名人教英文:over和under
prefix即「前缀」,加在其他词语之前,能改变词语原本的意思。我曾在本栏介绍in和out 作前缀时的用法,这次介绍几个用over和under作前缀的例子。
over和under是常见的前缀。over能配许多词语,表示「过了头」的意思。oversleep 就是「睡过了头」:i was late for work because i overslept. overeat 即「吃过量了」:i have an upset stomach because i overate last night. 然而,overwork不止解作「过度操劳」。我们且看一例:the term "property hegemony" is an overworked expression,overwork在此的意思是「滥用」、「用得太多」。
不过,over不一定解作「过度」。举例说,overwhelm指「以强大的力量压倒或震慑别人」:i was overwhelmed with emotions after watching the film the reader.
有些词语配以over和under时,意思正好相反。underwhelm与overwhelm反义,意谓「不能给人深刻印象,令人觉得不过如此」:i am underwhelmed by the lobby of this famed seven-star hotel. 其他例子包括underestimate(低估)和overestimate(高估),underpaid (薪酬过低)和overpaid(薪酬过高),understaffed(人手不足)和overstaffed(人手过剩)等等。