Appendix a

THE ADJECTIVE-FORMING PREFIXES

SUFFIX

MEANING

EXAMPLES

pre-

before someone or something

prearranged, prewar;

ante-

antedate (=earlier than something), antenatal (=before birth);

anti-

opposed to

antinuclear (=opposing the use of nuclear weapons and power), anti-American;

pro-

supporting or approving of something

pro-American, pro-choice;

un-

showing a negative, a lack, or an opposite

unusual, unpredictable, unhappy, unfair.

in-

the opposite or lack of something

insensitive, inanimate, incautious, inattentive;

ir-

the form used for in- before r

irrespective, irregular, irrational;

im-

the form used for in- before b, m, p

impossible, immoral, imbalanced, imbecilic, impassive impassable;

il-

the form used for in- before l

illiterate, illogical;

ill-

badly or not enough

ill-concealed, ill-formed, ill-advised, ill-bred, ill-defined, ill-founded, ill-fated;

dis-

showing the opposite or a negative

dishonest, disinterested;

a-

1. in a particular way or condition;

2. (old use) in, to, at or on something;

aloud, alive, a-tingle, ajar, askew; abed (=in bed), afire (=in fire), afar (=far away);

all-

1. consisting of or made of only one kind of thing; 2. continuing for the whole period;

all-men, all-wool; all-day, all-night.

under-

less of an action or quality than is correct, needed, or desired;

undercooked, underdeveloped, underdone, underdressed, underfed, understaffed;

out-

outside or beyond something

outlying, outbound, outdated;

hyper-

more than usual, especially too much

hypersensitive (=too sensitive), hypercritical, hyperactive.

THE PRODUCTIVE ADJECTIVE-FORMING SUFFIXES

SUFFIX

MEANING

EXAMPLES

-able/-ible

1. that you can do something to;

2. having a particular quality or condition.

usable, readable washable, loveable, unbreakable; intelligible, responsible; comfortable, knowledgeable (=knowing a lot), visible.

-ful

1. full of something

2. having the quality of something or causing something

eventful, colourful;

useful, deceitful, restful, painful.

-less

1. without something;

2. not doing or using something;

3. not possible to treat or affect in a particular way.

colourless, powerless, childless tasteless; careless, harmless, useless; countless, tireless.

-like

used after a noun to say that something is similar to or typical of the noun.

jelly-like, childlike, ladylike, businesslike.

THE LESS ADJECTIVE-FORMING SUFFIXES

-ish

1. of a particular space;

2. typical of or like a particular type of person;

3. to show disapproval;

4. equal to the meaning "rather", "quite";

5. equal to the meaning "approximately" (after the numeral root-stem).

Spanish, British, Turkish. foolish, childish, snobbish.

selfish. youngish, tallish, reddish, greyish, yellowish.

eightish (=at about 8 o’clock), fortyish (=about 40 years old).

-ant/-ent

1. describes something that does something;

2. describes something that has a particular quality.

expectant, pleasant, confidant,

consequent, current, consistent.

-ous

describes something that has a particular quality

dangerous, spacious, curious, obvious, industrious, infectious.

-some

tending to behave in a particular way, or having a particular quality

troublesome, bothersome, quarrelsome.

-en

made of a particular material or substance

golden, wooden, woolen, wooden, silken.

-an/-ian/-ean

describes someone or something of, from, or connected with a particular thing, place, or person.

suburban, American, Italian, Austrian, Caucasian, Jamesian.

-y

1. full of something or covered with something;

2. having a quality of feeling, or tending to do something;

3. like or typical of something;

4. fond of or interested in something

sugary, dirty, hairy;

messy, curly, easy,

wintry, horsy, watery, snowy, rainy; horsy.

-ic/-ical

of, like, or related to a particular thing

photographic, alcoholic, Byronic, historic, economic, grammatical, hysterical, musical, historical, economical.

-ive -ative

doing something or having ability to do something

liking something or lending to do something or show a particular quality.

communicative, active, explosive, derivative, adoptive;

talkative, argumentative,

imaginative.

-ate/-ite

full of showing a particular quality;

affectionate, delicate, animate, accurate; definite, composite

-ist

1. relating to or showing a particular political or religious belief;

2. treating people unfairly because of something.

socialist, rightist (=having right-wing opinions). sexist (=making unfair differences between men and women).