Di- | Meaning Of Prefix Di- By Etymonline

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Origin and history of di-

di-(1)

word-forming element of Greek origin meaning "two, double, twice, twofold," from Greek di-, shortened form of dis "twice," which is related to duo "two" and cognate with bi-, from PIE root *dwo- "two." In chemistry it indicates a compound containing two units of the element or radical to which it is prefixed.

di-(2)

word-forming element of Latin origin meaning "apart, asunder," the form of dis- before certain voiced consonants. As des- was a form of dis- in Old French, some Middle English words have forms in both de- and di-; compare devise, which really belongs to di- and is related to divide.

di-(3)

word-forming element of Greek origin meaning "through; in different directions; between," also often merely intensive, "thoroughly;" the form of dia- before vowels.

Entries linking to di-

devise(v.)

early 13c., devisen, "to form, fashion;" c. 1300, "to plan, contrive, think or study out, elaborate in the mind," from Old French deviser "dispose in portions, arrange, plan, contrive" (in Modern French, "to chat, gossip"), from Vulgar Latin *divisare, frequentative of Latin dividere "to divide" (see divide (v.)).

Sense of "give, assign, or transmit by will" is from late 14c. in English, from Old French, via the notion of "to arrange a division." As a noun, "act of bequeathing by will" (1540s), also "a will or testament." Compare device. Related: Devised; devising.

dialogue(n.)

c. 1200, "literary work consisting of a conversation between two or more persons," from Old French dialoge and directly from Latin dialogus, from Greek dialogos "conversation, dialogue," related to dialogesthai "converse," from dia "across, between" (see dia-) + legein "to speak" (from PIE root *leg- (1) "to collect, gather," with derivatives meaning "to speak (to 'pick out words')").

The sense was extended by c. 1400 to "a conversation between two or more persons." The mistaken belief that it can mean only "conversation between two persons" is from confusion of dia- and di- (1); as early as 1532, trialogue appears needlessly for "a conversation between three persons." Also compare quadrilogue "dialogue of four speakers" (late 15c.), in the title of the English translation of "Quadrilogue invectif," which consists of an allegorical dialogue between the Three Estates and a personified France.

A word that has been used for "conversation between two persons" and cannot mean otherwise is the hybrid duologue (1864).

• dicephalous
• digamist
• diglot
• dilemma
• Dimetrodon
• dimorphism
• dimorphous
• dioxin
• diptych
• ditheism
• dizygotic
• methadone
• prednisone
• bi-
• dia-
• dis-
• *dwo-
• diplo-
• See All Related Words (20)

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dilemma1520s in rhetoric (see below), from Late Latin dilemma, from Greek dilemma "double proposition," a technical term in rhetoric, from di- "two" (see di- (1)) + lemma "premise, anything received or taken," from root of lambanein "to take" (see lemma). A form of argument in which itdiptych1620s, "hinged, two-leaved tablet of wood, ivory, etc., with waxed inner surfaces, used by the Greeks and Romans for writing with the style," from Latin diptycha (plural), from late Greek diptykha, neuter plural of diptykhos "double-folded, doubled," from di- "two" (see di- (1)) MelanesiaLa Melanesia comprende la grande isola Australia, e quelle degli arcipelaghi di Salomone, di Lapèrouse, di Quiros, e dei...gruppi della Nuova Caledonia, di Norfolk, e della Diemenin...., questa parte della Oceania ebbe dai moderni geografi e viaggiatori (il Graberg, il Rienzi, il d'Urville, ec.) il nome di...Melanesia. [ "Corso di Geografia Universale," Firenze, 1839] Related: Melanesian (1835, n., "a native of Melanesia;" 1840...umberbrown earthy pigment, 1560s, from French ombre (in terre d'ombre), or Italian ombra (in terra di ombra), both from Latin...Elmobrushes and jets of electric light seen on the tips of masts and yard-arms, especially in storms, 1560s, from Italian fuoco di...maestroMeaning "conductor, musical director" is short for maestro di cappella (1724), literally "master of the chapel" (compare...tidings"occurring," both from Proto-Germanic tīdōjanan, from PIE *di-ti- "division, division of time," suffixed form of root *da...realearly 14c., "actually existing, having physical existence (not imaginary);" mid-15c., "relating to things" (especially property), from Old French reel "real, actual," from Late Latin realis "actual," in Medieval Latin "belonging to the thing itself," from Latin res "property, goocrepuscularfigurative use, "dim, indistinct," is attested from 1660s; literal use, "pertaining to or resembling twilight," from 1755, from Latin crepusculum "twilight, dusk," related to creper "obscure, uncertain," from Proto-Italic *krepos "twilight," which is of uncertain origin. It is nohoneymoon"indefinite period of tenderness and pleasure experienced by a newly wed couple," 1540s (hony moone), but probably older, from honey (n.) in reference to the new marriage's sweetness, and moon (n.) "month" in reference to how long it probably will last, or from the changing aspec

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‘cite’Page URL:https://www.etymonline.com/word/di-CopyHTML Link:<a href="https://www.etymonline.com/word/di-">Etymology of di- by etymonline</a>CopyAPA Style:Harper, D. (n.d.). Etymology of di-. Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved December 23, 2025, from https://www.etymonline.com/word/di-CopyChicago Style:Harper Douglas, "Etymology of di-," Online Etymology Dictionary, accessed December 23, 2025, https://www.etymonline.com/word/di-.CopyMLA Style:Harper, Douglas. "Etymology of di-." Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/di-. Accessed 23 December, 2025.CopyIEEE Style:D. Harper. "Etymology of di-." Online Etymology Dictionary. https://www.etymonline.com/word/di- (accessed December 23, 2025).CopyRemove AdsAdvertisement

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TrendingDictionary entries near di-

• *dhghem-
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• diabetes
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• diabolical

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