bi-
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Page categories
English
editPronunciation
editEtymology 1
editPIE word |
---|
*dwóh₁ |
Borrowed from Latin bi-, from Proto-Italic *dwi-, from Proto-Indo-European *dwi-. Doublet of twi- and di-.
Alternative forms
editPrefix
editPrevious: | uni- |
---|---|
Next: | tri- |
bi-
- Two in number.
- biarticular is affecting, or connecting two joints; biaxial is along two axes; bicoloured is of two colours
- Having or possessing two of the root word's quality.
- biangular is having two angles or corners, biantheriferous is having two anthers, bicardial is having two separate hearts, bikont is a eukaryotic cell with two flagella; thought to be the ancestor of all plants
- Both: referring to two as a set.
- biacetabular is relating to both acetabula, biallelic is of or pertaining to both alleles of a gene, bicaval is relating to both veins of the vena cava
- Being different in two ways with respect to the root.
- Forked, divided by two, halved; (chemistry, proscribed) half
- bifurcate is to divide or fork into two channels or branches, bicapitate is to divide something equally between two people or organisations, bicarinate is dividing into two points at the end
- Double, twofold.
- bialgebroid is a double algebroid, bifarious is twofold, double, biarticulated is doubly articulated
- (LGBT) Bisexual, relating to bisexuality.
- bicentric is having a bisexual bias or basis, biphobia is antipathy towards bisexuals, biromantic is romantically attracted to both males and females
- (anatomy) Bilateral, on both sides of the body.
- Twice.
- biannual is occurring twice a year, biannual is something occurring twice each year, biconjugate is paired twice
- Every two; a rate of once every two.
- biannual is occurring once every two years; biennial, bicentennial is occurring every two hundred (200) years
- A pair of; composed of two.
Usage notes
editIn an old, common method used to indicate the presence of an acidic hydrogen, sodium hydrogen sulfate is called "sodium bisulfate" and sodium hydrogen carbonate is called "sodium bicarbonate". This method is not recommended by IUPAC and does not denote a “doubling up” of a specific group, which is reserved for the Greek prefix di-, as in carbon dioxide (“CO2”).
The prefix bi in the older system comes from the observation that there is two times as much carbonate (CO3) in sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) and other bicarbonates as in sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) and other carbonates.
As a prefix for periods, bi- is ambiguously used to mean either “once every two periods” or “twice every period”; this is particularly acute for biweekly, bimonthly, and biannual. To avoid ambiguity, semi- or twice can be used to unambiguously mean “every half period” (thus twice every period) or “twice every period”, but there is no general way to refer unambiguously to “once every two periods”. In some cases a separate word is unambiguous, as in fortnightly (“every two weeks”), or biennial (“every two years”), but there is no word that unambiguously refers to “every two months”. Due to the ambiguity, some prefer to use explicit phrases, like “every two months” or “twice a month”.
Synonyms
editDerived terms
edit- bi
- biannual
- biautomaton
- biceps
- bichrome
- bicolor
- bicolour
- biconvex
- bicornuate
- bicycle
- bicyclic
- bicylindrical
- bidentate
- bidirectional
- biennial
- bifacial
- bifocals
- bigender
- bijugate
- bilabial
- bilabiate
- bilanguage
- bilateral
- bilinear
- bilingual
- billion
- bilobate
- bilogarithmic
- bilogarithmical
- bimanual
- bimester
- bimetal
- bimonthly
- binary
- binomial
- biped
- biplane
- bipod
- bipolar
- birefringent
- bireme
- birotate
- biscuit
- bisect
- bisection
- bisector
- biserrate
- bisexual
- bisexuality
- bitartrate
- bivalve
- biweekly
- bialgebra
- bialkali
- bialtitude
- biamping
- biandry
- biangle
- biantennary
- bianthraquinone
- biarc
- biarchy
- biarchy
- biareal
- biarsenical
- biarsenical
- biarticular
- biarticulate
- biaryl
- biaryl
- biraryl
- biauricular
- biaxial
- biaxial
- bibenzimidazole
- bibenzyl
- biceps
- bicorn
- bicalicene
- bicameral
- bicameral
- bicameral
- bicolour
- bicolour
- bicolour
- bicolouration
- bicoloured
- bicolpate
- bicolumnar
- bicombing
- bicommunal
- bicompartmental
- bicompetent
- bicomponent
- biconceptual
- biconditional
- bicondylar
- bicone
- biconic
- biconical
- biconjugate
- biconnected
- biconsonantal
- biconsonantal
- biconstituent
- bicontinental
- bicontinuous
- biacid
- bialate
- biandry
- biangular
- biannulate
- biantheriferous
- biapical
- biarcuate
- biarmed
- biaspectual
- biauriculate
- biauriculate
- biautomatic
- biaxial
- biaxial
- bibasic
- bicallose
- biceps
- bicorn
- bicorn
- bicorn
- biforate
- biforate
- biforate
- bikont
- bilete
- bimastism
- bisemic
- bisemous
- bibracteate
- bibracteolate
- bicalcarate
- bicameral
- bicardial
- bicarotid
- bicarpellate
- bicaudal
- bicaudate
- bicausal
- bicellular
- bicentric
- bicentrism
- bicephalism
- bicephalic
- bicephalous
- bicephaly
- bichambered
- bichord
- biacuminate
- bicoordinate
Translations
edit
|
Etymology 2
editFrom Ancient Greek βίος (bíos, “life”).
