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Webster 1913 Edition

Semi-

Sem′i-

.
[L.
semi
; akin to Gr. [GREEK][GREEK][GREEK], Skr.
sāmi
-, AS.
sām
-, and prob. to E.
same
, from the division into two parts of the same size. Cf.
Hemi-
,
Sandelend
.]
A prefix signifying half, and sometimes partly or imperfectly;
as,
semi
annual, half yearly;
semi
transparent, imperfectly transparent
.
☞ The prefix semi is joined to another word either with the hyphen or without it. In this book the hyphen is omitted except before a capital letter; as, semiacid, semiaquatic, semi-Arian, semiaxis, semicalcareous.

Definition 2024

semi-

semi-

See also: semi, ṣemi, and -semi

English

Prefix

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  1. half
  2. partial, incomplete
  3. somewhat, rather, quasi-
    • 1994, Eric Bogosian, Pounding nails in the floor with my forehead
      Nothing like a nice hot ethnic dish before you go to see that semi-expensive, semi-meaningful Off-Broadway show.

Synonyms

Derived terms

<a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs14 CategoryTreeLabelCategory' href='/wiki/Category:English_words_prefixed_with_semi-'>English words prefixed with semi-</a>

Translations

References

French

Prefix

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  1. semi-, demi-, half-

Italian

Etymology

From Latin sēmi-, from Proto-Indo-European *sēmi ‎(“half”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /se.mi/, [s̪emi]
  • Hyphenation: se‧mi-

Prefix

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  1. semi-, demi-, half-

Derived terms

<a class='CategoryTreeLabel CategoryTreeLabelNs14 CategoryTreeLabelCategory' href='/wiki/Category:Italian_words_prefixed_with_semi-'>Italian words prefixed with semi-</a>

Latin

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Proto-Indo-European *sēmi-/*sēmi. Cognates include Sanskrit समि ‎(sami), Ancient Greek ἡμι- ‎(hēmi-), and Old High German sami-.

Pronunciation

  • (Classical) IPA(key): /ˈseː.mi/, [ˈseː.mɪ]

Prefix

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  1. half

Derived terms

References

Portuguese

Prefix

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  1. semi- (half)
  2. semi- (partially)

Spanish

Prefix

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  1. semi- (half)
  2. semi- (partially)

Etymology

Borrowing from Latin semi- ‎(“half”), from Proto-Indo-European *sēmi/*sēmi-. Cognate to English sam, and to hemi- (via Ancient Greek).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /sɛmi/, /sɛmaɪ/

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