A- (3) prefix meaning "not," from Gk a-, an- "not," from pie base *ne "not" (see un-)

dissatisfaction --- 1640, from dis- + satisfaction.

dissection --- 1581, introduced by Francis Bacon, from M.Fr. dissection, from M.L. dissectionem, from stem of L. dissecare "cut in pieces," from dis- "apart" + secare "to cut" (see section).

dissemble --- 1413 (implied in dissemblable), apparently a variant of M.E. dissimule (infl. by M.Fr. dessembler or Eng. resemble), from O.Fr. dissimuler, from L. dissimulare (see dissimulation).

disseminate (v.) --- 1603, from adj. disseminate "scattered widely" (early 15c.), from L. disseminatus, pp. of disseminare, from dis- "in every direction" + seminare "to plant, propagate," from semen (gen. seminis) "seed" (see semen).

dissension --- c.1300, from L. dissensionem (nom. dissensio) "disagreement," from dissens-, stem of dissentire "disagree" (see dissent).

dissent --- c.1425, Scottish, from L. dissentire "differ in sentiments," from dis- "differently" + sentire "to feel, think." Dissenter in the religious sense is from 1639; with a capital D- from 1679. "Has there ever been a society which has died of dissent? Several have died of conformity in our lifetime." [Jacob Bronowski]

dissertation --- 1611, from L. dissertationem (nom. dissertatio) "discourse," from dissertare "debate, argue," frequentative of disserere "discuss, examine," from dis- "apart" + serere "to arrange words" (see series). Sense of "formal, written treatise" is 1651.

disservice (n.) --- 1599, from dis- + service (q.v.).

dissever --- c.1250, from Anglo-Fr. deseverer, from O.Fr. dessevrer, from L. disseparare, from dis- + separare (see separate (v.)).

dissident (adj.) --- c.1534, from L. dissidentem (nom. dissidens), prp. of dissidere "to be remote, disagree, be removed from," lit. "to sit apart," from dis- "apart" + sedere "to sit" (see sedentary). The noun in the political sense first used 1940, with rise of totalitarian systems, especially with ref. to the Soviet Union. The noun is first recorded 1766, in allusion to Protestants.

dissimulation --- c.1384, from O.Fr., from L. dissimulationem, from dissimulare "conceal, disguise," from dis- "completely" + simulare "pretend, simulate" (see simulation).

dissipate --- 1532, from L. dissipatus, pp. of dissipare "disperse, squander, disintegrate," from dis- "apart" + supare "to throw, scatter." Dissipation "intemperate mode of living" is first recorded 1784.

dissociate --- 1623, verb use of adj. meaning "separated" (1548), from L. dissociatus, pp. of dissociare "to separate from companionship," from dis- "apart" + sociare "to join," from socius "companion."

dissolute --- 1382, from L. dissolutus, pp. of dissolvere "loosen up" (see dissolve). Intermediate sense of "lax" led to modern meaning of "unrestrained in morals" (1513).

dissolve --- c.1374, from L. dissolvere "to loosen up, break apart," from dis- "apart" + solvere "to loose, loosen" (see solve).

dissonant --- 1490, from L. dissonantem (nom. dissonans), prp. of dissonare "differ in sound," from dis- "apart" + sonare "to sound" (see sound (n.1)).

dissuade --- 1513, from L. dissuadere "to advise against," from dis- "off, against" + suadere "to urge."

distaff --- O.E. distæf "stick that holds flax for spinning," from dis- "bunch of flax" + stæf "stick, staff." A synonym in Eng. for "the female sex, female authority in the family," since at least the late 1400s, probably because in the Middle Ages spinning was typically done by women.

distance --- c.1290, from O.Fr. destance, from L. distantia "a standing apart," from distantem (nom. distans) "standing apart, separate, distant," prp. of distare "stand apart," from dis- "apart, off" + stare "to stand" (see stet). The figurative sense is the same as in stand-offish. Phrase go the distance (1930s) seems to be originally from boxing.

distaste --- 1598, from dis- + taste (q.v.).

