An example of a word that has both a prefix and a suffix is "unhappiness."
Breakdown of Morphemes:
- Prefix: "un-"
- Root: "happy"
- Suffix: "-ness"
Meaning of Each Morpheme:
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Prefix "un-": This prefix typically indicates negation or the opposite of the root word. In this case, it conveys the opposite of "happy," which means not happy.
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Root "happy": This is the base word that conveys a state of joy or contentment.
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Suffix "-ness": This suffix turns an adjective into a noun, indicating a state or condition. Therefore, it transforms "happy," which is an adjective, into "happiness," which denotes the state of being happy.
How the Meaning Changes:
When the prefix "un-" is added to "happy," the meaning shifts from a positive state (happy) to a negative one (unhappy), indicating a lack of happiness. Subsequently, adding the suffix "-ness" to "unhappy" transforms it into "unhappiness," which refers to the condition of being unhappy.
The use of the prefix and suffix together changes the meaning from an emotional state (happy), to its negation (unhappy), and finally to a noun that denotes that emotional state (unhappiness).
Thus, the combination of morphemes alters the original meaning significantly, demonstrating how prefixes and suffixes can modify root words to convey new meanings.
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