affix

[ verb uh-fiks; noun af-iks ]

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

1. something that is joined or attached.
2. 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.

affix

/ ˌæfɪkˈseɪʃən; əˈfɪkstʃə /

verb

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

1. 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
2. something fastened or attached; appendage

Derived Forms

• affixation, noun

Other Words From

• af·fixa·ble adjective
• af·fix·al [a-, fik, -s, uh, l], af·fix·i·al [a-, fik, -see-, uh, l], adjective
• af·fixer noun
• af·fixment noun
• reaf·fix verb (used with object)
• unaf·fixed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of affix¹

1525–35; < Latin affīxus fastened to (past participle of affīgere ), equivalent to af- af- + fīg- fasten + -sus, variant of -tus past participle suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of affix¹

C15: from Medieval Latin affixāre, from ad- to + fixāre to fix

Example Sentences

Estrada credited the media for breaking the story — which really meant Gerda, who used to affix mics to my shirt when he was an intern at Orange County’s PBS channel about 15 years ago.

From Los Angeles Times

For anyone who has dedicated the better part of the past decade to trying to affix meaning to the words spoken by Donald J. Trump, there is something transcendently satisfying about the news that as of this week, there is nothing left to be parsed.

From Slate

The fact that this Neanderthal was among the final individuals within its community inspired Slimak to affix its literary name.

From Salon

The EPA’s Safer Choice standard is a voluntary program that allows manufacturers to affix a “Safer Choice” label to their dish soap, laundry detergent and other products.

From Salon

As someone who never played the board game from which all this madness derives and who found the film to be a waste of its comic ensemble’s glittering capabilities, I would have chosen to affix a question mark to the title.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• append
• fasten
• glue
• paste
• tack