Word part · Anglo-Saxon prefix
Prefix fore- words: meaning and 17 examples
In short
The Anglo-Saxon prefix fore- (from Old English) means "before, or at the front". Words with it include forecast, forehead, forearm, foresee, foresight and foretell. Fore- can be about time (forecast, said before) or place (forehead, the front of the head).
- Part
- fore-
- Meaning
- before, or at the front
- Origin
- Anglo-Saxon
- Words listed
- 17
Fore- can be about time (forecast, said before) or place (forehead, the front of the head).
Words with the Anglo-Saxon prefix fore-
The list runs from shorter, common words to longer ones. The bands are a rough guide built from syllable count and how common each word is in our word list, not a grade-level standard. Read each word, then its word sum.
Colors:prefixroot or basesuffix
Start here: short, common words (about grades 3 and 4)
| Word | Word sum | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| forecast | fore (prefix)+cast (root or base)→forecast | a guess about the weather before it comes |
Next: longer words (about grades 5 and 6)
| Word | Word sum | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| forearm | fore (prefix)+arm (root or base)→forearm | the front part of the arm, from elbow to wrist |
| foresee | fore (prefix)+see (root or base)→foresee | see something before it happens |
| foreleg | fore (prefix)+leg (root or base)→foreleg | one of an animal's front legs |
| forepaw | fore (prefix)+paw (root or base)→forepaw | one of an animal's front paws |
More words: foresaw
Stretch: long or less common words (about grades 7 and 8)
| Word | Word sum | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| forehead | fore (prefix)+head (root or base)→forehead | the front part of the head |
| foresight | fore (prefix)+sight (root or base)→foresight | the skill of seeing what may happen next |
| foretell | fore (prefix)+tell (root or base)→foretell | tell what will happen before it does |
| foreword | fore (prefix)+word (root or base)→foreword | a short piece at the front of a book |
| foreground | fore (prefix)+ground (root or base)→foreground | the front part of a picture |
| forewarn | fore (prefix)+warn (root or base)→forewarn | warn someone before something happens |
| forefather | fore (prefix)+father (root or base)→forefather | a family member who lived long before you |
| forefathers | fore (prefix)+father (root or base)+s (suffix)→forefathers | family members who lived long before you |
More words: foremost, forefront, foreshadow
How do you teach the prefix fore-?
Fore- means before or in front. There are two kinds of fore words, and both are easy to show. Time words: forecast, foresee, foretell, all about knowing what comes before it happens. Body words: forehead, forearm, foreleg, the front part of something. Have the student touch their forehead and forearm, then explain why each name fits.
A quick routine
Say, "Fore means before or in front. Touch your forehead." The student does. "Now touch your forearm." Then write forecast and ask, "Is a weather forecast before or in front?" The student says, "Before, it tells the weather before it comes." Sort six cards into time and place. Finish by spelling foreword, the part at the front of a book.
What do students mix up with fore-?
Fore and for sound the same, so students mix up foreword and forward, and forego with forget. Forest, foreign and forever only look like fore words. Forever is for plus ever. The strongest check is meaning: before or in front must fit. A foreword comes in front of the book, so it is spelled with fore.
For the sounds inside these words, see the phonics word lists. Routines that fit: meanings of prefixes and suffixes, circle the parts, read the base and flexible routine for big words.
Questions people ask
What does the prefix fore- mean?
Fore- means "before, or at the front". It is a Anglo-Saxon prefix. Fore- can be about time (forecast, said before) or place (forehead, the front of the head).
What are some words with the prefix fore-?
Start with forecast. Then move to forearm, foresee, forehead and foresight. This page lists 17 words in all, most with a word sum that shows the parts.
What is the difference between foreword and forward?
A foreword is a short piece at the front of a book: fore (front) plus word. Forward means toward the front, and it is spelled with for. They sound the same, so spell by the meaning.
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