Appendix A Prefixes and Suffixes Certain beginnings and endings can be affixed to some words or stems of words that change their meanings. These beginnings and endings fall into two categories: Prefixes are tacked onto the beginning of a word, while suffixes are stuck onto the end. Together, these affixed word pieces are called -fixes. A -fix can change the meaning of a word altogether, like un- undoes something, or it can add a little nuance of meaning, as -ac turns a mania (a fad) into a maniac. Watch out! It is not within the scope of this book to comprehensively examine suffixes and prefixes, but in the following table some of the most common ones are listed, along with a brief sketch of what they do to the words to which they’re affixed; many also include examples. I leave it to you to determine whether the -fix is a prefix or suffix from where the hyphen (-) is placed: fix-(word) or (word)-fix. I’m sure you’ll recognize many, if not all, of them. Prefix/Suffix Meaning/Usage a- same as ab- before m, p, or v ab- away; from; off; down (abhor, abjure) abs- same as ab- before c or t ac- same as ad- before p or q -ac of, relating to (maniac) ad- motion toward, nearness to -ad forms adverbs, meaning toward, like cephelad af- same as ad- before f al- means the before words of Arabic origin (algebra) -al forms adjectives meaning like (personal) or nouns meaning the act of (rehearsal) -an belonging to or related to (Mexican) (continued) 373 40_571656 appa.qxd 11/10/04 12:49 PM Page 373 Prefix/Suffix Meaning/Usage -ance the act or process of doing (continuance), something done (utterance) ap- same as ad- before a vowel -ar, -ary forms adjectives meaning relating to (singular, polar, urinary) as- same as ad- before s be- forms verbs meaning around, thoroughly, excessively, treated as (beset, bemoan, befriend) bi- two, twice (biplane, bilateral) bio- life (biography, biology) by- close by; on the side (bystander, bypass) co- same as com- before h or a vowel col- same as com- before l com- next to, with, together (compassion) con- same as com- before c, d, g, j, n, q, s, t, v, and sometimes f cor- same as com- before r -cy quality, state, or condition (lunacy) de- away from; off (derail); down (decline); reverse action; undo (decode) di- twice, doubled (diatomic, dihybrid) di- same as dis- before b, d, g, l, m, n, r, or v dia- through; between (diagonal, diameter) dif- same as dis- before f dis- 1. away; apart (disperse, dismiss); 2. not or un- (dishonest); 3. lack of; opposite (disunion, disease) -dom 1. rank; dominion of (kingdom); 2. state of being (officialdom, martyrdom) -drome 1. arena (velodrome); 2. large field or arena (airdrome) dyn-, dyna- power (dynamo, dynameter) dys- bad, impaired, abnormal (dysfunctional) 374 Essential Vocabulary 40_571656 appa.qxd 11/10/04 12:50 PM Page 374 Prefix/Suffix Meaning/Usage -eer a person who makes or does things (engineer, pamphleteer) ef- same as ex- before f em- same as en- before b, m, or p (emboss, empower) en- 1. to cover or wrap (enrobe); 2. to cause to be or to make into (endanger); in or into (encase) end- same as endo- before a vowel endo- within (endosperm, endocrine) epi- on the outside (epidermis) equi- equally (equiangular) -er 1. a person having to do with or from somewhere (hatter, writer, New Yorker); 2. forming the comparative (bigger) -ery 1. a place for, or a place to be (eatery, winery); 2. the act of (robbery) -est forming the superlative (greatest, smallest) ex- former (exwife) exo- outside (exoskeleton) -fy make; cause to become (liquefy, putrefy) -gamy marriage (polygamy) geo- of the earth (geology) -gon having a certain number of angles (octagon) -gram to write (diagram) -graph something that writes, or is written (telegraph) helio- relating to the sun (heliotropism) hex- same as hexa- before a vowel hexa- six (hexagon) holo- entire, whole (holograph) hom- same as homo- before a vowel homo- same, equal, alike (homonym) (continued) Prefixes and Suffixes 375 40_571656 appa.qxd 11/10/04 12:50 PM Page 375 Prefix/Suffix Meaning/Usage hydro- 1. water (hydrometer); 2. containing hydrogen (hydrochloric) -iatry treatment (psychiatry) -ic having to do with (volcanic) -ide the end of the second name in a compound whose molecule contains exactly two atoms (sodium chloride) idio- one’s own, personal (idiosyncrasy) il- same as in- used before l im- same as in- used before b, m, or p in- in, into, within, (inside); toward (inward); also used to inten- sify some words of Latin origin (inbreed, induct, infer) -ine having the nature of; like (crystalline) inter- between or among (interval); 2. together (interact) intra- within, inward (intramural) intro- same as intra- (introvert) ir- same as in- used before r -ism 1. condition of being (pauperism); 2. devotion to (nationalism) iso- equal, similar, alike (isobar) -ist 1. one who does or participates in an -ism (satirist); 2. an expert at something (scientist); 3. a believer or adherent to (atheist) -istic, -istical the former of adjectives relating to an action (artistic, egotistical) -ite 1. inhabitant or native of (Brooklynite); 2. a salt of (halite); 3. a certain rock (lignite); 4. a descendant of (Israelite) -itis an inflammatory disease (tonsilitis) -lepsy a fit or attack (epilepsy) -let 1. small, diminutive (starlet); 2. small object worn as a band on the body (anklet) lipo- fatty (liposuction) -lith, -lithic stone (batholith, neolithic) -logy study of (biology) 376 Essential Vocabulary 40_571656 appa.qxd 11/10/04 12:50 PM Page 376 Prefix/Suffix Meaning/Usage -lysis destruction; dissolving; loosening; dissolution (analysis) macro- large or enlarged (macrobiotic) -mania a mental disorder or a wild enthusiasm for something (pyromania, hulamania) -maniac a person affected by a mania (cleptomaniac) maxi- maximum; of larger scope than usual (maxi-power), often hyphenated as an attachment to a word micro- very small; a millionth of a unit (microscope, micrometer) milli- one one-thousandth of a unit (milliliter) mini- miniature (miniskirt) mis- wrong; wrongly; bad; poorly (miscue, misfire) mult- same as multi- before a vowel multi- much; many; more than two (multichanneled) narco- 1. sleep (narcolepsy); 2. narcotic (narcotism) neur- same as neuro- before a vowel neuro- of the nerves or nervous system (neurology, neuritis) non- not; the opposite of (nonagressive) nona- nine (nonagon, nonet) -nym name (pseudonym) o- same as ob- before m ob- 1. to; for; in front of (obtrude); 2. opposed to; against; oppo- site (obverse); 3. upon; over (obscure) oc- same as ob- before c oct(a/o)- eight (octagon, octopus) of- same as ob- before f -oid like; resembling (ovoid) op- same as ob- before p -or 1. a person or thing that does something specific (addressor, incisor); 2. a quality or condition (error, savor) (continued) Prefixes and Suffixes 377 40_571656 appa.qxd 11/10/04 12:50 PM Page 377 Prefix/Suffix Meaning/Usage -otic 1. of or affected with (neurotic); 2. producing (hypnotic) oto- of the ear (ototic) -ous full of (beauteous, capacious) over- excessive (overact, overindulge) paleo- ancient (paleontology, paleolithic) pan- embracing all (pantheistic) para- by the side of; subordinate to (paralegal, paraprofessional) -ped foot (biped) penta- five (pentagon) peri- 1. beyond; around (periscope); 2. near (perinatal) phleb- same as phlebo- before a vowel phlebo- vein (phlebotomy) photo- of or produced by light (photocopy) phyto- floral; of a plant; vegetation (phytoplankton) plano- having one side flat (planoconvex) pneumo- of breathing; the