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Prefixes Indicating Number or Quantity

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Prefixes Indicating Number or Quantity

Some prefixes show numbers and quantities. These prefixes often precede Greek and Latin roots.

The prefix “bi” means “two”.

bicycle = two-wheeler
bipolar = having two poles

This lesson focuses on prefixes that indicate number or quantity. The next three screens list prefixes and definitions you should memorize. You can return to the list of the prefixes and their meanings while you are working the exercises in this lesson by using the scroll bar.

You can also ask for a hint, if you need help answering a question. The hints in this lesson tell you which prefix is being studied in each question.

Prefixes Indicating Number or Quantity

Memorize these prefixes that show the numbers 2 through 5.

Prefix & Example		Meaning

bi bimonthly		two; together occuring every two months

tri tripod		three a stand that has three legs

quad, quart quarterly		four occuring four times per year

quint quintuple		five having five parts

Prefixes Indicating Number or Quantity

Memorize these prefixes that show the numbers 6 through 9.

Prefix & Example		Meaning

sex sextant		six sixth part of a circle

sep, sept septennial		seven occurring every seven years

oct octopus		eight an eight-footed animal

nona nonagon		nine a nine-sided figure

Prefixes Indicating Number or Quantity

Memorize these prefixes that show the numbers 10, 100, and 1,000.

Prefix & Example		Meaning

dec, deci decimal		ten a numeral based on 10

cent, centi centennial		hundred a hundredth anniversary

mille, milli millimeter		thousand one-thousandth of a meter

Prefixes Indicating Number or Quantity

Click on the word with the same meaning as the underlined words.

music from eight players

Question 1 of 10

“Quartet” means “four players”. Try again.

“Septet” means “seven players”. Try again.

“Quintet” means “five players”. Try again.

The prefix “oct” means “eight”. “Octet” means “eight players” or “group of eight”.

Find the word with the prefix meaning “eight”.

Prefixes Indicating Number or Quantity

Here are the vocabulary words from the preceding question.

quartet	=	four players
quintet	=	five players
septet	=	seven players
octet	=	eight players

Prefixes Indicating Number or Quantity

Click on the word with the same meaning as the underlined words.

the fifth essence

Question 2 of 10

The prefix “quint” means “five”. “Quintessence” means “fifth essence”.

“Sight” means “vision”. Try again.

“Essence” means “entity”. It also means “odor”. Try again.

“Omniscient” means “knowing all things”. Try again.

Find the word with the prefix meaning “five”.

Prefixes Indicating Number or Quantity

Here are the vocabulary words from the preceding question.

essence	=	an entity; an odor
sight	=	vision
quintessence	=	fifth essence
omniscient	=	knowing all things

Prefixes Indicating Number or Quantity

Click on the word with the same meaning as the underlined words.

nine-sided figure

Question 3 of 10

The prefix “nona” means “nine”. “Nonagon” means “nine-sided figure”.

“Polygon” means “many-sided figure”. Try again.

“Septagon” means “seven-sided figure”. Try again.

“Decagon” means “ten-sided figure”. Try again.

Find the word with the prefix meaning “nine”.

Prefixes Indicating Number or Quantity

Here are the vocabulary words from the preceding question.

decagon	=	a ten-sided figure
polygon	=	a many-sided figure
septagon	=	a seven-sided figure
nonagon	=	a nine-sided figure

Prefixes Indicating Number or Quantity

Click on the word with the same meaning as the underlined words.

a thousand years ago

Question 4 of 10

“Century” means “one hundred years”. Try again.

The prefix “mille” means “thousand”. “Millenium” means “thousand years”.

“Decade” means “ten years”. Try again.

“Score” means “twenty years”. Try again.

Find the word with the prefix meaning “thousand”.

Prefixes Indicating Number or Quantity

Here are the vocabulary words from the preceding question.

century	=	one hundred years
millenium	=	one thousand years
decade	=	ten years
score	=	twenty years

Prefixes Indicating Number or Quantity

Click on the word with the same meaning as the underlined words.

