-en

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology | 1996 | 539 words | Copyright

-en3 adj. suffix denoting ‘pert. to’, ‘of the nature of’, ‘made or consisting of’; OE. -en = OS. -in, OHG. -īn (G. -en), ON. -in, Goth. -eins :- Gmc. *-īnaz, corr. to Gr. -īnos, L. -īnus -INE1. OE. adjs. formed with this suffix have normally mutation of the stem-vowel, as stǣnen of stone, f. stān stone, gylden golden, f. gold; these have not survived, but from ME. onwards new adjs. have been extensively formed direct from the sbs., as earthen, golden.

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T. F. HOAD. "-en." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "-en." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-en5.html

T. F. HOAD. "-en." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-en5.html

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