demi-

American  

1. 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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demi- British  

prefix

1. half Compare hemi- semi-

   demirelief

2. of less than full size, status, or rank

   demigod

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Etymology

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

demi-

This is not, however, the place to recall the stupendous enterprises of Bonaparte, which remind one of the deeds of the heroes and demi- gods of ancient Greece, or the nursery tales of extraordinary beings.

From Empress Josephine An historical sketch of the days of Napoleon by L. (Luise) Mühlbach

Babbalanja, you have indeed put aside the courtier; talking of worms and caterpillars to me, a king and a demi- god!

From Mardi: and A Voyage Thither, Vol. I by Herman Melville

The ladies in general wore neither diamonds nor pearls, but a sort of demi- toilet, which would have been pretty if their dresses had been longer and their shoes not so tight.

From Life in Mexico by Madame (Frances Erskine Inglis) Calderón de la Barca

Nataly heard him at night, on a moan: 'Poor soul!' and loudly once while performing an abrupt demi- vault from back to side: 'Perhaps now!' in a voice through doors.

From One of Our Conquerors — Volume 3 by George Meredith

Adj. bisected &c. v.; cloven, cleft; bipartite, biconjugate†, bicuspid, bifid; bifurcous†, bifurcate, bifurcated; distichous, dichotomous, furcular†; semi-, demi-, hemi†.

From Roget's Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases by Peter Mark Roget