ēn, interj. [etym. dub.; cf. Gr. ἤν, ἠνί; acc. to Rib. Lat. Part. p. 34 sq. compounded of obsolete interjection e and enclitic ne, as in quin, etc.], lo! behold! see! see there! (class.; most freq. in Verg.; in Plaut. and Ter. often em, q. v.).
I In presenting in a lively (or indignant) manner something important or unexpected (en habet vim indignationis, Donat. ad Ter. Phorm. 348).—With nom. (so usually, v. Krebs, Antibarb. p. 407): ubi rorarii estis? en sunt. Ubi sunt accensi? Ecce, Plaut. Fragm. ap. Varr. L. L. 7, § 58 Müll.; cf. Verg. E. 5, 65: en foederum interpretes, Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 21: en crimen, en causa, cur, etc., id. Deiot. 6, 17: en Varus et legiones, Tac. A. 1, 65: en Priamus, Verg. A. 1, 461 et saep.—With acc. (class.): en memoriam mortui sodalis, Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 37, § 93: en causam cur, etc., id. Phil. 5, 6, 15: en habitum, Juv. 2, 72: en animam et mentem, id. 6, 531.—With pronouns : en ego vester Ascanius, Verg. A. 5, 672; so, en ego, Hor. Serm. 1, 1, 15; Plin. 21, 3, 9, § 12: en hic, Cic. Fam. 13, 15; id. Clu. 65, 184; Ov. M. 11, 7; cf.: consul en, inquit, hic est, Liv. 22, 6: em illaec sunt aedes, Plaut. Trin. prol. 3: en cui, Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 37: en quod, id. ib. 2, 5, 47.—With whole sentences : en mehercule in vobis resident mores pristini, Plaut. Truc. prol. 7; Liv. 28, 27; Verg. A. 7, 545; 9, 7; Val. Fl. 1, 226; Luc. 6, 51; Curt. 10, 2 et saep.: en ecce, Sen. Oedip. 1004; Ap. Met. 8, 26, 3; id. ib. 10, 9, 17.—Even en en occurs, Sen. Herc. Fur. 523.—
II In interrogations.
A To excite the attention of the hearer: en ibi tu quicquam nasci putas posse, aut coli natum? Varr. R. R. 1, 2, 5: en quid agis? Pers. 3, 5; Val. Max. 7, 6, 3 ext. — More freq.,
B Manifesting the speaker's wonder, anger, or excitement.
1 With quid , cur , etc.: en quid ago? Verg. A. 4, 534; cf.: en haec promissa fides est, id. ib. 6, 346; Prud. Apoth. 470: en quid agam? why , what shall I do? Pers. 5, 134: en quo discordia cives Produxit miseros? Verg. E. 1, 72: en cur magister ejus possideat campi Leontini duo milia jugerum immunia? Cic. Phil. 3, 9, 22.—
2 With umquam (or in one word, enumquam): en umquam aspiciam te? ever indeed? Plaut. Trin. 2, 4, 189; so very freq.: en umquam, id. Cist. 1, 1, 88; id. Men. 1, 2, 34; 5, 5, 26; id. Rud. 4, 3, 48; 4, 4, 73; Ter. Phorm. 329; Liv. 4, 3; 8, 30; 9, 10; Verg. E. 1, 68: en erit umquam ille dies, etc., id. ib. 8, 7; Sil. 16, 91 et saep.; cf.: enumquam ecquando, Paul. ex Fest. p. 76, 7 Müll.; and, enumquam, εἴ ποτε, καί ποτε, Gloss. Philox.: en usquam, οὐδαμόθεν, εἴπου, ib.—
III With imperatives, to incite to action; Engl, Come! en me dato, Plaut. Poen. 1, 1, 31: hos tibi dant calamos, en accipe, Musae, Verg. E. 6, 69: en age segnes Rumpe moras, id. G. 3, 42; so, en age dum, Prop. 1, 1, 21; Sil. 3, 179; Val. Fl. 4, 70; Pers. 5, 134.—Cf. Hand, Turs. II. p. 367-373.