Re: Middle English Verbal Prefix i-

>>Peter Bleackley <Peter.Bleackley@...> wrote:
>>Middle English appears to have had a prefix i- which could appear
>>before verbs.

>"Julia \"Schnecki\" Simon" <helicula@...> wrote:
>It's probably related to the German prefix _ge-_ that is used to
>form past participles....
We can dispense with the "probably."  My source is the AHD, as usual.

Under the entry for "yclept," a word I've always loved:

"Middle English _ycleped_, Old English _gecleopod_, past participle
of _clipian_, _cleopian_, to speak, call."  The derivation of _y_
(_i_) from _ge_ is clearly seen.  The infinitive form, in Modern
English, is "clepe."

I have never come across a reference to a PIE prefix that would be
the origin of this Germanic prefix.  Therefore, in Senjecas I have
chosen simply to use the dental suffix to indicate this participle,
e.g., _tôla_, determine; _tôlaþis_, determined.

Charlie

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