Common Meaning Usage

Prefix
a, an without, not
ab away (from) atypical
ac characteristic of absent, abstract
acer, acr sour, bitter cardiac
ad to, toward acerbity, acrid
ambi both adhere
ante before ambivalent
anthropo man, mankind anteroom, antebellum
anti against, opposed anthropoid
aqua water antipathy, antisocial
arch chief, principle aquatic
aud hear archenemy
auto self auditory, auditorium
bene well, good automatic
bibl book beneficial
bio life Bible
brev short autobiography
chron time brevity
circum around chronological
clar clear circumference
co, con, com together, with clarity
counter, contra against, opposite cooperate, conspiracy
cred believe counteract, contrary
crypt secret, hidden credential, credible
cycl circle cryptic
de from, away cyclical
dia through, apart depart
dic, dict say diagonal
dis apart, from, out, dictate, dictation
dyna power distract
dys hard, ill, with difficulty dynamic
ee person who is dyslexia
ego I, self employee, trainee
en to make, become egoist
epi on, outer shorten
ese relating to epigram
eu well, good journalese
ex out, from euphemism, euphoria
extra beyond, outside exhale, exit
fort strong extracurricular
frater brother fortress, forte
gen race, origin, kind fraternity
geo earth Genesis
graph, gram write geography
gyn woman graphology
hetero other, different gynophobia, gynecology
homo, homeo same, like, similar heterogeneous
hydr water homogeneous
hyper excessive, over, above, hydroplane
hypo under, below, beneath
ic, ical of, like
il, im, in, ir in, into, on, within, not, hyperfunction
inter between hypodermic
intra within manic, numerical
macro large illegal, infiltrate
magn large, great interfere
mal bad intrastate
man hand macroeconomics
mater mother magnify
mega big malpractice,
meter, metr measure maladjusted
micro small manicure
mis wrong, ill maternity
mis, miso hatred megaphone
mit, miss send thermometer
multi many microscope
nav ship, sail misinform
neb hazy, cloudy misanthrope
non not transmit, missile
omni all multitude
ortho straight, right naval, navigate
pan all nebulous
para beside nonadjustable
pater father pandemonium
path feeling, suffering orthopedics
ped, pod foot pandemonium
per through, completely parallel
peri around paternal
phil love, like apathy
phon sound pedal, podiatrist
photo light perforate
poly many perimeter
port carry philanthropy
post after phonics
pot strength, ability photostat
pre before polygamy
pseudo false porter, protable
psych mind, soul postpone
pyr fire potential
re back, again preamble
rupt break pseudoscience
scrib, script write psychology
se away, from pyromania
semi half return, redo
simil like rupture
soph wise transcribe, scripture
spect see, look seclude, segregate
sub under semiprivate
super over, above similar
syn, sym with, together sophomore
tech art, skill spectator
tele far submarine
ten hold
tend stretch supersonic, supervisor
terra earth synchronize, symphony
therm heat technology
trans across telephone
ultra beyond, excessively tenacity, tendon
un not, opposing, reverse extend
under below, beneath terrier, terrace
viv life thermal
voc call, voice transport
vor eat greedily ultramodern
unlawful
underground
vivacious
vocation
omnivorous, voracious

Prefixes   Meanings   Use

ab from abduct = lead away, kidnap,

abs away from abjure = renounce
abscond = run off secretly

advance = move forward

accord = agreement,
ad, harmony,
ac, affliction = cause by distress
af, aggregation = collection,
ag, annexation = addition,
an, to, forward appease = bring toward
ap, peace,
ar, arraignment = indictment,
as, assumption = taking for
at granted,
attendance = present, in
person

ambiguous = double
meaning,
ambi both ambivalent = having
conflicting emotions
ambidextrous = using both
hands equally well
an, a without
not anarchy = lack of
 government,
amoral = without morals
atypical = not typical

