Prefixes and Suffixes (Unit two)
Prefixes and Suffixes
Affixes are the stems that are used either before or after a root word to change the meaning of a word e.g. un+ happy= unhappy and move+ment = movement
Prefixes and Suffixes
A prefix is a stem that is used before a root word that changes its meaning e.g.
dis+honest= dishonest
A suffix is a stem that is used at the end of a root word that changes its meaning. e.g.
happy+ness= happiness
Prefixes
Negative prefixes (Making Opposite Words/Antonyms
In
Insufficient, insane, invalid, inappropriate
Un
Unemployment, unproductive, unadvisable, unhappiness
im
impolite, improper, imperfect, impious
ir irregular, irrational, irretrievable, irrevocable
anti
antinational, anticlockwise, antidote, antisocial, antiseptic, antibody
dis
disable, disagree, disappear, disappoint, dislike,
de
debug, defog, deselect, decode, detoxify
mis
Misbehave, miscalculate, misfortune, misfit, misspell, misunderstand,
mislead, misinform
More Prefixes
Ante-(before) antenatal, anteroom, antedate
Circum- (around) circumstance, circumvent, circumnavigate
co- (with) co-worker, co-pilot, co-operation
em-, en- (cause to, put into) embrace, encode, embed, enclose, engulf
epi- (upon, close to, after) epicentre, episcope, epidermis
Over ( more than required) overconfident, overwork, overpay, overdue, overact
Under ( Less than required) Unerestimate, underweight, underrate, underpay
Trans ( across/ to the other side) Transform, transport, transmigrate, transfuse
Auto ( self working) automatic, autodebit, autocredit, autostart, autoimmune
Pre ( Before) Prepay, Prepone, Prerequisite, Preload
Post ( afer) Postpay, Postgraduate, Postpone, postscript
Inter (Between / among) Interclass, interschool, interrelations, international
Semi ( half) semifinal, semicircle, semiformal, semiconductor
Sub ( below/ beneath) submarine, subside, subdue, subsoil
Super ( above, beyond) superimpose, supernatural supersede, supervise, superfast
Suffixes
acy – (state or quality) democracy, accuracy, lunacy
-al – (the action or process of) remedial, denial, trial, criminal
-ance, -ence (state or quality of) nuisance, ambience, tolerance
-dom (place or state of being) freedom, stardom, boredom
-er, -or (person or object that does a specified action) reader, creator, interpreter, inventor, collaborator, teacher
-ism (doctrine, belief) Judaism, scepticism, escapism
ist (person or object that does a specified action) Geologist, protagonist, sexist, scientist, theorist, communist
-ity, -ty (quality of) extremity, validity, enormity
-ment (condition) enchantment, argument
-ness (state of being) heaviness, highness, sickness
-ship (position held) friendship, hardship, internship
-sion, -tion (state of being) position, promotion, cohesion
-ate (become) mediate, collaborate, create
-en (become) sharpen, strengthen, loosen
-ify, -fy (make or become) justify, simplify, magnify, satisfy
-ise, -ize (become) publicise, synthesise, hypnotise
Synonym
A synonym is word similar in meaning. e.g. Synonyms of "good" = fine, nice, excellent, acceptable, satisfactory, decent
Remember that English synonyms may not be hundred percent similar. Some similarity too qualifies a word to be considered a synonym.
Antonym
An Antonym is a word that gives opposite meaning. e.g. antonyms of "good" = bad, wicked, unacceptable, indecent, foul
Homonym
Homonyms are distinct words but they have the same form. in other words when a word has two or more meanings, all of them are said to be homonyms. e.g.
Bank = the place where money is deposited.
Bank = the side of a river.
Homophone
Homophones are distinct words but pronounced alike .
two and too.
eight and ate
son and sun
Introduction to dictionary
A dictionary is a compilation of words in alphabetical order to show the different meanings of a word along with its uses, pronunciation and grammar. Since all the words are alphabetically compiled. a reader can easily find the word for which he wants to consult the dictionary.
Thesaurus
A thesaurus is a compilation of words like a dictionary in the terms of the synonyms and antonyms of words. It is very useful in increasing vocabulary.
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RGPV B Tech First Year English Unit 2
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