from L. semi- "half," from PIE *semi- (cf. Skt. sami "half," Gk. hemi- "half," O.E. sam-, Goth. sami- "half"). O.E. cognate sam- was used in such compounds as samhal "poor health," lit. "half-whole;" samsoden "half-cooked," figuratively "stupid" (cf. half-baked); samcucu "half-dead," lit. "half-alive;" and the last survivor of the group, sand-blind "dim-sighted" (q.v.). The Latin-derived form has been common in forming native words since 15c.