prefix
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3 ENTRIES FOUND:

1pre·fix

transitive verb

Definition of PREFIX

1
\(ˌ)prē-ˈfiks\ : to fix or appoint beforehand
2
\ˈprē-ˌ, prē-ˈ\ [partly from 2prefix] : to place in front; especially : to add as a prefix <prefix a syllable to a word>

Examples of PREFIX

  1. Prefix un to do to form the word undo.
  2. The cost of the item was prefixed by a dollar sign.

Origin of PREFIX

Middle English, from Middle French prefixer, from Latin praefixus
First Known Use: 15th century

Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms

ablaut, allusion, anacoluthon, diacritic, gerund, idiom, infinitive, metaphor, semiotics, simile

2pre·fix

noun \ˈprē-ˌfiks\

Definition of PREFIX

1
: an affix attached to the beginning of a word, base, or phrase and serving to produce a derivative word or an inflectional form — compare suffix
2
: a title used before a person's name
pre·fix·al \ˈprē-ˌfik-səl, prē-ˈ\ adjective

Examples of PREFIX

  1. Add the prefix re- to form the words retell and recall.

Origin of PREFIX

New Latin praefixum, from Latin, neuter of praefixus, past participle of praefigere to fasten before, from prae- + figere to fasten — more at fix
First Known Use: 1646

Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms

ablaut, allusion, anacoluthon, diacritic, gerund, idiom, infinitive, metaphor, semiotics, simile

3pre·fix

adjective \same as 2\

Definition of PREFIX

: characterized by placement of an operator before its operand or before its two operands if it is a binary operator — compare infix, postfix

First Known Use of PREFIX

1971

Other Logic Terms

a posteriori, connotation, corollary, inference, mutually exclusive, paradox, postulate, syllogism

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