Be-
The English derivational prefix be- is a hold over
from Old English. For the majority of native speakers the prefix be- is no longer
productive; a possible exception to this is presented by the word besmitten,
which numerous speakers seem to have recreated [1].
Meanings and uses of be- include: thoroughly, excessively, or more generally,
used as an intensifier; on, around, over, or generally indicating contact; finally, it is also used to form transitive verbs from nouns (e.g. befriend,
behead, benight), adjectives (e.g. bedim, bewet) or otherwise intransitive verbs (e.g. bewail, beweep).
List bedazzlebedimbedrabblebedragglebefallbefitbefogbefoolbefoulbefriendbefuddlebegetbegrimebegrudgebeguilebehavebeheadbeholdbehoovebelaborbelaybeliebelittlebemirebemoanbemudbemusebenightbenumbbequeathberatebereavebeseechbesetbeslobberbesmearbesmirchbesotbespatterbespeakbespecklebespreadbesprinklebesteadbestirbestowbestrewbestridebetidebetokenbetraybetrothbewailbeweepbewetbewilderbewitch
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