circumfix
2 synonyms for circumfix, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — In grammar, an affix made up of a prefix part and a suffix part that function together as one unit.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
ambifix
confix
How to use circumfix
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
circumfix a word
circumfix a verb stem
a circumfix marking tense
This is a technical term from linguistics, not used in everyday conversation.
Etymology
The word is built from circum-, meaning around, joined to -fix, the ending used for affixes. It was formed to describe an affix that surrounds a word rather than sitting only before or after it.
Full origin of circumfix →Frequently asked questions
What is a circumfix in linguistics?
A circumfix is a single affix that has both a prefix part and a suffix part attached to a word at the same time.
How is a circumfix different from a prefix or suffix?
A prefix goes only before a word and a suffix only after it, while a circumfix does both together as one unit.
Can circumfix be used as a verb?
Yes, to circumfix a word means to attach a circumfix to it.
