Common Prefixes, Suffixes and Roots Compiled by Alice Thomas

1 1 Common Prefixes, Suffixes and RootsCompiled by Alice ThomasPrefixMeaningExamples1. un-not; oppositeuncover, unlock, unsafe2. re-again; backrewrite, reread, , im-, ir-, inot; intoincorrect, insert, inexpensive, illegal, irregular, inability4. dis-not, away, apart, negativedisagree, discord, discomfort, discontent, distrust5. en-, em-cause toenjoy, endure, enlighten, entail6. non-not nonsense, nonverbal, nonstick, nonspecific7. in-, im-in, into, notinvade, implant, imperfect, immoral, inedible, incapable8. over-too muchoverload, overdo, overact, overboard, overdose9. mis-wronglymisjudge, misinterpret, misguided, mismatch, misplace10.

2 Sub-undersubmarine, subtext, substandard, subsitute, subversive11. pre-beforepreview, pretest, prevent, preplan12. inter-between, amonginterstate, international, intermission, intermingle, interface13 fore-beforeforeshadow, foresight, foreseeable, forecast, foreground14. de-, dis-opposite of, not depose, detour, dehydrated, decaffeinated, discord, discomfort, disengage15. trans-across; move betweentransatlantic, transcend, transfer, transact, transport16. super-abovesupersonic, superstar, supernatural, superstore17. semi-halfsemicircle, semiprecious, semicolon, semifinal18. anti-againstantifreeze, antithesis, antitrust, antidote, antisocial19.

3 Mid-middlemidterm, Midwest, midstream, midway, midnight20. under-too little; not enoughunderfed, underdog, underestimate, underageRanked by Carroll et al (1971) and applied to third grade research by White, Sowell and Yanagihara (1989)The 20 Most Common Prefixes in Academic TextsCenter for Development and Learning (504) 840-97862 PrefixMeaningExamplesante-beforeantebell um, antecedent, anteriorbe-to, completelybelittle, befriend, bejeweledbene-good, wellbeneficial, benefit, benediction, benevolentcircum-around, aboutcircumference, circumventco-, com-, con-, col-together, withcooperate, copilot, committee, commit, concur, concert, collide, collaborate, colleaguedia-across, throughdiagonal, diameter, diagnostic ex-out, fromexpel, excavate, exhalehomo-same, alikehomonym, homogenize, homophonehyper-over, above, excessivehyperactive, hypervenilate, hypercritical, hyperthermia mal-bad, evil malicious, maladjusted, malnuitritionmicro-smallmicroscopic.

4 Microcosm, microbiology, microwavemulti-many, muchmultiply, multigrain, multiple para-beside, alongsideparparofessional, paralegalpoly-many, muchpolygon, polyesterpost-after, behindpostwar, posterior, postdatepro-forward, earlier, prior toproject, proceed, progressretro-back, backwardretroactive, retrogressiontele-distanttelephone, telegraph, televisiontherm-heat, warmthermostat, thermaltrans-across; move betweentransatlantic, transcend, transfer, transact, transportuni-one, singleuniverse, unicycle, unicornOther Common PrefixesCenter for Development and Learning (504) 840-97863 GreekLatinMeaningExamplesmono-uni-1monot one, monopoly, monologue, monogamy, monochrome, monograph, monomial, monotheism, universe, uniform, unicorndi-bi-, du-, duo-2biology, bicycle, dichotomy, bilingual, binary, bimonthly, binoculars, duo, duet, dueltri-tri-3tricycle, triad, triathlon, triangle, tripod, triumvirate, tripletetra-quadri-, quart-4tetrameter, quadrilateral, quadriplegic, quadrangle, quadruple, quarter, quarterly, quartet, quartilepenta-quin-5pentameter, pentagon, quintet, quintuplet, quintuplicatehexa-sext-6hexagon, hexameter, sextuplet, sextet, sextagenarianhepta-septem-, septi-7heptagon, heptameter.

