pen

¹pen

transitive verb \ˈpen\

pennedpen·ning

Definition of PEN

: to shut in or as if in a pen

Origin of PEN

Middle English pennen, from Old English -pennian

First Known Use: 13th century

Other Animal Husbandry Terms

apiary, bantam, calico, girth, hogwash, mast, rut

Rhymes with PEN

ben, den, en, fen, Fenn, gen, glen, hen, ken, Ken, n, Rennes, Seine, sen, Sten, ten, then, wen, when, wren, Wren, yen, Zen

²pen

noun

Definition of PEN

1

a : a small enclosure for animals

b : the animals in a pen <a pen of sheep>

2

: a small place of confinement or storage

3

: a protected dock or slip for a submarine

4

: bull pen 2

Origin of PEN

Middle English, perhaps from pennen

First Known Use: 14th century

Other Animal Husbandry Terms

apiary, bantam, calico, girth, hogwash, mast, rut

³pen

noun

Definition of PEN

1

: an implement for writing or drawing with ink or a similar fluid: as

a : quill

b : pen point

c : a penholder containing a pen point

d : fountain pen

e : ballpoint

2

a : a writing instrument regarded as a means of expression <enlisted the pens of the best writers — F. H. Chase>

b : writer

3

: the internal horny feather-shaped shell of a squid

4

: stylus d

Origin of PEN

Middle English penne, from Anglo-French, feather, pen, from Latin penna, pinna feather; akin to Greek pteron wing — more at feather

First Known Use: 14th century

⁴pen

transitive verb

pennedpen·ning

Definition of PEN

: write, indite <pen a letter>

First Known Use of PEN

15th century

⁵pen

noun

Definition of PEN

: a female swan

Origin of PEN

origin unknown

First Known Use: circa 1550

⁶pen

noun

Definition of PEN

: penitentiary

First Known Use of PEN

1884

⁷pen

abbreviation

Definition of PEN

peninsula

PEN

abbreviation

Definition of PEN

International Association of Poets, Playwrights, Editors, Essayists and Novelists

Other Literature Terms

apophasis, bathos, bildungsroman, bowdlerize, caesura, coda, doggerel, euphemism, poesy, prosody