be-
be- definition
be- (bē, bi, bə)
- : added to other verbs
- around besprinkle, beset
- completely, thoroughly, excessively: used as an intensifier bedeck, besmear
- away: used as a privative bereave, betake
- about: used as a transitive prefix bethink, bemoan
- : added to nouns and, sometimes, adjectives
- make besot, bedim
- furnish with, cover with, affect by, treat as befriend, bedizen, becloud
- covered with, furnished with, furnished with to excess: added to past participles in -ed bemedaled, bewhiskered
Etymology: ME bi-, be- < OE (akin to Goth bi-, Ger be-), at, near < Gmc base of by
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Comments
Improve this definition.
Browse dictionary definitions near be-
Share on Facebook