prefix Archives – A Way with Words

Sundog (episode #1507)

Posted by Grant Barrett on October 15, 2018 · Add Comment

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Prefixes and Suffixes Word Game

Posted by Grant Barrett on October 13, 2018 · Add Comment

Some 50 years ago, says Susan from Burbank, California, she and a friend made up a game involving prefixes and suffixes, which led to such nonsense words as epidormithry and postpreparize. This is part of a complete episode.
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Prefix

Posted by Grant Barrett on September 29, 2012 · Add Comment

Why does the prefix in- sometimes make a synonym rather than an antonym? In the case of invaluable, the prefix is still a negation, since it suggests that something’s value is incalculable. Michael Quinion‘s website affixes.org shows how in- prefixes have changed over time. This is part of a complete episode.
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super senior

Posted by Grant Barrett on May 2, 2006 · 2 Comments

super senior n. a college student who takes more than four years to graduate. Etymological Note: Super as a prefix means “above, over, beyond.” (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
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deckle

Posted by Grant Barrett on December 22, 2005 · 1 Comment

deckle n. a thick band of fat on (a cut of) meat; a very fatty cut of meat. Etymological Note: Mostly likely connected to German dicht ‘thick,’ dick ‘thick’ or ‘fat,’ or Dicke ‘fat person, a fatty.’ The prefix dick- is used to to indicate “fatty,” “big,” “fattening,”or “thick” (as in “thick-bodied” and “thick in [...]
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robo-call

Posted by Grant Barrett on August 18, 2005 · 4 Comments

robo-call n. an automated (telemarketing) phone call. Editorial Note: Robo, from robot, is a long-standing prefix used to indicate automation or mechanization. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
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