at the beginning of many Hebrew words, signifies a spring or fountain.
EN-
(`ayin (compare Arabic `Ain)):
The Hebrew word for "spring" or "fountain" (Genesis 16:7; Numbers 33:9; Nehemiah 2:14; Proverbs 8:28 (feminine plural)). It occurs in numerous compound words, as EN-GEDI, EN-HADDAH, EN-HAKKORE, EN-HAZOR, EN-RIMMON, EN-ROGEL, EN-SHEMESH (which see). In the same way the word `Ain is a very common component of Arabic names of places throughout Palestine and Syria at the present day. Places with names compounded with "En-" were almost certainly located near a spring.
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