Juan Albion
Chicken Sniffer 3rd Class
Why is it "beheading" instead of "deheading"?
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Beheading
- Thread starter Juan Albion
- Start date
Yeah you're quite right.
Grammar is the main issue when discussing the concept of somebody having his head cut off.
Grammar is the main issue when discussing the concept of somebody having his head cut off.
Vegas Seagull
New member
- Jul 10, 2009
- 7,782
Behave
Juan Albion
Chicken Sniffer 3rd Class
- Thread starter
- #4
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
New member
- Apr 1, 2013
- 1,994
dehave
Russconha
Well-known member
Bequeath
Juan Albion
Chicken Sniffer 3rd Class
- Thread starter
- #7
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.
Relax, I know.
If you can't have a joke when discussing the concept of somebody having his head cut off ...
gregbrighton
New member
Barrel of Fun
Abort, retry, fail
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).
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
Chicken Sniffer 3rd Class
- Thread starter
- #11
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
J'les aurai!
Barrel of Fun
Abort, retry, fail
I've only been able to think of bereft (without cheating) thus far.
TomandJerry
Well-known member
- Oct 1, 2013
- 11,488
Maybe someone ****ed up at the dictionary printers? Heads will roll I'm sure.
beorhthelm
A. Virgo, Football Genius
- Jul 21, 2003
- 35,312
dingodan
New member
- Feb 16, 2011
- 10,080
You are right.
Maybe the idea was that you give someone their own head.
On a stick.
spongy
Well-known member
Bereaved? As in having someone taken away?