There are two suffixes spelled -en in English. The first has the basic meaning “to cause to be” or “to become.” When added to nouns and adjectives, this -en forms verbs: lengthen, soften. The other suffix -en, meaning “made of, resembling,” is an adjective suffix. That is, it changes nouns into adjectives: wooden, golden. The verb suffix -en comes from the Old English suffix -nian, and the adjective suffix -en is from Old English -en.
