Anglo-Saxon Primer, With Grammar, Notes, and Glossary Eighth Edition Revised
Part 3
-teth _becomes_ -tt _as in_ l[=ae]tt _from_ l[=ae]tan (_let_). -deth " -tt " b[=i]tt " b[=i]dan (_wait_). -ddeth " -tt " bitt " biddan (_pray_). -theth " -thth " cwithth " cwethan (_say_). -seth " -st " [.c][=i]est " [.c][=e]osan (_choose_). -ndeth " -nt " bint " bindan (_bind_).
Double consonants become single, as in _h[=e] fielth_ from _feallan_.
Before the _-st_ of the 2nd pers. consonants are often dropt, as in _th[=u] cwist_ from _cwethan_, _th[=u] [.c][=i]est_ from _[.c][=e]osan_; and _d_ becomes _t_, as in _th[=u] bintst_ from _bindan_.
For the changes between _s_ and _r_, _th_ and _d_, _g_ and _h_, see p. 7.
Some verbs, such as _s[=e]on_ (see), drop the _h_ and contract before most inflections beginning with a vowel:--_ic s[=e]o_, _w[=e] s[=e]oth_, _t[=o] s[=e]onne_; but _h[=e] sihth_.
There are seven conjugations of strong verbs, distinguished mainly by the different formation of their preterites. The following lists comprise all the strong verbs that occur in the texts given in this book, together with several others of the commoner ones.
I. 'Fall'-conjugation.
The pret. sing. and pl. has _[=e]o_ or _[=e]_, and the past partic. retains the original vowel of the infinitive. {25}
(_a_) [=e]o-_preterites_.
ea:-- INFINITIVE. THIRD PRES. PRET. SING. PRET. PL. PTC. PRET. feallan (_fall_) fielth f[=e]oll f[=e]ollon feallen healdan (_hold_) hielt h[=e]old h[=e]oldon healden wealdan (_wield_) wielt w[=e]old w[=e]oldon wealden weaxan (_grow_) wiext w[=e]ox w[=e]oxon weaxen
[=a]:-- bl[=a]wan (_blow_) bl[=ae]wth bl[=e]ow bl[=e]owon bl[=a]wen cn[=a]wan (_know_) cn[=ae]wth cn[=e]ow cn[=e]owon cn[=a]wen s[=a]wan (_sow_) s[=ae]wth s[=e]ow s[=e]owon s[=a]wen
[=e]:-- w[=e]pan (_weep_) w[=e]pth w[=e]op w[=e]opon w[=o]pen
_W[=e]pan_ has really a weak present (p. 30) with mutation (the original _[=o]_ re-appearing in the past partic.), but it makes no difference in the inflection.
[=o]:-- fl[=o]wan (_flow_) fl[=e]wth fl[=e]ow fl[=e]owon fl[=o]wen gr[=o]wan (_grow_) gr[=e]wth gr[=e]ow gr[=e]owon gr[=o]wen r[=o]wan (_row_) r[=e]wth r[=e]ow r[=e]owon r[=o]wen
[=e]a:-- b[=e]atan (_beat_) b[=i]ett b[=e]ot b[=e]oton b[=e]aten h[=e]awan (_hew_) h[=i]ewth h[=e]ow h[=e]owon h[=e]awen hl[=e]apan (_leap_) hl[=i]epth hl[=e]op hl[=e]opon hl[=e]apen
(_b_) [=e]-_preterites_.
[=a]:-- h[=a]tan (_command_) h[=ae]tt h[=e]t h[=e]ton h[=a]ten
[=ae]:-- l[=ae]tan (_let_) l[=ae]tt l[=e]t l[=e]ton l[=ae]ten
[=o]:-- f[=o]n (_seize_) f[=e]hth f[=e]ng f[=e]ngon fangen h[=o]n (_hang_) h[=e]hth h[=e]ng h[=e]ngon hangen
{26}
II. 'Shake'-conjugation.
Verbs in _a_ (_ea_) and _[e,]_ (_ie_). _[=O]_ in pret. sing, and pl., _a_ (_ae_) in partic. pret. _Standan_ drops its _n_ in the pret. The partic. pret. of _sw[e,]rian_ is irregular.