Prefix
editbi-
Derived terms
editAnagrams
editAzerbaijani
editEtymology
editPronunciation
editPrefix
editbi-
- (rarely productive) -less, un-, in-.
- Synonym: -siz
Derived terms
editCatalan
editEtymology
editPronunciation
editPrefix
editbi-
Derived terms
editFurther reading
edit- “bi-” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.
- “bi-”, in Gran Diccionari de la Llengua Catalana, Grup Enciclopèdia Catalana, 2024
- “bi-” in Diccionari normatiu valencià, Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua.
Czech
editEtymology
editPronunciation
editPrefix
editbi-
Related terms
editFurther reading
edit- “bi-”, in Slovník spisovného jazyka českého (in Czech), 1960–1971, 1989
Danish
editPronunciation
editEtymology 1
editPrefix
editbi-
Etymology 2
editPrefix
editbi-
See also
editFinnish
editEtymology
editInternationalism (see English bi-), ultimately from Latin bis.
Pronunciation
editPrefix
editbi-
Derived terms
editFrench
editEtymology
editPronunciation
editPrefix
editbi-
Derived terms
editGalician
editEtymology
editPrefix
editbi-
Derived terms
editFrom
.
Further reading
edit- “bi-”, in Dicionario da Real Academia Galega (in Galician), A Coruña: Royal Galician Academy, since 2012
German
editEtymology
editPronunciation
editAudio: (file)
Prefix
editbi-
Derived terms
editGothic
editRomanization
editbi-
- Romanization of 𐌱𐌹-
Ido
editPrefix
editbi-
Derived terms
editIndonesian
editEtymology
editFrom Dutch bi-, from Latin bi-.
Pronunciation
editPrefix
editbi-
Derived terms
editFurther reading
edit- “bi-” in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia, Jakarta: Agency for Language Development and Cultivation – Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, 2016.
Irish
editPrefix
editbi-
- Alternative form of bith-, used before a slender T.
Mutation
editIrish mutation | ||
---|---|---|
Radical | Lenition | Eclipsis |
bi- | bhi- | mbi- |
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs. |
Further reading
edit- Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977) “bit-”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla, Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN
Italian
editEtymology
editPronunciation
editPrefix
editbi-
Derived terms
editKongo
editEtymology
editFrom Proto-Bantu *bì-.
Prefix
editbi- (singular ki-)
- class 8 prefix
- class subject concord
Latin
editEtymology
editFrom Proto-Italic *dwi-, from Proto-Indo-European *dwi- (“two-; twice-”), prefix form corresponding to the numeral *dwóh₁ (“two”); the origin in PIE of the *i here is uncertain.[1]
Pronunciation
edit- (Classical Latin) IPA(key): /bi/, [bɪ]
- (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA(key): /bi/, [biː]
Prefix
editbi-
Derived terms
editReferences
edit- ^ De Vaan, Michiel (2008) “bi-”, in Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 7), Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN, page 71
Further reading
edit- “bi-”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
- “bi-” on page 231/3 of the Oxford Latin Dictionary (1st ed., 1968–82)
Malay
editPronunciation
editEtymology 1
editPrefix
editbi- (Jawi spelling بی-)
Usage notes
edit- While there have been efforts to popularize the use of this prefix in scientific and technological coinages, currently, its range of use is very limited, and so, it is found only in a small number of words.
Etymology 2
editPrefix
editbi- (Jawi spelling بی-)
- bi-
- bienial ― biennial
Usage notes
edit- This prefix is unproductive and is only found in loanwords borrowed from English which contain the prefix.
Derived terms
editReferences
editMiddle English
editEtymology 1
editInherited from Old English be-, from Proto-West Germanic *bi-, from Proto-Germanic *bi-, from *bi-; compare by-.
The pronunciation /bi-/ (instead of expected /bə-/) is probably due to the influence of the preposition by.
Alternative forms
editPronunciation
editPrefix
editbi-
- A prefix forming transitive verbs from any content word, often denoting completion or thoroughness.
