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Word Formation: Prefixes

Prefixes are parts of words that come before the stem or base word and can change the meaning. Some common prefixes include: 1. Negative prefixes like un-, in-, im- that mean "not" or lack of something. 2. Size prefixes like mini-, micro-, mega- that indicate small, very small, or large size. 3. Location prefixes like inter-, super-, trans- that show position between, over, or across. 4. Time prefixes like ante-, pre-, post- that reference before, earlier, or after in time.

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111 views3 pages

Word Formation: Prefixes

Prefixes are parts of words that come before the stem or base word and can change the meaning. Some common prefixes include: 1. Negative prefixes like un-, in-, im- that mean "not" or lack of something. 2. Size prefixes like mini-, micro-, mega- that indicate small, very small, or large size. 3. Location prefixes like inter-, super-, trans- that show position between, over, or across. 4. Time prefixes like ante-, pre-, post- that reference before, earlier, or after in time.

Uploaded by

Abrahan Blanco
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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WORD FORMATION: PREFIXES

When you are reading, you will come across unfamiliar words. It is often possible
to guess the meanings of these words if you understand the way words in English are
formed.

An English word can be divided into three parts: a prefix, a stem, and a suffix. Pre-
means before, therefore, a prefix is what comes before the stem. A suffix is what is
attached at the end of the stem.

PREFIX STEM SUFFIX

Let us now consider some prefixes, their usual meanings, and how they change the
meanings of English words.

1. Negative and positive prefixes:

Prefix Meaning Examples

Negative un- unmagnetized


in- incomplete
im- not impossible
il- illegal
ir- irregular, irrelevant

non- not connected with non-programmable


mis- bad, wrong misdirect

dis- opposite feeling disagree


opposite action disconnect

anti- against antiglare


de- reduce, reverse demagnetize, decode
under- too little underestimate

Positive re- do again reorganize


over- too much overload
2. Prefixes of size:

Prefix Meaning Examples

semi- half, partly semiconductor


equi- equal equidistant
mini- small minicomputer
micro- very small microcomputer
macro- large, great macroeconomics,
mega- megabyte

3. Prefixes of location:

Prefix Meaning Examples

inter- between interface, interactive


super- over supersonic
trans- across transmit, transfer
ex- out exclude, extrinsic
extra- beyond extraordinary
sub- under subschema
infra- below infrared
peri- around peripheral

4. Prefixes of time and order:

Prefix Meaning Examples

ante- before antecedent


pre- prefix

prime- first primary, primitive


post- after postdated
retro- backward retroactive
5. Prefixes of numbers:

Prefix Meaning Examples

semi- half semiconductor


mono- one monochromatic
bi- two binary
tri- three triangle
quad- four quadruple
penta- five pentagon
hex- six hexadecimal
sept(em)- seven September
oct- eight octal
dec- ten decimal
multi- many multiplexor

6. Other prefixes:

Prefix Meaning Examples

pro- before, in advance program


forward progress

auto- self automatic

co- together, with co-ordinate


con- connect

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