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→‎English: +NED [1ˢᵗ ed., 1885] entry: http://www.archive.org/stream/oed01arch#page/718/mode/2up — http://www.archive.org/stream/oed01arch#page/720/mode/2up — http://www.archive.org/stream/oed01arch#page/722/mode/2up
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[[Category:English intensifiers]]
[[Category:English intensifiers]]
[[Category:English prefixes|be-]]
[[Category:English prefixes|be-]]

===References===
* “Be- ''prefix''” listed on pages <span class="plainlinks">[http://www.archive.org/stream/oed01arch#page/718/mode/2up 719][http://www.archive.org/stream/oed01arch#page/720/mode/2up –][http://www.archive.org/stream/oed01arch#page/722/mode/2up 723]</span> of volume I (A–B) of ''[[w:Oxford English Dictionary|A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles]]'' [1ˢᵗ ed., 1885]<br/>  '''Be-''' ''prefix'': — OE. ''be-'', weak or stressless form of the prep. and adv. ''bí'' (''biᵹ''), <span style="font-variant:small-caps">By</span>. The original Teut. form was, as in Gothic, ''bi'', with short vowel, prob. cognate with second syllable of Gr. {{polytonic|ἀµϕί}}, L. ''ambi''; in OHG. and early OE., when it had the stress, as a separate word, and in composition with a noun, it was lengthened to ''bī'' (''bî'', ''bí''), while the stressless form, in composition with a vb. or indeclinable word, remained ''bi-''; in later OE., as in MHG. and mod.G., the latter was obscured to ''be-'' (also occasional in OE. as an unaccented form of the preposition): cf. OE. ''bí-gęng'' practice, ''bi-gangan'', ''be-gangan'', to practise. In early ME. the etymological ''bi-'', ''by-'' regularly reappeared in comp. as the stressless form; but in later times ''be-'' was finally restored. (On the other hand, ''be'' was used by northern writers as the separate prep., as still in mod. Sc.) In modern use, the unaccented prefix is always ''be-''; the accented form ''by-'' (sometimes spelt ''bye-'') occurs in one or two words descended from OE., as ''by·-law'', ''by·-word'' (OE. ''bí-laᵹe'', ''bí-word''), and in modern formations on the adv., as ''by·-gone'', ''by·-name'', ''by·-play'', ''by·-road'', ''by·-stander''. [¶] The original meaning was ‘about.’ In prepositions and adverbs this is weakened into a general expression of position ''at'' or ''near'', as in ''before'' (at, near, or towards the front), ''behind'', ''below'', ''beneath'', ''benorth'', ''besouth'', ''between'', ''beyond''. With verbs, various senses of ‘about’ are often distinctly retained, as in ''be-bind'', ''be-come'' (= come about), ''be-delve'', ''be-gird'', ''be-set'', ''be-stir''. In such as ''be-daub'', ''be-spatter'', ''be-stir'', ''be-strew'', the notion of ‘all about, all around, over,’ or ‘throughout,’ naturally intensifies the sense of the verb; whence, ''be-'' comes to be more or less a simple ''intensive'', as in ''be-muddle'', ''be-crowd'', ''be-grudge'', ''be-break'', or specializes or renders figurative, as in ''befall'' (to fall as an accident), ''be-come'', ''be-get'', ''be-gin'', ''be-have'', ''be-hold'', ''be-lieve''. In other words the force of ''be-'' passes over to an object, and renders an intransitive verb transitive, as in ''be-speak'' (speak about, for, or to), ''be-flow'' (flow about), ''be-lie'', ''be-moan'', ''be-think'', ''be-wail''. Hence it is used to form transitive vbs. on adjectives and substantives, as in ''dim be-dim'', ''fool be-fool'', ''madam be-madam''; also others, in which the sb. stands in an instrumental or other oblique relation, as ''be-night'' ‘to overtake ''with'' night,’ ''be-guile'', ''be-witch''. Of these a special section consists of verbs having a privative force, as OE. ''belandian'', ''behéafdian'', to deprive of one’s land, one’s head: cf. ''bereave'', and OE. ''benim-an'' to take away. Finally, ''be-'' is prefixed with a force combining some of the preceding, to ppl. adjs., as in ''be-jewelled'', ''be-daughtered''. [¶] ''Be-'' being still in some of its senses (esp. 2, 6, 7 below) a living element, capable of being prefixed wherever the sense requires it, the derivatives<!