Prefixes Flashcards
Learning common prefixes of the English language
a-
not or without (atypical- not typical)
ad-
to or toward (adduce- to bring forward as evidence)
ag-
to or toward (aggravate- to make more severe)
ab-
away from (Abnormal- deviating from normal)
ac-
to or toward (accredit- to attribute to)
at-
to or toward (attain- to reach)
anti-
against or counter (antisocial- against being social)
com-
together or with (combine- join)
bi-
two or twice (benevolence- an act of kindness or goodwill)
an-
nor or without (anarchy- a society with no government)
ante-
before or preceding (antenatal- prior to birth)
bene-
good or well (benevolence- an act of kindness or goodwill)
auto-
self or same (automatic- self acting)
circum-
around (circumscribe- draw a line around or encircle)
de-
removal from (decongestant- relieves or removes congestion)
contra-
against or opposite (contradict- opposed, or against what someone else says)
demi
half (demigod- partly divine and partly human)
dec-
ten (decade- a ten-year period)
dis-
apart, negation, or reversal (Dishonest- a lack of negation of honesty)
dys-
diseased, bad, difficult, faulty (dyslexia- impairment of reading ability)
hemi-
half (hemisphere- half of the globe)
e-, ex-
from or out of (evoke- draw forth or bring out)
hypo-
beneath or under (hypodermic- something introduced under the skin)
hyper-
excess or over (hyperactive- excessively active)
extra-
beyond (extraordinary- outside or beyond the usual order)
intra-
inside or within (intradepartmental- within departments)
ir-
not (irrational- not having reason or understanding)
im-
not (impersonal- not personal)
in-
not (inaccessible- not accessible)
poly-
many or much (polychromy- an artistic combination of different colors)
mono-
one or single (monochromatic- having only one color)
-inter
among or between (interdepartmental- between departments)
kilo-
thousand (kiloton- one thousand tons)
mal-
bad or ill (malcontent- dissatisfied)
mis-
wrong (misinterpret- to interpret wrongly)
non-
not (nonresident- person who does not live in a particular place)
omni-
all (omnivore- an animal that eats all foods, either plant or animal)
ob-
against or opposed (object- declared opposition or disapproval)
per-
through or thoroughly (perennial- continuing or lasting through the years)
post-
after or later (postglacial- after the glacial period)
pre-
before or supporting (preexamine- an examination before another examination)
pro-
before or supporting (proalliance- supportive of an alliance)
re-
again, former state or position (reiterate- do or say repeatedly)
retro-
backward or return (retrogressive- moving backwards)
self-
individual or personal (self-defense- act of defending oneself)
sub-
below or under (submarine- reference to something underwater)
semi-
half or part (semifinal- halfway final)
super-
above or over (superficial- not penetrating the surface)
tele-
distance (telegraph- an instrument used for communicating at a distance)
trans-
across, over or through (transparent- lets light shine through)
ultra-
beyond or excessive (ultraconservative- beyond ordinary conservatism)
un-
not (unaccountable- not accountable or responsible)
