English prefixes - The secret to quickly guessing the meaning of words

English prefixes - The secret to quickly guessing the meaning of words

A prefix in English is a letter or group of characters that precedes a root word and governs the meaning of this root word.

For example, in the word preschool, pre is the prefix, meaning to happen before, so preschool is understood as kindergarten, where children go before going to official school. In particular, each prefix in English has a specific, almost fixed meaning. Taking advantage of this feature, you will be able to quickly guess the meaning of the word.

1. English prefix anti-

Anti-means opposing or opposing. This prefix appeared as early as the 15th century but not until modern timesanti-is being used more and more commonly.

For example:

Body –> Antibody Septic: Infection –> Antiseptic: disinfection You should put some antiseptic on that cut.

2. English prefix auto-

Originating from the Greek language,auto-means spontaneous or spontaneous. This prefix is ​​often accompanied by technical terms to emphasize the self-operating function.

For example:

Pilot: automatic flight mode Biography –> Autobiography In his autobiography, he recalls the poverty he grew up in.

3. English prefix co-

Origin of co-comes from Latin. This is a shortened form of the prefixcom-, think together, coordinate.

For example:

Exist: exist –> Co-exist Worker: employee –> Co-worker: colleague He is worried about his job after witnessing how his co-workers got fired.

English prefixes - The secret to quickly guessing the meaning of words

4. English prefix dis-

Derived from Latin, dis-is a negative prefix. When you see a word that goes withdis-, most likely the word means to lack, not to, to contravene or to avoid.

For example:

Connect –> Disconnect: lose connection Appear –> Disappear You won’t believe it! That creature just disappreared into thin air.

5. hyper-

In contrast to the case above, hyper-helps the corresponding word add another layer of meaning. This prefix is ​​understood as more, too much, beyond normal limits.

For example:

Sensitive –> Hyper sensitive: too sensitive Critical –> Hypercritical: too harsh He becomes hypersensitive after being criticized by his wife.

6. inter-

Prefix inter-often added to adjectives, showing the connection and relationship between the place and thing mentioned.

For example:

Continental –> Intercontinental

  • National: belongs to one country –> International

  • The discussion suddenly became aggressive when he criticized the intercontinental missiles.

7. non-

Similar todis-, prefixnon-is also used to express negativity. Non-Can be combined with nouns or adjectives.

For example:

  • Negotiable: can be negotiated –> Non-negotiable
  • Alcoholic: contains alcohol –> Non-alcoholic: does not contain alcohol
  • The restaurant only serves non-alcoholic products.

8. post-

Post-originally originated from postscript, meaning postscript in Latin. After that, this prefix gradually came into common use with the meaning of behind, late, then.

For example:

  • Graduate: person who has graduated –> Postgraduate

  • Lunch –> Post-lunch

  • He took a post-lunch nap to relax.
English prefixes - The secret to quickly guessing the meaning of words

9. trans-

Prefix trans-gives two different meanings.
First, trans- can imply the idea of ​​going beyond, going across.

Monday, trans-can be understood as a complete change.

For example:

  • Form –> Transform

  • Atlantic –> Transatlantic: across the Atlantic Ocean

  • The transatlantic flight has to be canceled as the storm gets stronger.

10. and-

And-It is also a prefix with a negative or contrary meaning.

However, unlike the above cases, and-Can be combined with verbs, adjectives, adverbs and nouns.

For example:

  • Fair –> Unfair: lack of fairness

  • Rest –> Unrest: disagreement, unrest

  • The unrest we are witnessing now may lead to full-scale civil war.

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