1. T. D. James-Moss, Instructor Hardeeville-Ridgeland Middle School 2013-2014 Root Words and Affixes (Affixes = Prefixes and Suffixes)

2. Important Vocabulary Terms Prefix: a symbol, letter or number added to the beginning of a word A prefix often changes the meaning of a word.

3. Important Vocabulary Terms Suffix: a letter or group of letters added to the END of a word Suffixes can be used to form new words. A suffix can change the meaning of a word.

4. Important Vocabulary Terms Root Word: A root word is the central origin or source of a word’s meaning. The “root” of a word is its most basic part. There are roots in English that come from many languages.

5. Prefix: “Un-” Remember: “Un-” essentially means “not,” “against” or “opposite of.” Some examples: -Unaffordable -Unbelievable -Uncivilized -Unproductive

6. Prefix: “Re-” Remember: “Re-” essentially means “back” or “again.” Some examples: -Restart -Realign -Reflex -Report

7. Prefix: “Pre-” Remember: “Pre-” essentially means “before.” Some examples: -Preamble -Premeditate -Prenuptial -Preadmission

8. Prefix: “Bi” Remember: “Bi-” essentially means “two” or “twice.” Some examples: -Biannual -Bicentennial -Bifocal -Bilingual

9. Prefix: “Mis” Remember: “Mis-” essentially means “lack of,” “bad,” “wrong” or “opposite.” Some examples: -Misinformed -Misanthropic -Misperception -Misdiagnosis

10. Prefix: “Dis” Remember: “Dis-” essentially means “to deprive of,” “to exclude or remove,” “the opposite of” or “the absence of.” Some examples: -Disability -Disarray -Disconcert -Dispossess

11. Prefix: “ Il -” Remember: “Il-” essentially means “not.” Some examples: -Illogical -Illegible -Illiterate -Illaudable

12. Prefix: “ Ir -” Remember: “Ir-” essentially means “not.” Some examples: -Irresponsible -Irrational -Irregular -Irrefutable

13. Prefix: “ Non -” Remember: “Non-” essentially means “not.” Some examples: -Nonnegotiable -Nonsense -Nonabrasive -Nonconfrontational

14. Prefix: “ Over- ” Remember: “Over-” essentially means “too much or too great” or “better or beyond.” Some examples: -Overreact -Overage -Overarching -Overexert

15. Prefixes: “ Super-/Supra- ” Remember: “Super-” and “Supra- essentially mean “over and above” or “bigger and better.” Some examples: -Supernatural -Supercede -Superior -Suprarational

16. Prefix: “Extra-,” “Exter,” and “Extro-” Remember: “Extra-,” “Exter-” and “Extro-” essentially mean “outside of” or “beyond.” Some examples: -External -Extrovert -Extraordinary -Extraterrestrial