11.05.2013 Views

Prefixation in English and Catalan - Departament de Filologia ...

Prefixation in English and Catalan - Departament de Filologia ...

Prefixation in English and Catalan - Departament de Filologia ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

Counter (v.) 2 If you do someth<strong>in</strong>g to counter a particular action or process, you do<br />

someth<strong>in</strong>g which has an opposite effect to it or makes it less effective.<br />

ORIGIN ME: from OFr. contre, from L. contra ‘aga<strong>in</strong>st’.<br />

Encroach 1 If one th<strong>in</strong>g encroaches on another, the first th<strong>in</strong>g spreads or becomes<br />

stronger, <strong>and</strong> slowly beg<strong>in</strong>s to restrict the power, range, or effectiveness of the second<br />

th<strong>in</strong>g.<br />

Derivative: encroachment.<br />

ORIGIN ME (<strong>in</strong> the sense ‘seize’): from OFr. encrochier ‘seize, fasten upon’, from en-<br />

‘<strong>in</strong>, on’ + crochier (from croc ‘hook’).<br />

Croach: non-exist<strong>in</strong>g.<br />

Encumber (cumber) 1 Impe<strong>de</strong>, bur<strong>de</strong>n. If you are encumbered by someth<strong>in</strong>g, it<br />

prevents you from mov<strong>in</strong>g freely or do<strong>in</strong>g what you want. 2 If a place is encumbered<br />

with th<strong>in</strong>gs, it conta<strong>in</strong>s so many of them that it is difficult to move freely there. The<br />

narrow quay was encumbered by hundreds of carts.<br />

ORIGIN ME: from OFr. encombrer ‘block up’, from en- ‘<strong>in</strong>’ + combre ‘river barrage’.<br />

Cumber (n.) archaic A h<strong>in</strong>drance, obstruction or bur<strong>de</strong>n.<br />

Cumber (v.) dated Hamper, h<strong>in</strong><strong>de</strong>r, or obstruct.<br />

ORIGIN ME (<strong>in</strong> the sense ‘overthrow, <strong>de</strong>stroy’): probably from encumber.<br />

En<strong>de</strong>avour (en<strong>de</strong>avor <strong>in</strong> American <strong>English</strong>) 1 If you en<strong>de</strong>avour to do someth<strong>in</strong>g, you<br />

try very hard to do it; a formal use. I will en<strong>de</strong>avour to arrange it.<br />

ORIGIN ME: from the phrase ‘put oneself <strong>in</strong> <strong>de</strong>voir’ ‘do one’s utmost’.<br />

Devoir (n.) A person’s duty.<br />

ORIGIN ME: from OFr. <strong>de</strong>veir, from L. <strong>de</strong>bere ‘owe’, <strong>in</strong>fluenced by Fr. <strong>de</strong>voir.<br />

Endorse (dorsum) (also <strong>in</strong>dorse) 1 If you endorse someone or someth<strong>in</strong>g, you say<br />

publicly that you support or approve of them. 3 When you endorse a cheque, you write<br />

your name on the back of it so that it can be paid <strong>in</strong>to someone else’s bank account. The<br />

payee of the cheque must endorse the cheque.<br />

Derivative: endorsement.<br />

ORIGIN C15: from medieval L. <strong>in</strong>dorsare, from L. <strong>in</strong>- ‘on’ + dorsum ‘back’.<br />

Dorsum (n.) [pl. dorsa] Anatomy <strong>and</strong> Zoology The dorsal part of an organism or<br />

structure.<br />

ORIGIN C18 (<strong>de</strong>not<strong>in</strong>g a long hill or ridge): from L. back.<br />

Endow (dower) 1 Give or bequeath an <strong>in</strong>come or property to. 2 You say that someone<br />

is endowed with a particular <strong>de</strong>sirable ability, characteristic, or possession when they<br />

have it.<br />

Endowment.<br />

ORIGIN ME: from legal Anglo-Norman endouer, from en- ‘<strong>in</strong>, towards’ + OFr. douer<br />

‘give as a gift’ (from L. dotare: see dower).<br />

Dower (n.) 1 A widow’s share for life of her husb<strong>and</strong>’s estate. 2 archaic A dowry.<br />

Dower (v.) archaic Give a dowry to.<br />

ORIGIN ME: OFr. douaire, from medieval L. dotarium, from L. dotare ‘endow’, from<br />

dos, dot- ‘dowry’; related to dare ‘give’.<br />

Endue (also <strong>in</strong>due) poetic/literary Endow with a quality or ability.<br />

75

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!