Prefix
Meaning
Example
a, an
without, not
asexual, amoral, anarchy, anhydrous, Anabaptist, anachronism
ab, abs, a
apart, away from
abnormal, abduct, abductor (muscle), abscission .See ad in Prefixes,
ad
toward
adhere, adductor (muscle) . See ab in Prefixes section), adumbrate
agere
act
agent, agency, agenda
amphi, ambi
round, both sides
amphitheater, amphibian, ambidextrous, ambivalent
ante
before
antedate, anteroom, antecedent, anterior
anthro
man
anthropology, anthropomorphic
anti
against
antipathy, antitank, anticlimax
aqua
water
aquarium, aqueous
archaios
ancient
archeology, archetype, archaic, archeozoic
archos
leader, first, chief
monarchy, oligarchy, anarchy, archetype, architect
audio
hear
audiophile, audiometer, auditory
auto
self
automatic, automaton, auto-immune
bi
two
bi-partisan, bisexual, biennial, binary, bicuspid, bivalve
bene
well, favorable
benefit, benevolent, benefactor, beneficent
bible
book
bibliography, Bible, bibliophile
bio
life
biology, biography, bio-active
caco
Bad
cacophony
cide
kill
homicide, parricide, germicidal, ecocide
circum
around
circumference, circumlocution, circumnavigate
constitutus
stand
constitution, statute
corpus
body
corpse, corporeal punishment, corpus callosum
cracy
rule
democracy, theocrat, technocracy
credo
belief
credit, (see also roots section)
demos
people
democracy, demographic
di
two, double
dimorphism, dicotyledon, diatomic
dia
across, through
diagonal, dialectic, dialogue, diagnosis
dis
not, apart
disperse, disinherit, disenfranchise, distend
dominus
lord
dominant, dominion
dynasthai
be able
dynamic, dynamo, dynasty, dynamite
ego
I, self
ego, egomaniac, egocentric,
epi
upon, over
epidermis, epidemic, epigram, epitaph, epithet, epiphyte, epistasis, epinephrine, epiphysis
ex
out
exotic, exterior, extraneous, extemporaneous, exophalmic, exogenous, exothermic, exoskeleton
federis (see also Roots section)
league, pact
federation, confederate
frater
brother
fraternize, fraternity, fraternal, fratricide
geo
earth
geology, geography, geocentric, geomancy
graph (see also Roots section)
write, record
graphic, graphite, graphology,
hetero
mixed, unlike
heterogeneous, heterosexual, heterodox, heterodont, hetero atom, heterocyclic, heterozygous,
homo
same, alike
homogeneous, homogenized, homozygous, homolytic fission, Homo sapiens, homonid, homeostasis
idem
the same
identity, idiopathic, I, individual
ideo
idea
ideology, ideation, ideal
idios
one's own
idiom, idiosyncrasy, idiopathic
in
in
incarcerate, incorporate, inculcate, induction, inductance, indigenous, indicator, inspiration
in, im
not
incredible, ignoble, inglorious, inhospitable, infinite, infinitesimal, immoral
inter
between
interact, interstellar, interpret, interstitial
legis (lex)
law
legal, legislature
lexis
word
lexicon, lexicography
liber
free, book
liberty, library, liberal
locus
place
locality, local, circumlocution
macro
large
macroeconomics, macroscopic, macrophage
mania (see Roots section also)
obsession
maniac, Beatlemania
meter (see Roots section also)
measure
metronome, speedometer, odometer
micro
small
microscope, micron, micrometer, microorganism
mittere, mitto (see Roots section also)
send
mission, transmit, remit
mono
one, single
monocle, monopoly, monogamy, monovalent, monomania, monarchy
mortis
death
mortician, mortuary, moribund, morbid
nomen
name
noble, ignominy, nomenclature, nominal
olig
few
oligarchy, oligopoly
pater
father
paternal, paternity, patricide
ped (see Roots section also)
foot
pedestrian, pedal, pedicure, podiatrist
peri
around
peripatetic, periscope, perineum, peritoneum
phage (see Roots section also)
eat
phagocyte, phagocytosis
philo
love
philosophy, philanthropy
phobos (see Roots section)
phon (see Roots section)
polein
sell
monopoly
polis (see Roots section also)
city
political, metropolitan
poly (see Roots section also)
many
polygamy, polyphonic, hoi polloi
porto
carry
porter, export
post
after
post script (p.s.), ex post facto, post hoc, post-mortem
pre
before
premier, preview, premium, prescient
pro
before, in favor of
project, projectile,
psyche
mind, soul
psychology
publicus
people
public, republic, pub, publican
riparia
river
riparian
scope
examine
microscope, oscilloscope
scribo (see Roots section also)
write
transcribe, scribe, script
solus
alone
solo, solitary
subter
under, secret
subterfuge, subtle, subaltern, subterranean
sin (sys before b, p, or m)
together, with
synchronize, symphony, sympathy, syncretic, syncope
tele
distance
telegraph, telephone, teleology
trans
across
transport, transcend, transmogrify
utilis
useful
utility, utilitarian
Copyright © Jessica DeForest, 2000. All rights reserved