De-

(L., or Fr.—L.), down, from, away, occurs in words derived either directly from L., as de duce; or through the Fr. from L., in which case De- , Di- , represents either (1) O. Fr. des- from L. dis- , asunder, not, as in de feat (O. Fr. des- fait), or (2) Fr.—L. de- , as de scribe [lit. 'write down ' ], decompose. This prefix de- is negative and oppositive in destroy , desuetude , deform , or intensive in declare , desolate , desiccate .