Merriam Websters - Dictionary of Prefixes Suffixes And Combining Forms
Suffixes and Prefixes Dictionary
Transcript of Suffixes and Prefixes Dictionary
This is an incomplete list of SUFFIXES in English. Note that this list includes only derivational suffixes (which form new words, often of a different part of speech) and suffixes which serve to mark the part of speech. It does not include the inflectional suffixes which only produce new forms of a word without changing the part of speech, eg -s for the plural of nouns.
Suffix Part of speech Meaning Examples Effect on word stress
-able adj capable, can do usable, notable, comfortable Neutral
-ably adv notably, fashionably Neutral
-ad noun group triad, monad
-ade noun lemonade, accolade, blockade Stressed suffix
-age noun forming a noun marriage, mileage, garage Neutral
-agogy noun leading pedagogy, demagogy Stressed suffix
-al adj aspect of nominal, focal, (compare -ality) Neutral
-al noun abstract noun refusal, appraisal Neutral
-ality noun property (aspect, behaviour, condition) of proportionality, sexuality (see -al and -ity) Stressed suffix
-an adj urban Neutral
-an adj, noun republican, Roman, veteran Neutral
-ance noun relevance, annoyance, repentance Neutral
-ancy noun pregnancy, redundancy, vacancy Neutral
-ant adj
relevant, dominant, pleasant Neutral
-ant noun assitant, immigrant, inhabitant Neutral
-ar adj linear, alveolar Neutral
-ar noun beggar, liar Neutral
-ard noun drunkard, coward, wizard, steward Neutral
-ary adj ordinary, secondary, military Neutral
-ary noun dictionary, library, seminary Neutral
-arch noun ruler, leader monarch, tetrarch Neutral
-archy noun rule, leadership
gynarchy, anarchy Neutral
-ate adj literate, desperate, fortunate Neutral
-ate noun certificate, advocate Neutral
-ate verb concentrate, oscillate Neutral
-athlon noun sporting event pentathlon, decathlon Stressed suffix
-ation noun state or concept of invitation, pronunciation, starvation Stressed suffix
-ation noun from verb with -ate, state or concept of concentration, oscillation, narration Stressed suffix
-ative adj talkative, lucrative, affirmative Neutral
-atory
noun laboratory, conversatory
-bound adv heading in the direction of inbound, outbound, citybound
-cele, -coele, -coel noun body cavity mucocoel or mucocoele
-cele noun tumor, hernia hydatidocele
-centesis noun puncturing amniocentesis, rachicentesis
-cephalic adj relating to the head anencephaly, macrocephaly
-chondrion noun small grainlike structure mitochondrion
-cide noun murder, killing agent suicide, vespacide, regicide, fratricide Neutral
-city noun practice atrocity
-cy noun expressing the quality of an adjective diplomacy, literacy, idiocy Neutral
-cycle noun circle, cycle, unit of radio frequency epicycle, hydrocycle Neutral
-dom noun state or condition of freedom, boredom, kingdom Neutral
-ectasia, -ectasis noun stretching out brochiectasis, telangiectasia
-ectomy noun surgical removal laryngectomy, vasectomy Stressed suffix
-ed adj bored, tiled Neutral
-ee noun changes verb to a noun (the object of that verb) employee, referee, payee Stressed suffix
-eer
adj engineer, overseer Stressed suffix
-eme noun linguistic unit lexeme, phoneme, morpheme
-emia noun blood condition leukemia, anaemia Stressed suffix
-en adj golden, wooden, written, frozen Neutral
-en verb lessen, deafen, frighten Neutral
-enchyma noun cellular tissue mesenchyma, karyenchyma
-ence noun independence, violence, absence Neutral
-ency noun frequency, clemency, consistency Neutral
-ent adj
different, excellent, independent Neutral
-ent noun resident, regent, superintendent Neutral
-eous adj courteous Neutral
-er noun changes verb to noun (the subject of that verb, see also -or) write, writer Neutral
-ergy noun work energy, synergy
-ern adj direction western, northern Neutral
-ery noun slavery, machinery, nunnery Neutral
-ese adj, noun nationality, language Chinese, Lebanese, Portuguese Stressed suffix
-esque adj in the style of Pythonesque, Romanesque, picturesque Stressed suffix