antecedent = preceding
event or word,
ante before
antediluvian = ancient
antecessor = one going
before

antipathy = hatred of,

against, antithetical = exactly
anti
opposite opposite
anticlimax = something
trivial

archetype = original, first,

arch chief, first head
archbishop = chief bishop
archangel = head angel

bemuze = humor, intrigue

over, befuddle = confuse
be
thoroughly thoroughly
bemoan = protest, express
regret

bicameral = composed of two

bi two houses,
biennial = every two years
bicycle = with two wheels

catastrophe = disaster,
cata down cataract = waterfall,
catapult = hurl

circumnavigate = sail
around,
circum around circumspect = cautious,
circumscribe = limit
circumstances = situation
surrounding you
com, with,
co, together
col, combine = merge with,
con, coeditor = joint editor,
cor collateral = subordinate,
 connected
conference = meeting,
corroborate = confirm

contravene = conflict with

contra,
against contraband = against rules,
contro
law controversy = dispute

debase = lower in value

de down, away
decadence = deterioration
depreciate = lose value

demigod = partly divine

demi partly, half being
demiglace = reduced brown
sauce

dichotomy = into two parts,

dilemma = choice between
di two
two (usually bad)
alternatives

diagonal = across a figure,

dia across diameter = distance across a
circle
diabolical = devilish

discord = lack of harmony,

dis, dif not, apart differ = disagree
differentiate = tell apart,
separate

dysfunctional = not
dys faulty, bad
functioning properly
dysentery = diarrhea

exit = exodus,
ex, e out
emit = give off something
exhaust = fumes from engine
extra, extro beyond,
outside extracurricular = outside the
curriculum
extraterrestrial = beyond the
earth,
 extrovert = outgoing person

hyperbole = exaggeration,
above,
hyper hyperventilate = breath at an
excessively
excessive rate
hyperactive = overly active

hypoglycemia = low blood

beneath sugar
hypo lower hypodermic = below the skin
under hypochondriac = under
illusion / opression of
sickness

inefficient = not efficient

inarticulate = not clear or
distinct
illegible = not readable,
in, il, im, ir not
impeccable = not capable of
sinning, perfect
irrevocable = not able to be
called back

invite = call in
illustration = something that
makes clear
in, il, im, ir in, on, upon
impression = effect upon
mind or feelings
irradiate = shine upon

intervene = come between

international = between
between,
inter nations
among
interjection = a thrown in
statement

intramural = within a school

introvert = person turned
intra, intro within
into self
introspection = self
examination
macro large, long
macrobiotic = tending to
prolong life
macrocosm = the great world
 megalomania = delusions of
great,
mega grandeur
million
megaton = million tons of
TNT

involving
meta metamorphosis = change of
change
form

microcosm = miniature
micro small universe
microscopic = extremely
small

bad, misdemeanor = minor crime

mis
improper mischance = unfortunate
accident

misanthrope = He who hates

mis hatred
mankind
misogynist = woman-hater

monarchy = government of
mono one one ruler
monotheism = belief in one
god

multifarious = having many

multi many
parts
multitudinous = numerous

neologism = newly coined

neo new
word
neophyte = beginner

non not noncommittal = undecided

nonchalant = with ease

ob obstruct = block
oc occlude = close, block out
against
of offend = insult
op opponent = someone who
struggles against

olig few oligarchy = government by a

few
 panacea = cure all
pan all, every
panorama = unobstructed
view in all directions

