The following are the most important prefixes, some of which are _verbal_,
being confined to verbs and words formed directly from them; some
_nominal_, being confined to nouns and adjectives.
[=a]- (1) originally 'forth,' 'away,' as in _[=a].r[=i]san_, 'rise forth,'
'arise'; _[=a].faran_, 'go away,''depart'; but generally only intensive, as
in _[=a].cw[e,]llan_ (kill), _[=a].hr[=e]osan_ (fall).
(2) = 'ever' in pronouns and particles, where it gives an indefinite sense,
as in _[=a]-hw[=ae]r_ (anywhere), _[=a]-wiht_ (anything).
[=ae][.g]- from _[=a]-[.g]e_-, the _[=a]_ being mutated and the _e_
dropped, has a similar meaning, as in _[=ae][.g]-hwelc_ (each),
_[=ae][.g]ther_ = _[=ae][.g]-hwaether_ (either).
be-, originally 'by,' 'around' (cp. the preposition _be_), (1) specializes
the meaning of a transitive verb, as in _be.s[e,]ttan_ (beset, surround),
_be.s[.c]ieran_ (shear); (2) makes an intransitive verb transitive, as in
_be.th[e,]n[.c]an_ (consider) from _th[e,]n[.c]an_ (think); (3) gives a
privative meaning, as in _be.h[=e]afdian_ (behead). In some words, such as
_be.cuman_ (come), it is practically unmeaning. {37}
for- (which is distinct from the preposition _for_) generally has the sense
of 'loss' or 'destruction,' as in _for.d[=o]n_ (destroy), _for.weorthan_
(perish). Of course, if the verb with which it is compounded already has
this meaning, it acts merely as an intensitive, as in _for.br[=e]otan_
(break up, break), _for.scrincan_ (shrink up). It also modifies in a bad
sense generally, as in _for.s[=e]on_ (despise), or negatives, as in
_for.b[=e]odan_ (forbid).
[.g]e- originally meant 'together,' as in _[.g]e.f[=e]ra_
(fellow-traveller, companion) from _f[=e]ran_ (travel). With verbs it often
signifies 'completion,' 'attainment,' and hence 'success,' as in
_[.g]e.g[=a]n_ (conquer), originally 'go over,' or 'reach,' _[.g]e.winnan_
(win) from _winnan_ (fight). Hence generally prefixed to _h[=i]eran_ and
_s[=e]on_, _[.g]e.h[=i]eran_ and _[.g]e.s[=e]on_ strictly meaning 'succeed
in hearing, seeing.' It is generally prefixed to past participles (p. 23),
where it originally gave the meaning of completion--_[.g]e.lufod_ =
'completely loved.'
mis- = 'mis,' as in _mis-d[=ae]d_ (misdeed).
n- = _ne_ (not), as in _n[=a]_ (not), literally 'never,' _n[=ae]fre_
(never), _naes_ (was not) = _ne waes_.
on- as a verbal prefix has nothing to do with the preposition _on_. It
properly signifies 'separation,' as in _on.l[=u]can_ (open) from _l[=u]can_
(lock, close), but is often practically unmeaning, as in _on.[.g]innan_
(begin).
or-, literally 'out of,' is privative, as in _orsorg_ (unconcerned) from
_sorg_ (sorrow).
t[=o]- as a verbal prefix has nothing to do with the preposition _t[=o]_
(which occurs in _t[=o].gaedre_, 'together,' &c.), but signifies
'separation,' as in _t[=o].berstan_ (burst asunder), _t[=o].bre[.g]dan_
(shake off), and hence 'destruction,' as in _t[=o].cw[=i]esan_ (crush to
pieces, bruise).
un- negatives, as in _un-[.g]es[=ae]li[.g]_ (unhappy). {38}