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1. a- pref.(1), in verbs

4 quotations in 4 senses
Sense / Definition
In verbs inherited from OE:(a) From OE ā-: a-biden, a-breken, a-fallen, a-reren, a-risen, a-senden, a-waken, a-winnen, and many others. (b) From OE on-: a-biden (also an-biden), ppl. a-knoue(n (also……

2. a- pref.(2), in adverbs

3 quotations in 3 senses
Sense / Definition
From early ME a prep., derived from unstressed an before nouns, adjs., and advs. beginning with a consonant [OE on, an]. (a) Orig. noun phrases: a-beggeþ, a-bedde, a-blode, a-clokke, a-dai(es,……

3. after- pref.

70 quotations in 2 senses
Sense / Definition
Verbal cpds.: (a) after- bending, the second bending, a bending back (of a bow); prob., the shaping process which gives the ends a curvature the reverse of that at the center; after- berende, bearing……

4. dē̆- pref.

2 quotations in 2 senses
Sense / Definition
(a) With depreciative or privitive force: declinen, decresen, decrien, defamen, defectif, degraden, despeiren, desperat, desolat, etc.; (b) in words which as a whole denote something disagreeable or……

5. des- pref.

1 quotation in 1 sense
Sense / Definition
In many words, such as desarmen, descrien, desdein, deshonour, desparagen, despisen, despit. The prefix des- is synonymous with dis-(q.v.) and is frequently replaced by it in ME, esp. during the later……

6. dī̆- pref.

1 quotation in 1 sense
Sense / Definition
In verbs, ppls., and verbal nouns taken from L and/or OF: digest, digesten, digestion, dilacioun, dilaten, diligent, diluvie, diminucioun, dimise, etc. For meanings see dē̆- and dis-. …

7. dīa- pref.

80 quotations in 1 sense
Sense / Definition
Med. In names of pharmaceutical preparations, or drugs, usually indicating that the herb or the like which follows is the chief ingredient: (a) dia- bardich, some kind of drug; dia- borago, a drug……

8. dif- pref.

1 quotation in 1 sense
Sense / Definition
Only in some words taken from L and/or OF: difference, differren, difficultẹ̄, diffinen, diffinicioun, diffusioun. For meaning, see dis-. …

9. dis- pref.

2 quotations in 2 senses
Sense / Definition
(a) In many verbs, verbal nouns, and verbal adjs. taken either from L or OF, dis- clearly has adversative or privitive force, as in disal(l)ouen, disavauntage, disavouen, discomfort, disconsolat,……

10. enter-, entre- pref.

Additional spellings: entre-
1 quotation in 1 sense
Sense / Definition
Prefix of verbs, action nouns, and agent nouns in words adopted from OF, e.g. enter-chaunǧen, -comūnen, -dīten, -medlen, -mēten; enter-cǒurs, -dīt, -lūde, -prīse, -mētǒur. The original meaning of……

11. es- pref.

1 quotation in 1 sense
Sense / Definition
Prefix of verbs and action nouns adopted from OF, e.g. es-cāpen, es-chaunǧen, es-pleiten, es-soinen. It is not formative in ME. as- and a-, the AF variants of this prefix, occur alongside the CF……

12. in- pref.(1)

1 quotation in 1 sense
Sense / Definition
Prefix in nouns, adjectives, adverbs, verbs, gerunds, participles, and prepositions; also in place names [see Smith PNElem. 1.281]. It is frequent in words of OE origin: (nouns) inborgh,……

13. in- pref.(2)

1 quotation in 1 sense
Sense / Definition
Negative prefix in nouns, adjectives, adverbs, verbs, participles, and gerunds. It occurs in many words of L or OF origin: (nouns) ignoraunce, imbecilite, immoderaunce, impietie, importunite,……

14. inter- pref.

1 quotation in 1 sense
Sense / Definition
Prefix found in nouns, adjectives, verbs, and gerunds; occurring chiefly in words from L or OF: (nouns) intercepcioun, intercession, interjeccioun, interspace; (adj.) intercise, interliniare,……

15. mal(e- pref.

Additional spellings: male-
1 quotation in 1 sense
Sense / Definition
A prefix appearing in nouns of OF origin: maleaventure, malecheif, Malebouche, malefortune, malengine, malese, malfetour, maltalent, maudisour, etc.; occasionally in adjectives: malapert, maleureux……

16. mis- pref.

