affix

[ verb uh-fiks; noun af-iks ]

See synonyms for: affix affixed on Thesaurus.com

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.

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

Other words from affix

af·fix·a·ble, adjective
af·fix·al [a-fik-suhl], /æˈfɪk səl/, af·fix·i·al [a-fik-see-uhl], /æˈfɪk si əl/, adjective
af·fix·er, noun
af·fix·ment, noun
re·af·fix, verb (used with object)
un·af·fixed, adjective

Compare combining form.

Words Nearby affix

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use affix in a sentence

But what we don't get from Rubin or Harris is why exactly Hagel refused to affix his name to the letter.
AJC Leaves Out Context Of Hagel Letters | Ali Gharib | December 20, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
And he did, in fact, affix his Hancock to the tax increases in question.
2012 GOP Presidential Candidates Raised Taxes | Andrew Romano | April 19, 2011 | THE DAILY BEAST
We were taught impeccable manners—to this day I neurotically affix too many pleases and thank-yous to everything.
What I Saw at the Revolution | Porochista Khakpour | February 11, 2009 | THE DAILY BEAST
Conny stepped smilingly forward, and proceeded to affix the band around the vicar's massive throat.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3) | Charles James Wills
Run a narrow velvet through the holes of the third row and affix wider velvet ends, or chenille tassels to each extremity.
The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness | Florence Hartley

Twelve different works he had before written and published, and all without the affix of his name.
Letters To Eugenia | Paul Henri Thiry Holbach
Pitt proposed to provide for the royal assent by placing the great seal in a commission with authority to affix it to the bill.
The Political History of England - Vol. X. | William Hunt
Under each word the force of the prefix is usually given, though not the affix.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) | Various

British Dictionary definitions for affix

affix

verb(əˈfɪks) (tr; usually foll by to or on)

to attach, fasten, join, or stick: to affix a poster to the wall
to add or append: to affix a signature to a document

to attach or attribute (guilt, blame, etc)

noun(ˈæfɪks)

a linguistic element added to a word or root to produce a derived or inflected form: -ment in establishment is a derivational affix; -s in drowns is an inflectional affix: See also prefix, suffix, infix
something fastened or attached; appendage

Origin of affix

C15: from Medieval Latin affixāre, from ad- to + fixāre to fix

Derived forms of affix

affixation (ˌæfɪkˈseɪʃən) or affixture (əˈfɪkstʃə), noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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