Joe has dyslexia. Meaning: Joe has difficulty reading. The doctor has treated Jane for dysphasia. Meaning: The doctor has treated Jane for difficulty in swallowing. Many children in that country have died from dystrophy. Meaning: Many children in that country have died from bad nutrition or ill- ness caused by lack of proper nutrition. eu- The prefix eu- means “good” or “well.” It’s the opposite of the prefix dys Tim gave a beautiful eulogy about Glenn. Meaning: Tim gave a beautiful statement about the good things Glenn has done. He tried to think of an appropriate euphemism to lessen the impact of his words. Meaning: He tried to think of an appropriate good substitute expression to lessen the impact of his words. The doctor says his dyspepsia has been replaced by eupepsia. Meaning: The doctor says his dyspepsia has been replaced by good digestion. This instrument provides a euphonious sound. Meaning: This instrument provides good, or pleasing, sound. ex- The prefix ex- means “out,” “out of,” or “from.” He emitted a low sound. (The x is deleted before the m.) Meaning: He sent out a low sound. They expelled the unruly students. Meaning: They drove out, or removed, the unruly students from the institution. The doctor asked him to exhale slowly. Meaning: The doctor asked him to breathe out slowly. 160 Part III: Detailed Review of Items Tested For more material and information, please visit Tai Lieu Du Hoc at www.tailieuduhoc.org That organ excretes waste. Meaning: That organ sends out waste. They exculpated him. Meaning: They showed that he was without blame. in- Before l, m, or r, the n of this prefix becomes the same as the first consonant of the word. The prefix in- has two meanings. The first meaning is “not.” Jim knew his actions were illegal. Meaning: Jim knew his actions were not legal. The amount of poisonous gas was insignificant. Meaning: The amount of poisonous gas was not significant. He suffered from an irregular heartbeat. Meaning: He suffered from a heartbeat that was not regular. Bruce’s actions were immoral. Meaning: Bruce’s actions were not moral. The council’s decision was impossible to understand. Meaning: The council’s decision was not possible to understand, or comprehend. The second meaning of the prefix in- is “in,” “into,” or “on.” The doctor injected him with an antibiotic. Meaning: The doctor forced an antibiotic into his body with a syringe. This country imports a large amount of grain from overseas. Meaning: This country brings in a large amount of grain from overseas. (Import is the opposite of export.) They need to illuminate the field better. Meaning: They need to put more light on the field. She tried to introduce a new topic. Meaning: She tried to bring a new topic into the discussion. 161 Reading For more material and information, please visit Tai Lieu Du Hoc at www.tailieuduhoc.org inter- The prefix inter- means “between.” The new interstate highway is wonderful. Meaning: The new highway between two or more states is wonderful. His major is really interdisciplinary. Meaning: His major is between two or more disciplines. Larry tried to talk to Heidi during the intermission. Meaning: Larry tried to talk to Heidi during the period between acts. The interlineal comments were difficult to decipher. Meaning: The comments written between the lines were difficult to decipher. intro- The prefix intro- means “into.” The chemical was introduced to the solution through a tube. Meaning: The chemical was placed into the solution through a tube. She is suffering because she is very introverted. Meaning: She is suffering because she is not outgoing (not extroverted); she focuses her attention into herself rather than onto other people. per- The prefix per- means “through.” The substance can permeate only this type of blotting paper. Meaning: The substance can pass through only this type of blotting paper. This is a perennial process. Meaning: This is a process that lasts through the year. The pieces of broken glass perforated the canvas. Meaning: The pieces of broken glass passed through the canvas. He persisted in attempting to convince his employers to use more technology and fewer people. Meaning: He followed through in attempting to convince his employers to use more technology and fewer people. 