Affixes
One method of understanding the meanings of new words is to analyse the different parts of the word and the meanings of those parts.
Many new words are formed by adding an affix to the beginning or end of a Latin or Greek root word.
When affixes are added to the beginning of roots or root words, they are called prefixes. For example, the most common prefix is un-, which means not or opposite of. If you add un- to the word happy, the new word becomes unhappy, which means not happy.
When affixes are added to the end of root words, they are called suffixes. The most common suffixes are -s and -es, which mean more than one (or the plural) of the word. Adding -es to wish, changes the meaning of the word to more than one wish.
Many new words are formed by adding an affix to the beginning or end of a Latin or Greek root word.
When affixes are added to the beginning of roots or root words, they are called prefixes. For example, the most common prefix is un-, which means not or opposite of. If you add un- to the word happy, the new word becomes unhappy, which means not happy.
When affixes are added to the end of root words, they are called suffixes. The most common suffixes are -s and -es, which mean more than one (or the plural) of the word. Adding -es to wish, changes the meaning of the word to more than one wish.
Root Words
Many English words are created from Greek or Latin root words. Root words hold the most basic meaning of a word. Most root words need a prefix and/or suffix to create a stand-alone word — for example, the Latin root word aud- meaning “to hear or listen” is not a word on its own, but it is the root of words such as audio, audible, or auditorium. Some root words can be stand-alone words — for example, the Greek root word scope meaning “viewing instrument” in the words microscope and telescope.
Root words are often referred to as base words.
Root words are often referred to as base words.
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Suffixes
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Prefixes
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