Why Russian aspectual prefixes aren’t empty

Prefix		OT-
Methodology
iz-
o(b)-
ot-
pere-
pod-
pri-
raz-
u-
v-
v(o)z-
vy-

Submeaning Description Example Example gloss

1. DEPART Leave some place or cause smth to leave its position, not necessarily disappearing from sight Mašina ot"exala ot pod"ezda The car drove away from the entrance

2. BOUNCE Make an action in return Ja otšutilsja I made a joke in reply

3. UNSTICK Free an object from a fixed position or state Miša otvintil kryšku Misha unscrewed the lid

4. REMOVE Remove a portion of smth from somewhere Ja otpil glotok piva I took a sip of beer

5. MAKE NON-FUNCTIONAL Make dysfunctional by doing smth Andrej Ivanovič otsidel nogu Andrej Ivanovič made his leg numb by sitting

6. STOP AT THE ENDPOINT Fulfill an action On otstroil gotičeskij osobnjak He finished the construction of his gothic mansion

Submeaning	Description	Example	Example gloss
1. DEPART	Leave some place or cause smth to leave its position, not necessarily disappearing from sight	Mašina ot"exala ot pod"ezda	The car drove away from the entrance
2. BOUNCE	Make an action in return	Ja otšutilsja	I made a joke in reply
3. UNSTICK	Free an object from a fixed position or state	Miša otvintil kryšku	Misha unscrewed the lid
4. REMOVE	Remove a portion of smth from somewhere	Ja otpil glotok piva	I took a sip of beer
5. MAKE NON-FUNCTIONAL	Make dysfunctional by doing smth	Andrej Ivanovič otsidel nogu	Andrej Ivanovič made his leg numb by sitting
6. STOP AT THE ENDPOINT	Fulfill an action	On otstroil gotičeskij osobnjak	He finished the construction of his gothic mansion

1. DEPART
Lemma Gloss Base Base gloss n/m
ot’’exat’ drive off exat’ drive n

otbežat’ run away bežat’ run n

otbit’(sja) defend oneself against, repulse; win a girl in competing bit’(sja) beat, fight n/m

otbyt’ depart byt’ be n

otdelat’sja get rid of delat’ do m

otgorodit’(sja) fence off gorodit’ fence, enclose m

otgovorit’ dissuade from, talk out of govorit’ speak, talk m

otkatit’(sja) roll off katit’(sja) roll n

otklanjat’sja take one’s leave klanjat’sja bow m

otklonit’(sja) decline, reject klonit’(sja) bend, incline n/m

otkomandirovat’ send off to new duties komandirovat’ send on a mission n

otletet’ fly off letet’ fly n

otložit’(sja) put aside, postpone klast’ put n/m

otmesti sweep aside; reject mesti sweep n/m

otmyt’(sja) wash clean, wash off myt’ wash n/m

otnesti take to, carry off nesti carry n

otobrat’ take away brat’ take n

otognut’(sja) bend, flange gnut’(sja) bend n

otojti walk off idti go, walk n

otoslat’ send off; refer to slat’ send n

otozvat’ recall (a diplomatic representative) zvat’ call m

otpet’ read the burial service pet’ sing m

otplyt’ sail, swim off plyt’ swim n

otpolzti crawl away polzti crawl n

otpravit’(sja) send, depart, forward pravit’ rule, govern, steer n

otprosit’(sja) ask for leave prosit’ ask m

otrasti grow rasti grow m

otrastit’ let grow (of hair, belly) rastit’ grow, cultivate m

otstavit’ set aside; dismiss stavit’ set, put n/m

otstojat’ defend, save, stand up for; be distant stojat’ stand m

ottaščit’ drag aside taščit’ drag n

ottesnit’ press back, push aside tesnit’ press, squeeze n

ottjanut’ draw out, pull out; delay tjanut’ pull n/m

otučit’(sja) dishabituate učit’ teach m

otvertet’sja get out of smth vertet’ turn round m

otvesti lead off, draw off vesti lead, conduct n

otvezti take, cart away vezti cart, convey n

otvleč’(sja) distract, divert vleč’ attract; draw m

otxodit’ cure, nurse back to health; calm down xodit’ walk, take care of m

Specialized Perfectives (39)