distelfink --- Pa. Dutch ornamental bird design, from Ger., "goldfinch," lit. "thistle-finch," from O.H.G. distilvinko, from distil "thistle" (see thistle) + O.H.G. finco "finch," from PIE *(s)ping- "sparrow, finch." So called because the bird feeds on thistle seeds.

distemper --- c.1386 (v.), c.1555 (n.), from L. distemperare "vex, make ill," lit. "upset the proper balance of bodily humors," from dis- "un-, not" + temperare "mingle in the proper proportion."

distend --- c.1400, from L. distendere "to swell or stretch out, extend," from dis- "apart" + tendere "to stretch" (see tenet).

distill --- 1393, from O.Fr. distiller, from L. distillare "trickle down in minute drops," from dis- "apart" + stillare "to drip, drop," from stilla "drop." Distillery "place for distilling," is from 1759.

distinction --- c.1340, "action of distinguishing," from L. distinctionem, from stem of distinguere (see distinguish). Meaning "excellence or eminence" (what distinguishes from others) is first recorded 1699. Distinctive is first recorded 1583; distinct is from 1382.

distingue --- having an air of distinction, 1813, from Fr. distingué, lit. "distinguished" (see distinguish).

distinguish --- 1561, from M.Fr. distinguiss-, stem of distinguer, from L. distinguere "to separate between, separate by pricking," from dis- "apart" + -stinguere "to prick." The suffix -ish is due to the influence of many verbs in which it is the equivalent of O.Fr. -iss, ultimately from L. inchoative suffix -iscere (this is also the case in extinguish, admonish, and astonish). The pp. distinguished, with special sense of "famous, celebrated," first recorded 1714.

distort --- 1586, from L. distortus, pp. of distorquere "to twist different ways, distort," from dis- "completely" + torquere "to twist" (see thwart).

distract --- c.1340, "to draw asunder or apart" (lit. and figurative), from L. distractus, pp. of distrahere "draw in different directions," from dis- "away" + trahere "to draw" (see tract (1)). Sense of "to throw into a state of mind in which one knows not how to act" is from 1583.

distraught --- 1393, alteration of earlier distract (perhaps by association with other pp. forms in -ght, such as caught, bought, brought), pp. of distracten "derange the intellect of, drive mad" (see distract).

distress --- c.1280, from O.Fr. destresse, from Gallo-Romance *districtia "restraint, affliction," from L. districtus, pp. of distringere "draw apart, hinder," also, in M.L. "compel, coerce," from dis- "apart" + stringere "draw tight, press together" (see strain (v.)).

distribution --- 1382, from L. distributionem, from distribuere "deal out in portions," from dis- "individually" + tribuere "assign, allot."

district --- 1611, from Fr. district, from M.L. districtus "restraining of offenders, jurisdiction," then under the feudal system "area of jurisdiction," from pp. stem of L. distringere "hinder, detain" (see distress).

distrust --- 1513, from dis- + trust (v.).

disturb --- c.1225, from L. disturbare "throw into disorder," from dis- "completely" + turbare "to disorder, disturb," from turba "turmoil." Disturbed "emotionally or mentally unstable" is from 1904.

disuse (n.) --- c.1408, from the verb (1375), from O.Fr. desuser, from des- "not" + user "use."

ditch --- O.E. dic "ditch, dike," a variant of dike (q.v.). Sense of "abandon, discard" is first recorded in Amer.Eng. 1899. Last ditch (1715) refers to the last line of military defenses.

dither --- 1649, "to quake, tremble," phonetic variant of M.E. didderen (c.1375), of uncertain origin. The sense of "vacillate, be anxious" is from 1819.

dithyramb --- 1603, from L. dithyrambus, from Gk. dithyrambos, of unknown origin, perhaps a pre-Hellenic loan-word. A wild choric hymn, originally in honor of Dionysus.

ditto --- 1625, Tuscan dial. ditto "(in) the said (month or year)," from It. detto, pp. of dire "to say," from L. dicere (see diction). Originally used in It. to avoid repetition of month names in a series of dates; generalized meaning of "same as above" first recorded in Eng. 1678.

