Prefix

a(n)abacr(o)adaden(o)aer(o)agr(o)altalteraman(a)andranemAngloanteanthropoant(i)aut(o)bar(o)bathybebenbibi(o)bibli(o)blast(o)bradybrom(o)bronch(o)cac(o)cad/cascardi(o)cent-, centicephal(o)chrom(ato)chron(o)circumcocolpoconcontrcosm(o)countercrin(o)cryocrypt(o)cyt(o)culpdactyl(o)-

dedec(a)-, dek(a)decidem(o)derm(at)didiadidact(o)disdok,dox(o)dynam(o)dysecoectoedaph(o)electr(o)embry(o)end(o)-, ent(o)enne(a)enter(o)eoep(i)-, epherg(o)erythr(o)erot(o)ethnoeuEuroexexoextraflorforegynhemihemohex(a)hydrohyperhyp(o)inin-1

interintrakiloLithoLusoMac- or McmacromalmaxiMc-

mega(l)mesometamicromidmilliminimismon(o)multimycomyri(a)nonnonO'oct(o)-,oct(a)omnioo- ("oo-oh")
outoverpent(a)peri(o)phytopostprepropsychopyroquadr-, quartquinquequint(i)rerect(i)retroscler(o)semisept(a)sex(i)Sinospasm(o)spermspher(o)sphygm(o)splen(o)splanchn(o)schiz(o)-, schist(o)staphyl(o)stom(ato)stylsubsupersyn-

tach(y)tel(e)tel(o)theotranstritwiultraun1underuniupurur(o)vitawithzoo- ("zoo-oh")

Suffix
able
-ad
-age
-agogy
-arch
-archy
-athlon
-cede, -ceed
-cele, -coele, -coel
-cele
-centesis
-cephalic
-chondrion
-cide
-city
-clude
-cracy
-cy
-cycle
-dom
-duce
-duct
-ectasia, -ectasis
-ectomy
-eme
-emia

-enchyma
-er
-er
-ergy
-esque
-ess
-esthesis, -esthesia
-fugal fuge
-ful
-fusion
-gate
-gnosis
-gon
-gress
-gry
-hedron
-holic
-hood
-ible
-ic
-ics
-icle
-id
fy, ify
-illion
-ish sort of;
-ism
-ist
-itis
-itude
-ity
-ium
-ive
-ize or -ise
-izzle
-ject
-join
-kinesis
-less
-let
-ly

-man
-mancy
-mania
-meter or -metre
-metry
-mit
-morphism
-ography or -ogram
-oid r
-ologist

-ology
-ome
-omics
-onomy
-onym
-osis
-ous
-pend
-phagy, -phagia
-philia
-phobia
-phone
-phyte
-place
-plete
#NAME?
-port
-pose
-potent (or -potence)
-pound
-press, -print
-proach
-science
-scope
-script
-semble
-sert
-ship circle
-side
-sist
-stan
-ster
-struct
-tail
-tain
-test
-th
-tom/-tome
-tory
-tropism
-us
-ville
-vious
-volve
-voke
-vore / -vorous
-ward/-wards
-ware
-where
-wise
-y

Meaning
not, without
away
high, up, hill
near, at
gland
air
relating to farming
high
another
love
out of
man
wind
English or British
before
relating to human beings
against
self
heaviness, heavy
deep
completely, excessively; forms transitive verbs
well
two
life
relating to books
bud, germination
slow
stench
relating to breathing
bad
a fall
heart
hundred or hundredth
head
colour
time
around
together
vagina
with, together
against, opposite
against, opposite
cry(shed tears)
frost, icy cold
hidden
cell (originally hollow receptacle)
fault
finger, digit

taking something away, the opposite

ten
one tenth
people
skin
two, double
through
apt at teaching
apart, separation, reverse, opposite
view, teaching
power, force
bad, deformed, abnormal
house
outer, external
soil
relating to Electricity
embryo
inside
nine
intestine
earliest, most
upon, above, around
work, labour
red
love
race, people
good
European
former
outside
outside, beyond, additional
relating to flowers
before, in advance
female
half
blood
six
water
excessive2, having more than three spatial dimensions (mathematics)
below2
intensively
not
between, mutual
within
thousand
Rock
Portuguese
son of (often used in last names)
large
bad
many ,most
McDonalds-like,

