PREFIXES.

A, a prefix to many English words, is in some cases a contraction of on, in, at, of, to, for; as, ablaze for in a blaze, aboard for on board, afoot for on foot, aground for on the ground, ado for to do, await for wait for. In other cases, it is contracted from the A.-S. inseparable particle ge-, which forms verbs from verbs, substantives, adjectives, and is a sort of augment to the past participle. In some cases, it only increases the force of the word, without any essential addition of meaning. In some words of Greek origin, a gives them a negative sense; before a vowel it becomes an.

In

a few words of Latin origin, it is another form of the prefix ab.

EXERCISE. Awake, asleep, ahead, aside, afar, aweary; apathetic, amorphous, atheist, abyss, aorist, anonymous, anomaly, anecdote, anarchy; abate,

avert.

Ab, a prefix to words of Latin origin, and a Latin preposition, is the same as the Greek ánó, Goth. af, A.-S. and Eng. of. It denotes from, separation, or departure. Before c and t, it is generally changed into abs. See A.

EXERCISE.Abduct, abject, abjure, abrupt, abrogate, absurd, abuse, abrade, absolve; abscess, abscond, abstemious, abstain. Ad. [Cf. W. at, to, toward, Goth. and Eng. at.] A Latin preposition, signifying to. In composition, the last letter is usually changed into the first letter of the word to which it is prefixed.

EXERCISE. Adhere, adjoin, addict, adjure, admit, admonish, adorn, advent, acclaim, ag

gravate, affirm, allege, applaud, arrogate, ascribe, attain. Al. 1. In Arabic, an article or inseparable prefix, answering to the Italian il, and the Sp. el. Its use is to render nouns definite, like the English the.

EXERCISE. - Alcove, alchemy, alembic, almanac, alcohol, alkali.

2. A form of the prefix ad. See AD.

Am'bi. [Lat. ambi, amb, am, an (as ambidens, ambages, amicire, anhelare), Gr. ȧupí, A.-S. emb, ymb.] About; around;-a prefix used in composition in words derived from the Latin.

EXERCISE.-Ambidexter, ambient, ambition, ambiguous; anhelation.

Am'phi, n. [See supra.] A prefix in words of Greek origin, signifying about, around, on both sides, on all sides, &c.

EXERCISE.-Amphibious, amphitheater, amphibology, amphibrach.

Ã'nȧ. [Gr. ává.] A prefix in words from the Greek, denoting on, upward, up to, throughout, backward, back to, again, previously, or against.

Be, is originally the same word as by, A.-S. be and bi or big, Goth. bi. It denotes nearness, closeness, about, on, at, and generally has an intensive force.

EXERCISE. Beset, bedeck, become, bestow, bedim, becalm, becloud, befriend, because, before, betimes.

Bi. [From Lat. bis, twice, which in composition drops the s.] In most branches of science, bi in composition denotes two, twice, doubly. In chemistry, it denotes that the compound contains two parts of the first-mentioned ingredient to one of the other ; thus, a bichromate of potash contains two parts of chromic acid to one of potash.

EXERCISE.-Bidentate, biternate, biaxal, bicapsular, bicephalous, bicipitous, bifoliate, bisect, biweekly, binominal.

Bis, adv. [Lat. bis, twice, for duis, from duo, two, like bellum from duellum.] Twice. See BI.

EXERCISE. - Bissextile. ta'tȧ. [Gr. Kará.] The Latin and English form of a Greek

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preposition used in composi- | tion to signify down, downward, down upon, downright, completely, &c. It sometimes drops the final vowel, and is sometimes changed to cath.

EXERCISE. Cataclysm, catacomb, catalogue, cataract, catarrh, catacaustic, catalepsy, catastrophe; catoptric, cafegory; cathartic, catholic, cathedral.

Çir'eum. [Accusative of cir

cus, a circle, Gr. Kipkos.] A Latin preposition, used as a prefix in many English words. In a few words the m is dropped.

EXERCISE. Circumscribe, circumspect, circumvent, circumjacent, circumnavigate, circumlocution; circuit, circuitous, circulate.

