There is a category of words that have affixes but that without them cease to be words. These are called “unpaired” words or sometimes “orphaned” words, though cultural sensitivity is trending heavily toward a preference for the still sad, “unpaired.” They often appear as what seems to be a negative prefix. The classic example is “inert,” meaning “without effect.” There is no word, “ert,” meaning “having an effect,” or meaning anything else at all. Other examples include “nonchalant” and “indelible.” An interesting anomaly is “disgruntled.” Most people think of it as an unpaired word, but "gruntled" indeed means (though its usage is uncommon) pleased or contented.
Words can also have suffixes whose absence renders their parent word gibberish. “Reckless” and “feckless” qualify here. Their causes vary, sometimes in their having been borrowed from other languages, while sometimes the word’s root simply resembles a negating affix. Incorrigible readers may feel free to debunk any of this. I will not become discombobulated, nonplussed or overwhelmed; rather your efforts will be considered intrepid and any disambiguation welcome.
