Prefixes and Suffixes

(5th. Level)

An English word can consist of three parts: the root, a prefix and a suffix.


The root is the part of the word that contains the basic meaning (definition) of the word. The root is the base element of the word.

ex.  write

 A prefix is a word element that is placed in front of a root. A prefix changes the word's meaning or makes a new word. A suffix is a word element that is placed after the root.

ex.  rewrite

 The suffix changes the word's meaning as well as its function (use). Prefixes and suffixes are called affixes because they are attached to a root.

ex.  writer 

PREFIX	MEANING	USAGE
ab,abs	from, away from	abduct,   abstinence
ad, ac, af, ag, an, ap, ar, as, at	to, forward	accord, affliction,  aggregation  annexation   addition
ambi	both	ambiguous ambivalent
an, a	without	anarchy  amoral
ante	before	antecedent  antediluvian
anti	against, opposite	antipathy   antithetical
arch	chief, first	archetype archbishop
be	over, thoroughly	bedaub  befuddle
bi	two	bicameral  biennial
cata	down	catastrophe cataract  catapult
circum	around	circumnavigate  circumspect   circumscribe
com, co, col, con, cor	with, together	combine coeditor collateral   connected conference corroborate
contra, contro	against	contravene  controversy
de	down, away	debase decadence  deterioration
demi	partly, half	demigod
di	two	dichotomy dilemma
dia	across	diagonal  diameter
dis, dif	not, apart	discord differ
dys	faulty, bad	dysfunctional
ex, e	out	exit exodus
extra, extro	beyond, outside	extracurricular extraterritorial  extrovert

Suffix	Meaning	Usage
able, ible	capable of (adjective suffix)	portable - able to be carried legible
ac, ic	like, pertaining to	cardiac - pertaining to heart aquatic - pertaining to water
acious, icious	full of	audacious - full of daring, avaricious - full of greed
al	pertaining to	maniacal - insane portal - doorway logical - pertaining to logic
ant, ent	full of	eloquent - pertaining to fluid, effective speech. verdant - green
ary	like, connected with	dictionary - book connected with words honorary - connected with honor
ate	to make (verb suffix)	consecrate - to make holy mitigate - make less severe
ation	that which is (noun suffix)	irritation - that which is irritated
cy	state of being (noun suffix)	democracy - ruled by people obstinacy - obstinate state, stubbornness
eer, er, or	person who (noun suffix)	mountaineer - person who climbs mountains teacher - one who teaches advisor - person who advises
escent	becoming (adjective suffix)	evanescent - tending to vanish pubescent - arriving at puberty
fic	making, doing (adjective suffix)	fantastic - arousing great wonder terrific - arousing great fear
fy	to make (verb suffix)	magnify - to enlarge petrify - turn to stone
iferous	producing, bearing (adjective suffix)	pestiferous - carrying disease vociferous - having a loud voice
il, ile	pertaining to, capable of (adjective suffix)	civil - polite docile - easily taught or led
ism	doctrine, belief (noun suffix)	monotheism - belief in one God socialism - kind of governance
ist	dealer, doer (noun suffix)	realist - one who is realistic dentist - deals with teeth
ity	state of being (noun suffix)	sagacity - state of being wise
ive	like (adjective suffix)	quantitative - concerned with number or volume
ize, ise	to make (verb suffix)	harmonize - make harmonious revolutionize - make revolutionary
oid	resembling, like (adjective suffix)	ovoid - like an egg anthropoid - resembling a human
ose	full of (adjective suffix)	verbose - full of words
osis	condition (noun suffix)	psychosis - diseased mental condition hypnosis - induced sleep
ous	full of (adjective suffix)	nauseous - full of nausea ludicrous - foolish
tude	state of (noun suffix)	fortitude - state of strength certitude - state of certainty

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if you want to practice, click here.

The following resources were used to create this article:
. vocabulary workshop 
 http://www2.southampton.liu.edu/academic/pau/course/webesl.htm

. Michigan Proficiency Exams
http://www.michigan-proficiency-exams.com/prefix-suffix.html