a-

ā- (canonical)
ar- (alternative)
a- (alternative)

Middle English: a-

English: a-

From an earlier form ar-, from Proto-West Germanic *uʀ-, from Proto-Germanic *uz-. Cognate with Old High German ar-, ir- (German er-).

āniman


self-

Middle English: self-, sylf-, seolf-

English: self-

seolf- (alternative)
sylf- (alternative)

self- + cwalu (“killing”) → selfcwalu (“suicide”)

self- + -dōm (“-dom”) → selfdōm (“independence”)

self- + -wille (“willing”) → selfwille (“voluntary”)


un-

Middle English: un-

Scots: un-

English: un-

From Proto-West Germanic *un-, from Proto-Germanic *un-, from Proto-Indo-European *n̥-, a prefix use of the particle *ne (“not”). Cognate with Old Frisian un-, Old Saxon un-, Old Dutch un-, Old High German un-, Old Norse ó-, Gothic 𐌿𐌽- (un-). The Indo-European root is also the source of Ancient Greek ἀ- (a-), Latin in-, and Old Irish in-.

un- + dēadlīċ (“mortal”) → undēadlīċ (“immortal”)

un- + dēop (“deep”) → undēop (“shallow”)

un- + dīere (“expensive”) → undīere (“cheap”)

un- + druncen (“drunk”) → undruncen (“sober”)

un- + fæġer (“beautiful”) → unfæġer (“ugly”)

un- + ġewǣpnod (“armed”) → unġewǣpnod (“unarmed”)

un- + nytt (“useful”) → unnytt (“useless”)

un- + sċyldiġ (“guilty”) → unsċyldiġ (“innocent”)

un- + rīpe (“mature”) → unrīpe (“immature”)

un- + wita (“knower”) → unwita (“idiot”)

negation or absence of: un-, non- (added to nouns and adjectives)

un- + dǣd (“action”) → undǣd (“crime”)

un- + hlīsa (“fame”) → unhlīsa (“infamy”)

un- + lǣċe (“doctor”) → unlǣċe (“quack”)

un- + lyft (“air”) → unlyft (“malaria,” lit. “bad air”)

un- + mann (“person”) → unmann (“thug”)

un- + rǣd (“advice”) → unrǣd (“bad advice”)

un- + stenċ (“smell”) → unstenċ (“stench”)

un- + swefn (“dream”) → unswefn (“bad dream”)

un- + tīma (“time”) → untīma (“wrong time”)

un- + þēaw (“habit”) → unþēaw (“vice”)

un- + weder (“weather”) → unweder (“bad weather”)

bad (added to nouns to denote a pejorative sense; compare mis-, mal-)


un-

Originally an alternative form of on-, from Proto-Germanic *and-. Cognate with Old Frisian und-, Old Saxon ant-, Old High German ant- (German ent-).

forms verbs from verbs, with an opposite or reversive sense


in-

Middle English: in-

English: in-

in- + ēþung (“breathing”) → inēþung (“inspiration”)

in- + coþu (“disease”) → incoþu (“internal disease”)

in- + weorc (“work”) → inweorc (“indoor work”)


in-

From Proto-Germanic *in- (“strong”, adj), from Proto-Indo-European *indʰro- (“swelling; strong”), from *oyd- (“to swell”).

der

in- + frōd (“wise”) → infrōd (“very wise”)

in- + dryhten (“noble”) → indryhten (“very noble”)


bi-

bī- (canonical)
biġ- (alternative)
be- (alternative)

desctree

Middle English: by-, bi-
English: by-, be-
Scots: by-, be-

bi- + nama → bīnama (“pronoun”)

bi- + word → bīword (“proverb, byword”)

bīleofa

support, sustenance, nourishment, capital


an-

From Proto-West Germanic *aina-, from Proto-Germanic *aina- (“one, uni-”), equivalent to Old English ān (“one”).

