Unit – 2

Vocabulary

2.1          Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms

Synonyms are words that carry a similar or same meaning to another word. Sometimes even though the synonym of a word has an identical meaning the word and the synonym may not be interchangeable. For example, "blow up" and "explode" have the same meaning, but "blow up" is informal (used more in speech) and "explode" is more formal (used more in writing and careful speech). Synonyms also provide variety to speech and writing.

Many words in the English language contain more than one synonym. Some examples of Synonyms:

Shallow - superficial

Stop – cease

Spontaneous - capricious

Gloomy – sad - unhappy

House - home - abode

Evil - bad - wicked

Garbage - trash - junk - waste 

Present – gift – reward – award

Sniff – smell – inhale

Little – small – tiny

Under – below – beneath

Short list of synonyms in English, listed by the part of speech:

Nouns:

• Belly / stomach
• Children / kids
• Disaster / catastrophe
• Earth / soil
• Father / dad
• Happiness / joy
• Instinct / intuition/ understanding
• Mother / mom
• Present / gift
• Sunrise / dawn

Verbs:

• Answer / reply
• Beat / defeat
• Behave / act
• Begin / start
• Close / shut/ turn on/turn off
• Leave / exit
• Provide / supply/ distribution
• Select / choose
• Shout / yell
• Speak / talk

Adjectives:

• Big / large
• Complete / total/number
• Correct / right
• Crazy / mad
• Foolish / silly /fool/ stupid
• Happy / glad
• Hard / difficult
• Ill / sick
• Last / final
• Near / close
• Sad / unhappy
• Stable / steady/ strong

Adverbs:

• Abroad / overseas
• Almost / nearly/ about / approx.
• Bad / poorly
• Fast / quickly
• Intentionally / purposefully
• Out / outside
• Rarely / seldom/ not common
• Sometimes / occasionally/ periodically
• Surely / for sure/ definitely
• Very / highly / extremely/too much

Prepositions:

• Above / over/ more
• About / regarding / concerning
• Against / versus
• Below / beneath / under
• By / via
• Despite / in spite of
• In / into/ to
• Off / away
• Until / till
• With / including

Conjunctions:

• And / plus
• Because / since
• But / yet/for now
• If / provided
• Once / as soon as possible/ and

Interjections:

• Hello / hi
• Gee / gosh
• Goodness / goodness me / my goodness
• No / nope
• Oh Lord / oh good Lord
• Thanks / thank you
• Whoopee / yahoo / hooray
• Yes / yeah

Antonyms

Antonyms are words that carry the opposite meaning to another word. They can be used to show contrast between two things or emphasize a point. Antonyms can be totally different words from their counterparts or can also be formed by adding prefixes to some words.

Below are some examples of antonyms that are commonly used in the English language:

Antonyms formed by changing entire words

Love – hate

Beginning – ending

Ugly – beautiful

Wild – tame

Extrovert – introvert

Antonyms formed by adding prefix –un

Acceptable - unacceptable

Able - unable

Do - undo

Certain – uncertain

Seen – Unseen

Antonyms formed by adding the prefix –in

Decent – indecent

Tolerant – intolerant

Human – inhuman

Curable – incurable

Expressible – inexpressible

Antonyms formed by adding the prefix –non

Sense – nonsense

Essential – nonessential

Flammable – non-flammable

Renewable – non-renewable

Entity – nonentity

Other prefixes used to form antonyms of words are –anti (Thesis - Antithesis), -ill (Literate – Illiterate), -mis (Informed – Misinformed), -dis (Assemble – Disassemble) etc.

Short list of antonyms in English, listed by the part of speech:

Nouns

• Day / night
• East / west
• The enemy / friend
• Failure / success  
• Guest / host
• Health / disease
• Question / answer
• Speaker / listener
• Summer / winter
• Top / bottom/ up / down

Verbs

• Agree / disagree/accept
• Arrive / leave/ come / go
• Begin / end/ start
• Fall asleep / wakefulness/sleep
• Find / lose/ gain
• Lend / borrowing
• Love / hate
• Open / close/turn on /turn off
• Remember / forget
• Start / stop

Adjectives

• Is asleep / awake
• Beautiful / ugly /good/ bad
• Big / small
• Black / white
• Cheap / expensive
• Dead / alive
• It is dry / wet
• Easy / difficult
• Full / empty
• Good / bad
• Hot / cold
• Intelligent / stupid/you are smart
• Sad / happy/ exciting
• Sick / living healthy
• Thin / fat

Adverbs

• Always / never
• With anger / happily/ excitement
• Fast / slowly
• Here / there
• Inside / outside/ indoors/ outdoors
• Likely / unlikely/possible/ impossible
• Near / far
• Partly / fully
• Seemingly / actually/ visually
• Yesterday / tomorrow

Prepositions

• Above / below
• Against / for / because
• Before / after
• In / out/ indoors/ outdoors
• Like / unlike/ love / contrast
• On / off
• Plus / minus
• To / from
• Towards / away/remote
• With / without

Conjunctions

• And / or
• Therefore / nevertheless /or so

Interjections

• Bravo / boo

• Hello / goodbye
• Holy cow / duh
• Phew / oops
• Thanks / no thanks
• Yes / no
• Yippee / oh my/ oh

2.2          Prefixes and Suffixes

Before understanding what are prefixes and suffixes, it is necessary to first understand what are the various types of words and their classification int he English language.

