I. ˈprēˌfiks, prēˈf-, prə̇ˈf- transitive verb
Etymology: Middle English prefixen, from Middle French prefixer, from pre- + fixer to fix, from fix fixed, from Latin fixus, past participle of figere to fix, fasten — more at dike
1. archaic : to fix or appoint beforehand : establish (as a boundary, a decision, or a goal) in advance
2.
[partly from prefix (II) ]
: to place in front : add as a prefix
it was flattering to a young man to be able to prefix the title of professor to his name — A.W.Long
II. ˈprēˌfiks noun
( -es )
Etymology: New Latin praefixum, from Latin, neuter of past participle of praefigere to fasten before, from prae- pre- + figere
1. : a sound or sequence of sounds or in writing a letter or sequence of letters occurring as a bound form attached to the beginning of a word, base, or phrase and serving to produce a derivative word or an inflectional form — compare affix , infix , suffix
2. : a title used before a person's name
3. : the quantifier or group of quantifiers preceding the matrix of a formula especially in prenex normal form