Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Be-
Be-
.[AS.
be
, and in accented form bī
, akin to OS. be
and bī
, OHG. bi
, pi
, and pī
, MHG. be
and bī
, G. be
and bei
, Goth. bi
, and perh. Gr. ἀμφί
about (cf. AS. be
seón to look about). √203. Cf. By
, Amb-
.] A prefix, originally the same word as by;
joined with verbs, it serves: (a)
To intensify the meaning;
as,
. be
spatter, be
stir(b)
To render an intransitive verb transitive;
as,
. be
fall (to fall upon); be
speak (to speak for)(c)
To make the action of a verb particular or definite;
as,
. be
get (to get as offspring); be
set (to set around)It is joined with certain substantives, and a few adjectives, to form verbs; as, bedew, befriend, benight, besot; belate (to make late); belittle (to make little). It also occurs in certain nouns, adverbs, and prepositions, often with something of the force of the preposition by, or about; as, belief (believe), behalf, bequest (bequeath); because, before, beneath, beside, between.
In some words the original force of be is obscured or lost; as, in become, begin, behave, behoove, belong.
In some words the original force of be is obscured or lost; as, in become, begin, behave, behoove, belong.