Etymology: < (i) Middle French, French dia-, and its etymon (ii) classical Latin dia-, and its etymon (iii) ancient Greek δια- (before a vowel δι-), use as prefix of the preposition διά through, during, across, by, related to classical Latin dis- in two, apart (see dis- prefix, di- prefix¹) < the Indo-European base of ancient Greek δύο two (see two adj.); compare also δίς twice (see di- comb. form).Widely used in Greek in compounds, in the senses ‘through, thorough, thoroughly, apart’, as in διάδρομος running through (see diadrom n.), διάλεκτος discourse (see dialect n.), διάμετρος measure through or crosswise, diameter (see diameter n.), διατριβή wearing through or away, pastime (see diatribe n.), δίοπτρον a thing for looking through, a spyglass (see diopter n.). Compare French dia-, German dia-.

Etymology: < classical Latin and post-classical Latin dia- (in e.g. diachylon diachylon n., diacisson diacissum n. , diacodion diacodium n., diaglaucium diaglaucion , diagrydium diagrydium n., diamoron diamoron n., diapente diapente n., diatessaron diatessaron n.) < ancient Greek διά (see dia- prefix¹) in phrases such as διὰ καρύων made or consisting of nuts (see diacaryon ), διὰ κωδειῶν made or consisting of poppy-heads (see diacodium n.), διὰ μόρων made or consisting of mulberries (see diamoron n.), διὰ τριῶν πεπερέων made or consisting of three peppers (see diatrion-pipereon n. ), διὰ τεσσάρων , διὰ πέντε , made or consisting of four or of five (ingredients) (see diatessaron n., diapente n.), etc., applied to medicaments of which these ingredients were the chief constituents, the full form implied being τὸ διὰ τριῶν πεπερέων ϕάρμακον medicament made up of three peppers, etc. The Latin medical writers treated these phrases as words; and the number of such terms was increased by many later formations of the same kind. They were frequently subject to reanalysis, final -ōn (Greek -ων ) being taken for -on (Greek -ον ), and then Latinized as -um , e.g. diachylum diachylon n., diaglaucium diaglaucion ; or a nominative was formed in some other way, as diapentes (see diapente n.).Further post-classical Latin examples include: diaematon (1568 or earlier; < Hellenistic Greek δι' αἱμάτων (Galen) < ancient Greek διὰ + αἱμάτων , genitive plural of αἷμα blood: see haemato- comb. form), dialibanon (5th cent.; < Byzantine Greek διὰ λιβάνων < ancient Greek διὰ + λιβάνων , genitive plural of λίβανος incense: see libanomancy n.), diameliloton (5th cent. < Hellenistic Greek or Byzantine Greek διὰ μελιλώτων < ancient Greek διὰ + μελιλώτων , genitive plural of μελίλωτος , μελίλωτον melilot n.), diameliton (5th cent.; < classical Latin dia- + ancient Greek μελίτων , genitive plural of μέλι : see mell n.²), diamisyos (5th cent.; < Hellenistic Greek or Byzantine Greek διὰ μίσυος < ancient Greek διὰ + μίσυος , genitive of μίσυ misy n.). Compare similarly French dia-.In diabotanum < post-classical Latin diabotanon (5th cent.) < Hellenistic Greek διὰ βοτανῶν < ancient Greek διὰ (see dia- prefix²) + βοτανῶν , genitive plural of βοτάνη plant (see botano- comb. form).In diacalaminthe < post-classical Latin diacalaminthes (3rd cent.) < classical Latin dia- dia- prefix² + calaminthe calamint n.; compare Anglo-Norman and Old French diacalament (13th cent.).In diacapparis < post-classical Latin diacapparis (12th cent.; 13th cent. in a British source) < classical Latin dia- dia- prefix² + capparis caper n.