Be-

#prefix Published: 2021-12-25

The other day, I realized that there is a relationship between the words beseech and seek. To be honest, I have never really thought about be as a prefix before. When I think about it, however, there are so many English words that start in be-. In this post, let me share a bit about some common words with this prefix.

There seem to be various explanations for the formation, depending on the source. The following is basically based on the OED¹.

about

First of all, the original meaning of be- is “about”. I didn’t notice that there are so many prepositions starting in be-, which are usually based on the meaning “about” or “near”.

For example, there are before, behind, below, beneath, benorth, besouth, between, beyond, beside.

all about

This prefix be- is used as “all about” or “thoroughly”. In other word, it functions as an intensifying prefix.

e.g. beseech (from seek), bedazzle (from dazzle)

forms figurative verbs

Also, this prefix can render figurative verbs as well.

e.g. become (figuratively come), behave (figuratively have), behold (figuratively hold)

changes intransitive verbs to transitive

Be- also functions to render an intransitive verb transitive.

e.g. bemoan (moan over), bewail (wail over)

implies a privative force

Be- can imply the sense of deprivation as well.

e.g. bereave, benumb

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