million, very large

middle
after, beyond
one millionth, very small
in the middle of
thousandth
small
bad, wrong
one, single
many
relating to fungi
Ten thousand
not
nine
(son) of (often used in last names)
eight
all
egg, ovum
more, to a greater degree
more than normal, too much
five
around, about, enclosing, near
relating to plants
after
before
for, in favour of
mind,mental
fire, flame
four
five
fifth, five
again, repeatedly
proper, straight
backward
hard
half, partial
seven
six
Chinese
spasm
seed
sphere, ball
pulsation
spleen
viscera
split
cluster, uvula
mouth
pillar
below, less than, under,2
extremely, more than,2
together, united, at the same time

rapid, accelerated
distance, distant
end
god
across, beyond
three
two
extremely, beyond
not, opposite, take
below, incompletely
one, single
higher
first, original
urine uric,
life
together, united
relating to animals

Meaning
capable, can do
group
forming a noun
leading
ruler, leader
rule, leadership
sporting event
go
body cavity
tumor, hernia
puncturing
relating to the head
small grainlike structure
murder, killing agent
practice
rule (in the context of rule by a king, rule by the people, etc.)
expressing the quality of an adjective
circle, cycle, unit of radio frequency
state or condition of
bring, lead
into
stretching out
surgical removal
linguistic unit
blood condition

cellular tissue
changes verb to noun (see also -or)
male
work
in the style of
female
sensation, feeling
driving or travelling away from, expelling
full of, having some or much
pour together
a scandal, often political (back-formed from the Watergate scandal)
knowing
geometric shape
to walk, entrance
adjective form of only 2 or 3 nouns in the English language
geometric solid
love, addiction
state/condition of, a group sharing characteristics
like -able, for Latin origins
(adjective)
Technology
originally referring to a spike-like formation
skin rash
to become, make
large numbers
approximately
doctrine, act, practice, condition
person
disease, inflammation
expressing state or condition
metallic element (exception: helium)
make the noun an adjective
to cause, to be, to become
used for hip hop slang
throw (in, out, etc)
join
movement (ability thereof)
lack of
diminutive, or denoting a relation to some part of the body
like, having the attributes of; In modern English, primarily changes adjectives to
adverbs; also changes some nouns to adjectives and some (past-tense) verbs to
adverbs
person
divination by
an irrational but irresistible motive for a belief or action
measuring device
measure
send
form
writing, description
esembling
one who studies a scientific subject

study, science
biological entity
area of biology
knowledge of
name, word
process, action, formation, diseased condition
quality from nature, chemical element
to hang
eating
attraction
fear
sound, audio; speaker of a language
plant, used in botany to create terms which categorise plants based on their lifehistory, growth-form or ecological preferences
place
to fill
referring to city or big area
to move or to carry
put
power
put
impress, repress, imprint, reprint
near
knowing
from Greek skopos, view; instrument for viewing and observing spaces
written
same, similar
join
state of being
side
stop, stand
land, country
people
pile, build
to cut
to hold
witness
ordinal number, forming a noun
part or segment
to turn
inflammation
city, town from French
roll
to call
to devour
direction
software, stuff
location
direction
having the quality of, inclined to

Examples
atonality, asexuality, amoral, anarchy, anonymous
abduction, absolutism, ablution
Acropolis, acrobatics
adrenal
adenectomy
aeronautics, aerodrome, aeroplane, aerodynamics
agriculture
altitude
Alter-ego, alternate
amorous, amateur
anachronism
androgyny, androcentrism, android, androgen
anemometer
Anglo-Irish relations
antebellum
anthropology, anthropocentrism, anthropomorphic
antidote, antibody, anticlockwise
autonomy, autobiography, automobile, autopilot
barometer
Bathyscaphe, Bathysphere
bemuse, bespeak, bewail
Benediction, benign
bicycle, bijection, bicameralism
biology, biography, biopsy
Bibliophilia, bibliography
blastocyst
Bradycardia
Bromine, bromide
bronchitis
Cacophony, cacography
cadence, cascade
Cardiovascular, Cardiac arrest
Centenarian, centimeter, centipede
Cephalothorax
chromatic, chromosome
Chronology, chronic, chronicle
Circumcision, circumlocution, circumference
Cooperative, co-belligerence
Colpospasm
Connotation, Congress, congregation
Contradiction, contraception, controversy
cosmology, cosmopolitan, cosmotheism
counterpoint, Counter-Reformation
Endocrinology
cryogenics, cryoelectronics, cryostorage
cryptography, cryptozoology
cytoplasm, cytology
culpable, culprit
dactylogram

