Prefix definitions: Difference between revisions

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Revision as of 02:14, 21 September 2023

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?[edit | edit source]

  • 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[edit | edit source]

  • 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
-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
a & ad a-

abstract, amaze, apparent

ad-addition, adhere, advertize
com & con compete context

Prefixes with dual, opposite meanings[edit | edit source]

  • 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
in- prefix synonyms w/ opposite meanings
prefix definition 1 example definition 2 example
em- in, into empathy, emphasis opposite of, not, out of empty (not full from PIE *med-)
en- in, into engine, enjoy, enter, opposite of, not, out of enemy, enmity (not of a friend)
im- in, into important opposite of, not, out of impatient (not patient)

immoral (not moral)

in- in, into insert, inspect, intrude (push into) opposite of, not, out of incredible (not believable)

incorrect (not correct)

asdf

Important Prefixes[edit | edit source]

A-B-C[edit | edit source]

a-, ab[edit | edit source]

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

ab-[edit | edit source]

  • 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-[edit | edit source]

  • 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-[edit | edit source]

  • 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-[edit | edit source]

  • same as ad-
    • addition, addendum

ana-[edit | edit source]

  • 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)

apo-[edit | edit source]

  • of (as in from), from, away from, separate, free of
    • PIE root *apo- "off, away"
    • in these definitions synonymous with ab-, aft-, awk- ex- and of-
    • examples:
      • after, aperitif, apocalypse, apocryphal, apology, apoplexy, apostle, apostrophe, apothecary; apotheosis; awkward; ebb; eftsoons; of; off; offal; overt.
        • ex. apostle = "one sent out from"

bi-[edit | edit source]

  • two, double, twice, every other
    • from PIE *dwo- "two"

co-, com- & con-[edit | edit source]

  • 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[edit | edit source]

di-[edit | edit source]

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

dict-,[edit | edit source]

  • 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-[edit | edit source]

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

digi-,[edit | edit source]

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

dis-[edit | edit source]

em- & en-[edit | edit source]

  • = 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-[edit | edit source]

  • 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-[edit | edit source]

  • from PIE *en- into, to make or put

ex-, e-[edit | edit source]

  • out of, from
  • efface, example, exhume
  • reduced to e- before -b, -d, -l, -m, -n, -v
    • elude, emerge, evaporate

G-H-I[edit | edit source]

in-[edit | edit source]

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

hetero- v. homo-[edit | edit source]

  • hetero- = different
    • heterodox,
  • homo- = same

J-K-L[edit | edit source]

M-N-O[edit | edit source]

mi-, my- mys-[edit | edit source]

  • from Greek myein for "to close, shut"
  • = hidden, secret
    • PIE *meue- for "silent", thus related to "mute"
  • mystery, mysterious, mystic
  • ex. myopic
    • = close + eye (from PIE *okw- "to see") my-
      • closed, shut
      • from Greek myein "to shut"
        • with m- negating

mis-[edit | edit source]

  • = badly, wrongly
    • from PIE *mei- "to change"
  • misfire, mistake, misunderstand

mo-[edit | edit source]

  • from PIE *meue- "to push away"
    • note that PIE *meue- has distinct meanings, "abundant" or "push away"
  • motor, mobile, move, movement
  • related to
    • commotion, emotion, mob, mobile, moment, momentous, motif, motive, promote, remote, remove

mono-[edit | edit source]

  • = single, alone
  • monolithic, monopoly, monotone

myo-[edit | edit source]

  • for "muscle"
  • ex. myocarditis = myo- (muscle) + *kertd- (heart)
    • note that "myo-" here is distinct from "my-" in myopia

myr-[edit | edit source]

  • from PIE *meue- "abundant"
  • myriad (many, uncountable)

ob-, of-[edit | edit source]

  • from Latin ob for "in the direction of, with regard to"
  • from PIE *epi- or *opi- for "near, against, across"
  • examples:
    • epicenter, ephemera, epidemic, epidermis, epigraph
    • obese, obey, obfuscate, obituary, object, oblate, oblique, oblivion, oblong,
    • also
      • bishop = *epi + *spek- ("to observe") = "one who watches over"
      • cover = *epi- + *wer- (shut, wrapped)
  • of- in this sense of:
    • offend = ob- (against) + fendere (strike)

of-, off-[edit | edit source]

  • see apo- (away, from, off)
  • from PIE *apo- for "off, away"

of-, op-[edit | edit source]

  • from PIE root *op- "to work, produce in abundance"
  • "of" is cognate with "op"
    • ex. office, official
  • from Latin officialis (magistrate, public official, performing public duty or service)
    • from PIE root *op- "to work, produce in abundance" + facere "to make, to do" (from PIE root *dhe- "to set, put").
  • examples
    • official

op-

  • operate, optimist, opulent, opus
  • also used with c- or co-, as in
    • cooperate, copious, copy

P-Q-R[edit | edit source]

S-T-U[edit | edit source]

sym-[edit | edit source]

  • 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-[edit | edit source]

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

V-X-Y-Z[edit | edit source]

"Native" English Prefixes[edit | edit source]

Here for a list of common prefixes that come from Old and Middle English (from English prefix - Wikipedia

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[edit | edit source]

Here for a list of prefixes that have Latin/Greek and modern origins: (from English prefix - Wikipedia)

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-[1] 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
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