affix

[v. uh-fiks; n. af-iks] /v. əˈfɪks; n. ˈæf ɪks/
verb (used with object)
1.
to fasten, join, or attach (usually followed by to):
to affix stamps to a letter.
2.
to put or add on; append:
to affix a signature to a contract.
3.
to impress (a seal or stamp).
4.
to attach (blame, reproach, ridicule, etc.).
noun
5.
something that is joined or attached.
6.
Grammar. a bound inflectional or derivational element, as a prefix, infix, or suffix, added to a base or stem to form a fresh stem or a word, as -ed added to want to form wanted, or im- added to possible to form impossible.
Compare combining form.
Origin
1525-35; < Latin affīxus fastened to (past participle of affīgere), equivalent to af- af- + fīg- fasten + -sus, variant of -tus past participle suffix
Related forms
affixable, adjective
affixal
[a-fik-suh l] /æˈfɪk səl/ (Show IPA), affixial
[a-fik-see-uh l] /æˈfɪk si əl/ (Show IPA), adjective
affixer, noun
affixment, noun
reaffix, verb (used with object)
unaffixed, adjective
Examples from the web for affix
  • Remove the protective backing on the double-stick tape on the top edge and affix the film to it.
  • The bread seems to affix itself magnetically to the fingers.
  • Store these smaller boxes in drawers and affix the boxes with prominent labels that indicate their contents.
  • He hopes to one day permanently affix artificial legs to the bones of horses and other creatures.
  • The artisan uses the last to tack down damp leather and affix the sole with pegs.
  • The buffer prevented damage to the silicon during a high-temperature annealing process used to affix the thin film.
  • affix a mirror or piece of polished, galvanized steel to the top surface.
  • It is illegal to affix any sign or flier to a lamppost, and these have been glued down, making them almost impossible to remove.
  • But if nothing else, she is a politician on whom labels do not affix easily.
  • And for customers who want to use an umbrella as a cane, the shop will affix a rubber tip to the sturdier models.
British Dictionary definitions for affix

affix

verb (transitive; usually foll by to or on) (əˈfɪks)
1.
to attach, fasten, join, or stick: to affix a poster to the wall
2.
to add or append: to affix a signature to a document
3.
to attach or attribute (guilt, blame, etc)
noun (ˈæfɪks)
4.
a linguistic element added to a word or root to produce a derived or inflected form: -ment in establishment is a derivational affix; -s in drowns is an inflectional affix See also prefix, suffix, infix
5.
something fastened or attached; appendage
Derived Forms
affixation (ˌæfɪkˈseɪʃən), affixture (əˈfɪkstʃə) noun
Word Origin
C15: from Medieval Latin affixāre, from ad- to + fixāre to fix
Word Origin and History for affix
v.

1530s, from Medieval Latin affixare, frequentative of Latin affigere (past participle affixus) "fasten to, attach," from ad- "to" (see ad-) + figere "fasten" (see fix (v.)).

First used by Scottish writers and perhaps from Middle French affixer, a temporarily re-Latinized spelling of Old French afichier (Modern French afficher). Related: Affixed; affixing.

n.

1610s, from affix (v.).

Encyclopedia Article for affix

a grammatical element that is combined with a word, stem, or phrase to produce derived and inflected forms. There are three types of affixes: prefixes, infixes, and suffixes. A prefix occurs at the beginning of a word or stem (sub-mit, pre-determine, un-willing); a suffix at the end (wonder-ful, depend-ent, act-ion); and an infix occurs in the middle. English has no infixes, but they are found in American Indian languages, Greek, Tagalog, and elsewhere. Examples of English inflectional suffixes are illustrated by the -s of "cats," the -er of "longer," and the -ed of "asked." See also morphology

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