ISEE/SSAT Vocabulary Builder›Word parts›Prefixes›em/en
PrefixLatin
em/en
within/put inside
Old French en- put things in or into a state: endanger puts at risk, embolden makes bold, and enthrall makes captive.
Words built from it
- enable — to make able to do something
en- (make) + able (capable) - empower — to give someone the authority or confidence to act
em- (make) + power (ability) - endanger — to put at risk of harm
en- (put into) + danger (risk) - enliven — to make more lively or interesting
en- (make) + liven (alive) - embolden — to give courage or confidence to
em- (make) + bolden (bold) - enthrall — to captivate or hold spellbound
en- (make) + thrall (a captive)
Looks like it, but is not
- emulate — from Latin aemulari 'to rival, strive to equal'; unrelated to the en-/em- prefix meaning within
- emerge — from Latin emergere 'rise out,' with e- 'out,' not em-/en- 'in'
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