IELTS – Prefixes
Circum-
Words
Latin
Prefixes
Greek
Prefixes
Anglo-Saxon
Prefixes
A prefix
is a letter or group of letters placed at the beginning of a word to change its
meaning.
Later we
will show you how knowing a handful of roots can help you figure out scores of
words.
Here we
will begin by teaching you a few prefixes that can open the door to more
powerful words.
Here, for
example, is a sampling of words that derive from the Latin prefix
"circum-," meaning around.
Circum- Words
circumambulate to walk around
circumference the outer boundary of
something
circumfluent flowing around;
encompassing
circumfuse to surround, as
with fluid
circumjacent lying around;
surrounding
circumlocution a roundabout way of
speaking
circumlunar rotating about the
moon
circumnavigate to sail around
circumpolar around or near one
of the earth's poles
circumrotate to rotate like a
wheel
circumscribe to encircle; mark off
or delimit; restrict
Lesson
1. Latin Prefixes
Below are
ten common Latin prefixes and their variations.
Study the
chart and examples. Then, to help you remember them, complete the self-tests
that follow.
Prefix Meaning Variations
Examples
1. ad- to, toward adjoin, adverb, ascribe,
accede, affix, aggregate, attempt
2. com- with, together Cocol concor commotion,
cohabit, coworker, collaborate, concede, conduct, correlate, correspond
3. de- down depress, deform
4. dis- away, apart, opposite of di- dif- disagree,
dishonest, divert, diffuse
5. ex- out
exchange, excavate, elongate, evaporate, eccentric, effluent, effuse
6. in- in, into, ilimir inscribe, inhabit,
illuminate, import, impart, irradiate
7. in- not igilimir inflexible, indecent,
ignoble, illiterate, illegal, immodest, impatient, irregular
8. pre- before premature
9. pro- forward proclaim
10. re- again, back recover, return
Test 1:
Applying Latin Prefixes
Each of
the following phrases contains an italicized word. Based on the meaning of its
prefix, select the closest synonym. Circle the correct response.
1. adjudicate the matter
a. sit in
judgment on b. throw out c. argue d. adjust
2. an illicit affair
a. public b. external c. unlawful d. renewed
3. an important confederation
a. visit b. return c. church d. alliance
4. prolong a speech
a. shorten b. dictate c. extend d. preserve
5. an accredited school
a. second-rate b. authorized c. undesirable d. separated
6. valuable collateral
a. security b. comments c. opinions d. animals
7. ascribe the phrase to
a. write b. scrawl c. scribble d. credit
8. imbibe too freely
a. speak b. drink c. travel d. laugh
9. precursor of greater things
a. banner b. detractor c. forerunner d. hope
10. compress metal
a. help b. coat c. squeeze d. buff
Test 2: Defining Words
Based on the meaning of its prefix, define each of the following
words.
1. accord ______________________________________________
2. irradiate ______________________________________________
3. predestination ______________________________________________
4. reincarnation ______________________________________________
5. convolution ______________________________________________
6. invoke ______________________________________________
7. cohabit ______________________________________________
8. irrelevant ______________________________________________
9. irreducible ______________________________________________
10. excommunicate ______________________________________________
Lesson
2. Greek Prefixes
Below are
five common Greek prefixes and their variations. Study the chart and examples.
Then, to help you remember the prefixes, complete the self-tests that follow.
Prefix
Meaning Variations Examples
1. a- not, without an- atypical, asexual, anarchy
2. apo- off, away apology,
apostrophe
3. epi- beside, upon ep- epigraph, epidermis, epoch
4. para- beside paragraph, paraphrase
5. syn- together, with syl sym synthesis,
synonym syllable,
syllogism symbiosis, symphony
Test 1:
Applying Greek Prefixes
Each of
the following phrases contains an italicized word.
Based on
the meaning of its prefix,select the closest synonym.
Circle
your response.
