PREFIXES AND SUFFIXES.
The best account of these is to be found in Kellner's edition of Dr Morris's Historical Outlines of English Accidence (1895), and especially in Professor Skeat's Principles of English Etymology—First Series (2d ed. 1892), chaps. xii.-xiv.; Second Series (1891), chap. xviii. To these books the following lists are largely indebted.
A- (A.S.) represents:
(1) A.S. an, on, on, as abed, aboard, afoot, ashore, asunder, now-a-days, twice-a-week, alive, among, about, a-fishing.
(2) A.S. and-, over against, in reply to, to, as along (from A.S. and-lang, i.e. over against in length); appearing also as e- in elope, as am- in ambassador, and as em- in embassy; the same as un- in verbs. See Un- (2). [Cog. with Goth. and-, Ger. ent-, ant-, L. ante-, Gr. anti-.]
(3) A.S. á-, an intensive prefix to verbs, out, out from, as in arise (from A.S. árísan, to rise out of or up); or sig. 'very,' as in aghast. Cf. abide, accurse, affright, amaze, arise, arouse, ago. [Cog. with Ger. er-, Goth. us-, ur-.]
(4) A.S. of, of, from, as in adown (from A.S. of dúne, 'from the height'), anew, akin; or from of-, intensive, as athirst.
(5) A.S. ge-, y-, as aware (A.S. ge-wǽre), afford.
(6) at, old sign of inf., as ado. [A Northern idiom, due to Scand. influences, as in Ice., Sw., &c.]
A- (L. and Gr.) represents: (1) L. Ab-, as in avert; (2) L. Ad-, as achieve; (3) L. E- or Ex-, as in abash, amend; (4) Gr. A- (for An-), as in abyss. See these prefixes.
A-, Ab-, Abs-, As- (L.), away from, as avert, absent, absolve, abstract; and also assoil and avaunt through French. Indeed, this prefix appears as a-, adv-, av-, v-, as in avert, advance, avaunt, vanguard, &c. [L. a, ab, abs (oldest form ap); cog. with Gr. apo-, Sans. apa, Ger. ab, Eng. off.]
Ab-. See Ad-.
Ac-. See Ad-.
Ad- (L.), to, at, as adhere, adapt. It appears as a-, ab-, ac-, ad-, af-, ag-, al-, an-, ap-, ar-, as-, at-, as in achieve, abbreviate, accede, admire, affix, aggregate, allot, annex, approve, arrive, assign, attract. The words achieve, agree, amerce, amount, acquit, acquaint, avow, &c. show the same prefix, derived through the medium of Old French. [L. ad; cog. with Sans. adhi, Goth. and Eng. at, Celt. ar-.]
Af-. See Ad-.
After- (A.S.), as after-growth, after-math, after-wards. [A.S. æfter-.]
Ag-. See Ad-.
Al-. See Ad-.
Al- (Ar.), the—also as a-, ar-, as-, el-, l-, as apricot, artichoke, assagai, elixir, lute.
All- (A.S.), all, as almighty, all-wise. In Early English al-=quite is added (1) to past participles, as al-brent=quite burnt, al-heled=quite concealed; (2) to verbs preceded by to, as al-to-brenne=to burn up entirely. In Elizabethan and later writers all-to=altogether, quite—the original meaning of to having been lost sight of. Cf. Milton's 'all-to ruffled,' &c. [A.S. eall-.]
Am-, (1) the Fr. em—L. im for in, as ambush: see In- (2); (2) the Gr. an-, as in Ambrosia: see An- (2); (3) the same as An- (1), as in ambassador.
Ambi-, Amb-, Am- (L.), round about, both, as ambidexter, ambition, amputate. [L.; cog. with Gr. amphi-, Sans. abhi, around.]
Amphi- (Gr.), round about, both, as amphitheatre, amphibious. [Cog. with L. ambi-, amb-.]
An- (A.S.), against, in return, as answer. See A- (A.S.) (2), above. [A.S. and-, Ger. ant-, Goth. and-.]
