from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Di- \Di-\ [Gr. di`s- 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. Dia
from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
dis- \dis-\ (?; 258)
1. A prefix from the Latin, whence F. d['e]s, or sometimes
d['e]-, 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.
[1913 Webster]
Note: 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 ortho["e]pists. See {Disable},
{Disgrace}, and the other words, beginning with dis-,
in this Dictionary.
[1913 Webster]
2. A prefix from Gr. di`s- twice. See {Di-}.
[1913 Webster]