be-的词源

英文词源

be-: word-forming element with a wide range of meaning: "thoroughly, completely; to make, cause seem; to provide with; at, on, to, for," from Old English be- "on all sides" (also used to make transitive verbs and as a privative or intensive prefix), from weak form of Old English bi "by," probably cognate with second syllable of Greek amphi, Latin ambi and originally meaning "about" (see ambi-).

This sense naturally drifted into intensive (as in bespatter "spatter about," therefore "spatter very much"). Be- can also be privative (as in behead), causative, or have just about any sense required. The prefix was productive 16c.-17c. in forming useful words, many of which have not survived, such as bethwack "to thrash soundly" (1550s), betongue "to assail in speech, to scold" (1630s).

来自古英语bi, 同现代英语by，来自PIE *bhi, 来自*dwo, 二，词源同two. 由二引申为周围，整个，看起来是，产生，或变成（该词义也受到单词be的影响）等众多很宽泛甚至模糊的词义，见because, become, before,beget, begin.

该词的英语词源请访问趣词词源英文版：be- 词源，be- 含义。