inter- prefix means between but interact has a whole different meaning than -inter or act, why is that?
I just started to dig into suffixes and prefixes. But I couldn't understand how do they exactly change the meaning of the word that they are appended.
For example re- means again, retake means take again. Inter- means between, but interact means acting in a way that you have an effect on something. Interact has no connection with between. Why is that?
Solution 1:
Inter- has the following definitions:
- Between; among.
‘inter-agency’, ‘interblend’- Mutually; reciprocally.
‘interactive’
The between is the fourth definition:
Indicating a connection or relationship involving two or more parties.
According to Etymonline, interact means:
"act on each other, act reciprocally," 1805, from inter- + act (v.).
In addition, Lexico defines it thus:
- Act in such a way as to have an effect on each other.