Words are the second smallest unit used during the construction of a sentence after the alphabets. They are the building blocks of any grammatical construction. Words are different combinations and sounds but unlike alphabets, each word carries meaning in itself.

Each word consists of two parts – the alphabet (A-Z) and the syllable. A syllable can be defined as a single or unbroken sound of a written or spoken word. It is a unit of uninterrupted speech which must contain a vowel sound a diphthong or a syllabic consonant. They are also known as beats of a spoken language.

Syllables often contain a vowel with a singular or multiple consonant but that does not mean that there are no syllables without vowels. Some syllables contain only consonants but they do have a verbal sound in them.

A word can be monosyllabic as well as polysyllabic. Monosyllabic meaning it will consist only one syllable for example the words dog, bat, try, shy, kill, heel etc. While polysyllabic words might contain two or more than two syllables, for example, computer (comp-u-ter), relax (re-lax), independent (in-de-pen-dent), extra (ex-tra), document (do-cu-ment).

Syllabus are not to be confused with phonemes as phonemes represent the smallest unit of sound whereas syllables represent and unbroken sound within the word. For example the word chat is made up of three phonemes /ch/ /a/ and /t/, however it contains only one syllable – chat.

There are a few basic rules to determine the number of syllables in a word, they are as follows –

1. Prefixes and suffixes must always be separated from root words.

Examples: Pre-view, End-less, Il-literate

2.      If there are two or more consonants next to each other there is always a division between the first and second consonant.

Examples: Buf-fet, Des-sert, Ob-ject.

However if the two consonants produce a single sound they are not to be divided.

Examples: th, sh, ph, ch, sc.

3.      If a consonant is surrounded on either sides buy a vowel –

1. If the volume has a long sound it has to be divided before the consonant.

Examples: Ba-by. Re-sult, Fro-zen

b.     If the Vowel has a short sound, it has to be divided after the consonant.

Examples: Mo-del, Ra-vage, Me-tal

4.      Words that end with ‘ckle’ have to be divided right before the ‘le’

Examples: Freck-le, Tick-le, Buck-le

5.      Word that end with ‘le’ without the ‘ck’ –

1. If the letter before ‘le’ is a consonant it has to be divided one letter before ‘le’.

Examples: Ap-ple, Fa-ble, Ta-ble

b.     If the letter before ‘le’ is a vowel, it should be considered as a single syllable.

Understanding the use of syllables is very essential to understand word formation with prefixes and suffixes. Syllabic structure in spoken English is quite flexible, for example a single vowel can be considered a whole syllabus like in the word Unequal (Un-e-qual).

Parts of Speech

Depending upon the way they are used in a sentence, words can function in different ways when used in a sentence. All words can be classified into eight fundamental parts that are required to construct a complete sentence: noun, pronoun, verb, adjective, adverb, preposition, conjunction, and interjection. These parts of speech determine how a word functions in meaning as well as grammatically within the sentence.

The use of the words defines their place and meaning in a sentence.

1. Noun

Nouns, also called naming words, refer to any person, place, animal, thing or idea. Nouns can be singular or plural, concrete or abstract. There are two types of nouns:

1. Proper noun- These nouns start with capital letters and refer to the name of a particular place or thing. Ex – Barack  Obama, Himalaya mountains.
2. Common noun- These nouns start with lower case letter and refer to the names of general places or things. Ex – man, teacher, letter

2.     Pronoun

A pronoun is a word used in place of the noun.

A pronoun which substituted in place of a specific noun is called an antecedent. Pronouns can be further defined by  their various types: personal pronouns describe specific persons or things; possessive pronouns imply ownership; relative pronouns introduce a subordinate clause; and demonstrative pronouns identify, point to, or refer to nouns.

Ex - Me, she, her, mine, theirs.

3.     Adjective

An adjective is a word that describes the quality or quantity possessed by a noun. It answers the questions like which one, what kind or how many. It is a word used to modify or describe the noun or a pronoun.

Ex - Young boy, Pretty girl, Huge elephant, One thousand sea shells.

4.     Adverb

An adverb is a word that modifies or describes a verb, an adjective, or another adverb, but never a noun. When, where, how, why, under what conditions, or to what degree are the types of questions that are answered by an adverb. Adverbs often end in -ly.

