prefix
n.a group of letters added to the beginning of a word to change its meaning. In computing, it can also be a set of numbers or characters at the start of a string.
n.an affix placed before the stem of a word to modify its meaning or create a new word. In technical contexts, refers to a sequence of characters or digits at the beginning of a data string or address.
“The prefix 'un-' changes the meaning of 'happy' to 'unhappy'.”
“When calling an international number, you must first dial the correct country prefix before the local digits.”
“Linguistic analysis shows that the prefix 'pre-' originates from Latin, signifying priority in time or rank, and remains one of the most productive morphemes in modern academic English.”
In grammar, it is often contrasted with 'suffix'. In computing, it frequently refers to network address segments.
“Prefixes and suffixes like United, City, FC, AC aren’t included.”
Borrowed from Late Latin praefīxum, from Latin praefīxus, past participle of praefīgō (“I (fix, fasten, set up) in front”, “I fix on the (end, extremity)”) (from prae- (“before”) + fīgō (“I fix”, “I fasten”, “I affix”)), equivalent to pre- + -fix. Doublet of the archaic synonym prefixum.
From Middle English prefixen, from Middle French prefixer, from Latin praefīxus, past participle of praefīgō (“I (fix, fasten, set up) in front”, “I fix on the (end, extremity)”) (from prae- (“before”) + fīgō (“I fix”, “I fasten”, “I affix”)), equivalent to pre- + -fix.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.