Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[BMO]

Compund words compose of two or more words, such as nightmare, stepchildren, or words separated by a hyphen.

Do you call inside, inmate, compound words?

Thanks.

[asterix]

No they're not compound words.
In, in your two examples, is a prefix.

[bud]

Hi Asterix,

I wrote the same response on Sunday, and then deleted it a half-hour or so later. It occurred to me that "in-" as a prefix usually negates the meaning of the root, which is not true of these words. It seems to me that the prefix can take a different meaning, but I can't find a reference nor can I think of any examples. Do you have an answer?.. I agree that I do not consider the words to be compound words.

Thanks!

[BMO]

In- has two meanings, negative and into. See www.onelook.com, and type in in- or www.etymonline.com and type in in-. www.allwords.com has a very good explanation (and is included in www.onelook.com).

Thanks.

bmo

[bud]

Thanks!