Ex- Very long letter, quickly disappear out of sight.

5.     Preposition

Prepositions are words placed before a noun or a pronoun in order to modify the meaning of other words in a sentence. The prepositional phrase almost functions as an adjective or an adverb.

Ex- The boy received a number of sweets from the teacher.

6.     Verb

A verb is a word that expresses the state of being or work being done by the subject. There are main verbs and there are also helping verbs known as auxiliary verbs. Verbs can also be used to express tense.

Ex – She vanished in the darkness.

7.     Conjunction

A conjunction is a word that joins words, phrases or clauses and establishes a relationship between them. And, but, or, nor, for, so, yet are some examples of conjunctions.  

8.     Interjection

An interjection is a word which is used to express emotion. They are usually followed by exclamation points.

Ex. Oh dear! Wow! Oh my God!

AFFIXATION: Prefixes and Suffixes
 

Change is the forte of any living language. Affixes are those used to form new words. These affixes are added either before or after the base form. It is of two types. Prefixation and suffixation.

Prefixes

The fixes that are added before the base form are called prefixes. A prefix is a syllable or syllables placed at the beginning of a word to qualify its meaning and form a new word. It has its origin from Greek, Latin and Native English.

The prefixes are classified as follows:

• Negative Prefixes
• Reversative Prefixes
• Pejorative Prefixes
• Prefixes of Degree or size
• Prefixes of Attitude
• Locative Prefixes
• Prefixes of time and order
• Number Prefixes
• Other prefixes
• Conversion prefixes

Negative Prefixes:

a) The negative prefix'- 'in' is used-with words of Latin origin –‘Un’ is found in English Unfortunate, injustice.

b) The exact opposite meaning is brought by the prefix – dislike, disloyal.

c) Latin and French non-meaning not is used Non-violence, non-committal.

d) A-means lacking, a moral, asymmetry.

Reversative Prefixes:

a) Un - means to 'reverse action. Added to verbs (Reverse of Action) untie, unseat, unload.

b) de - means to reverse action added to abstract noun defrost, deforestation.

c) dis - to deprive of' is added to verbs, participles and nouns. Disconnect, discoloured, discontent.

Pejorative Prefixes:

Depreciatory means diminish in value.

a) mis– wrongly
misinform, misconduct, misleading

b) mal - means 'badly
mal treat, mal function, mal formed, malodorous

c) Pseudo means false
Pseudopodia, pseudo-intellectual

Prefixes of Degree or size:

a) Arch - highest, chief
Archbishop

b) Super - means above, more than, better
superman, super market, supernatural

c) Out - means to do something, faster, longer
Out run, out live

d) Sur - means over and above
surtax

e) Sub - means lower than, less than
sub human, substandard, subordinate

f) Over -too much
over real, over dressed, over confident

g) under - means too little
undertook

h) Ultra - means extremely
ultraviolet, ultra-modern

i) Mini - means small or little
miniskirt

Prefixes of Attitude:

a) co - with or joint
co-operative, co pilot

b) Counter - means in opposition to
countuant, counter-revolution

c) Anti means against
Antisocial, anticlockwise, antimissile.

d) Pro- means of the side of
Pro-communist

Locative Prefixes:

Super –Over - super structure

Sub -means beneath - subway subconscious

Inter means between - international interaction

Trans - means across - transplant, translation

Prefixes of time and order:

Fore - -means before - fore tell

Post - means after - post-war Ex-means former

Pre - means before - pre-war, pre-planned

Ex – means former - ex-minister

Re - means again - rebuild, resettlement, rewrite

Number Prefixes:

Uni, mono means one - unilateral, monotheism

Bi, di means two - bi lingual, dipole

Tri means three - tripartite

Poly, multi means many - multi racial, poly syllabic

Other Prefixes:

Semi means half - Semi circle

Vice means deputy - Vice president

Auto means self - Auto biography

Neo means new - neo-gothic

Pan means world wide - Pan-American

Proto means first - prototype.

Conversion Prefixes:

Be, en and a

Be spectated (Participle adjective)

Bewitch (transitive verb)

Enslave (verb) afloat (adjective)

Below is a list of most prefixes in the English language listed alphabetically:

