The prefix ab- indicates which of the following?

• A. Away from
• B. Toward
• C. Within
• D. Against

Answer: (A)

The movement or placement that a prefix signals is away from a reference point. Ab- indicates away from, off, or from, and it appears in many medical terms to describe something being separated or moving outward. For example, abduction refers to moving a limb away from the body’s midline, and absences describe a state where presence is lacking. Sometimes the form becomes abs- for easier pronunciation, as in absorb. This contrasts with prefixes that mean toward (ad-), within (intra- or endo-), or against (contra- or anti-).