Decentralization, dehydration, Denazification

decamerous, December, decimeter
deciliter
demographics, democracy
dermatology, dermatitis
diurnal
diameter, diagnosis, diarrhea
didactic
dissent, discovery, disambiguation
doxology, dogma, orthodox
dynamic, dynamite, dynamo
dyspepsia, dystrophy, dysarthria
economy, ecology, ecosystem, ecotage
ectomorphic, ectoparasite
edaphic
electrocution, electroencephalogram
embryogenesis
endoscope, endothermic, entoblast
enneastyle, enneagram
enteritis
primitive eobacterium, eohippus
epitaxy, epicenter, ephemeral
ergonomics synergy, energy
erythrocite
erotic, erotomania
ethnology, ethnolinguistics, ethnocentrism
eulogy, euthanasia, eugenics, euphemism
Euro-MP, Eurocentric
ex-wife, ex-president
exoskeleton
extra-thin, extra-special extraordinary, extraterrestrial
florist
foreskin, foreshadowing
gynaecology, gynoid
hemimetabolous, hemisphere
hemophilia, hemophobia
hexapod, hexagonal, hexameter
hydrogen, hydry
hyperactive, hyperthyroidism
hypodermic, hypnosis
inflammable, invaluable
infallibility, illiteracy, immoral, irrelevant
intervention, international, internet
intramural, intravenous, intraocular
kilogram, kilowatt
lithosphere
lusophone
McCarthy, Kirsty MacColl
macrobiology, macroscopic
malpractice, malnutrition
maximal, maximum
often derogatory McJob, McPaper

Megabyte, megaphone, megalopolis

Mesoamerica, mesoscale
Metacarpal, metaphysics
microgram, microorganism, micronation
mid-term elections, Mid-Autumn Festival
milligram, milliliter
miniskirt, miniseries
miscarriage, misanthropy, misogyny, mistake
monolith, monorail, monotony, monocle
multiculturalism, multilingual
mycology, mycoprotein
myriagon, myriad
nonsense, non-denial denial
nonagon
O'Brian
octane, octopod, octagon, October
omnidirectional, omnivore, omnipotent
oocyte
outdo, outrun
overpopulation, over-consumption
pentagon
perimysium, pericardium, periosteum, perinatal
phytogeography, phytoplankton
postpartum depression, postmodernism
prediction, preview, precedent, prenatal care
pro-choice, protagonist
psychology, psychosomatic
pyromania
quadrangle, quadruplet, quartic, quartile
quinquesection,
quintiped, quintet
reduction, reflection, revolution
rectify, rectangle
retrograde, retrospective
scleroderma, atherosclerosis
semi-automatic, semi-detached
heptachord, September
sexivalent
Sino-American relations
spasmatic, spasmolysis
spermophile, spermine
spherical, atmosphere
sphygmomanometer, sphygmograph
splenomegaly
splanchnopathy
schizophrenia, schistocyte
staphylococcus, staphyloplasty
stomatitis, stomach
stylus, stylist, stylopodium
subset, subsonic, subway, subtitles
superhuman, Superego, supersonic
synergy, synchronicity, synesthesia

tachycardia, tachymeter, tachyon

telecommunications, television, telephoto lens, telodynamic
teloblast, telophase
theology, theogony
transfer, transubstantiation, transatlantic, Trans-Siberian railway
triangle, tricolor, triptych
twilight, twig, twin
certain limit ultramontanism, ultraviolet
something away unconstitutional, undelete
underestimate, underage, undercook
uniform, unification
upscale, update, upgrade, upheld
urtext
urinal
vitamin, vital
withhold, withstand
zoomorphic, zoology

Examples
usable, notable
triad, monad
marriage, mileage
pedagogy, demagogy
monarch, tetrarch
gynarchy, anarchy
pentathlon, decathlon
concede, succeed
mucocoel or mucocoele
hydatidocele
amniocentesis, rachicentesis
anencephaly, macrocephaly
mitochondrion
suicide, vespacide, regicide
atrocity
include, exclude, preclude
kakistocracy, democracy, androcracy
peccancy, agency, idiocy
epicycle, hydrocycle
freedom, kingdom
introduce, reduce, induce
induct, conduct
brochiectasis, telangiectasia
laryngectomy, vasectomy
lexeme, phoneme, morpheme
leukemia, anaemia

