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Useful Morphemes in Vocabulary Development

by W.D. Bursuck|M. Damer
Source: Pearson Allyn Bacon Prentice Hall
Topics: Reading Building Blocks, Vocabulary

The table below lists useful morphemes in vocabulary development. The morphemes are organized according to families having common meanings.

Prefix and Suffix family or type Meaning Instructional Vocabulary Example Words
1. "Not" prefix family un, dis, in, im= not disloyal, unaware, invisible, imperfect
2. "Before," "During," and "after" prefix family

pre= before

mid= during or middle

post= after

prejudge, midtown, postgame
3. Excess prefix family

out = better or more than

over = too much or many

super= more, better, or higher

outlive, overflow, superhuman
4. Number prefix family

uni, mono= one

bi= two

semi= part, half, or occurring twice

uniform, monofilament, bicolor, semiarid
5. Prefix re re= again or back recharge, rehire
6. "State or quality of" suffix family ship, ness, ment= state or quality of friendship, loneliness, excitement
7. Suffix ward ward= in the direction of skyward, northward
8. Suffix ful ful= full of or characterized by merciful, helpful

Source: Baumann, J.F., Boland, E.M., Olejnik, S., & Kame'enui, E.J. (2003). Vocabulary tricks: Effects of instruction in morphology and context on fifth-grade students' ability to derive and infer word meanings. American Educational Research Journal, 40(2), 447-494.

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