English

Alternative forms

• an-, on-

Prefix

and-

1. (no longer productive) A prefix of Old English origin meaning "against", "back", "in return", "away", represented in Modern English by a-, an-, on-, and in altered form by the reverse-action prefix un- (e.g. unbuckle). Also as the initial letter d in dread (< Old English ondrǣdan).

   along

   answer

   onfang

   onset

References

• and- in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911

Icelandic

Etymology

From Old Norse and-.

Prefix

and-

1. anti-, against, opposing

Derived terms

Old English

Alternative forms

• ond-

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *andi-, representive of a combining form of and ‎(“and”). Cognate with Middle Dutch ont- (Dutch ont-), Old High German ant- (German ant-, ent-), Old Norse and- (Icelandic and- ‎(“against, anti-, opposed to, in the face of”), Swedish an-), Gothic 𐌰𐌽𐌳- ‎(and-).

Usage notes

This prefix was usually stressed; when unstressed, it weakened to an-, on-, also a-.

Prefix

and-

1. forming compounds words with the sense "against, opposing"; opposition

   andsaca ‎(“opponent, adversary”)

2. in return, back

   andswaru "answer, reply"

3. facing, toward; completely, fully

   andweard "present time"

   andlang "entire, continuous"

   andweorc ‎(“substance, matter, cause”); andleofen, andleofa ‎(“nourishment, sustenance”)

4. without

Synonyms

• ⁊ (symbol)

Old Saxon

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *andi-.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɑnd/

Prefix

and-

1. forming compounds words with the sense "against, opposing"; opposition

   andsako ‎(“enemy, adversary”)

2. in return, back

   andswor "answer"

3. facing, toward; completely, fully

   andward "present time"

4. without