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VOCABULARY

PREFIXES AND ROOTS

If you are familiar with these word parts, you can often decipher the meaning of unfamiliar words, even

words you have never seen before. In the following lists, each element is followed by its meaning in

parentheses and one or more words formed with it.

PREFIXES

These are the parts that are placed in front of words to change or modify the meaning. For example, pre-is a

prefix meaning in front, before. Added to fix, it creates a word meaning "to place in front."

Positive or intensifying prefixes:

arch- chief, principal! archbishop, a bishop of the highest ran#$ architect, the designer of a building

originally the chief builder!

bene- good, well! benefactor, one who does good$ benevolent. wishing well

eu- good. well. beautiful! eulogize, spea# well of someone, praise$ euphemism,pleasant way of saying

something unpleasant

extra- beyond, outside! extraordinary, unusual. exceptional$ extracurricular, outside the usual course of

studies

pro- for, before, in front of! proponent, supporter$progress, advancement, going forward or further

super- over, above!supernatural.beyond the normal$superintendent, one who watches over or is in

charge

ultra- beyond. excessively! ultraconservative. %verly conservative. &eactionary

Negative prefixes:

an-, a- without! anarchy, without government

anti- against. opposite! antidote, remedy for poison$ antipathy. disli#e, aversion

contra- against! contradict, disagree$ controversy, dispute, argument

de- down. away from! debase, lower in value$ decant.pour off

dis-, di-, dif- not, apart! discord, lack of harmony$ dismember. separate into parts$ diverge, go in

different directions

ex-, e-, ef- out, off, from! exhale,breathe out$ eject, throw out

in-, ig-, il-, im-, ir- not! incorrect, wrong$ illegal, against the law$ immature, not fully grown

mal-, male- bad, badly! malediction, curse$ malefactor, evil doer

mis- wrong, ill, not! misbehave, act badly$ misfortune,bad luc#

non- not! nonsense, something absurd

ob-, oc-, of-, op- against! object, give reasons against$ oppose, resist, stand in the way of

TRAINING COURSES FOR THE TOEFL iBT, GMAT, GRE, SAT AND MICHIGAN TESTS

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sub-, suc-, suf-, sug- under!subjugate,bring under control

un- not! untrue. false

Other prefixes:

ab-, abs- from, away from! abduct, lead away, #idnap$ abnormal, strange, not following the usual

pattern

ad-, ac-, af-, ag-, an-, ap-, ar-, as-, at- to, forward! advance, go forward$ aggravate, ma#e worse

ambi- both! ambivalent, having conflicting emotions leaning both ways!

ante- before! antebellum,before the war usually the 3ivil 7ar!

auto- self! automobile, a vehicle that moves by itself

circum- around! circumspect, cautious loo#ing around!

com-, co-, con- with, together! combine, merge with

en-, em- in, into! emphasize,put stress on

in-, il-, im-, ir- in, into! invade, go in li#e an enemy

inter- between, among! intervene, come between

per- through!perforate, ma#e holes through

pre- before!precede, go before

re- bac#, again! respond, answer

se- apart!segregate, set apart

trans- across, beyond, through! transparent, letting light through

Roots8ou will be surprised by how many 9nglish words are derived from :ust these ;0 roots.

ag, act todo! act, deed$ agent, doer$ retroactive, having a bac#ward action

cap, capt, cep, cip to ta#e!particpate, ta#e part$ capture,sei

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duc, duct to lead! aqueduct, artificial waterway$ education, training leading out!$ conduct, lead or

guide fac, fie, fec, fect to ma#e or do!factory,place where things are made$fiction, made-up story$

affect,cause to change

fer, lat from an irregular =atin verb meaning to bring, to carry! transfer, to bring from one place to

another$ translate, to bring from one language to another

graph, gram writing! epigram, a pithy statement$ telegram, a message sent over great distances$

graphite, a soft carbon that is so named because you can write with it

leg, lect to choose, read! election, choice$ legible, able to be read$ eligible, able to be selected

mitt, miss to send! missile, pro:ectile$ admit, let in$ dismiss, send away$ transmit, send across

mori, mort to die! mortuary, funeral parlor$ moribund, dying$ immortal, never dying

pon, posit to place! postpone, place after or later$ positive, definite, certain definitely placed!

port, portat to carry!portable, able to be carried$ transport, carry across$ export, carry out of the country

scrib, script to write! transcribe, copy$ script, writing$ circumscribe, enclose, limit write around!

TRAINING COURSES FOR THE TOEFL iBT, GMAT, GRE, SAT AND MICHIGAN TESTS

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www.toeflperu.com6www.proficiencydevelopment.com

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