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I sometimes see と apparently being used as a verb prefix, e.g.:

> もう、とぼけないでよ。
>
> Stop joking around.

Can somebody explain what the と does in cases like this?
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2016-08-03T06:30:13.273
37168
2016-08-03T14:44:28.317
2020-06-17T08:18:27.500
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question
verbs etymology prefixes
と prefixing a verb?
An ordinary Japanese learner should probably memorize とぼける and ぼける as two
totally different verbs.

  * とぼける: to play dumb; to feign ignorance; to play innocent
  * ぼける: to play stupid (as a joke); to develop dementia

They seem to be etymologically related, but even native speakers do not regard
this と as a prefix.

Etymologically, according to [this article](http://gogen-
allguide.com/to/tobokeru.html) and [this
question](http://detail.chiebukuro.yahoo.co.jp/qa/question_detail/q1413926839),
this と seems to be a rare prefix that somehow emphasizes the original verb.
Unfortunately I cannot think of another example of と in this sense. But
[ど/ド](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/q/4435/5010) is a common prefix used
to emphasize the following word.
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2016-08-03T14:33:24.890
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2016-08-03T14:44:28.317
2017-04-13T12:43:44.863
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answer