Many of today's English words contain prefixes from Greek or Latin. Understanding the meanings of the most common prefixes can help us deduce the meanings of new words that we run across in our reading. Foresight is the opposite of hindsight; it's looking into the future to understand what's going to happen. You might not know this word but you recognize the prefix 'poly.' If you know poly, you can start by breaking it up into 'poly' + 'dental.' 'Poly' means 'many.' Think about a 'polygon,' as inexact or inedible. But it can also mean 'into,' or 'within,' as in insert or include. Or think about 'un.' It can mean 'not,' as in unhappy, untrained, unlikable, or unclear. For example, think about the prefix 'in.' It can mean 'not,' a shape with many sides. You can test out of the first two years of college and save thousands off your degree. Try explaining what you want in a few words in the search box below.
