Which of the following is the definition of the word prefix?
A. a basic word part that often comes from Greek or Latin
B. an affix added to the end of a word root
C. word part added at the beginning or end of a word root that changes the word's meaning
D. an affix added at the beginning of a word root
D. an affix added at the beginning of a word root
The definition of the word prefix is option D: an affix added at the beginning of a word root.
The definition of the word "prefix" is option D, which states that a prefix is an affix added at the beginning of a word root.
To arrive at this answer, we can break down the other options and compare them to the definition of a prefix:
A. Option A states that a prefix is a basic word part that often comes from Greek or Latin. While it's true that prefixes are commonly derived from Greek or Latin, this option does not fully capture the function of a prefix, which is to change the meaning of a word when added at the beginning.
B. Option B states that a prefix is an affix added to the end of a word root. This definition is actually referring to a suffix, not a prefix. Suffixes are added to the end of a word root to change its meaning.
C. Option C states that a word part can be added at the beginning or end of a word root to change its meaning. Although this definition describes the general concept of affixes, it does not specifically define a prefix, as it also includes the possibility of adding word parts at the end of a word root, which is the function of a suffix.
Thus, option D, which defines a prefix as an affix added at the beginning of a word root, is the most accurate definition.