Emily Dickinson Lexicon

DIS, prep. [DIS-.]

A prefix or inseparable preposition, from the Latin, whence Fr. des, Sp. dis, and de may in some instances be the same word contracted. Dis denotes separation, a parting from; hence it has the force of a privative and negative, as in disarm, disoblige, disagree. In some cases, it still signifies separation, as in distribute, disconnect.