mesenchyma, karyenchyma
write, writer
widower
energy, synergy
Pythonesque, Romanesque
actress, waitress, stewardess, priestess
synesthesia, kinesthesis
centrifugal
hopeful, useful
transfusion, confusion, infusion
Watergate, nipplegate
prognosis, diagnosis
polygon, pentagon
digress, transgress, ingress
anger, hunger
icosahedron, tetrahedron
alcoholic
brotherhood
incredible, terrible, visible
neurotic
Physics,Aerodynamics,Forensics
icicle, popsicle
syphilid
basify, vilify
million, billion
greenish, tallish
Protestantism, alcoholism, Buddhism, southernism
dentist
hepatitis, gingivitis
attitude, certitude
normality, formality, banality
sodium, Calcium
defensive, aggressive
materialize, idolize
Americizzle
inject, reject, eject
disjoin, rejoin
telekinesis
homeless, useless
ringlet, hamlet, anklet
quick(adj) ?quickly(adv), state(n) ? stately(adj), abashed(v) ? abashedly(adv)

fireman, stateman
crystallomancy, bibliomancy, necromancy
kleptomania, megalomania, mythomania
barometer, thermometer
symmetry, geometry, isometry
commit, emit, limit
isomorphism, homomorphism
stenography, geography, ideogram
solenoid, hominoid
archaeologist

planetology, thyroidology, phthisiology

genome
proteomics
astronomy
antonym, consonym, heteronym
mitosis, osmosis, ostosis, psychosis
porous
impend, append, depend
monophagy
hemophilia
acrophobia, mysophobia
telephone, homophone; Anglophone
therophyte, halophyte
replace, displace
complete, deplete
Metropolis
import, export
propose, impose, depose
omnipotent, equipotent, impotence
impound, compound, expound, propound
approach, reproach
omniscience
microscope, telescope
manuscript, transcript
resemble, ensemble, assemble
assert, insert
friendship, relationship, dictatorship
aside, besides, inside
insist, resist, desist, persist, assist
Afghanistan
youngster, gangster
construct, destruct, obstruct
detail, retail
retain, obtain, detain
detest, attest, protest
tenth, millionth, growth
dermatome
history, repository
phototropism
ulcus (ulcer)
Nashville
obvious, envious
involve, revolve, evolve
invoke, revoke
carnivore, herbivore
southward, inward, outward
hardware, software, freeware
everywhere, nowhere, anywhere, somewhere
clockwise
runny, messy

Vocabulary building
Affixes and roots

Adding affixes to existing words (the base or root) to

form new words is common in academic English.
Prefixes are added to the front of the base (like
dislike), whereas suffixes are added to the end of the
base (active
activate). Prefixes usually do not change the class of the
base word, but suffixes usually do change the class of
the word.

The most common prefixes used to form new verbs in

academic English are:re-, dis-, over-, un-, mis-, out-. The
most common suffixes are: -ise, -en, -ate, -(i)fy. By far the
most common affix in academic English is -ise.
Verbs
e.g. prefix + verb
verb
Prefix
redisoverunmisoutbecodeforeinterpresubtransunderExercise

e.g. Suffix used to form verbs with the meaning "cause

to be".
Suffix
-ise
-ate
-fy
-en
Exercise
^

Nouns

The most common prefixes used to form new nouns in

academic English are: co-and sub-. The most common
suffixes are: -tion, -ity,-er, -ness, -ism, -ment, -ant, -ship,
-age, -ery. By far the most common noun affix in
academic English is -tion.
e.g. prefix + noun
noun
Prefix
antiautobicocounterdisexhyperinininterkilomalmegamis-

minimononeooutpolypseudoresemisubsupersurteletriultraunderviceExercise
^

e.g. Suffix added to a verb (V), noun (N) or adjective (A)

noun
Suffix
-tion
-sion
-er
-ment
-ant
-ent
-age
-al
-ence
-ance
-ery/-ry

Suffix
-er
-ism
-ship

-age

Suffix
-ity
-ness
-cy
Exercise
^

Adjectives

Many adjectives are formed from a base of a different

class with a suffix (e.g. -less, -ous). Adjectives can also be
formed from other adjectives, especially by the negative
prefixes (un-, in- and non-).
The most common suffixes are -al, -ent, -ive, -ous, -ful,
-less.
e.g. Suffix added to verbs or nouns
adjective
Suffix
-al
-ent
-ive
-ous
-ful
-less
-able
Exercise
^

e.g. negative + adjective

adjective
Prefix
unim-/in-/ir-/il-

nondisExercise

Mixed
e.g. base with both prefix and suffix
Adjectives:uncomfortable,unavoidable,unimaginative,
inactive,semi-circular
Nouns:disappointment,misinformation,reformulation
^

