A prefix signifying
in or
into, used in many English words, chiefly those borrowed from the French. Some English words are written indifferently with
en-or
in-. For ease of pronunciation it is commonly changed to
em-before
p,
b, and
m, as in
employ,
embody,
emmew. It is sometimes used to give a causal force, as in
enable,
enfeeble,
to cause to be, or
to make, able, or feeble; and sometimes merely gives an intensive force, as in
enchasten. See
In-. [
1913 Webster]