WORD FORMATION

Internal means of enriching the

vocabulary
1. Affixation
1.1. Prefixes
 1.1.1. Class changing prefixes
Be- (Germanic): A/V/N transitive verb
becalm, bespatter, bemoan, befriend, bewitch, bejewel, belittle

En- (Romance): N/A transitive verb

endanger, encircle, enfeeble, enlarge, enshrine, enslave,
entangle, entrap

De- (Romance): NV
debark, de-ice, debug, defrost
 1.1.2. Class maintaining prefixes
a) Negative prefixes

Un- (Germanic):
unfair, unexpected, unforgettable, unwitting

Non- (Latin):
nonadjustable, nonbusiness, nonfluency, non-
smoker, non-profit, non-resident
In-/il-/ir-/im- (Romance):
inactivate, insane, inattention, illogical,
improper, irrational, irrecoverable

Dis- (Latin):
disobey, disloyal, dislike, dissatisfy, disuse

A- (Greek via Latin):

amoral, apolitical, atypical, aphasic, asocial
b) Reversative prefixes

De- (Romance):
decode, deactivate, deforestation, debus, deplane, detrain,
deboost, deaestheticize, decapacitate, deescalate.

Dis- (Romance):
disconnect, discoloured, disorder, disinherit, disobey,
dissatisfy

Un- (Germanic):
undo, unwrap, unhorse, untie
c) Pejorative prefixes (meaning: bad, improper, wrong,
inadequate, false)

Mis- (Germanic):
misdemeanor, misconduct, misbegotten, misdirect,
misprint, misquote, mistreat

Mal- (Latin):
malformed, malodorous, maladjustment, maltreat,
maldistribution

Pseudo- (Greek):
pseudonym, pseudoscience, pseudo-creativity,
pseudomycelial
d) Prefixes of degree and size

Arch- (Greek):
archbishop, archdeacon, archduchess

Hyper- (Greek):
hyperventilate, hyperactive, hypermarket,
hyperglycaemia

Hypo- (Greek):
hypotension, hypochondria, hypodermic,
hypothalamus, hypothermia
Macro- (Greek):
macrobiotic, macrocosm, macromolecular, macro-scale,
macro-structure

Micro- (Greek):
microcosm, microbe, microscopic, micro-economics,
microsurgery

Out- (Germanic):
outgrow, outrun, outlive, outwit, outswim, outsmart

Over- (Germanic):
overdo, overeat, overact, overbid, overambitious,
overdraft, overenthusiasm
Super- (Latin):
supernatural, superabundant, super-active, super-quick
supermarket, supertanker, super-computers, super-
genius, super-hero, superman, superstar.

Sur- (French):
Surcharge, surtax, surreal, surplus, surmount

Sub- (Latin):
subadult, subagency, subalternate, subculture, sub-plot,
subtype
Under- (Germanic):
undercooked, underestimate, underprice, underexpose,
underling

Ultra- (Latin):
ultramodern, ultrahigh, ultramarine, ultrasonic,
ultrasound, ultra-intelligent, ultra-sharp
e) Prefixes of attitude

Anti- (Latin):
anti-abortion, anti-Catholic, anti-colonial, antipathy,
antiseptic, antithetical, anti-war, anti-missile, antisocial

Co-/com-/con-/col-/cor- (Latin):
co-author, communicate, conference, coeditor, co-edit,
co-operate, co-education, collateral, corroborate

Contra-/contro- (Latin):
contravene, controversy
Counter- (Germanic):
counteract, counter-espionage, counterweight

Pro- (Latin):
pro-allies, pro-democracy, pro-feminist, pro-union, pro-
liberal, pro-Western, pro-government, proponent, pro-
American
f) Locative prefixes

Cata- (Greek):
catastrophe, cataract, catapult

Circum- (Latin):
circumnavigate, circumcise, circumscribe, circumspect,
circumlocution

Dia- (Greek):
diagonal, diameter, dialogue, diaphragm
Inter- (Latin):
intervene, international, inter-city, inter-departmental, inter-
disciplinary, international, inter-racial, interterritorial

Super- (Latin):
superstructure, superscript, superintendent

Sub- (Latin):
subway, subcontract

Trans- (Latin):
transatlantic, transcontinental, transoceanic, transmit,
transcribe
g) Prefixes of time and order

Ante- (Latin):
antecedent, antediluvian, ante-nuptial, ante-natal

Ex- (Latin):
ex-accountant, ex-boxer, ex-communist, ex-lover, ex-
president, ex-husband

Fore- (Germanic):
forearm, forebear, forecast, forefathers, foresight,
forewarn, foreword, forename, foresee.
Pre- (Latin):
preamplifier, pre-arrange, preconception, pre-cooked, pre-
Christian, precast, precaution.

Post- (Latin):
postpone, post-budget, post-impressionism, post-medieval,
posterity, post-scriptum

Prim- (Latin):
primordial, primogeniture, primrose, primeval

Proto- (Greek):
prototype, proto-fish, proto-horse, protohuman, protozoan
h) Number prefixes

Ambi- (Latin):
ambidextrous, ambiguous, ambivalent

Bi- (Latin)/di- (Greek):

bifocal, bicameral, biennial, bicycle, dichotomy,
dilemma

Mono- (Greek)/uni- (Latin):

monarchy, monotheism, monogamy, monologue,
monorail, unilateral, unison, unicycle, unisex, unity.
Multi- (Latin)/poly- (Greek):
multifarious, multitudinous, multi-coloured, multi-faith,
multi-legged, multi-national, polygamist, polyglot,
polygon, polymath, polyphonic, polytechnic

Semi- (Latin)/hemi- (Greek)/demi- (French):

semi-annual, semicircle, semi-detached, semi-tone
demi-monde, demijohn, demigod, hemisphere
1.2. SUFFIXES
 1.2.1. NOUN FORMING SUFFIXES
a) Occupational
-eer/ier (French):
pamphleteer, engineer, pioneer, mountaineer

-er (Germanic):
glover, potter, hatter, draper

-ist (Greek):
Sadist, masochist, pianist, violonist, stylist

-or (Latin):
Doctor, actor, sculptor, councillor
b) Diminutive and female