An-, A-, Am- (Gr.), not, without, as anarchy, atom, ambrosia. [Gr.; cog. with Sans. an-, a-, L. in-, Eng. un-, in-, not.]
An- (Fr. en—L. in), as in anoint. See In- (2).
An-, as in ancestor; see Ante- (below).
An-. See Ad-.
Ana-, An- (Gr.), up, back, as analyse, anatomy, aneurism. [Cog. with Goth. ana, Eng. on.]
Ante-, Anti-, Anci-, An- (L.), before, as antecedent, anticipate, ancient, ancestor (for L. antecessor). [L. ante, old form anti; conn. with anti-; Fr. anci-, an-.]
Anti- (Gr.), opposite to, against, as antipathy, antipodes; as ant- in antagonist, and anth- in anthem. [Gr.; conn. with L. ante-, Sans. anti-, facing, Ger. ant- in Antwort, Eng. an- (for and-) in answer (see Dict.). Cf. A- (A.S.) (2), above.]
Ap-. See Ad-.
Apo- (Gr.), off, from, away, as apostle; as aph- in aphelion, aphæresis. [Cog. with L. ab-.]
Ar-. See Ad-.
Arch-, Archi-, Arche- (Gr.), first, chief, as archbishop, architect, archetype.
As-. See Ad-.
At-. See Ad-.
At- (Eng.), denoting nearness, as atone; against, as twit (A.S. æt-wítan, to blame). [A.S. æt.]
Auto-, Auth- (Gr.), self, as autocrat, autograph, autopsy, authentic.
Av-. See Ab-.
Be- (A.S.), the most fertile of all English prefixes, is the weak form of by. The original meaning was 'about.' (1) It forms derivative verbs, with the sense of 'around,' 'on all sides,' 'in all directions,' as beblear=to blear all over, begirdle, bejumble, bepaste, besmudge; (2) it forms intensive verbs, with the sense of 'thoroughly,' 'soundly,' as bebreech=to breech soundly, bedaub, bewelcome; (3) it renders intransitive verbs transitive by adding a prepositional relation, as bechatter=to environ with chattering, begaze=to gaze at, besmile=to smile at, bespeak; (4) it forms transitive verbs of adjectives and substantives, as befoul=to affect with foulness, bedim=to make dim, bedew=to cover with dew, befriend.
Bis-, Bi-, Bin- (L.), twice, double, as biscuit, biennial, binocular; as ba- in balance. [Corr. of duis, ablative of duo, two.]
Cata-, Cath-, Cat- (Gr.), down, downwards, according to, thoroughly, as cataract, catholic, catechism. [Gr. kata.]
Circum-, Circu- (L.), round about, as circumscribe, circuit. [Properly accusative of circus, a circle. See Circle in Dict.]
Cis- (L.), on this side, as cisalpine.
Com-, Con-, Co- (L.), together, with, as connect, cohere, collect, correct, council. In curry, this prefix has been attached to O. Fr. roi, order; often intensive, as commotion; co-admire, co-enjoy, co-actor, co-believer. [Com- is the old form of L. cum, with; cog. with Gr. syn, Sans. sam. The root, originally signifying 'one,' is seen in L. sim-ul, together, Gr. ham-a, together, Eng. simple (which see in Dict.).]
Contra-, Contro-, Contr-, Counter- (L.), against, as contradict, controvert, contralto, counteract. [L. contra (whence Fr. contre), from Con-, and -tra, from root tar, to cross, seen also in trans.]
De- (L., or Fr.—L.), down, from, away, occurs in words derived either directly from L., as deduce; or through the Fr. from L., in which case De-, Di-, represents either (1) O. Fr. des- from L. dis-, asunder, not, as in defeat (O. Fr. des-fait), or (2) Fr.—L. de-, as describe [lit. 'write down'], decompose. This prefix de- is negative and oppositive in destroy, desuetude, deform, or intensive in declare, desolate, desiccate.
Demi- (Fr.—L.), half, as demigod, demiquaver. [Fr. demi—L. dimidium, half.]
Di- (Gr.), double, as dilemma, dialogue.