-- column break here in the source --> into which it enters are practically unlimited in number. The more important, including those that are in any way specialized, or that require separate explanation, are treated in their alphabetical places as Main Words. (In the case of ME. words in ''bi-'', ''by-'', all that survived long enough to have <span style="font-variant:small-caps">Be-</span> appear under this spelling; a few that became obsolete at an early date are left under their only extant form in <span style="font-variant:small-caps">Bi-</span>, <span style="font-variant:small-caps">By-</span>.) Those of less importance, infrequent (often single) occurrence, and obvious composition, are arranged under the following groups (in which, however, the senses tend to overlap each other, so as to make the place of some of the words ambiguous): — [¶] '''1.''' Forming derivative verbs, with sense of ‘around’: '''a.''' all round externally, on all sides, all over the surface, as in <span style="font-variant:small-caps">Beset</span>, <span style="font-variant:small-caps">Besmear</span>; '''b.''' from side to side (within a space), to and fro, in all directions, in all ways, in or through all its parts, thoroughly, as in <span style="font-variant:small-caps">Bestir</span>, ''bejumble''. (Some of these formations appear only in the pa. pple.) [¶; 92 derived terms, viz. {{term|bebang||bang about|lang=en}}, {{term|bebass||kiss all over”, “cover with kisses|lang=en}}, {{term|bebaste|lang=en}} (with a cudgel, or with gravy), {{term|bebat||becudgel|lang=en}}, {{term|bebatter|lang=en}}, {{term|bebite|lang=en}}, {{term|beblear||blear all over|lang=en}}, {{term|beblotch|lang=en}}, {{term|beboss|lang=en}}, {{term|bebotch|lang=en}}, {{term|bebrush|lang=en}}, {{term|becense||perfuse with incense|lang=en}}, {{term|bechase||chase about|lang=en}}, {{term|becircle|lang=en}}, {{term|beclart|lang=en}} (''dialectal'', “be dirty”), {{term|beclasp|lang=en}}, {{term|becompass||compass about|lang=en}}, {{term|becramp|lang=en}}, {{term|becrampoun||set (a jewel)|lang=en}}, {{term|becrimson|lang=en}}, {{term|becrust|lang=en}}, {{term|becurry||curry one’s hide”, “belabour|lang=en}}, {{term|becurse||cover with curses|lang=en}}, {{term|becut|lang=en}}, {{term|bedamn|lang=en}}, {{term|bedamp|lang=en}}, {{term|bediaper|lang=en}}, {{term|bedowse||souse with water|lang=en}}, {{term|bedrape|lang=en}}, {{term|bedrift|lang=en}}, {{term|bedrive|lang=en}}, {{term|be-embroider|lang=en}}, {{term|befan|lang=en}}, {{term|befinger||finger all over|lang=en}}, {{term|befleck||cover with flecks|lang=en}}, {{term|befreckle|lang=en}}, {{term|befriz|lang=en}}, {{term|befrounce||frounce or toss about”, “touzle|lang=en}}, {{term|begarnish|lang=en}}, {{term|begash|lang=en}}, {{term|begaud|lang=en}}, {{term|begirdle|lang=en}}, {{term|behale||drag about|lang=en}}, {{term|behammer|lang=en}}, {{term|behem|lang=en}}, {{term|behorewe||befoul|lang=en}}, {{term|bejig||jig about|lang=en}}, {{term|bejumble|lang=en}}, {{term|beknit|lang=en}} (from the {{etyl|ang|-}} {{term|becnyttan|lang=ang}}), {{term|belave|lang=en}}, {{term|belick|lang=en}}, {{term|bemingle|lang=en}}, {{term|bemix|lang=en}}, {{term|bepaste|lang=en}}, {{term|bepaw||befoul as with paws|lang=en}}, {{term|bepen||pen in|lang=en}}, {{term|bepommel|lang=en}}, {{term|bepounce||stud|lang=en}}, {{term|beprank||prank out or over|lang=en}}, {{term|bepuddle|lang=en}} (''e.g.'' a spring), {{term|bepurple|lang=en}}, {{term|bequirtle||besprinkle|lang=en}}, {{term|berake||rake all over|lang=en}}, {{term|beroll||roll over|lang=en}}, {{term|beround|lang=en}}, {{term|bescour|lang=en}}, {{term|beseam|lang=en}}, {{term|beshackle|lang=en}}, {{term|beshield|lang=en}}, {{term|beshroud|lang=en}}, {{term|beslab||beplaster|lang=en}}, {{term|beslash|lang=en}}, {{term|beslur|lang=en}}, {{term|beslurry||sully all over|lang=en}}, {{term|besmother|lang=en}}, {{term|besmudge|lang=en}} ({{term|besmouche|lang=en}}), {{term|besow|lang=en}} (“sow about”, from the {{etyl|ang|-}} {{term|besawan|besāwan|lang=ang}}), {{term|besperple||bespatter|lang=en}}, {{term|bespin||spin round, so as to cover|lang=en}}, {{term|bespirt|lang=en}}, {{term|besquatter||bespatter with filth|lang=en}}, {{term|bestamp|lang=en}}, {{term|bestroke|lang=en}}, {{term|beswitch|lang=en}}, {{term|betinge|lang=en}}, {{term|beturn|lang=en}}, {{term|beveil|lang=en}}, {{term|bewallow|lang=en}} (from the {{etyl|ang|-}} {{term|bewalwian|lang=ang}}), {{term|bewash|lang=en}}, {{term|bewater|lang=en}}, {{term|bewhiten|lang=en}}, {{term|bewreath|lang=en}}; ¶; 97 quotations, viz. 1599, 1583, 1583, 1620, 1565, 1565, 1880, 1609, 1807, 1576, 1605, 1587, 1591, 1639, 1574, 1648, 1607, ''cicra'' 1230, 1864, 1480, 1634, 1666, 1583, 1837, 1883, ''ante'' 1834, 1598, 1553–87, 1860, 1630, 1863, 1870,<!