Here's a breakdown:
* Affixes: These are word parts added to the beginning (prefixes) or end (suffixes) of a word to change its meaning or grammatical function.
* Root/Base: This is the core meaning-bearing part of a word. It's the essential element that remains after all the prefixes and suffixes are stripped away.
Example:
* "Unbelievable"
* Prefix: "Un-"
* Suffix: "-able"
* Root: "believe"
So, after removing the prefix "un-" and the suffix "-able", we are left with the root "believe", which carries the core meaning of the word.