The building blocks of English
Affixes
-en1
Forming verbs from nouns and adjectives.
Old English ‑nian, of Germanic origin.
Such verbs have the sense of creating, developing, or intensifying the state signalled in the noun or adjective from which they derive. Examples from adjectives include brighten, cheapen, fasten, loosen, moisten, redden, sweeten, and widen. Examples from nouns include: frighten, heighten, lengthen, strengthen, and threaten. The ending is not active in the language.
Support this website
This dictionary contains more than 1,250 entries, illustrated by some 10,000 examples, all defined and explained for your information and emjoyment.
There are no advertisements to interrupt your reading pleasure. I rely on your generosity to cover running costs. Donations made via PayPal are secure.