1. DEPART
Lemma	Gloss	Base	Base gloss	n/m
ot’’exat’	drive off	exat’	drive	n
otbežat’	run away	bežat’	run	n
otbit’(sja)	defend oneself against, repulse; win a girl in competing	bit’(sja)	beat, fight	n/m
otbyt’	depart	byt’	be	n
otdelat’sja	get rid of	delat’	do	m
otgorodit’(sja)	fence off	gorodit’	fence, enclose	m
otgovorit’	dissuade from, talk out of	govorit’	speak, talk	m
otkatit’(sja)	roll off	katit’(sja)	roll	n
otklanjat’sja	take one’s leave	klanjat’sja	bow	m
otklonit’(sja)	decline, reject	klonit’(sja)	bend, incline	n/m
otkomandirovat’	send off to new duties	komandirovat’	send on a mission	n
otletet’	fly off	letet’	fly	n
otložit’(sja)	put aside, postpone	klast’	put	n/m
otmesti	sweep aside; reject	mesti	sweep	n/m
otmyt’(sja)	wash clean, wash off	myt’	wash	n/m
otnesti	take to, carry off	nesti	carry	n
otobrat’	take away	brat’	take	n
otognut’(sja)	bend, flange	gnut’(sja)	bend	n
otojti	walk off	idti	go, walk	n
otoslat’	send off; refer to	slat’	send	n
otozvat’	recall (a diplomatic representative)	zvat’	call	m
otpet’	read the burial service	pet’	sing	m
otplyt’	sail, swim off	plyt’	swim	n
otpolzti	crawl away	polzti	crawl	n
otpravit’(sja)	send, depart, forward	pravit’	rule, govern, steer	n
otprosit’(sja)	ask for leave	prosit’	ask	m
otrasti	grow	rasti	grow	m
otrastit’	let grow (of hair, belly)	rastit’	grow, cultivate	m
otstavit’	set aside; dismiss	stavit’	set, put	n/m
otstojat’	defend, save, stand up for; be distant	stojat’	stand	m
ottaščit’	drag aside	taščit’	drag	n
ottesnit’	press back, push aside	tesnit’	press, squeeze	n
ottjanut’	draw out, pull out; delay	tjanut’	pull	n/m
otučit’(sja)	dishabituate	učit’	teach	m
otvertet’sja	get out of smth	vertet’	turn round	m
otvesti	lead off, draw off	vesti	lead, conduct	n
otvezti	take, cart away	vezti	cart, convey	n
otvleč’(sja)	distract, divert	vleč’	attract; draw	m
otxodit’	cure, nurse back to health; calm down	xodit’	walk, take care of	m

Lemma Gloss Base Base gloss n/m
otparirovat’ parry (defensive move in fencing) parirovat’ parry (defensive move in fencing) n/m

otretirovat’sja retreat, withdraw retirovat’sja retreat, withdraw m

Natural Perfectives (2)

Lemma	Gloss	Base	Base gloss	n/m
otparirovat’	parry (defensive move in fencing)	parirovat’	parry (defensive move in fencing)	n/m
otretirovat’sja	retreat, withdraw	retirovat’sja	retreat, withdraw	m

2. BOUNCE
Lemma Gloss Base Base gloss n/m
otbit’ beat back bit’ beat n

otblagodarit’ express gratitude, return thanks blagodarit’ thank m

otčitat’(sja) tell smb off for smth; report on čitat’ read m

otletet’ bounce back letet’ fly n

otnestis’ treat, regard nesti carry m

otozvat’sja respond zvat’ call m

otpečatat’sja be imprinted pečatat’(sja) print n/m

otpisat’ notify (in writing); bequeath; confiscate pisat’ write m

otplatit’ pay back platit’ pay m

otrabotat’ work off (a debt) rabotat’ work m

otšutit’sja laugh off, make a joke instead of a reply šutit’ make jokes m

otygrat’(sja) win back, get back what one has lost igrat’ play m

Specialized Perfectives (12)