lungs; respiration (pneumococcal) poly- many (polygon) pre- before (prefix) pro- for (proactive) proto- first in time or importance (protoplasm) pseudo- false (pseudonym) psych- same as psycho- before a vowel psycho- of the mind (psychotic) quadri- four (quadrilateral, quadriped) re- again (rethink) retro- backward (retrofit) rheo- a flow; current (rheostat) rhino- nose (rhinoplasty) 378 Essential Vocabulary 40_571656 appa.qxd 11/10/04 12:50 PM Page 378 Prefix/Suffix Meaning/Usage self- of oneself; automatic (self-interest, self-loading) semi- half; twice in a specified period (semicircle, semiannually) sub- 1. under; beneath; below (subhuman); 2. of lower rank than; inferior (subordinate); 3. to a lesser degree (subpar); 4. near; almost (substitute) suf- same as sub- before f sym- same as syn- before b, m, or p syn- together; at the same time (synchronize) sys- same as syn- before s, h, and other aspirate sounds tele- at a distance (telecommute); of, in, or by (televise) tran- same as trans- before s trans- across; on the other side of; above and beyond (transcend, transcontinental) tri- three (triangle) un- not (unused, unsupervised) vice- one who acts in place of; second in command (viceroy, vice president) Prefixes and Suffixes 379 40_571656 appa.qxd 11/10/04 12:50 PM Page 379 40_571656 appa.qxd 11/10/04 12:50 PM Page 380 Appendix B Foreign Phrases Many phrases and expressions from foreign languages have found a place in every- day English among the better educated. Some of them have been adopted and have found their way into everyone’s vocabulary, while some remain foreign yet are used often enough to be worth listing here. A disproportionate number of the words are Latin and French. This should not be a surprise, considering the prominent roles that the French played in our history and literature and that the Romans, whose language was Latin, played in the history of Europe and Britain. Letters in brackets stand for the language from which the phrase comes, as follows: Ar., Arabic Fr., French Ger., German Haw., Hawaiian Heb., Hebrew Ire., Irish It., Italian L., Latin Sp., Spanish Foreign Phrase Definition adeste fidelis [L.] always faithful ad hoc [L.] temporary à droite [Fr.] on the right affaire d’honneur [Fr.] a matter of honor à gauche [Fr.] on the left à la rigeur [Fr.] strictly speaking; if absolutely needed (continued) 381 41_571656 appb.qxd 11/10/04 12:50 PM Page 381 Foreign Phrase Definition aloha oe [Haw.] greetings; love to you; farewell alter ego [L.] other self; constant companion amicus curiae [L.] friend of the court amor vincit omnia [L.] “Love conquers all.”—Virgil anno regni [L.] year in the reign of à pied [Fr.] on foot ars gratia artis [L.] art for art’s sake au contraire [Fr.] to the contrary autre chose [Fr.] other thing aux armes [Fr.] to arms avant garde [Fr.] vanguard; on the cutting edge (esp. in the arts) avec plaisir [Fr.] with pleasure à votre santé [Fr.] to your taste ben trovato [It.] well conceived; ingenious bien entendu [Fr.] well understood; of course bon appétit [Fr.] good appetite; enjoy bonjour [Fr.] good day; hello bonne chance [Fr.] good luck bonsoir [Fr.] good evening buenas noches [Sp.] good night buenos dias [Sp.] good day; hello camino real [Sp.] royal road; high road caveat emptor [L.] Let the buyer beware! cave canem [L.] Beware of the dog! c’est la guerre [Fr.] That’s war! c’est la vie [Fr.] That’s life! cherchez la femme [Fr.] look for the woman 382 Essential Vocabulary 41_571656 appb.qxd 11/10/04 12:50 PM Page 382 [...]