Time for the next installment in my series on classically derived prefixes. This week I’ll be looking at Greek and Latin prefixes beginning with “C” and “D.”
For more context, here is the entire previous series on English root words derived from Greek and Latin. Those are the stems or base words to which these prefixes can (theoretically) be added. And here is the previous entry on Greek and Latin prefixes beginning with “A” and “B.”
| Prefix | Meaning | Example |
| circu(m) | around | circuit, circumference |
| co, con (and assimilated forms) | with, together; very | cohesion, connect, compose, collection, correct |
| contra, contro, counter | against, opposite | contradict, controversy, counterpoint |
| de | down, off of | demotion, descent |
| di, dis, dif | apart, in different directions, not | divert, dismiss, differ |
| dia | through, across, thorough | diameter |
| dys | bad, improper | dysfunction |