Prefixes Beside, betimes, besmear, bedaub 

What are PREFIXES? For- thoroughly 

Consider this sentence.  Forbear, forgive 

• He is understood by all of us.  Gain- against 

In this sentence, it has been stated that he is Gainsay 

properly understood by us. 

In-in 
Consider the following sentence. 
Income, inland, inlay 
• He is misunderstood by all of us. 
Mis- wrong, wrongly 
In this sentence, it has been stated that he is not
Misdeed, misunderstanding, mislead, misjudge 
properly understood by us. 
Over- above, beyond 
That means that he is misunderstood. 
Overflow, overcharge 
The addition ‘mis’ has been added to the word
To- this 
‘understood’ and thus a new word
To-day, to-night, to-morrow 
‘misunderstood’ has been created 
Un-not 
The addition ‘mis’ is called a prefix. 
Untrue, unkind, unholy 
Such an addition when added to the beginning of
Un-to reverse an action 
a word is called PREFIX. 
Untie, undo, unfold 
Such an addition, when added to the end of a
Under-beneath, below 
word, is called SUFFIX. 
Undersell, undercharge, undergo, underground 
The origins of Prefixes which are used in English
With-back, against 
are Latin, Greek and English languages. 
Withdraw, withhold, withstand 

ENGLISH PREFIXES
LATIN PREFIXES
Let us see the prefixes of English origin. 
Ab (a, abs)-From, away 
Here for your reference, the prefixes are listed
Abuse, assign, attach, abstract 
below with examples for every prefix. 
Ad (ac, af, al, an, ap, ag, as, ar, at, a)-to 

Adjoin, accord, affect, aggressive, allege,

A- on/ in 
announce, appoint, arrest, assign, attach, avail
abed, aboard, ashore, ajar, asleep 
etc… 
A-out, from 
Ambi (amb, am) - on both sides, around 
Arise, awake, alight 
Ambiguous, amputate, ambition, amphitheatre
Be- by (sometimes intensive) 
etc… 
Ante (anti, an)-before  Ob (oc) –in the way of 

Antedate, anticipate, ancestor  Object, occupy etc 

Bene-well  Of – against 

Benediction, benefit  Offend 

Bis (bi, bin)-twice, two  Pen – almost 

Binoculars, biscuit, bisect  Penultimate, peninsula etc… 

Circum (circu) - around  Per (pel) – through 

Circumnavigate, circumference, circuit  Pervade, pellucid 

Con (col, com, cor) – with, together  Post – after 

Contend, collect, combine, correct 

Postscript, postdate, postpone 
Contra (counter) – against 
Pre – before 
Contradict, counteract, counterfeit 
Prefix, prevent, predict 
De-down 
Preter –beyond 
Descend, dethrone, depose etc… 
Preternatural 
Dis (dif, di) – 
Pro (por, pur) –for 
Disjoin, differ, divide etc… 
Pronoun, portray, pursue 
Demi-half 
Re – back, again 
Demigod 
Reclaim, refund, renew, return 
Ex (ef, e) - out of 
Retro –backwards 
Extract, effect 
Retrospect, retrograde 
Extra-beyond, outside of 
Se (sed) – apart 
Extraordinary, extravagant 
Secede, separate, seduce, sedition 
In (il, im, ir, en, em) –in, into 
Semi – half 
Invade, illustrate, immerse, irrigate, enact,
Semicircle, semicolon 
embrace etc… 
Sine – without 
In (il, im, ir) –not 
Sinecure 
Insecure, illegal, imprudent, irregular etc… 
Sub (suc, suf, sug, sum, sup, sur, sus ) –
Inter (Intro, enter) – among, within 
under 
Intervene, introduce, entertain etc… 
Subdue, succeed, suffer, suggest, summon,
Male (mal) –ill 
support, surmount, sustain 
Malevolent, malcontent 
Subter – beneath 
Non-not 
Subterfuge 
Nonsense 
Super –above  Eu – well 

Superfine, superfluous 
Eulogy, euphony, eugenics 
Trans (tra, tres) –across 
Ex (ec) – out of 
Transmit, traverse, trespass etc… 
Exodus, eccentric 
Vice – in the place of 
Hemi – half
Viceroy, vice-president 
Hemisphere 