- A prefix forming prepositions, often denoting adjacency, position, or relation.
Derived terms
editDescendants
editReferences
edit- “bi-, pref.(2).”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
- “bi-, pref.(3).”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
Etymology 2
editPrefix
editbi-
- Alternative form of by-
Navajo
editPrefix
editbi-
Usage notes
editThis prefix often corresponds to an English possessive ’s appended to the preceding word. For example, Diné bizaad means literally “the People their-language”, equivalent to “the People’s language” (i.e., Navajo language).
Related terms
editSee also
editNorthern Kurdish
editPrefix
editbi-
- forms the affirmative subjunctive mood of verbs.
Norwegian Bokmål
editPrefix
editbi-
See also
editReferences
edit- “bi-” in The Bokmål Dictionary.
Norwegian Nynorsk
editPrefix
editbi-
See also
editReferences
edit- “bi-” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.
Ojibwe
editPreverb
editbi-
- this way, here, hither (toward the speaker)
- Bi-anokiin.
- Come and work.
Related terms
editSee also
editReferences
edit- The Ojibwe People's Dictionary https://ojibwe.lib.umn.edu/main-entry/bi-pv-dir
Old English
editAlternative forms
editEtymology
editFrom bī (“by, near, around”).
Pronunciation
editPrefix
editbī-
Usage notes
edit- Occurred primarily in nouns.
Derived terms
edit- bīgenga (“inhabitant; observer; benefactor”)
- bīleofa (“support, sustenance, nourishment, capital”)
- bīswæc (“treachery”)
Descendants
editOld Saxon
editEtymology 1
editAn unstressed form of bī, from Proto-West Germanic *bī-.
Prefix
editbi-
- A productive prefix usually used to form verbs and adjectives, especially verbs with the sense “around, throughout” or makes transitive verbs from intransitive verbs, adjectives and nouns.
- bi- + brekan → bibrekan (“to break”)
- bi- + brengian → bibrengian (“to accomplish”)
- bi- + dēlian → bidēlian (“to deprive”)
- bi- + delvan → bidelvan (“to bury”)
- bi- + dempian → bidempian (“to suffocate”)
- bi- + dernian → bidernian (“to conceal, to hide”)
- bi- + dōdian → bidōdian (“to kill”)
- bi- + driogan → bidriogan (“to deceive”)
- bi- + drōragon → bidrōragon (“to bleed to death”)
- bi- + dumbilian → bidumbilian (“to make a fool”)
- bi- + *dwellian → bidwellian (“to hinder”)
- bi- + fāhan → bifāhan (“to embrace, seize”)
- bi- + fallan → bifallan (“to befall”)
- bi- + felhan → bifelhan (“to recommend, give over, confide”)
- bi- + fellian → bifellian (“to throw down”)
- bi- + findan → bifindan (“to notice, find out”)
- bi- + gangan → bigān, bigangan (“to celebrate”)
- bi- + gehan → bigehan (“to dare, confess”)
Derived terms
editDescendants
editEtymology 2
editFrom bī (“by, near, around”).
Prefix
editbī-
Derived terms
edit- bīgengio (“inhabitant”)
Polish
editEtymology
editLearned borrowing from Latin bi-.
Pronunciation
editPrefix
editbi-
Derived terms
editFurther reading
edit- bi- in Polish dictionaries at PWN
Portuguese
editEtymology
editPrefix
editbi-
- bi- (two-)
Derived terms
editSpanish
editAlternative forms
editEtymology
editPrefix
editbi-
Derived terms
editFurther reading
edit- “bi-”, in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014
Swedish
editPronunciation
editPrefix
editbi-
- by-, next to, near, by the side, aside; same as English by- and German bei-; see also the rare preposition bi
- bi-, two, dual; from Latin bis (“twice”)
Derived terms
editSee also
editReferences
editTooro
editAlternative forms
edit- (before vowels) by-
Etymology
editFrom Proto-Bantu *bí-.
Pronunciation
editPrefix
editbi-
- class 8 pronominal concord
- they; class 8 subject concord
- positive imperative form of -bi- (“them; class 8 object concord”)
See also
editReferences
editTurkish
editEtymology
editBorrowed from Persian بی (bi, prefix).
