English Vocabulary in 365 Days - Lesson 22

Day 22 : Dys

Let's try to understand this with some examples

dyslexia (noun) = a slight disorder of the brain that causes difficulty in reading and writing.
- dys - Prefix = difficulty
- lex (legere) - Root = read; speak
- ia - Suffix = disorder
dyspepsia (noun) = difficult to digest
- dys - Prefix = difficult
- peps (peptos) - Root = digestion
- ia - Suffix = disorder

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

dysbasia = difficulty in walking
dysphoria = a state of worry
dysgraphia = difficulty to write
dysdipsia = difficulty in swallowing liquids
dysemesis = difficult or painful vomiting
dysfunction = a part of the body not working properly
dysmasesis, dysmasesia = difficulty in chewing
dysmorphia = a part of the body which grows larger than normal
dysentery = infection of the intestines resulting in severe diarrhoea with the presence of blood and mucus in the faeces.
dysuria = painful or difficult urination
dysmegalopsia = difficulty to visualize correctly the size of objects; they appear larger than they really are
dystrophy = a disorder in which an organ or tissue of the body wastes away
dystopia = an imagined place or state in which everything is unpleasant or bad
dysaudia = difficulty in hearing.

Home Work :

Try to guess the meanings of the following elements.

a. the result of

c. similar to

d. the action of

Shraboni Chakraborty

Asstt. Professor

English and Foreign Languages University,