y-

y- perfective prefix, in y-clept, etc.; a deliberate archaism, introduced by Spenser and his imitators, representing an authentic Middle English prefix, from O.E. ge-, originally meaning "with, together" but later a completive or perfective element, from P.Gmc. *ga-. It is still living in German and Dutch ge-, and survives, disguised, in some English words (e.g. ALIKE (Cf. alike), AWARE (Cf. aware), HANDIWORK (Cf. handiwork)).