolves ii. lxxxii. 366 Their Mysteries might not..be..encommon'd.

c 1400 Rom. Rose 1664 If I ne hadde *endoutet me To have ben hatid.

1876 G. M. Hopkins Wr. Deutschland (1918) 20 In wind's burly and beat of *endragonèd seas.

a 1656 Bp. Hall Rem. Wks. (1660) 29 Such is every one that *endrudgeth himself to any known sin.

a 1440 Sir Degrev. 418 My perkes ar stroyed And reveres *endreyde.

1603 Florio Montaigne (1634) 550 Vicissitude doth..*en-earnest my minde.

1613 Browne Brit. Past. ii. i. (1772) II. 39 Padus silver stream..*Enfamoused by rekeles Phaëton. a 1650 Sir S. D'Ewes Autobiog. (1845) I. 377 Some wit, to enfamous the rare confidence of Mr. Felton [made an anagram on his name.]

1639 J. Saltmarsh Policy 275 How to *enfavour yourself with those you discourse with.

1650 Fuller Pisgah ii. i. 62 For to *enfavour themselves with the Emperor. Ibid. v. ii. 144 If any shall enfavor me so far.

1584 Hudson Du Bartas' Judith, A woman's look his hart *enfeares.

1610 Holland Camden's Brit. ii. 46 The rivers Dee..and Done..*enfertile the fields. 1680 Morden Geog. Rect., Africa (1685) 445 Enfertiles all the Countries through which it passes.

1596 Spenser F.Q. iv. iv. 8 More *enfierced through his currish play.

1580 Sidney, etc. Psalm cxxv, With her hilly bullwarkes Roundly *enforted.

1885 D. C. Murray Rainbow Gold I. ii. ii. 201 So is the stream of every human passion *enfouled or filtered by the heart it flows through.

1599 Sandys Europæ Spec. (1632) 170 The Free Cityes..have..*enfreed themselves from the Pope. 1606 Shakes. Tr. & Cr. iv. i. 38 To render him, For the enfreed Anthenor, the faire Cressid. 1874 Pusey Lent. Serm. 181 Enfreed by God.

1588 Shakes. L.L.L. iii. i. 125 *Enfreedoming thy person. 1874 Pusey Lent. Serm. 248 God's..enfreedoming, ennobling grace.

1599 Sandys Europæ Spec. (1632) 195 The only prickles that so *enfroward mens affections.

1599 B. Jonson Cynthia's Rev. iv. i, If you could but endear yourself to her affection, you were eternally *engallanted.

a 1641 Bp. R. Montagu Acts & Mon. (1642) 67 To *engarboyle the Church upon high termes of Heresie. Ibid. 242 To engarboile disputes with needlesse assertions.

1523 Skelton Garl. Laurel (Dyce) 530 The larke..Of the soneshyne *engladid with the lyght. 1604 Supplic. Masse-priests §1 [These things] doe..exceedingly possesse and englad our hearts. 1610 G. Fletcher Christ's Tri. over Death ii. Th' engladded Spring.

1795–9 Southey & R. Lovell Poems 89 Night's *englooming sway Steals on the fiercer glories of the day.

1874 Pusey Lent. Serm. 108 We might have been as God, yea..*engodded.

1825 L. Hunt Redi's Bacchus in Tuscany Poet. Wks. (1860) 386 That Vaiano Which *engoldens and empurples in the grounds there of my Redi. 1849 Tait's Mag. XVI. 348 Yon wreath'd bower Engoldened with the westering sun.

1860 Pusey Min. Proph. 521 The whole world was *engoldened with evangelical preachings.

1655 Fuller Hist. Camb. (1840) 186 This duke..by all means endeavoured to *engrand his posterity.

15.. F. Davison in Farr. S.P., Eliz. II. 327 *Engreening..those pleasant mountagnets. 1877 Blackie Wise Men Greece 74 Engreen the hills.

c 1530 More Answ. Frith Wks. 1037/1 He hath somewhat *enlengthed it of late. 1603 Daniel Panegyr. King xvii, A new season..Begins to enlength the days.

1599 T. M[oufet] Silkwormes Ded., A..little flame..to *enlife for aye the same. 18.. Lowell Poet. Wks. (1879) 403 With wise lips enlife it.

