Prefixes

Prefixes and suffixes were originally words themselves but they are now groups of letters added to words or to roots to create new words. Prefixes [pre (before) + fix (fasten) = fasten before] are groups of letters placed before words or roots. Prefixes modify or extend the meanings of words and roots. Following is a list of commonly used prefixes and sample vocabulary.
a-, ac-, ad-, af-, ag-, al-, an-, ap-, as-, at- to, toward, near, in addition to
aside (adverb): to or toward the side
a + side
accompany (verb): to go with someone as a companion
ac + com + pan + y
adjust (verb): to correct, to move closer to a correct position
ad + just
affix (verb): to attach to something, to fasten
af + fix
aggression (noun): hostile behavior towards someone or something
ag + gress + ion
allocate (verb): to distribute to specific people or for specific purposes
al + loc + ate
annihilate (verb): to destroy
an + nihil + ate
associate (verb): to join with
as + soci + ate
attend (verb): to look after, to go to
at + tend
a-, an- not, without
apolitical (adjective): without interest in politics
a + polit + ic + al
anemia (noun): the condition (disease) of not having enough red blood cells
an + em + ia
ab-, abs- away from, off
abrupt (adjective): unexpected change
ab + rupt
absolve (verb): to be set free from one's actions or obligations
ab + solve
ante- before
anterior (adjective): before or near the front
ante + rior
anti- against
antipathy (noun): dislike, opposite feeling
anti + path + y
auto- self
automotive (adjective): related to self-propelled machines
auto + mot + ive




bi- two
biped (noun): a two-footed animal
bi + ped
biennial (adjective): happening every two years bi + enni + al




cat-, cata-, cath- down, with
category (noun): a class or set to which a thing belongs
cate + gor + y
catalogue (noun): a book or pamphlet that lists and describes
cata + log + ue
catheter (noun): a medical device used to tranfer fluids cath +eter
circum- around
circumvent (verb): to manage to get around a situation
circum + vent
co-, cog-, col-, com-, con-, cor together, with
cohesiveness (noun): the ability to stick together
co + hes + ive + ness
cognate (adjective): related, similar in nature
cog + nate
collaborate (verb): to work together
col + lab + or + ate
commitment (noun): to entrust, to put into a place
com + mit + ment
convenient (adjective): handy, nearby
con + veni + ent
correct (verb): to set right, to be right
cor + rect
contra- against, opposite
contradict (verb) to state the opposite
contra + dict




de- to do the opposite, to take away from
decrease (verb): to grow smaller, to become less
de + cre + ase
di-, dif-, dis- apart, separate, two, opposite, not
divide (verb): to separate into two or more parts
di + vide
differ (verb): to be unlike
dif + fer
dis- not, opposite of, exclude
distrust (verb): to have no confidence or trust
dis + trust




e-, ex- out, out of, from
emit (verb) to send out
e + mit
expel (verb): to force out ex + pel
en-, em- put into
enamor (verb): to cause to love, to "put" someone "into" love
en + am + + or
empower (verb): to give power, to put into power em + pow + er
epi-, upon, beside, over
epilogue (noun): the concluding section of a play or literary work
epi + logue
extra- beyond
extraordinary (adjective): going beyond normal
extra + ordin + ary




il-, im-, in-, ir, not, in
illegible (adjective): cannot be read
il + leg + ible
imposter (noun): someone who poses as someone else
im + post + er
inaction (noun): lack of motion, idle
in + act + ion
irresolute (adjective): uncertain about hot to act, undecided, not having a solution
ir + re + solute
in-, im-, il- in, into
instead (adverb): in place of, an alternative
in + stead
import (verb): to bring into a country from another country
im + port
inter- between, among
interject (verb): to throw something (usually a comment) between other things
inter + ject
intro- into
introspection (noun): to look into one's own thoughts and feelings
intro + spect + ion




mal- bad
malfunction (noun): when something does not work properly
mal + funct + ion
mis- wrong
misconduct (noun): wrong doing, bad behavior
mis + con + duct
mono- one
monologue (noun): a dramatic performance or speech given by one actor
mono + logue
multi- many
multiply (verb): to increase in number
multi + ply




non- not, no
nonsense (noun): something that has no meaning or makes no sense
non + sense




ob-, oc-, of-, op- toward, against, in the way
obtain (verb): to gain or get, to get a hold of
ob + tain
occur (verb): to happen, to come to mind
oc + cur
offer (verb): to attempt to give, to propose, to try to hand out
of + fer
oppose (verb): to be against, to stand in the way of something
op + pose
over- excessive, above
overwork (verb): to have too much work
over + work




para- beside
paradox (noun): a statement that seems true and contradictory at the same time
para + dox
per- through
persecute (verb): to go after, to pursue
per + secute
post- after
postpone (verb): to put off to a later time, to delay
post + pone
pre- before
precede (verb): to go before, to come in front of
pre + cede
pro- for, foward
propel (verb): to push forward
pro + pel




re- back, again
readmit (verb): to allow in again
re + ad + mit
retro- backward
retrospect (noun) to look back at past events
retro + spect




se- apart, move away from
secede (verb): to withdraw from an organization
se + cede
semi- half
semiannual (adjective): occurring twice a year
semi + annu + al
sub-, suc-, suf-, sup-, sur-, sus under, beneath, near, from below, secretly, above, up
submarine (adjective): underwater
sub + mar + ine
succeed (verb): to do well, to come after
suc + ceed
suffice (verb): to be enough
suf + fice
support (verb): to hold up, too keep up
sup + port
survive (verb): to live, to live through something, to exist
sur + vive
sustain (verb): to keep up, to hold up,
sus + tain
super- over, above
superimpose (verb): to place something on top of something else
super + im + pose
syn-, sym- together, at the same time
synchronous (adjective): happening at the same time
syn + chron + ous
sympathy (noun): sharing another person's feelings, compassion
sym + path + y




trans- across, beyond, change
transform (verb): to change shape
trans + form
tri- three
tripod (noun): a three-legged stand
tri + pod




un- not, against, opposite
unceasing (adjective): never ending, continuous
un + ceas + ing
uni- one
uniform (adjective): having the same form or consistancy
uni + form

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