PREFIX Meaning and
Definition
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A prefix is a linguistic term used in grammar and morphology that refers to an affix - a type of morpheme attached to the beginning of a word - which alters or modifies its meaning. It is a component that is added before the root or stem of a word, forming a new word with a different meaning or indicating a particular attribute or quality.
Prefixes can be categorized into different types based on their nature and origin, such as derivational prefixes and inflectional prefixes. Derivational prefixes usually change the meaning or part of speech of the base word. For example, the prefix "un-" negates the meaning of the word it is attached to, transforming "happy" into "unhappy" meaning not happy. Inflectional prefixes, on the other hand, do not change the basic meaning of the word but instead indicate grammatical aspects like tense, number, or gender. An example is the prefix "re-" in the word "rewritten," indicating past tense.
Prefixes are present in various languages, including English, and their usage greatly impacts the formation of words and their meanings. They provide a way to expand the vocabulary, create new words, and modify existing ones. By adding a prefix, speakers and writers can convey different nuances, intensities, or alterations to the original word, enabling them to communicate with precision and conciseness.
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• To put or place at the beginning of something else; to settle.
• A syllable or particle put at the beginning of a word to modify its meaning.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Top Common Misspellings for PREFIX *
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
Other Common Misspellings for PREFIX
Etymology of PREFIX
The word "prefix" originated from the Latin term "praefixus" which is the past participle of the verb "praefigere". "Praefigere" is a combination of "prae", meaning "before" or "in front of", and "figere", which means "to fix" or "to fasten". The combination of these Latin elements gives us "praefixus", which later transformed into "prefix" in English.
Idioms with the word PREFIX
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prefix sth to sth
The idiom "prefix sth to sth" means to add something at the beginning or before something else. It refers to the act of attaching or placing a prefix in front of a word, phrase, or term to modify or enhance its meaning.
Similar spelling word for PREFIX
Conjugate verb Prefix
CONDITIONAL PERFECT
I
would have prefixed
you
would have prefixed
he/she/it
would have prefixed
we
would have prefixed
they
would have prefixed
I
would have prefix
you
would have prefix
he/she/it
would have prefix
we
would have prefix
they
would have prefix
CONDITIONAL PERFECT PROGRESSIVE
I
would have been prefixing
you
would have been prefixing
he/she/it
would have been prefixing
we
would have been prefixing
they
would have been prefixing
CONDITIONAL PRESENT
I
would prefix
you
would prefix
he/she/it
would prefix
we
would prefix
they
would prefix
CONDITIONAL PRESENT PROGRESSIVE
I
would be prefixing
you
would be prefixing
he/she/it
would be prefixing
we
would be prefixing
they
would be prefixing
FUTURE
I
will prefix
you
will prefix
he/she/it
will prefix
we
will prefix
they
will prefix
FUTURE CONTINUOUS
I
will be prefixing
you
will be prefixing
he/she/it
will be prefixing
we
will be prefixing
they
will be prefixing
FUTURE PERFECT
I
will have prefixed
you
will have prefixed
he/she/it
will have prefixed
we
will have prefixed
they
will have prefixed
FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS
I
will have been prefixing
you
will have been prefixing
he/she/it
will have been prefixing
we
will have been prefixing
they
will have been prefixing
IMPERATIVE
you
prefix
we
let´s prefix
to prefix
PAST CONTINUOUS
I
was prefixing
you
were prefixing
he/she/it
was prefixing
we
were prefixing
they
were prefixing
PAST PARTICIPLE
prefixed
PAST PERFECT
I
had prefixed
you
had prefixed
he/she/it
had prefixed
we
had prefixed
they
had prefixed
PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
I
had been prefixing
you
had been prefixing
he/she/it
had been prefixing
we
had been prefixing
they
had been prefixing
PRESENT
I
prefix
you
prefix
he/she/it
prefixes
we
prefix
they
prefix
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
I
am prefixing
you
are prefixing
he/she/it
is prefixing
we
are prefixing
they
are prefixing
PRESENT PARTICIPLE
prefixing
PRESENT PERFECT
I
have prefixed
you
have prefixed
he/she/it
has prefixed
we
have prefixed
they
have prefixed
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
I
have been prefixing
you
have been prefixing
he/she/it
has been prefixing
we
have been prefixing
they
have been prefixing
PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE
he/she/it
prefix
SIMPLE PAST
I
prefixed
you
prefixed
he/she/it
prefixed
we
prefixed
they
prefixed
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