¹; compare Anglo-Norman and Old French diacaparis, diacapparis (13th cent.), Middle French dyacaparis (c1340).In diacaryon < post-classical Latin diacareon (7th cent.; 14th cent. in a British source) < Hellenistic Greek διὰ καρύων < ancient Greek διὰ (see dia- prefix²) + καρύων , genitive plural of κάρυον nut (see caryopsis n.).In diacastoreum < post-classical Latin diacastoreum (6th cent.; 13th cent. in a British source) < classical Latin dia- dia- prefix² + castoreum castoreum n.; compare Anglo-Norman diacastorium (13th cent.).In diachalcitis < post-classical Latin diachalcitis (1555 or earlier), earlier diachalcites (1513 or earlier) < classical Latin dia- dia- prefix² + chalcītes chalcites n.; compare Middle French diachalcitis (1552 or earlier).In diacinnamomum < post-classical Latin diacinamomum (13th cent.; 14th cent. in a British source) < classical Latin dia- dia- prefix² + cinnamōmum cinnamon n.; compare Old French diacinnamomi (13th cent.).In diacitonium < post-classical Latin diacitonium (1534 or earlier; 7th cent. as diacitonion), variant or alteration of diacydonium diacydonium .In diacopraegia < post-classical Latin diacopraegias (5th cent.) < classical Latin dia- dia- prefix² + Byzantine Greek κόπρου αἰγείας goats' dung < ancient Greek κόπρου , genitive of κόπρος dung (see copro- comb. form) + αἰγείας , feminine genitive singular of αἴγειος of a goat < αἰγ- , αἴξ goat (see Aegipan n.) + -ειος, suffix forming adjectives.In diacorum < post-classical Latin dyacorum (13th cent.), diacorum (1540 or earlier) < classical Latin dia- dia- prefix² + acorum (see acorus n.); compare Old French diacorum, dyacorum (13th cent.).In diacostum < post-classical Latin diacostum (from 13th cent. in British sources) < classical Latin dia- dia- prefix² + costum cost n.¹; compare Old French diacostum (13th cent.).In diacrommyon < post-classical Latin diacrommion, diacrommyon (1505 or earlier) < Hellenistic Greek διὰ κρομμύων (Galen) < ancient Greek διὰ (see dia- prefix²) + κρομμύων , genitive plural of κρόμμυον (see rams n.).In diacydonium < post-classical Latin diacydonium (1514 or earlier) < Hellenistic Greek διὰ Κυδωνίων (in e.g. διὰ Κυδωνίων μήλων ἀντίδοτον antidote made of quinces; compare Byzantine Greek τὸ διὰ κυδωνίων πεπτικόν peptic remedy made of quinces, καθαρτικὸν διὰ κυδωνίων cathartic remedy made of quinces) < ancient Greek διὰ (see dia- prefix²) + κυδωνίων , genitive of κυδώνια (neuter plural) quinces (see cydon n.).In diadamascenum < post-classical Latin diadamascenum (1548 or earlier) < Byzantine Greek διὰ δαμασκήνων < ancient Greek διὰ (see dia- prefix²) + Hellenistic Greek δαμασκήνων , genitive plural of δαμασκηνόν damson n.; compare Middle French diadamascenum (14th cent.).In diaglaucion < classical Latin diaglaucium < dia- dia- prefix² + glaucion celandine (see glaucic adj.).In diahexapla < dia- prefix² + ancient Greek ἑξαπλᾶ, neuter plural of ἑξαπλοῦς sixfold (see hexapla n.).In diahyssopum < post-classical Latin diahyssopum (5th cent.) < classical Latin dia- dia- prefix² + hyssōpum hyssop n.In dialacca < post-classical Latin dialacca (12th cent.; 13th cent. in British sources) < classical Latin dia- dia- prefix² + post-classical Latin lacca lac n.¹In dialthaea < post-classical Latin dealtea, dialtea, dialtia, dyaltea (10th cent.; from 13th cent. in British sources), earlier dialtheon (c400) < medieval Greek δι’ ἀλθαία < ancient Greek διὰ (see dia- prefix²) + Hellenistic Greek ἀλθαία althea n.; compare Anglo-Norman and Old French deauté, dyauté, dialté (13th cent.), Middle French, French dialthée (c1540).In diamerdes < Middle French dyamerdys (c1510), Middle French, French diamerdis (1559) < dia- dia- prefix² + merde merd n.In diamoschum < post-classical Latin diamoschum (1514 or earlier), diamuscum (1490 or earlier), diamuscus (13th cent.) < classical Latin dia- + post-classical Latin moschus , muscus musk n.In dianisum < post-classical Latin dianisum (12th cent. as dianison; from 13th cent. in British sources) < classical Latin dia- dia- prefix² + anīsum anise n.; compare Old French dianisi (mid 13th cent.).In dianucum < post-classical Latin dianucum (1363 in Chauliac) < classical Latin dia- dia- prefix² + nuc- , nux nut n.