a:--
INFINITIVE. THIRD. PRES. PRET. SING. PRET. PL. PTC. PRET. faran (_go_) faerth f[=o]r f[=o]ron faren sacan (_quarrel_) saecth s[=o]c s[=o]con sacen scacan (_shake_) scaecth sc[=o]c sc[=o]con scacen standan (_stand_) st[e,]nt st[=o]d st[=o]don standen
The following shows contraction of original _ea_:--
sl[=e]an (_strike_) sliehth sl[=o]g sl[=o]gon slae[.g]en
[e,]:--
h[e,]bban (_lift_) h[e,]fth h[=o]f h[=o]fon hafen s[.c]ieppan (_create_) s[.c]iepth sc[=o]p sc[=o]pon scapen sw[e,]rian (_swear_) sw[e,]reth sw[=o]r sw[=o]ron sworen
The presents of these verbs are inflected weak, so that their imperative sing. is _h[e,]fe_ and _sw[e,]re_, like that of _w[e,]nian_ (p. 32). _Sw[e,]rian_ has indic. _sw[e,]rige_, _sw[e,]rest_, like _w[e,]nian_; _h[e,]bban_ has _h[e,]bbe_, _h[e,]fst_, &c. like _h[=i]eran_ (p. 30).
III. 'Bind'-conjugation.
_I_ (_ie_, _e_, _eo_) followed by two consonants, one or both of which is nearly always a liquid (_l_, _r_) or nasal (_m_, _n_) in the infin., _a_ (_ae_, _ea_) in pret. sing., _u_ in pret. pl., _u_ (_o_) in ptc. pret. _Findan_ has a weak preterite.
i:--
INFINITIVE. THIRD PRES. PRET.SING. PRET. PL. PTC. PRET. bindan (_bind_) bint band bundon bunden drincan (_drink_) drincth dranc druncon druncen findan (_find_) fint funde fundon funden [.g]ieldan (_pay_) [.g]ielt [.g]eald guldon golden (on)[.g]innan (_begin_) -[.g]inth -gann -gunnon -gunnen {27} grindan (_grind_) grint grand grundon grunden iernan (_run_) [p. 7] iernth arn urnon urnen [.g]e-.limpan (_happen_) -limpth -lamp -lumpon -lumpen scrincan (_shrink_) scrincth scranc scruncon scruncen springan (_spring_) springth sprang sprungon sprungen swincan (_toil_) swincth swanc swuncon swuncen windan (_wind_) wint wand wundon wunden winnan (_fight_) winth wann wunnon wunnen
e:--
berstan (_burst_) bierst baerst burston borsten bre[.g]dan (_pull_) ... brae[.g]d brugdon brogden delfan (_dig_) dilfth dealf dulfon dolfen sweltan (_die_) swilt swealt swulton swolten
eo:--
beorgan (_protect_) bierhth bearg burgon borgen beornan (_burn_)[p. 7] biernth barn burnon burnen [.c]eorfan (_cut_) [.c]ierfth [.c]earf curfon corfen feohtan (_fight_) fieht feaht fuhton fohten weorpan (_throw_) wierpth wearp wurpon worpen weorthan (_become_) wierth wearth wurdon worden
IV. 'Bear'-conjugation.
Verbs in _e_ (_i_), followed by a single consonant, generally a liquid or nasal; in _brecan_ the liquid precedes the vowel. _A_ (_ae_) in pret. sing., _[=ae]_ (_[=a]_) in pret. pl., _o_ (_u_) in ptc. pret. _Cuman_ is irregular.
i:--
INFINITIVE. THIRD PRES. PRET. SG. PRET. PL. PTC. PRET. niman (_take_) nimth nam n[=a]mon numen
e:--
beran (_bear_) bierth baer b[=ae]ron boren brecan (_break_) bricth braec br[=ae]con brocen s[.c]eran (_shear_) s[.c]ierth s[.c]ear s[.c][=e]aron scoren stelan (_steal_) stilth stael st[=ae]lon stolen teran (_tear_) .. taer t[=ae]ron toren
{28}
u:--
cuman (_come_) cymth c[=o]m c[=o]mon cumen
V. 'Give'-conjugation.
Verbs in _e_ (_i_, _eo_, _ie_) followed by single consonants, which are not liquids or nasals. This class differs from the last only in the ptc. pret. which keeps the vowel of the infinitive.