-ess noun female actress, waitress, stewardess, priestess Neutral
-esthesis, -esthesia noun sensation, feeling synesthesia, kinesthesis Stressed suffix
-etic adj energetic, sympathetic, frenetic
-ette noun small ~ diskette, statuette, usherette Stressed suffix
-fare noun how things are going / coming along welfare, fanfare, warfare Stressed suffix
-ful adj full of, having some or much hopeful, useful Neutral
-gate noun
a scandal, often political (back-formed from the Watergate scandal) Watergate, nipplegate Neutral
-gnosis noun knowing prognosis, diagnosis Stressed suffix
-gon noun angle polygon, pentagon Neutral
-gry noun adjective form of only 2 or 3 nouns in the English language angry, hungry Neutral
-hedron noun seat, face icosahedron, tetrahedron Stressed suffix
-holic adj love, addiction alcoholic, workaholic Stressed suffix
-hood noun state/condition of, a group sharing characteristics brotherhood, adulthood, falsehood Neutral
-ia noun
abnormal state mania, apraxia, dementia, dysarthria Stress on previous syllable
-iable adj sociable Stress on previous syllable
-ial adj special, filial, remedial Stress on previous syllable
-ian adj mammalian Stress on previous syllable
-ian adj, noun Brazilian, Christian Stress on previous syllable
-ian noun librarian, barbarian, physician Stress on previous syllable
-iant adj deviant, defiant Stress on previous syllable
-iary adj tertiary Stress on previous syllable
-iate verb asphyxiate, deviate Stress on previous syllable
-ible adj capable, can do (same as -able) incredible, terrible, visible
-ibly adv incredibly, responsibly, terribly Stress on previous syllable
-ic adj (adjective) neurotic, electronic, historic Stress on previous syllable
-ical adj historical, phonological, economical Stress on previous syllable
-ics noun the study of Physics,Aerodynamics,Forensics, economics Stress on previous syllable
-id adj (categorical) property (aspect) of hominid, tepid, candid, fervid (compare -al)
-iency noun expedieny Stress on previous syllable
-ient adj salient, sentient, expedient Stress on previous syllable
-ier noun cashier, financier, gondolier Stress on previous syllable
?ify, ?fy verb to become, make clarify, specify, basify, vilify Stress on previous syllable
-ile adj tactile, facile, volatile Neutral
-illion large numbers million, billion
-ious adj delicious, ambitious, religious, vivacious Stress on previous syllable
-ing noun noun from verb, in the process of doing, acting Neutral
-ing noun bedding, stuffing, roofing Neutral
-ion noun action, companion
-ish adj
adjective from noun; sort of; approximately foolish, selfish, greenish, tallish Stress on previous syllable
-ish adj, noun nationality, language Spanish, Turkish, English Stress on previous syllable
-ism noun doctrine, act, practice, condition Protestantism, alcoholism, Buddhism, southernism Neutral
-ist noun person dentist, socialist, cellist Neutral
-ista adept fashionista
-ite noun member of a group socialite, Carmelite Neutral
-itis noun disease, inflammation hepatitis, gingivitis Stressed suffix
-itive adj sensitive Neutral
-itude noun attitude, gratitude, Beatitude Stress on previous syllable
-ity noun expressing state or condition normality, formality, banality Stress on previous syllable
-ium noun metallic element (exception: helium) sodium, Calcium Stress on previous syllable
-ive adj make the noun an adjective defensive, aggressive, passive Neutral
-ization/-isation noun organization/organisation, categorization/categorisation Neutral
-ize/-ise verb to cause, to be, to become materialize/materialise, idolize/idolise Neutral
-izzle used for hip hop slang Americizzle
-kinesis
noun movement (ability thereof) telekinesis
-less adj lack of homeless, useless, careless Neutral
-let noun diminutive, or denoting a relation to some part of the body ringlet, hamlet, anklet Neutral
-like adj having the qualities of childlike Neutral
-ling noun smaller, younger, cuter or weaker version of the noun root OR sharing an identity or quality of the noun root (e.g. as a follower) darling, duckling, earthling, sapling Neutral
