SUB means "under." So, a subway runs under the streets, and a submarine moves under the ocean's surface. A subject is a person under the authority of another. A movies subplot is lower in importance than the main plot. Subscribe once meant "to write one's name underneath," so subscription was the act of signing a document or agreement.

HYPER means "above or beyond," so hyper- often means about the same thing as super-. Hyperinflation is inflation that growing at a very high rate. To be hypercritical or hypersensitive is to be critical or sensitive beyond the normal. And if you hyperextend a knee or elbow, it means you're actually bending it backward.

PRE one of the most common of all English prefixs, meaning "before" or "in front of." So, a prediction forecasts what will happen before it occurs. The 5:00 TV news precedes the 6:00 news. And someone with a prejudice against a class of people has judged them before having even met them.

PARA meaning "beside" or "closely releated to." So, parallel lines besides each other. And we start a new paragraph on a new line.

META is a prefix in English that generally means "behind" or "beyond." In medicine, for example, the metacarpal bones are the hand bones that come right after, or beyond, the carpal or wrist bones. And metalanguage is language used to talk about language, which requires going beyond normal language.

PER meaning "through," "throughout," or "thoroughly." Thus, perforate means "to bore through," perennial means "throughout the years," and permanent means "remaining throughout." An thoroughly sense shows up in persuade, for "thoroughly advise."

ANT/ANTI meaning "against." An anticlimax is the opposite of a climax. An antiseptic or antibiotic fights germs. An antacid attacks acid in the stomach. And an antidote works against the effects of a poison.

CONTRA meaning "against" or "contrary to." A contrast "stands against" something else that it's compared to.

Greek and Latin Borrowings