e:--
INFINITIVE. THIRD PRES. PRET. SG. PRET. PL. PTC. PRET. cwethan (_say_) cwithth cwaeth cw[=ae]don cweden etan (_eat_) itt [=ae]t [=ae]ton eten sprecan (_speak_) spricth spraec spr[=ae]con sprecen wrecan (_avenge_) wricth wraec wr[=ae]con wrecen
i:--
biddan (_pray_) bitt baed b[=ae]don beden li[.c][.g]an (_lie_) l[=i]th lae[.g] l[=ae]gon le[.g]en sittan (_sit_) sitt saet s[=ae]ton seten thi[.c][.g]an (_receive_) thi[.g]eth theah th[=ae]gon the[.g]en
All these have weak presents:--imper. _bide_, _li[.g]e_, _site_, _thi[.g]e_. Their _i_s are mutations of the _e_ which appears in their past partic.
ie:--
[.g]iefan (_give_) [.g]iefth [.g]eaf [.g][=e]afon [.g]iefen (on)[.g]ietan (_understand_) -[.g]iett -[.g]eat -[.g][=e]aton -[.g]ieten
The following is contracted in most forms:--
s[=e]on (_see_) sihth seah s[=a]won sewen
VI. 'Shine'-conjugation.
Verbs in _[=i]_, with pret. sing, in _[=a]_, pl. _i_, ptc. pret. _i_.
INFINITIVE. THIRD PRES. PRET. SING. PRET. PL. PTC. PRET. b[=i]dan (_wait_) b[=i]tt b[=a]d bidon biden b[=i]tan (_bite_) b[=i]tt b[=a]t biton biten dr[=i]fan (_drive_) dr[=i]fth dr[=a]f drifon drifen {29} (be)l[=i]fan (_remain_) -l[=i]fth -l[=a]f -lifon -lifen r[=i]dan (_ride_) r[=i]tt r[=a]d ridon riden r[=i]pan (_reap_) r[=i]pth r[=a]p ripon ripen ([=a])r[=i]san (_rise_) -r[=i]st -r[=a]s -rison -risen s[.c][=i]nan (_shine_) s[.c][=i]nth sc[=a]n s[.c]inon s[.c]inen sn[=i]than (_cut_) sn[=i]thth sn[=a]th snidon sniden st[=i]gan (_ascend_) st[=i][.g]th st[=a]g stigon sti[.g]en (be)sw[=i]can (_deceive_) -sw[=i]cth -sw[=a]c -swicon -swicen [.g]e.w[=i]tan (_depart_) -w[=i]tt w[=a]t -witon -witen wr[=i]tan (_write_) wr[=i]tt wr[=a]t writon writen
VII. 'Choose'-conjugation.
Verbs in _[=e]o_ and _[=u]_, with pret. sing. _[=e]a_, pl. _u_, ptc. pret. _o_. _Fl[=e]on_ and _t[=e]on_ contract.
INFINITIVE. THIRD PRES. PRET. SING. PRET. PL. PTC. PRET. b[=e]odan (_offer_) b[=i]ett b[=e]ad budon boden br[=e]otan (_break_) br[=i]ett br[=e]at bruton broten [.c][=e]osan (_choose_) [.c][=i]est [.c][=e]as curon coren fl[=e]ogan (_fly_) fl[=i]ehth fl[=e]ag flugon flogen fl[=e]on (_flee_) fl[=i]ehth fl[=e]ah flugon flogen fl[=e]otan (_float_) fl[=i]ett fl[=e]at fluton floten hr[=e]osan (_fall_) hr[=i]est hr[=e]as hruron hroren hr[=e]owan (_rue_) hr[=i]ewth hr[=e]aw hruwon hrowen for.l[=e]osan (_lose_) -l[=i]est -l[=e]as -luron -loren s[.c][=e]otan (_shoot_) s[.c][=i]ett s[.c][=e]at scuton scoten sm[=e]ocan (_smoke_) sm[=i]ecth sm[=e]ac smucon smocen t[=e]on (_pull_) t[=i]ehth t[=e]ah tugon togen [=a]-thr[=e]otan (_fail_) -thr[=i]ett -thr[=e]at -thruton -throten
[=u]:--
br[=u]can (_enjoy_) br[=y]cth br[=e]ac brucon brocen b[=u]gan (_bow_) b[=y]hth b[=e]ag bugon bogen l[=u]can (_lock_) l[=y]cth l[=e]ac lucon locen l[=u]tan (_bow_) l[=y]tt l[=e]at luton loten sc[=u]fan (_push_) sc[=y]fth s[.c][=e]af scufon scofen
{30}
WEAK VERBS.
