In this Grade 7 vocabulary lesson from Vocabulary for the High School Student, students learn to decode and use words built from six Latin prefixes including ab-, a-, abs-, ad-, ante-, post-, bi-, and semi-. By studying how these prefixes modify meaning, students build understanding of terms like abdicate, adjacent, antecedent, postmortem, bilingual, and semicircle. The lesson reinforces prefix recognition as a strategy for expanding vocabulary across academic subjects.
Section 1
The 'Away From' Prefixes: AB-, A-, ABS-
Let's explore words that carry a sense of separation or being 'away from' something, all thanks to the prefixes AB-, A-, and ABS-.
| abdicate (v.) | abduct (v.) | abhor (v.) | abnormal (adj.) |
| abrasion (n.) | abrupt (adj.) | abscond (v.) | absolve (v.) |
| absorbing (adj.) | abstain (v.) | averse (adj.) | avert (v.) |
| avocation (n.) |
Section 2
The 'To' and 'Toward' Prefix: AD-
Now let's move 'toward' a new set of words! The prefix AD- often points to connection, direction, or being near something.
| adapt (v.) | addicted (adj.) | adequate (adj.) | adherent (n.) |
| adjacent (adj.) | adjoin (v.) | adjourn (v.) | advent (n.) |
| adversary (n.) | adverse (adj.) |
Section 3
Time and Place: ANTE- (Before) and POST- (After)
Time to travel through... time! These words use ANTE- to talk about what comes 'before' and POST- to describe what comes 'after.'
| antecedents (n.) | antedate (v.) | postdate (v.) | ante meridiem (adv.) |
| post meridiem (adv.) | anteroom (n.) | postgraduate (adj.) | postmortem (n.) |
| postscript (n.) |
Section 4
Numbers Game: BI- (Two) and SEMI- (Half)
Let's do the math with prefixes! BI- means 'two' and SEMI- means 'half,' helping us describe things in terms of quantity.
| bicameral (adj.) | bicentennial (n.) | biennial (adj.) | semiannual (adj.) |
| bimonthly (adj.) | semimonthly (adj.) | bilateral (adj.) | bilingual (adj.) |
| bipartisan (adj.) | bisect (v.) | semicircle (n.) | semiconscious (adj.) |
| semidetached (adj.) | semiskilled (adj.) |
Book overview
Jump across lessons in the current chapter without opening the full course modal.
Continue this chapter
Expand to review the lesson summary and core properties.
Section 1
The 'Away From' Prefixes: AB-, A-, ABS-
Let's explore words that carry a sense of separation or being 'away from' something, all thanks to the prefixes AB-, A-, and ABS-.
| abdicate (v.) | abduct (v.) | abhor (v.) | abnormal (adj.) |
| abrasion (n.) | abrupt (adj.) | abscond (v.) | absolve (v.) |
| absorbing (adj.) | abstain (v.) | averse (adj.) | avert (v.) |
| avocation (n.) |
Section 2
The 'To' and 'Toward' Prefix: AD-
Now let's move 'toward' a new set of words! The prefix AD- often points to connection, direction, or being near something.
| adapt (v.) | addicted (adj.) | adequate (adj.) | adherent (n.) |
| adjacent (adj.) | adjoin (v.) | adjourn (v.) | advent (n.) |
| adversary (n.) | adverse (adj.) |
Section 3
Time and Place: ANTE- (Before) and POST- (After)
Time to travel through... time! These words use ANTE- to talk about what comes 'before' and POST- to describe what comes 'after.'
| antecedents (n.) | antedate (v.) | postdate (v.) | ante meridiem (adv.) |
| post meridiem (adv.) | anteroom (n.) | postgraduate (adj.) | postmortem (n.) |
| postscript (n.) |
Section 4
Numbers Game: BI- (Two) and SEMI- (Half)
Let's do the math with prefixes! BI- means 'two' and SEMI- means 'half,' helping us describe things in terms of quantity.
| bicameral (adj.) | bicentennial (n.) | biennial (adj.) | semiannual (adj.) |
| bimonthly (adj.) | semimonthly (adj.) | bilateral (adj.) | bilingual (adj.) |
| bipartisan (adj.) | bisect (v.) | semicircle (n.) | semiconscious (adj.) |
| semidetached (adj.) | semiskilled (adj.) |
Book overview
Jump across lessons in the current chapter without opening the full course modal.
Continue this chapter