2. BOUNCE
Lemma	Gloss	Base	Base gloss	n/m
otbit’	beat back	bit’	beat	n
otblagodarit’	express gratitude, return thanks	blagodarit’	thank	m
otčitat’(sja)	tell smb off for smth; report on	čitat’	read	m
otletet’	bounce back	letet’	fly	n
otnestis’	treat, regard	nesti	carry	m
otozvat’sja	respond	zvat’	call	m
otpečatat’sja	be imprinted	pečatat’(sja)	print	n/m
otpisat’	notify (in writing); bequeath; confiscate	pisat’	write	m
otplatit’	pay back	platit’	pay	m
otrabotat’	work off (a debt)	rabotat’	work	m
otšutit’sja	laugh off, make a joke instead of a reply	šutit’	make jokes	m
otygrat’(sja)	win back, get back what one has lost	igrat’	play	m

Lemma Gloss Base Base gloss n/m
ot(o)mstit’ take revenge mstit’ take revenge m

otčekanit’ stamp a design (as in a coin), mint čekanit’ stamp a design (as in a coin), mint n

otformovat’ mould, shape formovat’ mould, shape n

otkozyrjat’ salute kozyrjat’ salute m

otlit’ cast, mould (in metallurgy, as in a bell or cannon) lit’ cast, mould (in metallurgy, as in a bell or cannon) n

otpečatat’ print, imprint pečatat’ print, imprint n

otpressovat’ press, compress pressovat’ press, compress n

otraportovat’ report raportovat’ report m

otreagirovat’ react reagirovat’ react m

otrepetovat’ answer by repeating a signal (in navy) repetovat’ answer by repeating a signal (in navy) m

otsaljutovat’ salute saljutovat’ salute m

otštampovat’ stamp štampovat’ stamp n

otutjužit’ iron utjužit’ iron n

Natural Perfectives (13)

Lemma	Gloss	Base	Base gloss	n/m
ot(o)mstit’	take revenge	mstit’	take revenge	m
otčekanit’	stamp a design (as in a coin), mint	čekanit’	stamp a design (as in a coin), mint	n
otformovat’	mould, shape	formovat’	mould, shape	n
otkozyrjat’	salute	kozyrjat’	salute	m
otlit’	cast, mould (in metallurgy, as in a bell or cannon)	lit’	cast, mould (in metallurgy, as in a bell or cannon)	n
otpečatat’	print, imprint	pečatat’	print, imprint	n
otpressovat’	press, compress	pressovat’	press, compress	n
otraportovat’	report	raportovat’	report	m
otreagirovat’	react	reagirovat’	react	m
otrepetovat’	answer by repeating a signal (in navy)	repetovat’	answer by repeating a signal (in navy)	m
otsaljutovat’	salute	saljutovat’	salute	m
otštampovat’	stamp	štampovat’	stamp	n
otutjužit’	iron	utjužit’	iron	n

3. UNSTICK
Lemma Gloss Base Base gloss n/m
otgadat’ solve by guessing gadat’ guess m

otkopat’ dig up, exhume kopat’ dig n/m

otkryt’(sja) uncover, open kryt’ cover n/m

otogret’(sja) warm up to normal gret’(sja) warm m

otperet’ unlock, open peret’ push, go, make one's way n

ottajat’ thaw out, melt tajat’ melt m

otvarit’ unweld varit’ weld n

otvertet’(sja) unscrew vertet’ turn round n

otvintit’(sja) unscrew vintit’ screw n

otvjazat’(sja) untie, unfasten; stop nagging vjazat’(sja) tie, bind; knit; nag at n/m

Specialized Perfectives (10)

3. UNSTICK
Lemma	Gloss	Base	Base gloss	n/m
otgadat’	solve by guessing	gadat’	guess	m
otkopat’	dig up, exhume	kopat’	dig	n/m
otkryt’(sja)	uncover, open	kryt’	cover	n/m
otogret’(sja)	warm up to normal	gret’(sja)	warm	m
otperet’	unlock, open	peret’	push, go, make one's way	n
ottajat’	thaw out, melt	tajat’	melt	m
otvarit’	unweld	varit’	weld	n
otvertet’(sja)	unscrew	vertet’	turn round	n
otvintit’(sja)	unscrew	vintit’	screw	n
otvjazat’(sja)	untie, unfasten; stop nagging	vjazat’(sja)	tie, bind; knit; nag at	n/m

