Prefixes and Suffixes
Prefixes and Suffixes
System of Affixation in English
In English, fixing a group of letters to a word to change its meaning, number, state or form is known as the System of Affixation.
There are two primary types of affixation:
- Prefix
- Suffix
Prefix
A prefix is a small group of letters which are affixed at the beginning of the word.
- Subsidiary
- Nonviolence
- Intolerance
They perform the following functions:
- Indicate presence or absence
- Indicate position
- Indicate qualities, size or number
- Indicates time, frequency or order
Types of Prefixes
- Negative Prefixes
- Prefixes of Size
- Prefixes of Position or Location
- Prefixes of Time and Sequence
- Prefixes of Numbers and Amount
- Miscellaneous Prefixes
Suffix
A suffix is a group of letters which are fixed to the end of a root word or a base word. They perform the following functions:
- Change the part of speech of the word
- Indicate whether the number is singular or plural
- Indicate the tense of the verb
- Indicate the gender of a noun
Types of Suffixes
- Noun Suffixes
- Suffixes of Verbs
- Suffixes of Adjectives
- Suffixes of Adverbs
Root Words and Base Words
- The root word and the base words are the parts which contain the primary meaning of the word.
- Prefixes and suffixes are added to root and base words to create new words and ideas.
Root Word
- A root word cannot stand on its own as an independent word.
- It needs the addition of the prefix or the suffix for the completion of its meaning.
- For example, let us consider the words amphibian, regeneration and subtraction.
- In the above cases, the roots -bi-, -generat- and -tract- cannot stand alone as individual words.
- They are therefore known as root words.
Base Word
- A base word, unlike a root word, can stand on its own like an independent word.
- It does not need the addition of the prefix or suffix in order to function as a stand-alone word.
- For example, let us consider the words redone, nonviolent and unmoved.
- In the above examples, done, violent and moved can function as independent words.
Common Root Words
How to Use the Affixation System
- Thorough knowledge of the English affixation system helps us in guessing the meaning of the word purely by the means of its Prefix-Root-Suffix structure.
- Because of the limitations of our memory, it is not easy to mug up a large number of words at a time.
- We may find it difficult to associate the meaning of the word with its structure.
- With the knowledge of the affixation system, we can guess the meaning of the given word.
In this manner, we can guess the meanings of the words solely by the virtue of their roots.
Thus, in order to have a rich vocabulary, students should learn the Prefix-Root-Suffix method. It is an interesting way to expand your vocabulary with a little effort. Students who are well-versed with the affixation system find it easier to tackle difficult words and are more confident about their word usage. It will definitely give you an edge over the others when it comes to vocabulary.
Base Words, Affixations, and Resulting Words
| Base Word | Affixation | Resulting Word |
|---|---|---|
| determined | pre + determined | predetermined |
| play | play + er | player |
| weekly | bi + weekly | biweekly |
| follow | follow + ing | following |
| moral | a- (without) | amoral |
| inject | injected (put into) | injected |
| genital | con- (present from birth) | congenital |
| dermic (skin) | hypo- (under) | hypodermic |
| navigate | circum- (around) | circumnavigate |
| chamber | ante- (before) | antechamber |
| stellar (stars) | inter- (between) | interstellar |
| meter (measure) | thermo- (heat) | thermometer |
| cosm (world/universe) | macro- (big) | macrocosm |
| glot (tongue/language) | poly- (many) | polyglot |
| dated | post- (later than) | postdated |
| do | re- (again) | redo |
| primary | — | primary |
Prefixes, Their Meanings, and Usage Examples
| Prefix | Meaning | Usage Examples |
|---|---|---|
| un- | not | uncomfortable, unbearable, unforgivable |
| in- | not | incomplete, indecisive, independent |
| dis- | opposite of | disinterested, disproportionate, displeasure |
