prefix

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   attach a prefix to

   prefixed words

2. 2
   noun

   Something placed before another

   The chosen prefixes won the vote in part because they start with the only two letters left in the alphabet that are not already used in measurement. The b for “bronto” is already used for bytes and h for “hella” is used for hecto, the prefix for 100.

3. 3
   verb

   To determine beforehand; to set in advance.

   But the danger was, that a man can hardly prefix any certaine limits unto his desire[…].

4. 4
   verb

   To put or fix before, or at the beginning of something; to place at the start.

   For the classical ranks, he says, were taken from the nomenclature of the family system (indeed, they are kinship terms as well as political ones), and this arrangement was confused and inelegant. But the Taiping terms are all prefixed with 'T’ien' [translating 天 (Tiān)]—the capital is T’ien-ching [translating 天京 (Tiānjīng)], soldiers are T’ien-ping [translating 天兵 (Tiānbīng)], officials are T’ien-kuan [translating 天官]—for the T’ien-wang’s [translating 天王 (Tiānwáng)] authority derives from the T’ien-fu [translating 天父 (Tiānfù)].

5. 5
   noun

   an affix that is added in front of the word

Etymology

From Middle English prefixen, from Middle French prefixer, from Latin praefīxus, past participle of praefīgō (“to (fix, fasten, set up) in front”, “to fix on the (end, extremity)”) (from prae- (“before”) + fīgō (“to fix”, “to fasten”, “to affix”)), equivalent to pre- + -fix.