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form with in- still occurs, but in most cases less frequently than the en- forms; in a few instances in- has entirely superseded en-, even where the latter is etymologically more correct, as in imbrue, impair, inquest.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 (e) initial and unstressed has in careless speech a tendency to pass into (ė) or (i); 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 (e) 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 sbs., with sense ‘to put (something) into or on what is denoted by the sb.,’ or ‘to put’ what is denoted by the sb. ‘into or on (something)’; (2) from sbs. 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 sb.

  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 center 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 theater); † enstock, to set in the stocks; † entower, to imprison in the Tower; † envapo(u)r, to shroud in vapor; enwall, to enclose within walls; enzone, to engirdle.

1611.  Chapman, Iliad, XVIII. 475/264. Within a vale … they there *enambusht them. Ibid., X. 257/136. His enambusht enemies.

17[?].  Cawthorn, Elegy Capt. Hughes, 28. Th’ enambushed phalanx.

a. 1400[?].  Morte Arth., 3782. His enmye … *enangylles abowte oure excellente knyghttez.

1856.  R. A. Vaughan, Mystics (ed. 4), II. XIII. iii. 371. Here dwells chaste coolness, safe *encelled.

1652.  Sparke, Prim. Devot. (1673), App. 623. What a deal of Sulphur and Gun-powder was *Encellered against that Day [Nov. 5]?

1843.  E. Jones, Sens. & Event, 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 now I feel myself *encoiled.

1596.  Edward III., II. i. 14, B 4 b. *Encouch the word, Before and after with such sweete 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. Holman Hunt, Childr. Jerus., 144. The convent, which lay like the eye of a flower *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.  Shaks., 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, 5/3. 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 without more stay.

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

c. 1806.  H. Kirke White, Poems (1837), 86. 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.  Grace King, in Harper’s Mag., July, 268/2. 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.  Syd. Dobell, Balder, iii. 20. The strong *enribbed heart.

1602.  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.  E. A. Arnold, in Macm. Mag., XLVI. 143/1. 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.  Shaks., Oth., II. i. 18. If that the Turkish Fleete Be not *enshelter’d, and embay’d, they are drown’d.

1611.  Chapman, Iliad, XXIV. 399/334. The guards … he *enslumberd.

a. 1612.  Donne, Βιαθανατος (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.  Drumm. of Hawth., 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.

1610.  G. Fletcher, Christ’s Vict., lvi. His Court with glitterant pearle was all *enwall’d.

1864.  Blackfriars, I. 32. The extent of ground thus enwalled.

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 flavor 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. K. Porter, Trav. Sk. Russia & Sweden (1813), I. iv. 27. The regal pride of *encolumned walls.

1858.  E. Caswall, Poems, 170. With … golden pillars *encoronall’d.

1881.  F. T. Palgrave, Visions of Eng., 47. What recks it, If an alien King *Encoronet thy brow…?

1622.  Drayton, Poly-olb., xxiv. 96. King Alfred … Left his Northumbrian Crowne, and soon became *encould.

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., 21. 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. Ibid., 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, trans. 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. C. Merivale, Faucit of B., III. II. xix. 153. Over which distance these *enrutted tracks made their uneasy way.

c. 1630.  Drumm. of Hawth., Poems, Wks. (1711), 6/2. And Phœbus in his Chair *Ensaffroning Sea and Air.

1879.  T. Hardy, Return 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.  Brathwait, Comment Two 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. Raynold, Womans booke, 59. The midwife … *enstomakyng her to pacience.

1611.  Chapman, Iliad, X. 7/131. Or opes the gulfie mouth of warre, 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 sb. 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 arbor; † enazure, to render azure; † encalm = BECALM; † encanker; encannibal; encharnel (see CHARNEL sb.¹), to bury; † encinder, to burn to ashes; † encluster; encommon; † endoubt (refl.), to feel doubt, apprehend; † endrudge (refl.), to enslave oneself; † endry; † enearnest; enfamous; † enfavo(u)r, to take into favor, to get (oneself) into favor, 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.  H. H. Kane, in Harper’s Mag., Nov., 946/1. The richly carpeted stairs, *enarboured by vines.

1630.  Brathwait, Eng. Gentlewom. (1641), 301. That [woman] *enazures her seered veines.

1562.  J. Shute, trans. Cambini’s Turk. Wars, 34 b. Seinge 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.  F. W. H. 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.  Drumm. of Hawth., 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.

a. 1656.  Bp. Hall, Serm., xxvii. Wks. (1808), V. 374. 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 (1632), 550. Vicissitude doth now and then *en-earnest my minde.

1613.  W. 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.  Saltmarsh, Pract. Policie, 275. How to *enfavour your selfe with those you discourse with.

1650.  Fuller, Pisgah, II. i. 62. For to *enfavour themselves with the Emperour. Ibid., V. i. 144. If any shall enfavour me so far.

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

1610.  Holland, Camden’s Brit., Scotland ii. 46. The rivers, Dee … and Done … *enfertile the fields.

1680.  Morden, Geog. Rect., Africa (1688), 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.  Shaks., Tr. & Cr., IV. i. 38. To render him, For the enfreed Anthenor, the faire Cressid.

1874.  Pusey, Lent. Serm., 181. Enfreed by God.

1588.  Shaks., 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. Mountagu, 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, Bouge of Courte, 2. The sonne … enryped hath our corne.

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

1876.  J. Ellis, Caesar 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 Gods onely begotten Son.

1599.  Nashe, Lenten Stuffe, 59. 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 freeholders bought their freedom.

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

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

1534.  Whitinton, Tullyes Offices, II. (1540), 89. Whan … iustyce … *enstableth and encreaseth the ryches of theues.

1594.  Zepheria, xxiii. So did that sugrie touch my lips *en-sucket.

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^e 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[awkins], trans. 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 sbs. 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 sb. 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 sb. + 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.  Fitz-Geffrey, 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 33 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.  Shaks., Oth., II. i. 70. Traitors ensteep’d, to *enclogg [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.  W. Watreman, Fardle Facions, Pref. A. iij b. 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.  G. Sandys, Trav., 276. Those who hired the fishing … were *endamnified much by the violent breaking in of the seas.

1592.  Shaks., Rom. & Jul., I. iii. 98.

1820.  Milton, in W. Irving, Sketch Bk., I. 97. An eagle … kindling her *endazzled [Areop. (1644) undazl’d] eyes.

1607.  Tragedie Cl. Tiberius, G 2 (N.). The troubled bosome of the maine, *Endiapred with Cole-blacke Porpesies, Prodigious Monsters, and presaging Signes.

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 not *endrench mee in so much dolour as thou doost.

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

1635.  Pagitt, Christianogr. (ed. 3), 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.  trans. Chardin’s Trav. Persia, 370. Rivulet’s, that … *enfertiliz’d 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. W. 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.  Shaks., 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.  F. T. Palgrave, Visions of Eng., 279. The sword-hilt in the wound *enhamper’d caught.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Monks T., 677. Thow schalt *enhangid ben, fader, certayn.

1632.  Vicars, Æneid, II. 57 (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 weakened and *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., II. iv. 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. And that *enmildens mee.

1781.  Burgoyne, Lord of Manor, I. i. 2 (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.

c. 1547.  Earl 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.  Shaks., 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.

1599.  Shaks., 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 haue opened & *enwidened Hell mouth, to swallow thee and deuoure 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.

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.