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Prefixes
Being able to recognize prefixes (as well as suffixes) will help you guess the meaning of new words.
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Prefixes generally do not alter the word-class of the base: verbs, nouns, adjectives. They are generally added to the base as a one single word. They may also be found hyphenated to their base when the strongest stress in the word falls on the prefix, e.g. ex-president, pseudo-scientific, non-smoker. Generally the prefix receives a light stress, falling the main stress on the main word. They can be grouped by meaning.
Prefixes in use are hundreds and we can only list but a few bellow:
Unfair, unadorned, unfortunately Non-conformist, non-smoker, non-returnable Invisible, incredible, insensitive Impossible, immediate, immoral Illogical, illegal, illiterate Irregular, irresponsible Disloyal, disobey, disfavour, disorder, disrespect Amoral, atheist, apolitical
Undo, undress, untie Defrost, depopulate, deregulation Discourage, disinfect, disenchanted, disheartened
3. Pejorative prefixes:
Misleading, misinterpret, misbehave, misleading, misfortune Malfunction, malnutrition, maltreat, malformation. Pseudo-academic, pseudo-scientific
Archbishop, archduke, archenemy Hyperactive, hypertension, hypersensitive Superstar, supernatural, superman Overflow, overdo, overtake, overgrown Outbound, outnumber, outrun, outlive Surplus, surrealistic, survivor, surround, surname, surcharge Extra-thin, extraordinary Ultrasonic, ultramodern, ultraconservative, ultraviolet International, inter-city, interact Semicircle, semicolon, semi-detached, semi-skilled Vice-president, vice-chancellor Miniskirt, minibus, minicab
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Microwave, microphone, microsystem Substandard, subway, subconscious, subnormal Underestimate, undertake, undervalue, underpaid
5. Prefixes of Attitude:
Pro-abortion, pro-republican, pro-British Co-operative, co-pilot, co-proprietor, cohabitate Counterproductive, counteract, counterattack, counterespionage Antiperspirant, anti-nuclear, antidemocratic Well-equipped, well-behaved, well-dressed
Foresee, foreplay, foreword, foreman, foretell Preheat, pre-war, pre-exist, pre-marital, pre-colonial Post-mortem, post-marital, postponed Ex-President, ex-wife Rebuild, resolution, reconstruction, relocation International, inter-city, interact
7. Number prefixes:
Unilateral, unify, unicellular Monosyllable, monotone, monogram Bisexual, bifocal, dichotomy Triangle, tricycle, tripod Multicultural, multiracial, multilingual Polygamous, polyphony, polysyllabic
8. Conversion prefixes:
Behead, bewitch, befriend, belittle Endanger, entitle, enable, encircle, Empower, embody, embed Afloat, aflame, asleep, awake
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