STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS
Roots and Affixes
When you are trying to figure out the meaning of an unfamiliar word, it helps to try to break the word down into
parts. Prefixes and suffixes provide clues that help define the meaning of a word.
Prefix
A prefix is a letter or group of letters added to the beginning of a word to make a new word.
Prefix
Meaning
Example
not, away from abnormal (not normal)
ab–
ambivalent (feeling both ways about an issue)
ambi– both
amphi– round, both sides amphitheater (a round theater)
against
antiwar (against war)
anti–
archrival (main rival)
arch– main
automobile (self-driven vehicle)
auto– self
beneficial (something good)
bene– good
two
bicycle (two wheels)
bi–
life
biology (the study of life)
bio–
remove
deodorant (removes odor)
de–
not
dishonest (not honest)
dis–
to speak
dictate (to speak aloud)
dict–
former, away
ex-girlfriend (former girlfriend)
ex–
extraordinary (beyond what is ordinary)
extra– beyond
fore– before, in front of foreground (the part of a scene that is nearest to and in front of the viewer)
inaction (no action, lack of action)
im–, in– not, in
international (between nations)
inter– between
same
isometric (having the same measurement)
iso–
manual (done or worked on with the hands)
manu– hand
microscope (device used to look at small objects)
micro– small
bad, wrong
mislead (lead in wrong direction)
mis–
monopoly (when one company has power)
mono– one
multicolor (many colors)
multi– many
mutant (someone or something that changes)
mut– change
no
nonsense (no sense)
non–
overcooked (cooked too much)
over– too much
foot
pedicure (care of feet, toes, and nails)
ped–
postwar (after the war)
post– after
Prefix
pre–
re–
sub–
terra–
topo–
trans–
tri–
troglo–
ultra–
un–
uni–
xen–
Meaning
before
again
under, below
earth
place
across
three
cave
beyond
not
one
foreign, guest
Example
preheat (heat before)
review (look at again)
subzero (below zero)
terrain (a piece of land)
toponym (the name of a place)
transport (move across)
tricycle (three wheels)
troglocole (to live in a cave)
ultramodern (beyond modern)
uncooked (not cooked)
unicorn (mythical animal that has one horn)
xenophobia (fear of strangers or foreigners)
Suffix
A suffix is a letter or group of letters added to the end of a word to make a new word.
Suffix
Meaning
Example
fixable (capable of being fixed)
–able capable of
creation (the process of creating)
–ation the process of
largest (most large)
–est most
beautiful (full of beauty)
–ful full of
childish (like a child)
–ish like
hopeless (without hope)
–less without
mineralogy (the study of minerals)
–logy the study of
in a way, in a manner happily (in a happy manner)
–ly
–ous having qualities of joyous (having the qualities of joy)
tripod (three-legged or footed)
–pod foot
Root
A root is the basic element of a word, and it forms the meaning of a word. Some roots are full words on their
own. Most roots need to have prefixes and suffixes attached to them to form a base word. A base word is whole
word which has meaning but may be combined to make new words. Some of the prefixes and suffixes list above
can also be root words.
Root Meaning
Example
revitalize (to give a new life)
vit life
Latin and Greek Roots
Many English words and word parts can be traced back to Latin and Greek. By learning what parts of words
mean, you can figure out the meanings of bigger words that you might not know at first glance. Look at the
chart below and decode some big words. You can even make up some new words on your own!
Latin and Greek Word Part
Meaning
brother
adelphos
do, perform
act
against
anti
star
astro
self
auto
book
biblio
heat
calor
body
corp
believe, trust
cred
to speak aloud
dict
sleep
dorm
upon, at, in addition
epi
good, well, true
eu
to bend
flex
brother
frat
step
grad
water
hydro
long, large
macro
sea
mare
around, about
peri
love
philos
fear
phobe
foot
pod
carry
port
to write
script
half
semi
time
temp
heat
therm
act, process, condition
ure
roll, turn around
volve
Look at the chart and figure out the meaning of the word epicenter.

The word part epi means "upon," "at," or "in addition." Therefore, you can tell that the word epicenter
is at the center of a certain activity.