Re: Middle English Verbal Prefix i-

It may be related to the prefix "co[n/m]" in Latin and
"co" in Irish. In Gothic it seems to be "ga" but, that
again, this may be something else entirely.

 -Elliott


--- caeruleancentaur <caeruleancentaur@...>
wrote:

> >>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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