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What language do most prefixes come from?

Most prefixes in the English language come from Greek and Latin.

Here's a breakdown:

* Greek prefixes: These are often used in scientific and technical terms. Examples include:

* auto- (self): autobiography, automatic

* bio- (life): biology, biosphere

* geo- (earth): geology, geography

* micro- (small): microscope, microbe

* tele- (far): telephone, telescope

* Latin prefixes: These are more common in everyday language. Examples include:

* ad- (to, toward): advance, address

* de- (from, down): depart, decrease

* in- (in, into): inside, include

* pre- (before): preview, pre-school

* re- (again): redo, rewind

While these two languages are the primary sources for English prefixes, there are a few other languages that contribute as well, but to a much lesser extent.

It's worth noting that sometimes the same prefix has slightly different meanings depending on the source language. For example, the prefix "in-" can be used to mean "not" (inaccurate) or "in" (inside), and its meaning can vary depending on its origin.

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