| |
|
|
| |
A prefix is
a group of letters at the front of a word which changes the meaning
of the word. |
|
Follows a short list of some of the most common prefix used in
biology and
horticulture.
| A- |
= without |
(Abiotic,
Acarpous,
Asexual) |
| Ab- |
= away from, opposite to (Latin)
|
(Abaxial,
etc) |
| Ad- |
= towards, beside (Latin)
|
(Adaxial) |
| An |
= without, lacking |
(Anaerobe) |
| Ante |
= before (Latin)
|
(Anterior, etc...) |
| Anti- |
= opposite,
against: |
(Antibiotic, antibacterial, ect) |
| Append- |
= to
hang something: |
(Appendicular,
ect) |
| Auto- |
|
(Autochory,
autochtonous,
autogamy, etc) |
| Bi- |
= two: |
(Biennial,
bipinnate,
binomial ect..) |
|
Bio- |
= life (Greek) |
(Biology,
biochemistry,
biodiversity, etc.) |
|
De- |
= away
from, opposite of |
(Decapitation,
defoliation,
dehydration,
defasciation ) |
|
Di- |
= two |
(Dimorphism,
dioecious,
dicotyledon, etc...) |
|
Dis- |
= to
undo; free from: |
(Disease,
ect) |
|
Dors |
= the back (from
dorsum, Latin) |
(Dorsal,
dorsifixed, etc...) |
|
Endo- |
= within: |
(Endocarp,
endosperm, ect) |
|
Epi- |
=
upon,
above, surrounding |
(Epicarp,
epigynous,
epiphyte, ect) |
|
Exo- |
= outside |
(Exotic,
exocarp, etc) |
|
Extra- |
= outside (Latin) |
(Extracellular,
extrafloral nectary, ect) |
|
Geo- |
= earth |
(Eeophyte,
etc.) |
| Hemi- |
= partially |
(Hemiepiphyphytes,
etc...) |
| Hetero-
|
= different, varied
|
|
| Homo |
= the same |
(Homozygote, etc) |
| Hydro- |
= water |
(Hydrophyte,
ect) |
|
Hyper- |
= above |
(hypertonic, ect) |
|
Hypo- |
= below: |
(hypogynous,
hypocotyl,
hypanthium, ect) |
| Im- |
= not |
(imparipinnate,
immature, ect) |
| Infra- |
= under;
below: |
(infraspecific, ect) |
|
Inter- |
=
between: |
(internode,
interleaf,
interbreed, ect)
|
|
Intra- |
=
inside: |
(Intracellular, ect) |
|
Iso- |
= equal, uniform, similar |
(Isotype,
etc.) |
|
Macro- |
= large |
(macrobiotic, etc.) |
|
Meso- |
= alf |
(mesophyte,
mesocarp, etc.) |
|
Meta- |
= after: |
(metacentric, etc.) |
| Micro- |
= small |
(microorganism,
micropyle,
micropropagation,
etc.) |
| Mono- |
= one |
(monocotyledons,
monoecious, etc.) |
| Multi- |
= many |
(multicellular,
multiple, etc.) |
| Neo |
= new |
(Neoteny) |
| Non |
= not |
(Nonwoody,
etc) |
|
Ob-
|
= reversed |
(Obovate,
obconic,
etc) |
| Para |
= alongside (Latin)
|
(Paratype,
etc) |
| Patho- |
= disease |
(Pathology,
pathogen, etc) |
| Penta |
= five |
(Obovate,
obconic) |
|
Peri- |
= surrounding |
(Perianth,
periderm,
perigynous, etc) |
| Poly- |
= many |
(polydrupe,
polyploid, etc.) |
| Post- |
= after, behind (Latin) |
(posterior, etc) |
| Pre- |
= before |
(premature, prefix, etc.) |
| Pseudo- |
= false |
(pseudocarp,
etc.) |
|
Re- |
|
|
| Retro- |
= back
or behind |
(retrorse,
etc) |
|
Semi- |
= half |
(semidormant,
etc.) |
| Sub- |
= under
or below |
(subfamily,
subglobose,
subtend, etc.) |
| Super- |
= over
or above |
(superdomain,
superior, etc.) |
| Tetra- |
= four |
|
| Topo |
= place, position and location |
(Topotype,
etc...) |
| Toxo |
= poisonous, toxic |
|
| Trans- |
=
through, across, beyond |
(transpiration,
etc.) |
| Tri- |
= three |
(triangular,
etc.) |
| Ultra- |
=
beyond; excess: |
|
|
Un- |
|
|
| Uni- |
= one |
(unicellular,
unifoliolate,
unilocular, etc.) |
|
Wild- |
= not
cultivated, or undomesticated |
|
|
