An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

A prefix meaning “lack of, not” (e.g. dishonest); “do the opposite of” (e.g. disallow); “apart, away” (e.g. discard); before f, dif-; before some consonants (b, d, l, m, n, r, s, v, and sometimes g and j) di-.

Etymology (EN): From O.Fr. des-, from L. dis- “apart,” from PIE *dis- “apart, asunder” (cf. O.E. te-, O.S. ti-, O.H.G. ze-, Ger. zer-). The PIE root is a secondary form of *dwis- and is thus related to L. → bis “twice.”

Etymology (PE): Vâ- prefix denoting “separation; repetition; open; reversal, opposition; off; away,” variant of bâz-, from Mid.Pers. abâz-, apâc-; O.Pers. apa- [pref.] “away, from;” Av. apa- [pref.] “away, from,” apaš [adv.] “toward the back;” cf. Skt. ápāñc “situated behind.”