Proactive etymology

Or it can be the Old English intensive a-, originally ar- (cognate with German er- and probably implying originally "motion away from"), as in abide, arise, awake, ashamed, marking a verb as momentary, a single event. Such words sometimes were refashioned in early modern English as though the prefix were Latin (accursed, allay, affright are examples).

In etymology their is always the problem of the same person teaching grammar and making dictionaries.  That person will cheat, to make life easier and we get, again, lossy compression. It is hard to find the path backwards in the tree. But the other point, they are using Latin for its intended purpose, a etymology text for the scribes, a dictionary format.

The arrival of parchment and Latin would be a new tool for the locals, and advantages to getting the local dialect inside the dictionary, finding its Latin format. The individual trading channel widens when the local merchant learns a bit of Latin. The two together, quite powerful effect on history.

My Latin list of mean 'a' words. Seize, grab, delay,appropriate, and various forms of personal harm delivered to another.  a- means something like get active as near as I can tell, or get active against. I am always confused in reading my high school spanish, I get one of the man a- things and mix them up.