*SET-U

English word origin

Etymology of di-

PIE word *dwóh₁ Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁ Proto-Indo-European *dwi- Proto-Hellenic *dwi- Ancient Greek δῐ- (dĭ-)bor. Latin di-bor. English di- Borrowed from Latin di-, from Ancient Greek δι- (di-, “two”).

3 source sectionsExtended source reportWiktionary original ↗
In this entry · 3 source sections

The source etymologies

Wiktionary via Kaikki / Wiktextract

The source reports below are imported and unreviewed by *SET-U. Separate numbered origins and differing source variants are preserved; agreement within this extraction is not independent corroboration.

Source etymology 1

Original entry ↗
prefix

Two. · Double, twice the quantity. · A pair. · Both, possessing two distinct (possibly opposing) qualities.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

PIE word *dwóh₁ Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁ Proto-Indo-European *dwi- Proto-Hellenic *dwi- Ancient Greek δῐ- (dĭ-)bor. Latin di-bor. English di- Borrowed from Latin di-, from Ancient Greek δι- (di-, “two”).

Relationships mentioned by the source

These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.

  • Borrowed-form mentiondi-la
  • Derivation mentionδι-grc
Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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  "templates": [
    {
      "name": "dercat",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "ine-pro"
      },
      "expansion": ""
    },
    {
      "name": "langname",
      "args": {
        "1": "ine-pro"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Indo-European"
    },
    {
      "name": "word",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "ine",
        "3": "dwóh₁",
        "id": ""
      },
      "expansion": ""
    },
    {
      "name": "PIE word",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "dwóh₁"
      },
      "expansion": "PIE word\n *dwóh₁"
    },
    {
      "name": "etymon",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": ":bor",
        "3": "la:di-<id:twice>",
        "id": "twice",
        "tree": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "Etymology tree\nProto-Indo-European *dwóh₁\nProto-Indo-European *dwi-\nProto-Hellenic *dwi-\nAncient Greek δῐ- (dĭ-)bor.\nLatin di-bor.\nEnglish di-\n[Appendix:Glossary#loanword|Borrowed]] from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"twice\", \"children\" : [ { \"keyword_abbrev\" : \"bor.\", \"keyword_label\" : \"Borrowed from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"twice\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"two\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"two\", \"children\" : [ ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*dwóh₁\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"keyword\" : \"from\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*dwi-\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Hellenic\", \"term\" : \"*dwi-\", \"status\" : \"inline\", \"lang\" : \"grk-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Ancient Greek\", \"term\" : \"δῐ-\", \"lang\" : \"grc\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"bor\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Latin\", \"term\" : \"di-\", \"lang\" : \"la\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"bor\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"di-\", \"lang\" : \"en\" }\" data-id=\"twice\" data-lang=\"en\" data-title=\"di-\" id=\"English:_twice\">"
    },
    {
      "name": "bor",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "la",
        "3": "di-"
      },
      "expansion": "Latin di-"
    },
    {
      "name": "der",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "grc",
        "3": "δι-",
        "4": "",
        "5": "two"
      },
      "expansion": "Ancient Greek δι- (di-, “two”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "etymon",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": ":bor",
        "3": "la:di-<id:twice>",
        "id": "twice",
        "tree": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "Etymology tree\nProto-Indo-European *dwóh₁\nProto-Indo-European *dwi-\nProto-Hellenic *dwi-\nAncient Greek δῐ- (dĭ-)bor.\nLatin di-bor.\nEnglish di-"
    }
  ],
  "links": [
    [
      "*dwóh₁",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/dwóh₁"
    ],
    [
      "*dwóh₁",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/dwóh₁#Proto-Indo-European:_two"
    ],
    [
      "*dwi-",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/dwi-#Proto-Indo-European:_two"
    ],
    [
      "*dwi-",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Hellenic/dwi-"
    ],
    [
      "δῐ-",
      "δι-#Ancient_Greek:_twice"
    ],
    [
      "di-",
      "di-#Latin:_twice"
    ],
    [
      "di-",
      "di-#Latin"
    ],
    [
      "δι-",
      "δι-#Ancient_Greek"
    ]
  ],
  "references": [],
  "descendants": [],
  "lexical": [
    {
      "pos": "prefix",
      "glosses": [
        "Two.",
        "Double, twice the quantity.",
        "A pair.",
        "Both, possessing two distinct (possibly opposing) qualities."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "morpheme"
      ],
      "recordId": "1954b4389f479cf14f77eabe93b1f2f8ba576745fa1d7edc27a53708a20bbfa5",
      "rawRecordSha256": "4ab5ab8ef198a209aa6b12954defeef8cbad733fff6fc2ef00f85b581bb21587",
      "sourceRecordOrdinal": 186444
    }
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Source etymology 2

Original entry ↗
prefix

Alternative form of dis-: split, to split; shortened before l, m, n, r, s (followed by a consonant), and v; also often shortened before g, and sometimes before j.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁ ▲ Proto-Indo-European *trísinflu. Proto-Indo-European *d(w)is- Proto-Italic *dis- Latin dis-bor. English di- Borrowed from Latin dis-.

