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DictionaryRoot: de-
Latin

de-

down, away; removal

Forms

  • de-
  • dé- — French spelling in words borrowed from French.

Origin

Latin de, ‘down from; away from’; its deeper ancestry is uncertain.

Note

The prefix can also strengthen an action without suggesting downward movement.

49 / 205
A seedling in a pot with very little soil, roots exposed and weak growth beside a robust plant in full soil.
noun

deficiency

dih-FISH-uhn-see/dɪˈfɪʃnsi/

A lack or shortage of something needed or expected.

Etymology
deLatindown, away; removal
+ficLatindo, make
+iencyLatina state or quality

The Latin verb built from these pieces, deficere, meant to fail or desert. Deficiency makes that idea of failing or falling short into a noun for a lack of something needed.

Full entry

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