δια-

See also: διά, Δία, διά-, and Appendix:Variations of "dia"

Ancient Greek

Alternative forms

• (before a vowel) δῐ- (di- ), (Aeolic) ζά- (zá- )

Etymology

Prefixing form of the preposition διά (diá).

Pronunciation

 

• IPA^(key): /di.a/ → /ði.a/ → /ði.a/

• (5^th BCE Attic) IPA^(key): /di.a/
• (1^st CE Egyptian) IPA^(key): /di.a/
• (4^th CE Koine) IPA^(key): /ði.a/
• (10^th CE Byzantine) IPA^(key): /ði.a/
• (15^th CE Constantinopolitan) IPA^(key): /ði.a/

Prefix

δῐᾰ- • (dia-)

1. through, right through, across, over

   ‎δια- (dia-) ‎βαίνω (baínō) → ‎διαβαίνω (diabaínō, “step across, pass over”)

2. in different directions

   ‎δια- (dia-) ‎πέμπω (pémpō) → ‎διαπέμπω (diapémpō, “send off in different directions, send to and fro”)

   1. of separation: asunder, apart

      ‎δια- (dia-) ‎σκεδάννῡμι (skedánnūmi) → ‎διασκεδάννῡμι (diaskedánnūmi, “scatter, disperse”)

   2. at variance

      ‎δια- (dia-) ‎φωνέω (phōnéō) → ‎διαφωνέω (diaphōnéō, “be dissonant, disagree”)

   3. of mutual relation: one with another

      ‎δια- (dia-) ‎ἀγωνίζομαι (agōnízomai) → ‎διαγωνίζομαι (diagōnízomai, “contend, struggle against”)

      ‎δια- (dia-) ‎ᾄδω (ā́idō) → ‎διᾴδω (diā́idō, “contend in singing”)

3. of preeminence

   ‎δια- (dia-) ‎πρέπω (prépō) → ‎διαπρέπω (diaprépō, “appear prominent, strike the eye”)

4. of completion: to the end, utterly, out

   ‎δια- (dia-) ‎μάχομαι (mákhomai) → ‎διαμάχομαι (diamákhomai, “fight it out”)

5. to add strength: thoroughly, out and out

   ‎δια- (dia-) ‎γαληνίζω (galēnízō) → ‎διαγαληνίζω (diagalēnízō, “make quite calm”)

6. of mixture: between, partly, somewhat

   ‎δια- (dia-) ‎λευκός (leukós) → ‎διάλευκος (diáleukos, “somewhat white”)

Derived terms

Ancient Greek terms prefixed with δια-

References

• “διά”, in Liddell & Scott (1940) A Greek–English Lexicon, Oxford: Clarendon Press