A
a-, ab-, absent-: from, away from
a-, an-: at, in, on; by way, condition, or condition

a-, an-: not, without, lack
acanth-, acantho-: spiny, thorn
acous-: sensation
s-, acro-: high; the end, the end
aden-, adeno-: gland
adren-, adreno-: adrenal gland
aer-, aero-: air, gas
all-, allo-: other, different
alti-, alto-: up
am-, amb-, ambi-, am-: both sides; all around; about
amyl-, amylo-: starch
has: also; absolutely, absolutely
an-, an-: up, up; back, back
andr-, andro-: man; the male
anem-, anem-: spirit
ant-, ante-: before, before, before; before the
anthrop-, anthropo-: man
anti-, ant-, anth-: against, opposite; to fight, to defend
api-: bee
where-, ap-: away; from; it is related
aqui-, aqua-: water
arbor-, arbori-: a tree
arch-, history-: chief, principal, superior; too much
arche-, archeo-, archaeo-: archaeo-: ancient, ancient
arteri-, arterio-: artery
arthr-, arthro-: combined
star-, astro-, aster-: star
atmo-: steam
audio-: hearing, sound
auto-: to move them
avi-: a bird
az-, azo-: nitrogenous
 

B
bacci-: a bear
bacteri, bacterio-: viruses
bar-, baro-: weight, pressure
bath-, person-, bath-: depth, depth
were: cause, cause; to take from
they were: on, over; against, beyond; completely, excessively
bi-, bio-: life, living
bi-, bis-: double, double, double, double
biblio-: book
blephar-, blepharo-: eyelid, eyelid
bracchio-: arm
brachy-: short
brevi-: short
bronch-, broncho-, bronchi-, bronchio-: throat, lungs
 

C
caco-: evil
calci-: lime
Cardio-: heart
carpo-: fruit
cat-, cata-, cathe-, cato-: down, down, down; against; perfection, absolute, absolute
cen-, ceno-: new, recently
centi-: one hundred
cephal-, cephalo-: head
cerebro-: brain
cervic-, cervico-, cervici-: neck
chiro-: hand
chlor-, chloro-: green
chol-, chole-, cholo-: bile
chondr-, chondri-, chondro-: cartilage
choreo-: dancing
choro-: country
chrom-, chromo-, chromato-: color, colored
chron-, chrono-: time
chrys-, chryso-: gold
Circ-, circ-: round, approx
cirr-, cirri-, cirro-: curl
cis-: in this direction; nearby
cleisto-: closed
con ,, co-, cog-, col-, com-, cor-: and, with; absolutely, absolutely
contradiction-: against, opposed, contrasted, opposite
cosmo-: the atmosphere
counter-: against, and against; hold on
cranio-: skull
cruci-: cross
cry-, cryo-: cold
crypt-, crypto-: hidden
cupro-: copper; of copper
cyst-, cysti-, cysto-: bladder, adj
cyt-, cyto-: cell
dactyl-, dactylo-: finger, toe
 

D
de-: down, from, parting; not; backwards remove; find; taken
deca-, deci-, dec-, deka-, dek-: ten
demi-: half, part of
dent-, dent-, dento-: tooth
dentro-: three
derm-, derma- dermo-: skin
deut-, deuto-, deutero-: second
dextr-, dextro-: right side
di-: two
dia-, di-: through, across
digit-, digiti-: finger
dipl-, diplo-: twice, twice
dis-: remove, delete; do the opposite
dis-, dif-, di-: not, opposite; out; two
dodeca-, dodec-: twelve
dors-, dorsi-, dorso-: back of body
dyna-, dynamo-: power, power
dys-, dis-: bad, hard, hard; evil; extraordinary
Yes
echin-, echino-: spine
ect-, ecto-: out, out
ef-, e-, ec-: out, not, out
el-, em-, en-: in, thing, in, in
en-, em-: cause, to do; to round, to cover
encephal-, encephalo-: brain
end-, endo-: in, in
ennea-: nine
ent-, ento-: in, in
enter-, entero-: intestines
entomo-: insect
that is: early, old
epi-, ep-: on, on, sideways, over; externally, externally; on time
equality: equals, alike
erg-, ergo-: work
erythr-, erythro-: red
ethno-: race, nation
at: good, good; the truth
ex-, exo-: from; out, out, out, out; out; the former
over-: out, out; besides, excessive, extra, different
 

F
febri-: fever
Ferri-, Ferro-: iron
Fibr-, fibro-: similar to fibrous
fissi-: divide
fluvio-: river
because-: not; against, forward; far; prohibited
before-: before, in advance; in front, the front part of
 

G
to achieve:
galact-, galacto-: milk
gam-, gamo-: together; to imitate
gastr-, gastro-, gastri-: stomach, food
ge-, geo-: earth, earth
gem-, gemmi-: hl
geront-, geronto-: aging
gloss-, glosso-: tongue; the language
gluc-, gluco-, glyc-: sweet
glypto-, glyph-: carpentry
gon-, gono-: to be born again
grapho-: to write
exercise-, exercise-: naked
gynec-, gyneco-, gynaec-, gynaeco-: wife
hagi-, hagio-: holy
 

