subject: British Academics - How To Use Prefixes [print this page] British Academics - How To Use Prefixes British Academics - How To Use Prefixes
One way to expand your vocabulary is by learning to identify prefixes. A prefix is a part of a word consisting of a letter or letters placed before the root word to modify its meaning. Many words are formed just by adding part of a word in front of the root. The addition is called a prefix, from "pre-" ("before") and "fix" (to attach). It may be attached to the root (e.g., predominant), hyphenated (e.g., pre-election), or written separately (e.g., post time)
To construct words using prefixes, use the following guides:
1. Have a dictionary close for you to identify a prefix whose meaning is unfamiliar to you
2. Note the prefix and its meaning so you can refer to it from time to time
3. Go over the meaning of the prefix often to familiarize yourself
4. Add the prefix to the root to come-up with words
5. Validate the existence of the word with your dictionary and use these words when you speak and write
Common prefixes
Below are examples of prefixes. The word before the parenthesis is the PREFIX-, while the word (inside) the parenthesis is the meaning and the word inside the "quotation mark" is the word formed
ama- (love), as in "amateur" & "amatory"
ante- (before), as in "antecedent" & "antedate"
anti- (against), as in "antiknock" & "antiseptic"
astro- (star), as in "astronaut"
bi- (two), as in "bicycle" & "bisect"
circum- (round about), as in "circumnavigate" & " circumference"
con- (with), as in "confer" & "confess"
cyclo- (circle), as in "cyclopaedia"
denti- (tooth), as in "dentifrice" & "dental"
dino- (terrible), as in "dinoflagellate" & "dinosaur"
equi- (equal), as in "equimolar" & "equinoctial"
gastro- (stomach), as in "gastritis"
hemo- (blood), as in as in "hemorrhage" & "hemolysis"
hydro- (water), as in as in "hydrogen" & "hydrostat"
hyper- (over), as in "hyperactive," "hypersensitive" & "hyperventilate"
luna- (moon), as in as in "lunatic" & "lunarian"
micro- (very small), as in as in "microbial" & "microanalytical"
mis- (wrong), as in "misconduct," misspell" & "misunderstand"
ortho- (upright, correct), as in as in "orthodontic" & "orthodox"
post- (after), as in as in "postwar" & "postorbital"
pre- (before), as in prepay, "prepackage" & "predate"
pseudo- (fake), as in as in "pseudoclassical" & "pseudonym"
re- (again), as in "replay," " resend" & "replace"
sterno- (sternum), as in as in "sternocostal" & "sternoclavicular"
sub- (below, under), as in as in "submarine," "subway" & "subliterate"
tri- (three), as in triangle, "tricycle" & "triweekly"
un- (not), as in unclear", "unsure" & "undecided"
Here are some more examples of prefixes
dis- meaning "not" "reverse," "unmake," "lack of"
disable disabuse disarm
disobey displease dissonance
dissuade distaste distrust
disunite disuse
heavy- meaning "weighs a lot," "thick," "full," "busy," "powerful," "dark"
