Prefix
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This article is about the linguistic feature. For other uses, see Prefix (disambiguation).
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A prefix is an affix which is placed before the stem of a word. Particularly in the study of Semitic languages, a prefix is called a preformative, as they can alter the form of the words to which they are fixed.
Examples of prefixes:
- unhappy : un is a negative or antonymic prefix.
- prefix, preview : pre is a prefix, with the sense of "before"
- redo, review : re is a prefix meaning "again".
The word "prefix" is itself made up of the stem fix (meaning "attach", in this case), and the prefix pre- (meaning "before"), both of which are derived from Latin roots.
[edit] See also
- English prefixes
- ITU prefix for identification in communications
- Numerical prefix
- Prefixes and suffixes in Hebrew
[edit] External links
- comprehensive reference for English prefixes and suffixes
- more about English language prefixes and affixes in general
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