er-

See also: Appendix:Variations of "er"

DutchEdit

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-.

er-

er-

Inseparable verbal prefix that indicates a successful conclusion, leads to the wanted result.
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”)
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”)

In sense 3, the prefix is of almost unlimited productivity. 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.