Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Prefix
Pre-fix′
,Verb.
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
éfix
fixed beforehand, determined, pr
éfixer
to prefix. See Fix.] 1.
To put or fix before, or at the beginning of, another thing;
as, to
. prefix
a syllable to a word, or a condition to an agreement2.
To set or appoint beforehand; to settle or establish antecedently.
[Obs.]
“ Prefixed bounds. ” Locke.
And now he hath to her
prefixt
a day. Spenser.
Pre′fix
,Noun.
[Cf. F.
pr
éfixe
.] 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 pre
fix, con-
in con
jureWebster 1828 Edition
Prefix
PREFIX'
,Verb.
T.
1.
To put or fix before, or at the beginning of another thing; as, to prefix a syllable to a word; to prefix an advertisement to a book.2.
To set or appoint beforehand; as, to prefix the hour of meeting. A time prefix, and think of me at last.
3.
To settle; to establish. I would prefix some certain boundary between the old statutes and the new.
Definition 2024
prefix
prefix
See also: préfix
English
Alternative forms
Noun
prefix (plural prefixes)
- That which is prefixed; especially one or more letters or syllables added to the beginning of a word to modify its meaning; as, pre- in prefix, con- in conjure.
Usage notes
- Though much less common, a plural form prefices exists as well, apparently formed by analogy with index–indices, appendix–appendices, and so on.
Synonyms
- forefix (rare)
- foresyllable (rare)
- prefixum (archaic)
Hypernyms
- affix (broad sense)
Derived terms
Translations
letters at the beginning of a word
|
|
Verb
prefix (third-person singular simple present prefixes, present participle prefixing, simple past and past participle prefixed)
- (transitive) To determine beforehand; to set in advance. [from 15thc.]
- 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, chapter j, in Le Morte Darthur, book XXI:
- he took the Quene Gueneuer and sayd playnly that he wolde wedde hyr / whyche was his vnkyls wyf and his faders wyf / And soo he made redy for the feest / And a day prefyxt that they shold be wedded / wherfore quene Gweneuer was passyng huey / But she durst not dyscouer hyr herte
- 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essayes, London: Edward Blount, OCLC 946730821, I.40:
- But the danger was, that a man can hardly prefix any certaine limits unto his desire […].
- 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, chapter j, in Le Morte Darthur, book XXI:
- (transitive) To put or fix before, or at the beginning of something; to place at the start. [from 16thc.]
Related terms
Translations
put or fix before, or at the beginning of
|
set or appoint beforehand
See also
References
Dutch
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈpreːfɪks/
Etymology 1
From post-Classical Latin praefixum, nominal use of the neuter form of Classical Latin praefixus, past participle of praefīgō (“I (fix, fasten, set up) in front”, “I fix on the (end, extremity)”) — the noun directly thence, whereas the adjective via French préfixe.
Alternative forms
- praefix (archaic)
Noun
prefix n, m (plural prefixen, diminutive prefixje n)
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology 2
Adjective
prefix (not comparable)
- (obsolete) fixed, predetermined
Inflection
| Inflection of prefix | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| uninflected | prefix | |||
| inflected | prefixe | |||
| comparative | — | |||
| positive | ||||
| predicative/adverbial | prefix | |||
| indefinite | m./f. sing. | prefixe | ||
| n. sing. | prefix | |||
| plural | prefixe | |||
| definite | prefixe | |||
| partitive | prefix | |||