-ly adj -like, having the attributes of stately, monthly Neutral
-ly adv -like, having the attributes of quickly Neutral
-man noun person fireman, statesman Neutral
-mancy noun divination by crystallomancy, bibliomancy, necromancy Neutral
-mania noun an irrational but irresistible motive for a belief or action kleptomania, megalomania, mythomania Stressed suffix
-ment noun abstract noun movement, amazement, government Neutral
-meter noun measuring device barometer, thermometer
-metry noun measure symmetry, geometry, isometry
-mony noun testimony, ceremony Neutral
-morphism noun
form isomorphism, homomorphism
-most adj utmost, innermost Neutral
-ness noun abstract noun kindness, ruthlessness, darkness Neutral
-nik noun Slavic origin; corresponds to "-er" otkaznik, beatnik
-ocracy noun system of government kakistocracy, democracy, androcracy Stressed suffix
-ogram noun writing, description ideogram Stressed suffix
-ography noun study of stenography, geography, photography Stressed suffix
-oid adj resembling solenoid, hominoid
-oid noun resembling planetoid
-ologist noun one who studies a scientific subject archaeologist Stressed suffix
-ology study, science biology, psychology, planetology Stressed suffix
-ome noun subject of an "-omics" genome
-omics noun study of rules proteomics, economics Stressed suffix
-onomy noun knowledge of astronomy Stressed suffix
-onym noun name, word antonym, consonym, heteronym
-opsy noun examination autopsy, biopsy
-or
noun changes verb to noun (see also -er), person actor, governor Neutral
-or or -our noun candor, fervour, color
-ory adj auditory, sensory Neutral
-ory noun history, repository
-ose adj full of, like, given to; carbohydrates, protein derivatives verbose; globose
-osis noun process, action, formation, diseased condition mitosis, osmosis, ostosis, psychosis
-ous adj adjectival suffix porous, disastrous, nervous Neutral
-phagy, -phagia noun eating monophagy
-philia noun
attraction hemophilia
-phobia noun fear acrophobia, mysophobia
-phone noun, adj sound, audio; speaker of a language telephone, homophone; Anglophone Neutral
-phyte noun plant, used in botany to create terms which categorise plants based on their life-history, growth-form or ecological preferences therophyte, halophyte
-polis noun referring to city or big area Metropolis, Indianapolis
-science noun knowing omniscience, prescience, conscience
-scope noun from Greek skopos, view; instrument for viewing and observing spaces microscope, telescope, kaleidoscope, periscope
-script noun written
manuscript, transcript
-ship noun abstract noun, state of being friendship, relationship, dictatorship Neutral
-sion noun noun that has been altered from a process decision, illusion Stress on previous syllable
-some adj tiresome, awesome, fulsome Stress on previous syllable
-stan noun land, country Afghanistan
-ster noun person youngster, gangster Neutral
-t adj burnt, spoilt Neutral
-th, -eth adj ordinal number tenth, millionth, twentieth
-th noun forming a noun
growth, health, depth, strength
-tion noun noun that has been altered from a process evaporation, introduction Stress on previous syllable
-tom, -tome noun part or segment dermatome
-tropism noun to turn phototropism
-ty noun certainty, loyalty Neutral
-uary noun sanctuary, mortuary
-ulent adj turbulent, fraudulent
-uous adj tempestuous, unctuous, sensuous Neutral
-ure noun failure, exposure, temperature Neutral
-us
noun inflammation ulcus
-ville noun city, town from French Nashville
-vore, -vorous noun / adj to devour carnivore, herbivore
-ward or -wards adj, adv direction southward, inward, upward Neutral
-ware noun software hardware, software, freeware
-ways adj sideways, longways Neutral
-wise adj direction clockwise, lengthwise Neutral
-wright noun person who makes playwright, wheelwright, shipwright
-y adj having the quality of, inclined to
runny, messy, chewy Neutral
The following prefixes may appear as parts of words in the English language.
