DictionaryRoot: en-
Old French

en-

in, into; make or put into a state

Forms

  • en-
  • em- — The final sound changes before b, p, or m.

Origin

Old French en- chiefly continues Latin in-, “in, into.”

Note

An abstract state can be treated like a place that something enters.

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At a craft table, a person decorates a plain jacket with beads, patches, and extra dramatic flourishes until it looks far more ornate.
verb

embellish

im-BEL-ish/ɪmˈbelɪʃ/

To add decorative details to make something more attractive.

Etymology

The pieces express “make beautiful,” the word’s original meaning. Decorating something with ornaments or added details is a direct continuation of that idea.

Full entry

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