Prefix

   Meaning

   Illustration

ab, abs

from, away from

abduct lead away, kidnap

abjure renounce

abject degraded, cast down

   ambi

   both

ambidextrous skilled with both hands

ambiguous of double meaning

ambivalent having two conflicting emotions

   an, a

   without

anarchy lack of government

anemia lack of blood

amoral without moral sense

   ante

   before

antecedent preceding event or word

antediluvian ancient (before the flood)

antenuptial before the wedding

   anti

   against, opposite

antipathy hatred

antiseptic against infection

antithetical exactly opposite

   arch

   chief, first

archetype original

archbishop chief bishop

archeology study of first or ancient times

   bi

   two

bicameral composed of two houses (Congress)

biennial every two years

bicycle two-wheeled vehicle

   cata

   down

catastrophe disaster

cataract waterfall

catapult hurl (throw down)

   circum

   around

circumnavigate sail around (the globe)

circumspect cautious (looking around)

circumscribe limit (place a circle around)

   com (co, col, con, cor)

   with, together

combine merge with

commerce trade with

communicate correspond with

coeditor joint editor

collateral subordinate, connected

conference meeting

corroborate confirm

   contra, contro

   against

contravene conflict with

controversy dispute

   de

   down, away

debase lower in value

decadence deterioration

decant pour off

   di

   two

dichotomy division into two parts

dilemma choice between two bad alternatives

   dia

   across

diagonal across a figure

diameter distance across a circle

diagram outline drawing

   dis

   not, apart

discord lack of harmony

disparity condition of inequality; difference

   dys

   faulty, bad

dyslexia faulty ability to read

dyspepsia indigestion

   ex, e

   out

expel drive out

extirpate root out

eject throw out

   extra, extro

   beyond, outside

extracurricular beyond the curriculum

extraterritorial beyond a nation’s bounds

extrovert person interested chiefly in external objects and actions

   hyper

   above; excessively

hyperbole exaggeration

hyperventilate breathe at an excessive rate

   hypo

   beneath; lower

hypoglycemia low blood sugar

   in (il, im, ir)

   not

inefficient not efficient

inarticulate not clear or distinct

illegible not readable

impeccable not capable of sinning; flawless

irrevocable not able to be called back

   in (il, im, ir)

   in, on, upon

invite call in

illustration something that makes clear

impression effect upon mind or feelings

irradiate shine upon

   inter

   between, among

intervene come between

international between nations

interjection a statement thrown in

   intra, intro

   within

intramural within a school

introvert person who turns within himself

   macro

   large, long

macrobiotic tending to prolong life

macrocosm the great world (the entire universe)

   mega

   great, million

megalomania delusions of grandeur

megaton explosive force of a million tons of TNT

   meta

   involving change

metamorphosis change of form

   micro

   small

microcosm miniature universe

microbe minute organism

microscopic extremely small

   mis

   bad, improper

misdemeanor minor crime; bad conduct

mischance unfortunate accident

misnomer wrong name

   mis

   hatred

misanthrope person who hates mankind

misogynist woman-hater

   mono

   one

monarchy government by one ruler

monotheism belief in one god

   multi

   many

multifarious having many parts

multitudinous numerous

   neo

   new

neologism newly coined word

neophyte beginner; novice

   non

   not

noncommittal undecided

nonentity person of no importance

   pan

   all, every

panacea cure-all

panorama unobstructed view in all directions

   per

   through, completely

permeable allowing passage through

pervade spread throughout

   peri

   around, near

perimeter outer boundary

periphery edge

   poly

   many

polygamist person with several spouses

polyglot speaking several languages

   post

   after

postpone delay

posterity generations that follow

posthumous after death

   pre

   before

preamble introductory statement

prefix word part placed before a root/stem

premonition forewarning

   prim

   first

primordial existing at the dawn of time

primogeniture state of being the first born

   pro

   forward, in favor of

propulsive driving forward

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 looking back

retroactive effective as of a past date

   se

   away, aside

secede withdraw

seclude shut away

seduce lead astray

   semi

   half, partly

semiannual every six months

semiconscious partly conscious

   sub (suc, suf, sug, sup, sus)

   under, less

subway underground road

subjugate bring under control

succumb yield; cease to resist

   super, sur

   over, above

supernatural above natural things

supervise oversee

surtax additional tax

   syn (sym, syl, sys)

   with, together

synchronize time together

synthesize combine together

sympathize pity; identify with

syllogism explanation of how ideas relate

system network

   tele

   far

telemetry measurement from a distance

telegraphic communicated over a distance

   trans

   across

transport carry across

transpose reverse, move across

   ultra

   beyond, excessive

ultramodern excessively modern

ultracritical exceedingly critical

   un

   not

unfeigned not pretended; real

unkempt not combed; disheveled

unwitting not knowing; unintentional

   under

   below

undergird strengthen underneath

underling someone inferior

   uni

   one

unison oneness of pitch; complete accord

unicycle one-wheeled vehicle

   vice

   in place of

vicarious acting as a substitute

viceroy governor acting in place of a king

   with

   away, against

withhold hold back; keep

withstand stand up against; resist