Prefix definitions

Prefix definitions, etymology & examples

see https://www.dailywritingtips.com/list-prefixes-suffixes

Terms

• assimilation
• cognate
  • = related sounds that yield shifts in pronunciation, generally between languages that have a common origin
  • ex. the English "night" is "cognate" with the German "nacht"
    • in English the "i" is cognate with the German "a"
    • and the ENglish "ght" is cognate with the German "act"
  • within a language, cognates are seen in words such as "night":
    • Old English: niht was changed to "night" in Middle English in order to represent the "ggh" sound of niht in Old English
      • eventually, the "ggh" sound was dropped and the "i" became "eye"-sound (from "ehh" sound)
      • but the spelling was kept the same, "night"
• etymology
  • = word origin, or study of word origins
• morpheme
  • = the smallest constituent of a word
  • some words are morphemes unto themselves ("it", "and")
  • others are a combination of morphemes ("itself", "below")
• PIE
  • for proto-Indo-European language
  • = the origin or pre-origin language of Indo-European languages, which share the PIE language as their origin
  • Indo-European languages include, Celtic, English, French, German, Greek, Hindi, Latin, Persian, Spanish, and others across Europe and parts of central and western Asia and South Asia
• root
• suffix
  • = a word ending "inflection" (change in sound) that identifies or changes a root's part of speech

When is a prefix not a prefix?

• many prefixes are attached to roots that are not words unto themselves
  • some scholars argue that these words are not "prefix + root" and stand as single "morphemes" (word units)
    

Letter sound shifts

• because of the way letter sounds are formed by the mouth (physically)
  • some letters more naturally precede others
• examples:
  • "m" starts with closed lips, then open lips ("mmmah" sound)
  • "n" starts and ends with open lips, along with release of the tongue from against the front teeth ("nnnah" sound)
  • "p" starts with closed lips, then open lips > open lips ("pppuh" sound)
  • thus
    • n + p requires open for n, then close and open for m
    • whereas m + p only requires closed lips for m, which transitions easily to the open lips p sound
• consequently, some prefixes with the same meaning use different letters, depending on the first letter of the root word

Pronoun ending letter

m & n	-b, -m, -p	-c, -d, -f, -g, -h, -j, -l, n, -r, -q, -t, -v
m & n	em-, im-ember, eminent, empathy, immaterial, important	en-, in-include, induce, infuse, ingress, inhuman, injury, enliven, enrage, inquisitive, into, invisible
m & n	um-umbrella, umpire	un-unclear, under, unfettered, unhinged, unjust, unlimited, unrest, unready, invertibrate
ad	ad- addition, adhere, advertize

Prefixes with dual, opposite meanings

• some prefixes have opposite meanings
  • adhere = stuck to
    • ad from a- (adding the "d" before the h
      • ad- (to, into) + haesitare (stuck, in place)
        • "here" = from PIE root *ghais- forms adhere, hesitate
    • versus
  • averse = against, disliking, hostile, unwilling
    • a- (against, not) + verse (turn)
      • = turn against

Important Prefixes

A-B-C

a-, ab

• away, away from, from, from off, down
• also ab-,abs-
• ex.
  • avert, abduct, abscond
• for more see ab-

ab-

• away, away from, from, from off, down
  • PIE *apo- off, away
    • abstract
    • absolve
    • absolute
      • note that "absolute" = ab (to, towards) + solvere (to loosen)
        • = not attached, released, without restrictions
• by (as in agency, for origin, consequence of)
• can also mean "not" (as in a negation)
• can also mean "ad-" for to, toward, near

• examples:
  • aberration, abstract, abnormal, abysmal
  • note that ab- in "abbreviation" is from ad- (to, toward), thus
    • ab- for "to" (from ad-) + breviare (Latin) for short, low, little, shallow = "to shorten"
      • PIE *mregh-u for short

ad-

• to, toward (space or time), in relation to, regarding
  • from PIE *ad- for to, near, at
  • addict, adhere, ad
• becomes a- before -sc-, -sp- and -st-
  • aspect, astronomy
• becomes ab-
  • also af-, -ag, -al,
    • affection, aggression

acer-

• bitter, harsh, severe, sharp, sour,
  • acerbic, acrid
  • also:
    • exacerbate, mediocre
• from PIE *ak- "sharp, to a point, pierce"
  • includes words such as acid, acme, acrobat, acronym, acropolis, acumen, acupuncture

add-

• same as ad-
  • addition, addendum

ana-

• 1. up, upward, through (in place or time)
• 2. back, backward, against
• 3. again, anew
  • by itself, "ana" means "an equal quantity"
• origin
  • PIE *an- for "on, upon, above"
• examples
  • anabaptism for "a second" or "renewed" baptism
  • analysis
    • ana- "up" + *leu "loosen, divide, cut apart" thus "cut or divided up"
  • analog
    • log = from "logos" thus "through or again words or logic"
  • analogy
    • log -y "through or separate words or logic" (that mean the same thing)

co-, com- & con-

• mean the same thing
• together; with, joint (as in co-owner, equal to, complement of
  • can also be col-, cor-