Word formation
Formal written English uses nouns more than verbs. For
example, judgement rather than judge, development rather
than develop, admiration rather than admire.
Thereappearedtobeevidenceofdifferentialtreatmentof
children.
Thisisreflectedinouradmirationforpeoplewhohave
madesomethingoftheirlives,sometimesagainstgreat
odds,andinoursomewhatdisappointedjudgment ofthose
whomerelydriftthroughlife.
Allairfieldsinthecountrywouldbenationalised,andthe
governmentwouldcontinuewiththedevelopmentofnew
aircraftasrecommendedbytheBrabazonCommittee.
Associated with nominalisation is the occurrence of
prepositional phrases, introduced by of:
judgmentofthose
treatmentofchildren
developmentofnewaircraft

-tion is the most common suffix used in this way. For

example:alteration, resignation.
However others are: -ityability,similarity,complexity;nessblindness,darkness,preparedness;-mentdevelopment,
encouragement;-shipfriendship;-agemileage;-eryrobbery,
bribery;-alarrival;-anceassistance,resemblance.
^

Meaning
again or back
reverses the meaning of the verb
too much
reverses the meaning of the verb
badly or wrongly
more or better than others
make or cause
together
do the opposite of
earlier, before
between
before
under/below
across, over
not enough

Example

stabilise,characterise,symbolise,visualise,specialise
differentiate,liquidate,pollinate,duplicate,fabricate
classify,exemplify,simplify,justify
awaken,fasten,shorten,moisten

Meaning
against
self
two
joint
against
the converse of
former
extreme
the converse of
inside
between
thousand
bad
million
wrong

small
one
new
separate
many
false
again
half
below
more than, above
over and above
distant
three
beyond
below, too little
deputy

Meaning
action/instance of V-ing
person who V-s
something used for V-ing
action/instance of V-ing
person who V-s
action/result of V
action/result of V
action/result of V
action/instance of V-ing
place of V-ing

Meaning
person concerned with N
doctrine of N
state of being N

collection of N

Meaning
state or quality of being A
state or quality of being A
state or quality of being A

Example

central,political,national,optional,professional
different,dependent,excellent
attractive,effective,imaginative,repetitive
continuous,dangerous,famous
beautiful,peaceful,careful
endless,homeless,careless,thoughtless
drinkable,countable,avoidable,

Examples

unfortunate,uncomfortable,unjust
immature,impatient,improbable,inconvenient,irreplaceable,
illegal

non-fiction,non-political,non-neutral
disloyal,dissimilar,dishonest

Examples

restructure,revisit,reappear,rebuild,refinance
disappear,disallow,disarm,disconnect,discontinue
overbook,oversleep,overwork
unbend,uncouple,unfasten
mislead,misinform,misidentify
outperform,outbid
befriend,belittle
co-exist,co-operate,co-own
devalue,deselect
foreclose,foresee
interact,intermix,interface
pre-expose,prejudge,pretest
subcontract,subdivide
transform,transcribe,transplant
underfund,undersell,undervalue,underdevelop

Examples

anticlimax,antidote,antithesis
autobiography,automobile
bilingualism,biculturalism,bi-metalism
co-founder,co-owner,co-descendant
counter-argument,counter-example,counter-proposal
discomfort,dislike
ex-chairman,ex-hunter
hyperinflation,hypersurface
inattention,incoherence,incompatibility
inpatient,
interaction,inter-change,interference
kilobyte
malfunction,maltreatment,malnutrition
megabyte
misconduct,misdeed,mismanagement

mini-publication,mini-theory
monosyllable,monograph,monogamy
neo-colonialism,neo-impressionism
outbuilding,
polysyllable
pseudo-expert
re-organisation,re-assessment,re-examination
semicircle,semi-darkness
subset,subdivision
superset,superimposition,superpowers
surtax
telecommunications,
tripartism
ultrasound
underpayment,under-development,undergraduate
vice-president

Examples

alteration,demonstration
expansion,inclusion,admission
advertiser,driver
computer,silencer
development,punishment,unemployment
assistant,consultant
student
breakage,wastage,package
denial,proposal,refusal,dismissal
preference,dependence,interference
attendance,acceptance,endurance
bribery,robbery,misery
refinery,bakery

Examples

astronomer,geographer
Marxism,Maoism,Thatcherism
friendship,citizenship,leadership

baggage,plumage

Examples

ability,similarity,responsibility,curiosity
darkness,preparedness,consciousness
urgency,efficiency,frequency