demi-
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a combining form appearing in loanwords from French meaning “half” (demilune), “lesser” (demitasse), or sometimes used with a pejorative sense (demimonde); on this model, also prefixed to words of English origin (demigod).
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Origin of demi-
<French, combining form representing demi (adj.; also noun and adv.) <Vulgar Latin *dīmedius, for Latin dīmidius half, equivalent to dī-di-2 + medius middle
Words nearby demi-
demesne, Demeter, demeton, Demetrias, Demetrius I, demi-, demibastion, demi-cannon, demicanton, demi-culverin, demi-détourné
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
How to use demi- in a sentence
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British Dictionary definitions for demi-
demi-
prefix
halfdemirelief Compare hemi-, semi- (def. 1)
of less than full size, status, or rankdemigod
Word Origin for demi-
via French from Medieval Latin dīmedius, from Latin dīmīdius half, from dis- apart + medius middle
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Medical definitions for demi-
demi-
pref.
Half:demilune.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.










