pen

¹

[ pen ]

noun

1. any of various instruments for writing or drawing with ink or a similar substance.
2. a detachable metal penpoint, filled by dipping or with a quill; nib.
3. such a penpoint with its penholder.
4. fountain pen.
5. ballpoint pen.
6. the pen as the instrument of writing or authorship:

   The pen is mightier than the sword.

7. a person's style or quality of writing:

   He writes with a witty, incisive pen.

8. a writer:

   I leave this story to abler pens.

9. the profession of writing:

   a master of the pen.

10. a pen-shaped device having a cartridge filled with a drug or medication:

    an insulin pen with disposable needles.

11. Computers. stylus ( def 3 ).
12. Ornithology.
    1. a quill.
    2. a pinfeather.
13. something resembling or suggesting a feather or quill.
14. Zoology. an internal, corneous or chitinous, feather-shaped structure in certain cephalopods, as the squid.

verb (used with object)

, penned, pen·ning.

1. to write with or as with a pen; put down in writing:

   to pen an essay.

2. to draw with or as with a pen:

   to pen a sketch.

pen

²

[ pen ]

noun

1. a small enclosure for domestic animals.
2. animals so enclosed:

   We have a pen of twenty sheep.

3. an enclosure used for confinement or safekeeping:

   We have built several pens to hold our harvest of corn.

4. playpen.
5. bull pen.
6. a dock having a protective concrete structure overhead, used to service and repair submarines.

verb (used with object)

, penned or pent, pen·ning.

1. to confine in or as in a pen.

pen

³

[ pen ]

noun

, Slang.

1. penitentiary ( def 1 ).

pen

⁴

[ pen ]

noun

1. a female swan.

pen-

⁵

1. variant of pene- before a vowel:

   penannular.

Pen.

⁶

or pen.

abbreviation for

1. peninsula.

P.E.N.

⁷

abbreviation for

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

PEN

¹

/ pɛn /

acronym for

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

Pen.

²

abbreviation for

1. Peninsula

pen

³

/ pɛn /

noun

1. a female swan

pen

⁴

/ pɛn /

noun

1. informal.
   short for penitentiary

pen

⁵

/ pɛn /

noun

1. an enclosure in which domestic animals are kept

   sheep pen

2. any place of confinement
3. a dock for servicing submarines, esp one having a bombproof roof

verb

1. tr to enclose or keep in a pen

pen

⁶

/ pɛn /

noun

1. an implement for writing or drawing using ink, formerly consisting of a sharpened and split quill, and now of a metal nib attached to a holder See also ballpoint fountain pen
2. the writing end of such an implement; nib
3. style of writing
4. the pen
   1. writing as an occupation
   2. the written word

      the pen is mightier than the sword

5. the long horny internal shell of a squid

verb

1. tr to write or compose

Other Words From

• pen·like adjective
• pen·ner noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of pen¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English penn(e), from Old French penne “pen, feather,” from Late Latin penna “pen,” from Latin penna, pinna “feather, wing”

Origin of pen²

First recorded before 1000; (noun) Middle English penne, Old English penn (in compounds); perhaps akin to pin; (verb) Middle English pennen, derivative of the noun

Origin of pen³

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85; shortened form

Origin of pen⁴

First recorded in 1540–50; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of pen¹

C16: of unknown origin

Origin of pen²

Old English penn, perhaps related to pin

Origin of pen³

Old English pinne, from Late Latin penna (quill) pen, from Latin: feather

Idioms and Phrases

see slip of the lip (pen) .

Example Sentences

He also penned the original text on developing bacteriophages for medical use.

From Salon

“We didn’t want that. We developed this tool called ‘Doodle’ — as you draw, and depending on your pen pressure, it makes the volume thinner or thicker.

From Los Angeles Times

When penning his manifesto for this year's elections, Mahama told voters Ghana "is headed in the wrong direction and needs to be rescued".

From BBC

Like Barbra Streisand, who recently penned a 970-page memoir, Cher is one of the handful of artists whose extraordinary life merits the extra ink.

From Los Angeles Times

She also said his preparation has been hampered by conditions at the jail, including frequent lockdowns and officers taking away the pens he uses to take notes.

From BBC

Related Words

• fountain pen
• marker
• stick