Word Structure

Structure of a Word

Prefix----root----suffix
In---comprehens----ible
Prefix----root
Un----common
Root----suffix
Happi----ness

Prefixes

May be added to the beginning of a

root word
Adds meaning to the root word

Unhappy=NOT happy

Negative Prefixes

All negative prefixes mean

NO or NOT, or reverse
the meaning of the root
word.

Negative Prefixes
Prefix

Meaning

Example

un
dis
in
Im (m,o,p)
Ir (r)
Il (l)
non
mis

not
not
not
not
not
not
not
not

unhappy
disappear
indefinite
immortal
irresponsible
illegal
Non-toxic
misspell

Number Prefixes
Prefix
Hemi
semi
mono
uni
Meth (science)

Meaning
1/2
1/2
1
1
1

Example
hemisphere
Semi-circle
monologue
unison
methane

Number Prefixes
Prefix
di
du
bi
Eth
(science)
Pro
(science)
tri

Meaning
2
2
2
2

Example
diploid
duplex
bicycle
ethane

propane

triangle

Number Prefixes
Prefix

Meaning

Example

tetra

tetragon

quar

Quart, quarter

quad

quadrilateral

But (science)

butane

pent

pentane

Number Prefixes
Prefix

Meaning

Example

hex

hexagon

sept

septennial

hept

heptathlon

oct

octave

nov

November

Non (science) 9

Nonagon

Number Prefixes
Prefix

Meaning

Example

dec

10

decade

cent

100

century

mill

1000

millennium

kilo

1000

kilogram

poly

many

polytheism

multi

many

multipurpose

Time and Place Prefixes

1
Prefix
post
trans

Meaning
after
across

Example
Post-prom

dia
sub
anti
contra
pre
circum

across
under
against
against
before
around

diagonal
submarine
Anti-war
contradict
Pre-game
circumference

transcontinental

Time and Place 1

Prefix

Meaning

Example

inter

between

interstate

intra

within

intramurals

in

into

inspect

out

emit

ex

out

exit

Time and Place 2

Prefix

Meaning

Example

ad

toward

advance

at

toward

attach

ag

toward

aggressive

Time and Place 2

Prefix

Meaning

Example

ab

away

dis
De
Se

Away, of
Away, of

Abstain,
absent
dismount
Depart,
detour
Separate

Time and Place 2

Prefix

Meaning

Example

para

Beside,
similar
back

paraphrase

Back
again
together

Return
redo
cooperate

together

Company
connect

retro
re
co
Com
con

retroactive

Time and Place 2

Prefix

Meaning

Example

Sym, syn

together

symphony

Sym, syn

same

Synonym,
symmetry

Intensifying Prefixes
Prefix
super
hyper
ultra
hypo
homo
hetero

Meaning
Above,
beyond
Above,
beyond
Above,
beyond
Below normal
same
diferent

Example
supervisor
hyperactive
Ultra light
hypothermia
homogenous
heterogeneou
s

Questions to Ponder

How old is a superannuated person?

What does homogenized milk look like?
How does an malcontent act?
If your name is Sam, and your friends
name is homonymous, what is his name?
Describe a shirt that is heterochromatic.
What is hypothermia?

Prefixes with More Than

One Meaning (Summary)
Prefix
in
dis
Sym, syn
pro

Meaning
Into
not
Not
Of, away
Together
same
Three
(science)
Forward

Example
Inhale
incorrect
Disagree
dismount
Symphony
synonym
Propane
Procedure
Pro-golfer