Embarren

/ɪmˈbærən/ verb

Definition

An archaic term meaning to make barren or to render infertile; a very rare or obsolete formation.

Etymology

From em- (prefix) + barren + '-en' (verb-forming suffix). The '-en' suffix creates verbs from adjectives (darken, deafen, redden), so 'embarren' would mean 'to make barren,' though it's essentially obsolete.

Kelly Says

The '-en' suffix was much more productive in Middle and Early Modern English—we still use it (lighten, frighten, strengthen), but words like 'embarren' have completely vanished, showing which word-formation patterns survived and which didn't.

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