-- page break here in the source --> 1648, 1576, 1865, 1837, 1614, 1674, 1821, 1567, 1610, 1772, 1581, 1647, 1555, 1580, 1843, 1574, 1639, 1598, 1340, 1821, 1565, 1598, 1598, 1559, 1559, 1565, 1684, ''circa'' 1230, 1583, 1648, 1642, 1583, 1771, 1690, 1685, ''circa'' 1325, 1642, 1837, 1839, 1599, 1848, 1481, 1581, 1635, ''circa'' 1614, 1598, 1600, ''circa'' 1175, 1557, 1865, 1885, 1611, 1652, 1857, 1548, 1821, 1594, 1582, 1205 [1250], 1589, 1648, 1593, 1812, 1598, ''ante'' 1850; ¶] '''2.''' Forming intensive verbs, with sense of ‘thoroughly (extension of 1), soundly, much, conspicuously, to excess, ridiculously.’ (Some of these occur only in the past participle.) [98 derived terms, viz. {{term|bebait||bait or worry persistently|lang=en}}, {{term|bebothered|lang=en}}, {{term|bebreech||breech soundly|lang=en}}, {{term|bebusied|lang=en}}, {{term|becheck|lang=en}}, {{term|becheke||choke”, “stifle|lang=en}}, {{term|beclamour|lang=en}}, {{term|becompliment|lang=en}}, {{term|becost|lang=en}}, {{term|becovet|lang=en}}, {{term|becrowd|lang=en}}, {{term|becrush|lang=en}}, {{term|becumber|lang=en}}, {{term|bedare||defy|lang=en}}, {{term|bedrown|lang=en}}, {{term|bedrowse||make drowsy|lang=en}}, {{term|bedrug|lang=en}}, {{term|beduck|lang=en}}, {{term|bedunch||strike against|lang=en}}, {{term|be-earn|lang=en}}, {{term|be-elbow|lang=en}}, {{term|befavour|lang=en}}, {{term|befilch|lang=en}}, {{term|beflap||clap|lang=en}}, {{term|beflout|lang=en}}, {{term|beflustered|lang=en}}, {{term|befraught|lang=en}}, {{term|begall||gall”, “fret”, “rub sore|lang=en}}, {{term|beglose||deceive|lang=en}}, {{term|begrain||dye in the grain”, “colour permanently|lang=en}}, {{term|begreet|lang=en}}, {{term|begut|lang=en}}, {{term|behallow|lang=en}}, {{term|behelp|lang=en}}, {{term|behusband||economize to the full|lang=en}}, {{term|bekick|lang=en}}, {{term|belade|lang=en}}, {{term|belash|lang=en}}, {{term|belull|lang=en}}, {{term|bemar||injure seriously|lang=en}}, {{term|bemartyr|lang=en}}, {{term|bemaze|lang=en}}, {{term|bemeet|lang=en}}, {{term|bemuzzle|lang=en}}, {{term|bepaid|lang=en}}, {{term|beparch|lang=en}}, {{term|beparody|lang=en}}, {{term|bepart||divide”, “share|lang=en}}, {{term|bepiece||piece up”, “patch up|lang=en}},<!-- column break here in the source --> {{term|bepierce|lang=en}}, {{term|bepile||pile up|lang=en}}, {{term|bepill||pillage completely|lang=en}}, {{term|bepoetize|lang=en}}, {{term|bepress||oppress|lang=en}}, {{term|bepride|lang=en}}, {{term|bequoted||quoted to excess|lang=en}}, {{term|beragged|lang=en}}, {{term|berinse|lang=en}}, {{term|besanctify||besaint|lang=en}}, {{term|besauce|lang=en}}, {{term|bescent|lang=en}}, {{term|bescorch|lang=en}}, {{term|bescorn||cover with scorn|lang=en}}, {{term|bescourge|lang=en}}, {{term|bescrape|lang=en}}, {{term|beshake|lang=en}}, {{term|beshiver||shiver to atoms|lang=en}}, {{term|beshod|lang=en}}, {{term|beshower|lang=en}}, {{term|beshrivel|lang=en}}, {{term|besinge|lang=en}} (from the {{etyl|ang|-}} {{term|besengan|lang=ang}}), {{term|beslap||slap soundly|lang=en}}, {{term|besnowball|lang=en}}, {{term|besob||soak|lang=en}}, {{term|besoothe|lang=en}}, {{term|bespend||spend”, “waste|lang=en}}, {{term|besplit|lang=en}}, {{term|besqueeze|lang=en}}, {{term|bestab|lang=en}}, {{term|bestay|lang=en}}, {{term|besteer|lang=en}}, {{term|bestock||stock thoroughly|lang=en}}, {{term|bestore|lang=en}}, {{term|bestrip|lang=en}}, {{term|besuit|lang=en}}, {{term|besweeten|lang=en}}, {{term|betalk|lang=en}}, {{term|bethreaten|lang=en}}, {{term|betire|lang=en}}, {{term|betrace||mark all over”, “streak|lang=en}}, {{term|betwattle|lang=en}} (''dialectal'', “bewilder”), {{term|bewasted||wasted away|lang=en}}, {{term|beweary|lang=en}}, {{term|bewelcome|lang=en}}, {{term|bewidow|lang=en}}, {{term|bewomanize|lang=en}}, {{term|bewound||wound seriously|lang=en}}, {{term|bewreak||revenge|lang=en}}; ¶] '''1599''' <span style="font-variant:small-caps">Thynne</span> ''Animadv.'' (1865) 61 This syllable [be] is sett before to make yt moore signyficant and of force; as..for ‘dewed,’ ‘bedewed,’ etc. [¶; 99 quotations, viz. 1589, 1866, 1617, 1603, 1598, ''circa'' 1175, 1832, 1832, 1832, 1513, 1883, 1860, 1607, 1863, 1550, 1599, 1584, 1877, 1874, 1596, 1567, 1602, 1848, ''ante'' 1633, 1566, 1388, 1574, 1864, 1568, ''ante'' 1656, 1393, 1855, 1513, 1648, 1481, 1640, 1862, 1850, 1458, 1631, ''circa'' 1400, 1662, 1879, 1656, 1857, 1838, 1586, 1828, 1531, 1578, 1839, ''ante'' 1726, 1574, 1865, 1591, 1690, 1822, 1611, 1598, 1826, ''ante'' 1674, 1863,<!