Prefix — English definition
A word part added to the beginning of a root that changes its meaning, like 're-' (again), 'un-' (not), or 'pre-' (before).
Where it is taught
- Context Clues & Word-Solving — Language & Vocabulary, English 6, Grade 6
In use
Roots rarely travel alone; they snap together with affixes — a prefix on the front or a suffix on the back.
Context Clues & Word-Solving
Questions using prefix
Problem 1
The prefix 'pre-' means 'before' and the root 'view' means 'see.' Explain what a 'preview' most likely is, and describe how you could confirm your answer.
Answer and explanation
A preview is a look at something before the full thing — like seeing a short clip of a movie before it comes out — combining 'pre-' (before) and 'view' (see). You could confirm this by checking a dictionary, which would give the precise meaning and the part of speech (noun or verb).