Common Prefixes, Suffixes, and Roots

The following list should help you to arrive at definitions of unfamiliar words in the Verbal section of the GRE. These prefixes, suffixes, and roots apply to thousands of words.

Prefixes
Prefix adantibicomdeepiequiexhomohyperhypoininintermalmismonononobomnioverpolypreproreretrosemisubtransunMeaning to, toward against two together, with away, from upon equal, equally out of same, equal, like over, too much under, too little not into between bad wrong alone, one not against all, everywhere above many before forward back, again backward half, partly under across, beyond not Example advance antidote bicycle composite deter epilogue equivalent expel homogenized hyperactive hypodermic insufficient instruct interstate malfunction mistake monolith nonentity objection omniscient overbearing polymorphous precede propel regress retrograde semicircle submarine transcend unneeded

Suffixes
Suffix -able, -ible -er, -or -ism -ist -less -ship -fy -ness -tude -logue Meaning able to one who does the practice of one who is occupied with without, lacking the art or skill of to make the quality of the state of a particular kind of speaking or writing Example usable competitor rationalism feminist meaningless statesmanship dignify aggressiveness rectitude prologue

Roots
Root arch belli bene chron dic fac graph mort port vid, vis Meaning to rule war, warlike good time to say to make, to do writing to die to carry to see Example monarch belligerent benevolent chronology indicative artifact telegraph mortal deport invisible