Prefix
editbi-
Derived terms
edit- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European word *dwóh₁
- English terms borrowed from Latin
- English terms derived from Latin
- English terms derived from Proto-Italic
- English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European
- English doublets
- English lemmas
- English prefixes
- English terms with usage examples
- en:Chemistry
- English proscribed terms
- en:LGBT
- en:Anatomy
- English terms derived from Ancient Greek
- en:Two
- Azerbaijani terms borrowed from Persian
- Azerbaijani terms derived from Persian
- Azerbaijani terms with IPA pronunciation
- Azerbaijani lemmas
- Azerbaijani prefixes
- Catalan terms derived from Latin
- Catalan terms with IPA pronunciation
- Catalan lemmas
- Catalan prefixes
- Czech terms borrowed from Latin
- Czech terms derived from Latin
- Czech terms with IPA pronunciation
- Czech lemmas
- Czech prefixes
- Danish terms with IPA pronunciation
- Danish terms derived from German
- Danish lemmas
- Danish prefixes
- Danish terms derived from Latin
- Finnish internationalisms
- Finnish terms derived from Latin
- Finnish terms with IPA pronunciation
- Finnish lemmas
- Finnish prefixes
- French terms derived from Latin
- French 1-syllable words
- French terms with IPA pronunciation
- French terms with audio links
- French lemmas
- French prefixes
- fr:Two
- Galician terms derived from Latin
- Galician lemmas
- Galician prefixes
- German terms derived from Latin
- German terms with audio links
- German lemmas
- German prefixes
- Gothic non-lemma forms
- Gothic romanizations
- Ido lemmas
- Ido prefixes
- Indonesian terms borrowed from Dutch
- Indonesian terms derived from Dutch
- Indonesian terms derived from Latin
- Indonesian 1-syllable words
- Indonesian terms with IPA pronunciation
- Indonesian lemmas
- Indonesian prefixes
- Irish lemmas
- Irish prefixes
- Italian terms derived from Latin
- Italian 1-syllable words
- Italian terms with IPA pronunciation
- Italian lemmas
- Italian prefixes
- Kongo terms inherited from Proto-Bantu
- Kongo terms derived from Proto-Bantu
- Kongo lemmas
- Kongo prefixes
- Latin terms inherited from Proto-Italic
- Latin terms derived from Proto-Italic
- Latin terms inherited from Proto-Indo-European
- Latin terms derived from Proto-Indo-European
- Latin 1-syllable words
- Latin terms with IPA pronunciation
- Latin lemmas
- Latin prefixes
- Malay terms with IPA pronunciation
- Malay terms borrowed from Persian
- Malay terms derived from Persian
- Malay lemmas
- Malay prefixes
- Malay terms borrowed from English
- Malay terms derived from English
- Malay terms with usage examples
- Malay unproductive prefixes
- Middle English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European
- Middle English terms inherited from Old English
- Middle English terms derived from Old English
- Middle English terms inherited from Proto-West Germanic
- Middle English terms derived from Proto-West Germanic
- Middle English terms inherited from Proto-Germanic
- Middle English terms derived from Proto-Germanic
- Middle English terms with IPA pronunciation
- Middle English lemmas
- Middle English prefixes
- Navajo lemmas
- Navajo prefixes
- Navajo pronouns
- Northern Kurdish lemmas
- Northern Kurdish prefixes
- Norwegian Bokmål lemmas
- Norwegian Bokmål prefixes
- Norwegian Nynorsk lemmas
- Norwegian Nynorsk prefixes
- Ojibwe lemmas
- Ojibwe preverbs
- Ojibwe directional preverbs
- Ojibwe terms with usage examples
- Old English terms with IPA pronunciation
- Old English lemmas
- Old English prefixes
- Old Saxon terms derived from Proto-Germanic
- Old Saxon terms inherited from Proto-Germanic
- Old Saxon terms inherited from Proto-West Germanic
- Old Saxon terms derived from Proto-West Germanic
- Old Saxon lemmas
- Old Saxon prefixes
- Polish terms derived from Proto-Italic
- Polish terms derived from Proto-Indo-European
- Polish terms borrowed from Latin
- Polish learned borrowings from Latin
- Polish terms derived from Latin
- Polish 1-syllable words
- Polish terms with IPA pronunciation
- Polish terms with audio links
- Rhymes:Polish/i
- Rhymes:Polish/i/1 syllable
- Polish lemmas
- Polish prefixes
- Portuguese terms borrowed from Latin
- Portuguese terms derived from Latin
- Portuguese lemmas
- Portuguese prefixes
- Spanish terms derived from Latin
- Spanish lemmas
- Spanish prefixes
- Swedish terms with IPA pronunciation
- Swedish lemmas
- Swedish prefixes
- Tooro terms inherited from Proto-Bantu
- Tooro terms derived from Proto-Bantu
- Tooro terms with IPA pronunciation
- Tooro lemmas
- Tooro prefixes
- Tooro pronominal concords
- Tooro subject concords
- Turkish terms borrowed from Persian
- Turkish terms derived from Persian
- Turkish lemmas
- Turkish prefixes
- Turkish terms with obsolete senses