EX-

The prefix 'ex-' first appeared in English words in the Middle English in words borrowed from French. It comes from the Latin where it was both a prefix and a preposition. Later in the Middle English period it became a productive prefix. It is akin to Ancient Greek (εκ-, εχ-, εχω-). Its meaning ranges from

★ 1. "out, away" (example , ex-dividend date)

★ 2. "up" (abstract meaning indicating increase or strengthening of a particular quality, often negative - sometimes called intensive) (example , )

★ 3. "former, prior" (examples , ) This is a much later development and did not exist in Latin.

Contents

Forms

Effect on following vowel

Forms

★ Note: the combination of prefix with the initial consonant of the next component (usually a verb) did not always yield the same change i.e. the prefix did not assimilate. This is more common in words coined after Classical Latin. (see ex- + f).

★ These forms of ex- represent no phonological change (the 'ks' sound is maintained) and are therefore merely a result of orthographical custom.

★
★ ec- (ex- + c) (example: ) ("eccentric" is ultimately from the Ancient Greek εκκεντρικος, but the change of εκ- to ec- shows that the Romans realized the εκ- was an assimilated prefix.)

★
★ ex- + s The 's' of the verb assimilates to the prefix. Examples: ( < ex- + spectare), ( < ex- + sacrare) ( < ex- + sequor). This only affects orthography, not phonology.

★ These forms of ex- show phonological change (the 'ks' sound is not maintained) in which the prefix assimilates to the initial consonant/consonant cluster of the word (usually a verb) which it is fixed to.

★
★ ef- (ex- + f) (example: ) (sometimes ex- did not assimilate. example )

★
★ e- (ex- + b, d, g, j, l, m, n, r, v) (example: , , , , , , , , )

★
★ es-, is- In words from Latin which came to English through French, ex- often became is- (as in ), and es- (as in ).

Effect on following vowel

When attached to a verbal root, prefixes often change the first vowel (whether initial or preceded by a consonant/consonant cluster) of that verb. These phonological changes took place in Latin and usually do not apply to words created (as in Medical Latin) from Latin components since Latin became a 'dead' language. Note: the combination of prefix and following vowel did not always yield the same change. (see examples below at ex- + a-)

★ ex- + a- = -e- (example: < ex- + arcere)

★ ex- + a- = -i- (example: < ex- + agere)

★ ex- + -a- = -e- (examples: < ex- + capere. < ex- + carpere. < ex- + sacrare)

★ ex- + -a- = -i- (example: < ex- + habere)

★ ex- + -a- = -u- (example: < ex- + saltare)

★ ex- + -ae- = -i- (example: < ex- + caedere. < ex- + quaerere)

★ ex- + -au- = -o- (example: < ex- + plaudere)

★ ex- + -au- = -u- (examples: < ex- + claudere. < ex- + causa)