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ASVAB Practice > Prefixes > Flashcards

Prefixes Flashcards

Common prefixes and meanings to help increase vocabulary for the Word Knowledge section of the ASVAB test (66 cards)

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1
Q

a, an

A

not, without

Examples:
agnostic (n): one who believes that it cannot be known whether or not God exists; (adj) claiming no knowledge

amoral (adj): not related to morality; lacking regard for morality

anomaly (n): an irregularity

anonymous (adj): lacking a named author; having an unknown author

apathy (n): lack of feeling, interest, or emotional investment

atheist (n): one who does not believe in God

atypical (adj): not typical

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2
Q

ab

A

away from, apart from, down

Examples:
abduct (v): to take away by force

abhor (v): to hate; to detest

abject (adj): cast down; degraded

abnormal (adj): not normal; not conforming to a standard

abolish (v): to do away with, ban, or make void

abstract (v): to draw or pull away, remove; (adj) theoretical; related to ideas rather than to specific instances or objects

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3
Q

ad

A

toward, near (Sometimes the “d” is dropped and the first letter to which “a” is prefixed is doubled.)

Examples:
adapt (v): to adjust in response to new circumstances

addict (v): to cause (someone) to become dependent on a substance or activity; (n) a person who is dependent on a substance or activity

address (n): a speech; (v) to give a speech or direct a statement to

adhere (v): to stick fast; to cleave; to cling

adjacent (adj) next to, close to, or connected to

adjoin (v): to be next to, close to, or connected to

admire (v): to look up to; to look at with approval or pleasure

advocate (v): to plead for; to argue in favor of

attract (v): to draw by physical force or by an appeal to emotions or senses

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4
Q

ambi, amphi

A

both, on both sides

Examples:
ambidextrous (adj): able to use both hands equally well

ambiguous (adj): open to various interpretations

amphibian (n): an animal that lives part of its life in water and part of its life on land; a person with a twofold nature; (adj) having the traits of an amphibian

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5
Q

ant, ante

A

before

Examples:
antebellum (adj): before the war (especially the American Civil War)

antecedent (adj): existing, being, or going before

antedate (v): to precede in time

anterior (adj): placed before

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6
Q

anti

A

against

Examples:
antidote (n): a remedy intended to counteract a poison

antifreeze (n): a chemical that lowers the freezing point of a liquid such as water

antiseptic (adj): free from germs; particularly clean or neat

antithetical (adj): opposed to, contrary to

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7
Q

bi, bin

A

two

Examples:
biennial (adj): happening every two years

bilateral (adj): related to both sides

bilingual (adj): able to speak one’s native language and another with equal facility

binocular (adj): involving two eyes

bipartisan (adj): representing two parties

combination (n): the joining of two or more things into a whole

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8
Q

cent

A

hundred

Examples:
centimeter (n): one hundredth of a meter

centipede (n): a creature with many legs

century (n): one hundred years

percent (adj): out of every hundred

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9
Q

circu, circum

A

around

Examples:
circuit (n): a path or journey around an area; a path traveled by electrical current

circuitous (adj): roundabout, indirect

circumference (n): the outer boundary of a circular area

circumstances (n): the state of affairs that exist around a particular time or person; the factors that influence a person or situation

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10
Q

co, col, com, con

A

together, completely

Examples:
coerce (v): to force (another to do an action) by using fear, authority, or violence

collaborate (v): to work with another; to cooperate

collide (v): (used of two or more objects or persons) to crash together; to make contact forcefully or violently

commensurate (adj): suitable in measure, proportionate

compatible (adj): able to exist together with someone or something else; capable of harmonious coexistence

conciliate (v): to placate; to win over

connect (v): to bind or fasten together

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11
Q

contra, contro, counter

A

against

Examples:
contradict (v): to oppose, to speak against

contrary (adj): opposed to; opposite

controversy (n): a prolonged debate or disagreement about a topic

counterfeit (adj): fake; (n) a false imitation

encounter (v): a meeting, often with an opponent

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12
Q

de

A

away, off, down, reversal

Examples:
decipher (v): to interpret; to decode; to discern a hidden meaning

defame (v): to slander; to publicly speak ill of

delineate (v): to draw the outlines of; to sketch; to describe

descend (v): to move from a higher to a lower place

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13
Q

deca

A

ten

Examples:
decade (n): ten years

decathlon (n): a sports competition composed of ten events

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14
Q

di, dia

A

in two, across, through

Examples:
diagnose (v): to determine the nature of (a sickness or problem) b examining symptoms

dialogue (n): conversation between two or more persons

diameter (n): a line going through a circle, dividing it in two

dichotomy (n): division into two parts, kinds, etc.