1483 Caxton G. de la Tour A j, This swete songe *enlustyed me.

1878 H. M. Stanley Dark Cont. I. xv. 392 The heroes of the great raid are *enmassed in view.

1503 Sheph. Kalender ii, For I *enripe..Fruits of the earth. a 1520 Skelton Bowge of Courte 2 The sonne..enryped hath our corne.

1611 Florio, Arrobinare, to *enruby, to make ruddy.

1876 J. Ellis Cæsar in Egypt 344 That dread shock..Left here *enruin'd..A city.

1634 Sir S. D'Ewes Jrnl. (1783) 55 A particular newes which much *ensadded my heart.

1652 Sparke Prim. Devot. (1663) 564 To rescue and *ensafe us.

Ibid. 111 *Ensafers of God's onely begotten Son.

1599 Nashe Lent. Stuffe 58 Saint Gildarde..the Pope so *ensainted. 1864 Spectator 538 Like Charlemagne a high ensainted king. 1880 Argosy XXIX. 469 The aspect of some ensainted phantom.

1842 Gentl. Mag. May XVII. 479 note, Three ostrich feathers *enscrolled.

1858 E. Caswall Poems 144 The Seraphs..Amidst their songs *enseraph'd me.

1882 W. B. Weeden Soc. Law Labor 86 The *enserfed free⁓holders bought their freedom.

1651 Jer. Taylor Course Serm. i. xiii. 170 God sent him sharpnesses..to *ensober his spirits.

1562 W. Bullein Dial. Sorenes & Chir. 23 a, This decoction..doeth *ensounde..the member.

1534 Whittinton Tullyes Offices ii. (1540) 89 Whan..iustyce..*enstableth and encreaseth the ryches of theues.

1594 Zepheria xxiii, So did that sug'ry touch my lips *ensucket.

1800 Coleridge Poet. Wks. II. 155 Zeal unresisted *entempests your breast.

1640 Bp. Hall Chr. Moder. (Repr.) 14/1 Wine; whereby he is inflamed and *enthirsted the more.

1876 R. Burton Gorilla L. II. 129 The breadth of the *entroughed bed varies.

1848 Clough Amours de Voy. iii. 293 Farewell..ye *envineyarded ruins.

1865 Athenæum No. 1959. 650/1 The *enwaitered greengrocer.

1494 Fabyan vi. clxxvi. 172 But durynge this siege, the Danys eft *-enwasted y⊇ lande of Fraunce.

1548 Geste Pr. Masse 86 Christes..bloud [is] *enwyned.

1595 Daniel Sonn. 42 That grace..doth more than *enwoman thee.

1626 T. H. Caussin's Holy Crt. 64 You desire.. to *enworthy, and distinguish your nobility. 1686 W. de Britaine Hum. Prud. xix. 84 You must study to enworthy your self.

1625 Lisle Du Bartas, Noe 4 O world *enwrackt and over flown.

    b. Verbs formed (with sense as above) on adjs. or ns. with the prefix en- and the suffix -en⁵, as enliven, enlighten. Most of these verbs were formed by prefixing en- to an already existing verb in -en; but a considerable number seem to be directly f. the adj. or n. on the analogy of those of the former class. For examples see 3.
    3. Verbs, mostly transitive, formed by prefixing en- to a verb, with additional sense of in, or simply intensive (in poetry often merely to give an additional syllable); also vbs. f. en- + adj. or n. + -en (see 2 b).
    † enaid, to aid, assist; † encarve; † encheck, to represent in mingled hues; † enchequer, to arrange in a chequered pattern; † enclaim; † encleanse; † enclog; † encolden; † encurb; † encurse; † endamnify, to damnify, cause loss to; † endart; † endazzle; endiaper, to dapple, variegate; † enditch; endizen, to set forth; † endrench; † endye; † eneich (see eche v.), to improve; enfasten; † enfester; enfoil; † enforge, to invent; † enfreeze; enfuddle; engarble, to mutilate; engaze, to comprehend in one's gaze; engerminate; engladden; † englaze, to represent on glass; enguard; enhamper; † enhang; † enhedge; † enjangle, intr.; † enjudge; † enlanguish, to render languid; † enlap, to wrap in (something); † enlengthen; † enlessen; † enmilden; † enmingle; † enmix; † enorder; † enquicken; † enrive; † enscale, to climb; † enscore, to count; enseem, intr. = seem; † ensoak; † enstuff; ensweep; † entame; enthunder, intr.; † entoast, intr. to drink a health; † entwist, also fig.; † enwallow, intr.; † enweaken; † enwed; enwiden; enwisen, to make wise; enwrite; † enwrong, to deprive wrongfully of; † enyoke.

