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there are derived words with the prefix dis- that cannot be analysed because they already had the prefixes when they adopted into English p. 1541. From the
statement, it indicates that there is a morphological process named borrowing involved. It will confuse the researcher in analysing the prefixed verbs, especially
to reveal the bases. Therefore, the researcher would refer to some dictionaries to identify the confusing prefixed verbs.
b. Prefix en-
As stated in The New Oxford American Dictionary, prefix en- is used to form verbs. Sometimes en- is attached to adjectives and sometimes to nouns. The
difference between the parts of speech of the bases correlates with a semantic distinction. Katamba 1993 states that “the en- attached to adjectives has a
causative meaning”. This kind of en- which is attached to adjectives can be interpreted as “make”, e.g. to ensure is to ‘make sure’, to enlarge is to ‘make
large’, etc. Meanwhile, another en-, which is attached to nouns can be paraphrased as ‘put in or into’. For example to endanger is to ‘put in danger’ and to encourage
is to ‘put in courage’ pp. 50-51.
The prefix en- also has a variation, i.e. em- Szymanek, 1989, p. 286. It will be followed by bases which are initiated in b or p. Szymanek also adds that
there is a similarity between prefix en- and suffix –en. However, the prefix is
much less productive than the suffix.
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c. Prefix re-
English has a type of prefix which is repetitive. When attached to a base, this kind of prefix will mean ‘V again or anew’ or ‘achieve a certain result again’
Szymanek, 1989, p. 301. The prefix re- is a very productive suffix. Therefore Szymanek 1989 cites Marchand 1969: “today almost any transitive verb can be
prefixed by re- [...]”. He also adds that both native and Latinate verbs may be
combined with re-. Semantically, not all verbs using the prefix re- have the same meaning.
Szymanek 1989, pp. 302-303 says that there are three distinct uses of the prefix re-
: a”the result is either imperfect or unattained. Re- then denotes repetition with a
view to changing or improving the previo us inadequate result” Thompson 1974:
11 cf. rearrange, repack, retype. b”The result of the action or the former state has come undone. In this usage, re-
restores the previous state” Thompson 1974: 11. In other words, Marchand 1969: 190, as cited b
y Szymanek calls this kind of prefix as “re- reverses the reversal”.
c”Re- can also simply carry the message ‘to achieve a result again’ “Thompson 1974: 12; cf. re-enter, republish, reuse, resubscribe.
However, in fact, the uses of re- can appear at once at the same derived verb p. 303.
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Szymanek also underlines that some re- prefixed verbs have bases which are nouns. There are also some intransitive verbs playing a role as the bases.
Though, some other intransitive verbs cannot apply the use of the prefix re-. The New Oxford American Dictionary
provides the usage of this prefix. Modern English tends to use the prefix without hyphen. But in certain occasion,
hyphen can be added to avoid misinterpretation, e.g. recover and re-cover.
d. Suffix -en