-- column break here in the source --> 1583, ''circa'' 1386, ''ante'' 1300, 1865, 1664, 1556, 1648, 1850, ''circa'' 1420, 1821, 1340, 1858, 1611, 1609, 1614, 1567, 1614, ''ante'' 1640, 1600, ''circa'' 1320, ''ante'' 1618, 1648, 1661, 1340, 1648, 1612, 1635, 1594, ''circa'' 1460, 1686, 1844, 1593, 1636, 1583, 1787, 1653, 1422–61; ¶] '''3.''' Forming derivative verbs with privative meaning ‘off, away,’ as in <span style="font-variant:small-caps">Bedeal</span>, <span style="font-variant:small-caps">Benim</span>, <span style="font-variant:small-caps">Bereave</span>. A very common use of ''be-'' in OE. and ME., prob. originating in words like <span style="font-variant:small-caps">Be-shear</span>, ‘to cut all round,’ whence ‘to cut off or away’; but no longer in living use in forming new derivatives. [¶] '''4.''' Making verbs transitive, by adding a prepositional relation: primarily ‘about,’ as in <span style="font-variant:small-caps">Be-speak</span>, speak about (or for, to), <span style="font-variant:small-caps">Be-moan</span>, moan about (or over); which sense can usually be detected under the various ''against'', ''at'', ''for'', ''to'', ''on'', ''upon'', ''over'', ''by'', etc. required by modern idiom: [¶; 60 derived terms, viz. {{term|bebark||bark around or at|lang=en}}, {{term|becack||deposit ordure on|lang=en}}, {{term|bechatter||environ with chattering, etc.|lang=en}}, {{term|bechirm||chirm (as birds) around|lang=en}}, {{term|bechirp||chirp about|lang=en}}, {{term|beclang|lang=en}}, {{term|beclatter|lang=en}}, {{term|becrave|lang=en}} (“crave for”, from the {{etyl|ang|-}} {{term|becrafian|lang=ang}}), {{term|becrawl||crawl all over|lang=en}}, {{term|becroak||croak round or at|lang=en}}, {{term|becry||cry at”, “accuse|lang=en}}, {{term|bedin||fill with din or noise|lang=en}}, {{term|bedribble||dribble upon (''e.g.'' as a dog)|lang=en}}, {{term|bedrivel|lang=en}}, {{term|bedrizzle|lang=en}}, {{term|bedwell||dwell in or around|lang=en}}, {{term|befleet||flow round|lang=en}}, {{term|befret||fret or gnaw away|lang=en}}, {{term|befuddle||make stupid with tippling|lang=en}}, {{term|begaze||gaze at|lang=en}}, {{term|beglide||slip away from”, “escape|lang=en}}, {{term|beglitter||irradiate|lang=en}}, {{term|begroan||groan at|lang=en}}, {{term|begruntle||make uneasy|lang=en}}, {{term|behoot||hoot at|lang=en}}, {{term|bejuggle||get over by jugglery”, “cheat|lang=en}}, {{term|belag||make to lag|lang=en}}, {{term|beleap||leap on”, loosely “cover|lang=en}}, {{term|bemew||mew upon|lang=en}}, {{term|bemoult||moult upon|lang=en}}, {{term|bemurmur||murmur at or against|lang=en}}, {{term|bemute|lang=en}} (''of birds'', “mute or drop dung on”), {{term|beparse||plague with parsing|lang=en}}, {{term|bepiss||piss on”, “wet with urine|lang=en}}, {{term|bepreach||preach at|lang=en}}, {{term|bereason||reason with”, “overcome by reason|lang=en}}, {{term|bireme||cut out upon|lang=en}}, {{term|beride|lang=en}} (“ride beside”, “override”, from the {{etyl|ang|-}} {{term|beridan|berīdan|lang=ang}}), {{term|berow||row round|lang=en}}, {{term|bescumber||scumber on|lang=en}}, {{term|beshine|lang=en}} (“shine on”, from the {{etyl|ang|-}} {{term|bescinan|bescīnan|lang=ang}}), {{term||{{l|en|beshit}}{{l|en|beshite|(e)}}}} (“becack”, from the {{etyl|ang|-}} {{term|bescitan|bescītan|lang=ang}} “(''Obs.'' in polite use, but common in ME. and early mod.E. literature)”), {{term|beshout||shout at”, “applaud|lang=en}}, {{term|beshriek||shriek at|lang=en}}, {{term|besigh||sigh for|lang=en}}, {{term|besmell||smell out|lang=en}}, {{term|besmile||smile on|lang=en}}, {{term|bespew||spew on|lang=en}}, {{term|bestare||stare at”, “make staring|lang=en}}, {{term|bestraddle||straddle across”, “bestride|lang=en}}, {{term|bestream||stream over|lang=en}}, {{term|beswarm||swarm over|lang=en}}, {{term|beswelter|lang=en}}, {{term|beswim||swim upon|lang=en}}, {{term|bethunder|lang=en}}, {{term|betipple||muddle by tippling|lang=en}}, {{term|betravel||travel over”, “overrun with travellers|lang=en}}, {{term|bevomit||vomit all over|lang=en}}, {{term|bewhisper||whisper to|lang=en}}, {{term|bewhistle||whistle round|lang=en}}; ¶; 70 quotations, viz. 1340, 1598, ''ante'' 1618,<!