Word-Formation Prefixation

Negative prefixes: unmeaning the opposite of not examples unfair uncomforta ble unconsciou s uncountabl e uneconomic untruthful non-smoker nonsense non-British non-stick unborn unemploye d unfortunate unhappy ungrateful unwell non-stop nonstandard nonmember non-starter unamussing unhealthy unkind unlucky unpleasant unusual unexpected unnecessar y unofficial unprofessio nal unreasonab le untidy nonnonpayment proliferation nonnonaggression intervention non-aligned nonconform nonist combatant indefinite insignificant indirect intolerable inexcusable invisible insecure insensitive inseparable

non-

not

in-

the opposite of not

insane inaccurate inactive inadequate inanimate inarticulate

inattentive incapable inconvenien t incorrect incredible indecisive impersonal impolite irregular irreparable

im-

the opposite of not the opposite of not

improper impatient irrelevant irrational

impossible impractical irresponsibl e irresistible illiterate disfavour disappeara nce discomfort

improbable

ir-

ildis-

the opposite of not the opposite of not

illogical disloyal dishonest disobedienc e

illegible dislike distasteful disapproval disagreeme

illegal disrespect disbelief disconnecti on

disorder disapprove alacking in amoral

nt displeasure disadvanta discontinue ge asymmetry

Reversative or privative prefixes: unmeaning to reverse action to deprive of to reverse action to reverse action to deprive of examples untie uncover defrost depopulate disconnect unhorse unearth undo unseat unblock

de-

deforestatio deform n dehydrate de-ice discoloured discontent

deport

dis-

Pejorative prefixes: mismeaning wrongly away from the right path or way examples misinform misspelt mistake mistimed misconduct misquote misbehavio ur misjudgem ent misleading misfortune miscalculati on mischance misunderst and misdirect mislead misreprese nt malodorous

malpseudo-

bad(ly) false immitation

maltreat malfunction malformed malnutritio malpractice maladjuste n d pseudo-intelectual

Prefixes of degree or size: archsupermeaning highest worst above more than better examples archduke arch-enemy superhuma n outdoors outlaw

superman supermarke supernatur superstruct t al ure outlive outwit out-patient outsider

out-

to do something outrun faster, longer, outnumber

sursubover-

etc. than outside over and above lower than less than too much

outshine surtax subhuman overeat oversimplify overproduce surpass substandar d overdresse d overambitious

overconfide nt overanxiety

overindulgence overemotional undergrowt h undergo

under-

too little

undercooke underprivile underdog d ged under under-pay underwear emphasise

hyperultra-

extremely extremely beyond little large long lower, at or towards the bottom or end / lower or worse part higher, at or towards the top or beginning / the higher or better part out of place or upsidedown

hypercritica hyperactive hyperinflati l on ultra-violet ultramodern

minimaxidown-

mini skirt maxi-skirt downhearte downright d downtown downtrodde n upgrade uphill upsetting uptown downstairs downriver downpour

up-

up-to-date uptight

upriver upmarket

Prefixes of attitude: comeaning with, joint examples co-operate co-pilot coincide co-star communic ate cohere coexist coalition co-writer

counter- in opposition to counteract counterrevolution contraantiagainst against contradict contraband antimissile antiseptic antisocial anticyclone contracepti contravene ve anticlockwise antifreeze antidote antibiotic

pro-

on the side of

pro-Common Market pro-British

pro-communist pro-Smith progovernment

Locative prefixes: submeaning beneath, lesser in rank examples subway submarine subconscio sublet us subcontract interaction subdue

inter-

between, among internation intermarry al interchange across, from one transatlanti transplant place to another c

interplanetary

trans-

transpolar

Prefixes of time and order: foremeaning before examples foretell foresee forecast foreknowled foreshadow forewarn ge forename foreground forearm forehead predict precede premarital post meridiem posthumou s prefix pre-pay

pre-

before

pre-war premature pre-arrange prejudice precaution preference post-war postpone postscript postclassical postmortem

post-

after

postdated postgraduate

ex-

former out of again back

ex-husband ex-wife extension exex-member extrovert president rebuild re-evaluate recondition reorganise rewrite redo

extradite

re-

resettlemen return t reflection replace recount

Number prefixes: unimonomeaning one examples unilateral uniform monotheis m monopoly one one-way one-sided singleminded two bilingual bicycle dipole dilemma duel unisex unique unit union

monorail monochrom monotonou monolingua e s l one-time one-off singlehanded binoculars bigamy dichotomy duet one-eyed singleparent bilateral divide bifocals dialogue one-legged

onesinglebididudoubleambitwintwotri-

double-bed double-bass doublecheck ambiguous twin-bed two-faced three tripartite ambivalent twin-set two-seater trio ambidextro us twinheadlights two-time triplets two-piece tripod

triangle multimany

tricycle

triplicate

trinity

multi-racial multitude multiple multicoloured polysyllabic polygamy polygon

multimultinational purpose multi-storey multiply polyglot polytechnic

poly-

many

Other prefixes: adcomautoneopanprotosemivicehomosymsimsynselfauto meaning examples towards, change advance into addition together with combine combat self new, revived all, world-wide first, original half deputy same autobiogra phy neo-Gothic pan-African prototype semicircle vicepresident homogeneo homeopath us y symbol similar symmetry homosexual sympathy simile symptom additive commune adventure combinatio n adapt communist

