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.
27 / 164
verb
digest
dye-JEST/daɪˈdʒest/
To break down food for absorption.
Etymology
The literal image of carrying apart connects through the Latin meanings ‘separate’ and ‘divide’ to breaking food down. English used the word for the body's assimilation of food from its earliest recorded use.
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