Dia- (Gr.), through, as diameter; shortened to di- in diæresis, and appearing as de-, dea-, in devil, deacon. [Gr. dia, from dyo, two.]
Dif-. See Dis-.
Dis- (Gr.), two, twice, as dissyllable, dicotyledonous. [From duis, from root of two.]
Dis-, Di- (L.; in O. Fr. des-), in two, asunder, as dispart, differ, disperse; negative, as disrelish; privative, as dislodge. Thus variously di-, dif-, dis-, des-, de-, and even s-, as in spend. [Dis for duis, from L. duo, Gr. dyo, Sans. dvi, Goth. and Eng. two.]
Dys- (Gr.), ill, difficult, as dysentery, dyspepsy. [Cog. with Sans. dus, Goth. tus, Ger. zer-, A.S. to-, Eng. two.]
E-. See Ex-.
E-=A.S. ge-, in enough (A.S. genóh, Ger. genug).
E-, as in elope. See A- (A.S.) (2), and also An- (A.S.).
E-, a purely phonetic addition, of French origin, as in esquire, estate, eschew, especial, escutcheon.
Ec- or Ex- (Gr.), out of, from, as ecstasy, exodus; also as el- in ellipse. [Gr. ex, cog. with L. ex, out.]
Edd-, in eddy. [A.S. ed-, back.]
Ef-. See Ex-.
El-, in ellipse, &c. See Ec- or Ex-.
Emb-, in ember days. [A.S. ymb-ryne, a circuit.]
En- (Gr.), in, on, as energy, endemic, emphasis—sometimes extended to Endo-, within, as endogen.
En-, Em- (Fr.—L.), in, into, as enlist; to make, as enlarge, enact, endure; before b and p, Em-, as embark, embolden. [Fr. en—L. in. See In- (L.), in, into.]
Enter- (Fr.), between, among, as entertain. [Fr. entre—L. inter-.]
Epi-, Ep-, Eph- (Gr.), on, as epitaph; during, as epoch, ephemeral. [Gr. epi; Sans. api, L. ob-.]
Es- (Fr. or Sp.—L.), out, as escape, esplanade. [O. Fr. or Sp. es—L. ex-.]
Eso- (Gr.), in, into, as esoteric. [From Gr. eis, into, whose form was prob. orig. ens, a strengthened form of En- (Gr.).]
Eu- (Gr.), well, as euphony, eulogy; as ev- in evangelist. [Gr. eu, eus, good, for an assumed es-us, real.]
Ex- or E- (L.), from, out of, as expel, eject, efflux; by assimilation, appearing as a-, e-, ef-, es-, ex-, iss-, s-, as amend, enormous, effect, escape, extend, issue, sample. It is French influence which has disguised it in such words as affray, amend, escape, escheat, essay, &c.—Ex- has a privative sense in ex-emperor, ex-mayor. [L. ex-, e-; O. Fr. es-, Fr. é-, ex.]
Ex-, out of, as in exodus.—Exo-, outside, as exotic. [Gr. ex, out of, exō, outside.]
Extra- (L.), on the outside, beyond, as extramural, extraordinary, extra-work; as stra- in strange. [Contr. of exterā (parte being understood), abl. fem. of exterus, beyond, a comp. form, from Ex- (L.).]
For- (A.S.), in place of, as forasmuch. [A.S. prep. for.]
For- (A.S.), through, thorough, away, so as to be non-existent, or to be destroyed, as forswear, forbid, forego (better forgo). [A.S. for-; Ger. ver-, Goth. fra-, conn. with far and from.]
For- (Fr.—L.), as in foreclose, forfeit. [Fr.—L. foris, lit. 'out of doors,' used in the sense of 'outside,' 'beyond,' 'amiss.']
Fore- (A.S.), before, as foretell, forebode; foredated, foresaid, foretold; forecastle, forefather, foresight. [A.S. fore-; Ger. vor.]
Forth- (A.S.), forth, only in forthwith.
Fro- (A.S.), from, as froward. [A.S. fro—Scand., Ice. frá.]
Gain- (A.S.), against, as gainsay. [A.S. gegn. See Against in Dict.]
