affix
[ verb uh-fiks; noun af-iks ]
/ verb əˈfɪks; noun ˈæf ɪks /
verb (used with object)
to fasten, join, or attach (usually followed by to): to affix stamps to a letter.
to put or add on; append: to affix a signature to a contract.
to impress (a seal or stamp).
to attach (blame, reproach, ridicule, etc.).
noun
something that is joined or attached.
Grammar. a bound inflectional or derivational element, as a prefix, infix, or suffix, added to a base or stem to form a fresh stem or a word, as -ed added to want to form wanted, or im- added to possible to form impossible.
RELATED CONTENT
English Affixes From A To Z: A One-Stop List Of Suffixes, Prefixes, and Combining FormsIn English, we love to make new words by adding all sorts of bits to the front and back of existing terms. These are called affixes, and they are added to the base or stem of a word. When attached to the end of word, the affix is called a suffix. And to the beginning? A prefix.
Nearby words
Compare combining form.
Origin of affix
1525–35; < Latin affīxus fastened to (past participle of affīgere), equivalent to af- af- + fīg- fasten + -sus, variant of -tus past participle suffix
Related forms
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for affix
British Dictionary definitions for affix
affix
verb (əˈfɪks) (tr; usually foll by to or on)
to attach, fasten, join, or stickto affix a poster to the wall
to add or appendto affix a signature to a document
to attach or attribute (guilt, blame, etc)
noun (ˈæfɪks)
Derived Forms
affixation (ˌæfɪkˈseɪʃən) or affixture (əˈfɪkstʃə), nounWord Origin for affix
C15: from Medieval Latin affixāre, from ad- to + fixāre to fix
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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