H
hal-, halo-: salt, sea
hapl-, haplo-: simple, single
hect-, hecto-: hundred
heli-, helio-: sun
helic-, helico-: Spinning
hem-, hemo-, haem-, haem-, haem-, hema-: blood
hemi-: half
hepat-, hepato-: liver
hepta-, hept-: seven
hetero-, heter-: unique, opposite, strange, strange; someone else
hexa-, hex-: six
history-, histo-: tissue
hodo-: path, path
hol-, holo-: complete, complete, complete
home-, homo-, homeo-: same, same, same
hydr-, hydro-: water, liquid
hyet-, hyeto-: rain
hygr-, hygro-: wet
hyl-, hylo-: matter
hymeno-: membrane
hyp-, hypo-: under, under; imperfection, under
hyper-: over, over, over, over; over 3 sizes
hypn-, hypno-: to sleep
hypso-: high
hyster-, hystero-: uterus; hysteria
Me
atro-: tree
ichthy-, ichthyo-: fish
igni-: fire
ileo, ileo-: small intestine
ilio-: upper hip bone, flank
in, ig-, il-, im-, ir-: (forms adjs) not, the opposite
in, il-, im-, ir-: (form nouns, verbs) in, in; on
infra-: less, less; inside
inter-: middle; in the middle, in the middle
intra-: in, in, in; out; on time
intro-: inside; to enter, in the middle
is-, iso-: equals, uniform; equality, uniformity
 

J
juxta-: near, near, side by side
 

K
kerat-, kerato-: cornea
kinesi-, kineto-: movement
 

L
labio-: lip
lact-, lacti-, lacto-: milk
laryng-, laryngo-: larynx, voice box
lepto-: young
leuk-, leuko-, leucleuco-: white
lign-, ligni-, ligno-: wood
litho-: Say it yourself
log-, logo-: name, word of mouth
what is: month
lyo-, lysi-: To dissolve, to disperse
 

M
macr-, macro-: large; long
magni-: good
mal-, male-: bad, bad; illness; evil; strange, inadequate
malac-, malaco-: soft
mega-, megalo-, meg-: great, great; million
melan-, melano-: black, black
mero-: part
mes-, meso-: medium, medium
meta-, met-: beyond; back; more; changed / transferred / replaced
metr-: average
metr-, metro-: uterus
micr-, micro-: too small
middle-: middle, mean
mini-: too small, too short
mis-: dull, small, lacking; illness
mis-: to vary; feature; wrong, wrong, bad
mis-, miso-: hate
mon-, mono-: one, one, one, one, one
morph-, morpho-: shape, form
many-, mult-: many, very much
my-, myo-: muscle
myc-, myco-: fungus
myel-, myelo-: spine, context
this-: nose
 

N
birth-: birth
Usa, n-: no, not
Usa, neo-: new, recently; rehabilitation
necr-, necro-: dead corpse
neo-: cloud
nephr-, nephro-: kidney
ner-, neuro-: nerves
nocti-: night
non-: not; backwards it's not important, it's lacking
noso-: ill
not-, not-: back of body
nycto-: night
ob-, oc-, of, o-, op-: in the form of; against; without, excessively
octa-, octo-, oct-: eight
ocul-, song-: eye
odont-, odonto-: tooth
of, op-: against
oleo-: oil
olig-, oligo-: few
ombro-: rain
omni-: all
oneiro-: a dream
ont-, in: being, body
oo-, o-: egg
ophthalm-, ophthalmo-: eye
ornith-, ornitho-: bird
oro-: mouth
orth-, ortho-: straight
oste-, osteo-, ossi-: bone
oto-: ears
out-: pity, pass, pass; more
ov-, ovi-, ovo-: egg
over-: over, over, over, over
oxe-: sharp; oxygen
 

P
pachy-: size
pale-, paleo-, palae-, palaeo-: ancient, ancient
pan-, panto-: everything, everything, group, whole; all around the world
para-, par-: close, side by side; as, likewise
para-, par-: inversely, opposite; unusual, flawed
pari-: equivalent
path-, patho-: suffering, disease
ped-, pedo-: child
penta-, pente-, pent-: five
per-, pel-: through; well; by; because
peri-: round; about, to be internalized
petr-, petri-, petro-: stone; gasoline
phago-: food
phleb-, phlebo-: vein
phon-, phono-: sound, speech
pictures-, photo-: light; photo
phren-, phreno-: mind; stomach
phyll-, phyllo-: leaf
phylo-: species, life form
picr-, picro-: unpleasant
piezo-: pressure
pisci-: fish
plan-, plano-: level; moving
pleur-, pleuro-: side of body, sidelong
pluto-: riches
pluvio-: downpour
pneum-, pneumo-: breath, lungs; air, gas
pneumat-, pneumato-: breath, fume
poly-: many; over the top
post-: after, a while later; behind, after, later
pre-, prae-: previously, prior, ahead of time, preliminary; need
preter-: past, more than
primi-, demure : first
ace : preferring; replacing
ace , por-, pur-: for, in favor of; front, forward, forward; previously, prior
aces : to, towards, close; before
prot-, proto-: first, unique; most reduced
pseud-, pseudo-: bogus, deceptive
psycho-, psycho-: mental; mind, soul, soul
ptero-: wing
pulmo-: lung
pyo-: discharge
pyr-, pyro-: fire, heat
 

