Root: de/dec/dis

About this Root

Core idea: Latin de- and related dis- often mean down, away, apart, or reversal—the opposite of completion or wholeness.

How it shows up on the GRE

Dis- can intensify or negate (disparage). Pair the prefix with the stem: cadere (fall) → decadence (a falling away).

Quick hooks from this list

• Debilitate — weaken.
• Decimate — destroy a large part of (historically “one in ten”).
• Deference — yielding (carrying self “down” before authority).