Alongside a few "native" English prefixes (such as under- or with-), we find many which acted as prefixes in other languages (mainly Greek, Latin or French) and which English has adopted in already-compounded forms (such as deci- or pyro-).
A prefix may or may not operate productively: one can readily form new coinages with multi-, but might not meaningfully succeed in doing so with twi-. Most Greco-Latin prefixes serve to form new words (classical compounds) in technical jargon.
Note that while some of the following morphemes always function as prefixes (co- or syn-, for example, others simple exemplify linguistic roots that generally or commonly occur first in compound words, like sperm- (compare Leptospermum) or even stand alone as definite words in their own right (under-, Anglo-).
Prefix Meaning Examples
a(n)- not, without atonality, asexuality, amoral, anarchy, anonymous
ab- away abduction, absolutism, ablution
acr(o)- high, up, hill Acropolis, acrobatics
ad- near, at adrenal
aden(o)- gland adenectomy
aer(o)- air aeronautics, aerodrome, aeroplane, aerodynamics
agr(o)- relating to farming agriculture
alt- high altitude
alter- another Alter-ego, alternate
am- love amorous, amateur
ambi- around, either, encircling ambiguity, ambidexterity, Ambisagrus
an(a)- out of anachronism
andr- man androgyny, androcentrism, android, androgen
anem- wind anemometer
Anglo- English or British Anglo-Irish relations
ante- before antebellum, antediluvian
anthropo- relating to human beings anthropology, anthropocentrism, anthropomorphic
ant(i)- against antidote, antibody, anticlockwise, antichrist
archa(e)o- ancient archa(e)ologist, archa(e)ology
astro- celestial body astrophysics, astrology
auri- gold auriferous
aut(o)- self autonomy, autobiography, automobile, autopilot, autopsy, automatic
bar(o)- heaviness, heavy barometer
bathy- deep Bathyscaphe, bathysphere
be- completely, excessively; forms transitive verbs bemuse, bespeak, bewail
ben- well Benediction, benign
bi- two bicycle, bijection, bicameralism
bi(o)- life biology, biography, biopsy
bibli(o)- relating to books bibliophilia, bibliography
blast(o)- bud, germination blastocyst
brady- slow bradycardia
brom(o)- stench Bromine, bromide
bronch(o)- relating to breathing bronchitis
cac(o)- bad cacophony, cacography
cad/cas- a fall cadence, cascade
carcin(o)- relating to cancer carcinogenic
cardi(o)- heart cardiovascular, Cardiac arrest
cent-, centi- hundred or hundredth centenarian, centimeter, centipede
cephal(o)- head cephalothorax
chrys(o)- gold chryselephantine, chrysoberylchrysography
chrom(ato)- colour chromatic, chromosome
chron(o)- time
chronology, chronic, chronicle
circum- around circumcision, circumlocution, circumference
co- together cooperative, co-belligerence
colpo- vagina colpospasm
con- with, together connotation, Congress, congregation
contr- against, opposite contradiction, contraception, controversy
cosm(o)- world cosmology, cosmopolitan, cosmotheism
counter- against, opposite counterpoint, Counter-Reformation
crin(o)- cry(shed tears) endocrinology
cryo- frost, icy cold cryogenics,
cryoelectronics, cryostorage
crypt(o)- hidden cryptography, cryptozoology
cupri- copper cupriferous
cyt(o)- cell (originally hollow receptacle) cytoplasm, cytology
culp- fault culpable, culprit
dactyl(o)- finger, digit dactylogram
de- taking something away, the opposite decentralisation, dehydration, Denazification
dec(a)-, dek(a)- ten decamerous, December, decimeter, decade
deci- one tenth deciliter