ditty --- c.1300, from O.Fr. ditie "composition, poem, treatise," from L. dictatum "thing dictated," neut. pp. of dictare "dictate." Ditty bag is 1850s nautical slang, perhaps from Brit. naval phrase commodity bag.

ditzy --- stupid, scatterbrained (esp. of women), late 1970s U.S. slang, of unknown origin, perhaps related to earlier slang dicty (1926) "conceited, snobbish," also of unknown origin. The noun ditz (1984) is a back-formation.

diuretic --- c.1400, from O.Fr. diuretique, from L.L. diureticus, from Gk. diouretikos "prompting urine," from diourein "urinate," from dia "through" + ourein "urine."

diurnal --- c.1390, from L.L. diurnalis, from diurnum "day," from L. diurnus "daily," from dies "day" + -urnus, an adj. suffix denoting time (cf. hibernus "wintery"). Dies "day" is from PIE base *dyeu- (cf. Skt. diva "by day," Welsh diw, Bret. deiz "day;" Arm. tiw; Lith. diena; O.C.S. dini, Pol. dzien, Rus. den), lit. "to shine" (cf. Gk. delos "clear;" L. deus, Skt. deva "god," lit. "shining one;" Avestan dava- "spirit, demon;" Lith. devas, O.N. tivar "gods;" O.E. Tig, gen. Tiwes, see Tuesday).

diva --- distinguished woman singer, 1883, from It. diva "goddess, fine lady," from L. diva "goddess," fem. of divus "divine (one)."

divan --- 1586, "Oriental council of state," from Turk. divan, from Arabic diwan, from Pers. devan "bundle of written sheets, small book, collection of poems" (as in the "Divan i-Hafiz"), related to debir "writer." Sense evolved through "book of accounts," to "office of accounts," "custom house," "council chamber," then to "long, cushioned seat," such as are found along the walls in Middle Eastern council chambers. (See couch.) The sofa/couch sense was taken into Eng. 1702; the "book of poems" sense in 1823.

dive --- emerged 13c. from O.E. dufan "to dive, duck, sink" (intransitive, class II strong verb; past tense deaf, pp. dofen) and dyfan "to dip, submerge" (weak, transitive), from P.Gmc. *dubijanan. Past tense dove is a later formation, perhaps on analogy of drive/drove. Sense of "disreputable bar" is first recorded Amer.Eng. 1871, perhaps because they were usually in basements, and going into one was both a literal and fig. "diving."

diverge --- 1665, from L. divergere "go in different directions," from dis- "apart" + vergere "to bend, turn" (see verge (v.)). Originally a term in optics; the fig. sense is 19c.

divers (adj.) --- c.1275, "various," from O.Fr. divers "different or odd," from L. diversus "turned different ways," in L.L. "various," pp. of divertere (see divert). Sense of "several, numerous" is recorded from 1297, referring "originally and in form to the variety of objects; but, as variety implies number, becoming an indeffinite numeral word expressing multiplicity" [OED].

diverse --- 1297, spelling variant of divers (q.v.), perhaps by analogy with converse, traverse, etc. More associated with L. diversus, and since c.1700 restricted to the meaning "different in character or quality." Diversification in the economic sense is from 1939. Diversity is c.1340.

diversion --- 1600, from M.Fr. diversion, from L.L. diversionem (nom. diversio), from L. divertere (see divert). Sense of "amusement, entertainment" is first recorded 1648. Hence, divertimento (1823), from the It. form, originally "a musical composition designed primarily for entertainment."

divert --- 1430, from M.Fr. divertir, from L. divertere "in different directions," blended with devertere "turn aside," from dis- "aside" and de- "from" + vertere "to turn" (see versus).

diverticulum --- blind tube (anatomical), 1819, Mod.L., from L. deverticulum "a bypath," from devertere "to turn aside" (see divert).