beyond, parallel = similar

para
related paraphrase = restate,
translate

through, permeable = allowing

per
completely passage through
pervade = spread throughout

peri around, near perimeter = outer boundary

periphery = edge

poly many polyglot = speaking several

languages

post after
posthumous = after death

preamble = introductory
pre before
statement
premonition = forewarning

primordial = existing at the

prim first dawn of time
primogeniture = state of
being the first born

forward, in
pro propulsive = driving forward
favor of
proponent = supporter

proto first
prototype = first of its kind

pseudo false
pseudonym = pen name

re again, back reiterate = repeat

reimburse = pay back

retro backward retrospect = look back in

time

se away, aside secede = withdraw

seclude = shut away
semi half, partly semiconscious = partly
conscious

subjugate = bring under

control
sub
succumb = yield, cease to
suc
resist
suf
under, less suffuse = spread through
sug
suggest = hint
sup
suppress = put down by
sus
force
suspend = delay, temporarily
cease

supernatural = above natural

things
super, sur over, above
surtax = additional tax
surcharge = additional
expense

synchronize = timed together

syn
sympathize = pity, identify
sym with,
with
syl together
syllogism = explanation of
sys
how ideas relate
system = network

telegraphic = communication
tele far
over a distance
telescopic = seeing far away

transport = carry across

trans across
transcontinental = across
continent

beyond, ultra conservative =

ultra
excessive exceedingly conservative
ultraviolet = beyond red

un not unkempt = not combed,

disheveled

underling = someone inferior

under below
understudy = one who
studies under
uni one
 unison = oneness of pitch,
complete accord
union = in or with agreement

viceroy = acting in place of a

vice in place of king
vice-president = acts in place
of president
away, withstand = stand up
with
against against, resist

Suffixes Spelling Rules

RULE: 1 - When a word ends with a consonant and the suffix begins with a
consonant, simply add the consonant with no spelling changes.

enjoyment = enjoy + ment

commitment = commit + ment
doubtful = doubt + ful

RULE: 2 - For most one syllable words ending in a single consonant you
need to double the last letter when you add a suffix.

run + ing = running

sun + y = sunny
fun + y = funny

*** When the word ends with more than one consonant, the last letter is
NOT doubled.

jump + ing = jumping

sing + ing = singing

RULE: 3 - For words with more than one syllable and end with the letter
"L" you must double the "L" when adding suffixes.

travel + ing = travelling

cancel + ed = cancelled

RULE: 4 - For words stressed on the last syllable and ending with a single
consonant, you need to double the last letter.

prefer + ing = preferring

begin + er = beginner
*** For words where the stress isn't on the last syllable, then you do NOT
need to double the last letter.

benefit + ed = benefited
offer + ing = offering

***OTHER SPELLING RULES- "Y" to "I" and the silent "E"

When a word ends in a consonant plus "Y" then the "Y" is changed to "I" when you
add the suffix. When adding the suffix 'ing' to a word ending in "Y" -- you keep
the "Y." 

lonely + ness = loneliness

happy + ness = happiness
copy + ing = copying

Silent "E" words end with a consonant and an "E." Words like love, like, and hope...
you drop the "E" when you add the suffix.