5 Heptagon, septuagenarianocto-octa-, oct-8octagon, octogenarian, octopus, octahedron, octantennea-novem-9novenadeca-,deci-, decem-10decade, decagon, decahedron, decalogue, decimal, decibelhemi-semi-halfhemisphere, semicircle, semicolon, semifinal, semiannual, semester, semisweetpoly-multi-manypolygon, polygamy, polyester, polymer, polynomial, multiply, multifaceted, multilingual, multitude, multivitamin, multiplehecto-cent-, cente-100cent, centennial, centurion, centipede, centenary, centkilo-milli- , mille- 1000kilogram, kilometer, kilobyte, milligram, millisecond, millenniumCommon Number PrefixesCenter for Development and Learning (504)

6 840-97864 SuffixMeaningExamples -s, -es pluralmore than onehotels, amendments, wishes, prefixes -ed past tensein the pastwalked, jumped, helped -ing present tense in the presentwalking, jumping, helping -ate verbbecomecomplicate, hesitate, eradicate, placate, demonstrate, procrastinate, ruminate -en verbbecome, to makeenlighten, tighten, frighten, brighten, dampen, fasten, heighten, loosen, straighten -ify, -fy verbmake or becometerrify, verify, clarify, dignify, rectify, magnify, classify -ize, -ise verbto make.

7 To becomehypnotize, fertilize, civilize, rationalize, criticize, categorize, polarize, modernize, chastise, italicise, romanticize -ly adverbhow something isquickly, easily, happily, majestically, nonchalantly, literally, barely, carefully, abruptly -acy nounstate or qualityprivacy, occupancy, democracy, buoyancy, saliency, literacy, secretly, politely, rapidly -ance, -ence nounstate or quality ofmaintenance, eminence, prominence, dominance, coincidence, decadence, cadence -dom nounplace or state of beingfreedom, kingdom, wisdom, fiefdom, boredom, martyrdom -er, -or, -ist, -ian, -eer nounone who.

8 What/that/whichtrainer, teacher, toaster, mentor, survivor, orator, governor, pianist, specialist, dentist, librarian, magician, technician, engineer, pioneer -ism noundoctrine, beliefcommunism, socialism, pragmatism, realism, feudalism, racism, Catholicism, Buddhism, capitalism -ist nounone whochemist, socialist, biologist, publicist, realist, romanticist, pragmatist -ity, -ty noun quality ofveracity, honesty, clarity, laxity, sanity, vanity, rigidity, velocity, curiosity, responsibility -ment nouncondition ofargument, judgment, apartment, contentment, resentment, basement -ness nounstate of beingheaviness, happiness, openness, harshness, cleanliness, carelessness -ion, -sion, -tion nounstate of being; quality.

9 Actconcession, transition, action, erosion, vision, invitation, conclusion, condemnationCommon SuffixesCenter for Development and Learning (504) 840-97865o-logy nounstudy of biology, mineralogy, ecology -age nounresult of an actionmarriage, pilgrimage -hood nouncondition of beingneighborhood, falsehood, childhood -ary nounplace for, collection of; one whoglossary, library, secretary, dignitary -ship nounart or skill of, condition, rank, group of leadership, citizenship, ownership, companionship, friendship -able, -ible adjectiveable to be, worthy of, capable ofcomfortable, likable, enjoyable, honorable, predictable, terrible, sensible, incredible, edible, visible -ful adjectivenotable for, full of fanciful, beautiful, wonderful, colorful, eventful, fearful, hateful, resentful -ic, -al, -ial, -ical adjective, nounpertaining to, relating toenergetic, historic, caustic, volcanic.

10 Refusal, regional, proposal, fatal, cordial, territorial, spatial, social, comical, historical, magical, logical, rehearsal -ious, -ous adjectivecharacterized by, full of, havingnutritious, portentous, pretentious, curious, furious, prosperous -ish adjectivehaving the quality offiendish, childish, selfish, boyish -ive adjectivehaving the nature of, somewhat likecreative, festive, responsive, positive, negative, inventive -less adjectivewithoutendless, fruitless, worthless, powerless, bottomless, relentless, selfless -y, -ly adjectivecharacterized by.