Prefixes

Prefixes [pre (before) + fix (fasten) = fasten before]

are groups of letters placed before words or roots. Prefixes change or extend the meanings of words and roots.

A

• anti- against
• antipathy (noun): dislike, opposite feeling
• anti + path + y

• auto- self
• automotive (adjective): related to self-propelled machines
• auto + mot + ive

• bi- two
• biped (noun): a two-footed animal
• bi + ped

• contra- against, opposite
• contradict (verb) to state the opposite
• contra + dict

• dis- not, opposite of, exclude
• distrust (verb): to have no confidence or trust
• dis + trust

• e-, ex- out, out of, from
• emit (verb) to send out
• e + mit
• expel (verb): to force out ex + pel