The prefix BI- means which?

The prefix BI- means which?

• A. Slow
• B. Around
• C. Two, Twice, Double
• D. Against

Answer: (C)

BI- signals two, twice, or double. It comes from the Latin word bis, meaning twice, so when a word starts with BI-, it usually refers to two parts or two occurrences. For example, bicycle has two wheels, bilingual involves two languages, binary refers to something made of two parts, bilateral means two sides, and biennial describes something happening every two years. Other prefixes point to different ideas—slow would come from brady-, around from circum- or peri-, and against from anti- or contra—so the BI- meaning clearly fits the option describing two, twice, or double.

BI- signals two, twice, or double. It comes from the Latin word bis, meaning twice, so when a word starts with BI-, it usually refers to two parts or two occurrences. For example, bicycle has two wheels, bilingual involves two languages, binary refers to something made of two parts, bilateral means two sides, and biennial describes something happening every two years. Other prefixes point to different ideas—slow would come from brady-, around from circum- or peri-, and against from anti- or contra—so the BI- meaning clearly fits the option describing two, twice, or double.