{"id":105,"date":"2016-08-01T19:48:42","date_gmt":"2016-08-01T23:48:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/greeklatinroots2\/?post_type=chapter&p=105"},"modified":"2016-11-30T17:28:52","modified_gmt":"2016-11-30T22:28:52","slug":"%c2%a7131-an-approach-to-greek-prefixes","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/greeklatinroots2\/chapter\/%c2%a7131-an-approach-to-greek-prefixes\/","title":{"raw":"\u00a7131. An Approach to Greek Prefixes","rendered":"\u00a7131. An Approach to Greek Prefixes"},"content":{"raw":"

In the last two chapters you have met Greek-derived forms that we might consider prefixes in English\u2014neo-, poly-, mono-,<\/i> penta-,<\/i> and kilo-, <\/i>for example. There is nothing wrong with calling them prefixes, in the general sense of that term. Strictly speaking, however, they are better described as combining forms or adaptations of Greek adjectives and numerals. Now, in Chapter 21, you will meet a full repertory[footnote]A repertory is a collection or storehouse (L repertorium<\/strong>, \u201ca place where things are found\u201d). The doublet repertoire<\/em> is usually preferred to identify the body of works that a creative artist is able to perform.[\/footnote] of Greek prefixes.<\/p>\r\n

As usual, the best preparation for a new Greek topic will be to review its parallel in Latin\u2014in this case, Part I, Chapter 8<\/a> (especially the summary in \u00a759<\/a>). As each new Greek prefix is introduced in the coming pages, ask yourself whether it has a Latin counterpart that may play a similar semantic role in English word formation. You will see, in fact, that a column of suggested Latin \u201cequivalents\u201d is provided. Be forewarned, however, that these are not always exact counterparts. Because Latin and Greek are closely cognate, some verbal elements match almost perfectly; but the two languages did, after all, belong to different branches of the Indo-European family.<\/p>\r\n

Let us approach the problem gently by examining five Greek prefixes that are fairly straightforward: a(n)-<\/b>, anti-<\/b>, eu-<\/b>, dys-<\/b>, and syn-<\/b>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

    \r\n \t
  1. a-<\/b> (\u1f00-), sometimes known as ALPHA PRIVATIVE, is the prefix that corresponds to English un-<\/i> or Latin in-<\/b>, meaning \u201cnot\u201d or \u201cwithout.\u201d Before a base beginning with a vowel it changes to an-<\/b> (\u1f00\u03bd-). Examples in English include atheist, atheism, atom, amorphous, achromatic, amnesia<\/i>[footnote] The root in amnesia<\/em> (a-mn\u0113sia<\/strong>, \u201cno memory\u201d) is\u00a0\u03bc\u03bd\u03b7- (\u201cmemory\u201d) that we met in Mnemosyne<\/em> (\u00a7104<\/a>). An amnesty<\/em> (a-mn\u0113stia<\/strong>) is another form of not remembering.[\/footnote], amnesty, aphasia, apathy, asbestos;<\/i> and (with an-<\/b>) anarchy, analgesic, anaesthetic, anonymous, anomaly, anaemia, <\/i>and anorexia<\/i> .<\/li>\r\n \t
  2. ant(i)-<\/b> (\u1f00\u03bd\u03c4\u03b9-) is a prefix that we can easily recognize as meaning \u201cagainst\u201d or \u201copposite.\u201d However we must be careful not to confuse it in English with the very different Latin prefix ante-<\/b> (\u201cbefore\u201d). Examples: antonym, antagonist, antarctic, antidote, antipathy, antiphony, antipodes, antiseptic<\/i>.<\/li>\r\n \t
  3. eu-<\/b> (\u1f10\u03c5-), an adverb meaning \u201cwell,\u201d was also used as a prefix; cf. Latin bene-<\/i>. Examples: euphony, eugenic, euthanasia, eurhythmic, euphoria, euphemism.<\/i><\/li>\r\n \t
  4. dys-<\/b> (\u03b4\u03c5\u03c3-), provides the opposite to eu-<\/b>, since it means \u201cbadly\u201d or \u201chard\u201d; it is something like Latin male-<\/i>. Examples: (dyslexia, dysphasia, dysentery, dysgenesis, dysphoria) (<\/i>euphoria, dysphemism) (<\/i>euphemism, dystopia) (<\/i>utopia <\/i>(<\u03bf\u1f50\u03c4\u03bf\u03c0\u03b9\u03b1, \u201cno place\u201d).<\/li>\r\n \t
  5. syn- <\/b>(\u03c3\u03c5\u03bd-) is very much like Latin con-<\/b>, meaning \u201cwith,\u201d \u201ctogether.\u201d Like con-<\/b>, it may also show ASSIMILATION. Examples: synonym, synagogue, synchronism, syndrome, syncopate, symbiosis, symmetry, symphony, symposium, symptom, syllable.<\/i><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>","rendered":"