-- page break here in the source --> 1875, ''ante'' 1250, 1600, 1875, 1832–53, ''circa'' 1250, 1787, 1861, ''circa'' 1440, 1880, 1620, 1653, 1721, 1883, 1802, 1817, ''ante'' 1300, 1598, 1802, ''circa'' 1300, 1583, 1837, ''ante'' 1670, 1838, 1680, 1705, 1721, 1513, 1630, 1603, 1837, 1875, 1634, 1880, 1481, 1658, 1764, 1809, 1880, 1826, ''circa'' 1200, 1690, 1848, 1205 [1250], 1599, 1625, 1850, ''ante'' 1000, ''ante'' 1300, ''ante'' 1683, 1727, 1828, ''ante'' 1250, ''circa'' 1200, 1803, 1867, ''circa'' 1600, ''circa'' 1220, 1780, 1807–8, 1860, 1583, 1805, 1581, 1837, 1674, 1837; ¶] '''5.''' Forming trans. verbs on adjectives and substantives, taken as complements of the predicate, meaning To make: as <span style="font-variant:small-caps">Befoul</span>, to make foul, ''orig.'' to surround or affect with foulness; <span style="font-variant:small-caps">Bedim</span>, to make dim; <span style="font-variant:small-caps">Befool</span>, to make a fool of; <span style="font-variant:small-caps">Besot</span>, to turn into a sot. In modern use, nearly all tinged with ridicule or contempt; cf. to ''beknight'' with to ''knight''. '''a.''' Formed with adj.: [21 derived terms, viz. {{term|bebrave|lang=en}} (“make brave”, 1576), {{term|bedirty|lang=en}}, {{term|bedismal|lang=en}}, {{term|bedumb|lang=en}}, {{term|befast|lang=en}} (“fasten”, from the {{etyl|ang|-}} {{term|befæstan|lang=ang}}), {{term|begaudy|lang=en}}, {{term|begay|lang=en}}, {{term|beglad|lang=en}}, {{term|begray|lang=en}}, {{term|begreen|lang=en}}, {{term|begrim|lang=en}}, {{term|begrimly||begrime|lang=en}},<!-- column break here in the source --> {{term|beguilty|lang=en}}, {{term|bepale|lang=en}}, {{term|bepretty|lang=en}}, {{term|bered|lang=en}}, {{term|beshag||make shaggy|lang=en}}, {{term|beslow||retard|lang=en}}, {{term|besmooth|lang=en}}, {{term|besour|lang=en}}, {{term|bewhite|lang=en}}] '''b.''' With sb.: [17 derived terms, viz. {{term|bebaron||make into a baron|lang=en}}, {{term|bebishop|lang=en}}, {{term|beclown|lang=en}}, {{term|becollier||make as black as a collier|lang=en}}, {{term|becoward|lang=en}}, {{term|bedaw|lang=en}} (“make a ‘daw’ or fool of”, ''ante'' 1529), {{term|bedeacon|lang=en}} (1589), {{term|bedoctor|lang=en}}, {{term|bedolt||besot|lang=en}}, {{term|beduchess|lang=en}}, {{term|bedunce|lang=en}}, {{term|befop|lang=en}}, {{term|beking|lang=en}}, {{term|beknight|lang=en}}, {{term|belion||make a (society) lion of|lang=en}}, {{term|beminstrel|lang=en}}, {{term|bewhig||convert into a whig|lang=en}}; ¶; 40 quotations, viz. 1842, 1576, 1609, 1593, 1831, ''ante'' 1529, 1589, 1623, 1803, 1751, 1806, 1856, 1574, 1804, 1615, 1611, 1674, 1866, 1640, 1648, ''ante'' 1617, ''ante'' 1624, 1864, 1870, ''circa'' 1485, 1627, 1831, 1794, 1808, 1837, 1640, 1872, 1604, 1868, 1645, 1615, ''ante'' 1660, 1852, 1832, 1678; ¶] '''b.''' To call, to style, to dub with the title of, etc. Often with depreciatory or contemptuous force: as [15 derived terms, viz. {{term|be-blockhead|lang=en}}, {{term|be-blunderbus|lang=en}}, {{term|be-brother|lang=en}}, {{term|be-coward|lang=en}}, {{term|behypocrite|lang=en}}, {{term|be-lady|lang=en}}, {{term|be-ladyship|lang=en}}, {{term|belout|lang=en}}, {{term|bemadam|lang=en}}, {{term|bemistress|lang=en}}, {{term|bemonster|lang=en}}, {{term|berascal|lang=en}}, {{term|be-Roscius|lang=en}}, {{term|bescoundrel|lang=en}}, {{term|bevillain|lang=en}}; ¶; 15 quotations, viz. 1765, 1881, 1752, 1612, 1811, 1614, 1605, 1630, 1692, 1743, 1596, 1774, 1885, 1786, ''ante'' 1734; ¶] '''6.''' Forming trans. verbs on substantives used in an instrumental relation; the primary idea being; '''a.''' To surround, cover, or bedaub with, as in <span style="font-variant:small-caps">Becloud</span>, to put clouds about, cover with clouds, <span style="font-variant:small-caps">Bedew</span>. Thence, by extension, '''b.''' To affect with in any way, as in <span style="font-variant:small-caps">Benight</span>, <span style="font-variant:small-caps">Beguile</span>, <span style="font-variant:small-caps">Befriend</span>. In both sets there is often an accompanying notion<!