1. a new synagogue
Formed from:
a. combination b. sentence c. house of worship d. building
Greek
"syn-" + "-agogos," bringer, gatherer
2. the true apogee
Formed from:
a. limit of
endurance b. insult c. closest point of an
orbit
d. farthest
point of an orbit Greek
"apo-" + "ge," earth
3. the fifth
annual synod Formed from:
a. church
council b. religious
holiday c. house-cleaning d. painting
Greek
"syn-" + "hodos," way
4. the sad episode
Formed from: a.
incident b. anecdote
c. death d. accident Greek "epi-" +
"hodos," way
5. the witty epigram
Formed from:
a. television
show b. radio broadcast c. saying d.
song
Greek
"epi-" + "gramma," something written
6. guilty of apostasy
Formed from:
a. murder b. desertion c. an unnamed crime
d. abandonment
of religious faith Greek
"apo-" + "stasis," standing
7. aseptic ointment
Formed from:
a. free from germs b. effective c. expensive
Greek
"a-" + "septos," rotted d.
greasy
8. clear and
effective syntax Formed from:
a. treatment b. word arrangement c. speech d. magazine article
Greek
"syn-" + "taxis," order
9. injured epidermis
Formed from:
a. leg ligament b. elbow c. skin d.
shinbone
Greek
"epi-" + "dermis," skin
10. a cutting epithet
Formed from:
a. weapon b. funeral oration c. knife d. descriptive word Greek "epi-" + "theton," placed
Test 2:
Matching Synonyms
Based on
your knowledge of Greek prefixes, match each of the numbered words with the
closest synonym. Write your answer in the space provided.
1. SYLLOGISM a. running beside _____
2. PARALEGAL b. climax; highest point
_____
3. ANONYMOUS c. bottomless hole _____
4. ANESTHETIC d. one sent out; messenger
_____
5. APOSTLE e. logical argument
_____
6. PARALLEL f. doubting God's
existence _____
7. APOCRYPHAL g. attorney's assistant _____
8. APOGEE h. false; spurious
_____
9. AGNOSTIC i. causing loss of feeling
_____
10. ABYSS j. nameless _____
Lesson
3. Anglo-Saxon Prefixes
Applying
Anglo-Saxon Prefixes
Matching
Synonyms
Below are
the five most common Anglo-Saxon prefixes and their variations. Study the chart
and examples. Then, to help you remember the prefixes, complete the self-tests
that follow.
Prefix Meaning Examples
a-
on, to,
at, by ablaze, afoot
be- over, around bespeak,
besiege
mis- wrong, badly mistake, misspell
over- beyond, above overreach, overawe
un- not unwilling, unethical
Applying
Anglo-Saxon Prefixes
Each of
the following phrases contains an italicized word.
Based on
the meaning of its prefix, select the closest synonym.
Circle
your response.
1. a miscarriage of justice
a. instance b. hero c. failure d. example
2. beseech movingly
a. implore b. search c. evoke d. refuse
3. walking two abreast
a. together b. side by side c. back to back d. in tandem
4. bestowed on us
a. hurled b. smashed c. dependent d. presented
5. an unfortunate misalliance
a. treaty b. conversation c. bad deal d. improper marriage
6. an overwrought patient
a. highly
emotional b. extremely ill c. very restrained d. overmedicated
7. an unkempt look
a. funny b. messy c. ugly d. pretty
8. an embarrassing miscue
a. joke b. anecdote c. step d. error
9. bedaub with clay
a. sculpt b. present c. smear d. create
10. bemoan his situation
a. celebrate b. share c. lament d. hide
Matching
Synonyms
Based on
your knowledge of Anglo-Saxon prefixes, match each of the numbered words with
the closest synonym. Write your answer in the space provided.
1. UNFEIGNED a. conquer _____
2. MISBEGOTTEN b. right on the mark
_____
3. BEGUILE c. too
fervent _____
4. MISCARRIAGE d. envy; resent _____
5. BEMUSE e.
sincere; genuine _____
6. MISHAP f.
accident _____
7. OVERCOME g. illegitimate
_____
8. BEGRUDGE h. mislead
_____
9. UNERRING i. bewilder
_____
10. OVERZEALOUS j. spontaneous abortion
_____
