Prefixes and Suffixes: English Vocabulary Building

PREFIXES AND SUFFIXES
PARA-Beyond what is normal
paralogical(beyond logic;illogical) , parapyschology, paramilitary
POST-After,later
post-industrial(after being industrial), posterior(coming after in order)
postgraduate, postmodern, postnatal, post-election, postpone
PRE-Before in time , in order
prearrangement, prejudge, prehistoric,preheat,premature,preconception,preconcieved
CON/COM/COR/COL/CO-Together with
Combine(join together), collect(gather together)
convene,convention,correspond,conjoin,construct,coincide,coworker,copilot
EN-Make, put in
Enact(put into action), entrance(put into a trance), endanger, enrich, enliven, encode, enforce
ULTRA-Beyond, excessively, very
Ultra light(excessively light), ultramodern(extremely modern) ultraliberal, uıtrahigh,
ultrasonic
TELE-Distance
Television(device that allows us to see images from a distance), telephone(device that allows
us to talk over a distance), telepathic, telegram, telecommunication, telephoto lens
MASTER-One that sets a standart, one that controls
Masterpiece(the best work), mastermind(a highly intelligent person), master plan, master key
ARCHI/ARCH-Most important, highest, most extreme example
Archrival(a principal rival), architect(originally meant master builder), archpishop, archpriest
E-Via computer
E-commerce(commerce conducted via computer), e-business, e-cash
PER-For each
Percent(for each one hundred), per-diem(for each day) , percentage , per capita, per annum
MINI-Little, small
Minivan(a small van), minimum(the least amount), minimize, minimal
AUTO-Self
Automatic(acting independently,by oneself), autobiography(the story of one’s life written by
oneself), autograph, autocracy, automobile
IN/IM-Into
Invade(enter by force), inspection(the act of looking into something) , import, imprison,
inhale
TRANS-Across/beyond/through/on the other side of/over
Transplant(move from one place to another), translate(change from one language to another),
transfer, transportation, transatlantic, transport
IN/IM/IR/IL-Not
Illegal(not legal) , illicit(not allowed) illogical, illiterate, imperfect ,irregular, impossible,
insufficent, immature
UN-Not
Unwanted(not wanted), unable(not able), unloved, unmarried, unbelievable, uncertain
MICRO-Very small, tiny
Microscopic(tiny), microbe(a tiny living organism), microwave, microphone, microchip
RE-Back,again
Irreversible(unable to be changed back), reflect(throw back as a mirror), replay, rewrite, redo
DIS-Take away, apart, not, reverse, opposite
Disrobe(take off clothes) , distort(take away reality), disapprove, distrust, disable, disband,
displease, disembark, discomfort
OVER-Excessive, beyond a good deal
Overweight(too heavy), overcharge(to ask for a price that is too high), overworked overpaid,
overcooked, overestimate, overeat
UNDER-Not enough,too little
Undercharge(to ask for a price that is too low), undernousished(not nourished enough)
underestimate, undergrowth, undercooked, underpaid, underworked
EX-Out,from,lacking
Exclude(to keep from), exit(to go out of), extreme, exceptional
EX-Former
Ex-wife(former wife), ex-President(former president), ex-boyfriend, ex-husband
ANTI-Against, opposed to
Anti-apartheid(against apartheid), Antarctic(opposite of the North pole), anti-war, antigambling
MIS-Wrong
Misguide(lead in a wrong way), misunderstand(understand wrongly), misconduct,
misinterpretation, misantrope, mistake
BIO-Life
Biology(the study of living organisms), biography(the story of one’s life), biostatistics, biopsy
A-Without,not
Anarchy(without rule), atheist(one who is without belief in God), amoral, asexual, atypical
NON-Not
Nonbeliever(not a believer), non-Arap, non-existant, non-defining
SUB-Under,beneath,below,lower in rank
submarine(undersea ship), subtraction(the act of taking something away), substandart,
subcommitee, subsonic, subway, subtitles
INTER-Between-amoung
