Word Of The Week No 10: Enamored

Enamored is a very interesting English word.

If you’re enamored with something, you love it. We get the word from the Latin word amare, which means “to love”.

Language scholars like to argue over certain terms, but some people would call this the only deponent verb in the English language.

A deponent verb is a verb that has no active meaning, only a passive one that acts as an active meaning.

Imagine the word “eat”. I can say “I eat”, and that’s active. But, if I say “The steak was eaten”, that’s passive.

But, “enamored” is unique. You can’t ever say “I enamor chicken”. But you can say “I’m enamored with chicken” (i.e. you love chicken).

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