dis-
dɪs
dis- pulls two things that were stuck together apart
The picture Two things that were flush against each other split down the middle and move apart. dis- pulls apart and moves away; co- stays stuck together and goes along.
Where the picture shows up in dis-
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a mind coming away
I disagree with that plan.
aɪ ˌdɪsəˈɡriː wɪð ðæt plæn
I am against that plan.
Everyone's head is nodding one way; one head turns the other way and pulls clear.
agree with the agreement taken out of it.
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coming away from its place
My phone disappeared from the counter.
maɪ foʊn ˌdɪsəˈpɪrd frəm ðə ˈkaʊntər
My phone is gone from the counter.
The phone on the counter is torn out of its spot and only the bare space is left.
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breaking a join
Please disconnect the cable first.
pliːz ˌdɪskəˈnekt ðə ˈkeɪbəl fɜːrst
Take the cable out first.
Two ends that were locked together are pulled and the gap opens between them.
connect, split down the middle.
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coins taken off the price
They gave me a discount on the shoes.
ðeɪ ɡeɪv miː ə ˈdɪskaʊnt ɑːn ðə ʃuːz
They knocked money off the shoes for me.
A few coins are lifted off the written price and carried away.
dis (away) + count.
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lifting the cover off
We discovered the leak this morning.
wiː dɪsˈkʌvərd ðə liːk ðɪs ˈmɔːrnɪŋ
We found the leak this morning.
A panel is lifted away and underneath it the dripping pipe stands exposed.
dis (away) + cover — the cover comes off.
All of it in one picture
dis- is one hand splitting something down the middle. Your mind comes away from the opinion everyone else is holding and you disagree; a thing comes away from the spot where it sat and it disappeared. Pull the two ends of a line apart and you disconnect; take a few coins off the written price and that is a discount; lift the lid away and what was under it shows — you discover. So with any dis- word, ask what is coming away from what.