Interdependent(dependent upon one another), interstate(between states), intercourse,
intercontinental, intercommunion, intercommunicate, international
INTRA-Within,inside of
Intracollegiate(within the collage), intramural(within a school or an institution),
introspective, introvert
MAL-Bad, ill, evil, wrong, not perfect
Malfunction(function badly), malnourished(badly nourished), malformed, maltreat,
maladjusted, maladministration, malpractice
ANTE-Before
Anteroom(waiting room,a lobby), antedate(to date before), antecedent, antenatal,
antechamber, antediluvian
SUPER-Above in position, over, greater than, extra, the highest degree
Superior(of higher degree), superb(of highest quality), superhuman, supercritical,
supersonic
PRO-In favour of
Pro-American(in favour of American), pro-European, pro-British, pro-fascist, pro-democracy
OUT-More
Outlive(live longer than), outlast(last longer than), outnumber, outgrow, outrun, outdo,
outmatch, outfight
DE-Remove, reduce
Debone(remove bones), devalue(reduce value), decarbonize, decipher, defame, defrost,
decelerate
MACRO-Large,long
Macrocosm(the World as a whole,universe), macrobiotic(prolonging life),
macroeconomics
SEMI-Half,partly
Semicircle(the part of a circle from one end of a line through the centre to the other),
semiliterate(partly literate), semi-detached, semi-final, semi-tropical, semi-precious
NEO-New, recent, different kinds of
Neo-Latin(Latin used in modern speech or writing), neo-classical(done more recently but in
the classical style), neolithic, neocolonialism, neoplasm, neonate
COUNTER-Something that is opposed, opposite
Counter-clockwise(opposite clockwise), counter-attack(an attack made to stop,oppose or
return an enemy attack), counterstr ike, counter offer, counter claim, counter balance
PAN-All
Pan-Arabism(political union of all Arabs), Pan-African Unity, pan-American, pan-European
BENE-Well
Benefactor(a person who does good or who gives money for a good purpose), beneficent
(doing good), benefit, beneficiary, benediction
BY/BYE-Less important,secondary
Byproduct(something formed in addition to the main product), byelection(a special election
held between regular elections to fill a position whose former holder has left it or died),
bylaw, byplay, byway, bypath, bystander
CIRCUM-Around,about
Circumference(the lenght round the outside of a circle), circumnavigate(sail completely
round), circumscribe, circumstances
HYPO-Below,under.too little
Hypodermic(injected beneath the skin), hypothesis(idea put forward as a starting point for
reasoning), hypocrisy, hypochondria
SYN/SYM/SYL-With,together,sharing
Sympathy(the ability to share the feelings of another), synchronize(to happen at the same
speed), syndicate, synonym, synthesis, symmetrical
CONTRA-Against,opposite
Contradict(say the opposite), contraflow(traffic travelling in the opposite direction to normal),
contraception, contraindicate, contrabass, contradistinction
MONO-One,single
Monolingual(one language), monogamy(the practise of having only one husband or wife)
monologue, monogram, monograph, monomania, monoplane
UNI-One
Uniform(the same, having only one appearance), unite(come together as one group), unit
unique, universe
BI-Two
Bicycle(a transportation device with two wheels), bicentennial(related to the 200th year of
something), bigamy, biannual, bilingual, biped
TRI-Three
Triangle(a flat figüre with three straight sides and three angles), triad(a group of three closely
related people or things), trisect, tricolour, tricycle, trident
QUAD-Four
Quadruple(multiply by four), quadruplet(one of four babies born at the same time),
quadrangle, quadrant, quadrilateral, quadroon, quadrature
DE/DECA/DECI-Ten, one tenth
Decade(period of ten years), decilitre(one tenth of a litre), decalogue, decimetre,
decigram
CENT/CENTI-Hundred, hundredth part
Century(period of one hundred years), centennial(a one hundredth anniversary)
bicentennial, percent, centimetre, centeranian
