Use of "Dis" to form an antonym
Use of "Dis" to form an antonym
(OP)
Adding "Dis" as a prefix to word is often used to form an antonym of the base word.
Given:
Discombobulate - To throw into a state of confusion.
It seems that it should follow:
Combobulate - To bring into order.
Yet I can find no reference to combobulate in my dictionaries.
Given:
Discombobulate - To throw into a state of confusion.
It seems that it should follow:
Combobulate - To bring into order.
Yet I can find no reference to combobulate in my dictionaries.





RE: Use of "Dis" to form an antonym
Tress - a lock of hair
Distress - panic over baldness (?)
Cuss - to swear
Discuss - talk politely together
Tance - an obsolete measure of proximity (?)
Distance - non proximity
Gust - a quick blast of atmospheric wind
Disgust - (I'll leave that one to you!)
I suspect you will find that discombobulate is a fairly recent (maybe as old as early 1800's) made up nonsense word, and as such it's etymology may not be as expected!
Good Luck
johnwm
RE: Use of "Dis" to form an antonym
Consider also the following:
Disinterested vs uninterested.
RE: Use of "Dis" to form an antonym
RE: Use of "Dis" to form an antonym
disappointment - the feeling that settles when they don't show up
charge - a frontal assault by cavalry or infantry
discharge - to fire one's weapon to resist the charge of the opposing force
RE: Use of "Dis" to form an antonym
What a lurid display.
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RE: Use of "Dis" to form an antonym
You mean they weren't playing, or do you mean it wasn't a theatrical production. (display)
RE: Use of "Dis" to form an antonym
I have heard that "disaster" comes from
dis (bad)
aster (star) (as in asterisk, Aster the flower etc)
In ancient times, astrologers pretended to have the ability to see the future from the stars.
A bad star was an omen of disaster.
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RE: Use of "Dis" to form an antonym
RE: Use of "Dis" to form an antonym
RE: Use of "Dis" to form an antonym
Patricia Lougheed
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RE: Use of "Dis" to form an antonym
If dis means bad, so too does Mal as in maloderous.
Perhaps maladjusted and adjusted?
Aha! Mal is another useful bolt-on.
JMW
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RE: Use of "Dis" to form an antonym
"Come, let us go. Let us leave this festering hellhole. Let us think the unthinkable, let us do the undoable. Let us prepare to grapple with the ineffable itself, and see if we may not eff it after all."
M
--
Dr Michael F Platten
RE: Use of "Dis" to form an antonym