1502 Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W.) iv. vi. (1506) 178 Yf we haue poorenes of entencyon hym it shal *enayde.

1596 C. Fitzgeffrey Sir F. Drake (1881) 22 *Encarving characters of memorie.

1611 Sylvester Du Bartas ii. iv. Schisme (1641) 228/1 Th' artful shuttle did *encheck the cangeant colour of a mallard's neck.

1648 Herrick Hesper., Oberon's Pal. 56 Squirrels' and children's teeth late shed Are neatly here *enchequered.

1531–2 Act 23 Hen. VIII, c. 1 The ordinaries *enclaiminge such offenders by the liberties of the churche.

1493 Festivall (W. de W. 1515) 88 She was *enclensed with the clensynge of the holy ghoost.

1604 Shakes. Oth. ii. i. 70 Traitors ensteep'd, to *enclogge [Qq. clog] the guiltlesse Keele.

1627 Feltham Resolves i. xlvii. (1631) 174 The hands and feet..are by degrees *encoldned to a fashionable clay.

1555 Fardle Facions Pref. 10 The golden graueled springes, thei *encurbed with Marble.

a 1450 Knt. de la Tour 12, Y durst never telle it..for drede of *encursinge.

1615 Sandys Travels 276 Those who hired the fishing..were *endamnified much by the violent breaking in of the seas.

1592 Shakes. Rom. & Jul. i. iii. 98 More deepe will I *endart mine eye.

1644 Milton Areop., An eagle..kindling her *endazzled eyes.

1607 Tragedie Cl. Tiberius G 2 (N.) The troubled bosome of the maine *Endiapred with cole-black porpesses.

1598 Florio, Affossare, to ditch..about, to *endich.

1589 Warner Alb. Eng. v. xxviii, What so else Occurrants..may interrupt..Our Penne shall not *endizen.

1593 Nashe Christ's T. (1613) 44 My soule..will..*endrench mee in..dolour.

c 1500 Elegy Hen. V in Percy Reliq. 117 Grounde..Whiche wert *endyed with rede blode.

1635 E. Pagitt Christianogr. App. 21 A thing.. used to *eneich their health.

1848 Clough Amours de Voy. v. 66 To *enfasten the roots of my floating existence In the rich earth.

1686 Chardin Travels 370 Rivulets, that..*enfertilized the neighbouring parts on every side.

1609 J. Davies Holy Roode (1876) 16 (D) Whiche His *enfestered sores exulcerates.

1773 J. Ross Fratricide iv. 347 Resolved In this next cope to foil or be *enfoiled.

c 1440 Partonope 2512 Such vntrouth wolde not he *Enforged..haue.

1596 Spenser Hymn to Love xxi, Thou hast *enfrosen her disdainefull brest.

1822 J. Wilson in Blackw. Mag. XII. 113 Punch our powers insidiously *enfuddles.

1609 Bp. Barlow Answ. Nameless Cath. 73 The *engarbled Anatomie of a damned wretch.

1877 Blackie Wise Men 212 If a man could..soaring sun-ward..*Engaze the radiant round.

1874 Pusey Lent. Serm. 305 Unless..grace *engerminate in what is spoken.

Ibid. 246 Thee..Who didst..*engladden..me.

1610 G. Fletcher Christ's Vict. in Farr S.P. Jas. I (1848) 75 In those windows doth his arms *englaze.

1605 Shakes. Lear i. iv. 349 He may *enguard his dotage with their powres, And hold our lives in mercy. 1855–9 Singleton Virgil II. 163 Throughout many a year with awe Enguarded.

1881 Palgrave Vis. England 279 The swordhilt in the wound *enhamper'd caught.

c 1386 Chaucer Monk's T. 677 Thow schalt *enhangid ben, fader, certayn.

