English prefix
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Native
Prefix | Meaning | Example |
---|---|---|
a-/an- | lacking in, lack of | asexual, anemic |
a- | verb > predicative adjective with progressive aspect | afloat, atremble |
anti- | against | anti-war, antivirus, anti-human |
arch- | supreme, highest, worst | arch-rival |
auto- | self | autobiography, automatic |
be- | equipped with, covered with, beset with (pejorative or facetious) | bedeviled, becalm, bedazzle, bewitch |
co- | joint, with, accompanying | co-worker, coordinator, cooperation |
counter- | against, in opposition to | counteract, counterpart |
de- | reverse action, get rid of | de-emphasise |
dis- | not, opposite of | disloyal, disagree |
dis- | reverse action, get rid of | disconnect, disinformation, |
en-/em- | to make into, to put into, to get into | enmesh, empower |
ex- | former | ex-husband, ex-boss, ex-colleague |
fore- | before | forerunner, |
hyper- | extra specially, over, high | hypermarket, hyperthermia |
in-/il-/im-/ir- | not, opposite of | inexact, irregular |
infra- | below, beneath | infrared |
inter- | between, among | interstate, interact |
mal- | bad(ly) | malnourish |
mini- | small | minimarket, mini-room |
mis- | wrong, astray | misinformation, misguide |
neo- | new, revived | Neolithic |
non- | not | nonexistent |
out- | better, faster, longer, beyond | outreach, outcome |
over- | too much | overreact, overact |
pan- | all, world-wide | pan-African |
post- | after | post-election, post-graduation |
pre- | before | pre-election, pre-enter |
pro- | for, on the side of | pro-life |
proto- | first, original | prototype |
pseudo- | false, imitation | pseudonym |
re- | again, back | rerun |
semi- | half | semicircle |
step- | family relation by remarriage | stepbrother |
sub- | under, lower than, less than, beneath, lesser in rank | sub-zero |
super- | over, above, more than, above, better | super-heated, superpower, supernatural |
sur- | over and above | surreal, surrunder |
trans- | across, from one place to another | transatlantic |
twi- | two | twibill, twilight |
ultra- | beyond, extremely | ultraviolet, ultramagnetic |
un- | not, opposite of | unnecessary, unequal |
un- | reverse action, deprive of, release from | undo, untie |
under- | below, beneath, lower in grade/dignity, lesser, insufficient | underachieve, underground, underpass |
vice- | deputy | vice-president, vice-principal |
with- | against | withstand |
Neo-classical
Prefix | Meaning | Example |
---|---|---|
Afro- | relating to Africa | Afro-American |
ambi- | both | ambitendency |
amphi- | two, both, on both sides | amphiaster, amphitheater |
ana-/an- | up, against | anacardiaceous, anode |
Anglo- | relating to England | Anglo-Norman |
ante- | before | antenatal |
anti- | opposite | anti-clockwise |
apo- | away, different from | apomorphine |
astro- | star | astrobiology |
bi- | two | bicycle |
bio- | biological | biodegrade |
circum- | around | circumnavigate |
cis- | on this side of | cislunar |
con-/com-/col-/cor-/co- | together or with | confederation, commingle, colleague, correlation, cohabit |
contra- | opposite | contradict |
cryo- | ice | cryogenics |
crypto- | hidden, secret | cryptography |
demi- | half | demigod |
demo- | people | demography |
di- | two | dioxide |
down- | to make something lesser, lower or worse | downgrade |
du-/duo- | two | duet |
eco- | ecological | ecosystem |
electro- | electric, electricity | electro-analysis |
epi- | upon, at, close upon, in addition | epidermis |
Euro- | European | Eurocentric |
ex- | out of | export |
extra- | outside | extracurricular |
fin- | kinship | affinity |
Franco- | French, France | Francophile |
geo- | relating to the earth or its surface | geography |
hetero- | different | heterosexual |
hemi- | half | hemimorphic |
homo- | same | homosexual, homophobic |
hydro- | relating to water, or using water | hydroelectricity |
hypo- | under or below something, low | hypothermia |
in- | in, into | insert |
iso- | equal | isochromatic |
intra- | inside | intravenous |
maxi- | very long, very large | maxi-skirt |
mega-/megalo- | very large | megastar, megalopolis |
meta- | after, along with, beyond, among, behind | meta-theory |
mid- | middle | midlife |
micro- | minute size | microbacillus |
midi- | medium-sized | midi-length |
mono- | one, sole, only | monogamy |
multi- | many | multi-storey |
paleo- | old | paleo-lithic |
para- | beside, beyond | parallel |
ped-/pod- | foot | pedestrian, podiatrist |
per- | through, completely, wrongly, exceedingly | permeate, permute |
peri- | around | periphrase |
poly- | many | polygon |
photo- | light, photography, photograph | photoelectric |
preter- | beyond, past, more than | preternatural |
pro- | substitute, deputy | proconsul |
pro- | before | procambium |
pyro- | fire | pyrokinetic |
quasi- | partly, almost, appearing to be but not really | quasi-religious |
retro- | backwards | retrograde |
self- | self | self-sufficient |
socio- | society, social, sociological | sociopath |
supra- | above | suprarenal |
syn-/sym-/syl- | together or with | synthesis, symbol, syllable |
tele- | at a distance | television |
tri- | three | tricycle |
uni- | one | unicycle |
up- | to make something greater, higher, or better | upgrade |
ven- | to move forward | venal |
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