• examples:
  • coordinate
  • cosign
  • complement = with (com-) + fill (-plere) for "add/ed to make complete"
    • com- + from PIE *pele for "to fill, make complete"
      • for "with togetherness"
  • compliment = cognate with Latin complere shifting to complire for "to complete"
    • indicates "completion" and thus "expression of respect" for something completed or done

D-E-F

di-

• double, having two of
  • thus "divide" = make into two

dict-,

• speak, tell
  • from PIE *deik- "to show" and "to pronounce solemnly"
  • words formed from the origin:
    • adbicate, addict, avenge, benediction, condition, contradict, dedicate, diction, dictionary, index, indicate, judge, judicial, predicament, predicate, predict, prejudice, revenge, toe, token, verdict,

didact-

• teaching
  • from PIE *dens- "to learn"
  • didactic, didactical

digi-,

• finger
• thus "digit" and "digital" can be counted

em- & en-

• = mean the same
  • into
  • to place
  • to cause
  • not, to restrict
• en- precedes all letters except those that follow -em
• em- precedes -b, -m, -p
  • see chart above

em-

• put in or into, to affect, bring to the state of, distribute
  • assimilation from in- and into
  • PIE root *em- for "to take, distribute"
• used instead of -en words beginning with -b- and -p-
• examples
  • empathy
    • in the (same) state of pathos (emotions, feelings)
  • embitter (make bitter)
  • embody (make into the body of; representation)
  • emit (distribute
  • emotion

en-

• from PIE *en, into, to make or put

in- prefix synonyms w/ opposite meanings

prefix	definition 1	definition 2
em-	opposite of, not	in, into
en-	opposite of, not	in, into
im-	opposite of, not	in, into
in-	opposite of, not	in, into

G-H-I

in-

• same as en-, im-, em-
• see entry for en-

S-T-U

sym-

• alike, with, together, mutual, reciprocal, at the same time
  • assimilated with syn-
  • origin in PIE *ksun- for "with"
• used instead of syn-' with words beginning with -b-, -m-, -p-, -ph-, -ps-
• examples
  • symbiosis, symbol, sympathetic,

syn-

• alike, with, together, mutual, reciprocal, at the same time
• examples
  • synagogue, synthesis, synthetic,
  • sympathy
    • with emotion

"Native" English Prefixes

The list here are common English prefixes that come from Old and Middle English

Prefix	Meaning	Example
a-	verb > predicative adjective with progressive aspect	afloat, atremble
after-	following after, behind	aftermath, afterlife
back-	behind an object/structure (locative/directional)	backporch, backhoe, backfire
be-	equipped with, covered with, beset with (pejorative or facetious)	bedeviled, becalm, bedazzle, bewitch
by-	near to, next to	byway, bypass, byproduct
down-	from higher/greater to lower/lesser	download, downright, downbeat
en-, em-	to make into, to put into, to get into	empower, enmesh
fore-	before, in front	forearm, forerunner, forebode
hind-	after	hindsight, hindquarters
mid-	middle	midstream, midlife
midi-	medium-sized	midi-length, Midibus
mini-	small	minimarket, mini-room, minivan
mis-	wrong, astray	misinformation, misguide, misfortune, misbehave, misspell
off-	non-standard, away	off-color, offish, offset
on-	immediate proximity, locative	onset, onlook, ongoing, oncoming
out-	better, faster, longer, farther	outreach, outcome, outlier
over-	excessive, above	overreact, overact, overbearing
self-	self	self-sufficient, self-explanatory
step-	family relation by remarriage	stepbrother, stepmother, stepfather, stepsister
twi-	two	twibill, twilight, twins
un-	not, against, opposite of	unnecessary, unequal, undesirable, unhappy
un-	reverse action, deprive of, release from	undo, untie, unexpected, unlock
under-	below, beneath, lower in grade or dignity, lesser, insufficient	underachieve, underpass, understand, undergo
up-	greater, higher, or better	upgrade, uplift, upright
with-	against, back, away (from)	withstand, withhold