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15
Q

di, dis

A

away from, reversal, not

Examples:
diffuse (v); to pour out and spread, as in a fluid; (adj) spread out

dilate (v): to widen; to expand

disperse (v): to spread over a wide area; to drive away in various directions

disseminate (v): to scatter or spread widely; to promulgate

dissuade (v): to persuade (someone) against (a course of action); to deter; to advise against

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16
Q

dys

A

faulty, abnormal

Examples:
dysfunctional (adj): poorly functioning

dyslexia (n): an impairment of reading ability due to a neurological problem

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17
Q

e, ex

A

out of, from, former

Examples:
evade (v): to escape from; to avoid

exclude (v): to shut out; to leave out

exonerate (v): to free or declare free from blame

expire (v): to breathe one’s last; to die; to reach the end of viability

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18
Q

em, en

A

inside, into

Examples:
embrace (v): to clasp in the arms; to include or contain

enclose (v): to close in on all sides

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19
Q

extra

A

outside, beyond

Examples:
extract (v): to take out; to obtain against a person’s will

extradite (v): to send (a person accused of a crime) to another state or nation for trial or punishment

extraordinary (adj): beyond the ordinary; unusual

extrasensory (adj): outside the senses; coming from or pertaining to knowledge that cannot be gained through normal sense perception

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20
Q

fore

A

before

Examples:
foreshadow (v): to warn of or indicate (a future event)

foresight (n): the act of foreseeing; care for the future; prudence

forestall (v): to prevent by advance action

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21
Q

hemi

A

half

Examples:
hemisphere (n): half a sphere; half of the Earth

hemiplegia (n): paralysis of the arm, leg, and trunk on one side of the body

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22
Q

hetero

A

different, other

Examples:
heterogeneous (adj): make up of different kinds

heterosexual (adj): pertaining to different sexes; having a sexual orientation toward members of the opposite sex

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23
Q

homeo, homo

A

same, similar

Examples:
homogeneous (adj): having a uniform nature or substance

homonym (n): one of two or more words spelled and pronounced alike but different in meaning

homosexual (adj): pertaining to the same sex; having a sexual orientation toward members of the same sex

