Here's how it breaks down:
* Dis- is a prefix meaning "apart" or "not."
* -integrate comes from the Latin word "integer," meaning "whole" or "complete."
Therefore, "disintegrate" literally means "to become not whole," or "to break apart."
Here's how it breaks down:
* Dis- is a prefix meaning "apart" or "not."
* -integrate comes from the Latin word "integer," meaning "whole" or "complete."
Therefore, "disintegrate" literally means "to become not whole," or "to break apart."