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American Dictionary of the English Language

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Prefix


PREFIX', verb transitive [Latin proefigo; proe, before, and figo, to fix.]

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.

PRE'FIX, noun A letter, syllable or word put to the beginning of a word, usually to vary its signification. A prefix is united with the word, forming a part of it; hence it is distinguished from a preposition; as pre, in prefix; con, in coniure; with, in withstand. Prefixes are sometimes called particles, or inseparable prepositions.