III. Dis- ·- A prefix from the Latin, whence F. des, or sometimes de-,
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,
·Eng. 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.