To weaken or deprive of nerve, strength, or courage; to make nervous or anxious.
From Middle English and Old French 'enerv-', derived from Latin 'enervare' (to weaken), composed of 'e-' (out) + 'nervus' (nerve, sinew). The meaning evolved from literally weakening sinews to metaphorically undermining courage or strength.
This word is a linguistic relative of 'enervate' but much rarer—most people would say 'unnerve' instead. It's fascinating how English often replaces Latin-rooted words with Germanic ones over time, which is why 'ennerve' feels archaic even though it follows the same patterns as words like 'enable' or 'enlarge.'
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