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SECTION 1
Prefixes and suffixes
Compound words can also be formed using prefixes, which are added to the front of the word and usually
do not change the class of the base word, and suffixes, which are added to the end and usually do change
the class of the word. Here are lists of some of the most commonly used prefixes and suffixes together with
their meanings or functions and some examples. There are many more than in these lists.
a- ab- an-
ante-
anti-
co-
counter-
de-
dis-
en-
fore-
il-
im-
in-
inter-
ir-
mal-
mis-
over-
out-
post-
pre-
re-
semi-
sub-
super-
sur-
trans-
un-
under-
without/not
before
against
together
react against
the opposite of
the opposite of
put into/increase
before
not/opposite of
not/opposite of
not/opposite of
between
not/without
bad(ly)
wrong
over/beyond
more/better/out
after
before/forward
again/back
half/partly
under/below
more than/above
over and above
across/between
the opposite
too little/below
antedate
cooperate, coexist
counteract, counter-attack
devalue, deactivate
disappear, disconnect
enclose, encircle
foresee, forewarn
interact, interface
malfunction, maltreat
mislead, misunderstand
overtake, oversleep
outbid, outperform
postpone, postdate
predict, pretest
return, restore, replay
subdivide, subtitle
surtax, surcharge
transmit, transport
undo, untie, unwrap
undercook, underpay
amoral, atypical
antenatal
cooperative, coequal
counter-productive
decontamination
disloyal, dishonest
endangered, enriched
foregoing
illegal
impatient, impossible
inactive, insane, inattentive
interactive
irresponsible
maladjusted
overhead
outspoken
semi-detached
submarine
surplus
(adj.)
unlucky, unhappy
abnormality
antecedent
anticyclone, antidote
coincidence, co-owner
counter-argument
deindustrialisation
disagreement, dislike
enlarger
forecast, forehead
inattention, incoherence
interaction, interchange
malfunction, malnutrition
misconduct, misjudgement
overseer
outbuilding, outlaw
reorganisation, retrial
semi-circle
subset, subdivision
superset, superpower
surplus
(n.)
transaction, transmitter
underestimate
+ verb = verb
+ noun = noun
+ adj. = adj.
Meaning
Prefixes
-able
-al
-age
-ance
-ence
-ant
-ent
-er
-ist
-ee
-ery
-ment
-ry
-sion
-tion
can/able to be
result of action
result of action
result of action
person who does
the action
subject of action
action of doing
action of doing
place of the action
result of action
result of action
lovable, breakable, admirable
refusal, proposal
package, wastage
attendance, acceptance
interference, preference
assistant, consultant
student
driver, interviewer
dentist, scientist
interviewee, trainee
robbery, trickery
movement, development
refinery, bakery
expansion, admission
alteration, demonstration
Verb (action) + suffix= noun
Verb (action) + suffix= noun
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