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Word Study
Common Prefixes and Suffixes
Common Prefixes and Suffixes (continued)
Prefixes A prefix is a letter or group of letters added to the beginning of a root to
change its meaning.
Suffixes A suffix is a letter or group of letters added to the end of a root to form a
new word. Adding a suffix often requires a spelling change to the root word.
Prefix
Definition
Prefix
Definition
Suffix
Definition
Suffix
Definition
acroambi-, amphi-
high, topmost, at the extremity
both, around, about
mismono-
bad, badly, wrongly
one, alone, single
-able, -ible
-al, -ial
capable of, likely to, worthy of
of, related to, having the characteristics of
-ish
-ism
having the characteristics of, native to
act of, state of, school of, system, manner
antiautobi-
against, opposed to
self
two, twice, on two sides
multineonon-
many
new, young, recent, latest
not, lacking, without
-ance, -ancy
-ant, -ent
byco-, col-, com-,
con-, corde-
near, side, secondary or incidental
together with, joint, to the same degree
ob-, oc-, ofbefore, against, over
oct-, octa-, octo- eight
-ist
-itis
-ize
make, cause to become, subject to,
engage in
-ate
-cian, -ian
cause, make, provide or treat with
a person who practices or performs a skill
-less
-like
without, not able to be
similar to, resembling
-cide
-cy
-dom
kill, killing, killer
action, function, rank, condition of being
quality of, state of, realm of, power of
-ly
-mania
in the manner of, in the order of
exaggerated enthusiasm,
uncontrollable desire
-ee
one who is receiving or performing
an action
made of, added to
-ment
action of, process of, result of, degree of
being
measure; device for measuring
state of, quality of
over-
upper, outer, superior, passing above,
too much
ancient, early
all, every, universal
at the side of, in a secondary position
diadis-
ten
one-tenth
two, double, twice; not, away from (see
dis-)
through, throughout, apart, between
not, opposite of, lack of, away from
paleopanparapentaper-
five
through, throughout, completely,
very thoroughly
e-
out, beyond, away from, without
peri-
around, about, enclosing, near
em-, enendo-
put into or on, cover, make, subject to
within
polypost-
many, much, excessive
after, later
epi-
upon, over, on the outside
pre-
before, in front of, superior to
equa-, equiex- (w/hyphen)
ex-
equal, equally
former
out of, outside, from
proprotopseudo-
for, forward
first
false, deceptive
-ery
forehemihetero-
before, ahead of, front
half
different
quadquintre-
four
five
again, back, reverse
-ese
-est
-ful
native of, language of
most (compares three or more things)
full of, having the quality of, able to cause
make
place, time, period, state of, quality of,
group of
having the characteristics of, causing
decadecidi-
from, down, reverse the action
-en
-ence, -ency
-er
state of, quality
more than (compares two things); one
that is or engages in some activity or
profession
place to or for, practice of, product of,
condition of
hex-, hexahomoil-, im-, in-, ir-
six
same, equal to, like
not, lack of
selfsest-, sexsub-
im-, ininterintra-
in, into, within
between
within, inside
by oneself, within, automatic
six
under, beneath, to a lesser
degree, bordering
-fy
-hood
above, beyond, over
with, together
macr-, macromal-
super-, suprsyl-, sym-, syn-,
sys-
large, long
bad, badly, wrong, ill
megametamicro-
very large, great, powerful
change in, after, going beyond or higher
very small, minute
teletetratrans-
at, over, or from a distance, far away
four
across, beyond, over
-ice
condition of, state of
-ile
related to, capable of, suitable for
-ion, -sion, -tion, act of, state of, process of
-ation
midmini-
middle
small, brief
triununder-
three
not, the opposite of
beneath, below normal, too little
uni-
one, only
TS_PE_G6_SG_232_240.indd 239
Word Study
state of, quality of, act of, process of
someone who, agent of, performing the
task of
-ar, -er, -or
someone who, something that, native of
-ary, -ory
relating to, having the qualities of,
place where
-asis, -esis, -osis action, condition, process
-ic
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TS_PE_G6_SG_232_240.indd 240
a person who, that which
disease, inflammation of,
preoccupation with
-ity, -ty
state of, quality of being, instance of
-ive, -ative, -itive causing, tending to do something
-meter
-ness
-ology, -logy
-or
-ous, -eous,
-ious
-phobia
-scope
study of, science of, branch of learning
one that does a specific thing
full of, having the qualities of
-ship
condition of, state of, quality of being,
skill of
state of, condition of, instance of being
state of being, process of, condition of,
result of
in the direction of
characterized by, inclined to, tending to
-tude
-ure
-ward
-y
fear, hatred
an instrument for seeing
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