| ir- | not | irresponsive, irresponsible, irrevocable |
| il- | not | illogical, illegitimate, illegible |
| im- | not | improbable, impossible, impenetrable |
| non- | not | nonviolent, nonchalant, non-invasive |
| mis- | wrong/wrongly | misinterpret, misunderstand, miscalculation |
| mis- | hate | misogynist, misogamist, misanthrope |
| mal- | bad/badly | malfunction, malevolent, malediction, malnutrition |
| anti- | against | antinational, antibacterial, antibiotics |
| de- | down, reduce | descend, decry, deject, demote, decline |
| a- | without, not | asocial, amorphous, abiotic, atrophy |
| dis- | apart, off, away | disband, disturb, disburse, dismiss |
| dys- | bad | dystopia, dysfunctional, dyslexia |
| inter- | between | interstellar, intermediate, interval, intervene |
| super- | over, above | superfluous, supersede, superintendent, supervisor |
| trans- | across | transfer, transport, transgress, transmit |
| ex- | out | exterior, external, extraneous, extract |
| in-/im- | inside | internal, induce, imbibe, impregnate, influence |
| sub-, suc-, sus- | under | subterranean, susceptible, submit, submarine |
| sur- | over | surface, surfeit, surrender, survive, surcharge |
| circum- | around | circumspect, circumnavigate, circumscribe, circumvent |
| peri- | around | perimeter, periscope, perimortem |
| per- | through | percolate, pervade, perfect, perforated, perceive |
| infra- | below | infrared, infravision, infrarealism |
| ab- | away | abduct, abstain, abjure, abdicate |
| contra- | against | contravene, contradict, contralto, contrast |
| de- | down | descend, decline, demote, decrease |
| dia- | across | diagonal, diaphanous, diachronical, diagnosis |
| hyper- | over | hypertrophy, hyperactivity, hyperbole, hypertension |
| hypo- | under | hypothermia, hypothyroid |
| ob- | against | obloquy, obnoxious, object, obfuscate |
| pro- | for | prologue, provide, protect, project, procreate |
| syn-, sym- | together | synthesis, syndicate, sympathy |
| ultra- | beyond | ultraviolet, ultramodern, ultra-royalist, ultrasonic |
| under- | under | underground, underachiever, underestimate |
| meta- | beyond | metastasis, metabolise, metamorphic, metaphysics |
| mid- | between | midterm, middle, midday |
| by- | near | bypass, bygone, by-product |
| epi- | upon | epidermis, epilogue, epitaph |
| post- | back | postern, posterior |
1. Prefixes: Time, Order, and Position
| Prefix | Meaning | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| pre- | before | prevent, prepare, predict, premonition, prelude |
| ante- | before | antediluvian, antebellum |
| prime- | first | primary, primordial, prima donna, primate, primeval |
| post- | after | posterity, posthumous, postlude, post marital |
| retro- | before | retrogression, retroflex, retrospect |
| pro- | before | progenitor, proceed, prologue, prophecy, prophylactic |
| re- | again | recur, recount, rethink |
| fore- | before | foretell, forestall, foresight |
| after- | after | after-effects, afterthought |
| chron- | time | chronology, chronicle |
2. Prefixes: Numbers
| Prefix | Meaning | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| mono- | one | monotheism, monologue, monarch |
| uni- | one | universe, unity |
| bi- | two | bicycle, biannual |
| du-, di- | two | dual, dichromatic |
| tri- | three | trident, trilogy |
| quad- | four | quadrilateral |
| tetra- | four | tetrapod, tetrameter |
| penta- | five | pentagon |
| quint- | five | quintal |
| hex- | six | hexagon |
| sex- | six | sextet |
| sept- | seven | septuagenarian |
| hept- | seven | heptathlon |
| octa- | eight | octopus |
| nov- | nine | November |
| dec- | ten | decade |
| hendeca- | eleven | hendecagon |
| dodeca- | twelve | dodecahedron |
| triskaideka- | thirteen | triskaidekaphobia |
| cent- | hundred | century |
| hector- | thousand | hectogram |
| kilo- | thousand | kilogram |
| mega- | million | megaton |
| giga- | billion | gigabyte |
| multi- | many | multimillionaire |
| poly- | many | polymath |
3. Prefixes: Characteristics and Other Concepts
| Prefix | Meaning | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| alb- | white | albino |