There are three conjugations of weak verbs--(1) in _-an_, pret. _-de_ (_h[=i]eran_, _h[=i]erde_, 'hear'); (2) in _-ian_, pret. _-ede_ (_w[e,]nian_, _w[e,]nede_, 'wean'); (3) in _-ian_, pret. _-ode_ (_lufian_, _lufode_, 'love'). The verbs of the first two conjugations nearly all have a mutated vowel in the present and infinitive, which those of the third conjugation very seldom have.
I. _an-_verbs.
This class of weak verbs has the same endings as the strong verbs, except in the pret. and past partic., which are formed by adding _-de_ and _-ed_ respectively, with the following consonant changes.
-ndde _becomes_ -nde _as in_ s[e,]nde _from_ s[e,]ndan (_send_). -llde " -lde " fylde " fyllan (_fill_). -tde " -tte " m[=e]tte " m[=e]tan (_find_). -pde " -pte " dypte " dyppan (_dip_). -cde " -hte " t[=ae]hte " t[=ae][.c]an (_show_).
The past partic. is generally contracted in the same way:--_s[e,]nd_, _m[=e]tt_, _t[=ae]ht_, but some of them often retain the uncontracted forms:--_fylled_, _dypped_. When declined like adjectives they drop their _e_ where practicable:--_fylled_, plur. _fylde_; _h[=i]ered_, _h[=i]erde_.
The 2nd and 3rd pres. sing. ind. are contracted as in the strong verbs.
(_a_) 'Hear'_-class_.
INDICATIVE. SUBJUNCTIVE. _Pres. sing._ 1. h[=i]er-e (_hear_), h[=i]er-e. 2. h[=i]er-st, h[=i]er-e. 3. h[=i]er-th, h[=i]er-e. _plur._ h[=i]er-ath, h[=i]er-en. {31}
_Pret. sing._ 1. h[=i]er-de, h[=i]er-de. 2. h[=i]er-dest, h[=i]er-de. 3. h[=i]er-de, h[=i]er-de. _plur._ h[=i]er-don, h[=i]er-den.
Imper. sing. h[=i]er; plur. h[=i]er-ath. Infin. h[=i]er-an. Ptc. pres. h[=i]er-ende; pret. h[=i]er-ed. Gerund. t[=o] h[=i]er-enne.
Further examples of this class are:--
INFINITIVE. THIRD PRES. PRET. PARTIC. PRET. aet.[=i]ewan (_show_) -[=i]ewth -[=i]ewde -[=i]ewed. c[=y]than (_make known_) c[=y]thth c[=y]thde c[=y]thed, c[=y]dd fyllan (_fill_) fylth fylde fylled (n[=e]a)l[=ae][.c]an (_approach_) -l[=ae][.c]th -l[=ae]hte -l[=ae]ht l[=ae]dan (_lead_) l[ae]tt l[=ae]dde l[=ae]dd l[e,][.c][.g]an (_lay_) l[e,][.g]th l[e,][.g]de l[e,][.g]d [.g]e.l[=i]efan (_believe_) -l[=i]efth -l[=i]efde -l[=i]efed n[e,]mnan (_name_) n[e,]mneth n[e,]mnde n[e,]mned s[e,]ndan (_send_) s[e,]nt s[e,]nde s[e,]nd s[e,]ttan (_set_) s[e,]tt s[e,]tte s[e,]tt sm[=e]an (_consider_) sm[=e]ath sm[=e]ade sm[=e]ad t[=ae][.c]an (_show_) t[=ae][.c]th t[=ae]hte t[=ae]ht w[e,]ndan (_turn_) w[e,]nt w[e,]nde w[e,]nd
(_b_) 'Seek'-_class_.
