Building
Vocabulary
from Word
Roots
Lesson 2
Latin Prefixes
dis-, di-, dif-
dis-, di-, difThe Latin prefixes dis-, di-, and
dif- have two different
meanings.
In a directional sense, they can
mean “apart” or “in different
directions.”
In a negative sense, they can
mean “not.”
dis-, di-, dif“apart, in different directions, not”
dis- + semin (seed) + ate (to make or do) = disseminate
(“to make” (or send) a “seed” “different directions”) –to
spread information
di- + vert (“turn”) + ity (“state or condition”)= diversity
(the “state of” being “turned” in “different directions”)
–to be made up of different things or groups
dif- + fid (“trust”) + ent (“existing condition”) = diffident
(“trust” is “apart” from)
-not trusting in oneself or others; shy
dis-, di-, dif“apart, in different directions, not”
dis- + tort (“twist”) = distort
(to “twist” in “different directions”)
-either literally or as in to twist the truth
di- + fus (“pour”) = diffuse
(“to pour” “in different directions” or “apart”)
-to literally pour or spread out; to diffuse an argument,
one might “pour” the negativity “apart” by offering
positive comments
dis-, di-, dif“apart, in different directions, not”
When you encounter dis-, di-, dif- words that you do not
know, you will need to try out each prefix meaning to
determine which one makes the most sense.
di- + sper (“to scatter) = disperse- to send “in different directions”
dis- + sect (“cut”) = dissect- to cut “apart”
In most cases, “not” words beginning with dis- contain an
easily recognizable word after the prefix.
disconnected = not connected
disjointed = not jointed, or poorly joined together
disparity = lack of parity (which means inequality)
disarray = lack of array (not well-arranged; messy)
disinterested = not interested
How do these dis-, di-, dif- words mean
“apart,” “in different directions,” or
“not”?
The students enjoyed the teacher’s
digressions from the topic.
Our attention was diverted by the loud
music.
The narrator dismembered the corpse and
hid it beneath the floorboards!
Sometimes people distort the truth.
The talk was disjointed and hard to follow.
His clothes were in a state of disarray.
How do these dis-, di-, dif- words mean “apart,” “in
different directions,” or “not”? Use these meanings:
The students enjoyed the teacher’s digressions from
the topic. (gres- step/go)
Our attention was diverted by the loud music. (vertturn)
The narrator dismembered the corpse and hid it
beneath the floorboards! (member- part)
Sometimes people distort the truth. (tort- twist)
The talk was disjointed and hard to follow. (jointjoined)
His clothes were in a state of disarray. (arrayarranged)
You try it! These phrases are in your
notes. Decide what you think these words
mean.
A diffident attitude
To disseminate a message
To create a diversion
To divulge a secret
To dissect a specimen
A disparity of resources
A room that is in disarray
To distort a story
Test Prep Greek and Latin Roots
Use the definitions of the bases to determine the meaning of the bolded word. Begin by filling in
the correct base definitions on the lines following the bases.
The prefixes dis-, di-, and dif- can mean _________________,
____________________________, and _____________.
Out of the nine Supreme Court justices, not one offered a final dissenting
opinion on the landmark Brown versus the Board of Education case that
overturned the “Separate but Equal” clause that had previously held that
segregation of the races was constitutional. Justice Warren successfully argued
that the continued separation of whites and blacks would mean that the black
race is inherently inferior and any laws that upheld that were unconstitutional.
(The base sent means to “think or feel;” –ing makes a word present tense).
Define the word dissenting-__________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
Test Prep Greek and Latin Roots
Use the definitions of the bases to determine the meaning of the bolded word. Begin by filling in
the correct base definitions on the lines following the bases.
The prefixes dis-, di-, and dif- can mean _________________,
____________________________, and _____________.
Out of the nine Supreme Court justices, not one offered a final dissenting
opinion on the landmark Brown versus the Board of Education case that
overturned the “Separate but Equal” clause that had previously held that
segregation of the races was constitutional. Justice Warren successfully argued
that the continued separation of whites and blacks would mean that the black
race is inherently inferior and any laws that upheld that were unconstitutional.
(The base sent means to “think or feel;” –ing makes a word present tense).
Define the word dissenting none of the judges “thought or felt” “in a different
direction” than the others; none of the judges disagreed about the ruling on
the case.
Test Prep Greek and Latin Roots
Use the definitions of the bases to determine the meaning of the bolded word. Begin by filling in
the correct base definitions on the lines following the bases.
People often mistake common diffidence for an
unwillingness to chat and get to know other people and
therefor gain a false belief of your character. (The base
fid means “trust” and -ence means “existing
condition.”)
Define the word diffident_____________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Test Prep Greek and Latin Roots
Use the definitions of the bases to determine the meaning of the bolded word. Begin by filling in
the correct base definitions on the lines following the bases.
People often mistake common diffidence for an
unwillingness to chat and get to know other people and
therefor gain a false belief of your character. (The base
fid means “trust” and -ence means “existing
condition.”)
Define the word diffident -someone who is “not”
“existing” with “trust” in themselves or others; shy
people often avoid chatting