dem(o)- people demographics, democracy
derm(at)- skin dermatology, dermatitis
di- two, double dichromic
di- day diurnal
dia- through diameter, diagnosis, diarrhea
didact(o)- apt at teaching didactic
dis- apart, separation, reverse, opposite dissent, discovery, disambiguation
dok, dox(o)- view, teaching doxology, dogma, orthodox
dynam(o)- power, force dynamic, dynamite, dynamo
dys- bad, deformed, abnormal dyspepsia, dystrophy, dysarthria
e-, ex-, ec- out of eject, exculpate
eco- house economy, ecology, ecosystem, ecotage
ecto- outer, external ectomorphic, ectoparasite
edaph(o)- soil edaphic
electr(o)- relating to Electricity electrocution, electroencephalogram
embry(o)- embryo embryogenesis
en- to make ~ (transitive verb) enrage, enlarge
end(o)-, ent(o)- inside endoscope, endothermic, entoblast
enne(a)- nine enneastyle, enneagram
enter(o)- intestine enteritis
entomo- insect entomologist, entomophily
eo- earliest, most primitive eobacterium, eohippus
ep(i)-, eph- upon, above, around epitaxy, epicenter, ephemeral
erg(o)- work, labour ergonomics synergy, energy
erythr(o)- red erythrocite
erot(o)- love erotic, erotomania
ethno- race, people ethnology, ethnolinguistics, ethnocentrism
eu- good eulogy, euthanasia, eugenics, euphemism
Euro- European Euro-MP, Eurocentric
ex- former, out of ex-wife, ex-president, exculpate
exo- outside exoskeleton
extra- outside, beyond, additional extra-thin, extra-special extraordinary, extraterrestrial, extraordinary
flor- relating to flowers florist
fore- before, in advance foreskin, foreshadowing
gast(e)- stomach gast(e)ropod
geo- earth geography, geology
glosso- language glossogeny, glossogony, glossolalia
gyn- female gynaecology, gynoid
helio- sun heliocentic, heliotherapy
hemi- half hemimetabolous, hemisphere
h(a)emo-/h(a)emato- blood hemophilia, hemophobia,
h(a)ematologist
hept- seven heptagon, heptachord
heter(o)- different heterogenous, heterosexual
hex(a)- six hexapod, hexagonal, hexameter
hippo- horse hippophile, hippodrome, hippogryph
hol(o)- whole, entire hologram, holistic, Holocene
hom(o)- same homogenous, homosexual, homophone
hydro- water hydrogen, hydry
hygro- humidity, moisture hygrometer, hygroscopy
hyper- excessive2, having more than three spatial dimensions (mathematics) hyperactive, hyperthyroidism
hypno- sleep hypnogenetic, hypnotherapy
hyp(o)- below2 hypodermic
in- intensively inflammable, invaluable
in-1 not infallibility, illiteracy, immoral, irrelevant
inter- between, mutual intervention, international, internet
intra- within intramural, intravenous, intraocular
kilo- thousand kilogram, kilowatt
kinesi- movement kinesitherapy
litho- Rock lithosphere
Luso- Portuguese lusophone
Mac- or Mc- "son of" (often used in last names) McCarthy, Kirsty MacColl
macro- large macrobiology, macroscopic
mal- bad malpractice, malnutrition
maxi- many ,most maximal, maximum
Mc- McDonalds-like, often derogatory McJob, McPaper (See McWords)
mega(l)- million, very large megabyte, megaphone, megalopolis
meso- middle mesoamerica, mesoscale
meta- after, beyond metacarpal, metaphysics, metatarsal
micro- one millionth, very small microgram, microorganism, micronation, microscope
mid-
in the middle of mid-term elections, Mid-Autumn Festival
milli- thousandth milligram, milliliter
mini- small miniskirt, miniseries
mis- bad, wrong miscarriage, misanthropy, misogyny, mistake
mon(o)- one, single monolith, monorail, monotony, monocle
multi- many multiculturalism, multilingualism
