 prefixes

ambi - both  ambiguous: understood two or “both” ways  ambidextrous: using both hand with equal ease  ambivalent: both liking and hating at the same time

de – down, from  demote: move down in grade/ rank  descend: to climb down from a higher place  decline: bend down, turn down

circum - around  circumference: distance around  circumscribe: draw a line around  circumnavigate: sail around

micro - small  microscopic: too small to see with the unaided eye  microcosm: small world  microcyte: small cell

macro – large, great  macroscopic: large enough to be seen by the unaided eye  macrocosm: the great entire world  macrocyte: large cell

inter – between, among  interact: working among others  interrupt: break between  intervene: come between

anti - against  antidote: give against (usually to stop a poison)  antibiotic: against bacteria  antisocial: go against society

dis (di, dif) – apart, away, not  divert: turn away  differ: stand apart  disrupt: to break away

syn (syl, sym) – same, together  synonym: same meaning as  symphony: together in sound or action  syllable: sounds put together to form words

extra - beyond  extraordinary: beyond what is usual  extrasensory: understanding what is beyond normal feeling  extraterrestrial: beyond earthly

homo - same  homonym: same name  homogenous: full of the same kind  homophone: same sound

in (ig, il, im, ir) - not  inactive: not active  ignoble: not noble  illegal: not lawful  imperfect: not perfect  irrational: not reasonable

medi - middle  median: middle of something  medieval: middle ages  medium: middle size

per – through, thoroughly  perspire: through the pores of the skin  permit: thoroughly allowed  perennial: through the year

bi -two  bicycle: two wheels  biennial: two times a year  binomial: two names or numbers

un - not  unarm: not having a weapon  unconscious: not aware or conscious  unequal: not equal

omni - all  omnipotent: being all powerful  omniscience: state of knowing all  omnivorous: result of eating all things (vegetables and animals)

retro - backward  retroactive: something that goes backward in time  retrogress: go backward  retrospect: look backward

ambul - walk  amble: to slowly walk  ambulatory: walking  perambulate: to walk through while inspecting

equ - same  equal: same amount  equilateral: same or equal sides  equator: line that separates same sides

pre - before  prefix: before something  precede: before in time or place  prevent: before it happens

post - after  postpone: after a time  postscript: after the signature  posthumous: occurring after death

contra - against  contradict: speak out against  contrary: against another  controversy: result of turning against

dem - people  democracy: government ruled by people  demographics: statistical record of people and population  epidemic: affecting many people

trans – across, through  transit: to travel across  transfer: to carry across  transmit: to send across

auto - self  autobiography: life story of a person, written by that person herself  automobile: a vehicle that moves by itself  autonomy: the result of ruling one’s self

bene - good  beneficial: changing things for the better  benign: good or harmless  benediction: act of saying good words (a blessing)

theo - god  theology: study of god  atheist: one who is without god  theocracy: government ruled by god

ab – away, from  abduct: lead away  absent: to be away  abdicate: to give away power or responsibility formally

semi – half  semicircle: half of a circle  semifinal: a game before the final  semicolon: punctuation mark