Homo (hom) – like 

GREEK PREFIXES
Homogeneous, homonym 
A (an) – without 
Hyper – over, beyond 
Atheist, apathy, anarchy 
Hyperbole, hypercritical 
Amphi – around, on both sides 
Hypo – under 
Amphitheatre, amphibious 
Hypocrite, hypothesis 
Ana – up, back 
Meta (met) – implying change 
Analysis, anachronism 
Metaphor, metonymy 
Anti (ant) – against 
Mono – alone, single 
Antipathy, apology 
Monopoly, monophony, monoplane 
Apo(ap) – from 
Pan – all 
Apostate, apology 
Panacea, panorama, pantheism 
Arch (archu) – chief 
Para – beside, by the side of, 

Arch-bishop, arch angel, architect  Parallel, paradox, parasite 

Auto – self  Peri – round 

Autobiography, autograph  Period, perimeter, periscope 

Cata – down  Philo (phil)– love 

Cataract, catastrophe, catalogue  Philosophy, philanthropy 

Di – twice  Pro – before 

Dilemma  Prophesy, programme 

Dia – through  Syn (sym, syl, sy ) – with, together 

Diameter, diagonal  Synonym, sympathy, syllable, system 

Dys –badly 

Dysentery, dyspepsia 

En (em) – in 

Encyclopedia, emblem 

Epi – upon 

Epilogue, epitaph 
Suffixes ii. Denoting state, action, condition, being,
etc…
What are Suffixes?  Dom – freedom, martyrdom, wisdom 
Consider this sentence.  Hood – manhood, childhood, 
My friend has given me a book as a gift for my Head - godhead 
birthday.  Lock – wedlock, 
In this sentence, the word ‘friend’ has been used Ledge - knowledge 
as a noun to denote a person.  Ness – darkness, boldness, goodness,
Consider this sentence:  sweetness 
My friendship with Clinton is growing like a Red – hatred, kindred 
banyan tree.  Ship – friendship, hardship, lordship 
Here, the word ‘friendship’ has been used to Th – health, stealth, growth 
mention the relationship between Clinton and
me.  iii. Denoting diminutives: 
But the word friendship is a derivative of the El – satchel, kernel, 
word ‘friend’. Such a derivative is created by Le - girdle, handle 
adding ‘ship’ at the end of the word.  En – maiden, kitten, chicken 
The ‘ship’ is called Suffix.  Ie – dearie, birdie, lassie 
The addition, which is added at the end of the Kin – lambkin, napkin 
word, is called ‘Suffix’.  Let – leaflet 
Ling – ducking, darling, stripling, weakling 
Ock – hillock, bullock 
Examples:
Man and manhood  Ed – having 
Here, ‘hood’ is a suffix.  Examples: Gifted, talented, wretched, learned 
Free and freedom  En – made of 
Here, ‘dom’ is a suffix.  Examples: Wooden, golden, woolen, earthen 
The origin of Suffixes is the languages of Latin, Ful – full of 
Greek and English itself.  Examples: Hopeful, fruitful, joyful 
Ish – somewhat like 
Examples: Boorish, reddish, girlish 
The Suffixes can be categorized as follows: 
Less – free from 
1. Suffixes of Nouns of English origin 
Examples: Fearless, shameless, hopeless,
2. Suffixes of Adjectives of English origin 
senseless, boundless 
3. Suffixes of Verbs of English origin  Ly – like 
4. Suffixes of Adverbs of English origin  Examples: Manly, godly, sprightly 
5. Suffixes of Nouns of Latin origin  Some – with the quality of 
6. Suffixes of Adjectives of Latin origin  Examples: Wholesome, meddlesome, gladsome,
7. Suffixes of Verbs of Latin origin  quarrelsome 
8. Suffixes of Greek origin  Y – with the quality of 
Examples: Wealthy, healthy, windy, slimy,
1. Suffixes of Nouns of English origin:  greedy, needy, thirsty, dirty 
i. Denoting the doer: 
Er –Painter, baker  3. Suffixes of Verbs of English origin: 
Ar – beggar  En – causative, forming transitive verbs 
Or – sailor  Examples: Weaken, sweeten, gladden, deaden,
Yer - lawyer  strengthen etc… 
Ster – spinster, punster, songster  Se – to make 
Ter – daughter, sister  Examples: Rinse, cleanse 
Ther – father, mother, brother,  Er – intensive 
Examples: Chatter, glitter, glimmer, fritter,
flutter  iv. Denoting places: 
4. Suffixes of Adverbs of English origin:  Ary (ery, ry) – dispensary, library, nunnery,
Ly – like  treasury 
Examples: Boldly, wisely  Ter (tre) – cloister, theatre 
Long – towards 
Examples: Headlong, sidelong 
Ward – turning to  6.Suffixes of Adjectives of Latin origin
Examples: Homeward, backward, upwards  Al – national, regal, mortal, fatal 
Way – towards  An –human 
Examples: Straightaway, anyway, always  Ane- humane, mundane 
Wise – manner  Ar – regular, familiar 
Examples: Likewise, otherwise  Ary – customary, contrary, necessary, ordinary,
honorary 
5. Suffixes of Nouns of Latin origin: 
Ate – fortunate, temperate, obstinate 
i. Denoting chiefly the agents or doer of a Ble – feeble, Laughable 
thing Able- Laughable 
Ain – chieftain  Ible – sensible 
An –artisan  Esque – picturesque, grotesque 
En – citizen  Id – humid, vivid, lucid 
On – surgeon 
Ile – servile, fragile, juvenile 
Ar – scholar 
Er – preacher  Ine – feminine, canine, feline, divine 
Eer – engineer  Ive – active, attentive, sportive 
Ier – financier  Lent – corpulent, indolent, turbulent, virulent 
Ary – missionary  Ose – verbose, 
Ate – advocate  Ous – dangerous, onerous, copious 
Ee – trustee 
Ey – attorney 
7. Suffixes of Verbs of Latin origin
Y – Deputy 
Or –emperor  Ate – assassinate, captivate, exterminate 
Our –saviour  Esce – acquiesce, effervesce 
Eur –Amateur  Fy – simplify, purify, fortify, sanctify, terrify 
Er – interpreter  Ish – publish, nourish, punish, banish 

