Prefixation is the formation of words with the help of prefixes. There are about 51 prefixes in the system of Modern English word-formation.
Prefixes may be classified into several groups on different principles: in accordance with their l)origin, 2)meaning, 3)function and according to 4)the parts of speech formed.
Diachronical Classification
Native prefixes: be - beset, mis - misdeed, un - unable, out - outlet, under - undergo, over - overall, after - afterthought.
Foreign prefixes: pre - predominate, post - postword,j:o - coordinate, inter - interchange, super - superstar, sub - subdivide, proprorate, extra - ex-traofficial, anti - antiwar, ultra - ultramodern.
Many of the native prefixes were originally independent words, gradually they lost independence and turned into prefixes (out-, under-, over-). Prefixes mis-, un- have always functioned as prefixes.
In the course of time English has adopted a great many prefixes from foreign languages. One must bear in mind that prefixes are borrowed not separately, but as constituent parts of borrowed words.
Quite a number of borrowed prefixes have become of international currency: extra-, inter-, sub-, anti-, counter-, super-.
Synchronical Classification According to the meaning:
1. negative prefixes: un - unemployed, non - nonproductive, in - incor
rect, dis - disarmament, a - amoral;
2. reversative prefixes: un - unfasten, de - deform, dis - disconnect;
3. prefixes of time and order: fore - foretell, pre - prewar, post - postwar,
ex - expresident;
4. prefix of repetition: re - reread;
5. locative prefixes: super - supersonic, sub - subway, inter -
intercontinental, trans - transatlantic, over - overcoat;
6. pejorative prefixes: (содержит отрицательную оценку с неодобри-
тельным оттенком): mal - maltreat (вести себя жестоко по отношению к
человеку), pseudo - pseudoscientific.
According to the part of speech formed:
be - belittle, de - deface, detrain, en - entrap, enslave.
According to stylistic reference:
- stylistically neutral (native, Latin),
- stylistically coloured (some Greek ones).
According to productivity:
- productive (re-, un-, dis-),
- nonproductive (a-, for-, with-, forth-).