Hemi- (Gr.), half, as hemisphere—shortened to me- in megrim. [Gr.; cog. with L. semi-, Sans. sāmi-.]
Hetero- (Gr.), other, as heterodoxy. [Gr. heteros, other.]
Holo- (Gr.), entire, as holograph. [Gr. holos, entire.]
Homo- (Gr.), same—lengthened to Homœo-, as homœopathy. [Gr. homos, same.]
Hyper- (Gr.), over, above, beyond, as hyperborean, hypercritical. [Cog. with super- and over-.]
Hypo-, Hyph-, Hyp-, (Gr.), under, as hypotenuse, hyphen, hypallage. [Cog. with L. sub-, Goth. uf, Sans. upa.]
I-, in ignoble. See In- (1), negative.
I-, Y-, as in I-wis, yclept, hand-y-work. This prefix appears as a- in aware, as c- in clutch, and as e- in enough. [A.S. ge-, sign of the past participle passive.]
Il-, as in illude. See In- (2).
Il-, as in illegal. See In- (1).
In-, Im- (L.), not, as inconvenience, incautious, infirm. Before p the n changes to m, as impudent; before l, m, and r it is assimilated to those consonants, as illegal, immature, irregular. This prefix thus appears as en-, i-, il-, im-, in-, ir-, as enemy, ignoble, illegal, immortal, infirm, irregular. [L.; cog. with Gr. an-, Eng. un-.]
In- (L.), in, into, as infuse, illumine, impel, irrigate. It becomes il- before l; im- before b, m, and p; ir- before r. This prefix thus appears as am-, an-, em-, en-, il-, im-, in-, ir-, as ambush, anoint, embrace, enclose, illude, immure, include, irritate.
In- (A.S.), in, on, as income, inward, inland, insight; to make, as imbitter, lit. to put into a state of bitterness; as im- in imbed, impark, &c.
Inter- (L.), in the midst of, between, as interval, intellect, intermarry. [A compar. form; cog. with Eng. under, and Sans. antar, within.]
Intra- (L.), in the inside of, within, as intramural. [Contr. of intera, ablative feminine of interus, inward—Inter-.]
Intro- (L.), into, within, as introduce. [Contr. of intero, ablative masculine of interus—Inter-.]
Ir-, as in irritate. See In- (2).
Ir-, as in irregular. See In- (1).
Iss-, as in issue. See Ex- (1).
Juxta- (L.), near, as juxtaposition. [Superl. form, from root of L. jungĕre, to join.]
L-, as in lone; an abbreviation of all.
L-, as in louver. See Al-.
L-, as in lute. See Al-.
Male-, Mali-, Mal-, Mau- (L.), badly, ill, as malefactor, malcontent, malediction, malevolent; through French, maugre=notwithstanding. [L. male, badly.]
Meta-, Meth-, Met- (Gr.), among, with; after, as method. (lit. 'way after'); often implies change, as metamorphose, meteor, metonomy. [Gr. meta; cog. with A.S. mid, Goth. mith, Ger. mit.]
Mid- (A.S.), with, as midwife. [A.S. mid-, together with.]
Mis- (A.S.), wrong, ill, as misbehave, misdeed, mislead. [A.S. mis-; Ice. mis-, Goth. missa-, Ger. miss-. Cf. Mis-in Dict.]
Mis- (Fr.—L.), as in mischief, misalliance, mischance. [Fr. mis-, for O. Fr. mes-, from L. minus, less.]
Mono-, Mon- (Gr.), single, as monograph, monologue, monk, and minster. [Gr. monos, alone.]
Multi-, Mult-, many, as in multiply, multeity. [L. multus, much, many.]
N-, as in newt, nickname, due to the n of the article in an ewt, an ekename. In nuncle the origin is mine uncle; in 'for the nonce,' M. E. for the nones, miswritten for then ones, for the once.
N- (A.S.), no, not, as never; or L. ne-, as in null. [A.S. ne; cog. with Goth. ni, L. ne, Sans. na.]
