Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “-en” come from?

-en (English) comes from Middle English -en, from Old English -en, from Old Norse -inn, from Proto-Norse -īna-, from Proto-Germanic -īnaz, from Proto-Indo-European -iHnos, from Proto-Indo-European -no- — adjectival suffix.

-en (English): Denotes the past participle form when attached to...

Definitions

  1. Denotes the past participle form when attached to...

Ancestry of “-en”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle English-enDenotes the past participle form when attached to...
2Old English-enmæġþ + API → mæġden; cocc + API → cycen, cicen;...
3Old Norse-innUsed to create adjectives from nouns, meaning...
4Proto-Norse-īna-—
5Proto-Germanic-īnaz-en
6Proto-Indo-European-iHnosCreates adjectives of materials
7Proto-Indo-European-no-adjectival suffix

Words derived from “-en”

  • wooden
  • beaten
  • hasten
  • frightening
  • weaken
  • frighten
  • deepen
  • loosen
  • broaden
  • widen
  • straighten
  • deafening
  • brighten
  • worsen
  • sweetened
  • lengthen
  • flatten
  • fattening
  • dampen
  • misshapen
  • disheartening
  • reddening
  • sweeten
  • moisten
Every word from Proto-Indo-European -no- →