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24
Q

hyper

A

over, above, more than, excessive

Examples:
hyperactive (adj): excessively active

hyperbole (n): extreme exaggeration used to create an effect

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25
hypo
under, beneath, less than Examples: hypochondriac (n): one who imagines physical ailments; one who is overly preoccupied with physical health hypocritical (adj): pretending to have virtues or qualities one does not have hypothesis (n): assumption subject to proof
26
in, im
not, without Examples: immoral (adj): not moral impartial (adj): unbiased; fair inactive (adj): not active indolence (adj): a tendency to avoid work or exertion: laziness innocuous (adj): harmless, inoffensive
27
in, im
inside, into Examples: implicit (adj): not stated; inherent incarnate (adj): having a body or physical form indigenous (adj): native to a place influx (n): the pouring or flowing of one thing into another intrinsic (adj): natural; innate
28
inter
between, among Examples: interim (n): time period between one even and another; (adj) not permanent interloper (n): one who intrudes in the domain of others intermittent (adj): happening on and off; not constant intersperse (v): to scatter; to put things among other things interstate (adj): involving two or more states
29
intra
inside, within Examples: intramural (adj): within a school; inside a city intrastate (adj): within a state intravenous (adj): inside the veins
30
macro
great, large Examples: macroscopic (adj): large enough to be seen without magnification macroeconomics (n): study of the economy on a large scale
31
mal, male
bad, evil, wrong Examples: maladroit (adj): clumsy, tactless malady (n): an illness malediction (n): a curse malfunction (n): the act of not working correctly; (v) to work incorrectly; to break malicious (adj): intended to hurt someone malign (v): to tell lies with the intent of hurting someone's reputation; to slander
32
med, medi
middle Examples: immediate (adj): nearest; having nothing in between intermediate (adj): between the beginning and end mediate (v): to serve as a go-between; to try to settle an argument medieval (adj): related to the Middle Ages mediocre (adj): of only so-so quality medium (n): size between small and large; a substance or agency that things travel through (as, for example, light travels through air, and news is conveyed by television and newspapers)
33
mega, megalo
very large Examples: megalith (n): a very big stone megalomaniac (n): a mental condition involving delusions of greatness; an obsession with achieving great things megalopolis (n): a very large city megaphone (n): a device for magnifying the sound of one's voice megaton (n): explosive power equal to 1 million tons of dynamite
34
micro
very small Examples: microbe (n): a very small organism microcosm (n): a small system that reflects a larger whole microorganism (n): a very small organism microscope (n): a device that magnifies very small things for viewing
35
min, mini
small Examples: diminish (v): to lessen diminution (n): reduction; the act of reducing miniature (n) a copy or model that represents something in greatly reduced size minute (n): one-sixtieth of an hour minute (adj): very small minutiae (n): small or trivial details
36
mis
bad, wrong, hateful Examples: misadventure (n): bad luck; an unlucky accident misanthrope (n): one who hates people or humanity misapply (v): to use something incorrectly mischance (n): bad luck; an unlucky accident mischief (n): naughty or annoying behavior misconstrue (v): to understand something incorrectly misfit (n): somebody or something that doesn't fit in
37
mon, mono
one, single Examples: monarchy (n): rule by a single person monk (n): a man in a religious order living apart from society monogram (n): a design made up of letters combined into one shape monograph (n): a scholarly paper on one topic monologue (n): a speech or other dramatic composition recited by one person monomania (n): an obsession with a single subject monotonous (adj): boring; spoken using only one tone
38
mult
many Examples: multiple (adj): many, having many parts; a number containing some quantity of a smaller number without remainder multiplex (adj): having more than one part; (n) a building with many separate units multiply (v): to increase; to become many multitudinous (adj): very many; containing very many; having very many forms
39
non
not Examples: nonconformist (n): one who does not conform to a church or other societal institution nonentity (n): something that doesn't exist; something that is unimportant nonpartisan (adj): not affiliated with a political party
40
nov, neo, nou
new Examples: innovate (v): to develop a new way of doing something neologism (n): a newly invented word or phrase neophyte (n): a beginner; a new convert; a new worker novice (n): a person new to any field or activity renovate (v): to repair something so it is like new or does not show as much wear and tear
41
oct
eight Examples: octagon (n): a shape with eight sides octogenarian (n): a person whose age is 80 - 89
42
omni
all Examples: omnibus (n): an anthology of the works of one author or of writings on related subjects omnipotent (adj): all powerful omnipresent (adj): being everywhere at one time omniscient (adj): knowing everything
43
pan, pant
all, everyone Examples: pandemic (adj): widespread panoply (n): an impressive or vast group or display panorama (n): a view or scene that extends a long way pantheon (n): the group made up of all the gods of a particular culture; a building that honors dead heroes
44
para
