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Etymology
Dictionary
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Origin of the prefix BE-.
Etymology of the prefix BE-.
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From An Etymology
Dictionary of the English Language, by Walter W. Skeat, 1893 |
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BE-,
prefix. (E.) A.S. be-, prefix; in very common
use. It sometimes implies 'to make,' as in be-numb, to
make numb. 'It sometimes serves to locate the act, and sometimes
intensifies;' Affixes of English Words, by S. S. Haldeman, p. 49; q.v. Behead
means to deprive of the head; beset, to set upon, attack; besiege,
to sit by, to invest with an army; bemire, to cover with
mire. Cf. becalm, bedim, bedeck, bedrop; also become,
befall, i.e. to come upon, to fall upon. Also used as a prefix
of prepositions; as in before, between. Beside = by
the side of. Below = by low, on the lower side of; so also beneath,
on the nether side of. The A.S. be- or bi- (M.E. be-,
bi-) is a short or unaccented form of the prep. bí, E. by.
See By.
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| Etymology
Dictionary Index |
| A, B,
C, D, E,
F, G, H,
I, J, K,
L, M, N,
O, P, Q,
R, S, T,
U, V, W,
X, Y, Z
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| Key |
| Arab.=Arabic. |
| A.S.=Anglo
Saxon. |
| Bavar.=Bavarian |
| Bohem.=Bohemian. |
| C.=Celtic,
used as a general term for Irish, Gaelic, Welsh, Breton,
Cornish, &c. |
| Corn.=Cornish. |
| Dan.=Danish. |
| Du.=Dutch |
| E.=English. |
| E.E.=Early
English. |
| Europ.=European. |
| F.=French. |
| G.=German. |
| Gk.=Greek. |
| Goth.=Gothic. |
| Icel.=Icelandic. |
| Ital.=Italian. |
| L. or
Lat.=Latin. |
| Lith.
& Lithuan.=Lithuanian. |
| M.E.=Middle
English. |
| M.F.=Middle
French |
| M.H.G.=Middle
High German. |
| Norw.=Norwegian. |
| O.F.=Old
French. |
| O.H.G.=Old
High German. |
| Pers.=Persian. |
| Port.=Portuguese. |
| Scand.=Scandinavian,
used as a general term for Icelandic, Swedish, Danish,
&c. |
| Sc.=Scottish. |
| Skt.=Sanskrit. |
| Span.=Spanish. |
| Swed.=Sweish. |
| Teut.=Teutonic |
| Turk.=Turkish. |
| W.=Welsh. |
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