Q
quadri-, quadr-, quadru-: four
semi : taking after, appearing to be, virtual
quinque-: five
 

R
re-: once more, back; once more, a subsequent time
recti-: straight
reni-, reno-: kidney
retro-: in reverse, back
rheo-: stream
rhin-, rhino-: nose
rhiz-, rhizo-: root
 

S
sacchar-, sacchari-, sacchro-: sugar
sacr-, sacro-: pelvic; above tailbone
sangui-: blood
sapr-, sapro-: dead, bad; rotting
sarc-, sarco-: tissue, muscle
scelero-: hard
schisto-, shiz-, schizo-: split
se-: aside, separated; isolating
seba-, sebo-: greasy
selen-, seleno-: moon
semi-: half; to some extent, fragmented
septi-: seven
sero-: serum, blood
sex-, sexi-: six
sider-, sidero-: star; iron
sine-: without
somat-, somato-: body
somn-: rest
sperm-, spermo-, sperma-, spermi-, spermat-, spermato-: seed
spiro-: breath
stato-: resting position, balance
stauro-: cross
stell-: star
sten-, steno-: short, thin, close
stere-, sound system : strong; multi-dimensional
stom-, stomo-: mouth
styl-, styli-, stylo-: style
styl-, stylo-: column
sub-, suc-, suf-, sug-, whole , sup-, sus-: under; underneath, underneath; less, about, nearly; optional
subter-: underneath; under
super-, supra-, sur-: above, finished, higher, in overabundance; extraordinary, unrivaled
syn-, sy-, syl-, sym-: with, together, simultaneously
 

T
tachy-: fast
rigid , tauto-: same
tele-, tel-, telo-: inaccessible; electronic correspondence
teleo-: last, reason
land : land, earth
the-, theo-: god
therm-, thermo-: heat
thromb-, thrombo-: blood cluster
topo-: place, point
tox-, toxi-, toxo-: poison
trache-, tracheo-: windpipe
trans-, tra-: through; over, finished, past, on the far side; starting with one spot then onto the next; change
tri-, tris-: three
 

U
ultra-: past; on the opposite side; outrageous
un-: do inverse, turn around; discharge, expel
un-: not; something contrary to
undec-: eleven
under-: lower, underneath; excessively little
uni-: one, single
up-: overhead, on high, upwards
uter-, utero-: uterus, belly
 

V
vari-, vario-: extraordinary, assorted
vas-, vaso-: vein
ventr-, ventro-: stomach, gut
bad habit : helping, subbing, appointee
 

W
with-: from, contradicting
 

X
xen-, xeno-: remote, peculiar
xylo-: wood
 

Z
zo-, zoo-: living, creature
zyg-, zygo-: twofold, pair, association; egg yolk
zym-, zymo-: protein, maturation

Suffixes

The affixes that are added after the base-form are called suffixes. A suffix is a syllable or syllables placed at the end of a word which qualify its meaning and form a new word. Derivational suffixes are used to derive new words from the base form. Inflectional suffixes merely modify a word as in the book - books etc.

Below are the various types of suffixes:

Occupational suffixes:

Ster - person engaged in - gangster

EER - an occupation - engineer

ER - in habitat - Londoner.

Diminutive or Feminine:

Let means small - booklet, piglet

ETTE means small - Kitchenette

Compact - Statuette

Imitation- Flannelette

Female - Usherette

Ess means female - Waitress, hostess, etc

y, - means daddy, auntie

Status, Domain:

HOOD means status - boyhood, childhood

SHIP means status- friendship

DOM means domain - kingdom, stardom

OCR means system of Government - democracy

EYR means behaviour Abode – slavery,

Abode - nunnery

Collectivity – machinery

Noun/Adjective:

ITE means faction - Israelite, socialite

AN means pertaining to-Indonesian, republican

ESE means nationality - Chinese

IST means occupation-Violinist, Organist

ISM means attitude - idealism Political movement-communism

Noun Suffixes:

ER, OR means instrumental -  driver, actor

ANT means agentive- inhabitant

EE means passive - employee

ATION means institution - organization

MENT means action - amazement

AL means action – refusal

ING means activity– driving

AGE means result of activity - drainage

NESS means quality - happiness

ITY means quality – sanity

Verb Suffixes:

IFY means causative - simplify

IZE means causative- popularize

EN means become X – eaten

Adjective suffixes:

FUL - ful means having - useful

LESS - means without - childless

LY means quality- cowardly

LIKE means quality – childlike

Y means covered with- hairy

ISH means belonging to - Turkish

IAN means in tradition - Darwinian

ABLE means 'worthy to - readable

Ed means having – balconied

Adverb suffixes:

LY means in a…….. Manner, aimlessly, lovingly

CE once, twice, thrice - ST amidst, amongst.