162 Part III: Detailed Review of Items Tested For more material and information, please visit Tai Lieu Du Hoc at www.tailieuduhoc.org post- The prefix post- means “after.” This postwar era brought the realization that the victory was not as meaning- ful as previously believed. Meaning: The era after the war brought the realization that the victory was not as meaningful as previously believed. Maria postponed the party. Meaning: Maria rescheduled the party after the originally scheduled time. It’s not proper to add a postscript in this type of letter. Meaning: It’s not proper to add a short paragraph after the body of this type of letter. George and Helen signed a postnuptial agreement. Meaning: George and Helen signed an agreement after they were married. pre- The prefix pre- means “before” or “prior.” She says that she had a premonition that he was not going to arrive today. Meaning: She says that she had a prior warning that he was not going to ar- rive today. Harry and Mary signed a prenuptial agreement. Meaning: Harry and Mary signed an agreement before they were married. The students took a pretest the first day of the course. Meaning: The students took a test before the course to determine their knowl- edge at that time. The doctors hope that with this vaccine, they’ll be able to prevent her from getting the disease her mother has. Meaning: The doctors hope that with this vaccine, they’ll be able to take prior action to avoid her getting the disease that her mother has. Bob read the preview but not the actual homework that he was assigned. Meaning: Bob read the short description before the chapter but not the actual homework that he was assigned. 163 Reading For more material and information, please visit Tai Lieu Du Hoc at www.tailieuduhoc.org pro- The prefix pro- means “forward.” The man’s body was propelled through the air by the force of the explosion. Meaning: The man’s body was driven forward through the air by the force of the explosion. The boys are progressing slowly on their bike ride through the state. Meaning: The boys are moving forward slowly on their bike ride through the state. The Dean says that Professor Borglum is entitled to a promotion. Meaning: The Dean says that Professor Borglum is entitled to be moved for- ward (advanced). re- The prefix re- means “again” or “back.” The paramedics revived the surfer after pulling him from the rough water. Meaning: The paramedics made the surfer alive again (brought him back to life) after pulling him from the rough water. Her retort was devastating. Meaning: Her sharp answer back (reply) was devastating. Gary has not completely recovered from his injuries. Meaning: Gary has not completely become well again (been rehabilitated) from his injuries. These materials can be recycled. Meaning: These materials can be processed again (reprocessed). She reverted to her previous attitude. Meaning: She went back (returned) to her previous attitude. 164 Part III: Detailed Review of Items Tested For more material and information, please visit Tai Lieu Du Hoc at www.tailieuduhoc.org retro- Retro- means “backward” or “back.” This statute is intended to apply retroactively. Meaning: This statute is intended to apply backward in time. In retrospect, I probably should’ve asked for a jury trial. Meaning: Looking back to the past, I probably should’ve asked for a jury trial. The range of motion in retroflexion has improved. Meaning: The range of motion in bending backward has improved. sub- The prefix sub- means “under.” The town council decided to build a subterranean hurricane shelter. Meaning: The town decided to build an underground hurricane shelter. The submarine rose suddenly to the surface. Meaning: The vessel that travels underwater rose suddenly to the surface. He needs to improve the way he treats subordinates. Meaning: He needs to improve the way he treats people whose positions are under his position. Without the landlord’s permission, a sublease is not permitted by your agreement. Meaning: Without the landlord’s permission, a lease under another lease is not permitted by your agreement. 165 Reading For more material and information, please visit Tai Lieu Du Hoc at www.tailieuduhoc.org Prefix Practice Exercise Choose the correct prefix that, when added to the root, gives the meaning indicated. Write your answer on the line provided. Sample Q. de- dis- sub- contra- Meaning of whole word: below water This _____marine plant life has suffered because of the drought. The answer is sub Write the prefix sub- on the line preceding marine to form the word submarine. 166 Part III: Detailed Review of Items Tested 1. ab- un- extra- bi- Meaning of whole word: not normal Because of the child’s _____normal behavior, he was referred to a psychiatrist. 