prefix

prefix
pre|fix1 [ˈpri:fıks] n
[Date: 1600-1700; : Modern Latin; Origin: praefixum, from Latin praefigere 'to fasten before']
1.) technical a group of letters that is added to the beginning of a word to change its meaning and make a new word, such as 'un' in 'untie' or 'mis' in 'misunderstand'
→↑affix, suffix ↑suffix
2.) a number or letter that comes before other numbers or letters, especially a group of numbers that comes before a telephone number when you are calling someone in a different area
3.) old-fashioned a title such as 'Ms' or 'Dr' used before someone's name
= ↑title
prefix 2
prefix2 v [T]
[Date: 1400-1500; : Old French; Origin: prefixer, from fixer 'to fix']
1.) to add a prefix to a word, name, or set of numbers
2.) formal to say something before the main part of what you have to say

Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.

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  • préfix — préfix, ixe [ prefiks ] adj. • XIVe; lat. præfixus ♦ Dr. Vx Déterminé, fixé d avance. Au jour et au lieu préfix, au terme préfix (⇒ préfixion) . ⊗ HOM. Préfixe. ● préfix, préfixe adjectif (latin praefixus, placé avant) Délai préfix, délai… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • préfix — préfix, ixe (pré fiks, fi ks ; l x se prononçait d après Chifflet, Gramm. p. 218, comme ch) adj. Fixé d avance, déterminé. •   Au jour et au lieu préfix, Monsieur enverrait sans délai un pareil nombre de personnes, RETZ III, 100. •   Daniel n… …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • prefix — PREFÍX, prefixe, s.n. 1. Afix care se ataşează înaintea rădăcinii sau a temei unui cuvânt, pentru a forma un derivat. 2. (În telefonia interurbană automată) Număr care indentifică o anumită localitate sau ţară şi se formează înaintea numărului de …   Dicționar Român

  • prefix — Prefix, [pref]ixe. adj. Arresté, determiné. Jour prefix. temps prefix. heure prefixe. somme prefixe. On appelle, Doüaire prefix, Le douaire qui consiste en certaine somme marquée & determinée par les conventions matrimoniales …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • Prefix — Pre*fix , v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Prefixed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Prefixing}.] [L. praefixus, p. p. of praefigere to fix or fasten before; prae before + figere to fix: cf. F. pr[ e]fix fixed beforehand, determined, pr[ e]fixer to prefix. See Fix.] [1913 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • prefix — ► NOUN 1) a word, letter, or number placed before another. 2) an element placed at the beginning of a word to alter its meaning (e.g. non , re ) or (in some languages) as an inflection. 3) a title placed before a name (e.g. Mr). ► VERB 1) add as… …   English terms dictionary

  • prefix — [prē′fiks΄; ] for v., also [ prē fiks′] vt. [ME prefyxen < MFr prefixer < L praefixus, pp. of praefigere < prae , before (see PRE ) + figere, to FIX] 1. to fix to the beginning of a word, etc.; esp., to add as a prefix 2. Rare to fix… …   English World dictionary

  • Prefix — Pre fix, n. [Cf. F. pr[ e]fixe.] That which is prefixed; esp., one or more letters or syllables combined or united with the beginning of a word to modify its signification; as, pre in prefix, con in conjure. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • prefix — In grammar, a prefix is a word or element added at the beginning of another word to adjust or qualify its meaning, such as ex (ex husband), non (non smoking), and super (supermodel) …   Modern English usage

  • prefix — early 15c. (v.), 1640s (n.), from L. praefixus, pp. of praefigere fix in front, from prae before (see PRE (Cf. pre )) + root of figere to fasten, fix (see FIX (Cf. fix)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • prefix — I UK [ˈpriːfɪks] / US [ˈprɪˌfɪks] noun [countable] Word forms prefix : singular prefix plural prefixes 1) linguistics a group of letters that is added to the beginning of a word to change its meaning. For example, the prefix un is added to the… …   English dictionary

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