Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

preverb

Noun

/ˈprɛvɜrb/

Definition

A preverb is a type of morpheme or affix that modifies or indicates the relation of a verb to its argument but is not a full-fledged verb by itself.

Examples

The prefix ‘over-‘ in ‘overestimate’ acts as a preverb because it changes the meaning of ‘estimate’ to imply excess.
In some languages, like Hindi, preverbs can significantly alter the action described by the root verb.

Meaning

In linguistics, a preverb typically alters the meaning of the verb it accompanies, often indicating aspects such as direction, completion, or intensity.