Az Eszterházy Károly Tanárképző Főiskola Tudományos Közleményei. 2004. Vol. 4. Eger Journal of English Studies. (Acta Academiae Paedagogicae Agriensis : Nova series ; Tom. 30)

ÉVA KOVÁCS The Diachronic Development ofPhrasal Verbs in English

The Diachronic Development of Phrasal Verbs in English 121 No prefixes in OE are said to mark continuation or iteration, as ondoes in Modern English. OE on- often indicates the inception of an action (Quirk and Wrenn 1957: 111-12), e.g.: ontendan 'to set fire to, to kindle' onslaepan 'to fall asleep' 3.2 Meanings of prefixes in ME During the ME period some of the OE verbal prefixes continue to be productive as aktionsart markers. However, the meanings of a-, geand on- are seriously over-extended, and as these prefixes become semantically unclear or empty, they cease to be productive derivational forms. New formations with the prefixes hi-, for-, forth-, of-, out(e)- and over-, as well as with to- and thurhare attested with directional, telic, and various extended meanings. In fact, of-, out(e)- and over- are deemed very productive in the ME period and have telic (a) and extended meanings, especially of 'superiority and 'excess' (b). (a) outbaken 'to bake thoroughly' ofernen 'to overtake ; flee; run (a horse) to exhaustion' overbrennen 'to destroy with fire' (b) outrennen 'to outrun' ofriden 'to outride' overchaufen 'to overheat' The prefix bi- continues to have both transitivizing and Aktionsart functions in ME, e.g.: bicasten 'to surround or cover' For- is likewise productive in ME, especially with negative connotations (of failure, opposite results) with goal interpretations, e.g.: forléten 'to forsake, give up' forwerpen 'to cast out, banish' The prefix to- continues to have directional and telic force in ME, e.g.: toreaven 'to take completely away' The values of the prefixes forth- and thurh- remain in ME much the same as in OE, though neither prefix is highly productive, e.g.: forthcasten 'to cast out, reject' thurhcostnen 'to provide completely'