English Vocabulary in 365 Days - Lesson 18

Day 18 : De

Let's try to understand this with some examples

decision (noun) = the process of deciding something (a cutting “off” of all possibilities but one)
- de - Prefix = off
- cis (caedere) - Root = cut
- ion - Suffix = the process of
define (verb) = to say or explain the meaning of something
- de - Prefix = thoroughly
- fine (finis) - Root = end

Let's have a look at some more words with deprefixes, for better understanding.

decide = to cut “off” false possibilities or poor options
desire = a strong wish to do something
degenerate = to become worse
detest = to hate somebody / something very much
depose = to remove from a position
dependent = needing somebody / something in order to survive or to be successful
depend = to be decided by or to change according to the stated thing
deformed = with a shape that has not developed normally
defender = someone who protects a place against attack, or who believes in and supports a person, idea, plan, etc
decapitate = to take “off” a head
derive = to come “from”
derivative = a word that has come “from” another language
deduce = to arrive at a conclusion by leading evidence “from” a given situation

Home Work :

Try to guess the meanings of the following elements.

a. madeof

b. connected with

c. very small

d. the state of

Shraboni Chakraborty

Asstt. Professor

English and Foreign Languages University,