Lesson 1: Anglo-Saxon Prefixes 1-4

Let's look foreward! The prefix fore- usually means "beforehand" or "the front part of something," helping you talk about things that come first in time or place.

Key Words

• Instead of waiting until the last minute to study, you should review the material over the foregoing days. (Referring to the days that came before)
• I should have had the foresight to bring an umbrella; I knew it was going to rain.
• The strange quiet in the house gave me a sense of foreboding, as if something bad was about to happen.

The prefix fore- is your crystal ball for words. It signals something that happens beforehand, like a forecast predicting the weather, or something that is at the front, like your forearm. Having foresight means you can see what might happen in the future, which is a great skill to avoid trouble!

Oops! The prefix mis- is your go-to for talking about mistakes, errors, or just plain bad stuff. When you see mis-, think "wrong" or "badly."

Key Words

• Be careful not to mislay your keys; you don't want to be locked out. (This means to put something in a place and then forget where it is)
• The magician's trick was designed to mislead the audience, making them look at the wrong hand.
• Luckily, the collision was just a minor mishap, and no one was seriously injured.

The prefix mis- attaches to words to give them a negative meaning, usually indicating an error, a failure, or something done incorrectly. A misstep is a wrong step, a misdeed is a bad action, and to mislead someone is to guide them in the wrong direction. This prefix is a signal that something isn't quite right.

Ready to be the best? The prefix out- often means "to do something better," "faster," or "longer than" someone else. It can also mean "external" or "away from."

Key Words

• My new hiking boots are so durable they will probably outlast my old pair by several years. (This means they will last longer)
• The chess champion managed to outwit her opponent with a surprise move.
• My little sister is very shy, but the doctor thinks she will outgrow it as she gets older.

When you see the prefix out-, think "surpassing" or "going beyond." To outrun someone is to run faster, and to outwit them is to be smarter. It can also describe something that is external or strange, like an outlandish hat. The outlook for your grades is great if you study hard!

Whoa, that's too much! The prefix over- is often used to mean "excessively" or "too much of something." It's a warning that things have gone beyond a normal or desirable limit.

Key Words

• Don't be overconfident about the exam; you still need to study to do well.
• It's easy to overestimate how much pizza you can eat, and then you have leftovers for days.
• My friend was so overgenerous with the gift that I felt a little embarrassed.

The prefix over- is a key indicator of excess. Being overconfident means you are too sure of yourself, while to overburden someone is to give them too many responsibilities. This prefix cautions against going too far or having too much, whether it's an overdose of medicine or an overestimate of your abilities.

On top of the world... or just on top of things! Besides meaning "too much," the prefix over- can also mean "above," "covering," or "to dominate."

Key Words

• Her amazing performance in the play threatened to overshadow the other actors. (This means to be more important than the others)
• Why did you buy more flour? Don't you know we already have an oversupply?
• The sheer amount of information in the textbook can overwhelm a new student.

This use of over- describes a sense of power or position. A tall skyscraper can overshadow a smaller building, literally casting a shadow over it or making it seem less important. An oversupply is an excessive amount of something. To be overwhelmed is to be completely covered or crushed by something, like homework or emotions.