-- column break here in the source --> of ‘thoroughly, excessively,’ as in 2. '''c.''' An ancient application, no longer in living use, was to express the sense of ‘bereave of,’ as in <span style="font-variant:small-caps">Behead</span>, <span style="font-variant:small-caps">Belimb</span>, etc., q. v. Cf. 3, above. [¶] '''a.''' [57 derived terms, viz. {{term|be-ash||cover or soil with ashes|lang=en}}, {{term|beblain|lang=en}}, {{term|bebloom|lang=en}}, {{term|beboulder|lang=en}}, {{term|bebutter|lang=en}}, {{term|becap|lang=en}}, {{term|becarpet|lang=en}}, {{term|bechalk|lang=en}}, {{term|becloak|lang=en}}, {{term|becobweb|lang=en}}, {{term|becolour|lang=en}}, {{term|becoom|lang=en}} ({{term|becolme|lang=en}}, “smear with coom”), {{term|becrime|lang=en}}, {{term|becurtain|lang=en}}, {{term|bedot|lang=en}}, {{term|bedowle||cover with dowle or soft hair|lang=en}}, {{term|bedust|lang=en}}, {{term|befetter|lang=en}}, {{term|befilth|lang=en}}, {{term|beflannel|lang=en}}, {{term|beflounce|lang=en}}, {{term|beflour|lang=en}}, {{term|beflower|lang=en}}, {{term|befoam|lang=en}}, {{term|befringe|lang=en}}, {{term|befume|lang=en}}, {{term|beglare|lang=en}}, {{term|begloom|lang=en}}, {{term|begum|lang=en}}, {{term|behorn|lang=en}}, {{term|behorror|lang=en}}, {{term|belard|lang=en}}, {{term|beleaf|lang=en}}, {{term|beloam|lang=en}}, {{term|bemail||cover with mail|lang=en}}, {{term|bemantle|lang=en}}, {{term|bemat|lang=en}}, {{term|bemeal|lang=en}}, {{term|bemuck|lang=en}}, {{term|bepicture|lang=en}}, {{term|bepimple|lang=en}}, {{term|beplague|lang=en}}, {{term|bepowder|lang=en}}, {{term|berust|lang=en}}, {{term|bescab|lang=en}}, {{term|bescarf|lang=en}}, {{term|bescurf|lang=en}}, {{term|bescurvy|lang=en}}, {{term|beslime|lang=en}}, {{term|besugar|lang=en}}, {{term|betallow|lang=en}}, {{term|bethorn|lang=en}}, {{term|betowel|lang=en}}, {{term|beulcer|lang=en}}, {{term|bevenom|lang=en}}, {{term|bewig|lang=en}}, {{term|bewimple|lang=en}}; ¶] '''b.''' [79 derived terms, viz. {{term|beback||furnish (a book) with a back|lang=en}}, {{term|bebed||furnish with a bed|lang=en}}, {{term|bebog||entangle in a bog”, “embog|lang=en}}, {{term|bebrine||wet with brine|lang=en}}, {{term|bebutterfly||engross with butterflies|lang=en}}, {{term|becivet||perfume with civet|lang=en}}, {{term|becomma||sprinkle with commas|lang=en}}, {{term|bedawn||overtake with dawn|lang=en}}, {{term|beday||overtake with daylight|lang=en}}, {{term|bedebt||indebt|lang=en}}, {{term|bedinner||treat with a dinner”, “give a dinner to|lang=en}}, {{term|bedown||fill with down|lang=en}}, {{term|befame||make famous|lang=en}}, {{term|befancy||fill with fancies|lang=en}}, {{term|befiddle||engross with a fiddle|lang=en}}, {{term|befire|lang=en}}, {{term|befist||belabour with the fists|lang=en}}, {{term|beflea||infest (as) with fleas|lang=en}}, {{term|beflum|lang=en}} (''dialectal'', “deceive”), {{term|befrumple||crease into frumples or clumsy folds|lang=en}}, {{term|befume||affect with fumes|lang=en}}, {{term|begall||fill with gall”, “embitter|lang=en}}, {{term|beginger||spice with ginger|lang=en}}, {{term|beglew|lang=en}} ({{term|beglue|lang=en}}, “make game of”, “befool”), {{term|begulf||engulf|lang=en}}, {{term|behearse||place in a hearse|lang=en}}, {{term|behymn|lang=en}}, {{term|beice|lang=en}}, {{term|bekerchief|lang=en}}, {{term|beladle||ladle up|lang=en}}, {{term|belecture||ply with lectures|lang=en}}, {{term|beliquor||soak with liquor”, “alcoholize|lang=en}}, {{term|beman||fill with men”, “man|lang=en}}, {{term|bemissionary||pester with missionaries|lang=en}}, {{term|bemole||mark with moles or dirty spots|lang=en}}, {{term|bemoon||moon-strike|lang=en}}, {{term|bemusk||perfume with musk|lang=en}}, {{term|benettle|lang=en}}, {{term|benightmare|lang=en}}, {{term|be-ode|lang=en}}, {{term|bepaper||cover or pester with papers|lang=en}}, {{term|bephilter||treat with a philter|lang=en}}, {{term|bephrase|lang=en}}, {{term|bepistle||inflict epistles on|lang=en}}, {{term|bequalm||affect with qualms|lang=en}}, {{term|berampier||surround with a rampart|lang=en}}, {{term|berebus||inscribe with a rebus|lang=en}}, {{term|berubric||mark with a rubric or red letter|lang=en}}, {{term|besaffron||stain or mingle with saffron|lang=en}}, {{term|beschoolmaster||furnish with schoolmasters|lang=en}}, {{term|bescutcheon||furnish with an escutcheon|lang=en}}, {{term|besentinel||surround or guard with sentinels|lang=en}}, {{term|besin||stamp with sin”, “stigmatize as sinful|lang=en}}, {{term|besiren||charm with a siren|lang=en}}, {{term|beslipper||present with slippers|lang=en}}, {{term|besnivel|lang=en}}, {{term|besnuff|lang=en}}, {{term|besonnet||address or celebrate in sonnets|lang=en}}, {{term|bespeech|lang=en}}, {{term|bespy||dog with spies|lang=en}}, {{term|besquib|lang=en}}, {{term|bestench||afflict with stench|lang=en}}, {{term|bestink||bestench|lang=en}}, {{term|bestraw||furnish or fill with straw|lang=en}}, {{term|betag||furnish with a tag|lang=en}}, {{term|betask||charge