Barron's PREFIXES
Terms
undefined, object
copy deck
-
AB, ABS
abduct, abjure -
AB, ABS =
from, away from
abduct = lead away, kidnap
abjure = renounce -
AD, AC, AF, AG, AN, AP, AR, AS, AT
adit, accord, affliction, aggregation, annexation, appease, arraignment, assumption, attendance -
AD, AC, AF, AG, AN, AP, AR, AS, AT =
to, forward
adit = entrance
accord = harmony, agreement,
affliction = cause of distress -
AMBI
ambiguous, ambivalent -
AMBI = both
ambiguous = of double meaning
ambivalent = having two comflicting emotions -
AN, A
anarchy, amoral -
AN, A = without
anarchy = lack of government
amoral = without moral sense -
ANTE
antecedent, antediluvian -
ANTE = before
antecedent = preceding event or word
antediluvian = ancient -
ANTI
anitpathy, antithetical -
ANTI =
against, opposite
antipathy = hatred
antithetical = exactly opposite -
ARCH
archetype, archbishop -
ARCH =
chief, first
archetype = original
archbishop = chief bishop -
BE
bedaub, befuddle -
BE =
over, thoroughly
bedaub = smear over
befuddle = confuse thoroughly -
BI
bicameral, biennial -
BI = two
bicameral = composed of two houses
bicennial = every two years -
CATA
catastrophe, cataract, catapult -
CATA = down
catastrophe = disaster
cataract = waterfall
catapult = hurl, throw down -
CIRCUM
circumnavigate
circumspect
circumscribe -
CIRCUM = around
circumnavigate = sail around (the globe)
circumspect = cautious (looking around)
circumscribe = limit (place a circle around) -
COM, CO, COL, CON, COR
combine
coeditor
collateral
conference
corroborate -
COM, CO, COL, CON, COR =
with, together
combine = merge wtih
coeditor = joint editor
collateral = subordinate, connected
conference = meeting
corroborate = confirm -
CONTRA, CONTRO
contravene, controversy -
CONTRA, CONTRO =
against
contravene = conflict with
controversy = dispute -
DE
debase, decadence -
DE = down, away
debase = lower in value
decadence = deterioration -
DEMI
demigod -
DEMI = partly, half
demigod = partly divine being -
DI
dichotomy, dilemma -
DI = two
dichotomy = division into 2 parts
dilemma = choice between two bad alternatives -
DIA
diagonal, diameter - DIA = across
-
DIS, DIF
discord, differ -
DIS, DIF = not, apart
discord = lack of harmony
differ = disagree -
DYS
dyslexia, dyspepsia -
DYS = faulty, bad
dyslexia = faulty ability to read
dyspepsia = indigestion -
EX, E
expel, eject -
EX, E = out
expel = drive out
eject = throw out -
EXTRA, EXTRO
extracurricular, extraterritorial, extrovert -
EXTRA, EXTRO = beyond, outside
extracurricular, extraterritorial, extrovert -
HYPER
hyperbole, hyperventilate -
HYPER = above, excessively
hyperbole = exaggeration
hyperventilate = breathe at an excessive rate -
HYPO
hypoglycemic -
HYPO = beneath, lower
hypoglycemic = low blood sugar -
IN, IL, IM, IR
inefficient
inarticulate
illegible
impeccable
irrevocable -
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 -
INTER
intervene, international, interjection -
INTER = between, among
intervene = come between
international, interjection -
IN, IL, IM, IR
invite
illustration
impression
irradiate -
IN, IL, IM, IR = in, on, upon
invite = call in
illustration = something that makes clear
impression = effect upon mind or feelings
irradiate = shine upon -
INTRA, INTRO
intramural, introvert -
INTRA, INTRO = within
intramural = within a school
introvert = person who turns within himself -
MACRO
macrobiotic, macrocosm -
MACRO = large, long
macrobiotic = tending to prolong life
macrocosm = the great world (the entire universe) -
MICRO
microcosm
microscopic -
MICRO = small
microcosm = miniature universe
microscopic = extremely small -
MIS
misdemeanor
mischance -
MIS = bad, improper
misdemeanor = minor crime
mischance = unfortunate accident -
MONO
monarchy
monotheism -
MONO = one
monarchy = govt. by one ruler
monotheism = belief in one god -
MULTI
multifarious
multitudinous -
MULTI = many
multifarious = having many parts
multitudinous = numerous -
NEO
neologism
neophyte -
NEO = new
neologism = newly coined word
neophyte = beginner -
NON
noncommittal -
NON = not
noncommittal = undecided -
OB, OC, OF, OP
obloquy
occlude
offend
opponent -
OB, OC, OF, OP = against
obloquy = infamy, disgrace
occlude = to close, block out
offend = insult
opponent = foe, someone who struggles against -
OLIG
oligarchy -
OLIG = few
oligarchy = government by a few -
PAN
panacea
panorama -
PAN = all, every
panacea = cure-all
panorama = unobstructed view in all directions -
PARA
parallel
paraphrase -
PARA = beyond, related
parallel = similar
paraphrase = restate, translate -
PER
permeable
pervade -
PER = through, completely
permeable = allowing passage through
pervade = spread throughought -
PERI
perimeter
periphery -
PERI = around, near
perimeter = outer boundary
periphery = edge -
POLY
polyglot -
POLY = many
polyglot = speaking several languages -
POST
posthumous -
POST = after
posthumus = after death -
PRE
preamble
premonition -
PRE = before
preamble = introductory statement
premonition = forewarning -
PRIM
primordial
primogeniture -
PRIM = first
primordial = existing at the dawn of time
primogeniture = state of being the first born -
PRO
propulsive
proponent -
PRO = forward, in favor of
propulsive = driving forward
proponent = supporter -
PROTO
prototype -
PROTO = first
Prototype = first of its kind -
PSEUDO
pseudonym -
PSEUDO = false
pseudonym = pen name -
RE
reiterate
reimburse -
RE = again, back
reitereate = to repeat
reimburse = to pay back -
RETRO
retrospect
retroactive -
RETRO = backward
retrospect = looking back
retroactive = effective as of a past date -
SE
secede
seclude -
SE = away, aside
secede = withdraw
seclude = shut away -
SEMI
semiconscious -
SEMI = half, partly
semiconscious = partly conscious -
SUB, SUC, SUF, SUG, SUP, SUS
subjugate
succumb
suffuse
suggest
suppress
suspend -
SUB, SUC, SUF, SUG, SUP, SUS = under, less
subjugate = bring under control
succumb = yield
suffuse = spread through
suggest = hint
suppress = put down by force
suspend = delay -
SUPER, SUR
supernatural
surtax -
SUPER, SUR = over, above
supernatural = above natural things
surtax = additional tax -
SYN, SYM, SYL, SYS
synchronize
sympathize
syllogism
system -
SYN, SYM, SYL, SYS = with, together
synchronize = time together
sympathize = pity, identify with
syllogism = explanation of how ideas relate
system = network -
TELE
teleraphic -
TELE = far
telegraphic = communicated over a distance -
TRANS
transport -
TRANS = across
transport = carry across -
ULTRA
ultracritical -
ULTRA = beyond, excessive
ultracritical = exceedingly critical -
UN
unkempt -
UN = not
unkempt = not combed, disheveled -
UNDER
underling -
UNDER = below
underling = someone inferior -
UNI
unison -
UNI = one
unison = oneness of pitch, complete accord -
VICE
viceroy -
VICE = in place of
viceroy = governor acting in place of a king -
WITH
withstand -
WITH = away, against
withstand = stand up against, resist