Middle English Dictionary Entry
yẹ̄n- pref.
Entry Info
| Forms | yẹ̄n- pref. Also yene-, yein-, ȝen-, ȝein(e)-, ȝain-, gein(e)-, (N or NEM) gan(e)-, (chiefly N) gain(e)-, (N) yhen-, (16th cent.) yeane- & (early) gean-, (SW) ȝan-. |
| Etymology | OE gēan-, gǣn-, gēn-, gegn-; also cp. ON: cp. OI gagn-. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. ayen- pref., with- pref.
A prefix in 34 words, primarily nouns (14) and verbs (13), but also in a few gerunds (7). Most of the senses of the prefix fall into the three groups below. The first and second groups parallel yen adv. (a) & (b) respectively; the third group parallels yen prep. 2. & 3. Though the prefix comes ultimately from OE, and a few of the words in question are perh. suggested by OE originals (e.g., yenchar, yencome), all are ME formations.
1.
‘Away, back’; specif. (a) ‘back to someone or a place’ and (b) ‘away from someone or something’: for (a), e.g., the nouns yencome, yenfare, yenrase, the verbs yencomen, yenpassen, and the gerunds yencominge, yengoinge; for (b), e.g., the nouns yenchar, yenturn and the gerunds yencharinge, yenturninge (2nd sense);
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2.
(a) ‘Back to a state or condition’; (b) ‘back into one’s possession’: for (a), e.g., the nouns yenbier, yencoverance, the verb yenbien, and the gerund yenbiinge; for (b), e.g., the nouns yenpaiement, yenyelde and the verb yenyelden;
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3.
‘In opposition to or against someone or something’: e.g., the nouns yenclappe, yensau, yenseier, yenstond, the verbs yensauen, yenseien, yensetten, yenstonden, yenstriven, and the gerunds yenseiing, yenstondinge.
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