| ambi- | both | ambivalent |
| amphi- | both | amphibian |
| bio- | life | biology |
| auto- | self | autocrat |
| co-, com-, con- | together | cooperate, companion |
| en-, em- | make, become | empower, engender |
| eu- | good | eulogy, euphemism |
| cario- | heart | cardiogram |
| hydr- | water | hydraulic |
| ig- | bad | ignoble, ignorant |
| bene- | good | benevolent |
| bon- | good | bon voyage |
| homo- | same | homophone |
| pan- | all | panorama |
| pseudo- | fake | pseudonym |
| neo-, nov- | new | novelty |
| amo-, ami- | love | amiable |
| aqua- | water | aquatic |
4. Word Form Changes
| Form | Example |
|---|---|
| Noun → Adjective | meaning → meaningful |
| Adjective → Adverb | beautiful → beautifully |
| Noun → Verb | subject → subjecting |
| Singular → Plural | girl → girls |
| Singular → Plural (irregular) | stratum → strata |
| Verb (singular) → Plural | lifts → lift |
| Verb Tense | hopped → hopping |
| Past → Past Participle | steal → stolen |
| Masculine → Feminine | host → hostess |
| Masculine → Feminine | steward → stewardess |
| Masculine → Feminine | executor → executrix |
5. Suffixes and Their Uses
| Suffix | Usage | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -al | state | refusal |
| -ance / -ence / -ancy / -ency | quality or state | militancy, performance |
| -tion / -sion | condition / process | relation, expansion |
| -ice | condition | justice |
| -er / -or | doer | painter, actor |
| -graph | record | polygraph |
| -ism | belief | communism |
| -ist | doer | pianist |
| -ian | someone who does | politician |
| -ing | activity | gardening |
| -ity | state | continuity |
| -logy | study | geology |
| -ship | state | friendship |
| -ory | place | laboratory |
| -orium / -arium | place | aquarium |
| -mania | madness | egomania |
| -phobia | fear | mysophobia |
| -ure | state | leisure |
| -ment | state | entertainment |
| -ness | state | happiness |
Suffix Usage Examples
| Suffix | Usage | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -able | -able to make | enable, disable |
| -ate | -ate Latin origin verbs | recreate, abate, mediate |
| -ed | -ed simple past or participle form | killed, toyed, booked |
| -en | -en verbs formed from adjectives | broken, frozen, sunken |
| -er | -er actions that have repetitive quality | blabber, snicker, mutter |
| -fy | -fy do | magnify, specify, rectify |
| -ing | -ing action in continuation | hearing, yearning, making |
| -ise | -ise to make/do | revolutionise, apologise, despise |
| -ish | -ish become or do | flourish, banish, demolish |
| -nt | -nt to do | prevent, augment, content |
| -s, -es | -s, -es simple present tense form | criticises, runs, laughs |
Suffix Meaning and Usage
| Suffix | Meaning | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| -able, -ible | having the quality of | flexible, available, eatable |
| -al | related to | ventral, global, musical |
| -ant | doing | dependent, buoyant, resilient |
| -ic | having the quality | terrific, generic, specific |
| -esque | like, having the quality | statuesque, picturesque |
| -er, -est | comparative and superlative qualities | fatter, tallest |
| -ose | full of | verbose, grandiose |
| -ful | full of | beautiful, boastful, grateful |
| -ing | participle form of adjective | interesting, frustrating, sleeping |
| -istic | having the quality | realistic, artistic, surrealistic |
| -ive | having the nature of | pensive, aggressive, massive |
| -ous, -ious | full of | gaseous, spacious, gracious |
Additional Suffix Meaning and Usage
| Suffix | Meaning | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| -ably | -ably with a quality | comfortably, admirably, disagreeably |
| -ibly | -ibly with a quality | audibly, horribly, negligibly |
| -s | -s shows time or place | backwards, always, forwards |
| -wise | -wise shows manner or position | clockwise, otherwise, lengthwise |
Affix Structure
- amphi-prefix -bi-root -ansuffix
- re- -generat- -ion
- prefix root suffix
- sub- -tract- -ion
- prefix root suffix
Root Words, Meanings, and Usages
| Root Word | Meaning | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| -acr-, -ac- | sharp, tip, bitter | acropolis, acronym, acrid, acerbic, acid, acne, acme |