with a task|lang=en}}, {{term|betocsin|lang=en}}, {{term|betrumpet|lang=en}}, {{term|betutor||furnish with tutors|lang=en}}, {{term|be-urine|lang=en}}, {{term|beverse||celebrate in verse|lang=en}}, {{term|beveto||put a veto on|lang=en}}, {{term|bewall|lang=en}}, {{term|bewelcome|lang=en}}, {{term|bewhisker||adorn with whiskers|lang=en}}, {{term|bewinter||overtake or affect with winter|lang=en}}, {{term|bewizard|lang=en}} (“influence by a wizard”, “cf. ''bewitch''”), {{term|beworm||infest with worms”, ''in passive constructions'' “breed worms|lang=en}}, {{term|beworship||honour with worship|lang=en}}; ¶] (Some of these are used only in the passive voice.) [¶; 140 quotations, viz. 1530, 1599, 1858, ''ante'' 1300, 1605, 1585, 1662, 1862, 1652, 1611, 1759, 1821, ''ante'' 1800, 1805, 1598, 1611, 1788, 1851,<!-- page break here in the source --> 1567, 1881, ''ante'' 1300, 1882, 1844, 1878, 1827, 1882, 1513, 1837, 1843, 1620, 1611, 1574, 1567, 1610, 1837, 1759, 1593, 1613, 1718, 1859, 1870, 1824, 1598, 1814, 1700, 1611, 1598, 1598, 1611, 1865, 1835, ''circa'' 1430, ''ante'' 1813, 1730, 1611, 1594, 1577, 1630, 1857, 1863, 1620, 1885, 1862, 1631, 1611, 1598, 1594, ''circa'' 1175, 1620, 1820, 1868, 1623, 1656, 1884, 1362, 1866, 1530, 1611, 1611, 1820, 1814, 1837, 1861, 1690, 1853, ''ante'' 1818, 1648, 1860, 1589, 1870, 1646, 1582, 1655, 1655, 1631,<!-- column break here in the source --> 1611, 1611, 1631, 1826, 1810, 1653, 1630, 1762, 1622, 1861, 1602, 1868, 1866, 1611, 1728, 1860, 1845, 1837, 1813, 1568, 1611, 1611, 1611, ''ante'' 1618, 1762, 1638, 1857, 1884, 1857, 1846, 1662, 1565, ''ante'' 1764, 1837, 1250, 1583, 1762, 1820, 1866, 1393, 1647, 1652, 1862, 1604, 1787; ¶] '''7.''' Forming participial adjectives, which unite the preceding senses, esp. 6 and 2, in the notion of ‘covered or furnished with,’ usually in a conspicuous, ostentatious, unnecessary, or overdone way. In modern use (e.g. with Carlyle) the force of the ''be-'' is often merely rhetorical, expressing depreciation, ridicule, or raillery, on the part of the speaker, towards the appendage or ornamentation in question; cf. ''booted'' and ''bebooted'', ''gartered begartered'', ''wigged bewigged''. Some of these words have no form without ''be-'', and closely approach the verbs in 5, e.g. ''bedaughtered'', ''bepilgrimed'' ‘overrun with pilgrims.’ This is now the most frequent use of ''be-'', and the formations of this kind are endless; e.g. [17 examples, viz. {{term|bebelted|lang=en}}, {{term|becloaked|lang=en}}, {{term|becoroneted|lang=en}}, {{term|becupolaed|lang=en}}, {{term|bediamonded|lang=en}}, {{term|befathered|lang=en}}, {{term|beflogged|lang=en}}, {{term|beflounced|lang=en}}, {{term|bemitred|lang=en}}, {{term|bemuslined|lang=en}}, {{term|beperiwigged|lang=en}}, {{term|beribboned|lang=en}}, {{term|beringleted|lang=en}}, {{term|besleeved|lang=en}}, {{term|beturbaned|lang=en}}, {{term|beuncled|lang=en}}, {{term|bewinged|lang=en}}] See the quotations. [¶; 97 quotations, viz. 1839, 1854, 1831, 1859, 1884, 1883, 1861, 1882, 1598, 1785–95, 1869, 1879, 1863, 1837, 1700, 1885, 1860, 1808, 1771, 1883,<!-- column break here in the source --> 1861, 1883, 1837, 1830, 1884, 1837, 1840, 1879, 1614, 1746, 1864, 1839, 1885, 1635, 1761, 1832, 1846, 1882, 1884, 1860, 1849, 1879, 1870, 1797, 1839, 1611, 1858, 1812, 1742, 1691, 1884, 1848, 1835, 1787, 1854, 1880, 1878, 1842, 1858, 1882, 1850, 1842, 1849, 1614, 1884, 1854, 1759, 1857, 1611, 1858, 1852, 1831, 1863, 1614, 1883, 1880, 1862, 1865, 1792, 1865, 1848, 1864, 1837, 1859, 1884, 1873, 1856, 1611, 1828, 1865, 1858, 1884, 1866, 1784, ''ante'' 1849, 1869, 1860; ¶] ❡ Examples of the capabilities of ''be-'' are seen in [15 examples, viz. {{term|be-belzebubbed||bedevilled|lang=en}}, {{term|be-blacksmithed|lang=en}}, {{term|be-cockney'd|be-cockney’d|lang=en}}, {{term|be-documentize|lang=en}} (1593), {{term|bedoltify|lang=en}},<!-- page break here in the source --> {{term|befrenchify|lang=en}} (1603), {{term|be-Frenchman'd|be-Frenchman’d|lang=en}}, {{term|be-Germanized|lang=en}}, {{term|be-lady-loved|lang=en}}, {{term|belawgiven|lang=en}} (“legislated to”, Milton), {{term|be-Legion-of-Honoured|lang=en}}, {{term|be-lish-lash||whip soundly|lang=en}}, {{term|be-Mary||give us too much of ‘Mary’|lang=en}}, {{term|be-pamphletize|lang=en}}, {{term|be-trash|lang=en}}; ¶; 13 quotations, viz. 1814, 1864, 1850, 1593, 1698, 1603, 1856, 1863, 1643, 1860, 1602, 1812, 1884]