¹ + -um , ending of neuter nouns; compare Middle French dianucum (1534 (in a translation of Chauliac) or earlier); compare diacaryon .In diaolibanum < post-classical Latin diaolibanum (12th cent.; from 13th cent. in British sources) < classical Latin dia- dia- prefix² + post-classical Latin olibanum olibanum n.; compare Anglo-Norman diaolibanum (13th cent.).In diapapaver < post-classical Latin diapapaver (12th cent.; from 13th cent. in British sources) < classical Latin dia- dia- prefix² + papāver poppy (see papaverous adj.); compare Old French diapaver (13th cent.).In diapompholygos < post-classical Latin diapompholygos (13th cent. as diapompholigos, 1363 in Chauliac as dyaponfiligos) < Hellenistic Greek διὰ πομφόλυγός (Galen) < ancient Greek διὰ (see dia- prefix²) + πομφόλυγός , genitive of πομϕόλυξ pompholyx n.In diasatyrion < post-classical Latin diasatirion, diasatyrion (12th cent.; from 13th cent. in British sources) < classical Latin dia- dia- prefix² + satyrion satyrion n.; compare Anglo-Norman and Old French diasatirion, diasatyrion (13th cent.).In diasebesten < post-classical Latin diasebesten (1542 or earlier) < classical Latin dia- dia- prefix² + post-classical Latin sebesten sebesten n.; compare French diasebesten (1615 or earlier).In diatribus < classical Latin dia- dia- prefix² + tribus, ablative of trēs three (see three adj.).In diaxylaloes < post-classical Latin diaxylaloes (1564 or earlier), earlier diaxyloaloes (1541 or earlier) < classical Latin dia- dia- prefix² + post-classical Latin xyloaloes xylaloes n.In diacameron n. < post-classical Latin diacameron (12th cent.; from 13th cent. in British sources; also in continental sources) < medieval Greek διὰ καμαρῷ < ancient Greek διὰ (see dia- prefix²) + καμαρῷ, dative of κάμαρος, κάμμαρος aconite (probably < the same Indo-European base as Old High German hemera kind of hellebore, Russian Church Slavonic čemerŭ hellebore, Russian regional čemer headache, belly ache, Polish regional czemier hellebore, stomach disease of horses, Bulgarian čemer venom, hellebore, Lithuanian kemeras hemp agrimony, Latvian (with suffix) cemeriņš hellebore; or perhaps a loan from a non-Indo-European substrate language); compare Anglo-Norman diacameron (13th cent.).In diacarthami n. < Middle French, French diacartami (1518 or earlier; 1537 in the passage translated in quot. 1560 for diacarthami n. , also 1611 in Cotgrave) or its etymon post-classical Latin diacarthami, dyacartami (1491 or earlier), earlier dyacarthamus (1363 in Chauliac) < classical Latin dia- dia- prefix² + post-classical Latin cartamus , carthamus carthamus n.In diaciminon n. < post-classical Latin diaciminum (7th cent.; 13th cent. in British sources; also in continental sources) < classical Latin dia- dia- prefix² + cyminum cumin n.; compare Anglo-Norman diaciminum (13th cent.), Anglo-Norman and Old French, French diaciminon (13th cent.; 1611. in Cotgrave).In diacissum n. < post-classical Latin diacissum (6th cent.), earlier diacisson (c400) < ancient Greek διὰ (see dia- prefix²) + κισσῶν , genitive plural of κισσός ivy (see rhoicissus n.).In diacitrin n. probably < either (i) post-classical Latin diacitrinus (12th cent.) or (ii) post-classical Latin dyacitron (13th cent. in a British source), both alterations of diacytrion (8th cent.), diacitriu (6th cent.) < Byzantine Greek διὰ κιτρίου < ancient Greek διὰ (see dia- prefix²) + Hellenistic Greek κιτρίου , genitive of κιτρίον citron < post-classical Latin citrium citron (3rd cent.) < classical Latin citrus citrus n. + -ium , suffix forming nouns (compare -y suffix⁴); compare post-classical Latin diacitrius, adjective (4th cent.).In diacorallion n. < post-classical Latin diacorallium (6th cent.) < Byzantine Greek διὰ κοραλλίων < ancient Greek διὰ (see dia- prefix²) + κοραλλίων , genitive plural of κοράλλιον coral n.