PREFIX AND SUFFIX

 

VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT

1.Prefixes- suffixes

(i).Prefix

A Prefix is a syllable (or syllables) placed at the beginning of a word to qualify its meaning and form a new word.

Examples:

S.No	Prefix	Meaning	Examples
1.	Ambi	Both, on both sides	Ambidextrous, ambiguous, ambivalent
2.	Ante	Before	Antecedent, antediluvian, ante-nuptial, ante-date, ante-penultimate
3.	Anti	Against, opposed to	Antibiotic, antiseptic, antithetical, anti freeze, anti-national, anti-romantic, antisocial
4.	Auto	Self	Autobiography, automatic, autograph, automobile, autocrat.
5.	Bi	Two, twice	Bigamy, binoculars, bicycle, bilateral, biweekly, bisect
6.	Circum	Around, on all sides	Circumference, circumvent, circumnavigation, circumlocution
7.	Co	Together	Co-operate, Co-existence, Co-ordinate, Co-equal, Co-education
8.	Counter	Against, contrary,  in opposition to	Counterattack, counterpart, counterbalance, counter productive
9.	Dis	The opposition of, not	Dislike, disarm, disagree, discord, discharge, disadvantage, disability
10.	En,  Em	To cover with cause	Endanger, enlarge, ensure empower, embitter, embolden
11.	Equi	In equal	Equidistant, equilibrium, equilateral, equivalent
12.	Ex	Former, remove from, stop existing	Ex-minister, ex-president, expel, extinguish, extirpate
13.	Extra	Outside, beyond	Extracurricular, extraterrestrial, extrajudicial, extramarital,  Extraordinary
14.	Hetero	Other, different	Heterozygote, heterogeneous, heterosexual, heterodox
15.	Hyper	More than normal, to an excessive degree	Hyperactive, hypersensitive, hypertension, hyperbole
16.	In, Il, Im, Ir	Not	Ineligible, illegal, impure, irregular, incorrect, illegible, immaterial, irrelevant
17.	Inter	Between, among, from one to another	International, intercaste, interconnect, interrupt, intervene
18.	Intra	Within, inside	Intravenous, intramural, intranet, intramuscular
19.	Mal	Bad, wrong, not correct	Malfunction, malpractice, malformation
20.	Mis	Bad, unfavourably, dishonestly, wrongly	Mismanage, misappropriate, misjudge, mislead, mishap
21.	Mono	One, simple	Monotony, monosyllable, monogamy, monologue
22.	Non	Not	Nonsense, nonstop, non alcoholic,  nonfiction, non interference.
23.	Omni	Of all things, in all ways or places	Omnipresent, omnivorous, omnibus, omnidirectional
24.	Over	Beyond from above, across, more than usual	Over-confident, overcoat, over reach, over head, over heat.

 

(ii).Suffix

A Suffix is a syllable placed at the end of a word to qualify its meaning and form a new word.

S.No.	Suffix	Meaning	Examples
1.	- ance	An action or a state of	Observance, assistance, performance
2.	- ence	Quality of	Preference, interference, reference
3.	- ship	The state of being somebody; a person’s status or office, skill or ability at something	Relationship, partnership, membership, ownership
4.	- dom	A condition or state of; the rank of; an area ruled by	Freedom, kingdom, dukedom, boredom
5.	- ment	State/action	Measurement, requirement, retirement, development
6.	- ness	Condition of	Readiness, happiness, darkness, blindness
7.	-ion, -ation, -ition, - sion, -tion	The action or condition of	Action, compilation,  competition, radiation, oration, complexion, comprehension, Tension
8.	- ism	Showing qualities typical of	Magnetism, socialism, patriotism, heroism
9.	- ise, -ize	To acquire the quality of	Magnetize, popularize, computerize, modernize,
10.	- ate	To make	Activate, cultivate, calculate, chlorinate
11.	- en	To make	Widen, lengthen, shorten, freshen
12.	- ify	To make	Simplify, beautify, purify, magnify
13.	-able, -ble	Capable of being	Comfortable, portable, measurable, reliable, divisible, indelible
14.	-ous	Full of	Famous, dangerous, miraculous, adventurous
15.	- less	Without	Fearless, careless, senseless, faultless
16.	- ish	Like	Reddish, blackish, selfish, childish
17.	-ed	Having the quality of	Depleted, stimulated, assumed, required
18.	- ive	Having the quality of	Active, defective, reflective, interactive
19.	-ful	To be typical of	Beautiful, careful, fruitful, powerful
20.	-ic, -ical	Having the quality of	Magic, magical, comic, comical, economic, economical

 

EXERCISE:

I. Add suitable prefix/suffix for the meaning given against the words:

1.               _thermo_dynamics        : the study of energy its forms and conversion.

2.               __Bio__technology       : the use of biological processes for industrial and other purposes.

3.                Simple(city)___            :  Make simple.

4.               Red dish ___                  : Resembling red.

5.               Weight __less_               : without weight.

6.               Require ment                  : Something necessary.

7.                __Af___forestation        : expansion of forests.

8.                nuclear fusion               : nuclear reactions at very high temperatures.

9.               Deforesta ion____            : Clearing of forests.

10.           ____il_legal                    : not legal.

11.           Encourage_ment_          : the act of encouraging somebody

12.           Pure (ity)___                  : make pure.