efn-

Old English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From the adjective efn, descended from Proto-Germanic *ebnaz.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /efn/, [evn]

Prefix

efn-

  1. denoting equality: equal, equally
    ‎efn- + ‎eald (“old”) → ‎efneald (“of the same age”)
    ‎efn- + ‎gōd (“good”) → ‎efngōd (“just as good”)
    ‎efn- + ‎niht (“night”) → ‎efnniht (“equinox”)
  2. denoting togetherness: co-, fellow-
    ‎efn- + ‎cempa (“soldier”) → ‎efncempa (“fellow soldier”)
    ‎efn- + ‎þrōwian (“to suffer”) → ‎efnþrōwian (“to sympathize”)
    ‎efn- + ‎wyrċan (“to work”) → ‎efnwyrċan (“to work together, cooperate”)
    ‎efn- + ‎wyrhta (“worker”) → ‎efnwyrhta (“co-worker”)

Derived terms

Old English words prefixed with efn-

Descendants

  • Middle English: even-, euen-
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