Prefixes

One characteristic feature of Old English verbs is the extensive use of prefixes added to a base verb in order to change its meaning. This is still seen in modern English. For example, in the verbs like 'undo' and 'unlock', the prefix un- has reversed the meaning of the verb.

In Old English there are some regularly used prefixes that are recognisable from their modern day descendants, but there are also some that are less familiar. For example, we might recognise the term forberan (meaning forbear, or endure), but Old English also has 'geberan - to bring forth/support ', 'aberan - to endure or to bear away', and 'forþberan - to bear forth'. Below is a table of some of the most common verbal prefixes and their meanings.

So if you want to say you 'thought about' something, rather than just 'thought' it, you would use 'beþencan' as opposed to 'þencan'. Similarly, if you wanted to say you 'looked around', you'd use 'beseah' but if you 'saw' (and had finished seeing) you'd use 'geseah'. Examine the verbs in sentences, 'Se þe soð on his heortan beðencð - He who considers the truth in his heart ' and 'Þa hie besawon hie, nanne hie mid him ne gesawon - When they looked around them, they saw no one with him'.

As well as modifying verbs, prefixes are often added to nouns with a smiliar effect. So, the noun un-weder means 'bad weather' and the noun utscytan (from scyt - defacate + prefix 'ut') gives a very descriptive noun for diarrhoea. One thing to bear in mind with the prefix ge-, which you've already come across in the past participles section of this module, is that it has a similar 'perfective' effect when placed in front of the participle - in the sense that it indicates a completed action - so the past participle of 'hieran - to hear' may be written as hiered - heard, or as gehiered, with the prefix ge- reinforcing its completedness.

Now that you've learned a bit more about verbs and prefixes, continue to a summary of this module.