Ne- (Gr.), not, as nepenthe; Ne-, Neg- (L.), not, as nefarious, neuter, negative, neglect. [L. ne, nec, a contr. of neque, from ne, not, que, and.]
Non- (L.), not, as nonsense, nonage. It appears as um- in umpire=numpire. [From ne unum, not one.]
Ob- (L., by assimilation, o-, ob-, oc-, of-, op-, also os-), in front of, against, in the way of, as obstruct, omit, occur, offer, oppose, ostentation. [Cog. with Gr. epi, Sans. api.]
Oc-, as in occur. See Ob-.
Of-, as in offer. See Ob-.
Off- (A.S.), off, from, away, as offal, offshoot, offset. [A form of Of. There is the same relation between of and off as between be and by; A.S. of has been differentiated into the stressless or weak form of, and the stressed or strong form off. Cf. A-, Ab-.]
On- (A.S.), on, as onset, onlooker. [See On in Dict.]
Op-, as in oppress. See Ob-.
Or- (A.S.), out, in ordeal. [A.S. or-; cog. with Dut. oor-, Ger. ur-, Goth, us-, away, out of.]
Os-, as in ostensible. See Ob-.
Out- (A.S.), out, beyond, as outlaw, outbid, outside, outcast. [A.S. út.]
Over- (A.S.), over, above, as overarch, overseer. [A.S. ofer.]
Pa-, as in palsy. See Para-.
Palin-, Palim- (Gr.), again, as palingenesis, palimpsest. [Gr. palin, again.]
Pan-, Panto- (Gr.), all, as panacea, pantheism, pantomime.
Para-, Par- (Gr.), beside, as parable; beyond, wrong, as paralyse. It appears as pa- in palsy, par- in parody. [Gr. para.]
Pel-, as in pellucid. See Per-.
Pene- (L.), almost, as peninsula.
Per- (L.), through, as permit; thoroughly, as perfect; also appearing as par-, pel-, pil-, as in parson, pardon, pellucid, pilgrim. In perjure, perish, it has a destructive force, equivalent to Eng. for- in forswear (for-, A.S.). [Akin to Gr. para-, beside, Eng. for-, Ger. ver.]
Peri- (Gr.), round, as perimeter, periphrasis. [Gr. peri; Sans. pari, also allied to Gr. para.]
Pol-, Por- (L.), as pollute, portend. [From Old L. port-, towards; cf. Ger. pros, Eng. forth.]
Poly- (Gr.), many, as polygamy.
Por-, as in portrait. See Pro- (2).
Post- (L.), after, backwards, behind, as postdate, postscript, postpone.
Pour-, Pur- (Fr.—L.), as pourtray, purvey. [Fr.—L. pro-.]
Pre-, Præ- (L.), before, as predict, prefer, prearrange, prætor; also in prison and provost. [L. præ, akin to L. pro.]
Preter- (L.), beyond, as preterit, preternatural, pretermit. [L. præter—præ, with comp. suffix -ter.]
Pro- (Gr.), before, as prologue, programme, prophet. [Gr. pro; cog. with L. pro-, Sans. pra, Eng. for (prep.).]
Pro- (L.), forth, forward, before, instead, as project; instead of, from the idea of being before, as pronoun, proconsul. Appearing also as por-, pour-, pr-, prof-, pur-, and as prod- in prodigal.—Of Fr. origin, proceed, purchase, purpose, pursue, purvey. [Cog. with pro- (Gr.), which see.]
Pros- (Gr.), towards, as proselyte, prosody.
Proto-, Prot- (Gr.), first, as prototype, protoxide. [Gr. prōtos, first.]
Pur-. See under Pour-.
Re-, Red-, Ren- (L.), change of place or condition, as in remove, reunion (an assemblage of things or persons formerly apart); hence, change of motion from one direction to the opposite='back,' 'again,'as retract, resound, redeem, redolent. It appears as ren- in render, &c.; as r- in rally, rampart; as ra- in ragout. In rebuild, remind, &c. it has been prefixed to English words.
Retro- (L.), back, backwards, as retrospect, retrograde.—Of Fr. origin, rereward, arrear, &c.