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

{
  "templates": [
    {
      "name": "ety",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": ":bor",
        "3": "la:dis-",
        "id": "split",
        "text": "+",
        "tree": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "Etymology tree\nProto-Indo-European *dwóh₁\n▲\nProto-Indo-European *trísinflu.\nProto-Indo-European *d(w)is-\nProto-Italic *dis-\nLatin dis-bor.\nEnglish di-\n[Appendix:Glossary#loanword|Borrowed]] from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"alt\" : \"*d(w)is-\", \"gloss\" : \"in two, apart\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"two\", \"children\" : [ ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*dwóh₁\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"keyword\" : \"from\" }, { \"keyword_abbrev\" : \"influ.\", \"keyword_label\" : \"Influenced by\", \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"thrice\", \"children\" : [ ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*trís\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"influence\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*dwís\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Italic\", \"term\" : \"*dis-\", \"status\" : \"inline\", \"lang\" : \"itc-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Latin\", \"term\" : \"dis-\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"la\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"bor\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"di-\", \"lang\" : \"en\" }\" data-id=\"split\" data-lang=\"en\" data-title=\"di-\" id=\"English:_split\">\nBorrowed from Latin dis-."
    },
    {
      "name": "ety",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": ":bor",
        "3": "la:dis-",
        "id": "split",
        "text": "+",
        "tree": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "Etymology tree\nProto-Indo-European *dwóh₁\n▲\nProto-Indo-European *trísinflu.\nProto-Indo-European *d(w)is-\nProto-Italic *dis-\nLatin dis-bor.\nEnglish di-\nBorrowed from Latin dis-."
    }
  ],
  "links": [
    [
      "*dwóh₁",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/dwóh₁#Proto-Indo-European:_two"
    ],
    [
      "*trís",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/trís#Proto-Indo-European:_thrice"
    ],
    [
      "*d(w)is-",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/dwís"
    ],
    [
      "*dis-",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Italic/dis-"
    ],
    [
      "dis-",
      "dis-#Latin"
    ],
    [
      "dis-",
      "dis-#Latin"
    ]
  ],
  "references": [],
  "descendants": [],
  "lexical": [
    {
      "pos": "prefix",
      "glosses": [
        "Alternative form of dis-: split, to split; shortened before l, m, n, r, s (followed by a consonant), and v; also often shortened before g, and sometimes before j."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "alt-of",
        "alternative",
        "morpheme"
      ],
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      "sourceRecordOrdinal": 186445
    }
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Source etymology 3

Original entry ↗
prefix

Alternative form of dia-: across or through, before a vowel.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *dwóh₁ Proto-Indo-European *dwi- Proto-Hellenic *dwi- Ancient Greek δῐ- (dĭ-)bor. English di- Borrowed from Ancient Greek δῐ- (dĭ-).

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

{
  "templates": [
    {
      "name": "ety",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": ":bor",
        "3": "grc:δῐ-",
        "id": "across",
        "text": "+",
        "tree": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "Etymology tree\nProto-Indo-European *dwóh₁\nProto-Indo-European *dwi-\nProto-Hellenic *dwi-\nAncient Greek δῐ- (dĭ-)bor.\nEnglish di-\n[Appendix:Glossary#loanword|Borrowed]] from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"two\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"two\", \"children\" : [ ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*dwóh₁\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"keyword\" : \"from\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*dwi-\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Hellenic\", \"term\" : \"*dwi-\", \"status\" : \"inline\", \"lang\" : \"grk-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Ancient Greek\", \"term\" : \"δῐ-\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"grc\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"bor\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"di-\", \"lang\" : \"en\" }\" data-id=\"across\" data-lang=\"en\" data-title=\"di-\" id=\"English:_across\">\nBorrowed from Ancient Greek δῐ- (dĭ-)."
    },
    {
      "name": "ety",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": ":bor",
        "3": "grc:δῐ-",
        "id": "across",
        "text": "+",
        "tree": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "Etymology tree\nProto-Indo-European *dwóh₁\nProto-Indo-European *dwi-\nProto-Hellenic *dwi-\nAncient Greek δῐ- (dĭ-)bor.\nEnglish di-\nBorrowed from Ancient Greek δῐ- (dĭ-)."
    }
  ],
  "links": [
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      "*dwóh₁",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/dwóh₁#Proto-Indo-European:_two"
    ],
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      "*dwi-",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/dwi-#Proto-Indo-European:_two"
    ],
    [
      "*dwi-",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Hellenic/dwi-"
    ],
    [
      "δῐ-",
      "δι-#Ancient_Greek"
    ],
    [
      "δῐ-",
      "δι-#Ancient_Greek"
    ]
  ],
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        "Alternative form of dia-: across or through, before a vowel."
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Where this record stops

This page does not supply an independently verified sound-change sequence, first-use manuscript or complete family tree unless a cited analysis explicitly establishes one. Missing detail here is a limit of this record—not a claim that humanity knows nothing more.

An older meaning does not determine what a word must mean today. Follow the sources, preserve disagreements, and keep ancestry separate from interpretation.

Contribute located evidence for di- →

Source and snapshot

Imported from Wiktionary contributors; extracted by Tatu Ylonen / Wiktextract / Kaikki.org. Selected fields are reformatted and grouped; wording, source identity and etymology sections are retained. CC-BY-SA-4.0 applies to the imported source material.

Dump: 2026-10-01 · Extracted: 2026-10-30. These are snapshot dates, not the word’s first attestation or the page’s revision date.

Source entry and bibliography ↗Wiktionary revision history ↗Acquisition and rights ledger
Machine-source provenance
Source SHA-256
5ff2c072f8099f2d2ce484bd6957bf179f046d2ad37bc36555edf8bb84cb5291
Import run
73216b9a9b78ed3830994bf853103716f5a4dc57099e371e9f8fdc468facca26
Permanent entry ID
w-ZGkt