befer

Middle English

Noun

befer

1. (Early Middle English) Alternative form of bever (“beaver”)

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Old English

Alternative forms

• beofor, byfor, bebr, bebir, beber, befor, beofer, beuer

Etymology

From earlier *bebr. The alternative form beofor must have the slightly different pre-form *bebur, since it shows back umlaut. Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰébʰrus, whence Proto-Germanic *bebruz and Latin fiber.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbe.fer/, [ˈbe.ver]

Noun

befer m

1. beaver

Declension

Declension of befer (strong a-stem)

Case	Singular	Plural
nominative	befer	befras
accusative	befer	befras
genitive	befres	befra
dative	befre	befrum

Descendants

• Middle English: bever, beauver, beever, befer, beofer, beuver, bevere, bevre, bevyr, bevyre, bewer, byvre
  • English: beaver
  • Scots: bever, baiver
  • → Irish: béabhar

Derived terms

• *bifren