Latin Derivatives III: Prefixes

Reading 7 / Ms. Kelly

Verba Ad Origine:Vocabulary

from its origin

Latin Derivatives 3: Prefixes

1. Ad

2. Ante

3. Bi

4. Circum

5. Co

6. Contra, Contro, Counter

7. De

8. Inter

9. Intra, Intro

10.Mis

11.Multi

12.Post

13.Pre

14.Pro

15.Quadr

16.Quasi

17.Quint

18.Retro

19.Semi

20.Sub

21.Super

22.Trans

23.Tri

24.Ultra

25.Uni

1. ad: to; toward

Examples: adhesive, admissible, advocate A substance such as

tape that sticks to other things is ______ve.

Admissible evidence ____ [may/may not] be used in a court case.

2. ante: before

Examples: antebellum, antedate, anterior Antebellum days came

___ [before / after] the Civil War.

That which is toward the front or which comes before is ____ [anterior / posterior].

3. bi: two

Examples: bicameral, bifocal, biped, bipolar Glasses with two

different prescriptions in each lens are called ___ [bifocals / monocles].

4. circum: around

Examples: circa, circumference, circumvent The line around a circle

is the ___ [circumference / diameter[].

To circumvent a villain is (a) to get around him and outwit him, (b) to fall into his trap.

5. co: together

Examples: coagulate, coeducation, coexistence, coincidence Coeducation refers to

the teaching of male and female student ___ [together / separately].

When blood or any other fluid coagulates, it (a) gets thinner, (b) clumps together.

6. contra, contro, counter: against

Examples: contraband, controvert, countercharge Contraband is ___ [legal /

illegal/ merchandice.

7. de: away; down

Examples: degradation, delusion, derision The lunatic was lured

away from reality by ____ [illusions / delusions] of grandeur.

8. inter: between

Examples: intercultural, interlinear, interview Relations between cultural

groups are said to be ___ [intercultural / subcultural].

An interview is a meeting ____ two or more people.

10. mis: wrong, bad

Examples: misadventure, misdemeanor, misunderstanding, misnomer Our plumber is called

Speedy, but that’s a misnomer (wrong name). He is actually very (a) fast, (b) slow.

It’s important that you study your Latin prefixes. A ________ing can make a big difference!

9. intra, intro: within

Examples: intramuscular, intrastate, intravenous Intrastate business goes on

between New York City and ___ [Chicago / Albany].

11. multi: many

Examples: multimillionaire, multiped, multitude A multiped insect has ___

[many / two] feet.

13. pre: before

Examples: preamble, precedence, prejudice That which has

precedence comes ___ [before / after] the rest.

The word prejudice implies that a judgment is made _____ [after / before] the facts are studied.

12. post: afterExamples: posterior, posterity,

posthumous Heath Ledger won an Oscar for

his role in Batman: The Black Knight posthumously, that is ___ [before/after] his death.

14. pro: forward; favoring

Examples: progeny, prognosis, prolabor Those interested in their

_________ny (offspring) tend to look (a) forward, (b) backward.

15. quadr: four

Examples: quadrangle, quadrant, quadruplets The pie graps was

equally divided into four ____________ts.

A quadrangle, as on a college campus, is an area with ______ sides and _______ angels.

16. quasi: seemingly but not

actuallyExamples: quasi-antique, quasi-

poetry, quasi-scientific A writer who refers to the

“quasi-scientific mumbo-jumbo of astrology” ___ [does / does not] believe that astrology is a true science..

17. quint: fiveExamples: quintessence, quintet,

quintuplets “I’m pooped,” said the stork.

“I just brought Mrs. Shlep a set of ____________ts” (five children).18. retro: back

Examples: retroactive, retrogress, retrofit If society is retrogressing, is is

(a) improving, (b) going to a worse condition.

A law or rule which includes an earier period is ___ [retroactive / radioactive].

19. semi: half

Examples: semicircle, semiannual, semilunar A semilunar shape is

like that of the ____ [full / half] moon.

A semiannual sale happens once every ___ [two years / six months].

20. sub: under

Examples: subconsious, subway, subcutaneous, subtrahead The subconscious

operates ____ [within / under] the conscious mind.

A subcutaneous infection is ___ [on / under] the skin.

21. super: above; beyond

Examples: supersensory, supersonic, superstructure Supersensory impressions

are ____ [within / beyond] the normal limits of the senses.

Speeds beyond the speed of sound are _______________ic.

22. trans: across

Examples: transgress, transpolar, transversal, transcontinental The _______________al

railroad was built to connect the east and west coasts of the United States.

Examples: tricuspid, trilingual, triplicate My Swiss friend speaks

French, Geman, and English. He’s ____________al.

23. tri: three

24. ultra: very; beyond

Examples: ultraconservative, ultramodern, ultraviolet Ultraviolet rays are

invisible because they lie ____ [beyond / inside] the violet end of the visible spectrum.

The Gelts had a dream kitchen – the latest in _______modern equipment – but they always ate out.

25. uni: one

Examples: unicameral, unicorn, unicycle, The horns on a unicorn

reach the grand total of ________.

A tricycle has three wheels; a bicycle, two. A ____________ has one wheel