ii. Denoting state, action or the result of an

8. Suffixes of Greek origin : 
action
Ic – angelic, cynic, phonemic, phonetic, 
Age – bondage, marriage, breakage, leakage 
Ance – abundance, brilliance, assistance, Ique – unique 
excellence, innocence  Ist – artist, chemist 
Cy – fancy, accuracy, lunacy, bankruptcy  Isk – asterisk, obelisk 
Ion – action, option, union  Ism – patriotism, despotism, enthusiasm 
Ice – service, cowardice  Asm - enthusiasm 
Ise – exercise 
Ize – civilize, sympathize, criticize etc… 
Ment – improvement, judgment, punishment 
Mony – parsimony, matrimony, testimony  Sis – crisis, analysis, heresy, poesy 
Tude – attitude, altitude, magnitude, servitude, Sy - heresy, poesy 
fortitude  E – Catastrophe 
Ty – cruelty, frailty, credulity  Y – Monarchy, philosophy 
Ure – pleasure, forfeiture, verdure 
Y – Misery, victory  There are few more Suffixes of French origin
Ee – This suffix is added to nouns to denote the
iii. Denoting Diminutives: 
person who takes a passive share in an action. 
Cule (ule, cel, sel, el, le) – animalcule, globule,
Examples :Employee, payee, legatee, trustee,
parcel, damsel, chapel, circle 
referee 
Et – owlet, lancet, trumpet 
Ette – cigarette, coquette 
Or, ar, er, eer, ier – denoting a person who
performs a certain act or function 
Examples: Emperor, scholar, officer, engineer,
gondolier 
Ist – denoting a person who follows a certain
trade or pursuit 
Examples: Chemist, theosophist, artist, nihilist 
Ism – forming abstract noun 
Example: Patriotism 
Ize or ise – forming verbs from nouns and
adjectives 
Examples: Crystallize, moralize, baptize