Talk:be-

Productive
Has this been productive in the last century in any sense? DCDuring TALK 19:45, 19 September 2012 (UTC)


 * I do believe there has been at least some use, at least with wonted words. I have indeed seen words such as befall, beset, beloved, bespeak, bestir, belay, beleaguer, belie, and befriend. I think the grounds for setting this prefix under "rare or no longer productive" is somewhat overdriven. Namely the "no longer productive," but It is mostly seen in writings now-a-days. I don't believe it is fully dead though but maybe a little seldom or unwonted. Anglish4699 (talk) 19:19, 20 June 2017 (UTC)


 * What's a "wonted word"? Equinox ◑ 12:30, 21 June 2017 (UTC)


 * Something that is widespread or spoken by many. The be- prefix does not seem to be widespread in speech, but can be seen in some writing if one looks hard enough. Anglish4699 (talk) 04:32, 23 June 2017 (UTC)

Wordy, malformatted references
Moved out of the entry by - -sche (discuss) 00:20, 16 June 2013 (UTC) :


 * “Be- prefix” listed on pages 719–723 of volume I (A–B) of A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles [1st ed., 1885] Be- prefix: — OE. be-, weak or stressless form of the prep. and adv. bí (biᵹ), By. The original Teut. form was, as in Gothic, bi, with short vowel, prob. cognate with second syllable of Gr. 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 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 Be- appear under this spelling; a few that became obsolete at an early date are left under their only extant form in Bi-, By-.) 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 Beset, Besmear; 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 Bestir, bejumble. (Some of these formations appear only in the pa. pple.) [¶; 92 derived terms, viz., , (with a cudgel, or with gravy), , , , , , , , , , , ,  (dialectal, “be dirty”), , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,  (from the 🇨🇬), , , , , , , , , , ,  (e.g. a spring), , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,  ,  (“sow about”, from the 🇨🇬), , , , , , , , , , ,  (from the 🇨🇬), , , , ; ¶; 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, 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. , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,  (from the 🇨🇬), , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,  (dialectal, “bewilder”), , , , , , , ; ¶] 1599 Thynne 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, 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 Bedeal, Benim, Bereave. A very common use of be- in OE. and ME., prob. originating in words like Be-shear, ‘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 Be-speak, speak about (or for, to), Be-moan, 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. , , , , , , ,  (“crave for”, from the 🇨🇬), , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,  (of birds, “mute or drop dung on”), , , , , ,  (“ride beside”, “override”, from the 🇨🇬), , ,  (“shine on”, from the 🇨🇬), undefined:(e)}} (“becack”, from the 🇨🇬 “(Obs. in polite use, but common in ME. and early mod.E. literature)”), , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ; ¶; 70 quotations, viz. 1340, 1598, ante 1618, 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 Befoul, to make foul, orig. to surround or affect with foulness; Bedim, to make dim; Befool, to make a fool of; Besot, 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.  (“make brave”, 1576), , , ,  (“fasten”, from the 🇨🇬), , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ] b. With sb.: [17 derived terms, viz. , , , , ,  (“make a ‘daw’ or fool of”, ante 1529),  (1589), , , , , , , , , , ; ¶; 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. , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ; ¶; 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 Becloud, to put clouds about, cover with clouds, Bedew. Thence, by extension, b. To affect with in any way, as in Benight, Beguile, Befriend. In both sets there is often an accompanying notion 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 Behead, Belimb, etc., q. v. Cf. 3, above. [¶] a. [57 derived terms, viz. , , , , , , , , , , ,  (, “smear with coom”), , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ; ¶] b. [79 derived terms, viz. , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,  (dialectal, “deceive”), , , , ,  (, “make game of”, “befool”), , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,  (“influence by a wizard”, “cf. bewitch”), , ; ¶] (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, 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, 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, especially 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. , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ] 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, 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. , , ,  (1593), ,  (1603), , , ,  (“legislated to”, Milton), , , , , ; ¶; 13 quotations, viz. 1814, 1864, 1850, 1593, 1698, 1603, 1856, 1863, 1643, 1860, 1602, 1812, 1884]
 * “be- prefix” listed in the Oxford English Dictionary (second edition, 1989)

bespeak: To speak for beforehand; engage, order or reserve in advance; make arrangements for.
Where does the meaning "in advance" of a verb such as bespeak come from? --Backinstadiums (talk) 12:47, 1 March 2020 (UTC)

How about prepositions and adverbs?
I expected to find mention of be- as a prefix in prepositions and adverbs as well, but the current entry seems (mostly) limited to verbs. What about:


 * beneath
 * between
 * betwixt
 * beside
 * below
 * besides

and possibly more such words?Redav (talk) 22:11, 12 July 2022 (UTC)