next to, beside Examples: parable (n): a story that teaches a lesson through allegory paragon (n): an example of excellence to be emulated parallel (adj): being side by side and the same distance apart at all points; having similar paths or structures paranoid (adj): suffering from a baseless distrust of others parasite (n): a living thing that draws its nutrients from another on which it lives; a person who lives off another without providing anything in return parody (v): to satirize through imitation; (n) an imitative satire
45
pent
five Examples: pentagon (n): a five-sided shape pentathlon (n): a sports competition with five events
46
peri
around Examples: perimeter (n): the distance around a shape; a border around a shape peripatetic (adj): not stationary, moving about periscope (n): an optical instrument used to view objects that otherwise couldn't be seen
47
poly
many Examples: polyandry (n): the practice of having multiple husbands polygamy (n): the practice of having multiple spouses, often wives polyglot (n): someone who speaks many languages polygon (n): a figure with many sides polytheism (n): belief in many gods
48
post
behind, after ``` Examples: post facto (adv): after the fact ``` posterior (adj): situated at the rear posthumous (adj): after death
49
pre
before, in front Examples: precedent (n): an act that serves as an example for subsequent situations precept (n): a rule to govern behavior precocious (adj): unusually advanced at a young age premonition (n): a feeling or intuition that something is going to happen before it does
50
pro
in front, before, much, for Examples: proceed (v): to go forward profuse (adj): occurring in large amounts; abounding; overly giving prolific (adj): highly fruitful proselytize (v): to convert, recruit, or attempt to convert provident (adj): possessing foresight
51
prot, proto
first Examples: protagonist (n): the main character in a play or story protocol (n): diplomatic etiquette; a system of proper conduct; the original record of a treaty or other negotiation prototype (n): the first version of an invention, on which later models are based
52
pseud, pseudo
false Examples: pseudonym (n): a false name; a pen name pseudopod (n): part of a single-celled organism that can be stuck out (like a foot) and used to move around pseudoscience (n): false science; something believed to be based on the scientific method but actually is not
53
quad, quar, quat
four Examples: quadrant (n): a quarter of a circle; a 90-degree arc quadruple (adj): four times as many quadruplets (n): four children born in one birth quart (n): one-fourth of a gallon
54
quin, quint
five Examples: quintile (n): one-fifth quintuple (adj): five times as many
55
re
back, again Examples: recline (v): to lean back; to lie down regain (v) to gain again; to take back remain (v): to stay behind; to be left; to continue to be reorganize (v): to organize again request (v): to ask (originally: to seek again)
56
retro
backward Examples: retroactive (adj): extending to things that happened in the past retrofit (v): to instill newer parts into an older device or structure retrograde (adj): moving backward; appearing to move backward retrospective (adj): looking back at the past; (n) a review of past events
57
se
apart, away Examples: secede (v): to withdraw formally from an association sedition (n): provocation of rebellion against a government seduce (v): to lead astray segregate (v): to separate a larger group into two or more groups; to set an individual or subgroup apart from the larger group select (v): to choose one thing over another separate (v): to keep apart; to divide sequester (v): to isolate or set apart from a larger group
58
semi
half Examples: semicircle (n): half a circle semiconscious (adj): only partly conscious; half awake
59
sept
seven Examples: septuplet (n): one of seven children born together septennial (adj): occurring every seven years
60
sex, hex
six Examples: sextet (n): a band with six musicians hexagon (n): a shape with six sides
61
sub, sup
below, under Examples: subliminal (adj): existing beneath consciousness submissive (adj): obedient; not dominant subsidiary (adj): supplemental; secondary subterfuge (n): a trick or stratagem used to deceive, hide something, or avoid punishment subtle (adj): not direct; difficult to understand suppose (v): to put down as a hypothesis; to use as the underlying basis of an argument; to assume
62
super, sur
over, above Examples: superfluous (adj): extra; more than necessary superlative (n): the highest or best of its kind supersede (v): to replace in power or preference by another surmount (v): to overcome an obstacle or prevail over a problem surpass (v): to exceed in amount or degree surveillance (n): a watch kept over someone or something
63
sym, syn
the same, together Examples: symbiosis (n): the act of living together in a mutually beneficial relationship symmetry (n): balanced proportions; having opposite parts that mirror one another sympathy (n): the attempt to understand the feelings of others symposium (n): a meeting at which ideas are discussed; originally: a party at which people drink together synonym (n): a word that means the same thing as another synthesis (n): the act of combining things to create a new whole
64
trans
across, beyond Examples: transaction (n): an exchange, especially a business deal involving buying and selling transcendent (adj): going beyond ordinary limits transgress (v): to disobey or violate a law; to sin transition (n): a change from one way of being to another transparent (adj): easy to see through; easy to perceive
65
un
not Examples: unseen (adj): not seen unusual (adj): not usual; exceptional; strange
66
uni, un
one Examples: reunion (n): a meeting that brings people back together unanimous (adj): in complete agreement unicorn (n): a mythical animal with a single horn uniform (adj): of one kind; consistent universe (n): all things considered as one whole

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