transitive verb
1 \ (ˌ)prē-ˈfiks \ : to fix or appoint beforehand
2 \ ˈprē-ˌfiks , prē-ˈfiks \ [partly from prefix entry 2] : to place in front especially : to add as a prefix prefix a syllable to a word
pre·fix | \ ˈprē-ˌfiks \
1 : an affix attached to the beginning of a word, base, or phrase and serving to produce a derivative word or an inflectional form — compare suffix
2 : a title used before a person's name
pre·fix | \ ˈprē-ˌfiks \
Noun Prefixes and suffixes are both kinds of affixes. That is, they are word parts that attach to the beginning or end of a word or word base (a word stripped down to its simplest form) to produce a related word or an inflectional form of a word. Examples are in- in informal and both re- and -ing in reporting. A third kind of affix is called an infix. Infixes are inserted into a word or word base. English uses very few infixes, but a couple examples are the plural-making s in words like cupsful and passersby, and various swear words, like damn in informal constructions like guaran-damn-tee. A combining form is a form of a word that only appears as part of another word. There are a number of kinds of combining forms, each classified by what kind of word results when the form is used. For example, -wise in clockwise is an adverb combining form; -like in birdlike is an adjective combining form; -graph in photograph is a noun combining form; and -lyze in electrolyze is a verb combining form. Combining forms are similar to affixes but can have a bit more lexical substance to them. Unlike affixes, combining forms are substantial enough to form a word simply by connecting to an affix, such as when the combining form cephal- joins with the suffix -ic to form cephalic. A combining form can also differ from an affix in its being derived from an independent word. For example, para- is a combining form in the word paratrooper because in that word it represents the word parachute. Para- is a prefix, however, in the words paranormal and paramedic. A combining form can also be distinguished historically from an affix by the fact that it is borrowed from another language in which it is descriptively a word or a combining form, such as the French mal giving English the mal- in malfunction.
pre·fix | \ ˈprē-ˌfiks , prē-ˈfiks \
pre·fix | \ ˈprē-ˌfiks \
In order to continue enjoying our site, we ask that you confirm your identity as a human. Thank you very much for your cooperation. / ɪn / See synonyms for in on Thesaurus.com (used to indicate inclusion within space, a place, or limits): walking in the park. (used to indicate inclusion within something abstract or immaterial): in politics; in the autumn. (used to indicate inclusion within or occurrence during a period or limit of time): in ancient times; a task done in ten minutes. (used to indicate limitation or qualification, as of situation, condition, relation, manner, action, etc.): to speak in a whisper; to be similar in appearance. (used to indicate means): sketched in ink; spoken in French. (used to indicate motion or direction from outside to a point within) into: Let's go in the house. (used to indicate transition from one state to another): to break in half. (used to indicate object or purpose): speaking in honor of the event. in or into some place, position, state, relation, etc.: Please come in. in one's house or office. in possession or occupancy. having the turn to play, as in a game. Baseball. (of an infielder or outfielder) in a position closer to home plate than usual; short: The third baseman played in, expecting a bunt. on good terms; in favor: He's in with his boss, but he doubts it will last. Informal. in vogue; in style: He says straw hats will be in this year. in season: Watermelons will soon be in. located or situated within; inner; internal: the in part of a mechanism. Informal.
Informal. comprehensible only to a special or ultrasophisticated group: an in joke. well-liked; included in a favored group. inward; incoming; inbound: an in train. being in power, authority, control, etc.: a member of the in party. Golf. of or relating to the playing of the last nine holes of an eighteen-hole golf course (opposed to out): His in score on the second round was 34. verb (used with object), inned, in·ning.British Dialect. SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE? Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge! Which form is commonly used with other verbs to express intention? TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT be in for, to be bound to undergo something, especially a disagreeable experience: We are in for a long speech. in for it, Slang. about to suffer chastisement or unpleasant consequences, especially of one's own actions or omissions: I forgot our anniversary again, and I'll be in for it now.Also British, for it. in that, because; inasmuch as: In that you won't have time for supper, let me give you something now. in with, on friendly terms with; familiar or associating with: They are in with all the important people. First recorded before 900; 1925–30 for def. 29; Middle English, Old English; cognate with German, Dutch, Old Frisian, Old Saxon, Gothic in,Old Norse ī,Latin in,Greek en,Lithuanian į Imroz, IMS, imu, IMunE, Imuran, in, Ina, in a bad light, in a bad mood, in a bad way, in a big way Indiana (approved especially for use with zip code). a prefix representing English in (income; indwelling; inland, etc.), but used also as a verb-formative with transitive, intensive, or sometimes little apparent force (intrust; inweave, etc.). It often assumes the same forms as in-2, such as en-1, em-1, im-3. 