Prefixation: meaning, definitions and examples

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prefixation

 

[ prɪˌfɛkˈseɪʃən ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

linguistics term

Prefixation is a morphological process in linguistics that involves attaching a prefix to the beginning of a base word to modify its meaning. This process changes the word class of the original word or alters its semantic meaning. It is commonly used in various languages to create new terms.

Synonyms

affixation, morphological modification

Examples of usage

  • Un- is a common prefixation in English.
  • The prefixation of 're-' in 'rewrite' indicates repetition.
  • In Spanish, 'des-' is a form of prefixation.
  • Prefixation creates words like 'disagree' from 'agree.'

Etymology

The term 'prefixation' derives from the combination of the word 'prefix,' originating from Latin 'praefixus,' meaning 'to fix before,' and the suffix '-ation,' which indicates a process or action. The use of prefixes dates back to the early development of language as a means to expand vocabulary and convey detailed meanings. In the study of morphology, which deals with the internal structure of words, prefixation plays a crucial role, particularly in Indo-European languages where affixes significantly alter word forms. Over centuries, linguists have documented the widespread usage of prefixes across languages, noting that the phenomenon reflects both historical language changes and social communication needs.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #39,566, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.