List of English prefixes
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Prefix | Meaning | Examples |
---|---|---|
a(n)- | not, without | atonality, asexuality, amoral, anarchy, anonymous |
ab- | away | abduction, absolutism, ablution |
acr(o)- | high, up, hill | Acropolis, acrobatics |
ad- | near, at | adrenal |
aden(o)- | gland | adenectomy |
aer(o)- | air | aeronautics, aerodrome, aeroplane, aerodynamics |
agr(o)- | relating to farming | agriculture |
alt- | high | altitude |
alter- | another | Alter-ego, alternate |
am- | love | amorous, amateur |
ambi- | around, either, encircling | ambiguity, ambidexterity, Ambisagrus |
an(a)- | out of | anachronism |
andr- | man | androgyny, androcentrism, android, androgen |
anem- | wind | anemometer |
Anglo- | English or British | Anglo-Irish relations |
ante- | before | antebellum |
anthropo- | relating to human beings | anthropology, anthropocentrism, anthropomorphic |
ant(i)- | against | antidote, antibody, anticlockwise |
aut(o)- | self | autonomy, autobiography, automobile, autopilot |
bar(o)- | heaviness, heavy | barometer |
bathy- | deep | Bathyscaphe, Bathysphere |
be- | completely, excessively; forms transitive verbs | bemuse, bespeak, bewail |
ben- | well | Benediction, benign |
bi- | two | bicycle, bijection, bicameralism |
bi(o)- | life | biology, biography, biopsy |
bibli(o)- | relating to books | bibliophilia, bibliography |
blast(o)- | bud, germination | blastocyst |
brady- | slow | bradycardia |
brom(o)- | stench | Bromine, bromide |
bronch(o)- | relating to breathing | bronchitis |
cac(o)- | bad | cacophony, cacography |
cad/cas- | a fall | cadence, cascade |
cardi(o)- | heart | cardiovascular, Cardiac arrest |
cent-, centi- | hundred or hundredth | centenarian, centimeter, centipede |
cephal(o)- | head | cephalothorax |
chrom(ato)- | colour | chromatic, chromosome |
chron(o)- | time | chronology, chronic, chronicle |
circum- | around | circumcision, circumlocution, circumference |
co- | together | cooperative, co-belligerence |
colpo- | vagina | colpospasm |
con- | with, together | connotation, Congress, congregation |
contr- | against, opposite | contradiction, contraception, controversy |
cosm(o)- | cosmology, cosmopolitan, cosmotheism | |
counter- | against, opposite | counterpoint, Counter-Reformation |
crin(o)- | cry(shed tears) | endocrinology |
cryo- | frost, icy cold | cryogenics, cryoelectronics, cryostorage |
crypt(o)- | hidden | cryptography, cryptozoology |
cyt(o)- | cell (originally hollow receptacle) | cytoplasm, cytology |
culp- | fault | culpable, culprit |
dactyl(o)- | finger, digit | dactylogram |
de- | taking something away, the opposite | decentralisation, dehydration, Denazification |
dec(a)-, dek(a)- | ten | decamerous, December, decimeter |
deci- | one tenth | deciliter |
dem(o)- | people | demographics, democracy |
derm(at)- | skin | dermatology, dermatitis |
di- | two, double | dichromic |
di- | day | diurnal |
dia- | through | diameter, diagnosis, diarrhea |
didact(o)- | apt at teaching | didactic |
dis- | apart, separation, reverse, opposite | dissent, discovery, disambiguation |
dok, dox(o)- | view, teaching | doxology, dogma, orthodox |
dynam(o)- | power, force | dynamic, dynamite, dynamo |
dys- | bad, deformed, abnormal | dyspepsia, dystrophy, dysarthria |
eco- | house | economy, ecology, ecosystem, ecotage |
ecto- | outer, external | ectomorphic, ectoparasite |
edaph(o)- | soil | edaphic |
electr(o)- | relating to Electricity | electrocution, electroencephalogram |
embry(o)- | embryo | embryogenesis |
end(o)-, ent(o)- | inside | endoscope, endothermic, entoblast |
enne(a)- | nine | enneastyle, enneagram |
enter(o)- | intestine | enteritis |
eo- | earliest, most primitive | eobacterium, eohippus |
ep(i)-, eph- | upon, above, around | epitaxy, epicenter, ephemeral |
erg(o)- | work, labour | ergonomics synergy, energy |
erythr(o)- | red | erythrocite |
erot(o)- | love | erotic, erotomania |
ethno- | race, people | ethnology, ethnolinguistics, ethnocentrism |
eu- | good | eulogy, euthanasia, eugenics, euphemism |
Euro- | European | Euro-MP, Eurocentric |
ex- | former | ex-wife, ex-president |
exo- | outside | exoskeleton |
extra- | outside, beyond, additional | extra-thin, extra-special extraordinary, extraterrestrial |
flor- | relating to flowers | florist |
fore- | before, in advance | foreskin, foreshadowing |
geo- | earth | geography, geology |
glosso- | language | glossogeny, glossogony, glossolalia |
gyn- | female | gynaecology, gynoid |
hemi- | half | hemimetabolous, hemisphere |
hemo- | blood | hemophilia, hemophobia |
heter(o)- | different | heterogenous, heterosexual |
hex(a)- | six | hexapod, hexagonal, hexameter |
hom(o)- | same | homogenous, homosexual |
hydro- | water | hydrogen, hydry |
hyper- | excessive2, having more than three spatial dimensions (mathematics) | hyperactive, hyperthyroidism |