2. ad- a- anti- circum- Meaning of whole word: stick This material will _____here to that one without glue. 3. ante- sub- ad- post- Meaning of whole word: underground The mole is a _____terranean animal that destroys lawns. 4. anti- sub- ad- ante- Meaning of whole word: next to last The _____penultimate meeting of the legislators was the most fruitful one. For more material and information, please visit Tai Lieu Du Hoc at www.tailieuduhoc.org 5. bi- semi- contra- post- Meaning of whole word: every other month The _____monthly newsletter was sent to press yesterday. 6. ex- per- con- contra- Meaning of whole word: say the opposite of I would appreciate it if you would not _____dict me in front of the children. 7. dys- dis- pre- post- Meaning of whole word: take apart The children said it was disgusting to _____sect a dead frog. 8. dis- contra- ex- dys- Meaning of whole word: bad digestion His bouts with _____pepsia caused his doctor to order tests in an attempt to locate the problem. 9. dis- anti- contra- a- Meaning of whole word: not typical The result obtained from this batch of tests is _____typical; therefore, we must reconfigure the plan. 10 . ante- af- de- dys- Meaning of whole word: attach To make this word, you must _____fix the prefix to the root. 11. eu- dys- ad- per- Meaning of whole word: pleasing expres- sion, expression that sounds better It angered Peggy to hear the funeral direc- tor use a _____phemism to refer to the dreaded disease that killed her husband. 167 Reading For more material and information, please visit Tai Lieu Du Hoc at www.tailieuduhoc.org 12 . ad- contra- ex- eu- Meaning of whole word: removed blame from, found guilty Harry sued the police for false arrest after the court system _____culpated him in the criminal prosecution. 13 . pre- post- anti- re- Meaning of whole word: before marriage The marriage was called off because John and Becky could not agree on the terms of the _____nuptial agreement. 14 . con- anti- contra- dis- Meaning of whole word: plot together She believes that Helen and Sue will _____spire against you if you don’t change your proposal. 15 . con- ad- bi- circum- Meaning of whole word: distance around This is not the correct formula for calculat- ing the _____ference of a circle. 16 . ant- contra- pro- ad- Meaning of whole word: counteracting acid Susan felt much better after drinking an _____acid formula. 17. anti- a- bi- contra- Meaning of whole word: two party The two political groups became enraged at each other and came to no conclusion in the _____partisan session. 18 . ante- contra- post- anti- Meaning of whole word: opposite What you are proposing is the _____thesis of what I’ve been trying to accomplish for many months. 168 Part III: Detailed Review of Items Tested For more material and information, please visit Tai Lieu Du Hoc at www.tailieuduhoc.org 19 . pro- de- dys- anti- Meaning of whole word: bring down, re- duce rank of There is a feeling that they are going to _____mote the colonel because of his ques- tionable actions. 20. de- dys- in- ante- Meaning of whole word: reduce, bring down If you don’t _____crease the speed soon, you may not be able to stop in time. 21. a- re- pro- sub- Meaning of whole word: without disease- causing microorganisms The _____septic condition of the operating room must be maintained at all times. 22. re- retro- pro- anti- Meaning of whole word: applied backward in time Lisa quit her job because her employers re- fused to make her raise _____active. 23. post- re- inter- eu- Meaning of whole word: become healthy again, be rehabilitated Patty would like to return to work, but she must wait another two weeks to _____cover completely from her illness. 24. re- pro- in- inter- Meaning of whole word: moving forward We have made a great deal of _____gress in combating this disease. 25. pro- in- inter- per- Meaning of whole word: pass through When a rib breaks like that, there is an added danger that it will _____forate an organ. 169 Reading For more material and information, please visit Tai Lieu Du Hoc at www.tailieuduhoc.org . as meaningful as previously believed. Maria postponed the party. Meaning: Maria rescheduled the party after the originally scheduled time. It’s not proper. anti- a- bi- contra- Meaning of whole word: two party The two political groups became enraged at each other and came to no conclusion in the _____partisan session. 18 . ante- contra- post- anti- Meaning