Wiktionary

bi-

See also: Appendix:Variations of "bi"
Languages (31)
English
Azerbaijani • Catalan • Czech • Danish • Finnish • French • Galician • German • Gothic • Ido • Indonesian • Irish • Italian • Kongo • Latin • Malay • Middle English • Navajo • Northern Kurdish • Norwegian Bokmål • Norwegian Nynorsk • Ojibwe • Old English • Old Saxon • Polish • Portuguese • Spanish • Swedish • Tooro • Turkish
Page categories

English

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Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /baɪ-/, (rare) /bɪ-/
  • Audio (US):(file)

Etymology 1

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PIE word
*dwóh₁

Borrowed from Latin bi-, from Proto-Italic *dwi-, from Proto-Indo-European *dwi-. Doublet of twi- and di-.

Alternative forms

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  • bin- (before some vowel-initial roots)
  • bis-

Prefix

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Latin number prefix
Previous: uni-
Next: tri-

bi-

  2. Two in number.
    biarticular is affecting, or connecting two joints; biaxial is along two axes; bicoloured is of two colours
  4. Having or possessing two of the root word's quality.
    biangular is having two angles or corners, biantheriferous is having two anthers, bicardial is having two separate hearts, bikont is a eukaryotic cell with two flagella; thought to be the ancestor of all plants
  6. Both: referring to two as a set.
    biacetabular is relating to both acetabula, biallelic is of or pertaining to both alleles of a gene, bicaval is relating to both veins of the vena cava
  8. Being different in two ways with respect to the root.
    biadjoint is adjoint in two different ways, biaffine is affine in two different ways, biclonal is having cell markers from two different cell lines
  10. Forked, divided by two, halved; (chemistry, proscribed) half
    bifurcate is to divide or fork into two channels or branches, bicapitate is to divide something equally between two people or organisations, bicarinate is dividing into two points at the end
  12. Double, twofold.
    bialgebroid is a double algebroid, bifarious is twofold, double, biarticulated is doubly articulated
  14. (LGBTQ) Bisexual, relating to bisexuality.
    bicentric is having a bisexual bias or basis, biphobia is antipathy towards bisexuals, biromantic is romantically attracted to both males and females
  16. (anatomy) Bilateral, on both sides of the body.
    biconcave is having both sides concave, biballism is ballism that affects both sides of the body
  18. Twice.
    biannual is occurring twice a year, biannual is something occurring twice each year, biconjugate is paired twice
  20. Every two; a rate of once every two.
    biannual is occurring once every two years; biennial, bicentennial is occurring every two hundred (200) years
  22. A pair of; composed of two.
    bibrow is a pair of eyebrows which do not meet in the middle, as opposed to a unibrow, bicomplex is composed of a pair of complex numbers having certain defined properties
Usage notes
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In an old, common method used to indicate the presence of an acidic hydrogen, sodium hydrogen sulfate is called "sodium bisulfate" and sodium hydrogen carbonate is called "sodium bicarbonate". This method is not recommended by IUPAC and does not denote a “doubling up” of a specific group, which is reserved for the Greek prefix di-, as in carbon dioxide (“CO2”).

The prefix bi in the older system comes from the observation that there is two times as much carbonate (CO3) in sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) and other bicarbonates as in sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) and other carbonates.

As a prefix for periods, bi- is ambiguously used to mean either “once every two periods” or “twice every period”; this is particularly acute for biweekly, bimonthly, and biannual. To avoid ambiguity, semi- or twice can be used to unambiguously mean “every half period” (thus twice every period) or “twice every period”, but there is no general way to refer unambiguously to “once every two periods”. In some cases a separate word is unambiguous, as in fortnightly (“every two weeks”), or biennial (“every two years”), but there is no word that unambiguously refers to “every two months”. Due to the ambiguity, some prefer to use explicit phrases, like “every two months” or “twice a month”.

Synonyms
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Derived terms
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English terms prefixed with bi-
terms derived from two
terms derived from having two
terms derived from both
terms derived from different
terms derived from forked
terms derived from double
terms derived from bisexual
terms derived from bilateral
terms derived from twice
terms derived from every two
terms derived from pair
Translations
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two-

Etymology 2

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From Ancient Greek βίος (bíos, “life”).

Prefix

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bi-

  1. (before a vowel) Alternative form of bio-
    biont is a living organism
Derived terms
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terms derived from bio

Anagrams

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Azerbaijani

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Etymology

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From Persian بی (bi).