hyp(o)- | below2 | hypodermic, hypnosis |
in- | intensively | inflammable, invaluable |
in-1 | not | infallibility, illiteracy, immoral, irrelevant |
inter- | between, mutual | intervention, international, internet |
intra- | within | intramural, intravenous, intraocular |
kilo- | thousand | kilogram, kilowatt |
Litho- | Rock | lithosphere |
Luso- | Portuguese | lusophone |
Mac- or Mc- | "son of" (often used in last names) | McCarthy, Kirsty MacColl |
macro- | large | macrobiology, macroscopic |
mal- | bad | malpractice, malnutrition |
maxi- | many ,most | maximal, maximum |
Mc- | McDonalds-like, often derogatory | McJob, McPaper (See McWords) |
mega(l)- | million, very large | megabyte, megaphone, megalopolis |
meso- | middle | mesoamerica, mesoscale |
meta- | after, beyond | metacarpal, metaphysics |
micro- | one millionth, very small | microgram, microorganism, micronation |
mid- | in the middle of | mid-term elections, Mid-Autumn Festival |
milli- | thousandth | milligram, milliliter |
mini- | small | miniskirt, miniseries |
mis- | bad, wrong | miscarriage, misanthropy, misogyny, mistake |
mon(o)- | one, single | monolith, monorail, monotony, monocle |
multi- | many | multiculturalism, multilingualism |
myco- | relating to fungi | mycology, mycoprotein |
myri(a)- | Ten thousand | myriagon, myriad |
non- | not | nonsense, non-denial denial |
non- | nine | nonagon |
O'- | (son) of (often used in last names) | O'Brian |
oct(o)-, oct(a)- | eight | octane, octopod, octagon, October |
omni- | all | omnidirectional, omnivore, omnipotent |
oo- ("oo-oh") | egg, ovum | oocyte |
out- | more, to a greater degree | outdo, outrun |
over- (noun) | more than normal, too much | overpopulation, over-consumption, overlord |
over- (verb) | to do too much, to (verb) over | overlook, overspend, oversee |
pent(a)- | five | pentagon |
peri(o)- | around, about, enclosing, near | perimysium, pericardium, periosteum, perinatal |
phyto- | relating to plants | phytogeography, phytoplankton |
post- | after | postpartum depression,postmodernism |
pre- | before | prediction, preview, precedent, prenatal care |
pro- | for, in favour of | pro-choice, protagonist |
psycho- | mind, mental | psychology, psychosomatic |
pyro- | fire, flame | pyromania |
quadr-, quart- | four | quadrangle, quadruplet, quartic, quartile |
quinque- | five | quinquesection, |
quint(i)- | fifth, five | quintiped, quintet |
re- | again, repeatedly | reduction, reflection, revolution |
rect(i)- | proper, straight | rectify, rectangle |
retro- | backward | retrograde, retrospective |
scler(o)- | hard | scleroderma, atherosclerosis |
semi- | half, partial | semi-automatic, semi-detached |
sept(a)- | seven | heptachord, September |
sex(i)- | six | sexivalent |
Sino- | Chinese | Sino-American relations |
spasm(o)- | spasm | spasmatic, spasmolysis |
sperm- | seed | spermophile, spermine |
spher(o)- | sphere, ball | spherical, atmosphere |
sphygm(o)- | pulsation | sphygmomanometer, sphygmograph |
splen(o)- | spleen | splenomegaly |
splanchn(o)- | viscera | splanchnopathy |
schiz(o)-, schist(o)- | split | schizophrenia, schistocyte |
staphyl(o)- | cluster, uvula | staphylococcus, staphyloplasty |
stom(ato)- | mouth | stomatitis, stomach |
styl- | pillar | stylus, stylist, stylopodium |
sub- | below, less than, under,2 | subset, subsonic, subway, subtitles |
super- | extremely, more than,2 | superhuman, Superego, supersonic |
syn- | together, united, at the same time | synergy, synchronicity, synesthesia |
tach(y)- | rapid, accelerated | tachycardia, tachymeter, tachyon |
tel(e)- | distance, distant | telecommunications, television, telephoto lens, telodynamic |
tel(o)- | end | teloblast, telophase |
theo- | god | theology, theogony |
trans- | across, beyond | transfer, transubstantiation, transatlantic, Trans-Siberian railway |
tri- | three | triangle, tricolor, triptych |
twi- | two | twilight, twig, twin |
ultra- | extremely, beyond certain limit | ultramontanism, ultraviolet |
un1- | not, opposite, take something away | unconstitutional, undelete |
under- | below, incompletely | underestimate, underage, undercook |
uni- | one, single | uniform, unification |
up- | higher | upscale, update, upgrade, upheld |
ur- | first, original | urtext |
ur(o)- | urine | uric, urinal |
vita- | life | vitamin, vital |
with- | together, united | withhold, withstand |
zoo- ("zoo-oh") | relating to animals | zoomorphic, zoology |
1 Some morphemes demonstrate high allomorphy, usually completely assimilating a following consonant. Partial assimilation of voicing and/or place of articulation is also possible.
2 The order from least to greatest is hypo-, sub-, super-, and hyper.
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External links
Prefixes Meaning Examples Peri- around perianth,pericarp,perichondrial
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