1632 Vicars Virgil (N.), Matrons..In heaps *enhedg'd it.

1580 North Plutarch (1676) 44 And touch the Harp without *enjangling jar.

c 1380 Sir Ferumb. 1959 Wharfor to ȝow y make my mone; *eniugieþ ȝe my foos.

1603 Florio Montaigne iii. xiii. (1632) 613 It is pitty a man should bee so..*enlanguished. 1654 Cokaine Dianea iv. 329 Her eyes, enlanguished by griefe.

1601 Holland Pliny xxxvii. vii. 617 By reason of the clay wherein they [rubies] be *enlapped.

1646 Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. 80 A smaller thred and more *enlengthened filament.

1548 Geste Pr. Masse 127 To *enlessen theyr paynes in [purgatory].

1603 Florio Montaigne iii. xii. (1632) 599 That *enmildens mee.

1781 Burgoyne Lord of Manor i. i. (D.), Sweets bloom *enmingled around.

1526 Skelton Magnyf. 2540 Fallyble flatery *enmyxed with bytternesse.

1669 Evelyn Three late Impostors 70 It seemeth right to these your just debts to *enorder you to make satisfaction.

1647 H. More Song of Soul Notes 145/2 He hath not yet *enquickened Men..with this Deiform life. Ibid. 162/2 The lower man is our enquickned body.

1596 Spenser Dolef. Lay Clorinda i, That my *enriven heart may find relief.

1613 W. Browne Brit. Past. ii. i, Then with soft steps *enscaled the meeknid vallies.

c 1420 Pallad. on Husb. i. 640 Other iiii *enscore her place into.

1818 Lamb Vis. Repent. Poems 596 *Enseem'd it now, he stood on holy ground.

1523 Skelton Garl. Laurel 23 *Ensokyt with sylt of the myry mose.

a 1547 Earl of Surrey Aeneid ii. 27 Did *enstuff..The hollow womb with armed soldiers.

1730 Thomson Autumn 1109 *Ensweeping first The lower skies. 1855 Singleton Virgil I. 157 The seas Ensweeping in its flight.

1600 Shakes. A.Y.L. iii. v. 48 'Tis not..your cheeke of creame That can *entame my spirits.

1855–9 Singleton Virgil II. 524 æneas..terribly *enthunders in his arms.

1724 Ramsay Tea-t. Misc. (1733) II. 138 Shall I not to her health *entoast.

1590 Shakes. Mids. N. iv. i. 48 So doth the woodbine, the sweet Honisuckle Gently *entwist. 1800 T. Jefferson Writ. (1859) IV. 320 He will..entwist himself with the Envoys.

1596 Spenser F.Q. v. xi. 14 One sencelesse lumpe..*Enwallow'd in his own blacke bloudy gore.

1672 W. de Britaine Dutch Usurp. 23 They are sufficiently *enweakened.

1490 Caxton Eneydos xvi. 62 Parys *enwedded the fayr heleyne.

1593 Nashe Christ's T. (1613) 18, I have..*enwidened Hell mouth to swallow thee. 1623 Cockeram, Expatiate, to enwiden, to enlarge. 1646 S. Bolton Arraignm. Err. 355 We had..need rather..seek to lessen than to enwiden our differences. 1965 D. J. Millen in Earth & Sky (Cath. Poetry Circle) 20 Man applauding man, enwidens And unfolds the praiser's joy.

1860 Pusey Min. Proph. 427 *Enwisening, rejoicing, enlightening the soul.

a 1849 Poe To Helen Poems (1859) 64 Heart-histories seemed to lie *enwritten Upon those crystalline, celestial spheres.

c 1485 Plumpton Corr. 65 Ye *enwrong her of certayne lands.

1879 Farrar St. Paul II. 154 Be not again *enyoked with the yoke of slavery.

▪ II. en-, prefix²
    The form taken by the Gr. ἐν, etymologically cogn. with the prec. Chiefly in combinations already formed in Greek, as enallage, endemic, energy, enthusiasm; occas. in mod. formations as enderon. (Before b, m, p, ph, it takes the form em-; and before l, r it becomes el, er- respectively.)

Oxford English Dictionary