LONG - headlong, sidelong

THER -hither, thither, whither

WARDS- backward, upward, (means direction)

WISE - in the manner of, lengthwise, weatherise

Below is a list of most suffixes used in the English language listed alphabetically:

A
competent, observable; it should; provided that equivalent to –ed
ac: one touch with
-ac, -al ,,,,,,,,,,,,, is expressed by
-aceae: Plant families
-intelligent, -small: like something; full
-ing, -ing, -ing, -ing, -ing, -ing, -ing, -an, -ing,, -ing, -ing, -ure, -y: ((nouns) status, status, quality of being; ,, -ate, -dom, -ric, -ship: (forms), position, position, rule
-ade: product; action
-age: location of; house
-age: average of; charge
-age, -ion, -sion, -tion, -ment, -ure: (noun forms) the verb of; something done, a process
-age, -ry: (noun forms) persons or things together; rate of; collection of
-al: action or effect of; process
-algia: pain
-an, -antan, -ar, -ard, -art, -ary, -aster, -ate, -ean, -ee, -eer, -er, -er, -iff, -ist, -ite, -ive , -or, -ster, -yte: (formula nouns) Active person, of course
-an, -ean, -ian: Stick to; a citizen of; the language of; concerning, the character of
-ana, -iana: a collection
-ance, -ancy: status, quality of being; action, process; degree
-androus: a man
-ant, -ent: (forms adjs) having, belonging to; he did
Sovereignty: government
-ary: related, connected to
-ary, -ery, -ory, -ry: (noun forms) place where, place
-ary, -ice, -ment, -mony, -ory: (noun forms) an object which
-ate: salt, acid ester (instead of ic)
-ate, -ense, -to,, hot, -ise, -ing: (verbs verbs) to make; to place; to take; the cause
-ate,-fourth, -date, -ose, -white, -e :-e: adjs forms) full, numerous; having
-ation: process, action; condition
-ative: related, linked to; to guard against
 

B
-biosis: health
-blast: bud, virus, cell
 

C
-Hidden: Fruit
-ask: hollow, tumor
-celli, -cello: a bit
-cephalic, -cephalous: headache
-chrome: color, color
-cide, -cidal: kill, kill
-sun, -sule, -s, -s, -s, ,s, -s, -s, -s,, -s, -s, -s, -s, -s: (nouns)
-coccus: berry-shape
-coele, -coel: A hole
-control / democracy, -crat / -ocrat: government, law; emperor
 

D
-dendron: medicine
- Skin, squash, souvenir: leather, cover
-dom: background, office, power
-Screen: large area; race area
-From: active
Yes
 

E
-Eee: subtitles in botany
-ed: (forms adjs from nouns) being
-ed: past, past participle of ordinary actions
-ee: that which is the object of action
-ee: small type of ~; something that suggests a ~
-Eer: A talented, engaging person
-Imia, -Iemia, -Imia, -Haemia: blood
-en (form verb) causes, to be, to create
-en: (adjs forms) made; that belongs to them
-en: the plural form of some nouns
-en, -n, -ne: past participation in some of the more unusual actions
-ene: belonging; carbon
-er: a bit; often
-er: Comparative type of adjective
-er: being moral
-er: content; a citizen of India
-er, -or: producer, agent; one that is
-HELP: A little
-erly, -ward, -ward: (extension form) path
-Eli: (form of adjs) directory
-ery, -ry: the state or behavior of; location; combine
-escent (adjs), -escence (nouns): grow, become; adoption status, to begin with
-escent: reflects light
-ese: member, natives, style, language of
-ese: from ~
-esque: (adjs) forms of the; like, having buildings, kind of
-ess: Female gender name
-est: unique adjective form; The second person is one gift to perform some of the most unusual acts
third: The third person is the unity of certain strange acts
-ette: compact; to imitate; female
 

F
-fid: divide
-Fuge, fugal: that makes him flee, run away
-ful: holding all that is possible, full; whole number
-ful: to provide ~; written by; to follow
G
Polygamy: marriage; inheritance
-gen, -n natural, -geny, -gony: to give birth, reproduce, give birth; manufacturer
-gnomy, -gnosis: knowledge
-gon: angled
-gonium: seed
-grade: to move
-graph, -graph, -graphay: Writing; record
 

