Ex-

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The prefix ex- first appeared in English words in the Middle English in words borrowed from French. It comes from the Latin where it was both a prefix and a preposition. Later in the Middle English period it became a productive prefix. It is akin to Ancient Greek (εκ-, εχ-, εχω-). Its meaning ranges from

1. "out, away" (example (exit)
2. "up" (abstract meaning indicating increase or strengthening of a particular quality, often negative - sometimes called intensive) (example (exaggeration, exacerbate)
3. "former, prior" (examples (ex-boyfriend, ex-president) This is a much later development and did not exist in Latin.

Forms

Note: the combination of prefix with the initial consonant of the next component (usually a verb) did not always yield the same change i.e. the prefix did not assimilate. This is more common in words coined after Classical Latin. (see ex- + f).
These forms of ex- represent no phonological change (the 'ks' sound is maintained) and are therefore merely a result of orthographical custom.
*ec- (ex- + c) (example: eccentric) (eccentric is ultimately from the Ancient Greek εκκεντρικος, but the change of εκ- to ec- shows that the Romans realized the εκ- was an assimilated prefix.)
*ex- + s The 's' of the verb assimilates to the prefix. Examples: (expect < ex- + spectare), (execrate < ex- + sacrare) ( < ex- + sequor). This only affects orthography, not phonology.

These forms of ex- DO show phonological change (the 'ks' sound is NOT maintained) in which the prefix assimilates to the initial consonant/consonant cluster of the word (usually a verb) which it is fixed to..
*ef- (ex- + f) (example: ) (sometimes ex- did not assimilate. example exfoliation)
*e- (ex- + b, d, g, j, l, m, n, r, v) (example: ebullient, edict, egregious, ejaculation, elocution, emit, enervate, erection, evince)
*es-, is- In words from Latin which came to English through French, ex- often became is- (as in issue), and es- (as in essay).

Effect on following vowel

When attached to a verbal root, prefixes often change the first vowel (whether initial or preceded by a consonant/consonant cluster) of that verb. These phonological changes took place in Latin and usually do not apply to words created (as in Medical Latin) from Latin components since Latin became a 'dead' language. Note: the combination of prefix and following vowel did not always yield the same change. (see examples below at ex- + a-)

ex- + a- = -e- (example: exercise < ex- + arcere)
ex- + a- = -i- (example: exigence < ex- + agere)
ex- + -a- = -e- (examples: exception < ex- + capere. excerpt < ex- + carpere. execrate < ex- + sacrare)
ex- + -a- = -i- (example: exhibitionism < ex- + habere)
ex- + -a- = -u- (example: exult < ex- + saltare)
ex- + -ae- = -i- (example: excide < ex- + caedere. exquisite < ex- + quaerere)
ex- + -au- = -o- (example: explode < ex- + plaudere)
ex- + -au- = -u- (examples: exclude < ex- + claudere. escuse < ex- + causa)

Ex-

Forms

Effect on following vowel

See also