1 quotation in 1 sense
Sense / Definition
A prefix with a wide range of pejorative meanings: evil(ly, sinful(ly, wicked(ly, false(ly, unjust(ly, illegal(ly, bad(ly, harmful(ly, painful(ly, wrong(ly, incorrect(ly, mistaken(ly, unwise(ly……

17. on- pref.(1)

1 quotation in 1 sense
Sense / Definition
A derivational prefix appearing in all parts of speech except pronouns, but most frequently in verbs. It is found in words descended from OE: (verbs) onblowen, onbrirden, onhauien, onheven [see……

18. par- pref.

1 quotation in 1 sense
Sense / Definition
A rare prefix occurring almost exclusively in words of French or Latin origin; e.g., paramoure, parclose, pardoun (nouns); parboilen, pardounen, pargeten (verbs); paregal, parfit (adj.)……

19. para- pref.

1 quotation in 1 sense
Sense / Definition
A very rare prefix found in a few learned words: parable, parabolik, paradise, paralisie, paralitike, etc. It was not a living prefix in ME. …

20. per- pref.

1 quotation in 1 sense
Sense / Definition
A common prefix in words of French or Latin origin; e.g., percepcioun, percussioun, perjurie, permanence, perpendicle, perspicuite (nouns); perdurable, permanent, perpetrat, pertinent (adj.)……

21. peri- pref.

1 quotation in 1 sense
Sense / Definition
A rare prefix found in a few learned nouns, chiefly borrowings from L or ML; e.g., pericardium, pericraneum, periferie, perimetre, periode, Peripatetike(s, peripleumonie, peritoneum, etc. It was……

22. prē̆- pref.

1 quotation in 1 sense
Sense / Definition
A common prefix in words of Latin or French origin; e.g., precellence, precessioun, precognicion, predicament, prelacie, prerogatif, prevaricatour (nouns); precise, prefinite, prejudicial,……

23. prō̆- pref.

1 quotation in 1 sense
Sense / Definition
A common prefix in words derived from Latin or French; e.g., probleme, processionarie, progenitour, pronosticacioun, propugnacle, prosperite, provincial (nouns); profounde, prolixe, propicious,……

24. prōtho- pref.

1 quotation in 1 sense
Sense / Definition
A rare prefix occurring in a few ME nouns & adjectives: prothogol, prothomartir, prothonotarie; prothopaciens, prothopassive. It was not a living prefix in ME. …

25. rē̆- pref.

1 quotation in 1 sense
Sense / Definition
In many verbs and derivatives of verbs from L or OF or both, meaning 'back from', 'backwards': rebouten, recurve adj., reflecten, rejecte n., replien, retorte ppl.; 'back to (a place of origin)'……

26. sǒu- pref.

1 quotation in 1 sense
Sense / Definition
A prefix in nouns derived from OF or formed in ME, usu. denoting subordination in rank of persons: soubaili, soubaillif, soucelerer(e, soudeken, souden, souprior, sousextein, souwardein, and perh……

27. sub- pref.

1 quotation in 1 sense
Sense / Definition
A prefix in words derived primarily from L, occ. from OF, or from both, often with its original meaning still discernible: (a) 'subordinate or inferior in rank' (in nouns): subcelerer,……

28. super- pref.

1 quotation in 1 sense
Sense / Definition
A prefix in words derived primarily from L, sometimes from both L and OF, infrequently from OF only, with the basic meaning 'over, above': (a) usu. in the locative sense 'above, on top of, upon', in……

29. sur- pref.

1 quotation in 1 sense
Sense / Definition
A prefix in words derived primarily from OF, occas. from AL (via AF), with senses similar to those of ME super- pref., for example: (a) 'above, on top of, upon, over', in various permutations (both……

30. trans- pref.

1 quotation in 1 sense
Sense / Definition
A prefix in more than seventy words from L or OF originally meaning 'across, over', 'through, to the other side', 'on the other side, beyond'. The great majority of these words are nouns and verbs……

31. trī̆- pref.

1 quotation in 1 sense
Sense / Definition
A prefix or combining element in more than thirty words, chiefly nouns and adjectives, borrowed from L or OF meaning 'three, triple' or 'triply, three times', for example: the nouns tre-foil,……

32. ūnī̆- pref.

1 quotation in 1 sense
Sense / Definition
A prefix or combining element in more than twenty words, chiefly nouns, borrowed from L or OF meaning ‘single, one’. As a discrete prefix, it is used in the nouns unanimite, unicorn(e, uniformite,……

33. vis- pref.

1 quotation in 1 sense
Sense / Definition
A prefix in a small number of nouns (eight), the primary meaning of which, when attached to personal nouns indicating the holder of an office or a title, is ‘subordinate in rank’ or ‘acting as a……

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