KILO-One thousand
Kilometre(one thousand metres), kilogram(one thousand grams), kilolitre, kilowatt,
kiloton, kilocycle
MILLI-Thoudand, thousandth
Milligram(thousandth of a gram), millenium(period of one thousand years-a one thousandth
anniversary), million, millititre
MEGA-Very large, big, million
Megastar(a very famous person), megaton(1000 000 tons), megabyte, megaphone, megahertz,
megadeath
MULTI-Many
Multipurpose(many purposes), multiform(having several different shapes or ways of seeing),
multinational, multiracial, multilateral, multilingual
POLY-Many
Polygamy(having two or more wives or husbands), polyatomic(having many atoms), polyglot,
polygon, polymath, polysyllable, polymorphous
EXTRA-Very, more than usual, outside, beyond
Extra thin(very thin), extra special(very special), extraordinary, extra terrestrial
FORE-Before, in advance, front
Foretell(say what is going to happen), foreword(at the beginning of a book), foreground,
forehead, foreshadow, foreseeable, forerunner, foreshore
MID-In the middle of
Midday(middle of the day-12 o’clock-noon), midcourse(for or during the middle part of the
course of an aircraft vehicle), midterm, midnight, midair
PSEUDO-False
Pseudo-democracy(not real democracy), pseudo-liberal(not exactly liberal), pseudo-scientific,
pseudo-intellectual, pseudonymity
QUASI-Seeming like
Quasi-scientific(ideas that seem good but are not really based on facts), quasi-ascetic, quasioligotypic
SUFFIXES
PROOF-Treated or made so as not to be harmed by
Fireproof(cannot be burned), bulletproof(able to withstand a bullet), waterproof, soundproof,
splinterproof, shatterproof
ABLE-Can do, able
Portable(able to be carried), incredible(not able to be believed), readable, edible, possible,
preferable, predictable, comparable
LESS-Without
Meaningless(without a meaning), homeless(without home), hopeless, useless, careless,
spotless, motherless, penniless
FUL-Full of
Hopeful(full of hope), careful(full of care), beautiful, tearful ,harmful, thoughtful, painful
LET-A small kind of
Booklet( thin book), starlet(young actress on the way to stardom), piglet, playlet
WORTHY-Deserving
Trustworthy(deserving trust), praiseworthy(deserving praise), blameworthy
LIKE-Of the same from in many ways
Childlike(simple, innocent), womanlike(like a woman), lifelike, warlike
ESQUE-Like, in the manner or style of
Picturesque(like a picture), Chaplinesque(in the style of Chaplin), Kafkaesque, statuesque
FREE-Without
Taxfree(without payment of tax), saltfree(without salt), sugarfree, accident free, alcohol free,
oil free, interest free
DOM-State or condition of being, rank, total area of
Christiandom(the Christian World), wisdom(the state of having knowledge), boredom,
freedom, kingdom, dukedom
SOME-Tendency to
Tiresome(tendency to annoy), worrysome(tendency to worry), awesome, troublesome,
bothersome, loathsome, gladsome
HOOD-State of being
Childhood(state of being a child), knighthood(state of being a Knight), manhood, likelihood,
falsehood, adulthood, neighbourhood, brotherhood
SHIP-State of being
Friendship(state of being friends), citizenship(state of being a citizen), championship,
relationship, scholarship
WISE-In connection with, in the manner of, in the position or direction of
Taxwise(in connection with tax), saleswise(in connection with sales), moneywise, clockwise,
lenghtwise
ER/OR/IST-The one who -the thing which
Biologist(one who is in the field of biology), hunter(one who hunts), lover, predictor, teacher,
tin-opener, performer, loser, complainer, governor, creator, winner, announcer, supporter,
communist, theologist, geologist,
EE-Who somebody is
Employee(a person employed for wages), payee(a person to whom something is paid),
nominee, addressee, refugee, interviewee, trainee
AN-A person who or a thing that is/of or belonging to/like or typical of/a person skilled in or
studying the stated subject
American(belonging to America), historian(a person skilled in History), Christian,
