Dutch edit

Etymology edit

From Proto-West Germanic *uʀ-, from Proto-Germanic *uz- in unstressed positions. The Middle Dutch er- prefix mostly merged with ver- and her- in Modern Dutch. The current prefix is therefore either a direct continuation of this prefix or loaned from Old High German ir-, Middle High German er-. A prefix with the same origin but in stressed positions is oor-.

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /ər/, /ɛr/
  • (file)

Prefix edit

er-

  1. Inseparable verbal prefix that indicates the cause or beginning of an action.

Derived terms edit

German edit

Etymology edit

From Middle High German er-, from Old High German ir-, from Proto-West Germanic *uʀ-, from Proto-Germanic *uz-. Cognate with Old Saxon ā-, English a-.

Pronunciation edit

Prefix edit

er-

  1. Inseparable verbal prefix that indicates a successful conclusion, leads to the wanted result.
  2. Inseparable verbal prefix that indicates killing or dying.
    er- + ‎drücken (to push, squeeze) → ‎erdrücken (to squeeze dead)
    er- + ‎frieren (to freeze) → ‎erfrieren (to freeze to death)
  3. Prefix signifying a notion of getting something by some means, usually through conscious effort.
    er- + ‎arbeiten (to work) → ‎erarbeiten (to gain something by means of working for it)

Usage notes edit

  • In sense 3, the prefix is of almost unlimited productivity, provided that the underlying verb has initial stress. Such random constructs as sich etwas ertanzen (to get something by dancing), sich etwas erkuscheln (to get something by cuddling), etc., are all possible and intelligible.

Derived terms edit

Swedish edit

Etymology edit

From German er-, from Old High German ir-, and/or from Middle Low German er-, from Old Saxon ā-, both from Proto-Germanic *uz-.

Prefix edit

er-

  1. Inseparable verbal prefix that indicates an emphasizing meaning

Derived terms edit

Anagrams edit

Tocharian B edit

Etymology edit

From Proto-Tocharian *er- (whence also Tocharian A ar-), from Proto-Indo-European *h₃er- (to move, stir).

Verb edit

er-

  1. to evoke, call up
  2. to produce, yield, bring forth

Further reading edit

  • Adams, Douglas Q. (2013), “er-”, in A Dictionary of Tocharian B: Revised and Greatly Enlarged (Leiden Studies in Indo-European; 10), Amsterdam, New York: Rodopi, →ISBN, pages 98-99

Welsh edit

Etymology edit

i-affected form of ar-.

Prefix edit

er-

  1. on, above, sur-, super-, epi-
    er- + ‎glynu (to attach) → ‎erlyn (to pursue, prosecute)

Derived terms edit

Mutation edit

Welsh mutation
radical soft nasal h-prothesis
er- unchanged unchanged her-
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

Further reading edit

  • R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “er-”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies