Prefixes State Reading Preparation

Omni- Latin prefix All Every – Omnipotent=all powerful – Omniscient=all knowing Spelling strategy: to decide how to spell the unstressed vowel sound represented by a schwa,think of another form of the word in which the vowel is stressed. Then, use the same vowel. – For example, morality; you will know to use an a in moral.

Re- Latin prefix Again Back – Latin word fluere means “to flow” Refluent means flowing back – Latin word refulgere means “to flash back” – Refulgent means brilliant Spelling Strategy- Re ending in British words like sceptre is usually spelled scepter in America

Ex- Latin prefix Out – Extort= to squeeze out – Expedite= to speed up – Exceed= go beyond the normal limits Spelling strategy: when ex means out, do not use a hyphen. Extort,export,extract When it means former, use a hyphen; ex-president, ex- wife

Multi- Latin prefix Many Much – Multitudinous=numerous – Multimedia=? Spelling Strategy: in general, use tion to spell the sound of shun, as in portion Use sion to spell the sound of zhun, as in erosion

Mal- Latin prefix Bad Badly – Malady= badly adjusted – malice= to slander Spelling strategy: the letters sc usually make the sound of sk, as in describe. Sometimes, sc makes the sound of sh, as in prescient, or s, as in science.

Ob- Latin prefix Against – obstinate-= stand against – Obstruction= something blocking (a fallen tree) Spelling strategy: verbs that end in –ate have noun forms ending in –ion. Drop the final e before adding the suffix, as in capitulate/capitulation, celebrate/celebration

Mono- Greek prefix Alone one – Monotonous speaker= uses one tone; doesn’t vary voice – Monologue=? – Monochrome=? Spelling strategy: the vowels a,o, and u after the letter g indicate the hard g as in gob (of candy) and guide. The vowels i and e after g often indicate the soft g as in prodigious and generous

Fore- Anglo-Saxon prefix Before (either in time or place or condition) – If you have foreknowledge of an event, you can take steps to prepare for it or even to forestall it. – Foretell= ? – Forefathers=?

Di- Greek prefix Apart Away – Digress= to move away from a subject – True or False, as in studious A path diverges if it branches off. A diverse menu features similar food. Spelling strategy: when you form adjectives by adding the –ious suffix to stems ending in d, use the spelling – ious as in studious. An exception to this rule is the word hideous.

Dys- Greek prefix Difficult Bad – Dysentery = ? – Dysfunctional= ? Spelling strategy: the suffixes –ety and –ity change an adjective into a noun. For example, anxious/anxiety

Auto- Greek prefix Self – Automobile=? Spelling strategy: the shun sound in a suffix is usually formed by the letters sion or tion, as in percussion or automation.

Con- Latin prefix With Together – Confluence= flowing together Spelling strategy: many words end in –ent or –ence, such as dependent or dependence.

Dis- Latin prefix Can have several meanings: – Apart – Away Disseminate or distribute -Not dishonest, disbelief Spelling strategy: the pronunciation of the letter g can be either hard or soft. Remember in a word containing a soft g, such as giant, the g must always be followed by I or e.

In- Latin prefix Two meanings: – A location or direction= in, into, within, on, toward Insert,indent,invade -A negative = no, not, without inescapable, inseparable, and inextricable - When in- is used before a word beginning with p, the prefix becomes im, such as imperviousness

Pro- Latin prefix Forward – Protruded= thrust forward – Progress=? – Prohibit=?

Trans- Latin prefix Across Over – Transparent= clear enough to be seen through – Transcontinental=? – Transplant=?