* "Anti-" is the prefix. It means "against," "opposed to," or "contrary to."
* "Social" is the root word. It refers to relationships between people and how they interact within a group.
Therefore, "antisocial" means "against or opposed to society or social interaction."
Now, let's look at how prefixes can change the meaning:
* "Prosocial" - Using the prefix "pro-" which means "in favor of" or "supporting," we get the opposite of "antisocial." Prosocial behavior means being helpful and cooperative with others.
* "Asocial" - This prefix doesn't carry the same strong sense of opposition as "anti-." "Asocial" simply means "not social" or "not enjoying social interaction," but it doesn't necessarily imply a deliberate opposition to society.
In summary: Prefixes like "anti-" and "pro-" significantly alter the meaning of "social," creating words with opposite connotations. They highlight whether someone is against, in favor of, or simply indifferent to social interaction.