Emily Dickinson Lexicon

EX, prep.

A Latin preposition or prefix, Gr. εξ or εκ, signifying out of, out, proceeding from. Hence in composition, it signifies sometimes out of, as in exhale, exclude; sometimes off, from or out, as in L. excindo, to cut off or out; sometimes beyond, as in excess, exceed, excel. In some words it is merely emphatical; in others it has little effect on the signification. Ex, prefixed to names of office, denotes that a person has held that office, but has resigned it or been left out or dismissed; as, ex-minister.