DictionaryRoot: dis-
Latin
dis-
apart, away; reversal or negation
Forms
- dis-
- di- — Shortened in certain Latin compounds.
- dif- — Used before f in Latin.
Origin
Reconstructed Proto-Indo-European *dis, ‘apart,’ associated with the idea of ‘two.’
Note
Separating things supplied a route from physical apartness to undoing an action.
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verb
deface
dih-FAYS/dɪˈfeɪs/
To spoil the appearance of something by marking or damaging its surface.
Etymology
The “face” here is an object's appearance or surface. Combined with the sense “away,” it underlies obliterating writing or disfiguring a surface, which developed into the milder meaning of making something ugly.
Related word entries
- deface
- defamation
- defamatory
- defame
- defeat
- defer
- defiance
- defiant
- defy
- deploy
- deployment
- descantExtended commentary
- descantHigh accompanying melody
- differ
- difference
- different
- differentialVarying between cases
- differentialInfinitesimal change
- differentialDiagnostic comparison
- differentialWheel-speed mechanism
- differentiate
- difficulty
- diffident
- diffraction
- diffuse
- diffusion
- digestFood breakdown
- digestSummary
- digestible
- digestion
- digestive
- digress
- digression
- dilapidation
- dilatation
- dilate
- dilatory
- diligence
- diligent
- dimension
- directSupervising
- directWithout a detour
- direction
- directive
- directly
- director
- directory
- disarray
- discern
- discernible
- dischargeSubstance flowing out
- dischargeFulfilling a duty
- discoloration
- discontinuation
- discontinue
- discord
- discordant
- discount
- discourse
- discover
- discreet
- discrepancy
- discrete
- discretionTact and confidentiality
- discretionFreedom to decide
- discuss
- discussion
- disequilibrium
- disfigure
- disgrace
- dishonest
- dishonor
- dishonorable
- disinclination
- disinvite
- dislocate
- dislocation
- dismay
- dismiss
- disobedience
- disobedient
- disobey
- disparate
- disparity
- dispel
- dispensable
- dispensary
- dispensationExemption
- dispensationDistribution
- dispensationDivine order
- dispenseGiving out
- dispenseDoing without
- dispenser
- disperse
- dispersion
- displace
- display
- displease
- displeasure
- disposeGetting rid of
- disposeCreating an inclination
- dispositionArrangement
- dispositionTemperament
- dispositionFinal handling
- dispute
- disrupt
- disruption
- dissect
- dissectionDetailed analysis
- dissectionBlood vessel wall separation
- dissemble
- disseminate
- dissemination
- dissension
- dissent
- dissident
- dissimulate
- dissipate
- dissipation
- dissociate
- dissociation
- dissolute
- dissolution
- dissolve
- dissonance
- dissonant
- dissuade
- distance
- distant
- distemper
- distend
- distention
- distill
- distillation
- distort
- distortion
- distract
- distractionMental distress
- distractionDiverted attention
- distressSevere suffering
- distressArtificial aging
- distribute
- distribution
- distributor
- district
- disturb
- disturbance
- diverge
- divergence
- divergent
- divers
- diverse
- diversification
- diversify
- diversion
- diversity
- divert
- divorce
- divulge
- indigestible
- indigestion
- indiscreet
- indissoluble
- predilection