Prefixation: Adding Meaning to Words
Prefixation is a process in morphology where a prefix (a word part added to the beginning of a word) is attached to a base word to create a new word with a modified meaning. This is a common way to create new words in English and other languages.
Types of Prefixes:
Here are some common types of prefixes with examples:
1. Negation Prefixes:
* un-: unhappy, undo, unfinished
* in-: inactive, incapable, informal
* im-: impossible, imperfect, impatient
* ir-: irresponsible, irrelevant, irregular
* non-: non-fiction, non-profit, non-smoker
* dis-: disagree, dishonest, disconnect
* a-: asleep, amoral, asexual
2. Number Prefixes:
* mono-: monorail, monologue, monochrome
* bi-: bicycle, bilingual, bilateral
* tri-: triangle, tripod, tricycle
* quad-: quadruped, quadrilateral, quadruple
* penta-: pentagon, pentagram, pentathlon
* multi-: multilingual, multi-tasking, multimedia
3. Location Prefixes:
* pre-: pre-game, pre-historic, pre-school
* post-: post-war, post-graduate, post-mortem
* inter-: international, inter-city, internet
* intra-: intra-city, intravenous, intramural
4. Time Prefixes:
* ante-: ante-bellum, antecedent, antechamber
* fore-: foretell, forethought, forehead
* retro-: retro-active, retro-fit, retrograde
* re-: rewrite, redo, revisit
* super-: supermarket, superman, supersonic
5. Size Prefixes:
* mini-: miniature, minivan, miniskirt
* macro-: macroeconomics, macrocosm, macrobiotic
* micro-: microscope, microphone, microchip
6. Degree Prefixes:
* super-: superb, super-size, supernatural
* over-: overeat, overload, overestimate
* under-: underestimate, underpaid, underachiever
* sub-: substandard, submarine, subliminal
7. Other Prefixes:
* auto-: autobiography, automatic, autonomous
* co-: co-author, co-worker, cooperate
* pro-: pro-choice, pro-active, pro-bono
* counter-: counter-attack, counter-clockwise, counterfeit
* anti-: antibiotic, anti-social, anti-gravity
Examples of Prefixation:
* Happy + un- = unhappy
* Cycle + bi- = bicycle
* National + inter- = international
* Write + re- = rewrite
* Size + super- = super-size
Understanding the meaning of prefixes helps us decipher the meanings of unfamiliar words and enhances our vocabulary.
Note: Some prefixes can have different meanings depending on the word they are attached to. It's essential to look at the context to determine the precise meaning.