Lesson 2: Anglo-Saxon Prefixes 5-8

Let's start with words that say "no"! The prefix 'un-' is like a reverse button, turning words into their opposites or undoing an action.

Key Words

Example Usage

• For a complete and reliable definition, you should always consult an unabridged dictionary.
• The guards were warned that the prisoner was desperate and would try to escape if they were the least bit unwary.
• Some sports fans have an unquenchable thirst for the game; they watch every single match.

Now for words that look beneath the surface. The prefix 'under-' places things below a certain level, either literally or figuratively.

Key Words

Example Usage

• To call her top-scoring performance 'decent' is a huge understatement; she was the best in the class.
• The advanced course is for graduates, but a qualified undergraduate may enroll with the professor's approval.
• After his golf ball hit a tree, he had to search for it in the dense underbrush.

Time to level up! Words with the 'up-' prefix are all about moving higher, getting better, or a sudden change for the better.

Key Words

Example Usage

• To stay competitive, the phone company must upgrade its network whenever its rivals improve theirs.
• The new manager will have to update the company's procedures to include modern safety standards.
• The community garden's success marked a welcome upturn in the neighborhood's spirit.

Finally, let's explore words of resistance and retreat. The prefix 'with-' often means to go against something or to pull back.

Key Words

Example Usage

• The training that firefighters receive helps them withstand the intense heat and dangers of their job.
• The company proceeded with the merger, notwithstanding the concerns raised by some of its investors.
• Due to a scheduling conflict, the keynote speaker had to withdraw from the conference.