How do you divide the word preoperative into a prefix root and suffix?

Here's the breakdown of "preoperative" into prefix, root, and suffix:

* Prefix: pre- meaning "before" or "in advance of"

* Root: oper meaning "to work" or "to perform"

* Suffix: -ative meaning "tending to" or "relating to"

Therefore, "preoperative" means "relating to the period before surgery."