Prefix

STUB

A prefix is a bound morpheme (or affix) which attaches at the lefthand side of a base. The English negative morpheme un- is a prefix: happy : unhappy, free : unfree etc.

"Prefixes are affixes which precede the root with which they are most closely associated." (Gleason 1955:59)

Origin

The term prefix is attested in English since the 17th century.

Reference

Gleason, H. Allan. 1955. An introduction to descriptive linguistics. New York: Henry Holt and Company.

Links

Utrecht Lexicon of Linguistics

Other languages

• French préfixe
• German Präfix
• Russian приставка
• Czech předpona, prefix
• Spanish prefijo