Dives --- traditional name for a rich man, c.1386, from L. dives "rich (man)," used in Luke xvi in Vulgate and commonly mistaken as the proper name of the man in the parable. Related to divus "divine," and originally meaning "favored by the gods."

divest --- 1563, from M.Fr. devester "strip of possessions," from O.Fr. desvestir, from des- "away" + vestir "to clothe." The fig. sense of "strip of possessions" is earliest in Eng.; reflexive sense of "to strip oneself of" is from 1605. Economic sense (implied in divestment) is from 1955.

divide (v.) --- c.1374, from L. dividere "to force apart, cleave, distribute," from dis- "apart" + -videre "to separate," from PIE base *widh- "to separate," related to widow; and see with. Mathematical sense is from c.1425. The noun meaning "watershed, separation between river valleys" is first recorded 1807. Divider "partition or screen," especially in a room, is from 1959. Divide and rule (1602) translates L. divide et impera, a maxim of Machiavelli.

dividend --- c.1477, from M.Fr. dividende "a number divided by another," from L. dividendum "thing to be divided," neut. gerundive of dividere (see divide). Sense of "portion of interest on a loan, stock, etc." is from 1690.

divine (adj.) --- c.1305 (implied in divinity), from O.Fr. devin, from L. divinus "of a god," from divus "a god," related to deus "god, deity" (see Zeus). Weakened sense of "excellent" had evolved by c.1470. Divinity is from c.1300.

divine (v.) --- to conjure, to guess, originally "to make out by supernatural insight," early 14c., from L. divinus (see divine (adj.)), which also meant "soothsayer." Hence, divination (c.1374), from O.Fr., from L. divinationem (nom. divinatio) "the power of foreseeing, prediction," from divinatus, pp. of divinare, lit. "to be inspired by a god." Divining rod (or wand) attested from 1656.

division --- c.1374, from O.Fr. division, from L. divisionem (nom. divisio), from divid-, stem of dividere (see divide). Military sense is first recorded 1597. Mathematical sense is from c.1425. The mathematical division sign supposedly was invented by British mathematician John Pell (1611-85) who taught at Cambridge and Amsterdam. Divisive "producing discord" is from 1642.

divorce --- 1377, from O.Fr. divorce, from L. divortium "separation, dissolution of marriage," from divertere "to separate, leave one's husband, turn aside" (see divert). Not distinguished in Eng. from legal separation until mid-19c. Divorcee, from Fr., first recorded 1813. It can be either m. or f.

divot --- 1536, from Scot., lit. "piece of turf or sod" used for roofing material, etc., of unknown origin. The golfing sense is from 1886.

divulge --- 1460, from L. divulgare "publish, make common," from dis- "apart" + vulgare "make common property," from vulgus "common people."

divvy --- 1872, originally a n., a slang shortening of dividend; verb was in use by 1877 and is primary now (the noun is not in "Webster's New World Dictionary"), leading some (e.g. "Webster's") to think the word is a slang alteration of divide. In early 20c. British slang the same word was a shortening of divine (adj.).

Dixie --- 1859, first attested in D.D. Emmett's song of that name, probably a reference to the Mason-Dixon Line, but there are many other well-publicized theories. Popularized nationwide in minstrel shows. Dixieland style of jazz developed in New Orleans c.1910, so called from 1919. Dixiecrat in U.S. politics dates from 1948.

dizzy --- O.E. dysig "foolish, stupid," from P.Gmc. *dusijaz. Meaning "having a whirling sensation" is from c.1340; that of "giddy" is from 1501 and seems to merge the two earlier meanings. Used of the "foolish virgins" in early translations of Matthew xxv; used especially of blondes since 1870s.

DNA --- 1944 abbreviation of deoxyribonucleic acid (1931).

do --- M.E. do, first person singular of O.E. don "make, act, perform, cause," from W.Gmc. *don, from PIE base *dhe- "to put, place, do, make" (see factitious). Slang meaning "to do the sex act with or to" is from 1913. Third person does was a Northumbrian variant in O.E. that displaced doth, doeth 16c.-17c. The pt. did is O.E. dyde, the only remainder in Gmc. of the old linguistic pattern of forming a pt. by reduplication of the stem of the present tense. Far back in Gmc. the equivalent of did was used as a suffix to make the past tenses of other verbs, hence the English -ed suffix (O.E. -de). The pp. done grew out of O.E. pp. gedon, but the only vestige of the prefix is in ado. Use as an auxiliary began in M.E. Periphrastic form in negative sentences ("They did not think") replaced the O.E. negative particles ("Hie ne wendon"). U.S. Southern use of done in phrases like "he done gone to the store" is attested from 1827, according to OED: "a perfective auxiliary or with adverbial force in the sense 'already; completely.' " Slang done for "doomed" is from 1842. Doable has been around since 1449. Expression do or die is attested from 1621. Contraction don't for do not is first recorded 1672.

