Definitions

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • 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.
  • A prefix from Gr. di`s- twice. See Di-.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • prefix reversal or removal
  • prefix apart
  • prefix Used as an intensifier of words with negative valence.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Middle English, from Old French des-, from Latin dis-.

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Examples

  • To show its opposite, the dis- goes in front of the whole word, on the analogy of disenthrall and disenchant.

    The Right Word in the Right Place at the Right Time William Safire 2004

  • To show its opposite, the dis- goes in front of the whole word, on the analogy of disenthrall and disenchant.

    The Right Word in the Right Place at the Right Time William Safire 2004

  • They raise money for Webber's charitable foundation, which dis- tributes it to charities dealing with everything from children with cancer to saving the Tasmanian Devil.

    Evening Standard - Home Dan Jones 2011

  • They raise money for Webber's charitable foundation, which dis- tributes it to charities dealing with everything from children with cancer to saving the Tasmanian Devil.

    Evening Standard - Home Dan Jones 2011

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