Pronunciation

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IPA(key): [bi]

Prefix

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bi-

  1. (rarely productive) -less, un-, in-.
    Synonym: -siz

Derived terms

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Azerbaijani terms prefixed with bi-

Catalan

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Etymology

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From Latin bis.

Pronunciation

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Prefix

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bi-

  1. bi-

Derived terms

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Catalan terms prefixed with bi-

Further reading

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Czech

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Etymology

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Borrowed from Latin bis.

Pronunciation

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Prefix

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bi-

  1. bi-
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Related terms

Further reading

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  • “bi-”, in Slovník spisovného jazyka českého (in Czech), 1960–1971, 1989

Danish

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Pronunciation

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Etymology 1

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From German bei- (“by-”).

Prefix

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bi-

  1. by-, side-
    Synonym: side-

Etymology 2

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From Latin bis (“twice”).

Prefix

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bi-

  1. bi-
    Synonyms: di-, tve-, dobbelt-

See also

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Danish terms prefixed with bi-

Finnish

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Etymology

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Internationalism (see English bi-), ultimately from Latin bis.

Pronunciation

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Prefix

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bi-

  1. bi- (double, twin)
    Synonyms: see kaksois-

Derived terms

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Category Finnish terms prefixed with bi- not found

French

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Etymology

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From Latin bis (“twice”).

Pronunciation

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Prefix

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bi-

  1. bi-

Derived terms

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French terms prefixed with bi-

Galician

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Etymology

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From Latin bis.

Prefix

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bi-

  1. bi-
    Synonyms: bi-, duo-

Derived terms

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From

Galician terms prefixed with bi-

.

Further reading

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German

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Etymology

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From Latin bis (“twice”).

Pronunciation

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Prefix

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bi-

  1. bi-

Derived terms

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German terms prefixed with bi-

Gothic

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Romanization

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bi-

  1. Romanization of 𐌱𐌹-

Ido

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Prefix

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bi-

  1. bi-

Derived terms

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Ido terms prefixed with bi-

Indonesian

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Etymology

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From Dutch bi-, from Latin bi-.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): [bi]
  • Hyphenation: bi

Prefix

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bi-

  1. bi-: two, pair, both.

Derived terms

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Indonesian terms prefixed with bi-

Further reading

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Irish

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Prefix

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bi-

  1. Alternative form of bith-, used before a slender T.

Mutation

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Irish mutation
Radical Lenition Eclipsis
bi- bhi- mbi-
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

Further reading

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Italian

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Etymology

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From Latin bis (“twice”).

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /bi/
  • Hyphenation: bi-

Prefix

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bi-

  1. bi-
  2. di-

Derived terms

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Italian terms prefixed with bi-

Kongo

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Etymology

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From Proto-Bantu *bì-.

Prefix

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bi- (singular ki-)

  1. class 8 prefix
  2. class subject concord

Latin

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Etymology

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From Proto-Italic *dwi-, from Proto-Indo-European *dwi- (“two-; twice-”), prefix form corresponding to the numeral *dwóh₁ (“two”); the origin in PIE of the *i here is uncertain.[1]

Pronunciation

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Prefix

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bi-

  1. having two parts
  2. occurring twice

Derived terms

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Latin terms prefixed with bi-

References

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  1. ^ De Vaan, Michiel (2008) “bi-”, in Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 7), Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, page 71

Further reading

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  • “bi-”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
  • “bi-” on page 231/3 of the Oxford Latin Dictionary (1st ed., 1968–82)

Malay

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Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /bi-/
  • Hyphenation: bi-

Etymology 1

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Borrowed from Persian بی.[1]

Prefix

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bi- (Jawi spelling بی-)

  1. -less; prefix expressing the lack of the root word.
    ‎bi- + ‎adab (“manners”) → ‎biadab (“impolite”)
Usage notes
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  • While there have been efforts to popularize the use of this prefix in scientific and technological coinages, currently, its range of use is very limited, and so, it is found only in a small number of words.

Etymology 2

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From English bi-.[1]

Prefix

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bi- (Jawi spelling بی-)

  1. bi-
    bienial ― biennial
Usage notes
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  • This prefix is unproductive and is only found in loanwords borrowed from English which contain the prefix.

