Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary -- Volume DE-en. 1. A suffix from AS. -an, formerly used to form the plural of many nouns, as in ashen, eyen, oxen, all obs. except oxen. In some cases, such as children and brethren, it has been added to older plural forms. 2. A suffix corresponding to AS. -en and -on, formerly used to form the plural of verbs, as in housen, escapen. 3. A suffix signifying to make, to cause, used to form verbs from nouns and adjectives; as in strengthen, quicken, frighten. This must not be confused with -en corresponding in Old English to the AS. infinitive ending -an. 4. [AS. -en; akin to Goth. -eins, L. -inus, Gr. ?.] An adjectival suffix, meaning made of; as in golden, leaden, wooden. 5. [AS. -en; akin to Skr. -na.] The termination of the past participle of many strong verbs; as, in broken, gotten, trodden. En (?), n. (Print.) Half an em, that is, half of the unit of space in measuring printed matter. See Em. En·a"ble (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Enabled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Enabling (?).] 1. To give strength or ability to; to make firm and strong. [Obs.] "Who hath enabled me." 1 Tim. i. 12. Receive the Holy Ghost, said Christ to his apostles, when he enabled them with priestly power. 2. To make able (to do, or to be, something); to confer sufficient power upon; to furnish with means, opportunities, and the like; to render competent for; to empower; to endow. Temperance gives Nature her full play, and enables her to exert herself in all her force and vigor. En·a"ble·ment (?), n. The act of enabling, or the state of being enabled; ability. Bacon. |