er-

Etymology

Loaned from Old High German ir-. The native prefix with the same origin is oor-.

Pronunciation

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Prefix

er-

1. Inseparable verbal prefix that indicates the cause or beginning of an action.

Etymology

From Old High German ir-, from Proto-Germanic *uz-.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɛɐ̯/ (standard)
• IPA^(key): /ɛ/, /ɐ/ (common speech)

Prefix

er-

1. Inseparable verbal prefix that indicates a successful conclusion, leads to the wanted result.
2. Inseparable verbal prefix that indicates killing or dying.

   er- + drücken 'to push, squeeze' -> erdrücken 'to squeeze dead'

   er- + frieren 'to freeze' -> erfrieren 'to freeze to death'

3. Prefix signifying a notion of getting something (either by conscious effort or (rarely) producing the effect of coming to have it unintentionally) by specific means.

   er- + arbeiten 'to work' -> erarbeiten 'to gain something by means of working for it'

Etymology

From German er- from Old High German ir- or from Low German er-, from Middle Low German er-, from Old Saxon ā-, both from Proto-Germanic *uz-.

Prefix

er-

1. Inseparable verbal prefix that indicates an emphasizing meaning