PRE

PRE PRE means BEFORE This is a common prefix that can be connected to fairly common words as well as more challenging ones. Both are included in this list. Note that 'before' can have to do with time *or* space. To "predict" is say something will happen before it does; but to "present" something to you is to place it before you in space. "Pre" can have other meanings than "before," though (as in the words prevail, pretend, prehensile, and prevaricate). I. FOR EACH WORD: 1. Write the word 2. Write what it means 3. Draw a picture to go with it 4. Answer the question about it. word meaning and example what to draw question to answer (you may draw your answer, too) predict To tell what one thinks will happen in the future, such as the weather, peoples' behavior, or the outcome of a contest. Someone predicting something What are two things you would like to be able to predict? prevent To keep something from happening before it happens, such as a window being broken or a person catching a cold Someone preventing something (and explain what it is) What are three things you would like to be able to prevent? preview a view or showing ahead of time such as "previews" of a movie Something being previewed (and explain what it is) What is something besides a movie or TV show that you could preview? precaution care or an action taken ahead of time against danger or failure, such as locking the door as a precaution against theft. An example of something done as a "precaution" What are four examples of precautions for four different things? prefer To choose first or like better (such as preferring vacation over school) Something you would prefer to do What are three things you prefer doing? previous happening or coming before; such as "on the previous page," meaning the page before, or "in a previous class," meaning some class before this one What are three things you learned in previous classes? prenatal before birth, or during pregnancy A "prenatal" baby What would "prenatal care" mean? pre-owned Owned by someone else before now; "used." A pre-owned car What are three things people often buy "pre-owned?" prelude a part that comes before something else, such as a prelude to a piece of music, or dark clouds as a prelude to a storm. A prelude to an event you enjoy What are three examples of "preludes?" preoccupied having your attention already taken up by something, so you are not paying attention to what is happening around you. For example, if you are preoccupied with a test that is coming, you might not pay attention to what people are saying to you. Someone who is preoccupied What are three things someone who is "preoccupied" might say? prequel a book or story or movie that is set before something that has already been written. For example, the "Star Wars" series had a prequel set before the first Star Wars movie, where you found out about earlier times and people. The sixth book in the Chronicles of Narnia is a prequel because it tells how Narnia began, even though that book was written after other stories about Narnia. A scene from the prequel to *your* life story. Why would someone write a prequel? predispose to make something more likely to happen, before it does. For example, not getting enough sleep predisposes people to catching colds or being grumpy. (It is the opposite of taking precautions.) If a person is "predisposed" to act a certain way (such as to agree with others), they are already more likely to act that way than some other way. Someone who is predisposed to win a marathon What are three things you could do so that you were predisposed to get good grades? preamble an introductory statement before an important statement. The preamble to the constitution explains why the people of the U.S. thought they needed one. How is a preamble like a prelude? preempt to take over something, (such as by getting in front of anyone else who would want it or being more important). Examples: to take over someone's land, to take over a group of people, or for one TV show to replace another (such as a news story or baseball game preempting a regular show). Something being preempted What are two things you would not like to be preempted? preface Introductory remarks Where in a book would you find or put the preface? preprandial before the evening meal Someone doing something "preprandially" What are two of your favorite preprandial activities? Here are some other words where "pre" means before pretext, predecessor, preconception, precede, preclude, precognition, preliminary, premeditate, premature, premonition, prenuptial, preordain, prerogative, prerequisite Complete these sentences with the "pre" word. Be sure to mix these sentences with words learned in previous lessons. predict, prevent, preview, precaution, prefer, previous, prenatal, pre-owned, prelude, preoccupied, prequel, predisposed, preempt, preface, preprandial 1. I like to take a preprandial walk to work up my appetite for dinner. 2. I don't like it when the networks preempt my favorite TV shows because of sports. 3. One of the jobs of the meteorologist on the news is to predict tomorrow's weather. 4. Just as a precaution, I always lock the car doors when I am driving. 5. Which of these coats do you prefer to wear tonight? 6. I don't think Mike heard a word I said because he was so preoccupied about his sick sister. 7. We got to the concert at the symphony hall just in time -- we barely sat down before the conductor started the prelude.