bettre (A.S.) better
bi- or be- is a very common prefix to words in our language derived from the Anglo-Saxon, and has chiefly an intensative power, although it modifies the meaning in various degrees. Many verbs are no longer known, except in this compound form. Thus we have:—
bi-dravelen (A.S.) [88], to slobber or slaver on anything
bi-fallen (A.S.) to befal, happen. pr. sing. bifel
bi-yete (A.S.) begetting, offspring
bi-ginnen (A.S.) to begin. pret. s. bi-gonne, [106]
bi-heste (A.S.) [50], a behest, command
bi-hest (A.S.) [432], a promise
bi-holden (A.S.) to behold. pr. sing. biheeld
†bi-hirnen (A.S.) [488] (?)
bi-hoten (A.S.) to promise. pres. s. bi-hote, [104]. pret. s. bi-highte, [81], [345], [389]. bi-hote God, [133], an exclamation
by-japen (A.S.) [386], [453], to mock
bi-kennen (A.S.) [31], [154], to commit to
bi-knowen (A.S.) [13], [45], to know, recognize, acknowledge. pret. s. bi-knewe, [404], part. past, bi-knowe, [370]
bi-lien (A.S.) [174], bi-lye, [101], to calumniate. part. past, bi-lowen, [29]
bi-love (A.S.) [184], false love (?)
bi-loven (A.S.) [130], to make friends (?)
by-menen (A.S.) to signify. pret. s. by-mente, [370]
by-molen (A.S.) [273], [274], to spot, stain
by-nymen (A.S.) to take from. part. past, by-nomen, [62]
bi-quasshen (A.S.) [384], to crush to pieces
bi-reve (A.S.) [132], to take from, bereave
bi-rewe (A.S.) [242], to rue
bi-seken, bi-sechen, [18] (A.S.) to beseech. pret. bi-soughte. part. pas. bi-sought
bi-semen (A.S.) to appear
bi-setten (A.S.) [93], [95], to place, set
bi-seggen (A.S.) to reproach, insult. part. past, bi-seye, [437]
bi-sherewen (A.S.) [75], to curse
bi-shetten (A.S.) [40], to shut up. part. past, bi-shet, [405]
bi-sitten (A.S.) [36], [195], to beset
†be-slomered, [476], bedaubed
bi-snewed (A.S.) [301], snowed over, covered with snow
bi-speren (A.S.) [303], to lock up
bi-swynken (A.S.) [323], to labour hard. pret. pl. bi-swonke, [442]
bi-tiden (A.S.) to happen to, betide
bi-wicchen (A.S.) [405], to bewitch
bicche (A.N.) [98], a bitch
bidden, bidde (A.S.) to pray, to ask, beg, to require, to order. pres. s. he bit, [308], [188]. pret. s. bidde, bad, pl. beden, [372], [404]. part. act. biddynge. (if he) bede, [157]
bidder (A.S.) pl. bidderes, an asker, petitioner
biden (A.S.) [387], [428], to bide, wait. part. past, boden
bienfait (A.N.) a benefit
bi-girdle (A.S.) [156], a bag to hang at the girdle, a purse
bi-hynde (A.S.) behind