bel-

/bɛl/

prefix

A prefix equivalent to grand-

“belchild (“grandchild”)”

OriginMiddle English bel ← Anglo-Norman bel ← Old French bel →
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Meanings

bel-1

prefix
  1. idiomaticobsoleteA prefix equivalent to grand-

    belchild (“grandchild”)

    2 more examples

    beldame (“grandmother”)

    belsire (“grandfather”)

Bel-2

prefix
  1. alternativeAlternative form of Belgo-.

Origin

bel- · prefix

  1. Old Frenchbel“beautiful, noble, honorable”
  2. Anglo-Normanbel
  3. Middle Englishbel“fair, excellent"; in compounds "great-, grand-”
  4. Englishbel-

From Middle English bel (“fair, excellent"; in compounds "great-, grand-”), from Anglo-Norman bel, Old French bel (“beautiful, noble, honorable”).

More words from Middle English, Anglo-Norman, Old French

Full word history & related roots →

Bel- · prefix

Clipping of Belgian.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

bel-. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bel-

MLA

“bel-.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bel-. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “bel-,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bel-.

Source: bel- on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.