De Meaning and Definition
De
Pronunciation
/diː/
Part of Speech
Letter, Particle, or Prefix
Definition
De is a prefix or particle that comes from Latin, meaning “from” or “of”. It can also refer to a letter in the alphabet. In different contexts, de can signify various meanings such as removal, reversal, or origin.
Examples
1. “De novo” means “anew” or “from the beginning” in Latin.
2. “Debone” means to remove bones from meat.
Synonyms
1. Of
2. From
Antonyms
1. Into
2. On
Additional Information
De is widely used in Latin-derived languages such as French, Spanish, and Italian. In English, it is often used as a prefix in words borrowed from these languages. De can also refer to a surname of Dutch or German origin.
In law, de facto and de jure are Latin phrases that distinguish between what is in effect and what is in the law. De facto refers to a state of things as they are, regardless of the law, while de jure refers to the law itself.
In music, de is used as a prefix in musical terms such as decrescendo, which means gradually decreasing in volume.
Etymology
De comes from Latin, where it was used as a preposition meaning “from” or “of”. The prefix has been adopted into various languages and has evolved to convey different meanings depending on the context.
Usage Notes
De can be used in formal or informal contexts, but its usage depends on the context. In scientific or technical contexts, de is often used as a prefix in Latin-derived terms. In everyday conversation, de can be used as a preposition to indicate origin or removal.
Cultural References
De is used in various cultural contexts, such as in film titles like “De Niro” and “De Palma”. In music, de is used in song titles like “De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da” by The Police.
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
1. De facto
2. De jure
3. De novo
Collocations
1. “de jour”
2. “de vice versa”
Frequency of Use
De is moderately used in English language, with a frequency of around 0.2% in spoken language and 0.5% in written language.
Common Misspellings
1. “Dee”
2. “Dee’s”
3. “Dehs”