GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

Found 4 definitions

1.       
   Deuto- (?) or Deut- (dūt-) [Contr. from Gr. δεύτερος second.] (Chem.) A prefix which formerly properly indicated the second in a regular series of compound in the series, and not to its composition, but which is now generally employed in the same sense as bi- or di-, although little used.
   
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2.       
   Di- (?). [Gr. δίσ- twice; akin to  two, L. bis twice. See Two, and cf. Bi-, Dia-. The L. pref. dis- sometimes assumes the form di-. See Dis-.] A prefix, signifying twofold, double, twice; (Chem.) denoting two atoms, radicals, groups, or equivalents, as the case may be. See Bi-, 2.
   
   
         
       

3.       
    Dia- (?), Di- . [Gr. διά through; orig., dividing into two parts; akin to  two. See Two, and cf. 1st Di-.] A prefix denoting through; also, between, apart, asunder, across. Before a vowel dia- becomes di-; as, “diactinic; dielectric, etc.”
   
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4.       
   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.
   
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   ☞ 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.
   
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   2. A prefix from Gr. δίσ- twice. See Di-.
   
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