S- for Se-, as in sure; for Dis-, as in spend; for Ex-, as in sample; for Sub-, as in sombre.
Se-, Sed- (L.), without, as secure; aside, as seduce, secede, sedition; appearing as s- in sure, sober.
Semi- (L.), half, as semicircle. [L.; cog. with Gr. hēmi.]
Sine- (L.), without, as sinecure.
So-, as in sojourn. See Sub-.
So-, as in sober. See Se-.
Sovr-, Sopr-. See Super-.
Su-, as in suspect. See Sub-.
Sub- (L.), by assimilation, before c, f, g, m, p, r, s—suc-, suf-, sug-, sum-, sup-, sur-, sus-; under, from under, after, as subject, suspect, succeed, suffuse, suggest, summon, support, surprise, suspend—also as s- in sombre and so- in sojourn.—Of Fr. origin, succour, summon; Eng. formations, sublet, sub-kingdom, sub-worker. [L. sub (which in O. Fr. became so-).]
Subter- (L.), under, as subterfuge. [From Sub-, and compar. suffix -ter, meaning motion.]
Suc-, Suf-, Sug-, Sum-, Sup-. See Sub-.
Super- (L.), over, above, beyond, as superstructure, supernatural.—Of Fr. origin, surface, surfeit, surpass, surprise;—Eng. compounds, superabundant, supercargo, supercritical. [L.; cog. with Sans. upari, Gr. hyper.]
Supra- (L.), over, above, as supramundane. [Contr. of ablative fem. of superus, above, from Super-.]
Sur- (Fr.), over, as surmount. [Fr., from L. super.]
Sur-, as in surrogate. See Sub-.
Sus-, as in suspend. See Sub-.
Syn-, Sy-, Syl-, Sym- (Gr.), together, with, as syntax, system, syllable, symbol, symmetry. [Cog. with Com-.]
T-, in twit, for at; in tawdry=Saint Awdry, the t being the final letter of saint; in tautology, representing the Greek article to.
Thorough- (A.S.), through, as thoroughfare. [A.S. ðurh, through.]
To- (A.S.), in to-day, together, toward, here-to-fore, is the prep. to. [A.S. tó.]
To- (A.S.), asunder, as in to-brake. [A.S. tó-; cf. Ger. zer-, Gr. dys-.]
Trans-, Tra-, Tran-, Tres-, Tre- (L.), beyond, across, as transport, traverse, transcend, trespass, and treason (through French).
Tri- (L.), thrice, as in triple, treble.
Twi- (A.S.), double, as in twilight. [A.S. twí-, double, twá, two.]
U- (Gr.), no, not, as Utopia. [Gr. ou, not.]
Ultra- (L.), beyond, as ultramarine. The French form outre appears in outrage and in utterance. [From ulter (stem of ulterior), ul- being from root of L. ille.]
Um-, in umpire. See Non-.
Un- (A.S.), negative prefix, not, as unhappy, untruth, uncouth. [Cog. with Gr. an- and L. in- (negative).]
Un- (A.S.), verbal prefix, signifying the reversal of an action, as unlock, unbind, undo, unwind. [A.S. on-, un-; cf. Dut. ont-, Ger. ent-, Goth. and-. See A- (A.S.) (2).]
Un-, Uni- (L.), one, as unanimous, uniform. [L. unus, one.]
Under- (A.S.), under, below, as undergrowth, underwood, underprop, undersell. [See Under in Dict.]
Up- (A.S.), up, as upland, upstart, upright, uphill, upbraid, upset. [A.S. up, upp; Ger. auf.]
Ve- (L.), apart from, as vestibule. [L. ue, apart from; prob. allied to bi- and duo, two.]
Vis-, Vice- (Fr.—L.), in place of, as viscount, viceroy. [Fr. vis-, from L. vice, instead of.]
Wan- (A.S.), wanting, as wanton. [See Wanton in Dict.]
With- (A.S.), against, back, as withstand, withdraw; with, near, as within (this meaning is very rare as prefix). [A.S. with—wither. See With in Dict.]
Y-. See under I-.