Beheading

[Juan Albion]

Why is it "beheading" instead of "deheading"?

 

[Stat Brother]

Yeah you're quite right.
Grammar is the main issue when discussing the concept of somebody having his head cut off.

 

[Vegas Seagull]

Behave

 

[Juan Albion]

Yeah you're quite right.
Grammar is the main issue when discussing the concept of somebody having his head cut off.

Nobody said it was the main issue - crazy leap by you, Mr Stat. Just interested, that's all.

 

[MissGull]

Behave

dehave

 

[Russconha]

Bequeath

 

[Juan Albion]

Bequeath

Plenty of words begin with be- but I'm struggling to think of any other examples where it implies a taking away or a separation. Mostly they imply a positive action, such as bequeath with its concept of giving to, not taking away.

I love words and find them (and their origins) fascinating, but this one has me baffled. I'm sure there must be a linguistic expert on here who can offer some clarity.

 

[Stat Brother]

Nobody said it was the main issue - crazy leap by you, Mr Stat. Just interested, that's all.

Relax, I know.
If you can't have a joke when discussing the concept of somebody having his head cut off ...

 

[gregbrighton]

Relax, I know.
If you can't have a joke when discussing the concept of somebody having his head cut off ...

Believe me, I was laughing my head off at this thread...

 

[Barrel of Fun]

Just one of those qualms of the English language.

The origins of behead...


to decapitate, cut off the head of, guillotine;


Old English behēafdian ; from be- ‘off’ (expressing removal) + hēafod (see head).

 

[Juan Albion]

Just one of those qualms of the English language.

The origins of behead...


to decapitate, cut off the head of, guillotine;


Old English behēafdian ; from be- ‘off’ (expressing removal) + hēafod (see head).

That's very interesting. I can't think of any other cases where be- implies off. Maybe I'm just not thinking hard enough. But thanks for that.

 

[Gregory2Smith1]

That's very interesting. I can't think of any other cases where be- implies off. Maybe I'm just not thinking hard enough. But thanks for that.

begone

basically means piss off

 

[Barrel of Fun]

That's very interesting. I can't think of any other cases where be- implies off. Maybe I'm just not thinking hard enough. But thanks for that.

I've only been able to think of bereft (without cheating) thus far.

 

[EDS]

What's the actual question here, is it to be or not to be

 

[TomandJerry]

What's the actual question here, is it to be or not to be

I'm half empty on this one

 

[algie]

Why is it "beheading" instead of "deheading"?

Tis true.

Debugging

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Why is it "beheading" instead of "deheading"?

Maybe someone ****ed up at the dictionary printers? Heads will roll I'm sure.

 

[beorhthelm]

Just one of those qualms of the English language.

quirk.

glad that its proper old english root.

 

[dingodan]

Plenty of words begin with be- but I'm struggling to think of any other examples where it implies a taking away or a separation. Mostly they imply a positive action, such as bequeath with its concept of giving to, not taking away.

I love words and find them (and their origins) fascinating, but this one has me baffled. I'm sure there must be a linguistic expert on here who can offer some clarity.

You are right.

Maybe the idea was that you give someone their own head.

On a stick.

 

[spongy]

Bereaved? As in having someone taken away?