【英文單詞】前綴、後綴、字根的問題

“Approximation” is derived from the adjective, “approximate”
The prefix is ap-
The suffix is –ion

Word Origin:
approximate (adjective)
Date: 1400 – 1500
Origin: late Latin
“approximate“ is derived from late Latin “approximatus”.
“approximatus” is the past participle of “appromximare”
But “appromximare” is derived from “ad-” (= to) + “proximare” (= very near)

You have to look at the English word “proximate”
“proximate” comes from the Latin word “proximatus”.
“proximatus” is the past participle of the verb “proxmare”
The verb “proximare” is from “proximus”.
“proximus” means “nearest, next”.

The verb “approximate” ~ original meaning “bring close” arose in the 17th century; the current use as an adjective dates from early 19th century.

Word Family:
approximate (adjective)
approximate (verb ~ intransitive/transitive verb and linking verb)
approximately (adverb)
approximation (noun ~ countable and uncountable)

In summary:
For the word "approximation",

The prefix ap-
ap- variant form of ad- before “p’
ad- means “to” in Latin

The suffix: -ion (noun)
also –tion, –ation, -sion, ition, -xion
~ the act, state, result of doing something

2013-10-13 05:19:46 補充：
漏了講 字典又寫 Prox-i-mate

Prox-i-mate 主要是分開三個主音
其他的例子: pro-nun-ci-a-tion 分開五個主音

真正發音要看 prɒksəmət (British), prɒksɪmət (American)
Pronunciation is shown in International Phonetic Alphabet

prox·i·mate 是讀音來的。是沒有意思的。