What does the prefix iso- mean in "isolate"? [closed]

My question is referring to the prefix iso- and its meaning in the word isolate. My question is, if the prefix means equal, how does that make sense in the word isolate?

Solution 1:

The etymology of isolate is not the same as the prefix 'iso'.

isolated (adj.) 1763, from French isolé "isolated" (17c.) + English -ated (see -ate (2)). The French word is from Italian isolato, from Latin insulatus "made into an island," from insula "island." The French word was used at first in English (isole, also isole'd, c.1750), then after isolate became an English word, isolated became its past participle.

iso- word-forming element meaning "equal, similar, identical; isometric," from comb. form of Greek isos "equal to, the same as" (as in isometor "like one's mother"). Used properly only with words of Greek origin; the Latin equivalent is equi- (see equi-).

Source: http://www.etymonline.com