ge-
Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary
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[edit] Afrikaans
[edit] Prefix
ge-
- used to form the past participle
- Ek het die koek geeet — I have eaten the cake.
[edit] Derived terms
[edit] Dutch
[edit] Etymology
From unstressed Germanic prefix *ga-, Old Saxon gi-. Cognate with Old High German ga- (German ge-), Old English ge-, Gothic 𐌲𐌰- (ga-).
[edit] Prefix
ge-
- Used for forming a past participle.
- Used with a verb stem to create a neuter uncountable noun referring to an action or its result, seen as a single collective whole. Comparable to English -ing (although that forms countable nouns, as it does in Dutch).
- Used in combination with the suffix -te to make a neuter uncountable noun which refers to a collection of objects, each one of which is an instance of the original noun (the stem).
[edit] Derived terms
[edit] See also
[edit] Esperanto
[edit] Etymology
From German ge- for neuter collective nouns.
[edit] Prefix
ge-
- used with the plural to indicate both sexes together
[edit] Usage notes
Occasionally used in the singular with masculine roots to indicate unspecified gender: gefrato sibling. Used in slang to indicate (hetero)sexual activity: gedormi to sleep together.
[edit] Derived terms
[edit] German
[edit] Etymology
From unstressed Germanic prefix *ga-, Old High German ga-. Cognate with Old Saxon gi- (Dutch ge-), Old English ge-, Gothic 𐌲𐌰- (ga-).
[edit] Pronunciation
- IPA: /gə/
[edit] Prefix
Ge-
- Forms collective nouns, almost always neuter gender. Whenever possible, the root vowel is modified as well: Ader/Geäder, Ast/Geäst, Berg/Gebirge, Busch/Gebüsch, Rippe/Gerippe, Stein/Gestein, Strauch/Gesträuch, Wasser/Gewässer, Wolke/Gewölk.
- With verbal nouns, it denotes repetition or continuation. All of these nouns are neuter and have no plural. For example: ächzen/Geächze, heulen/Geheul, reden/Gerede, seufzen/Geseufze.
[edit] Prefix
ge-
- Forms past participles of some irregular verbs: essen/gegessen, sehen/gesehen, sprechen/gesprochen. Nouns are frequently made from the past participle.
[edit] Synonyms
[edit] Ido
[edit] Prefix
ge-
- used with the plural to indicate both sexes together
[edit] Derived terms
[edit] Limburgish
[edit] Etymology
Older Limburgish gè-. From unstressed Germanic prefix *ga-, Old High German ga-. Cognate with Old Saxon gi- (Dutch ge-), Old English ge-, Gothic 𐌲𐌰- (ga-).
[edit] Prefix
ge-
- When used in combination with the suffix -dje it creates a neuter noun which refers to a collection of objects, each one of which is an instance of the original noun (the stem) stein/gesteindje.
- With verbal nouns, it denotes repetition or continuation. All of these nouns are neuter and have no plural. For example: kalle/gekal.
- Forms past participles of verbs: wèrke/gewèrk.
- Used as an intensifier of verbs. wèrke/gewèrke.
[edit] Old English
[edit] Etymology
From unstressed Germanic prefix *ga-. Cognate with Old Saxon gi- (Dutch ge-), Old High German ga- (German ge-), Gothic 𐌲𐌰- (ga-).
[edit] Pronunciation
- IPA: /je/, /jə/
[edit] Prefix
ġe-
- as an intensifier of verbs
- forming nouns or adjectives of association or similarity
- forming nouns and verbs with the sense of ‘result’ or ‘process’
- forming past participles or participle adjectives from verbs