Suffix · forms verbs
From Old English "-nian": turns adjectives into causative verbs meaning to make more X or to become X. Darken, enlighten, deepen, strengthen, heighten.
Written by Bryan López, English teacher · Updated
The verbal suffix -en comes from Old English "-nian" and converts adjectives (and some nouns) into causative verbs meaning "to make something more X" or "to become X". From dark comes darken. From deep comes deepen. From broad comes broaden. From light + prefix en- comes enlighten (to illuminate the mind). Spanish: no single suffix equivalent.
"enlighten" = to illuminate the mind, to give knowledge: "Please enlighten me." The noun "enlightenment" = the Enlightenment (18th-century philosophical movement) or Buddhist spiritual illumination. "strengthen" = to make stronger: "Exercise strengthens the muscles." "strengthen ties." Both are very common in formal, political and philosophical English.
-en verbs are extraordinarily productive metaphorically: darken = to grow dark / to become sombre: "Her mood darkened." brighten = to become cheerful: "Her face brightened." "brighten someones day." deepen = to intensify: "The crisis deepened." heighten = to intensify: "heighten awareness." "a heightened sense of danger." These uses are very frequent in journalism, essays and literature.
Adjective + en. Always produces a verb.
Some -en verbs carry the prefix en- as well: enlighten = en + light + en. Others come from nouns: frighten (from fright), threaten (from threat). The suffix -en in irregular past participles (broken, fallen) is a different use.
-en (verb)/ən/ · sounds like un
Tap the button to hear how the ending sounds. Each word in the table has its own audio.
"enlighten me" = inform me, give me understanding. "lighten the load" = reduce the burden. enlighten always carries the sense of giving knowledge.
"broaden the road" = widen (literal). "Travel broadens the mind" (figurative). The figurative use is very frequent.
"sharpen a pencil." "sharpen your skills" = improve your abilities. "sharpen your focus" = intensify your concentration.
A trick to remember it
-en = make more X or become X. Most frequent: darken, enlighten (illuminate the mind), deepen (intensify), strengthen, brighten, broaden (expand), heighten. Key literary uses: Her mood darkened. The crisis deepened. Travel broadens the mind.
Exercise 1 · Form the word
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
What is the difference between enlighten and lighten?
Exercise 3 · Pick the right one
"Travel broadens the mind" means...
The suffix -en (verb) from Old English "-nian": turns adjectives into causative verbs meaning to make more X or to become X. Darken, enlighten, deepen, strengthen, heighten. In Spanish it usually maps to hacer + adj / volver + adj.
The ending -en (verb) is pronounced /ən/ · sounds like un. For example, "darken".
"dark" becomes "darken". It is a typical example of the -en (verb) suffix.
From Old French "-erie": forms nouns of activity, place, collective quality or state. Chivalry, trickery, wizardry, bravery, mockery.
From Latin "-ficare" (to make): turns nouns or adjectives into verbs meaning to make X or to become X. Magnify, rectify, petrify, glorify, vilify, mortify.
From Latin "-itudo": forms abstract nouns of state or quality. Solitude, gratitude, magnitude, fortitude.
-tion, -ness, -ful, -ly, -able... every ending you need to understand thousands of words at once.