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Page 2 of 2 < 1 2 Topic Options #53434 - 01/31/02 04:46 PM Re: The be- prefix: adding or subtracting? Keiva Carpal Tunnel Registered: 08/04/01 Posts: 2605 It seems, however, that in all the offered specimens, that there, at least, is an inherent ambiguity in the be- prefix As usual, Shakespeare best expressed that ambiguity: "To be- or not to be-; that is the question". Top #53435 - 02/02/02 12:27 PM Re: The be- prefix: adding or subtracting? Faldage Carpal Tunnel Registered: 12/01/00 Posts: 13655 I've been meaning to get around to this for sime time and finally got off my duff. The be- prefix in Old English had three possible meanings. Quoted from A Guide to Old English by Bruce Mitchell and Fred C. Robinson: be- 1 In some words be- is the same as the prep. 'about', e.g. be-gan'surround' and be-ridan 'ride around, surround'. 2 Sometimes it is a deprivative, e.g. be-dælan 'deprive' and be-heafdian 'behead'. 3 It can make an intransitive verb transitive, e.g. be-<THORN>encan 'think about' and be-wepan 'bewail'. Top #53436 - 02/02/02 02:42 PM Re: The be- prefix: adding or subtracting? WhitmanO'Neill Carpal Tunnel Registered: 03/13/01 Posts: 4189 Loc: Rio Grande, Cape May County, N... Thanks for that, Faldage! To be- or not to be- is no longer the be- question! (or be- quest!) So I guess the only item left here to bequestion the Board with is "do you consider betrothed to be a gaining or losing, or both? Top #53437 - 02/02/02 05:18 PM Re: The be- prefix: adding or subtracting? Keiva Carpal Tunnel Registered: 08/04/01 Posts: 2605 Sometimes it is a deprivative, e.g. 'behead'. Faldage is of course cross-threading to "bobbit". We are much beholden to you, sir. Top #53438 - 02/02/02 09:50 PM Re: Speaking for Keiva Faldage Carpal Tunnel Registered: 12/01/00 Posts: 13655 I would say that he apologizes to me for suggesting that I intended something that I neither intended nor, in retrospect, recognized that I intended. The thread started with: why does behead imply taking something away? [cross thread]Please do not ever presume to put words in my mouth[/cross thread] Top #53439 - 02/03/02 12:23 AM Re: speaking facetiously Keiva Carpal Tunnel Registered: 08/04/01 Posts: 2605 My dear faldage, and not to pick nits, but there's such a thing as speaking facetiously, and I'd think there's a great difference between "faldage says _______ [ wink ]" and "keiva says ________ [no wink]" I agree with you that a winkless misquote might well call for an apology. Top #53440 - 02/03/02 07:52 AM Re: speaking facetiously Faldage Carpal Tunnel Registered: 12/01/00 Posts: 13655 I would like to apologize publicly to Keiva for not using smileys (except facetiously) Top #53441 - 02/03/02 09:54 AM Re: speaking facetiously Keiva Carpal Tunnel Registered: 08/04/01 Posts: 2605 Huh? No apology needed here, buddy. LMBYAB. [beer -e] Top Page 2 of 2 < 1 2 Previous Topic Index Next Topic Preview Hop to: General Topics ------   Information and announcements   Q&A about words   Wordplay and fun   Words and languages in schools   Miscellany   Weekly Themes   Looking for (writers, speakers, ...) (Old) Weekly themes. (have been consolidated into a single forum above) ------   Words from medicine   Beheading words   Meta-words   Words from classical mythology   Animal Safari   Words with unusual etymologies   Eponyms or words derived from people's names.   Loanwords from German   English as a global language Moderator:  Jackie  Print Topic Switch to Threaded Mode View profile Send a PM Add to your Watched Users View posts View profile Send a PM View homepage Add to your Watched Users View posts View profile Send a PM Add to your Watched Users View posts View profile Send a PM Add to your Watched Users View posts View profile Send a PM View homepage Add to your Watched Users View posts View profile Send a PM Add to your Watched Users View posts View profile Send a PM View homepage Add to your Watched Users View posts View profile Send a PM Add to your Watched Users View posts Forum Stats 8426 Members 16 Forums 13689 Topics 209793 Posts Max Online: 3341 @ 12/09/11 02:15 PM Newest Members sylviasuper, continent2, a2teacher, teepee, smoothcriminal86 8426 Registered Users Who's Online 2 registered (sylviasuper, continent2), 39 Guests and 3 Spiders online. Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod Top Posters (30 Days) LukeJavan8 86 jenny jenny 56 wofahulicodoc 56 endymion6 48 Rhubarb Commando 37 BranShea 34 Buffalo Shrdlu 15 zmjezhd 13 Faldage 13 tsuwm 11 May Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

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