Latin Prefix De-

By Jim Campbell

Latin Prefix De-

• DE- “down,” “down from,” “opposite of”

Decadent

• noun: (literally, “falling down”) deteriorating; growing worse; declining- ANT flourishing, thriving

• The decadent downtown section was once a flourishing business district.

Deciduous

• adjective: having leaves that fall down at the end of the growing season; shedding leaves- ANT evergreen

• Maple, elm, birch, and other deciduous trees lose their leaves in the fall.

Demented

• adjective: out of (down from) one's mind; mad; insane; deranged- ANT rational

• Whoever did this must have been demented; no sane person would have acted in such a way.

Demolish

• verb: pull or tear down; destroy- ANT construct• A wrecking crew is demolishing the old building.

Demote

• verb: move down in grade or rank- ANT promote

• For being absent without leave, the corporal was demoted to private.

Dependant

• adjective: (literally, “hanging down from”) unable to exist without the support of another- ANT independent

• Children are dependent on their parents until they are able to earn their own living.

Depreciate

• depreciate- v:• (1) go down in price or value• Automobiles will depreciate

rapidly, but antiques will go up in value.

• (2) speak slightingly of; belittle; disparage- ANT appreciate

• The building superintendent feels you are depreciating him if you refer to him as the “janitor”

Despise

• verb: look down on; scorn; feel contempt for- ANT admire

• Benedict Arnold was despised by his fellow Americans for betraying his country.

Deviate

• verb: turn aside, or down (from a route or rule); stray

• Dr. Parker does not see a patient without an appointment, except in an emergency, and she does not deviate from this policy.

Devour

• v: (literally, “gulp down”) eat greedily; eat like an animal

• Wendy must have been starved; she devoured her food.