Morpheme
a(b)(s)- [ab-, abs-, a-]
Type
prefix
Denotation
away, from, from off, down, off, away from (denotes disjunction, separation, departure)
Etymology
(1) Latin ab; (2) assimilated form of Latin ab- before <c, q, t>; (3) Old French a- and Latin a-, ab- (form of ab- before consonants)
Evidence
abapertural, abapical, abbreviate, abdicate, abduce, abduct, abenteric, aberrant, abhor, abject, abjure, ablative, abluent, abnegate, abnormal, abolish, abominate, abomination, abort, abrade, abrasion, abridge, abrogate, abrupt, abscind, abscise, abscond, absolve, absonant, absquatulate, abstain, abstersive, abstinent, abstract, abstruse, aversion, avert, avocation, avoid, avolate, avulsion
Notes
-abs usual form before <c, q, t>
a- usual form before <b, p, s, v>
