Prefixes

Front 1

a-

an-

ana-

Back 1

not or without

Ex:

athiest = "not + god"= someone who doesnt believe in God

agnostic= "not + know"=someone who isnt sure

anarchy = "not + ruler"=chaos, lack of government

anachronism="not" +"time"=something out of place in time

amorphous ="without" + "shape"=shapeless

Front 2

ab-

abs-

Back 2

away from

Ex:

abnormal, absent, abduct

abstain= "away + hold"=refrain from

abstracted="away + drawn"= w/drawn into one's mind

abjure="away + swear"=renounce or reject

abrogate="away + proposed law"=abolish, nullify (a law or rule)

abstruse="away + push"=hard to comprehend

abstemious="away + liquor"=mod in appetite/drinking

Front 3

ad-

(can drop "d" and double next letter)

ac-

ag-

as-

at-

etc.

Back 3

to or toward

ex:

adhere="to + stick"=stick to

adjure="toward + swear"=command, urge

accrete="toward + grow"=grow or pile up bit by bit

aggregate="toward + flock"=collect together

assimilate="toward + similar"=make/become a similar part of something

arrogate="toward + ask"=claim or take (w/o the right)

attenuate="toward + thin"=make/become thinner or weaker

Front 4

ante-

Back 4

before

ex:

antecedent="before + go"=earlier event or cause

antediluvian= "before + flood"=ancient, primitive

Front 5

anti-

ant-

Back 5

against or

opposite

ex:

antibiotic="against + life"=chem that kills bac

antipathy="against + feeling"= strong dislike

antagonism="against + struggle"=opposition, active hostility

Front 6

auto-

Back 6

self

ex:

autograph="self + write"=sign one's own name

autocratic="self + ruler"= like an absolute ruler or tyrant

autonomous= "self + law"=independent, self-contained

Front 7

be-

Back 7

thoroughly or

affect with

ex:

begrudge= "thoroughly + complain"= give unwillingly

beguile= "affect with + trick"= deceive, divert in an attractive way

benighted= "thoroughly + night"=unenlightened, in figurative darkness

beseech= "thoroughly + seek"= beg, implore

besiege= "thoroughly + blockage"= surround, press upon

besmirch= "affect with + dirt" make dirty

Front 8

bene-

ben-

Back 8

good

ex:

benediction= "good + stay"=blessing

beneficent= "good + do"=doing good for others

benevolence= "good + will"=kindness, readiness to do good for others

benign= "good + birth"= favorable, gentle, harmless

Front 9

bi-

Back 9

two

ex:

bisect= "two + cut"= cut in half

bifurcate= "two + fork"= split into two branches

Front 10

caco-

Back 10

bad

ex:

cacophonous="bad+sound"=unpleasant sounding

Front 11

circum-

Back 11

around

ex:

circumambulate="around+walk"=walk around a circle

circumlocution="around+speak"=wordiness or evasion (expanding, indirect) in speech

circumspect="around+look"=cautious, prudent

Front 12

con-

com-

co-

Back 12

with or together

ex: contract, contain, conduct

congregate="together +flock"=gather together

cohesive="together+stick"=sticking or fitting together

compelling="together +drive"=convincing, forceful, attention-grabbing

confluence="together+flow"=a flowing together

cognoscente (pl. cogoscenti)="with+flow"=expert in a subject

Front 13

contra-

contro-

counter-

Back 13

against

ex: contradict,

contraband="against+command"=illegal goods

countervail="against+worth"=compensate for, counteract, oppose

contravene="against+come"=oppose, violate, contradict

controvert="against+turn"=dispute in argument, engage in controversey

Front 14

de-

Back 14

from or away or down

defame, deodorize, deflect, detract

deduce="away+lead"=determine from general principles

decadent="away+fall"=in a state of decline, often self-indulgent

derivative="away+stream"=orig. from something else, lacking originality

depose="down+put"=remove a leader, or take testimony

Front 15

di-

dia-

Back 15

two or through or across or between

diameter, diagonal

dichotomy=division into two opposing parts

diagnosis="through+know"=ID of (medical)causes and issues

diachronic="through + time"=relating to change over time

Front 16

dis-

dys-

di-

Back 16

away or not or bad

disallow, disrespect, dismiss, disillusion, divide

dispell="away+drive"=scatter, make vanish

divert="away+turn"=turn aside or distract

dissonance="bad +sound"=discord, clash of sounds

distend="away+stretch"=bloat, swell, expand

diffidence="not+faith"=hesitant, lacking in self-confidence

digress="away+go"deviate from subject

dystopia="bad +utopia (future/imaginary world)