What is the term for groups of letters placed before a word to alter its meaning?

Prepare for the Keystone Literature Content Exam with detailed flashcards and multiple choice questions. Each question is accompanied by helpful hints and explanations to enhance understanding. Get exam-ready today!

The term for groups of letters placed before a word to alter its meaning is "prefix." A prefix is a specific type of affix that is added to the beginning of a root word to change its meaning or to create a new word. For example, in the word "unhappy," the prefix "un-" is added to the root "happy" to indicate the opposite meaning. This process of modifying words through prefixes is a fundamental part of morphology, the study of word formation.

On the other hand, a suffix is a group of letters added to the end of a word, while a root is the base part of a word that carries its primary meaning. An affix is a broader term that encompasses both prefixes and suffixes. Thus, while a prefix falls under the broader category of affixes, it specifically refers to those that are placed at the beginning of words, making "prefix" the correct answer in this context.

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