| -ami-, -amo- | love, friendship | amity, amicable, amiable, amorous, paramour, enamoured |
| -anim- | life, mind | animate, animal, unanimous, equanimous, pusillanimous |
| -anthrop- | man, mankind | anthropology, misanthrope, anthropomorphic |
| -agog- | lead | demagogy, pedagogy, synagogue |
| -alt- | high | altitude, altar, altiloquent |
| -alter- | other | alter ego, alternative |
| -apt-, -ept- | ability | aptitude, apt, adept, inept |
| -arch- | rule | monarch, oligarch, autarchy, anarchy |
| -avi- | fly, bird | avian, aviation |
| -bell- | war, fight | rebel, bellicose, belligerent |
| -burs- | purse, money | reimburse, disburse, bursary |
| -cap-, -cept- | seize | capture, intercept |
| -cap- | head | capital, decapitate |
| -carn- | flesh | carnal, carnage, carnivorous |
| -cede-, -cess- | go | incessant, accede, recede |
| -cide- | kill | suicide, homicide, regicide, parricide, insecticide, pesticide |
| -clin-, -cliv- | slope | incline, recline, acclivity, declivity |
| -corp- | body | corpuscles, corporation, incorporation |
| -crat-, -cracy- | ruler | democrat, bureaucrat, theocracy |
| -cred- | belief | credibility, credit, credulous |
| -culp- | fault, guilt | culpable, culprit |
| -dic- | speak | dictation, dictator, dictionary |
| -doc- | teach | document, doctrine |
| -dol- | sadness | dolour, condolence, doleful |
| -duc- | lead | abduct, induct, ductile |
| -ego- | self | egocentric, egoist, egomaniac |
| -equ- | equal | equal, equality, equity |
| -fac-, -fic- | to do | factory, fiction, manufacture |
| -fal- | false | fallacy, fallible, false |
| -fid-, -fed- | faith | fidelity, confederation, infidel |
| -flu-, -flux- | flow | fluvial, fluent, influx |
| -fort- | luck | fortuity, fortune |
| -fort- | strength | fort, fortitude, fortify |
| -gen- | birth | generation, genre, generate, genome, genetic |
| -grad- | step | gradual, grade |
| -graph- | write | graphic, graphology, biography |
| -grat- | please | grateful, gratitude |
| -grav-, -griev- | serious, sad | grave, grieve, aggravate |
| -greg- | crowd | gregarious, congregation, segregation |
| -gress- | go | progress, ingress, egress, congress |
Root Word Table
| Root Word | Meaning | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| -helio-, -heli- | sun | helium, heliocentric |
| -hol- | whole | holistic, holocaust |
| -ject-, -jet- | throw | jettison, eject, inject |
| -journ- | day | journal, journey, adjourn |
| -jud-, -jur- | law | judge, judicial, jury, abjure |
| -loc-, -loq- | speak | elocution, colloquial, loquacious |
| -log-, -logy- | study, word, sign | biology, zoology, neologism, logo |
| -luc- | light | translucent, lucid, pellucid |
| -man- | hand | manual, manufacture, manuscript |
| -magn- | large | magnanimous, magnificent, magnum |
| -mit-, -mis- | let, allow | admit, permission, intermittent |
| -med-, -mid- | middle | medieval, Mediterranean, middle, midday |
| -nom-, -nym- | name | anonymous, pseudonym |
| -nox-, -noc- | night, harmful | equinox, nocturnal, noxious, obnoxious, innocuous |
| -path- | feel | sympathy, empathy, antipathy |
| -phil- | love | philosopher, bibliophile |
| -photo- | light | photograph, photosynthesis |
| -scribe-, -script- | write | script, scribe, scribble, scripture |
| -sent-, -sense- | feel | sentimental, sensational, sensible |
| -soph- | wisdom | sophisticated, philosophy |
| -terr- | land | territory, territorial, terrestrial, terrain, terracotta |
| -vis-, -vid- | sight | visual, video |
| -vac- | empty | vacuum, vacation, vacant |
| -vol- | fly | volatile, volley |
| -zoo- | animal | zoology, zoophile, zoo |
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| innocuous | harmless |
| unanimous | together in agreement |
| translucent | allowing light to pass |
Prefix, Root, Suffix, Meaning
| Prefix | Root | Suffix | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| in- (not) | noc- (harmful) | -uous(having the quality of) | not harmful |
| uni- (one) | -anim-(war) | -ous (belonging to) | with a single mind (unitedly) |
| trans- (talk) | luc (light) | -ent (quality of) | light passing across |