5. For example, the word prefix itself begins with the prefix pre-, which generally means "before" or "in front of." First, prefixes and suffixes, most of which are derived from ancient Greek or classical Latin, have a droppable -o-. 1. Doing so simply adds an unnecessary complication, especially for those learning the fundamentals of the language. a string, key, or pipe tuned to this tone. prefix Prefixes are morphemes (specific groups of letters with particular semantic meaning) that are added onto the beginning of roots and base words to change their meaning. “Capital” vs. “Capitol”: Do You Know Where You’re Going? 3. In front of; at or near the front; before or previous in position or location. ‘Interestingly, both candidates had doctoral prefixes to their names.’ Which of the following prefixes can mean “again”? This is a list of the most common prefixes in English, together with their basic meaning and some examples. any spoken sound represented by the letter, a written or printed representation of the letter, a device, as a printer's type, for reproducing the letter. Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Prefix meaning “people” crossword clue. Corresponding or complementary; offsetting. As a general rule, this -o- almost always acts as a joint-stem to connect two consonantal roots (e.g. It begins with the prefix pre-, … At a secondary or lower position in a hierarchy. First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English; originally preconsonantal phonetic variant of, In both spoken and written English the choice of, Middle English; unstressed preconsonantal variant of, First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English; phonetic variant of, First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English, Middle English, in some words