Natural Perfectives: not attested
4. REMOVE
Lemma Gloss Base Base gloss n/m
otdelit’(sja) detach delit’ divide n

otkačat’ pump out kačat’ pump n

otkolot’(sja) break off kolot’ break, chop, split n

otletet’ come off (e.g. of buttons) letet’ fly n

otlovit’ catch out lovit’ catch n

otložit’sja learn klast’ put m

otmerit’ measure out some of merit’ measure n

otobrat’ select, pick out some of brat’ take n

otorvat’(sja) tear off rvat’(sja) tear, rip n

otpit’ take a sip of pit’ drink n

otrezat’ cut off rezat’ cut n

otrubit’ chop off rubit’ chop n

otsčitat’ count out, count off sčitat’ count m

otseč’ cut off, chop off, sever seč’ cut to pieces n

otsledit’ notice by regular observation sledit’ watch, follow m

otvalit’(sja) heave off, push aside; fall off valit’(sja) throw down n

otvarit’ boil (e.g. cabbage) varit’ boil, cook m

otvedat’ taste, try (of food) vedat’ know m

otvesit’ weight out some of vešat’ weigh n

otyskat’(sja) find, track down iskat’ search for m

Specialized Perfectives (20)

4. REMOVE
Lemma	Gloss	Base	Base gloss	n/m
otdelit’(sja)	detach	delit’	divide	n
otkačat’	pump out	kačat’	pump	n
otkolot’(sja)	break off	kolot’	break, chop, split	n
otletet’	come off (e.g. of buttons)	letet’	fly	n
otlovit’	catch out	lovit’	catch	n
otložit’sja	learn	klast’	put	m
otmerit’	measure out some of	merit’	measure	n
otobrat’	select, pick out some of	brat’	take	n
otorvat’(sja)	tear off	rvat’(sja)	tear, rip	n
otpit’	take a sip of	pit’	drink	n
otrezat’	cut off	rezat’	cut	n
otrubit’	chop off	rubit’	chop	n
otsčitat’	count out, count off	sčitat’	count	m
otseč’	cut off, chop off, sever	seč’	cut to pieces	n
otsledit’	notice by regular observation	sledit’	watch, follow	m
otvalit’(sja)	heave off, push aside; fall off	valit’(sja)	throw down	n
otvarit’	boil (e.g. cabbage)	varit’	boil, cook	m
otvedat’	taste, try (of food)	vedat’	know	m
otvesit’	weight out some of	vešat’	weigh	n
otyskat’(sja)	find, track down	iskat’	search for	m

Lemma Gloss Base Base gloss n/m
otčerenkovat’ remove a piece of a plant (in order to graft it to another) čerenkovat’ remove a piece of a plant (in order to graft it to another) n

Natural Perfectives (1)

Lemma	Gloss	Base	Base gloss	n/m
otčerenkovat’	remove a piece of a plant (in order to graft it to another)	čerenkovat’	remove a piece of a plant (in order to graft it to another)	n

5. MAKE NON-FUNCTIONAL
Lemma Gloss Base Base gloss n/m
otbit’ beat up, damage bit’ beat m

otdelat’ beat up delat’ do m

otležat’ make numb by lying ležat’ lie m

otmorozit’ injure by frost-bite morozit’ freeze m

otsidet’ make numb by sitting sidet’ sit m

Specialized Perfectives (5)

5. MAKE NON-FUNCTIONAL
Lemma	Gloss	Base	Base gloss	n/m
otbit’	beat up, damage	bit’	beat	m
otdelat’	beat up	delat’	do	m
otležat’	make numb by lying	ležat’	lie	m
otmorozit’	injure by frost-bite	morozit’	freeze	m
otsidet’	make numb by sitting	sidet’	sit	m