Єom- or Єon-. [The same as cum, which is akin to Gr. σύν.] A Latin preposition signifying with or against, used in composition as an inseparable prefix. The form com is used before b, p, and m, and con before the other consonants. Before, however, con or com is changed into col; before r into cor; while before a vowel or h, the n or m is dropped.

EXERCISE.

Compose, commotion, commerce, command, compact; connect, concur, construct, convoke, contract; collect; corrupt; coalesce, cohabit, co-operate, coheir, cohere. €ŏn'trȧ. A Latin preposition, signifying against, in opposition, entering into the composition of some English words. In old English, it took the form counter.

EXERCISE. Contradict, contravene, contradistinguish, contravallation; counteract, countermarch, counterpart, countercharm, counterbalance. Co. See CON. Єoun'ter. See CONTRA.

De. A Latin prefix denoting a moving from, separation. Hence, it often expresses a negative. Sometimes it augments the sense. It coin

cides nearly in sense with the

French des and Latin dis.

EXERCISE.-Debark, decline, decease, deduct, decamp, deject, deter, descend, detain, depart, detract, denude, denominate, denounce, derange, deprave, despoil,

Di. 1. [Gr. Sís, twice.] In

two equivalents of the substance indicated by the noun following that of which the prefix forms a part; as, dichloride of mercury; i. e., a compound formed of two equivalents of mercury and one of chlorine. 2. See DIS. Di'à. [Gr. diá, akin to Lat. dis.] A prefix denoting through, right through.

EXERCISE. Diameter, diagram, dialogue, diagonal, diacritical, diatribe, dialect. Dis. An inseparable prefix, from the Latin (whence Fr. des), denoting separation, a parting from; hence it generally has the force of a negative. It sometimes passes into the forms di and dif.

EXERCISE. Distribute, disconnect, disarm, disoblige, disagree, disorder, dispel, discover; divert; differ, diffuse.

Dys-. An inseparable prefix, from the Greek dvo-, hard, ill, and signifying ill, bad, hard, unlucky, dangerous, &c.

EXERCISE.

Enchant, enamor, encore, encamp, engrave, enjoy, enlarge, ennoble, enrich, employ, empower, emboss, embrace.

Ěp, [Gr. èní. See ОB.] A Ep'i. prefix, signifying on, above, toward, by, to, among, near, &c.

EXERCISE. - Epilogue, epithet, epidemic, epitaph, epidermis, epitomize, ephemeral. Eu. A prefix from the Gr. ev, well, signifying well, easy, advantageous, good, and the like.

EXERCISE. Eulogy, euEx. A Latin preposition or phony, eucharist, euphemism. prefix (Gr. έ or èk), signifying out of, out, proceeding from. Hence, in composition, it signifies sometimes out of; sometimes off, from, or out; sometimes beyond. In some words, it intensifies the mean

Extra.

[Contr. from exterâ (parte), from exter, being on the outside, from ex, out of, from.] A Latin preposition, denoting beyond or excess, often used in composition as a prefix signifying outside of, or beyond the limits or jurisdiction of that denoted by the word to which it is joined.

EXERCISE. - Extradition, extravagant, extraneous, extraordinary, extrajudicial. For. [A.-S. for, allied to Goth. fair, Ger. ver.] As a prefix to verbs, for has usually the force of a negative or privative, denoting forth, away, out, without.

EXERCISE.- Forbid, forsake, forswear, forego. Fōre. [A.-S. fore, kindred with for, prep.] An adjective used in composition, to denote advancement in place or time.

EXERCISE.- Forebode, forefather, foreshorten, foreordain, foresee, foretell, forerunner, foreground, foreshow, forestall, forearm, foreknowledge, fore

warn.

Hy'per. [Gr. vπéρ, allied to Lat. super, Skr. upare, Eng. over.] A prefix used in composition to denote excess, or something over or beyond.

EXERCISE. Hyperbolical, hypertrophy, hyperborean, hypercritical, hyperbole. Hy'po. A prefix from the Greek preposition vπó [allied to Lat. sub, Skr. upar], under, beneath, frequently used in composition to signify a less quantity, or a low state or degree of that denoted by the word with which it is joined, position beneath it, &c. In chemistry, prefixed to the

EXERCISE. Imbibe, immense, impartial, immoral, import, imprint, imbank, imbitter, imprison.

In. 1. [Allied to Gr. év, Skr. ina.] A prefix from the Latin in, often used in composition, and signifying within, into, or among, or serving to render emphatic the sense of the word to which it is prefixed.

In before l is changed into il; before r, into ir; before a labial, into im. 2. (Allied to Eng. un. See UN.] A Latin particle of negation. Before b and p, it becomes im; before 1,m,r, the n assimilates itself to these consonants.

In a

few words in is changed into ig.

EXERCISE.-1. Inbred, incase, inject, inspect, induce, infuse, inclose, increase; illation, illumine, illusion; irradiate, irruption, irrigation; imbitter, immersion, implement.-2. Inactive, incapable, invincible, intolerable, infirm, impassable; illicit, illimitable, immortal; irrepressible, irresolute; ignoble, ignorant.

In'ter. [From in, with an ad

verbial ending.] A Latin preposition, signifying among or between; -used as a prefix:

EXERCISE. Intercept, interfere, interrupt, intercede, interpose, interchange, intermingle, interview, interpose, intervene, intersperse.

In'tro. [Lat., contr. from in

tero (loco).] A prefix signifying within, into, in, and the

like.

EXERCISE. - Introduce, intromission, introvert, introit, introspection.

[Gr. μerá, allied to μéσos, Lat. medius, Eng. mid, middle.] A prefix in words of Greek origin, signifying in the midst of; also, beyond, over, after, behind, with, between, reversely.

EXERCISE.-Metaphor, metaphysics, metamorphose, metaphrase.

Mis. [A.-S., having the same origin with the verb to miss.] A prefix denoting error, wrong, defect, unlikeness, &c.

EXERCISE. Mistake, mismanage, mispronounce, mistrust, misbehave, misbeliever, miscreant, misdemeanor.

Nŏn, adv. [Lat. non, O. Lat. nænum, nenum, from neanum, or ne-unum, not one.] Not; used in English as a prefix, generally and properly to substantives and verbs only, giving them a negative sense, ordering and varying their meaning, as do the prefixes un and in those of adjectives; also, in some cases, prefixed to adjectives.

EXERCISE. Non-residence, non-performance, non-arrival, non-intercourse, non-intervention, non-conductor, non-acid, non-electric, non-existent, noncommissioned.

Ŏb. [Kindred with Gr. éní.] A Latin preposition, signifying, primarily, in front, before, and hence against, toward. In composition the b is often changed into the first letter of the word to which it is prefixed. In a few cases the b becomes s. It means reversed or back in obovate, occiput, &c.

EXERCISE.

Object, objurgatory; occasion; offer; oppose; ostentation.

Pā'rȧ. [Gr., prob. akin to Lat. præ and præter.] A preposition, used in composition, and signifying beside, to the side of, to, amiss, wrong, beyond, contrary to, &c. It is sometimes contracted into par.

EXERCISE.-Paradox, paragon, paralysis, parasite, paralfel, paragraph, paraclete, paraphrase parody, paroxysm, parhelion.

Per. A Latin preposition often

used in composition as a prefix denoting through, passing, or over the whole extent. Ther is sometimes assimilated. In chemistry, it signifies very, fully, or to the ut

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EXERCISE. Preterit, pretermit, preternatural. Pro. [Originally neuter dative for proi, Gr. πрó.] A Latin preposition, used in composition as a prefix, and denoting fore, forth, forward, in front of, in favor of, for, in the place of.

EXERCISE.- Produce, project, profess, promise, protract, pronoun, proceed, provoke, promote, protrude. Pros. [Gr. πpós. Cf. Skr. prati.] A Greek preposition, used in composition, and signifying motion towards, a being on, at, by, or beside, a remaining beside, and hence connection and engagement with any thing.

EXERCISE.-Proselyte, pros

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Ra. An inseparable prefix or preposition in words from the French and Italian, coming from the Lat. re and ad combined. See RE and AD.

EXERCISE. Rally, ramble. Rē. [Lat.] A prefix or inseparable particle in the composition of words, denoting return, repetition, or iteration. It is abbreviated from red, which the Latins retained in words beginning with a vowel.

EXERCISE. Recur, reduce, refrain, retract, revert, rebuild, reform, restore, resound, resist, renew, recall, remove, resume, revolve; redeem, redintegrate. Rē'tro. [Lat., from re, and the adverbial termination ter.] A prefix in words from the Latin, signifying back or

backward.

EXERCISE. Retrocede, retrospect, retrograde, retroact.

Se. [Original form of sine.] An inseparable preposition used in some words from the Latin, and signifying without, aside, by itself.

EXERCISE.-Secure, seduce, seclude, secede, sequester, separate, sedition.

Si'ne. A Latin preposition signifying without, and used in composition. It drops the final e in sincere, and also changes the n into m in simple.

EXERCISE. Sinecure. Stěp. [A.-S. steóp, fr. steópan, stepan, to bereave.] A prefix used in composition before father, mother, brother, &c., to indicate that the person thus spoken of is not a bloodrelative, but is a relative by the marriage of a parent.

EXERCISE. Stepson, stepsister, stepchild. Sub. [Allied to Gr. vró.] A Latin preposition, denoting under or below, used in English as a prefix, to express an inferior position, or intention, and also a subordinate degree, or imperfect state of a quality. Before c, f, g, p, r, and m, the b is changed into those letters.

EXERCISE. Subscribe, subsequent, submarine, submerge, submit, subtract, subacid, substitute, subside, subordinate, subterranean; succeed, suffer, suggest, suppose, surrogate, sum

mon.

Su'prà. [Orig. supera, from super.] A Latin preposition, signifying above, over, or beyond, and used in composition.

EXERCISE.-Supralapsarian. Sûr. A prefix, from the French, contracted from the Latin super, supra, and signifying over, above, beyond, upon.

EXERCISE. Surcharge, surmount, surprise, surfeit, surmise, surcoat, surface, surplus. Syn. A prefix from the Greek preposition σúv [Lat. cum, akin to Lat. simul, Skr. sa-, sam], with, along with, together with, at the same time. Before b, m, p, ph, it changes into sym; before 1, into syl; and sometimes the n is dropped.

EXERCISE.- Synonym, syntax, synthesis, synod, synopsis, synchronous, synovial, symbol, symmetry, sympathy, symphony, syllogism, system.

Trans. A Latin preposition, used in English as a prefix, signifying over, beyond, through, on the other side. Hence, in a moral sense, it denotes a complete change. It sometimes drops the last consonant, and sometimes the two last consonants.

EXERCISE. Transalpine, trans-Atlantic, transport, transfer, transmit, transit, transgress, transform, transcend, tradition, traduce.

Trī. A prefix, signifying three,

thrice, from Gr. Tpís, thrice, Tpeis, Tpía, Lat. tres, tria, three.

EXERCISE. Triangle, trident, triennial, tricennial, tricuspid, triune.

Ul'trå. [Lat., originally fem. of ulter, being beyond.] A prefix from the Latin, having in composition the significa

chiefly when joined with words expressing relations of place. In other relations, it has the sense of excessively, exceedingly, beyond what is common, natural, right, or

proper.

EXERCISE. Ultramarine, ultramontane, ultramundane, ultratropical; ultra-conservative, ultra-despotic.

Un. [A.-S un, and sometimes

un

on, allied to Gr. ȧv, à, Skr. an, a, Lat. in.] A negative prefix attached at will to almost any English adjective, or participle used adjectively, and to less numerous classes of nouns and verbs. See UN in the Dictionary. EXERCISE. Unable, friendly, uncertain, undo, unbar; untruth, unworthy. With. [A.-S. widh, wid, with, at, against, Icel. vidh, against. Compare A.-S. mid, midh, Goth. mith, Ger. mit, with.j An English preposition, used in composition, and signifying opposition, privation, separation, or departure.

EXERCISE.- Withdraw, withstand, withhold.

EXERCISE. Annual, cordial, final, legal, martial, regal, frugal, filial, carnal, casual, floral, manual, judicial, local, decennial.

An. [Lat. -anus.] A termination of some nouns and adjectives from the Latin, denoting office, profession, or character.

EXERCISE. Christian, comedian, tragedian, elysian, tertian, hyperborean, sylvan, republican, pagan, Roman. Ançe, [Lat. -antia.] TermiAn-cy.) nations of some nouns having an abstract sig