The native force of English was such that it came to be a highly developed language, possessing a copious vocabulary and a rich literature in prose and verse. Indeed, the English quite surpassed their Norman conquerors in learning and literary culture. It is this English that lies at the foundation of the English of to-day, and some attention may well be given to old English root-words. Ac, an oak, gives us oak, acorn, Acton. Bac-an, to bake: baker, baxter (female baker), batch. Ban-a, a slayer: bane, baneful, henbane. Beat-an, to stroke: beat, bat, battle, beetle, batter. Beorg-an, to shelter: bury, burrow, burgh, harbour, harbinger. Ber-an, to bear: bear, birth, bairn, breed, brood, bier, barrow, brother, bird. Bet-an, to make good: better, best, boot (to boot). Bind-an, to bind: band, bond, bondage, bundle. Bit, to bite: bit, beetle, bait, bitter. Blaw-an, to puff: bladder, blain, blast, blister, blot, bloat. Blow-an, to blossom: blow, bloom, blossom, blade. Brec-an, to break: break, breakers, brake, bracken, breach. Breow-an, brew, brewer, broth, bread. Bug-an, to bend: bow, elbow, bough, bight. Byrn-an, to burn: burn, brown, brimstone, brand, brandy, brindled. Catt, a cat: catkin, kitten, caterpillar, caterwaul. Ceapi-an, to buy: cheap, cheapen, chap, chaffer, Chapman. Cen-an, to produce: kin, kindred, kind, kindle. Ceow-an, to chew: chew, cheek, cud. Cleow-an, to split: cleave, cleaver, cleft, clover (split grass). Clifi-an, to stick to: clip, cleave (together). Cnaw-an, to know: ken, know, knowledge. Cnot-ta, a knot: knot, knit, net. Cunn-an, to know, be able: can, con, cunning, uncouth. Cweth-an, to say: quoth, bequeath, bequest. Cwic, alive: quick, quicken, quickset, quicksilver. DÆ-an, to divide: deal, dole, dale, dell. Dem-an, to judge: deem, doom, doomsday, king-dom. Deor, dear, dearth, darling, endear. Don, to act: do, don, doff, deed. Drag-an, to draw: drag, draw, dray, draft, drain, dredge, draggle, drawl. Drif-an, to push: drive, drove, drift, adrift. Drinc-an, to soak: drink, drench. Drip-an, to drip: drip, drop, droop, dribble, driblet. Dryge, dry: dry, drought, drugs (dried plants). Far-an, to go: far, fare, welfare, ferry, ford. Feower, four: farthing, firkin, fourteen, fortnight, forty. Fleog-an, to flee: fly, flight, flea, fledged. Fleot-an, to float: float, fleet, afloat, flotsam. Fod-a, food, feed: food, fodder, foster, father, forage. Fon, [P.P. gefangen], to catch: fang, finger, new fangled. Freon, to love: friend, friendship. Gal-an, to sing: gale, yell, nightingale. Gang-an, to go: gang, gangway, ago. Gnag-an, to bite: gnaw, gnat, nag (to tease). Graf-an, to dig, cut: grave, engrave, graft, groove, carve. Grip-an, to seize: grip, gripe, grasp, grab, grope. Gyrd-an, to surround: gird, girdle, garden, yard, vineyard. HÆl-an, to heal: hale, holy, hallow, health, hail, whole, wholesome, wassail. Hebb-an, to raise: heave, heaven, heavy, (heave-offering). Hlaf, bread, loaf: loaf, lord (hlaford, loaf-keeper), lady (hloefdige = loaf-kneader). Licg-an, to lie: lie, lay, layer, lair, outlay. Loda, guide: lead, lodestar, lodestone. Mag-an, to be able: may, main, might, mighty. Maw-an, to cut: mow, math, aftermath, mead, meadow (mown spot). Mon-a, moon: month, moon, (moonshiner). Nasu, nose: nose, nasal, nostril, nozzle. Penn-an, to shut up: pen, pin, pound, impound. Pic, point: pike, peak, picket, pike (a fish), peck, pecker. Reaf, clothing, spoil: rob, robber, reave, bereave, reever, robe. Sceap-an, to form: shape, ship, scape (landscape). Sceot-an, to throw: shoot, shot, shut, sheet, shutter, shuttle, scud. Scer-an, to cut: shear, share, shire, scar, scare, score, sharp, short, shirt, skirt, shred, scrip, scrap. Scuf-an, to push: shove, shovel, shuffle, scruffle, sheaf, scoop. Sitt-an, to sit: sit, set, seat, settle. Sle-an, to strike: slay, slaughter, slog, sledge. Slip-an, to slip: slop, slipper, sleeve. Snic-an, to crawl: sneak, snake, snail. Stede, place: stead, instead, homestead, steady, steadfast. Stici-an, to stick: stick, stitch, stake, stock, stockade, stock-still. Stig-an, to climb: stair, stile, stirrup, sty. Styr-an, to direct: steer, stern, steerage. Sweri-an, to declare: swear, answer (and-, against), forswear. TÆc-an, to teach: teach, teacher, token, taught. Tell-an, to account: tell, tale, talk, toll, teller. Teon, to draw: tow, tug. ThÆc, roof: thatch, deck. Tred-an, to walk: tread, treadle, trade, tradesman. Truwa, good faith: true, truth, troth, betroth. Twa, two: twain, twelve, twenty, twig, twine, twist. Wana, lacking: wan, wane, want, wanton. Wef-an, to weave: weaver, web, woof. Waru, defense: war, wary, aware, ward, guard, guardian. Wit-an, to know: wit, wise, wisdom, wistful, witness. Wraest-an, to wrest: wrest, wrestle, wrist. |