Derived terms

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Malay terms prefixed with bi-

References

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  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Nik S. Farid M. Hashim H. & Abdul H. (2004). Tatabahasa dewan : edisi baharu. Dewama Sdn. Bhd.

Middle English

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Etymology 1

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Inherited from Old English be-, from Proto-West Germanic *bi-, from Proto-Germanic *bi-, from *bi-; compare by-.

The pronunciation /bi-/ (instead of expected /bə-/) is probably due to the influence of the preposition by.

Alternative forms

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Pronunciation

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Prefix

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bi-

  1. A prefix forming transitive verbs from any content word, often denoting completion or thoroughness.
  2. A prefix forming prepositions, often denoting adjacency, position, or relation.
Derived terms
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Middle English terms prefixed with bi-
Descendants
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  • English: be-
  • Scots: be-
References
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Etymology 2

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Prefix

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bi-

  1. Alternative form of by-
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Prefix

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bi-

  1. his, her, its, their
    ‎amá (“one's mother”) + ‎bi- → ‎bimá (“his/her/its/their mother”)

Usage notes

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This prefix often corresponds to an English possessive ’s appended to the preceding word. For example, Diné bizaad means literally “the People their-language”, equivalent to “the People’s language” (i.e., Navajo language).

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See also

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Navajo possessive pronouns
singular dual plural
1st person shi- nihi- danihi-
2nd person ni- nihi- danihi-
3rd person bi-
4th person (3o) yi-
4th person (3a) ha-, hw-
Indefinite person (3i) a-

Northern Kurdish

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Prefix

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bi-

  1. forms the affirmative subjunctive mood of verbs.

Norwegian Bokmål

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Prefix

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bi-

  1. by-, by, side
  2. bi-

See also

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Norwegian Bokmål terms prefixed with bi-

References

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Norwegian Nynorsk

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Prefix

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bi-

  1. by-, by, side
  2. bi-

See also

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Norwegian Nynorsk terms prefixed with bi-

References

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Ojibwe

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Preverb

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bi-

  1. this way, here, hither (toward the speaker)
    Bi-anokiin.
    Come and work.
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See also

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References

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Old English

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Alternative forms

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Pronunciation

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Etymology 1

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From bī (“by, near, around”).

Prefix

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bī-

  1. near, around (compare Latin para-)
    ‎bi- + ‎nama → ‎bīnama (“pronoun”)
    ‎bi- + ‎word → ‎bīword (“proverb, byword”)
Usage notes
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  • Occurred primarily in nouns.
Derived terms
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Old English terms prefixed with bi-
  • bīgenga (“inhabitant; observer; benefactor”)
  • bīleofa (“support, sustenance, nourishment, capital”)
  • bīswæc (“treachery”)
Descendants
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Etymology 2

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Prefix

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bi-

  1. Alternative form of be-

Old Saxon

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Etymology 1

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An unstressed form of bī, from Proto-West Germanic *bī-.

Prefix

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bi-

  1. A productive prefix usually used to form verbs and adjectives, especially verbs with the sense “around, throughout” or makes transitive verbs from intransitive verbs, adjectives and nouns.
    ‎bi- + ‎brekan → ‎bibrekan (“to break”)
    ‎bi- + ‎brengian → ‎bibrengian (“to accomplish”)
    ‎bi- + ‎dēlian → ‎bidēlian (“to deprive”)
    ‎bi- + ‎delvan → ‎bidelvan (“to bury”)
    ‎bi- + ‎dempian → ‎bidempian (“to suffocate”)
    ‎bi- + ‎dernian → ‎bidernian (“to conceal, to hide”)
    ‎bi- + ‎dōdian → ‎bidōdian (“to kill”)
    ‎bi- + ‎driogan → ‎bidriogan (“to deceive”)
    ‎bi- + ‎drōragon → ‎bidrōragon (“to bleed to death”)
    ‎bi- + ‎dumbilian → ‎bidumbilian (“to make a fool”)
    ‎bi- + ‎*dwellian → ‎bidwellian (“to hinder”)
    ‎bi- + ‎fāhan → ‎bifāhan (“to embrace, seize”)
    ‎bi- + ‎fallan → ‎bifallan (“to befall”)
    ‎bi- + ‎felhan → ‎bifelhan (“to recommend, give over, confide”)
    ‎bi- + ‎fellian → ‎bifellian (“to throw down”)
    ‎bi- + ‎findan → ‎bifindan (“to notice, find out”)
    ‎bi- + ‎gangan → ‎bigān, bigangan (“to celebrate”)
    ‎bi- + ‎gehan → ‎bigehan (“to dare, confess”)
Derived terms
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Old Saxon terms prefixed with bi-
Descendants
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Etymology 2

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From bī (“by, near, around”).