dobbie --- household sprite, 1811, from playful use of the proper name represented in dobbin (q.v.). In Sussex, such apparitions were called Master Dobbs.

dobbin --- farm horse, 1596 (in "Merchant of Venice"), probably from diminutive form of Dob, familiar of Robin; personal name applied to a horse.

Dobermann pinscher --- 1917, for Ludwig Dobermann, 19c. Ger. dog-breeder in Thuringia.

dobro --- 1952, Amer.Eng., contracted from the name of its Slovakia-born inventors, the Dopera Brothers (John, Rudy, Emil). The word also happens to mean "good thing" in Slovak. Patent filed 1947, claims use from 1929.

docent --- 1639, from L. docentem, from docere "to teach" (see doctor).

Docetism --- 1846, heresy holding that the body of Jesus was a phantom, from Gk. Doketai, name of the sect, lit. "believers," from dokein "to seem, have the appearance of, think," related to doxa (see decent).

docile --- 1483, from It. or Fr. docile, from L. docilis "easily taught," from docere "teach" (see doctor). Sense of "obedient, submissive" first recorded 1774.

docimacy --- judicial inquiry into the character of aspirants for office or citizenship, especially in ancient Athens, 1801, from Gk. dokimasia "assay, proving, examination," from stem of dokimazein "to test, prove," from dokimos "proven, genuine," lit. "accepted," related to dekhesthai "to take, accept," cognate with L. decere "to be seemly or fitting" (see decent).

dock (n.1) --- ship's berth, 1486, from M.Du. or M.L.G. docke, perhaps ultimately (via L.L. *ductia "aqueduct") from L. ducere "to lead" (see duke); or possibly from a Scand. word for "low ground" (cf. Norw. dokk "hollow, low ground"). Original sense was "furrow a grounded vessel makes in a mud bank."

dock (n.2) --- where accused stands in court, 1586, originally rogue's slang, from Flem. dok "pen or cage for animals," origin unknown.

dock (v.) --- cut an animal's tail, c.1386, from dok (n.) "fleshy part of an animal's tail," related to O.E. -docca "muscle," from P.Gmc. *dokko "something round, bundle" (cf. O.N. dokka "bundle, girl," Dan. dukke "doll," Ger. Docke "small column, bundle, doll, smart girl"). Meaning "to reduce (someone's) pay for some infraction" is first recorded 1822.

docket --- c.1460, "a summary or abstract," of unknown origin, perhaps a dim. form related to dock (v.). An early form was doggette.

doctor --- c.1303, "Church father," from O.Fr. doctour, from M.L. doctor "religious teacher, adviser, scholar," from L. doctor "teacher," from doct- stem of docere "to show, teach," originally "make to appear right," causative of decere "be seemly, fitting" (see decent). Familiar form doc first recorded c.1850. Meaning of "holder of highest degree in university" is first found c.1375; that of "medical professional" dates from 1377, though this was not common till late 16c. Verb sense of "alter, disguise, falsify" is first recorded 1774.