noise + y = noisy
simple + y = simply

capable of drinkable - able to be drank

able, ible 
(adjective suffix)  legible - able to be read
Zodiac - pertaining to
animals, life
ac, ic  like, pertaining to 
democratic - pertaining to
democracy
audacious - full of daring,
acious, icious  full of 
avaricious - full of greed
beneficial - bringing benefit
al  pertaining to 
logical - pertaining to logic
eloquent - fluid, effective
ant, ent  full of  speech.
ardent - full of passion
revolutionary - some one
connected with a revolution
ary  like, connected with 
temporary - connected with
time or duration
desecrate - to ruin, make
to make
ate  unholy
(verb suffix) 
mitigate - make less severe
that which is irritation - that which is
ation 
(noun suffix)  irritated
democracy - ruled by people
state of being
cy  obstinacy - obstinate state,
(noun suffix) 
stubbornness
engineer - designs engines
person who
eer, er, or  teacher - person who teaches
(noun suffix) 
advisor - person who advises
 evanescent - tending to
becoming (adjective vanish
escent 
suffix)  pubescent - arriving at
puberty
fantastic - arousing great
making, doing
fic  wonder
(adjective suffix) 
terrific - arousing great fear
state of being
ity  sagacity - state of being wise
(noun suffix) 
magnify - to enlarge
fy  to make (verb suffix) 
petrify - turn to stone
pestiferous - carrying disease
producing, bearing
iferous  vociferous - having a loud
(adjective suffix) 
voice
pertaining to, capable of civil - polite
il, ile 
(adjective suffix)  docile - easily taught or led
monotheism - belief in one
doctrine, belief God
ism 
(noun suffix)  deism - belief in God but not
religion
dealer, doer realist - one who is realistic
ist 
(noun suffix)  dentist - works with teeth
quantitative - concerned with
ive  like (adjective suffix) 
number or volume
harmonize - make
to make harmonious
ize, ise 
(verb suffix)  revolutionize - make
revolutionary
ovoid - like an egg
resembling, like
oid  anthropoid - resembling a
(adjective suffix) 
human
ose  full of (adjective suffix)  verbose - full of words
psychosis - diseased mental
osis  condition (noun suffix)  condition
hypnosis - induced sleep
full of nauseous - full of nausea
ous 
(adjective suffix)  ludicrous - foolish
tude  state of (noun suffix)  fortitude - state of strength

Common Suffixes Making Nouns

ion, sion, tion population
acy accuracy
age image
ance, ence attendance
hood childhood
ar, or scholar, doctor
ism socialism
ist artist
ment government
ness happiness
y beauty
ty reality, capacity

Common Suffixes Making Verbs and Adverbs

ate populate
ify beautify
ize realize
en strengthen, widen
ly readily, gently

Common Suffixes Making Adjectives

able, ible capable, terrible
ate accurate
al natural
ful beautiful
ly friendly
ic chronic
ish childish
like childlike
ous populous, numerous
y happy

List of Suffixes

able, ible, ble able to

acious, cous, al like, having the quality of
ance the act of
ancy a state of being
ant, ent, er, or one who
ar, ary connected with, related to
arch one who rules
ast one who does
crat one who advocates, rules by
ence quality of, act of
ful full of
gram thing written
graph, graphy writing, instrument for writing
(i)an pertaining to, like, concerned with
ic, ac, il, ile of, like, pertaining to
ician specialist in, practitioner of
ion the act or condition of
ist one who makes, does
ite, ote one connected with, inhabitant of
ity, ty, y the state of, character of
ism belief in, practice of, condition of
ist one who believes or is engaged in
ive having the nature of
less lacking, without
logy the study of
ment the act of, the state of
nomy science of, system of laws governing
ness the quality of
oid like, having the shape of
ory having the nature of, a place or thing for
ous, ose full of, having, containing
sis, se, sy, sia act of, state of, result of
ship the art or skill of, the ability to
some full of, like
tude the state or quality of, the ability to
y full of, somewhat - to a degree

Latin Prefixes    Meanings                  Usage

ab, abs away, away from abnormal, abstract

ad to, towards, at adhere, admire, admit
am around amputate
ambi both ambivalent, ambidextrous
ante before antediluvian, antecedent
bi two bifocals
circum around circumnavigate, circumcise
co-worker
co
compress
com
with, together conjoin
con
collate
col
contra against contraband
de down, away from decrease, descend
dis away distract
ef out effluent
ex out of exit
endo within indoctrinate
epi on, upon epicenter
extra beyond extraterrestrial
il illegitimate
in insufficient
im against, opposite impolite
ir irregular
infra below infrared
inter between interject
intro within introspection
ob against object, obstruct
non not nonviolent, nonlethal
per through perfect
post after, behind postscript, PS
pre before prenatal, prelude
re back, again retreat, release
retro backward retrospect, retrofit
sin without sincere
semi half semisphere, semitractor
sub under, below subpar, subhuman
super above, over superman, supermarket
trans across transport
ultra beyond, above ultrasound, ultraviolet