The English prefix pro- primarily means “forward,” but can also mean “for.” You’ll be a pro on the prefix pro- after this rootcast.
Prolific are the uses of the English prefix pro- which means “forward.” For instance, when you have made good progress on completing something, you have stepped “forward” on it. When you make a promise, you send “forward” your good intentions to do something. And when you tend to procrastinate, you keep on putting things “forward” into tomorrow, thereby not getting them done.
Pretend that you have created a new rocket propellant, or that fuel which pushes a rocket “forward” through space. This new product, or an item which a company has led “forward” by creating it, could be a big hit in the aerospace industry. To make it a hit, however, it’s got to be promoted, or its visibility moved “forward,” to those who would be interested in purchasing it.
The prefix pro- can also mean “for.” In a sense, when you are “for” something, you push it “forward” in your column of likes. In the phrase “pro and con,” those people who are pro speak “for” something. A pronoun, words such as “I,” “you,” “he,” “she,” “it,” “we,” and “they,” stands in the place of or “for” a noun; for instance, the pronoun “I” stands for the speaker of this professional rootcast! And people who are pro-Apple are “for” Apple products, such as iPads, iPods, iMacs, etc.
There are two heavily used Latin phrases that have come into English which use the word pro. A lawyer who does pro bono work does free volunteer legal work “for” the common good. A quid pro quo arrangement is a this “for” that situation, or a tit “for” tat; in other words, you do something “for” me, and I’ll do something “for” you.
Now that you are professionals when it comes to recognizing that the prefix pro- means “forward” or “for,” I no longer need to provide any more examples “for” you!
- progress: step ‘forward’
- promise: send an intention ‘forward’
- procrastinate: put off or ‘forward’ into tomorrow
- propellant: fuel which pushes a vehicle ‘forward’
- product: that which is led ‘forward’ by a company to sell
- promote: move ‘forward’
- pro and con: ‘for’ and against
- pronoun: part of speech which stands in place of or ‘for’ a noun
- pro-Apple: ‘for’ Apple products
- pro bono: ‘for’ the common good
- quid pro quo: this ‘for’ that
- professional: one who has put ‘forth’ knowledge or advanced skills to the public
- pro: short for ‘professional’