Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Bi-

Bi-

.
[L.
bis
twice, which in composition drops the -s, akin to E.
two
. See
Bis-
,
Two
, and cf.
Di-
,
Dis-
.]
1.
In most branches of science bi- in composition denotes two, twice, or doubly;
as,
bi
dentate, two-toothed;
bi
ternate, doubly ternate, etc.
2.
(Chem.)
In the composition of chemical names bi- denotes two atoms, parts, or equivalents of that constituent to the name of which it is prefixed, to one of the other component, or that such constituent is present in double the ordinary proportion;
as,
bi
chromate,
bi
sulphide
. Be- and di- are often used interchangeably.

Definition 2024


bi-

bi-

See also: Appendix:Variations of "bi"

English

Prefix

Latin number prefix
Previous: uni-
Next: tri-

bi-

  1. two
  2. (chemistry, proscribed) half

Usage notes

In an old, common method used to indicate the presence of an acidic hydrogen, sodium hydrogen sulfate is called "sodium bisulfate" and sodium hydrogen carbonate is called "sodium bicarbonate". This method is not recommended by IUPAC and does not denote a “doubling up” of a specific group, which is reserved for the Greek prefix di-, as in carbon dioxide (CO2).

The prefix bi in the older system comes from the observation that there is two times as much carbonate (CO3) in sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) and other bicarbonates as in sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) and other carbonates.

Synonyms

Derived terms

<a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs14 CategoryTreeLabelCategory' href='/wiki/Category:English_words_prefixed_with_bi-'>English words prefixed with bi-</a>

Translations


Danish

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /bi/, [ˈb̥i]

Etymology 1

From German bei- (by-).

Prefix

bi-

  1. by-, side-
Synonyms
  • side-

Etymology 2

From Latin bis (twice).

Prefix

bi-

  1. bi-
Synonyms

See also

<a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs14 CategoryTreeLabelCategory' href='/wiki/Category:Danish_words_prefixed_with_bi-'>Danish words prefixed with bi-</a>

French

Etymology

From Latin bis (twice).

Prefix

bi-

  1. bi-

Gothic

Romanization

bi-

  1. Romanization of 𐌱𐌹-

Ido

Prefix

bi-

  1. bi-

Italian

Etymology

From Latin bis (twice).

Prefix

bi-

  1. bi-
  2. di-

See also

  • Category:Italian words prefixed with bi-

Latin

Etymology

A shortened form of bis (twice), which drops its final s when when making compositions.

Pronunciation

Prefix

bi-

  1. having two parts
  2. occurring twice

Derived terms

<a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs14 CategoryTreeLabelCategory' href='/wiki/Category:Latin_words_prefixed_with_bi-'>Latin words prefixed with bi-</a>

References

  • bi- in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
  • bi-” on page 231/3 of the Oxford Latin Dictionary (1st ed., 1968–82)

Navajo

Prefix

bi-

  1. his, her, its, their

Usage notes

This prefix often corresponds to an English possessive ’s appended to the preceding word. For example, Diné bizaad means literally “the People their-language”, equivalent to “the People’s language” (i.e., Navajo language).

Related terms

  • bí-
  • bíʼáłtsé
  • bibaʼ
  • biiʼ

See also


Old English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From (by, near, around).

Prefix

bī-

  1. prefix meaning near, around (compare Latin para-), occurring primarily in nouns
    bīgenga (inhabitant; observer; benefactor)
    bīnama (pronoun)
    bīleofa (support, sustenance, nourishment, capital)
    bīswæc (treachery)
    bīword (proverb, byword)

Descendants


Old Saxon

Etymology 1

An unstressed form of , from Proto-Germanic *bi-.

Prefix

bi-

  1. A productive prefix usually used to form verbs and adjectives, especially verbs with the sense “around, throughout” or makes transitive verbs from intransitive verbs, adjectives and nouns.
    bibrekan (to break)
    bibrengian (to accomplish)
    bidēlian (to deprive)
    bidelvan (to bury)
    bidempian (to suffocate)
    bidernian (to conceal, to hide)
    bidōdian (to kill)
    bidriogan (to deceive)
    bidrōragon (to bleed to death)
    bidumbilian (to make a fool)
    bidwellian (to hinder)
    bifāhan (to embrace, seize)
    bifallan (to befall)
    bifelhan (to recommend, give over, confide)
    bifellian (to throw down)
    bifindan (to notice, find out)
    bigān, bigangan (to celebrate)
    bigehan (to dare, confess)
Derived terms
<a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs14 CategoryTreeLabelCategory' href='/wiki/Category:Old_Saxon_words_prefixed_with_bi-'>Old Saxon words prefixed with bi-</a>

Etymology 2

From (by, near, around).

Prefix

bī-

  1. prefix meaning near, around (compare Latin para-), occurring primarily in nouns
    bīgengio (inhabitant)
    bīword (proverb, byword)

Portuguese

Prefix

bi-

  1. bi- (two-)

Spanish

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Latin bis (twice).

Prefix

bi-

  1. bi-

Derived terms


Swedish

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /bi/, [ˈb̥i]

Prefix

bi-

  1. by-, next to, near, by the side, aside; same as English by- and German bei-; see also the rare preposition bi
  2. bi-, two, dual; from Latin bis (twice)

Derived terms

<a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs14 CategoryTreeLabelCategory' href='/wiki/Category:Swedish_words_prefixed_with_bi-'>Swedish words prefixed with bi-</a>