100-year-old person

Question 5 of 10

“Ancient” means “very old”. Try again.

“Centenarian” means “one that is 100 years old or older”.

“Grandfather” means “a parent’s father”. Try again.

“Sentimental” means “showing tenderness”. Try again.

Find the word with the prefix meaning “hundred”.

Prefixes Indicating Number or Quantity

Here are the vocabulary words from the preceding question.

ancient	=	very old
grandfather	=	a parent’s father
centenarian	=	one who is 100 years or older
sentimental	=	showing tenderness

Prefixes Indicating Number or Quantity

Click on the word with the same meaning as the underlined words.

ten-sided figure

Question 6 of 10

“Centimeter” means “one-hundredth of a meter”. Try again.

The prefix “dec” means “ten”. “Decagon” means “ten-sided figure”.

“Triform” means “having three forms”. Try again.

“Quadrant” means “one of four equal parts”. Try again.

Find the word with the prefix meaning “ten”.

Prefixes Indicating Number or Quantity

Here are the vocabulary words from the preceding question.

centimeter	=	one-hundredth of a meter
triform	=	having three forms
quadrant	=	one of four equal parts
decagon	=	a ten-sided figure

Prefixes Indicating Number or Quantity

Click on the word with the same meaning as the underlined word.

three-part solution

Question 7 of 10

“Quintuplets” means “five offspring born at a single birth”. Try again.

“Hexagon” means “six-sided figure”. Try again.

The prefix “tri” means “three”. “Tripartite” means “having three parts”.

“Duplex” means “having two parts”. Try again.

Find the word with the prefix meaning “three”.

Prefixes Indicating Number or Quantity

Here are the vocabulary words from the preceding question.

quintuplets	=	five born together
duplex	=	having two parts
tripartite	=	having three parts
hexagon	=	a six-sided figure

Prefixes Indicating Number or Quantity

Click on the word with the same meaning as the underlined words.

one who is seventy-two years old

Question 8 of 10

“Octogenarian” means “one who is between the ages of 80 and 89”. Try again.

The prefix “sept” means “seven”. “Septuagenarian” means “one who is between 70 and 79 years old”.

“Sextet” means “group of six”. Try again.

“Centenarian” means “one who is age 100 or older”. Try again.

Find the word with the prefix meaning “seven”.

Prefixes Indicating Number or Quantity

Here are the vocabulary words from the preceding question.

septuagenarian	=	one who is age 70-79
centenarian	=	one who is 100 or older
octogenarian	=	one who is age 80-89
sextet	=	a group of six

Prefixes Indicating Number or Quantity

Click on the word with the same meaning as the underlined words.

four born together

Question 9 of 10

“Triplets” means “three siblings born at one time”. Try again.

“Siblings” means “brothers and sisters”. Try again.

“Quintuplets” means “five siblings born at the same time”. Try again.

The prefix “quad” means “four”. “Quadruplets” means “four born together”.

Find the word with the prefix meaning “four”.

Prefixes Indicating Number or Quantity

Here are the vocabulary words from the preceding question.

triplets	=	three born together
siblings	=	brothers and sisters
quintuplets	=	five born together
quadruplets	=	four born together

Prefixes Indicating Number or Quantity

Click on the word with the same meaning as the underlined words.

eyeglasses with two focal points

Question 10 of 10

A “telescope” is an instrument for viewing distant objects. Try again.

A “monocle” is an eyeglass for one eye. Try again.

A “microscope” is an instrument for viewing tiny objects. Try again.

The prefix “bi” means “two”. “Bifocals” means “glasses with lenses that are used for two kinds of sight”.

Find the word with the prefix meaning “two”.

Prefixes Indicating Number or Quantity

Here are the vocabulary words from the preceding question.

monocle	=	an eyeglass for one eye
telescope	=	an instrument for viewing distant objects
microscope	=	an instrument for viewing tiny objects
bifocals	=	eyeglasses with two focal points

Prefixes Indicating Number or Quantity