Monday, 23 May 2016

etymology - Any other words that use “dis-” as an amplifying prefix?

In the Oxford American Dictionaries, the prefix dis‑  can also express



completeness or intensification of an unpleasant or unattractive action


This definition cites the examples discombobulate and disgruntled.



Other interesting examples of words having the prefix in this particular sense are disaster, distend, and disport.



As an addendum, dis‑  obviously has other implications, for example reversal, separation, removal, negation, etc., but I’m focusing on the meaning specified by the author of this question.

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