Lesson 2: Latin Prefixes 7-12

Let's explore words that describe movement, position, and strength, all based on whether something is coming "in" or going "out."

Key Words

• Due to a lack of jobs, my grandparents had to emigrate from Italy.
• The weather forecast warns that a severe thunderstorm is imminent.
• The constant heat and humidity seemed to enervate the entire team, making them sluggish.

This group plays with prefixes that mean "out" (e-) and "in" (im-). To emigrate is to move out of a country, while to immigrate is to move in. An eminent person stands out, while an imminent danger hangs over you. To enervate is to take strength out, and erosion is the process of wearing something away.

Here, the prefixes e-, ex- (out) and in- (in) define opposite actions. See how one little prefix can completely change the meaning!

Key Words

• The smell of baking cookies can evoke powerful memories of childhood.
• The principal had to expel the students who broke the rules.
• The fitness center offers an exclusive membership to hotel guests only.

These verbs show a clear contrast between an outward action (prefix ex- or e-) and an inward one (prefix in- or im-). You evoke a memory (call it out), but you invoke a spirit (call on it for help). Surgeons excise a tumor (cut it out) but incise the skin (cut into it). You exhibit confidence (show it out) but inhibit your fears (hold them in).

This set of words uses in- to explore ideas of involvement, accusation, and confinement.

Key Words

• The tour package is inclusive of meals and accommodation, so you don't pay extra.
• The witness's testimony seemed to implicate the suspect in the robbery.
• The rebel leader was captured and accused of being an insurgent.

This group uses prefixes like im- and in- to describe involvement and confinement. To implicate someone is to fold them into a crime. To impugn is to fight against their reputation. To incarcerate is to put someone in prison. An insurgent is one who rises in revolt against authority.

It's a battle of the boundaries! The prefix extra- means "outside," while intra- means "within."

Key Words

• The debate team is my favorite extracurricular activity at school.
• The coach wants to focus on intramural sports to give more students a chance to play.
• Your argument is getting sidetracked by extraneous details that don't matter.

This group contrasts two important prefixes: extra-, meaning "outside," and intra-, meaning "within." An extracurricular activity is outside the normal curriculum. Extraneous details are irrelevant or come from the outside. In contrast, intramural sports are played within the walls of one school, and an intrastate issue is confined within a single state.

Let's look at words for opposition and mediation using the prefixes contra-, counter-, and inter-.

Key Words

• It is an incontrovertible fact that the Earth revolves around the sun.
• My older sister had to intervene in the argument between me and my brother.
• The general had to countermand his previous order to retreat and instead command the troops to advance.

This group covers prefixes of opposition and mediation. Contra- and counter- mean "against," found in words like controversy (a turning against) and countermand (to cancel an order with a contrary one). Inter- means "between," as seen in intercede (to go between people to settle a dispute) and intersect (to cut between or cross).