One of the most useful add-ons to words to create new words is called the prefix. It is also helpful for anyone studying English to understand the common prefixes, which in turn broadens your understanding of the words. The term prefix itself includes the prefix pre- which means roughly to go before. As you may already observe, the prefix affects the meaning of the base word, sometimes to the point of imposing the opposite meaning to the original. Thus, if you take the word prefix itself, you can discern the approximate meaning as to fix before (a word).
Here is a list of common prefixes used in English. I am choosing just a sample that you should be familiar with. Each line has the prefix, meaning and example.
- un- not, opposite of unhappy
- re- again, back return
- dis- not, opposite of dissimilar
- over- too much, above overgrown
- mis- wrongly misjudge
- sub- under, lower submarine
- inter- between, among international
- fore- before foresee
- trans- across transport
- super- above supermarket
- semi- half semicircle
- anti- against antidote
- mid- middle midsemester
- under- too little, below underfed
- pro- favour/forward pro-trade/progress
- tele- distant telephone
- auto- self automobile
- bene- good benefit
- bi- two bicycle
- cent-, centi hundred(th) century/centigrade
- circu- around circulate
- co- together cooperate
- ex- out exit
- ambi- both, around ambidextrous
- poly- many polygamy
A sound knowledge of the meanings of prefixes and the root/base words will help you unlock the meanings of many words. Prefixes have Latin and Greek origins and among the foundation elements of our complex English language.
The Editor's Pen with Paul Vander Loos 