Do You Understand "De"-meaning? Quiz

Answer: A sudden collapse

A synonym for debacle is fiasco.

In 1929, the United States had a debacle when the stock market crashed.

Debacle comes from the Latin word "baculum", which means staff. From there came the French prefix "de" (meaning the same as the English prefix -un) and "bacler" meaning to bar. Then came the French word "debacler", meaning to unleash. Then came another French word, "debacle", which gave us the English word "debacle, which first meant "the breaking up of ice in a river.

Answer: Electronic device providing shock to heart

This word comes from the prefix de- meaning to reverse or stop, and the word fibrillator, which means abnormal heartbeat. The word was first used in 1952. However, the devices have been used since 1899, when Jean Louis Prevost and Frederic Batelli demonstrated the use of one. Frank Pantridge, who invented the first portable defibrillator for ambulnaces, coined the term defibrillator.

They used a defibrillator on the man to get his heart back to normal.

Answer: To remove the air from something

The word deaerate was first used in the 1780s or 1790s. It comes from the prefix de- (reverse) and aerate (introduce air into). The word can also be used to mean to remove bubbles from something.

The researchers deaerate the water in their experiments to study it without the interference from the air.

Answer: Information on people in a certain population

The word was first used in the 1860s. It comes from the Greek word "demos", meaning the people, the Greek word "graphos", meaning to write or draw, and the suffix -ic meaning relating to.

The demographic trend in the town is people aged 30-45.

Answer: A poisonous mushroom

The "Amanita phalloides", also known as the deathcap (or death cap), is a deadly poisonous mushroom. Originally, it was only found in Europe, but in the second half of the 20th century, it was introduced to other parts of the world.

The deathcap can have various colors, including white. Therefore, unlike many poisonous items that have colors to warn you, one cannot use the color to determine if it's poisonous or not. It also resembles mushrooms that are commonly eaten by humans, such as the straw mushroom. Also, unlike some poisonous foods, it does not lose its toxicity with freezing or cooking. It is the deadliest of all mushrooms. In English, deathcap became the most common name for this very deadly poisonous mushroom, since mushrooms look like they have on caps.

Answer: Having ten syllables

The prefix deca- (from the Greek) means ten. The word syllable is part of a word that contains one vowel sound. So a decasyllabic word contains ten vowel sounds. For example, the words ureteroureterostomy and theologicometaphysical are both decasyllabic.

Answer: To take away human qualities or human dignity

The word dehumanize was first used around 1802. It uses the prefix de-, which means away from or to remove. this is combined with the word humanize, which comes from the Latin "humanus", which means human, humane.

The prison guards set out to dehumanize the prisoner in cell five. They believed he was nothing more than a filthy animal.

Answer: Modest or shy

Demure was first used in the early 14th century. It was first used as an Anglo-French surname. It came from the Old French "meur", which meant fully grown or ripe. The "de" in the word comes from an uncertain origin. However, one possibility is the Old French "demore" which relates to staying. Another suggestion is "De (bon) murs," meaning of good manners.

I hid my true feelings with a demure smile.

Answer: To act without emotion

Deadpan was first used in the early 20th century. "Pan" was a slang word for face. Roger Breshahan said of former baseball player Gene Woodburn, who was also a ventriloquist, that he "had a trick of what the actors called 'the dead pan.'" He went on to say, "he never cracked a smile." As written, it was first used as two words, and then over time became one word.

Steven Wright, Norm McDonald, Aubrey Plaza, Buster Keaton, Bob Newhart, and Rachel Dratch are all examples of deadpan comedians.

Answer: To lower oneself to do something

Deign was first used in the late 13th century. It comes from the Old French "deignier", meaning to deem worth or fit. It was perhaps first found in the "Chronicle" by historian Robert of Gloucester. Today, the word is rarely used and considered a bit archaic.

He didn't even deign to answer the man's question.