H
Church, cathedral: side, plural
-item: status time, status; membership
-The objects: field
-ia, -iasis: a disease
-ia, -believe: the category, order or nature of plants and animals
-iatrics, -iatry: Treatment
-ic: an acid that contains a lot of oxygen
-ic: Having properties, related, in a way; using ~; affected by ~
-ic: person with a condition of; manufacturer
-ics, -ism, -ry, -ure: something about programming, practice, art, science; personality, character (s)
-idae, -adae, -ides: offspring
-ide, -ides (plural): a chemical compound
-idean, -ides, -eides, -oides: (preceded by o ') to match, match
-Notify, -Properties: (action form) to perform ~; make it the same
-ine: chemical substitution
-ine: a female
-ine: Done
-ing: An important conclusion of common verbs
-ing: something made of such things; activity, process; a noun referring to an action
external: above
-ique: that is
-ish: The person of, the language of
-ish, -like, -ly: (forms adjs) somehow, become; relating to
-isk: a bit
-ism: the practice of; doctrine, action, process condition, condition
-ist: Skilled in, professional; practice ~, a believer
-ite: Acid (-ous) mixture
-ite: body part
-ite: one; adhesive, member, resident; that; product
-ite: Stone, minerals
-istic: Being human
-itis: Inflammation of the organs, infections; fanaticism
Unity: status, status, quality of being; degree
-ive: capable, capable; to make, to move
-Make: a female
-Activities: action, result of doing ~
-ize, -ise: (form tento) to make ~, to subject to ~; make yourself, and be like yourself; Be, Accept the Way
 

K
-kin: small; son of
-City: type; race
-kinesis: division; movement
 

L
singular: often (verb), less (noun)
-Testing: taken, worth it
-less: exception, reduced; it can't
small: insignificant, insignificant; item worn at ~
-like: same, same
-ling: youngest, offspring, one with a quality of ~
-Lite, -lith: Stone, minerals
-logy: the science of, the study of, theory; list
-ly: by the way, of having qualities, such as; to some extent
-ly: repeated
-lysis, -lyte: Elimination; division
 

M
-machy: war, fight
-mancy, -mantic: prediction
-mania, -maniac: craving
-Communications, -Common: part
-Meter, -metry: rate; iron
-morphic, -morphous: Structure
Most importantly: a unique ad form
-mycete: fungus
 

N
-ness: quality, condition
-The idea: the science of, the law of
 

O
-odont: a ~ natural tooth
-Personal: Pain
-oecium, -Ocious: Flowers' stamens and pistils in botany
-Note: it's like, it's like
-oid: to resemble, to resemble
or: a plant
-on: unit, particle
-Only, -only, -on:
-opia: eye, state of sight
-opsia: to see
-Signals: appearance; something like ~
-ous: A mixture of acid with less oxygen (thanic)
-ous, -ious: Having properties of; full
 

P
-Pathy: suffering, disease; type of treatment
-pennale: wing
-phage, -phagous, -phagia, -phagy: Eating, eating
-phany: manifestation
-phobe: fear one ~
-phobia: fear ~
-phobic: fear; consistency exists
-Phone,-Voice: sound, transmits sound
-phonia: speech disorders
-a joint: leafy, leafy
-phyte: a plant; the growth of disease
-plasia, -plasy, -plasis: growth, formation
-plasm: structural matter
-plast: cell
-Plegia: Physical disability
-Plerous: Wing
 

R
-Born: state, state; those
-rrhagia, -rrhagic, -rrhea: flow
 

S
-Assembly: a lizard
-Scope, -scopy: observation; viewing tool
-se: to make
-sect, -statement: to cut, to divide; is divided
-ship: the condition or condition of; position, position; ability; participant group ~
-Read, -But: body
-Text: intelligence, information
-Lermerm, -family: Seed
-ster: the one involved; one that is ~
-stichous: row
-Very look, -neidina: mouth
-stress: a female
 

T
-taxis, -taxy: order
Thirteen: ten, to be added to
-th: state, state; action, process
-tomy: to cut; section
-trophy: feed, nutrition
-Tip: To change; attraction ~
-Important, two-fold: it turns, it turns
-ty: quality, degree; condition
-ty: ten, multiplied by
 

V
-Vorous: Food
-ward, -ward: according to
 

W
-The ways, -the pure: in the way of, in the direction of; how to steal or do it
 

Y

-I: in a way, rather, it is manifested by disillusionment
-y: condition, condition; activity; group
-I, -ey: It's full
 

Word Formation

Word formation simply means creation of a new word by changing its meaning or by changing its form. 

There are two ways by which new words can be formed, first by adding a prefix to the root of the word which generally changes the meaning of the word completely, sometimes by emphasis and other times by creating antonyms, whereas suffixes usually alter the form of a word, changing its behavior in a sentence.

Prefixes are a group of letters that are added at the beginning of a word and suffixes are a group of letters that are added at the end of a word

Below are examples of some commonly used prefixes with their meanings:

Below are some examples of the most commonly used suffixes with the change in forms of words: