eu-The prefix eu- means “good” or “well.” It’s the opposite of the prefix dys-.. Meaning: The doctor says his dyspepsia has been replaced by good digestion.. in-Before l, m, or r, the n
Trang 1Joe has dyslexia.
Meaning: Joe has difficulty reading.
The doctor has treated Jane for dysphasia.
Meaning: The doctor has treated Jane for difficulty in swallowing.
Many children in that country have died from dystrophy.
Meaning: Many children in that country have died from bad nutrition or ill-ness caused by lack of proper nutrition.
eu-The prefix eu- means “good” or “well.” It’s the opposite of the prefix dys-.
Tim gave a beautiful eulogy about Glenn.
Meaning: Tim gave a beautiful statement about the good things Glenn has
done
He tried to think of an appropriate euphemism to lessen the impact of his
words
Meaning: He tried to think of an appropriate good substitute expression to
lessen the impact of his words
The doctor says his dyspepsia has been replaced by eupepsia.
Meaning: The doctor says his dyspepsia has been replaced by good digestion This instrument provides a euphonious sound.
Meaning: This instrument provides good, or pleasing, sound.
ex-The prefix ex- means “out,” “out of,” or “from.”
He emitted a low sound (The x is deleted before the m.) Meaning: He sent out a low sound.
They expelled the unruly students.
Meaning: They drove out, or removed, the unruly students from the institution The doctor asked him to exhale slowly.
Meaning: The doctor asked him to breathe out slowly.
Trang 2That organ excretes waste.
Meaning: That organ sends out waste.
They exculpated him.
Meaning: They showed that he was without blame.
in-Before l, m, or r, the n of this prefix becomes the same as the first consonant of
the word
The prefix in- has two meanings The first meaning is “not.”
Jim knew his actions were illegal.
Meaning: Jim knew his actions were not legal.
The amount of poisonous gas was insignificant.
Meaning: The amount of poisonous gas was not significant.
He suffered from an irregular heartbeat.
Meaning: He suffered from a heartbeat that was not regular.
Bruce’s actions were immoral.
Meaning: Bruce’s actions were not moral.
The council’s decision was impossible to understand.
Meaning: The council’s decision was not possible to understand, or
comprehend
The second meaning of the prefix in- is “in,” “into,” or “on.”
The doctor injected him with an antibiotic.
Meaning: The doctor forced an antibiotic into his body with a syringe.
This country imports a large amount of grain from overseas.
Meaning: This country brings in a large amount of grain from overseas.
(Import is the opposite of export.)
They need to illuminate the field better.
Meaning: They need to put more light on the field.
She tried to introduce a new topic.
Meaning: She tried to bring a new topic into the discussion.
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Trang 3inter-The prefix inter- means “between.”
The new interstate highway is wonderful.
Meaning: The new highway between two or more states is wonderful.
His major is really interdisciplinary.
Meaning: His major is between two or more disciplines.
Larry tried to talk to Heidi during the intermission.
Meaning: Larry tried to talk to Heidi during the period between acts.
The interlineal comments were difficult to decipher.
Meaning: The comments written between the lines were difficult to decipher.
intro-The prefix intro- means “into.”
The chemical was introduced to the solution through a tube.
Meaning: The chemical was placed into the solution through a tube.
She is suffering because she is very introverted.
Meaning: She is suffering because she is not outgoing (not extroverted); she
focuses her attention into herself rather than onto other people.
per-The prefix per- means “through.”
The substance can permeate only this type of blotting paper.
Meaning: The substance can pass through only this type of blotting paper This is a perennial process.
Meaning: This is a process that lasts through the year.
The pieces of broken glass perforated the canvas.
Meaning: The pieces of broken glass passed through the canvas.
He persisted in attempting to convince his employers to use more technology
and fewer people
Meaning: He followed through in attempting to convince his employers to
Trang 4post-The prefix post- means “after.”
This postwar era brought the realization that the victory was not as
meaning-ful as previously believed
Meaning: The era after the war brought the realization that the victory was
not as meaningful as previously believed
Maria postponed the party.
Meaning: Maria rescheduled the party after the originally scheduled time.
It’s not proper to add a postscript in this type of letter.
Meaning: It’s not proper to add a short paragraph after the body of this type
of letter
George and Helen signed a postnuptial agreement.
Meaning: George and Helen signed an agreement after they were married.
pre-The prefix pre- means “before” or “prior.”
She says that she had a premonition that he was not going to arrive today.
Meaning: She says that she had a prior warning that he was not going to
ar-rive today
Harry and Mary signed a prenuptial agreement.
Meaning: Harry and Mary signed an agreement before they were married.
The students took a pretest the first day of the course.
Meaning: The students took a test before the course to determine their
knowl-edge at that time
The doctors hope that with this vaccine, they’ll be able to prevent her from
getting the disease her mother has
Meaning: The doctors hope that with this vaccine, they’ll be able to take
prior action to avoid her getting the disease that her mother has.
Bob read the preview but not the actual homework that he was assigned.
Meaning: Bob read the short description before the chapter but not the actual
homework that he was assigned
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Trang 5pro-The prefix pro- means “forward.”
The man’s body was propelled through the air by the force of the explosion Meaning: The man’s body was driven forward through the air by the force of
the explosion
The boys are progressing slowly on their bike ride through the state.
Meaning: The boys are moving forward slowly on their bike ride through the
state
The Dean says that Professor Borglum is entitled to a promotion.
Meaning: The Dean says that Professor Borglum is entitled to be moved for-ward (advanced).
re-The prefix re- means “again” or “back.”
The paramedics revived the surfer after pulling him from the rough water Meaning: The paramedics made the surfer alive again (brought him back to
life) after pulling him from the rough water
Her retort was devastating.
Meaning: Her sharp answer back (reply) was devastating.
Gary has not completely recovered from his injuries.
Meaning: Gary has not completely become well again (been rehabilitated)
from his injuries
These materials can be recycled.
Meaning: These materials can be processed again (reprocessed).
She reverted to her previous attitude.
Meaning: She went back (returned) to her previous attitude.
Trang 6retro-Retro- means “backward” or “back.”
This statute is intended to apply retroactively.
Meaning: This statute is intended to apply backward in time.
In retrospect, I probably should’ve asked for a jury trial.
Meaning: Looking back to the past, I probably should’ve asked for a jury trial.
The range of motion in retroflexion has improved.
Meaning: The range of motion in bending backward has improved.
sub-The prefix sub- means “under.”
The town council decided to build a subterranean hurricane shelter.
Meaning: The town decided to build an underground hurricane shelter.
The submarine rose suddenly to the surface.
Meaning: The vessel that travels underwater rose suddenly to the surface.
He needs to improve the way he treats subordinates.
Meaning: He needs to improve the way he treats people whose positions are
under his position.
Without the landlord’s permission, a sublease is not permitted by your
agreement
Meaning: Without the landlord’s permission, a lease under another lease is
not permitted by your agreement
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Trang 7Prefix Practice Exercise
Choose the correct prefix that, when added to the root, gives the meaning indicated Write your answer on the line provided
Sample
Q
de- dis- sub-
contra-Meaning of whole word: below water
This _marine plant life has suffered because of the drought
The answer is sub- Write the prefix sub- on the line preceding marine to form the word submarine.
1. ab- un- extra-
bi-Meaning of whole word:
not normal Because of the child’s _normal behavior, he was referred to a psychiatrist
2. ad- a- anti-
circum-Meaning of whole word: stick
This material will _here to that one without glue
3. ante- sub- ad-
post-Meaning of whole word:
underground The mole is a _terranean animal that destroys lawns
4. anti- sub- ad-
ante-Meaning of whole word: next to last
The _penultimate meeting of the legislators was the most fruitful one
Trang 85.
bi-
semi-
contra-
post-Meaning of whole word: every other
month
The _monthly newsletter was sent to
press yesterday
6.
ex-
per-
con-
contra-Meaning of whole word: say the
opposite of
I would appreciate it if you would not
_dict me in front of the children
7.
dys-
dis-
pre-
post-Meaning of whole word: take apart
The children said it was disgusting to
_sect a dead frog
8.
dis-
contra-
ex-
dys-Meaning of whole word: bad
digestion
His bouts with _pepsia caused his
doctor to order tests in an attempt to locate
the problem
9. dis- anti- contr
a-Meaning of whole word: not typical
The result obtained from this batch of tests is _typical; therefore, we must reconfigure the plan
10. ante- af- de-
dys-Meaning of whole word: attach
To make this word, you must _fix the prefix to the root
11. eu- dys- ad-
per-Meaning of whole word: pleasing
expres-sion, expression that sounds better
It angered Peggy to hear the funeral direc-tor use a _phemism to refer to the dreaded disease that killed her husband
167
Trang 912.
ad-
contra-
ex-
eu-Meaning of whole word: removed blame
from, found guilty
Harry sued the police for false arrest after
the court system _culpated him in the
criminal prosecution
13.
pre-
post-
anti-
re-Meaning of whole word: before marriage
The marriage was called off because John
and Becky could not agree on the terms of
the _nuptial agreement
14.
con-
anti-
contra-
dis-Meaning of whole word: plot together
She believes that Helen and Sue will
_spire against you if you don’t change
your proposal
15.
con-
ad-
bi-
circum-Meaning of whole word: distance around
This is not the correct formula for calculat-ing the _ference of a circle
16. ant- contra- pro-
ad-Meaning of whole word: counteracting acid
Susan felt much better after drinking an _acid formula
17. anti- a- bi-
contra-Meaning of whole word: two party
The two political groups became enraged at each other and came to no conclusion in the _partisan session
18. ante- contra- post-
anti-Meaning of whole word: opposite
What you are proposing is the _thesis
of what I’ve been trying to accomplish for many months
Trang 1019.
pro-
de-
dys-
anti-Meaning of whole word: bring down,
re-duce rank of
There is a feeling that they are going to
_mote the colonel because of his
ques-tionable actions
20.
de-
dys-
in-
ante-Meaning of whole word: reduce, bring
down
If you don’t _crease the speed soon,
you may not be able to stop in time
21.
a-
re-
pro-
sub-Meaning of whole word: without
disease-causing microorganisms
The _septic condition of the operating
room must be maintained at all times
22.
re-
retro-
pro-
anti-Meaning of whole word: applied backward
in time Lisa quit her job because her employers re-fused to make her raise _active
23. post- re- inter-
eu-Meaning of whole word: become healthy
again, be rehabilitated Patty would like to return to work, but she must wait another two weeks to
_cover completely from her illness
24. re- pro- in-
inter-Meaning of whole word: moving forward
We have made a great deal of _gress
in combating this disease
25. pro- in- inter-
per-Meaning of whole word: pass through
When a rib breaks like that, there is an added danger that it will _forate an organ
169