Learn English – “Inter-“, “multi-“, “cross-“, “trans-” in relation to disciplines

differencesmeaningmorphologyprefixes

In academia the words inter-discipline, multi-discipline, trans-discipline, or cross-discipline are used to describe a type of combination between different disciplines or the uniqueness of a field.

Searching on OED.com for the terms inter, multi, cross and trans shows different uses.

  • multi has some nouns and adjectives, with one option of "multi-, comb. form"
  • cross has nouns, verbs, adjectives and prepositions, with "cross-, comb. form"
  • inter has nouns, adjectives, verbs and prepositions, with "inter-, prefix"
  • trans has nouns and adjectives, with "trans-, prefix"

In academia, the difference between multi or inter is not well-defined.

What is the difference between "comb.form" and "prefix"? Why are there no results for using multi or cross as a prefix, but there are for inter and trans? How did the interchangeability of these come about, or is it improper to use them that way?

Best Answer

Combining form:

noun

Grammar
A form of a word normally used in compounds in combination with another element to form a word

ODO, emphasis mine

Combining forms tend to be words or roots that are combined with other words to form compound words.

Prefix:

1 An element placed at the beginning of a word to adjust or qualify its meaning (e.g. ex-, non-, re-) or (in some languages) as an inflection.

ODO, emphasis mine

Prefixes tend to be word elements that were Latin prepositions, which could also be used as Latin prefixes to add limited relational meaning to other Latin words. Words with these prefixes are not generally considered compound words.