prefixes - What is the antonym of the prefix retro-?


A coworker and I are discussing the word "retromingent", which means urinating backwards. We are wondering what the opposite would be: the word that means urinating forwards.


What is the opposite of the prefix "retro-"?



Answer



Well, retro- comes from Latin, originally meaning backward, back, or behind. Antero- is used in some technical contexts (such as anterograde amnesia) but it's rather uncommon. It literally means before or in front of, as in the related ante- (vs. post-).


You might be looking for something more along the lines of pro- (or progre-). In short:



retro- : back :: pro- : forth



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