ān- + -hende (“handed”) → ānhende (“one-handed”)

ān- + horn (“horn”) → ānhorn (“unicorn”)

ān- + -īeġe (“-eyed”) → ānīeġe (“one-eyed”)

ān- + -mōd (“-minded”) → ānmōd (“unanimous”)

ān- + -nes (“-ness”) → ānnes (“unity”)

ān- + wīġ (“battle”) → ānwīġ (“duel”)

ān- + -wille (“-willed”) → ānwille (“stubborn”)

ān- + -wintre (“years old”) → ānwintre (“one year old”)

ān- + *genġa (“walker”) → āngenġa (“loner”)

ān- + *setla (“settler”) → ānsetla (“hermit”)


for-

Middle English: for-, far-, fer-, vor-, ver-
English: for-
Scots: for-

From Proto-West Germanic *fra-.
Cognates
Cognate with Old Frisian for-, Old Saxon far-, for-, Dutch ver-, Old High German fir-, far- (German ver-), and, outside Germanic, with Ancient Greek περί (perí), Latin per-, Old Church Slavonic пре- (pre-) (Russian пе́ре- (pére-)).

far- (alternative)
fer- (alternative)
fær- (alternative)
fier- (alternative)

forwyrċan

forstandan

forweorpan

forstelan

fordēman

forlǣdan

wrongly, away from, astray, abstention, prohibition, perversion, destruction (verbal prefix)

forblāwan

forbrecan

forstoppian

forweoren

used to create intensified adjectives and verbs from other adjectives and verbs, with the sense of completely or fully; compare Modern English use of up

forlȳtel

foreald


fore-

Middle English: fore-

English: fore-

From Proto-West Germanic *forē-, from Proto-Germanic *furai-.

fore- + cwide → forecwide (“introduction, heading; prophecy”)

fore- + manian → foremanian (“to forewarn, admonish”)

fore- + mǣrlīċ → foremǣrlīċ (“eminent, foreboding”)

fore- + rīm → forerīm (“prologue”)

fore- + cnēoris → forecnēoris (“progeny”)

fore- + frēfrend → forefrēfrend (“proconsul”)

fore- + costiġan → forecostigan (“to profane”)

fore- + ġehāt → foreġehāt (“vow”)

fore- + mearcung → foremearcung (“title, chapter”)

fore- + seld → foreseld (“first seat”)

first, prime, occupying a prominent position

fore- + maniġ → foremaniġ (“very many”)

fore- + mihtiġ → foremihtiġ (“most mighty”)


mid-

midwist

midrād

with, in conjunction with; together (with)

midstrēam

midspreca


ge-

ġe- (canonical)
i- (alternative)
gæ- (alternative)
gi- (alternative)
ie- (alternative)

Middle English: ge-, ȝe-, i-, y-

English: a-, y-, i- (obsolete)

Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *ḱe-?
Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm
Proto-Germanic *ga-
Proto-West Germanic *ga-
Old English ge-
Inherited from Proto-West Germanic *ga-, from Proto-Germanic *ga-, from Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm. Cognate with Latin cum (“with”).

etymon

used as an intensifier for verbs, indicating completeness or perfection

forms nouns or adjectives of association or similarity; co-

forms nouns and verbs with the sense of "result" or "process"

past participles
past participle#English

forms past participles or participle adjectives from verbs


on-

From Proto-West Germanic *an-, *ana-, from Proto-Germanic *an, *ana (“on”).

onhlinian

ondōn

forming verbs and adjectives from participles and nouns, with various senses of on, upon, to, there, thither

onlīehtan

onstellan, onstiellan

to establish, institute, install, originate

(inchoative) in, into; prefix used to intensify an action or to denote origin or initiation


on-

onbindan

onfealdan

onberan


twi-

twī- (canonical)
twio- (alternative)
twy- (alternative)

Middle English: twi-, twei-, twy-

English: twi-

Inherited from Proto-West Germanic *twi-, from Proto-Germanic *twi-, from Proto-Indo-European *dwi-.

inh+

twieċġe

twidǣlan

twibrowen

twirǣde


ne-

From Proto-Germanic *ne (“not”), from Proto-Indo-European *ne (“no, not”). Akin to Old English ne (“not”).