1 Middle English, Old English; see in a prefix of Latin origin meaning primarily “in,” but used also as a verb-formative with the same force as in-1 (incarcerate; incantation). 2 From Latin, combining form of in (preposition); cognate with in a prefix of Latin origin, corresponding to English un-, having a negative or privative force, freely used as an English formative, especially of adjectives and their derivatives and of nouns (inattention; indefensible; inexpensive; inorganic; invariable). It assumes the same phonetic phases as in-2 (impartial; immeasurable; illiterate; irregular, etc.). In French, it became en- and thus occurs unfelt in such words as enemy (French ennemi, Latin inimicus, lit., not friendly). 3 <Latin; akin to an-1, a-6, un-1 The prefixes in- and un- may both have, among other uses, a negative force. In- is the form derived from Latin, and is therefore used in learned words or in words derived from Latin or (rarely) Greek: inaccessible, inaccuracy, inadequate, etc. Un- is the native form going back to Old English, used in words of native origin, and sometimes used in combination with words of other origins if these words are in common use: unloving, ungodly, unfeeling, unnecessary, unsafe. a suffix, occurring in adjectives of Greek and Latin origin, meaning “pertaining to,” and (in nouns thence derived) also imitated in English (coffin; cousin, etc.). 1 Middle English -in, -ine<Old French <Latin -inus, -ina, -inum<Greek -inos, -inē, -inon a noun suffix used in a special manner in chemical and mineralogical nomenclature (glycerin; acetin, etc.). In spelling, usage wavers between -in and -ine. In chemistry a certain distinction of use is attempted, basic substances having the termination -ine rather than -in (aconitine; aniline, etc.), and -in being restricted to certain neutral compounds, glycerides, glucosides, and proteids (albumin; palmitin, etc.), but this distinction is not always observed. 2 <New Latin -ina.See -ine2 a suffixal use of the adverb in, extracted from sit-in, forming compound nouns, usually from verbs, referring to organized protests through or in support of the named activity (kneel-in;chain-in;be-in) or, more generally, to any organized social or cultural activity (cook-in;sing-in). Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022 chic, chichi, contemporary, current, fly, latest, mod, modern, now, smart, swank, trig, a go-go, à la mode, all the rage, customary, dashing, faddy, favored, hot
inside; withinno smoking in the auditorium at a place where there islying in the shade; walking in the rain indicating a state, situation, or conditionin a deep sleep; standing in silence before or when (a period of time) has elapsedcome back in one year using (a language, etc) as a means of communicationwritten in code concerned or involved with, esp as an occupationin journalism expressing a ratio, proportion, or probabilityone in five boys while or by performing the action of; as a consequence of or by means ofin crossing the street he was run over used to indicate goal or purposein honour of the president (used of certain animals) about to give birth to; pregnant with (specified offspring)in foal; in calf a variant of into she fell in the water; he tore the paper in two have it in one (often foll by an infinitive) to have the ability (to do something) in it Australian informal joining in; taking part in that or in so far as (conjunction) because or to the extent that; inasmuch asI regret my remark in that it upset you nothing in it no difference or interval between two things in or into a particular place; inward or indoorscome in; bring him in so as to achieve office, power, or authoritythe Conservatives got in at the last election so as to encloseblock in; cover in a hole (in certain games) so as to take one's turn or one's team's turn at a certain aspect of the play; taking one's inningsyou have to get the other side out before you go in British (of a fire) alightdo you keep the fire in all night? (in combination) indicating an activity or gathering, esp one organized to protest against somethingteach-in; work-in in at present at (the beginning, end, etc) in for about to be affected by (something, esp something unpleasant)you're in for a shock in on acquainted with or sharing inI was in on all his plans in with associated with; friendly with; regarded highly by have it in for or have got it in for informal to wish or intend harm towards (stressed) fashionable; modishthe in thing to do NZ competingyou've got to be in to win Old English; compare Old High German in, Welsh yn, Old Norse ī, Latin in, Greek en the internet domain name for not; non-incredible; insincere; illegal; imperfect; irregular Compare un- 1 from Latin in-; related to ne-, nōn not in; into; towards; within; oninfiltrate; immigrate having an intensive or causative functioninflame; imperil indicating a neutral organic compound, including proteins, glucosides, and glyceridesinsulin; digitoxin; tripalmitin indicating an enzyme in certain nonsystematic namespepsin indicating a pharmaceutical substancepenicillin; riboflavin; aspirin indicating a chemical substance in certain nonsystematic namescoumarin from New Latin -ina; compare -ine ² Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved. In addition to the idioms beginning with in, also see under out of The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. WORD OF THE DAY pishoguenoun | [pi-shohg ]SEE DEFINITIONFEEDBACK© 2022 Dictionary.com, LLC |