dissolve
UK[dɪˈzɒlv]US[dɪˈzɑːlv]
v
(of a solid) to mix with a liquid and become part of it
v
to officially end a marriage, business agreement, or parliament
v
to disappear or make something disappear, especially a feeling
Morpheme Breakdown
dis
solve
dis
apart
solve
loosen
Etymology
The word "dissolve" originates from the Latin verb dissolvere, a compound of the prefix dis- ("apart") and solvere ("to loosen, release"). This literal sense of "loosening apart" was applied in classical Latin to contexts like breaking apart a physical substance, releasing someone from a bond, or terminating an agreement. The semantic journey into English retained this core logic: a solid "loosens apart" into its constituent parts within a liquid, a formal assembly is "loosened apart" or dismissed, and a problem or feeling is "released" and thus disappears. The modern abstract meanings of termination and disappearance are natural extensions of this foundational concept of separation and release.
Analysis
Structure: dis (apart) + solve (loosen)
dis- (Latin origin, a prefix meaning "apart, asunder, away"). solve (from Latin solvere, meaning "to loosen, release, untie").
Examples
Sugar will dissolve in hot water.
The company was dissolved after the scandal.
Her anger seemed to dissolve as he apologized.