neom

næs

nǣron

nic

nǣniġ

nealles

nefne

nabban

nāgan

nǣfre

nyllan

ne- + witan (“to know”) → nytan (“to not know”)

ne- + wāt (“I know”) → nāt (“I do not know”)

ne- + witen (“known”) → nyten (“ignorant”)


mis-

desctree

Middle English: mys-, mes-, mis-
English: mis-
Scots: mis-

From Proto-Germanic *missa-. Akin to Old English missan (“to miss”).


agen

Variant of Old English ongēan (“again, eft, back”).


wan-

Middle English: wan-, won-

English: wan-

Scots: wan-

From Proto-West Germanic *wana-, from Proto-Germanic *wanaz (“lacking”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁weh₂- (“to be lacking, be empty”).


to-

tō- (canonical)
te- (alternative)
ti- (alternative)

From Proto-Germanic *twiz-, from Proto-Indo-European *dwís. Cognate with Old Frisian ti-, te-, Old Saxon te-, Old High German zi-, zir-, zar-, zur- (German zer-), Gothic 𐌳𐌹𐍃- (dis-), and with Latin dis-.

tefeallan, tōfeallan

titwǣman, tōtwǣman

tetorfian, tōtorfian

verbal prefix with a sense of "in pieces, apart, asunder", or with intensive force

tōtalu

tōsprǣċ

used to form substantives from other nouns


of-

desctree

Middle English: of-, offe-, ove-, hove-, ho-, o-, af-, ave-
English: off-
Scots: aff-, af-

From Proto-Germanic *aba- (“away, away from”), from Proto-Indo-European *apo- (“off, away”). Cognate with Old Saxon af-, Old Norse af-, Gothic 𐌰𐍆- (af-), Old High German ab; and with Latin ab-, Ancient Greek ἀπο- (apo-).

inh

ofgān

ofmunan

ofġiefan

ofdæle

ofēhtan

ofdrincan

ofclipian


el-

From Proto-West Germanic *ali-, *allja-, from Proto-Germanic *ali- ~ *alja-, combining form of *aljaz (“other”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂élyos. Cognate with Old Saxon eli-, Old High German eli-, and Old Norse alja-.


sin-

From Proto-West Germanic *sin-, from Proto-Germanic *sin-, from Proto-Indo-European *sem-. Cognate with Old Frisian sin-, Old Saxon sin-, Old High German sin-, Old Norse sí-.


ed-

Middle English: ed-

English: ed-

From Proto-West Germanic *id-, from Proto-Germanic *idi- (“back, backwards, again”). Akin to Old Saxon idug-, Old High German id-, ida-, dialectal German it-, Old Norse ið-, Gothic 𐌹𐌳- (id-).


gegn-

ġeġn- (canonical)
ġēan- (alternative)
ġeaġn- (alternative)
gēn- (alternative)

Middle English: ȝeyn-, gayn-, gain-

English: gain-

From Proto-West Germanic *gagin, from Proto-Germanic *gagin (“back, in return”). Compare Old Norse gegn.

gēanryne

gēanþingian

ġeġncwide


under-

From Proto-West Germanic *undar, from Proto-Germanic *under, from Proto-Indo-European *nter- (“between, among”), akin to Old English under (“under, beneath”), Old High German untar (“between, among”), Latin inter (“between, among”). More at inter-.

cog

understandan

to understand (originally 'to stand between', 'be near to both sides')

underscēotan


under-

From Proto-West Germanic *undar, from Proto-Germanic *under, from Proto-Indo-European *ndhero- (“lower”), akin to Old English under (“between, among, in the presence of”), Old High German untar (“under”), Latin infra (“below, beneath”).

underling


be-

desctree

Middle English: bi-, be-, by-, b- (in certain words)
English: be-
Scots: be-

An unstressed form of bī, from Proto-Germanic *bi-.

verbs with the sense "around, throughout";

transitive verbs from intransitive verbs, adjectives and nouns

a productive prefix usually used to form verbs and adjectives, especially:


or-

Middle English: or-

English: or-

From Proto-West Germanic *uʀ-, from Proto-Germanic *uz- (“out”), from unstressed Proto-Indo-European *uss-, from *uds- (“up, out”). Cognate with Old High German ur-, ir-, ar-, er-. More at out.

