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.

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, penning 

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, pent, penning. 

1. to confine in or as in a pen.

pen

³

[pen]

noun

Slang.

1. penitentiary.

pen

⁴

[pen]

noun

1. a female swan.

pen-

⁵

1. variant of pene- before a vowel.

   penannular.

Pen.

⁶

Or pen.

abbreviation

1. peninsula.

P.E.N.

⁷

abbreviation

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

pen

¹

/ 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. 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

pen

²

/ 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

³

/ pɛn /

acronym

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

Pen.

⁴

abbreviation

1. Peninsula

pen

⁵

/ pɛn /

noun

1. informal,  short for penitentiary

pen

⁶

/ pɛn /

noun

1. a female swan

Other Word Forms

• penlike adjective
• penner 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

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

Origin of pen²

Old English penn, perhaps related to _pin

Origin of pen³

C16: of unknown origin

Idioms and Phrases

see slip of the lip (pen).

Example Sentences

No person, be they an American president or a civilian critic, could make Oliphant put down his pen — though it wasn’t for lack of trying.

From Salon

Writing in black pen, Bowie summarised several of the publication's key essays, scoring them out of 10.

From BBC

Walter Mosley has penned more than 60 novels in the course of about four decades, but the Easy Rawlins mysteries are arguably his most readily recognized body of work.

From Los Angeles Times

It will include an intimate series of never-before-seen smoke signals — cartoonish puffs of white smoke — fabricated on stretched car upholstery that Therrien made when he was dying of cancer and could barely lift a pen.

From Los Angeles Times

She takes the pen from his hand and throws it in the direction of the inquirer.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• fountain pen 
• marker 
• stick