Elizabethan, Mozartean music
IC/AL-Relating to, having the nature of
Vocal(relating to voice), scientific(relating to science), heroic, tragic, alcoholic, sympathetic,
local, historical, synthetic
ISM-Act of, practise of, result of, condition of being, action or quality of
Terrorism(practise of terror), barbarism(the condition of being primitive or brutal),
vegeterianism, Pan-Islamism, realism, romantism
ISH-Belonging to, like or characteristic of, tending to, somewhat or rather, about, action or
process
Spanish(belonging to Spain), tallish(rather tall), boyish(like or characteristic of a boy),
babyish, childish,
IVE-Of, relating to, belonging to, having the nature of or quality of, tending to
Affirmative(having the quality of a positive statement), native(belonging to a country by
birth), offensive, active, explosive, talkative, productive, attractive, creative
Y-Having, full of, tending to, like, somewhat
Dirty(full of dirt), wavy(like a wave), sleepy, speedy, healthy, lucky, voluntary, rainy, curly
EN-Make
Weaken(make somebody or something weak), sadden(make somebody sad), ripen, redden,
deepen, moisten, broaden, strenghten, shorten
IZE/FY/ATE-Make
Moralize(make one’s thoughts explained on the rightness or wrongness of behaviour),
vaccinate(make sb vaccined), affectionate, emphasize, simplify, clarify, categorize,
demoralize
OUS-Full of, of the nature of
Famous(full of fame), virtuous(full of virtue), dangerous, ambitious, obvious, courageous,
conscious, hazardeous
ITY-The quality or an example of, state of being
Chastity(the quality of being chaste), sincerity(the quality of being sincere), curiosity,
scarsity, stupidity, regularity, responsibility, mortality
TH-The state of, act of
Health(the state of being healthy), growth(the act of growing), wealth, depth, width, warmth
RY-Occupation
Ministry(The occupation of being a minister), dentistry(the occupation of being a dentist),
surgery, nursery
ION/SION/TION/ATION-Condition, the act of process
Diction(the act of speaking in a certain manner), discription(the act of describing), election,
education, definition, expectation, creation, selection
ANCE/ENCE-Act of, state of, quality of
Dependence(act of trusting, relying on somebody), assistance(act of helping), intelligence,
difference, experience, influence, importance, silence
AGE-Condition, state of, action, collection of, place for
Outrage(act of shocking violence or cruelty), damage(condition of loss), marriage, mortgage,
orphanage, vicarage
URE-Act, result of an action, agent of action, state of
Exposure(state of being exposed), posture(state of carriage), departure, adventure, furniture
MENT-State of being
Achievement(state of being achieved), agreement(state of being agreed), appointment,
announcement, improvement, government, refreshment
NESS-State of being
Happiness(state of being happy), politeness(state of being polite), calmness, laziness,
madness, seriousness, tightness, healtiness
ATE-To act as, cause to become
Activate(cause to become active), accentuate(cause to pronounce with great force), dominate,
donate, fascinate, accelerate, moderate
ENT/ANT/ATIVE-Tendency to
Dominant(tendency to being stronger), persistant(tendency to appear for a long time),
innovative, important, innocent, tolerant, patient
LY-Like in manner, nature, or apperance, in the stated manner
Motherly(in the manner of a mother), manly(like a man), quickly, slowly, queenly, orderly,
yearly, friendly
ARY-Place for or of
Library(A large place for full of boks), aviary(a large cage for keeping birds), ovary,
dormitory, laboratory
ING-An example or an act
Drawing(an act of drawing), building(an act of building), drinking, foreshadowing, daring
CIDE-To kill, murder
Suicide(the killing of oneself), homicide(any killing of one human being by another),
genocide(the systematic and deliberate killing of a whole racial group), fratricide(the killing
of a brother)