Lemma Gloss Base Base gloss n/m
otčixvostit’ beat up; curse someone out čixvostit’ beat; curse someone m

otdubasit’ beat up with a cudgel dubasit’ beat with a cudgel m

otkološmatit’ beat up kološmatit’ beat m

otlupcevat’ beat up lupcevat’ beat m

otlupit’ beat up, flog lupit’ beat, flog m

otrugat’ curse someone out rugat’ curse someone m

otšlepat’ smack šlepat’ smack m

otstegat’ whip, lash stegat’ whip, lash m

otsyret’ be damaged by moisture syret’ get damp m

ottaskat’ pull (as punishment) taskat’ pull m

ottrepat’ tousle, pull about, beat up trepat’ tousle, pull about, beat m

ottuzit’ beat up tuzit’ beat m

otvolgnut’ be damaged by moisture volgnut’ be damaged by moisture m

otvozit’ beat up vozit’ transport, drag m

Natural Perfectives (14)

Lemma	Gloss	Base	Base gloss	n/m
otčixvostit’	beat up; curse someone out	čixvostit’	beat; curse someone	m
otdubasit’	beat up with a cudgel	dubasit’	beat with a cudgel	m
otkološmatit’	beat up	kološmatit’	beat	m
otlupcevat’	beat up	lupcevat’	beat	m
otlupit’	beat up, flog	lupit’	beat, flog	m
otrugat’	curse someone out	rugat’	curse someone	m
otšlepat’	smack	šlepat’	smack	m
otstegat’	whip, lash	stegat’	whip, lash	m
otsyret’	be damaged by moisture	syret’	get damp	m
ottaskat’	pull (as punishment)	taskat’	pull	m
ottrepat’	tousle, pull about, beat up	trepat’	tousle, pull about, beat	m
ottuzit’	beat up	tuzit’	beat	m
otvolgnut’	be damaged by moisture	volgnut’	be damaged by moisture	m
otvozit’	beat up	vozit’	transport, drag	m

6. STOP AT THE ENDPOINT
Lemma Gloss Base Base gloss n/m
otbyt’ have stayed somewhere byt’ be m

otčitat’ read a lecture čitat’ read m

otcvesti finish blossoming, fade cvesti blossom m

otdelat’ put finishing touches on, decorate delat’ do m

otdyšat’sja recover one’s breath (about someone who was breathing intensively and then came back to normal) dyšat’ breathe m

otgovorit’ be done speaking govorit’ speak, talk m

otkašljat’sja clear one’s throat kašljat’ cough m

otletat’ stop flying after a given period letat’ fly m

otležat’sja lie up, rest (in bed, in a safe place); lie, be stored (in order to season, ripen) ležat’ lie m

otmesti stop snow-storming mesti snow-storm m

otospat’sja have a long sleep, get a good rest spat’ sleep m

otpet’ be done with singing; sing for some time pet’ sing m

otrabotat’ finish one’s work; work through some time rabotat’ work m

otsidet’(sja) stay for, sit out (e.g. in prison) sidet’ sit m

otslužit’ finish a tour of duty or church service služit’ serve m

otstojat’ stand through stojat’ stand m

otstroit’ complete construction, build up stroit’ build m

ottočit sharpen točit sharpen m

otvesti be done with teaching classes vesti give (a lesson) m

otvoevat’ finish fighting voevat’ fight, wage war m

otxodit’ stop walking, finish attending (e.g. meetings or concerts) xodit’ walk m

Complex Act Perfectives (21)

6. STOP AT THE ENDPOINT
Lemma	Gloss	Base	Base gloss	n/m
otbyt’	have stayed somewhere	byt’	be	m
otčitat’	read a lecture	čitat’	read	m
otcvesti	finish blossoming, fade	cvesti	blossom	m
otdelat’	put finishing touches on, decorate	delat’	do	m
otdyšat’sja	recover one’s breath (about someone who was breathing intensively and then came back to normal)	dyšat’	breathe	m
otgovorit’	be done speaking	govorit’	speak, talk	m
otkašljat’sja	clear one’s throat	kašljat’	cough	m
otletat’	stop flying after a given period	letat’	fly	m
otležat’sja	lie up, rest (in bed, in a safe place); lie, be stored (in order to season, ripen)	ležat’	lie	m
otmesti	stop snow-storming	mesti	snow-storm	m
otospat’sja	have a long sleep, get a good rest	spat’	sleep	m
otpet’	be done with singing; sing for some time	pet’	sing	m
otrabotat’	finish one’s work; work through some time	rabotat’	work	m
otsidet’(sja)	stay for, sit out (e.g. in prison)	sidet’	sit	m
otslužit’	finish a tour of duty or church service	služit’	serve	m
otstojat’	stand through	stojat’	stand	m
otstroit’	complete construction, build up	stroit’	build	m
ottočit	sharpen	točit	sharpen	m
otvesti	be done with teaching classes	vesti	give (a lesson)	m
otvoevat’	finish fighting	voevat’	fight, wage war	m
otxodit’	stop walking, finish attending (e.g. meetings or concerts)	xodit’	walk	m