In this class the mutated vowels lose their mutation in the preterite and past partic., besides undergoing other changes in some verbs.
Those in double consonants (and _[.c][.g]_) simplify them in the contracted 2nd and 3rd sing. pres. indic.:--_s[e,]lle_, _s[e,]lst_, _s[e,]lth_; _s[e,][.c][,g]e_, _s[e,][.g]st_, _s[e,][.g]th_; also in the imperative, which is formed as in Conj. II:--_s[e,]le_, _s[e,][.g]e_, _by[.g]e_, &c. {32}
[e,]:--
INFINITIVE. THIRD PRES. PRET. PARTIC. PRET.
cw[e,]llan (_kill_) cw[e,]lth cwealde cweald r[e,][.c][.c]an (_tell_) r[e,][.c]th reahte reaht s[e,][.c][.g]an (_say_) s[e,][.g]th sae[.g]de sae[.g]d s[e,]llan (_give_) s[e,]lth sealde seald w[e,][.c][.c]an (_wake_) w[e,][.c]th weahte weaht th[e,]n[.c]an (_think_) th[e,]n[.c]th th[=o]hte th[=o]ht
i:--
bringan (_bring_) bringth br[=o]hte br[=o]ht
y:--
by[.c][.g]an (_buy_) by[.g]th bohte boht thyn[.c]an (_appear_) thyn[.c]th th[=u]hte th-uht wyr[.c]an (_work_) wyr[.c]th worhte worht
[=e]:--
r[=e][.c]an (_care_) r[=e][.c]th r[=o]hte r[=o]ht s[=e][.c]an (_seek_) s[=e][.c]th s[=o]hte s[=o]ht
II. 'Wean'-_conjugation_.
INDICATIVE. SUBJUNCTIVE. _Pres. sing._ 1. w[e,]n-i[.g]e (_wean_), w[e,]n-i[.g]e. 2. w[e,]n-est, w[e,]n-i[.g]e. 3. w[e,]n-eth, w[e,]n-i[.g]e. _plur._ w[e,]n-iath, w[e,]n-ien.
_Pret. sing._ 1. w[e,]n-ede, w[e,]n-ede. 2. w[e,]n-edest, w[e,]n-ede. 3. w[e,]n-ede, w[e,]n-ede. _plur._ w[e,]n-edon, w[e,]n-eden.
_Imper._ w[e,]n-e, w[e,]n-iath. _Infin._ w[e,]n-ian. _Partic. pres._ w[e,]n-iende; _pret._ w[e,]n-ed. _Gerund._ t[=o] w[e,]n-ienne.
{33}
So are conjugated all weak verbs with a short mutated root syllable, such as _f[e,]rian_ (carry), _w[e,]rian_ (defend), _[.g]e.byrian_ (befit). There are not many of them.
III. 'Love'-_conjugation_.
INDICATIVE. SUBJUNCTIVE. _Pres. sing._ 1. luf-i[.g]e (_love_), luf-i[.g]e. 2. luf-ast, luf-i[.g]e. 3. luf-ath, luf-i[.g]e. _plur._ luf-iath, luf-ien.
_Pret. sing._ 1. luf-ode, luf-ode. 2. luf-odest, luf-ode. 3. luf-ode, luf-ode. _plur._ luf-odon, luf-oden.
_Imper._ luf-a, luf-iath. _Infin._ luf-ian. _Partic. pres._ luf-iende: _pret._ luf-od. _Gerund._ t[=o] luf-ienne.
So also _[=a]scian_ (ask), _macian_ (make), _weorthian_ (honour), and many others.
_Irregularities._
Some verbs are conjugated partly after I, partly after III. Such are _habban_ (have) and _libban_ (live).
_Habban_ has pres. indic. _haebbe_, _haefst_, _haefth_; _habbath_, subj. _haebbe_, _haebben_, pret. _haefde_, imper. _hafa_, _habbath_, particc. _habbende_, _haefd_.
_Libban_ has pres. _libbe_, _leofast_, _leofath_; _libbath_, subj. _libbe_, pret. _leofode_, imper. _leofa_, _libbath_, particc. _libbende_, _lifiende_; _leofod_.
