Word Formation: Prefixes &

Suffixes

ENGLISH FOR COMPUTER SCIENCE

EXTRA NOTES #3

EHSAN AKHGARI
OCTOBER 2007
 Introduction
2

 Word formation in English:

prefix stem suffix

 Examples:
 programmer: program + er (someone who programs)
 underestimate: under + estimate (estimate
somebody/something too little)
 unrecognizable: un + recognize + able (cannot be recognized)

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Interpreting the Meaning of Prefixes and Suffixes
3

 Prefixes usually change the meaning of a word

 Examples:
 unpleasant
 interactive
 Suffixes usually change the part of speech of the word
 Examples:
 pleasantly
 active
 Be careful when interpreting the meanings based on
prefixes and suffixes; it is easy to misjudge
 Examples:
 September, October, November, December

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 Prefixes
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 Prefixes can be categorized as below

 Negative and positive

 Size

 Location

 Time and order

 Number

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 5

Negative and
Positive
Prefixes
This prefix type is used
to change the meaning
of the stem negatively
or positively.

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Prefix Meaning Examples

semi- half, partly semiconductor

Prefixes of
equi- equal equidistant
Size
mini- small minicomputer
This prefix type is used
to aggregate the micro- very small microcomputer
meaning of a stem with macro- macroeconomics
a size concept. large, great
mega- megabyte

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Prefix Meaning Examples

inter- between, among interface, interactive

Prefixes of
intra- within, inside of intranet
Location
super- over supersonic
This prefix type is used
to aggregate the trans- across transmit, transfer
meaning of a stem with ex- out exclude, extrinsic
a location concept.
in- inside include, intrinsic
extra- beyond extraordinary
sub- under subschema
infra- below infra-red, infrastructure
peri- around peripheral

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Prefix Meaning Examples
Prefixes of
ante- antecedent
Time and pre-
before
prefix
Order prime- first primary, primitive
This prefix type is used post- after postdated
to aggregate the
meaning of a stem with retro- backward retroactive
a time or an order
concept.

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Prefix Meaning Examples

semi- half semicircle

Prefixes of
mono- one monochromatic
Numbers
bi- two binary
This prefix type is used
to aggregate the tri- three triangle
meaning of a stem with quad- four quadruple
a number or count
concept. penta- five pentagon
hex six hexadecimal
sept(em)- seven September
oct- eight octal
dec- ten decimal
multiplexor,
multi- many
multidimensional

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Prefix Meaning Examples

before, in advance program

pro-
forward progress
Other Prefixes automatic
auto- self autobiography
This prefix type
autograph
includes the prefixes
which cannot be co- coordinate
together, with
categorized into any of con- connect
the aforementioned
categories.

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 Suffixes
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 Suffixes can be categorized as below

 Noun-forming

 Verb-forming

 Adverb-forming

 Adjective-forming

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Prefix Meaning Examples

-ance state performance

Noun-forming
-ence quality of independence
Suffixes
a person who programmer, operator
This suffix type creates -er, -or
a thing which compiler, accumulator
nouns from the stems
(usually verbs). -ist, -yst a person who analyst, typist
-ian pertaining to electrician
-tion,
the act of compilation
-ation
-ness condition of readiness
-ion action/state conversion
-ing activity multiplexing
-ment state, action measurement
-ity state, quality electricity
-ism condition/state magnetism
-dom domain/condition kingdom, freedom

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10/17/2007
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Prefix Meaning Examples

-ize/-ise computerize
Verb-forming -ate automate, activate, calculate
to make
Suffixes -ify simplify
-en harden, widen
This suffix type creates
verbs from the stems.

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Prefix Meaning Examples
Adverb-
electronically, logically,
forming -ly in the manner of
comparably, helpfully
Suffixes
This suffix type creates
adverbs from the stems.

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Prefix Meaning Examples
Adjective-
-al computational, logical
forming -ar circular
having the quality of
Suffixes -ic magnetic, automatic
-ical electrical
This suffix type creates
-able comparable
adjectives from the capable of being
-ible divisible
stems.
-ous like, full of dangerous
-ful characterized by helpful
-less without careless
-ish like yellowish
-ed computed
having the quality of
-ive interactive

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 References
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 K. Boeckner, P. Charles Brown. Oxford English for

Computing, Oxford University Press, 1996
 Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 11th edition

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