Prefix

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bī-

  1. prefix meaning near, around (compare Latin para-), occurring primarily in nouns
    ‎bi- + ‎word → ‎bīword (“proverb, byword”)
Derived terms
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Old Saxon terms prefixed with bi-

Polish

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Etymology

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Learned borrowing from Latin bi-.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /bi/
  • Audio:(file)
  • Rhymes: -i
  • Syllabification: [please specify syllabification manually]

Prefix

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bi-

  1. bi-, two
    Synonyms: dwu-, di-, dy-
    ‎bi- + ‎-gamia → ‎bigamia

Derived terms

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Polish terms prefixed with bi-

Further reading

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  • bi- in Polish dictionaries at PWN

Portuguese

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Etymology

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Borrowed from Latin bis.

Prefix

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bi-

  1. bi- (two-)

Derived terms

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Portuguese terms prefixed with bi-

Spanish

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Latin bis (“twice”).

Prefix

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bi-

  1. bi-
    Synonyms: di-, duo-

Derived terms

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Spanish terms prefixed with bi-

Further reading

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Swedish

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Pronunciation

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Prefix

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bi-

  1. by-, next to, near, by the side, aside; same as English by- and German bei-; see also the rare preposition bi
  2. bi-, two, dual; from Latin bis (“twice”)

Derived terms

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Swedish terms prefixed with bi-

See also

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References

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Tooro

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Alternative forms

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  • (before vowels) by-

Etymology

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From Proto-Bantu *bí-.

Pronunciation

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Prefix

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bi-

  1. class 8 pronominal concord
    ‎bi- + ‎-nu (“this, these”) → ‎binu (“these (class 8)”)
  2. they; class 8 subject concord
    ‎bi- + ‎-kora (“to do”) → ‎bikora (“they (class 8) do”)
  3. positive imperative form of -bi- (“them; class 8 object concord”)
    ‎bi- + ‎-ha (“to give”) → ‎biha (“give them (class 8)”)

See also

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Tooro personal pronouns
Class Person Independent Possessive Subject concord Object concord Combined forms
na ni
Class 1 First nyowe, nye -ange n- -n- nanyowe, nanye ninyowe, ninye
Second iwe -awe o- -ku- naiwe niiwe
Third uwe -e a- -mu- nawe nuwe
Class 2 First itwe -aitu tu- -tu- naitwe niitwe
Second inywe -anyu mu- -ba- nainywe niinywe
Third abo -abo ba- -ba- nabo nubo
Class 3 gwo -agwo gu- -gu- nagwo nugwo
Class 4 yo -ayo e- -gi- nayo niyo
Class 5 lyo -alyo li- -li- nalyo niryo
Class 6 go -ago ga- -ga- nago nugo
Class 7 kyo -akyo ki- -ki- nakyo nikyo
Class 8 byo -abyo bi- -bi- nabyo nibyo
Class 9 yo -ayo e- -gi- nayo niyo
Class 10 zo -azo zi- -zi- nazo nizo
Class 11 rwo -arwo ru- -ru- narwo nurwo
Class 12 ko -ako ka- -ka- nako nuko
Class 13 two -atwo tu- -tu- natwo nutwo
Class 14 bwo -abwo bu- -bu- nabwo nubwo
Class 15 kwo -akwo ku- -ku- nakwo nukwo
Class 16 ho -aho ha- -ha- naho nuho
Class 17 (kwo) N/A ha-
(...-yo) 		-ha- N/A nukwo
Class 18 (mwo) -amwo ha-
(...-mu) 		-ha- N/A numwo
Reflexive -enyini, -onyini — -e- —

References

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  • Kaji, Shigeki (2007) A Rutooro Vocabulary‎[1], Tokyo: Research Institute for Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa (ILCAA), →ISBN, page 414

Turkish

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Etymology

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Borrowed from Persian بی (bi, prefix).

Prefix

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bi-

  1. (obsolete, unproductive) -less, un-, in-.
    Synonym: -siz

Derived terms

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Turkish terms prefixed with bi-
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