C is for Cat

A domestic cat roams the streets of Toronto.

Prefixes

cir— or circ— stand for around.

circumference, circumstance

com— and con— stand for with.

combine, complete, compassion

conclave, conduct, conclude

co— means jointly.

coaxial, co-ed, cooperate

contra— means against.

contradict

counter— against, opposite, or in reply.

counteract, counterfeit, countersign

Suffixes

—aceae plant families.

Corylaceae [hazelnuts]

—ance, —ence  create a  noun describing a state or condition, or an action.

circumstance, continuance

conscience, dependence, emergence

Exercises

1. Do you know the meaning of each word? If you can’t figure it out, go to the dictionary.
2. Can you think of additional words with the same prefixes and suffixes? 

Special reading assignment

1. Crazy kings and queens can’t corral coral-coloured cows quickly.
2. The trouble with cats is that they’ve got no tact.                                — P. G. Wodehouse

 

Note: If you like cats and history, you may like to read the e-book, Edwardian Annotated Pets and How to Keep Them. This book discusses the origin of cats as pets, European wild cats, and also recommends how to keep a cat in 1907, Edwardian England.