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.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI