[SYMBOLS.]
In the etymological part three stops are used as symbols in connexion with the cognate forms cited, namely the comma, the semi-colon, and the colon. The comma is used to connect various spellings of a word, as well as parallel forms cited from nearly connected languages; for instance, s.v. daunger, the OF. forms are so connected. The semi-colon between two forms denotes that the two forms are phonetically equivalent, and that the preceding one is directly derived from, and is historically connected with the one following this symbol; for instance, s.v. bugle, the OF. bugle is the phonetic equivalent of the Lat. buculum, and is immediately derived therefrom. The colon between two forms denotes that the two forms are phonetically equivalent, and that the form following this symbol is an earlier, more primitive form than the one preceding, without an immediate interborrowing between the languages being asserted; for instance, s.v. demen, the Goth. dómjan is an older form than the AS. déman, but déman is not borrowed from the Gothic. The abbreviation ‘cp.’ introduces other cognate forms, and has the same value as the symbol + in Skeat’s Dictionaries.
The asterisk * at the beginning of a word denotes a theoretical form, assumed (upon scientific principles) to have formerly existed. The sign = is to be read ‘a translation of.’ ‘(n)’ after Prompt., Cath. and other authorities refers to foot-notes or other notes citing the form in question.
A CONCISE
DICTIONARY OF MIDDLE-ENGLISH.
A.
[ A-], prefix (1), adding intensity to the notion of the verb.—AS. á for ar-, OHG. ar-, Goth. us-. For the quantity of the á see Sievers, 121. Cf. [Or].
[ A-], prefix (2), standing for A, prep., and for Icel. á; see [On- (1)].