Library / English Dictionary

AFFIX

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A linguistic element added to a word to produce an inflected or derived form

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("affix" is a kind of...):

bound form; bound morpheme (a morpheme that occurs only as part of a larger construction; eg an -s at the end of plural nouns)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "affix"):

prefix (an affix that is added in front of the word)

postfix; suffix (an affix that is added at the end of the word)

infix (an affix that is inserted inside the word)

Holonyms ("affix" is a part of...):

word (a unit of language that native speakers can identify)

Derivation:

affix (attach or become attached to a stem word)

affixal; affixial (of or pertaining to a linguistic affix)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Attach or become attached to a stem word

Example:

grammatical morphemes affix to the stem

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "affix" is one way to...):

attach (cause to be attached)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "affix"):

prefix (attach a prefix to)

suffix (attach a suffix to)

infix (attach a morpheme into a stem word)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something PP

Derivation:

affix (a linguistic element added to a word to produce an inflected or derived form)

affixation (formation of a word by means of an affix)

affixation (the result of adding an affix to a root word)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Add to the very end

Example:

He appended a glossary to his novel where he used an invented language

Synonyms:

add on; affix; append; supplement

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "affix" is one way to...):

attach (cause to be attached)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "affix"):

annex (attach to)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s something to somebody

Derivation:

affixation (the act of attaching or affixing something)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Attach to

Example:

affix the seal here

Synonyms:

affix; stick on

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "affix" is one way to...):

attach (cause to be attached)

Cause:

adhere; bind; bond; hold fast; stick; stick to (stick to firmly)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "affix"):

stamp (affix a stamp to)

seal (affix a seal to)

post (affix in a public place or for public notice)

plaster (affix conspicuously)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Somebody ----s something PP

Credits

 Context examples: 

A piece of glass or plastic on which different samples have been affixed at separate locations in an ordered manner thus forming a microscopic array.

(Microarray, NCI Thesaurus)

The door was then thrown open, and the general population began to come in, in a long file: several waiting outside, while one entered, affixed his signature, and went out.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Issue associated with the written, printed or graphic material that is affixed to a medical device or any of its containers or wrappers or accompanying the device including verbal instructions, relating to identification, technical description, and usage which are provided by the device manufacturers.

(Medical Device Markings Issue, Food and Drug Administration)

Issue associated with inaccuracies in any written, printed, or graphic matter that is affixed to a medical device or its containers, wrappers; with any matter that accompanies a medical device including verbal instructions related to identification, technical description and use of the medical device provided by the device manufacturers.

(Incorrect Instruction for Medical Device Use, Food and Drug Administration)

Issue associated with users being unclear and not able to follow any written, printed, or graphic matter that is affixed to a medical device or its containers, wrappers; with any matter that accompanies a medical device including verbal instructions related to identification, technical description and use of the medical device provided by the device manufactures that vary from the standard of medical care in a given environment.

(Confusing Instruction for Medical Device Use, Food and Drug Administration)

After Martin had helped her on the car, he hurried to the post-office and invested three of the five dollars in stamps; and when, later in the day, on the way to the Morse home, he stopped in at the post-office to weigh a large number of long, bulky envelopes, he affixed to them all the stamps save three of the two-cent denomination.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

This term describes an experiment in which probes representing genes that one wants to study are affixed to a substrate (e.g., a glass slide) and then exposed to target molecules (sometimes referred to as the sample).

(DNA Microarray Analysis, NCI Thesaurus)

When given, he viewed me to learn the result; it was not striking: I am sure I did not blush; perhaps I might have turned a little pale, for I felt as if this kiss were a seal affixed to my fetters.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Fine gentlemen smiled at her benevolently as they talked with Martin and one another; a type-writer clicked; signatures were affixed to an imposing document; her own landlord was there, too, and affixed his signature; and when all was over and she was outside on the sidewalk, her landlord spoke to her, saying, Well, Maria, you won't have to pay me no seven dollars and a half this month.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)