■ noun a word, letter, or number placed before another.
↘an element placed at the beginning of a word to adjust or qualify its meaning (e.g. ex- , non- , re- ) or (in some languages) as an inflection.
↘a title placed before a name (e.g. Mr ).
■ verb add as a ~ or introduction.
↘add a ~ or introduction to.
Derivatives
~ation noun
Origin
C16 (as v.): from OFr. ~er , from L. praefixus , praefigere 'fix in front', from prae 'before' + figere 'to fix'; the noun is from mod. L. praefixum , neut. of praefixus .