semi
Origin of semi
Other definitions for semi (2 of 2)
Origin of semi-
words often confused with semi-
WORDS THAT USE SEMI-
What does semi- mean?
Semi– is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “half.” In some instances, it is used figuratively to mean “partially,” “incompletely,” or “somewhat.” It is often used in a variety of technical and everyday terms.
Semi– comes from Latin sēmi-, meaning “half.” The Greek cognate of sēmi– is hēmi-, also meaning “half,” which is the source of English terms such as hemialgia and hemicardia. To learn more, check out our entries for both words.
Examples of semi-
An example of a word you may have encountered that features semi– is semicolon, “the punctuation mark (;).”
We know semi– means “half,” and a colon is the sign (:). The word colon itself comes from Greek kôlon, meaning “limb; part of a clause or period.” Semicolon literally translates to “half colon.”
What are some words that use the combining form semi-?
What are some other forms that semi– may be commonly confused with?
Break it down!
The word literate means “able to read and write.” With this in mind, what does semiliterate mean?