Definition

1. Noun:

   • A linguistic element added to a word: An "affix" is a bound morpheme attached to a word stem to modify its meaning or create a new word. It cannot stand alone as an independent word.

2. Verb:

   • To attach or fasten something to something else: This is the general meaning, referring to the physical act of attaching one item to another.
   • To attach a linguistic element to a word stem: In grammar, "affix" means to add a prefix, suffix, or infix to a base word to form an inflected or derived form.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Linguistics):

  • In the word "unhappiness," "un-" and "-ness" are affixes.
  • Prefixes and suffixes are the most common types of affixes in English.

• Verb (General Attachment):

  • Please affix the stamp to the upper right corner of the envelope.
  • The worker will affix the label to the package.

• Verb (Linguistics):

  • Some languages affix markers to verbs to indicate tense.
  • To form the past tense, we affix "-ed" to many regular verbs.

Advanced Usage

• "Affix to": This is the standard prepositional phrase used with the verb.
  • You must affix your signature to the document.
  • Grammatical markers are affixed to the root word.

Variants and Related Words

• Affixation (n): The process of adding an affix to a word.
  • The affixation of "-able" to "read" creates "readable."
• Prefix (n): An affix placed before a word stem (e.g., in ).
• Suffix (n): An affix placed after a word stem (e.g., in ).
• Infix (n): An affix inserted into the middle of a word stem (rare in English but common in some languages).

Synonyms

• Attach (v): To fasten or join one thing to another.
• Append (v): To add something, especially to the end of a written document.
• Prefix/Suffix (n): Specific types of affixes.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Affix to: The primary and almost exclusive phrasal structure for the verb.
  • The certificate is not valid until you affix the official seal to it.

Noun

1. a linguistic element added to a word to produce an inflected or derived form

Verb

1. attach or become attached to a stem word
   • grammatical morphemes affix to the stem
2. add to the very end
   • He appended a glossary to his novel where he used an invented language
3. attach to
   • affix the seal here