Enough, a.
Etymology: [OE. inoh, inow, enogh, AS. gen, gen, a. & adv. (akin to OS. gin, D. genoeg, OHG. ginoug, G. genug, Icel. gn, Sw. nog, Dan. nok, Goth. gan), fr. geneah it suffices (akin to Goth. ganah); pref. ge- + a root akin to L. nancisci to get, Skr. na, Gr.
Satisfying desire; giving content; adequate to meet the want; sufficient; -- usually, and more elegantly, following the noun to which it belongs. How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare! Luke xv. 17.
3 other Webster entries under this spelling
Enough, adv.
1. In a degree or quantity that satisfies; to satisfaction; sufficiently.
2. Fully; quite; -- used to express slight augmentation of the positive degree, and sometimes equivalent to very; as, he is ready enough to embrace the offer. I know you well enough; you are Signior Antonio. Shak. Thou knowest well enough . . . that this is no time to lend money. Shak.
3. In a tolerable degree; -- used to express mere acceptableness or acquiescence, and implying a degree or quantity rather less than is desired; as, the song was well enough.
Note: Enough usually follows the word it modifies.
Enough, n.
A sufficiency; a quantity which satisfies desire, is adequate to the want, or is equal to the power or ability; as, he had enough to do take care of himself. "Enough is as good as a feast." And Esau said, I have enough, my brother. Gen. xxxiii. 9.
Enough, interj.
An exclamation denoting sufficiency, being a shortened form of it is enough.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for enough; he lists it under plentiful.
Where he writes about it:
Enough is relative, denoting a supply equal to a given demand. — from plentiful
Fahrenheit is enough for a living-room; of 212 deg. — from plentiful
enough to boil water; neither is enough to melt iron. — from plentiful
Sufficient, from the Latin, is an equivalent of the Saxon enough, with no perceptible difference of meaning, but only of usage, enough being the more blunt, homely, and forcible word, while sufficient is in many cases the more elegant or polite. — from plentiful
Sufficient usually precedes its noun; enough usually and preferably follows. — from plentiful
We have time enough, means that we can reach our destination without haste, but also without delay; if we have ample time, we may move leisurely, and note what is by the way; if we have abundant time, we may pause to converse with a friend, to view the scenery, or to rest when weary. — from plentiful