# Why BEheaded? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 19, 2004, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-beheaded/251159 "2004-06-19T03:50:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2004, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-beheaded/251159/1 "2004-06-19T03:50:18Z")
If I give my friendship to someone, I’ve _ **be** friended_ them. If I give my love to someone, they are _ **be** loved_. If I take away someones lice, they are _ **de** loused_. so why is it when ones head is chopped off, it’s called **be** headed? Compared to the other uses of the prefix, it sounds more like they were given head (no pun intended!:D) Why isn’t the correct term _ **de** headed_? ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2004, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-beheaded/251159/2 "2004-06-19T04:24:51Z")
I’m still trying to figure out why you can’t be _capitated_, _combobulated_ or _fenestrated_. ---
**Author:** ![j\_sum1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8baadc/32.png) [@j\_sum1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j_sum1)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2004, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-beheaded/251159/3 "2004-06-19T06:47:26Z")
If you are benighted, you are inconvenienced by night-fall. Maybe if you are beheaded, you are inconvenienced by head fall. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2004, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-beheaded/251159/4 "2004-06-19T07:06:27Z")
From the [dictionary.com](http://dictionary.com) listing for “behead”: > [@](#): > > Middle English biheden, from Old English behafdian: be-, away from; see be- + hafod, head; see head. ---
**Author:** ![absoul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@absoul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/absoul)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2004, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-beheaded/251159/5 "2004-06-19T07:49:03Z")
beheaded adj : having had the head cut off; “the beheaded prisoners” Describe? ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2004, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-beheaded/251159/6 "2004-06-19T16:16:26Z")
I’ve wondered about this denotation as well, but the connotation of **DE** headed seems somewhat clinical or surgical, sort of like deboning a fish. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Ed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Just\_Ed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Ed)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2004, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-beheaded/251159/7 "2004-06-19T18:08:14Z")
The operative usage of the prefix be- in this case relates to the _privation_ of the head. From the OED entry for _be-_: > [@](#): > > Forming derivative verbs with privative meaning ‘off, away,’ as in _bedeal, benim, bereave_. A very common use of be- in OE. and ME., prob. originating in words like _be-shear_, ‘to cut all round,’ whence ‘to cut off or away’; but no longer in living use in forming new derivatives. Words such as _befriend_ and _beloved_ are using the more common usage of the prefix, and are much more . . . er, _common_. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2004, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-beheaded/251159/8 "2004-06-21T04:16:43Z")
Beheaded = Beware: head begone; bereft of head; head befell in a bedpan! Becalm.