Prefixes $ Their Meanings

Front

a-, ab-, abs-

Back

away from. Example: absent (away from a place), abnormal (away from normal)

Front

ad-

Back

to, toward. Example: adhere (to stick to), adjacent (next to)

Front

ante-

Back

before. Example: antecedent (something that comes before)

Front

anti-

Back

against. Example: antibiotic (against bacteria)

Front

bi-

Back

two. Example: bicycle (two wheels)

Front

circum-

Back

around. Example: circumference (around a circle)

Front

com-, con-

Back

with, together. Example: combine (to put together), connect (to join with)

Front

de-

Back

down, away from. Example: descend (to go down), depart (to go away)

Front

dis-

Back

not, apart. Example: disagree (not agree), disrupt (to break apart)

Front

en-, em-

Back

in, into. Example: enable (to put into a position to do something), embed (to fix firmly in)