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Revision as of 03:29, 16 March 2012

See also: Appendix:Variations of "be"

English

Etymology

From (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Middle English (deprecated template usage) be-, (deprecated template usage) bi-, from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Old English (deprecated template usage) be-, from Template:proto, from Template:proto. See by. Cognate with (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Dutch (deprecated template usage) be-, (deprecated template usage) [etyl] German (deprecated template usage) be-. More at by.

Pronunciation

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Prefix

be-

  1. Template:rare By, near, next to, around, close to.
    (deprecated template usage) bestand, (deprecated template usage) beset
  2. Template:rare Around; about.
    (deprecated template usage) belay, (deprecated template usage) besit, (deprecated template usage) bestir, (deprecated template usage) belive, (deprecated template usage) bewrap
  3. Template:rare About, regarding, concerning, over.
    (deprecated template usage) bewrite, (deprecated template usage) betalk, (deprecated template usage) betell, (deprecated template usage) bemoan, (deprecated template usage) bemourn, (deprecated template usage) bewail, (deprecated template usage) beknow, (deprecated template usage) besing, (deprecated template usage) bespeak
  4. Template:no longer productive On, upon, at, to, in contact with something.
    (deprecated template usage) beclothe, (deprecated template usage) becall, (deprecated template usage) besee, (deprecated template usage) behold, (deprecated template usage) befall, (deprecated template usage) bedo
  5. Template:no longer productive Off, away, over, across
    (deprecated template usage) betake, (deprecated template usage) bego, (deprecated template usage) behead, (deprecated template usage) belimb, (deprecated template usage) beland, (deprecated template usage) bereave
  6. Template:no longer productive As an intensifier; i.e. thoroughly, excessively; completely.
    (deprecated template usage) belabour, (deprecated template usage) behate, (deprecated template usage) bedazzle
  7. Template:no longer productive All around; about; abundantly; all over.
    (deprecated template usage) belave, (deprecated template usage) belick, (deprecated template usage) bescatter, (deprecated template usage) bekiss
  8. Template:rare Forming verbs derived from nouns or adjectives, usually with the sense of "to make, become, or cause to be".
    becalm, (deprecated template usage) bedark, (deprecated template usage) befriend, bedim, (deprecated template usage) beken, (deprecated template usage) benight, (deprecated template usage) benothing, bewet, besmooth
  9. Template:archaic Used to intensify adjectives meaning "adorned with something" often those with the suffix <span class="deprecated" title="Template:term is deprecated; use Template:m.">(deprecated template usage) -ed.
    besequined, befeathered, beclawed, bewebbed, betasseled

Usage notes

  • In its sole remaining productive sense it is readily understood by readers (rarely, listeners) because it adds little meaning to the adjectives it precedes, themselves often nouns suffixed with -ed.

Derived terms

terms derived from be-

Template:rel-mid4

Template:rel-mid4

Template:rel-mid4

References

Dutch

Pronunciation

Prefix

be- Non-separable

  1. Used to indicate that a verb is acting on a direct object (making the verb transitive). Always unstressed.

Derived terms

Derived terms

Template:rel-mid3

Template:rel-mid3

See also

German

Pronunciation

Prefix

Template:de-pref

  1. Inseparable verbal prefix that signifies working on something or change of state.
  2. Inseparable verbal prefix that signifies touching the object.
  3. Inseparable verbal prefix that signifies discussing or mentioning the object.

Usage notes

  • The verb with this prefix takes very often a direct object (i.e., an object in the accusative case).

Derived terms

Derived terms

Template:der-mid

Hungarian

Pronunciation

Prefix

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  1. A verb prefix indicating actions with inward direction.
    (deprecated template usage) megy → (deprecated template usage) bemegy

See also

References

Limburgish

Etymology

Germanic.

Pronunciation

Prefix

be-

  1. Inseparable verbal prefix that signifies working on something or change of state.
  2. Inseparable verbal prefix that signifies touching the object.
  3. Inseparable verbal prefix that signifies discussing or mentioning the object.

Usage notes

  • The verb with this prefix takes very often a direct object (i.e., an object in the accusative case).

Middle Dutch

Alternative forms

Etymology

From (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Old Dutch (deprecated template usage) bi-, (deprecated template usage) be-, from Template:proto.

Prefix

be-

  1. A verb suffix with a variety of meanings.

Derived terms

Middle Dutch terms prefixed with be-

Descendants

Old English

Etymology

An unstressed form of bī, from Template:proto.

Pronunciation

Prefix

be-

  1. A productive prefix usually used to form verbs and adjectives, especially:
    • verbs with the sense "around, throughout",
    • transitive verbs from intransitive verbs, adjectives and nouns.

Swedish

Prefix

be-

  1. same as German be-, often found in German loan-words, primarily verbs and words based on verbs

Usage notes

  • In many cases the be- prefix doesn't change the meaning at all, it only makes word look more German. Swedish linguists in the late 19th century (Adolf Noreen, later also Erik Wellander) successfully promoted the idea that this prefix should be dropped from such words, for example befrämja turned into främja.

Derived terms

Swedish terms prefixed with be-
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