Prefixes, Roots, and Suffixes
Click on the letter of the word you want to look up.
PRS MEANING EXAMPLE WORDS
a- without, not, no abiotic, asexual, asymmetry, atrophy, aphasia,
ab- from, away from abduction, abstinence, absent, aberrant
abdomin- abdomen abdominal
-able capable of being, flammable, edible, trainable, charitable,
ac- sharp acupuncture, acrid, acute, acnode,
-ac pertaining to hypochondriac, maniac, kleptomaniac, pyromaniac
aca- thorny, spiny, nettle, acaleph, acanaceous, acanthus, acanthoid
-acea class or order name Crustacea, Cetacea
-aceous of the nature of herbaceous, sebaceous
acet- acid, vinegar acetic acid, acerbic, acetabulum
-acious inclined to be spacious, fugacious
acou- hearing acoumeter, acoustics, acoustician
acr(o)- high, up, hill, topmost acrobat, acrodont, acromegaly, acropolis
actin- light ray, beam actiniform, actinic, actinozonal, actinolite
acu- sharp, needl acupuncture, acute, acumen
-acy state of being lunacy, piracy, dormancy, legacy
ad- attached to, near, increase adhere, adductor, adrenal, addict
-ad toward, in the direction of cephalad, cycad, triad, monad
-ade result of action marmalade, lemonade
aden(o)- gland adenoid, adenoma, adenectomy
adip(o)- fat (animal) adipose tissue, adipoma, adipocere
adren- adrenal adrenal gland
aer(o)- air, atmosphere, gas aerobic, aeronautics, aerodynamics,
aesth- feeling, understanding aesthete, aesthesiometer
af- to, towards afferent
-age act of, state of, heritage, breakage, plumage, sewage, blockage,
agglutin- to glue together agglutinate
-agogy leading pedagogy, demagogy
agora- open spaces agoraphobia
-agra violent or sharp pain podagra
agr(o)- crops, field, soil agronomy, agroclimatology, agriculture
-al pertaining to, act, cranial, skeletal, mental, internal, humoral,
alb(u)- white albumin, albino, albatross, albedo,
-algia pain causalgia, neuralagia, cardialgia, myalgia
alim- food, to nourish alimentary, aliment
-ality property of, condition of sexuality, proportionality, reality
allele of one another allele frequency, multiple alleles
allo- other, different alloy, allocate, allogamy
alt(o)- high altitude, altimeter, altocumulus, altisonant
alter- another alternate, alter-ego
alveo- cavity, channel alveolus, alveolar cavity, alveolate
am- love amorous, amateur
ambi- on both sides, around ambidextrous, ambivalent, ambiguous
ambly- dull, dim, obtuse, blunt amblyopia, amblygonite, amblyoform
ambu(l)- walk ambulatory, ambulate, ambulance, amble,
amphi- both, on both sides, in amphibian, amphiblastula, amphitheater,t
ampli- large, to increase ample, amplify, amplitude, amplicative
amyl- starch amylase, amylopsin
an- without, not, no, negative anaerobic, anarchy, aneroid, ananthous,
-an pertaining to, of, resembling brachyuran, hydrozoan, American
ana- up, again, apart, backward anaphase, analogy, anabolic steroid
-ance the act of, a thing that continuance, annoyance, nuisance, dominance,,
andr(o)- male, masculine, man androgen, android, androspore, androgny
ane- without feeling anesthetic, anesthesia, anesthesiology
-ane attribute humane, urbane, mundane, arcane, Germane
angina- pain, torture angina pectoris, anginoid, anginal
angio- vessel, closed, cased angioplasty, angiogram, angioblast, angiosperm
anim- soul, breath, spirit animal, animate, animaculum
anis- unequal anisocytosis, aniseikonia, ansiometric
ankyl- crooked, bent, stiff ankylosis, ankylosaur,
annel- year, ringed, segmented annual, annelid, anniversary, annuity
-ant that has, shows or does merchant, covenant, servant, pleasant
ante- before, in front of antedate, anteflexion, anterior, anteroom,
anter- before, front, in front antenatal, antemortem, antechamber, antecedent
anth- flower antheridium, anther, antherozoid, ananthous
-anthropo- man, human, referring to man anthropology, anthropoid, philanthropy
ant(i)- against antitoxin, antibody, antigen, antidote, antiaircraft
antiq- ancient antique, antiquary, antiquate, antiquity
aper- open aperient, apert, aperture, aperitif
api- top apex, apical, apiculate
apo- detached, away from, off apocrine gland, aponeurosis, apogee, apospory
append- hang on, addition appendage, appendix, appendicle
appet- to seek appetitive, appetite, appetency
aqua- water aqueous, aquifer, aquarium, aquaculture
-ar pertaining to, like, relating to polar, scholar, cellular, stellar, molecular
arbor- tree arboreal, arboretum, arborescent
arch- primitive, original, ancient archenteron, Archaebacteria, archive
-arch ruler, leader monarch, tetrarch
-archy rule, leadership gynarchy, anarchy
archeo- beginning archegonium, archeology
-arian age, sect, occupation librarian, utilitarian, vegetarian, valedictorian
-arium place for oceanarium, terrarium, aquarium, sanitarium,
-ard one who carries an action drunkard
arterio- reguarding arteries arteriosclerosis
arthr(o)- joint, jointed arthropod, arthritis, arthrology, arthroscope
articul- joint articulation, articulate, articulator
-ary pertaining to, place for, imaginary, illusionary, aviary, boundary,
asc- sac, bag asci, ascomycete, ascocarp, ascospore
-ase enzyme lipase, sucrase, amylase
-asis condition or state of metastasis, homeostasis
aster- star like, star aster rays, asteroidean, astronomy, astronaut
-asthenia loss of strength, weakness neurasthenia, myasthenia gravis, asthenia gravis
-ate to cause, like, having, owing nervate, laminate, acidulate, oxygenate
-ate chemical compound acetate, aluminate, carbonate
-atic of the kind of plasmatic, somatic
-ation that act of, condition of, speciation, condensation, precipitation, migration
atmo- breath, breathe, vapor atmosphere, atmometer, atmolysis
-atory characterized by, of or circulatory, respiratory, ambulatory,
audi- hear, hearing audio, auditory, audible, auditorium, audiance,
auri- ear auricle, auricular, aurilave
auto- self, same autonomic, automatic, autosome, autotroph,
aux- grow auxin, auxiliary, auxospore
avi(s)- bird avian, aviary, aviation, aviator
axi- axis, turn axle, axil, axillary, axilla
