Word Roots, Prefixes & Suffixes

At a glance 9 rules

1. 1Split the wordBreak an unknown word into prefix, root and suffix, then join the meanings: intro (within) + spect (look) gives introspect, to look within.
2. 2Learn roots in familiesOne root unlocks a family: chron = time, bene = good, mal = bad, cred = believe, anthrop = human, phil = love, log = word or speech.
3. 3Roots give the chargeCan't define the word? Bene- and eu- point to good, mal-, mis- and dys- to bad. Strike the options with the wrong charge first.
4. 4Prefixes meaning 'not'a- means 'without' (atheist, asymmetric); in-, un-, non- and dis- mean 'not'. In- becomes il- before l (illegal), ir- before r, im- before b, m, p (impossible).
5. 5When in- isn't 'not'In- can also mean 'in' or 'into': inhale, insight, inhabit, inflame. Check the whole word before you flip its meaning.
6. 6Place and time prefixescircum = around, inter = between, intra = within, sub = under, super = above, trans = across, pre = before, post = after.
7. 7Number prefixesuni and mono = one, bi and di = two, tri = three, poly and multi = many, omni = all, semi and hemi = half.
8. 8Look-alike rootsSame letters, different roots: ante (before) vs anti (against), hyper (over) vs hypo (under); ped is foot in pedal but child in paediatrician.
9. 9Suffixes change the sense-ible and -able mean 'can be' or 'deserves' (contemptible: deserves contempt); -ous means 'full of' or 'showing' (contemptuous: showing contempt).