a- (alternative)
ā- (alternative)
ur- (alternative)
ǣ- (alternative)


af-

ofcuman, afcuman


ofer-

Middle English: over-

English: over-

From Proto-Germanic *uber. See ofer (“over”).

used to form nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs and prepositions having intensive force, or with a sense of "going over, above"


up-

Middle English: up-

English: up-


sam-

Middle English: sam-

English: sam

From Proto-West Germanic *sām-, a variant of Proto-West Germanic *sāmi-, from Proto-Germanic *sēmi-, from Proto-Indo-European *sēmi-. Cognate with Old Saxon sām-, Old High German sāmi-. Compare English semi-.

(figuratively) partially; incompletely, imperfectly


sam-

From Proto-West Germanic *sam, from Proto-Germanic *samaz (“together”), from Proto-Indo-European *somHós (“same”), Proto-Indo-European *sem- (“one, together”). Compare Old English samen (“together”), Old English same (“manner, similitude”).

der

samheort

union, combination, agreement; together, con-


and-

From Proto-West Germanic *anda-, from Proto-Germanic *andi-, representive of a combining form of and (“and”).
Cognate with Middle Dutch ont- (Dutch ont-), Old High German ant- (German ant-, ent-), Old Norse and- (Icelandic and- (“against, anti-, opposed to, in the face of”), Swedish an-), Gothic 𐌰𐌽𐌳- (and-).

cog

ond- (alternative)
an- (alternative)
on- (alternative)

andsaca

andswaru

andweard

andlang

andweorc

andleofen


oþ-

From unstressed Proto-West Germanic *unþa-.

ōþwendan

ōþwindan

ōþberan

ōþlenġan

ōþīeċan

ōþrīdan

ōþstillan

perfective; completely; intensifying an action


æ-

From Proto-West Germanic *ā- (“lacking, without”). Cognate with Old High German ā- (“without, un-”).

inh

without, lacking (usually forms nouns or adjectives)


geond-

ġeond- (canonical)
ġind- (alternative)
ġend- (alternative)
ġynd- (alternative)
eond- (alternative)
iand- (alternative)
ġond- (alternative)
ġiend- (alternative)
ġeon- (alternative)
ġiond- (alternative)

Middle English: yond-

ġeondfaran

ġeondbrǣdan

ġeonddrenċan

beyond, exceeding; entirely; excessively

ġeondeardian

expressing duration or continuation; throughout, through

ġeondflōwan


regn-

reġn- (canonical)
reġen- (alternative)
reġin- (alternative)
rēn- (alternative)

From Proto-West Germanic *ragin-, from Proto-Germanic *raginą. Akin to Old Saxon regin-, Old High German ragin-, regin- (compound found in personal names), Old Norse ragn-, rǫgn-, regin (“the Powers (ie. the gods)”), Old English reġnian, rēnian (“to prepare, arrange, order”), Gothic 𐍂𐌰𐌲𐌹𐌽𐍉𐌽 (raginōn, “to rule”), 𐍂𐌰𐌲𐌹𐌽𐌴𐌹𐍃 (ragineis, “ruler”), 𐍂𐌰𐌲𐌹𐌽 (ragin, “ordinance, counsel”). More at riht.

reġnheard

reġnweard

reġnþēof

reġnmeld


ut-

Middle English: ut-, out-

English: out-

Scots: oot-

From Proto-Germanic *ūt-, from Proto-Germanic *ūt (“out”), from Proto-Indo-European *úd (“away; out; outwards; upwards”). Akin to Old Frisian ūt-, Old Norse út-, Gothic 𐌿𐍄- (ūt-, “out”).


utan-

ūtan (canonical)
ūta- (alternative)
ūten- (alternative)

From ūtan (“outside”), oblique case of ūta (“outside, exterior”). More at ūt-.

ūtanweard

ūtancymen

ūtacund

ūtanbordes


wiþ-

desc

Middle English: wid-, vid-, vith-, with-

English: with-

Scots: with-

From Proto-West Germanic *wiþi-, from Proto-Germanic *wiþi-, related to Old English wiþ (“against”). Cognate with Old Frisian with-, Old Saxon with-, Old Norse við-.

wiþhabban

wiþcēosan

wiþhogian

wiþfaran

wiþferian

wiþheardan

completely, fully, entirely (perfective prefix)


fram-

From fram (“forward, from, out of”). More at from.

framfær

framdōn

framānȳdan

framāstyrian

from, forth, away, out, out of (compare Latin ex-, dē)


æfter-

Middle English: efter-, after-

English: after-

From æfter (“behind, after”). More at æfter.

æftergengel

æfterfylian, æfterfylġan

æftercnēoresu

æftersprecan

æfterhǣþa

æfterrynne

æfterspyrian

to track out, search for, inquire about, examine


þurh-

Middle English: þurh-, thurgh-, thurh-, thoru-, thrugh-, throu-

English: thorough-, through- (?)

through, over (with verbs of motion; compare Latin trans-)

thoroughly, completely; continually (with nouns, adjectives, adverbs; compare Latin per-)


forþ-

Middle English: forth-

English: forth-

forþgang

forth, forward; away; still, continuously

forþhealdan


wiþer-

Middle English: wither-

English: wither- (dialectal)

Scots: weather-, wother-, widder-

wiþercierran

wiþermāl

against, contrary, opposed to; anti-, counter-


niþer-

Middle English: neother-, nither-

English: nether-

niþerdǣl

below, beneath; situated in a lower position, lower

niþersettan

niþertorfian


æf-

ofþynċan (“to offend, to insult”) → æfþunca, æfþanca (“offense”)

æfgrynde

æfweard

æfwyrþ

æfwyrdla

æf- + wela (“wealth”) → æfwela (“decrease in wealth”)

absence, detriment, reduction; dis-, de-, un-


full-

desctree

Middle English: ful-, ffol-, fol-, full-, vol-
English: full-; (fulfil, fulfill)

From Proto-West Germanic *full-, *fulla- (“fully, completely”), related to Old English full (“full, complete”).

fulhār

fullcuman

fullġearwian

fullclǣne


seld-

seldsīene

seldcūþ

seldcyme


manig-

maniġ- (canonical)
meniġ- (alternative)
mæniġ- (alternative)
mæni- (alternative)

English: mani-, manifold

maniġfealdan

maniġhīwe


æt-

Middle English: at-, et-, æt-
English: at-

⇒ Middle English: atwite

English: twite, twit

ætbēon

ætbreġdan

ætclīþan

æteġian

ætealdod


fela-

felafeald

felaġeong


ongean-

onġēanwiþerian

onġēanwinnende

onġēancyme

onġēanfealdan

onġēanhweorfan

onġēanlecgan


eft-

Middle English: eft-

English: eft-

From Proto-West Germanic *afti- (“after, again”), from Proto-Germanic *aftiz.

inh

eftcyme


æg-

From ā (“ever”) + ġe- (collective and perfective prefix).

affix

ǣġhwā

ǣġhwæþer

ever; every, each, all, denotes universality (forms pronouns and adverbs)


med-

medstrang

medmiċel

medium-sized, moderate, unimportant, poor

medtrum

medwīs

middle, mediocre, average (often carrying a negative connotation)


ymb-

Middle English: umbe-, umb-, um- (in part)

English: um- (in part)

From Proto-West Germanic *umbi (“around”). Akin to Old English ymb, ymbe (“around, about”).

ymbe- (alternative)
umbe- (alternative)
embe- (alternative)

ymbfær

ymbeardian

ymbeþanc

ymbhȳdig

ymbwlātian

ymbesprǣċ

ymbbǣtan


uþ-

From stressed Proto-West Germanic *unþa-.

ūþgenġe

ūþmǣte

ūþwita


fer-

From Proto-Germanic *fer-, unstressed form of *firi- (“around, across”), *fra- (“away from, off of, fully”), *furi- (“before, forth, forward”). Akin to Old High German ver-, Gothic faír-.

fær- (alternative)
fear- (alternative)
feor- (alternative)
fier- (alternative)
for- (alternative)
fyr- (alternative)

unstressed form of Old English prefix for-


wel-

English: well-

weldǣd

welboren

wellīcian

welhwǣr

well, good, well-; abundantly; very, exceedingly; every (added to nouns, verbs, adjectives and pronouns)


dune-

Middle English: dun-, doun-, down-

English: down-

From dūne, ablative dative form of dūn (“hill, down”).

dūnestīġende


sundor-

From sundor. Cognate with Old Norse sundr-.


hinder-

English: hinder-

From hinder (“behind, after”, adjective and adverb).

hindergenga

hinderweard

hinderġēap

hinderhōc

hinderþēostru


ær-

From Proto-Germanic *airi- (“before”), cognate with Old English ǣr (“ere, before”).


steop-

desc

Middle English: steop-, step-, stappe-, ste-

English: step-

Scots: step-

From Proto-West Germanic *steupa- (“bereft, pushed out”).
Akin to Old Frisian stiap-, Old High German stiof- (German stief-), Old Norse stjup- (Swedish styv-), Middle Low German stef-, Dutch stief-, Old English āstīepan (“to bereave, orphan”), bestīepan (“to deprive of children”).


foran-

From foran (“before, opposite”), from oblique case of fora, fore (“forepart, front”). Akin to Old English fora, fore (“before”).

foranbodiġ

foranlencten

forandæġ


cyne-

cyne (nominative singular)
cynas (nominative plural)
cyne (accusative singular)
cynas (accusative plural)
cynes (genitive singular)
cyna (genitive plural)
cyne (dative singular)
cynum (dative plural)
cyn- (alternative)
cine- (alternative)
kyne- (alternative)
kyn- (alternative)
cyni- (alternative)

desctree

Middle English: kine-, coin-, ken-, kene-, kin-, kym-, kyne-, cune-, cyne- (Early Middle English)
(English: kindom)
(Scots: kinrick)

From Proto-West Germanic *kuni, from Proto-Germanic *kuniz (“race, genealogy”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵenh₁- (“to produce, beget”).

der

cyne- + boren (“born”) → cyneboren (“of royal birth”)

cyne- + botl (“dwelling”) → cynebotl (“royal palace”)

cyne- + cynn (“family”) → cynecynn (“royal family”)

cyne- + ġierd (“staff”) → cyneġierd (“scepter”)

cyne- + helm (“helmet”) → cynehelm (“crown”)

cyne- + hof (“hall”) → cynehof (“king's court”)

cyne- + rīċe (“realm”) → cynerīċe (“kingdom”)

cyne- + setl (“seat”) → cynesetl (“throne”)


fea-

From Proto-Germanic *fawaz (“small, few”), from *pau- (“smallness”). Akin to Old English fēawa (“few”), fēawe (“small, little”).

fēasceaft

fēalōg


middan-

From onmiddan, from on + oblique (dative) case of midde (“middle”).

middanġeard

the world, universe, globe, mankind, middle-earth

middansumor


micel-

miċel- (canonical)
myċel- (alternative)
miccl- (alternative)
micl- (alternative)

miċeldōende

miċelǣte

miċelmōd

miċelhēafdede


betweon-

betwēon- (canonical)
betwīn- (alternative)

From betwēonum (“between, near to both”).

betwīnforlētnes


ang-

From Proto-West Germanic *angu-, from Proto-Germanic *anguz, related to Old English ange, enge.

angbrēost "tightness in the chest, shortness of breath, asthma"

angmōd

angnæġl

angset


hund-

From Proto-West Germanic *hund-, apparently from a metathesis of numerals ending in Proto-Germanic *-tēhundą, placing the hund- at the fore. Akin to Old Saxon ant- (compare Dutch tachtig (“eighty”)).

hundeahtatiġ

prefix used at the beginning of numerals from 70 to 120


hund-

From Proto-Germanic *hundą (“hundred”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱm̥tóm (“hundred”). Akin to Old English hund (“hundred”).

hundwelle

hundfrēa

hundwintre

of a hundred winters, aged 100 years, 100 years old


hund-

hundwealh


eormen-

From Proto-West Germanic *ermun-, *irmin-, from Proto-Germanic *ermunaz. Akin to Old Saxon irmin-, Icelandic jörmun-.

iermen- (alternative)
yrmen- (alternative)
irmen- (alternative)

eormencynn

eormenlāf

greatness, universality; whole, immense, pan-


onweg-

onweġ- (canonical)
anweġ- (alternative)
āweġ- (alternative)

Middle English: awei-


gean-

ġēan- (canonical)
geġn- (alternative)
ġēn- (alternative)


weas-

wēasġelimp


weden-

From Proto-Germanic *wōdīnaz (“insanity”).

wēdensēoc

wēdenheort

raving mad, crazy, insane, lunatic; madness

wēdenheortness


samod-

From samod (“together”) from Proto-Germanic *samaþa (“together”). Akin to Old High German samit (“together”).

samed- (alternative)
somod- (alternative)

samodfæst

samodcumende

samodherian

samodsīþian

samodwyrcende

samodsprǣċ

samodtang

samodswēġend

samodeard

samodġeflit


þri-

From Proto-West Germanic *þri-, from Proto-Germanic *þri-, combining form of *þrīz (“three”).


fiþer-

From Proto-Germanic *feþur- (“four”), from Proto-Indo-European *kʷetwóres (“four”). Akin to Old English fēower (“four”).

feoþer- (alternative)
fyþer- (alternative)

fiþerfeald

fiþerrīċe


þrim-

From Proto-Germanic *þrim, dative form of *þrīz (“three”). Akin to Old English þrīe (“three”).

þrym- (alternative)
þreom- (alternative)

þrimfeald

þrimen


bile-

From Proto-Germanic *bili- (prefix), *biliz (“gentle, kind, fitting”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰil- (“decent, good, harmonious, friendly”). Cognate with Old Saxon bili- (“uniform”), Old High German bili- (“suitable, proper, fit”), Ancient Greek φίλο- (phílo-, “friendly, kind, love of”). More at philosophy.

cog

bele- (alternative)
bil- (alternative)
byl- (alternative)
byly- (alternative)

bile- + witt (“mind, understanding, sense, sanity”) → bilewit (“merciful, kind”)

bile- + hwīt (“white”) → bilehwīt (“pure, honest, sincere”)


ander-

From Proto-West Germanic *anþar, from Proto-Germanic *anþeraz (“other, back, in return”). Compare Old Norse endr- (“re-”).

der

anderġilde

denoting reversal or something done in return


frea-

frēabeorht

frēahræd

frēafætt

an intensifying prefix meaning "very", "extremely", "exceedingly"


ni-

From earlier *niwi-, before a regular sound change in which non-word-initial *w was lost before fully unstressed *i. The same sound change occurred to ǣ (“law”) ← *ǣi ← *āwi, sǣ (“sea”) ← *sǣi ← *sāwi, and glī (“joy”) ← *gliwi. It must have also occurred to nīewe (“new”) in the nominative singular, producing *nī ← *niwi, but its *w was restored by analogy with its inflected forms, which had a following *j instead of *i.


arce-

arċe- (canonical)
ærċe- (alternative)
erċe- (alternative)

Middle English: arche-

English: arch-


wæfer-

From Old English wafian ("to be agitated, astonished, amazed")


nan-

nān- (canonical)
nā- (alternative)
nō- (alternative)

Middle English: non-, no-, na-

gl

English: no- (fossilised in noway, nobody, noman, nowhere, etc.)

Scots: na-, nae-

merged with Old French <i class="Latn mention" lang="fro">non-</i>

⇒ Middle English: non- (merged with Old French non-)

English: non-

Scots: non-

nānan (“no one”, literally “none one”)

nānþing (“nothing”, literally “none thing”)

nānwiht (“naught, nothing”, literally “none creature”)


æl-

Middle English: all-, al-

English: all-, al-

Scots: a'-, aw- au-

From Proto-West Germanic *ala-, from Proto-Germanic *ala- (“all, whole”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- (“other, beyond”), related to Proto-Germanic *allaz (“all”), which comes from *h₂elnós.

der

eal- (alternative)
eall- (alternative)
al- (alternative)

