American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) Practice Exam

What is the origin and meaning of the term "suffix"?

1. To fasten above

2. To fasten underneath

3. To terminate

4. A symbol of attachment

The correct answer is: To fasten underneath

The term "suffix" is derived from Latin, specifically from the word "suffixus," which means "to fasten underneath" or "to attach." This reflects the function of a suffix in language, where it is added at the end of a root word to modify its meaning or create a new word. In contrast to prefixes, which are added to the beginning of a word, suffixes serve as a linguistic tool that complements the word they are attached to, often conveying grammatical information such as tense, number, or part of speech. Thus, the understanding of "to fasten underneath" aptly describes how suffixes operate in both linguistic structures and coding contexts, where elements are combined to create complex meanings or formulations.