Lemma Gloss Base Base gloss n/m
otcentrirovat’ (tech.) center centrirovat’ (tech.) center m

otcentrovat’ (tech.) center centrovat’ (tech.) center m

otciklevat’ make a wooden surface flat and smooth using a scraper ciklevat’ make a wooden surface flat and smooth using a scraper m

otfil’trovat’ filter fil’trovat’ filter m

otfrezerovat’ mill, work a surface with milling cutter frezerovat’ mill, work a surface with milling cutter m

otgravirovat’ engrave gravirovat’ engrave m

otkorrektirovat’ correct korrektirovat’ correct m

otlakirovat’ varnish, lacquer lakirovat’ varnish, lacquer m

otnikelirovat’ plate with nickel nikelirovat’ plate with nickel m

otpolirovat’ polish polirovat’ polish m

otprazdnovat’ celebrate prazdnovat’ celebrate m

otrecenzirovat’ review, criticize recenzirovat’ review, criticize m

otredaktirovat’ edit redaktirovat’ edit m

otregulirovat’ regulate, adjust regulirovat’ regulate, adjust m

otrekomendovat’(sja) recommend, speak well for, advise; introduce oneself rekomendovat’(sja) recommend, speak well for, advise; introduce oneself m

otremontirovat’ repair remontirovat’ repair m

otrepetirovat’ rehearse repetirovat’ rehearse m

otrestavrirovat’ restore restavrirovat’ restore m

otretuširovat’ retouch retuširovat’ retouch m

otšlifovat’ polish, burnish šlifovat’ polish, burnish m

otštukaturit’ plaster štukaturit’ plaster m

ottrubit’ be done doing smth boring trubit’ do smth boring m

otxromirovat’ chromium-plate xromirovat’ chromium-plate m

Natural Perfectives (23)

Lemma	Gloss	Base	Base gloss	n/m
otcentrirovat’	(tech.) center	centrirovat’	(tech.) center	m
otcentrovat’	(tech.) center	centrovat’	(tech.) center	m
otciklevat’	make a wooden surface flat and smooth using a scraper	ciklevat’	make a wooden surface flat and smooth using a scraper	m
otfil’trovat’	filter	fil’trovat’	filter	m
otfrezerovat’	mill, work a surface with milling cutter	frezerovat’	mill, work a surface with milling cutter	m
otgravirovat’	engrave	gravirovat’	engrave	m
otkorrektirovat’	correct	korrektirovat’	correct	m
otlakirovat’	varnish, lacquer	lakirovat’	varnish, lacquer	m
otnikelirovat’	plate with nickel	nikelirovat’	plate with nickel	m
otpolirovat’	polish	polirovat’	polish	m
otprazdnovat’	celebrate	prazdnovat’	celebrate	m
otrecenzirovat’	review, criticize	recenzirovat’	review, criticize	m
otredaktirovat’	edit	redaktirovat’	edit	m
otregulirovat’	regulate, adjust	regulirovat’	regulate, adjust	m
otrekomendovat’(sja)	recommend, speak well for, advise; introduce oneself	rekomendovat’(sja)	recommend, speak well for, advise; introduce oneself	m
otremontirovat’	repair	remontirovat’	repair	m
otrepetirovat’	rehearse	repetirovat’	rehearse	m
otrestavrirovat’	restore	restavrirovat’	restore	m
otretuširovat’	retouch	retuširovat’	retouch	m
otšlifovat’	polish, burnish	šlifovat’	polish, burnish	m
otštukaturit’	plaster	štukaturit’	plaster	m
ottrubit’	be done doing smth boring	trubit’	do smth boring	m
otxromirovat’	chromium-plate	xromirovat’	chromium-plate	m