... [Sp.] hand in hand Foreign Phrases 385 Foreign Phrase Definition mea culpa [L.] my fault merci beaucoup [Fr.] thank you very much mère [Fr.] mother Missa solemnis [L.] High Mass (Roman Catholic) mitzvah [Heb.] blessing; commandment n’est-ce pas? [Fr.] Isn’t it so? nicht wahr? [Ger.] Isn’t it so? nil desperandum [L.] “never desperate”—Horace noblesse oblige [Fr.] the inferred obligation of high-ranking... health se habla español [Sp.] Spanish is spoken here shalom [Heb.] peace, well-being (used as general greeting) s’il vous plâit [Fr.] please status quo [L.] existing condition Foreign Phrases 387 Foreign Phrase Definition terra firma [L.] solid ground terra incognito [L.] unknown land; unknown ground tête-à-tête [Fr.] head-to-head toujours [Fr.] always tour de force [Fr.] lit feat of strength; an exceptionally... lit man of the world; sophisticate id est [L.] that is in perpetuum [L.] forever inshallah [Ar.] God willing in utero [L.] in the womb in vino veritas [L.] in wine there is truth j’accuse [Fr.] “I accuse!”—Zola jeu de mots [Fr.] play on words jeune fille [Fr.] young girl Kamerad [Ger.] friend laissez-faire [Fr.] let be; leave alone; hands off le chaim [Heb.] to life le monde [Fr.] the world l’etat,... death de facto [L.] in fact de gustibus non est disputandum [L.] one can’t argue taste Dei gratia [L.] by the grace of God de nouveau [Fr.] new Dominus vobiscum [L.] may God be with you en ami [Fr.] in friendship en bloc [Fr.] all together en clair [Fr.] clear; not in code enfant terribile [Fr.] lit terrible child; child whose behavior causes shock and dismay; mischievous or outrageous one en garde [Fr.]... the whole world; everybody tristesse [Fr.] melancholy; sadness Übermensch [Ger.] superman und so weiter (usw.) [Ger.] and so on; etcetera veni, vidi, vici [L.] “I came; I saw; I conquered.”—Julius Caesar verbatim [L.] word for word vérité [Fr.] truth; short for cinéma vérité; realism vice versa [L.] the other way around; reversed vive la différence [Fr.] Long live the difference! [between men and women]... peu de chose [Fr.] small thing; a trifle (continued) 386 Essential Vocabulary Foreign Phrase Definition peut être [Fr.] perhaps pièce de résistance [Fr.] the main item por favor [Sp.] please pro bono [L.] free; without compensation pro bono publico [L.] for the public good pro forma [L.] according to form pro patria [L.] for one’s country quand même [Fr.] just the same; regardless of consequences ¿qué... mischievous or outrageous one en garde [Fr.] on guard en suite [Fr.] in succession entre nous [Fr.] between us Erin go bragh [Ire.] Ireland forever ex more [L.] customary ex post facto [L.] lit what is done after; retroactive femme de chambre [Fr.] chambermaid (continued) 384 Essential Vocabulary Foreign Phrase Definition fille [Fr.] daughter fils [Fr.] son garçon [Fr.] boy; waiter gendarme [Fr.] policeman... high-ranking people to behave well toward others nom de plume [Fr.] pen name non sequitur [L.] a remark having no bearing on what was just said; an illogical conclusion from the facts nouveau riche [Fr.] newly rich, and hence unschooled in the appropriate behavior of the wealthy omnia vincit amor [L.] “Love conquers all!”—Virgil on dit [Fr.] lit one says; it is said o tempora! o mores! [L.] “Oh times! Oh morals!”—Cicero,... regardless of consequences ¿qué pasa? [Sp.] What’s happening? que sera, sera [Fr.] what will be, will be quid pro quo [L.] one thing in return for another qui va là? [Fr.] Who goes there? quod erat demonstrandum [L.] which is (was) to be demonstrated quo vadis? [L.] Where are you going? raison d’être [Fr.] reason for being répondez s’il vous plâit [Fr.] (usu R.S.V.P.) answer please salaam [Ar.] peace (used . Meaning/Usage a- same as ab- before m, p, or v ab- away; from; off; down (abhor, abjure) abs- same as ab- before c or t ac- same as ad- before p or q -ac of,. bilateral) bio- life (biography, biology) by- close by; on the side (bystander, bypass) co- same as com- before h or a vowel col- same as com- before l com- next