¹In diagalanga n. < post-classical Latin diagalanga (12th cent.; from 13th cent. in British sources) < classical Latin dia- dia- prefix² + post-classical Latin galanga galanga n.; compare Anglo-Norman and Old French diagalanga, diagelanga (13th cent.), Middle French, French diagalange (1564 or earlier; 1611 in Cotgrave).In diamargariton n. < post-classical Latin diamargariton (12th cent.; from 13th cent. in British sources) < medieval Greek διὰ μαργαρίτων < ancient Greek διὰ (see dia- prefix²) + Hellenistic Greek μαργαρίτων , genitive plural of μαργαρίτης pearl (see margarite n.¹); compare Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French, French diamargariton (12th cent.).In diapenidion n. < post-classical Latin diapenidion (also diapendion, perhaps a transmission error) (12th cent.; from 13th cent. in British sources) < classical Latin dia- dia- prefix² + post-classical Latin penidium penide n.; compare Anglo-Norman and Old French diapenidion (13th cent.), Old French diapendion (1314; perhaps a transmission error), Old Occitan diapenidion (14th cent.).In diaphœnic n. < French diaphenicum (1611 in Cotgrave; 13th cent. in Old French as diafinicon ) or its etymon post-classical Latin diafinicon (7th cent.; 1414 in a British source as dyaffenicon) < Hellenistic Greek διὰ φοινίκων < ancient Greek διὰ (see dia- prefix²) + ϕοινίκων , genitive plural of ϕοῖνιξ date (see phoenix n.²).In diarhubarb n. < post-classical Latin dyareubarbarum (12th cent.; 13th cent. in a British source) < classical Latin dia- dia- prefix² + post-classical Latin reubarbarum rhubarb n.In diarrhodon n. < post-classical Latin diarodum (8th cent.), diarodon, diarrhodon, dyarodon (12th cent.; frequently from 13th cent. in British sources) < Hellenistic Greek διάρροδον (Galen), use as noun (short for κολλύριον διάρροδον (attested in Byzantine Greek) salve compounded of roses) of neuter of διάρροδος compounded of roses < ancient Greek διά (see dia- prefix²) + ῥόδον rose (see rhodo- comb. form); compare Anglo-Norman and Old French diarodon (13th cent.), Old French diarodo (c1210), French diarrodon (1611 in Cotgrave).In diatragacanth n. < post-classical Latin diadragagantum, diadragantum (12th cent.; from 13th cent. in British sources) < classical Latin dia- dia- prefix² + tragacanthum tragacanth n.; compare Anglo-Norman diadragant, diadragagant (13th cent.) and Old French diadragantom (13th cent.), Middle French diatragacant (16th cent.), French diatragagant (1690), diatragacanthe (1845).In diatrion-pipereon n. < post-classical Latin diatrionpipereon (9th cent.; from 13th cent. in British sources) < Hellenistic Greek διὰ τριῶν πεπερέων (Galen) < ancient Greek διὰ (see dia- prefix²) + τριῶν , genitive of τρεῖς three (see three adj.) + πεπερέων , genitive plural of πέπερι pepper n.; compare Anglo-Norman and Old French diatrion pipereon (13th cent.).In diatrion-santalon n. < post-classical Latin diatrion sandalon, diatrion santalon (both 1546 or earlier) < diatrion (in e.g. diatrionpipereon diatrion-pipereon n. ) + sandalum sandal n.²; compare post-classical Latin triasandali (from 13th cent. in British sources).In diazingiber n. < post-classical Latin diazingibereos (12th cent.), diazinziber, diazinziberios (13th cent. in British sources) < classical Latin dia- dia- prefix² + post-classical Latin zinziber ginger n.; compare Old French diagingibreos (13th cent.).