I was wondering if there are differences between the cases of using di- and the cases of using bi-?
For example,
- why carbon dioxide instead of carbon bioxide?
- Why binoculars instead of dinoculars?
- Why bisexual instead of disexual?
- Why bilateral instead of dilateral?
Best Answer
Bi- comes from Latin, Di- from Greek. Which prefix is used would usually depend on the origin of the root of the word.