-en

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-en2 suffix chiefly forming fem. sbs. from mascs., and fem. abstr. and concr. sbs.; OE. -en = (O)HG. -in :- Gmc. *-inī, *-injō-; e.g. OE. biren she-bear (f. bera BEAR1), gyden goddess (f. god GOD); VIXEN is the only surviving example of this type (but OE. fyxen is found only as adj.); hæften custody, byrǒen BURDEN, rǣden arrangement, rule, condition (see -RED).

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