Neo-Classical prefixes

Prefix	Meaning	Examples
a-	not, alpha privative	acyclic, asexual, atonal, atheist
Afro-	relating to Africa	Afro-American, Afro-Caribbean
ambi-	both	ambidextrous, ambitendency
amphi-	around, two, both, on both sides	amphiaster, amphitheatre, amphibian
an-/a-	not, without	anemic, asymmetric, anarchy
ana-, an-	up, against	anacardiaceous, anode, analog
Anglo-	relating to England	Anglo-Norman, Anglo-Saxon, Anglo-American
ante-	before	antenatal, antechamber, antedate
anti-	opposite, against	antagonist, antivenom
apo-, ap-	away from, detached	aphelion, apogee, apomorphine
arch-	ruling, dominating, most extreme (pejorative)	archangel, archaen, archconservative
astro-	star	astrobiology, astrology, astronomy
auto-	self	autobiography, automatic, autonomy
bi-	two	bicycle, biped, bisexual, binomial, bigamy, binary
bio-	life, biological	biology, biotic
circum-	around, surrounding	circumlocution, circumnavigate, circumference
cis-	on this side of	cislunar, cisgender
con-, co-, com-, col-, cor-	together or with	cohabit, colleague, commingle, confederation, correlation
contra-, contro-	opposite	contradict, contraindication
counter-	against, in opposition to	counteract, counterpart
cryo-	ice	cryogenics
crypto-	hidden, secret	cryptography
de-	down	depress, descend
demi-	half	demigod
demo-	people	democracy, demography
deuter-	second	deuteragonist, deuterogamy
di-	two	dicotyledon, dioxide
dia-	through	dialysis, diameter
dis-/di-/dif-	apart	differ, dissect, divide
du-/duo-	two	dual, duet
eco-	ecological	ecosystem
electro-	electric, electricity	electro-analysis, electromagnetic
en-, el-, em-	in	ellipsis, emphasis, energetic
epi-, ep-	upon, at, close upon, in addition	ephemeron, epicentre, epidermis
Euro-	European	Eurocentric
ex-	out of	exit, expel, explode, exploit, explore, export
extra-	outside	extracurricular
Franco-	French, France	Francophile, Franco-British, Franco-German
geo-	relating to the earth or its surface	geography, geology, geometry
gyro-	spinning on an axis	gyrocopter, gyroscope, gyrosphere
hetero-	different	heterochromia, heterogeneous, heterotroph, heterozygous
hemi-	half	hemimorphic, hemisphere
Hispano-	Spanish, Spain	Hispanoamérica, hispanophobia
homo-	same	homogeneous, homogenize, homologous, homophone, homozygous
hydro-	relating to water, or using water	hydroelectricity, hydrant
hyper-	excess, above, over	hyperthermia
hypo-	deficient, under or below something, low	hypothermia
ideo-	image, idea	ideograph, ideology
idio-	individual, personal, unique	idiolect, idiopathic
in-	in, into	include, insert
Indo-	relating to the Indian subcontinent	Indo-European
in-, il-, im-, ir-	not, opposite of	illegal, illicit, impatient, impossible, inappropriate, inexact, irregular, irresponsible
infra-	below, beneath	infrared
inter-	among, between	intercede, internet, international
intra-	inside, within	intravenous
iso-	equal	isochromatic, isotherm
Italo-	Italian, Italy	italophilia, italophobia
macro-	long	macrobiotic
mal-	badly	malnourish, maladjusted
maxi-	very long, very large	maxi-skirt, maximum
mega-, megalo-	great, large	megastar, megalopolis
meta-	after, along with, beyond, among, behind	metabolism, metaphysics
micro-	small	microbacillus, microscope
mono-, mon-	sole, only	monogamy, monotone, monosyllabic, monomial, monobrow
multi-, mult-	many	multicultural, multi-storey, multitude
neo-	new	neolithic, neoether
non-	not	nonexistent, non-fiction
ob-	to, against	object, obligate
omni-	all	omnipotent, omnipresent, omnivore
ortho-	correcting or straightening	orthodontics, orthotropic
paleo-	old	paleolithic
pan-	all, worldwide	pan-African, pandemic, panorama, pansexual
para-	beside, beyond	parallel, paraplegic, parasail
ped-	foot	pedal, pedestrian
pen-	almost	peninsula, penultimate, penumbra
per-	through, completely, wrongly, exceedingly	permeate, permute
peri-	around, near or adjacent	perihelion, periphrase
photo-	light	photoelectric, photography, photosynthesis
pleo-	more	pleonasm, pleroma
pod-	foot	podiatrist
poly-	many	polygon, polyhedron, polygamy
post-	after	postfix, postpone, postscript
pre-	before	predict, prepare, preview, preschool, prewrite, prefix
preter-	beyond, past, more than	pretermit, preternatural
pro-	for, substitute, deputy	proconsul
pro-	before	procambium
pros-	toward	prosthesis, prostrate, prose
proto-	first, original	protoplasm, prototype
pseudo-	false, imitation	pseudonym
pyro-	fire	pyrokinetic, pyrotechnic
quadri-	four	quadrilateral, quadrinomial
quasi-	partly, almost, appearing to be but not really	quasi-religious
retro-	backwards	retrograde
semi-	half	semicircle
socio-	society, social, sociological	sociopath
sub-, sup-	below, under	submarine, subterranean, suburban, support
super-	above, over	supervisor, superintendent
supra-	above, over	suprarenal
sur-	above, over	surreal, surrender, surplus
syn-, sy-, syl-, sym-	together, with	syllable, symbol, synthesis, system
tele-	at a distance	telegraph, telephone, telescope, television
trans-	across, over	transatlantic, transverse, transform, transgender
tri-	three	tricycle, tripartite, triangle, tricolor, trinomial
ultra-	beyond	ultramagnetic, ultrasonic, ultraviolet
uni-	one, consisting of only one	unicycle, universal
vice-	deputy	vice-president, vice-principal, vice-admiral