    In the last two chapters you have met Greek-derived forms that we might consider prefixes in English\u2014neo-, poly-, mono-,<\/i> penta-,<\/i> and kilo-, <\/i>for example. There is nothing wrong with calling them prefixes, in the general sense of that term. Strictly speaking, however, they are better described as combining forms or adaptations of Greek adjectives and numerals. Now, in Chapter 21, you will meet a full repertory[1]<\/sup><\/a> of Greek prefixes.<\/p>\n

    As usual, the best preparation for a new Greek topic will be to review its parallel in Latin\u2014in this case, Part I, Chapter 8<\/a> (especially the summary in \u00a759<\/a>). As each new Greek prefix is introduced in the coming pages, ask yourself whether it has a Latin counterpart that may play a similar semantic role in English word formation. You will see, in fact, that a column of suggested Latin \u201cequivalents\u201d is provided. Be forewarned, however, that these are not always exact counterparts. Because Latin and Greek are closely cognate, some verbal elements match almost perfectly; but the two languages did, after all, belong to different branches of the Indo-European family.<\/p>\n

    Let us approach the problem gently by examining five Greek prefixes that are fairly straightforward: a(n)-<\/b>, anti-<\/b>, eu-<\/b>, dys-<\/b>, and syn-<\/b>.<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. a-<\/b> (\u1f00-), sometimes known as ALPHA PRIVATIVE, is the prefix that corresponds to English un-<\/i> or Latin in-<\/b>, meaning \u201cnot\u201d or \u201cwithout.\u201d Before a base beginning with a vowel it changes to an-<\/b> (\u1f00\u03bd-). Examples in English include atheist, atheism, atom, amorphous, achromatic, amnesia<\/i>[2]<\/sup><\/a>, amnesty, aphasia, apathy, asbestos;<\/i> and (with an-<\/b>) anarchy, analgesic, anaesthetic, anonymous, anomaly, anaemia, <\/i>and anorexia<\/i> .<\/li>\n
    2. ant(i)-<\/b> (\u1f00\u03bd\u03c4\u03b9-) is a prefix that we can easily recognize as meaning \u201cagainst\u201d or \u201copposite.\u201d However we must be careful not to confuse it in English with the very different Latin prefix ante-<\/b> (\u201cbefore\u201d). Examples: antonym, antagonist, antarctic, antidote, antipathy, antiphony, antipodes, antiseptic<\/i>.<\/li>\n
    3. eu-<\/b> (\u1f10\u03c5-), an adverb meaning \u201cwell,\u201d was also used as a prefix; cf. Latin bene-<\/i>. Examples: euphony, eugenic, euthanasia, eurhythmic, euphoria, euphemism.<\/i><\/li>\n
    4. dys-<\/b> (\u03b4\u03c5\u03c3-), provides the opposite to eu-<\/b>, since it means \u201cbadly\u201d or \u201chard\u201d; it is something like Latin male-<\/i>. Examples: (dyslexia, dysphasia, dysentery, dysgenesis, dysphoria) (<\/i>euphoria, dysphemism) (<\/i>euphemism, dystopia) (<\/i>utopia <\/i>(<\u03bf\u1f50\u03c4\u03bf\u03c0\u03b9\u03b1, \u201cno place\u201d).<\/li>\n
    5. syn- <\/b>(\u03c3\u03c5\u03bd-) is very much like Latin con-<\/b>, meaning \u201cwith,\u201d \u201ctogether.\u201d Like con-<\/b>, it may also show ASSIMILATION. Examples: synonym, synagogue, synchronism, syndrome, syncopate, symbiosis, symmetry, symphony, symposium, symptom, syllable.<\/i><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
      1. A repertory is a collection or storehouse (L repertorium<\/strong>, \u201ca place where things are found\u201d). The doublet repertoire<\/em> is usually preferred to identify the body of works that a creative artist is able to perform. ↵<\/a><\/li>
      2. The root in amnesia<\/em> (a-mn\u0113sia<\/strong>, \u201cno memory\u201d) is\u00a0\u03bc\u03bd\u03b7- (\u201cmemory\u201d) that we met in Mnemosyne<\/em> (\u00a7104<\/a>). An amnesty<\/em> (a-mn\u0113stia<\/strong>) is another form of not remembering. ↵<\/a><\/li><\/ol><\/div>","protected":false},"author":20,"menu_order":1,"template":"","meta":{"pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"Chapter 21: Greek Prefixes","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[52],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-105","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry","chapter-type-numberless"],"part":104,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/greeklatinroots2\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/105","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/greeklatinroots2\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/greeklatinroots2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/greeklatinroots2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/greeklatinroots2\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/105\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":515,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/greeklatinroots2\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/105\/revisions\/515"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/greeklatinroots2\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/104"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/greeklatinroots2\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/105\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/greeklatinroots2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=105"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/greeklatinroots2\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=105"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/greeklatinroots2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=105"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/greeklatinroots2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=105"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}