Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

dis-

dis-

(?; 258)
1.
A prefix from the Latin, whence F. dés, or sometimes dé-, dis-. The Latin dis-appears as
di-
before b, d, g, l, m, n, r, v, becomes dif-before f, and either dis-or di- before j. It is from the same root as bis twice, and duo, E. two. See
Two
, and cf.
Bi-
,
Di-
,
Dia-
. Dis- denotes
separation
,
a parting from
, as in distribute, disconnect; hence it often has the force of a privative and negative, as in disarm, disoblige, disagree. Also intensive, as in dissever.
☞ Walker’s rule of pronouncing this prefix is, that the s ought always to be pronounced like z, when the next syllable is accented and begins with “a flat mute [b, d, v, g, z], a liquid [l, m, n, r], or a vowel; as, disable, disease, disorder, disuse, disband, disdain, disgrace, disvalue, disjoin, dislike, dislodge, dismay, dismember, dismiss, dismount, disnatured, disrank, disrelish, disrobe.” Dr. Webster's example in disapproving of Walker's rule and pronouncing dis-as diz in only one (disease) of the above words, is followed by recent orthoëpists. See
Disable
,
Disgrace
, and the other words, beginning with dis-, in this Dictionary.
2.
A prefix from Gr.
δίσ-
twice. See
Di-
.

Definition 2024

dis-

dis-

See also: Appendix:Variations of "dis"

English

Prefix

dis-

  1. reversal or removal
    disassociate
    disarray
  2. apart
    disconnect
  3. Used as an intensifier of words with negative valence.
    disembowel
    disannul

Usage notes

When attached to a verbal root, prefixes often change the first vowel (whether initial or preceded by a consonant/consonant cluster) of that verb. These phonological changes took place in Latin and usually do not apply to words created (as in Modern Latin) from Latin components since Latin became a 'dead' language. Note: the combination of prefix and following vowel did not always yield the same change. (see examples below at con- + -a-) Also, these changes in vowels are not necessarily particular to being prefixed with dis- (i.e. other prefixes sometimes cause the same vowel change- see con-, ex-).

Derived terms

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

Translations

NOTE: Words using the prefix dis- do not necessarily use the prefixes given here when translated. See individual words for more accurate translations.

See also

Dutch

Pronunciation

Prefix

dis-

  1. dis-
<a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs14 CategoryTreeLabelCategory' href='/wiki/Category:Dutch_words_prefixed_with_dis-'>Dutch words prefixed with dis-</a>

Esperanto

Etymology

From Latin dis-, from Proto-Indo-European *dwis.

Prefix

dis-

  1. shows separation, dissemination, e.g. semi ‎(“sow”) > dissemi ‎(“disseminate”) ; ŝiri ‎(“tear”) > disŝiri ‎(“tear to pieces”).

Derived terms

<a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs14 CategoryTreeLabelCategory' href='/wiki/Category:Esperanto_words_prefixed_with_dis-'>Esperanto words prefixed with dis-</a>

French

Etymology

From Latin dis-.

Prefix

dis-

  1. dis-

Derived terms

<a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs14 CategoryTreeLabelCategory' href='/wiki/Category:French_words_prefixed_with_dis-'>French words prefixed with dis-</a>

Gothic

Romanization

dis-

  1. Romanization of 𐌳𐌹𐍃-

Ido

Etymology

From Esperanto dis-, from Latin dis-, from Proto-Indo-European *dwis.

Prefix

dis-

  1. shows separation or dissemination

Derived terms

<a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs14 CategoryTreeLabelCategory' href='/wiki/Category:Ido_words_prefixed_with_dis-'>Ido words prefixed with dis-</a>

Irish

Prefix

dis-

  1. Alternative form of dios-

Mutation

Irish mutation
Radical Lenition Eclipsis
dis- dhis- ndis-
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every
possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

Italian

Etymology

From Latin dis-.

Prefix

dis-

  1. dis-

Derived terms

<a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs14 CategoryTreeLabelCategory' href='/wiki/Category:Italian_words_prefixed_with_dis-'>Italian words prefixed with dis-</a>

Latin

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Proto-Indo-European *dwis. Cognates include Ancient Greek δίς ‎(dís) and Sanskrit द्वीह् ‎(dvíḥ).

Prefix

dis-

  1. asunder, apart, in two
    dīmittō — "dismiss, disband"
    discēdō — "part, separate"
  2. reversal, removal
    dissimulō — "disguise, conceal"
  3. utterly, exceedingly
    differtus — "stuffed full"

Usage notes

  • Before b, d, g, l, m, n, r, and v, the prefix becomes dī-.
  • Before f, the prefix becomes dif-.
  • Before a consonantal i, the prefix may become dī- or remain as dis-.
  • Before a vowel or h, the prefix becomes dir-.

Derived terms

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

Related terms

Descendants

References

Spanish

Prefix

dis-

  1. dis-

Derived terms

<a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs14 CategoryTreeLabelCategory' href='/wiki/Category:Spanish_words_prefixed_with_dis-'>Spanish words prefixed with dis-</a>

Etymology

From Middle English, from Old French des-, from Latin dis-, from Proto-Indo-European *dwis.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /dɪs/

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