æl- + gylden (“golden”) → ælgylden (“made of pure gold”)

æl- + miht (“power”) → ælmiht (“omnipotence”)

æl- + mihtiġ (“powerful”) → ælmihtiġ (“all-powerful”)

æl- + nīewe (“new”) → ælnīewe (“brand new”)

æl- + mierca (“dark”) → ælmierca (“black person”)

æl- + fela (“many”) → ælfela (“very many”)


æl-

From Proto-Germanic *alja- ~ *ali-, combining form of *aljaz (“other”).


betweox-

betwēox- (canonical)
betux- (alternative)
betweohs- (alternative)
betwisc- (alternative)
betwixt- (alternative)
betwux- (alternative)
betwyx- (alternative)

betweox- + āworpen (“thrown out”) + -nes (“-ness”) → betweoxāworpennes (“interjection”)

betweox- + āleged (“laid down”) + -nes (“-ness”) → betweoxālegednes (“interposition, interjection”)

betweox- + blinnan (“stop”) + -nes (“-ness”) → betweoxblinnes (“intermission”)

betweox- + forlǣtan (“let, leave”) + -nes (“-ness”) → betweoxforlǣtnes (“intermission”)


Angel-

Ultimately related to the plural noun Engle (“the English,” originally “the Angles”), possibly from an unattested singular form *Angul or *Angel, related to Angel (“Anglia”), the Angles' original homeland in continental Europe, or else from a root common to all these terms. Similar prefixes exist for other peoples, in words like Wendelsǣ (“the Mediterranean,” literally “the Vandal-sea”) and Swēoland (“Sweden,” literally “Swede-land”).

Angol- (alternative)
Angul- (alternative)
Ongol- (alternative)


efn-

Middle English: even-, euen-

English: even-

From the adjective efn, descended from Proto-Germanic *ebnaz.

efen- (alternative)
emn- (alternative)
em- (alternative)
efne- (alternative)

efn- + eald (“old”) → efneald (“of the same age”)

efn- + gōd (“good”) → efngōd (“just as good”)

efn- + niht (“night”) → efnniht (“equinox”)

efn- + heorte (“heart”) → efnheorte (“harmony, concord”)

efn- + cempa (“soldier”) → efncempa (“fellow soldier”)

efn- + þrōwian (“to suffer”) → efnþrōwian (“to sympathize”)

efn- + wyrċan (“to work”) → efnwyrċan (“to work together, cooperate”)

efn- + wyrhta (“worker”) → efnwyrhta (“co-worker”)


heafod-

Middle English: heed

English: head

From Proto-West Germanic *haubida- (“main”), derived from the noun *haubid (“head”) (Old English hēafod). Cognate with Old Frisian hāved-, Old Saxon hōvid-, Old Dutch hōvit-, and Old High German houbit-.

hēafod- + burg (“city”) → hēafodburg (“capital”)

hēafod- + ċiriċe (“church”) → hēafodċiriċe (“cathedral”)

hēafod- + mann (“person”) → hēafodmann (“captain”)

hēafod- + synn (“sin”) → hēafodsynn (“deadly sin”)

hēafod- + weġ (“road”) → hēafodweġ (“main road”)


simel-

Represents either the adverb simle or the adjective simel, which is otherwise recorded only in the phrase on simel.

simbel- (alternative)
symbel- (alternative)
simle- (alternative)


healf-

Middle English: half-

English: half-


æþel-

æþæl- (alternative)
ædil- (alternative)
æthil- (alternative)
eþel- (alternative)

Prefix denoting nobility, highness in hierarchy


betwyh

late 9th century, translation of Bede's Ecclesiastical History
Breoton ist gārseċġes ēalond, ðæt wæs iū Albion hāten: is ġeseted betwyh norðdǣle and westdǣle, Ġermanie ⁊ Gallie ⁊ Hispanie þām mǣstum dǣlum Europe myċċle fæce onġeġn.

Britain is an island of the sea, which was formerly called Albion: is is situated between the north and west, opposite of and far from Germania and Gaul and Hispania, the largest divisions of Europe.


som-

sōmcuc (“half-alive”)