neoclassical

neologism

simultaneo us synchronise synonym selfassured selfconfident selfdefence selfemployed self-respect self-control

selfsufficient self-service selfsatisfied

selfconscious self-taught selfsupporting

Suffixation
Noun noun suffixes: meaning examples occupational person engaged gangster -ster in an occupation or activity musician -ian librarian -eer -er (varied meanings) engineer teenager Londoner banker lawyer

mathematic magician ian historian

politician

diminutive or feminine small -let unimportant small, compact -ette imitation (material) female -ess -y -ie female diminutive diminutive

booklet kichenette flannelette usherette waitress actress daddy auntie boyhood neighbourh ood friendship relationship kingdom monarchy democracy diplomacy

piglet statuette

suffragette hostess princess manageress nappy birdie granny budgie duchess aunty doggie nationhood sportmansh ip freedom anarchy obstinacy machinery

status, domain status -hood -ship -dom -archy -acy -(e)ry status condition domain condition domain status condition

motherhood priesthood manhood dictatorship censorship ownership stardom heirarchy supremacy refinery wisdom oligarchy autocracy nunnery

behaviour, place slavery

of activity or residence, collectivity other the substance of panelling -ing which is composed the amount mouthful -ful which contains like , spheroid -oid resembling humanoid Noun / adjective noun / adjective suffixes: -ite -(i)an -ese -ist meaning member of community faction / type nationality pertaining to nationality member of a party occupation attitude political movement examples Israelite socialite Parlamenta Christian rian Burmese violinist pianist journalist Lebanese monarchist psychiatrist economist racism

android

asteroid

cuboid

Indonesian republican Argentinian Chinese socialist communist artist idealism Sudanese fascist Buddhist tourist

-ism

communism Marxism

Verb noun suffixes: -er meaning agentive and instrumental profession or role examples driver swimmer actor inspector president inhabitant assistant receiver climber processor editor resident writer grocer

-or

solicitor surveyor superintend ent

sailor bachelor

-ent -ant

disinfectant consultant attendant

accountant

-ee -ation

passive state, action institution state, action

employee exploration organisatio n amazement argument amusement embarrass ment refusal denial dismissal building agreement announcem appointmen ent t developme nt withdrawal proposal

-ment

-al -ing -age -ion -tion -sion -ssion version -ation -ition -ption

action

activity driving result of activity drainage abstract discussion obligation explosion permission conversion alteration

confession regulation decision procession perversion exploration hesitation prohibition persuasion succession admission

competition definition reception subscription consumptio deception n

Adjective noun suffixes: -ness state quality happiness shyness kindness likeness sadness silliness usefulness greatness business

-ity

sanity equality anxiety society honesty jealousy probability visibility

supidity gravity variety sobriety comedy

majority

vanity

-iety -y

gaiety harmony

notoriety tragedy

-ability (from able) -ibility (from ible)

capability credibility

Noun suffixes: -ance romance finance performanc substance e nuisance

-ence

violence absence

silence

innocence

conference

-ancy -ency -ure

accountanc truancy y efficiency currency closure adventure fluency temperatur e pleasure

buoyancy emergency pressure leisure

pregnancy agency gesture

Verb suffixes: -ify -ise meaning causative causative examples simplify electrify popularise apologise horrify identify criticise organise justify simplify

sympathise recognise

-en

causative become

deafen blacken brighten accelerate accommod ate anticipate assassinate

sadden whiten moisten concentrate demonstrat e educate exaggerate

heighten strenghten weaken investigate imitate legislate operate

lengthen widen shorten separate terminate tolerate

-ate

Noun adjective suffixes: -ful meaning having giving examples useful playful faithful childless aimless cowardly lively childlike businesslik e like covered with belonging to having the character of in the tradition of able to resist across the creamy foggy Turkish Spanish Darwinian waterproof worldwide helpful grateful skilful lifeless pointless motherly homely lifelike godlike hairy healthy foolish snobbish Victorian bulletproof nationwide wonderful careful beautiful speechless reckless friendly leisurely workmanlik e warlike sandy greasy childish foggy windy selfish helpful hopeful

-less

without

meaningles s useless daily hourly

-ly

having the qualities of

-like

-y

-ish

-ian -proof -wide

Shakespear ian soundproof countrywid e

Adjective suffixes:

meaning -al -ial -ical -ic

examples criminal editorial musical heroic domestic attractive affirmative sensitive virtuous courteous

usual structural formal

normal magical chemical

logical economical

graphic romantic enthusiastic scientific

magnetic

-ive -ative -itive -ous -eous -ious -ory -ary

explosive destructive assertive administrati responsive supportive ve preventive manipulativ intensive e enormous gorgeous religious vivacious serious

compulsory accusatory revolutiona contempora illusory conciliatory ry ry reactionary adequate passionate dependent intelligent able worthy to be ed readable admirable avoidable capable desirable memorable youngish oldish balconied separate vertebrate affectionate

-ate

-ent

permanent violent probable respectable taxable valuable washable

magnificen patient t forcible convertible divisible edible flexible horrible fattish quietish intelligible legible possible responsible terible

-able -ible

-ish

somewhat

darkish reddish

twentyish thirtyish

-ed

having

Adverb suffixes: -ly meaning in a manner examples happily strangely

-ward(s) manner / direction -wise

backward( s) clockwise

-style -fashion

in the manner of crabwise weather wise as far as is concerned in the manner / Americanstyle of style