_F[e,]tian_ (fetch) has pret. _f[e,]tte_.
STRONG-WEAK VERBS.
The strong-weak verbs have for their presents old strong preterites, from which new weak preterites are formed. Note the occasional second person sing. in _t_. {34}
INDICATIVE. SUBJUNCTIVE. _Pres. sing._ 1. w[=a]t (_know_), wite. 2. w[=a]st, wite. 3. w[=a]t, wite. _plur._ witon, witen.
_Pret._ wiste.
_Imper._ wite, witath. _Infin._ witan. _Partic. pres._ witende; _pret._ witen.
The other most important weak-strong verbs are given below in the 1st and 2nd sing. pres. indic., in the plur. indic., in the pret., in the infin. and partic. pret. Of several the last two forms are doubtful, or do not exist.
[=A]h (_possess_), [=a]ge, [=a]gon; [=a]hte; [=a]gen (_only as adjective_)[4].
Cann (_know_) canst, cunnon; c[=u]the; cunnan; c[=u]th (_only as adjective_.)
Dearr (_dare_), durre, durron; dorste.
[.G]e.man (_remember_), -manst; -munde; -munan.
Mae[.g] (_can_), miht, magon, mae[.g]e (_subj._); mihte.
M[=o]t (_may_), m[=o]st, m[=o]ton; m[=o]ste.
S[.c]eal (_shall_), s[.c]ealt, sculon, scyle (_subj._); scolde.
Thearf (_need_), thurfon, thyrfe (_subj._); thorfte; thurfan.
ANOMALOUS VERBS.
(1) Willan (_will_) shows a mixture of subj. forms in the pres. indic. sing.:--
INDICATIVE. SUBJUNCTIVE. _Pres. sing._ 1. wile, wile. 2. wilt, wile. 3. wile, wile. _plur._ willath, willen.
_Pret._ wolde, etc.
{35}
Similarly _nyllan_ (will not):--
INDICATIVE. SUBJUNCTIVE. _Pres. sing._ 1. nyle, nyle. 2. nylt, nyle. 3. nyle, nyle. _plur._ nyllath, nyllen.
_Pret._ nolde, etc.
(2) Wesan (_be_).
INDICATIVE. SUBJUNCTIVE. _Pres. sing._ 1. eom; b[=e]o, s[=i]e; b[=e]o. 2. eart; bist, s[=i]e; b[=e]o. 3. is; bith, s[=i]e; b[=e]o. _plur._ sind; b[=e]oth, s[=i]en; b[=e]on.
_Pret. sing._ 1. waes, w[=ae]re. 2. w[=ae]re, w[=ae]re. 3. waes, w[=ae]re. _plur._ w[=ae]ron, w[=ae]ren.
_Imper._ wes, wesath; b[=e]o, b[=e]oth. _Infin._ wesan; b[=e]on. _Partic. pres._ wesende.
The contracted negative forms are:--_neom_, _neart_, _nis_; _naes_, _n[=ae]re_, _n[=ae]ron_; _n[=ae]re_, _n[=ae]ren_.
(3) D[=o]n (_do_).
INDICATIVE. SUBJUNCTIVE. _Pres. sing._ 1. d[=o], d[=o]. 2. d[=e]st, d[=o]. 3. d[=e]th, d[=o]. _plur._ d[=o]th, d[=o]n.
_Pret._ dyde, etc.
_Imper._ d[=o], d[=o]th. _Infin._ d[=o]n. _Partic. pres._ d[=o]nde; _pret._ [.g]e.d[=o]n.
{36}
(4) G[=a]n (_go_).
INDICATIVE. SUBJUNCTIVE. _Pres. sing._ 1. g[=a], g[=a]. 2. g[=ae]st, g[=a]. 3. g[=ae]th, g[=a]. _plur._ g[=a]th, g[=a]n.
_Pret._ [=e]ode, [=e]ode.
_Imper._ g[=a], g[=a]th. _Infin._ g[=a]n. _Partic. pres._ gangende; _pret._ [.g]e.g[=a]n.
* * * * *
DERIVATION.
PREFIXES.
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).