Find New Words With Prefixes Look through magazines and books.
Find at least four new words, one each for the prefixes dis–, fore–, sub–, under–. Write the words and the sentences in your journal.
Then try to write a new sentence for each word.
Word Learning Tip!
To learn a long word, try looking for the meaning in its parts. Some long words are made up of a prefix and a word or root. A prefix is a letter or group of letters you can add to a word to form a new word. For example, dis + please = displease. You can also add a prefix to a root—another word part.
For example, the root merge comes from the Latin word for “dive”:
sub + merge = submerge.
disagreeable
Use Prefixes A prefix is always added to the beginning of a word or root. Put together the meaning of the prefix with the meaning of the word or root to determine the meaning of a new word.
Prefix Meaning
dis– not, lack of, opposite of
fore– in front of, ahead of time, before sub– under, lower than
under– below, beneath, less than
Learn More!
Vocabulary Words
Words With Prefixes (dis–, fore–, sub–, under–)
12
85 Lesson 12 • Words With Prefixes (dis–, fore–, sub–, under–)
under– below, beneath, less than
dis– not, lack of, opposite of
fore– in front of, ahead of time, before sub– under, lower than disagreeable
discomfort discontent
displease distrust forearm
forecaster foretell submerge
subscription subway subzero
underground underpay underrate
Be a Word Architect
Directions Look at each branch of the prefix tree below. Place each vocabulary word in the blank on the correct branch. Circle the prefix in each word.
Powerful Vocabulary for Reading Success: Grade 4 © Scholastic Teaching Resources
disagreeable
Words With Prefixes (dis–, fore–, sub–, under–)
12
Connect Words and Meanings
Directions Read each definition. Then look at the clues. Write the word that matches the definition in the blank. You may use the glossary or a dictionary to help you.
1. Definition: to tell about something before it happens; to predict
Clues: This word begins with a prefix that means “ahead of time.” It ends with a verb that means “say.”
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2. Definition: to not make someone happy or satisfied; to annoy
Clues: This word begins with a prefix that means “opposite of.” It ends with a verb that means “to satisfy or give pleasure.”
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3. Definition: a train that runs under the streets of a city
Clues: This word begins with a prefix that means “under.” It ends with a noun that means “a road” or “a route.”
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4. Definition: to value or judge something too little
Clues: This word begins with a prefix that means “less than.” It ends with a verb that means “to judge or rank.”
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5. Definition: beneath the ground
Clues: This word begins with a prefix that means “beneath.” It ends with a noun that means “the surface of the earth.”
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6. Definition: below zero
Clues: This word begins with a prefix that means “lower than.” It ends with a noun that names the number that comes before 1.
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7. Definition: a feeling of not being satisfied;
restlessness; a feeling of wanting something better
Clues: This word begins with a prefix that means “not.” It ends with an
adjective that means that you are satisfied with what you have.
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8. Definition: the front part of your arm Clues: This word begins with a prefix that means “in front of.” It ends with a noun that names the part of the body that connects the hand to the shoulder.
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(continued on next page)
Forecast Future Events Work in small groups to forecast the future. Talk about events or discoveries that you think might happen in the next 20 years. What will be popular? What will scientists
discover? How will people feel about these new discoveries? Then write a paragraph summarizing your discussion. Use as many vocabulary words as you can.
disagreeable
Words With Prefixes (dis–, fore–, sub–, under–)
12
9. Definition: not trust
Clues: This word begins with a prefix that means “lack of.” It ends with a verb that shows that you believe in someone or something.
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10. Definition: to pay too little for something or to value something less than it is worth Clues: This word begins with a prefix that means “less than.” It ends with a verb that means “give money in return for something.”
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11. Definition: pain or worry
Clues: This word begins with a prefix that means “opposite of.” It ends with a noun that means “the feeling of being relaxed and free from pain and worry.”
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12. Definition:not pleasant; not to one’s liking Clues: This word begins with a prefix that means “not.” It ends with an adjective that means “pleasant” or “pleasing.”
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13. Definition: a person who tells what he or she thinks will happen in the future Clues: This word begins with a prefix that means “ahead of time.” It contains the word cast, which means “to estimate or guess.” It ends with the suffix -er, which means “a person who.”
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14. Definition: to go completely underwater Clues: This word begins with a prefix that means “under.” The second part of the word comes from the Latin word mergere, which means “to sink, plunge, or dive.”
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15. Definition: a signed agreement to receive a magazine or newspaper on a regular basis Clues: This word begins with a prefix that means “under.” The second part of the word comes from the Latin word scribere, which means “to write.” When you have this, you have written your name under or at the bottom of an agreement to show that you accept what the agreement says.
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Connect More Words and Meanings
Directions Continue the activity. Read each definition. Then look at the clues. Write the word that matches the definition in the blank. You may use the glossary or a dictionary to help you.
87 Lesson 12 • Words With Prefixes (dis–, fore–, sub–, under–)
Powerful Vocabulary for Reading Success: Grade 4 © Scholastic Teaching Resources
disagreeable discomfort discontent
displease distrust forearm
forecaster foretell submerge
subscription subway subzero
underground underpay underrate
Words With Prefixes (dis–, fore–, sub–, under–)