Doctor Martens --- type of heavy walking boots, 1977 (use claimed from 1965), trademark name taken out by Herbert Funck and Klaus Martens.

doctrine --- c.1380, from O.Fr. doctrine (12c.), from L. doctrina "teaching, body of teachings, learning," from doctor "teacher" (see doctor). The Monroe Doctrine in U.S. history was first used 1848, in reference to principles of policy contained in the message of President Monroe to Congress on Dec. 2, 1823. Doctrinaire "one who tries to apply some doctrine without regard for practicality" was borrowed from Fr. 1820; in France, originally of those who tried to reconcile liberty with royal authority after 1815; the broader sense in Eng. is attested from 1831.

document --- c.1450, "teaching, instruction," from M.Fr. document "lesson, written evidence," from L. documentum "example, proof, lesson," in M.L. "official written instrument," from docere "to show, teach" (see doctor). Meaning "something written that provides proof or evidence" is from 1727; the verb meaning "to support by documentary evidence" is from 1711. Documentary first used 1930 in sense of "film based on actual events," from Fr. film documentarie (1924). Docudrama is a 1961 coinage.

dodder --- 1617, from M.E. daderen "to quake, tremble" (1483), apparently frequentative of dialectal dade, on a form similar to totter, patter.

dodecahedron --- 1570, from Gk. dodeka "twelve" (short for duodeka, from duo "two" + deka "ten") + hedra "seat, base, chair, face of a geometric solid," from PIE base *sed- "to sit" (see sedentary).

dodge --- 1568, origin and sense evolution obscure, perhaps akin to Scottish dodd "to jog." Meaning "person's way of making a living" is from 1842. Baseball's Dodgers so called from 1900, from trolley dodgers, Manhattanites' nickname for Brooklyn residents, in reference to the streetcar lines that criss-crossed the borough.

dodo --- 1628, from Port. doudo "fool, simpleton," an insult applied by Port. sailors to the awkward bird (Didus ineptus) they found on Mauritius island. The last record of a living one is from 1681. Applied in Eng. to stupid persons since 1886.

doe --- O.E. da "female deer," of unknown origin, perhaps a Celtic loan-word.

doff --- c.1350, contraction of do off, preserving the original sense of do as "put." At the time of Johnson's Dictionary [1755] the word was "obsolete, and rarely used except by rustics," but it was saved from extinction (along with don) by Sir Walter Scott.

dog (n.) --- O.E. docga, a late, rare word used of a powerful breed of canine. It forced out O.E. hund (the general Gmc. and IE word; see canine) by 16c. and subsequently was picked up in many continental languages (cf. Fr. dogue, Dan. dogge), but the origin remains one of the great mysteries of English etymology. Many expressions -- a dog's life (1607), go to the dogs (1619), etc. -- reflect earlier hard use of the animals as hunting accessories, not pampered pets. In ancient times, "the dog" was the worst throw in dice (attested in Gk., L., and Skt., where the word for "the lucky player" was lit. "the dog-killer"), which plausibly explains the Gk. word for "danger," kindynas, which appears to be "play the dog." Slang meaning "ugly woman" is from 1930s; that of "sexually aggressive man" is from 1950s. Dog tag is from 1918. Dogs "feet" is 1913, from rhyming slang dog's meat. To dog-ear a book is from 1659; dog-eared in extended sense of "worn, unkempt" is from 1894. Dogfish is first recorded 1475; dogwood is 1617, earlier dog-tree (1548). "Notwithstanding, as a dog hath a day, so may I perchance have time to declare it in deeds." [Queen Elizabeth, 1550] "It is ill wakyng of a sleapyng dogge." [Heywood, 1562] Phrase to put on the dog "get dressed up" (1934) may refer back to the stiff collars that in the 1890s were the height of male fashion, with ref. to dog collars. The common Sp. word for "dog," perro, also is a mystery word of unknown origin, perhaps from Iberian.

dog (v.) --- to track like a dog, 1519, see dog (n.). Dogged "persistent" is from 1779.

dog days --- 1538, from L. dies caniculares, from Gk. (the star was also known as kyon seirios) are around the time of the heliacal rising of Sirius (q.v.), the Dog-star, noted as the hottest and most unwholesome time of the year; usually July 3 to Aug. 11, but variously calculated, depending on latitude and on whether the greater Dog-star (Sirius) or the lesser one (Procyon) is reckoned. The heliacal rising of Sirius has shifted down the calendar with the precession of the equinoxes; in ancient Egypt c.3000 B.C.E. it coincided with the summer solstice, which was also the new year and the beginning of the inundation of the Nile. The "dog" association apparently began here (the star's hieroglyph was a dog), but the reasons for it are obscure.