myco- relating to fungi mycology, mycoprotein
myri(a)- Ten thousand myriagon, myriad
necro- death necrobiosis, necrophilia
nephro- kidney nephrology, nephrotomy
non- not
nonsense, non-denial denial
non- nine nonagon
O'- (son) of (often used in Irish family-names) O'Brian
oct(o)-, oct(a)- eight octane, octopod, octagon, October
omni- all omnidirectional, omnivore, omnipotent
oo- ("oo-oh") egg, ovum oocyte
ornitho- bird ornithologist, ornithomancy
osteo- bone osteoblast, osteosis, osteoporosis
out- more, to a greater degree outdo, outrun
over- (noun) more than normal, too much overpopulation, over-consumption, overlord
over- (verb) to do too much, to (verb) over overlook, overspend, oversee
pan(to)-1 universal, all-embracing pandect, pantechnicon, Pantocrator, pamphlet
para- beyond, near, contrary paralegal, parachute
pent(a)- five pentagon
peri(o)- around, about, enclosing, near perimysium, pericardium, periosteum, perinatal
photo- light, photon photograph, photosensetive, photosynthesis
phyto- relating to plants phytogeography, phytoplankton
post- after postpartum depression, postmodernism
pre- before prediction, preview, precedent, prenatal care
pro- for, in favour of pro-choice, protagonist
proto- primitive, original protostar, protoplasm
pseudo- false pseudoscience, pseudonym
psycho- mind, mental psychology, psychosomatic
pyro- fire, flame pyromania
quadr-, quart- four quadrangle, quadruplet, quartic, quartile
quasi- like, as if quasiparticle
quinque- five quinquesection,
quint(i)- fifth, five quintiped, quintet
re- again, repeatedly reduction, reflection, revolution
rect(i)- proper, straight rectify, rectangle
retro- backward retrograde, retrospective
scler(o)- hard scleroderma, atherosclerosis
semi- half, partial semi-automatic, semi-detached
sept(a)- seven September
sex(i)- six sexivalent
Sino- Chinese Sino-American relations
spasm(o)- spasm spasmatic, spasmolysis
sperm- seed spermophile, spermine
spher(o)- sphere, ball spherical, atmosphere
sphygm(o)- pulsation sphygmomanometer,
sphygmograph
splen(o)- spleen splenomegaly
splanchn(o)- viscera splanchnopathy
schiz(o)-, schist(o)- split schizophrenia, schistocyte
sci- know, knowledge science, omniscient
seismo- earthquake seismography, seismometer, seismology
staphyl(o)- cluster, uvula staphylococcus, staphyloplasty
stom(ato)- mouth stomatitis, stomach
styl- pillar stylus, stylist, stylopodium
sub- below, less than, under,2 subset, subsonic, subway, subtitles
super- extremely, more than,2 superhuman, Superego,
supersonic
syn- together, united, at the same time synergy, synchronicity, synesthesia
tach(y)- rapid, accelerated tachycardia, tachymeter, tachyon
tel(e)- distance, distant telecommunications, television, telephoto lens, telodynamic
tel(o)- end teloblast, telophase
theo- god theology, theogony
trans- across, beyond transfer, transubstantiation, transatlantic, Trans-Siberian railway
tri- three triangle, tricolor, triptych
twi- two twilight, twig, twin
über- / uber- super- / excessive / very uberfic, Übermensch, übercool
ultra- extremely, beyond certain limit ultramontanism, ultraviolet
un1- not, opposite, take something away unconstitutional, undelete
under- below, incompletely underestimate, underage, undercook
uni- one, single uniform, unification
up- higher upscale, update, upgrade, upheld
ur- first, original urtext
ur(o)- urine uric, urinal
vita- life vitamin, vital
with- together, united withhold, withstand
zoo- ("zoo-oh") relating to animals zoomorphic, zoology,
zoophilia