Prefix

A prefix is a bound morpheme (or affix) which attaches at the lefthand side of a base. The English negative morpheme un- is a prefix: happy : unhappy, free : unfree etc.


 * "Prefixes are affixes which precede the root with which they are most closely associated." (Gleason 1955:59)

Origin
The term prefix is attested in English since the 17th century.

Links
Utrecht Lexicon of Linguistics

Other languages

 * French préfixe
 * German Präfix
 * Russian приставка
 * Czech předpona, prefix
 * Spanish prefijo